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Joseph Cross

Joseph Cross

Actor, also producer and director · Born May 28, 1986 (40) · New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA

Joseph Michael Cross (born May 28, 1986) is an American actor and producer. He began work as a child actor, starring in the 1998 films Desperate Measures, Wide Awake, and Jack Frost. He won the Satellite Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture for Running with Scissors (2006), and co-starred in Flags of Our Fathers (2006), Untraceable (2008), Milk (2008), and Lincoln (2012). From 1999 to 2004, Cross starred as Casey Hughes in the CBS soap opera As the World Turns. In 2017, he appeared in the HBO limited series Big Little Lies and the Netflix crime drama series Mindhunter.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
May 28, 1986 (40)
From
New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA
Works as
Actor, also producer and director
Titles
37 on MovieCove · 44 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 26Up 12% in 30 days

What are Joseph Cross' films like?

Across their 21 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Self and Bonds.

Genres

Comedy11 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 28th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Biography3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 75th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Biography movies
Action2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 49th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Crime2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 45th percentile
: 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
Self
34%
Bonds
26%
Society
12%
Survival
11%
Morality
7%
Ideas
5%
Power
5%
Family bonds9 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity6 titles, browse their movies with this themeComing of age4 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth3 titles, browse their movies with this themeAmbition3 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity2 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love2 titles, browse their movies with this themeGrief2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 21 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 7 · Serious 5 · Dark 9

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

A split, not a type: Grounded 14 · Stylized 4 · Heightened 3

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

Gentle 7 · Charged 10 · Intense 4

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

Steady 6 · Shifting 14 · Whiplash 1

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

Straight-faced 8 · Some laughs 11 · Funny 2

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

Slow burn 10 · Even-paced 10 · Relentless 1

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

Casual 7 · Engaged 10 · Full focus 4

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

A split, not a type: Easy watch 8 · Affecting 6 · Heavy 7

Open-ended: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their open-ended movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

A split, not a type: Resolved 10 · Open-ended 7 · Ambiguous 4

Roles they play

16 analyzed roles

Usually the Hero: 10 of 16 analyzed roles.

Hero
10 of 16
Shadow
2 of 16
Ally
2 of 16
Herald
1 of 16
Shapeshifter
1 of 16
Show the 16 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
13
Melancholic
10
Bittersweet
6
Contemplative
7
Absurd
5
Other
17

How their films linger

Bittersweet9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 2 with a twist

  • Happy2
  • Bittersweet11
  • Tragic2
  • Ambiguous6

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 Joseph Cross' films?

As of October 24, 2026, 28 of their 37 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (10).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Joseph Cross' 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

44 credits, 37 with a MovieCove page; 2 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • O Horizon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2026)

    Producer

  • Affection(2025)

    as Bruce Carter

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • The Last Thing He Told Me(2023)

    Show 1 episode · as Young Frank

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all shows

  • Devotion(2022)

    as Charlie Ward

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • Licorice Pizza(2021)

    as Matthew

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • Mank(2020)

    as Charles Lederer

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • Summer Night(2019)

    Director · Producer

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films

  • Medal of Honor(2018)

    Show 1 episode · as Sylvester Antolak

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all shows

  • Mindhunter(2017)

    Show 2 episodes · as Benjamin Barnwright

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all shows

  • Everything Beautiful Is Far Away(2017)

    as Lernert

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Tilt(2017)

    as Joseph Burns

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • Big Little Lies(2017)

    Show 3 episodes · as Tom

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all shows

  • The Automatic Hate(2015)

    as Davis Green

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • The Last Film Festival(2016)

    as Agent Aaron Samuels

    Midcredits score: 6th percentile of all films

  • Last Weekend(2014)

    as Roger Green

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • Jimmy P: Psychotherapy of a Plains Indian(2013)

    as Dr. Holt

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Mine Games (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    as Michael

  • Lincoln(2012)

    as John Hay

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Art Machine(2012)

    as Declan

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • Elementary(2012)

    Show 1 episode · as Petros Franken

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all shows

  • Citizen Gangster(2011)

    as Val Kozak

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • Born to Race(2011)

    as Danny Krueger

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all films

  • Son of Morning(2011)

    Co-Producer · as Philip Katz

    Midcredits score: 2nd percentile of all films

  • Falling Up(2009)

    as Henry O'Shea

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all films

  • Milk(2008)

    as Dick Pabich

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Untraceable(2008)

    as Owen Reilly

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • Running with Scissors(2006)

    as Augusten Burroughs

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Flags of Our Fathers(2006)

    as Franklin Sousley

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all films

  • Strangers with Candy(2005)

    as Derrick Blank

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Criminal Minds(2005)

    Show 1 episode · as Marvin Bancroft

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all shows

  • The O'Keefes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Show 8 episodes · Actor

  • Smallville(2001)

    Show 1 episode · as Jordan Cross

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all shows

  • The Spring (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    as Nick Conway

  • Third Watch(1999)

    Show 2 episodes · as Eric Beckman

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all shows

  • Law & Order: Special Victims Unit(1999)

    Show 1 episode · as Adam Nesbit · as Martin Parish

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • Saint Maybe(1998)

    as Thomas 10 Years

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • Jack Frost(1998)

    as Charlie Frost

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Northern Lights (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    as Jack

  • Wide Awake(1998)

    as Joshua Beal

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Desperate Measures(1998)

    as Matthew Conner

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • Touched by an Angel(1994)

    Show 1 episode · as Petey Carmichael

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all shows

  • Law & Order(1990)

    Show 1 episode · as Will Shea

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all shows

  • Hallmark Hall of Fame (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    Show 1 episode · as Thomas, 10 years

  • Stay at Conder Beach (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    as Jordan

Career shape

Star power in the 98th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 43 titles, 42 of them dated from 1951 to 2026; peak year 2007.

Biggest box office

Milk (2008)

$55M worldwide

Highest rated

Milk (2008)

Midcredits 94th

Most popular right now

Untraceable (2008)

Film career

19512026

Peak 2007 · back in prominent film roles after a quiet stretch. Top draw in 9 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.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting41 of 43: 40 only acting, 1 with another role · typical Midcredits score52ndDirecting1 of 43: 1 only directing, 0 with another roleProducing2 of 43: 1 only producing, 1 with another role

By decade

1950s1 · acting1990s9 · acting2000s10 · acting2010s16 · 15 acting · 2 crew2020s6 · 5 acting · 1 crew

Billing

usually 4th · top billed in 20% of 20 roles
980813

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.

How do Joseph Cross' films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 46th percentile, the median of all 26; across their 21 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 44th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

44thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 21

Approval · how many liked their films

42ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 21

Reach · how many have seen their films

78thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 21

Midcredits score across 37 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up14
  • 50th to 74th5
  • 25th to 49th12
  • Below 25th6

Shape of the crowd

11 of their 37 titles are Mixed.

  • Universally Loved7
  • Divisive1
  • Cult Classic2
  • Crowd Pleaser10
  • Broadly Agreed6
  • Mixed11

Most divisive · actor

The Last Film Festival (2016)

91st percentile spread · 59% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Big Little Lies (2017)

Midcredits 97th · 94% liked

Reviewers score the acting 70/100 in their films, across 20 reviewed titles; fans 79, detractors 47. 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 Joseph Cross' work okay for kids?

Across up to 6 MovieCove titles with content scores, profanity runs heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore4 titlesmedian 37 · moderateMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity6 titles19–50 · median 34 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity5 titles31–66 · median 58 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs4 titlesmedian 33 · mildMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense4 titlesmedian 48 · moderateMedian 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 Joseph Cross work with?

People who share at least 2 of Joseph Cross' MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Brian Cox shares the most, 3.

Actors

Editors