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Mark L. Lester

Mark L. Lester

Producer, director and writer · Born November 26, 1946 (79) · Cleveland, Ohio, USA

Mark L. Lester (born November 26, 1946) is an American filmmaker. Following his first film, Twilight of the Mayas, Lester worked on films such as Stunts, Steel Arena, and Bobby Jo and the Outlaw. His next film Roller Boogie with Linda Blair was a modest success, which he built on with reasonably received exploitation thriller Class of 1984, and Stephen King's Firestarter. His biggest hit came in 1985 with Commando, an Arnold Schwarzenegger action film that grossed over $57 million worldwide. He also founded American World Pictures, and independent production and distribution company, which largely produces television films. Other credits include Showdown in Little Tokyo starring Dolph Lundgren and Brandon Lee, Night of the Running Man, Extreme Justice, Misbegotten, The Ex, Double Take, and Truck Stop Women.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
November 26, 1946 (79)
From
Cleveland, Ohio, USA
Works as
Producer, director and writer
Titles
48 on MovieCove · 60 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 33% in 30 days

What are Mark L. Lester's films like?

Across their 48 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Survival and Morality.

Genres

Action24 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 15th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Action movies
Horror7 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 4th percentile
: browse their Horror movies
Drama6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 6th percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Thriller3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 10th percentile
: browse their Thriller movies
Adventure2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 2nd percentile
: browse their Adventure movies
Comedy2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 21st percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Crime2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 19th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime movies
Fantasy2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 5th percentile
: browse their Fantasy 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
32%
Morality
25%
Bonds
15%
Self
13%
Power
10%
Society
5%
Survival25 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice13 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds8 titles, browse their movies with this themeRevenge6 titles, browse their movies with this themeViolence8 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love4 titles, browse their movies with this themeAmbition3 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity3 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 48 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 15 · Serious 17 · Dark 16

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

A split, not a type: Grounded 32 · Stylized 10 · 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 4 · Charged 21 · Intense 23

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

Steady 14 · Shifting 30 · Whiplash 4

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

Straight-faced 34 · Some laughs 13 · Funny 1

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

Slow burn 10 · Even-paced 28 · Relentless 10

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

Casual 30 · Engaged 17 · Full focus 1

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

Resolved 40 · Open-ended 7 · Ambiguous 1

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
39
Dread
21
Thrilling
21
Absurd
13
Joyful
3
Other
23

How their films linger

Fun22 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling22 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteCathartic16 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet12 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 9 with a twist

  • Happy16
  • Bittersweet18
  • Ambiguous14

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 Mark L. Lester's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 37 of their 48 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (34).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Mark L. Lester'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

60 credits, 48 with a MovieCove page; 4 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Bury 'Em Deep(2025)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films

  • Cinderella's Revenge(2024)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all films

  • Ouija Witch(2023)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 5th percentile of all films

  • Hunt Club(2022)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 2nd percentile of all films

  • Exorcist Vengeance(2022)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all films

  • Nutcracker Massacre(2022)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all films

  • The Gardener(2021)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 5th percentile of all films

  • Sleeping with My Student(2019)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • High Resolution(2018)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all films

  • Social Animals(2018)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • Toxin(2015)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 2nd percentile of all films

  • Dragons of Camelot(2014)

    Director · Producer

    Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all films

  • Poseidon Rex (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    Director · Producer

  • Die schlechtesten Filme aller Zeiten (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    Show 1 episode · Producer

  • Rise of the Dinosaurs(2013)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all films

  • Dragon Wasps(2012)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all films

  • Sand Sharks(2012)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all films

  • Jabberwock Dragon Siege (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    Producer

  • Sinbad and the Minotaur(2011)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 2nd percentile of all films

  • Groupie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    Director · Executive Producer · Producer

  • Beauty and the Beast(2010)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all films

  • Yeti: Curse of the Snow Demon(2008)

    Executive Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 2nd percentile of all films

  • Lost Colony: The Legend of Roanoke(2007)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 8th percentile of all films

  • Day of Wrath(2006)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Blood and Blackboards (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Actor

  • Pterosaurus(2004)

    Director · Producer

    Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all films

  • Betrayal(2003)

    Director · Producer

    Midcredits score: 5th percentile of all films

  • Stealing Candy(2003)

    Director · Producer · Story

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films

  • White Rush(2003)

    Director · Producer

    Midcredits score: 10th percentile of all films

  • Bad Karma(2001)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all films

  • The Wisher(2002)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all films

  • Devil's Prey(2001)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 4th percentile of all films

  • Instinct to Kill(2001)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films

  • Guilty as Charged(2000)

    Director · Producer

    Midcredits score: 6th percentile of all films

  • Sacrifice(2000)

    Director · Producer

    Midcredits score: 10th percentile of all films

  • Blowback(2000)

    Director · Producer

    Midcredits score: 7th percentile of all films

  • The Base(1999)

    Director · Producer

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films

  • Hitman's Run (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Director · Producer

  • Misbegotten(1997)

    Director · Producer

    Midcredits score: 10th percentile of all films

  • Double Take (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Director · Producer

  • The Ex (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Director · Producer

  • Public Enemies (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Director · Producer

  • Night of the Running Man(1995)

    Director · Producer

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • Class of 1999 II: The Substitute(1994)

    Original Series Creator

    Midcredits score: 7th percentile of all films

  • Extreme Justice(1993)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Showdown in Little Tokyo(1991)

    Director · Producer

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • Class of 1999(1990)

    Director · Producer · Story

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • Armed and Dangerous(1986)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • Commando(1985)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Firestarter(1984)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all films

  • Class of 1984(1982)

    Director · Executive Producer · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • The Funhouse(1981)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • Roller Boogie(1979)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 22nd percentile of all films

  • Gold of the Amazon Women(1979)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 2nd percentile of all films

  • Stunts (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Director

  • Bobbie Jo and the Outlaw(1976)

    Director · Producer

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • White House Madness (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Director · Producer

  • Truck Stop Women(1974)

    Director · Producer · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • Steel Arena(1973)

    Director · Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • Tricia's Wedding (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Producer

Career shape

A full career of 54 titles from 1971 to 2024.

Biggest box office

Commando (1985)

$57M worldwide

Highest rated

Commando (1985)

Midcredits 71st

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting1 of 54: 1 only acting, 0 with another roleDirecting31 of 54: 7 only directing, 24 with another role · typical Midcredits score15thWriting6 of 54: 1 only writing, 5 with another role · typical Midcredits score16thProducing45 of 54: 21 only producing, 24 with another role · typical Midcredits score8th

54 titles, 24 with more than one role — producing and directing overlap on 24 of them.

By decade

1970s8 · crew1980s5 · crew1990s11 · crew2000s14 · 1 acting · 13 crew2010s11 · crew2020s5 · 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 Mark L. Lester's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 9th percentile, the median of all 48; across their 48 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 14th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

14thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 48

Approval · how many liked their films

7thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 48

Reach · how many have seen their films

60thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 48

Midcredits score across 48 titles, by percentile

  • 50th to 74th3
  • 25th to 49th8
  • Below 25th37

Shape of the crowd

37 of their 48 titles are Mixed.

  • Universally Panned3
  • Crowd Pleaser3
  • Broadly Agreed5
  • Mixed37

Most divisive · producer

Bury 'Em Deep (2025)

86th percentile spread · 54% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · director

Commando (1985)

Midcredits 71st · 62% liked

Reviewers score the atmosphere 43/100 and the pacing 41/100 in their films, across 48 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 Mark L. Lester's work okay for kids?

Across up to 14 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore, sex & nudity, profanity, alcohol & drugs and frightening / intense run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore9 titles63–90 · median 71 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity14 titles20–71 · median 53 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity8 titles29–85 · median 54 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs8 titles29–74 · median 52 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense8 titles47–74 · median 63 · 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 Mark L. Lester work with?

People who share at least 2 of Mark L. Lester's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Dana Dubovsky shares the most, 20.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles