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Sean Bridgers

Sean Bridgers

Actor · Born March 15, 1968 (58) · Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA

Screen Actors Guild Award nominee

Sean MacKenzie Bridgers (born March 15, 1968) is an American actor, screenwriter, and producer, known for his role as Johnny Burns on the HBO series Deadwood and on the SundanceTV original series Rectify as Trey Willis. In addition to many roles in television and film since 1991, Bridgers received acclaim and awards for the independent film Paradise Falls, which he wrote and produced. He received praise for his lead role in Lucky McKee's horror film The Woman and another Modernciné film, Jug Face, as well as notable roles in Sweet Home Alabama and Nell. He played Old Nick in the 2015 film Room.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
March 15, 1968 (58)
From
Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
59 on MovieCove · 76 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 50% in 30 days

What are Sean Bridgers' films like?

Across their 22 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Self.

Genres

Drama9 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 46th percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Action3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 66th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Action 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
22%
Self
21%
Survival
21%
Bonds
16%
Society
12%
Power
7%
Family bonds8 titles, browse their movies with this themeTrauma6 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival4 titles, browse their movies with this themeAmbition3 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception4 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice3 titles, browse their movies with this themeGrief3 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 17 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Dark: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their dark movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 1 · Serious 3 · Dark 13

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

Grounded 14 · Stylized 2 · Heightened 1

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

Gentle 0 · Charged 7 · Intense 10

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

Steady 7 · Shifting 7 · Whiplash 3

Straight-faced: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their straight-faced movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 14 · Some laughs 2 · Funny 1

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

A split, not a type: Slow burn 9 · Even-paced 8 · Relentless 0

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

Casual 4 · Engaged 13 · Full focus 0

Heavy: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their heavy movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

A split, not a type: Easy watch 1 · Affecting 9 · Heavy 7

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

Resolved 11 · Open-ended 6 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

6 analyzed roles

Usually the Ally: 3 of 6 analyzed roles.

Ally
3 of 6
Shadow
1 of 6
Threshold guardian
1 of 6
Trickster
1 of 6

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
17
Melancholic
12
Dread
7
Contemplative
3
Bittersweet
4
Other
12

How their films linger

Thought-provoking9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteInfuriating6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 2 with a twist

  • Happy1
  • Bittersweet18
  • 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 Sean Bridgers' films?

As of October 24, 2026, 47 of their 59 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (16).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Sean Bridgers' 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

76 credits, 59 with a MovieCove page; 1 appearance as themselves is hidden until asked for.

  • Primetime(2026)

    as Lloyd

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • The Weird Kidz(2022)

    as Sheriff (Voice)

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Angel and the Badman(2026)

    as Deputy Eli

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • Government Cheese(2025)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all shows

  • The Painted(2024)

    as Adam Elster

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • Test Screening (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2024)

    Actor

  • Outlaw Posse(2024)

    as Mayor

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • Tracker(2024)

    Show 1 episode · as Father Ammon

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all shows

  • Bones and All(2022)

    as Barry Cook

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • The Thing About Pam(2022)

    Show 6 episodes · as Mark Hupp

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all shows

  • Women of the Movement(2022)

    Show as Sidney Carlton

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all shows

  • The Underground Railroad(2021)

    Show 1 episode · as Fletcher

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all shows

  • Your Honor(2020)

    Show 1 episode · as Walter Beckwith

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all shows

  • Deathcember(2019)

    as Uninjured

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films

  • The Righteous Gemstones(2019)

    Show 1 episode · as Field Surgeon

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows

  • Deadwood: The Movie(2019)

    as Johnny Burns

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • The Man Who Killed Hitler and Then the Bigfoot(2018)

    as Mr. Gardner / Mr. Gardner's Son

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • The Alienist(2018)

    Show 1 episode · as Sheriff Early

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all shows

  • Get Shorty(2017)

    Show 27 episodes · as Louis Darnell

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows

  • Midnight, Texas(2017)

    Show 2 episodes · as Sheriff Livingstone

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all shows

  • And Then I Go(2017)

    as Little Kid's Dad

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • The Magnificent Seven(2016)

    as Fanning

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • Free State of Jones(2016)

    as Sumrall

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • The Whole Truth(2016)

    as Arthur Westin

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Midnight Special(2016)

    as Fredrick (Ranch Member)

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • Elsie Hooper (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    as Ridley Hooper

  • Chicago Med(2015)

    Show 1 episode · as Detective Benjamin Gonsiorek

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all shows

  • Trumbo(2015)

    as Jeff Krandall

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Blue(2015)

    as Sheriff Hawkes

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • Room(2015)

    as Old Nick

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Dark Places(2015)

    as Runner Day

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • Legs (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    Actor

  • The Best of Me(2014)

    as Tommy Cole

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • The Edge of the Woods (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    as Abe

  • The Graveyard Feeder (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    as Burke Sawyer

  • The Blacklist(2013)

    Show 1 episode · as Nyle Hatcher

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all shows

  • Jug Face(2013)

    as Dawai

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • Rectify(2013)

    Show 17 episodes · as Trey Willis

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • The Woman(2011)

    as Chris Cleek

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Hart of Dixie(2011)

    Show 1 episode · as Leon Mercy

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all shows

  • Blood On My Name (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    as Thomas

  • Raising Hope(2010)

    Show 2 episodes · as Jack

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • Justified(2010)

    Show 1 episode · as Virgil Corum

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • Lie to Me(2009)

    Show 1 episode · as Harold Clark

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows

  • The Mentalist(2008)

    Show 1 episode · as Ranger Tisdale

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • True Blood(2008)

    Show 1 episode · as Big Bobby

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all shows

  • Witless Protection(2008)

    as Norm

    Midcredits score: 4th percentile of all films

  • Jake's Closet (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    as Peter

  • Private Practice(2007)

    Show 2 episodes · as Frank Dawson

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all shows

  • Saving Grace(2007)

    Show 1 episode · as Carl Lafong

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all shows

  • Criminal Minds(2005)

    Show 1 episode · as James Charles

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all shows

  • Bones(2005)

    Show 1 episode · as John Collins

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • 3: The Dale Earnhardt Story(2004)

    as Neil Bonnett

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • Deadwood(2004)

    Show 36 episodes · as Johnny Burns

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all shows

  • Apple Jack (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    as Les Danyou

  • Sweet Home Alabama(2002)

    as Eldon

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Clover Bend(2002)

    as Tyler

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • CSI: Crime Scene Investigation(2000)

    Show 1 episode · as Art Schuster

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all shows

  • After Diff'rent Strokes: When the Laughter Stopped (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    as Robert

  • ATF(1999)

    as Smitty

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films

  • Legacy(1998)

    Show 13 episodes · as William Winters

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all shows

  • Paradise Falls (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Producer · Writer · as Henry Bancroft

  • Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction(1997)

    Show 1 episode · as Martin Spencer (segment "The Prescription")

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all shows

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

    as Aaron Clemens

  • Close to Danger(1997)

    as Donna's Date

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • Murderous Intent (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    as Dennis

  • Her Deadly Rival(1995)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Death in Small Doses(1995)

    as Mr. Carter

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Nell(1994)

    as Mike Ibarra

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • Getting In (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    as Dumpster Hunter

  • Road-Kill U.S.A. (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    as Josh

  • Children of the Corn II: The Final Sacrifice(1992)

    as Jedediah

    Midcredits score: 6th percentile of all films

  • Murder in New Hampshire: The Pamela Smart Story(1991)

    as Ralph Welch

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • Iron Dan (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    as Carl Whitman

  • Red Camellia (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Actor

  • The Trophy King (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    as Trip Mahoney

Career shape

Star power in the 98th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 73 titles, 70 of them dated from 1991 to 2026; peak year 2015.

Biggest box office

The Best of Me (2014)

$39M worldwide

Highest rated

Room (2015)

Midcredits 99th

Most popular right now

Angel and the Badman (2026)

Film career

MilestoneNomination
19912026

Peak 2015 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Top draw in 4 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
Acting73 of 73: 72 only acting, 1 with another role · typical Midcredits score74thWriting1 of 73: 0 only writing, 1 with another roleProducing1 of 73: 0 only producing, 1 with another role

By decade

1990s13 · 13 acting · 1 crew2000s16 · acting2010s30 · acting2020s11 · acting

Billing

usually 11th · top billed in 6% of 18 roles
9414

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 Screen Actors Guild Award in 2007, Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble 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 Sean Bridgers' films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 48th percentile, the median of all 32; across their 17 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 46th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

46thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 17

Approval · how many liked their films

49thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 17

Reach · how many have seen their films

65thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 17

Midcredits score across 59 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up28
  • 50th to 74th12
  • 25th to 49th9
  • Below 25th10

Shape of the crowd

27 of their 59 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved11
  • Cult Classic3
  • Crowd Pleaser27
  • Broadly Agreed2
  • Mixed16

Most divisive · actor

Witless Protection (2008)

88th percentile spread · 65% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Room (2015)

Midcredits 99th · 91% liked

Reviewers score the acting 67/100 in their films, across 15 reviewed titles; fans 80, 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 Sean Bridgers' work okay for kids?

Across up to 10 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore, sex & nudity and frightening / intense run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore7 titles49–90 · median 75 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity10 titles13–63 · median 53 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity7 titles25–69 · median 43 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs6 titles30–60 · median 33 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense6 titles42–90 · median 65 · intenseheavier 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 Sean Bridgers work with?

People who share at least 2 of Sean Bridgers' MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Zach Passero shares the most, 4.

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers