John Sayles

Directing • 150 Credits

Biography

John Thomas Sayles (born September 28, 1950) is an American independent film director, screenwriter, editor, actor, and novelist.

🎬 Directed Titles (20)

Directorial Filmography
Lone Star

Lone Star

1996 ⭐ 3.5
Eight Men Out

Eight Men Out

1988 ⭐ 3.4
Matewan

Matewan

1987 ⭐ 3.7
The Secret of Roan Inish

The Secret of Roan Inish

1994 ⭐ 3.4
The Brother from Another Planet

The Brother from Another Planet

1984 ⭐ 3.4
Limbo

Limbo

1999 ⭐ 3.3
Silver City

Silver City

2004 ⭐ 3.0
Passion Fish

Passion Fish

1992 ⭐ 3.5
Return of the Secaucus Seven

Return of the Secaucus Seven

1980 ⭐ 3.3
Honeydripper

Honeydripper

2007 ⭐ 3.0
Baby It's You

Baby It's You

1983 ⭐ 3.0
Sunshine State

Sunshine State

2002 ⭐ 3.2
City of Hope

City of Hope

1991 ⭐ 3.4
Lianna

Lianna

1983 ⭐ 3.2
Casa de los Babys

Casa de los Babys

2003 ⭐ 2.8
Men with Guns

Men with Guns

1998 ⭐ 3.1
Amigo

Amigo

2011 ⭐ 2.5
Go for Sisters

Go for Sisters

2013 ⭐ 3.0
Bruce Springsteen: The Complete Video Anthology 1978-2000

Bruce Springsteen: The Complete Video Anthology 1978-2000

2001 ⭐ 3.1
Mountain View

Mountain View

1989

✍️ Written & Story Credits (38)

Screenplay, Novel & Story
The Spiderwick Chronicles

The Spiderwick Chronicles

2008 ⭐ 3.4
Screenplay
The Howling

The Howling

1981 ⭐ 3.3
Screenplay
Piranha

Piranha

1978 ⭐ 3.0
Story
Lone Star

Lone Star

1996 ⭐ 3.5
Writer
Alligator

Alligator

1980 ⭐ 3.0
Story
Eight Men Out

Eight Men Out

1988 ⭐ 3.4
Writer
Battle Beyond the Stars

Battle Beyond the Stars

1980 ⭐ 2.7
Screenplay
Matewan

Matewan

1987 ⭐ 3.7
Writer
The Clan of the Cave Bear

The Clan of the Cave Bear

1986 ⭐ 2.6
Screenplay
Men of War

Men of War

1994 ⭐ 2.6
Screenplay
Piranha

Piranha

1995 ⭐ 2.4
Story
The Secret of Roan Inish

The Secret of Roan Inish

1994 ⭐ 3.4
Screenplay
The Brother from Another Planet

The Brother from Another Planet

1984 ⭐ 3.4
Screenplay
Silver City

Silver City

2004 ⭐ 3.0
Writer
Limbo

Limbo

1999 ⭐ 3.3
Writer
Passion Fish

Passion Fish

1992 ⭐ 3.5
Writer
Return of the Secaucus Seven

Return of the Secaucus Seven

1980 ⭐ 3.3
Writer
The Challenge

The Challenge

1982 ⭐ 3.0
Writer
The Lady in Red

The Lady in Red

1979 ⭐ 2.8
Writer
Honeydripper

Honeydripper

2007 ⭐ 3.0
Writer
Baby It's You

Baby It's You

1983 ⭐ 3.0
Screenplay
Sunshine State

Sunshine State

2002 ⭐ 3.2
Writer
City of Hope

City of Hope

1991 ⭐ 3.4
Writer
Lianna

Lianna

1983 ⭐ 3.2
Writer
Breaking In

Breaking In

1989 ⭐ 2.9
Writer
Casa de los Babys

Casa de los Babys

2003 ⭐ 2.8
Writer
Men with Guns

Men with Guns

1998 ⭐ 3.1
Writer
Sonora: The Devil’s Highway

Sonora: The Devil’s Highway

2019 ⭐ 3.0
Writer
Wild Thing

Wild Thing

1987 ⭐ 2.9
Story
The Gray House

The Gray House

2026 ⭐ 2.2
Writer
Amigo

Amigo

2011 ⭐ 2.5
Writer
Go for Sisters

Go for Sisters

2013 ⭐ 3.0
Writer
Unnatural Causes

Unnatural Causes

1986 ⭐ 3.7
Writer
Enormous Changes at the Last Minute

Enormous Changes at the Last Minute

1983 ⭐ 2.3
Writer
Shannon's Deal

Shannon's Deal

1990 ⭐ 3.9
Writer
Shannon's Deal

Shannon's Deal

1989 ⭐ 4.5
Writer
Django Lives!

Django Lives!

–
Writer
Dr. Del

Dr. Del

2016
Writer

🎭 Acting Roles (30)

Ranked by Prestige & Popularity
Malcolm X

Malcolm X

1992 ⭐ 3.8
as FBI Agent
The Howling

The Howling

1981 ⭐ 3.3
as Morgue Attendant (uncredited)
Piranha

Piranha

1978 ⭐ 3.0
as Army Sentry (uncredited)
Poker Face

Poker Face

2023 ⭐ 3.7
as Chief Hal
In the Electric Mist

In the Electric Mist

2009 ⭐ 3.0
as Michael Goldman
Something Wild

Something Wild

1986 ⭐ 3.3
as Motorcycle Cop
Matinee

Matinee

1993 ⭐ 3.3
as Bob
Eight Men Out

Eight Men Out

1988 ⭐ 3.4
as Ring Lardner
Gridlock'd

Gridlock'd

1997 ⭐ 3.3
as Cop #1
Girlfight

Girlfight

2000 ⭐ 3.3
as Science Teacher
Matewan

Matewan

1987 ⭐ 3.7
as Hardshell Preacher
The Brother from Another Planet

The Brother from Another Planet

1984 ⭐ 3.4
as Man in Black
Straight Talk

Straight Talk

1992 ⭐ 3.0
as Guy Girardi
Corman's World

Corman's World

2011 ⭐ 3.5
as Self - Filmmaker
The Story of Film: An Odyssey

The Story of Film: An Odyssey

2011 ⭐ 3.9
as Self
Passion Fish

Passion Fish

1992 ⭐ 3.5
as Soap Opera Doctor (uncredited)
Return of the Secaucus Seven

Return of the Secaucus Seven

1980 ⭐ 3.3
as Howie
Baseball

Baseball

1994 ⭐ 3.8
as Self
Casting By

Casting By

2012 ⭐ 3.5
as Self
Sunshine State

Sunshine State

2002 ⭐ 3.2
as Man who almost got hit by a golf ball (uncredited)
Honeydripper

Honeydripper

2007 ⭐ 3.0
as Zeke
City of Hope

City of Hope

1991 ⭐ 3.4
as Carl
Lianna

Lianna

1983 ⭐ 3.2
as Jerry
That Guy Dick Miller

That Guy Dick Miller

2014 ⭐ 3.5
as Self
Great Directors

Great Directors

2009 ⭐ 3.0
as Self
A Constant Forge

A Constant Forge

2000 ⭐ 3.4
as Self
Tell Them Who You Are

Tell Them Who You Are

2004 ⭐ 3.1
as Self
Square One Television

Square One Television

1987 ⭐ 2.8
as Roy 'Lefty' Cobbs
Moguls & Movie Stars: A History of Hollywood

Moguls & Movie Stars: A History of Hollywood

2010 ⭐ 2.7
as Self
Obscene: A Portrait of Barney Rosset and Grove Press

Obscene: A Portrait of Barney Rosset and Grove Press

2008 ⭐ 2.5
as Self