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Paul Reubens

Paul Reubens

Actor, also writer, producer and director · Died July 30, 2023, aged 70 · Peekskill, New York, USA

Primetime Emmy winner · 2 other major award bodies

Paul Reubens (August 27, 1952 – July 30, 2023) was an American actor, writer, film producer, game show host, and comedian, best known for his character Pee-wee Herman. Reubens joined the Los Angeles troupe The Groundlings in the 1970s and started his career as an improvisational comedian and stage actor. In 1982 he began appearing in a show about a character he had been developing for years. The show, called The Pee-wee Herman Show, ran for five sold-out months, and HBO produced a successful special about it. Pee-wee became an instant cult figure and, for the next decade, Reubens was completely committed to his character, doing all of his public appearances and interviews as Pee-wee. His feature film Pee-wee's Big Adventure (1985), directed by the then-unknown Tim Burton, was a financial and critical success and soon developed into a cult film. Its sequel, Big Top Pee-wee (1988), was less successful. Between 1986 and 1990, Reubens starred as Pee-wee in the CBS Saturday-morning children's program Pee-wee's Playhouse.

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
August 27, 1952
Died
July 30, 2023 (aged 70)
From
Peekskill, New York, USA
Works as
Actor, also writer, producer and director
Titles
76 on MovieCove · 115 credits in all

What are Paul Reubens' films like?

Across their 37 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Self and Bonds.

What they feel like to watch

their average across 32 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category

Light 28 · Serious 1 · Dark 3

A split, not a type: Grounded 7 · Stylized 11 · Heightened 14

A split, not a type: Gentle 16 · Charged 14 · Intense 2

Steady 21 · Shifting 6 · Whiplash 5

Straight-faced 5 · Some laughs 5 · Funny 22

Slow burn 10 · Even-paced 17 · Relentless 5

Casual 26 · Engaged 5 · Full focus 1

Resolved 29 · Open-ended 2 · Ambiguous 1

Roles they play

14 analyzed roles

Usually the Hero: 6 of 14 analyzed roles.

Hero
6 of 14
Trickster
4 of 14
Ally
1 of 14
Mentor
1 of 14
Threshold guardian
1 of 14
Shadow
1 of 14
Show the 14 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Absurd
22
Joyful
19
Warm
12
Hopeful
10
Melancholic
9
Other
29

How their films end · 2 with a twist

  • Happy23
  • Bittersweet8
  • 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 Paul Reubens' films?

As of October 24, 2026, 52 of their 76 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (16).

Subscription and free streaming for Paul Reubens' 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

115 credits, 76 with a MovieCove page; 22 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Pee-wee as Himself(2025)

    Show 2 episodes · Executive Producer · as Self

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all shows
  • The House From...(2024)

    In Memory Of

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films
  • Devo(2024)

    as Pee-wee Herman (archive footage)

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films
  • Quiz Lady(2023)

    as Francine's Crush

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films
  • The Crown with a Shadow (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2021)

    as Oliver (voice)

  • What We Do in the Shadows(2019)

    Show 1 episode · as Paul

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all shows
  • Minecraft: Story Mode (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    Show 5 episodes · as Ivor (voice)

  • The Conners(2018)

    Show 1 episode · as Sandy Bitensky

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all shows
  • Mosaic(2018)

    Show 6 episodes · as JC Schiffer

    Midcredits score: 22nd percentile of all shows
  • Pee-wee's Big Holiday(2016)

    Producer · Writer · as Pee-wee Herman

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all films
  • Legends of Tomorrow(2016)

    Show 5 episodes · as Dybbuk (voice)

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all shows
  • Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films
  • Accidental Love(2015)

    as Edwin

    Midcredits score: 2nd percentile of all films
  • Penn Zero: Part-Time Hero(2014)

    Show 2 episodes · as The Butterman (voice) · as The Milkman (voice)

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all shows
  • Lego DC Comics: Batman Be-Leaguered(2014)

    as Bat-Mite (voice)

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films
  • Star Wars: Rebels(2014)

    Show 1 episode · as RX-24 (voice)

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all shows
  • Gotham(2014)

    Show 3 episodes · as Elijah Van Dahl

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all shows
  • Robot Chicken DC Comics Special II: Villains in Paradise(2014)

    as The Riddler / Sunbather (voice)

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films
  • Scooby-Doo! Mecha Mutt Menace(2013)

    as Irv (voice)

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films
  • The Blacklist(2013)

    Show 5 episodes · as Mr. Vargas

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all shows
  • Tom and Jerry's Giant Adventure(2013)

    as Screwy Squirrel (voice)

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films
  • The Smurfs 2(2013)

    as Jokey Smurf (voice)

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films
  • The Final Moments of Karl Brant (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    as Bennett Ferryman

  • Robot Chicken: DC Comics Special(2012)

    as The Riddler (voice)

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films
  • Comedy Bang! Bang!(2012)

    Show 1 episode · as Pee-Wee Herman

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all shows
  • Tron: Uprising(2012)

    Show 18 episodes · as Pavel

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all shows
  • Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness(2011)

    Show 1 episode · as Ju-Long (voice)

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all shows
  • The Smurfs(2011)

    as Jokey Smurf (voice)

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films
  • WWE WrestleMania XXVII (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    as Pee-wee Herman (Appearance)

  • The Pee-wee Herman Show on Broadway (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    Writer · as Pee-wee Herman

  • Portlandia(2011)

    Show 1 episode · as Weirdos' Lawyer

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all shows
  • Bob's Burgers(2011)

    Show 1 episode · as Pat (voice)

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all shows
  • Life During Wartime(2009)

    as Andy Kornbluth

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films
  • Adventure Time(2010)

    Show 1 episode · as Gnome Ruler/Dancing Bug (voice)

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows
  • Gavin McInnes is a Fucking Asshole (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    as Pee-Wee Herman (archive footage)

  • Batman: The Brave and the Bold(2008)

    Show 4 episodes · as Bat-Mite (voice)

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all shows
  • Chowder(2007)

    Show 2 episodes · as Reuben (voice)

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all shows
  • Pushing Daisies(2007)

    Show 2 episodes · as Oscar Vibenius

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all shows
  • Reno 911!: Miami(2007)

    as Sir Terrence

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films
  • Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!(2007)

    Show 1 episode · as The Moon

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all shows
  • Dirt (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    Show 3 episodes · as Chuck Lafoon

  • Area 57(2007)

    as The Alien

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)
  • Re-Animated(2006)

    as Golly Gopher (voice)

    Midcredits score: 4th percentile of all films
  • 30 Rock(2006)

    Show 1 episode · as Gerhardt

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows
  • The Tripper(2006)

    as Frank Baker

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films
  • Campus Ladies (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Hopeless Pictures (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Show 8 episodes · Actor

  • American Dad!(2005)

    Show 1 episode · as Wyatt Borden (voice)

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows
  • Tom Goes to the Mayor(2004)

    Show 1 episode · as Paul (voice)

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all shows
  • Best Week Ever (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Teacher's Pet(2004)

    as Dennis (voice)

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films
  • Reno 911! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Show 1 episode · as Rick

  • Rugrats: Babies in Toyland (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    as Hermie the Elf (voice)

  • The Groovenians (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    as Jet/The Bubbie

  • The Groovenians (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Show 1 episode · as Jet / The Bubble (voice)

  • You Don't Know Jack (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Show 6 episodes · as Troy Stevens

  • Blow(2001)

    as Derek Foreal

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films
  • South of Heaven, West of Hell(2000)

    as Arvid Henry

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all films
  • Mystery Men(1999)

    as Spleen

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films
  • Doctor Dolittle(1998)

    as Raccoon (voice)

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films
  • Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films
  • Ally McBeal(1997)

    Show 1 episode · as Louis

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all shows
  • Buddy(1997)

    as Professor Spatz

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films
  • Everybody Loves Raymond(1996)

    Show 1 episode · as Russell

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all shows
  • Matilda(1996)

    as FBI Agent

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films
  • Dunston Checks In(1996)

    as Buck LaFarge

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all films
  • Serial Mom(1994)

    Thanks

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films
  • The Nightmare Before Christmas(1993)

    as Lock (voice)

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films
  • Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films
  • Batman Returns(1992)

    as Penguin's Father

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films
  • The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Sesame Street: Sing Yourself Silly! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    as Pee-Wee Herman (archive footage)

  • Mel Gibson's Unauthorized Video Diary (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    as Pee-wee Herman

  • Christmas at Pee-wee's Playhouse(1988)

    Director · Executive Producer · Writer · as Pee-wee Herman

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films
  • Murphy Brown (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Show 6 episodes · as Andrew J. Lansing III

  • Moonwalker(1988)

    as Pee-wee Herman (voice) (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films
  • Sesame Street: Put Down the Duckie(1988)

    as Pee-wee Herman

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films
  • Big Top Pee-wee(1988)

    Producer · Writer · as Pee-wee Herman

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films
  • It's Howdy Doody Time: A 40-Year Celebration (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    as Pee-wee Herman

  • Dolly (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Show 1 episode · as Pee-wee Herman

  • Back to the Beach(1987)

    as Pee-Wee Herman

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films
  • Pee-wee's Playhouse(1986)

    Show 45 episodes · Director · Creator · Producer · Writer · as Pee-wee Herman

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all shows
  • Flight of the Navigator(1986)

    as Max (voice)

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films
  • 227(1985)

    Show 1 episode · as Pee-Wee Herman

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all shows
  • All-Star Rock 'N' Wrestling Saturday Spectacular (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    as Pee-Wee Herman

  • Pee-wee's Big Adventure(1985)

    Set Decoration · Writer · as Pee-wee Herman

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films
  • MTV Video Music Awards (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Show 1 episode · as Pee-wee Herman

  • Meatballs Part II(1984)

    as Albert

    Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all films
  • Pinocchio (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    as Pinocchio

  • Cheeseball Presents (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    as Pee-Wee Herman

  • The Paragon of Comedy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    as Arnie / Pee-wee Herman

  • Likely Stories Vol. 2 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Actor

  • Madame's Place (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 1 episode · as Pee Wee Herman

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

    Show 1 episode · as Guest Interviewee · as Pinocchio

  • Lily for President? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    as Pee Wee Herman

  • Pandemonium(1982)

    as Johnson

    Midcredits score: 22nd percentile of all films
  • Twilight Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    as Pee Wee Herman

  • Dream on! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Actor

  • The Pee-Wee Herman Show(1981)

    Director · Executive Producer · Stage Director · Writer · as Pee-wee Herman

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films
  • Nice Dreams(1981)

    as Howie Hamburger Dude

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films
  • The Flintstone Comedy Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    Show 126 episodes · as Freaky Frankenstone

  • The Frankenstones (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    Show 11 episodes · as Freaky Frankenstone (voice)

  • Cheech and Chong's Next Movie(1980)

    as Pee Wee Herman / Desk Clerk (Groundling)

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films
  • The Blues Brothers(1980)

    as Waiter

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films
  • Pray TV(1980)

    as Jack Chudnowski

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films
  • Steve Martin: Comedy Is Not Pretty(1980)

    as Cafe Counter Guy

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films
  • Midnight Madness(1980)

    as Pinball City Proprietor

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films
  • Working Stiffs (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Mork & Mindy(1978)

    Show 1 episode · as Dickie Nimitz

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all shows
  • School, Girls, and You! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    as Wally Bile

  • Saturday Night Live(1975)

    Show 1 episode · as Pee-Wee Herman - Host · as Pee-Wee Herman (uncredited) · as Self - Cameo (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all shows
  • A Comedy in Six Unnatural Acts (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Actor

  • The Brotherhood(1968)

    as Wedding Guest (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films
  • Golden Globe Awards (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1944)

    Show 1 episode · as Pee-wee Herman - Presenter

  • Twilight Park (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    as Carny/Mime

Career shape

Star power in the 99th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 115 titles, 114 of them dated from 1944 to 2025; peak year 1987.

Film career

MilestoneBreakoutNomination
19442025

Peak 1987 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Top draw in 11 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
Acting112 of 115: 105 only acting, 7 with another role · typical Midcredits score56thDirecting3 of 115: 0 only directing, 3 with another roleWriting7 of 115: 0 only writing, 7 with another role · typical Midcredits score83rdProducing6 of 115: 1 only producing, 5 with another role · typical Midcredits score91stOther crew5 of 115: 2 only other crew, 3 with another role · typical Midcredits score78th

115 titles, 7 with more than one role — acting and writing overlap on 7 of them.

By decade

1940s1 · acting1960s1 · acting1970s5 · acting1980s35 · 35 acting · 5 crew1990s14 · 13 acting · 1 crew2000s23 · acting2010s30 · 30 acting · 2 crew2020s5 · 3 acting · 2 crew

Billing

usually 6th · top billed in 17% of 36 roles
6883939808

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 Primetime Emmy and 2 other major awards from 6 major nominations, 1989–2026.

WinNomination
  1. 2026
    • Producers Guild Award, won · Outstanding Producer of Non-Fiction Television
    • Independent Spirit Award, won · Best New Non-Scripted or Documentary Series
  2. 2025
    • Primetime Emmy, won · Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special
  3. 2011
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Special
  4. 1995
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series
  5. 1989
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Art Direction for 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 Paul Reubens' films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 52nd percentile, the median of all 48; across their 32 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 56th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

56thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 32

Approval · how many liked their films

53rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 32

Reach · how many have seen their films

80thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 32

Midcredits score across 76 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up28
  • 50th to 74th21
  • 25th to 49th13
  • Below 25th14

Shape of the crowd

26 of their 76 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved17
  • Universally Panned1
  • Divisive1
  • Cult Classic3
  • Crowd Pleaser26
  • Broadly Agreed2
  • Mixed26

Reviewers score the acting 65/100 in their films, across 24 reviewed titles; fans 74, 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 Paul Reubens' work okay for kids?

Across up to 15 MovieCove titles with content scores, every category sits near the median of all films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore12 titles5–55 · median 35 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity15 titles8–48 · median 28 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity11 titles15–64 · median 27 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs10 titles0–39 · median 26 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense13 titles20–55 · 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 Paul Reubens work with?

People who share at least 2 of Paul Reubens' MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Danny Elfman shares the most, 4.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles