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Zach Gilford

Zach Gilford

Actor · Born January 14, 1982 (44) · Evanston, Illinois, USA

Critics Choice Award nominee

Zachary Michael Gilford (born January 14, 1982) is an American actor, best known for his role as Matt Saracen on the NBC sports drama series Friday Night Lights. In 2021, he starred in the Netflix horror limited series Midnight Mass. In 2022, he appeared in the horror mystery-thriller series The Midnight Club, and in 2023, he had a main role in the horror drama miniseries The Fall of the House of Usher. Description above from the Wikipedia article Zach Gilford, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
January 14, 1982 (44)
From
Evanston, Illinois, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
32 on MovieCove · 40 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 26Up 49% in 30 days

What are Zach Gilford's films like?

Across their 22 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Self.

Genres

Drama5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 33rd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Comedy4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 29th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Horror3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 11th percentile
: browse their Horror movies
Action2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 54th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: 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
21%
Self
20%
Survival
18%
Morality
16%
Society
12%
Power
7%
Ideas
6%
Family bonds10 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival5 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity5 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity4 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception3 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose2 titles, browse their movies with this themeGrief3 titles, browse their movies with this themeRedemption2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 15 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 5 · Serious 4 · Dark 6

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

Grounded 13 · Stylized 1 · Heightened 1

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

Gentle 4 · Charged 6 · Intense 5

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

Steady 6 · Shifting 9 · Whiplash 0

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

Straight-faced 10 · Some laughs 4 · Funny 1

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

Slow burn 6 · Even-paced 8 · 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 6 · Engaged 7 · 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 4 · Affecting 5 · Heavy 6

Open-ended: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their open-ended movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

A split, not a type: Resolved 8 · Open-ended 5 · Ambiguous 2

Roles they play

12 analyzed roles

Usually the Hero: 6 of 12 analyzed roles.

Hero
6 of 12
Ally
5 of 12
Shadow
1 of 12
Show the 12 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
13
Dread
9
Melancholic
10
Contemplative
7
Hopeful
4
Other
19

How their films linger

Unsettling7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 6 with a twist

  • Happy4
  • Bittersweet12
  • Tragic1
  • Ambiguous4
  • 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 Zach Gilford's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 28 of their 32 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Prime Video (12).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Zach Gilford'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

40 credits, 32 with a MovieCove page; 5 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Evil Dead Wrath (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2028)

    as Ethan

  • Christmas Pop-Up (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2026)

    as Will

  • After All(2025)

    as Bobby

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Pink Eye (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2024)

    as Harris

  • The Fall of the House of Usher(2023)

    Show 8 episodes · as Young Roderick Usher

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all shows

  • Classmates(2023)

    as Professor Walsmith

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • There's Something Wrong with the Children(2023)

    as Ben

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films

  • The Disappearance of Cari Farver(2022)

    as Dave Kroupa

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • The Midnight Club(2022)

    Show 10 episodes · as Mark

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all shows

  • Midnight Mass(2021)

    Show 7 episodes · as Riley Flynn

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all shows

  • Boy Genius(2019)

    as Gordon

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • L.A.'s Finest(2019)

    Show 26 episodes · as Ben Walker

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all shows

  • Good Girls(2018)

    Show 16 episodes · as Gregg

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all shows

  • This Close (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    Show 6 episodes · as Danny

  • Lifeline (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    Show 8 episodes · Producer · as Conner Hooks

  • The Family(2016)

    Show 12 episodes · as Danny Warren

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all shows

  • Kingdom(2014)

    Show 1 episode · as Tim

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all shows

  • Tim and Eric's Bedtime Stories(2013)

    Show 1 episode · as Matt Peters

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all shows

  • The Purge: Anarchy(2014)

    as Shane

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • Devil's Due(2014)

    as Zach McCall

    Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all films

  • Drunk History(2013)

    Show 1 episode · as Jim Abbott

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all shows

  • Crazy Kind of Love(2013)

    as Matthew

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • The Last Stand(2013)

    as Jerry Bailey

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • In Our Nature(2012)

    as Seth

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • The Mob Doctor(2012)

    Show 13 episodes · as Dr. Brett Robinson

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all shows

  • Answers to Nothing(2011)

    as Evan

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • Off the Map (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    Show 13 episodes · as Dr. Tommy Fuller

  • Buccaneers and Bones(2010)

    Show 7 episodes · Actor

  • Super(2010)

    as Jerry

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • The River Why(2010)

    as Gus

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all films

  • Matadors (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    as Alex Galloway

  • Dare(2009)

    as Johnny Drake

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Post Grad(2009)

    as Adam Davies

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films

  • Rise: Blood Hunter(2007)

    as Sailor

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films

  • Friday Night Lights(2006)

    Show 62 episodes · as Matt Saracen

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • The Last Winter(2006)

    as Maxwell McKinder

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Criminal Minds(2005)

    Show 40 episodes · Director · as Elias Voit

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all shows

  • Grey's Anatomy(2005)

    Show 1 episode · as Charlie Lowell

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all shows

  • Law & Order: Special Victims Unit(1999)

    Show 1 episode · as James Miller · as Kevin Wilcox

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • A.I. Heart U (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    as Hayden

Career shape

Star power in the 98th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 40 titles, 37 of them dated from 1999 to 2025; peak year 2013.

Biggest box office

The Purge: Anarchy (2014)

$112M worldwide

Highest rated

Friday Night Lights (2006)

Midcredits 98th

Film career

19992025

Peak 2013 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Top draw in 4 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
Acting40 of 40: 38 only acting, 2 with another role · typical Midcredits score46thDirecting1 of 40: 0 only directing, 1 with another roleProducing1 of 40: 0 only producing, 1 with another role

By decade

1990s1 · acting2000s7 · 7 acting · 1 crew2010s21 · 21 acting · 1 crew2020s8 · acting

Billing

usually 3rd · top billed in 20% of 10 roles
0611

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; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

Awards

Nominated for a Critics Choice Award in 2022, Best Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie Made for Television.

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 Zach Gilford's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 30th percentile, the median of all 17; across their 15 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 15

Approval · how many liked their films

30thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 15

Reach · how many have seen their films

72ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 15

Midcredits score across 31 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up11
  • 50th to 74th4
  • 25th to 49th11
  • Below 25th5

Shape of the crowd

13 of their 31 titles are Mixed.

  • Universally Loved5
  • Universally Panned1
  • Divisive1
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser10
  • Mixed13

Most divisive · actor

Boy Genius (2019)

92nd percentile spread · 39% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Friday Night Lights (2006)

Midcredits 98th · 92% liked

Reviewers score the acting 68/100 in their films, across 14 reviewed titles; fans 79, detractors 46. 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 Zach Gilford's work okay for kids?

Across up to 10 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore, profanity, alcohol & drugs and frightening / intense run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore8 titles52–92 · median 81 · severeheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity10 titles11–49 · median 26 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity8 titles55–85 · median 68 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs7 titles32–70 · median 59 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense8 titles39–86 · median 71 · 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 Zach Gilford work with?

People who share at least 2 of Zach Gilford's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Michael Fimognari shares the most, 3.

Directors

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers