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Paul Zaza

Paul Zaza

Composer, also actor · Born September 1, 1952 (74) · Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Paul Zaza is a Canadian composer and songwriter. He has collaborated frequently with director Bob Clark and fellow composer Carl Zittrer.

Biography from TMDB.

Born
September 1, 1952 (74)
From
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Works as
Composer, also actor
Titles
41 on MovieCove · 79 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 37 days to Oct 26Down 46% in 30 days

What are Paul Zaza's films like?

Across their 41 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Self.

Genres

Action11 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 14th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Comedy11 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 34th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Horror7 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 20th percentile
: browse their Horror movies
Thriller4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 10th percentile
: browse their Thriller movies
Drama3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 21st percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Crime2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 47th 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
Morality
31%
Self
25%
Bonds
19%
Survival
14%
Society
6%
Power
3%
Ideas
3%
Justice10 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds10 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival7 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity7 titles, browse their movies with this themeComing of age6 titles, browse their movies with this themeRevenge5 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship5 titles, browse their movies with this themeGuilt4 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 41 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 18 · Serious 10 · Dark 13

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

A split, not a type: Grounded 26 · Stylized 11 · Heightened 4

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

Gentle 10 · Charged 22 · Intense 9

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

Steady 15 · Shifting 21 · 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 22 · Some laughs 9 · Funny 10

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

Slow burn 11 · Even-paced 28 · Relentless 2

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

Casual 23 · Engaged 16 · Full focus 2

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

Resolved 36 · Open-ended 4 · Ambiguous 1

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
28
Dread
13
Absurd
10
Thrilling
12
Joyful
7
Other
30

How their films linger

Fun17 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good14 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling14 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 8 with a twist

  • Happy19
  • Bittersweet11
  • Tragic3
  • Ambiguous8

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 Paul Zaza's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 25 of their 41 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (17).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Paul Zaza'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

79 credits, 41 with a MovieCove page; 1 appearance as themselves is hidden until asked for.

  • Midnight Madness: The Making of Popcorn(2017)

    Composer · as Self

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • The Horrors of Hamilton High: The Making of Prom Night (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    Composer · as Self

  • The Ultimate Nightmare: The Making of Curtains (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    Actor

  • The Karate Dog(2002)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all films

  • Superbabies: Baby Geniuses 2(2003)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 10th percentile of all films

  • Fancy Dancing (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Music Arranger

  • Now & Forever (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Composer

  • The Fourth Angel(2001)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • Catch a Falling Star(2000)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Grizzly Falls(1999)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • I'll Remember April(1999)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • The Base(1999)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films

  • Baby Geniuses(1999)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 5th percentile of all films

  • In Her Defense(1999)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • Double Take (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Composer

  • A Brooklyn State of Mind(1998)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • Married to a Stranger (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Composer

  • The Rage(1997)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films

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

    Composer

  • Hit & Run(1997)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all films

  • Misbegotten(1997)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 10th percentile of all films

  • The Ex (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Composer

  • No Contest II(1996)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 8th percentile of all films

  • Salt Water Moose (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Composer

  • Iron Eagle on the Attack(1995)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 4th percentile of all films

  • Derby (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Composer

  • No Contest(1994)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films

  • My Summer Story(1994)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all films

  • The Club (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Composer

  • Cold Sweat(1993)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • Blown Away(1993)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • The American Clock (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Composer

  • To Catch a Killer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Composer

  • Liar's Edge (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Composer

  • Prom Night IV: Deliver Us from Evil(1991)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 4th percentile of all films

  • White Light (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Composer

  • Popcorn(1991)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • Flesh Gordon Meets the Cosmic Cheerleaders (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Composer

  • Prom Night III: The Last Kiss(1990)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films

  • Loose Cannons(1990)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films

  • Mob Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Composer

  • Norman's Awesome Experience (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Composer

  • Murder by Night (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Composer

  • The Brain(1988)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • Higher Education (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Composer

  • Hello Mary Lou: Prom Night II(1987)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all films

  • Blindside(1987)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 10th percentile of all films

  • Covert Action (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Composer

  • From the Hip(1987)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • The Pink Chiquitas (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Composer

  • Ford: The Man and the Machine(1987)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • Meatballs III: Summer Job(1986)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 4th percentile of all films

  • High Stakes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Music Score Producer

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

    Composer

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

    Composer

  • The Vindicator(1986)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • A Judgment in Stone(1986)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • Body Count (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Composer

  • Last Chance (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Composer

  • Breaking All the Rules(1985)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Birds of Prey (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Composer

  • Turk 182! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Composer

  • Ladybear (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Composer

  • Order to Assassinate (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Composer

  • Isaac Littlefeathers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Composer

  • A Christmas Story(1983)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • American Nightmare (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Composer · Thanks

  • Curtains(1983)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • Ghostkeeper (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Composer

  • Porky's(1981)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Being Different (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Composer

  • My Bloody Valentine(1981)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • The Kidnapping of the President(1980)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • Prom Night(1980)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • Hog Wild (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    Composer

  • Stone Cold Dead(1979)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 22nd percentile of all films

  • Title Shot (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Composer

  • Murder by Decree(1979)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • Went the night well? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Sound

Career shape

A full career of 76 titles, 75 of them dated from 1979 to 2017.

Biggest box office

Porky's (1981)

$111M worldwide

Highest rated

A Christmas Story (1983)

Midcredits 94th

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting1 of 76: 1 only acting, 0 with another roleMusic73 of 76: 72 only music, 1 with another role · typical Midcredits score20thOther crew3 of 76: 2 only other crew, 1 with another role

By decade

1970s3 · crew1980s34 · crew1990s29 · crew2000s6 · crew2010s3 · 1 acting · 2 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.

How do Paul Zaza's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 20th percentile, the median of all 41; across their 41 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 25th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

25thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 41

Approval · how many liked their films

18thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 41

Reach · how many have seen their films

58thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 41

Midcredits score across 41 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up2
  • 50th to 74th5
  • 25th to 49th8
  • Below 25th26

Shape of the crowd

29 of their 41 titles are Mixed.

  • Universally Loved1
  • Universally Panned1
  • Divisive2
  • Crowd Pleaser7
  • Broadly Agreed1
  • Mixed29

Most divisive · composer

Superbabies: Baby Geniuses 2 (2003)

99th percentile spread · 68% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · composer

A Christmas Story (1983)

Midcredits 94th · 83% liked

Reviewers score the sound and music 45/100 in their films, across 29 reviewed titles; fans 58, detractors 32. The element that speaks to their work as a composer.

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 Paul Zaza's work okay for kids?

Across up to 17 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore, sex & nudity, profanity and frightening / intense run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore11 titles40–82 · median 67 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity17 titles17–72 · median 45 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity10 titles39–66 · median 50 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs10 titles13–61 · median 39 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense9 titles21–79 · median 67 · intenseheavier 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 Paul Zaza work with?

People who share at least 2 of Paul Zaza's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Peter R. Simpson shares the most, 15.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers