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Robert Shaye

Robert Shaye

Producer, actor and director, also writer · Born March 3, 1939 (87) · Detroit, Michigan, USA

Robert Kenneth Shaye  (born March 3, 1939), often referred to as Bob Shaye, is an American businessman, film producer, director and actor. He is also the brother of actress Lin Shaye.

Biography from TMDB.

Born
March 3, 1939 (87)
From
Detroit, Michigan, USA
Works as
Producer, actor and director, also writer
Titles
39 on MovieCove · 56 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 7% in 30 days

What are Robert Shaye's films like?

Across their 36 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Survival and Self.

Genres

Comedy8 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 32nd percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Horror6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 33rd percentile
: browse their Horror movies
Crime5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 82nd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime movies
Adventure4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 99th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Adventure movies
Fantasy4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 38th percentile
: browse their Fantasy movies
Action3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 43rd percentile
: browse their Action movies
Documentary3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 91st percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Documentary movies
Drama3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 25th percentile
: 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
Survival
27%
Self
25%
Bonds
20%
Morality
10%
Society
9%
Ideas
5%
Power
4%
Identity11 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival11 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds9 titles, browse their movies with this themeTrauma9 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love4 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship4 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity3 titles, browse their movies with this themeHope3 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 36 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 13 · Serious 11 · Dark 12

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

A split, not a type: Grounded 16 · Stylized 11 · Heightened 9

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

Gentle 3 · Charged 11 · Intense 22

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

Steady 6 · Shifting 23 · Whiplash 7

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 18 · Some laughs 14 · Funny 4

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

Slow burn 2 · Even-paced 29 · Relentless 5

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

Casual 12 · Engaged 18 · Full focus 6

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 18 · Affecting 9 · Heavy 9

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

Resolved 25 · Open-ended 11 · Ambiguous 0

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
26
Dread
16
Absurd
10
Thrilling
8
Melancholic
13
Other
30

How their films linger

Fun12 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful13 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteCathartic7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 10 with a twist

  • Happy7
  • Bittersweet20
  • Tragic2
  • Ambiguous7

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 Robert Shaye's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 27 of their 39 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service.

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Robert Shaye'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

56 credits, 39 with a MovieCove page; 24 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • High in the Clouds (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2027)

    Producer

  • Space Oddity(2022)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Night Teeth(2021)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • The AGFA Mystery Mixtape Vault (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    as (archive footage)

  • Ambition (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    Director · Producer

  • Haunting on Fraternity Row(2018)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all films

  • When the Bough Breaks(2016)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • Shadowhunters(2016)

    Show 33 episodes · Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all shows

  • The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones(2013)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all films

  • A Nightmare on Elm Street(2010)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • The Golden Compass(2007)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • Hairspray(2007)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • The Last Mimzy(2007)

    Director · Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all films

  • Cellular(2004)

    as Detective Looking Guy

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King(2003)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Freddy vs. Jason(2003)

    Executive Producer · as Principal Shaye

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers(2002)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring(2001)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Festival in Cannes(2001)

    as Bert Shuster

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • The Perfect Souffle: Testing "Final Destination" (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Thanks · as Self

  • Frequency(2000)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • New Nightmare(1994)

    Executive Producer · as Robert Shaye

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • Blink(1994)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • The Nightmare Begins Again (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Executive Producer · as Minister

  • Loaded Weapon 1(1993)

    as Interrogation Room Person (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • Menace II Society(1993)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare(1991)

    Producer · as Ticket Seller

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all films

  • Book of Love(1990)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Heart Condition(1990)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • The Making of 'Nightmare on Elm Street IV' (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Thanks

  • A Nightmare on Elm Street: The Dream Child(1989)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films

  • The Prince of Pennsylvania(1988)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • Freddy's Nightmares (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Show 44 episodes · Executive Producer

  • No More Mr. Nice Guy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Executive Producer

  • A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master(1988)

    Producer · as Lecturer

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • The Freddy Krueger Special (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Producer

  • Critters 2: The Main Course(1988)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • Hairspray(1988)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • Stranded(1987)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • The Hidden(1987)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • My Demon Lover(1987)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films

  • A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors(1987)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • Quiet Cool (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Producer · as Franklin

  • Critters(1986)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • A Nightmare on Elm Street Part 2: Freddy's Revenge(1985)

    Producer · as Bartender (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • A Nightmare on Elm Street(1984)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • The First Time (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Executive Producer

  • Xtro(1982)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Alone in the Dark(1982)

    Producer · Story

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all films

  • Polyester(1981)

    Executive Producer · Presenter

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

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

    Executive Producer · Scenario Writer

  • The Best of the New York Erotic Film Festival (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Director

  • On Fighting Witches (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Director

  • Image (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    Director

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

    Director

  • Battle Flame (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    as Lt. Norris

Career shape

A full career of 55 titles, 54 of them dated from 1959 to 2023.

Biggest box office

The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)

$1.1B worldwide

Highest rated

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)

Midcredits 99th

Film career

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting12 of 55: 5 only acting, 7 with another role · typical Midcredits score37thDirecting7 of 55: 5 only directing, 2 with another roleWriting2 of 55: 0 only writing, 2 with another roleProducing43 of 55: 31 only producing, 12 with another role · typical Midcredits score43rdOther crew3 of 55: 2 only other crew, 1 with another role

55 titles, 12 with more than one role — producing and acting overlap on 7 of them.

By decade

1950s1 · acting1960s3 · crew1970s2 · crew1980s21 · 3 acting · 21 crew1990s7 · 4 acting · 6 crew2000s11 · 3 acting · 9 crew2010s6 · crew2020s3 · 1 acting · 2 crew

Billing

usually 23rd · top billed in 0% of 5 roles

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.

How do Robert Shaye's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 44th percentile, the median of all 38; across their 36 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 45th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

45thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 36

Approval · how many liked their films

41stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 36

Reach · how many have seen their films

91stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 36

Midcredits score across 39 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up10
  • 50th to 74th4
  • 25th to 49th18
  • Below 25th7

Shape of the crowd

14 of their 39 titles are Mixed.

  • Universally Loved6
  • Universally Panned1
  • Crowd Pleaser10
  • Broadly Agreed8
  • Mixed14

Most divisive · producer

My Demon Lover (1987)

65th percentile spread · 42% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · producer

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)

Midcredits 99th · 93% liked

Reviewers score the acting 63/100 in their films, across 35 reviewed titles; fans 72, detractors 37. 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 Robert Shaye's work okay for kids?

Across up to 27 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 & Gore26 titles58–90 · median 72 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity27 titles9–67 · median 40 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity25 titles8–84 · median 54 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs25 titles27–74 · median 37 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense24 titles44–85 · median 66 · 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 Robert Shaye work with?

People who share at least 2 of Robert Shaye's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Sara Risher shares the most, 15.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers

  • Sara Risher15 titles    See newest 12 of 15 shared titles with Sara Risher
  • Michael Lynne8 titles    See all 8 shared titles with Michael Lynne
  • Mark Ordesky4 titles    See all 4 shared titles with Mark Ordesky
  • Stephen Diener4 titles    See all 4 shared titles with Stephen Diener

Mixed roles