Joel Silver (born July 14, 1952) is an American film producer, known for action films like Lethal Weapon and Die Hard. He is owner of Silver Pictures and co-founder of Dark Castle Entertainment. He began his career at Lawrence Gordon Productions, where he eventually became president of motion pictures for the company. He earned his first screen credit as the associate producer on The Warriors and, with Gordon, produced 48 Hrs.,Streets of Fire and Brewster's Millions. In 1985, he formed Silver Pictures and produced successful action films such as Commando (1985), the Lethal Weapon franchise, the first two films of the Die Hard series and the The Matrix franchise of action films. He appears on-screen at the beginning of Who Framed Roger Rabbit as Raoul J. Raoul, the director of the animated short Something's Cookin. He directed "Split Personality", (1992), an episode of the HBO horror anthology, Tales from the Crypt. He currently runs two production companies, Silver Pictures and Dark Castle Entertainment co-owned by Robert Zemeckis. Along with Jared Kass, Silver was co-creator of the sport of Ultimate.
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Biography from TMDB.
- July 14, 1952 (74)
- South Orange, New Jersey, USA
- Producer, also actor
- 103 on MovieCove · 116 credits in all
What are Joel Silver's films like?
Across their 89 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Bonds.
Genres
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
What they feel like to watch
Ironic 10 · Wry 6 · Earnest 70
A split, not a type: Light 34 · Serious 26 · Dark 29
A split, not a type: Grounded 33 · Stylized 32 · Heightened 24
Gentle 12 · Charged 17 · Intense 60
Steady 22 · Shifting 52 · Whiplash 15
A split, not a type: Straight-faced 49 · Some laughs 24 · Funny 16
A split, not a type: Slow burn 10 · Even-paced 35 · Relentless 44
Casual 25 · Engaged 52 · Full focus 12
Easy watch 45 · Affecting 31 · Heavy 13
Resolved 72 · Open-ended 14 · Ambiguous 3
Moods and endings
- Happy42
- Bittersweet35
- Tragic1
- Ambiguous11
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 Joel Silver's films?
As of October 24, 2026, 64 of their 103 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (21).
- The Warriors (1979) · producer · free
- Tales from the Crypt (1989) · actor, director, producer · free
- The Last Boy Scout (1991) · producer · free
- Moonlight (2007) · producer · free
- Commando (1985) · producer · free
- Conspiracy Theory (1997) · producer · free
- Hooper (1978) · producer · free
- Osmosis Jones (2001) · actor · free
- Transit (2012) · producer · free
- El Gringo (2012) · producer · free
- Richie Rich (1994) · producer · free
- The Reaping (2007) · producer · free
- +9 more
- Action (1999) · producer · free
- Orphan (2009) · producer · free
- The Last Boy Scout (1991) · producer · free
- Moonlight (2007) · producer · free
- Conspiracy Theory (1997) · producer · free
- Executive Decision (1996) · producer · free
- Osmosis Jones (2001) · actor · free
- Gothika (2003) · producer · free
- The Reaping (2007) · producer · free
- Fathers' Day (1997) · producer · free
- Double Tap (1997) · producer · free
- Return to House on Haunted Hill (2007) · producer · free
- +1 more
Subscription and free streaming for Joel Silver'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
116 credits, 103 with a MovieCove page; 18 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.
Road House(2024)
Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films
SuperFly(2018)
Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films
Suburbicon(2017)
Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films
Collide(2016)
Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films
The Nice Guys(2016)
Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films
Veronica Mars(2014)
Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films
Non-Stop(2014)
Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films
Enemies Closer(2013)
Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films
Getaway(2013)
Midcredits score: 8th percentile of all films
Bullet to the Head(2012)
Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films
The Factory(2012)
Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films
The Apparition(2012)
Midcredits score: 2nd percentile of all films
Stash House(2012)
Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films
The Philly Kid(2012)
Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films
Dragon Eyes(2012)
Midcredits score: 10th percentile of all films
El Gringo(2012)
Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films
Transit(2012)
Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films
Project X(2012)
Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films
Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films
Unknown(2011)
Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films
Hail Mary(2011)
Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)
Splice(2009)
Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films
The Losers(2010)
Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films
The Book of Eli(2010)
Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films
Sherlock Holmes(2009)
Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films
Ninja Assassin(2009)
Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films
The Hills Run Red(2009)
Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films
Whiteout(2009)
Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films
Orphan(2009)
Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films
RocknRolla(2008)
Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films
Speed Racer(2008)
Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films
Fred Claus(2007)
Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films
Midcredits score: 8th percentile of all films
Moonlight(2007)
Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all shows
The Brave One(2007)
Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films
The Invasion(2007)
Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films
The Reaping(2007)
Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films
The Reef(2006)
Midcredits score: 5th percentile of all films
V for Vendetta(2005)
Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films
Kiss Kiss Bang Bang(2005)
Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films
House of Wax(2005)
Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films
Veronica Mars(2004)
Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all shows
Bet Your Life (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)
Entourage(2004)
Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows
Next Action Star (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)
Gothika(2003)
Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films
The Matrix Revolutions(2003)
Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films
The Matrix Reloaded(2003)
Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films
The Animatrix(2003)
Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films
Cradle 2 the Grave(2003)
Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films
Ghost Ship(2002)
Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films
Ritual(2002)
Midcredits score: 10th percentile of all films
Jane Doe(2001)
Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films
The Matrix Revisited(2001)
Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films
Thir13en Ghosts(2001)
Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films
Osmosis Jones(2001)
Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films
Swordfish(2001)
Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films
Proximity (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)
Exit Wounds(2001)
Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films
Dungeons & Dragons(2000)
Midcredits score: 2nd percentile of all films
Freedom (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)
Romeo Must Die(2000)
Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films
House on Haunted Hill(1999)
Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films
The Strip (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)
Action(1999)
Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all shows
Tales from the Crypt: The Robert Zemeckis Collection (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)
Made Men(1999)
Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films
The Matrix(1999)
Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films
Lethal Weapon 4(1998)
Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films
Double Tap(1997)
Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films
Conspiracy Theory(1997)
Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films
Perversions of Science (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)
Fathers' Day(1997)
Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films
Ricky Jay and His 52 Assistants (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)
Bordello of Blood(1996)
Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films
Executive Decision(1996)
Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films
Fair Game(1995)
Midcredits score: 5th percentile of all films
Assassins(1995)
Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films
W.E.I.R.D. World(1995)
Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films
Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films
Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films
Richie Rich(1994)
Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films
Demolition Man(1993)
Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films
Lethal Weapon 3(1992)
Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films
Two-Fisted Tales(1992)
Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films
The Last Boy Scout(1991)
Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films
Ricochet(1991)
Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films
Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)
Hudson Hawk(1991)
Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films
Predator 2(1990)
Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films
Parker Kane (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)
Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films
Die Hard 2(1990)
Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films
Lethal Weapon 2(1989)
Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films
Tales from the Crypt(1989)
Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all shows
Road House(1989)
Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films
Die Hard(1988)
Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films
Who Framed Roger Rabbit(1988)
Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films
Action Jackson(1988)
Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films
Predator(1987)
Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films
Lethal Weapon(1987)
Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films
Jumpin' Jack Flash(1986)
Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films
Commando(1985)
Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films
Weird Science(1985)
Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films
Brewster's Millions(1985)
Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films
Streets of Fire(1984)
Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films
48 Hrs.(1982)
Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films
Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films
Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films
Xanadu(1980)
Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films
The Warriors(1979)
Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films
Hooper(1978)
Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films
The Bette Midler Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)
Logan's Run (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)
The Executioner (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)
The Galton Case (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)
Career shape
A full career of 115 titles, 112 of them dated from 1976 to 2024.
Film career
- 1988Screen debut· Who Framed Roger Rabbit
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.
How do Joel Silver's films land?
Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 49th percentile, the median of all 98; across their 88 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 49th percentile for acclaim.
- 75th and up28
- 50th to 74th25
- 25th to 49th32
- Below 25th18
Shape of the crowd
38 of their 103 titles are Crowd Pleasers.
- Universally Loved12
- Universally Panned4
- Divisive2
- Cult Classic1
- Crowd Pleaser38
- Broadly Agreed15
- Mixed31
Reviewers score the acting 61/100 in their films, across 81 reviewed titles; fans 71, detractors 37. 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 Joel Silver's work okay for kids?
Across up to 66 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore, sex & nudity, profanity and frightening / intense run heavier than most films.
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 Joel Silver work with?
People who share at least 2 of Joel Silver's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Steve Richards shares the most, 30.
Directors
- Richard DonnerShared titles: Tales from the Warner Bros. Lot (2013), Ritual (2002), Made Men (1999), Lethal Weapon 4 (1998), Conspiracy Theory (1997), Double Tap (1997), Bordello of Blood (1996), Assassins (1995), Tales from the Crypt: Demon Knight (1995), W.E.I.R.D. World (1995), Lethal Weapon 3 (1992), Two-Fisted Tales (1992) and 2 moreSee newest 12 of 14 shared titles with Richard Donner
- Walter HillShared titles: Bullet to the Head (2012), Ritual (2002), Bordello of Blood (1996), Tales from the Crypt: Demon Knight (1995), W.E.I.R.D. World (1995), Two-Fisted Tales (1992), Brewster's Millions (1985), Streets of Fire (1984), 48 Hrs. (1982)See all 9 shared titles with Walter Hill
- Jaume Collet-SerraShared titles: Non-Stop (2014), Unknown (2011), Orphan (2009), House of Wax (2005)See all 4 shared titles with Jaume Collet-Serra
- Josh OreckShared titles: The Matrix Reloaded: Car Chase (2004), Scrolls to Screen: A Brief History of Anime (2003), The Matrix Reloaded: Pre-Load (2003), The Matrix Revisited (2001)See all 4 shared titles with Josh Oreck
Writers
- Steven E. de SouzaShared titles: Hudson Hawk (1991), Ricochet (1991), Die Hard 2 (1990), Die Hard (1988), Jumpin' Jack Flash (1986), Commando (1985), 48 Hrs. (1982)See all 7 shared titles with Steven E. de Souza
- Jim ThomasShared titles: Executive Decision (1996), Two-Fisted Tales (1992), Predator 2 (1990), Predator (1987)See all 4 shared titles with Jim Thomas
- John ThomasShared titles: Executive Decision (1996), Two-Fisted Tales (1992), Predator 2 (1990), Predator (1987)See all 4 shared titles with John Thomas
- Carey W. HayesShared titles: Whiteout (2009), The Reaping (2007), House of Wax (2005)See all 3 shared titles with Carey W. Hayes
Actors
- Hugo WeavingShared titles: V for Vendetta (2005), The Matrix Reloaded (2003), The Matrix Reloaded: Pre-Load (2003), The Matrix Revolutions (2003), The Matrix Revisited (2001), The Matrix (1999)See all 6 shared titles with Hugo Weaving
- Carrie-Anne MossShared titles: The Matrix Reloaded: Car Chase (2004), The Matrix Reloaded (2003), The Matrix Reloaded: Pre-Load (2003), The Matrix Revolutions (2003), The Matrix Revisited (2001), The Matrix (1999)See all 6 shared titles with Carrie-Anne Moss
- Laurence FishburneShared titles: The Matrix Reloaded: Car Chase (2004), The Matrix Reloaded (2003), The Matrix Reloaded: Pre-Load (2003), The Matrix Revolutions (2003), The Matrix Revisited (2001), The Matrix (1999)See all 6 shared titles with Laurence Fishburne
- Robert Downey Jr.Shared titles: Sherlock Holmes (2009), Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005), On the Set of 'Gothika' (2004), Gothika (2003), Weird Science (1985)See all 5 shared titles with Robert Downey Jr.
Composers and editors
- Michael KamenShared titles: Lethal Weapon 4 (1998), The First 100 Years: A Celebration of American Movies (1995), Lethal Weapon 3 (1992), Two-Fisted Tales (1992), Hudson Hawk (1991), The Last Boy Scout (1991), Die Hard 2 (1990), Lethal Weapon 2 (1989), Action Jackson (1988), Die Hard (1988), Lethal Weapon (1987)See all 11 shared titles with Michael Kamen
- John OttmanShared titles: The Nice Guys (2016), Non-Stop (2014), Unknown (2011), The Losers (2010), Orphan (2009), House of Wax (2005), Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005), Gothika (2003)See all 8 shared titles with John Ottman
- Stuart BairdShared titles: Whiteout (2009), Executive Decision (1996), Demolition Man (1993), The Last Boy Scout (1991), Die Hard 2 (1990), Lethal Weapon 2 (1989), Lethal Weapon (1987)See all 7 shared titles with Stuart Baird
- John FrizzellShared titles: Whiteout (2009), The Reaping (2007), Cradle 2 the Grave (2003), Ghost Ship (2002), Thir13en Ghosts (2001)See all 5 shared titles with John Frizzell
Producers
- Steve RichardsShared titles: Collide (2016), Non-Stop (2014), Getaway (2013), Bullet to the Head (2012), Project X (2012), The Apparition (2012), The Factory (2012), Unknown (2011), The Book of Eli (2010), The Losers (2010), Ninja Assassin (2009), Orphan (2009) and 18 moreSee newest 12 of 30 shared titles with Steve Richards
- Richard MirischShared titles: Non-Stop (2014), The Apparition (2012), The Factory (2012), Unknown (2011), The Losers (2010), Orphan (2009), Whiteout (2009), The Reaping (2007), House of Wax (2005), Cradle 2 the Grave (2003), Gothika (2003), Ghost Ship (2002) and 3 moreSee newest 12 of 15 shared titles with Richard Mirisch
- Susan DowneyShared titles: The Factory (2012), Unknown (2011), The Book of Eli (2010), Orphan (2009), Sherlock Holmes (2009), Whiteout (2009), RocknRolla (2008), The Brave One (2007), The Reaping (2007), House of Wax (2005), Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005), On the Set of 'Gothika' (2004) and 3 moreSee newest 12 of 15 shared titles with Susan Downey
- Dan CracchioloShared titles: Exit Wounds (2001), Swordfish (2001), Thir13en Ghosts (2001), Romeo Must Die (2000), House on Haunted Hill (1999), Made Men (1999), The Matrix (1999), Conspiracy Theory (1997), Double Tap (1997), Bordello of Blood (1996), Assassins (1995), Tales from the Crypt: Demon Knight (1995)See all 12 shared titles with Dan Cracchiolo
Mixed roles
- John HyamsShared titles: Enemies Closer (2013), Dragon Eyes (2012)See all 2 shared titles with John Hyams
- Mathieu KassovitzShared titles: On the Set of 'Gothika' (2004), Gothika (2003)See all 2 shared titles with Mathieu Kassovitz
- Matthew LibatiqueShared titles: On the Set of 'Gothika' (2004), Gothika (2003)See all 2 shared titles with Matthew Libatique
- Eiko TanakaShared titles: Scrolls to Screen: A Brief History of Anime (2003), The Animatrix (2003)See all 2 shared titles with Eiko Tanaka
