Skip to content
MovieCove
Akiva Schaffer

Akiva Schaffer

Actor, director, producer, writer and editor · Born December 1, 1977 (48) · Berkeley, California, USA

2 Primetime Emmys · 2 other major award bodies

Akiva Schaffer (born December 1, 1977) is an American filmmaker. He began his career as a writer for Saturday Night Live and a member of The Lonely Island, a sketch-comedy troupe that first found success on the Internet, which includes Andy Samberg and Jorma Taccone. He majored in film at University of California, Santa Cruz. He is best known for directing the films Hot Rod (2007), Popstar (2016), and the reboot of The Naked Gun (2025).

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
December 1, 1977 (48)
From
Berkeley, California, USA
Works as
Actor, director, producer, writer and editor
Titles
28 on MovieCove · 48 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 12% in 30 days

What are Akiva Schaffer's films like?

Across their 17 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Self and Bonds.

Genres

Comedy11 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 57th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Action2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 48th percentile
: browse their Action 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
40%
Bonds
26%
Society
22%
Morality
7%
Survival
2%
Ideas
1%
Identity6 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love5 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity5 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth3 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship4 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose4 titles, browse their movies with this themeFame3 titles, browse their movies with this themeAmbition2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 16 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 8 · Wry 2 · Earnest 6

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

Light 14 · Serious 2 · Dark 0

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

A split, not a type: Grounded 5 · Stylized 4 · Heightened 7

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

Gentle 6 · Charged 9 · Intense 1

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

Steady 3 · Shifting 9 · Whiplash 4

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

Straight-faced 1 · Some laughs 3 · Funny 12

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

Slow burn 5 · Even-paced 7 · Relentless 4

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

Casual 12 · Engaged 3 · Full focus 1

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

Resolved 14 · Open-ended 1 · Ambiguous 1

Roles they play

2 analyzed roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Absurd
14
Joyful
9
Manic
5
Warm
3
Contemplative
4
Other
11

How their films linger

Fun12 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good13 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 2 with a twist

  • Happy9
  • Bittersweet4
  • Ambiguous3
  • Cyclical1

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 Akiva Schaffer's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 24 of their 28 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Netflix (7).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Akiva Schaffer'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

48 credits, 28 with a MovieCove page; 7 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • The Naked Gun(2025)

    Director · Executive Producer · Writer · as Additional Voices (voice)

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Self Reliance(2023)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • Digman!(2023)

    Show 16 episodes · Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all shows

  • Scream VI(2023)

    as Subway Ghostface (voice) (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Weird: The Al Yankovic Story(2022)

    as Alice Cooper

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers(2022)

    Director · as Various Characters (voice)

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • I Used to Go Here(2020)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • Palm Springs(2020)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • The Unauthorized Bash Brothers Experience(2019)

    Director · Editor · Executive Producer · Writer · as Mark McGwire

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson(2019)

    Show 18 episodes · Director · Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all shows

  • PEN15(2019)

    Show 25 episodes · Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows

  • 7 Splinters in Time(2018)

    as McFly

    Midcredits score: 4th percentile of all films

  • Alone Together(2018)

    Show 10 episodes · Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all shows

  • Brigsby Bear(2017)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Tour de Pharmacy(2017)

    Recording Supervision

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • Michael Bolton's Big, Sexy Valentine's Day Special(2017)

    Director · Executive Producer · as Alan

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping(2016)

    Director · Producer · Writer · as Lawrence Dunn

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • Party Over Here (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    Show 5 episodes · Executive Producer

  • An SNL Valentine(2015)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Neighbors(2014)

    as Toga #2

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • The Lego Movie(2014)

    Songs

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Brooklyn Nine-Nine(2013)

    Show 2 episodes · Director · as Brett Booth

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all shows

  • Grown Ups 2(2013)

    as Male Cheerleader

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • The Watch(2012)

    Director · as Casual Wanker #3

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • MacGruber(2010)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • SNL Presents: A Very Gilly Christmas(2009)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • Saturday Night Live: The Best of Amy Poehler (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Director

  • Extreme Movie(2008)

    Writer

    Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all films

  • Water and Power (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    Show 1 episode · as Ambassador

  • Hot Rod(2007)

    Director · as Derrick (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Fighting neighbors (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    Actor

  • Laser Cats! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Director

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

    Director · Writer · as Self

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

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Football Town (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Director · Writer · as Walt Rice

  • House of Cosbys (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Show 2 episodes · as Cosby Team TriOsby (voice)

  • The 'Bu (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Show 8 episodes · Director · Creator · as self

  • Regarding Ardy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Director · Editor · Producer · Writer · as Kiv

  • White Power (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Director · Editor · Producer · Writer · as Kiv

  • Saturday Night Live(1975)

    Show 67 episodes · Director · Writer · as Bad Guy (uncredited) · as DJ (uncredited) · as Guy Selling Guy (uncredited) · as Kiv (uncredited) · as Self - Cameo (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all shows

  • Anger Managment (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Actor

  • DNA (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Producer

  • Hot Seat (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Actor

  • Peppers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Actor

  • Spy Guys (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Producer

  • Stepsisters (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Director

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

    Show 1 episode · Director · Executive Producer

  • The Robots Go Crazy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Producer

Career shape

A full career of 47 titles, 39 of them dated from 1975 to 2025.

Biggest box office

The Naked Gun (2025)

$102M worldwide

Highest rated

Palm Springs (2020)

Midcredits 94th

Most popular right now

The Naked Gun (2025)

Film career

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting24 of 47: 12 only acting, 12 with another role · typical Midcredits score69thDirecting20 of 47: 4 only directing, 16 with another role · typical Midcredits score71stWriting9 of 47: 1 only writing, 8 with another role · typical Midcredits score71stProducing20 of 47: 12 only producing, 8 with another role · typical Midcredits score67thEditing3 of 47: 0 only editing, 3 with another roleOther crew3 of 47: 2 only other crew, 1 with another role

47 titles, 16 with more than one role — acting and directing overlap on 12 of them.

By decade

1970s1 · 1 acting · 1 crew2000s14 · 8 acting · 10 crew2010s16 · 8 acting · 13 crew2020s8 · 4 acting · 6 crew

Billing

usually 13th · top billed in 0% of 5 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.

Awards

2 Primetime Emmys and 3 other major awards from 23 major nominations, 2007–2023.

WinNomination
  1. 2023
    • Primetime Emmy, won · Outstanding Short Form Comedy, Drama or Variety Series
  2. 2022
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Short Form Comedy, Drama or Variety Series
  3. 2021
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Comedy Series
  4. 2018
    • Writers Guild Award, nominated · Comedy/Variety–Music, Awards, Tributes–Specials
  5. 2016
    • Writers Guild Award, nominated · Comedy/Variety (Music, Awards, Tributes) - Specials
  6. 2015
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Writing for a Variety Special
    • +1 other major body · 1 nomination
      • Grammy Award, nominated · Best Song Written for Visual Media
  7. 2012
    • Writers Guild Award, nominated · Comedy/Variety (Including Talk) - Series
    • Grammy Award, nominated · Best Comedy Album
  8. 2011
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated ×3 · Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Series
Show 4 earlier years
  1. 2010
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Series
    • +2 other major bodies · 1 win and 1 nomination
      • Writers Guild Award, won · Comedy/Variety - (Including Talk) Series
      • Grammy Award, nominated · Best Rap/Sung Collaboration
  2. 2009
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Series
    • +1 other major body · 1 win
      • Writers Guild Award, won · Comedy/Variety - (Including Talk) Series
  3. 2008
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Program
  4. 2007
    • Primetime Emmy, won · Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics
    • +1 other major body · 1 win
      • Writers Guild Award, won · Comedy/Variety - (Including Talk) Series

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 Akiva Schaffer's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 63rd percentile, the median of all 22; across their 16 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 64th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

64thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 16

Approval · how many liked their films

50thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 16

Reach · how many have seen their films

88thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 16

Midcredits score across 28 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up11
  • 50th to 74th7
  • 25th to 49th7
  • Below 25th3

Shape of the crowd

12 of their 28 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved3
  • Divisive1
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser12
  • Broadly Agreed4
  • Mixed7

Most divisive · director

SNL Presents: A Very Gilly Christmas (2009)

90th percentile spread · 31% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor, director

Brooklyn Nine-Nine (2013)

Midcredits 97th · 93% liked

Reviewers score the acting 65/100 in their films, across 14 reviewed titles; fans 74, detractors 38. 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 Akiva Schaffer's work okay for kids?

Across up to 13 MovieCove titles with content scores, profanity and alcohol & drugs run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore12 titles23–78 · median 41 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity13 titles20–74 · median 39 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity12 titles37–90 · median 77 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs12 titles31–64 · median 43 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense12 titles9–53 · median 32 · mildnear 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 Akiva Schaffer work with?

People who share at least 2 of Akiva Schaffer's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Andy Samberg shares the most, 12.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles