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Joe Russo

Joe Russo

Producer, director and writer · Born July 18, 1971 (55) · Cleveland, Ohio, USA

Primetime Emmy winner · 2 other major award bodies

Joe Russo (born July 18, 1971) is an American filmmaker with his brother, Anthony Russo, collectively known as the Russo brothers (/ˈruːsoʊ/ ROO-soh). They direct most of their work together. They are best known for directing four films in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU): Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014), Captain America: Civil War(2016), Avengers: Infinity War (2018), and Avengers: Endgame (2019). Endgame grossed over $2.798 billion worldwide, briefly becoming the highest-grossing film ever.  The brothers have also worked as directors and producers on the comedy series Arrested Development (2003–2005), Community (2009–2014), and Happy Endings (2011–2012). They won a Primetime Emmy Award for Arrested Development. Description above from the Wikipedia article Russo brothers, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
July 18, 1971 (55)
From
Cleveland, Ohio, USA
Works as
Producer, director and writer
Titles
38 on MovieCove · 75 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 21% in 30 days

What are Joe Russo's films like?

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

Genres

Action12 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 84th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Action movies
Comedy4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 38th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Drama2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 39th 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
Bonds
34%
Morality
20%
Survival
14%
Self
11%
Power
9%
Ideas
7%
Society
4%
Family bonds9 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival8 titles, browse their movies with this themeLoyalty5 titles, browse their movies with this themeRedemption6 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship4 titles, browse their movies with this themeSacrifice4 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose4 titles, browse their movies with this themeBetrayal3 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 22 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 7 · Serious 6 · Dark 9

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

Grounded 5 · Stylized 10 · Heightened 7

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

Gentle 4 · Charged 4 · Intense 14

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

Steady 6 · Shifting 11 · Whiplash 5

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

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 10 · Some laughs 8 · Funny 4

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 5 · Even-paced 7 · Relentless 10

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 12 · Full focus 5

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

Resolved 16 · Open-ended 4 · Ambiguous 2

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
19
Melancholic
11
Thrilling
8
Warm
7
Hopeful
6
Other
22

How their films linger

Bittersweet11 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful11 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 6 with a twist

  • Happy2
  • Bittersweet19
  • Tragic1
  • Ambiguous4

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 Joe Russo's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 34 of their 38 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Netflix (9).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Joe Russo'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

75 credits, 38 with a MovieCove page; 7 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Avengers: Secret Wars (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2027)

    Director · Producer

  • John Rambo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2027)

    Executive Producer

  • Avengers: Doomsday (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2026)

    Director

  • The Whisper Man(2026)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • The Bluff(2026)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all films

  • The Legend of Ochi(2025)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • Something's More Than One Thing(2024)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • The Electric State(2025)

    Director · Producer · as Skeevy Bot (voice)

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Citadel: Honey Bunny(2024)

    Show 6 episodes · Executive Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all shows

  • Citadel: Diana(2024)

    Show 6 episodes · Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all shows

  • The Progeny (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)

    Thanks

  • All Fun and Games(2023)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 4th percentile of all films

  • Extraction II(2023)

    Original Story · Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • Citadel(2023)

    Show 13 episodes · Director · Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all shows

  • The Gray Man(2022)

    Director · Producer · Screenplay · as CIA DDO Fine

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • Captive Audience(2022)

    Show 3 episodes · Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all shows

  • Everything Everywhere All at Once(2022)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • From(2022)

    Show 40 episodes · Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all shows

  • Slugfest (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2021)

    Show 10 episodes · Executive Producer

  • Cherry(2021)

    Director · Producer · as Restaurant Owner

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Relic(2020)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Russo Bros. Pizza Film School (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    Show 9 episodes · Actor

  • Extraction(2020)

    Original Story · Producer · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • 21 Bridges(2019)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • Back from the Brink: Saved from Extinction (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    Executive Producer

  • Mosul(2019)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Avengers: Endgame(2019)

    Director · as Grieving Man

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Larry Charles' Dangerous World of Comedy(2019)

    Show 4 episodes · Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all shows

  • Deadly Class(2018)

    Show 10 episodes · Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all shows

  • Dizzy Pursuit (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    Executive Producer

  • Assassination Nation(2018)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Avengers: Infinity War(2018)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Captain America: Civil War(2016)

    Director · as Dr. Broussard

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Agent Carter(2015)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all shows

  • A Merry Friggin' Christmas(2014)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • Captain America: The Winter Soldier(2014)

    Director · as Dr. Fine

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Ghost Phone (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    Production Consultant

  • Animal Practice (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    Show 9 episodes · Director · Executive Producer

  • Leader of the Pack (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    Executive Producer

  • Up All Night(2011)

    Show 3 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all shows

  • Happy Endings(2011)

    Show 36 episodes · Director · Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all shows

  • Running Wilde(2010)

    Show 13 episodes · Director · Executive Producer · Producer

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all shows

  • Community(2009)

    Show 97 episodes · Director · Executive Producer · Producer

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • Carfuckers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    Director

  • Comedy Showcase (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Carpoolers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    Show 13 episodes · Director · Executive Producer

  • No. 6 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    Executive Producer

  • Secrets of a Small Town (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    Show 1 episode · Executive Producer

  • Crashing(2007)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • You, Me and Dupree(2006)

    Director · as Personnel Manager

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • What About Brian(2006)

    Show 5 episodes · Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

  • LAX (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Show 13 episodes · Director · Co-Executive Producer

  • Arrested Development(2003)

    Show 14 episodes · Director · as Joe

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

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

    Show 2 episodes · Director

  • Welcome to Collinwood(2002)

    Director · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • The Kiss (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Director · Producer · Writer

  • Inside Traffic: The Making of 'Traffic' (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Associate Producer

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

    Director · Editor · Producer · Writer · Actor

  • The Simpsons(1989)

    Show 1 episode · as Movie Executive 1 (voice)

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • Down Under Cover (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Producer

  • Exit West (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Producer

  • Extraction 3 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Producer

  • Free Willy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Executive Producer

  • Gods Unknown (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Producer

  • Hercules (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Producer

  • Mercenary: An Extraction Series (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Show 3 episodes · Executive Producer

  • Nemesis (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Show 1 episode · Producer

  • Ordained (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Producer

  • Prism (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Show 1 episode · Executive Producer

  • Saigon Bodyguards (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Producer

  • SuperFudge (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Producer

  • The Reckoner (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Executive Producer

  • TYGO (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Producer

  • Untitled Cambridge Antalytica Project (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Producer

  • Untitled FBI Wedding Sting Film (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Producer

Career shape

A full career of 75 titles, 56 of them dated from 1989 to 2026.

Biggest box office

Avengers: Endgame (2019)

$2.9B worldwide

Highest rated

Avengers: Infinity War (2018)

Midcredits 99th

Most popular right now

Avengers: Endgame (2019)

Film career

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting11 of 75: 2 only acting, 9 with another role · typical Midcredits score96thDirecting26 of 75: 7 only directing, 19 with another role · typical Midcredits score76thWriting6 of 75: 0 only writing, 6 with another roleProducing58 of 75: 43 only producing, 15 with another role · typical Midcredits score48thEditing1 of 75: 0 only editing, 1 with another roleOther crew2 of 75: 2 only other crew, 0 with another role

75 titles, 21 with more than one role — producing and directing overlap on 13 of them.

By decade

1980s1 · acting1990s1 · 1 acting · 1 crew2000s15 · 2 acting · 15 crew2010s19 · 3 acting · 19 crew2020s20 · 4 acting · 19 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

a Primetime Emmy and 1 other major award from 4 major nominations, 2002–2023.

WinNomination
  1. 2023
    • Independent Spirit Award, won · Best Feature
  2. 2004
    • Primetime Emmy, won · Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series
  3. 2002
    • Cannes award, nominated · Directors' Fortnight
    • Cannes award, nominated

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 Joe Russo's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 62nd percentile, the median of all 23; across their 22 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 60th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

60thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 22

Approval · how many liked their films

67thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 22

Reach · how many have seen their films

91stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 22

Midcredits score across 38 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up15
  • 50th to 74th6
  • 25th to 49th12
  • Below 25th5

Shape of the crowd

13 of their 38 titles are Mixed.

  • Universally Loved9
  • Universally Panned1
  • Crowd Pleaser11
  • Broadly Agreed4
  • Mixed13

Most divisive · producer

Something's More Than One Thing (2024)

84th percentile spread · 14% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · director

Avengers: Infinity War (2018)

Midcredits 99th · 91% liked

Reviewers score the atmosphere 64/100 and the pacing 52/100 in their films, across 21 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 Joe Russo's work okay for kids?

Across up to 21 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore, profanity and frightening / intense run heavier than most films and sex & nudity lighter.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore19 titles38–88 · median 67 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity21 titles9–53 · median 15 · mildlighter than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity20 titles37–74 · median 57 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs19 titles9–44 · median 33 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense18 titles42–76 · median 61 · 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 Joe Russo work with?

People who share at least 2 of Joe Russo's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Anthony Russo shares the most, 27.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers