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J.J. Abrams

J.J. Abrams

Producer, writer, actor and director, also composer · Born June 27, 1966 (60) · New York City, New York, USA

2 Primetime Emmys · BAFTA Award nominee · 3 other major award bodies

Jeffrey Jacob Abrams (born June 27, 1966) is an American filmmaker and composer. He is best known for his works in the genres of action, drama, and science fiction. Abrams wrote and produced films such as Regarding Henry (1991), Forever Young (1992), Armageddon (1998), Cloverfield (2008), Star Trek (2009), Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015), and Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (2019). Abrams' films have grossed over $4 billion worldwide, making him the tenth-highest-grossing film director of all time. Abrams has created numerous television series, including Felicity (co-creator, 1998–2002), Alias(creator, 2001–2006), Lost (co-creator, 2004–2010), and Fringe (co-creator, 2008–2013). He won two Emmy Awards for Lost – Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series and Outstanding Drama Series. His directorial film work includes Mission: Impossible III (2006), Star Trek (2009), Super 8(2011), and Star Trek Into Darkness (2013). He also directed, co-produced, and co-wrote The Force Awakens, the seventh episode of the Star Wars Skywalker Saga and the first film of the sequel trilogy. The film is his highest-grossing, the fifth-highest-grossing film of all time not adjusted for inflation, as well as the most expensive film ever made. He returned to Star Wars by executive producing The Last Jedi (2017) and directing and co-writing The Rise of Skywalker (2019). Abrams' frequent collaborators include producer Bryan Burk; producer/directors Damon Lindelof and Tommy Gormley; actors Greg Grunberg, Simon Pegg, Amanda Foreman, and Keri Russell; composer Michael Giacchino; writers Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci; cinematographers Daniel Mindel and Larry Fong; and editors Maryann Brandon and Mary Jo Markey. Description above from the Wikipedia article J.J. Abrams, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
June 27, 1966 (60)
From
New York City, New York, USA
Works as
Producer, writer, actor and director, also composer
Titles
73 on MovieCove · 101 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 24% in 30 days

What are J.J. Abrams' films like?

Across their 51 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Morality.

Genres

Action15 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 80th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Action movies
Documentary12 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 84th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Documentary movies
Comedy6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 41st percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Horror4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 14th percentile
: browse their Horror movies
Drama3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 68th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama 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
19%
Morality
19%
Self
18%
Ideas
15%
Survival
14%
Society
11%
Power
4%
Art8 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival9 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds10 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity6 titles, browse their movies with this themeSacrifice8 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship7 titles, browse their movies with this themeAmbition7 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity8 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 45 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 12 · Dark 7

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

A split, not a type: Grounded 27 · Stylized 10 · Heightened 8

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

A split, not a type: Gentle 15 · Charged 9 · Intense 21

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

Steady 21 · Shifting 21 · Whiplash 3

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

Straight-faced 19 · Some laughs 22 · Funny 4

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

A split, not a type: Slow burn 18 · Even-paced 13 · Relentless 14

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 20 · Engaged 17 · Full focus 8

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

Resolved 37 · Open-ended 8 · Ambiguous 0

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
23
Thrilling
21
Warm
13
Contemplative
15
Hopeful
15
Other
48

How their films linger

Hopeful22 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing13 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun13 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good11 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking11 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 10 with a twist

  • Happy17
  • Bittersweet22
  • Ambiguous12

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 J.J. Abrams' films?

As of October 24, 2026, 62 of their 73 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Paramount+ (14).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for J.J. Abrams' 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

101 credits, 73 with a MovieCove page; 44 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Oh, the Places You'll Go! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2028)

    Producer

  • Grandgear (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2028)

    Producer

  • The Great Beyond (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2027)

    Director · Composer · Producer · Screenplay

  • Skeletons (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2027)

    Producer

  • The End of Oak Street(2026)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Duster(2025)

    Show 8 episodes · Creator · Executive Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all shows

  • Beyond: UFOs and the Unknown(2024)

    Show 4 episodes · Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all shows

  • Batman: Caped Crusader(2024)

    Show 20 episodes · Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all shows

  • Charlie Hustle & the Matter of Pete Rose(2024)

    Show 4 episodes · Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all shows

  • Presumed Innocent(2024)

    Show 8 episodes · Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all shows

  • Elizabeth Taylor: The Lost Tapes(2024)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • The Blue Angels(2024)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • 815 - The Story of the Lost Pilot (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)

    Actor

  • Bupkis(2023)

    Show 1 episode · as J.J. Abrams

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all shows

  • The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse(2022)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Lou(2022)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • UFO(2021)

    Show 4 episodes · Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all shows

  • Lisey's Story(2021)

    Show 8 episodes · Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all shows

  • Challenger: The Final Flight(2020)

    Show 4 episodes · Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all shows

  • Lovecraft Country(2020)

    Show 10 episodes · Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

  • Little Voice(2020)

    Show 9 episodes · Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all shows

  • Star Wars: Episode IX - The Rise of Skywalker(2019)

    Director · Producer · Screenplay · Story · as D-O (voice)

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Men in Black: International(2019)

    as Alien on TV Monitor (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • Overlord(2018)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Monster Challenge (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    Thanks

  • Castle Rock(2018)

    Show 20 episodes · Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all shows

  • Mission: Impossible - Fallout(2018)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • A Wrinkle in Time(2018)

    Thanks

    Midcredits score: 6th percentile of all films

  • The Cloverfield Paradox(2018)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi(2017)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • The Magic History of Cinema (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    Actor

  • Tour de Pharmacy(2017)

    as J.J. Abrams

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • The Disaster Artist(2017)

    as J.J. Abrams

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • 100 Years (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    Executive Producer

  • Westworld(2016)

    Show 36 episodes · Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all shows

  • Star Trek Beyond(2016)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

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

    Show 10 episodes · Executive Producer

  • Moon Shot (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    Show 9 episodes · Producer

  • 10 Cloverfield Lane(2016)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • 11.22.63(2016)

    Show 8 episodes · Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows

  • Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens(2015)

    Director · Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation(2015)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Joy Ride 3: Road Kill(2014)

    Characters

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films

  • Believe (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    Show 13 episodes · Executive Producer

  • Infinitely Polar Bear(2014)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Star Trek Into Darkness(2013)

    Director · Producer

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Revolution(2012)

    Show 42 episodes · Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all shows

  • Alcatraz(2012)

    Show 13 episodes · Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all shows

  • Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol(2011)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • Person of Interest(2011)

    Show 103 episodes · Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all shows

  • Super 8(2011)

    Director · Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • Morning Glory(2010)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

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

    Show 11 episodes · Director · Creator · Producer · Writer

  • Catfish(2010)

    Thanks

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • Scott Pilgrim vs. the World(2010)

    Thanks

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • Lost: Epilogue - The New Man in Charge(2010)

    Writer

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • The People Speak(2009)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • Star Trek(2009)

    Director · Producer

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Joy Ride 2: Dead Ahead(2008)

    Characters

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films

  • Anatomy of Hope (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Director

  • Fringe(2008)

    Show 100 episodes · Creator · Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • Cloverfield(2008)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • We Own the Night(2007)

    Thanks

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • Six Degrees(2006)

    Show 13 episodes · Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all shows

  • Mission: Impossible III(2006)

    Director · Writer

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • What About Brian(2006)

    Show 24 episodes · Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

  • The Office(2005)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all shows

  • Lost(2004)

    Show 118 episodes · Director · Creator · Executive Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows

  • Comic Book: The Movie(2004)

    as J.J. Abrams

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • Icons(2002)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all shows (provisional, few ratings)

  • Joy Ride(2001)

    Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Alias(2001)

    Show 105 episodes · Director · Creator · Executive Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all shows

  • The Suburbans(1999)

    Producer · as Rock Journalist

    Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all films

  • Family Guy(1999)

    Show 1 episode · as J.J. Abrams (voice)

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all shows

  • Felicity(1998)

    Show 84 episodes · Director · Creator · Executive Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all shows

  • Armageddon(1998)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Gone Fishin'(1997)

    Writer

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • The Pallbearer(1996)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • Diabolique(1996)

    as Video Photographer #2

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • Future Shock(1994)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 6th percentile of all films

  • Six Degrees of Separation(1993)

    as Doug

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Forever Young(1992)

    Executive Producer · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • Mr. Petrified Forrest (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Composer

  • Regarding Henry(1991)

    Co-Producer · Writer · as Delivery Boy

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Taking Care of Business(1990)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • The Simpsons(1989)

    Show 1 episode · as J.J. Abrams (voice)

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • Nightbeast(1982)

    Composer · Sound Effects

    Midcredits score: 8th percentile of all films

  • A Woman of No Importance (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Producer

  • Emily the Strange (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Producer

  • Hot Wheels (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Producer

  • Kolma (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Producer

  • Tab & Tony (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Producer

  • The Catch (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Show Creator

  • The Heavy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Producer

  • The Yankees Win (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Show 1 episode · Executive Producer

  • Untitled Cloverfield Sequel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Writer

  • Untitled J.J. Abrams Film (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Director

  • Untitled Star Trek Origin Story Film (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Producer

  • Wunderkind (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Producer

  • Your Name (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Producer

  • Zanbato (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Producer

Career shape

A full career of 100 titles, 82 of them dated from 1982 to 2026.

Biggest box office

Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens (2015)

$2.1B worldwide

Highest rated

Music by John Williams (2024)

Midcredits 99th

Most popular right now

The End of Oak Street (2026)

Film career

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting15 of 100: 12 only acting, 3 with another role · typical Midcredits score68thDirecting14 of 100: 3 only directing, 11 with another role · typical Midcredits score86thWriting20 of 100: 6 only writing, 14 with another role · typical Midcredits score67thProducing69 of 100: 53 only producing, 16 with another role · typical Midcredits score71stMusic4 of 100: 2 only music, 2 with another roleOther crew13 of 100: 6 only other crew, 7 with another role · typical Midcredits score73rd

100 titles, 18 with more than one role — producing and writing overlap on 13 of them.

By decade

1980s2 · 1 acting · 1 crew1990s13 · 5 acting · 10 crew2000s16 · 2 acting · 14 crew2010s34 · 5 acting · 30 crew2020s17 · 2 acting · 15 crew

Billing

usually 15th · top billed in 0% of 7 roles

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.

Awards

2 Primetime Emmys and 3 other major awards from 22 major nominations, 2002–2021.

WinNomination
  1. 2021
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Drama Series
  2. 2018
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Drama Series
  3. 2017
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Drama Series
    • +1 other major body · 1 nomination
      • Producers Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Producer of Episodic Television, Drama
  4. 2013
    • Producers Guild Award, won
  5. 2010
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Drama Series
    • +1 other major body · 1 nomination
      • Producers Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Producer of Theatrical Motion Pictures
  6. 2009
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Drama Series
    • +1 other major body · 2 nominations
      • Writers Guild Award, nominated · Long Form - Original
      • Writers Guild Award, nominated · New Series
  7. 2008
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Drama Series
  8. 2007
    • BAFTA Award, nominated · Best International
    • +2 other major bodies · 2 nominations
      • Writers Guild Award, nominated · Dramatic Series
      • Producers Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Producer of Episodic Television, Drama
Show 4 earlier years
  1. 2006
    • Writers Guild Award, won · Dramatic Series
    • Producers Guild Award, won · Outstanding Producer of Episodic Television, Drama
  2. 2005
    • Primetime Emmy, won · Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series
    • Primetime Emmy, won · Outstanding Drama Series
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series
    • +1 other major body · 1 nomination
      • Directors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Dramatic Series - Night
  3. 2004
    • Producers Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Producer of Episodic Television, Drama
  4. 2002
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series

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 J.J. Abrams' films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 71st percentile, the median of all 46; across their 45 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 75th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

75thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 45

Approval · how many liked their films

79thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 45

Reach · how many have seen their films

88thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 45

Midcredits score across 73 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up34
  • 50th to 74th19
  • 25th to 49th10
  • Below 25th10

Shape of the crowd

33 of their 73 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved16
  • Universally Panned2
  • Loved with Detractors1
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser33
  • Broadly Agreed4
  • Mixed16

Most divisive · producer

The People Speak (2009)

92nd percentile spread · 17% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · director

The Office (2005)

Midcredits 99th · 93% liked

Reviewers score the dialogue 50/100 and the plot and story 40/100 in their films, across 39 reviewed titles. The element that speaks to their work as a writer.

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 J.J. Abrams' work okay for kids?

Across up to 30 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore, profanity and frightening / intense run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore27 titles37–83 · median 64 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity30 titles6–54 · median 31 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity25 titles30–74 · median 49 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs25 titles10–39 · median 31 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense24 titles26–86 · median 61 · 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 J.J. Abrams work with?

People who share at least 2 of J.J. Abrams' MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Bryan Burk shares the most, 13.

Directors

Writers

Actors

  • Simon Pegg7 titles    See all 7 shared titles with Simon Pegg
  • Harrison Ford5 titles    See all 5 shared titles with Harrison Ford
  • John Boyega5 titles    See all 5 shared titles with John Boyega
  • Mark Hamill5 titles    See all 5 shared titles with Mark Hamill

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles