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Deran Sarafian

Deran Sarafian

Director, also producer, actor and writer · Born January 17, 1958 (68) · Los Angeles, California, USA

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Deran Sarafian (born January 17, 1968) is an Armenian-American actor, film and television director. Sarafian has directed several episodes of the FOX series House and was made a co-executive producer of the show for the 2007/08 season. He also directed a Season 2 Lost episode, titled "?", and has directed for CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, CSI: Miami, CSI: NY, Cold Case, The District, Without a Trace, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, The Cape, Nash Bridges, and Fringe. Sarafian is the son of film director, Richard C. Sarafian and the brother of Tedi Sarafian, Damon B. Sarafian, and Richard Sarafian, Jr. Sarafian is also the nephew of director Robert Altman. Sarafian is married to actress Laurie Fortier, with whom he has two children.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
January 17, 1958 (68)
From
Los Angeles, California, USA
Works as
Director, also producer, actor and writer
Titles
41 on MovieCove · 60 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Official site (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 155 days to Oct 26Down 35% in 30 days

What are Deran Sarafian's films like?

Across their 10 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Survival and Morality.

Themes

share of theme weight
Survival
43%
Morality
23%
Bonds
21%
Power
6%
Ideas
3%
Society
3%
Self
2%
Survival5 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice3 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship2 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds2 titles, browse their movies with this themeViolence2 titles, browse their movies with this themeGreed2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 8 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 4 · Serious 2 · Dark 2

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

Grounded 2 · Stylized 6 · Heightened 0

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

A split, not a type: Gentle 1 · Charged 3 · Intense 4

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

Steady 1 · Shifting 6 · Whiplash 1

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

Straight-faced 3 · Some laughs 4 · Funny 1

Relentless: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their relentless movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 1 · Even-paced 1 · Relentless 6

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

Casual 3 · Engaged 5 · Full focus 0

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

Resolved 6 · Open-ended 1 · Ambiguous 1

Roles they play

1 analyzed role

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Thrilling
6
Tense
4
Absurd
4
Dread
2
Hopeful
2
Other
6

How their films linger

Fun5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteCathartic2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 1 with a twist

  • Happy6
  • Bittersweet3
  • Ambiguous1

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 Deran Sarafian's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 29 of their 41 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Prime Video (14).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Deran Sarafian'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

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

  • Alex/October(2022)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • FBI: Most Wanted(2020)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all shows

  • Swamp Thing(2019)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all shows

  • Project Blue Book(2019)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all shows

  • The Gifted(2017)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all shows

  • Wisdom of the Crowd(2017)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all shows

  • The Exorcist(2016)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all shows

  • Game of Silence(2016)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all shows

  • Colony(2016)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all shows

  • Rosewood(2015)

    Show 4 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all shows

  • The Returned(2015)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all shows

  • Legends(2014)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all shows

  • Rush(2014)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all shows

  • The Strain(2014)

    Show 3 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all shows

  • Star-Crossed(2014)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all shows

  • Hemlock Grove(2013)

    Show 13 episodes · Director · Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all shows

  • Perception(2012)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all shows

  • Hell on Wheels(2011)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all shows

  • The Cape(2011)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 10th percentile of all shows

  • Blue Bloods(2010)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all shows

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

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Nikita(2010)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all shows

  • Scoundrels(2010)

    Show Director

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all shows

  • The Forgotten (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

  • Fringe(2008)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • In Plain Sight(2008)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all shows

  • K-Ville (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Justice (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Night Stalker(2005)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all shows

  • E-Ring (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • House(2004)

    Show 40 episodes · Director · Co-Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all shows

  • CSI: NY(2004)

    Show 5 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

  • Lost(2004)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows

  • Cold Case (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Threat Matrix (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Without a Trace(2002)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

  • CSI: Miami(2002)

    Show 8 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all shows

  • The Twilight Zone (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Trapped (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Director

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

    Show 3 episodes · Director

  • CSI: Crime Scene Investigation(2000)

    Show 3 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all shows

  • Secret Agent Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Road Rage (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Director

  • Cupid (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Fantasy Island (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

  • Martial Law (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Show 44 episodes · Director · Producer

  • V.I.P. (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Buffy the Vampire Slayer(1997)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • Nash Bridges(1996)

    Show 3 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all shows

  • Terminal Velocity(1994)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • The Road Killers(1994)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • Creatures from the Abyss (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    as Scientist

  • Gunmen(1993)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • Back in the U.S.S.R.(1992)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 8th percentile of all films

  • Death Warrant(1990)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all films

  • To Die For (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Director

  • Zombie 3(1988)

    as Kenny

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • Interzone(1989)

    Director · Screenplay · as (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 7th percentile of all films

  • The Falling (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Director · Producer · Screenplay

  • 10 to Midnight(1983)

    as Dale Anders

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

Career shape

A full career of 59 titles from 1983 to 2022.

Biggest box office

Death Warrant (1990)

$17M worldwide

Highest rated

The Returned (2015)

Midcredits 49th

Film career

  • 1983Screen debut· 10 to Midnight
  • 1988First top-billed film· Zombie Flesh Eaters 2

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting4 of 59: 3 only acting, 1 with another roleDirecting55 of 59: 50 only directing, 5 with another role · typical Midcredits score57thWriting2 of 59: 0 only writing, 2 with another roleProducing5 of 59: 1 only producing, 4 with another role

59 titles, 5 with more than one role — directing and producing overlap on 4 of them.

By decade

1980s5 · 3 acting · 3 crew1990s13 · 1 acting · 12 crew2000s19 · crew2010s20 · crew2020s2 · 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 Deran Sarafian's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 20th percentile, the median of all 9; across their 8 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 27th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

27thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 8

Approval · how many liked their films

15thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 8

Reach · how many have seen their films

60thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 8

Midcredits score across 41 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up11
  • 50th to 74th12
  • 25th to 49th9
  • Below 25th9

Shape of the crowd

23 of their 41 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved5
  • Cult Classic2
  • Crowd Pleaser23
  • Broadly Agreed2
  • Mixed9

Most divisive · producer

Alex/October (2022)

88th percentile spread · 30% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · director, producer

House (2004)

Midcredits 99th · 94% liked

Reviewers score the atmosphere 56/100 and the pacing 56/100 in their films, across 8 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 Deran Sarafian's work okay for kids?

Across a limited sample of up to 4 MovieCove titles with content scores.

Their medianMedian of all films
Sex & Nudity4 titlesmedian 22 · mildMedian of all films: 32

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted.

Who does Deran Sarafian work with?

People who share at least 2 of Deran Sarafian's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Claudio Fragasso shares the most, 2.

Writers

Actors

Composers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles