Marc Shaiman (/ˈʃeɪmən/ SHAY-mən; born October 22, 1959) is an American composer and lyricist for films, television, and theatre, best known for his collaborations with lyricist and director Scott Wittman, actor Billy Crystal, and director Rob Reiner. Shaiman has received numerous accolades, including two Grammy Awards, two Primetime Emmy Awards, and a Tony Award. He has also received seven Academy Award nominations. Description above from the Wikipedia article Marc Shaiman, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
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Biography from TMDB.
- October 22, 1959 (67)
- Newark, New Jersey, USA
- Composer and actor, also producer
- 61 on MovieCove · 70 credits in all
What are Marc Shaiman's films like?
Across their 46 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Self.
Genres
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
What they feel like to watch
Ironic 6 · Wry 1 · Earnest 39
Light 32 · Serious 12 · Dark 2
A split, not a type: Grounded 28 · Stylized 8 · Heightened 10
A split, not a type: Gentle 24 · Charged 18 · Intense 4
A split, not a type: Steady 26 · Shifting 15 · Whiplash 5
Straight-faced 2 · Some laughs 23 · Funny 21
Slow burn 19 · Even-paced 24 · Relentless 3
Casual 37 · Engaged 7 · Full focus 2
Easy watch 32 · Affecting 11 · Heavy 3
Resolved 40 · Open-ended 5 · Ambiguous 1
Moods and endings
- Happy30
- Bittersweet15
- Ambiguous1
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 Marc Shaiman's films?
As of October 24, 2026, 46 of their 61 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service.
- The Magic of Belle Isle (2012) · composer · free
- Saturday Night Live (1975) · actor, writer · free
- Ghosts of Mississippi (1996) · composer · free
- Forget Paris (1995) · composer · free
- LBJ (2016) · composer · free
- Alex & Emma (2003) · composer · free
- Rumor Has It... (2005) · composer · free
- My Giant (1998) · composer · free
- North (1994) · actor, composer · free
- Misery (1990) · composer · free
- Jackie's Back! (1999) · composer · free
- The Magic of Belle Isle (2012) · composer · free
- Ghosts of Mississippi (1996) · composer · free
- Forget Paris (1995) · composer · free
- The Out-of-Towners (1999) · composer · free
- Alex & Emma (2003) · composer · free
- Rumor Has It... (2005) · composer · free
- My Giant (1998) · composer · free
Subscription and free streaming for Marc Shaiman'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
70 credits, 61 with a MovieCove page; 20 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.
Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films
Monster High: The Movie(2022)
Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films
Bros(2022)
Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films
tick, tick... BOOM!(2021)
Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films
Gossip Girl(2021)
Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all shows
Shoshana Bean and Friends: An Evening of Broadway (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)
Bombshell in Concert (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)
Mary Poppins Returns(2018)
Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films
The Star(2017)
Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films
LBJ(2016)
Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films
Hairspray Live!(2016)
Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films
Difficult People(2015)
Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all shows
And So It Goes(2014)
Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films
Parental Guidance(2012)
Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films
The Magic of Belle Isle(2012)
Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films
Smash(2012)
Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all shows
Flipped(2010)
Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films
Prop 8: The Musical (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)
The Bucket List(2007)
Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films
Hairspray(2007)
Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films
Rumor Has It...(2005)
Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films
Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all films
Marci X(2003)
Midcredits score: 2nd percentile of all films
Alex & Emma(2003)
Midcredits score: 22nd percentile of all films
Down with Love(2003)
Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films
61*(2001)
Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films
One Night at McCool's(2001)
Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films
Get Over It(2001)
Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films
How Harry Met Sally… (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)
The Kid(2000)
Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films
The Story of Us(1999)
Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films
Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films
Jackie's Back!(1999)
Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films
The Out-of-Towners(1999)
Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films
Patch Adams(1998)
Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films
Simon Birch(1998)
Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films
My Giant(1998)
Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films
Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all shows
In & Out(1997)
Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all films
South Park(1997)
Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows
George of the Jungle(1997)
Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films
Mother(1996)
Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films
Ghosts of Mississippi(1996)
Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films
The First Wives Club(1996)
Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films
Bogus(1996)
Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films
The American President(1995)
Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films
Forget Paris(1995)
Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films
Stuart Saves His Family(1995)
Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films
Speechless(1994)
Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films
North(1994)
Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all films
Midcredits score: 22nd percentile of all films
Addams Family Values(1993)
Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films
Heart and Souls(1993)
Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films
Sleepless in Seattle(1993)
Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films
A Few Good Men(1992)
Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films
Mr. Saturday Night(1992)
Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films
Sister Act(1992)
Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films
The Addams Family(1991)
Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films
Hot Shots!(1991)
Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films
City Slickers(1991)
Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films
Scenes from a Mall(1991)
Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films
Misery(1990)
Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films
When Harry Met Sally...(1989)
Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films
I, Martin Short, Goes Hollywood (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)
Broadcast News(1987)
Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films
The Sound Of Muzak (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)
Comedienne (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)
Saturday Night Live(1975)
Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all shows
Tony Awards (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)
The Oscars (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)
Career shape
A full career of 70 titles from 1953 to 2023.
Biggest box office
Mary Poppins Returns (2018)
Highest rated
Misery (1990)
Most popular right now
The Addams Family (1991)
Film career
- 1975Screen debut· Saturday Night Live
- 1975Primetime Emmy nomination· Saturday Night Live
- 1991First film· Scenes from a Mall
Billing
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.
Awards
2 Primetime Emmys and 2 other major awards from 35 major nominations, 1987–2024.
- Primetime Emmy, won · Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics
- Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Music Composition for a Documentary Series or Special (Original Dramatic Score)
+1 other major body · 1 win
- Grammy Award, won · Best Musical Theater Album
- Writers Guild Award, nominated · Comedy/Variety Specials
- Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics
- Grammy Award, nominated · Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media
- Oscar, nominated · Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures (Original Score)
- Oscar, nominated · Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures (Original Song)
- Golden Globe, nominated · Best Original Score - Motion Picture
- BAFTA Award, nominated · Original Music
+1 other major body · 1 nomination
- Critics Choice Award, nominated · Best Score
- Golden Globe, nominated · Best Original Song - Motion Picture
- Writers Guild Award, nominated · Comedy/Variety (Music, Awards, Tributes) - Specials
- Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Writing for a Variety Special
Show 15 earlier yearsShow fewer
- Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics
+1 other major body · 1 nomination
- Grammy Award, nominated · Best Song Written for Visual Media
- Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Music Composition for a Series (Original Dramatic Score)
- Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics
- Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Writing for a Variety Special
- Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Music Direction
- Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Special
- Grammy Award, nominated · Best Compilation Soundtrack Album for Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media
- Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Music Direction
- Grammy Award, won · Best Musical Show Album
- Oscar, nominated · Best Music, Original Song
- Oscar, nominated · Best Music, Original Musical or Comedy Score
- Oscar, nominated · Best Music, Original Musical or Comedy Score
- Oscar, nominated · Best Music, Original Musical or Comedy Score
- Oscar, nominated · Best Music, Original Song
- BAFTA Award, nominated · Best Score
- Primetime Emmy, won · Outstanding Individual Achievement in Writing in a Variety or Music Program
- Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Achievement in Music Direction
+1 other major body · 1 nomination
- Grammy Award, nominated · Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocal(s)
- Grammy Award, nominated · Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocals
- Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Writing in a Variety or Music Program
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 Marc Shaiman's films land?
Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 67th percentile, the median of all 55; across their 46 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 65th percentile for acclaim.
- 75th and up24
- 50th to 74th15
- 25th to 49th12
- Below 25th10
Shape of the crowd
26 of their 61 titles are Crowd Pleasers.
- Universally Loved10
- Divisive1
- Cult Classic2
- Crowd Pleaser26
- Broadly Agreed6
- Mixed16
Reviewers score the sound and music 62/100 in their films, across 33 reviewed titles; fans 69, detractors 39. 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 Marc Shaiman's work okay for kids?
Across up to 31 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore and frightening / intense run lighter than most films.
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 Marc Shaiman work with?
People who share at least 2 of Marc Shaiman's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Rob Reiner shares the most, 14.
Directors
- Rob ReinerShared titles: Albert Brooks: Defending My Life (2023), LBJ (2016), And So It Goes (2014), The Magic of Belle Isle (2012), Flipped (2010), The Bucket List (2007), Rumor Has It... (2005), Alex & Emma (2003), The Story of Us (1999), The American President (1995), North (1994), Sleepless in Seattle (1993) and 2 moreSee newest 12 of 14 shared titles with Rob Reiner
- Billy CrystalShared titles: 61* (2001), My Giant (1998), Forget Paris (1995), City Slickers II: The Legend of Curly's Gold (1994), Mr. Saturday Night (1992), City Slickers (1991)See all 6 shared titles with Billy Crystal
- Ron UnderwoodShared titles: Speechless (1994), Heart and Souls (1993), City Slickers (1991)See all 3 shared titles with Ron Underwood
- Barry SonnenfeldShared titles: Addams Family Values (1993), The Addams Family (1991), Misery (1990)See all 3 shared titles with Barry Sonnenfeld
Writers
- Babaloo MandelShared titles: Forget Paris (1995), City Slickers II: The Legend of Curly's Gold (1994), Mr. Saturday Night (1992), City Slickers (1991)See all 4 shared titles with Babaloo Mandel
- Lowell GanzShared titles: Forget Paris (1995), City Slickers II: The Legend of Curly's Gold (1994), Mr. Saturday Night (1992), City Slickers (1991)See all 4 shared titles with Lowell Ganz
- Andrew ScheinmanShared titles: And So It Goes (2014), The Magic of Belle Isle (2012), Flipped (2010), North (1994), A Few Good Men (1992), Misery (1990)See all 6 shared titles with Andrew Scheinman
- Paul RudnickShared titles: In & Out (1997), Addams Family Values (1993), Sister Act (1992)See all 3 shared titles with Paul Rudnick
Actors
- David PaymerShared titles: Alex & Emma (2003), The American President (1995), Heart and Souls (1993), Mr. Saturday Night (1992)See all 4 shared titles with David Paymer
- Richard JenkinsShared titles: LBJ (2016), Rumor Has It... (2005), One Night at McCool's (2001)See all 3 shared titles with Richard Jenkins
- Michael DouglasShared titles: And So It Goes (2014), One Night at McCool's (2001), The American President (1995)See all 3 shared titles with Michael Douglas
- Bruce WillisShared titles: The Kid (2000), The Story of Us (1999), North (1994)See all 3 shared titles with Bruce Willis
Cinematographers and editors
- Robert LeightonShared titles: Flipped (2010), The Bucket List (2007), Rumor Has It... (2005), Alex & Emma (2003), The Story of Us (1999), The American President (1995), North (1994), A Few Good Men (1992), Misery (1990)See all 9 shared titles with Robert Leighton
- Kent BeydaShared titles: The Out-of-Towners (1999), Forget Paris (1995), Mr. Saturday Night (1992)See all 3 shared titles with Kent Beyda
- Donald PetermanShared titles: Speechless (1994), Addams Family Values (1993), Mr. Saturday Night (1992)See all 3 shared titles with Donald Peterman
- Barry MarkowitzShared titles: Albert Brooks: Defending My Life (2023), LBJ (2016)See all 2 shared titles with Barry Markowitz
Producers
- Scott RudinShared titles: South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut (1999), In & Out (1997), Mother (1996), The First Wives Club (1996), Addams Family Values (1993), Sister Act (1992), The Addams Family (1991)See all 7 shared titles with Scott Rudin
- Jeffrey StottShared titles: Albert Brooks: Defending My Life (2023), The Bucket List (2007), Alex & Emma (2003), The Story of Us (1999), A Few Good Men (1992), Misery (1990)See all 6 shared titles with Jeffrey Stott
- Alan GreismanShared titles: And So It Goes (2014), The Magic of Belle Isle (2012), Flipped (2010), The Bucket List (2007), Alex & Emma (2003)See all 5 shared titles with Alan Greisman
- Neil MeronShared titles: Monster High: The Movie (2022), Hairspray Live! (2016), Hairspray (2007), The Bucket List (2007)See all 4 shared titles with Neil Meron
