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Lawrence Kasdan

Lawrence Kasdan

Producer, writer, director and actor · Born January 14, 1949 (77) · Miami, Florida, USA

Oscar nominee · Primetime Emmy nominee · Golden Globe nominee · 5 other major award bodies

Lawrence Edward Kasdan (born January 14, 1949) is an American filmmaker. He is the co-writer of the Star Wars films The Empire Strikes Back (1980), Return of the Jedi (1983), The Force Awakens (2015), and Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018). He also wrote Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) and The Bodyguard (1992), and is the writer-director of Body Heat (1981), The Big Chill (1983), Silverado (1985), The Accidental Tourist (1988), and Dreamcatcher (2003). Kasdan is known for updating old Hollywood genres—film noir, science fiction, and Westerns—in a classical dramatic style with quick-witted dialogue while dealing with contemporary social themes. As a director, he has made various personal films that examine characters and generations. Kasdan has been nominated for four Academy Awards: as a producer for Best Picture nominee The Accidental Tourist, for which he was also nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay, and for Best Original Screenplay for both The Big Chill and Grand Canyon (1991). He has often collaborated with his wife, Meg Kasdan, his brother, Mark Kasdan, and his two sons, Jonathan Kasdan and Jake Kasdan. He has frequently cast Kevin Kline and William Hurt in his films. Description above from the Wikipedia article Lawrence Kasdan, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
January 14, 1949 (77)
From
Miami, Florida, USA
Works as
Producer, writer, director and actor
Titles
28 on MovieCove · 32 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 39% in 30 days

What are Lawrence Kasdan's films like?

Across their 31 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Self.

Genres

Comedy10 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 59th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Documentary6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 84th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Documentary movies
Action4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 88th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Action movies
Drama4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 42nd percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Adventure3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 99th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Adventure movies
Crime2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 82nd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime 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
29%
Self
21%
Society
15%
Ideas
14%
Morality
11%
Survival
8%
Power
4%
Art7 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love5 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds5 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity5 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose4 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity3 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship4 titles, browse their movies with this themeLegacy5 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 29 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Light: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their light movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 18 · Serious 7 · Dark 4

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

A split, not a type: Grounded 19 · Stylized 5 · Heightened 5

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

A split, not a type: Gentle 12 · Charged 8 · Intense 9

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

Steady 15 · Shifting 11 · Whiplash 3

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

Straight-faced 8 · Some laughs 16 · Funny 5

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 16 · Even-paced 11 · Relentless 2

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

Casual 18 · Engaged 10 · Full focus 1

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

Resolved 26 · Open-ended 2 · Ambiguous 1

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
13
Warm
13
Contemplative
8
Hopeful
11
Melancholic
10
Other
30

How their films linger

Hopeful16 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good11 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 3 with a twist

  • Happy11
  • Bittersweet17
  • Tragic2
  • Other1

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 Lawrence Kasdan's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 18 of their 28 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (6).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Lawrence Kasdan'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

32 credits, 28 with a MovieCove page; 20 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Marty, Life Is Short(2026)

    Director · Producer · as Self (voice)

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Light & Magic(2022)

    Show 9 episodes · Director · Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • Last Week at Ed's (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    Director · Producer

  • The Movies(2019)

    Show as Director

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all shows

  • Solo: A Star Wars Story(2018)

    Executive Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens(2015)

    Co-Producer · Creative Consultant · Writer

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Darling Companion(2012)

    Director · Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films

  • In the Land of Women(2007)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • The TV Set(2006)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • Dreamcatcher(2003)

    Director · Producer · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • Mumford(1999)

    Director · Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Home Fries(1998)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • As Good as It Gets(1997)

    as Dr. Green

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • French Kiss(1995)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • Wyatt Earp(1994)

    Director · Producer · Screenplay · as Gambler

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Montana Jones (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Show 52 episodes · Original Story

  • The Bodyguard(1992)

    Producer · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Grand Canyon(1991)

    Director · Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • Jumpin' at the Boneyard(1991)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • I Love You to Death(1990)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • Immediate Family(1989)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • The Accidental Tourist(1988)

    Director · Producer · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • Cross My Heart (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Producer

  • Silverado(1985)

    Director · Producer · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Into the Night(1985)

    as Detective #2

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • The Big Chill(1983)

    Director · Executive Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi(1983)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Continental Divide(1981)

    Writer

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Body Heat(1981)

    Director · Writer

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • Raiders of the Lost Ark(1981)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back(1980)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • November Road (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Director · Writer

Career shape

A full career of 31 titles, 30 of them dated from 1980 to 2026.

Biggest box office

Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens (2015)

$2.1B worldwide

Highest rated

Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

Midcredits 99th

Most popular right now

Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)

Film career

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting3 of 31: 2 only acting, 1 with another roleDirecting15 of 31: 2 only directing, 13 with another role · typical Midcredits score71stWriting18 of 31: 5 only writing, 13 with another role · typical Midcredits score72ndProducing20 of 31: 6 only producing, 14 with another role · typical Midcredits score67thOther crew1 of 31: 0 only other crew, 1 with another role

31 titles, 16 with more than one role — producing and writing overlap on 11 of them.

By decade

1980s11 · 1 acting · 10 crew1990s10 · 2 acting · 9 crew2000s3 · crew2010s4 · crew2020s2 · 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

4 major awards from 20 major nominations, 1981–2026.

WinNomination
  1. 2026
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Directing for a Documentary/Nonfiction Program
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special
  2. 2006
    • Writers Guild Award, won
  3. 1992
    • Oscar, nominated · Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen
    • Golden Globe, nominated · Best Screenplay - Motion Picture
    • +2 other major bodies · 1 win and 1 nomination
      • Berlinale award, won
      • Writers Guild Award, nominated · Best Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen
  4. 1990
    • BAFTA Award, nominated · Best Screenplay - Adapted
  5. 1989
    • Oscar, nominated · Best Picture
    • Oscar, nominated · Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium
    • +1 other major body · 1 nomination
      • Writers Guild Award, nominated · Best Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium
  6. 1985
    • BAFTA Award, nominated · Best Screenplay - Original
    • +1 other major body · 1 win
      • Venice award, won
  7. 1984
    • Oscar, nominated · Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen
    • Golden Globe, nominated · Best Screenplay - Motion Picture
    • +2 other major bodies · 1 win and 1 nomination
      • Directors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures
      • Writers Guild Award, won · Best Comedy Written Directly for the Screen
  8. 1982
    • Writers Guild Award, nominated · Best Comedy Written Directly for the Screen
    • Writers Guild Award, nominated · Best Drama Written Directly for the Screen
Show 1 earlier year
  1. 1981
    • Writers Guild Award, nominated · Best Comedy Adapted from Another Medium

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 Lawrence Kasdan's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 67th percentile, the median of all 26; across their 29 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 64th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

64thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 29

Approval · how many liked their films

67thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 29

Reach · how many have seen their films

84thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 29

Midcredits score across 28 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up10
  • 50th to 74th12
  • 25th to 49th4
  • Below 25th2

Shape of the crowd

15 of their 28 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved7
  • Crowd Pleaser15
  • Broadly Agreed1
  • Mixed5

Most divisive · producer

Jumpin' at the Boneyard (1991)

63rd percentile spread · 23% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · writer

Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

Midcredits 99th · 93% liked

Reviewers score the dialogue 60/100 and the plot and story 45/100 in their films, across 25 reviewed titles. The element that speaks to their work as a writer.

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 Lawrence Kasdan's work okay for kids?

Across up to 14 MovieCove titles with content scores, every category sits near the median of all films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore11 titles38–77 · median 47 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity14 titles13–49 · median 35 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity12 titles9–72 · median 40 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs11 titles14–46 · median 39 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense12 titles19–70 · median 47 · 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 Lawrence Kasdan work with?

People who share at least 2 of Lawrence Kasdan's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Carol Littleton shares the most, 10.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles