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John Swihart

John Swihart

Composer · Mt. Kisco, New York, USA

John Swihart (born 1964) is an American musical composer for film and television. Some of his best known scores include the films Napoleon Dynamite (2004), Employee of the Month (2006), Youth in Revolt (2009), and television shows How I Met Your Mother (2005 - 2014), and Go On (2012 - 2013). Swihart was raised in Bloomington, Indiana, the adopted son of a physicist based at Indiana University. He attended Berklee College of Music, in Boston, graduating in 1986. Prior to becoming a film and television composer, he performed in shows as a multi-instrumentalist for the Blue Man Group.

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

From
Mt. Kisco, New York, USA
Works as
Composer
Titles
51 on MovieCove · 65 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 28% in 30 days

What are John Swihart's films like?

Across their 47 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Self and Bonds.

Genres

Comedy26 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 35th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Drama11 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 48th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Adventure2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 34th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Adventure movies
Crime2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 13th percentile
: browse their Crime 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
39%
Bonds
28%
Survival
11%
Morality
11%
Society
7%
Power
3%
Ideas
0%
Self-worth14 titles, browse their movies with this themeComing of age11 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds11 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love10 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship8 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose9 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception8 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity6 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 42 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 26 · Serious 6 · Dark 10

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

Grounded 29 · Stylized 11 · Heightened 2

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

A split, not a type: Gentle 19 · Charged 14 · Intense 9

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

A split, not a type: Steady 21 · Shifting 14 · Whiplash 7

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 11 · Some laughs 12 · Funny 19

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

Slow burn 17 · Even-paced 23 · Relentless 2

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

Casual 25 · Engaged 15 · 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 24 · Affecting 6 · Heavy 12

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

Resolved 27 · Open-ended 12 · Ambiguous 3

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
19
Absurd
19
Warm
17
Melancholic
14
Joyful
16
Other
37

How their films linger

Feel-good26 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun19 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet13 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful11 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 6 with a twist

  • Happy21
  • Bittersweet18
  • Tragic1
  • Ambiguous7

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 John Swihart's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 33 of their 51 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (23).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for John Swihart'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

65 credits, 51 with a MovieCove page.

  • The Other Zoey(2023)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • The Violent Heart(2020)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • The Bay of Silence(2020)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 7th percentile of all films

  • Dinner in America(2020)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • The Fanatic(2019)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films

  • Haunting on Fraternity Row(2018)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all films

  • Ideal Home(2018)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • Table 19(2017)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Angry Angel(2017)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • First Girl I Loved(2016)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Web Therapy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    Show 10 episodes · Composer

  • Staten Island Summer(2015)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Accidental Love(2015)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 2nd percentile of all films

  • A Light Beneath Their Feet(2015)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • As Night Comes(2014)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films

  • The Young Kieslowski (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    Composer

  • Cristela(2014)

    Show Composer

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all shows

  • We Are Men(2013)

    Show 11 episodes · Composer

    Midcredits score: 8th percentile of all shows

  • The Goodwin Games(2013)

    Show 7 episodes · Composer

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all shows

  • Odd Thomas(2013)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • For a Good Time, Call...(2012)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • Flypaper(2011)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Lucky(2011)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • Mad Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    Show 13 episodes · Composer

  • How to Be a Gentleman(2011)

    Show Composer

    Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all shows

  • Web Therapy(2011)

    Show Composer

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all shows

  • The Other Woman(2009)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • The Perfect Host(2010)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Cheech & Chong's Hey Watch This (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    Composer

  • Accidentally on Purpose(2009)

    Show 18 episodes · Composer

    Midcredits score: 22nd percentile of all shows

  • Youth in Revolt(2009)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • New in Town(2009)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • Finding Bliss (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Composer

  • Spread(2009)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • Balls Out: Gary the Tennis Coach(2009)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 22nd percentile of all films

  • Splinterheads(2009)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • Garden Party(2008)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • The Last Word(2008)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Just Add Water(2008)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all films

  • The Year of Getting to Know Us(2008)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all films

  • HottieBoombaLottie(2008)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • Randy & the Mob (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    Composer

  • The Brothers Solomon(2007)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • The Education of Charlie Banks(2007)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • Full of It(2007)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • One Last Dance (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    Composer

  • South of Pico(2007)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • The Hammer(2007)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Employee of the Month(2006)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • Out There (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Composer

  • Bickford Shmeckler's Cool Ideas(2006)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • Glazed (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Composer

  • On Location Napoleon Dynamite (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Songs

  • The Sasquatch Gang(2006)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Bye Bye Benjamin (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Composer

  • 5up 2down(2006)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • Trick My Truck(2006)

    Show Composer

    Midcredits score: 22nd percentile of all shows

  • Daltry Calhoun (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Composer

  • How I Met Your Mother(2005)

    Show 208 episodes · Composer

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all shows

  • Our Very Own(2005)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

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

    Composer

  • The Great New Wonderful(2005)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Napoleon Dynamite(2004)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • Purgatory House(2004)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Bedford Springs (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Composer

Career shape

A full career of 53 titles from 2002 to 2023.

Biggest box office

Napoleon Dynamite (2004)

$46M worldwide

Highest rated

Dinner in America (2020)

Midcredits 95th

Most popular right now

Web Therapy (2011)

By role

only this rolewith another role
Music52 of 53: 52 only music, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score36thOther crew1 of 53: 1 only other crew, 0 with another role

By decade

2000s29 · crew2010s20 · crew2020s4 · 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 John Swihart's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 38th percentile, the median of all 43; across their 42 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 35th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

35thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 42

Approval · how many liked their films

40thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 42

Reach · how many have seen their films

81stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 42

Midcredits score across 51 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up4
  • 50th to 74th12
  • 25th to 49th20
  • Below 25th15

Shape of the crowd

27 of their 51 titles are Mixed.

  • Universally Loved3
  • Universally Panned2
  • Divisive1
  • Cult Classic3
  • Crowd Pleaser11
  • Broadly Agreed4
  • Mixed27

Most divisive · composer

As Night Comes (2014)

90th percentile spread · 46% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · composer

Dinner in America (2020)

Midcredits 95th · 84% liked

Reviewers score the sound and music 55/100 in their films, across 27 reviewed titles; fans 65, detractors 37. 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 John Swihart's work okay for kids?

Across up to 22 MovieCove titles with content scores, profanity runs heavier than most films and violence & gore and frightening / intense lighter.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore12 titles7–60 · median 23 · mildlighter than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity22 titles24–60 · median 39 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity13 titles37–87 · median 69 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs11 titles5–65 · median 43 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense11 titles7–67 · median 15 · 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 John Swihart work with?

People who share at least 2 of John Swihart's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Kerem Sanga shares the most, 3.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Cinematographers and editors

Producers