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Nick Cassavetes

Nick Cassavetes

Actor, director, writer and producer · Born May 21, 1959 (67) · New York City, New York, USA

Cannes award nominee

Nicholas David Rowland Cassavetes (born May 21, 1959) is an American actor, director, and writer. He has directed such films as She's So Lovely (1997), John Q. (2002), The Notebook (2004), Alpha Dog (2006), and My Sister's Keeper (2009). His acting credits include an uncredited role in Husbands (1970)—which was directed by his father, John Cassavetes—as well as roles in the films The Wraith (1986), Face/Off (1997), and Blow (2001).

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
May 21, 1959 (67)
From
New York City, New York, USA
Works as
Actor, director, writer and producer
Titles
36 on MovieCove · 64 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 156 days to Oct 27Down 11% in 30 days

What are Nick Cassavetes' films like?

Across their 30 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Self.

Genres

Action9 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 38th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Comedy6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 43rd percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Drama6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 63rd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Crime3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 15th percentile
: browse their Crime movies
Biography2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 84th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Biography 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
35%
Self
21%
Morality
21%
Survival
14%
Power
4%
Society
3%
Ideas
2%
Family bonds10 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love6 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice6 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship6 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity5 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival5 titles, browse their movies with this themeRevenge3 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 30 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 10 · Serious 9 · Dark 11

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

A split, not a type: Grounded 20 · Stylized 7 · Heightened 3

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

Gentle 4 · Charged 13 · Intense 13

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

Steady 6 · Shifting 16 · Whiplash 8

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 15 · Some laughs 12 · Funny 3

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

Slow burn 13 · Even-paced 14 · Relentless 3

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

Casual 20 · Engaged 9 · Full focus 1

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 13 · Affecting 9 · Heavy 8

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

Resolved 25 · Open-ended 4 · Ambiguous 1

Roles they play

11 analyzed roles

Usually the Shadow: 4 of 11 analyzed roles.

Shadow
4 of 11
Hero
3 of 11
Ally
1 of 11
Shapeshifter
1 of 11
Threshold guardian
1 of 11
Herald
1 of 11
Show the 11 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
22
Melancholic
15
Thrilling
7
Absurd
7
Romantic
4
Other
27

How their films linger

Bittersweet13 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 5 with a twist

  • Happy8
  • Bittersweet17
  • Tragic2
  • Ambiguous3

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 Nick Cassavetes' films?

As of October 24, 2026, 21 of their 36 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (10).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Nick Cassavetes' 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

64 credits, 36 with a MovieCove page; 4 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Bad Hombres(2023)

    as Dr. Dean 'Growler' Graulich

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Dizzy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2025)

    Executive Producer

  • Marked Men(2025)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • God Is a Bullet(2023)

    Director · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • Impulse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)

    Executive Producer · as Zane

  • The Difficulties Of Being Drunk Alone (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    Producer

  • Prisoners of the Ghostland(2021)

    as Psycho

    Midcredits score: 5th percentile of all films

  • Queenpins(2021)

    as Captain Pain

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Red Handed(2019)

    Executive Producer · Producer

    Midcredits score: 2nd percentile of all films

  • Yellow (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    Director · Screenplay

  • The Other Woman(2014)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • The Hangover Part II(2011)

    as Tattoo Joe

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • My Sister's Keeper(2009)

    Director · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Alpha Dog(2006)

    Director · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • The Notebook(2004)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • Whatever We Do (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Writer

  • The Incredible Mrs. Ritchie(2003)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • John Q(2002)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • Blow(2001)

    Screenplay · as Man in Derek's Salon (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • The Independent(2000)

    as Nick Cassavetes

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • The Astronaut's Wife(1999)

    as Captain Alex Streck

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • Life(1999)

    as Sergeant Dillard

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • Conversations in Limbo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Actor

  • She's So Lovely(1997)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Face/Off(1997)

    as Dietrich Hassler

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

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

    as Adonis Papadapadopounopoulopoulos

  • Unhook the Stars(1996)

    Director · Writer

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • E! True Hollywood Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Black Rose of Harlem(1996)

    as Johnny

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films

  • Just Like Dad(1995)

    as Joe

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all films

  • Class of 1999 II: The Substitute(1994)

    as Emmett Grazer

    Midcredits score: 7th percentile of all films

  • Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle(1994)

    as Robert Sherwood

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Body of Influence (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    as Jonathan Brooks

  • Sins of the Night (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    as Jack Neitsche

  • Sins of Desire(1993)

    as Barry Mitchum

    Midcredits score: 8th percentile of all films

  • Broken Trust (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    as Alan Brogan

  • Twogether(1992)

    as Wolfgang Amadeus 'John' Madler

    Midcredits score: 5th percentile of all films

  • Delta Force 3: The Killing Game(1991)

    as Charlie

    Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all films

  • Healing Hurts (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Actor

  • Backstreet Dreams(1990)

    as Mikey

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films

  • Shannon's Deal (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Blind Fury(1989)

    as Lyle Pike

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Quantum Leap(1989)

    Show 1 episode · as Primo La Palma

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all shows

  • Desperation Rising (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    as Tony Sarchuzi

  • Shooter(1988)

    as Tex

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Assault of the Killer Bimbos (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    as Wayne-O

  • Under the Gun (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    as Tony Braxton

  • Quiet Cool (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    as Valence

  • The Wraith(1986)

    as Packard Walsh

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • L.A. Law(1986)

    Show 1 episode · as Richard Bertrand

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all shows

  • Matlock(1986)

    Show 1 episode · as Foley

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all shows

  • Black Moon Rising(1986)

    as Luis

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • Mask(1985)

    as T.J.

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Reunion (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    as Steve Cowan

  • Bruno Penguin and the Staten Island Princess (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Director

  • Cus & Mike (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Director

  • Exhale (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    as Phillip

  • Have You Seen Her? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Director · Writer

  • I Slept with Joey Ramone (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Director · Screenplay

  • No Angel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Director

  • Now I See You (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Director

  • Object of Desire (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Actor

  • Quiet Storm (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Executive Producer

  • The Boy with the Pink Pants (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Director

Career shape

A full career of 63 titles, 53 of them dated from 1980 to 2025.

Biggest box office

Face/Off (1997)

$246M worldwide

Highest rated

The Notebook (2004)

Midcredits 96th

Film career

Top draw in 1 MovieCove title.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting41 of 63: 39 only acting, 2 with another role · typical Midcredits score46thDirecting17 of 63: 10 only directing, 7 with another role · typical Midcredits score60thWriting9 of 63: 1 only writing, 8 with another role · typical Midcredits score75thProducing5 of 63: 4 only producing, 1 with another role

63 titles, 9 with more than one role.

By decade

1980s13 · acting1990s21 · 19 acting · 2 crew2000s7 · 2 acting · 6 crew2010s3 · 1 acting · 2 crew2020s9 · 4 acting · 6 crew

Billing

usually 5th · top billed in 13% of 15 roles
8595

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 Cannes award in 1997.

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 Nick Cassavetes' films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 46th percentile, the median of all 33; across their 30 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 44th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

44thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 30

Approval · how many liked their films

43rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 30

Reach · how many have seen their films

84thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 30

Midcredits score across 36 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up9
  • 50th to 74th9
  • 25th to 49th8
  • Below 25th10

Shape of the crowd

15 of their 36 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved3
  • Universally Panned1
  • Crowd Pleaser15
  • Broadly Agreed2
  • Mixed15

Most divisive · actor

Black Rose of Harlem (1996)

78th percentile spread · 42% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · director

The Notebook (2004)

Midcredits 96th · 85% liked

Reviewers score the acting 65/100 in their films, across 28 reviewed titles; fans 77, detractors 38. 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 Nick Cassavetes' work okay for kids?

Across up to 16 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore, sex & nudity, profanity and frightening / intense run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore13 titles25–85 · median 60 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity16 titles22–67 · median 45 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity14 titles39–87 · median 73 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs13 titles14–90 · median 43 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense13 titles18–83 · median 52 · moderateheavier 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 Nick Cassavetes work with?

People who share at least 2 of Nick Cassavetes' MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; David Thornton shares the most, 5.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles