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Bill Corbett

Bill Corbett

Writer and actor · Born March 30, 1960 (66) · Brooklyn, New York, USA

Bill Corbett is a former writer for MYSTERY SCIENCE THEATER 3000 and also a performer on the show, providing the voice of the robot Crow (v.2.0) and playing various other strange characters -- including the all-powerful but clueless alien The Observer (a.k.a. "Brain Guy"). Corbett is also a screenwriter and playwright. Corbett's screenplay STARSHIP DAVE, co-written with Rob Greenberg, was made into the movie MEET DAVE starring Eddie Murphy, released by 20th Century Fox. His plays have been produced internationally. Corbett's comedy THE BIG SLAM has been produced at numerous theaters across the U.S., including Woolly Mammoth in Washington, D.C.; ACT in Seattle; and actor Jeff Daniels' Purple Rose Theater in Chelsea, Michigan. Other plays include HATE MAIL, THE STUFF OF DREAMS, and his comic book holiday mashup SUPER-POWERED-REVENGE CHRISTMAS #1. He has been a contributing writer to National Public Radio's PRAIRIE HOME COMPANION and ALL THINGS CONSIDERED, and is co-creator of the animated web series POKER NIGHT on Icebox.com. Corbett has also been an actor in the resident acting companies at the Guthrie Theater and the Berkshire Theater Festival, and has taught playwriting and screenwriting at Kenyon College in Ohio, the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis, and many other universities and schools. He's a graduate of the Yale School of Drama, where he earned an MFA in playwriting and screenwriting. Before that, he received a BA from Yale College. A native of Brooklyn, N.Y., he now lives in Minneapolis with his wife Virginia, their two children, and a feisty Jack Russell Terrier.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
March 30, 1960 (66)
From
Brooklyn, New York, USA
Works as
Writer and actor
Titles
13 on MovieCove · 46 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 39 days to Oct 28Down 44% in 30 days

What are Bill Corbett's films like?

Across their 12 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Society and Ideas.

Genres

Comedy5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 79th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Animation2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 56th percentile
: browse their Animation 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
Society
28%
Ideas
28%
Bonds
14%
Self
10%
Morality
10%
Survival
8%
Community8 titles, browse their movies with this themeArt6 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship2 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 10 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 5 · Wry 1 · Earnest 2

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

Light 10 · Serious 0 · Dark 0

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

Grounded 7 · Stylized 2 · Heightened 1

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

Gentle 8 · Charged 2 · Intense 0

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

Steady 8 · Shifting 1 · Whiplash 1

Funny: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their funny movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 0 · Some laughs 2 · Funny 8

Slow burn: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their slow burn movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 5 · Even-paced 5 · Relentless 0

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

Casual 8 · Engaged 2 · Full focus 0

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

Resolved 10 · Open-ended 0 · Ambiguous 0

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Absurd
11
Joyful
7
Warm
4
Thrilling
3
Tense
2
Other
3

How their films linger

Fun10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 1 with a twist

  • Happy3
  • Bittersweet2
  • Ambiguous4
  • Cyclical3

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 Bill Corbett's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 8 of their 13 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (4).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Bill Corbett'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

46 credits, 13 with a MovieCove page; 25 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Mystery Science Theater 3000: The RiffTrax Experiments (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2026)

    Show 4 episodes · Creator · Writer · as Crow T. Robot (voice) / Brain Guy

  • Mystery Science Theater 3000: The RiffTrax Experiments — Sting of Death (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2026)

    Writer · as Crow T. Robot (voice) / Brain Guy

  • Dead Media(2025)

    as Jackson Billy

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • RiffTrax Live: Timecop(2025)

    Writer · as Self

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Amy's Dead-End Dreamhouse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2025)

    Show 6 episodes · as Mike the Microwave (voice)

  • RiffTrax Live: Point Break (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2024)

    Writer · as Self

  • GrimTrax (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2024)

    Writer · as Self

  • RiffTrax Live: RAD (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)

    Writer · as Self

  • RiffTrax Live: The Return of Swamp Thing (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    Writer · as Self

  • RiffTrax Live: Amityville - The Evil Escapes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    Actor

  • Hate Mail (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    Writer · as Self

  • Infinity Train(2019)

    Show 1 episode · as Perry the Parasite (voice)

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all shows

  • RiffTrax Live: Star Raiders(2019)

    Writer · as Self

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

  • RiffTrax Live: Day of the Shorts - SF Sketchfest 2019(2019)

    Writer · as Self

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Tigtone(2018)

    Show 20 episodes · as King

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all shows

  • RiffTrax Live: Summer Shorts Beach Party (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    Writer · as Self

  • Mystery Science Theater 3000(2017)

    Show 3 episodes · Writer · as Brain Guy

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all shows

  • Rifftrax Live: Carnival of Souls (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    Actor

  • RiffTrax Live: MST3K Reunion (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    Writer · as Self

  • RiffTrax Live: Santa and the Ice Cream Bunny(2015)

    Writer · Actor

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • RiffTrax Live: Miami Connection (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    Actor

  • RiffTrax Live: Santa Claus (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    Writer · as Self

  • The Frank (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    as Brainmonger, Puppeteer #1

  • Total Riff Off (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    Show 6 episodes · Actor

  • Rifftrax Live: Santa Claus Conquers the Martians (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    Writer · as Self

  • Rifftrax Live: Starship Troopers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    Writer · as Self

  • Santa's Village of Madness (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    Writer · as Self

  • Backyard Blockbusters (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    Thanks

  • RiffTrax Live: Manos - The Hands of Fate(2012)

    Writer · as Self

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • Rifftrax Live: Jack the Giant Killer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    Actor

  • RiffTrax Live: House on Haunted Hill(2010)

    Writer · as himself

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Rifftrax Live: Reefer Madness (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    Writer · Actor

  • Meet Dave(2008)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • Max the Hero (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    as Max (voice)

  • The Film Crew: The Giant of Marathon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    Producer · Writer · as Self

  • The Film Crew: Wild Women of Wongo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    Producer · Writer · as Self

  • The Film Crew: Killers from Space (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    Producer · Writer · as Self

  • The Three Stooges in Color (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Actor

  • The Adventures of Edward the Less (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Show 13 episodes · as Edward (voice)

  • Mystery Science Theater 3000: Shorts, Volume 3 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Writer

  • 2nd Annual Mystery Science Theater 3000 Summer Blockbuster Review (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Writer · as Crow T. Robot (voice)

  • 1st Annual Mystery Science Theater 3000 Summer Blockbuster Review (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Writer · as Crow T. Robot (voice) / Brain Guy

  • Mystery Science Theater 3000(1988)

    Show 48 episodes · Writer · as Crow T. Robot (voice) / Observer · as Intergalactic Judge · as Krankor · as Space Mother (voice)

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all shows

  • Three Stooges: Greatest Routines (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    as Bill Corbett

  • Stubborn Beast

    as Martin

  • The Film Crew: Hollywood After Dark (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Producer · Writer · as Self

Career shape

A full career of 46 titles, 44 of them dated from 1964 to 2026.

Biggest box office

Meet Dave (2008)

$51M worldwide

Highest rated

Mystery Science Theater 3000 (1988)

Midcredits 86th

Film career

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting23 of 46: 16 only acting, 7 with another role · typical Midcredits score80thWriting29 of 46: 18 only writing, 11 with another role · typical Midcredits score81stProducing4 of 46: 0 only producing, 4 with another roleOther crew2 of 46: 1 only other crew, 1 with another role

46 titles, 11 with more than one role — writing and acting overlap on 7 of them.

By decade

1960s1 · acting1980s1 · 1 acting · 1 crew1990s2 · 2 acting · 2 crew2000s8 · 3 acting · 5 crew2010s21 · 10 acting · 13 crew2020s11 · 5 acting · 8 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 Bill Corbett's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 75th percentile, the median of the 8 of 9 with a score; across their 9 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 74th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

74thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 9

Approval · how many liked their films

62ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 9

Reach · how many have seen their films

31stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 9

Midcredits score across 12 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up7
  • 50th to 74th4
  • Below 25th1

Shape of the crowd

4 of their 12 titles are Divisive.

  • Universally Loved2
  • Loved with Detractors1
  • Divisive4
  • Cult Classic1
  • Mixed4

Most divisive · actor, writer

RiffTrax Live: Day of the Shorts - SF Sketchfest 2019 (2019)

97th percentile spread · 38% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor, writer

RiffTrax Live: Timecop (2025)

Midcredits 97th · 90% liked

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.

Who does Bill Corbett work with?

People who share at least 2 of Bill Corbett's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Michael J. Nelson shares the most, 8.

Directors

  • Michael J. Nelson8 titles · 2 as director    See all 8 shared titles with Michael J. Nelson

Writers

Actors

Editors

Producers