Skip to content
MovieCove
Barry Levinson

Barry Levinson

Producer, director, writer and actor · Born April 6, 1942 (84) · Baltimore, Maryland, USA

Oscar winner · 4 Primetime Emmys · Golden Globe nominee · 5 other major award bodies

Barry Lee Levinson (born April 6, 1942) is an American film director, producer and screenwriter. Levinson won the Academy Award for Best Director for Rain Man (1988). His other best-known works are Diner (1982), The Natural (1984), Good Morning, Vietnam (1987), Bugsy (1991), and Wag the Dog (1997). In 2021, he co-executive produced the Hulu miniseries Dopesick and directed the first two episodes. Description above from the Wikipedia article Barry Levinson, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
April 6, 1942 (84)
From
Baltimore, Maryland, USA
Works as
Producer, director, writer and actor
Titles
73 on MovieCove · 89 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Official site (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 155 days to Oct 26Down 22% in 30 days

What are Barry Levinson's films like?

Across their 61 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Morality.

Genres

Comedy22 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 43rd percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Biography10 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 73rd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Biography movies
Drama9 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 51st percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Documentary5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 47th percentile
: browse their Documentary movies
Crime4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 93rd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime movies
Action2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 61st percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Action movies
Adventure2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 48th percentile
: browse their Adventure movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Bonds
24%
Morality
20%
Self
17%
Power
12%
Society
11%
Survival
9%
Ideas
6%
Justice12 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship12 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds11 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity11 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love9 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception10 titles, browse their movies with this themeCorruption7 titles, browse their movies with this themeTruth6 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 57 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 24 · Serious 12 · Dark 21

Grounded: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their grounded movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 38 · Stylized 15 · Heightened 4

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 16 · Charged 23 · Intense 18

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 22 · Shifting 28 · Whiplash 7

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 26 · Some laughs 14 · Funny 17

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 27 · Even-paced 28 · Relentless 2

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 23 · Engaged 26 · Full focus 8

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

Easy watch 20 · Affecting 22 · Heavy 15

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 33 · Open-ended 18 · Ambiguous 6

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
43
Melancholic
22
Contemplative
20
Absurd
17
Dread
12
Other
53

How their films linger

Thought-provoking26 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet22 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful17 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good12 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 10 with a twist

  • Happy15
  • Bittersweet27
  • Tragic6
  • Ambiguous12
  • Other1

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Barry Levinson's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 44 of their 73 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (15).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Barry Levinson's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

89 credits, 73 with a MovieCove page; 19 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Bucks County, USA(2025)

    Show 5 episodes · Director · Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all shows (provisional, few ratings)

  • American Sweatshop(2025)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • The Alto Knights(2025)

    Director · Producer

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Megalopolis(2024)

    Thanks

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films

  • America's Burning(2024)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • Monsieur Spade(2024)

    Show 6 episodes · Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all shows

  • The Calling(2022)

    Show 8 episodes · Director · Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

  • The Survivor(2021)

    Director · Producer

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • Dopesick(2021)

    Show 8 episodes · Director · Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • Malcolm & Marie(2021)

    Thanks

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • Stars and Strife(2020)

    Executive Producer · as Self

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • City on a Hill(2019)

    Show 26 episodes · Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all shows

  • Paterno(2018)

    Director · Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • The Wizard of Lies(2017)

    Director · Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Shades of Blue(2016)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all shows

  • Killing Fields(2016)

    Show Producer

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all shows

  • Rock the Kasbah(2015)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films

  • The Humbling(2014)

    Director · Producer

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • Muhammad Ali's Greatest Fight(2013)

    as Justice Potter Stewart

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • Phil Spector(2013)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • Copper(2012)

    Show 23 episodes · Producer

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all shows

  • The Bay(2012)

    Director · Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • Borgia(2011)

    Show 38 episodes · Producer

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all shows

  • You Don't Know Jack(2010)

    Director · Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • The Band That Wouldn't Die (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Director · as Self

  • 30 for 30(2009)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • PoliWood(2009)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • The Philanthropist (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Show 8 episodes · Writer

  • What Just Happened(2008)

    Director · Producer

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • Bee Movie(2007)

    as Martin Benson (voice)

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Man of the Year(2006)

    Director · Writer

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • The Bedford Diaries (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Show 8 episodes · Executive Producer

  • Aitraaz (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Original Story

  • The Jury (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Show 10 episodes · Director · Creator · Executive Producer · Story

  • Envy(2004)

    Director · Producer

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films

  • Strip Search(2004)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Deliver Us from Eva(2003)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • Analyze That(2002)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • Possession(2002)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Shot in the Heart(2001)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • Bandits(2001)

    Director · Producer

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • An Everlasting Piece(2000)

    Director · Producer

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • Falcone (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Show 9 episodes · Producer

  • The Beat (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Show 6 episodes · Director · Executive Producer

  • Homicide: The Movie(2000)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • The Perfect Storm(2000)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Liberty Heights(1999)

    Director · Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • Original Diner Guys (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Director · Producer

  • Yesterday's Tomorrows (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Director · Executive Producer

  • Home Fries(1998)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • Sphere(1998)

    Director · Producer

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Wag the Dog(1997)

    Director · Producer · as Man at a Movie Studio (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • The Second Civil War(1997)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Oz(1997)

    Show 56 episodes · Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • Donnie Brasco(1997)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Sleepers(1996)

    Director · Producer · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • A Little Princess(1995)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • Disclosure(1994)

    Director · Producer

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Quiz Show(1994)

    as Dave Garroway

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • Jimmy Hollywood(1994)

    Director · Producer · Writer · as Director of 'Life Story'

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • Homicide: Life on the Street(1993)

    Show 122 episodes · Director · Producer · as Barry Levinson

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • Wilder Napalm(1993)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • Toys(1992)

    Director · Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • The Larry Sanders Show(1992)

    Show 1 episode · as Barry Levinson

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • Bugsy(1991)

    Director · Producer

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Kafka(1991)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Avalon(1990)

    Director · Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • Rain Man(1988)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • Good Morning, Vietnam(1987)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • Tin Men(1987)

    Director · Writer

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Harry (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Show 7 episodes · Producer

  • Young Sherlock Holmes(1985)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • Displaced Person (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Producer

  • The Natural(1984)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Unfaithfully Yours(1984)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • Diner (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Director · Executive Producer · Writer

  • Best Friends(1982)

    Writer

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Tootsie(1982)

    Additional Writing · Writer

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • Diner(1982)

    Director · Writer

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • American Playhouse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 1 episode · Teleplay

  • History of the World: Part I(1981)

    as Column Salesman - The Roman Empire

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • Inside Moves(1980)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • And Justice for All(1979)

    Writer

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • Peeping Times (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Director · Writer

  • High Anxiety(1977)

    Writer · as Dennis - Bellboy

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Silent Movie(1976)

    Screenplay · as Executive

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • Street Girls(1975)

    Writer

    Midcredits score: 5th percentile of all films

  • The Catholics (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    Producer

  • Assassination (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Director

Career shape

A full career of 86 titles, 85 of them dated from 1973 to 2026.

Biggest box office

Rain Man (1988)

$355M worldwide

Highest rated

Rain Man (1988)

Midcredits 98th

Most popular right now

Bee Movie (2007)

Film career

  • 1976Screen debut· Silent Movie

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting10 of 86: 5 only acting, 5 with another role · typical Midcredits score72ndDirecting42 of 86: 10 only directing, 32 with another role · typical Midcredits score65thWriting21 of 86: 8 only writing, 13 with another role · typical Midcredits score68thProducing54 of 86: 26 only producing, 28 with another role · typical Midcredits score58thOther crew4 of 86: 3 only other crew, 1 with another role

86 titles, 34 with more than one role — producing and directing overlap on 28 of them.

By decade

1970s6 · 2 acting · 6 crew1980s15 · 1 acting · 14 crew1990s20 · 5 acting · 18 crew2000s21 · 1 acting · 20 crew2010s12 · 1 acting · 11 crew2020s11 · crew

Billing

usually 9th · top billed in 0% of 6 roles

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30.

Awards

an Oscar, 4 Primetime Emmys and 6 other major awards from 48 major nominations, 1974–2022.

WinNomination
  1. 2022
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Television Movie
    • +2 other major bodies · 2 nominations
      • Directors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Movies for Television and Limited Series
      • Producers Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Producer of Limited or Anthology Series Television
  2. 2019
    • Directors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Movies for Television and Limited Series
    • Producers Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Producer of Streamed or Televised Motion Pictures
  3. 2018
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Directing for a Limited Series, Movie or a Dramatic Special
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Television Movie
    • +2 other major bodies · 2 nominations
      • Directors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Movies for Television and Miniseries
      • Producers Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Producer of Long-Form Television
  4. 2017
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Television Movie
  5. 2014
    • Producers Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Producer of Long-Form Television
  6. 2013
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Miniseries or Movie
  7. 2011
    • Directors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Movies for Television/Mini-Series
    • Producers Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Producer of Long-Form Television
    • Critics Choice Award, nominated · Best Picture Made for Television
  8. 2010
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Directing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Dramatic Special
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Made for Television Movie
    • +1 other major body · 1 win
      • Writers Guild Award, won
Show 14 earlier years
  1. 1998
    • Berlinale award, won · Special Jury Prize
    • Berlinale award, nominated · Best Film
    • Producers Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Producer of Episodic Television
  2. 1997
    • Producers Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Producer of Episodic Television
  3. 1994
    • Directors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Dramatic Series - Night
  4. 1993
    • Primetime Emmy, won · Outstanding Individual Achievement in Directing in a Drama Series
    • +1 other major body · 1 nomination
      • Berlinale award, nominated
  5. 1992
    • Oscar, nominated · Best Director
    • Oscar, nominated · Best Picture
    • Golden Globe, nominated · Best Director - Motion Picture
    • +2 other major bodies · 2 nominations
      • Berlinale award, nominated
      • Directors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures
  6. 1991
    • Oscar, nominated · Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen
    • Golden Globe, nominated · Best Screenplay - Motion Picture
    • +2 other major bodies · 1 win and 1 nomination
      • Directors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures
      • Writers Guild Award, won · Best Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen
  7. 1989
    • Oscar, won · Best Director
    • Golden Globe, nominated · Best Director - Motion Picture
    • +2 other major bodies · 3 wins
      • Berlinale award, won · Best Film
      • Berlinale award, won
      • Directors Guild Award, won · Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures
  8. 1985
    • Primetime Emmy, won · Outstanding Children's Program
  9. 1983
    • Oscar, nominated · Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen
    • +1 other major body · 1 nomination
      • Writers Guild Award, nominated · Best Comedy Written Directly for the Screen
  10. 1980
    • Oscar, nominated · Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen
  11. 1977
    • Writers Guild Award, nominated · Best Comedy Written Directly for the Screen
  12. 1976
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Writing in a Comedy-Variety or Music Series
  13. 1975
    • Primetime Emmy, won · Outstanding Writing in a Comedy-Variety or Music Series
  14. 1974
    • Primetime Emmy, won · Best Writing in Variety or Music

Major bodies only: the Oscars, Primetime Emmys, Golden Globes, BAFTAs and Screen Actors Guild Awards are named; Cannes, Venice, the Berlinale, Sundance, the directors', writers' and producers' guilds, the Grammys, Critics Choice and the Independent Spirit Awards count as other major bodies. Festival and regional prizes are not counted. Source: IMDb.

How do Barry Levinson's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 59th percentile, the median of all 60; across their 57 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 58th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

58thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 57

Approval · how many liked their films

56thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 57

Reach · how many have seen their films

86thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 57

Midcredits score across 73 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up25
  • 50th to 74th21
  • 25th to 49th17
  • Below 25th10

Shape of the crowd

31 of their 73 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved14
  • Universally Panned1
  • Divisive3
  • Crowd Pleaser31
  • Broadly Agreed7
  • Mixed17

Most divisive · actor, producer

Stars and Strife (2020)

98th percentile spread · 61% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · director, producer

Dopesick (2021)

Midcredits 98th · 96% liked

Reviewers score the atmosphere 67/100 and the pacing 42/100 in their films, across 53 reviewed titles. The element that speaks to their work as a director.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Barry Levinson's work okay for kids?

Across up to 33 MovieCove titles with content scores, profanity runs heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore22 titles26–85 · median 48 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity33 titles17–57 · median 38 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity26 titles38–78 · median 68 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs23 titles20–60 · median 39 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense22 titles28–69 · median 45 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Barry Levinson work with?

People who share at least 2 of Barry Levinson's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Stu Linder shares the most, 17.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles