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Alyson Hannigan

Alyson Hannigan

Actor · Born March 24, 1974 (52) · Washington, District of Columbia, USA

Alyson Lee Hannigan (born March 24, 1974) is an American actress and television presenter. She is best known for her roles as Willow Rosenberg in the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997–2003), as Lily Aldrin in the sitcom How I Met Your Mother (2005–2014) for which she won a People's Choice Award in 2009, and as Michelle Flaherty in the American Pie film series (1999–2012). Since 2016, Hannigan has hosted the television show Penn & Teller: Fool Us. She also provides the voice of Claire Clancy in the Disney Junior animated series Fancy Nancy (2018–present).

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
March 24, 1974 (52)
From
Washington, District of Columbia, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
42 on MovieCove · 54 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 13% in 30 days

What are Alyson Hannigan's films like?

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

Genres

Comedy12 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 38th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Drama4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 45th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama 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
45%
Self
28%
Morality
10%
Survival
6%
Society
6%
Ideas
4%
Power
1%
Friendship9 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds8 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love7 titles, browse their movies with this themeComing of age5 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose4 titles, browse their movies with this themeAmbition3 titles, browse their movies with this themeMarriage3 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity4 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 18 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Light: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their light movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 14 · Serious 1 · Dark 3

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

Grounded 13 · Stylized 4 · Heightened 1

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

Gentle 7 · Charged 8 · Intense 3

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

A split, not a type: Steady 10 · Shifting 7 · Whiplash 1

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 4 · Some laughs 5 · Funny 9

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

Slow burn 5 · Even-paced 11 · 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 14 · Engaged 3 · Full focus 1

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

Resolved 18 · Open-ended 0 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

13 analyzed roles

Usually the Ally: 5 of 13 analyzed roles.

Ally
5 of 13
Mentor
3 of 13
Herald
2 of 13
Hero
2 of 13
Trickster
1 of 13
Show the 13 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Joyful
13
Tense
9
Absurd
9
Warm
9
Hopeful
7
Other
18

How their films linger

Feel-good17 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun12 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteInfuriating2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 2 with a twist

  • Happy14
  • Bittersweet7
  • Tragic1
  • Ambiguous2

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 Alyson Hannigan's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 28 of their 42 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Hulu (10).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Alyson Hannigan'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

54 credits, 42 with a MovieCove page; 29 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Solo Mio(2026)

    as Meghan

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • Office Race(2023)

    as Pat

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films

  • Doogie Kamealoha, M.D.(2021)

    Show 1 episode · as Dawn

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all shows

  • Flora & Ulysses(2021)

    as Phyllis

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Outmatched(2020)

    Show 1 episode · as Beth

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all shows

  • Abducted: The Mary Stauffer Story(2019)

    as Mary Stauffer

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • You Might Be the Killer(2018)

    as Chuck

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Fancy Nancy: Fancy It Yourself (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    Show 20 episodes · as Nancy

  • Kim Possible(2019)

    as Dr. Ann Possible

    Midcredits score: 7th percentile of all films

  • Fancy Nancy(2018)

    Show 123 episodes · as Claire Clancy (voice)

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all shows

  • Man of the House(2018)

    as Jessie

    Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all films

  • Do You Take This Man(2016)

    as Rachael

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • Star Plates (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    Show 6 episodes · Actor

  • Sofia the First(2012)

    Show 1 episode · as (voice)

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all shows

  • American Reunion(2012)

    as Michelle Levenstein

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Love, Wedding, Marriage(2011)

    as Courtney

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all films

  • Penn & Teller: Fool Us(2011)

    Show 109 episodes · Producer · as Self - Host

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all shows

  • The Goode Family(2009)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all shows

  • Buffy the Animated Series (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    Show 1 episode · as Willow Rosenberg

  • Farce of the Penguins(2006)

    as Hottie Penguin (voice)

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all films

  • Date Movie(2006)

    as Julia Jones

    Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all films

  • How I Met Your Mother(2005)

    Show 208 episodes · as Lily Aldrin

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all shows

  • Robot Chicken(2005)

    Show 1 episode · as Steelheart (voice)

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all shows

  • American Dad!(2005)

    Show 1 episode · as Chelsea (voice) · as Lexie (voice) · as Ugly Stepsister #2 (voice)

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

  • Veronica Mars(2004)

    Show 3 episodes · as Trina Echolls

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all shows

  • American Pie: Revealed (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Thanks · as Self

  • American Wedding(2003)

    as Michelle Flaherty

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • Rip It Off(2001)

    as Lexi

    Midcredits score: 4th percentile of all films

  • American Pie 2(2001)

    as Michelle Flaherty

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Boys and Girls(2000)

    as Betty

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • 100 Deeds for Eddie McDowd (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

  • Angel(1999)

    Show 3 episodes · as Willow Rosenberg

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all shows

  • Hayley Wagner, Star (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    as Jenna Jakes

  • American Pie(1999)

    as Michelle Flaherty

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • The Wild Thornberrys(1998)

    Show 1 episode · as Gerda (voice)

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all shows

  • That '70s Show(1998)

    Show 2 episodes · as Suzy Simpson

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows

  • Dead Man on Campus(1998)

    as Lucy

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • Buffy the Vampire Slayer(1997)

    Show 144 episodes · as Willow Rosenberg

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • King of the Hill(1997)

    Show 1 episode · as Stacey Gibson (voice)

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all shows

  • For My Daughter's Honor(1996)

    as Kelly

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • A Case for Life(1996)

    as Iris

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • TFI Friday (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Stranger Beside Me(1995)

    as Dana

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all films

  • Touched by an Angel(1994)

    Show 1 episode · as Cassie Peters

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all shows

  • Picket Fences(1992)

    Show 1 episode · as Peggy Patterson

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all shows

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

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Torkelsons (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Show 2 episodes · as Samantha

  • Rugrats(1991)

    Show 1 episode · as Cynthia P.I. (voice)

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all shows

  • The Simpsons(1989)

    Show 1 episode · as Melody Juniper (voice)

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • Free Spirit (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Show 14 episodes · as Jessie Harper

  • My Stepmother Is an Alien(1988)

    as Jessie Mills

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • Roseanne(1988)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all shows

  • Impure Thoughts (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    as Patty Stubbs

  • Dodie & Cheryl Get Hitched (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    as Cheryl Crum

Career shape

Star power in the 99th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 54 titles, 53 of them dated from 1986 to 2026; peak year 2020.

Biggest box office

American Pie 2 (2001)

$288M worldwide

Highest rated

How I Met Your Mother (2005)

Midcredits 94th

Film career

19862026

Peak 2020 · steadily prominent in film for years. Top draw in 6 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
Acting52 of 54: 52 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score48thProducing1 of 54: 1 only producing, 0 with another roleOther crew1 of 54: 1 only other crew, 0 with another role

By decade

1980s5 · acting1990s18 · acting2000s13 · 12 acting · 1 crew2010s12 · 11 acting · 1 crew2020s5 · acting

Billing

usually 4th · top billed in 13% of 16 roles
880318

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 Alyson Hannigan's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 39th percentile, the median of all 22; across their 18 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 42nd percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

42ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 18

Approval · how many liked their films

47thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 18

Reach · how many have seen their films

87thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 18

Midcredits score across 42 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up11
  • 50th to 74th9
  • 25th to 49th11
  • Below 25th11

Shape of the crowd

16 of their 42 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved5
  • Divisive1
  • Cult Classic4
  • Crowd Pleaser16
  • Broadly Agreed3
  • Mixed13

Most divisive · actor

Fancy Nancy (2018)

93rd percentile spread · 33% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

How I Met Your Mother (2005)

Midcredits 94th · 89% liked

Reviewers score the acting 62/100 in their films, across 17 reviewed titles; fans 76, detractors 42. 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 Alyson Hannigan's work okay for kids?

Across up to 14 MovieCove titles with content scores, sex & nudity runs heavier than most films and violence & gore and frightening / intense lighter.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore11 titles10–60 · median 25 · mildlighter than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity14 titles13–78 · median 49 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity11 titles23–89 · median 42 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs11 titles0–64 · median 43 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense11 titles4–59 · median 11 · minimallighter 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 Alyson Hannigan work with?

People who share at least 2 of Alyson Hannigan's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Jason Biggs shares the most, 6.

Writers

Actors

Composers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles