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Kieran Culkin

Kieran Culkin

Actor · Born September 30, 1982 (44) · New York City, New York, USA

Oscar winner · Primetime Emmy winner · 2 Golden Globes · 4 other major award bodies

Kieran Kyle Culkin (born September 30, 1982) is an American actor known for portraying distasteful yet sympathetic characters across stage and screen. His accolades include an Academy Award, a BAFTA Award, a Primetime Emmy Award, and two Golden Globe Awards. Culkin began his career as a child actor in off-Broadway theatre productions. He debuted his feature film alongside his older brother, Macaulay, in the Christmas comedy Home Alone (1990). After achieving his breakthrough role as a sardonic teenager in the comedy-drama Igby Goes Down (2002), which earned him his first Golden Globe Award nomination, Culkin took a break from the screen due to personal conflicts. He returned to film six years later by playing Wallace Wells in the action comedy Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (2010). Culkin won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance as a grief-stricken cousin in the buddy comedy A Real Pain (2024).  On television, Culkin found a career resurgence with his portrayal of Roman Roy in the HBO drama series Succession (2018–2023), for which he won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series. His voice-acting work includes roles in Solar Opposites (2022–present) and Scott Pilgrim Takes Off (2023). On stage, Culkin starred in the West End and Broadway productions of Kenneth Lonergan's This Is Our Youth. He also portrayed Richard Roma in the Broadway revival of David Mamet's Glengarry Glen Ross (2025). Description above from the Wikipedia article Kieran Culkin, licensed under CC-BY-SA, is a full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
September 30, 1982 (44)
From
New York City, New York, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
41 on MovieCove · 49 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 157 days to Oct 28Up 4% in 30 days

What are Kieran Culkin's films like?

Across their 29 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Self.

Genres

Comedy14 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 54th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Drama4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 68th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Action2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 63rd 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
30%
Self
30%
Morality
14%
Power
11%
Society
8%
Survival
5%
Ideas
2%
Family bonds13 titles, browse their movies with this themeComing of age7 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose6 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth5 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship5 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love4 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity5 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity5 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 23 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 4

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

A split, not a type: Grounded 15 · Stylized 6 · Heightened 2

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

Gentle 8 · Charged 11 · Intense 4

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

Steady 9 · Shifting 10 · Whiplash 4

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

Straight-faced 5 · Some laughs 11 · Funny 7

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 12 · Even-paced 9 · 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 13 · Engaged 7 · Full focus 3

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 11 · Affecting 9 · Heavy 3

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

Resolved 13 · Open-ended 9 · Ambiguous 1

Roles they play

17 analyzed roles

Usually the Trickster: 6 of 17 analyzed roles.

Trickster
6 of 17
Hero
4 of 17
Ally
3 of 17
Mentor
3 of 17
Shadow
1 of 17
Show the 17 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Warm
15
Tense
11
Absurd
11
Melancholic
10
Contemplative
5
Other
28

How their films linger

Feel-good12 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 3 with a twist

  • Happy9
  • Bittersweet15
  • Ambiguous5

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 Kieran Culkin's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 33 of their 41 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Prime Video (13).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Kieran Culkin'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

49 credits, 41 with a MovieCove page; 15 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Clay (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2028)

    as Flip (voice)

  • Paris Paramount (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2027)

    Actor

  • The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2026)

    as Caesar Flickerman

  • Animal Farm(2025)

    as Squealer (voice)

    Midcredits score: 2nd percentile of all films

  • #1 Happy Family USA(2025)

    Show 3 episodes · as Dr. Riley (voice)

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all shows

  • A Real Pain(2024)

    as Benji Kaplan

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • The Second Best Hospital in the Galaxy(2024)

    Show 8 episodes · as Dr. Plowp (voice)

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all shows

  • Scott Pilgrim Takes Off(2023)

    Show 8 episodes · as Wallace Wells (voice)

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all shows

  • Krapopolis(2023)

    Show 1 episode · as Wormius (voice)

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all shows

  • Agent Elvis(2023)

    Show 1 episode · as Gabriel Wolf (voice)

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all shows

  • Diabolical(2022)

    Show 1 episode · as O.D. (voice)

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all shows

  • Gaming Wall St(2022)

    Show 2 episodes · as Narrator (voice)

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all shows

  • No Sudden Move(2021)

    as Charley Barnes

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Father of the Bride Part 3 (ish) (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    as Matty

  • Solar Opposites(2020)

    Show 3 episodes · as (voice) · as Dodge Charger (voice) · as Glen (voice) · as Glen / Astronaut (voice)

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all shows

  • Succession(2018)

    Show 39 episodes · as Roman Roy

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all shows

  • Infinity Baby(2017)

    as Ben

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Approaching a Breakthrough (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    as Norman

  • Wiener-Dog(2016)

    as Brandon McCarthy

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Long Live the Royals(2014)

    Show 4 episodes · as Peter (voice)

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all shows

  • Quitters(2015)

    as Mr. Becker

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • Fargo(2014)

    Show 1 episode · as Rye Gerhardt

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all shows

  • Movie 43(2013)

    as Neil (segment "Veronica")

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all films

  • Margaret(2011)

    as Paul

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Scott Pilgrim vs. the World(2010)

    as Wallace Wells

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • Paper Man(2009)

    as Christopher

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Lymelife(2008)

    as Jimmy Bartlett

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • Robot Chicken(2005)

    Show 1 episode · as Joe Jonas / Nostradamus' Intern (voice)

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all shows

  • Igby Goes Down(2002)

    as Igby

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys(2002)

    as Tim Sullivan

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Go Fish (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Show 5 episodes · as Andy 'Fish' Troutner

  • The Cider House Rules(1999)

    as Buster

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • The Magical Legend of the Leprechauns(1999)

    Show 2 episodes · as Barney O'Grady

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all shows

  • Music of the Heart(1999)

    as Lexi at 15

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Home Alone - Making of & Behind the Scenes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    as Fuller

  • She's All That(1999)

    as Simon Boggs

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • The Mighty(1998)

    as Kevin "Freak" Dillon

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • The Wonderful World of Disney (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Amanda(1996)

    as Biddle Farnsworth

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • Father of the Bride Part II(1995)

    as Matty Banks

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • My Summer Story(1994)

    as Ralph "Ralphie" Parker

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all films

  • Frasier(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as Jimmy (voice)

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows

  • Nowhere to Run(1993)

    as Mike 'Mookie' Anderson

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Home Alone 2: Lost in New York(1992)

    as Fuller

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • Father of the Bride(1991)

    as Matty Banks

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • Only the Lonely(1991)

    as Patrick Muldoon Jr.

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all films

  • Home Alone(1990)

    as Fuller

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • The Simpsons(1989)

    Show 1 episode · as Hub (voice)

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • Saturday Night Live(1975)

    Show 2 episodes · as Froggy (uncredited) · as Self - Cameo (uncredited) · as Self - Host

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all shows

Career shape

Star power in the 99th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 49 titles, 46 of them dated from 1975 to 2026; peak year 2001.

Biggest box office

She's All That (1999)

$103M worldwide

Highest rated

Succession (2018)

Midcredits 99th

Film career

MilestoneAward winNomination
19752026

Peak 2001 · back in prominent film roles after a quiet stretch. 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.

Show 1 more milestone

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting49 of 49: 49 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score60th

By decade

1970s1 · acting1980s1 · acting1990s16 · acting2000s6 · acting2010s10 · acting2020s12 · acting

Billing

usually 5th · top billed in 13% of 23 roles
90950015

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

an Oscar, a Primetime Emmy, 2 Golden Globes, a BAFTA Award, 3 Screen Actors Guild Awards and 5 other major awards from 22 major nominations, 2000–2025.

WinNomination
  1. 2025
    • Oscar, won · Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role
    • Golden Globe, won · Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role in Any Motion Picture
    • BAFTA Award, won · Best Supporting Actor
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, won · Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role
    • +2 other major bodies · 2 wins
      • Critics Choice Award, won · Best Supporting Actor
      • Independent Spirit Award, won · Best Supporting Performance
  2. 2024
    • Golden Globe, won · Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Series - Drama
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, won · Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series
    • +1 other major body · 1 win
      • Critics Choice Award, won · Best Actor in a Drama Series
  3. 2023
    • Primetime Emmy, won · Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
  4. 2022
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
    • Golden Globe, nominated · Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role on Television
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, won · Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series
    • +1 other major body · 1 win
      • Critics Choice Award, won · Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
  5. 2020
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
    • Golden Globe, nominated · Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
  6. 2019
    • Golden Globe, nominated · Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
  7. 2003
    • Golden Globe, nominated · Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical
    • +1 other major body · 1 win
      • Critics Choice Award, won · Best Young Actor/Actress
  8. 2000
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Theatrical Motion Picture

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 Kieran Culkin's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 60th percentile, the median of all 25; across their 23 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 64th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

64thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 23

Approval · how many liked their films

56thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 23

Reach · how many have seen their films

91stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 23

Midcredits score across 41 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up16
  • 50th to 74th8
  • 25th to 49th14
  • Below 25th3

Shape of the crowd

17 of their 41 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved7
  • Cult Classic2
  • Crowd Pleaser17
  • Broadly Agreed4
  • Mixed11

Most divisive · actor

Amanda (1996)

84th percentile spread · 29% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Succession (2018)

Midcredits 99th · 93% liked

Reviewers score the acting 72/100 in their films, across 22 reviewed titles; fans 79, detractors 48. 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 Kieran Culkin's work okay for kids?

Across up to 18 MovieCove titles with content scores, sex & nudity, profanity and alcohol & drugs run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore16 titles4–70 · median 53 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity18 titles18–61 · median 43 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity17 titles33–82 · median 56 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs16 titles29–67 · median 47 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense16 titles8–71 · 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 Kieran Culkin work with?

People who share at least 2 of Kieran Culkin's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Alison Pill shares the most, 3.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles