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Julie Benz

Julie Benz

Actor · Born May 1, 1972 (54) · Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA

Julie Benz (born May 1, 1972) is an American actress. She is known for her roles as Darla on Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel (1997–2004), and as Rita Bennett on Dexter (2006–2010), for which she won the 2006 Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actress and the 2009 Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress. Benz has also starred in the television series Roswell (1999–2000), Desperate Housewives (2010), No Ordinary Family (2010–2011), A Gifted Man (2011–2012), Defiance (2013–2015), Hawaii Five-0 (2015–2017), Training Day (2017) and Love, Victor (2021). Her film credits include Jawbreaker (1999), The Brothers (2001), Rambo (2008), Saw V (2008), Punisher: War Zone (2008), and The Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day (2009). Description above from the Wikipedia article Julie Benz, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
May 1, 1972 (54)
From
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
63 on MovieCove · 88 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 65 days to Oct 28Up 6% in 30 days

What are Julie Benz's films like?

Across their 35 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Survival.

Genres

Drama12 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 33rd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Comedy5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 10th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Action4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 42nd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Action movies
Crime3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 24th percentile
: browse their Crime movies
Horror2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 22nd percentile
: browse their Horror 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
Morality
35%
Survival
17%
Bonds
17%
Self
14%
Power
8%
Society
7%
Ideas
2%
Justice12 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival11 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds12 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception7 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose3 titles, browse their movies with this themePrejudice4 titles, browse their movies with this themeGuilt4 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity4 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 9 · Serious 7 · Dark 14

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

A split, not a type: Grounded 16 · Stylized 10 · 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 6 · Charged 9 · Intense 15

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

Steady 9 · Shifting 17 · Whiplash 4

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

Straight-faced 21 · Some laughs 5 · Funny 4

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

Slow burn 9 · Even-paced 17 · Relentless 4

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

Casual 12 · Engaged 15 · Full focus 3

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

Easy watch 9 · Affecting 11 · Heavy 10

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

Resolved 20 · Open-ended 8 · Ambiguous 2

Roles they play

18 analyzed roles

Usually the Hero: 6 of 18 analyzed roles.

Hero
6 of 18
Shadow
4 of 18
Ally
3 of 18
Shapeshifter
2 of 18
Trickster
1 of 18
Threshold guardian
1 of 18
Mentor
1 of 18
Show the 18 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
28
Dread
10
Melancholic
13
Absurd
8
Hopeful
8
Other
28

How their films linger

Unsettling11 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful12 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteInfuriating8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 13 with a twist

  • Happy7
  • Bittersweet21
  • Tragic2
  • 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 Julie Benz's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 45 of their 63 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (19).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Julie Benz'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

88 credits, 63 with a MovieCove page; 5 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • The Midway Point(2024)

    as Ms. Devaney

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Gold Digger Killer(2021)

    as Celeste Beard

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • Nocturne(2020)

    as Cassie Lowe

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all films

  • Love, Victor(2020)

    Show 4 episodes · as Shelby

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all shows

  • 9-1-1: Lone Star(2020)

    Show 4 episodes · as Sadie Becker

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all shows

  • Foster Boy(2019)

    as Pamela Dupree

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • On Becoming a God in Central Florida(2019)

    Show 7 episodes · as Carole Wilkes

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all shows

  • Heaven (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    as Kitty Dennison

  • V.C. Andrew's Casteel Family (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    Show 1 episode · as Kitty

  • Dark/Web(2019)

    Show 1 episode · as I Am Rideshare (voice)

    Midcredits score: 7th percentile of all shows

  • Light as a Feather(2018)

    Show 2 episodes · as Skye

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all shows

  • Christmas Homecoming(2017)

    as Amanda

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • Training Day (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    Show 7 episodes · as Holly Butler

  • Life on the Line(2015)

    as Carline

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • Havenhurst(2016)

    as Jackie

    Midcredits score: 10th percentile of all films

  • Charming Christmas(2015)

    as Meredith Rossman

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Circle(2015)

    as Wife

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • Sole Custody(2014)

    as Zoey

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • Supremacy(2014)

    as Kristen

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • Taken: The Search for Sophie Parker (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    as Stevie Parker

  • Defiance(2013)

    Show 38 episodes · as Amanda Rosewater

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all shows

  • Ricochet(2011)

    as Elise Laird

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films

  • A Gifted Man(2011)

    Show 16 episodes · as Christina Holt

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all shows

  • Answers to Nothing(2011)

    as Frankie

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • No Ordinary Family(2010)

    Show 20 episodes · as Stephanie Powell

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all shows

  • Hawaii Five-0(2010)

    Show 12 episodes · as Abby Dunn

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all shows

  • Bedrooms(2010)

    as Anna

    Midcredits score: 6th percentile of all films

  • The Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day(2009)

    as Eunice

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Uncorked (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    as Johnny Prentiss

  • Held Hostage(2009)

    as Michelle Estey

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • Royal Pains(2009)

    Show 1 episode · as Elyse

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all shows

  • Kidnapping Caitlynn (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    as Caitlynn

  • Punisher: War Zone(2008)

    as Angela Donatelli

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Saw V(2008)

    as Brit

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Rambo(2008)

    as Sarah

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • Circle of Friends (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    as Maggie

  • Dexter(2006)

    Show 49 episodes · as Rita Bennett

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • Kill Your Darlings(2006)

    as Katherine

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films

  • 8MM 2(2005)

    as Lynn

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all films

  • Locusts: The 8th Plague(2005)

    as Vicky

    Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all films

  • Supernatural(2005)

    Show 1 episode · as Layla Rourke

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • Bad Girls from Valley High(2005)

    as Danielle

    Midcredits score: 10th percentile of all films

  • Lackawanna Blues(2005)

    as Laura

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Desperate Housewives(2004)

    Show 5 episodes · as Robin Gallagher

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all shows

  • The Long Shot(2004)

    as Annie Garrett

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Coupling (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Show 1 episode · as Amanda

  • NCIS(2003)

    Show 1 episode · as Denise Johnson

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all shows

  • George of the Jungle 2(2003)

    as Ursula

    Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all films

  • Peacemakers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Show 1 episode · as Miranda Blanchard

  • Oliver Beene (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Show 1 episode · as Cigarette Girl

  • Taken (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Show 2 episodes · as Kate Keys

  • CSI: Miami(2002)

    Show 1 episode · as Hayley Gordon

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all shows

  • She Spies (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Show 1 episode · as Elaine

  • Rank (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Brothers(2001)

    as Jesse Caldwell

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Shriek If You Know What I Did Last Friday the Thirteenth(2000)

    as Barbara

    Midcredits score: 7th percentile of all films

  • CSI: Crime Scene Investigation(2000)

    Show 1 episode · as Heidi Wolff

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all shows

  • Satan's School for Girls(2000)

    as Alison Kingsley

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films

  • Roswell(1999)

    Show 7 episodes · as Kathleen Topolsky

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all shows

  • Angel(1999)

    Show 20 episodes · as Darla

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all shows

  • Dirt Merchant(1999)

    as Angie

    Midcredits score: 5th percentile of all films

  • Payne (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Show 9 episodes · as Breeze O'Rourke

  • Jawbreaker(1999)

    as Marcie Fox

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Conrad Bloom (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Show 1 episode · as Julie

  • The King of Queens(1998)

    Show 1 episode · as Julie Patterson

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all shows

  • Ask Harriet (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Show 7 episodes · as Joplin Russell

  • As Good as It Gets(1997)

    as Receptionist

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

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

    as Julie Falcon

  • Fame L.A. (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Show 1 episode · as Vanessa

  • Inventing the Abbotts(1997)

    as Co-ed

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all films

  • A Walton Easter (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    as Jeannie

  • Buffy the Vampire Slayer(1997)

    Show 5 episodes · as Darla

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • The Big Easy(1996)

    Show 1 episode · as Roxanne

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all shows

  • Hearts Adrift (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    as Christy

  • Black Sheep(1996)

    as Dancing Blonde Woman

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • The Barefoot Executive(1995)

    as Sexy Woman

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • The Single Guy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Show 1 episode · as Cranberries Girl

  • Hang Time (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Show 1 episode · as Linda Cantrell

  • Sliders(1995)

    Show 1 episode · as Jenny Michener

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all shows

  • High Tide (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Show 1 episode · as Joanna Craig

  • Diagnosis Murder(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as Julie Miller

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all shows

  • Boy Meets World(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as Bianca

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows

  • Step by Step(1991)

    Show 1 episode · as Tawny

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all shows

  • Hi Honey, I'm Home! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Show 13 episodes · as Babs Nielsen

  • Law & Order(1990)

    Show 1 episode · as Dawn Sterling

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all shows

  • Two Evil Eyes(1990)

    as Betty

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • Married... with Children(1987)

    Show 1 episode · as Sascha

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all shows

  • Horrified (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Executive Producer · Actor

Career shape

Star power in the 99th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 88 titles, 87 of them dated from 1987 to 2024; peak year 2016.

Biggest box office

Saw V (2008)

$114M worldwide

Highest rated

Dexter (2006)

Midcredits 98th

Film career

19872024

Peak 2016 · steadily prominent in film for years. Top draw in 14 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.

  • 1990Screen debut· Two Evil Eyes
  • 2006Career best· Dexter
  • 2013First top-billed film· Taken: The Search for Sophie Parker
  • 2015Career best· Circle

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting88 of 88: 87 only acting, 1 with another role · typical Midcredits score49thProducing1 of 88: 0 only producing, 1 with another role

By decade

1980s1 · acting1990s28 · acting2000s31 · acting2010s22 · acting2020s5 · acting

Billing

usually 3rd · top billed in 21% of 24 roles
900510

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 Julie Benz's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 35th percentile, the median of all 36; across their 30 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 31st percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

31stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 30

Approval · how many liked their films

28thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 30

Reach · how many have seen their films

67thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 30

Midcredits score across 63 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up16
  • 50th to 74th15
  • 25th to 49th15
  • Below 25th17

Shape of the crowd

29 of their 63 titles are Mixed.

  • Universally Loved6
  • Divisive1
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser23
  • Broadly Agreed3
  • Mixed29

Most divisive · actor

The Midway Point (2024)

94th percentile spread · 38% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Dexter (2006)

Midcredits 98th · 93% liked

Reviewers score the acting 54/100 in their films, across 27 reviewed titles; fans 71, detractors 34. 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 Julie Benz's work okay for kids?

Across up to 15 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore, profanity and frightening / intense run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore13 titles35–95 · median 58 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity15 titles7–65 · median 40 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity13 titles41–90 · median 75 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs12 titles26–49 · median 43 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense11 titles35–94 · median 68 · 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 Julie Benz work with?

People who share at least 2 of Julie Benz's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Donald Martin shares the most, 3.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles