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Phillip Noyce

Phillip Noyce

Director and producer · Born April 29, 1950 (76) · Griffith, New South Wales, Australia

Phillip Roger Noyce AO (born 29 April 1950) is an Australian film and television director. Since 1977, he has directed over 19 feature films in various genres, including historical drama (Newsfront, Rabbit-Proof Fence, The Quiet American); thrillers (Dead Calm, Sliver, The Bone Collector); and action films (Blind Fury, The Saint, Salt). He has also directed the Jack Ryan adaptations Patriot Games (1992) and Clear and Present Danger (1994), as well as the 2014 adaptation of Lois Lowry's The Giver. Noyce has worked with various actors, including Val Kilmer, Harrison Ford, Denzel Washington, Michael Caine, Angelina Jolie, Nicole Kidman, Meryl Streep, and Rutger Hauer, as well as three films featuring Thora Birch, spanning over 25 years. He has also directed, written and executive-produced television programmes in both Australia and North America, including The Cowra Breakout, Vietnam, Revenge, Roots, and Netflix's What/If. Noyce's work has won him several accolades, including AACTA Awards for Best Film, Best Director and a special Longford Lyell lifetime achievement award. Description above from the Wikipedia article Phillip Noyce, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
April 29, 1950 (76)
From
Griffith, New South Wales, Australia
Works as
Director and producer
Titles
23 on MovieCove · 59 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 4% in 30 days

What are Phillip Noyce's films like?

Across their 18 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Bonds.

Genres

Action8 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 56th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Action movies
Drama5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 56th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: 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
Morality
35%
Bonds
23%
Power
17%
Self
11%
Survival
10%
Society
5%
Justice4 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love4 titles, browse their movies with this themeBetrayal4 titles, browse their movies with this themeOppression3 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception3 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity3 titles, browse their movies with this themeFreedom3 titles, browse their movies with this themeLoyalty2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 17 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 4 · Serious 2 · Dark 11

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

Grounded 12 · Stylized 4 · Heightened 1

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

Gentle 0 · Charged 3 · Intense 14

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

Steady 3 · Shifting 14 · Whiplash 0

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

Straight-faced 15 · Some laughs 2 · Funny 0

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

Slow burn 3 · Even-paced 11 · Relentless 3

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

Casual 3 · Engaged 10 · Full focus 4

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 4 · Affecting 5 · Heavy 8

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

Resolved 10 · Open-ended 5 · Ambiguous 2

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
16
Dread
9
Thrilling
7
Melancholic
6
Hopeful
5
Other
9

How their films linger

Hopeful7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteCathartic4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 3 with a twist

  • Happy4
  • Bittersweet12
  • Ambiguous2

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 Phillip Noyce's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 19 of their 23 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service.

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Phillip Noyce'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

59 credits, 23 with a MovieCove page; 7 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Fast Charlie(2023)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • The Desperate Hour(2021)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films

  • Show Me What You Got(2019)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • Above Suspicion(2019)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • What/If(2019)

    Show 2 episodes · Director · Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all shows

  • The Resident(2018)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows

  • Gone Baby Gone (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    Director

  • Roots(2016)

    Show 4 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all shows

  • The Giver(2014)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Crisis(2014)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all shows

  • Mary and Martha(2013)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Once Around the Sun (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    Assistant Director

  • Americana (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    Director

  • Luck(2011)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all shows

  • Revenge(2011)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all shows

  • Salt(2010)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Catch a Fire(2006)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • The Story of Pao (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Consulting Producer

  • Welcome to São Paulo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Director

  • Tru Calling (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Show 1 episode · Director · Executive Producer

  • The Quiet American(2002)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • Rabbit-Proof Fence(2002)

    Director · Producer

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • The Bone Collector(1999)

    Director · as Customer in Antique Bookshop (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • The Repair Shop (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Director

  • The Saint(1997)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Clear and Present Danger(1994)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • Sliver(1993)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • Patriot Games(1992)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • Blind Fury(1989)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Dead Calm(1989)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • Shadows of the Peacock (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Director

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

    Story

  • The Cowra Breakout (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Director

  • Tausend Augen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    as Mann in der Fähre

  • The Hitchhiker (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Show 5 episodes · Director

  • The Dismissal (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Show 3 episodes · Director

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

    Director · Screenplay

  • Newsfront (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Director · Screenplay

  • Tapak Dewata - Path of the Gods: Java and Bali (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Director · Writer

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

    Director · Producer · Writer

  • The Golden Cage (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Assistant Director

  • Castor and Pollux (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    Director

  • Renegades: Fragments from a Diary of Three Years' Experience 1970-1973 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    Director · Cinematographer · Editor · Sound · as Himself

  • One Hundred a Day (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    Assistant Director

  • Caravan Park (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    Director

  • Finks Make Movies (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    Director · Cinematographer

  • That's Showbiz! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    Director

  • Good Afternoon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Director

  • Homesdale (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    as Neville

  • Home (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Director

  • Intersection (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Director

  • Memories (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Director

  • Sun (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Director

  • Better to Reign in Hell (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Director

  • Alive Day (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Director

  • Ally Clark (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Director

  • Cowboy Bob (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Director

  • First Warrior (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Writer

  • Killer 10 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Director

Career shape

A full career of 59 titles, 54 of them dated from 1969 to 2023.

Biggest box office

Salt (2010)

$294M worldwide

Highest rated

Rabbit-Proof Fence (2002)

Midcredits 91st

Most popular right now

The Bone Collector (1999)

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting3 of 59: 2 only acting, 1 with another roleDirecting50 of 59: 40 only directing, 10 with another role · typical Midcredits score65thWriting6 of 59: 2 only writing, 4 with another roleProducing6 of 59: 2 only producing, 4 with another roleCinematography2 of 59: 0 only cinematography, 2 with another roleEditing1 of 59: 0 only editing, 1 with another roleOther crew4 of 59: 3 only other crew, 1 with another role

59 titles, 10 with more than one role — directing and producing overlap on 4 of them.

By decade

1960s1 · crew1970s16 · 1 acting · 15 crew1980s9 · 1 acting · 8 crew1990s6 · 1 acting · 6 crew2000s6 · crew2010s13 · crew2020s3 · 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 Phillip Noyce's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 60th percentile, the median of all 17; across their 17 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 60th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

60thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 17

Approval · how many liked their films

70thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 17

Reach · how many have seen their films

92ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 17

Midcredits score across 23 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up7
  • 50th to 74th11
  • 25th to 49th2
  • Below 25th3

Shape of the crowd

16 of their 23 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved2
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser16
  • Broadly Agreed2
  • Mixed2

Most divisive · producer

Show Me What You Got (2019)

73rd percentile spread · 33% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · director, producer

Rabbit-Proof Fence (2002)

Midcredits 91st · 81% liked

Reviewers score the atmosphere 68/100 and the pacing 51/100 in their films, across 17 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 Phillip Noyce's work okay for kids?

Across up to 13 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 & Gore13 titles37–83 · median 61 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity13 titles13–53 · median 27 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity12 titles35–69 · median 56 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs13 titles13–46 · median 35 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense12 titles39–66 · median 57 · 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 Phillip Noyce work with?

People who share at least 2 of Phillip Noyce's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Thora Birch shares the most, 3.

Writers

Actors

Composers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles