James Burrows

What are James Burrows' films like?

Across their 15 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Self and Bonds.

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 James Burrows' films?

As of October 24, 2026, 26 of their 40 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service.

• Paramount+10 titles, browse their movies on this service
  • Frasier (1993) · director
  • Cheers (1982) · director, producer
  • Taxi (1978) · director
  • Family Ties (1982) · director
  • Wings (1990) · director
  • Man with a Plan (2016) · director
  • Frasier (2023) · director
  • The Neighborhood (2018) · director
  • Superior Donuts (2017) · director
  • Caroline in the City (1995) · director
• The Roku Channel10 titles, browse their movies on this service
  • The Eighties (2016) · actor · free
  • Frasier (1993) · director · free
  • NewsRadio (1995) · director · free
  • Family Ties (1982) · director · free
  • Man with a Plan (2016) · director · free
  • 2 Broke Girls (2011) · director · free
  • The Neighborhood (2018) · director · free
  • Mike & Molly (2010) · director, producer · free
  • The Lost Saucer (1975) · director · free
  • Safe House (2015) · actor · free
• Prime Video7 titles, browse their movies on this service
  • The Bob Newhart Show (1972) · actor, director
  • NewsRadio (1995) · director
  • Night Court (1984) · director
  • Taxi (1978) · director
  • Man with a Plan (2016) · director · free
  • The Lost Saucer (1975) · director
  • On Our Own (1977) · director
• Pluto TV6 titles, browse their movies on this service
  • Frasier (1993) · director · free
  • NewsRadio (1995) · director · free
  • Cheers (1982) · director, producer · free
  • Taxi (1978) · director · free
  • Family Ties (1982) · director · free
  • Man with a Plan (2016) · director · free
• Hulu4 titles, browse their movies on this service
  • Frasier (1993) · director
  • Cheers (1982) · director, producer
  • Will & Grace (1998) · director, producer
  • Mid-Century Modern (2025) · director, producer
• Tubi4 titles, browse their movies on this service
  • NewsRadio (1995) · director · free
  • The Neighborhood (2018) · director · free
  • The Lost Saucer (1975) · director · free
  • Safe House (2015) · actor · free
• HBO Max3 titles, browse their movies on this service
  • Friends (1994) · director
  • The Eighties (2016) · actor
  • The Big Bang Theory (2007) · director
• AMC+1 title, browse their movies on this service
  • Two and a Half Men (2003) · director
• Disney+1 title, browse their movies on this service
  • Live in Front of a Studio Audience: 'The Facts of Life' and 'Diff'rent Strokes' (2021) · director, producer
• Netflix1 title, browse their movies on this service
  • Mike & Molly (2010) · director, producer
• Peacock1 title, browse their movies on this service
  • Two and a Half Men (2003) · director

Subscription and free streaming for James Burrows' 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

102 credits, 40 with a MovieCove page; 4 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

• 

  Mid-Century Modern(2025)

  Show 10 episodes · Director · Executive Producer

  Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all shows54^th
• 

  Frasier(2023)

  Show 4 episodes · Director

  Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all shows40^th
• 

  Live in Front of a Studio Audience: 'The Facts of Life' and 'Diff'rent Strokes'(2021)

  Director · Executive Producer

  Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films90^th
• 

  B Positive(2020)

  Show 3 episodes · Director

  Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all shows27^th
• 

  Live in Front of a Studio Audience: 'All in the Family' and 'Good Times'(2019)

  Director · Executive Producer

  Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films85^th
• 

  Friends 25th: The One with the Anniversary (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

  Director
• 

  Live in Front of a Studio Audience: Norman Lear's 'All in the Family' and 'The Jeffersons'(2019)

  Director

  Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films88^th
• 

  The Neighborhood(2018)

  Show 21 episodes · Director

  Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all shows40^th
• 

  Will & Grace (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

  Show 52 episodes · Director · Executive Producer
• 

  Superior Donuts(2017)

  Show 3 episodes · Director

  Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all shows29^th
• 

  Man with a Plan(2016)

  Show 9 episodes · Director

  Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all shows52^nd
• 

  Crowded (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

  Show 13 episodes · Director · Executive Producer
• 

  The Eighties(2016)

  Show as Executive producer and co-creator, 'Cheers'

  Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows93^rd
• 

  Safe House(2015)

  Show 4 episodes · as Sam

  Midcredits score: 22nd percentile of all shows22^nd
• 

  Friends with Better Lives(2014)

  Show Director

  Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all shows50^th
• 

  The Millers(2013)

  Show 9 episodes · Director

  Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all shows15^th
• 

  Partners (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

  Show 4 episodes · Director
• 

  2 Broke Girls(2011)

  Show 4 episodes · Director

  Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all shows43^rd
• 

  Cheers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

  Show 9 episodes · Original Series Creator
• 

  $#*! My Dad Says (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

  Show 1 episode · Director
• 

  Better With You (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

  Show 1 episode · Director
• 

  Mike & Molly(2010)

  Show 70 episodes · Director · Producer

  Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all shows34^th
• 

  100 Questions(2010)

  Show 1 episode · Director

  Midcredits score: 8th percentile of all shows8^th
• 

  Romantically Challenged (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

  Show 5 episodes · Director · Producer
• 

  Gary Unmarried(2008)

  Show 37 episodes · Director · Producer

  Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all shows33^rd
• 

  The Big Bang Theory(2007)

  Show 17 episodes · Director

  Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all shows89^th
• 

  Back to You(2007)

  Show 17 episodes · Director · Producer

  Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all shows27^th
• 

  Mastersons of Manhattan (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

  Director
• 

  The Class(2006)

  Show 19 episodes · Director · Executive Producer

  Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all shows72^nd
• 

  Teachers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

  Show 1 episode · Director
• 

  Four Kings (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

  Show 1 episode · Director
• TV Land Moguls (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

  Show 6 episodes · Actor
• 

  Two and a Half Men(2003)

  Show 1 episode · Director

  Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all shows57^th
• 

  Bram & Alice (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

  Show 1 episode · Director
• 

  Good Morning, Miami (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

  Show 1 episode · Director
• 

  Madigan Men (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

  Show 1 episode · Director
• 

  Stark Raving Mad (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

  Show 1 episode · Director
• 

  Ladies Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

  Show 1 episode · Director
• 

  The Secret Lives of Men (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

  Show 13 episodes · Producer
• 

  Jesse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

  Show 1 episode · Director
• 

  Conrad Bloom (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

  Show 4 episodes · Director
• 

  Will & Grace(1998)

  Show 194 episodes · Director · Executive Producer

  Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all shows61^st
• 

  Union Square (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

  Show 9 episodes · Director
• 

  Dharma & Greg (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

  Show 2 episodes · Director
• 

  George & Leo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

  Show 3 episodes · Director
• 

  Fired Up (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

  Show 4 episodes · Director
• 

  Chicago Sons (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

  Show 3 episodes · Director
• 

  Men Behaving Badly (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

  Show 7 episodes · Director
• 

  Pearl (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

  Show 2 episodes · Director
• 

  E! True Hollywood Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

  Show 2 episodes · Actor
• 

  3rd Rock from the Sun(1996)

  Show 2 episodes · Director

  Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all shows83^rd
• 

  Caroline in the City(1995)

  Show 21 episodes · Director

  Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all shows20^th
• 

  Hudson Street (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

  Show 1 episode · Director
• 

  Partners (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

  Show 10 episodes · Director
• 

  NewsRadio(1995)

  Show 9 episodes · Director

  Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all shows87^th
• 

  Friends(1994)

  Show 15 episodes · Director

  Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all shows97^th
• 

  Madman of the People (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

  Show 1 episode · Director
• 

  Monty (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

  Show 1 episode · Director
• 

  Cafe Americain (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

  Show 3 episodes · Director
• 

  Frasier(1993)

  Show 36 episodes · Director

  Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows91^st
• 

  Flying Blind (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

  Show 1 episode · Director
• Flesh 'n' Blood (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

  Show 1 episode · Director
• 

  Pacific Station (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

  Show 2 episodes · Director
• 

  Roc(1991)

  Show 1 episode · Director

  Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all shows74^th
• 

  Disneyland's 35th Anniversary Special(1990)

  Director · Thanks

  Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)~53^rd
• 

  Wings(1990)

  Show 1 episode · Director

  Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all shows64^th
• The Marshall Chronicles (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

  Show 2 episodes · Director
• 

  The Earth Day Special(1990)

  Director

  Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all films43^rd
• 

  Dear John (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

  Show 2 episodes · Director
• 

  Channel 99 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

  Director
• 

  The Tortellis (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

  Show 13 episodes · Director · Creator · Producer
• 

  All Is Forgiven (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

  Show 2 episodes · Director
• 

  The Hogan Family (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

  Show 1 episode · Director
• P.O.P. (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

  Director
• 

  Night Court(1984)

  Show 1 episode · Director

  Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all shows81^st
• 

  Cheers(1982)

  Show 269 episodes · Director · Creator · Executive Producer

  Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all shows86^th
• 

  Family Ties(1982)

  Show 1 episode · Director

  Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all shows64^th
• 

  Partners(1982)

  Director

  Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films25^th
• 

  Best of the West (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

  Show 3 episodes · Director
• Good Time Harry (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

  Show 1 episode · Director
• 

  The Associates (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

  Show 4 episodes · Director
• 

  A New Kind of Family (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

  Show 1 episode · Director
• Butterflies (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

  Director
• 

  More Than Friends (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

  Director
• 

  Taxi(1978)

  Show 75 episodes · Director

  Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all shows80^th
• Free Country (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

  Show 2 episodes · Director
• 

  We've Got Each Other (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

  Show 2 episodes · Director
• 

  Lou Grant (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

  Show 1 episode · Director
• 

  The Betty White Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

  Show 2 episodes · Director
• Calling Doctor Storm, M.D. (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

  Director
• Busting Loose (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

  Show 5 episodes · Director
• 

  On Our Own(1977)

  Show Director

  Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all shows (provisional, few ratings)~18^th
• 

  The Tony Randall Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

  Show 4 episodes · Director
• 

  Laverne & Shirley (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

  Show 8 episodes · Director
• 

  Phyllis (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

  Show 16 episodes · Director
• 

  The Lost Saucer(1975)

  Show 1 episode · Director

  Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all shows25^th
• Paul Sand in Friends and Lovers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

  Show 1 episode · Director
• 

  Rhoda (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

  Show 4 episodes · Director · Actor
• 

  The Bob Newhart Show(1972)

  Show 11 episodes · Director · as Maintenance Man

  Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all shows90^th
• 

  The Mary Tyler Moore Show(1970)

  Show 4 episodes · Director

  Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows92^nd
• AbFab (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

  Show 1 episode · Director
• Happiness Isn't Everything (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

  Show 1 episode · Director

Career shape

A full career of 98 titles, 96 of them dated from 1970 to 2025.

Biggest box office

Partners (1982)

$6.1M worldwide

Highest rated

The Eighties (2016)

Midcredits 93^rd

Most popular right now

Man with a Plan (2016)

Awards

11 Primetime Emmys and 6 other major awards from 74 major nominations, 1980–2025.

1. 2025
   • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series
2. 2022
   • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Variety Special (Live)
3. 2021
   • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series
4. 2020
   • Primetime Emmy, won · Outstanding Variety Special (Live)
   • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series
   • +1 other major body · 1 win

     • Directors Guild Award, won · Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Variety/Talk/News/Sports - Specials
5. 2019
   • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Directing for a Variety Special
6. 2015
   • Directors Guild Award, won · Television Direction
7. 2006
   • Directors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Comedy Series
8. 2005
   • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Comedy Series
   • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series
   • +1 other major body · 1 nomination

     • Producers Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Producer of Episodic Television, Comedy

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 James Burrows' films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 69^th percentile, the median of all 6; across their 6 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 83^rd percentile for acclaim.

Shape of the crowd

16 of their 40 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

51616

• Universally Loved5
• Divisive1
• Cult Classic1
• Crowd Pleaser16
• Broadly Agreed1
• Mixed16

Most divisive · director

The Earth Day Special (1990)

94^th percentile spread · 33% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · director

Friends (1994)

Midcredits 97^th · 90% liked

Reviewers score the atmosphere 63/100 and the pacing 50/100 in their films, across 5 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 James Burrows' 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 James Burrows work with?

People who share at least 2 of James Burrows' MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Gary Baum shares the most, 4.