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Hideo Nakata

Hideo Nakata

Director and writer, also producer · Born July 19, 1961 (65) · Konkō, Okayama, Japan

Cannes award nominee

Hideo Nakata (中田 秀夫 Nakata Hideo, born July 19, 1961) is a Japanese filmmaker.

Biography from TMDB.

Born
July 19, 1961 (65)
From
Konkō, Okayama, Japan
Works as
Director and writer, also producer
Titles
21 on MovieCove · 62 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 51% in 30 days

What are Hideo Nakata's films like?

Across their 20 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Survival and Bonds.

Genres

Horror8 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 25th percentile
: browse their Horror movies
Drama7 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 28th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama 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
37%
Bonds
19%
Self
17%
Morality
13%
Society
8%
Ideas
7%
Survival9 titles, browse their movies with this themeParenthood3 titles, browse their movies with this themeIsolation6 titles, browse their movies with this themeGrief3 titles, browse their movies with this themeObsession3 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity2 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception3 titles, browse their movies with this themeRevenge2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 18 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Dark: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their dark movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 0 · Serious 6 · Dark 12

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

Grounded 7 · Stylized 7 · Heightened 4

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

Gentle 0 · Charged 9 · Intense 9

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

Steady 5 · Shifting 11 · Whiplash 2

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

Straight-faced 14 · Some laughs 4 · Funny 0

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

Slow burn 7 · Even-paced 11 · 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 0 · Engaged 16 · Full focus 2

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

Resolved 3 · Open-ended 11 · Ambiguous 4

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
18
Dread
12
Melancholic
8
Contemplative
4
Thrilling
3
Other
8

How their films linger

Unsettling15 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 7 with a twist

  • Bittersweet13
  • Ambiguous7

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 Hideo Nakata's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 12 of their 21 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (4).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Hideo Nakata'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

62 credits, 21 with a MovieCove page; 2 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • The Consultant (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2026)

    Show 6 episodes · Director

  • Stigmatized Properties: Possession(2025)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • The Supernatural Sweet Shop: The Movie(2024)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Stolen Identity: The Last Hacker (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2024)

    Director

  • The Forbidden Play(2023)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 6th percentile of all films

  • The Days(2023)

    Show 8 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all shows

  • It's in the Woods (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    Director

  • Shōtai (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    Show 4 episodes · Director

  • The Lie Eater(2022)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • 嘘喰い -鞍馬蘭子篇／梶隆臣篇- (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    Show 4 episodes · Director

  • Fear Newspaper (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    Show 3 episodes · Director

  • Stigmatized Properties (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    Director

  • Remotely Killed (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    Director

  • Remotely Killed: Behind the Scenes of Murder (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    Director

  • Stolen Identity 2 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    Director

  • Sadako(2019)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 8th percentile of all films

  • The Woman Who Keeps a Murderer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    Director

  • Stolen Identity(2018)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • Life in Overtime (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    Director

  • Lovers in the Attic (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

  • Hideo Nakata: Ghosts, Rings and Water (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    Actor

  • White Lily(2016)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 10th percentile of all films

  • Like a Girl Playing House (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    Show 8 episodes · Director

  • Beautiful 2016 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    Director

  • Somewhere in Kamakura (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    Director

  • Tales of the Bizarre 25th Anniversary Autumn Special: Film Directors Collection (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    Director

  • Ghost Theater (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    Director · Original Film Writer

  • Gekijorei karano Syotaijo(2015)

    Show 10 episodes · Director · Creator · Writer

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all shows (provisional, few ratings)

  • Words with Gods (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    Director · Writer

  • Monsterz(2014)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • Shinigami-kun (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

  • The Complex (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    Director · Writer

  • The Complex: Prologue(2013)

    Show 12 episodes · Director · Creator · Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all shows (provisional, few ratings)

  • Inshite miru: 7-kakan no desu gêmu(2010)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • Chatroom(2010)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • Don't Look Up(2009)

    Original Film Writer · Story

    Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all films

  • Foreign Filmmakers' Guide to Hollywood (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Director · Actor

  • Death Note: L Change the World(2008)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • The Man who was Made a Fool by L the Most - Detective Matsuda's Case File (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    Director

  • Kaidan(2007)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all films

  • Kaiki Daisakusen - Second File (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • The Ring Two(2005)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • Dark Water(2005)

    Writer

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all films

  • Last Scene (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Director

  • Dark Water(2002)

    Director · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • Sadistic and Masochistic (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Director · Cinematographer · Actor

  • Gore from Outer Space (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Actor

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

    Director

  • Curse. Death. Ling Gaiden 2. A scary story that really happened Cursed Spirit Gaiden 2 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Director

  • Take It (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Director

  • Sleeping Bride (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Director

  • Ring 2(1999)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Joseph Losey: The Man with Four Names (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Director

  • Ringu(1998)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • Tokyo Fair Weather (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Actor

  • School Ghost Story F (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Director

  • Don't Look Up (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Director · Story

  • (Ura) Tôsatsu nanpa-dô (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Director

  • Female Teacher Diary: Forbidden Sex (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Director · Screenplay

  • Curse, Death & Spirit (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Director

  • Rinbu (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Assistant Director

  • Woman in a Box: Virgin Sacrifice (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Assistant Director

Career shape

A full career of 61 titles from 1985 to 2026.

Biggest box office

The Ring Two (2005)

$164M worldwide

Highest rated

Ringu (1998)

Midcredits 87th

Most popular right now

The Ring Two (2005)

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting5 of 61: 3 only acting, 2 with another roleDirecting55 of 61: 45 only directing, 10 with another role · typical Midcredits score29thWriting7 of 61: 1 only writing, 6 with another roleProducing1 of 61: 0 only producing, 1 with another roleCinematography1 of 61: 0 only cinematography, 1 with another roleOther crew4 of 61: 2 only other crew, 2 with another role

61 titles, 10 with more than one role — directing and writing overlap on 6 of them.

By decade

1980s2 · crew1990s9 · 1 acting · 8 crew2000s15 · 3 acting · 14 crew2010s20 · 1 acting · 19 crew2020s15 · 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

Nominated for a Cannes award in 2010.

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 Hideo Nakata's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 29th percentile, the median of all 18; across their 18 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 35th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

35thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 18

Approval · how many liked their films

26thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 18

Reach · how many have seen their films

73rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 18

Midcredits score across 21 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up1
  • 50th to 74th4
  • 25th to 49th7
  • Below 25th9

Shape of the crowd

9 of their 21 titles are Mixed.

  • Universally Panned3
  • Crowd Pleaser4
  • Broadly Agreed5
  • Mixed9

Most divisive · director

White Lily (2016)

61st percentile spread · 47% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · director

Ringu (1998)

Midcredits 87th · 76% liked

Reviewers score the atmosphere 66/100 and the pacing 43/100 in their films, across 15 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 Hideo Nakata's work okay for kids?

Across up to 7 MovieCove titles with content scores, frightening / intense runs heavier than most films and sex & nudity lighter.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore4 titlesmedian 46 · moderateMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity7 titles6–56 · median 12 · minimallighter than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity4 titlesmedian 30 · mildMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs4 titlesmedian 20 · mildMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense5 titles70–81 · median 71 · 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 Hideo Nakata work with?

People who share at least 2 of Hideo Nakata's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Kenji Kawai shares the most, 9.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers