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John C. Reilly

John C. Reilly

Actor, also producer and writer · Born May 24, 1965 (61) · Chicago, Illinois, USA

Screen Actors Guild Award winner · Oscar nominee · Golden Globe nominee · 3 other major award bodies

John Christopher Reilly (born May 24, 1965) is an American actor. A character actor, he is known for leading and supporting roles in both independent films and major studio features. The recipient of various accolades, Reilly is one of only two people to have been nominated for an Emmy Award, a Grammy Award, an Academy Award, and a Tony Award (EGOT) without winning any. Reilly started his career in the late 1980s, gaining recognition for his supporting roles in Casualties of War (1989), Days of Thunder (1990), Hard Eight(1996), Boogie Nights (1997), Magnolia (1999), Gangs of New York (2002) and The Aviator (2004). For his performance in the musical film Chicago (2002), he received nominations for the Academy Award and the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor. Greater recognition came from Reilly's roles in comedy films Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby (2006), Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story (2007), and Step Brothers (2008), in addition to his role as Dr. Steve Brule in the Adult Swimcomedy series Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! (2007–2010) and spinoff Check It Out! with Dr. Steve Brule (2010–2016). He provided the voice of the titular character in the Wreck-It Ralph films (2012–⁠2018). He starred in the independent films Cyrus (2010), We Need to Talk About Kevin and Carnage (both 2011), The Lobster (2015), The Sisters Brothers, and Stan & Ollie (both 2018). For his portrayal of comedian Oliver Hardy in the latter, he received critical acclaim and award nominations. Reilly subsequently co-created and starred in the Showtime comedy series Moonbase 8 (2020) and the HBO sports drama series Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty (2022–2023). He also earned a nomination for the Children's and Family Emmy Award for his role in the Disney+ animated short film An Almost Christmas Story (2024). On stage, he received a nomination for the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play for his role in the Broadway revival of Sam Shepard's play True West (2000). Aside from acting, Reilly also performs with his band John Reilly and Friends. Description above from the Wikipedia article John C. Reilly, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
May 24, 1965 (61)
From
Chicago, Illinois, USA
Works as
Actor, also producer and writer
Titles
85 on MovieCove · 112 credits in all

What are John C. Reilly's films like?

Across their 69 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Self and Bonds.

What they feel like to watch

their average across 63 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category

A split, not a type: Light 24 · Serious 16 · Dark 23

A split, not a type: Grounded 28 · Stylized 19 · Heightened 16

A split, not a type: Gentle 20 · Charged 21 · Intense 22

Steady 23 · Shifting 28 · Whiplash 12

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 25 · Some laughs 20 · Funny 18

Slow burn 29 · Even-paced 29 · Relentless 5

A split, not a type: Casual 32 · Engaged 22 · Full focus 9

A split, not a type: Easy watch 28 · Affecting 11 · Heavy 24

Resolved 37 · Open-ended 15 · Ambiguous 11

Roles they play

46 analyzed roles

Usually the Ally: 12 of 46 analyzed roles.

Ally
12 of 46
Hero
12 of 46
Mentor
9 of 46
Shadow
4 of 46
Trickster
3 of 46
Threshold guardian
3 of 46
Shapeshifter
2 of 46
Herald
1 of 46
Show the 46 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
29
Absurd
25
Melancholic
28
Joyful
16
Warm
17
Other
75

How their films end · 10 with a twist

  • Happy15
  • Bittersweet36
  • Tragic2
  • Ambiguous14
  • Cyclical2

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 John C. Reilly's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 53 of their 85 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (26).

Subscription and free streaming for John C. Reilly'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

112 credits, 85 with a MovieCove page; 26 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • DreamQuil(2026)

    as Gary

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films
  • How to Rob a Bank (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2026)

    as Agent West

  • Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films
  • Heads or Tails?(2025)

    as Buffalo Bill

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films
  • Bday Private Dick (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2025)

    as Detective

  • G*ve a F*ck LA: A Benefit for LA Fire Relief (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2025)

    as Host

  • An Almost Christmas Story(2024)

    as The Folk Singer (voice)

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films
  • Once Upon a Studio(2023)

    as Wreck-It-Ralph (voice)

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films
  • Minions & More 2 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    as Eddie (voice)

  • Stars at Noon(2022)

    as American Magazine Editor

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films
  • Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty(2022)

    Show 17 episodes · as Jerry Buss

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all shows
  • O Night Divine (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2021)

    as Kristof

  • Licorice Pizza(2021)

    as Fred Gwynne / Herman Munster (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films
  • Ultra City Smiths (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2021)

    Show 6 episodes · as Donovan Smith (voice)

  • Moonbase 8(2020)

    Show 6 episodes · Creator · Executive Producer · Writer · as Cap

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all shows
  • Stan & Ollie(2018)

    as Oliver "Ollie" Hardy

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films
  • Holmes & Watson(2018)

    as Dr. Watson

    Midcredits score: 2nd percentile of all films
  • Ralph Breaks the Internet(2018)

    Additional Writing · as Ralph (voice)

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films
  • The Sisters Brothers(2018)

    Producer · Thanks · as Eli Sisters

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films
  • Tim and Eric Awesome Show Great Job! Awesome 10 Year Anniversary Version, Great Job? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    as Dr. Steve Brule

  • The Little Hours(2017)

    as Father Tommasso

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films
  • Eddie's Life Coach(2017)

    as Eddie (voice)

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films
  • Kong: Skull Island(2017)

    as Hank Marlow

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films
  • Sing(2016)

    as Eddie (voice)

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films
  • Les Cowboys(2015)

    as American in Pakistan

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films
  • Entertainment(2015)

    as John

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films
  • The Lobster(2015)

    as Lisping Man

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films
  • Tale of Tales(2015)

    as King of Longtrellis

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films
  • Bagboy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    Executive Producer · Writer · as Dr. Steve Brule

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

    as Father (segment "Ham")

  • Stone Quackers(2014)

    Show 12 episodes · Producer · as Officer Barry

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all shows
  • Tim and Eric's Bedtime Stories(2013)

    Show 1 episode · as Jordan

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all shows
  • Life After Beth(2014)

    as Maury Slocum

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all films
  • Guardians of the Galaxy(2014)

    as Corpsman Dey

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films
  • Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues(2013)

    as Ghost of Stonewall Jackson (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all films
  • Wreck-It Ralph(2012)

    Additional Writing · as Ralph (voice)

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films
  • The Dictator(2012)

    as Clayton (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films
  • 8(2012)

    as David Blankenhorn

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films
  • Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films
  • Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films
  • Carnage(2011)

    as Michael Longstreet

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all films
  • Terri(2011)

    as Mr. Fitzgerald

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films
  • Fight for Your Right Revisited (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    as Mike D (B-Boys 2)

  • Cedar Rapids(2011)

    as Dean Ziegler

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films
  • John and Will's Animal Choices (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    as John

  • Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    as Bing Crosby

  • Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! Chrimbus Special (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    as Dr. Steve Brule

  • The Extra Man(2010)

    as Gershon Gruen

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films
  • Cyrus(2010)

    as John Kilpatrick

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all films
  • Check It Out! with Dr. Steve Brule(2010)

    Show 24 episodes · Creator · Executive Producer · Writer · as Dr. Steve Brule

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all shows
  • Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all films
  • 9(2009)

    as #5 (voice)

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films
  • Prop 8: The Musical (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    as Prop 8 Leader

  • Step Brothers(2008)

    Story · as Dale Doback

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films
  • The Promotion(2008)

    as Richard Wehlner

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films
  • Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story(2007)

    Songs · as Dewey Cox

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films
  • Green Team (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    as Jim Smegg

  • Year of the Dog(2007)

    as Al

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films
  • Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!(2007)

    Show 24 episodes · as Dr. Steve Brule · as Dr. Steve Brule (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all shows
  • Tenacious D in the Pick of Destiny(2006)

    as Sasquatch (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films
  • Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films
  • Ricky Bobby: Sports Century (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    as Cal Naughton Jr. (archive footage)

  • Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films
  • Dark Water(2005)

    as Mr. Murray

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all films
  • Are You the Favorite Person of Anybody? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Actor

  • The Aviator(2004)

    as Noah Dietrich

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films
  • Tom Goes to the Mayor(2004)

    Show 1 episode · as John (voice)

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all shows
  • Criminal(2004)

    as Richard Gaddis

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films
  • Cracking Up (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Show 1 episode · as Steve Evers

  • Piggie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    as Russell

  • Anger Management(2003)

    as Older Arnie Shankman (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films
  • The Hours(2002)

    as Dan Brown

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films
  • Gangs of New York(2002)

    as Happy Jack

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films
  • Chicago(2002)

    as Amos Hart

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films
  • The Good Girl(2002)

    as Phil Last

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films
  • Frank's Book (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    as Frank

  • The Anniversary Party(2001)

    as Mac Forsyth

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films
  • The Perfect Storm(2000)

    as Dale "Murp" Murphy

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films
  • Skipped Parts(2000)

    as Cowboy at Pool Table (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all films
  • Magnolia(1999)

    as Officer Jim Kurring

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films
  • For Love of the Game(1999)

    as Gus Sinski

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films
  • Never Been Kissed(1999)

    as Gus Strauss

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films
  • The Settlement(1999)

    as Pat

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films
  • The Thin Red Line(1998)

    as Sgt. Maynard Storm

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films
  • Happiness(1998)

    Thanks

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films
  • Chicago Cab(1997)

    as Steve

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films
  • Flagpole Special (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Actor

  • Tenacious D(1997)

    Show 1 episode · as Sasquatch

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all shows
  • Boogie Nights(1997)

    as Reed Rothchild

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films
  • Hard Eight(1996)

    as John

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films
  • Nightwatch(1997)

    as Bill Davis (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films
  • Boys(1996)

    as Officer Kellogg Curry

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films
  • Georgia(1995)

    as Herman

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films
  • Dolores Claiborne(1995)

    as Const. Frank Stamshaw

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films
  • The River Wild(1994)

    as Terry

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films
  • What's Eating Gilbert Grape(1993)

    as Tucker Van Dyke

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films
  • Fallen Angels (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as Martin Lonsdale

  • Hoffa(1992)

    as Pete Connelly

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films
  • Out on a Limb(1992)

    as Jim Jr.

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films
  • The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Show 3 episodes · Actor

  • Shadows and Fog(1991)

    as Cop at Police Station

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films
  • State of Grace(1990)

    as Stevie

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films
  • Days of Thunder(1990)

    as Buck Bretherton

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films
  • The Simpsons(1989)

    Show 1 episode · as John C. Reilly (voice)

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows
  • Casualties of War(1989)

    as Private Herbert Hatcher

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films
  • We're No Angels(1989)

    as Young Monk

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films
  • Live with Kelly and Mark(1988)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all shows
  • Above the Law(1988)

    as Thug in Bar (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films
  • Nero Wolfe (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Ceasefire (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    as Bruce Morrison

  • Sponsor (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    as Jerry

  • The Players (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    as Edwin Forrest

Career shape

Star power in the 99th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 112 titles, 107 of them dated from 1981 to 2026; peak year 2011.

Film career

MilestoneAward winNomination
19812026

Peak 2011 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Top draw in 36 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 4 more milestones

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting111 of 112: 103 only acting, 8 with another role · typical Midcredits score62ndWriting4 of 112: 0 only writing, 4 with another roleProducing4 of 112: 0 only producing, 4 with another roleOther crew7 of 112: 1 only other crew, 6 with another role · typical Midcredits score80th

112 titles, 8 with more than one role — acting and other crew overlap on 6 of them.

By decade

1980s6 · acting1990s24 · 23 acting · 1 crew2000s29 · 29 acting · 2 crew2010s35 · 35 acting · 5 crew2020s13 · 13 acting · 1 crew

Billing

usually 4th · top billed in 11% of 64 roles
899499040914

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

a Screen Actors Guild Award and 1 other major award from 19 major nominations, 1998–2019.

WinNomination
  1. 2019
    • Golden Globe, nominated · Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy
    • +1 other major body · 1 nomination
      • Critics Choice Award, nominated · Best Actor in a Comedy
  2. 2012
    • Independent Spirit Award, nominated · Best Supporting Male
  3. 2011
    • Independent Spirit Award, nominated · Best Male Lead
  4. 2009
    • Grammy Award, nominated · Best Song Written for Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media
  5. 2008
    • Golden Globe, nominated · Best Original Song - Motion Picture
    • Golden Globe, nominated · Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical
  6. 2007
    • Critics Choice Award, nominated · Best Acting Ensemble
  7. 2005
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
  8. 2003
    • Oscar, nominated · Best Actor in a Supporting Role
    • Golden Globe, nominated · Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, won · Outstanding Performance by the Cast of a Theatrical Motion Picture
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by the Cast of a Theatrical Motion Picture
    • +2 other major bodies · 1 win and 2 nominations
      • Critics Choice Award, won · Best Acting Ensemble
      • Critics Choice Award, nominated · Best Acting Ensemble
      • Independent Spirit Award, nominated · Best Supporting Male
Show 3 earlier years
  1. 2002
    • Independent Spirit Award, nominated · Best Supporting Male
  2. 2000
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Theatrical Motion Picture
  3. 1998
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by a Cast

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 John C. Reilly's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 61st percentile, the median of all 75; across their 63 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 67th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

67thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 63

Approval · how many liked their films

66thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 63

Reach · how many have seen their films

94thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 63

Midcredits score across 85 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up34
  • 50th to 74th25
  • 25th to 49th21
  • Below 25th5

Shape of the crowd

38 of their 85 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved15
  • Divisive3
  • Cult Classic2
  • Crowd Pleaser38
  • Broadly Agreed9
  • Mixed18

Reviewers score the acting 75/100 in their films, across 58 reviewed titles; fans 83, detractors 52. 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 John C. Reilly's work okay for kids?

Across up to 46 MovieCove titles with content scores, sex & nudity and profanity run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore40 titles20–85 · median 47 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity46 titles11–72 · median 44 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity42 titles17–90 · median 64 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs39 titles15–77 · median 41 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense39 titles16–80 · median 44 · moderatenear 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 John C. Reilly work with?

People who share at least 2 of John C. Reilly's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Tim Heidecker shares the most, 5.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers and cinematographers

Producers

Mixed roles