Ron Howard
Ronald William Howard (born March 1, 1954) is an American filmmaker and actor. He first came to prominence as a child actor, guest-starring in several television series, including an episode of The Twilight Zone. Howard gained national attention for playing young Opie Taylor, the son of Sheriff Andy Taylor (played by Andy Griffith) in the sitcom The Andy Griffith Show from 1960 through 1968. During this time, he also appeared in the musical film The Music Man (1962), a critical and commercial success. He was credited as Ronny Howard in his film and television appearances from 1959 to 1973.
Howard was cast in one of the lead roles in the coming-of-age film American Graffiti (1973), which received widespread acclaim and became one of the most profitable films in history. The following year, Howard became a household name for playing Richie Cunningham in the sitcom Happy Days, a role he would play from 1974 through 1984. Howard continued appearing in films during this time, such as the western film The Shootist (1976) and the comedy film Grand Theft Auto (1977), which also marked his directorial debut.
In 1984, Howard left Happy Days to focus on directing, producing and occasionally writing variety films and television series. His films include the science-fiction/fantasy Cocoon (1985), the fantasy Willow (1988), the thriller Backdraft (1991), the historical docudrama Apollo 13 (1995), the Christmas comedy How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000), the biographical drama A Beautiful Mind (2001), the biographical sports drama Cinderella Man (2005), the thriller The Da Vinci Code (2006), the historical drama Frost/Nixon (2008), Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018), and the documentary Pavarotti (2019). For A Beautiful Mind, Howard won the Academy Award for Best Director and Academy Award for Best Picture. He was nominated again for the same awards for Frost/Nixon.
In 2003, Howard was awarded the National Medal of Arts. He was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame in 2013. Howard has two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his contributions in the television and motion pictures industries.
| Known For | Directing |
|---|---|
| Most Rating | 2.3938 |
| Birthday | 1954-03-01 |
| Place of Birth | Duncan, Oklahoma, USA |
| Also Known As | Ronny Howard, Ronald William Howard, Ronnie Howard, Ronald William "Ron" Howard, ران هاوارد, |
1985
Hollywood's Funniest All-Star Bloopers
2/1
William Shatner, Liz Taylor and many more stars blow lines, lose their pants and more in this hilarious collection of movie and TV bloopers.
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Hollywood's Funniest All-Star Bloopers
2019
The Twilight Zone: A 60th Anniversary Celebration
10/2
Six episodes of the original series, restored and on the big screen for the first time, and a special retrospective documentary encompass this Fathom...
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The Twilight Zone: A 60th Anniversary Celebration
1973
American Graffiti
7.048/1632
A couple of high school graduates spend one final night cruising the strip with their buddies before they go off to college.
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American Graffiti
2023
Willow: Behind the Magic
4.313/16
Featuring the breakout stars from the series and returning legends, this documentary takes viewers behind the scenes for an in-depth look at the makin...
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Willow: Behind the Magic
2011
Classic TV Bloopers Uncensored
2/1
A compilation of television's biggest and best stars as they are caught in hilarious moments while filming. See stars and blooper moments from such hi...
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Classic TV Bloopers Uncensored
1976
The Shootist
7.1/396
Afflicted with a terminal illness John Bernard Books, the last of the legendary gunfighters, quietly returns to Carson City for medical attention from...
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The Shootist
1979
More American Graffiti
5.2/112
College graduates deal with Vietnam and other issues of the late '60s.
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More American Graffiti
1997
Star Wars: The Magic & the Mystery
8/1
Host Howie Long takes viewers on a tour of the "Star Wars" universe, as Fox TV celebrates the re-release of the original three legendary films in this...
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Star Wars: The Magic & the Mystery
1962
The Music Man
7.104/201
Traveling con artist Harold Hill targets the naïve residents of a small town in 1910s Iowa by posing as a boys' bandleader to raise money before he ca...
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The Music Man
1965
Village of the Giants
3.7/39
"Genius" accidentally invents "goo" which causes living things to rapidly grow to an enormous size. Seeing an opportunity to get rich, some delinquent...
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Village of the Giants
1963
The Courtship of Eddie's Father
5.934/39
Although he's only seven, Eddie's got it all figured out. He wants his father, a widower, to get remarried — to the girl next door. Unfortunately, she...
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The Courtship of Eddie's Father
1961
Five Minutes to Live
5.481/27
A guitar playing killer terrorizes a housewife while his partner robs the bank where her husband works.
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Five Minutes to Live
1974
The Spikes Gang
6.689/45
Three teenage farm boys stumble upon Harry Spikes, a local bandit wounded in a gun battle. While Harry is recuperating, he regales the young men with...
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The Spikes Gang
1976
Eat My Dust
5.818/22
Hoover Nielbold is a car-crazy teenager who, in order to impress the hottest girl in school, takes her for a ride in a souped-up race car owned by loc...
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Eat My Dust
1977
Grand Theft Auto
5.328/61
A rich girl steals her dad's Rolls Royce and heads off to Las Vegas to get married. However, her angry parents, a jealous suitor, and a bunch of rewar...
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Grand Theft Auto
2010
Industrial Light & Magic: Creating the Impossible
6.73/33
Leslie Iwerks' documentary takes audiences behind the scenes at ILM with in depth interviews with some of the company's top talent and showcases never...
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Industrial Light & Magic: Creating the Impossible
2011
Corman's World
7.028/88
A chronicle of the long career of American filmmaker Roger Corman, the most tenacious and ingenious low-budget producer and director in the US film in...
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Corman's World
1959
The Journey
6.333/27
A Communist officer falls hard for a married woman trying to escape from Hungary.
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The Journey
2011
Sheldon Leonard's Wonderful Life
10/1
A loving tribute to a forgotten pioneer of the golden age of television. Starting out as a Runyonesque character actor, Sheldon Leonard went on to pro...
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Sheldon Leonard's Wonderful Life
2021
Roger Corman, the Pope of Pop Cinema
7/2
Documentary on the life of legendary filmmaker Roger Corman, often referred to as the "Pope of Pop Cinema"
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Roger Corman, the Pope of Pop Cinema
1997
Frank Capra's American Dream
6.3/9
A documentary looking at the life and career of film director Frank Capra. Hosted by Ron Howard.
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Frank Capra's American Dream
1978
Huckleberry Finn
6.167/6
Huckleberry Finn, a rambuctious boy adventurer chafing under the bonds of civilization, escapes his humdrum world and his selfish, plotting father by...
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Huckleberry Finn
1996
Lost Moon: The Triumph of Apollo 13
6.167/6
The making of the motion picture "Apollo 13", as well as the story of the space mission it details. Featuring interviews with director Ron Howard, ast...
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Lost Moon: The Triumph of Apollo 13
1973
Happy Mother's Day, Love George
6.5/4
An adopted teen runs away to what he believes to be his birth town and mother, in the hopes of putting together the missing pieces of his identity. He...
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Happy Mother's Day, Love George
1996
Blacklist: Hollywood on Trial
10/1
Documentary following the hearings held by the House Un-American Activities Committee of the '40s and '50s.
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Blacklist: Hollywood on Trial
2013
The Arrested Development Documentary Project
5.724/29
Featuring interviews from major cast and crew members, along with 200 fans from across the country, this documentary tells the whole story of this ama...
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The Arrested Development Documentary Project
2013
Don't Say No Until I Finish Talking: The Story of Richard D. Zanuck
6.313/8
A look at the life and work of legendary film producer Richard D. Zanuck.
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Don't Say No Until I Finish Talking: The Story of Richard D. Zanuck
1970
Smoke
0/0
A boy finds an injured German Shepherd Dog whom he names Smoke.
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Smoke
1992
The Magical World of Chuck Jones
8/3
Documentary on animator Chuck Jones.
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The Magical World of Chuck Jones
2023
Tom Hanks: The Nomad
5.5/12
From humble beginnings to an aspiring thespian to acting as some of the world's most iconic and notable characters. He has picked up a reputation as '...
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Tom Hanks: The Nomad
2012
Radioman
6.333/9
The extraordinary story of 'Radioman', a New York film set mascot who overcame homelessness and alcoholism to become a fixture of the New York film i...
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Radioman
1970
The Wild Country
6/10
Uprooted from their comfortable home in Pennsylvania, James and Kate Tanner, along with their sons, Virgil and Andy, journey to the wild country of 18...
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The Wild Country
1974
Locusts
5.357/7
A swarm of locusts appears on the horizon near a Midwestern town and the inhabitants must find a way to destroy or divert them before the insects devo...
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Locusts
2005
George Lucas: Creating an Empire
5/1
A Biography of George Lucas.
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George Lucas: Creating an Empire
1981
Bitter Harvest
1/1
A farmer's herd sickens and dies, then his family and neighbors fall ill, so he bucks the state agricultural establishment as he pursues the political...
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Bitter Harvest
1978
Roger Corman: Hollywood's Wild Angel
7.667/6
Documentary examining the life and career of producer/director Roger Corman. Clips from his films and interviews with actors and crew members who have...
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Roger Corman: Hollywood's Wild Angel
1974
The Migrants
6.125/8
A look at the lives of migratory farm workers, focusing on one family.
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The Migrants
2023
John Wayne: Cowboys & Demons
0/0
John Wayne was a legendary actor and an embodiment of America itself. While he played men who always do the right thing on camera his real life is far...
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John Wayne: Cowboys & Demons
1982
Night Shift
6.069/245
A nebbish of a morgue attendant gets shunted back to the night shift where he is shackled with an obnoxious neophyte partner who dreams of the "one gr...
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Night Shift
2022
Hans Zimmer: Hollywood Rebel
7.176/17
An in-depth look of the 40 year journey, from post-war Germany to Hollywood royalty, of Hans Zimmer, the man who’s become the dominant force in the wo...
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Hans Zimmer: Hollywood Rebel
1976
The First Nudie Musical
4.96/25
The heir to a bankrupt studio decides to make a daring musical to avoid demolition, agreeing to finish it in two weeks or lose ownership.
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The First Nudie Musical
2017
Laddie: The Man Behind the Movies
5.4/11
Profile of the producer and former studio head of 20th Century Fox in the 1970s, Alan Ladd Jr.
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Laddie: The Man Behind the Movies
2022
'Tis the Season: The Holidays on Screen
5/2
A CNN Documentary covering the history and impact of Christmas movies and TV.
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'Tis the Season: The Holidays on Screen
1981
Fire on the Mountain
7/4
A young real estate developer returns to his hometown to make a land killing but soon takes up the cause of a crusty old-timer in his struggles with t...
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Fire on the Mountain
1997
Henry Fonda: Hollywood's Quiet Hero
7/1
Profiling the life and career of actor Henry Fonda, who starred in such film classics as "The Grapes of Wrath" and "12 Angry Men."
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Henry Fonda: Hollywood's Quiet Hero
1999
Television: The First Fifty Years
0/0
Trace the history of television and its impact on American culture with clips, newsreels, and exclusive interviews from television greats like Walter...
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Television: The First Fifty Years
2018
Kasdan on Kasdan
0/0
Lawrence Kasdan and his son Jonathan discuss life with the franchise, working together on the film Solo: A Star Wars Story, and Lawrence's love for th...
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Kasdan on Kasdan
2016
Donald Trump's The Art of the Deal: The Movie
5.3/109
Donald Trump has it all. Money, power, respect, and an Eastern European bride. But all his success didn't come for nothing. First, he inherited millio...
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Donald Trump's The Art of the Deal: The Movie
1998
The Making of 'American Graffiti'
7.8/10
Documentary that features many interviews and other footage of the cast and crew for the film American Graffiti (1973)
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The Making of 'American Graffiti'
2001
Osmosis Jones
6.5/1113
A white blood cell policeman, with the help of a cold pill, must stop a deadly virus from destroying the human they live in, Frank.
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Osmosis Jones
1979
Sitcom: The Adventures of Garry Marshall
9/1
A day-in-the-life documentary with Garry Marshall. Marshall was an executive producer for ABC and was responsible for such hit shows as Laverne and Sh...
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Sitcom: The Adventures of Garry Marshall
2000
The Independent
5.55/20
A notorious B-movie director tries for a comeback by seeking out the film rights to the life story of a serial killer who wants his biography film to...
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The Independent
1978
NBC Salutes the 25th Anniversary of the Wonderful World of Disney
7/1
Walt Disney Presents, Walt Disney’s Wonderful World of Color, Disney’s Wonderful World, Walt Disney, The Disney Sunday Movie, The Magical World of Dis...
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NBC Salutes the 25th Anniversary of the Wonderful World of Disney
2024
Music by John Williams
8.042/96
His unforgettable scores are an essential part of some of the most beloved movies of our time, over a career that spans decades. See and hear maestro...
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Music by John Williams
1980
Act of Love
6/3
A tragic motorcycle accident leaves one brother paralyzed while the other brother is left guilt-ridden. Seeing his brother struggle with his new life...
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Act of Love
2000
Welcome to Hollywood
4.2/15
A film director decides to chart the course of a young actor as he tries to make it in Hollywood...
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Welcome to Hollywood
1986
Return to Mayberry
6.232/71
After being away for awhile, Andy Taylor returns home to Mayberry to visit Opie, now an expectant father. While there he ends up helping Barney Fife m...
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Return to Mayberry
1989
First Works
7/1
First Works is an exciting collection of uncensored interviews with this generation's most successful filmmakers. Academy Award winners Ron Howard (A...
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First Works
1976
A Special: Olivia Newton-John
7.667/3
In her first variety special, Olivia Newton-John performs with guests including Elliott Gould, Lynda Carter, Tom Bosley, Ron Howard and Lee Majors.
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A Special: Olivia Newton-John
2007
Cannes: All Access
3.2/5
From its simple beginnings in 1939 in a sleepy beach town in the south of France, the prestigious Cannes Film Festival has become the must-attend red...
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Cannes: All Access
1977
I'm a Fool
6/2
Traveling from town to town during the summer of 1919, young Andy (Ron Howard) has left his Ohio home in search of adventure and romance as a horse tr...
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I'm a Fool
2004
Tell Them Who You Are
6.2/13
The son of acclaimed cinematographer Haskell Wexler confronts his complex father by turning the camera on him. What results is a portrait of a difficu...
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Tell Them Who You Are
2019
Peanuts in Space: Secrets of Apollo 10
6.258/31
To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the moon landing, this documentary tries to solve the great mystery: Was Snoopy a top-secret astronaut?
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Peanuts in Space: Secrets of Apollo 10
1967
A Boy Called Nuthin’
6.5/2
A boy doesn’t find the life he expects out West when he leaves Chicago to find his uncle. The West has changed–it is no longer “cowboys and Indians.”...
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A Boy Called Nuthin’
1999
From Star Wars to Star Wars: The Story of Industrial Light & Magic
7.818/11
The incredible evolution of George Lucas' special effects dream factory, including an inside look at "Star Wars: Episode One - The Phantom Menace."
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From Star Wars to Star Wars: The Story of Industrial Light & Magic
2019
Dads
6.908/38
A joyful exploration of modern fatherhood, this doc gathers the testimonies of dads around the world, from famous comedians to everyday parents. Their...
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Dads
2001
The Shootist: The Legend Lives On
7/2
Documentary short about the making of John Wayne's final movie, the 1976 film The Shootist.
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The Shootist: The Legend Lives On
2000
Chuck Jones: Extremes and In-Betweens - A Life in Animation
7.111/9
This biography, shown on American television as part of the PBS "Great Performances" series, examines the life works of one of Hollywood's most celebr...
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Chuck Jones: Extremes and In-Betweens - A Life in Animation
2002
Inside a Beautiful Mind
6/3
"Behind-the-scenes" documentary on the making of and public reaction to the Ron Howard/Brian Grazer film "A Beautiful Mind." Featuring rare interviews...
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Inside a Beautiful Mind
2004
Making a 'Splash'
4.6/5
Retrospective documentary on the making of the hit comedy Splash (1984).
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Making a 'Splash'
2004
Weezer: Video Capture Device - Treasures from the Vault 1991-2002
8.6/5
Weezer: Video Capture Device - Treasures From the Vault 1991-2002 contains every one of Weezer's music videos from that time period (including the cla...
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Weezer: Video Capture Device - Treasures from the Vault 1991-2002
1988
Willow: The Making of an Adventure
7.3/7
A behind-the-scenes documentary on the making of the film Willow (1988). Included are interviews with cast and crew and scenes of the actual filming o...
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Willow: The Making of an Adventure
2001
From Morf to Morphing: The Dawn of Digital Filmmaking
4.8/4
Documentary about the invention of MORF, the program for morphing, which was created for the film "Willow" (1988).
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From Morf to Morphing: The Dawn of Digital Filmmaking
2020
The Happy Days of Garry Marshall
8/8
In a heartfelt tribute to Hollywood legend Garry Marshall, his family and friends share their favorite memories of the creative genius behind some of...
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The Happy Days of Garry Marshall
1979
A Walking Tour of Sesame Street
0/0
Sesame Street celebrated its 10th anniversary in the spring of 1979 with a half-hour PBS special hosted by James Earl Jones titled A Walking Tour of S...
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A Walking Tour of Sesame Street
2002
Christopher Plummer: A Man For All Stages
4.667/3
Veteran radio, theatre, television and film actor Christopher Plummer has played a thousand parts, but beneath that elegant stage presence lies the re...
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Christopher Plummer: A Man For All Stages
2008
Ron Howard: 50 Years in Film
0/0
An original documentary featuring an exclusive interview with Ron Howard, who recounts his remarkable career from child star to Oscar-winning director...
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Ron Howard: 50 Years in Film
2010
Jews and Baseball: An American Love Story
6/2
Actor Dustin Hoffman narrates this decade-spanning documentary that highlights the contributions of Jewish Americans to the most American sport of the...
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Jews and Baseball: An American Love Story
2001
A Beautiful Mind
7.852/11369
From the heights of notoriety to the depths of depravity, John Forbes Nash Jr. experiences it all. As a brilliant but socially awkward mathematician,...
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A Beautiful Mind
2021
Fuck Coin
0/0
A man's virginity causes the stock market to collapse and doom the world.
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Fuck Coin
1988
Channel 99
0/0
Executive returns to her hometown to try to revive the local TV station which is struggling in the ratings.
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Channel 99
2016
Tom Hanks: A League of His Own
8/2
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Tom Hanks: A League of His Own
2024
Enterprise or Love: The Story of Far and Away
0/0
Feature-length look back at the making and legacy of the film, including brand-new interviews with director Ron Howard, producer Brian Grazer, writer/...
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Enterprise or Love: The Story of Far and Away
1993
Hollywood on Hollywood
0/0
In this AMC one-hour special, hosted by actor/director Ron Howard and produced by Time Magazine critic Richard Schickel, Hollywood looks at itself in...
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Hollywood on Hollywood
2025
John Candy: I Like Me
7.855/117
Those who knew iconic funnyman John Candy best share his story, in their own words, through never-before-seen archival footage, imagery, and interview...
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John Candy: I Like Me
1991
The Horror Hall of Fame II
2/1
"The Horror Hall of Fame II" was a television special that celebrates the history of horror by inducting another dozen movies and people.
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The Horror Hall of Fame II
2026
Marty, Life Is Short
7.922/32
Martin Short looks back on a life fueled by joy in this documentary with classic clips, fresh interviews and star-studded, never-before-seen home movi...
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Marty, Life Is Short
2011
The Death and Return of Superman
0/0
Screenwriter Max Landis accounts DC's 1992 multi-issue story arc "The Death and Return of Superman," pointing out various plot holes and featuring a n...
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The Death and Return of Superman
1995
Sci-Fi Channel: The Making of Apollo 13
0/0
The making of the movie 'Apollo 13' hosted by Dr. Sally Ride and presented by the Sci-Fi Channel
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