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Billy Crystal

Billy Crystal

Actor, producer and writer, also director · Born March 14, 1948 (78) · Long Beach, Long Island, New York, USA

6 Primetime Emmys · Golden Globe nominee · 3 other major award bodies

William Edward "Billy" Crystal (born March 14, 1948) is an American actor, filmmaker, and comedian. He gained prominence in the 1970s for playing Jodie Dallas on the ABC sitcom “Soap” and became a Hollywood film star during the 1990s, appearing in the critical and box office successes When “Harry Met Sally...” and “City Slickers.” He is also known for his role as Mike in the “Monsters Inc.” franchise, and roles in “The Princess Bride,” “Analyze This,” and “Throw Momma From the Train.” He has hosted the Academy Awards eight times.

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
March 14, 1948 (78)
From
Long Beach, Long Island, New York, USA
Works as
Actor, producer and writer, also director
Titles
56 on MovieCove · 85 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 25% in 30 days

What are Billy Crystal's films like?

Across their 50 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Self.

Genres

Comedy18 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 49th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Documentary12 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 80th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Documentary movies
Animation6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 80th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Animation movies
Biography2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 96th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Biography movies
Drama2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 17th percentile
: browse their Drama 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
32%
Self
25%
Society
19%
Ideas
11%
Survival
8%
Morality
5%
Power
1%
Friendship17 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds10 titles, browse their movies with this themeArt9 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose9 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity9 titles, browse their movies with this themeLegacy11 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity8 titles, browse their movies with this themeGrief6 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 45 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Light: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their light movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 32 · Serious 10 · Dark 3

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

Grounded 32 · Stylized 11 · Heightened 2

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

Gentle 27 · Charged 16 · Intense 2

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

Steady 33 · Shifting 11 · Whiplash 1

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

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 6 · Some laughs 17 · Funny 22

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

A split, not a type: Slow burn 23 · Even-paced 20 · Relentless 2

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

Casual 36 · Engaged 8 · Full focus 1

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

Resolved 42 · Open-ended 1 · Ambiguous 2

Roles they play

31 analyzed roles

Usually the Hero: 19 of 31 analyzed roles.

Hero
19 of 31
Trickster
5 of 31
Mentor
3 of 31
Ally
2 of 31
Herald
1 of 31
Shadow
1 of 31
Show the 31 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Warm
27
Joyful
27
Absurd
13
Hopeful
13
Contemplative
12
Other
38

How their films linger

Feel-good29 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun17 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful21 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 2 with a twist

  • Happy25
  • Bittersweet18
  • Ambiguous6
  • 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 Billy Crystal's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 38 of their 56 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (12).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Billy Crystal'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

85 credits, 56 with a MovieCove page; 109 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Monsters Funday Football (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2025)

    as Mike Wazowski (Voice)

  • Before(2024)

    Show 10 episodes · Executive Producer · as Dr. Eli Adler

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all shows

  • Mr. Saturday Night: A New Musical Comedy(2022)

    Executive Producer · Writer · as Buddy Young, Jr.

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Monsters at Work(2021)

    Show 20 episodes · as Mike (voice)

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all shows

  • Here Today(2021)

    Director · Producer · Writer · as Charlie Burnz

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • Bugs Bunny's 80th What's Up, Doc-umentary!(2020)

    as Narrator (voice)

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • In Search of the Sanderson Sisters: A Hocus Pocus Hulaween Takeover (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    as Miracle Max

  • A Virtual Princess Bride Reunion (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    as Miracle Max

  • The AGFA Mystery Mixtape Vault (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    as (archive footage)

  • Standing Up, Falling Down(2019)

    Executive Producer · as Marty

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Untogether(2018)

    as David

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • This Is Bob Hope... (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • City Slickers In Westworld (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    as Mitch Robbins

  • The Comedian(2016)

    as Billy Crystal

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • First Pitch (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    Actor

  • The Comedians(2015)

    Show 13 episodes · Executive Producer · as Billy

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all shows

  • Everything Is Copy(2015)

    as Harry Burns

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Billy Crystal: 700 Sundays(2014)

    Producer · Writer · as Self

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Party Central(2013)

    as Mike (voice)

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • Monsters University(2013)

    as Mike (voice)

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • Parental Guidance(2012)

    Producer · as Artie Decker

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • Small Apartments(2012)

    as Burt Walnut

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Web Therapy(2011)

    Show 3 episodes · as Garreth Pink

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all shows

  • When Harry Met Sally 2 with Billy Crystal and Helen Mirren(2011)

    Executive Producer · as Harry

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • I'm Still Here(2010)

    as Billy Crystal

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • Tooth Fairy(2010)

    as Jerry (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films

  • Web Therapy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    Show 2 episodes · as Garreth Pink

  • My Best Friend's Girl(2008)

    Thanks

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • Comic Relief: The Greatest... and the Latest (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    Actor

  • Comic Relief 2006 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Actor

  • Cars(2006)

    as Mike Car (voice)

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • Analyze That(2002)

    Executive Producer · as Dr. Ben Sobel

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • Liberty's Kids(2002)

    Show 40 episodes · as John Adams (voice)

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all shows

  • Mike's New Car(2002)

    as Mike (voice)

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • Monsters, Inc.(2001)

    as Mike (voice)

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • America's Sweethearts(2001)

    Producer · Screenplay · as Lee Phillips

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all films

  • Primetime Glick (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • 61*(2001)

    Director · Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • The Adventures of Rocky & Bullwinkle(2000)

    as Mattress Salesman (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 7th percentile of all films

  • Goodnight Moon & Other Sleepytime Tales(1999)

    as Narrator (voice)

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • American Movie(1999)

    as Academy Awards Emcee (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Analyze This(1999)

    Executive Producer · as Dr. Ben Sobel

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • My Giant(1998)

    Producer · Story · as Sam 'Sammy' Kamin

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films

  • Deconstructing Harry(1997)

    as Larry / The Devil

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • Fathers' Day(1997)

    as Jack Lawrence

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • Survival on the Mountain(1997)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 4th percentile of all films

  • Hamlet(1996)

    as First Gravedigger

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • Forget Paris(1995)

    Director · Producer · Screenplay · as Mickey Gordon

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • In Search of Dr. Seuss (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    as The Voice of America (voice)

  • Friends(1994)

    Show 1 episode · as Tim (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all shows

  • City Slickers II: The Legend of Curly's Gold(1994)

    Producer · Screenplay · as Mitch Robbins

    Midcredits score: 22nd percentile of all films

  • The Critic (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Show 1 episode · as Gary Grossman (voice)

  • Frasier(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as Jack (voice)

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows

  • Mr. Saturday Night(1992)

    Director · Producer · Writer · as Buddy Young Jr.

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • The Larry Sanders Show(1992)

    Show 1 episode · as Billy Crystal

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • Shelley Duvall's Bedtime Stories (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Show 1 episode · as Narrator (voice)

  • Horton Hatches the Egg (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • Sessions (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Show 6 episodes · Creator · Writer

  • City Slickers(1991)

    Executive Producer · as Mitch Robbins

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • When Harry Met Sally...(1989)

    as Harry Burns

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Comic Relief III (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Actor

  • Memories of Me(1988)

    Producer · Writer · as Abbie

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • Throw Momma from the Train(1987)

    as Larry Donner

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • The Princess Bride(1987)

    as Miracle Max

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • Billy Crystal: Don't Get Me Started (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Director · as Self

  • Running Scared(1986)

    as Danny Costanzo

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • This Is Spinal Tap(1984)

    as Morty the Mime

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Billy Crystal: A Comic's Line (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Writer · as Self

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

    Show 1 episode · as Larry

  • Darkroom (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Show 1 episode · as Paddy

  • Enola Gay: The Men, the Mission, the Atomic Bomb(1980)

    as Lt. Jacob 'Jake' Beser

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Animalympics(1980)

    as Rugs Turkell / Joey Gongolong / Art Antica (voice)

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • Breaking Up Is Hard to Do (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    as Danny Doyle

  • Breaking Up Is Hard to Do (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Show 2 episodes · as Danny Doyle

  • The T.V. Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Writer · Actor

  • Human Feelings (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    as Miles Gordon

  • SST: Death Flight(1977)

    as David

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films

  • Rabbit Test (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    as Lionel Carpenter

  • The Love Boat(1977)

    Show 1 episode · as Newton Weems

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all shows

  • Soap(1977)

    Show 85 episodes · as Jodie Dallas

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows

  • Saturday Night Live(1975)

    Show 17 episodes · Writer · as Fernando Lamas · as Self - Cameo (uncredited) · as Self - Co-Host · as Self - Host · as Self - Various Characters

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all shows

  • Saturday Night Live with Howard Cosell (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Show 4 episodes · Actor

  • All in the Family(1971)

    Show 1 episode · as Al Bender

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • The Oscars (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    Show 15 episodes · Writer · as Self - Presenter

  • Which Witch? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Producer · Screenplay · Actor

Career shape

Star power in the 99th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 84 titles, 83 of them dated from 1953 to 2025; peak year 2013.

Biggest box office

Monsters University (2013)

$744M worldwide

Highest rated

Monsters, Inc. (2001)

Midcredits 99th

Film career

MilestoneNomination
19532025

Peak 2013 · steadily prominent in film for years. Top draw in 21 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.

Show 2 more milestones

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting77 of 84: 58 only acting, 19 with another role · typical Midcredits score65thDirecting5 of 84: 1 only directing, 4 with another roleWriting15 of 84: 3 only writing, 12 with another role · typical Midcredits score50thProducing17 of 84: 0 only producing, 17 with another role · typical Midcredits score51stOther crew2 of 84: 1 only other crew, 1 with another role

84 titles, 21 with more than one role — acting and producing overlap on 16 of them.

By decade

1950s1 · crew1970s11 · 11 acting · 2 crew1980s13 · 11 acting · 3 crew1990s19 · 18 acting · 7 crew2000s13 · 11 acting · 4 crew2010s16 · 15 acting · 4 crew2020s10 · 10 acting · 4 crew

Billing

usually 2nd · top billed in 41% of 29 roles
809000

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

6 Primetime Emmys and 1 other major award from 32 major nominations, 1985–2023.

WinNomination
  1. 2023
    • Grammy Award, nominated · Best Musical Theater Album
  2. 2022
    • Critics Choice Award, won
  3. 2014
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Variety Special
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Writing for a Variety Special
    • +1 other major body · 1 nomination
      • Grammy Award, nominated · Best Spoken Word Album
  4. 2012
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Special Class Programs
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Writing for a Variety Special
  5. 2004
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program
  6. 2002
    • Directors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Movies for Television
  7. 2001
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Directing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Made for Television Movie
  8. 2000
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program
Show 12 earlier years
  1. 1998
    • Primetime Emmy, won · Outstanding Performance in a Variety or Music Program
  2. 1997
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Performance in a Variety or Music Program
  3. 1996
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program
  4. 1993
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program
    • Golden Globe, nominated · Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical
  5. 1992
    • Primetime Emmy, won · Outstanding Individual Achievement in Writing in a Variety or Music Program
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program
    • Golden Globe, nominated · Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical
  6. 1991
    • Primetime Emmy, won · Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program
    • Primetime Emmy, won · Outstanding Writing in a Variety or Music Program
  7. 1990
    • Primetime Emmy, won · Outstanding Writing in a Variety or Music Program
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Special
    • Golden Globe, nominated · Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical
  8. 1989
    • Primetime Emmy, won · Outstanding Performance in Special Events
  9. 1988
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Individual Achievement - Special Events
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program
  10. 1987
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program
  11. 1986
    • Grammy Award, nominated · Best Comedy Recording
  12. 1985
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music 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 Billy Crystal's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 65th percentile, the median of all 44; across their 45 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 63rd percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

63rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 45

Approval · how many liked their films

68thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 45

Reach · how many have seen their films

79thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 45

Midcredits score across 56 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up23
  • 50th to 74th13
  • 25th to 49th11
  • Below 25th9

Shape of the crowd

18 of their 56 titles are Mixed.

  • Universally Loved13
  • Universally Panned2
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser16
  • Broadly Agreed6
  • Mixed18

Most divisive · actor

Goodnight Moon & Other Sleepytime Tales (1999)

85th percentile spread · 19% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Monsters, Inc. (2001)

Midcredits 99th · 92% liked

Reviewers score the acting 70/100 in their films, across 32 reviewed titles; fans 79, detractors 48. 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 Billy Crystal's work okay for kids?

Across up to 20 MovieCove titles with content scores, profanity runs heavier than most films and violence & gore lighter.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore13 titles7–54 · median 33 · mildlighter than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity20 titles15–60 · median 34 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity15 titles14–90 · median 54 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs12 titles9–43 · median 31 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense10 titles17–42 · median 30 · 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 Billy Crystal work with?

People who share at least 2 of Billy Crystal's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Babaloo Mandel shares the most, 6.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles