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Doug Aarniokoski

Doug Aarniokoski

Director, producer and writer · Born August 25, 1965 (61) · Berkeley, California, USA

Douglas Aarniokoski (born August 25, 1965) is an American television director and producer. He is well known for his work on the CBS series Star Trek: Discovery, Star Trek: Short Treks, Star Trek: Picard, Criminal Minds, S.W.A.T., and the CW superhero drama Arrow. He has also worked on FOX's supernatural series Sleepy Hollow. Aarniokoski got his start as a production assistant on Turner & Hooch and as a personal assistant to Tom Cruise on his 1990 film Days of Thunder. He then worked on the 1992 horror feature Doctor Mordrid as the first assistant director. He went on to serve as assistant director on several other films such as From Dusk till Dawn, Living Out Loud, The Faculty, and Spy Kids. Later he began serving as a second unit director for features such as The Medallion, Once Upon a Time in Mexico, and Resident Evil: Extinction. His directorial debut was with the 2000 action film Highlander: Endgame. His other credits include Animals and The Day. He co-wrote and directed the 2013 horror Nurse 3D. Aarniokoski has directed 8 installments of the CBS series Criminal Minds since 2011, while directing two episodes of The CW's Green Arrow origin series Arrow and one of its sister series, The Flash. During the first season of the FOX series Sleepy Hollow, Aarniokoski directed the 7th episode, "The Midnight Ride." In winter 2014, he joined as supervising producer and main director on the show. He has since directed the second-season episodes "Go Where I Send Thee...", "And the Abyss Gazes Back," "Kali Yuga," and "Awakening.". In 2015, he joined the new CBS series Limitless as supervising producer and director. The show will be run by former Sleepy Hollow co-worker Mark Goffman. Description above from the Wikipedia article Douglas Aarniokoski, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
August 25, 1965 (61)
From
Berkeley, California, USA
Works as
Director, producer and writer
Titles
39 on MovieCove · 47 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 25% in 30 days

What are Doug Aarniokoski's films like?

Across their 7 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Survival.

Genres

Action3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 18th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Action movies
Fantasy2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 16th percentile
: browse their Fantasy 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
38%
Survival
34%
Ideas
9%
Self
8%
Society
8%
Power
3%
Survival3 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice2 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 6 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 2 · Wry 0 · Earnest 3

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

A split, not a type: Light 3 · Serious 1 · Dark 2

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

A split, not a type: Grounded 1 · Stylized 2 · Heightened 3

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

Gentle 1 · Charged 1 · Intense 4

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

Steady 1 · Shifting 4 · 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 3 · Some laughs 2 · 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 2

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

Casual 2 · Engaged 4 · Full focus 0

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

Resolved 5 · Open-ended 1 · Ambiguous 0

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
5
Thrilling
3
Dread
2
Absurd
2
Manic
1
Other
4

How their films linger

Fun5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteCathartic2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 1 with a twist

  • Happy1
  • Bittersweet3
  • Ambiguous3

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 Doug Aarniokoski's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 32 of their 39 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Prime Video (14).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Doug Aarniokoski'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

47 credits, 39 with a MovieCove page; 1 appearance as themselves is hidden until asked for.

  • Star Trek: Starfleet Academy(2026)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 4th percentile of all shows

  • Tracker(2024)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all shows

  • Star Trek: Picard - The IMAX Live Series Finale Event (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)

    Executive Producer

  • Leverage: Redemption(2021)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all shows

  • Clarice(2021)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all shows

  • Star Trek: Picard(2020)

    Show 20 episodes · Director · Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all shows

  • Charmed(2018)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all shows

  • Star Trek: Short Treks(2018)

    Show 1 episode · Director · Producer

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all shows

  • Instinct(2018)

    Show 4 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all shows

  • S.W.A.T.(2017)

    Show 4 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all shows

  • Star Trek: Discovery(2017)

    Show 5 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all shows

  • Salvation(2017)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all shows

  • Timeless(2016)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all shows

  • Bull(2016)

    Show 4 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all shows

  • American Gothic(2016)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all shows

  • Limitless(2015)

    Show 22 episodes · Director · Co-Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all shows

  • The Flash(2014)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all shows

  • Nurse(2013)

    Director · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 7th percentile of all films

  • Sleepy Hollow(2013)

    Show 18 episodes · Director · Co-Producer · Supervising Producer

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all shows

  • Machete Kills(2013)

    Co-Producer

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Arrow(2012)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all shows

  • The Day(2011)

    Director · Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • Blue Bloods(2010)

    Show 10 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all shows

  • Takers(2010)

    Second Unit Director

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Tekken(2010)

    Second Unit Director

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films

  • Animals (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    Director

  • The Safe Side: Internet Safety (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Director

  • Criminal Minds(2005)

    Show 12 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all shows

  • The Safe Side - Stranger Safety (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Director

  • The Safe Side: Stranger Safety (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Director

  • Highlander: Endgame(2000)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 10th percentile of all films

  • The Faculty(1998)

    as Brun Coach

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Living Out Loud(1998)

    First Assistant Director

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • The Killing Jar (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    First Assistant Director

  • Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery(1997)

    First Assistant Director · as Voice on Dr. Evil's Telephone (voice) (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • From Dusk Till Dawn(1996)

    First Assistant Director

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all films

  • Four Rooms(1995)

    First Assistant Director

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Tales from the Hood(1995)

    First Assistant Director

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Prehysteria! 2 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    First Assistant Director

  • Puppet Master 5(1994)

    First Assistant Director · Screenplay · Second Unit Director

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films

  • Puppet Master 4(1993)

    First Assistant Director · Screenplay · Second Unit Director

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • Dollman vs. Demonic Toys(1993)

    First Assistant Director · Second Unit Director

    Midcredits score: 6th percentile of all films

  • Eddie Presley (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Second Assistant Director

  • Doctor Mordrid(1992)

    First Assistant Director

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • Trancers III(1992)

    First Assistant Director

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • Howling VI: The Freaks(1991)

    Second Assistant Director

    Midcredits score: 5th percentile of all films

  • Hider in the House(1989)

    Key Set Production Assistant

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

Career shape

A full career of 47 titles from 1989 to 2026.

Biggest box office

Machete Kills (2013)

$18M worldwide

Highest rated

Star Trek: Short Treks (2018)

Midcredits 43rd

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting2 of 47: 1 only acting, 1 with another roleDirecting27 of 47: 22 only directing, 5 with another role · typical Midcredits score59thWriting3 of 47: 0 only writing, 3 with another roleProducing6 of 47: 2 only producing, 4 with another role · typical Midcredits score68thOther crew17 of 47: 14 only other crew, 3 with another role · typical Midcredits score33rd

47 titles, 8 with more than one role.

By decade

1980s1 · crew1990s15 · 2 acting · 14 crew2000s6 · crew2010s19 · crew2020s6 · 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 MovieCove, shown from 5 scored.

How do Doug Aarniokoski's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 25th percentile, the median of all 19; across their 6 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 19th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

19thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 6

Approval · how many liked their films

16thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 6

Reach · how many have seen their films

85thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 6

Midcredits score across 39 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up7
  • 50th to 74th11
  • 25th to 49th10
  • Below 25th11

Shape of the crowd

18 of their 39 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved2
  • Universally Panned1
  • Divisive2
  • Crowd Pleaser18
  • Broadly Agreed1
  • Mixed15

Most divisive · director

Star Trek: Starfleet Academy (2026)

95th percentile spread · 53% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · director

Criminal Minds (2005)

Midcredits 86th · 89% liked

Reviewers score the atmosphere 44/100 and the pacing 38/100 in their films, across 6 reviewed titles. The element that speaks to their work as a director.

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 Doug Aarniokoski's work okay for kids?

Across up to 5 MovieCove titles with content scores, 1 of the 3 categories sits near the median of all films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore3 titlesmedian 88 · severeMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity5 titles16–64 · median 40 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Frightening / Intense3 titlesmedian 65 · intenseMedian 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 Doug Aarniokoski work with?

People who share at least 2 of Doug Aarniokoski's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Jeff Burr shares the most, 2.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Cinematographers and editors

Producers