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Directing

John Sayles

Career: Active from 1978 to 2026, busiest in 1989 with 5 main titles.

Average score: 61/100

Highest rated: Passion Fish
87/100

What stands out

Compared with the average well-known movie, over 45 of their titles. Select a trait to filter titles.

John Sayles Catalog average

Main genres

Select a genre to see those titles.

Recurring tags

Social Commentary 9
Character-Driven 9
Character Study 5
Historical Drama 5
Political Intrigue 5
Independent Film 3
Ensemble Cast 3
Gritty Realism 3
Cultural Clash 3
Southern Drama 2
Found Family 2
Magical Realism 2

Works often with

People in at least two of their main titles.

Movies and TV shows

69

Type

Role

Score

Decade

Genre

Group by

Upcoming

3 titles

Django Lives!

Writer

I Passed This Way

Director, Writer

Grendel

Executive Producer

2020s

3 titles · average score 57

John Sayles and Gregory Nava

as Themself

Poker Face

81

TV show · as Chief Hal

Texas Red

33

as Governor Johnson (voice)

2010s

11 titles · average score 55

Sonora: The Devil’s Highway

58

Writer

The Man Who Killed Hitler and Then the Bigfoot

58

Executive Producer

Them That Work

Thanks

Dr. Del

Executive Producer, Writer

Richard Linklater: Dream Is Destiny

66

Thanks

Elsie Hooper

Executive Producer

The Umbrella

as Pastor Jim

Talents

Executive Producer

Go for Sisters

55

Writer, Editor

The Normals

42

as Dr. Marx

Amigo

53

Writer, Editor

2000s

10 titles · average score 56

In the Electric Mist

53

as Michael Goldman

The Toe Tactic

41

as Cramden

The Spiderwick Chronicles

68

Screenplay

Honeydripper

57

as Zeke

My Mexican Shivah

44

Executive Producer

Silver City

43

Director, Writer

Casa de los Babys

49

Director, Writer

Sunshine State

61

as Man who almost got hit by a golf ball (uncredited)

Bruce Springsteen: The Complete Video Anthology 1978-2000

70

Director

Girlfight

72

as Science Teacher

1990s

17 titles · average score 69

Limbo

70

Director, Editor

Men with Guns

82

Editor, Director

Mimic

58

Additional Writing

Lone Star

80

Editor, Writer

Piranha

36

Story

Men of War

50

Screenplay

The Secret of Roan Inish

72

Screenplay, Editor

Passion Fish

87

as Soap Opera Doctor (uncredited)

Straight Talk

50

as Guy Girardi

Malcolm X

81

as FBI Agent

City of Hope

84

as Carl

Shannon's Deal

TV show · as Ronnie Nash

1980s

23 titles · average score 64

Eight Men Out

75

as Ring Lardner

Matewan

82

as Hardshell Preacher

Square One Television

70

TV show · as Roy 'Lefty' Cobbs

The Clan of the Cave Bear

30

Screenplay

The Brother from Another Planet

66

as Man in Black

Baby It's You

80

Screenplay, Director

Lianna

72

as Jerry

The Challenge

57

Writer

The Howling

68

as Morgue Attendant (uncredited)

Alligator

66

Screenplay, Story

Battle Beyond the Stars

48

Screenplay, Story

Return of the Secaucus Seven

75

as Howie

1970s

2 titles · average score 62

The Lady in Red

59

Writer

Piranha

64

as Army Sentry (uncredited)