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Matthew Broderick

Matthew Broderick

Actor, also director and producer · Born March 21, 1962 (64) · New York City, New York, USA

Primetime Emmy nominee · Golden Globe nominee · Screen Actors Guild Award nominee · 1 other major award body

Matthew Broderick (born March 21, 1962) is an American stage and screen actor. Broderick began acting in off-Broadway productions in the early 1980s, soon after landing a role in Neil Simon's Brighton Beach Memoirs, for which he won a Tony Award. His first screen role was in Max Dugan Returns (1983), also penned by Neil Simon. His breakout role came the same year for his role as a young hacker in WarGames. Later Broderick starred in the hit film Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986), making him a household name. Subsequent notable films include Glory (1989), The Lion King (1994), The Cable Guy (1996), Godzilla (1998), and Election (1999). Broderick also continued acting on Broadway, including several musicals. He won a second Tony Award in 1995 for his performance in How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying and a third nomination in 2001 for The Producers. In 1985 while on vacation in Ireland with his then-girlfriend Jennifer Grey, Broderick was involved in a head on collision that killed two locals. He was deemed at fault and faced up to five years in prison on the charge of causing death by dangerous driving, but was convicted of a lesser charge and fined £100. Broderick has been married to actress Sarah Jessica Parker since 1997, and the couple have three children.

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
March 21, 1962 (64)
From
New York City, New York, USA
Works as
Actor, also director and producer
Titles
76 on MovieCove · 89 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 45% in 30 days

What are Matthew Broderick's films like?

Across their 60 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Self.

Genres

Comedy31 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 40th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Animation7 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 65th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Animation movies
Action4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 34th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Documentary4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 65th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Documentary movies
Drama4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 64th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Biography3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 59th 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
Bonds
34%
Self
22%
Morality
15%
Survival
9%
Society
9%
Ideas
6%
Power
5%
Family bonds18 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship12 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity12 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love9 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity8 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception7 titles, browse their movies with this themeGrief6 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth6 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 57 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Light: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their light movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 34 · Serious 16 · Dark 7

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

A split, not a type: Grounded 29 · Stylized 18 · Heightened 10

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

Gentle 26 · Charged 26 · Intense 5

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

Steady 32 · Shifting 23 · Whiplash 2

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

Straight-faced 6 · Some laughs 29 · Funny 22

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

Slow burn 28 · Even-paced 29 · Relentless 0

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

Casual 35 · Engaged 19 · Full focus 3

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

Resolved 42 · Open-ended 11 · Ambiguous 4

Roles they play

39 analyzed roles

Usually the Hero: 26 of 39 analyzed roles.

Hero
26 of 39
Ally
3 of 39
Trickster
2 of 39
Shadow
2 of 39
Shapeshifter
2 of 39
Threshold guardian
2 of 39
Herald
1 of 39
Mentor
1 of 39
Show the 39 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Warm
22
Absurd
21
Joyful
17
Tense
17
Melancholic
17
Other
68

How their films linger

Feel-good26 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful25 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun18 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet16 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking14 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteWistful11 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 4 with a twist

  • Happy24
  • Bittersweet28
  • Ambiguous7
  • Other1

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 Matthew Broderick's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 47 of their 76 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (17).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Matthew Broderick'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

89 credits, 76 with a MovieCove page; 51 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • The Gettysburg Address(2025)

    as Reader

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Elsbeth(2024)

    Show 1 episode · as Lawrence Grey

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all shows

  • Adventure Time: Fionna & Cake(2023)

    Show 5 episodes · as Spirit Dream Warrior (voice)

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • Painkiller(2023)

    Show 6 episodes · as Richard Sackler

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all shows

  • Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem(2023)

    as Ferris Bueller (archive footage) (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • No Hard Feelings(2023)

    as Laird Becker

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Only Murders in the Building(2021)

    Show 2 episodes · as Matthew Broderick

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all shows

  • Lazy Susan(2020)

    as Doug

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Daybreak(2019)

    Show 10 episodes · as Michael Burr

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all shows

  • Love Is Blind(2019)

    as Murray Krafft

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • Wonder Park(2019)

    as June's Dad (voice)

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • To Dust(2018)

    as Albert

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • The Conners(2018)

    Show 4 episodes · as Peter

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all shows

  • A Christmas Story Live!(2017)

    as Ralphie as an Adult

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • Rules Don't Apply(2016)

    as Levar Mathis

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • Manchester by the Sea(2016)

    as Jeffrey Garner

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • Better Things(2016)

    Show 1 episode · as Dr. David Miller

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all shows

  • Against the Odds: The Mike Piazza Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    as Narrator

  • The American Side(2016)

    as Borden Chase

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • Dirty Weekend(2015)

    as Les Moore

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • Trainwreck(2015)

    as Matthew Broderick

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • BoJack Horseman(2014)

    Show 2 episodes · as Joseph Sugarman (voice)

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all shows

  • Rick and Morty(2013)

    Show 1 episode · as Talking Cat (voice)

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all shows

  • Doggiewoggiez! Poochiewoochiez!(2012)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • New Year's Eve(2011)

    as Mr. Buellerton (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Tower Heist(2011)

    as Mr. Fitzhugh

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Margaret(2011)

    as John

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Louie(2010)

    Show 1 episode · as Matthew Broderick

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all shows

  • Adventure Time(2010)

    Show 1 episode · as Dream Warrior (voice)

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • Modern Family(2009)

    Show 1 episode · as Dave

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • Wonderful World(2009)

    as Ben Singer

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all films

  • The Tale of Despereaux(2008)

    as Despereaux (voice)

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Diminished Capacity(2008)

    as Cooper

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Finding Amanda(2008)

    as Taylor Peters

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • Shea Goodbye: 45 Years of Amazin' Mets (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    as Narrator

  • Then She Found Me(2007)

    as Ben Green

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • Bee Movie(2007)

    as Adam Flayman (voice)

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Deck the Halls(2006)

    as Steve Finch

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films

  • 30 Rock(2006)

    Show 2 episodes · as Cooter Burger

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows

  • Strangers with Candy(2005)

    as Roger Beekman

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • The Producers(2005)

    as Leo Bloom

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • The Lion King 1½(2004)

    as Simba (voice)

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • The Last Shot(2004)

    as Steven Schats

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all films

  • The Stepford Wives(2004)

    as Walter Kresby

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • Marie and Bruce(2004)

    as Bruce

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • Good Boy(2003)

    as Hubble (voice)

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • The Music Man(2003)

    as Professor Harold Hill

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Cyberchase(2002)

    Show 1 episode · as Max

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all shows

  • Jazz(2001)

    Show as Narrator

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all shows

  • You Can Count on Me(2000)

    as Brian

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • Inspector Gadget(1999)

    as Inspector Gadget / Robogadget / John Brown

    Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all films

  • Election(1999)

    as Jim McAllister

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • The Lion King II: Simba's Pride(1998)

    as Simba (voice)

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • Walking to the Waterline (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    as Michael Woods

  • Godzilla(1998)

    as Dr. Niko Tatopoulos

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • Lewis & Clark - The Journey of the Corps of Discovery (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Show 2 episodes · as John Ordway (voice)

  • Addicted to Love(1997)

    as Sam

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Infinity(1996)

    Director · Producer · as Richard Feynman

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • The Cable Guy(1996)

    as Steven

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • The Road to Wellville(1994)

    as William Lightbody

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle(1994)

    as Charles MacArthur

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • The Lion King(1994)

    as Simba (voice)

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • A Life in the Theatre(1993)

    as John

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • The Thief and the Cobbler(1993)

    as Tack the Cobbler (voice)

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Frasier(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as Mark (voice)

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows

  • The Night We Never Met(1993)

    as Sam

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • Out on a Limb(1992)

    as Bill Campbell

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

  • The Freshman(1990)

    as Clark Kellogg

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • Glory(1989)

    as Col. Robert Gould Shaw

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • Family Business(1989)

    as Adam McMullen

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Torch Song Trilogy(1988)

    as Alan Simon

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • American Experience(1988)

    Show 1 episode · as Jack Binns (voice)

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all shows

  • Biloxi Blues(1988)

    as Eugene Morris Jerome

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • She's Having a Baby(1988)

    as Ferris Bueller (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Project X(1987)

    as Jimmy

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Ferris Bueller's Day Off(1986)

    as Ferris Bueller

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • On Valentine's Day(1986)

    as Brother

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all films

  • Cinderella (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    as Prince Henry

  • 1918 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    as Brother

  • Ladyhawke(1985)

    as Phillipe Gaston

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • 'Master Harold'... and the Boys (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    as Hally

  • WarGames(1983)

    as David Lightman

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • Max Dugan Returns(1983)

    as Michael McPhae

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Faerie Tale Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 1 episode · as Prince Henry

  • Lou Grant (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Pretend I'm Not Here (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    as Nico

  • The Best Is Yet to Come (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Actor

  • Tomorrow Is a Drag (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Actor

Career shape

Star power in the 99th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 87 titles, 84 of them dated from 1977 to 2025; peak year 1998.

Biggest box office

The Lion King (1994)

$979M worldwide

Highest rated

The Lion King (1994)

Midcredits 99th

Film career

MilestoneNomination
19772025

Peak 1998 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Top draw in 38 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
Acting87 of 87: 86 only acting, 1 with another role · typical Midcredits score49thDirecting1 of 87: 0 only directing, 1 with another roleProducing1 of 87: 0 only producing, 1 with another role

By decade

1970s1 · acting1980s16 · acting1990s19 · 19 acting · 1 crew2000s20 · acting2010s20 · acting2020s8 · acting

Billing

usually 2nd · top billed in 40% of 47 roles
83889398030813

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

5 major nominations and no wins, 1987–2024.

  1. 2024
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series
  2. 2017
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
  3. 2013
    • Grammy Award, nominated · Best Musical Theater Album
  4. 1994
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Special
  5. 1987
    • Golden Globe, nominated · Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical

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 Matthew Broderick's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 46th percentile, the median of all 59; across their 57 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 48th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

48thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 57

Approval · how many liked their films

45thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 57

Reach · how many have seen their films

85thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 57

Midcredits score across 76 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up23
  • 50th to 74th15
  • 25th to 49th27
  • Below 25th11

Shape of the crowd

25 of their 76 titles are Mixed.

  • Universally Loved16
  • Universally Panned1
  • Divisive3
  • Cult Classic4
  • Crowd Pleaser17
  • Broadly Agreed10
  • Mixed25

Most divisive · actor

The Gettysburg Address (2025)

98th percentile spread · 43% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

The Lion King (1994)

Midcredits 99th · 93% liked

Reviewers score the acting 70/100 in their films, across 50 reviewed titles; fans 79, detractors 45. 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 Matthew Broderick's work okay for kids?

Across up to 32 MovieCove titles with content scores, every category sits near the median of all films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore24 titles11–54 · median 36 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity32 titles16–53 · median 38 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity26 titles7–76 · median 41 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs22 titles5–54 · median 32 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense25 titles10–54 · median 33 · 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 Matthew Broderick work with?

People who share at least 2 of Matthew Broderick's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Nathan Lane shares the most, 5.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles