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Lasse Hallström

Lasse Hallström

Director, writer, editor and producer, also actor · Born June 2, 1946 (80) · Stockholm, Sweden

Oscar nominee · BAFTA Award nominee · 4 other major award bodies

Lars Sven "Lasse" Hallström (born June 2, 1946) is a Swedish film director. He has been nominated for three Academy Awards: two for My Life as a Dog (Mitt liv som hund) (1985) (Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay) and one for The Cider House Rules (1999) (Best Director). Hallström learned his craft making music videos, in particular for the group ABBA. Since the international success of My Life as a Dog (1985), Hallström has worked in American movies. His first notable American success was What's Eating Gilbert Grape (1993). He reached his greatest level of prominence when he directed The Cider House Rules (1999) and Chocolat (2000), both of which were nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture. His 2012 film The Hypnotist was selected as the Swedish entry for the Best Foreign Language Oscar at the 85th Academy Awards, but it did not make the final shortlist. Description above from the Wikipedia article Lasse Hallström, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
June 2, 1946 (80)
From
Stockholm, Sweden
Works as
Director, writer, editor and producer, also actor
Titles
27 on MovieCove · 50 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 155 days to Oct 26Down 29% in 30 days

What are Lasse Hallström's films like?

Across their 28 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Self.

Genres

Drama10 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 73rd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Comedy5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 66th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Adventure4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 73rd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Adventure movies
Biography3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 67th percentile
: browse their Biography movies
Documentary3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 72nd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Documentary movies
Family2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 74th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Family 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
45%
Self
17%
Morality
12%
Survival
11%
Society
9%
Ideas
5%
Power
2%
Family bonds12 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love8 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose6 titles, browse their movies with this themeLoyalty4 titles, browse their movies with this themeGrief4 titles, browse their movies with this themeTrauma3 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity4 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth3 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 28 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Light: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their light movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 16 · Serious 8 · Dark 4

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

Grounded 21 · Stylized 5 · Heightened 2

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

Gentle 17 · Charged 9 · Intense 2

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

Steady 23 · Shifting 3 · Whiplash 2

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

Straight-faced 12 · Some laughs 15 · Funny 1

Slow burn: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their slow burn movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 19 · Even-paced 9 · Relentless 0

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

Casual 25 · Engaged 1 · Full focus 2

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

Resolved 26 · Open-ended 1 · Ambiguous 1

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Warm
16
Melancholic
11
Bittersweet
8
Hopeful
11
Joyful
7
Other
25

How their films linger

Hopeful19 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good12 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet11 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteCozy3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 2 with a twist

  • Happy11
  • Bittersweet16
  • Ambiguous1

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 Lasse Hallström's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 18 of their 27 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service.

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Lasse Hallström'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

50 credits, 27 with a MovieCove page; 6 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • The Map That Leads to You(2025)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • The Darkness (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2024)

    Show 6 episodes · Director · Creator

  • Hilma(2022)

    Director · Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • ABBA: In Their Own Words (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    Director

  • A Dog's Journey(2019)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • The Nutcracker and the Four Realms(2018)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • A Dog's Purpose(2017)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • Svenska tv-historier (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    Show 2 episodes · as Lasse Hallström

  • The Hundred-Foot Journey(2014)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Safe Haven(2013)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • The Hypnotist(2012)

    Director · Writer

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • Salmon Fishing in the Yemen(2011)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Dear John(2010)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • Hachi: A Dog's Tale(2009)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • New Amsterdam (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    Show 8 episodes · Director · Producer

  • The Hoax(2006)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Open Window(2006)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • ABBA: 16 Hits (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Producer

  • Casanova(2005)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Abba - The complete studio recording (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Director

  • An Unfinished Life(2005)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • ABBA: The Definitive Collection (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Director · as Guy in the 'Head Over Heels' video. (uncredited)

  • The Shipping News(2001)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • Chocolat(2000)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • The Cider House Rules(1999)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Lumière and Company(1995)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • Something to Talk About(1995)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all films

  • What's Eating Gilbert Grape(1993)

    Director · Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Once Around(1991)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • Alla vi barn i Bullerbyn (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Show 7 episodes · Director

  • More About the Children of Noisy Village(1987)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • The Children of Noisy Village(1986)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • My Life as a Dog(1985)

    Director · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • Happy We (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Director · Editor · Writer

  • Come On Then! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Director · Writer

  • Gyllene Tider: Parkliv (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Director · Editor · Writer

  • The Rooster (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Director · Editor · Writer

  • ABBA: Words and Music (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Cinematographer

  • Father to Be(1979)

    Director · Editor · Writer

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • ABBA: The Movie(1977)

    Director · Editor · Writer

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Semlons gröna dalar (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Show 3 episodes · Director

  • A Guy and a Gal (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Director · Writer · as gäst på partyt

  • Pappas pojkar (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    Show 4 episodes · Director

  • Det är grisens fel! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    Director · Producer

  • Shall We Go to Your or My Place or Each Go Home Alone? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    Director · Cinematographer · Writer

  • Pappas Pojkar (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    Director

  • ABBA - Definitive Collector´s Edition (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Show 46 episodes · Director

  • 88-öresrevyn (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Camera Operator

  • Oj - är det redan fredag? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    Show 4 episodes · Director

  • Titan: The Life of John D. Rockefeller (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Director

Career shape

A full career of 49 titles, 48 of them dated from 1970 to 2025.

Biggest box office

A Dog's Purpose (2017)

$205M worldwide

Highest rated

Hachi: A Dog's Tale (2009)

Midcredits 98th

Most popular right now

What's Eating Gilbert Grape (1993)

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting3 of 49: 1 only acting, 2 with another roleDirecting44 of 49: 29 only directing, 15 with another role · typical Midcredits score67thWriting10 of 49: 0 only writing, 10 with another roleProducing5 of 49: 2 only producing, 3 with another roleCinematography2 of 49: 1 only cinematography, 1 with another roleEditing5 of 49: 0 only editing, 5 with another roleOther crew2 of 49: 1 only other crew, 1 with another role

49 titles, 15 with more than one role — directing and writing overlap on 10 of them.

By decade

1970s11 · 1 acting · 11 crew1980s9 · crew1990s5 · crew2000s11 · 1 acting · 11 crew2010s8 · 1 acting · 7 crew2020s4 · crew

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.

Awards

1 major award from 9 major nominations, 1988–2002.

WinNomination
  1. 2002
    • Berlinale award, nominated
  2. 2001
    • Berlinale award, nominated
  3. 2000
    • Oscar, nominated · Best Director
  4. 1999
    • Venice award, nominated
  5. 1988
    • Oscar, nominated · Best Director
    • Oscar, nominated · Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium
    • BAFTA Award, nominated · Best Foreign Language Film
    • +2 other major bodies · 1 win and 1 nomination
      • Directors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures
      • Independent Spirit Award, won · Best Foreign Film

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 Lasse Hallström's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 67th percentile, the median of all 27; across their 28 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 68th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

68thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 28

Approval · how many liked their films

69thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 28

Reach · how many have seen their films

92ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 28

Midcredits score across 27 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up10
  • 50th to 74th11
  • 25th to 49th4
  • Below 25th2

Shape of the crowd

15 of their 27 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved5
  • Crowd Pleaser15
  • Broadly Agreed3
  • Mixed4

Most divisive · director

A Dog's Purpose (2017)

56th percentile spread · 10% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · director

Hachi: A Dog's Tale (2009)

Midcredits 98th · 89% liked

Reviewers score the atmosphere 71/100 and the pacing 45/100 in their films, across 24 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 Lasse Hallström's work okay for kids?

Across up to 17 MovieCove titles with content scores, every category sits near the median of all films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore13 titles25–53 · median 38 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity17 titles10–50 · median 37 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity14 titles6–48 · median 27 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs14 titles10–46 · median 30 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense12 titles29–55 · median 43 · 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 Lasse Hallström work with?

People who share at least 2 of Lasse Hallström's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Andrew Mondshein shares the most, 8.

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles