Ben Stiller

Actor, producer and director, also writer · Born November 30, 1965 (60) · New York City, New York, USA

Primetime Emmy winner · 3 other major award bodies

Benjamin Edward Meara Stiller (born November 30, 1965) is an American actor, comedian, and filmmaker. Known for his blend of slapstick humor and sharp wit, Stiller rose to fame through comedies such as There's Something About Mary (1998), Zoolander (2001), and Tropic Thunder (2008). Stiller is also known for his work in franchises such as the Meet the Parents films (2000–2010), the Madagascar franchise (2005–2012), and the Night at the Museum films (2006–2014). His films have grossed over $2.6 billion in Canada and the United States, with an average of $79 million per film. His awards and honors include an Emmy Award, a Directors Guild of America Award, a Britannia Award and a Teen Choice Award. Stiller is the son of the comedians and actors Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara. He began his career writing mockumentaries and was offered a variety sketch series, The Ben Stiller Show, which he produced and hosted for its 13-episode run. The series ran on MTV in 1990 and Fox in 1992 and 1993, earning him a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Variety Program. Stiller was a member of a group of comedic actors colloquially known as the Frat Pack. Transitioning to acting in films, Stiller made his directorial debut with Reality Bites (1994) and went on to direct and star in films such as The Cable Guy (1996) and The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (2013). He also starred in a string of successful studio comedies, including Along Came Polly (2004), Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story (2004), Starsky & Hutch (2004), and Tower Heist (2011). His performances in independent films include Flirting with Disaster (1996), The Royal Tenenbaums (2001), and the Noah Baumbach films Greenberg (2010), While We're Young (2014), and The Meyerowitz Stories (2017). Since the mid-2010s, Stiller has primarily worked as a television director and showrunner. In 2018, he directed the Showtime limited series Escape at Dannemora, earning a Directors Guild of America Award and two Primetime Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Limited Series and Outstanding Directing for a Limited Series. In 2022, he was a director and executive producer on the Apple TV+ series Severance, earning two Primetime Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Drama Series and Outstanding Directing in a Drama Series.

Biography from TMDB.

Born: November 30, 1965 (60)
From: New York City, New York, USA
Works as: Actor, producer and director, also writer
Titles: 129 on MovieCove · 176 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 17% in 30 days

What are Ben Stiller's films like?

Across their 85 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Self.

Genres

Comedy46 titles50^th

Documentary9 titles72^nd

Animation7 titles69^th

Action6 titles49^th

Adventure6 titles55^th

Drama2 titles31^st

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

36%

Self

30%

Society

12%

Ideas

Morality

Power

Survival

Friendship23 Romantic love20 Family bonds20 Self-worth20 Purpose15 Community13 Identity11 Ambition12

What they feel like to watch

their average across 80 films

ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category

Earnest

Tone · Sincerity

ironicearnest

Ironic 14 · Wry 5 · Earnest 61

Light

Tone · Weight

lightdark

Light 66 · Serious 8 · Dark 6

Stylized

Tone · Style

naturalisticheightened

A split, not a type: Grounded 44 · Stylized 23 · Heightened 13

Charged

Feel · Intensity

gentleintense

Gentle 31 · Charged 44 · Intense 5

Shifting

Feel · Swings

steadyswings

A split, not a type: Steady 41 · Shifting 28 · Whiplash 11

Funny

Feel · Humor

noneconstant

Straight-faced 5 · Some laughs 22 · Funny 53

Even-paced

Demand · Pace

slowrelentless

Slow burn 25 · Even-paced 48 · Relentless 7

Casual

Demand · Attention

casualfull focus

Casual 65 · Engaged 13 · Full focus 2

Easy watch

Demand · Emotional cost

easyheavy

Easy watch 62 · Affecting 11 · Heavy 7

Resolved

Demand · Resolution

resolvedambiguous

Resolved 69 · Open-ended 8 · Ambiguous 3

Roles they play

43 analyzed roles

Usually the Hero: 32 of 43 analyzed roles.

Hero

32 of 43

Shadow

5 of 43

Trickster

2 of 43

Ally

2 of 43

Herald

1 of 43

Mentor

1 of 43

Show the 43 roles

Tricksteras Chris Honeywell in Hot Pursuit (1987)
Allyas Tipton in Fresh Horses (1988)
Heraldas Michael Grates in Reality Bites (1994)
Heroas Mel Coplin in Flirting with Disaster (1996)
Tricksteras Bwick Elias in If Lucy Fell (1996)
Heroas Jerry in Your Friends and Neighbors (1998)
Shadowas Jerry Stahl in Permanent Midnight (1998)
Allyas Steve Arlo in Zero Effect (1998)
Heroas Ted in There's Something About Mary (1998)
Heroas Mr. Furious in Mystery Men (1999)
Heroas Rabbi Jake Schram in Keeping the Faith (2000)
Heroas Greg Focker in Meet the Parents (2000)
Heroas Derek Zoolander in Zoolander (2001)
Heroas Alex Rose in Duplex (2003)
Shadowas Tim Dingman in Envy (2004)
Shadowas White Goodman in Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story (2004)
Heroas Reuben Feffer in Along Came Polly (2004)
Heroas David Starsky in Starsky & Hutch (2004)
Heroas Greg Focker in Meet the Fockers (2004)
Heroas Alex in Madagascar (2005)
Heroas Larry Daley in Night at the Museum (2006)
Heroas Eddie in The Heartbreak Kid (2007)
Shadowas Tugg Speedman in Tropic Thunder: Rain of Madness (2008)
Heroas Alex in Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa (2008)
Heroas Tugg Speedman in Tropic Thunder (2008)
Mentoras Jon Gribble in The Marc Pease Experience (2009)
Heroas Larry Daley in Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian (2009)
Heroas Alex in Merry Madagascar (2009)
Shadowas Roger Greenberg in Greenberg (2010)
Heroas Greg Focker in Little Fockers (2010)
Heroas Roger Greenberg in Greenberg (2010)
Heroas Josh Kovacs in Tower Heist (2011)
Heroas Evan in The Watch (2012)
Heroas Alex in Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted (2012)
Heroas Walter Mitty in The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (2013)
Heroas Alex in Madly Madagascar (2013)
Heroas Larry Daley in Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb (2014)
Heroas Josh in While We're Young (2014)
Heroas Derek Zoolander in Zoolander 2 (2016)
Heroas Derek Zoolander in Zoolander: Super Model (2016)
Heroas Brad Sloan in Brad's Status (2017)
Heroas Mike Maxwell in Nutcrackers (2024)
Heroas Dustin in The Dink (2026)

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Absurd

Joyful

Warm

Tense

Bittersweet

Other

How their films linger

Fun47 Feel-good48 Hopeful26 Bittersweet15 Wistful11 Thought-provoking10

How their films end · 9 with a twist

Happy46
Bittersweet28
Tragic3
Ambiguous7
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 Ben Stiller's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 86 of their 129 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Paramount+ (18).

Also on these channels

FOX One2 titles, show their 2 titles on FOX One
Lionsgate+2 titles, show their 2 titles on Lionsgate+
MovieSphere+2 titles, show their 2 titles on MovieSphere+
Sony Pictures Core2 titles, show their 2 titles on Sony Pictures Core
Sundance Now2 titles, show their 2 titles on Sundance Now
Acorn TV1 title, show their title on Acorn TV
Dox1 title, show their title on Dox
Howdy1 title, show their title on Howdy
Magnolia Selects1 title, show their title on Magnolia Selects

Subscription and free streaming for Ben Stiller'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

176 credits, 129 with a MovieCove page; 80 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

Focker-in-Law (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2026)
Producer · as Greg Focker
The Dink(2026)
Producer · as Dr. Stone
Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films
Born to Bowl(2026)
Show 5 episodes · Executive Producer · as Self
Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all shows
The Hanging of Stuart Cornfeld(2025)
Actor
Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)
Stiller & Meara: Nothing Is Lost(2025)
Director · Producer · as Self
Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films
Extremist (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2025)
Executive Producer
Happy Gilmore 2(2025)
as Hal L
Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films
Dear Santa(2024)
as Lucifer (uncredited)
Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films
Nutcrackers(2024)
Executive Producer · as Mike Maxwell
Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all films
Krapopolis(2023)
Show 1 episode · as Prometheus (voice)
Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all shows
Bleecker (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)
Executive Producer · as Dr. Pots
High Desert(2023)
Show 8 episodes · Executive Producer
Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all shows
Bros(2022)
as Ben Stiller (uncredited)
Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films
Severance(2022)
Show 19 episodes · Director · Executive Producer · as Kier Eagan (voice) (uncredited)
Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows
Queenpins(2021)
Producer
Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films
Locked Down(2021)
as Guy
Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films
Sarah Cooper: Everything's Fine(2020)
as 8008s
Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all films
Friendsgiving(2020)
Producer
Midcredits score: 6th percentile of all films
The Flame (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)
Show 9 episodes · Associate Producer
Hubie Halloween(2020)
as Orderly Hal
Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films
Dinner in America(2020)
Producer
Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films
Celebrity Escape Room(2020)
Executive Producer · Writer · as Self
Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films
Have a Good Trip(2020)
Producer · as Self
Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films
Plus One(2019)
Executive Producer
Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films
In the Dark(2019)
Show 52 episodes · Executive Producer
Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all shows
Escape at Dannemora(2018)
Show 7 episodes · Director · Executive Producer
Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all shows
The Package(2018)
Producer
Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films
Alex Strangelove(2018)
Producer
Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films
The Meyerowitz Stories(2017)
as Matthew Meyerowitz
Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films
Brad's Status(2017)
as Brad Sloan
Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films
Why Him?(2016)
Producer
Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films
Zoolander: Super Model(2016)
Producer · Writer · as Derek Zoolander (voice)
Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films
Drake Sather: The Man Who Created Zoolander (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)
Actor
Zoolander 2(2016)
Director · Characters · Producer · Writer · as Derek Zoolander
Midcredits score: 7th percentile of all films
Crash Test: With Rob Huebel and Paul Scheer(2015)
Producer
Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films
Bridget Everett: Gynecological Wonder(2015)
Executive Producer · as Self
Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films
Another Period(2013)
Show 32 episodes · Executive Producer · as Charles Ponzi
Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all shows
While We're Young(2014)
as Josh Schrebnick
Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films
Big Time in Hollywood, FL(2015)
Show 1 episode · Producer · as Jimmy Staats
Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all shows
Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb(2014)
as Larry Daley / Laaa
Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty(2013)
Director · Producer · as Walter Mitty
Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films
The Birthday Boys(2013)
Show 1 episode · Creator · Actor
Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all shows
Here Comes the Night Time (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)
as Fake Arcade Fire Bandmember
He's Way More Famous Than You(2013)
as Ben Stiller
Midcredits score: 7th percentile of all films
Madly Madagascar(2013)
as Alex (voice)
Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films
Le Débarquement (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)
Show 1 episode · Actor
Dreamworks: Holiday Classics (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)
as Alex (voice)
Nantucket Film Festival's Comedy Roundtable(2012)
Producer · as Self - Panelist
Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films
Vamps(2012)
Executive Producer
Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films
The Watch(2012)
as Evan
Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films
Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted(2012)
as Alex (voice)
Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films
Burning Love(2012)
Show 42 episodes · Executive Producer · as Joe
Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all shows
Tower Heist(2011)
as Josh Kovacs
Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films
The Big Year(2011)
Executive Producer
Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films
30 Minutes or Less(2011)
Producer
Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films
The Trip(2010)
as Ben Stiller (uncredited)
Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films
Workaholics(2011)
Show 1 episode · as Del Jacobson
Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows
Submarine(2010)
Executive Producer · as Soap Opera Star (uncredited)
Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films
Eagleheart(2011)
Show 1 episode · as Silly Sammy
Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all shows
Little Fockers(2010)
as Greg Focker
Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films
The Trip(2010)
Show 1 episode · as Ben Stiller
Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows
Megamind(2010)
Executive Producer · as Bernard (voice)
Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films
I'm Still Here(2010)
Thanks · as Ben Stiller
Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films
Greenberg(2010)
as Roger Greenberg
Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films
Monkey Mischief (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)
as Larry Daley
Merry Madagascar(2009)
as Alex (voice)
Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films
The Marc Pease Experience(2009)
as Jon Gribble
Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all films
Funny People(2009)
as Friend in video (archive footage) (uncredited)
Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films
Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian(2009)
as Larry Daley
Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films
The Boys(2009)
Executive Producer · as Self
Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films
Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa(2008)
as Alex (voice)
Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films
Tropic Thunder: Rain of Madness(2008)
as Tugg Speedman
Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films
Tropic Thunder(2008)
Director · Producer · Screenplay · Story · as Tugg Speedman
Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all films
The Ruins(2008)
Executive Producer
Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films
Elmo's Christmas Countdown(2007)
as Stiller the Elf (voice)
Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films
The Heartbreak Kid(2007)
as Eddie Cantrow
Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films
Phineas and Ferb(2007)
Show 1 episode · as Khaka Peü Peü (voice)
Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all shows
Blades of Glory(2007)
Producer
Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films
The Making of 'the Pick of Destiny'(2007)
Producer · as Self
Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)
Night at the Museum(2006)
as Larry Daley
Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films
Tenacious D in the Pick of Destiny(2006)
Executive Producer · as Guitar Center Guy
Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films
School for Scoundrels(2006)
as Lonnie Ratcliff
Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films
The Henry Rollins Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)
Show 1 episode · Actor
Extras(2005)
Show 1 episode · as Ben Stiller
Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all shows
Madagascar(2005)
as Alex (voice)
Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films
Sledge: The Untold Story(2005)
as Commander
Midcredits score: 7th percentile of all films
Meet the Fockers(2004)
as Greg Focker
Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films
Nobody Knows Anything!(2003)
as Peach Expert (uncredited)
Midcredits score: 4th percentile of all films
Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy(2004)
as Arturo Mendes
Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films
Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story(2004)
Producer · as White Goodman
Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films
Envy(2004)
as Tim Dingman
Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films
Starsky & Hutch(2004)
Executive Producer · as David Starsky
Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films
Along Came Polly(2004)
as Reuben Feffer
Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films
Arrested Development(2003)
Show 7 episodes · as Tony Wonder
Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows
Duplex(2003)
Producer · as Alex Rose
Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films
Crooked Lines (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)
Presenter
Pauly Shore Is Dead(2003)
as Ben Stiller (uncredited)
Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films
Prehistoric Planet (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)
Show 6 episodes · as Narrator (voice)
Wish Kids (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)
Show 47 episodes · Actor
Orange County(2002)
as Firefighter (uncredited)
Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films
The Royal Tenenbaums(2001)
as Chas Tenenbaum
Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films
Zoolander(2001)
Director · Characters · Producer · Screenplay · as Derek Zoolander
Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films
Undeclared (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)
Show 1 episode · as Rex
Primetime Glick (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)
Show 1 episode · Actor
Mission: Improbable (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)
as Tom Crooze
The Independent(2000)
as Cop
Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films
Curb Your Enthusiasm(2000)
Show 4 episodes · as Ben Stiller
Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows
Meet the Parents(2000)
as Greg Focker
Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films
Keeping the Faith(2000)
as Rabbi Jake Schram
Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films
The Suburbans(1999)
as Jay Rose
Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all films
Freaks and Geeks(1999)
Show 1 episode · as Agent Meara
Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows
Black & White(1999)
as Mark Clear
Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films
Mystery Men(1999)
as Mr. Furious / Roy
Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films
Family Guy(1999)
Show 1 episode · as Ben Stiller (voice) (uncredited)
Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all shows
Heat Vision and Jack(1999)
Director · Producer · as Self / Strip Club DJ (uncredited)
Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films
The King of Queens(1998)
Show 1 episode · as Jerry - Arthur Spooner’s Father
Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all shows
