Skip to content
MovieCove
Erland Josephson

Erland Josephson

Actor, also writer · Died February 25, 2012, aged 88 · Stockholm, Stockholms län, Sweden

Erland Josephson (15 June 1923 – 25 February 2012) was a Swedish actor and author. He was best known by international audiences for his work in films directed by Ingmar Bergman, Andrei Tarkovsky and Theodoros Angelopoulos. Description above from the Wikipedia article Erland Josephson, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia​.

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
June 16, 1923
Died
February 25, 2012 (aged 88)
From
Stockholm, Stockholms län, Sweden
Works as
Actor, also writer
Titles
33 on MovieCove · 114 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 37 days to Oct 26Down 13% in 30 days

What are Erland Josephson's films like?

Across their 29 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Survival and Self.

Genres

Drama22 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 93rd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Comedy4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 70th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Biography2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 58th percentile
: browse their Biography 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
Survival
23%
Self
20%
Bonds
19%
Morality
17%
Power
8%
Society
8%
Ideas
5%
Family bonds7 titles, browse their movies with this themeMemory5 titles, browse their movies with this themeGrief6 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love4 titles, browse their movies with this themeGuilt5 titles, browse their movies with this themeAmbition4 titles, browse their movies with this themeMental illness4 titles, browse their movies with this themeTrauma4 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 29 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Dark: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their dark movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 4 · Serious 4 · Dark 21

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

A split, not a type: Grounded 15 · Stylized 8 · Heightened 6

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

A split, not a type: Gentle 5 · Charged 9 · Intense 15

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

A split, not a type: Steady 15 · Shifting 12 · Whiplash 2

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

Straight-faced 25 · Some laughs 3 · Funny 1

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

Slow burn 21 · Even-paced 8 · Relentless 0

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 12

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

Easy watch 4 · Affecting 4 · Heavy 21

Open-ended: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their open-ended movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

A split, not a type: Resolved 11 · Open-ended 8 · Ambiguous 10

Roles they play

17 analyzed roles

Usually the Mentor: 7 of 17 analyzed roles.

Mentor
7 of 17
Shapeshifter
3 of 17
Hero
2 of 17
Shadow
2 of 17
Trickster
1 of 17
Threshold guardian
1 of 17
Ally
1 of 17
Show the 17 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Melancholic
21
Tense
16
Contemplative
14
Dread
8
Hopeful
4
Other
15

How their films linger

Thought-provoking16 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting13 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteDevastating7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteWistful5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 1 with a twist

  • Happy1
  • Bittersweet14
  • Tragic6
  • 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 Erland Josephson's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 19 of their 33 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on The Criterion Channel (12).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Erland Josephson'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

114 credits, 33 with a MovieCove page; 22 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Final Cut: Ladies and Gentlemen(2012)

    as (archive footage)

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • Scener ur ett vardagsliv (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Actor

  • Änglastämman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    as (voice)

  • Men and Bergman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    Actor

  • The Ghost Sonata (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    as Bengtsson

  • Spelar du ikväll? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Actor

  • Welcome to Verona (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    as Joseph

  • Well Tempered Corpses (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Actor

  • Day and Night(2004)

    as Narrator (voice)

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • Saraband(2003)

    as Johan

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • Now (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    as Jakob (old)

  • Hr. Boe & Co.’s Anxiety (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Actor

  • Faithless(2000)

    as Bergman

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • Ljuset håller mig sällskap(2000)

    as Narrator (voice)

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • On the Last Verse: A Small Film About Death (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    as Ernst Forsberg

  • The Magnetist’s Fifth Winter (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    as Mr. Hofverberg

  • In the Presence of a Clown(1997)

    as Osvald Vogler

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • The Tattooed Widow (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    as Per Gunnarsson

  • Från regnormarnas liv (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    as Johan Ludvig Heiberg

  • Ulysses' Gaze(1995)

    as Ivo Levy

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Stjärnbilder (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    as (archive footage)

  • Kristin Lavransdatter (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    as Broder Edvin

  • The Sunset Boys (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    as August Lind

  • Som löven i Vallombrosa (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    as John

  • Som löven i Vallombrosa (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

  • Vendetta (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    as DG

  • The Forbidden Fruit (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    as Hazainat

  • Dansaren(1994)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Dreamplay (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    as Blind Man

  • Rosenbaum - Det sista vittnet (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    as Samuel Rosenbaum

  • Rosenbaum - Målbrott (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    as Samuel Rosenbaum

  • Minns ni? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    as (archive footage)

  • Rosenbaum (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Show 3 episodes · as Samuel Rosenbaum

  • Rosenbaum - Bländverk (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    as Samuel Rosenbaum

  • Sofie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as Sofie's Father

  • Holocene (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as Geiser

  • The Accidental Golfer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    as Critic

  • The Ox(1991)

    as Sigvard Silver

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • The Wicked (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    as Prof. Brokner

  • Meeting Venus(1991)

    as Jorge Picabia

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Prospero's Books(1991)

    as Gonzalo

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • Good Evening, Mr. Wallenberg(1990)

    as The Rabbi

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • The Dark Sun (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    as Attorney Belmonte

  • Migrations (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    as Episkop

  • Directed by Andrei Tarkovsky (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    as Narrator

  • Una donna spezzata (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Actor

  • Hanussen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    as Dr. Bettelheim

  • Le Testament d'un poète juif assassiné (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    as Zupanev

  • The Unbearable Lightness of Being(1988)

    as The Ambassador

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • The Legendary Life of Ernest Hemingway(1989)

    as Clarence Hemingway

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

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

    as Swanson

  • The Malady of Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    as Robert's Father

  • L'ultima mazurka (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    as Serra

  • The Sacrifice(1986)

    as Alexander

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Saving Grace(1986)

    as Monsignor Francesco Ghezzi

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Storm, der Schimmelreiter (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    as Theodor Storm

  • Amorosa (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    as David Sprengel

  • De flyvende djævle(1985)

    as Oscar

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Un caso d'incoscienza (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    as Erik Sander

  • Fanny and Alexander (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Show 2 episodes · as Isak Jacobi

  • Dirty Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    as Gabriel Berggren

  • Bakom jalusin (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    as Daniel Brenner

  • Angela's War (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    as Anton Goldberg

  • After the Rehearsal(1984)

    as Henrik Vogler (older)

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Alf Sjöberg - mästaren (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Actor

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

    as David

  • The House of the Yellow Carpet (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    as The Professor

  • Nostalgia(1983)

    as Domenico

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Bella Donna (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    as Max

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

    as Oče

  • Fanny and Alexander(1982)

    as Isak Jacobi

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Variola Vera(1982)

    as Dragutin Kenigsmark

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Dubbelsvindlarna (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 3 episodes · as Förläggaren

  • Montenegro (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    as Martin Jordan

  • Season of Peace in Paris (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Actor

  • You Love Only Once (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    as Rudolf

  • Victor Sjöström - A Portrait (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Actor

  • A Dream Play (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    as Diktaren

  • Kärleken (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    as Andreas

  • Marmalade Revolution (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    Director · Producer · Writer · as Karl Henrik Eller

  • To Forget Venice(1979)

    as Nicky

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • The First Polka (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    as Leo Maria Piontek

  • Autumn Sonata(1978)

    as Josef

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • Rätt ut i luften (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Director · Writer

  • One on One (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Director · Writer · as Uncle Dan

  • I Am Afraid (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    as Judge Cancedda

  • Beyond Good and Evil(1977)

    as Friedrich Nietzsche

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • Games of Love and Loneliness (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    as Doncker

  • Face to Face (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Show 4 episodes · as Dr. Tomas Jacobi

  • Face to Face(1976)

    as Dr. Tomas Jacobi

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • The Magic Flute(1975)

    as Man in Audience (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Monismanien 1995 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    as Teacher

  • Scenes from a Marriage(1974)

    as Johan

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • The Vocation (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • Scenes from a Marriage (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    Show 6 episodes · as Johan

  • Cries & Whispers(1972)

    as David

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • The Lie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    as Elis, Anna's lover

  • The Red Room (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    Show 9 episodes · as Von Dardel

  • The Passion of Anna(1969)

    as Elis Vergerus

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Swedish and Underage (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Actor

  • The Girls (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    as Carl, Mann von Liz

  • Hour of the Wolf(1968)

    as Baron von Merkens

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Stimulantia (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Writer

  • All These Women(1964)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • Sällskapslek (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Writer

  • The Pleasure Garden (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Writer

  • The Swedish General Strike 1909 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Actor

  • The Magician(1958)

    as Consul Egerman

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Brink of Life(1958)

    as Anders Ellius

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • Som man bäddar... (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    Actor

  • Sceningång (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    Writer · as Bergkvist

  • To Joy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    as Bertil (uncredited)

  • Eva (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)

    as Karl

  • It Rains on Our Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1946)

    as Official at Pastor's Expedition (uncredited)

Career shape

Star power in the 99th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 114 titles from 1946 to 2012; peak year 1983.

Biggest box office

The Unbearable Lightness of Being (1988)

$10M worldwide

Highest rated

Scenes from a Marriage (1974)

Midcredits 99th

Most popular right now

Autumn Sonata (1978)

Film career

19462012

Peak 1983 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Top draw in 7 MovieCove titles. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting109 of 114: 106 only acting, 3 with another role · typical Midcredits score89thDirecting3 of 114: 0 only directing, 3 with another roleWriting8 of 114: 4 only writing, 4 with another roleProducing1 of 114: 0 only producing, 1 with another role

114 titles, 4 with more than one role — acting and writing overlap on 3 of them.

By decade

1940s2 · acting1950s6 · 6 acting · 1 crew1960s8 · 4 acting · 4 crew1970s18 · 17 acting · 2 crew1980s37 · 37 acting · 1 crew1990s29 · acting2000s13 · acting2010s1 · acting

Billing

usually 3rd · top billed in 8% of 26 roles
46718186

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; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do Erland Josephson's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 87th percentile, the median of all 33; across their 29 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 85th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

85thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 29

Approval · how many liked their films

86thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 29

Reach · how many have seen their films

74thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 29

Midcredits score across 33 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up23
  • 50th to 74th8
  • 25th to 49th1
  • Below 25th1

Shape of the crowd

14 of their 33 titles are Universally Loved.

  • Universally Loved14
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser14
  • Mixed4

Most divisive · actor

The Legendary Life of Ernest Hemingway (1989)

85th percentile spread · 22% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Scenes from a Marriage (1974)

Midcredits 99th · 90% liked

Reviewers score the acting 83/100 in their films, across 26 reviewed titles; fans 86, detractors 53. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

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 Erland Josephson's work okay for kids?

Across up to 13 MovieCove titles with content scores, sex & nudity and frightening / intense run heavier than most films and profanity lighter.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore8 titles21–68 · median 50 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity13 titles34–70 · median 54 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity7 titles3–35 · median 12 · minimallighter than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs8 titles25–61 · median 38 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense9 titles36–81 · median 58 · moderateheavier 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 Erland Josephson work with?

People who share at least 2 of Erland Josephson's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Ingmar Bergman shares the most, 14.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Cinematographers and editors

Producers