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Jay Roach

Jay Roach

Producer, director and writer, also actor · Born June 14, 1957 (69) · Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA

4 Primetime Emmys · 2 other major award bodies

Mathew Jay Roach (born June 14, 1957) is an American filmmaker. He is best known for directing the Austin Powers film series, Meet the Parents, Dinner for Schmucks, The Campaign, Trumbo, and Bombshell. Roach also earned critical acclaim for directing and producing the political television drama films Recount, Game Change, and All the Way. He produced the films under his Everyman Pictures banner. He has received four Primetime Emmy Awards from six nominations for his work. Description above from the Wikipedia article Jay Roach, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
June 14, 1957 (69)
From
Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
Works as
Producer, director and writer, also actor
Titles
30 on MovieCove · 41 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 21% in 30 days

What are Jay Roach's films like?

Across their 28 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Self and Bonds.

Genres

Comedy14 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 49th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Biography5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 86th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Biography movies
Action3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 53rd percentile
: browse their Action movies
Adventure2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 76th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Adventure 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
Self
29%
Bonds
23%
Society
17%
Morality
13%
Power
10%
Ideas
4%
Survival
3%
Identity9 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds7 titles, browse their movies with this themeAmbition4 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity5 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love4 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice4 titles, browse their movies with this themePrejudice4 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose4 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 27 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Wry: How sincerely it treats its story and characters, from ironic to earnest. Browse their wry movies.
Tone · Sincerity
ironicearnest

A split, not a type: Ironic 8 · Wry 2 · Earnest 16

Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 15 · Serious 4 · Dark 8

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

A split, not a type: Grounded 14 · Stylized 7 · Heightened 6

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

Gentle 5 · Charged 13 · Intense 9

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

Steady 9 · Shifting 14 · Whiplash 4

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

Straight-faced 6 · Some laughs 5 · Funny 16

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

Slow burn 2 · Even-paced 20 · Relentless 5

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

A split, not a type: Casual 15 · Engaged 8 · Full focus 4

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

Resolved 23 · Open-ended 4 · Ambiguous 0

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
13
Absurd
15
Joyful
9
Bittersweet
7
Manic
5
Other
33

How their films linger

Fun12 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good13 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 1 with a twist

  • Happy14
  • Bittersweet12
  • Ambiguous2

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 Jay Roach's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 24 of their 30 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (10).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Jay Roach'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

41 credits, 30 with a MovieCove page; 3 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Untitled Ocean's Prequel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2027)

    Producer

  • Focker-in-Law (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2026)

    Producer

  • The Roses(2025)

    Director · Producer

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • High Desert(2023)

    Show 8 episodes · Director · Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all shows

  • Coastal Elites(2020)

    Director · Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Bombshell(2019)

    Director · Producer

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • Barry(2018)

    Show 1 episode · as Jay Roach

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all shows

  • Mark Felt: The Man Who Brought Down the White House(2017)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all films

  • All the Way(2016)

    Director · Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • The Brothers Grimsby(2016)

    Thanks

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Sisters(2015)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • Trumbo(2015)

    Director · Producer

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • The Brink (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    Show 10 episodes · Director · Executive Producer

  • The Campaign(2012)

    Director · Producer

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • The Dictator(2012)

    Thanks

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Game Change(2012)

    Director · Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • Little Fockers(2010)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films

  • Dinner for Schmucks(2010)

    Director · Producer

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • Brüno(2009)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • Smother(2008)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 10th percentile of all films

  • Recount(2008)

    Director · Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • Charlie Bartlett(2007)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • Borat(2006)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Earth to America (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Director

  • The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy(2005)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Meet the Fockers(2004)

    Director · Producer

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • American Candidate (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Show 10 episodes · Producer

  • 50 First Dates(2004)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • Austin Powers in Goldmember(2002)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Meet the Parents(2000)

    Director · Producer

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • Behind the Scenes of 'Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me' (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Director · as Self

  • Mystery, Alaska(1999)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me(1999)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery(1997)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Sound of Peace (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Cinematographer

  • Blown Away(1994)

    Associate Producer · Story

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Lifepod(1993)

    Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • Space Rangers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Show 6 episodes · Producer · Writer

  • Zoo Radio (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Director

  • Tales of the Unknown (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Cinematographer

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

    Cinematographer

Career shape

A full career of 41 titles, 39 of them dated from 1986 to 2025.

Biggest box office

Meet the Fockers (2004)

$523M worldwide

Highest rated

Trumbo (2015)

Midcredits 90th

Most popular right now

Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me (1999)

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting1 of 41: 1 only acting, 0 with another roleDirecting20 of 41: 7 only directing, 13 with another role · typical Midcredits score69thWriting3 of 41: 1 only writing, 2 with another roleProducing27 of 41: 12 only producing, 15 with another role · typical Midcredits score61stCinematography3 of 41: 3 only cinematography, 0 with another roleOther crew2 of 41: 2 only other crew, 0 with another role

41 titles, 15 with more than one role — producing and directing overlap on 13 of them.

By decade

1980s1 · crew1990s10 · crew2000s12 · crew2010s13 · 1 acting · 12 crew2020s3 · crew

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.

Awards

4 Primetime Emmys and 3 other major awards from 11 major nominations, 2008–2017.

WinNomination
  1. 2017
    • Directors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Movies for Television and Mini-Series
  2. 2016
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Directing for a Limited Series, Movie or a Dramatic Special
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Television Movie
  3. 2013
    • Directors Guild Award, won · Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Movies for Television and Mini-Series
    • Producers Guild Award, won · Outstanding Producer of Long-Form Television
  4. 2012
    • Primetime Emmy, won · Outstanding Directing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Dramatic Special
    • Primetime Emmy, won · Outstanding Miniseries or Movie
  5. 2009
    • Directors Guild Award, won · Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Movies for Television/Miniseries
    • Producers Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Producer of Long-Form Television
  6. 2008
    • Primetime Emmy, won · Outstanding Directing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Dramatic Special
    • Primetime Emmy, won · Outstanding Made for Television Movie

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 Jay Roach's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 64th percentile, the median of all 28; across their 27 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 67th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

67thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 27

Approval · how many liked their films

67thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 27

Reach · how many have seen their films

97thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 27

Midcredits score across 30 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up10
  • 50th to 74th10
  • 25th to 49th8
  • Below 25th2

Shape of the crowd

18 of their 30 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved1
  • Divisive1
  • Crowd Pleaser18
  • Broadly Agreed6
  • Mixed4

Most divisive · director, producer

Coastal Elites (2020)

93rd percentile spread · 32% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · director, producer

Trumbo (2015)

Midcredits 90th · 84% liked

Reviewers score the atmosphere 63/100 and the pacing 53/100 in their films, across 25 reviewed titles. The element that speaks to their work as a director.

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 Jay Roach's work okay for kids?

Across up to 20 MovieCove titles with content scores, sex & nudity and profanity run heavier than most films and frightening / intense lighter.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore19 titles13–45 · median 36 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity20 titles19–67 · median 47 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity19 titles42–90 · median 59 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs19 titles26–62 · median 35 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense19 titles10–35 · median 25 · mildlighter than most 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 Jay Roach work with?

People who share at least 2 of Jay Roach's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Jon Poll shares the most, 12.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles