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Pilou Asbæk

Pilou Asbæk

Actor · Born March 2, 1982 (44) · Copenhagen, Denmark

Screen Actors Guild Award nominee · 1 other major award body

Johan Philip "Pilou" Asbæk (born 2 March 1982) is a Danish actor. He is best known for his roles as Euron Greyjoy on HBO's Game of Thrones, Pontius Pilate in Ben-Hur (2016), Bouchard in The Great Wall (2016), Batou in Ghost in the Shell (2017), Captain Wafner in Overlord (2018), Cyrus in Samaritan(2022), Gage in Uncharted (2022), and a troubled spin doctor Kasper Juul in the Danish TV political drama Borgen. He was among the recipients of the Shooting Stars Award at the 2011 Berlin International Film Festival. On 10 May he was co-host of the Eurovision Song Contest 2014 in Copenhagen, with Lise Rønne and Nikolaj Koppel. Some critics commented adversely on the obscure jokes shared by the presenters throughout the televised show.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
March 2, 1982 (44)
From
Copenhagen, Denmark
Works as
Actor
Titles
36 on MovieCove · 60 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 26Down 23% in 30 days

What are Pilou Asbæk's films like?

Across their 27 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Survival.

Genres

Drama8 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 74th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Action7 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 31st percentile
: browse their Action movies
Crime2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 85th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime movies
Horror2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 24th percentile
: browse their Horror 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
27%
Survival
24%
Bonds
14%
Self
13%
Power
13%
Ideas
6%
Society
4%
Family bonds8 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival7 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity5 titles, browse their movies with this themeSacrifice5 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice4 titles, browse their movies with this themePower4 titles, browse their movies with this themeGrief4 titles, browse their movies with this themeFreedom3 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 22 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Dark: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their dark movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 3 · Serious 7 · Dark 12

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

A split, not a type: Grounded 13 · Stylized 5 · Heightened 4

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

Gentle 1 · Charged 4 · Intense 17

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

Steady 8 · Shifting 12 · Whiplash 2

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

Straight-faced 18 · Some laughs 4 · Funny 0

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

Slow burn 5 · Even-paced 14 · Relentless 3

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 15 · Full focus 5

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 3 · Affecting 8 · Heavy 11

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

A split, not a type: Resolved 12 · Open-ended 8 · Ambiguous 2

Roles they play

21 analyzed roles

Usually the Shadow: 10 of 21 analyzed roles.

Shadow
10 of 21
Hero
5 of 21
Ally
4 of 21
Shapeshifter
1 of 21
Trickster
1 of 21
Show the 21 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
22
Dread
11
Melancholic
14
Contemplative
8
Thrilling
5
Other
10

How their films linger

Thought-provoking12 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet11 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 5 with a twist

  • Happy5
  • Bittersweet12
  • Tragic4
  • 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 Pilou Asbæk's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 31 of their 36 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (11).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Pilou Asbæk'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, 36 with a MovieCove page; 6 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • The Thomas Crown Affair (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2027)

    Actor

  • No Rest for the Wicked(2026)

    as Helge

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • Snake Killer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2026)

    Show 4 episodes · as Brian 'Smiley' Petersen

  • The Fires(2025)

    as Thomas

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

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

    Show 1 episode · as Sig selv

  • Salem's Lot(2024)

    as R.T Straker

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • Twilight of the Gods(2024)

    Show 8 episodes · as Thor (voice)

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all shows

  • Secrets(2024)

    Show 8 episodes · as Mads

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all shows

  • I.S.S.(2023)

    as Alexey Pulov

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom(2023)

    as Kordax

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • Before It Ends(2023)

    as Jakob

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • Hidden Strike(2023)

    as Paddock

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • Invitation to a Bonfire (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)

    Show 1 episode · as Leo

  • Samaritan(2022)

    as Cyrus

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • Melvin Kakooza Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    Show 1 episode · as Sig selv

  • Uncharted(2022)

    as Gage

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Foundation(2021)

    Show 10 episodes · as The Mule

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all shows

  • Outside the Wire(2021)

    as Victor Koval

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • The Investigation(2020)

    Show 6 episodes · as Jakob Buch-Jepsen

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all shows

  • Run Sweetheart Run(2020)

    as Ethan

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • Face to Face(2019)

    Show 3 episodes · as Markus Lang

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all shows

  • Overlord(2018)

    as Wafner

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Murderous Trance(2018)

    as Anders Olsen

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Meyerheim & stjernerne (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    Show 1 episode · as Sig selv

  • Game of Thrones - Conquest & Rebellion: An Animated History of the Seven Kingdoms (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    as Euron Greyjoy (voice)

  • Woodshock(2017)

    as Keith

    Midcredits score: 6th percentile of all films

  • Ghost in the Shell(2017)

    as Batou

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • The Great Wall(2016)

    as Bouchard

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all films

  • Ben-Hur(2016)

    as Pontius Pilate

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • Stag (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    Show 2 episodes · as Neils

  • Natural Disorder (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    as (voice)

  • A War(2015)

    as Claus Michael Pedersen

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • April 9th(2015)

    as Sekondløjtnant Sand

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Silent Heart(2014)

    as Dennis

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • 1864 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    Show 8 episodes · as Didrich

  • 1864: Brødre i krig (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    as Didrich

  • Department Q: The Absent One(2014)

    as Ditlev Pram

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Speed Walking(2014)

    as Onkel Kristian

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • Lucy(2014)

    as Richard

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Sex, Drugs & Taxation(2013)

    as Simon Spies

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • Venice 70: Future Reloaded (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    Actor

  • A Hijacking(2012)

    as Mikkel Hartmann

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • Bora Bora (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    as Jim

  • Game of Thrones(2011)

    Show 8 episodes · as Euron Greyjoy

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all shows

  • The Borgias(2011)

    Show 7 episodes · as Paolo Orsini

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all shows

  • A Family (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    as Peter

  • Borgen(2010)

    Show 30 episodes · as Kasper Juul

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • The Whistleblower(2010)

    as Bas

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

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

    as Rasmus

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

    as Rune

  • The Left Wing Gang(2009)

    Show 5 episodes · as Carsten Nielsen

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all shows

  • Monster Busters (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    as Søren

  • Crying for Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    as Oliver

  • Comeback (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    as Kris

  • Zulu Awards (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    Show 1 episode · as Host

  • Worlds Apart (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    as Teis

  • The Killing(2007)

    Show 1 episode · as David Grüner

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

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

    Show 1 episode · as Pilou

  • Blood on Snow (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Actor

  • Untitled Young Lee Shaw Prequel Series (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

Career shape

Star power in the 99th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 60 titles, 57 of them dated from 2005 to 2026; peak year 2015.

Biggest box office

Lucy (2014)

$469M worldwide

Highest rated

Borgen (2010)

Midcredits 98th

Most popular right now

Foundation (2021)

Film career

MilestoneBreakoutNomination
20052026

Peak 2015 · their film career is on the way up. Top draw in 15 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
Acting60 of 60: 60 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score59th

By decade

2000s8 · acting2010s30 · acting2020s19 · acting

Billing

usually 3rd · top billed in 28% of 25 roles
0818

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

1 major award from 3 major nominations, 2011–2020.

WinNomination
  1. 2020
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
  2. 2018
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
  3. 2011
    • Berlinale award, won

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 Pilou Asbæk's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 52nd percentile, the median of all 26; across their 22 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 51st percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

51stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 22

Approval · how many liked their films

55thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 22

Reach · how many have seen their films

88thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 22

Midcredits score across 36 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up12
  • 50th to 74th10
  • 25th to 49th9
  • Below 25th5

Shape of the crowd

18 of their 36 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved3
  • Universally Panned1
  • Crowd Pleaser18
  • Broadly Agreed7
  • Mixed7

Most divisive · actor

The Fires (2025)

60th percentile spread · 23% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Game of Thrones (2011)

Midcredits 99th · 93% liked

Reviewers score the acting 69/100 in their films, across 19 reviewed titles; fans 76, detractors 42. 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 Pilou Asbæk's work okay for kids?

Across up to 16 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore, profanity and frightening / intense run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore13 titles50–91 · median 66 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity16 titles10–65 · median 29 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity14 titles31–79 · median 53 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs13 titles19–56 · median 31 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense13 titles46–78 · median 61 · intenseheavier 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 Pilou Asbæk work with?

People who share at least 2 of Pilou Asbæk's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Henrik Zein shares the most, 6.

Directors

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers