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John Harrison

John Harrison

Director, writer, actor, producer and composer · Born January 1, 1948 (78)

Primetime Emmy nominee · 1 other major award body

John Harrison began his career directing rock videos and working as 1st Asst. Director for famed horror director,George A. Romero (Night of the Living Dead (1968)/Creepshow (1982)). Harrison wrote and directed multiple episodes of Romero's classic TV series,Tales from the Darkside (1983)m], before helming Tales from the Darkside: The Movie (1990), for Paramount Pictures, which won Harrison the Grand Prix du Festival at Avoriaz, France. Harrison co-wrote the animated feature,Dinosaur (2000), for Disney. He also wrote the adaptation of Clive Barker's fantasy novels, "Abarat", also for Disney. In the Fall of '06, Harrison reunited with mentor George Romero to produce Romero's film, Diary of the Dead (2007). His action suspense thriller, Blank Slate (2008), for producer Dean Devlin, which Harrison wrote and directed, aired as a twenty-episode micro-series on TNT in the Fall of 2008. Clive Barker's Book of Blood (2009), which he wrote and directed, was released in the Fall 2009. His 6-hour miniseries adaptation of Frank Herbert's monumental bestseller, Dune (2000), which he directed, was an Emmy Award-winning success in the U.S., then internationally, both in its broadcast premieres and subsequently in home video. Harrison's Children of Dune (2003), another 6-hour miniseries encompassing the next two novels of Frank Herbert's mythic adventure series which he wrote and co-produced, was also an Emmy winner for the Sci-Fi Channel.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
January 1, 1948 (78)
Works as
Director, writer, actor, producer and composer
Titles
24 on MovieCove · 45 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 John Harrison's films like?

Across their 14 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Ideas and Morality.

Genres

Action3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 98th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Action movies
Comedy2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 62nd percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Horror2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 55th percentile
: browse their Horror 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
Ideas
21%
Morality
20%
Survival
20%
Power
13%
Self
12%
Society
11%
Bonds
3%
Survival4 titles, browse their movies with this themeTruth3 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception2 titles, browse their movies with this themeRevenge2 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity2 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity2 titles, browse their movies with this themeIsolation2 titles, browse their movies with this themeViolence2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 12 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 2 · Serious 4 · Dark 6

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

A split, not a type: Grounded 6 · Stylized 1 · Heightened 5

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

Gentle 0 · Charged 5 · Intense 7

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

Steady 4 · Shifting 8 · Whiplash 0

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

Straight-faced 8 · Some laughs 3 · Funny 1

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

Slow burn 3 · Even-paced 8 · Relentless 1

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

Casual 5 · Engaged 5 · Full focus 2

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

Resolved 8 · Open-ended 3 · Ambiguous 1

Roles they play

1 analyzed role
  • Shadowas Lacey Bickel in Effects (1979)

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
12
Dread
10
Contemplative
3
Joyful
2
Cold
2
Other
9

How their films linger

Thought-provoking7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 2 with a twist

  • Happy2
  • Bittersweet9
  • 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 John Harrison's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 21 of their 24 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service.

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for John Harrison'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

45 credits, 24 with a MovieCove page; 5 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Dune: Part Three(2026)

    Executive Producer

  • Dune: Part Two(2024)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Dune(2021)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • Creepshow(2019)

    Show 7 episodes · Director · Story · Teleplay · Writer

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all shows

  • Superstition(2017)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all shows

  • Residue(2015)

    Show 3 episodes · Creator · Executive Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all shows

  • Residue (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    Writer

  • The Librarians(2014)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all shows

  • Mental(2009)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all shows

  • Book of Blood(2009)

    Director · Writer

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • Leverage(2008)

    Show 4 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all shows

  • Blank Slate(2008)

    Director · Writer · as Thomas Hale

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • Diary of the Dead(2007)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all films

  • Painkiller Jane (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Writer

  • Supernova(2005)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 4th percentile of all films

  • Supernova (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

  • Frank Herbert's Children of Dune (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Show 3 episodes · Creator · Writer

  • Frank Herbert's Dune (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Show 3 episodes · Director · Creator · Producer · Writer

  • Dinosaur(2000)

    Screenplay · Story

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Profiler (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • The Assassination File (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Director

  • Kindred: The Embraced (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Donor Unknown (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Director · Teleplay

  • Earth 2 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Show 3 episodes · Director · Writer

  • The Late Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Show 40 episodes · Actor

  • Nightmare Cafe (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Tales from the Darkside (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Director · Writer

  • Memories of Murder (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Screenplay

  • Tales from the Darkside: The Movie(1990)

    Director · Composer

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • Tales from the Crypt(1989)

    Show 3 episodes · Director · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all shows

  • Monsters(1988)

    Show 1 episode · Writer

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all shows

  • Jack's Back(1988)

    as Chooch

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Night Rose: Akhbar's Daughter (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Director · Writer

  • Scary Tales: Night Elevator (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Director · Composer · Teleplay

  • Day of the Dead(1985)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all films

  • Tales from the Darkside (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Show 8 episodes · Director · Story · Writer

  • Creepshow(1982)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Simon & Simon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Knightriders(1981)

    as Pellinore

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Effects(1979)

    Composer · Producer · as Lacey Bickel

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • Dawn of the Dead(1978)

    as Screwdriver Zombie

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

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

    Director

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

    Director

  • Upstairs, Downstairs(1971)

    Show 1 episode · Writer

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all shows

  • Blackmail (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Show 1 episode · Director

Career shape

A full career of 45 titles, 44 of them dated from 1965 to 2024.

Biggest box office

Dune: Part Two (2024)

$715M worldwide

Highest rated

Dune: Part Two (2024)

Midcredits 99th

Film career

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting7 of 45: 5 only acting, 2 with another role · typical Midcredits score35thDirecting25 of 45: 14 only directing, 11 with another role · typical Midcredits score46thWriting17 of 45: 6 only writing, 11 with another role · typical Midcredits score60thProducing7 of 45: 4 only producing, 3 with another role · typical Midcredits score28thMusic4 of 45: 2 only music, 2 with another roleOther crew3 of 45: 0 only other crew, 3 with another role

45 titles, 14 with more than one role — directing and writing overlap on 10 of them.

By decade

1960s1 · crew1970s5 · 2 acting · 4 crew1980s10 · 3 acting · 7 crew1990s10 · 1 acting · 9 crew2000s11 · 1 acting · 11 crew2010s5 · crew2020s2 · 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

2 major nominations and no wins, 1988–2026.

  1. 2026
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Technical Direction and Camerawork for a Series
  2. 1988
    • Writers Guild Award, nominated · Anthology Episode/Single Program

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 John Harrison's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 54th percentile, the median of the 14 of 15 with a score; across their 12 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 56th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

56thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 12

Approval · how many liked their films

51stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 12

Reach · how many have seen their films

92ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 12

Midcredits score across 23 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up7
  • 50th to 74th7
  • 25th to 49th5
  • Below 25th4

Shape of the crowd

9 of their 23 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved5
  • Crowd Pleaser9
  • Broadly Agreed1
  • Mixed8

Most divisive · director

Superstition (2017)

77th percentile spread · 32% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · producer

Dune: Part Two (2024)

Midcredits 99th · 92% liked

Reviewers score the atmosphere 63/100 and the pacing 45/100 in their films, across 12 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 John Harrison's work okay for kids?

Across up to 8 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 & Gore7 titles57–95 · median 79 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity8 titles11–47 · median 26 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity7 titles13–91 · median 58 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs7 titles16–40 · median 37 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense7 titles64–83 · median 74 · 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 John Harrison work with?

People who share at least 2 of John Harrison's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Richard P. Rubinstein shares the most, 6.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers