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Michael Anderson

Michael Anderson

Director, also producer · Died April 25, 2018, aged 98 · Hillingdon, Middlesex, England, UK

Michael Joseph Anderson, Sr. (30 January 1920 – 25 April 2018) was an English film director, best known for directing Around the World in 80 Days (1956) and Logan's Run (1976).  

Biography from TMDB.

Born
January 30, 1920
Died
April 25, 2018 (aged 98)
From
Hillingdon, Middlesex, England, UK
Works as
Director, also producer
Titles
32 on MovieCove · 45 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 37 days to Oct 26Down 5% in 30 days

What are Michael Anderson's films like?

Across their 28 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Survival.

Genres

Adventure9 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 43rd percentile
: browse their Adventure movies
Drama8 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 69th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Action5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 72nd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Action movies
Crime4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 65th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime movies
Horror2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 25th percentile
: browse their Horror 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
Morality
32%
Survival
19%
Bonds
14%
Self
14%
Power
10%
Ideas
7%
Society
3%
Survival8 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds5 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception3 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose3 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice5 titles, browse their movies with this themeDuty4 titles, browse their movies with this themeRevenge3 titles, browse their movies with this themeGuilt3 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 28 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 6 · Serious 9 · Dark 13

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

A split, not a type: Grounded 15 · Stylized 11 · Heightened 2

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

Gentle 4 · Charged 13 · Intense 11

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

Steady 12 · Shifting 16 · Whiplash 0

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

Straight-faced 21 · Some laughs 7 · Funny 0

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

Slow burn 12 · Even-paced 16 · Relentless 0

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

Casual 10 · Engaged 14 · Full focus 4

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

Easy watch 7 · Affecting 12 · Heavy 9

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

Resolved 22 · Open-ended 5 · Ambiguous 1

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
24
Melancholic
9
Hopeful
8
Dread
6
Contemplative
7
Other
16

How their films linger

Thought-provoking11 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 7 with a twist

  • Happy8
  • Bittersweet15
  • Tragic3
  • Ambiguous2

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 Michael Anderson's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 12 of their 32 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (8).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Michael Anderson'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

45 credits, 32 with a MovieCove page; 4 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • A Piece of Eden(2000)

    First Assistant Director

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • The New Adventures of Pinocchio(1999)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • Summer of the Monkeys(1998)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea(1997)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • Tin Cup(1996)

    Second Second Assistant Director

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • Captains Courageous(1996)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • Rugged Gold(1994)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all films

  • The Sea Wolf(1993)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all films

  • Young Catherine (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

  • Millennium(1989)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • The Jeweller's Shop(1988)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • Sword of Gideon(1986)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • Separate Vacations (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Director

  • Second Time Lucky (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Director

  • Murder by Phone(1982)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • Dominique(1979)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • The Martian Chronicles (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    Show 3 episodes · Director

  • Orca(1977)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Logan's Run(1976)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • Conduct Unbecoming(1975)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • Doc Savage: The Man of Bronze(1975)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • Pope Joan (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Director

  • The Shoes of the Fisherman(1968)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • The Quiller Memorandum(1966)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Operation Crossbow(1965)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Wild and Wonderful (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    Director

  • Flight from Ashiya(1964)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • The Naked Edge(1961)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • All the Fine Young Cannibals(1960)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • The Wreck of the Mary Deare(1959)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • Shake Hands with the Devil(1959)

    Director · Producer

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Chase a Crooked Shadow(1958)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • Battle Hell(1957)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Around the World in 80 Days(1956)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • 1984(1956)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • The Dam Busters(1955)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • Will Any Gentleman...? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    Director

  • The House of the Arrow (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    Director

  • Night Was Our Friend (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    Director

  • Hell Is Sold Out (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    Director

  • Waterfront (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    Director

  • Private Angelo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1949)

    Director · Producer · Screenplay

  • Vice Versa(1948)

    Assistant Director

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • School for Secrets (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1946)

    Assistant Director

  • In Which We Serve(1942)

    Unit Manager · as Albert Fosdick

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

Career shape

A full career of 45 titles from 1942 to 2000.

Biggest box office

Around the World in 80 Days (1956)

$42M worldwide

Highest rated

The Dam Busters (1955)

Midcredits 91st

Most popular right now

Around the World in 80 Days (1956)

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting1 of 45: 0 only acting, 1 with another roleDirecting40 of 45: 38 only directing, 2 with another role · typical Midcredits score63rdWriting1 of 45: 0 only writing, 1 with another roleProducing2 of 45: 0 only producing, 2 with another roleOther crew5 of 45: 4 only other crew, 1 with another role

45 titles, 3 with more than one role.

By decade

1940s4 · 1 acting · 4 crew1950s12 · crew1960s7 · crew1970s5 · crew1980s8 · crew1990s8 · crew2000s1 · 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.

How do Michael Anderson's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 60th percentile, the median of all 32; across their 28 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 63rd percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

63rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 28

Approval · how many liked their films

60thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 28

Reach · how many have seen their films

56thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 28

Midcredits score across 32 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up7
  • 50th to 74th13
  • 25th to 49th8
  • Below 25th4

Shape of the crowd

19 of their 32 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Crowd Pleaser19
  • Mixed13

Most divisive · director

Rugged Gold (1994)

68th percentile spread · 16% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · director

The Dam Busters (1955)

Midcredits 91st · 81% liked

Reviewers score the atmosphere 66/100 and the pacing 44/100 in their films, across 28 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 Michael Anderson's work okay for kids?

Across a limited sample of up to 4 MovieCove titles with content scores.

Their medianMedian of all films
Violence & Gore3 titlesmedian 46 · moderateMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity4 titlesmedian 32 · mildMedian of all films: 32
Profanity4 titlesmedian 18 · mildMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs3 titlesmedian 28 · mildMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense3 titlesmedian 43 · moderateMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted.

Who does Michael Anderson work with?

People who share at least 2 of Michael Anderson's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Erwin Hillier shares the most, 7.

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers