Movies
TV Shows
People

Terrence Malick

Known For
Directing

Known Credits
7

Gender
Male

Birthday
November 30, 1943 (82 years old)

Place of Birth
Ottawa, Illinois, USA

Terrence Malick

Biography

Terrence Malick (born November 30, 1943) is an American film director, screenwriter, and producer. In a career spanning over five decades, Malick has directed nine feature films. He is known for his singular style that combines loose narrative and editing structure with spiritual themes.

Malick made his feature film debut with Badlands (1973), a crime drama loosely inspired by the Starkweather-Fugate murders. He followed it with Days of Heaven (1978), a lyrical period drama about migrant laborers in the Texas Panhandle, which earned widespread acclaim for its cinematography. After this success, Malick took a two-decade hiatus from filmmaking before returning with The Thin Red Line (1998), an ensemble war epic set during the Battle of Guadalcanal, based on the novel of the same name by James Jones. The film was nominated for seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Film Editing, Best Original Score and Best Sound.

He continued with The New World (2005), a meditative historical drama depicting the story of Pocahontes and the founding of Jamestown. Malick achieved critical prominence with The Tree of Life (2011), an ambitious family drama that won the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival and is frequently cited as one of the greatest films of the 21st century. This was followed by a series of more experimental, impressionistic works including To the Wonder (2012), Knight of Cups (2015), and Song to Song (2017), which explored themes of love, faith, and modern alienation through fragmented narrative and visual storytelling. Malick also directed the large-scale documentary Voyage of Time (2016), a cosmic history of the universe released in both IMAX and feature-length versions. He later returned to historical drama with A Hidden Life (2019), about Austrian conscientious objector Franz Jägerstätter during World War II.

In addition to his feature films, Malick has directed several high-profile commercials, including Mon Guerlain - Notes of a Woman (2017), a short film-style spot for Google Pixel 3 (2018), a nature-focused Ford commercial (2021) and a brand film for Louis Vuitton's USA campaign (2022).

Known For

Crew

2025I’m Glad You’re Dead Now...Thanks
2022A Cooler Climate...Thanks
2018Thy Kingdom Come...Thanks
2007Gone Baby Gone...Thanks
2001The Grey Zone...Thanks
1997Good Will Hunting...Thanks
1971Drive, He Said...Additional Writing

Production

2024All Illusions Must Be Broken...Executive Producer
2023Evolver...Executive Producer
2021The Book Of Vision...Executive Producer
2021Awaken...Executive Producer
2019Everybody’s Everything...Executive Producer
2017The Spearhead Effect...Executive Producer
2016The Vessel...Executive Producer
2016Look & See: A Portrait of Wendell Berry...Executive Producer
2015Almost Holy...Executive Producer
2015The Seventh Fire...Executive Producer
2014The Better Angels...Producer
2013Red Wing...Executive Producer
2007The Unforeseen...Executive Producer
2006Amazing Grace...Producer
2004Undertow...Producer
2004The Beautiful Country...Producer
2000Happy Times...Executive Producer
1999Endurance...Producer
1974Badlands...Producer
Halo of Stars...Executive Producer

Directing

2022Towards a Dream in the USA...Director
2021Leading the Electric Revolution and Sustainability...Director
2019A Hidden Life...Director
2018Filmed on Pixel 3...Director
2018Together...Director
2017Song to Song...Director
2017Voyage of Time: Life's Journey...Director
2017Mon Guerlain: Notes of a Woman...Director
2016Voyage of Time: The IMAX Experience...Director
2015Knight of Cups...Director
2013To the Wonder...Director
2011The Tree of Life...Director
2005The New World...Director
1998The Thin Red Line...Director
1978Days of Heaven...Director
1974Badlands...Director
1969Lanton Mills...Director
The Way of the Wind...Director

Writing

2019A Hidden Life...Writer
2017Song to Song...Writer
2017Voyage of Time: Life's Journey...Writer
2016Voyage of Time: The IMAX Experience...Writer
2015Knight of Cups...Writer
2013To the Wonder...Writer
2011The Tree of Life...Writer
2008Che: Part Two...Screenplay
2005The New World...Screenplay
2004Undertow...Story
2004The Beautiful Country...Story
2002Bear's Kiss...Story
1998The Thin Red Line...Screenplay
1978Days of Heaven...Writer
1974The Dion Brothers...Writer
1974Badlands...Writer
1972Deadhead Miles...Screenplay
1972Pocket Money...Screenplay
1969Lanton Mills...Writer
The Way of the Wind...Writer

Sound

1969Lanton Mills...Music

Acting

2022Ennioas Self (voice)
2002Rosy-Fingered Dawn: A Film on Terrence Malickas Self (archive footage)
1992HBO First Lookas Self
1978Days of Heavenas Mill Worker (uncredited)
1974Badlandsas Caller at Rich Man's House (uncredited)
1972Pocket Moneyas Worksman (uncredited)
1969Lanton Millsas Tilman