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Martin Campbell

Martin Campbell

Director and actor, also producer and writer · Born October 24, 1943 (83) · Hastings, New Zealand

BAFTA Award winner

Martin Campbell (born October 24, 1943) is a New Zealand director. Campbell is credited with rejuvenating the James Bond franchise when he directed GoldenEye (1995), Pierce Brosnan's first outing as the famed British spy, and Daniel Craig's debut Bond feature, Casino Royale (2006). Campbell moved to London where he began his career as a cameraman. He went on to produce the controversial British feature Scum (1979), as well as Black Joy (1977), which was selected for competition at the Cannes Film Festival. Campbell made his directorial debut on the British police action series The Professionals (1977) and continued with the popular BBC series Shoestring (1979) and Thames TV's Minder (1979) Considered one of the U.K.'s top directors by the mid-'80s, he directed the highly praised British telefilm, Reilly: Ace of Spies (1983). For his work on Edge of Darkness (1985), a five-hour BBC miniseries about nuclear contamination in England that depicted murder and high-ranking corruption, he won six BAFTA awards. Campbell's first Hollywood movie was Criminal Law (1998) and he went on to direct Defenseless (1991) and No Escape (1994). Some of his American credits include directing HBO's Cast a Deadly Spell (1991) and two episodes of NBC's Homicide: Life on the Street (1993), among others. He also directed the epic romance Beyond Borders (2003) starring Angelina Jolie and Clive Owen.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
October 24, 1943 (83)
From
Hastings, New Zealand
Works as
Director and actor, also producer and writer
Titles
25 on MovieCove · 48 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 19% in 30 days

What are Martin Campbell's films like?

Across their 21 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Bonds.

Genres

Action13 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 44th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Crime3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 26th percentile
: browse their Crime movies
Documentary2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 78th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Documentary 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
Morality
39%
Bonds
18%
Survival
14%
Self
12%
Power
9%
Ideas
8%
Justice5 titles, browse their movies with this themeRevenge4 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds5 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival3 titles, browse their movies with this themeRedemption3 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception3 titles, browse their movies with this themeLoyalty3 titles, browse their movies with this themeArt2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 21 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 5 · Serious 4 · Dark 12

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

A split, not a type: Grounded 13 · Stylized 5 · Heightened 3

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

Gentle 1 · Charged 6 · Intense 14

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

Steady 7 · Shifting 11 · Whiplash 3

Straight-faced: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their straight-faced movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 15 · Some laughs 6 · Funny 0

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

Slow burn 2 · Even-paced 13 · Relentless 6

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

Casual 4 · Engaged 13 · Full focus 4

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

A split, not a type: Easy watch 6 · Affecting 7 · Heavy 8

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

Resolved 12 · Open-ended 9 · Ambiguous 0

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
17
Thrilling
13
Dread
7
Melancholic
6
Romantic
4
Other
7

How their films linger

Bittersweet7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 10 with a twist

  • Happy5
  • Bittersweet8
  • Ambiguous8

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 Martin Campbell's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 19 of their 25 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service.

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Martin Campbell'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

48 credits, 25 with a MovieCove page; 8 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Just Play Dead(2026)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 7th percentile of all films

  • Memory of a Killer(2026)

    Show 10 episodes · Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all shows

  • Cleaner(2025)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • Dirty Angels(2024)

    Director · Story

    Midcredits score: 10th percentile of all films

  • Memory(2022)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all films

  • The Protégé(2021)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • The Foreigner(2017)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • Last Resort(2012)

    Show 13 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all shows

  • Green Lantern(2011)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • Edge of Darkness(2010)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • Ian Fleming's Incredible Creation (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    Actor

  • James Bond in the Bahamas (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    Actor

  • The Road to Casino Royale (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    Actor

  • 07 Spaceys(2007)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Casino Royale(2006)

    Director · as Airport Worker (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • Anatomy of a Stunt: Tank vs. Perrier (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Actor

  • Directing Bond: The Martin Chronicles (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Actor

  • The Return of Bond: The Start of Production Press Event (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Actor

  • Building a Better Bond (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Actor

  • Derek Meddings: Making It Small in Pictures (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Actor

  • The Legend of Zorro(2005)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Beyond Borders(2003)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • 10-8: Officers on Duty (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

  • Vertical Limit(2000)

    Director · Producer

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • The Mask of Zorro(1998)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • GoldenEye(1995)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • No Escape(1994)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Homicide: Life on the Street(1993)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • Cast a Deadly Spell(1991)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Defenseless(1991)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • Criminal Law(1988)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • Frankie and Johnnie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Director

  • Edge of Darkness (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 6 episodes · Director

  • Screen Two (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Charlie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Show 4 episodes · Director

  • Reilly: Ace of Spies(1983)

    Show 6 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • Muck and Brass (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 6 episodes · Director

  • Bergerac(1981)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all shows

  • Minder (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

  • Shoestring (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Scum(1979)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • The Professionals (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Show 5 episodes · Director

  • Black Joy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Producer

  • Three for All (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Director

  • Eskimo Nell (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Director

  • The Sex Thief (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    Director

  • Dedication (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Director

  • Scotland's Highlands & Islands with Lewis Nunn (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Director

Career shape

A full career of 47 titles, 45 of them dated from 1973 to 2026.

Biggest box office

Casino Royale (2006)

$606M worldwide

Highest rated

Casino Royale (2006)

Midcredits 98th

Most popular right now

Green Lantern (2011)

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting10 of 47: 9 only acting, 1 with another roleDirecting36 of 47: 33 only directing, 3 with another role · typical Midcredits score48thWriting1 of 47: 0 only writing, 1 with another roleProducing3 of 47: 2 only producing, 1 with another role

47 titles, 3 with more than one role — directing and acting overlap on 1 of them.

By decade

1970s7 · crew1980s8 · crew1990s6 · crew2000s14 · 10 acting · 5 crew2010s4 · crew2020s6 · 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

a BAFTA Award from 2 major nominations, 1986–2007.

WinNomination
  1. 2007
    • BAFTA Award, nominated
  2. 1986
    • BAFTA Award, won · Best Drama Series/Serial

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 Martin Campbell's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 45th percentile, the median of all 20; across their 21 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 46th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

46thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 21

Approval · how many liked their films

44thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 21

Reach · how many have seen their films

90thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 21

Midcredits score across 25 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up6
  • 50th to 74th5
  • 25th to 49th9
  • Below 25th5

Shape of the crowd

8 of their 25 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved4
  • Universally Panned1
  • Divisive1
  • Crowd Pleaser8
  • Broadly Agreed7
  • Mixed4

Most divisive · actor

07 Spaceys (2007)

98th percentile spread · 46% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor, director

Casino Royale (2006)

Midcredits 98th · 90% liked

Reviewers score the atmosphere 61/100 and the pacing 49/100 in their films, across 20 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 Martin Campbell's work okay for kids?

Across up to 15 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore, profanity and frightening / intense run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore14 titles59–90 · median 76 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity15 titles14–55 · median 34 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity14 titles31–81 · median 55 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs13 titles29–40 · median 36 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense13 titles54–70 · median 65 · intenseheavier than most 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 Martin Campbell work with?

People who share at least 2 of Martin Campbell's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Phil Meheux shares the most, 9.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles