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Alex Kurtzman

Alex Kurtzman

Producer, writer and director · Born September 7, 1973 (53) · Los Angeles, California, USA

Primetime Emmy nominee · 1 other major award body

Alexander Hilary Kurtzman (born September 7, 1973) is an American filmmaker. He is best known for co-writing the scripts to Transformers (2007), Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009), Star Trek (2009), Star Trek Into Darkness (2013), and The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014) with his writing and producing partner Roberto Orci, and directing and co-writing The Mummy (2017). He made his directorial debut with People Like Us (2012), co-written alongside Orci and Jody Lambert.  Kurtzman is known, alongside Orci, for frequently collaborating with Michael Bay and J.J. Abrams and co-creating the TV series Star Trek: Discovery, Star Trek: Picard, and Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. Description above from the Wikipedia article Alex Kurtzman, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
September 7, 1973 (53)
From
Los Angeles, California, USA
Works as
Producer, writer and director
Titles
44 on MovieCove · 51 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 27% in 30 days

What are Alex Kurtzman's films like?

Across their 27 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Bonds.

Genres

Action14 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 62nd percentile
: browse their Action movies
Comedy2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 75th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Crime2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 63rd percentile
: browse their Crime movies
Documentary2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 84th 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
Morality
30%
Bonds
26%
Self
18%
Survival
12%
Power
8%
Society
3%
Ideas
2%
Family bonds7 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival6 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity5 titles, browse their movies with this themeSacrifice6 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love4 titles, browse their movies with this themeFreedom5 titles, browse their movies with this themeLoyalty5 titles, browse their movies with this themeComing of age4 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 23 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 4 · Stylized 10 · Heightened 9

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

Gentle 1 · Charged 8 · Intense 14

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

Steady 4 · Shifting 17 · Whiplash 2

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

Straight-faced 9 · Some laughs 13 · Funny 1

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

A split, not a type: Slow burn 4 · Even-paced 6 · Relentless 13

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

Casual 5 · Engaged 16 · Full focus 2

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 10 · Affecting 9 · Heavy 4

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

Resolved 19 · Open-ended 4 · Ambiguous 0

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
17
Thrilling
17
Hopeful
11
Joyful
4
Melancholic
6
Other
21

How their films linger

Fun12 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful14 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 6 with a twist

  • Happy11
  • Bittersweet14
  • Tragic1
  • Ambiguous1

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 Alex Kurtzman's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 33 of their 44 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Paramount+ (15).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Alex Kurtzman'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

51 credits, 44 with a MovieCove page; 6 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Star Trek: Starfleet Academy(2026)

    Show 10 episodes · Director · Executive Producer · Teleplay

    Midcredits score: 4th percentile of all shows

  • Come See Me in the Good Light(2025)

    Co-Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • Now You See Me: Now You Don't(2025)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • Star Trek: Section 31(2025)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 2nd percentile of all films

  • Mother Mother (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2024)

    Producer

  • Rob Peace(2024)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Star Trek: Picard - The IMAX Live Series Finale Event (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)

    Executive Producer

  • Star Trek: Strange New Worlds(2022)

    Show 40 episodes · Creator · Executive Producer · Story

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all shows

  • The Man Who Fell to Earth(2022)

    Show 10 episodes · Director · Creator · Executive Producer · Teleplay · Writer

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all shows

  • Lift(2022)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • Star Trek: Prodigy(2021)

    Show 39 episodes · Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all shows

  • Clarice(2021)

    Show 13 episodes · Creator · Executive Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all shows

  • The Comey Rule(2020)

    Show 2 episodes · Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all shows

  • Star Trek: Lower Decks(2020)

    Show 50 episodes · Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all shows

  • Star Trek: Picard(2020)

    Show 30 episodes · Creator · Executive Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all shows

  • Star Trek: Short Treks(2018)

    Show 2 episodes · Creator · Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all shows

  • Instinct(2018)

    Show 24 episodes · Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all shows

  • After Trek (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Star Trek: Discovery(2017)

    Show 65 episodes · Director · Creator · Executive Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all shows

  • Salvation(2017)

    Show 13 episodes · Producer

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all shows

  • The Mummy(2017)

    Director · Producer · Screenstory

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films

  • Now You See Me 2(2016)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • Limitless(2015)

    Show 22 episodes · Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all shows

  • Scorpion(2014)

    Show 93 episodes · Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all shows

  • Matador (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    Show 13 episodes · Executive Producer

  • The Amazing Spider-Man 2(2014)

    Executive Producer · Screenplay · Story

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Ender's Game(2013)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all films

  • Transformers Prime Beast Hunters: Predacons Rising(2013)

    Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • Sleepy Hollow(2013)

    Show 62 episodes · Creator · Executive Producer · Story · Teleplay · Writer

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all shows

  • Now You See Me(2013)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Star Trek Into Darkness(2013)

    Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • People Like Us(2012)

    Director · Producer · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • Cowboys & Aliens(2011)

    Producer · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Locke & Key(2011)

    Executive Producer · Teleplay

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • Transformers Prime(2010)

    Show 65 episodes · Creator · Executive Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • Hawaii Five-0(2010)

    Show 93 episodes · Creator · Executive Producer · Producer · Story · Writer

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all shows

  • Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen(2009)

    Writer

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • The Proposal(2009)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Star Trek(2009)

    Executive Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Eagle Eye(2008)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Fringe(2008)

    Show 100 episodes · Creator · Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • Transformers(2007)

    Screenplay · Story

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • Mission: Impossible III(2006)

    Writer · as Party Guest (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • The Legend of Zorro(2005)

    Screenplay · Story

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • The Island(2005)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Alias(2001)

    Show 23 episodes · Director · Co-Executive Producer · Executive Producer · Supervising Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all shows

  • Jack of All Trades (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Show 22 episodes · Producer · Writer

  • Xena: Warrior Princess(1995)

    Show 1 episode · Teleplay

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all shows

  • Hercules: The Legendary Journeys(1995)

    Show 13 episodes · Teleplay · Writer

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all shows

  • Untitled Now You See Me 4 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Producer

  • Untitled Star Trek Live-Action Comedy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Show 1 episode · Executive Producer

Career shape

A full career of 50 titles, 48 of them dated from 1995 to 2026.

Biggest box office

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009)

$836M worldwide

Highest rated

Star Trek (2009)

Midcredits 97th

Most popular right now

Transformers Prime (2010)

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting2 of 50: 1 only acting, 1 with another roleDirecting6 of 50: 0 only directing, 6 with another role · typical Midcredits score53rdWriting26 of 50: 6 only writing, 20 with another role · typical Midcredits score68thProducing40 of 50: 22 only producing, 18 with another role · typical Midcredits score69thOther crew10 of 50: 0 only other crew, 10 with another role · typical Midcredits score68th

50 titles, 21 with more than one role — producing and writing overlap on 17 of them.

By decade

1990s2 · crew2000s11 · 1 acting · 11 crew2010s21 · 1 acting · 20 crew2020s14 · 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

4 major nominations and no wins, 2009–2020.

  1. 2020
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Short Form Comedy or Drama Series
  2. 2010
    • Writers Guild Award, nominated · Best Adapted Screenplay
  3. 2009
    • Writers Guild Award, nominated · Long Form - Original
    • Writers Guild Award, nominated · New 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 Alex Kurtzman's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 69th percentile, the median of all 23; across their 23 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 65th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

65thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 23

Approval · how many liked their films

72ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 23

Reach · how many have seen their films

98thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 23

Midcredits score across 44 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up16
  • 50th to 74th14
  • 25th to 49th11
  • Below 25th3

Shape of the crowd

23 of their 44 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved6
  • Divisive2
  • Crowd Pleaser23
  • Broadly Agreed4
  • Mixed9

Most divisive · director, writer, producer

Star Trek: Starfleet Academy (2026)

95th percentile spread · 53% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · writer, producer

Star Trek (2009)

Midcredits 97th · 89% liked

Reviewers score the dialogue 47/100 and the plot and story 40/100 in their films, across 21 reviewed titles. The element that speaks to their work as a writer.

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 Alex Kurtzman's work okay for kids?

Across up to 20 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 & Gore20 titles34–67 · median 57 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity20 titles10–45 · median 29 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity20 titles27–58 · median 41 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs19 titles21–40 · median 32 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense19 titles34–65 · 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 Alex Kurtzman work with?

People who share at least 2 of Alex Kurtzman's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Roberto Orci shares the most, 20.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers