Skip to content
MovieCove
Jack Nicholson

Jack Nicholson

Actor, also writer, producer and director · Born April 22, 1937 (89) · Manhattan, New York, USA

3 Oscars · 7 Golden Globes · 3 BAFTA Awards · 4 other major award bodies

John Joseph "Jack" Nicholson (born April 22, 1937) is a retired American actor, film director, producer and writer. He is renowned for his often dark-themed portrayals of neurotic characters. Nicholson has been nominated for Academy Awards 12 times, winning Best Actor for One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest and for As Good as It Gets, and Best Supporting Actor for Terms of Endearment. He is tied with Walter Brennan for most acting wins by a male actor (three), and second to Katharine Hepburn for most acting wins overall (four). He is also one of only two actors nominated for an Academy Award for acting (either lead or supporting) in every decade from the 1960s to 2000s (the other one being Michael Caine). He has won seven Golden Globe Awards, and received a Kennedy Center Honor in 2001. In 1994, he became one of the youngest actors to be awarded the American Film Institute's Life Achievement Award. Notable films in which he has starred include, Easy Rider, Chinatown, The Shining, Reds, Batman, A Few Good Men, About Schmidt, Something's Gotta Give, and The Departed.

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
April 22, 1937 (89)
From
Manhattan, New York, USA
Works as
Actor, also writer, producer and director
Titles
66 on MovieCove · 93 credits in all
TMDB popularity, last 155 days to Oct 26Down 2% in 30 days

What are Jack Nicholson's films like?

Across their 60 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Self and Morality.

What they feel like to watch

their average across 60 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category

A split, not a type: Light 17 · Serious 16 · Dark 27

A split, not a type: Grounded 30 · Stylized 22 · Heightened 8

A split, not a type: Gentle 14 · Charged 22 · Intense 24

A split, not a type: Steady 25 · Shifting 22 · Whiplash 13

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 32 · Some laughs 17 · Funny 11

A split, not a type: Slow burn 31 · Even-paced 25 · Relentless 4

Casual 19 · Engaged 34 · Full focus 7

A split, not a type: Easy watch 18 · Affecting 16 · Heavy 26

A split, not a type: Resolved 35 · Open-ended 15 · Ambiguous 10

Roles they play

46 analyzed roles

Usually the Hero: 22 of 46 analyzed roles.

Hero
22 of 46
Shadow
12 of 46
Trickster
5 of 46
Shapeshifter
5 of 46
Ally
1 of 46
Mentor
1 of 46
Show the 46 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
37
Melancholic
36
Contemplative
13
Absurd
13
Dread
12
Other
52

How their films end · 11 with a twist

  • Happy10
  • Bittersweet22
  • Tragic15
  • Ambiguous13

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 Jack Nicholson's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 44 of their 66 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (22).

Subscription and free streaming for Jack Nicholson'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

93 credits, 66 with a MovieCove page; 61 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Films to Die For (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2025)

    as (archive footage) (uncredited)

  • Stephen King: A Necessary Evil(2020)

    as Jack Torrance

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films
  • How Do You Know(2010)

    as Charles

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films
  • I'm Still Here(2010)

    as Jack Nicholson

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films
  • The Bucket List(2007)

    as Edward Periman Cole

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films
  • Making of Chinatown (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    Actor

  • Into the Wild(2007)

    Thanks

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films
  • The Departed(2006)

    as Costello

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films
  • Jack Nicholson: The Joker Is Wild (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Producer · as Self (archive footage)

  • Something's Gotta Give(2003)

    as Harry Sanborn

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films
  • Anger Management(2003)

    as Dr. Buddy Rydell

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films
  • About Schmidt(2002)

    as Warren Schmidt

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films
  • Nudes in the News (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Show 1 episode · as Warren Schmidt (archive footage)

  • The Pledge(2001)

    as Jerry Black

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films
  • Velocity (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    as Johnny Varron (young) (archive footage)

  • Playboy: Playmate Pajama Party (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Actor

  • As Good as It Gets(1997)

    as Melvin Udall

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films
  • Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films
  • The Evening Star(1996)

    as Garrett Breedlove

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films
  • Mars Attacks!(1996)

    as President Dale / Art Land

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films
  • Blood and Wine(1996)

    as Alex

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films
  • The Crossing Guard(1995)

    as Freddy Gale

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films
  • Wolf(1994)

    as Will Randall

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films
  • Hoffa(1992)

    as James R. 'Jimmy' Hoffa

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films
  • A Few Good Men(1992)

    as Col. Nathan R. Jessep

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films
  • Man Trouble(1992)

    as Harry Bliss

    Midcredits score: 7th percentile of all films
  • The Two Jakes(1990)

    Director · Producer · as J.J. "Jake" Gittes

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films
  • Batman(1989)

    as Joker / Jack Napier

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films
  • On the tracks of a filmmaker (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    as Jack Nicholson

  • Ironweed(1987)

    as Francis Phelan

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films
  • Broadcast News(1987)

    as Bill Rorich

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films
  • Creepy Classics (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    as Rexford Bedlo - (archive footage)

  • Rabbit Ears - How the Rhinoceros Got His Skin/How the Camel Got His Hump (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • The Witches of Eastwick(1987)

    as Daryl Van Horne

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films
  • Rudyard Kipling's Just So Stories (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • The Elephant's Child (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • Heartburn(1986)

    as Mark

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all films
  • Prizzi's Honor(1985)

    as Charley Partanna

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films
  • Terms of Endearment(1983)

    as Garrett Breedlove

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films
  • The Border(1982)

    as Charlie Smith

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films
  • Reds(1981)

    as Eugene O'Neill

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films
  • The Postman Always Rings Twice(1981)

    as Frank Chambers

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films
  • The Shining(1980)

    as Jack Torrance

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films
  • Goin' South(1978)

    Director · as Henry Moon

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films
  • The Last Tycoon(1976)

    as Brimmer

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films
  • The Missouri Breaks(1976)

    as Tom Logan

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films
  • One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest(1975)

    as Randle Patrick McMurphy

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films
  • The Fortune(1975)

    as Oscar 'Dix' Sullivan

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films
  • Tommy(1975)

    as The Specialist

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films
  • The Passenger(1975)

    as David Locke

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films
  • Chinatown(1974)

    as J.J. 'Jake' Gittes

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films
  • The Last Detail(1973)

    as Billy L. 'Badass' Buddusky

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films
  • The King of Marvin Gardens(1972)

    as David Staebler

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films
  • A Safe Place (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    as Mitch

  • Carnal Knowledge(1971)

    as Jonathan

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films
  • Drive, He Said(1971)

    Director · Producer · Screenplay · as Annoyed Bearded Guy

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films
  • Walt Whitman: Poet for a New Age (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    as Narrator

  • Five Easy Pieces(1970)

    as Robert Eroica Dupea

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films
  • Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films
  • Rebel Rousers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    as Bunny

  • Easy Rider(1969)

    as George Hanson

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films
  • Head(1968)

    Producer · Songs · Writer · as Self (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films
  • Targets(1968)

    as Lt. Andre Duvalier (archive footage) (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films
  • Psych-Out(1968)

    as Stoney

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films
  • The Guns of Will Sonnett (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Show 1 episode · as Tom Murdock

  • The Trip(1967)

    Writer

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films
  • The St. Valentine's Day Massacre(1967)

    as Gino, Hit Man (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films
  • Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films
  • Ride in the Whirlwind(1966)

    Producer · Writer · as Wes

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films
  • The Shooting(1966)

    Producer · as Billy Spear

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films
  • Back Door to Hell (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    as Burnett

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

    Screenplay

  • Flight to Fury (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    Writer · as Jay Wickham

  • Ensign Pulver(1964)

    as Yeoman Dolan

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films
  • Thunder Island (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Screenplay

  • The Terror(1963)

    Director · as Lt. Andre Duvalier

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films
  • The Raven(1963)

    as Rexford Bedlo

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films
  • The Broken Land (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    as Will

  • Little Amy(1962)

    as Jefferson City Coach

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)
  • Little Amy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    Show 1 episode · as Jefferson City Coach

  • The Hour of St. Francis (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    as Jim Evans

  • The Andy Griffith Show(1960)

    Show 1 episode · as Marvin Jenkins · as Mr. Garland

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows
  • The Barbara Stanwyck Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Show 1 episode · as Bud

  • Studs Lonigan (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    as Weary Reilly

  • The Wild Ride(1960)

    as Johnny Varron

    Midcredits score: 8th percentile of all films
  • The Little Shop of Horrors(1960)

    as Wilbur Force

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all films
  • Too Soon to Love(1960)

    as Buddy

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films
  • Mr. Lucky(1959)

    Show 1 episode · as Martin

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all shows
  • Hawaiian Eye (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Show 1 episode · as Tony Morgan

  • Bronco (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    Show 1 episode · as Bob Doolin

  • The Cry Baby Killer(1958)

    as Jimmy Wallace

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films
  • Sea Hunt(1958)

    Show 1 episode · as John Stark

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all shows
  • Matinee Theater (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    Show 1 episode · as Musician's Son

Career shape

Star power in the 99th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 92 titles from 1955 to 2025; peak year 1974.

Film career

MilestoneAward winNomination
19552025

Peak 1974 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Top draw in 41 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.

Show 13 more milestones

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting86 of 92: 80 only acting, 6 with another role · typical Midcredits score64thDirecting3 of 92: 0 only directing, 3 with another roleWriting7 of 92: 3 only writing, 4 with another roleProducing6 of 92: 1 only producing, 5 with another role · typical Midcredits score59thOther crew2 of 92: 1 only other crew, 1 with another role

92 titles, 7 with more than one role — acting and writing overlap on 3 of them.

By decade

1950s6 · acting1960s27 · 23 acting · 7 crew1970s17 · 17 acting · 2 crew1980s16 · acting1990s13 · 13 acting · 1 crew2000s10 · 8 acting · 2 crew2010s2 · acting2020s1 · acting

Billing

usually 1st · top billed in 51% of 53 roles
6070758085909500

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.

Awards

3 Oscars, 7 Golden Globes, 3 BAFTA Awards, a Screen Actors Guild Award and 4 other major awards from 47 major nominations, 1970–2007.

WinNomination
  1. 2007
    • Golden Globe, nominated · Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
    • BAFTA Award, nominated · Best Actor in a Supporting Role
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
    • +1 other major body · 2 nominations
      • Critics Choice Award, nominated · Best Acting Ensemble
      • Critics Choice Award, nominated · Best Supporting Actor
  2. 2004
    • Golden Globe, nominated · Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical
  3. 2003
    • Oscar, nominated · Best Actor in a Leading Role
    • Golden Globe, won · Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama
    • BAFTA Award, nominated · Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role
    • +1 other major body · 1 win
      • Critics Choice Award, won · Best Actor
  4. 1999
    • Golden Globe, won
  5. 1998
    • Oscar, won · Best Actor in a Leading Role
    • Golden Globe, won · Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, won · Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role
    • +1 other major body · 1 win
      • Critics Choice Award, won · Best Actor
  6. 1993
    • Oscar, nominated · Best Actor in a Supporting Role
    • Golden Globe, nominated · Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama
    • Golden Globe, nominated · Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
  7. 1990
    • Golden Globe, nominated · Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical
    • BAFTA Award, nominated · Best Actor in a Supporting Role
  8. 1988
    • Oscar, nominated · Best Actor in a Leading Role
    • Golden Globe, nominated · Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama
    • +1 other major body · 1 win
      • Grammy Award, won · Best Recording for Children
Show 11 earlier years
  1. 1986
    • Oscar, nominated · Best Actor in a Leading Role
    • Golden Globe, won · Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical
  2. 1984
    • Oscar, won · Best Actor in a Supporting Role
    • Golden Globe, won · Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
  3. 1983
    • BAFTA Award, won · Best Supporting Actor
  4. 1982
    • Oscar, nominated · Best Actor in a Supporting Role
    • Golden Globe, nominated · Best Actor in a Supporting Role - Motion Picture
  5. 1977
    • BAFTA Award, won · Best Actor
  6. 1976
    • Oscar, won · Best Actor in a Leading Role
    • Golden Globe, won · Best Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama
  7. 1975
    • Oscar, nominated · Best Actor in a Leading Role
    • Golden Globe, won · Best Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama
    • BAFTA Award, won · Best Actor
  8. 1974
    • Oscar, nominated · Best Actor in a Leading Role
    • Golden Globe, nominated · Best Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama
    • +1 other major body · 1 win
      • Cannes award, won
  9. 1972
    • Golden Globe, nominated · Best Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama
  10. 1971
    • Oscar, nominated · Best Actor in a Leading Role
    • Golden Globe, nominated · Best Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama
    • +1 other major body · 1 nomination
      • Cannes award, nominated
  11. 1970
    • Oscar, nominated · Best Actor in a Supporting Role
    • Golden Globe, nominated · Best Supporting Actor
    • BAFTA Award, nominated · Best Supporting Actor

Major bodies only: the Oscars, Primetime Emmys, Golden Globes, BAFTAs and Screen Actors Guild Awards are named; Cannes, Venice, the Berlinale, Sundance, the directors', writers' and producers' guilds, the Grammys, Critics Choice and the Independent Spirit Awards count as other major bodies. Festival and regional prizes are not counted. Source: IMDb.

How do Jack Nicholson's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 64th percentile, the median of all 63; across their 60 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 65th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

65thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 60

Approval · how many liked their films

62ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 60

Reach · how many have seen their films

88thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 60

Midcredits score across 66 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up22
  • 50th to 74th23
  • 25th to 49th14
  • Below 25th7

Shape of the crowd

32 of their 66 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved12
  • Divisive1
  • Crowd Pleaser32
  • Broadly Agreed10
  • Mixed11

Reviewers score the acting 74/100 in their films, across 56 reviewed titles; fans 82, detractors 48. 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 Jack Nicholson's work okay for kids?

Across up to 41 MovieCove titles with content scores, sex & nudity and profanity run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore33 titles10–81 · median 42 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity41 titles24–68 · median 47 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity33 titles38–85 · median 54 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs31 titles27–61 · median 36 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense33 titles17–69 · median 40 · moderatenear the median of all 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 Jack Nicholson work with?

People who share at least 2 of Jack Nicholson's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Bob Rafelson shares the most, 7.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles