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David Kitay

David Kitay

Composer · Born October 23, 1961 (65) · Los Angeles, California, USA

David Joseph Kitay (born October 23, 1961) is an American film composer. One of Kitay's early film scores was for Look Who’s Talking (1989), the first of several collaborations with director Amy Heckerling. After solidifying his reputation in the teen genre with hit movies like Clueless (1995), Can’t Hardly Wait (1998), Scary Movie (2000), and Dude, Where's My Car? (2000), Kitay expanded his repertoire to include independent films, such as Ghost World (2001), Bad Santa (2003), Art School Confidential (2006) and The Darwin Awards (2006). Among other honors, Kitay has received four BMI awards, including multiple for his scores for the TV series Mad About You. In addition to scoring, Kitay has produced records for such artists as The Boxing Ghandis, Sussanah Hoffs (The Bangles) and David Baerwald. He lives in Los Angeles with his wife and two daughters.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
October 23, 1961 (65)
From
Los Angeles, California, USA
Works as
Composer
Titles
56 on MovieCove · 62 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 37 days to Oct 26Down 1% in 30 days

What are David Kitay's films like?

Across their 50 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Self.

Genres

Comedy43 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 33rd percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Action3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 30th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Adventure3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 45th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Adventure 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
44%
Self
29%
Morality
14%
Survival
5%
Power
3%
Society
3%
Ideas
3%
Romantic love15 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds16 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship16 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity10 titles, browse their movies with this themeComing of age13 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception9 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth7 titles, browse their movies with this themeAmbition6 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 50 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Light: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their light movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 42 · Serious 7 · Dark 1

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

A split, not a type: Grounded 27 · Stylized 17 · Heightened 6

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

Gentle 30 · Charged 17 · Intense 3

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

A split, not a type: Steady 27 · Shifting 14 · Whiplash 9

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

Straight-faced 2 · Some laughs 17 · Funny 31

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

Slow burn 18 · Even-paced 27 · Relentless 5

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

Casual 47 · Engaged 2 · Full focus 1

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

Resolved 46 · Open-ended 3 · Ambiguous 1

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Absurd
28
Joyful
29
Warm
16
Romantic
11
Hopeful
10
Other
38

How their films linger

Feel-good39 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun28 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful16 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 2 with a twist

  • Happy34
  • Bittersweet10
  • Ambiguous6

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 David Kitay's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 42 of their 56 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (20).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for David Kitay'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

62 credits, 56 with a MovieCove page.

  • Aftermath (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    Composer

  • Home Alone: The Holiday Heist(2012)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 2nd percentile of all films

  • Vamps(2012)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • Demoted(2011)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • Mr. Troop Mom(2008)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films

  • Camp Rock(2008)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • Wieners(2008)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 8th percentile of all films

  • My Sassy Girl(2008)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • Over Her Dead Body(2008)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • Blonde Ambition(2007)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 6th percentile of all films

  • Smiley Face(2007)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • The Darwin Awards(2006)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Planet Terror(2007)

    Music Supervisor

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Shanghai Kiss(2007)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • Because I Said So(2007)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • Caffeine(2006)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • Art School Confidential(2006)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • Relative Strangers(2006)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • Date Movie(2006)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all films

  • The Ice Harvest(2005)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Family Plan(2005)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • Life Is Ruff(2005)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • Elvis Has Left the Building(2004)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • Stuck in the Suburbs(2004)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle(2004)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Bad Santa(2003)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Eddie's Million Dollar Cook-Off(2003)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all films

  • How to Deal(2003)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • I Witness(2003)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all films

  • The One (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Composer

  • You Wish!(2003)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • The Scream Team(2002)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Cadet Kelly(2002)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

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

    Composer

  • Ghost World(2001)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Hounded(2001)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • Tomcats(2001)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • Dude, Where's My Car?(2000)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all films

  • Loser(2000)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • Scary Movie(2000)

    Composer · Conductor

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Mary and Rhoda(2000)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • A Night at the Roxbury(1998)

    Composer · Conductor

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • Can't Hardly Wait(1998)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Clueless(1995)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • Jury Duty(1995)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 8th percentile of all films

  • Solomon & Sheba(1995)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • The Stöned Age(1994)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • Father and Scout(1994)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • Trading Mom(1994)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • Surf Ninjas(1993)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • Roosters (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Composer

  • Breaking the Rules(1992)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Boris and Natasha(1991)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • Highway to Hell(1991)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • Problem Child 2(1991)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • Look Who's Talking Too(1990)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 10th percentile of all films

  • Nuns on the Run(1990)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • Always(1989)

    as Band

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Look Who's Talking(1989)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Tales from the Crypt(1989)

    Show 1 episode · Composer

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all shows

  • Under the Boardwalk (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Composer

  • The Night Stalker (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Composer

Career shape

A full career of 62 titles from 1987 to 2013.

Biggest box office

Look Who's Talking (1989)

$297M worldwide

Highest rated

Ghost World (2001)

Midcredits 90th

Most popular right now

Scary Movie (2000)

Film career

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting1 of 62: 1 only acting, 0 with another roleMusic60 of 62: 58 only music, 2 with another role · typical Midcredits score34thOther crew3 of 62: 1 only other crew, 2 with another role

By decade

1980s5 · 1 acting · 4 crew1990s16 · crew2000s37 · crew2010s4 · 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.

How do David Kitay's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 34th percentile, the median of all 55; across their 50 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 34th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

34thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 50

Approval · how many liked their films

33rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 50

Reach · how many have seen their films

87thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 50

Midcredits score across 56 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up6
  • 50th to 74th11
  • 25th to 49th21
  • Below 25th18

Shape of the crowd

31 of their 56 titles are Mixed.

  • Universally Panned1
  • Cult Classic5
  • Crowd Pleaser15
  • Broadly Agreed4
  • Mixed31

Most divisive · composer

Solomon & Sheba (1995)

85th percentile spread · 28% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · composer

Ghost World (2001)

Midcredits 90th · 78% liked

Reviewers score the sound and music 57/100 in their films, across 30 reviewed titles; fans 67, detractors 45. The element that speaks to their work as a composer.

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 David Kitay's work okay for kids?

Across up to 26 MovieCove titles with content scores, sex & nudity, profanity and alcohol & drugs run heavier than most films and frightening / intense lighter.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore18 titles9–66 · median 35 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity26 titles28–70 · median 51 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity19 titles37–90 · median 56 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs16 titles33–84 · median 46 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense17 titles5–49 · median 26 · mildlighter 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 David Kitay work with?

People who share at least 2 of David Kitay's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Amy Heckerling shares the most, 6.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Cinematographers and editors

Producers