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John Lynch

John Lynch

Actor · Born December 26, 1961 (64) · Corrinshego, Northern Ireland, UK

BAFTA Award nominee

John Lynch (born 26 December 1961) is an Irish actor and novelist from Northern Ireland. He won the AFI (AACTA) Award for Best Actor for the 1995 film Angel Baby. His other film appearances include Cal (1984), The Secret Garden (1993), In the Name of the Father (1993), Sliding Doors (1998), The Fall (2013–2016), Medici (2019), The Head (2020), and The Banishing (2021). Lynch has also written two novels, Torn Water (2005) and Falling Out of Heaven (2010).

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
December 26, 1961 (64)
From
Corrinshego, Northern Ireland, UK
Works as
Actor
Titles
54 on MovieCove · 89 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 34% in 30 days

What are John Lynch's films like?

Across their 41 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Survival and Bonds.

Genres

Drama16 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 54th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Action7 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 40th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Comedy5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 37th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Horror4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 23rd percentile
: browse their Horror movies
Adventure2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 74th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Adventure movies
Biography2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 95th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Biography 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
25%
Bonds
21%
Morality
19%
Society
11%
Power
10%
Ideas
9%
Self
6%
Survival17 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds11 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love7 titles, browse their movies with this themeSacrifice6 titles, browse their movies with this themeFaith4 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice3 titles, browse their movies with this themeGrief4 titles, browse their movies with this themePower3 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 37 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Dark: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their dark movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 4 · Serious 12 · Dark 21

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

A split, not a type: Grounded 23 · Stylized 9 · 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 4 · Charged 9 · Intense 24

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

Steady 12 · Shifting 23 · Whiplash 2

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

Straight-faced 30 · Some laughs 5 · Funny 2

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

Slow burn 15 · Even-paced 19 · Relentless 3

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 25 · Full focus 4

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

A split, not a type: Easy watch 5 · Affecting 14 · Heavy 18

Open-ended: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their open-ended movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

A split, not a type: Resolved 19 · Open-ended 14 · Ambiguous 4

Roles they play

22 analyzed roles

Usually the Shadow: 7 of 22 analyzed roles.

Shadow
7 of 22
Hero
6 of 22
Mentor
4 of 22
Ally
3 of 22
Herald
1 of 22
Threshold guardian
1 of 22
Show the 22 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
33
Dread
16
Melancholic
19
Hopeful
12
Warm
7
Other
29

How their films linger

Bittersweet18 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling13 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful12 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking11 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteDevastating5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 9 with a twist

  • Happy7
  • Bittersweet22
  • Tragic4
  • Ambiguous8

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 John Lynch's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 40 of their 54 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (22).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for John Lynch'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

89 credits, 54 with a MovieCove page; 1 appearance as themselves is hidden until asked for.

  • Sew Torn(2024)

    as Hudson Armitage

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • The Watchers(2024)

    as Kilmartin

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Blue Lights(2023)

    Show 6 episodes · as James McIntyre

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • Starting Tomorrow I'll Get Up Late (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)

    Actor

  • Boys from County Hell(2020)

    as George Bogue

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • The Banishing(2020)

    as Malachi

    Midcredits score: 6th percentile of all films

  • Caravan (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    as Sam

  • The Head(2020)

    Show 18 episodes · as Arthur Wilde

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all shows

  • Kissing Candice(2017)

    as Donal

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • Paul, Apostle of Christ(2018)

    as Aquila

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Number One (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    as Gary

  • Upstream (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    as Sean

  • Pilgrimage(2017)

    as The Herbalist - Brother Ciaran

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • Detour(2016)

    as Frank Malone

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • One of Us (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    Show 4 episodes · as Bill Douglas

  • Alleycats(2016)

    as Redman

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films

  • The Trials of Jimmy Rose (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    Show 3 episodes · as DI Steve McIntyre

  • The Hybrid(2014)

    as Powell

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films

  • The Assets(2014)

    Show 8 episodes · as Vitaly Yurchenko

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all shows

  • Crossing Lines(2013)

    Show 1 episode · as Frankie

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all shows

  • The Fall(2013)

    Show 17 episodes · as Jim Burns

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • Shetland(2013)

    Show 2 episodes · as Frank Blake

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows

  • Möbius(2013)

    as Joshua

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Labyrinth(2012)

    Show 2 episodes · as Simeon de Montfort

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all shows

  • Private Peaceful(2012)

    as Sergeant Hanley

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • The Hot Potato(2012)

    as Bill

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • Ghosted(2011)

    as Jack

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Vera(2011)

    Show 1 episode · as Edmund Fulwell

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows

  • Night of the Hunt (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • Night Wolf(2010)

    as McRae

    Midcredits score: 5th percentile of all films

  • Black Death(2010)

    as Wolfstan

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Mo(2010)

    as Gerry Adams

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • The Nativity(2010)

    Show as Gabriel

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all shows

  • Hard Times(2009)

    as Tom Gaffney

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • The Tournament(2009)

    as Gene Walker

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Merlin(2008)

    Show 2 episodes · as Balinor

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • The Passion (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    Show 6 episodes · as Sagan

  • In Tranzit(2008)

    as Yakov

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • The Yellow House (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    as Paul Gaugin

  • Lassie(2005)

    as Sam Carraclough

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Isolation(2005)

    as Dan

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Bleak House(2005)

    Show 2 episodes · as Nemo / Captain James Hawdon

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all shows

  • The Bridge of San Luis Rey(2004)

    as Captain Alvarado

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • Alien Hunter(2003)

    as Dr. Michael Straub

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • Conspiracy of Silence (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    as Father Francis

  • Evelyn(2002)

    as Senior Counsel Mr. Wolfe

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • MI-5(2002)

    Show 1 episode · as Davie King

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all shows

  • The Jury(2002)

    Show 5 episodes · as Alan Lane

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all shows

  • Puckoon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    as O'Brien

  • The Seventh Stream(2001)

    as Tomas Dunhill

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • blur | The Best Of (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Cinematographer

  • Boston Public (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Show 1 episode · as Jerry

  • The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones: Love's Sweet Song (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    as Sean O'Casey

  • Best (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Executive Producer · Writer · as George Best

  • The Quarry (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    as The Man

  • Sliding Doors(1998)

    as Gerry

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Night Train (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Director

  • This Is the Sea(1997)

    as Padhar McAliskey

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Nothing Personal (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    as Liam

  • Some Mother's Son(1996)

    as Bobby Sands

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • Moll Flanders(1996)

    as Fielding

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Silent Witness(1996)

    Show 2 episodes · as Tom Flannery

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all shows

  • Angel Baby (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    as Harry

  • Princess Caraboo(1994)

    as Amon McCarthy

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Words Upon the Window Pane(1994)

    as John Corbet

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • The Secret of Roan Inish(1994)

    as Tadhg

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • In the Name of the Father(1993)

    as Paul Hill

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • The Secret Garden(1993)

    as Lord Archibald Craven

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Peak Practice (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as Father Mel Davey

  • He-Play She-Play (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as Jim

  • Monkey Boy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as Peter Carson

  • The Railway Station Man(1992)

    as Damian Sweeney

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Show 1 episode · as Sean O'Casey

  • Edward II(1991)

    as Spencer

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • Out of the Blue (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    as Rudy

  • Chimera (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Show 4 episodes · as Peter Carson

  • All Good Things (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Show 6 episodes · as Vincent Gibney

  • Hardware(1990)

    as Shades

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all films

  • 1871 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    as O'Brien

  • Who Bombed Birmingham? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    as IRA man in cottage

  • Making Out (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Show 8 episodes · Actor

  • The Play on One (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Show 1 episode · as Rudy

  • James Joyce's 'Ulysses' (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    as Stephen Dedalus

  • The Modern World: Ten Great Writers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Show 1 episode · as Stephen Dedalus

  • Waiting Tables (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Actor

  • Screen Two (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 1 episode · as Damian Sweeney · as Spencer

  • Cal(1984)

    as Cal

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Natural World(1983)

    Show 1 episode · as Narrator

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • Hallmark Hall of Fame (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    Show 1 episode · as Tomas Dunhill

Career shape

Star power in the 99th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 87 titles from 1951 to 2025; peak year 1994.

Biggest box office

In the Name of the Father (1993)

$66M worldwide

Highest rated

In the Name of the Father (1993)

Midcredits 99th

Most popular right now

The Fall (2013)

Film career

MilestoneNomination
19512025

Peak 1994 · back in prominent film roles after a quiet stretch. Top draw in 15 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.

  • 1984Screen debut· Cal
  • 1984First top-billed film· Cal
  • 1984BAFTA Award nomination· Cal
  • 2005Career best· Isolation
  • 2013Career best· The Fall

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting85 of 87: 84 only acting, 1 with another role · typical Midcredits score53rdDirecting1 of 87: 1 only directing, 0 with another roleWriting1 of 87: 0 only writing, 1 with another roleProducing1 of 87: 0 only producing, 1 with another roleCinematography1 of 87: 1 only cinematography, 0 with another role

By decade

1950s1 · acting1980s8 · acting1990s26 · 25 acting · 1 crew2000s21 · 20 acting · 2 crew2010s23 · acting2020s8 · acting

Billing

usually 5th · top billed in 18% of 34 roles
8494990914

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

Nominated for a BAFTA Award in 1985, Most Outstanding Newcomer to Film.

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 John Lynch's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 44th percentile, the median of all 39; across their 37 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 46th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

46thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 37

Approval · how many liked their films

45thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 37

Reach · how many have seen their films

79thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 37

Midcredits score across 54 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up19
  • 50th to 74th9
  • 25th to 49th19
  • Below 25th7

Shape of the crowd

18 of their 54 titles are Mixed.

  • Universally Loved11
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser16
  • Broadly Agreed8
  • Mixed18

Most divisive · actor

Kissing Candice (2017)

79th percentile spread · 34% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

In the Name of the Father (1993)

Midcredits 99th · 92% liked

Reviewers score the acting 70/100 in their films, across 36 reviewed titles; fans 78, detractors 47. 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 John Lynch'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 & Gore12 titles34–91 · median 76 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity25 titles18–60 · median 38 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity11 titles11–79 · median 65 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs12 titles1–57 · median 35 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense11 titles37–85 · median 72 · 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 John Lynch work with?

People who share at least 2 of John Lynch's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Christopher Smith shares the most, 4.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers and editors

Producers