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Peter Mullan

Peter Mullan

Actor, also director, writer and producer · Born November 2, 1959 (66) · Peterhead, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, UK

Peter Mullan (born 2 November 1959) is a Scottish stage, film and television actor and director, best known for playing supporting roles in feature films such as "Braveheart" and "Trainspotting", and for starring as the titular character Joe Kavanagh in "My Name Is Joe". He won a Golden Lion at 59th Venice International Film Festival for his direction of "The Magdalene Sisters".

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
November 2, 1959 (66)
From
Peterhead, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, UK
Works as
Actor, also director, writer and producer
Titles
63 on MovieCove · 115 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 26Up 21% in 30 days

What are Peter Mullan's films like?

Across their 45 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Survival.

Genres

Drama14 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 79th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Comedy7 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 59th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Action3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 35th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Adventure3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 71st percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Adventure movies
Crime3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 89th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime movies
Biography2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 79th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: 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
Morality
23%
Survival
20%
Self
19%
Bonds
18%
Power
10%
Society
9%
Ideas
1%
Family bonds11 titles, browse their movies with this themeRedemption10 titles, browse their movies with this themeTrauma10 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival6 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice7 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity6 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose4 titles, browse their movies with this themeClass5 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 34 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Dark: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their dark movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 5 · Serious 7 · Dark 22

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

A split, not a type: Grounded 19 · Stylized 12 · Heightened 3

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

Gentle 2 · Charged 16 · Intense 16

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

Steady 10 · Shifting 20 · Whiplash 4

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

Straight-faced 21 · Some laughs 13 · Funny 0

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

Slow burn 10 · Even-paced 23 · 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 10 · Engaged 19 · Full focus 5

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 5 · Affecting 9 · Heavy 20

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

Resolved 23 · Open-ended 8 · Ambiguous 3

Roles they play

25 analyzed roles

Usually the Shadow: 6 of 25 analyzed roles.

Shadow
6 of 25
Hero
5 of 25
Ally
4 of 25
Mentor
4 of 25
Threshold guardian
4 of 25
Herald
1 of 25
Shapeshifter
1 of 25
Show the 25 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
32
Dread
19
Melancholic
22
Warm
9
Bittersweet
9
Other
36

How their films linger

Bittersweet18 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking16 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling14 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful13 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting11 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 11 with a twist

  • Happy5
  • Bittersweet22
  • Tragic4
  • Ambiguous13
  • Cyclical1

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 Peter Mullan's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 47 of their 63 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service.

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Peter Mullan'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

115 credits, 63 with a MovieCove page; 2 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Elsinore(2026)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • Borges and Me (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2026)

    as George Mackay Brown

  • The Fall of Sir Douglas Weatherford(2026)

    as Kenneth

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all films

  • RHYTHMS (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2026)

    as Jamie's Dad

  • Steal(2026)

    Show 1 episode · as Sir Toby Gould

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all shows

  • I Swear(2025)

    as Tommy

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Outlander: Blood of My Blood(2025)

    Show 2 episodes · as Red Jacob MacKenzie

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • The Bombing of Pan Am 103(2025)

    Show 4 episodes · as John Orr

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all shows

  • Hogmanay (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2025)

    as Mr Milne

  • Baghead(2023)

    as Owen Lark

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • After the Party (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)

    Show 6 episodes · as Phil

  • Payback(2023)

    Show 6 episodes · as Cal Morris

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all shows

  • Liaison(2023)

    Show 6 episodes · as Richard Banks

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all shows

  • The Hanging Sun (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    as Dad

  • The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power(2022)

    Show 9 episodes · as King Durin III

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all shows

  • The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Global Fan Screening (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    as King Durin III

  • Chivalry (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    Show 1 episode · as Fraser Schwartz

  • Skint (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    Show 7 episodes · as Donny

  • Don vs Lightning (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2021)

    as Don

  • The North Water(2021)

    Show 2 episodes · as Priest

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all shows

  • The Underground Railroad(2021)

    Show 3 episodes · as Ridgeway Senior

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all shows

  • Chips (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    as Chips (voice)

  • Marionette(2020)

    as Dr. McVittie

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Cursed(2020)

    Show 10 episodes · as Father Carden

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all shows

  • Fatbaws (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    Director · Actor

  • The Witcher(2019)

    Show 2 episodes · as Vesemir

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all shows

  • Orphans Reunited (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    Actor

  • The Vanishing(2018)

    as Thomas

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle(2018)

    as Akela (voice)

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Pearl (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    as Al

  • Hostiles(2017)

    as Lieutenant Colonel Ross McCowan

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • Gunpowder(2017)

    Show 3 episodes · as Father Henry Garnet

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all shows

  • Ozark(2017)

    Show 20 episodes · as Jacob Snell

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • Tommy's Honour(2016)

    as 'Old' Tom Morris

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

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

    as Jake

  • Westworld(2016)

    Show 4 episodes · as James Delos

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all shows

  • Quarry(2016)

    Show 8 episodes · as The Broker

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all shows

  • Mum(2016)

    Show 18 episodes · as Michael

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows

  • Hector(2015)

    as Hector McAdam

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • Sunset Song(2015)

    as John Guthrie

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • Stonemouth(2015)

    Show 2 episodes · as Don Murston

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all shows

  • Olive Kitteridge(2014)

    Show 4 episodes · as Jim O'Casey

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all shows

  • Hercules(2014)

    as Sitacles

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Lily's Driftwood Bay(2014)

    Show 100 episodes · as Captain Salty Dog (voice)

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all shows (provisional, few ratings)

  • Sunshine on Leith(2013)

    as Robert 'Rab' Henshaw

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • Top of the Lake(2013)

    Show 7 episodes · as Matt Mitcham

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all shows

  • Welcome to the Punch(2013)

    as Roy Edwards

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • The Fear (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    Show 4 episodes · as Richie Beckett

  • The Liability(2012)

    as Peter

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • The Man Inside (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    as Gordon Sinclair

  • War Horse(2011)

    as Ted Narracott

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Long Distance Information (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    as Jack

  • Tyrannosaur(2011)

    as Joseph

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1(2010)

    as Corban Yaxley

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • Neds(2010)

    Director · Producer · Writer · as Mr. McGill

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Red Riding: The Year of Our Lord 1974(2009)

    as Martin Laws

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Red Riding: The Year of Our Lord 1980(2009)

    as Martin Laws

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • Red Riding: The Year of Our Lord 1983(2009)

    as Martin Laws

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all films

  • Red Riding (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Show 3 episodes · as Reverend Martin Laws

  • Stone of Destiny(2008)

    as Ian's Father

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Boy A(2007)

    as Terry

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • The Fixer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    Show 12 episodes · Actor

  • To Build a Home (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    Actor

  • True North (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    as Riley

  • Dog Altogether (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    as Joseph

  • British Film Forever (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Last Legion(2007)

    as Odoacer

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • The Trial of Tony Blair(2007)

    as Gordon Brown

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Children of Men(2006)

    as Syd

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Cinema 16: European Short Films (European Edition) (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Director

  • Cargo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    as Brookes

  • Carry On Ken (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Actor

  • On a Clear Day(2005)

    as Frank

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • Shoebox Zoo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Show 26 episodes · as Michael Scot

  • Criminal(2004)

    as William Hannigan

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Blinded (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    as Francis Black

  • Out of This World (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    as Jim

  • Kiss of Life (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    as John

  • Young Adam(2003)

    as Les Gault

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • This Little Life (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    as Neonatologist

  • The Magdalene Sisters(2002)

    Director · Screenplay · as Mr O'Connor

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • Session 9(2001)

    as Gordon

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • The Claim(2000)

    as Daniel Dillon

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • Ordinary Decent Criminal(2000)

    as Stevie

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Miss Julie(1999)

    as Jean

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • The Escort(1999)

    as Patricia's Husband

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • Exterior Park - Day (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Actor

  • Orphans (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Director · Writer

  • My Name Is Joe(1998)

    as Joe

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • Duck (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    as Nick

  • FairyTale: A True Story(1997)

    as Sergeant Farmer

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • Bogwoman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    as Barry

  • The Longest Memory (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    as Sanders Sr.

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

    as Billy

  • Trainspotting(1996)

    as Swanney

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

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

    Director · Writer

  • Ruffian Hearts (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    as Chez

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

    Actor

  • Braveheart(1995)

    as Veteran

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • Good Day for the Bad Guys (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Director · Writer · as John

  • Shallow Grave(1994)

    as Andy

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Cardiac Arrest (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Show 3 episodes · Director

  • The Priest and the Pirate (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    as Billy Hill

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

    Show 1 episode · as Jimmy

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

    Director · Writer · as Vincent

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

    as Sim

  • Jute City (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Show 3 episodes · as Mallet

  • Riff-Raff(1991)

    as Jake

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • Your Cheatin' Heart (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Actor

  • Your Cheatin' Heart (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Show 6 episodes · as Tonto

  • Crossing the Line(1990)

    as Vince

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • The Steamie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    as Andy

  • Taggart(1983)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all shows

  • Mountain (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    as Bill

  • Mystery Ride (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    as Callum Macfarlane

Career shape

Star power in the 99th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 115 titles, 112 of them dated from 1983 to 2026; peak year 2010.

Biggest box office

Hercules (2014)

$245M worldwide

Highest rated

I Swear (2025)

Midcredits 99th

Film career

19832026

Peak 2010 · steadily prominent in film for years. Top draw in 24 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
Acting111 of 115: 106 only acting, 5 with another role · typical Midcredits score68thDirecting9 of 115: 2 only directing, 7 with another roleWriting6 of 115: 0 only writing, 6 with another role

115 titles, 7 with more than one role — acting and directing overlap on 5 of them.

By decade

1980s2 · acting1990s27 · 24 acting · 5 crew2000s29 · 28 acting · 2 crew2010s30 · 30 acting · 1 crew2020s24 · 24 acting · 1 crew

Billing

usually 5th · top billed in 17% of 41 roles
9101061116

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 Peter Mullan's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 70th percentile, the median of all 43; across their 34 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 64th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

64thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 34

Approval · how many liked their films

64thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 34

Reach · how many have seen their films

86thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 34

Midcredits score across 63 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up27
  • 50th to 74th20
  • 25th to 49th13
  • Below 25th3

Shape of the crowd

29 of their 63 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved13
  • Cult Classic2
  • Crowd Pleaser29
  • Broadly Agreed11
  • Mixed8

Most divisive · actor

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power (2022)

85th percentile spread · 26% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

I Swear (2025)

Midcredits 99th · 96% liked

Reviewers score the acting 76/100 in their films, across 34 reviewed titles; fans 83, detractors 51. 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 Peter Mullan's work okay for kids?

Across up to 26 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore, sex & nudity, profanity and frightening / intense run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore20 titles57–88 · median 80 · severeheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity26 titles13–74 · median 43 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity20 titles28–90 · median 64 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs19 titles27–55 · median 38 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense18 titles54–89 · 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 Peter Mullan work with?

People who share at least 2 of Peter Mullan's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Gary Lewis shares the most, 5.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers and editors

Producers