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Judd Nelson

Judd Nelson

Actor, also producer and writer · Born November 28, 1959 (66) · Portland, Maine, USA

Golden Globe nominee

Judd Asher Nelson (born November 28, 1959) is an American actor. He is best known for his roles as John Bender in The Breakfast Club, Alec Newbury in St. Elmo's Fire, Joe Hunt in Billionaire Boys Club, Nick Peretti in New Jack City, Billy Beretti in Empire, and Jack Richmond in the television series Suddenly Susan.

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
November 28, 1959 (66)
From
Portland, Maine, USA
Works as
Actor, also producer and writer
Titles
82 on MovieCove · 126 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 155 days to Oct 26Down 17% in 30 days

What are Judd Nelson's films like?

Across their 65 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Self.

Genres

Comedy21 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 36th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Action10 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 5th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Drama8 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 31st percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Crime6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 21st percentile
: browse their Crime movies
Horror6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 9th percentile
: browse their Horror movies
Family3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 25th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Family movies
Thriller3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 3rd percentile
: browse their Thriller movies
Adventure2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 32nd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Adventure movies
Biography2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 25th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Biography movies
Documentary2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 52nd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Documentary movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Morality
25%
Self
21%
Survival
20%
Bonds
18%
Society
11%
Power
4%
Ideas
2%
Survival15 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice13 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds10 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity9 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity8 titles, browse their movies with this themeTrauma7 titles, browse their movies with this themeRedemption7 titles, browse their movies with this themeComing of age7 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 64 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 27 · Serious 20 · Dark 17

Grounded: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their grounded movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 42 · Stylized 17 · Heightened 5

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 20 · Charged 26 · Intense 18

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 28 · Shifting 31 · Whiplash 5

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 34 · Some laughs 18 · Funny 12

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 27 · Even-paced 33 · Relentless 4

Casual: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their casual movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 40 · Engaged 23 · Full focus 1

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 48 · Open-ended 12 · Ambiguous 4

Roles they play

42 analyzed roles

Usually the Shadow: 16 of 42 analyzed roles.

Shadow
16 of 42
Hero
10 of 42
Ally
5 of 42
Mentor
4 of 42
Threshold guardian
3 of 42
Trickster
2 of 42
Herald
1 of 42
Shapeshifter
1 of 42
Show the 42 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
43
Dread
18
Warm
16
Melancholic
17
Absurd
14
Other
65

How their films linger

Unsettling25 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good19 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful19 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet22 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun14 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking11 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 14 with a twist

  • Happy19
  • Bittersweet24
  • Tragic1
  • Ambiguous21

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Judd Nelson's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 60 of their 82 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (39).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Judd Nelson's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

126 credits, 82 with a MovieCove page; 11 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Yellow Lights (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2026)

    as Dan Caufield

  • The Final Run(2025)

    as Sam Sloane

    Midcredits score: 10th percentile of all films

  • The Engagement Plan(2024)

    as Dash Donnelly

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • South of Hope Street (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2024)

    as Tom

  • Dante's Hotel(2023)

    as Brayer

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films

  • Save Christmas (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    as Malcolm

  • The Most Dangerous Game(2022)

    as Marcus Rainsford

    Midcredits score: 7th percentile of all films

  • A Tale of Two Guns(2022)

    as Captain Mathias

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films

  • #Unknown(2021)

    as Garrett Stance

    Midcredits score: 5th percentile of all films

  • Girl in the Basement(2021)

    as Don

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • The Downside of Bliss (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    as Doug

  • Electric Jesus(2020)

    as Pastor Wember

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • Iceland Is Best(2020)

    as Mr. Sonquit

    Midcredits score: 4th percentile of all films

  • Dead Water(2019)

    as McLean

    Midcredits score: 6th percentile of all films

  • Dauntless: The Battle of Midway(2019)

    as Rear Admirial Raymond Spruance

    Midcredits score: 2nd percentile of all films

  • Santa Fake(2019)

    as Seb

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films

  • Madness in the Method(2019)

    as Miscreant

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • Billionaire Boys Club(2018)

    as Ryan Hunt

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • 1/1(2018)

    as Robert

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • Transformers: Power of the Primes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    as Hot Rod / Rodimus Cron / Rodimus Unicronus / Unicron (voice)

  • Transformers: Power of the Primes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    Show 10 episodes · Actor

  • Transformers: Titans Return (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    as Rodimus Prime (voice)/Hot Rod (voice)

  • Transformers: Titans Return (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    Show 10 episodes · as Hot Rod

  • From Straight A's to XXX(2017)

    as Don

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Stagecoach: The Texas Jack Story(2016)

    as Sid

    Midcredits score: 10th percentile of all films

  • The Bandit Hound(2016)

    as Manny

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films

  • Kreep (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    as Whitman Thaw

  • When Duty Calls(2015)

    as Gary Lawton

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • This Is Happening(2015)

    as Steven (Father)

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Private Number (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    as Garrett Stance

  • Empire(2015)

    Show 4 episodes · as Billy Baretti

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all shows

  • Road to the Open(2014)

    as Anger Management Therapist

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • Bigfoot Wars (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    as Dr. Leonard Evans

  • Haunting of the Innocent(2014)

    as Mr. Franklin

    Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all films

  • Kristin's Christmas Past(2013)

    as Glenn

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Nurse(2013)

    as Dr. Robert Morris

    Midcredits score: 7th percentile of all films

  • Down and Dangerous(2013)

    as Charles Ward

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • Bad Kids Go to Hell(2012)

    as Headmaster Nash

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films

  • Just 45 Minutes from Broadway(2012)

    as Jimmy D'Angelo

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Cancel Christmas(2010)

    as Santa Claus / Kris Frost

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • Mayor Cupcake(2011)

    as Donald Maroni

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • Shadow People (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    as Sheriff Donnelly

  • Nikita(2010)

    Show 2 episodes · as Ronald Peller

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all shows

  • Fight or Flight(2010)

    as Agent Wilson

    Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all films

  • Endure (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    as Emory Lane

  • The Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day(2009)

    as Concezio Yakavetta

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Little Hercules (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    as Kevin

  • Nevermore (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    as Jonathan Usher

  • The Day the Earth Stopped(2008)

    as Charlie

    Midcredits score: 2nd percentile of all films

  • Eleventh Hour(2008)

    Show 1 episode · as Dr. Bruce Nesic

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

  • A Single Woman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    as Jewish Reporter

  • Infected (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    as Malcolm Burgess

  • The Caretaker(2008)

    as Ella's Dad

    Midcredits score: 2nd percentile of all films

  • The Kidnapping(2007)

    as Glen

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films

  • Transformers: Animated(2007)

    Show 1 episode · as Rodimus (voice)

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all shows

  • Family Guy Presents: Blue Harvest (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    as John Bender (uncredited) (voice)

  • Phineas and Ferb(2007)

    Show 1 episode · as The Guru (voice)

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all shows

  • Netherbeast Incorporated(2007)

    as Steven P.D. Landry

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • TV: The Movie(2006)

    as Fear Factor Host / Self

    Midcredits score: 5th percentile of all films

  • Psych(2006)

    Show 1 episode · as Steven Reidman

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all shows

  • The Black Hole(2006)

    as Eric Bryce

    Midcredits score: 2nd percentile of all films

  • Three Wise Guys(2004)

    as George

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • The Lost Angel(2005)

    as Father Brian

    Midcredits score: 2nd percentile of all films

  • Lethal Eviction (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    as Shep

  • CSI: NY(2004)

    Show 1 episode · as Cigarette Company Executive

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

  • The Freediver(2004)

    as Ziad

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Las Vegas(2003)

    Show 1 episode · as Ollie

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all shows

  • Two and a Half Men(2003)

    Show 2 episodes · as Chris

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all shows

  • Cybermutt (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    as Alex

  • White Rush(2003)

    Associate Producer · as Brian Nathanson

    Midcredits score: 10th percentile of all films

  • Santa, Jr.(2002)

    as Darryl Bedford

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • Deceived(2002)

    as Jack Jones

    Midcredits score: 6th percentile of all films

  • Dark Asylum (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    as Quitz

  • Lost Voyage(2000)

    as Aaron Roberts

    Midcredits score: 10th percentile of all films

  • The Cure for Boredom (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    as Max

  • Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back(2001)

    as Sheriff

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • Strange Frequency (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Show 1 episode · as Martin Potter

  • Return to Cabin by the Lake(2001)

    as Stanley Caldwell

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • Falcon Down (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    as Harold Peters

  • Strange Frequency (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    as Martin Potter (segment 'More Than a Feeling')

  • Endsville (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    as Rufus the Buck-Toothed Sluggard

  • CSI: Crime Scene Investigation(2000)

    Show 1 episode · as Mick Sheridan

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all shows

  • The New Adventures of Spin and Marty: Suspect Behavior(2000)

    as Jack Hulka

    Midcredits score: 7th percentile of all films

  • The Spiral Staircase (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    as Phillip

  • Cabin by the Lake(2000)

    as Stanley

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Light It Up(1999)

    as Ken Knowles

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Mr. Rock n Roll: The Alan Freed Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    as Alan Freed

  • Family Guy(1999)

    Show 1 episode · as John Bender (voice) (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all shows

  • The Wonderful World of Disney (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Show 1 episode · as Jack Hulka

  • Steel(1997)

    as Nathaniel Burke

    Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all films

  • Suddenly Susan(1996)

    Show 71 episodes · as Jack Richmond

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all shows

  • For a Few Lousy Dollars(1995)

    as Hitman

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films

  • Blackwater Trail (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    as Matt

  • Circumstances Unknown (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    as Paul Kinsey

  • The Outer Limits(1995)

    Show 1 episode · as Harry Longworth

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all shows

  • Flinch (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    as Harry Mirapolsky

  • Airheads(1994)

    as Jimmie Wing

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • Blindfold: Acts of Obsession(1994)

    as Dr. Jennings

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films

  • Hail Caesar(1994)

    as Prisoner One

    Midcredits score: 5th percentile of all films

  • Every Breath(1993)

    Writer · as Jimmy

    Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all films

  • Caroline at Midnight (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    as Phil Gallo

  • Conflict of Interest (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    as Gideon

  • Entangled (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    as David Merkin

  • Primary Motive (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as Andrew Blumenthal

  • The Dark Backward(1991)

    as Marty Malt

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • New Jack City(1991)

    as Nick Peretti

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Hiroshima: Out of the Ashes(1990)

    as Pete Dunham

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Relentless(1989)

    as Arthur 'Buck' Taylor

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Tales from the Crypt(1989)

    Show 1 episode · as Gaston

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all shows

  • Never on Tuesday (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    as Motorcycle cop (uncredited)

  • Billionaire Boys Club (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    as Joseph 'Joe' Hunt

  • Billionaire Boys Club (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Show 2 episodes · as Joe Hunt

  • Funny, You Don't Look 200: A Constitutional Vaudeville(1987)

    as Vietnam Soldier

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • Dear America: Letters Home from Vietnam(1987)

    as (voice)

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • From the Hip(1987)

    as Robin "Stormy" Weathers

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Hometime (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Show 104 episodes · Actor

  • The Transformers: The Movie(1986)

    as Hot Rod / Rodimus Prime (voice)

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Blue City(1986)

    as Billy Turner

    Midcredits score: 6th percentile of all films

  • St. Elmo's Fire(1985)

    as Alec Newbary

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Moonlighting(1985)

    Show 1 episode · as Policeman

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all shows

  • The Breakfast Club(1985)

    as John Bender

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • Fandango(1985)

    as Phil Hicks

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Making the Grade (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    as Eddie Keaton

  • Rock 'n' Roll Hotel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    as Johnny

  • Kill Me Now (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Actor

  • You Are Here (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    as Zachary

Career shape

Star power in the 99th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 126 titles, 123 of them dated from 1983 to 2025; peak year 1986.

Biggest box office

The Breakfast Club (1985)

$52M worldwide

Highest rated

The Breakfast Club (1985)

Midcredits 96th

Most popular right now

The Transformers: The Movie (1986)

Film career

19832025

Peak 1986 · back in prominent film roles after a quiet stretch. Top draw in 20 MovieCove titles. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

  • 1984Screen debut· Making the Grade
  • 1984First top-billed film· Making the Grade
  • 2021Career best· Girl in the Basement

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting126 of 126: 124 only acting, 2 with another role · typical Midcredits score30thWriting1 of 126: 0 only writing, 1 with another roleProducing1 of 126: 0 only producing, 1 with another role

By decade

1980s17 · acting1990s22 · 22 acting · 1 crew2000s40 · 40 acting · 1 crew2010s31 · acting2020s13 · acting

Billing

usually 3rd · top billed in 30% of 40 roles
84899904091419

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

Awards

Nominated for a Golden Globe in 1988, Best Performance by an Actor in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television.

Major bodies only: the Oscars, Primetime Emmys, Golden Globes, BAFTAs and Screen Actors Guild Awards are named; Cannes, Venice, the Berlinale, Sundance, the directors', writers' and producers' guilds, the Grammys, Critics Choice and the Independent Spirit Awards count as other major bodies. Festival and regional prizes are not counted. Source: IMDb.

How do Judd Nelson's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 23rd percentile, the median of all 67; across their 64 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 19th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

19thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 64

Approval · how many liked their films

26thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 64

Reach · how many have seen their films

53rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 64

Midcredits score across 82 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up11
  • 50th to 74th18
  • 25th to 49th17
  • Below 25th36

Shape of the crowd

39 of their 82 titles are Mixed.

  • Universally Loved4
  • Universally Panned3
  • Divisive4
  • Cult Classic8
  • Crowd Pleaser22
  • Broadly Agreed2
  • Mixed39

Most divisive · actor

Funny, You Don't Look 200: A Constitutional Vaudeville (1987)

98th percentile spread · 44% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

The Breakfast Club (1985)

Midcredits 96th · 85% liked

Reviewers score the acting 48/100 in their films, across 56 reviewed titles; fans 69, detractors 29. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Judd Nelson's work okay for kids?

Across up to 13 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore, profanity and alcohol & drugs run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore7 titles24–70 · median 55 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity13 titles18–54 · median 40 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity10 titles35–88 · median 72 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs9 titles13–74 · median 47 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense8 titles18–73 · median 48 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Judd Nelson work with?

People who share at least 2 of Judd Nelson's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; C. Thomas Howell shares the most, 4.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles