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Adam Rifkin

Adam Rifkin

Director, writer, actor and producer · Born December 31, 1966 (59) · Chicago, Illinois, USA

Adam Rifkin sometimes credited as Rif Coogan, is an American film director, producer, actor and writer. Rifkin is claimed to belong to a rare breed of film directors that transited from public access television to Hollywood. Adam Rifkin is a writer/director/producer/actor whose eclectic career ranges from broad family comedies to cult classics to dark and gritty urban dramas. Rifkin is best known in Hollywood circles for writing family-friendly comedies like Mousehunt and 2007's Underdog. Most recently Rifkin wrote, executive produced and directed all 11 episodes of Look for Showtime. Based on his award winning film of the same name, LOOK is a drama that takes the viewer into the foreboding world of hidden cameras. Armed with the knowledge that Americans are captured on surveillance cameras more than 300 times a day, the topical series, like the film, tells its story exclusively through the eyes of the security cameras, web cams, and cell phone cameras Americans live in front of everyday, bringing to light the realities of what it means to be watched in a camera consumed culture.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
December 31, 1966 (59)
From
Chicago, Illinois, USA
Works as
Director, writer, actor and producer
Titles
27 on MovieCove · 72 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 13% in 30 days

What are Adam Rifkin's films like?

Across their 26 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Self and Bonds.

Genres

Comedy13 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 18th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Action7 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 32nd percentile
: browse their Action movies
Drama3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 29th percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Documentary2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 61st percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Documentary 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
38%
Bonds
19%
Society
15%
Morality
14%
Survival
8%
Power
6%
Identity5 titles, browse their movies with this themeFame7 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception5 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship4 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose4 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds5 titles, browse their movies with this themeObsession3 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth4 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 26 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 11 · Wry 2 · Earnest 12

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

Light 15 · Serious 8 · Dark 3

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

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

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

Gentle 8 · Charged 10 · Intense 8

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

A split, not a type: Steady 11 · Shifting 10 · 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 3 · Some laughs 9 · Funny 14

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

Slow burn 11 · Even-paced 12 · Relentless 3

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

Casual 20 · Engaged 4 · Full focus 2

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

Resolved 21 · Open-ended 3 · Ambiguous 2

Roles they play

7 analyzed roles

Usually the Hero: 3 of 7 analyzed roles.

Hero
3 of 7
Herald
2 of 7
Shadow
1 of 7
Trickster
1 of 7
Show the 7 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Absurd
16
Tense
10
Thrilling
7
Melancholic
7
Joyful
7
Other
20

How their films linger

Fun15 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good12 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteCozy2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 2 with a twist

  • Happy11
  • Bittersweet7
  • Tragic1
  • Ambiguous7

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 Adam Rifkin's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 16 of their 27 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (11).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Adam Rifkin'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

72 credits, 27 with a MovieCove page; 13 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Last Train to Fortune(2025)

    Director · Producer

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • BFFs(2025)

    Producer · Writer · Actor

    Midcredits score: 5th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Airports (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2025)

    Editor

  • The Adam Rifkin Film Festival (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)

    Director

  • Fast, Cheap and Out of Sight: Making 'The Invisible Maniac' (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    Actor

  • Willy's Wonderland(2021)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • The Intervention (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    Actor

  • The Last Movie Star(2017)

    Director · Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • Director's Cut(2016)

    Director · Producer · as Adam Rifkin

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Shooting the Warwicks(2015)

    Director · Producer · Writer · as Mickey Wagner

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Giuseppe Makes a Movie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    Director · Cinematographer · Producer · Writer

  • Reality Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    Show 10 episodes · Director · Creator · Script · as Mickey Wagner

  • Chillerama(2011)

    Director · Executive Producer · Writer · as Miles Munson (segment "Wadzilla")

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • Knucklehead(2010)

    Writer

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films

  • Look: The Series (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    Show Creator

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

    Director · Writer

  • Underdog(2007)

    Novel · Screenplay · Story

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • Homo Erectus(2007)

    Director · Writer · as Ishbo

    Midcredits score: 5th percentile of all films

  • Garbanzo Gas (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    Producer

  • Zoom(2006)

    Screenplay · Screenstory

    Midcredits score: 10th percentile of all films

  • Jacuzzi Rooms (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Producer

  • Grandpa (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Producer

  • Actor (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Producer

  • Babysitter (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Producer

  • Night at the Golden Eagle(2001)

    Director · Producer · Writer · Actor

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • Without Charlie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Director · Writer · as Norman

  • Welcome to Hollywood(1998)

    Director · Writer · as Adam Rifkin

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • Detroit Rock City(1999)

    Director · as It's Raining Men Billboard Model (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Touch Me in the Morning (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Producer

  • Susan's Plan(1998)

    as Gambler #1

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • Small Soldiers(1998)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • Denial(1998)

    Director · Writer · as Reuben

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • Mousehunt(1997)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all films

  • Bone Chillers: Art Intimidates Life (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Director · Writer

  • Bone Chillers: Frankenturkey (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Director · Writer

  • Bone Chillers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Show 4 episodes · Director · Creator · Teleplay · Writer

  • The Chase(1994)

    Director · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Psycho Cop Returns (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Director · as Man with Video Camera

  • Hot Shots! Part Deux(1993)

    Makeup Effects

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • Bikini Squad(1993)

    as Singing Teacher

    Midcredits score: 2nd percentile of all films

  • The Flesh Merchant (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    as Man in Bondage Room

  • The Nutt House(1992)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 5th percentile of all films

  • Last Dance (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as Mark

  • Bikini Island (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    as Desk Boy

  • The Dark Backward(1991)

    Director · Writer · as Rufus Bing

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • Disturbed (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    as Gary

  • The Invisible Maniac(1990)

    Director · Screenplay · Story

    Midcredits score: 7th percentile of all films

  • Going Overboard(1989)

    Co-Producer · Other · as Croaker / Miss Spain

    Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all films

  • Tale of Two Sisters(1989)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all films

  • Never on Tuesday (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Director · Writer · as William (uncredited)

  • Sixteen Candles(1984)

    as Head Nerd (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • The Burglar From Out Of The Dishwasher (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Director · Cinematographer · Writer

  • A Cartoon That I Made That's Almost Totally Blurry (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Director · Camera Operator · Writer

  • A Pseudo-Intellectual Film (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Director · Camera Operator · Writer

  • Armageddon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Director · Camera Operator · Writer

  • Canned Rabbi And Other Shorts (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Director · Camera Operator · Writer

  • Cornstawker (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Director · Camera Operator · Writer

  • Lyclops (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Director · Camera Operator · Makeup Artist · Producer · Set Decoration · Sound · Special Effects · Writer

  • Monster BBQ (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Director · Camera Operator · Writer

  • Murder Can Kill You (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Director · Animation · Camera Operator · Costumer · Editor · Makeup Artist · Producer · Props · Writer · Actor

  • Oh My (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Director · Camera Operator · Writer

  • Pervis Proves His Worth (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Director · Writer

  • Pork And Beans And Other Shorts (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Director · Camera Operator · Writer

  • Shuffle Shuffle Step Step (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Director · Camera Operator · Writer

  • The Demon Dog (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Director · Camera Operator · Writer · Actor

  • The Lady Giant (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Director · Camera Operator · Producer · Writer

  • The Paperboy Crimes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Director · Camera Operator · Props · Writer

  • Toad (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Director · Producer · Screenplay

  • Untitled Atomic Bomb Frankenstein Film (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Director · Camera Operator · Writer

  • Untitled Film Ephemera Montage (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Director · Camera Operator · Writer

  • Untitled Man Goes To Work (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Director · Camera Operator · Writer

  • You Are About To Witness A Crime (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Director · Camera Operator · Writer

Career shape

A full career of 72 titles, 52 of them dated from 1975 to 2025.

Biggest box office

Mousehunt (1997)

$122M worldwide

Highest rated

I Am Burt Reynolds (2020)

Midcredits 88th

Most popular right now

Mousehunt (1997)

Film career

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting26 of 72: 9 only acting, 17 with another role · typical Midcredits score25thDirecting46 of 72: 4 only directing, 42 with another role · typical Midcredits score32ndWriting45 of 72: 5 only writing, 40 with another role · typical Midcredits score21stProducing18 of 72: 7 only producing, 11 with another role · typical Midcredits score32ndCinematography2 of 72: 0 only cinematography, 2 with another roleEditing2 of 72: 1 only editing, 1 with another roleOther crew22 of 72: 2 only other crew, 20 with another role

72 titles, 44 with more than one role — directing and writing overlap on 38 of them.

By decade

1970s1 · crew1980s4 · 3 acting · 3 crew1990s20 · 10 acting · 14 crew2000s12 · 4 acting · 12 crew2010s9 · 5 acting · 8 crew2020s6 · 2 acting · 5 crew

Billing

usually 5th · top billed in 17% of 6 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.

How do Adam Rifkin's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 29th percentile, the median of all 27; across their 26 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 28th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

28thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 26

Approval · how many liked their films

33rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 26

Reach · how many have seen their films

67thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 26

Midcredits score across 27 titles, by percentile

  • 50th to 74th6
  • 25th to 49th8
  • Below 25th13

Shape of the crowd

17 of their 27 titles are Mixed.

  • Cult Classic3
  • Crowd Pleaser6
  • Broadly Agreed1
  • Mixed17

Most divisive · actor, writer, producer

Going Overboard (1989)

85th percentile spread · 82% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor, director

Detroit Rock City (1999)

Midcredits 74th · 67% liked

Reviewers score the atmosphere 51/100 and the pacing 40/100 in their films, across 22 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 Adam Rifkin's work okay for kids?

Across up to 11 MovieCove titles with content scores, sex & nudity and profanity run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore8 titles27–74 · median 50 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity11 titles17–67 · median 43 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity8 titles26–84 · median 46 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs7 titles22–45 · median 31 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense7 titles20–52 · median 38 · moderatenear the median of all 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 Adam Rifkin work with?

People who share at least 2 of Adam Rifkin's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Brad Wyman shares the most, 8.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers and editors

Producers