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Jennifer Hudson

Jennifer Hudson

Actor · Born September 12, 1981 (45) · Chicago, Illinois, USA

Jennifer Kate Hudson (born September 12, 1981), also known by her nickname J.Hud, is an American singer, actress, and talk show host. Hudson rose to fame in 2004 as a finalist on the third season of American Idol, placing seventh. She made her film debut as Effie White in the musical Dreamgirls (2006), for which she won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, becoming the youngest African-American to win in a competitive acting category. After signing to Arista Records, Hudson released her self-titled debut studio album in 2008, which was certified Gold in the US and the UK, and won the Grammy Award for Best R&B Album. Hudson's subsequent studio albums, I Remember Me (2011) and JHUD (2014), both charted within the top ten of the Billboard 200, with the former also being certified Gold in the US. Meanwhile, her other acting roles include the films Sex and the City (2008), The Secret Life of Bees (2008), Winnie Mandela (2011), Black Nativity (2013), Sing (2016), Cats (2019) and Respect (2021), the television shows Smash (2012), Empire (2015) and Confirmation (2016), and her Broadway debut with the musical The Color Purple. Hudson also contributed as a coach on the UK and the US version of The Voice from 2017 up to 2019, becoming the first female coach to win the former.

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
September 12, 1981 (45)
From
Chicago, Illinois, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
26 on MovieCove · 35 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 22% in 30 days

What are Jennifer Hudson's films like?

Across their 24 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Society and Bonds.

Genres

Comedy6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 37th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Drama6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 75th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Music3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 71st percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Music movies
Action2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 13th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Animation2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 68th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Animation movies
Biography2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 58th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Biography movies
Documentary2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 64th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Documentary 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
Society
27%
Bonds
24%
Self
23%
Survival
14%
Morality
7%
Power
4%
Ideas
2%
Community11 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds7 titles, browse their movies with this themeLegacy4 titles, browse their movies with this themeAmbition5 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival3 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship3 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice2 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 24 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 12 · Serious 4 · Dark 8

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

A split, not a type: Grounded 14 · Stylized 6 · Heightened 4

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

A split, not a type: Gentle 10 · Charged 8 · Intense 6

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

Steady 12 · Shifting 10 · Whiplash 2

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 14 · Some laughs 4 · Funny 6

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 15 · Even-paced 8 · Relentless 1

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

Casual 15 · Engaged 9 · Full focus 0

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 14 · Affecting 1 · Heavy 9

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

Resolved 21 · Open-ended 3 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

13 analyzed roles

Usually the Hero: 6 of 13 analyzed roles.

Hero
6 of 13
Ally
3 of 13
Mentor
2 of 13
Shadow
1 of 13
Shapeshifter
1 of 13
Show the 13 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Hopeful
13
Melancholic
8
Joyful
7
Tense
6
Warm
5
Other
23

How their films linger

Hopeful16 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 1 with a twist

  • Happy11
  • Bittersweet12
  • 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 Jennifer Hudson's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 18 of their 26 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service.

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Jennifer Hudson'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

35 credits, 26 with a MovieCove page; 65 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Pierre the Pigeon-Hawk (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2027)

    as Ophelia the Owl (voice)

  • PAW Patrol: The Dino Movie(2026)

    as Lilian Ledes (voice)

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • GOAT(2026)

    as Louise Harris (voice)

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Christmas with Andrea Bocelli & Friends: A Grammy Holiday Special (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2024)

    Actor

  • Breathe(2024)

    as Maya

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • The Color Purple(2023)

    Songs

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur(2023)

    Show 1 episode · as Mane (voice)

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all shows

  • Tell It Like a Woman(2022)

    as Pepcy / Kim

    Midcredits score: 2nd percentile of all films

  • The Jennifer Hudson Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    Show 626 episodes · Creator · Executive Producer · as Self - Host

  • Respect(2021)

    Executive Producer · Songs · as Aretha Franklin

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Monster(2018)

    as Mrs. Harmon

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • Baba Yaga (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2021)

    Executive Producer · as Forest (voice)

  • In Search of the Sanderson Sisters: A Hocus Pocus Hulaween Takeover (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    as Jennifer Hudson

  • Cats(2019)

    as Grizabella

    Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all films

  • Sandy Wexler(2017)

    as Courtney Clarke

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • Hairspray Live!(2016)

    Songs · as Motormouth Maybelle

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • Sing(2016)

    as Young Nana (voice)

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • Confirmation(2016)

    as Angela Wright

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • Chi-Raq(2015)

    as Irene

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Empire(2015)

    Show 3 episodes · as Michelle White

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all shows

  • Lullaby(2014)

    as Nurse Carrie

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • Black Nativity(2013)

    as Naima

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • The Inevitable Defeat of Mister & Pete(2013)

    as Gloria

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • Call Me Crazy: A Five Film(2013)

    as Maggie

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

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

    Show 2 episodes · as Jennifer Hudson

  • The Three Stooges(2012)

    as Sister Rosemary

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Smash(2012)

    Show 3 episodes · as Veronica Moore

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all shows

  • Winnie Mandela(2011)

    as Winnie Mandela

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Winged Creatures(2008)

    as Kathy Archenault

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • The Secret Life of Bees(2008)

    as Rosaleen Daise

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • Sex and the City(2008)

    as Louise

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Dreamgirls(2006)

    as Effie White

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    as Jewel

  • The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

  • Wake Up America! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

Career shape

Star power in the 99th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 36 titles, 34 of them dated from 1992 to 2026; peak year 2013.

Biggest box office

Sing (2016)

$655M worldwide

Highest rated

The Inevitable Defeat of Mister & Pete (2013)

Midcredits 92nd

Most popular right now

PAW Patrol: The Dino Movie (2026)

Film career

19922026

Peak 2013 · back in prominent film roles after a quiet stretch. Top draw in 7 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
Acting34 of 36: 31 only acting, 3 with another role · typical Midcredits score57thProducing3 of 36: 0 only producing, 3 with another roleOther crew4 of 36: 1 only other crew, 3 with another role

36 titles, 4 with more than one role — acting and other crew overlap on 2 of them.

By decade

1990s1 · acting2000s5 · acting2010s16 · 16 acting · 1 crew2020s12 · 10 acting · 4 crew

Billing

usually 5th · top billed in 19% of 21 roles
061621

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.

How do Jennifer Hudson's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 54th percentile, the median of all 23; across their 24 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 65th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

65thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 24

Approval · how many liked their films

52ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 24

Reach · how many have seen their films

87thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 24

Midcredits score across 26 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up9
  • 50th to 74th6
  • 25th to 49th7
  • Below 25th4

Shape of the crowd

10 of their 26 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved1
  • Cult Classic5
  • Crowd Pleaser10
  • Mixed10

Most divisive · actor

Black Nativity (2013)

88th percentile spread · 40% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

The Inevitable Defeat of Mister & Pete (2013)

Midcredits 92nd · 83% liked

Reviewers score the acting 67/100 in their films, across 20 reviewed titles; fans 80, 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 Jennifer Hudson's work okay for kids?

Across up to 12 MovieCove titles with content scores, profanity runs heavier than most films and frightening / intense lighter.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore10 titles18–53 · median 45 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity12 titles10–65 · median 23 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity11 titles18–71 · median 51 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs7 titles17–64 · median 42 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense9 titles13–65 · median 26 · 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 Jennifer Hudson work with?

People who share at least 2 of Jennifer Hudson's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Alicia Keys shares the most, 3.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers and editors

Producers