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Wendey Stanzler

Wendey Stanzler

Director and editor, also producer · Flint, Michigan, USA

Wendey Stanzler is an American film editor and television director. She was co-editor and associate producer of Michael Moore's documentary Roger & Me, in 1989. She also co-edited Moore's only fiction film, Canadian Bacon (1993). Stanzler was hired as an editor for Sex and the City and went on to become a guest director during the final season of the series. Stanzler has also edited for the series, Ed and Now and Again and the romantic comedy film Gray Matters (2007), directed by Sue Kramer, starring Heather Graham, Tom Cavanagh and Bridget Moynahan. She has directed several episodes of Grey's Anatomy, Desperate Housewives, The Middle and Ugly Betty, all on ABC as well as The Vampire Diaries, Pretty Little Liars, Parks and Recreation among other series. Stanzler was producer and director on the first season of the CW series 90210 in 2008–2009. In 2011, she directed the pilot episode of the ABC Family series The Nine Lives of Chloe King. In 2015, she began directing episodes of You're the Worst in its second season and in the third season, she became a co-executive producer and directed the season's episodes with series creator Stephen Falk. She won the American Cinema Editors' Eddie Award twice: in 2004 for the Sex in the City episode "American Girl in Paris, part 2" and in 1990 for Roger & Me. In 2003 and 2004, Stanzler was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for her editing work on Sex and the City. Stanzler won a Children’s & Family Emmy Award in 2022 for Outstanding Directing for a Single-Camera Program for the Mysterious Benedict Society.

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

From
Flint, Michigan, USA
Works as
Director and editor, also producer
Titles
73 on Motif · 89 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 28Down 29% in 30 days

What are Wendey Stanzler's films like?

Across their 10 Motif titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Self and Society.

Themes

share of theme weight
Self
31%
Society
20%
Morality
17%
Bonds
14%
Power
10%
Survival
8%
Identity4 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity4 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth2 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception2 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds2 titles, browse their movies with this themeGrief2 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 4 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Wry: How sincerely it treats its story and characters, from ironic to earnest. Browse their wry movies.
Tone · Sincerity
ironicearnest

A split, not a type: Ironic 1 · Wry 1 · Earnest 2

Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 3 · Serious 0 · Dark 1

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

Grounded 3 · Stylized 1 · Heightened 0

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

A split, not a type: Gentle 3 · Charged 1 · Intense 0

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

Steady 3 · Shifting 1 · Whiplash 0

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

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 0 · Some laughs 3 · Funny 1

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

Slow burn 2 · Even-paced 2 · Relentless 0

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

Casual 2 · Engaged 2 · Full focus 0

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

Resolved 4 · Open-ended 0 · Ambiguous 0

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Warm
5
Tense
4
Absurd
4
Hopeful
4
Melancholic
3
Other
7

How their films linger

Hopeful4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteWistful2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 1 with a twist

  • Happy1
  • Bittersweet7
  • 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 Wendey Stanzler's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 57 of their 73 Motif titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Prime Video (15).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Wendey Stanzler's titles on Motif; 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

89 credits, 73 with a Motif page.

  • Pulse(2025)

    Show Director

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all shows

  • Hysteria!(2024)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

  • So Help Me Todd(2022)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all shows

  • Five Days at Memorial(2022)

    Show 3 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all shows

  • The Mysterious Benedict Society (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2021)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Rebel(2021)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all shows

  • Made for Love (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2021)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

  • Clarice(2021)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all shows

  • Dispatches from Elsewhere(2020)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all shows

  • Dolly Parton's Heartstrings(2019)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all shows

  • For All Mankind(2019)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all shows

  • Carnival Row(2019)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all shows

  • The Fix(2019)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all shows

  • Project Blue Book(2019)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all shows

  • The Rookie(2018)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all shows

  • Camping (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2018)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

  • Reverie(2018)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all shows

  • Youth & Consequences (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2018)

    Show 8 episodes · Director · Executive Producer

  • Runaways(2017)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all shows

  • Future Man(2017)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all shows

  • Kevin (Probably) Saves the World(2017)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all shows

  • Ghosted(2017)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all shows

  • Atypical(2017)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all shows

  • GLOW(2017)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all shows

  • Divorce(2016)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all shows

  • This Is Us(2016)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • One Mississippi(2015)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all shows

  • The Tick(2016)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all shows

  • Grace and Frankie(2015)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all shows

  • The Flash(2014)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all shows

  • Gotham(2014)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all shows

  • You're the Worst(2014)

    Show 13 episodes · Director · Co-Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all shows

  • Chasing Life(2014)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all shows

  • About a Boy(2014)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all shows

  • Mozart in the Jungle(2014)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows

  • The Tomorrow People (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2013)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • The Michael J. Fox Show(2013)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all shows

  • Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.(2013)

    Show 3 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all shows

  • Sleepy Hollow(2013)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all shows

  • Orange Is the New Black(2013)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • Save Me(2013)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all shows

  • Arrow(2012)

    Show 8 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all shows

  • Nashville(2012)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all shows

  • The Mindy Project(2012)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all shows

  • The New Normal(2012)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all shows

  • Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23(2012)

    Show 3 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all shows

  • The Client List(2011)

    Show 10 episodes · Director · Co-Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all shows

  • Revenge(2011)

    Show 3 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all shows

  • The Lying Game(2011)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all shows

  • The Nine Lives of Chloe King(2011)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all shows

  • Switched at Birth(2011)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all shows

  • Love Bites (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2011)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Shameless(2011)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all shows

  • No Ordinary Family(2010)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all shows

  • Huge(2010)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all shows

  • Pretty Little Liars(2010)

    Show 5 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all shows

  • The Middle(2009)

    Show 5 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all shows

  • Eastwick (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2009)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Mercy (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2009)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • The Vampire Diaries(2009)

    Show 4 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all shows

  • Royal Pains(2009)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all shows

  • Glee(2009)

    Show 3 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all shows

  • Parks and Recreation(2009)

    Show 4 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • Party Down(2009)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows

  • Dollhouse(2009)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all shows

  • 90210(2008)

    Show 24 episodes · Director · Producer

    Midcredits score: 22nd percentile of all shows

  • Samantha Who?(2007)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all shows

  • Big Shots (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2007)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Private Practice(2007)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all shows

  • Gossip Girl(2007)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all shows

  • Gray Matters(2006)

    Editor

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • Ugly Betty(2006)

    Show 5 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all shows

  • Six Degrees(2006)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all shows

  • Men in Trees (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2006)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

  • Grey's Anatomy(2005)

    Show 4 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all shows

  • Desperate Housewives(2004)

    Show 5 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all shows

  • Monk(2002)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows

  • Ed (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2000)

    Show 83 episodes · Editor

  • Now and Again (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1999)

    Show 22 episodes · Editor

  • Sex and the City(1998)

    Show 43 episodes · Director · Editor

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all shows

  • Secrets of the CIA (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1998)

    Editor

  • Nick and Jane (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1997)

    Editor

  • I'm Not Rappaport(1996)

    Editor

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Canadian Bacon(1995)

    Editor

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • The Pesky Suitor (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1995)

    Editor

  • The Making of '...and God Spoke'(1993)

    Editor

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • The Last Party(1993)

    Editor

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • Roger & Me(1989)

    Associate Producer · Editor

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • Old Pals (not in the Motif catalog yet)

    Director

Career shape

A full career of 88 titles, 87 of them dated from 1989 to 2024.

Biggest box office

Roger & Me (1989)

$7.7M worldwide

Highest rated

Roger & Me (1989)

Midcredits 91st

Most popular right now

Pulse (2025)

By role

only this rolewith another role
Directing77 of 88: 72 only directing, 5 with another role · typical Midcredits score72ndProducing5 of 88: 0 only producing, 5 with another roleEditing12 of 88: 10 only editing, 2 with another role · typical Midcredits score61st

88 titles, 6 with more than one role — directing and editing overlap on 1 of them.

By decade

1980s1 · crew1990s9 · crew2000s22 · crew2010s47 · crew2020s8 · crew

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 Motif, shown from 5 scored.

How do Wendey Stanzler's films land?

Their typical Motif film has a Midcredits score in the 60th percentile, the median of all 6; across a limited sample of 4 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 49th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

49thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 4

Approval · how many liked their films

50thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 4

Reach · how many have seen their films

80thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 4

Midcredits score across 73 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up31
  • 50th to 74th22
  • 25th to 49th18
  • Below 25th2

Shape of the crowd

43 of their 73 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved11
  • Cult Classic2
  • Crowd Pleaser43
  • Mixed17

Most divisive · editor

The Last Party (1993)

80th percentile spread · 22% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · director

Parks and Recreation (2009)

Midcredits 98th · 93% liked

Reviewers score the atmosphere 67/100 and the pacing 49/100 in their films, across 4 reviewed titles. The element that speaks to their work as a director.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on Motif; 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 Motif 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 Wendey Stanzler's work okay for kids?

Across a limited sample of up to 3 Motif titles with content scores.

Their medianMedian of all films
Sex & Nudity3 titlesmedian 33 · mildMedian of all films: 32
Profanity3 titlesmedian 43 · moderateMedian of all films: 36

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted.

Who does Wendey Stanzler work with?

People who share at least 2 of Wendey Stanzler's Motif titles, grouped by what they did on them; Allison Liddi-Brown shares the most, 2.

Directors

Writers

Cinematographers

Producers