Jack Bender is an American television and film director, actor, television producer and also a screenwriter. Bender was an executive producer and lead director on the ABC television series, Lost. He directed the series finale of Lost. Bender has also directed on other popular shows such as The Sopranos, Carnivàle, Alias and Boston Public. He has recently signed to direct Syfy's new pilot Alphas. As an actor, Bender has guest starred on All in the Family, The Bob Newhart Show and The Mary Tyler Moore Show. He has co-starred in The Million Dollar Duck, Savage and McNaughton's Daughter
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Biography from TMDB.
- September 25, 1949 (77)
- USA
- Director, actor and producer, also writer
- 49 on MovieCove · 81 credits in all
What are Jack Bender's films like?
Across their 26 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Morality.
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 1 · Wry 1 · Earnest 22
A split, not a type: Light 13 · Serious 5 · Dark 6
Grounded 22 · Stylized 2 · Heightened 0
Gentle 6 · Charged 13 · Intense 5
A split, not a type: Steady 13 · Shifting 8 · Whiplash 3
A split, not a type: Straight-faced 13 · Some laughs 6 · Funny 5
Slow burn 8 · Even-paced 16 · Relentless 0
Casual 13 · Engaged 11 · Full focus 0
A split, not a type: Easy watch 11 · Affecting 8 · Heavy 5
Resolved 21 · Open-ended 3 · Ambiguous 0
Moods and endings
- Happy11
- Bittersweet13
- Tragic1
- 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 Jack Bender's films?
As of October 24, 2026, 26 of their 49 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service.
- Alphas (2011) · director, producer · free
- Gambler V: Playing for Keeps (1994) · director · free
- Beverly Hills, 90210 (1990) · director · free
- Tricks of the Trade (1988) · director · free
- Falling Water (2016) · director · free
- My Brother's Wife (1989) · director · free
- Falcon Crest (1981) · director · free
- Gambler V: Playing for Keeps (1994) · director · free
- Alcatraz (2012) · director, producer · free
- It Came from the Sky (1999) · director, writer, producer · free
- Side by Side (1988) · director · free
- Tricks of the Trade (1988) · director · free
- My Brother's Wife (1989) · director · free
- Falcon Crest (1981) · director · free
Subscription and free streaming for Jack Bender'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
81 credits, 49 with a MovieCove page; 2 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.
The Institute(2025)
Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all shows
From(2022)
Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all shows
The Outsider(2020)
Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all shows
Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films
Mr. Mercedes(2017)
Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all shows
Falling Water(2016)
Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all shows
The Last Ship(2014)
Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all shows
Rewind (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)
Under the Dome(2013)
Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all showsMy Little Friend (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)
Alcatraz(2012)
Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all shows
Alphas(2011)
Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all shows
Game of Thrones(2011)
Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all shows
Weekends at Bellevue (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)
Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films
The Prince of Motor City(2008)
Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)
I Kicked Luis Guzman in the Face (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)
Lost(2004)
Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows
Joan of Arcadia (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)
Carnivàle(2003)
Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all shows
The Lone Ranger (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)
Presidio Med (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)
Alias(2001)
Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all shows
Boston Public (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)
That's Life (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)
The David Cassidy Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)
My Little Assassin(1999)
Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films
Judging Amy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)
It Came from the Sky(1999)
Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films
The Sopranos(1999)
Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all shows
The Tempest(1998)
Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films
Felicity(1998)
Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all shows
Ally McBeal(1997)
Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all shows
A Call to Remember(1997)
Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films
Killing Mr. Griffin(1997)
Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films
Friends 'Til the End(1997)
Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films
Sweet Dreams (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)
A Face to Die For(1996)
Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films
Nothing Lasts Forever (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)
Nothing Lasts Forever (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)
New York News (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)
Lone Justice 2 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)
Family Album (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)
Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films
Armed and Innocent (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)
Ned Blessing (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)
Love Can Be Murder (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)
I'll Fly Away (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)
Child's Play 3(1991)
Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films
The Perfect Tribute (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)
The Dreamer of Oz(1990)
Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all films
Beverly Hills, 90210(1990)
Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all shows
Northern Exposure(1990)
Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all shows
My Brother's Wife(1989)
Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films
Tricks of the Trade(1988)
Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films
Side by Side(1988)
Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films
A Year in the Life (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)
The Midnight Hour(1985)
Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films
Letting Go(1985)
Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films
Deadly Messages (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)
Shattered Vows(1984)
Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all films
High School U.S.A.(1984)
Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films
Two Kinds of Love(1983)
Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films
In Love with an Older Woman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)
King's Crossing (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)
Falcon Crest(1981)
Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all shows
Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)
The Paper Chase (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)
Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)
Hot Lead and Cold Feet(1978)
Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films
Target Risk (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)
Savage! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)
Here We Go Again (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)
The Bob Newhart Show(1972)
Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all shows
Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films
Columbo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)
The Million Dollar Duck(1971)
Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films
The Barefoot Executive(1971)
Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films
All in the Family(1971)
Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows
Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all showsThe End: LOST (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)
Career shape
A full career of 81 titles, 80 of them dated from 1970 to 2025.
Biggest box office
Child's Play 3 (1991)
Highest rated
Lost: Epilogue - The New Man in Charge (2010)
Most popular right now
Beverly Hills, 90210 (1990)
Film career
- 1971Screen debut· The Barefoot Executive
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.
Awards
a Primetime Emmy and 1 other major award from 20 major nominations, 1992–2016.
- Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series
- Directors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Dramatic Series
- Producers Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Producer of Episodic Television, Drama
- Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series
- Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Drama Series
+2 other major bodies · 2 nominations
- Directors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Dramatic Series
- Producers Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Producer of Episodic Television, Drama
- Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Drama Series
+2 other major bodies · 2 nominations
- Directors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Dramatic Series
- Producers Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Producer of Episodic Television, Drama
- Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Drama Series
+2 other major bodies · 2 nominations
- Directors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Dramatic Series
- Producers Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Producer of Episodic Television, Drama
- Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series
- BAFTA Award, nominated · Best International
+1 other major body · 1 nomination
- Producers Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Producer of Episodic Television, Drama
- Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series
+1 other major body · 1 win
- Producers Guild Award, won · Outstanding Producer of Episodic Television, Drama
- Primetime Emmy, won · Outstanding Drama Series
Show 1 earlier yearShow fewer
- Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Individual Achievement in Directing in a Drama Series
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 Jack Bender's films land?
Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 46th percentile, the median of all 27; across their 24 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 39th percentile for acclaim.
- 75th and up14
- 50th to 74th12
- 25th to 49th19
- Below 25th4
Shape of the crowd
23 of their 49 titles are Mixed.
- Universally Loved10
- Divisive1
- Cult Classic4
- Crowd Pleaser11
- Mixed23
Reviewers score the atmosphere 58/100 and the pacing 43/100 in their films, across 16 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 Jack Bender's work okay for kids?
Across a limited sample of up to 3 MovieCove titles with content scores.
Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted.
Who does Jack Bender work with?
People who share at least 2 of Jack Bender's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; John Ritter shares the most, 6.
Writers
- Kathleen RowellShared titles: Friends 'Til the End (1997), Killing Mr. Griffin (1997)See all 2 shared titles with Kathleen Rowell
- Max EisenbergShared titles: A Call to Remember (1997), Beverly Hills, 90210 (1990)See all 2 shared titles with Max Eisenberg
Actors
- John RitterShared titles: It Came from the Sky (1999), The Dreamer of Oz (1990), My Brother's Wife (1989), Letting Go (1985), John Ritter: Being of Sound Mind and Body (1980), The Barefoot Executive (1971)See all 6 shared titles with John Ritter
- Scott PaulinShared titles: My Little Assassin (1999), Gambler V: Playing for Keeps (1994), Beverly Hills, 90210 (1990), Tricks of the Trade (1988)See all 4 shared titles with Scott Paulin
- Joe MantegnaShared titles: My Little Assassin (1999), A Call to Remember (1997)See all 2 shared titles with Joe Mantegna
- Kevin ZegersShared titles: It Came from the Sky (1999), A Call to Remember (1997)See all 2 shared titles with Kevin Zegers
Composers, cinematographers and editors
- Mark MelnickShared titles: It Came from the Sky (1999), My Little Assassin (1999), A Call to Remember (1997), Friends 'Til the End (1997), Killing Mr. Griffin (1997), A Face to Die For (1996)See all 6 shared titles with Mark Melnick
- Lee HoldridgeShared titles: A Call to Remember (1997), The Dreamer of Oz (1990), Letting Go (1985), Shattered Vows (1984)See all 4 shared titles with Lee Holdridge
- Lori Jane ColemanShared titles: Beverly Hills, 90210 (1990), High School U.S.A. (1984), Shattered Vows (1984), Two Kinds of Love (1983)See all 4 shared titles with Lori Jane Coleman
- David GeddesShared titles: A Call to Remember (1997), Killing Mr. Griffin (1997), Beverly Hills, 90210 (1990)See all 3 shared titles with David Geddes
Producers
- Robert M. MymanShared titles: The Dreamer of Oz (1990), My Brother's Wife (1989), Letting Go (1985), John Ritter: Being of Sound Mind and Body (1980)See all 4 shared titles with Robert M. Myman
- Ronna SlutskeShared titles: It Came from the Sky (1999), The Tempest (1998), A Call to Remember (1997)See all 3 shared titles with Ronna Slutske
- Bonnie RaskinShared titles: The Tempest (1998), Friends 'Til the End (1997), Killing Mr. Griffin (1997)See all 3 shared titles with Bonnie Raskin
- Ervin ZavadaShared titles: The Dreamer of Oz (1990), Letting Go (1985), The Midnight Hour (1985)See all 3 shared titles with Ervin Zavada
Mixed roles
- Chris BrancatoShared titles: The Prince of Motor City (2008), Beverly Hills, 90210 (1990)See all 2 shared titles with Chris Brancato
- James Whitmore Jr.Shared titles: Beverly Hills, 90210 (1990), Tricks of the Trade (1988)See all 2 shared titles with James Whitmore Jr.