Permanent Midnight(1998)
as Jerry Stahl
Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films
Your Friends and Neighbors(1998)
as Jerry
Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films
There's Something About Mary(1998)
as Ted Stroehmann
Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films
Zero Effect(1998)
as Steve Arlo
Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films
Derek Zoolander University (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)
Writer · as Derek Zoolander
King of the Hill(1997)
Show 1 episode · as Rich (voice)
Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all shows
Derek Zoolander: Male Model (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)
Writer · as Derek Zoolander
E! True Hollywood Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)
Show 1 episode · Actor
The Cable Guy(1996)
Director · Screenplay · as Sam Sweet
Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films
Saturday Night Special (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)
Show 1 episode · Actor
Flirting with Disaster(1996)
as Mel Coplin
Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films
If Lucy Fell(1996)
as Bwick Elias
Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films
Happy Gilmore(1996)
as Hal L. (uncredited)
Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films
Mr. Show with Bob and David(1995)
Show 1 episode · as Jerry
Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows
Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)
Show 1 episode · Additional Writing · as Ben (voice)
NewsRadio(1995)
Show 1 episode · as Vic
Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all shows
Heavyweights(1995)
as Tony Perkis / Tony Perkis Sr.
Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films
Friends(1994)
Show 1 episode · as Tommy
Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all shows
Space Ghost Coast to Coast(1993)
Show 1 episode · Actor
Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all shows
Duckman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)
Show 1 episode · as Harry Medfly (voice)
Reality Bites(1994)
Director · as Michael Grates
Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films
Frasier(1993)
Show 1 episode · as Barry (voice)
Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows
The Ben Stiller Show(1992)
Show 13 episodes · Director · Creator · Writer · as Various Characters
Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all shows
The Nutt House(1992)
as Pie Thrower (uncredited)
Midcredits score: 5th percentile of all films
The Larry Sanders Show(1992)
Show 1 episode · as Ben Stiller
Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows
MTV Movie & TV Awards (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)
Show 1 episode · Actor
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)
Show 2 episodes · Actor
Highway to Hell(1991)
as Pluto's Cook / Attila the Hun
Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films
Working Tra$h (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)
as Freddy Novak
Stella(1990)
as Jim Uptegrove
Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films
The Simpsons(1989)
Show 1 episode · as Garth Motherloving (voice)
Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows
Next of Kin(1989)
as Lawrence Isabella
Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films
That's Adequate (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)
as Chip Lane
Elvis Stories (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)
Director · as Bruce
Fresh Horses(1988)
as Tipton
Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films
Empire of the Sun(1987)
as Dainty
Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films
The House of Blue Leaves (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)
as Ronnie Shaughnessy
Hot Pursuit(1987)
as Chris Honeywell
Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films
The Hustler of Money (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)
Director · Writer · as Wince
Kids' Choice Awards (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)
Show 1 episode · as Host
Shoeshine (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)
as Son
Miami Vice(1984)
Show 1 episode · as Fast Eddie Felcher
Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all shows
Kate & Allie(1984)
Show 1 episode · Actor
Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all shows
American Playhouse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)
Show 1 episode · as Ronnie Shaughnessy
Saturday Night Live(1975)
Show 7 episodes · Director · as Self - Cameo (uncredited) · as Self - Host · as Self - Various Characters · as Self - Various Characters (uncredited) · as Tom Cruise / Vincent Lauria (uncredited) · as Wes (uncredited)
Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all shows
Kate McShane (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)
Show 1 episode · as Nickie
A Matter of Time (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)
Actor
Airman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)
Director · Producer · Actor
Bag Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)
Director · Executive Producer · Writer
Belly of the Beast (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)
as Norman Mailer
Dodgeball 2 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)
Producer
London (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)
Director · Producer
Protective Custody (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)
Show 1 episode · Executive Producer · Actor
Slaying the Badger (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)
Co-Writer · Producer
The Champions (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)
Director · Producer · Actor
The Hardy Men (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)
Producer
The Off Weeks (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)
Show Executive Producer · as Gus Adler
The Semplica Girl Diaries (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)
Actor
This, But Again (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)
Director · Producer
Untitled New York Knicks Documentary (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)
Director

Career shape

Star power in the 99^th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 175 titles, 160 of them dated from 1975 to 2026; peak year 2005.

Biggest box office

Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted (2012)

$747M worldwide

Highest rated

Beastie Boys Story (2020)

Midcredits 96^th

Film career

MilestoneAward win

19752026

Peak 2005 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Top draw in 50 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.

1987Screen debut· Hot Pursuit
1992Career best· The Ben Stiller Show
1992Primetime Emmy win· The Ben Stiller Show
1996First top-billed film· Flirting with Disaster
2013Career best· The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

By role

only this rolewith another role

Acting141 of 175 · 59^thDirecting20 of 175 · 78^thWriting10 of 175 · 49^thProducing52 of 175 · 60^thOther crew5 of 175

175 titles, 38 with more than one role — acting and producing overlap on 21 of them.

By decade

1970s2 · 2 acting · 1 crew1980s14 · 14 acting · 2 crew1990s37 · 36 acting · 7 crew2000s45 · 40 acting · 11 crew2010s40 · 29 acting · 19 crew2020s22 · 12 acting · 14 crew

Billing

usually 2nd · top billed in 46% of 63 roles

20%

50%

64%

50%

88%

22%

87929702071217

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 1 other major award from 17 major nominations, 1993–2026.

WinNomination

2026
- Directors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Dramatic Series
- Producers Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Producer of Episodic Television, Drama
2025
- Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series
- Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Drama Series
2023
- Directors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Dramatic Series
- Producers Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Producer of Episodic Television, Drama
- Independent Spirit Award, nominated · Best New Scripted Series
2022
- Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series
- Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Drama Series
2019
- Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Directing for a Limited Series, Movie or a Dramatic Special
- Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Limited Series
- +2 other major bodies · 1 win and 1 nomination
  - Directors Guild Award, won · Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Movies for Television and Limited Series
  - Producers Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Producer of Limited Series Television
2013
- Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Special Class - Short-Format Live-Action Entertainment Programs
2011
- Independent Spirit Award, nominated · Best Male Lead
2006
- Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series

Show 1 earlier year

1993
- Primetime Emmy, won · Outstanding Writing 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 Ben Stiller's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 50^th percentile, the median of all 97; across their 80 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 54^th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

54^thpercentile

Typical film, the median of 80

Approval · how many liked their films

52^ndpercentile

Typical film, the median of 80

Reach · how many have seen their films

94^thpercentile

Typical film, the median of 80

Midcredits score across 129 titles, by percentile

75^th and up43
50^th to 74^th36
25^th to 49^th32
Below 25^th18

Shape of the crowd

53 of their 129 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

Universally Loved16
Universally Panned2
Divisive4
Cult Classic5
Crowd Pleaser53
Broadly Agreed20
Mixed29

Most divisive · actor

Sledge: The Untold Story (2005)

94^th percentile spread · 67% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor, director, producer

Severance (2022)

Midcredits 98^th · 93% liked

Reviewers score the acting 69/100 in their films, across 70 reviewed titles; fans 78, detractors 43. 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 Ben Stiller's work okay for kids?

Across up to 52 MovieCove titles with content scores, sex & nudity and profanity run heavier than most films and violence & gore and frightening / intense lighter.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles

Violence & Gore45 titles11–57 · median 33 · mildlighter than most films

Sex & Nudity52 titles15–66 · median 42 · moderateheavier than most films

Profanity49 titles26–87 · median 58 · moderateheavier than most films

Alcohol & Drugs44 titles16–65 · median 36 · moderatenear the median of all films

Frightening / Intense44 titles5–44 · median 26 · mildlighter than most films

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.