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Jean Renoir

Jean Renoir

Director, writer, actor and producer, also editor · Died February 12, 1979, aged 84 · Paris, France

Jean Renoir (15 September 1894 – 12 February 1979) was a French film director, screenwriter, actor, producer and author. As a film director and actor, he made more than forty films from the silent era to the end of the 1960s. As an author, he wrote the definitive biography of his father, the painter, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Renoir, My Father (1962). In the 1930s, Renoir was associated with the Popular Front, and several of his films reflect the movement's left-wing politics and deal with social issues as well as class disparities. He was perhaps the most significant director of the poetic realism movement. The satirical comedy-drama film The Rules of the Game (1939) is often cited by critics as among the greatest films ever made; it is the only film to earn a place among the top ten films in the respected British Film Institute's Sight & Sound decennial critics' poll for every decade from the poll's inception in 1952 through the 2012 list. Other important works are Grand Illusion (1937), A Day in the Country (1946) and The River (1951). Andrew Sarris in his influential book of film criticism The American Cinema: Directors and Directions 1929–1968 included him in the "pantheon" of the 14 greatest film directors who had worked in the United States.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
September 15, 1894
Died
February 12, 1979 (aged 84)
From
Paris, France
Works as
Director, writer, actor and producer, also editor
Titles
21 on MovieCove · 53 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 26Up 2% in 30 days

What are Jean Renoir's films like?

Across their 22 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Self and Power.

Genres

Drama9 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 68th percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Comedy7 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 77th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Crime4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 85th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime 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
Self
24%
Power
24%
Bonds
20%
Morality
14%
Survival
8%
Society
5%
Ideas
5%
Class6 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds4 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity4 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love4 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception4 titles, browse their movies with this themeAmbition3 titles, browse their movies with this themeObsession3 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 22 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 5 · Serious 8 · Dark 9

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

Grounded 8 · Stylized 10 · Heightened 4

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

Gentle 5 · Charged 13 · Intense 4

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

Steady 10 · Shifting 10 · Whiplash 2

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 13 · Some laughs 6 · Funny 3

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

Slow burn 14 · 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 8 · Engaged 14 · Full focus 0

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

Easy watch 7 · Affecting 11 · Heavy 4

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

Resolved 16 · Open-ended 4 · Ambiguous 2

Roles they play

1 analyzed role

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
13
Melancholic
10
Warm
6
Joyful
6
Romantic
5
Other
17

How their films linger

Feel-good7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end

  • Happy8
  • Bittersweet8
  • Tragic5
  • Ambiguous1

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 Jean Renoir's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 9 of their 21 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on The Criterion Channel (7).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Jean Renoir'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

53 credits, 21 with a MovieCove page; 21 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Renoir, My Father (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Book

  • BBC2 Play of the Week (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Show 1 episode · Book

  • The Little Theatre of Jean Renoir (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    Director · Writer · as The Narrator/Host

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

    Writer

  • Postface: La Petite Marchande d'allumettes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    as Jean Renoir

  • The Elusive Corporal(1962)

    Director · Writer

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • Jean Renoir parle de son art (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    as Interviewee

  • Experiment in Evil(1959)

    Director · Producer · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • Picnic on the Grass(1959)

    Director · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • Elena and Her Men(1956)

    Director · Writer

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • French Cancan(1955)

    Director · Adaptation · Writer

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • The Golden Coach(1952)

    Director · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • The River(1951)

    Director · Producer · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • The Ways of Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    Director

  • The Woman on the Beach(1947)

    Director · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • A Day in the Country (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1946)

    Director · Writer · as Père Poulain

  • The Diary of a Chambermaid(1946)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • The Southerner(1945)

    Director · Writer

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • A Salute to France (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1944)

    Director · Screenplay

  • This Land Is Mine(1943)

    Director · Producer · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • The Amazing Mrs. Holliday(1943)

    Co-Director

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • Swamp Water(1941)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Tosca (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    Co-Director

  • Cristobal's Gold (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    Dialogue

  • The Rules of the Game(1939)

    Director · Producer · Screenplay · as Octave

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • The Human Beast(1938)

    Director · Screenplay · as Cabuche

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • La Marseillaise (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    Director · Producer · Writer

  • The Spanish Earth(1937)

    Writer · as Narrator (voice)

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • Grand Illusion(1937)

    Director · Writer

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • The Lower Depths (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    Director · Writer

  • Life Is Ours(1936)

    Director · Writer · as Le patron du bistrot

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • The Crime of Monsieur Lange (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    Director · Screenplay

  • Toni (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    Director · Author · Screenplay

  • A Bum Deal (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    Director

  • Madame Bovary (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    Director · Screenplay

  • Chotard and Co. (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

    Director · Writer

  • Boudu Saved from Drowning (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    Director · Screenplay

  • Night at the Crossroads (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    Director · Screenplay

  • The Bitch(1931)

    Director · Editor · Producer · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • Mam'zelle Nitouche (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    as Master sergeant (uncredited)

  • Baby's Laxative (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    Director · Writer

  • The Pursuit of Happiness (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

    Actor

  • Little Red Riding Hood (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

    Producer · Writer · as Compère le Loup

  • Le Bled(1929)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • The Tournament (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)

    Director · Adaptation

  • The Sad Sack (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)

    Director · Writer

  • The Little Match Girl (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)

    Director · Producer · Writer

  • Backbiters (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1927)

    Director · Editor · Producer · Screenplay · as le sous-préfet

  • La P’tite Lili (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1927)

    as Man with Bowler Hat

  • Marquitta (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1927)

    Director · Adaptation

  • Charleston Parade (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1927)

    Director · as Angel

  • Nana(1926)

    Director · Editor · Producer

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Whirlpool of Fate (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1925)

    Director · Producer · Set Decoration

Career shape

A full career of 53 titles from 1925 to 1978.

Biggest box office

The Rules of the Game (1939)

$274K worldwide

Highest rated

Grand Illusion (1937)

Midcredits 97th

Most popular right now

The Rules of the Game (1939)

Film career

  • 1927Screen debut· Charleston Parade
  • 1939First top-billed film· The Rules of the Game

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting14 of 53: 6 only acting, 8 with another roleDirecting42 of 53: 7 only directing, 35 with another role · typical Midcredits score78thWriting37 of 53: 4 only writing, 33 with another role · typical Midcredits score83rdProducing10 of 53: 0 only producing, 10 with another role · typical Midcredits score89thEditing1 of 53: 0 only editing, 1 with another roleOther crew1 of 53: 0 only other crew, 1 with another role

53 titles, 36 with more than one role — directing and writing overlap on 32 of them.

By decade

1920s10 · 3 acting · 9 crew1930s19 · 7 acting · 16 crew1940s10 · 1 acting · 10 crew1950s6 · crew1960s4 · 2 acting · 2 crew1970s4 · 1 acting · 4 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 Jean Renoir's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 77th percentile, the median of all 21; across their 22 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 72nd percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

72ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 22

Approval · how many liked their films

71stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 22

Reach · how many have seen their films

64thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 22

Midcredits score across 21 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up11
  • 50th to 74th8
  • 25th to 49th2

Shape of the crowd

None of their 21 titles divides audiences: 14 are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved4
  • Crowd Pleaser14
  • Broadly Agreed2
  • Mixed1

Most loved · director, writer

Grand Illusion (1937)

Midcredits 97th · 85% liked

Reviewers score the atmosphere 72/100 and the pacing 45/100 in their films, across 21 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.

Who does Jean Renoir work with?

People who share at least 2 of Jean Renoir's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Joseph Kosma shares the most, 6.

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles