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Matt Johnson

Matt Johnson

Actor, director, writer, producer and editor · Born October 5, 1985 (41) · Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Berlinale award nominee · Sundance award nominee

Jon Matthew Johnson (born October 5, 1985) is a Canadian director, screenwriter, producer and actor. He directed, co-wrote and starred in the films The Dirties (2013), Operation Avalanche(2016), BlackBerry (2023) and Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie (2025); the latter film is based on his docufiction sitcom web series Nirvana the Band the Show (2007–2009) and its television adaptation Nirvanna the Band the Show (2017–2018). Johnson subsequently directed Tony, a 2026 biopic about chef Anthony Bourdain. Johnson began his career working in low-budget independent docufiction productions. First, he attracted accolades for The Dirties, which won Best Feature Narrative at the Slamdance Film Festival. He achieved critical and commercial success with the biopic BlackBerry, winning directing awards at the Canadian Screen Awards and Vancouver Film Critics Circle. He won the Canadian Screen Award for Best Supporting Performance in a Comedy Film for Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie. Johnson's work includes elements of pseudo-documentary filmmaking and improvisation, often using hidden camera techniques and location filming without permits. He has frequently played fictionalised versions of himself in both his own productions and those of other filmmakers. Description above from the Wikipedia article Matt Johnson (director), licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
October 5, 1985 (41)
From
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Works as
Actor, director, writer, producer and editor
Titles
16 on MovieCove · 31 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 9% in 30 days

What are Matt Johnson's films like?

Across their 15 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Self and Bonds.

Genres

Comedy5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 53rd percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Drama3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 65th percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Biography2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 93rd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Biography 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
48%
Bonds
23%
Survival
10%
Morality
7%
Society
5%
Ideas
4%
Power
2%
Identity6 titles, browse their movies with this themeAmbition5 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship4 titles, browse their movies with this themeComing of age3 titles, browse their movies with this themeTrauma2 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds2 titles, browse their movies with this themeIsolation2 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 13 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Light: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their light movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 7 · Serious 5 · Dark 1

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

Grounded 6 · Stylized 7 · Heightened 0

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

Gentle 1 · Charged 10 · Intense 2

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

Steady 4 · Shifting 7 · Whiplash 2

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

Straight-faced 3 · Some laughs 7 · Funny 3

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

Slow burn 6 · Even-paced 6 · Relentless 1

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

Casual 5 · Engaged 7 · Full focus 1

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

A split, not a type: Resolved 8 · Open-ended 2 · Ambiguous 3

Roles they play

8 analyzed roles

Usually the Hero: 3 of 8 analyzed roles.

Hero
3 of 8
Threshold guardian
2 of 8
Ally
2 of 8
Shapeshifter
1 of 8
Show the 8 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
6
Joyful
5
Absurd
5
Contemplative
5
Melancholic
5
Other
10

How their films linger

Thought-provoking7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteWistful3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 2 with a twist

  • Happy2
  • Bittersweet5
  • Tragic2
  • Ambiguous5
  • 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 Matt Johnson's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 13 of their 16 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Fandor (4).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Matt Johnson'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

31 credits, 16 with a MovieCove page.

  • Stavros Halkias: Uncle Stav(2026)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • Uncle Stav: Mission Impossible Teaser (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2026)

    Director · as Guy in Basement

  • Tony(2026)

    Director · Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • The Two Year Rule (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2026)

    Executive Producer

  • Mile End Kicks(2025)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Crash Land(2026)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie(2025)

    Director · Original Series Creator · Story · Writer · as Matt

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • Hell of a Summer(2023)

    Thanks

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • Matt and Mara(2024)

    Executive Producer · as Matt

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • The Heirloom(2024)

    as Belligerent Vet (Voice)

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Therapy Dogs(2022)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • BlackBerry(2023)

    Director · Writer · as Doug

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Matt & Bird Break Loose(2021)

    Show 3 episodes · Director · Creator · Producer · Writer · as Matt (Voice)

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all shows

  • Anne at 13,000 Ft.(2019)

    as Matt

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • Chatterboxing (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    as Brody (voice)

  • Spice It Up (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    as Passport Photographer

  • Nirvanna the Band the Show(2016)

    Show 16 episodes · Director · Creator · Producer · Writer · as Matt

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • Operation Avalanche(2016)

    Director · Producer · Writer · as Matt Johnson

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • Operation Avalanche (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    Director · Editor · Writer · as Boy

  • How Heavy This Hammer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    as Hardware Store Employee

  • Diamond Tongues(2015)

    as John Matheson

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • My Mother's Pearls (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    Director · as Older Steve Hamelin

  • The Dirties(2013)

    Director · Editor · Producer · Writer · as Matt

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • The Fantastic Corpse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    Director · Actor

  • The Revenge Plot (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    Writer · as Oversized Kid

  • Shubadak (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Editor · as Blanks

  • Nirvana the Band the Show: Live @ the Rivoli (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Director · as Matt

  • Nirvana the Band the Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    Show 11 episodes · Creator · Producer · Writer · as Matt

  • Honolulu Blue (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Director · Editor · Writer

  • Magic: The Gathering (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Director

  • The Vice Guide (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Director · Writer

Career shape

Star power in the 94th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 31 titles, 29 of them dated from 2004 to 2026; peak year 2024.

Biggest box office

Tony (2026)

$19M worldwide

Highest rated

Nirvanna the Band the Show (2016)

Midcredits 98th

Most popular right now

Tony (2026)

Film career

20042026

Peak 2024 · their film career is on the way up. Top draw in 2 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.

  • 2013Screen debut· The Dirties
  • 2013First top-billed film· The Dirties

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting21 of 31: 6 only acting, 15 with another role · typical Midcredits score63rdDirecting16 of 31: 2 only directing, 14 with another role · typical Midcredits score85thWriting12 of 31: 0 only writing, 12 with another role · typical Midcredits score92ndProducing11 of 31: 4 only producing, 7 with another role · typical Midcredits score77thEditing4 of 31: 0 only editing, 4 with another roleOther crew4 of 31: 1 only other crew, 3 with another role

31 titles, 18 with more than one role — acting and directing overlap on 11 of them.

By decade

2000s4 · 3 acting · 4 crew2010s10 · 10 acting · 7 crew2020s15 · 8 acting · 12 crew

Billing

usually 1st · top billed in 60% 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 major nominations and no wins, 2016–2023.

  1. 2023
    • Berlinale award, nominated · Best Film
  2. 2016
    • Sundance award, nominated · Best of Next!

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 Matt Johnson's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 71st percentile, the median of all 14; across their 13 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 78th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

78thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 13

Approval · how many liked their films

66thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 13

Reach · how many have seen their films

87thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 13

Midcredits score across 16 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up8
  • 50th to 74th5
  • 25th to 49th2
  • Below 25th1

Shape of the crowd

5 of their 16 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved2
  • Loved with Detractors1
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser5
  • Broadly Agreed3
  • Mixed4

Most divisive · producer

Crash Land (2026)

97th percentile spread · 21% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor, director, writer, producer

Nirvanna the Band the Show (2016)

Midcredits 98th · 92% liked

Reviewers score the acting 74/100 in their films, across 9 reviewed titles; fans 81, detractors 40. 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 Matt Johnson's work okay for kids?

Across up to 7 MovieCove titles with content scores, sex & nudity and profanity run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore5 titles26–58 · median 40 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity7 titles5–52 · median 44 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity5 titles65–82 · median 79 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs5 titles29–65 · median 33 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense4 titlesmedian 36 · moderateMedian 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 Matt Johnson work with?

People who share at least 2 of Matt Johnson's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Matthew Miller shares the most, 10.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles