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Rian Johnson

Rian Johnson

Director, producer, writer, actor and editor · Born December 17, 1973 (52) · Silver Spring, Maryland, USA

Oscar nominee · Primetime Emmy nominee · BAFTA Award nominee · 6 other major award bodies

Rian Craig Johnson (born December 17, 1973) is an American filmmaker. He made his directorial debut with the neo-noir mystery film Brick (2005), which received positive reviews and grossed nearly $4 million on a $450,000 budget. Transitioning to higher-profile films, Johnson achieved mainstream recognition for writing and directing the science-fiction thriller Looper (2012) to critical and commercial success. Johnson landed his largest project when he wrote and directed the space opera Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017), which grossed over $1 billion. He returned to the mystery genre with Knives Out (2019) and its sequel Glass Onion (2022), both of which earned him Academy Award nominations for Best Original Screenplay and Best Adapted Screenplay, respectively. Additionally, Johnson is also known for directing three highly acclaimed episodes for the television series Breaking Bad (2008–2013), namely "Ozymandias," "Fly," and "Fifty-One"; for the latter, he received the Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directing—Drama Series in 2013. He also created a murder mystery series titled Poker Face for Peacock with Natasha Lyonne. Johnson was named one of the 100 most influential people in the world by Time magazine in 2023. Description above from the Wikipedia article Rian Johnson, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
December 17, 1973 (52)
From
Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
Works as
Director, producer, writer, actor and editor
Titles
37 on MovieCove · 60 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Official site (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 155 days to Oct 26Down 40% in 30 days

What are Rian Johnson's films like?

Across their 16 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Ideas.

Genres

Comedy4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 94th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Action3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 70th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Crime2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 85th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime movies
Documentary2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 89th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Documentary movies
Drama2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 65th percentile
: browse their Drama 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
Morality
27%
Ideas
25%
Self
20%
Society
11%
Bonds
10%
Power
4%
Survival
2%
Art3 titles, browse their movies with this themeRedemption3 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice3 titles, browse their movies with this themeAmbition2 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception2 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity2 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose2 titles, browse their movies with this themeTechnology2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 14 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 8 · Serious 2 · Dark 4

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

Grounded 5 · Stylized 7 · Heightened 2

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

Gentle 2 · Charged 8 · Intense 4

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

Steady 5 · Shifting 6 · Whiplash 3

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

Straight-faced 4 · Some laughs 9 · Funny 1

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

Slow burn 4 · Even-paced 10 · Relentless 0

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

Casual 3 · Engaged 7 · Full focus 4

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

A split, not a type: Easy watch 7 · Affecting 4 · Heavy 3

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

Resolved 8 · Open-ended 5 · Ambiguous 1

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
6
Warm
6
Contemplative
5
Melancholic
6
Absurd
5
Other
12

How their films linger

Feel-good7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteWistful4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 6 with a twist

  • Happy4
  • Bittersweet6
  • Tragic1
  • Ambiguous5

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 Rian Johnson's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 34 of their 37 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service.

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Rian Johnson'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

60 credits, 37 with a MovieCove page; 13 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • A Place in Hell (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2027)

    Producer

  • The Only Living Pickpocket in New York(2026)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • The Hawk(2026)

    Show 10 episodes · Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all shows

  • Wake Up Dead Man(2025)

    Director · Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • Frankenstein(2025)

    Thanks

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • 3 Body Problem(2024)

    Show 8 episodes · Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all shows

  • American Fiction(2023)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • Fair Play(2023)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • The Space Western of the Southwest (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)

    Actor

  • Poker Face(2023)

    Show 22 episodes · Director · Creator · Executive Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all shows

  • Glass Onion(2022)

    Director · Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • Blood Relatives(2022)

    Thanks

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • Metal Lords(2022)

    Thanks

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Scream(2022)

    Thanks · as Party Guest (voice) (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • tick, tick... BOOM!(2021)

    Thanks

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Last Night in Soho(2021)

    Thanks

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • Capone(2020)

    Thanks

    Midcredits score: 8th percentile of all films

  • Knives Out(2019)

    Director · Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • Scare Package(2019)

    Thanks

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • Destroyer(2018)

    Thanks

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • Konbini Vidéo Club (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Last Jedi: Meet the Porgs (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    Actor

  • Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi(2017)

    Director · Writer

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • Baby Driver(2017)

    Thanks

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • Rogue One: A Star Wars Story(2016)

    Thanks · as Imperial Technician (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • The Hollars(2016)

    Thanks

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • The Invitation(2015)

    Thanks

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • Tales of Halloween(2015)

    Thanks

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • BoJack Horseman(2014)

    Show 2 episodes · as Brian (voice)

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all shows

  • Nosferatu vs. Father Pipecock & Sister Funk (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    Thanks

  • The World's End(2013)

    Thanks

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • The English Teacher(2013)

    Thanks

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • Welcome to the Jungle(2013)

    Thanks

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all films

  • Looper(2012)

    Director · Writer

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • The Outsider: A Looper's Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    Thanks

  • The Woman(2011)

    Songs

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Brawler(2011)

    Thanks

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films

  • Terriers(2010)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • The Life of the World to Come (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    Director

  • The Brothers Bloom(2008)

    Director · Writer

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • Spike(2008)

    Thanks

    Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all films

  • Breaking Bad(2008)

    Show 3 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all shows

  • Building Brick (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Camera Operator · Thanks · as Self

  • Brick(2005)

    Director · Editor · Writer

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • Escargots (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Camera Operator

  • May(2002)

    Editor

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • People Are Dead (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Thanks

  • The Psychology of Dream Analysis (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Director · Writer

  • Ben Boyer and the Phenomenology of Automobile Marketing (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Director

  • Phyfutima (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Camera Operator

  • Evil Demon Golfball from Hell!!! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Director · Editor · Writer

  • Greater Than a Tiger (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Editor

  • Cleaning the Pool (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Director · Writer

  • Hey Lady, You Dropped Your Wallet!!! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Director · Editor · Writer · as The Whacky Protagonist

  • Ninja Ko: Origami Master (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Director · Writer

  • 2034 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Producer

  • Disinherited (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Show 1 episode · Executive Producer

  • Turpentine (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Producer

  • Untitled Gene Kelly Project (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Producer

  • Untitled Sci-Fi Rian Johnson Film (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Director · Producer · Writer

Career shape

A full career of 60 titles, 54 of them dated from 1990 to 2026.

Biggest box office

Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi (2017)

$1.3B worldwide

Highest rated

Knives Out (2019)

Midcredits 98th

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting7 of 60: 4 only acting, 3 with another roleDirecting18 of 60: 4 only directing, 14 with another role · typical Midcredits score88thWriting14 of 60: 0 only writing, 14 with another role · typical Midcredits score84thProducing15 of 60: 10 only producing, 5 with another role · typical Midcredits score82ndEditing5 of 60: 2 only editing, 3 with another roleOther crew27 of 60: 24 only other crew, 3 with another role · typical Midcredits score62nd

60 titles, 16 with more than one role — other crew and directing overlap on 1 of them.

By decade

1990s6 · 1 acting · 6 crew2000s10 · crew2010s22 · 4 acting · 19 crew2020s16 · 2 acting · 15 crew

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.

Awards

2 major awards from 17 major nominations, 2005–2024.

WinNomination
  1. 2024
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Drama Series
    • +1 other major body · 1 nomination
      • Writers Guild Award, nominated · New Series
  2. 2023
    • Oscar, nominated · Best Adapted Screenplay
    • +3 other major bodies · 3 nominations
      • Writers Guild Award, nominated · Adapted Screenplay
      • Producers Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Producer of Theatrical Motion Pictures
      • Critics Choice Award, nominated · Best Adapted Screenplay
  3. 2020
    • Oscar, nominated · Best Original Screenplay
    • BAFTA Award, nominated · Best Screenplay (Original)
    • +3 other major bodies · 3 nominations
      • Writers Guild Award, nominated · Original Screenplay
      • Producers Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Producer of Theatrical Motion Pictures
      • Critics Choice Award, nominated · Best Original Screenplay
  4. 2013
    • Directors Guild Award, won · Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Dramatic Series
    • Writers Guild Award, nominated · Best Original Screenplay
    • Critics Choice Award, nominated · Best Original Screenplay
  5. 2006
    • Independent Spirit Award, nominated
  6. 2005
    • Sundance award, won · Dramatic
    • Sundance award, nominated · Dramatic

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 Rian Johnson's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 69th percentile, the median of all 31; across their 14 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 81st percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

81stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 14

Approval · how many liked their films

85thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 14

Reach · how many have seen their films

85thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 14

Midcredits score across 37 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up17
  • 50th to 74th9
  • 25th to 49th6
  • Below 25th5

Shape of the crowd

16 of their 37 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved9
  • Divisive1
  • Crowd Pleaser16
  • Broadly Agreed2
  • Mixed9

Most divisive · director, writer

Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi (2017)

62nd percentile spread · 19% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · director

Breaking Bad (2008)

Midcredits 99th · 94% liked

Reviewers score the atmosphere 74/100 and the pacing 50/100 in their films, across 12 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 Rian Johnson's work okay for kids?

Across up to 11 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore, profanity, alcohol & drugs and frightening / intense run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore10 titles35–86 · median 59 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity11 titles15–61 · median 38 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity11 titles33–81 · median 59 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs10 titles39–66 · median 53 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense10 titles35–70 · median 56 · 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 Rian Johnson work with?

People who share at least 2 of Rian Johnson's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Ram Bergman shares the most, 12.

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles