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Shawn Wayans

Shawn Wayans

Actor, writer, producer and director · Born January 19, 1971 (55) · New York City, New York, USA

Shawn Mathis Wayans (born January 19, 1971) is an American actor, comedian, writer, and producer. He debuted on the comedy television series In Living Color (1990–1993). He went on to work with his brother Marlon Wayans on The WB sitcom The Wayans Bros. (1995–1999) and the comedy films Don't Be a Menace (1996), Scary Movie (2000), Scary Movie 2 (2001), White Chicks (2004), Little Man (2006), and Dance Flick (2009). Description above from the Wikipedia article Shawn Wayans, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
January 19, 1971 (55)
From
New York City, New York, USA
Works as
Actor, writer, producer and director
Titles
19 on MovieCove · 24 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 63 days to Oct 26Down 27% in 30 days

What are Shawn Wayans' films like?

Across their 13 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Self.

Genres

Comedy7 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 33rd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Action2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 13th percentile
: browse their Action 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%
Self
26%
Morality
12%
Survival
11%
Society
11%
Ideas
6%
Family bonds6 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity5 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival3 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity3 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship3 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception3 titles, browse their movies with this themeComing of age2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 10 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Wry: How sincerely it treats its story and characters, from ironic to earnest. Browse their wry movies.
Tone · Sincerity
ironicearnest

A split, not a type: Ironic 6 · Wry 0 · Earnest 3

Light: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their light movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 9 · Serious 0 · Dark 1

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

Grounded 0 · Stylized 3 · Heightened 7

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

A split, not a type: Gentle 5 · Charged 3 · Intense 2

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

A split, not a type: Steady 3 · Shifting 3 · Whiplash 4

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

Straight-faced 1 · Some laughs 0 · Funny 9

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

Slow burn 2 · Even-paced 4 · Relentless 4

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

Casual 9 · Engaged 1 · Full focus 0

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

Resolved 9 · Open-ended 1 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

5 analyzed roles

Usually the Hero: 3 of 5 analyzed roles.

Hero
3 of 5
Ally
2 of 5

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Absurd
10
Joyful
7
Manic
6
Warm
4
Tense
1
Other
5

How their films linger

Fun11 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good11 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 1 with a twist

  • Happy9
  • Bittersweet1
  • Ambiguous1
  • Cyclical2

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 Shawn Wayans' films?

As of October 24, 2026, 15 of their 19 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (8).

Subscription and free streaming for Shawn Wayans' 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

24 credits, 19 with a MovieCove page; 14 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Scary Movie(2026)

    Characters · Producer · Writer · as Ray

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • Poppa's House(2024)

    Show 18 episodes · Consulting Producer · Teleplay

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all shows

  • Scary Movie 5(2013)

    Characters

    Midcredits score: 2nd percentile of all films

  • Dance Flick(2009)

    Producer · Writer · as Baby Daddy

    Midcredits score: 6th percentile of all films

  • A Boo Crew Christmas: A Miracle on D-Roc's Street(2006)

    Director · Producer · Writer · as Slim/Cheapie (voice)

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Little Man(2006)

    Producer · Screenplay · as Darryl

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • Thugaboo: Sneaker Madness (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Director · as Slim (voice)

  • Scary Movie 4(2006)

    Characters

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • White Chicks(2004)

    Producer · Screenplay · Story · as Kevin Copeland

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • Scary Movie 3(2003)

    Characters

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Scary Movie 2(2001)

    Characters · Co-Executive Producer · Screenplay · as Ray

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Scary Movie(2000)

    Producer · Screenplay · as Ray

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • New Blood(1999)

    as Valentine

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • Waynehead(1996)

    Show 13 episodes · Theme Song Performance · as Toof (voice)

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all shows

  • Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood(1996)

    Producer · Screenplay · as Ashtray

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child(1995)

    Show 1 episode · as Itch (voice)

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all shows

  • The Parent 'Hood(1995)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all shows

  • The Wayans Bros.(1995)

    Show 101 episodes · Creator · as Shawn Williams

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all shows

  • Hangin' with Mr. Cooper(1992)

    Show 1 episode · as Dominique

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all shows

  • Robert Townsend: Partners in Crime: Vol. 4 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Actor

  • I'm Gonna Git You Sucka(1988)

    as Pedestrian

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • MacGyver (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 1 episode · as Robo

  • Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood sequel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Writer · as Ashtray

  • White Chicks 2 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Writer · as Kevin Copeland

Career shape

Star power in the 98th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 24 titles, 22 of them dated from 1985 to 2026; peak year 2005.

Biggest box office

Scary Movie (2000)

$278M worldwide

Highest rated

Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood (1996)

Midcredits 69th

Most popular right now

Scary Movie (2026)

Film career

19852026

Peak 2005 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Top draw in 3 MovieCove titles. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting20 of 24: 7 only acting, 13 with another role · typical Midcredits score27thDirecting2 of 24: 0 only directing, 2 with another roleWriting14 of 24: 3 only writing, 11 with another role · typical Midcredits score26thProducing7 of 24: 0 only producing, 7 with another role · typical Midcredits score26thOther crew2 of 24: 0 only other crew, 2 with another role

24 titles, 14 with more than one role — acting and writing overlap on 10 of them.

By decade

1980s3 · acting1990s7 · 7 acting · 3 crew2000s9 · 7 acting · 9 crew2010s1 · crew2020s2 · 1 acting · 2 crew

Billing

usually 2nd · top billed in 25% of 8 roles

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. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30.

How do Shawn Wayans' films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 26th percentile, the median of all 13; across their 10 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 29th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

29thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 10

Approval · how many liked their films

28thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 10

Reach · how many have seen their films

98thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 10

Midcredits score across 19 titles, by percentile

  • 50th to 74th6
  • 25th to 49th5
  • Below 25th8

Shape of the crowd

12 of their 19 titles are Mixed.

  • Divisive1
  • Cult Classic2
  • Crowd Pleaser4
  • Mixed12

Most divisive · actor, director, writer, producer

A Boo Crew Christmas: A Miracle on D-Roc's Street (2006)

98th percentile spread · 47% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor, writer, producer

Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood (1996)

Midcredits 69th · 61% liked

Reviewers score the acting 50/100 in their films, across 9 reviewed titles; fans 69, detractors 29. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

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 Shawn Wayans' work okay for kids?

Across up to 8 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore, sex & nudity, profanity and alcohol & drugs run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore7 titles42–81 · median 61 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity8 titles44–79 · median 63 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity7 titles65–90 · median 88 · severeheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs7 titles40–81 · median 67 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense7 titles24–53 · median 39 · moderatenear the median of all 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 Shawn Wayans work with?

People who share at least 2 of Shawn Wayans' MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Marlon Wayans shares the most, 11.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers and cinematographers

Producers

Mixed roles