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Rick Rosenthal

Rick Rosenthal

Director and producer, also cinematographer · Born June 15, 1949 (77) · New York City, New York, USA

Primetime Emmy nominee · 2 other major award bodies

Richard L. Rosenthal Jr. (born June 15, 1949) is an American film instructor and director, known for directing Halloween II, Bad Boys, and Halloween: Resurrection. Rosenthal started his career by directing Halloween II (1981) and returned to the series 21 years later, helming Halloween: Resurrection (2002). In between, he directed films such as American Dreamer (1984), Russkies (1987), Distant Thunder (1988), and Just a Little Harmless Sex (1998). He also directed dozens of episodic television shows and was co-executive producer of the landmark Warner Bros. TV series Life Goes On for ABC from 1989-1991, where he guest starred in two episodes as "Uncle Richard".

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
June 15, 1949 (77)
From
New York City, New York, USA
Works as
Director and producer, also cinematographer
Titles
81 on MovieCove · 115 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 14% in 30 days

What are Rick Rosenthal's films like?

Across their 55 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Self and Survival.

Genres

Documentary15 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 76th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Documentary movies
Comedy13 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 62nd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Drama12 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 47th percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Crime5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 62nd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime movies
Horror3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 32nd percentile
: browse their Horror movies
Action2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 13th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Adventure2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 49th 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
Self
21%
Survival
20%
Bonds
18%
Morality
17%
Society
14%
Power
5%
Ideas
5%
Survival13 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds13 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity9 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship8 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose8 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity7 titles, browse their movies with this themeComing of age6 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice7 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 53 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 14 · Serious 16 · Dark 23

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

Grounded 45 · Stylized 7 · Heightened 1

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

Gentle 15 · Charged 25 · Intense 13

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

A split, not a type: Steady 26 · Shifting 22 · Whiplash 5

Straight-faced: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their straight-faced movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 32 · Some laughs 16 · Funny 5

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 29 · Even-paced 23 · Relentless 1

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

Casual 20 · Engaged 25 · Full focus 8

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

Easy watch 14 · Affecting 21 · Heavy 18

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

Resolved 39 · Open-ended 9 · Ambiguous 5

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
27
Melancholic
25
Contemplative
21
Hopeful
17
Warm
15
Other
44

How their films linger

Hopeful24 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking20 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet22 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling13 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 3 with a twist

  • Happy7
  • Bittersweet34
  • Tragic4
  • Ambiguous9
  • Cyclical1

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 Rick Rosenthal's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 52 of their 81 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (22).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Rick Rosenthal'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

115 credits, 81 with a MovieCove page; 2 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • YO Love Is a Rebellious Bird(2026)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • The Shepherd and the Bear(2024)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • Move Ya Body: The Birth of House (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2025)

    Executive Producer

  • I Hate Myself and Want to Die(2024)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Food and Country(2023)

    Co-Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • The Grab(2022)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Alien Contact (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2024)

    Director · as Self

  • Invisible Beauty(2023)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • Stay Awake(2022)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • The Cow Who Sang a Song Into the Future(2022)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Art for Everybody (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)

    Executive Producer

  • To the End(2022)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 2nd percentile of all films

  • Citizen Ashe(2021)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • Small Engine Repair(2021)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • Rebel Hearts(2021)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Civil War (or, Who Do We Think We Are)(2021)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • Love & Stuff (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    Co-Executive Producer

  • The Boy Behind the Door(2020)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • Feels Good Man(2020)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Standing Up, Falling Down(2019)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Won't You Be My Neighbor?(2018)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Dark Money(2018)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all films

  • Halfway There(2018)

    Director · Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Saving Capitalism(2017)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • Punching Henry(2016)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Bending the Arc(2017)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • A Thousand Junkies(2017)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • First Girl I Loved(2016)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Band of Robbers(2015)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Destined(2016)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • Aram, Aram(2015)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • King Jack(2015)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • 7 Minutes(2014)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • Transparent(2014)

    Show 20 episodes · Consulting Producer · Supervising Producer

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all shows

  • Lost After Dark(2015)

    as Sheriff

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films

  • Match(2014)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Big Men(2013)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • Big in Japan(2014)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Crescendo! The Power of Music(2014)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Drones(2013)

    Director · Producer

    Midcredits score: 8th percentile of all films

  • Cold Comes the Night(2013)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • Afternoon Delight(2013)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • Open Heart (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    Executive Producer

  • California Solo(2012)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Fat Kid Rules the World(2012)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • The Procession (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    Executive Producer

  • Arcadia(2012)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • On the Ice(2011)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Haven(2010)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all shows

  • Gigantic(2010)

    Show Director

    Midcredits score: 6th percentile of all shows

  • According to Greta(2009)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Drop Dead Diva(2009)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all shows

  • Mental(2009)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all shows

  • Being Erica(2009)

    Show 3 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all shows

  • River Monsters(2009)

    Show Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows

  • Childrens Hospital(2008)

    Show 63 episodes · Producer

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all shows

  • Life on Mars(2008)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all shows

  • 90210(2008)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 22nd percentile of all shows

  • Waves of Freedom (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    Director

  • Flash Gordon: A Modern Space Opera(2007)

    Show 1 episode · Director · as Rick Rosenthal

    Midcredits score: 4th percentile of all shows

  • Greek(2007)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all shows

  • Kabluey(2007)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all films

  • The Dresden Files(2007)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all shows

  • Nearing Grace(2005)

    Director · Producer

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • Angela's Eyes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Reunion (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

  • Point Pleasant (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Veronica Mars(2004)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all shows

  • Mean Creek(2004)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • Tru Calling (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

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

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Mister Sterling (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

  • Hack (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • MDs (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • She Spies (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Halloween: Resurrection(2002)

    Director · as Professor

    Midcredits score: 2nd percentile of all films

  • Smallville(2001)

    Show 7 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all shows

  • Crossing Jordan(2001)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all shows

  • Witchblade(2001)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all shows

  • All Souls (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • The District (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Show 6 episodes · Director

  • Strong Medicine (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Law & Order: Special Victims Unit(1999)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • Just a Little Harmless Sex(1998)

    Director · Producer

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films

  • Providence (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Show 6 episodes · Director

  • Fantasy Island (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • L.A. Doctors (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

  • Roar (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Buffy the Vampire Slayer(1997)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • The Practice(1997)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all shows

  • Early Edition (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

  • The Birds II: Land's End(1994)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all films

  • Devlin (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Director

  • The Witches of Eastwick(1992)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Nasty Boys(1989)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • Life Goes On (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Show 10 episodes · Director

  • Distant Thunder(1988)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • Russkies(1987)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • Hard Copy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Better Off Dead(1985)

    as Smity

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • Code of Vengeance (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Director

  • Dalton's Code of Vengeance (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

  • Johnny Dangerously(1984)

    as Judge

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • American Dreamer(1984)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Best Revenge (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Writer

  • Natural World(1983)

    Show 4 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • Bad Boys(1983)

    Director · as Judge

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Darkroom (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Show 4 episodes · Director

  • Fire on the Mountain(1981)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • Halloween II(1981)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • Secrets of Midland Heights (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Skateboard Madness(1980)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • Lindsay Wagner: Another Side of Me (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Assistant Camera

  • The Incredible Hulk(1977)

    Show 1 episode · Writer

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all shows

  • Video Vixens! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Production Assistant · as Slate Man

Career shape

A full career of 108 titles from 1975 to 2026.

Biggest box office

Halloween: Resurrection (2002)

$38M worldwide

Highest rated

Won't You Be My Neighbor? (2018)

Midcredits 99th

Most popular right now

Halloween II (1981)

Film career

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting7 of 108: 3 only acting, 4 with another role · typical Midcredits score37thDirecting56 of 108: 50 only directing, 6 with another role · typical Midcredits score61stWriting2 of 108: 2 only writing, 0 with another roleProducing48 of 108: 45 only producing, 3 with another role · typical Midcredits score66thOther crew2 of 108: 1 only other crew, 1 with another role

108 titles, 7 with more than one role — directing and producing overlap on 3 of them.

By decade

1970s3 · 1 acting · 3 crew1980s17 · 3 acting · 15 crew1990s12 · crew2000s31 · 2 acting · 31 crew2010s26 · 1 acting · 25 crew2020s19 · 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 4 major nominations, 2005–2016.

WinNomination
  1. 2016
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Comedy Series
    • +1 other major body · 1 win
      • Producers Guild Award, won · Outstanding Producer of Episodic Television, Comedy
  2. 2015
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Comedy Series
  3. 2005
    • Independent Spirit Award, won

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 Rick Rosenthal's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 61st percentile, the median of all 59; across their 53 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 58th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

58thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 53

Approval · how many liked their films

61stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 53

Reach · how many have seen their films

56thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 53

Midcredits score across 81 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up27
  • 50th to 74th28
  • 25th to 49th14
  • Below 25th12

Shape of the crowd

31 of their 81 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved6
  • Universally Panned3
  • Loved with Detractors1
  • Divisive7
  • Cult Classic3
  • Crowd Pleaser31
  • Broadly Agreed3
  • Mixed27

Most divisive · producer

I Hate Myself and Want to Die (2024)

99th percentile spread · 28% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · producer

Won't You Be My Neighbor? (2018)

Midcredits 99th · 92% liked

Reviewers score the atmosphere 63/100 and the pacing 46/100 in their films, across 40 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 Rick Rosenthal's work okay for kids?

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

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore10 titles18–88 · median 72 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity12 titles18–58 · median 45 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity9 titles50–96 · median 84 · severeheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs9 titles14–69 · median 37 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense9 titles23–85 · median 72 · intenseheavier 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 Rick Rosenthal work with?

People who share at least 2 of Rick Rosenthal's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Nancy Stephens shares the most, 17.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Cinematographers and editors

Producers

  • Nancy Stephens17 titles    See newest 12 of 17 shared titles with Nancy Stephens
  • Nick Morton17 titles    See newest 12 of 17 shared titles with Nick Morton
  • Bert Kern12 titles    See all 12 shared titles with Bert Kern
  • Geralyn White Dreyfous8 titles    See all 8 shared titles with Geralyn White Dreyfous

Mixed roles