Skip to content
MovieCove
Renny Harlin

Renny Harlin

Director, producer, actor and writer · Born March 15, 1959 (67) · Riihimäki, Finland

Independent Spirit Award winner

Renny Harlin (born Renny Lauri Mauritz Harjola on March 15, 1959) is a Finnish film director and producer, known for his prolific work in the action and horror genres. The peak of his success spanned from the late 1980s to the late 1990s, during which period he directed numerous hits, including A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master, Die Hard 2, Cliffhanger, and Deep Blue Sea. The commercial performance of his films has waned since the mid 2000s, but Harlin remains 86th on the list of highest-grossing directors of all time (based on U.S. domestic gross revenue). He has primarily worked in the Hollywood studio system, in addition to time spent in his native Finland and a brief stint in China.

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
March 15, 1959 (67)
From
Riihimäki, Finland
Works as
Director, producer, actor and writer
Titles
37 on MovieCove · 52 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 155 days to Oct 26Up 28% in 30 days

What are Renny Harlin's films like?

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

Genres

Action18 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 26th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Horror7 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 9th percentile
: browse their Horror movies
Crime4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 35th percentile
: browse their Crime movies
Comedy2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 53rd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Documentary2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 97th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Documentary 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
29%
Morality
19%
Bonds
18%
Self
15%
Ideas
7%
Society
7%
Power
6%
Survival14 titles, browse their movies with this themeLoyalty7 titles, browse their movies with this themeTrauma8 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice5 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity5 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds4 titles, browse their movies with this themeArt3 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose3 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 11 · Serious 10 · Dark 15

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

A split, not a type: Grounded 20 · Stylized 12 · Heightened 4

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

Gentle 4 · Charged 7 · Intense 25

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

Steady 6 · Shifting 26 · Whiplash 4

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

Straight-faced 23 · Some laughs 9 · Funny 4

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

Slow burn 4 · Even-paced 22 · Relentless 10

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

Casual 11 · Engaged 18 · Full focus 7

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

Easy watch 13 · Affecting 14 · Heavy 9

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

Resolved 24 · Open-ended 10 · Ambiguous 2

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
25
Dread
17
Thrilling
19
Warm
7
Contemplative
4
Other
23

How their films linger

Fun15 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling12 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good11 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteCathartic7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 10 with a twist

  • Happy13
  • Bittersweet15
  • Tragic1
  • 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 Renny Harlin's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 28 of their 37 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (13).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Renny Harlin'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, 37 with a MovieCove page; 9 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • The Beast(2026)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • Deep Water(2026)

    Director · as Ship Radio Dispatcher (voice)

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • The Strangers: Chapter 3(2026)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all films

  • The Strangers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2026)

    Director

  • The Strangers: Chapter 2(2025)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 7th percentile of all films

  • The Strangers: Chapter 1(2024)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 7th percentile of all films

  • The Bricklayer(2023)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • Refuge(2023)

    Director · Producer

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all films

  • Reunion 3: Singles Cruise (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2021)

    Director · Screenplay

  • The Misfits(2021)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 5th percentile of all films

  • Bodies at Rest(2019)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • Legend of the Ancient Sword (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    Director

  • Skiptrace(2016)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • The Legend of Hercules(2014)

    Director · Producer · Writer · as Officer Linus (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 4th percentile of all films

  • Graceland(2013)

    Show 3 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all shows

  • Devil's Pass(2013)

    Director · Producer

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • 5 Days of War(2011)

    Director · Producer

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • The Resident(2011)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • Covert Affairs(2010)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all shows

  • White Collar(2009)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • 12 Rounds(2009)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • Cleaner(2007)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Burn Notice(2007)

    Show 4 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • The Covenant(2006)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • Exorcist: The Beginning(2004)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films

  • Mindhunters(2004)

    Director · Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all films

  • Driven(2001)

    Director · Producer · as Replacement Driver

    Midcredits score: 8th percentile of all films

  • Deep Blue Sea(1999)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • Blast from the Past(1999)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • Johtaja Uuno Turhapuro pisnismies (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    as Renny Harlin

  • Mistrial(1996)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • The Long Kiss Goodnight(1996)

    Director · Producer

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Cutthroat Island(1995)

    Director · Producer

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all films

  • Speechless(1994)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • The Foot Shooting Party (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Executive Producer

  • Cliffhanger(1993)

    Director · Producer

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

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

    Show 54 episodes · Director

  • Rambling Rose(1991)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • Raptori Moe! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Actor

  • The Adventures of Ford Fairlane(1990)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Die Hard 2(1990)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

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

    Director · as Student (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • Prison(1987)

    Director · Writer

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Born American(1986)

    Director · Screenplay · Stunt Double · as Man's Voice from Ship's Loudspeakers (uncredited) (voice)

    Midcredits score: 6th percentile of all films

  • The Breakthrough (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    as Police officer (uncredited)

  • Kohtauspaikka 33 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Director · Producer · as Self (voice)

  • Custody (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    Director · Writer

  • Athina (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Director

  • Black Tides (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Director

  • Carrier (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Producer

  • Inspector Palmu (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Director · Writer

  • Trial by Combat (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Director

Career shape

A full career of 52 titles, 47 of them dated from 1980 to 2026.

Biggest box office

Cliffhanger (1993)

$255M worldwide

Highest rated

Never Sleep Again: The Elm Street Legacy (2010)

Midcredits 99th

Most popular right now

The Beast (2026)

Film career

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting8 of 52: 3 only acting, 5 with another role · typical Midcredits score8thDirecting42 of 52: 26 only directing, 16 with another role · typical Midcredits score29thWriting5 of 52: 0 only writing, 5 with another roleProducing17 of 52: 7 only producing, 10 with another role · typical Midcredits score32ndOther crew1 of 52: 0 only other crew, 1 with another role

52 titles, 16 with more than one role — directing and producing overlap on 10 of them.

By decade

1980s6 · 3 acting · 5 crew1990s14 · 2 acting · 12 crew2000s8 · 1 acting · 8 crew2010s9 · 1 acting · 9 crew2020s10 · 1 acting · 10 crew

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

Won an Independent Spirit Award in 1992, Best Feature.

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 Renny Harlin's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 26th percentile, the median of all 33; across their 36 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 35th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

35thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 36

Approval · how many liked their films

28thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 36

Reach · how many have seen their films

93rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 36

Midcredits score across 37 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up4
  • 50th to 74th7
  • 25th to 49th12
  • Below 25th14

Shape of the crowd

13 of their 37 titles are Mixed.

  • Universally Loved2
  • Universally Panned4
  • Cult Classic2
  • Crowd Pleaser8
  • Broadly Agreed8
  • Mixed13

Most divisive · director, producer

5 Days of War (2011)

86th percentile spread · 31% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · director

White Collar (2009)

Midcredits 96th · 92% liked

Reviewers score the atmosphere 59/100 and the pacing 48/100 in their films, across 35 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 Renny Harlin's work okay for kids?

Across up to 25 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 & Gore24 titles42–92 · median 71 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity25 titles13–51 · median 30 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity23 titles29–87 · median 59 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs20 titles24–55 · median 36 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense21 titles28–84 · median 65 · 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 Renny Harlin work with?

People who share at least 2 of Renny Harlin's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Johanna Harlin shares the most, 6.

Writers

Actors

Composers and cinematographers

Producers

Mixed roles