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Adam Scott

Adam Scott

Actor, also producer, director and writer · Born April 3, 1973 (53) · Santa Cruz, California, USA

Primetime Emmy nominee · Golden Globe nominee · Screen Actors Guild Award nominee · 3 other major award bodies

Adam Paul Scott (born April 3, 1973) is an American actor, producer, screenwriter, director and podcaster. He is best known for his roles as Ben Wyatt in the NBC comedy Parks and Recreation, Henry Pollard in the Starz comedy series Party Down, Palek in the HBO drama Tell Me You Love Me and Derek Huff in the 2008 film Step Brothers. He has appeared in the Adult Swim comedy Childrens Hospital. He was also on the show NTSF:SD:SUV::, and the annual Adult Swim special The Greatest Event in Television History, which he also created and produced. Scott is the co-host and co-creator of the Earwolf podcast U Talkin' U2 To Me? with Scott Aukerman.

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
April 3, 1973 (53)
From
Santa Cruz, California, USA
Works as
Actor, also producer, director and writer
Titles
92 on MovieCove · 110 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 15% in 30 days

What are Adam Scott's films like?

Across their 57 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Self.

Genres

Comedy31 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 44th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Action3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 9th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Adventure3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 55th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Adventure movies
Drama3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 57th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Horror3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 15th percentile
: browse their Horror movies
Crime2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 49th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime 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
Bonds
37%
Self
29%
Morality
14%
Society
7%
Survival
6%
Ideas
4%
Power
3%
Family bonds19 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity16 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship13 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love8 titles, browse their movies with this themeAmbition7 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose6 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth9 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity7 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 48 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 26 · Serious 15 · Dark 7

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

A split, not a type: Grounded 29 · Stylized 15 · Heightened 4

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

Gentle 15 · Charged 21 · Intense 12

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

Steady 18 · Shifting 22 · Whiplash 8

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 11 · Some laughs 15 · Funny 22

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

Slow burn 18 · Even-paced 26 · 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 31 · Engaged 14 · Full focus 3

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

Resolved 31 · Open-ended 14 · Ambiguous 3

Roles they play

37 analyzed roles

Usually the Hero: 14 of 37 analyzed roles.

Hero
14 of 37
Ally
9 of 37
Trickster
4 of 37
Shadow
3 of 37
Mentor
3 of 37
Herald
2 of 37
Shapeshifter
1 of 37
Threshold guardian
1 of 37
Show the 37 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
28
Absurd
26
Warm
15
Joyful
14
Bittersweet
14
Other
55

How their films linger

Feel-good25 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun17 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet19 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful18 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking11 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 14 with a twist

  • Happy13
  • Bittersweet28
  • Tragic1
  • Ambiguous13
  • Cyclical1

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 Adam Scott's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 68 of their 92 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (19).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Adam Scott'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

110 credits, 92 with a MovieCove page; 32 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • A Sprinkle of History (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2027)

    as Irv Robbins

  • The Saviors(2026)

    Producer · as Sean Harrison

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • The Whisper Man(2026)

    as Tom Kennedy

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • Hokum(2026)

    as Ohm Bauman

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • Strip Law(2026)

    Show 10 episodes · as Lincoln Gumb (voice)

    Midcredits score: 22nd percentile of all shows

  • The Studio(2025)

    Show 1 episode · as Adam Scott

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • The Monkey(2025)

    as Captain Petey Shelborn

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Madame Web(2024)

    as Ben Parker

    Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all films

  • First Time Female Director(2023)

    as Acting Coach (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 10th percentile of all films

  • Loot(2022)

    Show 9 episodes · as John Novak

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all shows

  • Severance(2022)

    Show 19 episodes · Executive Producer · Producer · as Mark Scout

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • Inside Job(2021)

    Show 5 episodes · as Ron Staedtler (voice)

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • A Parks and Recreation Special(2020)

    as Ben Wyatt

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • The Paley Center Salutes Parks and Recreation (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    as Ben Wyatt

  • Duncanville(2020)

    Show 1 episode · as Nick (voice)

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all shows

  • Between Two Ferns: The Movie(2019)

    as Adam Scott

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • The Twilight Zone(2019)

    Show 1 episode · as Justin Sanderson

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all shows

  • Do You Want to See a Dead Body? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Ghosted(2017)

    Show 16 episodes · Executive Producer · as Max Jennifer / Max Allison

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all shows

  • Big Mouth(2017)

    Show 1 episode · as Mr. Dylan Keating (voice)

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all shows

  • Little Evil(2017)

    as Gary Bloom

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • Fun Mom Dinner(2017)

    Executive Producer · as Tom

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • Wet Hot American Summer: Ten Years Later(2017)

    Show 8 episodes · as Ben

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all shows

  • I'm Sorry(2017)

    Show 1 episode · as Dr. Steve Goldberg

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all shows

  • Flower(2017)

    as Will Jordan

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • The Most Hated Woman in America(2017)

    as Jack Ferguson

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • The Disaster Artist(2017)

    as Adam Scott

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Big Little Lies(2017)

    Show 14 episodes · as Ed Mackenzie

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all shows

  • Michael Bolton's Big, Sexy Valentine's Day Special(2017)

    as Adam Scott

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • My Blind Brother(2016)

    as Robbie

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • The Good Place(2016)

    Show 5 episodes · as Trevor

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all shows

  • Other People(2016)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • The Adult Swim Golf Classic(2016)

    as Adam Scott

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • Bajillion Dollar Propertie$(2016)

    Show 1 episode · as Johnny Dunne

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all shows

  • Angie Tribeca (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    Show 1 episode · as Surgeon

  • Krampus(2015)

    as Tom

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Black Mass(2015)

    as FBI Agent Robert Fitzpatrick

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Sleeping with Other People(2015)

    as Matthew Sobvechik

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • The Overnight(2015)

    Executive Producer · as Alex

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Hot Tub Time Machine 2(2015)

    as Adam Yates Stedmeyer Jr.

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all films

  • They Came Together(2014)

    as Sound Engineer

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • The Secret Life of Walter Mitty(2013)

    as Ted Hendricks

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • A.C.O.D.(2013)

    Executive Producer · as Carter Spencer

    Midcredits score: 22nd percentile of all films

  • Drunk History(2013)

    Show 1 episode · as John Wilkes Booth

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all shows

  • The Guilt Trip(2012)

    as Andrew Margolis Jr.

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • All Star Bowling Trick Shots (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    Actor

  • The Greatest Event in Television History(2012)

    Show 1 episode · Director · Creator · Producer · Writer · as A.J. Simon · as Henry / Hildy · as Jonathan Hart · as Monroe Ficus

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all shows

  • Bachelorette(2012)

    as Clyde Goddard

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • Comedy Bang! Bang!(2012)

    Show 2 episodes · as Plumber Pierre · as Self

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all shows

  • Burning Love(2012)

    Show 8 episodes · as Damien Assante

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all shows

  • Veep(2012)

    Show 1 episode · as Tonight Show Host

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all shows

  • See Girl Run (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    as Jason

  • Friends with Kids(2011)

    as Jason Fryman

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • The First A.D. (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    Director · Writer

  • Our Idiot Brother(2011)

    as Jeremy

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • NTSF:SD:SUV(2011)

    Show 1 episode · as Van Damm

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all shows

  • Fight for Your Right Revisited (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    as Cab Driver

  • The Terrys (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • When Harry Met Sally 2 with Billy Crystal and Helen Mirren(2011)

    as Movie Executive

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • Piranha 3D(2010)

    as Novak Radzinsky

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • Operation: Endgame(2010)

    as Magician

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films

  • Leap Year(2010)

    as Jeremy

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • The Vicious Kind(2009)

    as Caleb Sinclaire

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Passenger Side(2009)

    Producer · as Michael

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Lovely, Still(2008)

    as Mike

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Parks and Recreation(2009)

    Show 94 episodes · Director · as Ben Wyatt

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • Party Down(2009)

    Show 26 episodes · Executive Producer · Producer · as Henry Pollard

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows

  • Eastbound & Down(2009)

    Show 2 episodes · as Pat Anderson

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows

  • Trust Me (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Show 1 episode · as Josh Burkett

  • Childrens Hospital(2008)

    Show 1 episode · as Lt. D'Ghor Koru

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all shows

  • Step Brothers(2008)

    as Derek Huff

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • August(2008)

    as Joshua Sterling

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • Corporate Affairs(2008)

    as Jack Hightower

    Midcredits score: 2nd percentile of all films

  • The Great Buck Howard(2008)

    as Alan

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • Tell Me You Love Me(2007)

    Show 10 episodes · as Palek

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

  • Knocked Up(2007)

    as Samuel

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • The Sarah Silverman Program.(2007)

    Show 1 episode · as Agent Schroeder

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all shows

  • The Return(2005)

    as Kurt

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films

  • Art School Confidential(2006)

    as Marvin Bushmiller

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • First Snow(2006)

    as Tom Morelane

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Who Loves the Sun(2006)

    as Daniel Bloom

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • Monster-in-Law(2005)

    as Remy

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • The Matador(2005)

    as Phil Garrison

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • American Dad!(2005)

    Show 1 episode · as Marshall (voice)

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

  • The Aviator(2004)

    as Johnny Meyer

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • Veronica Mars(2004)

    Show 1 episode · as Mr. Chuck Rooks

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all shows

  • Off the Lip(2004)

    as David

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films

  • Torque(2004)

    as Jay McPherson

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all films

  • Two Days (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    as Stu

  • CSI: Miami(2002)

    Show 1 episode · as Danny Cato

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all shows

  • High Crimes(2002)

    as Lieutenant Terrence Embry

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Glory Days (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Show 1 episode · as Howard Dichotsky

  • Ronnie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    as Ronnie Schwann

  • Six Feet Under(2001)

    Show 2 episodes · as Ben Cooper

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all shows

  • Seven and a Match(2001)

    as Peter

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Winding Roads (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    as Brian Calhoun

  • Girl(1998)

    as Scott

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • The Lesser Evil(1998)

    as Young George

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • Too Smooth(1998)

    as Fan at Bar

    Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all films

  • Payback (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    as Adam Stanfill

  • Dinner and Driving (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    as Larry

  • Star Trek: First Contact(1996)

    as Defiant Con Officer

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • The Last Days of Frankie the Fly(1996)

    as Race Track Valet

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Hellraiser: Bloodline(1996)

    as Jacques

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films

  • Cityscrapes: Los Angeles (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    as Joe

  • Murder One(1995)

    Show 6 episodes · as Sidney Schneider

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows

  • Party of Five(1994)

    Show 7 episodes · as Josh Macon

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all shows

  • Boy Meets World(1993)

    Show 4 episodes · as Griffin 'Griff' Hawkins

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows

  • Law & Order(1990)

    Show 1 episode · as Robbie Howell

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all shows

  • Double Booked (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Director · Producer · Actor

Career shape

Star power in the 99th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 110 titles, 107 of them dated from 1990 to 2026; peak year 2016.

Biggest box office

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (2013)

$188M worldwide

Highest rated

Severance (2022)

Midcredits 98th

Most popular right now

Parks and Recreation (2009)

Film career

MilestoneNomination
19902026

Peak 2016 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Top draw in 24 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.

Show 1 more milestone

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting108 of 110: 98 only acting, 10 with another role · typical Midcredits score53rdDirecting3 of 110: 0 only directing, 3 with another roleWriting1 of 110: 0 only writing, 1 with another roleProducing9 of 110: 1 only producing, 8 with another role · typical Midcredits score59thOther crew1 of 110: 0 only other crew, 1 with another role

110 titles, 11 with more than one role — acting and producing overlap on 8 of them.

By decade

1990s14 · acting2000s33 · 33 acting · 2 crew2010s47 · 45 acting · 7 crew2020s13 · 13 acting · 1 crew

Billing

usually 5th · top billed in 17% of 48 roles
96061116

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

17 major nominations and no wins, 2010–2026.

  1. 2026
    • Golden Globe, nominated · Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Series - Drama
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
    • +2 other major bodies · 2 nominations
      • Producers Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Producer of Episodic Television, Drama
      • Critics Choice Award, nominated · Best Actor in a Drama Series
  2. 2025
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Drama Series
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
  3. 2023
    • Golden Globe, nominated · Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Drama
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
    • +3 other major bodies · 3 nominations
      • Producers Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Producer of Episodic Television, Drama
      • Critics Choice Award, nominated · Best Actor in a Drama Series
      • Independent Spirit Award, nominated · Best Lead Performance in a New Scripted Series
  4. 2022
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Drama Series
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
  5. 2020
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
  6. 2017
    • Independent Spirit Award, nominated · Best First Feature
  7. 2010
    • Independent Spirit Award, nominated · Best Male Lead

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 Adam Scott's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 45th percentile, the median of all 58; across their 48 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 47th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

47thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 48

Approval · how many liked their films

45thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 48

Reach · how many have seen their films

91stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 48

Midcredits score across 92 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up29
  • 50th to 74th21
  • 25th to 49th24
  • Below 25th18

Shape of the crowd

29 of their 92 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved15
  • Universally Panned2
  • Divisive1
  • Cult Classic2
  • Crowd Pleaser29
  • Broadly Agreed14
  • Mixed29

Most divisive · actor

Off the Lip (2004)

96th percentile spread · 49% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor, producer

Severance (2022)

Midcredits 98th · 93% liked

Reviewers score the acting 67/100 in their films, across 44 reviewed titles; fans 78, detractors 45. 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 Adam Scott's work okay for kids?

Across up to 37 MovieCove titles with content scores, sex & nudity and profanity run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore24 titles12–80 · median 37 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity37 titles20–72 · median 42 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity29 titles36–85 · median 67 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs25 titles29–72 · median 39 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense20 titles9–83 · median 41 · 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 Adam Scott work with?

People who share at least 2 of Adam Scott's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Kathryn Hahn shares the most, 5.

Directors

Actors

Composers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles