Skip to content
MovieCove
Stephen Rea

Stephen Rea

Actor, also writer · Born October 31, 1946 (79) · Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK

Stephen Rea (born October 31, 1946) is an Irish film and stage actor. Rea has appeared in a number of high profile films, both Irish and international, such as V for Vendetta, Michael Collins, Interview with the Vampire and Breakfast on Pluto. Rea was nominated for an Academy Award for his lead performance as Fergus in the 1992 film The Crying Game.

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
October 31, 1946 (79)
From
Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
Works as
Actor, also writer
Titles
78 on MovieCove · 141 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 26Up 3% in 30 days

What are Stephen Rea's films like?

Across their 69 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Morality.

Genres

Drama19 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 67th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Comedy13 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 54th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Action11 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 44th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Crime5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 39th percentile
: browse their Crime movies
Documentary5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 79th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Documentary movies
Biography3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 84th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Biography movies
Horror3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 7th percentile
: browse their Horror movies
Mystery2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 39th percentile
: browse their Mystery 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
24%
Morality
23%
Survival
17%
Self
15%
Society
8%
Power
8%
Ideas
5%
Family bonds22 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice12 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival12 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love12 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity10 titles, browse their movies with this themeRedemption7 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception5 titles, browse their movies with this themeTrauma6 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 64 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 17 · Serious 15 · Dark 32

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

A split, not a type: Grounded 37 · Stylized 20 · Heightened 7

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

Gentle 10 · Charged 32 · Intense 22

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

Steady 27 · Shifting 31 · Whiplash 6

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

Straight-faced 45 · Some laughs 14 · 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 33 · Even-paced 27 · Relentless 4

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

Casual 17 · Engaged 38 · Full focus 9

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 18 · Affecting 21 · Heavy 25

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

A split, not a type: Resolved 36 · Open-ended 16 · Ambiguous 12

Roles they play

41 analyzed roles

Usually the Hero: 10 of 41 analyzed roles.

Hero
10 of 41
Shadow
10 of 41
Mentor
6 of 41
Threshold guardian
5 of 41
Ally
4 of 41
Trickster
3 of 41
Herald
2 of 41
Shapeshifter
1 of 41
Show the 41 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
42
Melancholic
35
Dread
22
Contemplative
17
Warm
13
Other
53

How their films linger

Bittersweet26 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking26 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling18 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting18 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful17 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 15 with a twist

  • Happy11
  • Bittersweet32
  • Tragic10
  • Ambiguous16

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 Stephen Rea's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 50 of their 78 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (27).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Stephen Rea'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

141 credits, 78 with a MovieCove page; 12 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • You'll Never Believe Who's Dead(2026)

    as Charlie Bann

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Listen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2026)

    as Dinny

  • The Journey of Weather-Exposed Bones (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2026)

    as Matsuo Bashō (English)

  • Prime Target(2025)

    Show 8 episodes · as Professor James Alderman

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all shows

  • The Miracle Club(2023)

    as Frank Dunne

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • The English(2022)

    Show 4 episodes · as Sheriff Robert Marshall

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all shows

  • Nightride(2021)

    as Joe (voice)

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • Segredos do Putumayo(2020)

    as Narrator (voice)

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Disclosure(2020)

    as Fergus (archive footage)

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • Flesh and Blood(2020)

    Show 4 episodes · as Mark

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all shows

  • The Stranger(2020)

    Show 8 episodes · as Martin Killane

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all shows

  • Cyprus Avenue (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    as Eric Miller

  • Greta(2018)

    as Brian Cody

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • Thanksgiving (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    Show 3 episodes · as Melchior

  • Black '47(2018)

    as Conneely

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • Unquiet Graves(2018)

    as Narrator

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

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

    Show 2 episodes · as Alexander Pope

  • War & Peace(2016)

    Show 6 episodes · as Vassily Kuragin

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows

  • Dickensian(2015)

    Show 20 episodes · as Inspector Bucket

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all shows

  • Ruby Strangelove Young Witch (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    as Danforth

  • Out of the Dark(2014)

    as Jordan

    Midcredits score: 7th percentile of all films

  • The Curse of Styria(2014)

    as Dr. Hill

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • The Honorable Woman(2014)

    Show 8 episodes · as Hugh Hayden-Hoyle

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all shows

  • Asylum(2014)

    as McGahey

    Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all films

  • Tasting Menu(2013)

    as Walter

    Midcredits score: 22nd percentile of all films

  • Utopia(2013)

    Show 5 episodes · as Conran Letts

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • Werewolf: The Beast Among Us(2012)

    as Doc

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • Stella Days (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    as Brendan

  • Underworld: Awakening(2012)

    as Dr. Jacob Lane

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Blackthorn(2011)

    as Mackinley

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • The Shadow Line (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    Show 7 episodes · as Gatehouse

  • Roadkill(2011)

    as Seamus

    Midcredits score: 7th percentile of all films

  • The Heavy(2009)

    as Anawalt

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films

  • Ondine(2009)

    as Priest

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Nothing Personal(2009)

    as Martin

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Father & Son (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Show 4 episodes · as Augustine Flynn

  • Spy(Ies)(2009)

    as M. Palmer

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Heidi 4 Paws (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    as Doctor (voice)

  • Kisses(2008)

    as Down Under Dylan (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • 10 Days to War (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    Show 1 episode · as General Tim Cross

  • The Devil's Mercy(2008)

    as Tyler

    Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all films

  • Stuck(2007)

    as Tom Bardo

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • The Reaping(2007)

    as Father Costigan

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • Celebration (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    as Waiter

  • Until Death(2007)

    as Gabriel Callaghan

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Sisters (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    as Dr. Philip Lacan

  • Sixty Six(2006)

    as Dr. Barrie

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • 'V for Vendetta' Unmasked(2006)

    as Finch

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • V for Vendetta(2005)

    as Finch

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • Breakfast on Pluto(2005)

    as Bertie

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • River Queen(2005)

    as Francis

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • Tara Road (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    as Colm

  • Control(2004)

    as Dr. Arlo Penner

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • The Halo Effect (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    as Fatso

  • Fluent Dysphasia (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    as Murph

  • Proud (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    as Barney Garvey

  • Bloom(2003)

    as Leopold Bloom

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • The Confessor(2004)

    as McCaran

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • The I Inside(2004)

    as Doctor Newman

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • The End of the Affair: "Making of" (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Actor

  • Evelyn(2002)

    as Michael Beattie

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

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

    as Niels Bohr

  • Feardotcom(2002)

    as Alistair

    Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all films

  • On the Edge(2001)

    as Dr. Figure

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • The Musketeer(2001)

    as Cardinal Richelieu

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all films

  • Snow in August (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    as Rabbi Judah Hirsch

  • The King's Wake (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    as King Conor

  • The End of the Affair(1999)

    as Henry Miles

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • Law & Order: Special Victims Unit(1999)

    Show 1 episode · as Callum Donovan

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • The Life Before This(1999)

    as Brian

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • Guinevere(1999)

    as Connie Fitzpatrick

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • I Could Read the Sky (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    as P.J.

  • This Is My Father(1998)

    as Mission Priest

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • In Dreams(1999)

    as Doctor Silverman

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • Still Crazy(1998)

    as Tony Costello

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • The Butcher Boy(1997)

    as Da Brady

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • A Scare at Bedtime (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Hacks(1997)

    as Brian

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • Double Tap(1997)

    as Cypher

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films

  • Fever Pitch(1997)

    as Ray, the Governor

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • The Break(1997)

    Idea · as Sean Dowd

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • The Last of the High Kings(1996)

    as Cab Driver

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Michael Collins(1996)

    as Ned Broy

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all films

  • Crime of the Century(1996)

    as Bruno Richard Hauptmann

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Trojan Eddie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    as Trojan Eddie

  • Samuel Beckett: As the Story Was Told (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    as Voice

  • Lumière and Company(1995)

    as (segment "John Boorman")

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • All Men Are Mortal(1995)

    as Fosca

    Midcredits score: 10th percentile of all films

  • Shadow of a Gunman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    as Seamus Shields

  • Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    as Nikos

  • Citizen X(1995)

    as Lt. Viktor Burakov

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • Ready to Wear(1994)

    as Milo O'Brannigan

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • Interview with the Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles(1994)

    as Santiago

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • Princess Caraboo(1994)

    as Gutch

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Angie(1994)

    as Noel Riordan

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • Bad Behavior (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    as Gerry McAllister

  • Hedda Gabler (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    as Eilert Lovborg

  • The Crying Game(1992)

    as Fergus

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

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

    Show 1 episode · as Ejlert Lovborg · as Seumus Shields

  • Life Is Sweet(1990)

    as Patsy

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • Not with a Bang (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Show 7 episodes · as Colin Garrity

  • Nobody Here But Us Chickens (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Actor

  • 4 Play (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Show 1 episode · as Paul

  • Endgame by Samuel Beckett(1991)

    as Clov

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Scout (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    as Marshall

  • Shergar (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    as Frankie

  • Boon(1986)

    Show 1 episode · as Frank Warren

    Midcredits score: 22nd percentile of all shows

  • The Doctor and the Devils(1985)

    as Timothy Broom

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

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

    Show 1 episode · as Frankie

  • Four Days in July (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    as Dixie McConville

  • The House (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    as The Soldier

  • The Company of Wolves(1984)

    as Young Groom

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Loose Connections (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    as Harry

  • Joyce in June (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    as Stanislaus Joyce / McIntosh

  • Angel(1982)

    as Danny

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • Caleb Williams (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    as Tyrell

  • Caleb Williams (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    Show 4 episodes · as Tyrell

  • Minder (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Show 1 episode · as Roddy Allan

  • The Out of Town Boys (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    as Shay

  • Thank You, Comrades (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    as Mayakovsky

  • On a Paving Stone Mounted (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Actor

  • The Seagull (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    as Constantin

  • The Professionals (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Show 1 episode · as Pellin

  • BBC2 Play of the Week (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Show 1 episode · as Pavel Hollar

  • Professional Foul (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    as Hollar

  • The Hollywood Greats (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Early Struggles (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    as Chas

  • Saturday Night Live(1975)

    Show 1 episode · as Fergus (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all shows

  • Days of Hope (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Show 1 episode · as Reporter

  • I Didn't Know You Cared (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Show 13 episodes · as Carter Brandon

  • Fugitive (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    as Peter

  • K Is for Killing (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    as Arden Buckley

  • Thriller(1973)

    Show 1 episode · as Arden Buckley

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all shows

  • A Place Called Ardoyne (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • The Moonstone (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Show 1 episode · as Major Frayne

  • Stage 2 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Show 1 episode · as Donal Davoren

  • Play for Today (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    Show 1 episode · as Peter · as Shay

  • Cry of the Banshee(1970)

    as Villager

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • BBC Play of the Month (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Show 1 episode · as Konstantin Treplev

  • The Body Is Water (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    as Mr M

  • Visitation (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Actor

Career shape

Star power in the 99th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 141 titles, 139 of them dated from 1965 to 2026; peak year 2006.

Biggest box office

Interview with the Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles (1994)

$224M worldwide

Highest rated

V for Vendetta (2005)

Midcredits 98th

Most popular right now

Prime Target (2025)

Film career

MilestoneBreakout
19652026

Peak 2006 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Top draw in 24 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.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting141 of 141: 140 only acting, 1 with another role · typical Midcredits score56thWriting1 of 141: 0 only writing, 1 with another role

By decade

1960s1 · acting1970s21 · acting1980s16 · acting1990s34 · 34 acting · 1 crew2000s33 · acting2010s23 · acting2020s11 · acting

Billing

usually 3rd · top billed in 10% of 48 roles
8499040914

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 Stephen Rea's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 50th percentile, the median of all 66; across their 64 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 51st percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

51stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 64

Approval · how many liked their films

54thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 64

Reach · how many have seen their films

73rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 64

Midcredits score across 78 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up29
  • 50th to 74th13
  • 25th to 49th19
  • Below 25th17

Shape of the crowd

32 of their 78 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved7
  • Universally Panned1
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser32
  • Broadly Agreed7
  • Mixed30

Most divisive · actor

The Curse of Styria (2014)

80th percentile spread · 19% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

V for Vendetta (2005)

Midcredits 98th · 89% liked

Reviewers score the acting 68/100 in their films, across 58 reviewed titles; fans 79, detractors 42. 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 Stephen Rea's work okay for kids?

Across up to 26 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore, sex & nudity, profanity and frightening / intense run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore15 titles38–87 · median 73 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity26 titles13–68 · median 43 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity17 titles26–73 · median 55 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs14 titles10–50 · median 33 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense14 titles56–77 · median 68 · 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 Stephen Rea work with?

People who share at least 2 of Stephen Rea's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Neil Jordan shares the most, 13.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles