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Joe Strummer

Joe Strummer

Actor and composer · Died December 22, 2002, aged 50 · Ankara, Turkey

John Graham Mellor (21 August 1952 – 22 December 2002), known professionally as Joe Strummer, was a British musician. He was the co-founder, lyricist, rhythm guitarist, and lead vocalist of punk rock band the Clash, formed in 1976. The Clash's second studio album, Give 'Em Enough Rope (1978), reached No. 2 on the UK charts. Soon after, they achieved success in the US, starting with London Calling (1979) and peaking with Combat Rock (1982), which reached No. 7 on the US charts and was certified 2× platinum there. The Clash's explosive political lyrics, musical experimentation, and rebellious attitude greatly influenced rock music in general, especially alternative rock. Their music incorporated punk with reggae, ska, dub, funk, rap and rockabilly. Strummer's other career highlights included stints with the 101ers, the Latino Rockabilly War, the Mescaleros and the Pogues, as well as solo music. His work as a musician allowed him to explore other interests such as acting, scoring television shows and films, and hosting the BBC Radio show London Calling. Strummer and the Clash were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in January 2003. In his remembrance, Strummer's friends and family established the Joe Strummer Foundation (initially known as Strummerville), a non-profit organisation that gives opportunities to musicians and supports projects around the world that create empowerment through music.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
August 21, 1952
Died
December 22, 2002 (aged 50)
From
Ankara, Turkey
Works as
Actor and composer
Titles
12 on MovieCove · 42 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Official site (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 63 days to Oct 26Up 4% in 30 days

What are Joe Strummer's films like?

Across their 10 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Self and Bonds.

Genres

Documentary3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 78th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Documentary movies
Action2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 65th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Comedy2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 69th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Drama2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 59th 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
Self
24%
Bonds
18%
Survival
17%
Society
15%
Power
14%
Morality
12%
Community3 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity2 titles, browse their movies with this themeGrief2 titles, browse their movies with this themeAmbition2 titles, browse their movies with this themeRedemption2 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love2 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 10 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

A split, not a type: Grounded 5 · Stylized 3 · Heightened 2

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

Gentle 1 · Charged 6 · Intense 3

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

A split, not a type: Steady 5 · Shifting 4 · Whiplash 1

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

Straight-faced 3 · Some laughs 5 · Funny 2

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

A split, not a type: Slow burn 5 · Even-paced 4 · 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 4 · Engaged 5 · Full focus 1

Open-ended: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their open-ended movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 4 · 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

Melancholic
6
Tense
5
Absurd
3
Contemplative
3
Warm
2
Other
8

How their films linger

Bittersweet5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteWistful3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 1 with a twist

  • Bittersweet5
  • Tragic3
  • 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 Joe Strummer's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 7 of their 12 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on The Criterion Channel (3).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Joe Strummer'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

42 credits, 12 with a MovieCove page; 30 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • England 79 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    Actor

  • The Clash: New Year's Day '77 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    Actor

  • The Clash - Sound system (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    Actor

  • The Rise and Fall of the Clash(2012)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all films

  • The Clash The Ultimate Review (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    Actor

  • The Clash: Live (Revolution Rock) (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    Actor

  • Dispatches from Nicaragua (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    Actor

  • The Clash: Tory Crimes and Other Tales (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    Actor

  • The Clash: The Joe Strummer Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Actor

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

    as Artist

  • The Clash: This is TV Clash 1977-1982 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Actor

  • The Clash: Up Close and Personal (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Actor

  • Roots Rock Rebel: A Tribute to Joe Strummer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Actor

  • The Clash : The Essential Clash (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Director · as Himself

  • Gypsy Woman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Composer

  • Joe Strummer & The Mescaleros: Roseland Ballroom (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Actor

  • Joe Strummer & The Mescaleros: Live at Bizarre Festival (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Actor

  • Doctor Chance (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    as Vince Taylor

  • South Park(1997)

    Show 1 episode · as Joe Strummer (voice)

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • Degeneration Punk (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Actor

  • Grosse Pointe Blank(1997)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Tunnel of Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Composer

  • When Pigs Fly(1993)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

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

    Actor

  • I Hired a Contract Killer(1990)

    as Guitarist

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Mystery Train(1989)

    as Johnny

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • Permanent Record(1988)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Completely Pogued (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Actor

  • Candy Mountain(1987)

    as Security Cop

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Walker(1987)

    Composer · as Faucet

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • Straight to Hell(1987)

    as Simms

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • Sid and Nancy(1986)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • The Clash: Live at the US Festival in San Bernardino (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Actor

  • Hell W10 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Director · Writer · as Police Officer

  • The King of Comedy(1982)

    as Street Scum

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • The Clash On Broadway (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Actor

  • Just Play The Clash (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    Actor

  • Rude Boy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    Composer · as The Group

  • The Clash: Live at The Capitol Theater (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    Actor

  • The Clash: Live in Paris 1980 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    Actor

  • The Year Of Punk (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Actor

  • The Clash: Live in Munich, 3rd October 1977 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Actor

Career shape

Star power in the 82nd percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 42 titles from 1977 to 2019; peak year 1990.

Biggest box office

Grosse Pointe Blank (1997)

$28M worldwide

Highest rated

Mystery Train (1989)

Midcredits 95th

Film career

19772019

Peak 1990 · at the high point of their film career. 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.

  • 1980Screen debut· Rude Boy

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting35 of 42: 32 only acting, 3 with another role · typical Midcredits score80thDirecting2 of 42: 1 only directing, 1 with another roleWriting1 of 42: 0 only writing, 1 with another roleMusic8 of 42: 6 only music, 2 with another role · typical Midcredits score73rd

42 titles, 3 with more than one role — acting and music overlap on 2 of them.

By decade

1970s2 · acting1980s15 · 13 acting · 5 crew1990s10 · 7 acting · 3 crew2000s10 · 8 acting · 2 crew2010s5 · acting

Billing

usually 7th · 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 Joe Strummer's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 73rd percentile, the median of all 11; across their 10 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 67th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

67thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 10

Approval · how many liked their films

63rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 10

Reach · how many have seen their films

53rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 10

Midcredits score across 12 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up6
  • 50th to 74th4
  • 25th to 49th2

Shape of the crowd

5 of their 12 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved4
  • Crowd Pleaser5
  • Mixed3

Most divisive · actor

Straight to Hell (1987)

66th percentile spread · 25% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

The King of Comedy (1982)

Midcredits 98th · 88% liked

Reviewers score the acting 73/100 in their films, across 7 reviewed titles; fans 79, detractors 44. 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.

Who does Joe Strummer work with?

People who share at least 2 of Joe Strummer's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Alex Cox shares the most, 2.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Cinematographers

Producers

Mixed roles