Skip to content
MovieCove
Greta Garbo

Greta Garbo

Actor · Died April 15, 1990, aged 84 · Stockholm, Stockholms län, Sweden

Greta Garbo (born Greta Lovisa Gustafsson; September 18, 1905 – April 15, 1990) was a Swedish-American actress, widely regarded as one of the greatest stars of classic Hollywood cinema. Known for her melancholic and enigmatic screen presence, she starred in iconic films such as Anna Karenina, Queen Christina, Camille, and Ninotchka. Throughout her career, she was celebrated for her subtle and understated performances, earning three Academy Award nominations and an honorary Oscar in 1954. Garbo was famously private, avoiding the Hollywood social scene and retiring from acting at the age of 35. Her personal life has long been the subject of speculation, particularly regarding her sexuality. She was romantically linked to several women, including writer Mercedes de Acosta and actress Marlene Dietrich, fueling rumors that she may have been lesbian or bisexual. However, Garbo never publicly addressed these rumors, maintaining an air of mystery that only added to her legendary status. Her legacy continues to captivate audiences, with her influence extending beyond film into discussions of gender, sexuality, and Hollywood’s golden age.

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
September 18, 1905
Died
April 15, 1990 (aged 84)
From
Stockholm, Stockholms län, Sweden
Works as
Actor
Titles
24 on MovieCove · 52 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 Greta Garbo's films like?

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

Genres

Drama14 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 75th percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Documentary3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 86th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Documentary movies
Comedy2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 73rd percentile
: browse their Comedy 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
Bonds
42%
Power
17%
Morality
16%
Self
12%
Society
8%
Survival
5%
Ideas
1%
Romantic love15 titles, browse their movies with this themeSacrifice5 titles, browse their movies with this themeClass5 titles, browse their movies with this themeFreedom4 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth3 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity2 titles, browse their movies with this themeMarriage2 titles, browse their movies with this themeBetrayal3 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

A split, not a type: Grounded 10 · Stylized 9 · Heightened 3

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

Gentle 3 · Charged 14 · Intense 5

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

Steady 9 · Shifting 13 · Whiplash 0

Straight-faced: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their straight-faced movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 20 · Some laughs 0 · Funny 2

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

Slow burn 14 · Even-paced 7 · 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 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 4 · Affecting 10 · Heavy 8

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

Resolved 18 · Open-ended 3 · Ambiguous 1

Roles they play

18 analyzed roles

Usually the Hero: 13 of 18 analyzed roles.

Hero
13 of 18
Shapeshifter
4 of 18
Shadow
1 of 18
Show the 18 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Melancholic
17
Romantic
17
Tense
13
Contemplative
3
Warm
4
Other
10

How their films linger

Bittersweet16 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteWistful7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 1 with a twist

  • Happy3
  • Bittersweet10
  • Tragic5
  • Ambiguous4

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 Greta Garbo's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 6 of their 24 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (5).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Greta Garbo'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

52 credits, 24 with a MovieCove page; 33 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • The Marriage of Greta Garbo and Sergei Eiseinstein (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)

    Actor

  • Destins secrets d’étoiles - Grace, Jackie, Liz, Marilyn… (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    Actor

  • Final Cut: Ladies and Gentlemen(2012)

    as (archive footage)

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • Sigrid Holmquist (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    as Sigrid Holmquist (archive footage)

  • Hollywood sul Tevere (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Actor

  • Thou Shalt Not: Sex, Sin and Censorship in Pre-Code Hollywood(2008)

    as Queen Christina (archive footage)

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Stjärnbilder (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    as (archive footage)

  • The Casting Couch (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Actor

  • Minns ni? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    as (archive footage)

  • The Meeting of Two Queens (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    as (archive footage)

  • Stiller, Garbo & jag (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    as (archive footage)

  • That's Entertainment, Part II(1976)

    as (archive footage)

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Marlowe(1969)

    as Grusinskaya(archive footage) (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • The Big Parade of Comedy(1964)

    as Ninotchka in 'Ninotchka' (archive footage)

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • 30 Years of Fun (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    as (archive footage)

  • Two-Faced Woman(1941)

    as Karin Borg Blake

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Ninotchka(1939)

    as Nina "Ninotchka" Ivanovna Yakushova

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Conquest(1937)

    as Countess Marie Walewska

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • Camille(1936)

    as Marguerite Gautier

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • Anna Karenina(1935)

    as Anna Karenina

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Do You Remember? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    as (archive footage)

  • The Painted Veil (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    as Katrin Koerber Fane

  • Queen Christina(1933)

    as Christina

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • Grand Hotel(1932)

    as Grusinskaya

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • As You Desire Me(1932)

    as Zara, a.k.a. Maria

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • Mata Hari(1931)

    as Mata Hari

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Susan Lenox (Her Fall and Rise)(1931)

    as Helga, aka Susan Lenox

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • Fröken, Ni liknar Greta Garbo! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    as (archive footage)

  • Inspiration (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    as Yvonne Valbret

  • Anna Christie(1930)

    as Anna Christie

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • Romance(1930)

    as Rita Cavallini

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Anna Christie(1930)

    as Anna Christie

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • The Kiss (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)

    as Irene

  • With Greta Garbo on the Swedish American Line's Ship (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)

    Actor

  • The Single Standard(1929)

    as Arden Stuart

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • A Man's Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)

    as Greta Garbo

  • Wild Orchids(1929)

    as Lillie Sterling

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • A Woman of Affairs(1928)

    as Diana Merrick

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • The Mysterious Lady (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)

    as Tania Fedorova

  • The Divine Woman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)

    as Marianne

  • Love(1927)

    as Anna Karenina

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • Flesh and the Devil(1926)

    as Felicitas

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • The Temptress (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1926)

    as Elena

  • Vårt kronprinspar i Hollywood (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1926)

    Actor

  • Torrent (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1926)

    as Leonora Moreno

  • The Joyless Street(1925)

    as Greta Rumfort

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • The Saga of Gösta Berling (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1924)

    as Elizabeth Dohna

  • Peter the Tramp (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1922)

    as Greta

  • A Scarlet Angel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1922)

    as Extra

  • Our Daily Bread (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1921)

    as Companion

  • A Fortune Hunter (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1921)

    as Maid

  • Mr. and Mrs. Stockholm Out Shopping (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1920)

    as Elder Sister/Mannequin

Career shape

Star power in the 99th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 53 titles from 1920 to 2023; peak year 2012.

Biggest box office

Ninotchka (1939)

$4.4K worldwide

Highest rated

Ninotchka (1939)

Midcredits 97th

Most popular right now

Mata Hari (1931)

Film career

19202023

Peak 2012 · steadily prominent in film for years. Top draw in 9 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.

  • 1924Screen debut· The Saga of Gösta Berling
  • 1924First top-billed film· The Saga of Gösta Berling
  • 1939Career best· Ninotchka

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting53 of 53: 53 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score75th

By decade

1920s20 · acting1930s16 · acting1940s1 · acting1950s1 · acting1960s3 · acting1970s1 · acting1980s1 · acting1990s4 · acting2000s2 · acting2010s3 · acting2020s1 · acting

Billing

usually 1st · top billed in 72% of 18 roles
2429

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.

How do Greta Garbo's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 75th percentile, the median of all 24; across their 22 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 69th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

69thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 22

Approval · how many liked their films

79thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 22

Reach · how many have seen their films

49thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 22

Midcredits score across 24 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up12
  • 50th to 74th9
  • 25th to 49th3

Shape of the crowd

18 of their 24 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved4
  • Crowd Pleaser18
  • Mixed2

Most divisive · actor

The Big Parade of Comedy (1964)

74th percentile spread · 35% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Ninotchka (1939)

Midcredits 97th · 86% liked

Reviewers score the acting 80/100 in their films, across 19 reviewed titles; fans 85, detractors 51. 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 Greta Garbo's work okay for kids?

Across a limited sample of up to 3 MovieCove titles with content scores.

Their medianMedian of all films
Sex & Nudity3 titlesmedian 19 · mildMedian of all films: 32

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted.

Who does Greta Garbo work with?

People who share at least 2 of Greta Garbo's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; William H. Daniels shares the most, 15.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles