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Nathan Fillion

Nathan Fillion

Actor · Born March 27, 1971 (55) · Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

Screen Actors Guild Award nominee

Nathan Fillion (born March 27, 1971) is a Canadian-American actor. He played the leading roles of Captain Malcolm "Mal" Reynolds on Firefly and its film continuation Serenity and Richard Castle on Castle. As of 2018, he stars as John Nolan on The Rookie and is an executive producer on the show as well as its spin-off series, The Rookie: Feds. Fillion has acted in traditionally distributed films like Slither and Trucker, Internet-distributed films like Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog, television soap operas, sitcoms, and theatre. His voice is featured in animation and video games, such as the Bungiegames Halo 3, Halo 3: ODST, Halo: Reach, Destiny, and Destiny 2, along with the 343 Industries game Halo 5: Guardians and the television series M.O.D.O.K. (2021). Fillion first gained recognition for his work on One Life to Live in the contract role of Joey Buchanan, for which he was nominated for the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Younger Actor in a Drama Series, as well as for his supporting role as Johnny Donnelly in the sitcom Two Guys and a Girl. Description above from the Wikipedia article Nathan Fillion, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
March 27, 1971 (55)
From
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Works as
Actor
Titles
73 on MovieCove · 93 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 16% in 30 days

What are Nathan Fillion's films like?

Across their 35 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Self.

Genres

Animation12 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 84th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Animation movies
Comedy4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 73rd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Drama4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 26th percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Action3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 85th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Action movies
Documentary3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 69th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Documentary 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
31%
Self
20%
Morality
15%
Society
15%
Survival
9%
Ideas
7%
Power
4%
Family bonds11 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity9 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity6 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival6 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love4 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice5 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose4 titles, browse their movies with this themeArt3 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 28 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Light: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their light movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 17 · Serious 7 · Dark 4

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

A split, not a type: Grounded 9 · Stylized 9 · Heightened 10

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

Gentle 8 · Charged 12 · Intense 8

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

A split, not a type: Steady 13 · Shifting 15 · Whiplash 0

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 10 · Some laughs 9 · Funny 9

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

Slow burn 6 · Even-paced 15 · Relentless 7

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

Casual 13 · Engaged 13 · Full focus 2

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

Resolved 25 · Open-ended 3 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

15 analyzed roles

Usually the Hero: 7 of 15 analyzed roles.

Hero
7 of 15
Herald
2 of 15
Ally
2 of 15
Mentor
2 of 15
Trickster
2 of 15
Show the 15 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Joyful
13
Tense
15
Thrilling
11
Hopeful
11
Absurd
9
Other
36

How their films linger

Fun15 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful16 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good12 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 4 with a twist

  • Happy17
  • Bittersweet12
  • Tragic1
  • Ambiguous4
  • Other1

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Nathan Fillion's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 56 of their 73 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service.

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Nathan Fillion'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

93 credits, 73 with a MovieCove page; 25 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Man of Tomorrow (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2027)

    as Guy Gardner

  • Lanterns(2026)

    Show 2 episodes · as Guy Gardner

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all shows

  • The Mighty Nein(2025)

    Show 3 episodes · as The Gentleman (voice)

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • Superman(2025)

    as Guy Gardner

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • Skincare(2024)

    as Brett Wright

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Deadpool & Wolverine(2024)

    as Headpool (voice)

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • Krapopolis(2023)

    Show 2 episodes · as Zan (voice)

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all shows

  • Bupkis(2023)

    Show 1 episode · as Ace Spade

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all shows

  • Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3(2023)

    as Master Karja

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • The Recruit(2022)

    Show 5 episodes · as CIA Director Alton West

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all shows

  • The Rookie: Feds(2022)

    Show 22 episodes · Executive Producer · as John Nolan

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all shows

  • Everything I Ever Wanted to Tell My Daughter About Men(2021)

    as Duke

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Peacemaker(2022)

    Show 1 episode · as Guy Gardner

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • Family Law(2021)

    Show 1 episode · as Bud Nielsen

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all shows

  • The Suicide Squad(2021)

    as T.D.K.

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Monsters at Work(2021)

    Show 8 episodes · as Johnny (voice)

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all shows

  • M.O.D.O.K.(2021)

    Show 2 episodes · as Simon Williams / Wonder Man (voice)

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all shows

  • Resident Alien(2021)

    Show 4 episodes · as 42 (voice) · as Octopus (voice)

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all shows

  • The Death and Return of Superman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    as Hal Jordan / Green Lantern (voice)

  • Night Hunter(2018)

    as Quinn

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • Reign of the Supermen(2019)

    as Green Lantern / Hal Jordan (voice)

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • The Death of Superman(2018)

    as Hal Jordan / Green Lantern (voice)

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • Henchmen(2018)

    as Captain Superior (voice)

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • The Rookie(2018)

    Show 145 episodes · Executive Producer · as John Nolan

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all shows

  • Big Mouth(2017)

    Show 9 episodes · as Nathan Fillion (voice)

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all shows

  • Yamasong: March of the Hollows(2017)

    as Shojun (voice)

    Midcredits score: 22nd percentile of all films

  • Cars 3(2017)

    as Sterling (voice)

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • Santa Clarita Diet(2017)

    Show 6 episodes · as Gary West

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all shows

  • A Series of Unfortunate Events(2017)

    Show 9 episodes · as Jacques Snicket · as Jacques Snicket (voice)

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all shows

  • American Housewife(2016)

    Show 2 episodes · as Nathan Fillion

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all shows

  • HarmonQuest (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    Show 1 episode · as Tetter Spice

  • Gravity Falls: Between the Pines(2016)

    as Preston (Voice)

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • CelebriD&D (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    Show 1 episode · as Jolene Glaplok

  • Robot Chicken DC Comics Special 3: Magical Friendship(2015)

    as Green Lantern (voice)

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • Con Man(2015)

    Show 25 episodes · Executive Producer · as Jack Moore

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all shows

  • Thrilling Adventure Hour Live(2015)

    as Cactoid Jim

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Justice League: Throne of Atlantis(2015)

    as Green Lantern / Hal Jordan (voice)

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • Assassin Banana (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    Show 3 episodes · as Chick del Monte / Assassin Banana (voice)

  • Guardians of the Galaxy(2014)

    as Monstrous Inmate

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Robot Chicken DC Comics Special II: Villains in Paradise(2014)

    as Green Lantern / Black Adam (voice)

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • Highway of Tears (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    as Narrator

  • Party Central(2013)

    as Johnny (voice)

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • Rick and Morty(2013)

    Show 1 episode · as Cornvelious Daniel (voice)

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all shows

  • Brooklyn Nine-Nine(2013)

    Show 1 episode · as Mark Devereaux

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all shows

  • Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters(2013)

    as Hermes

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all films

  • Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox(2013)

    as Green Lantern / Hal Jordan (voice)

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Drunk History(2013)

    Show 1 episode · as Wernher von Braun

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all shows

  • Monsters University(2013)

    as Johnny (voice)

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • Much Ado About Nothing(2012)

    as Dogberry

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • Neil's Puppet Dreams (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    Show 1 episode · as Dr. Mayfair

  • Robot Chicken: DC Comics Special(2012)

    as Green Lantern / Mr. Freeze (voice)

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • Gravity Falls(2012)

    Show 4 episodes · as Preston Northwest (voice)

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all shows

  • Justice League: Doom(2012)

    as Green Lantern (voice)

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • Green Lantern: Emerald Knights(2011)

    as Hal Jordan (voice)

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Super(2010)

    as The Holy Avenger

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Modern Family(2009)

    Show 7 episodes · as Rainer Shine

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • Community(2009)

    Show 2 episodes · as Bob Waite

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • Castle(2009)

    Show 173 episodes · Producer · as Richard Castle

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • Wonder Woman(2009)

    as Col. Steve Trevor (voice)

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • Commentary! The Musical (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    Actor

  • James Gunn's PG Porn (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    Show 1 episode · as Chris

  • Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    Show 3 episodes · as Captain Hammer

  • Trucker(2008)

    as Runner

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • The Big Bang Theory(2007)

    Show 1 episode · as Nathan Fillion

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all shows

  • The Guild(2007)

    Show 2 episodes · as Nathan Fillion

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • Waitress(2007)

    as Dr. Jim Pomatter

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • Drive(2007)

    Show 6 episodes · as Alex Tully

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all shows

  • White Noise 2: The Light(2007)

    as Abe Dale

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • Slither(2006)

    as Bill Pardy

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Serenity(2005)

    as Malcolm 'Mal' Reynolds

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • American Dad!(2005)

    Show 1 episode · as American Businessman Klaus (voice) · as Liver / Joel Larson (voice)

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

  • Outing Riley (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    as Luke Riley

  • Desperate Housewives(2004)

    Show 11 episodes · as Adam Mayfair

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all shows

  • Lost(2004)

    Show 1 episode · as Kevin Callis

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows

  • The Venture Bros.(2003)

    Show 4 episodes · as Brown Widow (voice)

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all shows

  • Justice League Unlimited(2004)

    Show 2 episodes · as Vigilante (voice)

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • Water's Edge (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    as Robert Graves

  • Miss Match (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Show 6 episodes · as Adam Logan

  • Firefly(2002)

    Show 11 episodes · as Mal Reynolds

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • Dracula 2000(2000)

    as Father David

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films

  • Blast from the Past(1999)

    as Cliff

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • Maggie Winters (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Show 18 episodes · as Ronald

  • Saving Private Ryan(1998)

    as Minnesota Ryan

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Two Guys and a Girl (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Show 60 episodes · as Johnny Donnelly

  • Total Security (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Show 13 episodes · as Troy Larson

  • Buffy the Vampire Slayer(1997)

    Show 5 episodes · as Caleb

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • King of the Hill(1997)

    Show 1 episode · as Frisbee Guy (voice)

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all shows

  • The Outer Limits(1995)

    Show 1 episode · as Michael Ryan

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all shows

  • Ordeal in the Arctic(1993)

    as Master Warrant Officer Tom Jardine

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • One Life to Live (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

  • Strange and Rich (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    as Walter Hoade

  • The Guild: Ren Faire'd (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Actor

  • The Rookie: North (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Show 1 episode · Executive Producer · as John Nolan

Career shape

Star power in the 99th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 93 titles, 89 of them dated from 1968 to 2026; peak year 2006.

Biggest box office

Superman (2025)

$619M worldwide

Highest rated

Firefly (2002)

Midcredits 98th

Most popular right now

The Rookie (2018)

Film career

MilestoneBreakoutNomination
19682026

Peak 2006 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Top draw in 14 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
Acting93 of 93: 88 only acting, 5 with another role · typical Midcredits score82ndProducing5 of 93: 0 only producing, 5 with another role

93 titles, 5 with more than one role — acting and producing overlap on 5 of them.

By decade

1960s1 · acting1990s9 · acting2000s25 · 25 acting · 1 crew2010s37 · 37 acting · 2 crew2020s17 · 17 acting · 1 crew

Billing

usually 5th · top billed in 14% of 28 roles
001015

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

Nominated for a Screen Actors Guild Award in 2008, Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series.

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 Nathan Fillion's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 80th percentile, the median of all 37; across their 28 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 68th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

68thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 28

Approval · how many liked their films

71stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 28

Reach · how many have seen their films

83rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 28

Midcredits score across 73 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up43
  • 50th to 74th18
  • 25th to 49th5
  • Below 25th7

Shape of the crowd

32 of their 73 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved27
  • Divisive2
  • Crowd Pleaser32
  • Broadly Agreed3
  • Mixed9

Most divisive · actor

Thrilling Adventure Hour Live (2015)

98th percentile spread · 31% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Saving Private Ryan (1998)

Midcredits 99th · 94% liked

Reviewers score the acting 71/100 in their films, across 21 reviewed titles; fans 78, 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 Nathan Fillion's work okay for kids?

Across up to 19 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore and frightening / intense run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore15 titles41–86 · median 64 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity19 titles17–53 · median 37 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity15 titles23–81 · median 41 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs14 titles16–50 · median 30 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense14 titles45–65 · median 54 · moderateheavier than most 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 Nathan Fillion work with?

People who share at least 2 of Nathan Fillion's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Alan Tudyk shares the most, 6.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles