Robert Lee Zemeckis (born May 14, 1952) is an American filmmaker known for directing and producing a range of successful and influential movies. He often blends cutting-edge visual effects with storytelling. He has received several accolades, including an Academy Award and a Golden Globe Award, as well as nominations for five British Academy Film Awards and a Daytime Emmy Award. Zemeckis started his career directing the comedy films I Wanna Hold Your Hand (1978), Used Cars (1980), and Romancing the Stone (1984). He gained prominence directing the science-fiction comedy Back to the Future trilogy (1985–1990), the fantasy comedy Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988), and the comedy-drama Forrest Gump (1994), the latter of which won Academy Awards for Best Picture and Best Director. He has also directed the satirical black comedy Death Becomes Her (1992), the science fiction film Contact (1997), and the drama films Cast Away (2000), Flight (2012), The Walk (2015), and Allied (2016). His exploration of motion capture techniques can be seen in the animated films The Polar Express (2004) and A Christmas Carol (2009), as well as the action fantasy drama Beowulf (2007) and the drama Welcome to Marwen (2018). He has collaborated with film composer Alan Silvestri since 1984 and directed Tom Hanks in five films. Description above from the Wikipedia article Robert Zemeckis, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
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Biography from TMDB.
- May 14, 1951 (75)
- Chicago, Illinois, USA
- Producer, director and writer, also actor
- 60 on MovieCove · 79 credits in all
What are Robert Zemeckis' films like?
Across their 54 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Self and Survival.
Genres
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
What they feel like to watch
Ironic 5 · Wry 3 · Earnest 44
A split, not a type: Light 24 · Serious 17 · Dark 11
Grounded 15 · Stylized 23 · Heightened 14
Gentle 8 · Charged 27 · Intense 17
Steady 17 · Shifting 22 · Whiplash 13
Straight-faced 22 · Some laughs 24 · Funny 6
Slow burn 17 · Even-paced 25 · Relentless 10
Casual 22 · Engaged 25 · Full focus 4
A split, not a type: Easy watch 22 · Affecting 20 · Heavy 10
Resolved 43 · Open-ended 7 · Ambiguous 1
Moods and endings
- Happy19
- Bittersweet26
- Ambiguous7
- Cyclical1
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 Zemeckis' films?
As of October 24, 2026, 36 of their 60 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (13).
- Forrest Gump (1994) · director · free
- Tales from the Crypt (1989) · director, producer · free
- Flight (2012) · director, producer · free
- Matchstick Men (2003) · producer · free
- The Walk (2015) · director, writer, producer · free
- Romancing the Stone (1984) · director · free
- Monster House (2006) · producer · free
- Tales from the Cryptkeeper (1993) · producer · free
- Used Cars (1980) · director, writer · free
- Plaga Zombie: Zona Mutante: Revolución Tóxica (2011) · thanks · free
- The Reaping (2007) · producer · free
- Mabel, Mabel, Tiger Trainer (2018) · producer · free
- +1 more
- Howdy, show their 3 titles on Howdy
- Sony Pictures Core, show their 2 titles on Sony Pictures Core
- Ameba, show their title on Ameba
- Cineverse, show their title on Cineverse
- Kartoon Channel, show their title on Kartoon Channel
- Midnight Pulp, show their title on Midnight Pulp
- Shout! TV, show their title on Shout! TV
Subscription and free streaming for Robert Zemeckis' 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
79 credits, 60 with a MovieCove page; 29 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.
Here(2024)
Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films
Pinocchio(2022)
Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films
Finch(2021)
Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films
The Witches(2020)
Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films
Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films
Project 88: Back to the Future Too (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)
What/If(2019)
Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all shows
Project Blue Book(2019)
Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all shows
Welcome to Marwen(2018)
Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films
Manifest(2018)
Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all shows
Back to the Future: The Hill Valley Chronicles (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)
Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)
Elemental: Hydrogen vs. Hindenburg (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)
Allied(2016)
Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films
Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films
Back to the Present(2015)
Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)
The Walk(2015)
Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films
Bound by Flesh(2012)
Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films
Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films
Flight(2012)
Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films
Real Steel(2011)
Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all films
Mars Needs Moms(2011)
Midcredits score: 22nd percentile of all films
Behind the Burly Q(2010)
Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films
A Christmas Carol(2009)
Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films
Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)
Beowulf(2007)
Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films
The Reaping(2007)
Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films
Monster House(2006)
Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films
Last Holiday(2006)
Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films
Le court des grands (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)
Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films
House of Wax(2005)
Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films
The Polar Express(2004)
Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films
Gothika(2003)
Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films
Matchstick Men(2003)
Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films
Ghost Ship(2002)
Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films
Ritual(2002)
Midcredits score: 10th percentile of all films
Thir13en Ghosts(2001)
Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films
Cast Away(2000)
Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films
What Lies Beneath(2000)
Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films
House on Haunted Hill(1999)
Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films
The Pursuit of Happiness (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)
Tales from the Crypt: The Robert Zemeckis Collection (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)
Contact(1997)
Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films
Perversions of Science (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)
Bordello of Blood(1996)
Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films
The Frighteners(1996)
Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films
W.E.I.R.D. World(1995)
Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films
Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films
DeGenerazione (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)
Forrest Gump(1994)
Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films
Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all shows
Johnny Bago (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)
Trespass(1992)
Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films
The Public Eye(1992)
Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films
Death Becomes Her(1992)
Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films
Two-Fisted Tales(1992)
Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films
Back to the Future(1991)
Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all shows
Parker Lewis Can't Lose (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)
Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films
Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films
Back to the Future (Part II): Behind-the-Scenes Special Presentation (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)
Tales from the Crypt(1989)
Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all shows
Who Framed Roger Rabbit(1988)
Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films
Citizen Steve (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)
Amazing Stories(1986)
Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films
Amazing Stories(1985)
Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all shows
Back to the Future(1985)
Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films
Romancing the Stone(1984)
Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films
Used Cars(1980)
Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films
1941(1979)
Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films
I Wanna Hold Your Hand(1978)
Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films
The South Bank Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)
A Field of Honor (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)
The Lift (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)
Arrivals: A New Manifest Mystery (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)
Barracuda (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)
School for Scumbags (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)
The Last Mrs. Parrish (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)
Career shape
A full career of 78 titles, 74 of them dated from 1972 to 2024.
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.
Awards
an Oscar, a Golden Globe and 3 other major awards from 15 major nominations, 1985–2023.
- Producers Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Producer of Televised or Streamed Motion Pictures
- BAFTA Award, nominated · Best Feature Film
- Oscar, won · Best Director
- Golden Globe, won · Best Director - Motion Picture
- BAFTA Award, nominated · Best Film
- BAFTA Award, nominated
+1 other major body · 1 win
- Directors Guild Award, won · Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures
- Directors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures
- Venice award, won
- Oscar, nominated · Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen
- Golden Globe, nominated · Best Screenplay - Motion Picture
- BAFTA Award, nominated · Best Film
- BAFTA Award, nominated · Best Screenplay - Original
+1 other major body · 1 nomination
- Writers Guild Award, nominated · Best Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen
- Venice award, won
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 Robert Zemeckis' films land?
Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 69th percentile, the median of all 53; across their 52 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 70th percentile for acclaim.
- 75th and up22
- 50th to 74th18
- 25th to 49th11
- Below 25th9
Shape of the crowd
30 of their 60 titles are Crowd Pleasers.
- Universally Loved7
- Divisive1
- Cult Classic2
- Crowd Pleaser30
- Broadly Agreed4
- Mixed16
Reviewers score the atmosphere 68/100 and the pacing 51/100 in their films, across 46 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 Robert Zemeckis' work okay for kids?
Across up to 38 MovieCove titles with content scores, frightening / intense runs heavier than most films.
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 Zemeckis work with?
People who share at least 2 of Robert Zemeckis' MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Alan Silvestri shares the most, 24.
Directors
- Leslie ZemeckisShared titles: Mabel, Mabel, Tiger Trainer (2018), Welcome to Marwen (2018), Bound by Flesh (2012), Behind the Burly Q (2010), The Polar Express (2004)See all 5 shared titles with Leslie Zemeckis
- Steven SpielbergShared titles: Milius (2013), Monster House (2006), Back to the Future (1991), Back to the Future Part III (1990), Back to the Future Part II (1989), Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988), Amazing Stories (1986), Back to the Future (1985), Used Cars (1980), 1941 (1979), I Wanna Hold Your Hand (1978)See all 11 shared titles with Steven Spielberg
- Steve BeckShared titles: Ghost Ship (2002), Thir13en Ghosts (2001)See all 2 shared titles with Steve Beck
- William MaloneShared titles: House on Haunted Hill (1999), W.E.I.R.D. World (1995)See all 2 shared titles with William Malone
Writers
- Bob GaleShared titles: A Future on Stage (2025), Back in Time (2015), Back to the Future: Doc Brown Saves the World (2015), Looking Back to the Future (2009), Bordello of Blood (1996), Trespass (1992), Back to the Future (1991), Back to the Future Part III (1990), Back to the Future Part II (1989), Amazing Stories (1986), Back to the Future (1985), Used Cars (1980) and 2 moreSee newest 12 of 14 shared titles with Bob Gale
- Gilbert AdlerShared titles: Ghost Ship (2002), Thir13en Ghosts (2001), House on Haunted Hill (1999), Bordello of Blood (1996), Tales from the Crypt: Demon Knight (1995), W.E.I.R.D. World (1995)See all 6 shared titles with Gilbert Adler
- A L KatzShared titles: Bordello of Blood (1996), Tales from the Crypt: Demon Knight (1995), W.E.I.R.D. World (1995)See all 3 shared titles with A L Katz
- Eric RothShared titles: Here (2024), Forrest Gump (1994)See all 2 shared titles with Eric Roth
Actors
- Christopher LloydShared titles: Back in Time (2015), Back to the Future: Doc Brown Saves the World (2015), Looking Back to the Future (2009), Back to the Future (1991), Back to the Future Part III (1990), Back to the Future Part II (1989), Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988), Amazing Stories (1986), Back to the Future (1985)See all 9 shared titles with Christopher Lloyd
- Michael J. FoxShared titles: A Future on Stage (2025), Back in Time (2015), Looking Back to the Future (2009), The Frighteners (1996), Back to the Future Part III (1990), Back to the Future Part II (1989), Back to the Future (1985)See all 7 shared titles with Michael J. Fox
- Tom HanksShared titles: Here (2024), Pinocchio (2022), Finch (2021), The Polar Express (2004), Cast Away (2000), Forrest Gump (1994), Through the Eyes of Forrest Gump (1994)See all 7 shared titles with Tom Hanks
- Lea ThompsonShared titles: Back in Time (2015), Bound by Flesh (2012), Looking Back to the Future (2009), Back to the Future Part III (1990), Back to the Future Part II (1989), Back to the Future (1985)See all 6 shared titles with Lea Thompson
Composers, cinematographers and editors
- Alan SilvestriShared titles: Here (2024), Pinocchio (2022), The Witches (2020), Welcome to Marwen (2018), Allied (2016), Back in Time (2015), Back to the Future: Doc Brown Saves the World (2015), The Walk (2015), Flight (2012), A Christmas Carol (2009), Beowulf (2007), The Polar Express (2004) and 12 moreSee newest 12 of 24 shared titles with Alan Silvestri
- Don BurgessShared titles: Here (2024), Pinocchio (2022), The Witches (2020), Allied (2016), Flight (2012), The Polar Express (2004), Cast Away (2000), What Lies Beneath (2000), Contact (1997), Forrest Gump (1994), Two-Fisted Tales (1992)See all 11 shared titles with Don Burgess
- Arthur SchmidtShared titles: Cast Away (2000), What Lies Beneath (2000), Contact (1997), Forrest Gump (1994), Death Becomes Her (1992), Back to the Future Part III (1990), Back to the Future Part II (1989), Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988), Back to the Future (1985)See all 9 shared titles with Arthur Schmidt
- Dean CundeyShared titles: Back in Time (2015), Back to the Future: Doc Brown Saves the World (2015), Death Becomes Her (1992), Back to the Future Part III (1990), Back to the Future Part II (1989), Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988), Back to the Future (1985), Romancing the Stone (1984)See all 8 shared titles with Dean Cundey
Producers
- Steve StarkeyShared titles: Welcome to Marwen (2018), Allied (2016), The Walk (2015), Flight (2012), Mars Needs Moms (2011), A Christmas Carol (2009), Beowulf (2007), Monster House (2006), The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio (2005), The Polar Express (2004), Matchstick Men (2003), Cast Away (2000) and 7 moreSee newest 12 of 19 shared titles with Steve Starkey
- Jack RapkeShared titles: Here (2024), Pinocchio (2022), Finch (2021), The Witches (2020), Welcome to Marwen (2018), Allied (2016), The Walk (2015), Flight (2012), Mars Needs Moms (2011), A Christmas Carol (2009), Beowulf (2007), Monster House (2006) and 5 moreSee newest 12 of 17 shared titles with Jack Rapke
- Joel SilverShared titles: The Reaping (2007), House of Wax (2005), Gothika (2003), Ghost Ship (2002), Ritual (2002), Thir13en Ghosts (2001), House on Haunted Hill (1999), Bordello of Blood (1996), Tales from the Crypt: Demon Knight (1995), W.E.I.R.D. World (1995), Two-Fisted Tales (1992)See all 11 shared titles with Joel Silver
- Jacqueline LevineShared titles: Pinocchio (2022), Finch (2021), The Witches (2020), Mabel, Mabel, Tiger Trainer (2018), Welcome to Marwen (2018), Allied (2016), The Walk (2015), Bound by Flesh (2012)See all 8 shared titles with Jacqueline Levine
Mixed roles
- Guillermo del ToroShared titles: The Witches (2020), The Director's Chair (2014)See all 2 shared titles with Guillermo del Toro
- Ryan ChanShared titles: The Witches (2020), Mars Needs Moms (2011)See all 2 shared titles with Ryan Chan
- Wendy FinermanShared titles: Forrest Gump (1994), Through the Eyes of Forrest Gump (1994)See all 2 shared titles with Wendy Finerman
