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Paul Dano

Paul Dano

Actor, also producer, director and writer · Born June 19, 1984 (42) · New York City, New York, USA

Screen Actors Guild Award winner · Primetime Emmy nominee · Golden Globe nominee · 5 other major award bodies

Paul Franklin Dano (born June 19, 1984) is an American actor. He began his career on Broadway before making his film debut in The Newcomers (2000). He won the Independent Spirit Award for Best Debut Performance for his role in L.I.E. (2001) and received accolades for his role as Dwayne Hoover in Little Miss Sunshine (2006). For his dual roles as Paul and Eli Sunday in Paul Thomas Anderson's There Will Be Blood (2007), he was nominated for the BAFTA Award for Best Supporting Actor. Dano has also received accolades for roles such as John Tibeats in Steve McQueen's 12 Years a Slave (2013) and Alex Jones in Denis Villeneuve's Prisoners (2013). His acting portrayal of musician Brian Wilson in Love & Mercy (2014) earned him a Golden Globe nomination in the category of Best Supporting Actor. Dano made his directorial debut with the drama film Wildlife (2018), based on the novel by Richard Ford. He co-wrote the screenplay with his partner Zoe Kazan. In 2018, he starred in the Showtime miniseries Escape at Dannemora, for which he received a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie. In 2022, he played Edward Nashton / The Riddler in The Batman.

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
June 19, 1984 (42)
From
New York City, New York, USA
Works as
Actor, also producer, director and writer
Titles
49 on MovieCove · 57 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 26

What are Paul Dano's films like?

Across their 45 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Self.

Genres

Drama12 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 57th percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Comedy9 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 68th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Action5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 90th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Action movies
Biography5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 94th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Biography movies
Crime4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 67th percentile
: browse their Crime movies
Adventure3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 70th percentile
: 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
Bonds
27%
Self
26%
Morality
17%
Power
8%
Survival
8%
Society
8%
Ideas
6%
Family bonds16 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity10 titles, browse their movies with this themeComing of age7 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose7 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love5 titles, browse their movies with this themeRedemption6 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival5 titles, browse their movies with this themeMarriage4 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 12 · Serious 8 · Dark 21

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

A split, not a type: Grounded 20 · Stylized 16 · Heightened 5

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

Gentle 8 · Charged 19 · Intense 14

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

Steady 16 · Shifting 21 · Whiplash 4

Straight-faced: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their straight-faced movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 27 · Some laughs 10 · 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 25 · Even-paced 16 · Relentless 0

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

Casual 13 · Engaged 21 · Full focus 7

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 9 · Affecting 13 · Heavy 19

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

Resolved 15 · Open-ended 15 · Ambiguous 11

Roles they play

28 analyzed roles

Usually the Hero: 12 of 28 analyzed roles.

Hero
12 of 28
Ally
4 of 28
Shadow
3 of 28
Threshold guardian
3 of 28
Mentor
3 of 28
Shapeshifter
2 of 28
Trickster
1 of 28
Show the 28 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
29
Melancholic
24
Contemplative
16
Dread
8
Bittersweet
9
Other
37

How their films linger

Thought-provoking20 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet20 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful16 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 6 with a twist

  • Happy7
  • Bittersweet23
  • Tragic1
  • Ambiguous14

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 Dano's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 37 of their 49 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (12).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Paul Dano'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

57 credits, 49 with a MovieCove page; 17 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

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

    Actor

  • Bunker(2026)

    as Andrew

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • Sia: Nostalgic for The Present(2026)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • The Wizard of the Kremlin(2025)

    as Vadim Baranov

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • The Studio(2025)

    Show 1 episode · as Paul Dano

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • The Apprentice(2024)

    Thanks

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • Fantasmas(2024)

    Show 1 episode · as Jeff

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all shows

  • Spaceman(2024)

    as Hanuš (voice)

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • Mr. & Mrs. Smith(2024)

    Show 3 episodes · as Hot Neighbor

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all shows

  • Dumb Money(2023)

    as Keith Gill

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • The Fabelmans(2022)

    as Burt Fabelman

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Pantheon(2022)

    Show 16 episodes · as Caspian Keyes (voice)

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • The Batman(2022)

    as The Riddler

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • The Guilty(2021)

    as Matthew Fontenot (voice)

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • The Great Work Begins: Scenes from Angels in America (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    as Prior Walter

  • Escape at Dannemora(2018)

    Show 7 episodes · as David Sweat

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all shows

  • Wildlife(2018)

    Director · Producer · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • Okja(2017)

    as Jay

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Swiss Army Man(2016)

    as Hank

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • War & Peace(2016)

    Show 6 episodes · as Pierre Bezukhov

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows

  • Love & Mercy(2014)

    as Brian Wilson 1960s

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Youth(2015)

    as Jimmy Tree

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • 12 Years a Slave(2013)

    as John Tibeats

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Prisoners(2013)

    as Alex Jones

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Looper(2012)

    as Seth

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • Ruby Sparks(2012)

    Executive Producer · as Calvin

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • Being Flynn(2012)

    as Nick Flynn

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • For Ellen(2012)

    Executive Producer · as Joby Taylor

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Flatscreen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    as Paul

  • Cowboys & Aliens(2011)

    as Percy Dolarhyde

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Meek's Cutoff(2010)

    as Thomas Gately

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • The Extra Man(2010)

    as Louis Ives

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • Knight and Day(2010)

    as Simon Feck

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Where the Wild Things Are(2009)

    as Alexander (voice)

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • The Good Heart(2009)

    as Lucas

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Taking Woodstock(2009)

    as VW Guy

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • Gigantic(2008)

    Executive Producer · as Brian

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Light and the Sufferer(2007)

    as Don (AKA: Light)

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • Explicit Ills(2008)

    as Rocco

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • There Will Be Blood(2007)

    as Paul Sunday / Eli Sunday

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Weapons (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    as Chris

  • Fast Food Nation(2006)

    as Brian

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Little Miss Sunshine(2006)

    as Dwayne Hoover

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • The King(2005)

    as Paul

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • The Ballad of Jack and Rose(2005)

    as Thaddius

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • The Girl Next Door(2004)

    as Klitz

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Taking Lives(2004)

    as Young Asher

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • The Emperor's Club(2002)

    as Martin Blythe

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • Too Young to Be a Dad(2002)

    as Matt Freeman

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • L.I.E.(2001)

    as Howie Blitzer

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • The Newcomers(2000)

    as Joel

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films

  • The Sopranos(1999)

    Show 2 episodes · as Patrick Whaley

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all shows

  • Smart Guy(1997)

    Show 1 episode · as Nicholas

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all shows

  • Sensei Rainbow and the Dojo Kids (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Show 1 episode · as Paul

  • The Chaperones (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Actor

  • Untitled Paul Dano Comedy Film (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Director · Producer · Writer

  • Vegas: A Love Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    as Ryder

Career shape

Star power in the 99th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 57 titles, 51 of them dated from 1997 to 2026; peak year 2012.

Biggest box office

The Batman (2022)

$773M worldwide

Highest rated

Prisoners (2013)

Midcredits 99th

Most popular right now

The Batman (2022)

Film career

MilestoneAward winNomination
19972026

Peak 2012 · their film career is on the way up. Top draw in 21 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 3 more milestones

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting54 of 57: 51 only acting, 3 with another role · typical Midcredits score70thDirecting2 of 57: 0 only directing, 2 with another roleWriting2 of 57: 0 only writing, 2 with another roleProducing5 of 57: 0 only producing, 5 with another roleOther crew1 of 57: 1 only other crew, 0 with another role

57 titles, 5 with more than one role — acting and producing overlap on 3 of them.

By decade

1990s2 · acting2000s18 · 18 acting · 1 crew2010s18 · 17 acting · 3 crew2020s13 · 12 acting · 1 crew

Billing

usually 4th · top billed in 21% of 33 roles
01061116

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

a Screen Actors Guild Award and 2 other major awards from 18 major nominations, 2002–2024.

WinNomination
  1. 2024
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series
  2. 2023
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role
    • +1 other major body · 1 nomination
      • Critics Choice Award, nominated · Best Supporting Actor
  3. 2019
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie
    • +2 other major bodies · 2 nominations
      • Critics Choice Award, nominated · Best Actor in a Movie Made for Television or Limited Series
      • Independent Spirit Award, nominated · Best First Feature
  4. 2018
    • Cannes award, nominated
    • Sundance award, nominated · Dramatic
  5. 2016
    • Golden Globe, nominated · Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
    • +2 other major bodies · 2 nominations
      • Critics Choice Award, nominated · Best Supporting Actor
      • Independent Spirit Award, nominated · Best Supporting Male
  6. 2014
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
  7. 2008
    • BAFTA Award, nominated · Best Supporting Actor
  8. 2007
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, won · Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
    • +2 other major bodies · 1 win and 1 nomination
      • Critics Choice Award, won · Best Young Actor
      • Independent Spirit Award, nominated · Best Supporting Male
Show 1 earlier year
  1. 2002
    • Independent Spirit Award, won · Best Debut Performance

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 Paul Dano's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 68th percentile, the median of all 41; across their 41 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 63rd percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

63rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 41

Approval · how many liked their films

68thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 41

Reach · how many have seen their films

95thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 41

Midcredits score across 49 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up22
  • 50th to 74th14
  • 25th to 49th11
  • Below 25th2

Shape of the crowd

25 of their 49 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved7
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser25
  • Broadly Agreed3
  • Mixed13

Most divisive · actor

Light and the Sufferer (2007)

86th percentile spread · 46% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Prisoners (2013)

Midcredits 99th · 94% liked

Reviewers score the acting 77/100 in their films, across 38 reviewed titles; fans 84, detractors 53. 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 Paul Dano's work okay for kids?

Across up to 30 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 & Gore25 titles11–85 · median 58 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity30 titles7–67 · median 43 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity26 titles31–83 · median 58 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs25 titles14–56 · median 39 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense27 titles26–83 · median 58 · moderateheavier 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 Dano work with?

People who share at least 2 of Paul Dano's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Ethan Hawke shares the most, 4.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles