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J. Michael Straczynski

J. Michael Straczynski

Writer and producer, also actor · Born July 17, 1954 (72) · Paterson, New Jersey, USA

BAFTA Award nominee · 2 other major award bodies

Joseph Michael Straczynski (/strəˈzɪnski/; born July 17, 1954) is an American filmmaker and comic book writer. He is the founder of Synthetic Worlds Ltd. and Studio JMS and is known as the creator of the science fiction television series Babylon 5 (1993–1998) and its spinoff Crusade (1999), as well as the series Jeremiah (2002–2004) and Sense8 (2015–2018). He is the executor of the estate of Harlan Ellison. Straczynski wrote the psychological drama film Changeling (2008) and was a co-writer on the martial arts thriller Ninja Assassin (2009); he was one of the key writers for (and had a cameo in) Marvel's Thor (2011), as well as the horror film Underworld: Awakening (2012) and the apocalyptic horror film World War Z (2013). From 2001 to 2007, Straczynski wrote Marvel Comics' The Amazing Spider-Man, followed by runs on Thor and Fantastic Four. He is the author of the Superman: Earth One trilogy of graphic novels, and he has written Superman, Wonder Woman, and Before Watchmen for DC Comics. Straczynski is the creator and writer of several original comic book series such as Rising Stars, Midnight Nation, Dream Police, and Ten Grand through Joe's Comics. A prolific writer across a variety of media and a former journalist, Straczynski is the author of the autobiography Becoming Superman (2019) for HarperVoyager, the novel Together We Will Go (2021) for Simon & Schuster, and Becoming a Writer, Staying a Writer (2021) for Benbella Books. In 2020 he was named Head of the Creative Council for the comics publishing company Artists, Writers, and Artisans. Straczynski is a long-time participant in Usenet and other early computer networks, interacting with fans through various online forums (including GEnie, CompuServe, and America Online) since 1984. He is credited as being the first TV producer to directly engage with fans on the Internet and to allow viewer viewpoints to influence the look and feel of his show (see Babylon 5's use of the Internet). Two prominent areas where he had a presence were GEnie and the newsgroup rec.arts.sf.tv.babylon5.moderated. Description above from the Wikipedia article J. Michael Straczynski, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
July 17, 1954 (72)
From
Paterson, New Jersey, USA
Works as
Writer and producer, also actor
Titles
29 on MovieCove · 42 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 63 days to Oct 26Up 35% in 30 days

What are J. Michael Straczynski's films like?

Across their 20 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Bonds.

Genres

Action7 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 62nd percentile
: browse their Action movies
Animation4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 78th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Animation movies
Documentary2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 65th percentile
: 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
Morality
24%
Bonds
17%
Survival
15%
Self
15%
Ideas
12%
Society
11%
Power
6%
Justice6 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds5 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival4 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity5 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity4 titles, browse their movies with this themeFreedom3 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose3 titles, browse their movies with this themeArt2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 15 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 4 · Stylized 9 · Heightened 2

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

A split, not a type: Gentle 3 · Charged 5 · Intense 7

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

A split, not a type: Steady 7 · Shifting 8 · Whiplash 0

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

Straight-faced 12 · Some laughs 3 · Funny 0

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

Slow burn 3 · Even-paced 10 · Relentless 2

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

Casual 2 · Engaged 11 · Full focus 2

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 6 · Affecting 5 · Heavy 4

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

Resolved 12 · Open-ended 2 · 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

Tense
14
Thrilling
6
Contemplative
7
Warm
5
Hopeful
5
Other
14

How their films linger

Hopeful7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 2 with a twist

  • Happy9
  • Bittersweet7
  • Ambiguous2
  • Cyclical2

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. Michael Straczynski's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 14 of their 29 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on The Roku Channel (6).

Subscription and free streaming for J. Michael Straczynski'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

42 credits, 29 with a MovieCove page; 4 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Spider-Man: Brand New Day(2026)

    Thanks

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Watchmen: Chapter II(2024)

    Adaptation

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • Watchmen: Chapter I(2024)

    Adaptation

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • Babylon 5: The Road Home(2023)

    Executive Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • Thor: Love and Thunder(2022)

    Thanks

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Spider-Man: No Way Home(2021)

    Thanks

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • Loki(2021)

    Show 5 episodes · Thanks

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows

  • She-Ra and the Princesses of Power(2018)

    Show 52 episodes · Original Series Creator

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all shows

  • Sense8(2015)

    Show 24 episodes · Creator · Executive Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows

  • World War Z(2013)

    Screenstory

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Underworld: Awakening(2012)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Thor(2011)

    Story · as Townie

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Ninja Assassin(2009)

    Writer

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Changeling(2008)

    Writer

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • Babylon 5: The Lost Tales - Voices in the Dark (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    Director · Creator · Executive Producer · Series Writer · Writer

  • Babylon 5: The Legend of the Rangers: To Live and Die in Starlight(2002)

    Creator · Executive Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • Jeremiah(2002)

    Show 19 episodes · Creator · Writer

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all shows

  • Murder, She Wrote: A Story to Die For(2000)

    Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all films

  • Crusade(1999)

    Show 13 episodes · Creator · Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all shows

  • Babylon 5: A Call to Arms(1999)

    Executive Producer · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • Babylon 5: The River of Souls(1998)

    Executive Producer · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • Babylon 5: Thirdspace(1998)

    Executive Producer · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • Babylon 5: In the Beginning(1998)

    Executive Producer · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • Babylon 5(1993)

    Show 110 episodes · Director · Creator · Producer · Writer · as Maintenance Worker

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • Babylon 5: The Gathering (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Executive Producer · Screenplay

  • Walker, Texas Ranger(1993)

    Show 1 episode · Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all shows

  • The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Teleplay

  • Jake and the Fatman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Show 5 episodes · Writer

  • Spiral Zone (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Show 1 episode · Writer

  • Captain Power and the Soldiers of the Future (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Show 10 episodes · Writer

  • The Real Ghostbusters(1986)

    Show 22 episodes · Writer

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all shows

  • The Twilight Zone (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 11 episodes · Story · Writer

  • She-Ra: Princess of Power(1985)

    Show 7 episodes · Story · Teleplay · Writer

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all shows

  • Jayce and the Wheeled Warriors (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show Creator

  • CBS Storybreak (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 1 episode · Teleplay

  • He-Man and She-Ra: A Christmas Special(1985)

    Writer

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all films

  • Murder, She Wrote(1984)

    Show 7 episodes · Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all shows

  • He-Man and the Masters of the Universe(1983)

    Show 11 episodes · Writer

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all shows

  • Happy F*cking New Year. (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Writer

  • Liminal (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Executive Producer · Graphic Novel

  • One Second After (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Writer

  • Shadowman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Executive Producer · Writer

Career shape

A full career of 41 titles, 37 of them dated from 1983 to 2026.

Biggest box office

Underworld: Awakening (2012)

$160M worldwide

Highest rated

Changeling (2008)

Midcredits 95th

Most popular right now

Murder, She Wrote (1984)

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting2 of 41: 0 only acting, 2 with another roleDirecting2 of 41: 0 only directing, 2 with another roleWriting36 of 41: 20 only writing, 16 with another role · typical Midcredits score74thProducing14 of 41: 0 only producing, 14 with another role · typical Midcredits score78thOther crew11 of 41: 5 only other crew, 6 with another role · typical Midcredits score91st

41 titles, 16 with more than one role — writing and producing overlap on 14 of them.

By decade

1980s11 · crew1990s8 · 1 acting · 8 crew2000s6 · crew2010s5 · 1 acting · 5 crew2020s7 · 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.

Awards

3 major nominations and no wins, 1991–2019.

  1. 2019
    • Producers Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Producer of Streamed or Televised Motion Pictures
  2. 2009
    • BAFTA Award, nominated · Best Screenplay - Original
  3. 1991
    • Writers Guild Award, nominated · Anthology Episode/Single Program

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. Michael Straczynski's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 76th percentile, the median of all 18; across their 15 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 76th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

76thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 15

Approval · how many liked their films

67thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 15

Reach · how many have seen their films

79thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 15

Midcredits score across 29 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up14
  • 50th to 74th9
  • 25th to 49th5
  • Below 25th1

Shape of the crowd

17 of their 29 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved7
  • Crowd Pleaser17
  • Mixed5

Most divisive · writer, producer

Walker, Texas Ranger (1993)

70th percentile spread · 24% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · writer

Changeling (2008)

Midcredits 95th · 86% liked

Reviewers score the dialogue 46/100 and the plot and story 49/100 in their films, across 13 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. Michael Straczynski's work okay for kids?

Across up to 9 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore and frightening / intense run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore9 titles30–96 · median 69 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity9 titles13–53 · median 25 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity9 titles4–70 · median 41 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs8 titles4–45 · median 27 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense9 titles35–83 · median 54 · 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 J. Michael Straczynski work with?

People who share at least 2 of J. Michael Straczynski's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Larry DiTillio shares the most, 5.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles