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Peter Billingsley

Peter Billingsley

Actor and producer, also director and writer · Born April 16, 1971 (55) · New York City, New York, USA

Primetime Emmy nominee

Peter Billingsley (born April 16, 1971), also known as Peter Michaelsen and Peter Billingsley-Michaelsen, is an American actor, director, and producer. His acting roles include Ralphie Parker in the 1983 movie A Christmas Story, Jack Simmons in The Dirt Bike Kid, Billy in Death Valley, and as Messy Marvin in Hershey's chocolate syrup commercials during the 1980s. He began his career as an infant in television commercials. Description above from the Wikipedia article Peter Billingsley, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
April 16, 1971 (55)
From
New York City, New York, USA
Works as
Actor and producer, also director and writer
Titles
31 on MovieCove · 49 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 39% in 30 days

What are Peter Billingsley's films like?

Across their 19 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Self.

Genres

Comedy10 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 27th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Action3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 26th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Documentary3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 71st percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Documentary movies
Drama2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 46th 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
44%
Self
19%
Survival
15%
Society
14%
Morality
4%
Power
3%
Ideas
1%
Family bonds7 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival5 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship4 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity5 titles, browse their movies with this themeAmbition4 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love2 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose3 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth2 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 15 · Serious 1 · Dark 2

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

Grounded 12 · Stylized 5 · Heightened 1

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

A split, not a type: Gentle 11 · Charged 4 · Intense 3

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

Steady 13 · Shifting 5 · Whiplash 0

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 7 · Funny 8

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

Slow burn 8 · Even-paced 8 · 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 12 · Engaged 6 · Full focus 0

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

Resolved 16 · Open-ended 2 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

4 analyzed roles

Usually the Hero: 3 of 4 analyzed roles.

Hero
3 of 4
Ally
1 of 4

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Warm
9
Joyful
8
Tense
5
Hopeful
6
Absurd
5
Other
17

How their films linger

Feel-good12 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end

  • Happy10
  • Bittersweet6
  • Ambiguous2
  • Other1

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 Peter Billingsley's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 23 of their 31 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (9).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Peter Billingsley'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

49 credits, 31 with a MovieCove page; 5 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Broke(2025)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • A Christmas Story Christmas(2022)

    Producer · Screenstory · as Ralphie Parker

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • Christmas with the Campbells(2022)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • The Opening Act(2020)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Spider-Man: Far from Home(2019)

    as William Ginter Riva

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • GameChangers: Dreams of BlizzCon(2018)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Brad Paisley's Comedy Rodeo(2017)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Term Life(2016)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • F Is for Family(2015)

    Show 44 episodes · Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all shows

  • Prescription Thugs(2015)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • A Case of You(2013)

    as Scott

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • Sullivan & Son (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    Show 20 episodes · Director · Producer

  • Couples Retreat(2009)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • Four Christmases(2008)

    Executive Producer · as Ticket Agent

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • Iron Man(2008)

    Executive Producer · as William Ginter Riva

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • Wild West Comedy Show: 30 Days & 30 Nights - Hollywood to the Heartland(2006)

    Producer · as Self

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • The Break-Up(2006)

    Executive Producer · as Andrew

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • Zathura: A Space Adventure(2005)

    Co-Producer

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Elf(2003)

    as Ming Ming (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • Dinner for Five (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Show 50 episodes · Producer

  • Made(2001)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • No Deposit, No Return (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Actor

  • L.A. Heat(1996)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all shows

  • Christmas Unwrapped: The History of Christmas (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    as Ralphie Parker (archive footage)

  • Sherman Oaks (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Show 11 episodes · as Billy Baker

  • Family Reunion: A Relative Nightmare (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    as Mark McKenna Jr.

  • Arcade (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Post Production Supervisor · as Nick

  • Beverly Hills Brats(1989)

    as Scooter

    Midcredits score: 2nd percentile of all films

  • The Wonder Years(1988)

    Show 2 episodes · as Micky Spiegel

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • Russkies(1987)

    as Adam

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • Carly's Web (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    as Robert KrantzJr.

  • The Last Frontier (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Show 2 episodes · as Marty Adamson

  • Pecos Bill (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    as Kevin

  • The Dirt Bike Kid(1985)

    as Jack Simmons

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Tall Tales & Legends (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 1 episode · as Kevin

  • The Hoboken Chicken Emergency (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    as Arthur Bobowicz

  • WonderWorks (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Show 1 episode · as Arthur Bobowicz

  • Who's the Boss?(1984)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all shows

  • Highway to Heaven(1984)

    Show 2 episodes · as Ridley

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all shows

  • Punky Brewster(1984)

    Show 2 episodes · as Richmond Matzie

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all shows

  • A Christmas Story(1983)

    as Ralphie

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Memories Never Die (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    as Shawn Tilford

  • Massarati and the Brain (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    as Christopher 'The Brain' Massarati

  • Death Valley (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    as Billy

  • Paternity(1981)

    as Tad

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films

  • Honky Tonk Freeway(1981)

    as Little Billy

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • If Ever I See You Again (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    as Child

  • Little House on the Prairie(1974)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all shows

  • Frontier (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Executive Producer

Career shape

Star power in the 95th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 45 titles, 44 of them dated from 1974 to 2025; peak year 1984.

Biggest box office

Couples Retreat (2009)

$172M worldwide

Highest rated

A Christmas Story (1983)

Midcredits 94th

Most popular right now

F Is for Family (2015)

Film career

19742025

Peak 1984 · back in prominent film roles after a quiet stretch. Top draw in 3 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
Acting34 of 45: 29 only acting, 5 with another role · typical Midcredits score39thDirecting3 of 45: 2 only directing, 1 with another roleWriting1 of 45: 0 only writing, 1 with another roleProducing13 of 45: 8 only producing, 5 with another role · typical Midcredits score62ndOther crew1 of 45: 0 only other crew, 1 with another role

45 titles, 6 with more than one role — acting and producing overlap on 4 of them.

By decade

1970s2 · acting1980s19 · acting1990s5 · 5 acting · 1 crew2000s8 · 5 acting · 6 crew2010s6 · 2 acting · 4 crew2020s4 · 1 acting · 4 crew

Billing

usually 5th · top billed in 17% of 12 roles
8191

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.

Awards

Nominated for a Primetime Emmy in 2005, Outstanding Nonfiction 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 Peter Billingsley's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 37th percentile, the median of all 24; across their 18 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 34th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

34thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 18

Approval · how many liked their films

39thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 18

Reach · how many have seen their films

68thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 18

Midcredits score across 31 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up8
  • 50th to 74th6
  • 25th to 49th12
  • Below 25th5

Shape of the crowd

11 of their 31 titles are Mixed.

  • Universally Loved3
  • Universally Panned1
  • Crowd Pleaser10
  • Broadly Agreed6
  • Mixed11

Most divisive · producer

GameChangers: Dreams of BlizzCon (2018)

66th percentile spread · 9% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor, producer

Iron Man (2008)

Midcredits 98th · 90% liked

Reviewers score the acting 61/100 in their films, across 15 reviewed titles; fans 74, detractors 36. 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 Peter Billingsley's work okay for kids?

Across up to 8 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore and frightening / intense run lighter than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore5 titles15–62 · median 32 · mildlighter than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity8 titles17–59 · median 27 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity7 titles35–77 · median 40 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs6 titles15–72 · median 31 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense5 titles10–55 · median 19 · mildlighter 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 Peter Billingsley work with?

People who share at least 2 of Peter Billingsley's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Vince Vaughn shares the most, 12.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles