Terrence Malick
Biography
Terrence Malick is an American film director, screenwriter, and producer who was born on November 30, 1943, in Ottawa, Illinois. His career spans over five decades, during which he has directed nine feature films. Known for a singular style combining a loose narrative and editing structure with spiritual themes, Malick made his feature film debut with the 1973 crime drama Badlands, which was loosely inspired by the Starkweather-Fugate murders. He followed it with the 1978 lyrical period drama Days of Heaven, focusing on migrant laborers in the Texas Panhandle, which earned widespread acclaim for its cinematography. After a two-decade hiatus from filmmaking, he returned to direct The Thin Red Line, which was released in 1998.
Career overview
Terrence Malick is an American film director, screenwriter, and producer born on November 30, 1943, in Ottawa, Illinois. Over a career spanning more than five decades, Malick has directed nine feature films. He is known for a singular style that combines loose narrative and editing structure with spiritual themes.
Malick made his feature film debut with the 1973 crime drama Badlands, which was loosely inspired by the Starkweather-Fugate murders. He followed this with the 1978 lyrical period drama Days of Heaven, which focused on migrant laborers in the Texas Panhandle and earned widespread acclaim for its cinematography. Following the success of Days of Heaven, Malick took a two-decade hiatus from filmmaking before returning to direct The Thin Red Line, which was released in 1998. Additional works associated with his directing career include Hidden Life, known in Czech as Skrytý život.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full Filmography
73 titles- I’m Glad You’re Dead Now (2025) Thanks
- All Illusions Must Be Broken (2024) Executive Producer
- Evolver (2023) Executive Producer
- Ennio (2022) as Self (voice)
- The Better Angels (2022) Producer
- A Cooler Climate (2022) Thanks
- Towards a Dream in the USA (2022) Director
- Awaken (2021) Executive Producer
- The Book Of Vision (2021) Executive Producer
- Leading the Electric Revolution and Sustainability (2021) Director
- Everybody’s Everything (2019) Executive Producer
- A Hidden Life (2019) Director
- A Hidden Life (2019) Writer
- Together (2018) Director
- Filmed on Pixel 3 (2018) Director
- Thy Kingdom Come (2018) Thanks
- Song to Song (2017) Director
- Song to Song (2017) Writer
- Voyage of Time: Life's Journey (2017) Director
- Voyage of Time: Life's Journey (2017) Writer
- Mon Guerlain: Notes of a Woman (2017) Director
- The Spearhead Effect (2017) Executive Producer
- Voyage of Time: The IMAX Experience (2016) Director
- Voyage of Time: The IMAX Experience (2016) Writer
- The Vessel (2016) Executive Producer
- Look & See: A Portrait of Wendell Berry (2016) Executive Producer
- Knight of Cups (2015) Director
- Knight of Cups (2015) Writer
- Almost Holy (2015) Executive Producer
- The Seventh Fire (2015) Executive Producer
- To the Wonder (2013) Director
- To the Wonder (2013) Writer
- Red Wing (2013) Executive Producer
- The Tree of Life (2011) Director
- The Tree of Life (2011) Writer
- Che: Part Two (2008) Screenplay
- Gone Baby Gone (2007) Thanks
- The Unforeseen (2007) Executive Producer
- Amazing Grace (2006) Producer
- The New World (2005) Director
- The New World (2005) Screenplay
- The Beautiful Country (2004) Producer
- The Beautiful Country (2004) Story
- Undertow (2004) Producer
- Undertow (2004) Story
- Bear's Kiss (2002) Story
- Rosy-Fingered Dawn: A Film on Terrence Malick (2002) as Self (archive footage)
- The Grey Zone (2001) Thanks
- Happy Times (2000) Executive Producer
- Endurance (1999) Producer
- The Thin Red Line (1998) Director
- The Thin Red Line (1998) Screenplay
- Good Will Hunting (1997) Thanks
- HBO First Look (1992) as Self
- Days of Heaven (1978) as Mill Worker (uncredited)
- Days of Heaven (1978) Director
- Days of Heaven (1978) Writer
- Badlands (1974) as Caller at Rich Man's House (uncredited)
- Badlands (1974) Director
- Badlands (1974) Producer
- Badlands (1974) Writer
- The Dion Brothers (1974) Writer
- Pocket Money (1972) as Worksman (uncredited)
- Pocket Money (1972) Screenplay
- Deadhead Miles (1972) Screenplay
- Drive, He Said (1971) Additional Writing
- Lanton Mills (1969) as Tilman
- Lanton Mills (1969) Writer
- Lanton Mills (1969) Director
- Lanton Mills (1969) Music
- The Way of the Wind Writer
- The Way of the Wind Director
- Halo of Stars Executive Producer
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Terrence Malick best known for?
Terrence Malick is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including Ennio (2022), The Book Of Vision (2021), Everybody’s Everything (2019), A Hidden Life (2019).
When and where was Terrence Malick born?
Terrence Malick was born on November 30, 1943 in Ottawa, Illinois, USA.
How many credits does Terrence Malick have?
Terrence Malick has accumulated over 73 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1969 to 2025.
What is Terrence Malick's background in cinema and television?
Terrence Malick is an American film director, screenwriter, and producer who was born on November 30, 1943, in Ottawa, Illinois. His career spans over five decades, during which he has directed nine feature films. Known for a singular style combining a loose narrative and editing structure with spiritual themes, Malick...
Terrence Malick by the numbers
Age in their best-rated roles
- Ennio (2022) as Self (voice) — aged about 78
- Days of Heaven (1978) as Mill Worker (uncredited) — aged about 34
- Badlands (1974) as Caller at Rich Man's House (uncredited) — aged about 30
- HBO First Look (1992) as Self — aged about 48
- Pocket Money (1972) as Worksman (uncredited) — aged about 28
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