Skip to content
MovieCove
Neal Israel

Neal Israel

Director, writer, actor and producer · Born July 27, 1945 (81) · New York, New York

Neal Israel was born on 27 July 1945 in New York City, New York, USA. He is a director and writer, known for Real Genius (1985), Bachelor Party (1984) and Look Who's Talking Too (1990). He has been married to Lillian Johann Kastenberg since 17 November 1999. He was previously married to Amy Heckerling and Lori Lieberman.

Read more

Biography from IMDb.

Born
July 27, 1945 (81)
From
New York, New York
Works as
Director, writer, actor and producer
Titles
49 on MovieCove · 69 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 37 days to Oct 26Down 30% in 30 days

What are Neal Israel's films like?

Across their 36 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Self.

Themes

share of theme weight
Bonds
36%
Self
19%
Society
15%
Morality
12%
Power
8%
Survival
7%
Ideas
3%
Friendship14 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity10 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds8 titles, browse their movies with this themeComing of age6 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival5 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice5 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love3 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity4 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 33 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Wry: How sincerely it treats its story and characters, from ironic to earnest. Browse their wry movies.
Tone · Sincerity
ironicearnest

A split, not a type: Ironic 8 · Wry 5 · Earnest 17

Light: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their light movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 30 · Serious 3 · Dark 0

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

Grounded 15 · Stylized 15 · Heightened 3

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

A split, not a type: Gentle 22 · Charged 8 · Intense 3

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

A split, not a type: Steady 19 · Shifting 6 · Whiplash 8

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

Straight-faced 1 · Some laughs 8 · Funny 24

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

Slow burn 11 · Even-paced 15 · Relentless 7

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

Casual 31 · Engaged 2 · Full focus 0

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

Resolved 33 · Open-ended 0 · Ambiguous 0

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Absurd
25
Joyful
26
Warm
9
Manic
7
Tense
4
Other
19

How their films linger

Fun24 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good28 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteCozy2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteWistful2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 2 with a twist

  • Happy25
  • Bittersweet6
  • Tragic1
  • Ambiguous1
  • Cyclical3

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 Neal Israel's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 22 of their 49 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (10).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Neal Israel'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

69 credits, 49 with a MovieCove page.

  • The Wedding Ringer(2015)

    as Rabbi Steinsaltz

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Jinxed(2013)

    Writer

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Dog with a Blog(2012)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 8th percentile of all shows

  • Kickin' It(2011)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all shows

  • The Fresh Beat Band(2009)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all shows

  • Zeke and Luther(2009)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all shows

  • Gemini Division (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    Show 50 episodes · Director

  • Bachelor Party 2: The Last Temptation(2008)

    Executive Producer · Original Film Writer · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • Flight 29 Down(2005)

    Show Director

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all shows

  • Phil of the Future(2004)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all shows

  • Finding Neverland(2004)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • Holiday Reunion (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Director

  • Joan of Arcadia (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Show 1 episode · Director

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

    Show 13 episodes · Producer

  • The Brady Bunch in the White House(2002)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 6th percentile of all films

  • Do Over (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Family Affair (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

  • The Mind of the Married Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

  • The Poof Point(2001)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • Hounded(2001)

    Director · as Homeless Man

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • Lizzie McGuire(2001)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all shows

  • Even Stevens(2000)

    Show 4 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all shows

  • Shasta McNasty (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Show 4 episodes · Director

  • The Patty Duke Show: Still Rockin' in Brooklyn Heights(1999)

    Writer

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Chocolate For Breakfast (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Executive Producer

  • Love Boat: The Next Wave (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Dad's Week Off(1997)

    Director · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all films

  • Clueless (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Show 10 episodes · Director

  • Kidz in the Wood(1995)

    Director · Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Nash Bridges(1996)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all shows

  • Family Reunion: A Relative Nightmare (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Director · Writer

  • The Adventures of Mary-Kate & Ashley: The Case of the Mystery Cruise (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Director · Writer

  • The Adventures of Mary-Kate & Ashley: The Case of the SeaWorld Adventure (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Director · Teleplay

  • Police Academy: Mission to Moscow(1994)

    Characters

    Midcredits score: 2nd percentile of all films

  • Harts of the West(1993)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all shows

  • Just One of the Girls(1993)

    Executive Consultant

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Surf Ninjas(1993)

    Director · Production Director · as Mr. Dunbar

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • Taking the Heat (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Producer

  • Breaking the Rules(1992)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Bonnie & Clyde: The True Story(1992)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • Intimate Stranger (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    as Herbie

  • Look Who's Talking Too(1990)

    Writer · as Mr. Ross

    Midcredits score: 10th percentile of all films

  • A Quiet Little Neighborhood, a Perfect Little Murder(1990)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • Look Who's Talking(1989)

    as Mr. Ross

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Police Academy 6: City Under Siege(1989)

    Characters

    Midcredits score: 7th percentile of all films

  • The Cover Girl and the Cop(1989)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all films

  • Police Academy 5: Assignment: Miami Beach(1988)

    Characters

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films

  • The Wonder Years(1988)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • Three O'Clock High(1987)

    Co-Producer

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • It's Alive III: Island of the Alive(1987)

    as Dr. Brewster

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films

  • Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol(1987)

    Characters

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • Combat High(1986)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Police Academy 3: Back in Training(1986)

    Characters

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • Fast Times (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Show 2 episodes · Director · as Singer #2

  • George Burns Comedy Week (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Real Genius(1985)

    Screenplay · Story

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • Moving Violations(1985)

    Director · Screenplay · as Commuter #1

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment(1985)

    Characters

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Johnny Dangerously(1984)

    Medical Consultant · as Dr. Zillman

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • Bachelor Party(1984)

    Director · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • Police Academy(1984)

    Screenplay · Story

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Twilight Theater II (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Producer · Writer

  • Twilight Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Producer · Writer

  • All Commercials... A Steve Martin Special(1980)

    Writer

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Americathon(1979)

    Director · Screenplay · as Rabbi Protester

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • Ringo(1978)

    Writer

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Cracking Up(1977)

    Writer

    Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all films

  • Tunnel Vision(1976)

    Director · Writer · as Rabbi Rabinowitz / Hippie #2

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films

  • Yogi's Gang(1973)

    Show Writer

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all shows

Career shape

A full career of 65 titles from 1976 to 2015.

Biggest box office

Finding Neverland (2004)

$117M worldwide

Highest rated

Finding Neverland (2004)

Midcredits 93rd

Film career

  • 1984Screen debut· Johnny Dangerously

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting12 of 65: 4 only acting, 8 with another role · typical Midcredits score25thDirecting37 of 65: 25 only directing, 12 with another role · typical Midcredits score33rdWriting25 of 65: 12 only writing, 13 with another role · typical Midcredits score21stProducing9 of 65: 6 only producing, 3 with another roleOther crew3 of 65: 1 only other crew, 2 with another role

65 titles, 17 with more than one role — directing and writing overlap on 9 of them.

By decade

1970s4 · 2 acting · 4 crew1980s21 · 5 acting · 19 crew1990s20 · 3 acting · 19 crew2000s16 · 1 acting · 16 crew2010s4 · 1 acting · 3 crew

Billing

usually 19th · top billed in 0% of 8 roles

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.

How do Neal Israel's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 28th percentile, the median of all 37; across their 33 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 26th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

26thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 33

Approval · how many liked their films

27thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 33

Reach · how many have seen their films

70thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 33

Midcredits score across 49 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up4
  • 50th to 74th9
  • 25th to 49th18
  • Below 25th18

Shape of the crowd

25 of their 49 titles are Mixed.

  • Universally Loved2
  • Universally Panned1
  • Cult Classic7
  • Crowd Pleaser12
  • Broadly Agreed2
  • Mixed25

Most divisive · director

The Fresh Beat Band (2009)

85th percentile spread · 20% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · director

The Wonder Years (1988)

Midcredits 96th · 90% liked

Reviewers score the atmosphere 51/100 and the pacing 44/100 in their films, across 29 reviewed titles. The element that speaks to their work as a director.

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 Neal Israel's work okay for kids?

Across up to 12 MovieCove titles with content scores, sex & nudity runs heavier than most films and violence & gore and frightening / intense lighter.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore7 titles10–35 · median 24 · mildlighter than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity12 titles17–64 · median 42 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity9 titles21–58 · median 32 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs7 titles14–48 · median 31 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense7 titles10–19 · median 12 · minimallighter 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 Neal Israel work with?

People who share at least 2 of Neal Israel's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Pat Proft shares the most, 13.

Directors

Writers

Actors

  • David Graf7 titles    See all 7 shared titles with David Graf
  • Michael Winslow7 titles    See all 7 shared titles with Michael Winslow
  • George Gaynes6 titles    See all 6 shared titles with George Gaynes
  • Leslie Easterbrook6 titles    See all 6 shared titles with Leslie Easterbrook

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles