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William Dear

William Dear

Director, writer and producer · Born November 30, 1944 (81) · Toronto, Ontario, Canada

William Dear (born November 30, 1944) is a Canadian-born American film and television director, producer and writer. He holds a degree in Art and Theater from Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, USA. He is known for directing the films Angels in the Outfield and Harry and the Hendersons.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
November 30, 1944 (81)
From
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Works as
Director, writer and producer
Titles
26 on MovieCove · 39 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 6% in 30 days

What are William Dear's films like?

Across their 20 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Self.

Genres

Comedy9 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 45th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Action5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 39th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Adventure2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 42nd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Adventure movies
Drama2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 35th percentile
: browse their Drama 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
33%
Self
21%
Society
20%
Ideas
14%
Survival
8%
Morality
3%
Family bonds7 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity7 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth5 titles, browse their movies with this themeHope5 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival3 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship3 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love2 titles, browse their movies with this themeAmbition2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 20 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Light: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their light movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 18 · Serious 2 · Dark 0

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

A split, not a type: Grounded 12 · Stylized 7 · Heightened 1

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

Gentle 13 · Charged 6 · Intense 1

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

Steady 14 · Shifting 3 · Whiplash 3

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

Straight-faced 2 · Some laughs 14 · Funny 4

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

Slow burn 7 · Even-paced 12 · Relentless 1

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

Casual 19 · Engaged 1 · Full focus 0

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

Resolved 20 · Open-ended 0 · Ambiguous 0

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Warm
12
Hopeful
12
Joyful
9
Absurd
7
Thrilling
5
Other
7

How their films linger

Feel-good15 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful11 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 1 with a twist

  • Happy14
  • Bittersweet3
  • Ambiguous3

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 William Dear's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 16 of their 26 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service.

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for William Dear'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

39 credits, 26 with a MovieCove page.

  • Razor (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    as Bill

  • Midnight Stallion(2013)

    Director · Co-Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • A Mile in His Shoes(2011)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • Politics of Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    Director

  • The Perfect Game(2009)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Mr. Troop Mom(2008)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films

  • Free Style(2008)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • Simon Says(2006)

    Director · Writer

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all films

  • The Sandlot: Heading Home(2007)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • The Foursome(2006)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 7th percentile of all films

  • School of Life(2005)

    Director · as Space Man

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • Santa Who?(2000)

    Director · as Sparky (as Bill Dear)

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • Balloon Farm(1999)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • Wild America(1997)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Angels in the Outfield(1994)

    Director · as Toronto Manager

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Journey to the Center of the Earth(1993)

    Director · Producer

    Midcredits score: 5th percentile of all films

  • Covington Cross (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • The Rocketeer(1991)

    Story

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Dinosaurs(1991)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all shows

  • If Looks Could Kill(1991)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • Harry and the Hendersons (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Show 72 episodes · Characters

  • Darkman(1990)

    as Limo Driver

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • Hollywood Dog (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Director

  • Harry and the Hendersons(1987)

    Director · Finance · Producer · Writer · as Sighting Man

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • Amazing Stories(1986)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Doctor Duck's Super Secret All-Purpose Sauce(1986)

    Director · Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • Amazing Stories(1985)

    Show 1 episode · Director · as David

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all shows

  • Television Parts Home Companion (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Director

  • Garry Shandling: Alone in Vegas (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Director

  • Nick Danger in the Case of the Missing Yolk (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Director

  • Timerider: The Adventure of Lyle Swann(1982)

    Director · Writer · as 3rd Technician

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • Playboy Video Magazine, Volume 1 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Writer

  • Elephant Parts (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Director · Writer · Actor

  • An Evening with Sir William Martin (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Director · Producer · Writer

  • Hardcore(1979)

    Second Unit Director of Photography

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • Blue Collar(1978)

    Additional Camera

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • The Northville Cemetery Massacre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Director · Cinematographer · Producer · Screenplay

  • Saturday Night Live(1975)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all shows

  • Nymph (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    Director

Career shape

A full career of 39 titles from 1973 to 2016.

Biggest box office

Angels in the Outfield (1994)

$50M worldwide

Highest rated

Amazing Stories (1986)

Midcredits 78th

Most popular right now

Harry and the Hendersons (1987)

Film career

  • 1982Screen debut· Timerider: The Adventure of Lyle Swann

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting9 of 39: 2 only acting, 7 with another role · typical Midcredits score48thDirecting32 of 39: 21 only directing, 11 with another role · typical Midcredits score42ndWriting9 of 39: 3 only writing, 6 with another roleProducing4 of 39: 0 only producing, 4 with another roleCinematography2 of 39: 1 only cinematography, 1 with another roleOther crew2 of 39: 1 only other crew, 1 with another role

39 titles, 11 with more than one role — directing and acting overlap on 7 of them.

By decade

1970s5 · crew1980s11 · 4 acting · 11 crew1990s11 · 2 acting · 10 crew2000s8 · 2 acting · 8 crew2010s4 · 1 acting · 3 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.

How do William Dear's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 45th percentile, the median of all 23; across their 20 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 39th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

39thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 20

Approval · how many liked their films

36thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 20

Reach · how many have seen their films

75thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 20

Midcredits score across 26 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up5
  • 50th to 74th8
  • 25th to 49th6
  • Below 25th7

Shape of the crowd

11 of their 26 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved1
  • Divisive2
  • Cult Classic2
  • Crowd Pleaser11
  • Broadly Agreed1
  • Mixed9

Most divisive · director

Free Style (2008)

96th percentile spread · 47% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · cinematographer

Hardcore (1979)

Midcredits 83rd · 72% liked

Reviewers score the atmosphere 55/100 and the pacing 45/100 in their films, across 16 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 William Dear's work okay for kids?

Across a limited sample of up to 4 MovieCove titles with content scores.

Their medianMedian of all films
Violence & Gore3 titlesmedian 35 · moderateMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity4 titlesmedian 18 · mildMedian of all films: 32
Profanity3 titlesmedian 40 · moderateMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs3 titlesmedian 30 · mildMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense3 titlesmedian 32 · mildMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted.

Who does William Dear work with?

People who share at least 2 of William Dear's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Edgar Burcksen shares the most, 4.

Writers

Actors

Composers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles