Skip to content
MovieCove
Jeff Dunham

Jeff Dunham

Actor, writer and producer, also editor · Born April 18, 1962 (64) · Dallas, Texas, USA

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jeff Dunham (born April, 1962) is an American ventriloquist and stand-up comedian who has also appeared on numerous television shows, including Star Search, Late Show with David Letterman, Comedy Central Presents, The Tonight Show and Sonny With a Chance. He is familiar to Comedy Central audiences for his three specials on that network: Jeff Dunham: Arguing with Myself, Jeff Dunham: Spark of Insanity, and Jeff Dunham's Very Special Christmas Special. Dunham also starred in The Jeff Dunham Show for one season on the network in 2009.[1] His style has been described as "a dressed-down, more digestible version of Don Rickles with multiple personality disorder". Describing his characters, Time observes, "All of them are politically incorrect, gratuitously insulting and ill tempered." Dunham has been credited with reviving ventriloquism, and doing more to promote the art form than anyone since Edgar Bergen. Dunham has been called "America's favorite comedian" by Slate.com, and according to the concert industry publication Pollstar, he is the top-grossing standup act in North America, and is among the most successful acts in Europe as well. As of March 2009, he has sold over four million DVDs, an additional 7 million dollars in merchandise sales, and received more than 350 million hits on YouTube (his introduction of Achmed the Dead Terrorist in Spark of Insanity is the ninth most watched YouTube video). A Very Special Christmas Special was the most-watched telecast in Comedy Central history, with its DVD going quadruple platinum (selling over 400,000) in its first two weeks. Forbes.com ranked Dunham as the third highest-paid comedian in the United States behind Jerry Seinfeld and Chris Rock, and reported that he was one of the highest-earning comics from June 2008 to June 2009, earning approximately $30 million during that period. Description above from the Wikipedia article Jeff Dunham, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
April 18, 1962 (64)
From
Dallas, Texas, USA
Works as
Actor, writer and producer, also editor
Titles
30 on MovieCove · 39 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Official site (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 64 days to Oct 27Up 2% in 30 days

What are Jeff Dunham's films like?

Across their 23 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Self and Society.

Genres

Comedy11 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 77th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Animation6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 25th percentile
: browse their Animation movies
Documentary3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 54th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Documentary 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
Self
33%
Society
28%
Bonds
17%
Ideas
15%
Power
3%
Survival
3%
Morality
2%
Identity8 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity8 titles, browse their movies with this themeArt4 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship4 titles, browse their movies with this themeFame5 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth2 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds2 titles, browse their movies with this themeTechnology2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 22 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Light: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their light movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 22 · Serious 0 · Dark 0

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

A split, not a type: Grounded 12 · Stylized 10 · Heightened 0

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

Gentle 15 · Charged 7 · Intense 0

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

Steady 17 · Shifting 5 · Whiplash 0

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

Straight-faced 0 · Some laughs 4 · Funny 18

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

Slow burn 6 · Even-paced 13 · Relentless 3

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

Casual 20 · Engaged 2 · Full focus 0

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

Resolved 22 · Open-ended 0 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

3 analyzed roles
Herald
1 of 3
Shapeshifter
1 of 3
Mentor
1 of 3

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Joyful
18
Absurd
13
Warm
7
Thrilling
5
Hopeful
4
Other
8

How their films linger

Fun18 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good22 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 1 with a twist

  • Happy21
  • 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 Jeff Dunham's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 28 of their 30 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service.

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Jeff Dunham'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

39 credits, 30 with a MovieCove page; 20 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Jeff Dunham's the Cars That Drove Us(2026)

    Show 8 episodes · Producer · as Self - Host

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all shows (provisional, few ratings)

  • The Hunting Party(2025)

    Show 1 episode · as Jeff Dudley

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all shows

  • Jeff Dunham's Scrooged-Up Holiday Special(2024)

    Executive Producer · as Self

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Jeff Dunham - Election 2024 - Biden vs. Trump How Did We Get Here... Again (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2024)

    Actor

  • Jeff Dunham: I'm with Cupid(2024)

    Executive Producer · Writer · as Self

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • The Improv: 60 and Still Standing (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)

    Writer · as Self

  • Jeff Dunham: Me the People(2022)

    Writer · as Self

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • Completely Unrehearsed Last Minute Pandemic Holiday Special(2020)

    Writer · Actor

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • Jeff Dunham: Beside Himself(2019)

    Executive Producer · Writer · as Self

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • Scooby-Doo and Guess Who?(2019)

    Show 1 episode · as Jeff Dunham / Walter (voice)

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all shows

  • The Masked Singer(2019)

    Show 1 episode · as Pi-Rat · as Pi-Rat (archive footage)

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all shows

  • Elliot the Littlest Reindeer(2018)

    as Clyde / Peanutbutter (voice)

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • Gnome Alone(2017)

    as Quicksilver (voice)

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • Jeff Dunham: Relative Disaster(2017)

    Producer · Writer · as Self

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • The Nut Job 2: Nutty by Nature(2017)

    as Mole (voice)

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • Smurfs: The Lost Village(2017)

    as Farmer (voice)

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • Angie Tribeca (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    Show 1 episode · as Fisher Price

  • Jeff Dunham: Unhinged in Hollywood(2015)

    Executive Producer · Writer · as Self

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Jeff Dunham: All Over the Map(2014)

    Editor · Executive Producer · Writer · as Self

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • Achmed Saves America(2014)

    Characters · Creator · Executive Producer · as Achmed / Bubba J / Jeff Dunham (voice)

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films

  • The Nut Job(2014)

    as Mole (voice)

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • Big Top Scooby-Doo!(2012)

    as Schmatko / Conductor (voice)

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Jeff Dunham: Minding the Monsters(2012)

    Producer · Writer · as Self

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • A Turtle's Tale 2: Sammy's Escape from Paradise(2012)

    as Jimbo (voice)

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • Jeff Dunham: Controlled Chaos(2011)

    Producer · Writer · as Self

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • Dinner for Schmucks(2010)

    as Lewis the Ventriloquist

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • The Jeff Dunham Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Show 7 episodes · Producer · Actor

  • Sonny with a Chance(2009)

    Show 1 episode · as Jeff / Walter

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all shows

  • Jeff Dunham's Very Special Christmas Special(2008)

    Producer · Writer · as Self

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • Jeff Dunham: Spark of Insanity(2007)

    Executive Producer · Writer · as Self

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Delta Farce(2007)

    as Amazing Ken

    Midcredits score: 4th percentile of all films

  • 30 Rock(2006)

    Show 1 episode · as Rick Wayne / Pumpkin

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows

  • Jeff Dunham: Arguing with Myself(2006)

    Producer · Writer · as Self

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • She Spies (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Show 1 episode · as Elvis Presley Ventriloquist

  • One on One (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Show 1 episode · as Benny / Kenny

  • Premium Blend (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Ellen(1994)

    Show 1 episode · as Starky

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all shows

  • The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Hot Country Nights (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Show 19 episodes · as Ventriloquist

Career shape

Star power in the 90th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 39 titles from 1991 to 2025; peak year 2018.

Biggest box office

The Nut Job (2014)

$121M worldwide

Highest rated

Jeff Dunham: Spark of Insanity (2007)

Midcredits 90th

Most popular right now

The Nut Job 2: Nutty by Nature (2017)

Film career

19912025

Peak 2018 · their film career is on the way up. 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
Acting26 of 39: 23 only acting, 3 with another role · typical Midcredits score26thWriting14 of 39: 7 only writing, 7 with another role · typical Midcredits score77thProducing8 of 39: 1 only producing, 7 with another role · typical Midcredits score70thEditing1 of 39: 0 only editing, 1 with another roleOther crew1 of 39: 0 only other crew, 1 with another role

39 titles, 8 with more than one role — acting and writing overlap on 2 of them.

By decade

1990s4 · acting2000s9 · 6 acting · 4 crew2010s19 · 13 acting · 7 crew2020s7 · 3 acting · 5 crew

Billing

usually 8th · top billed in 0% of 9 roles

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.

How do Jeff Dunham's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 61st percentile, the median of all 23; across their 22 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 69th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

69thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 22

Approval · how many liked their films

67thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 22

Reach · how many have seen their films

56thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 22

Midcredits score across 30 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up9
  • 50th to 74th7
  • 25th to 49th9
  • Below 25th5

Shape of the crowd

12 of their 30 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved2
  • Divisive1
  • Cult Classic2
  • Crowd Pleaser12
  • Broadly Agreed1
  • Mixed12

Most divisive · actor, writer, producer

Achmed Saves America (2014)

86th percentile spread · 51% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor, writer, producer

Jeff Dunham: Spark of Insanity (2007)

Midcredits 90th · 84% liked

Reviewers score the acting 62/100 in their films, across 14 reviewed titles; fans 76, detractors 45. 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 Jeff Dunham's work okay for kids?

Across a limited sample of up to 3 MovieCove titles with content scores.

Their medianMedian of all films
Violence & Gore3 titlesmedian 42 · moderateMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity3 titlesmedian 26 · mildMedian of all films: 32
Profanity3 titlesmedian 30 · mildMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs3 titlesmedian 28 · mildMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense3 titlesmedian 36 · moderateMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted.

Who does Jeff Dunham work with?

People who share at least 2 of Jeff Dunham's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Matthew McNeil shares the most, 10.

Directors

Actors

Cinematographers and editors

Producers

  • Judi Marmel10 titles    See all 10 shared titles with Judi Marmel
  • Stu Schreiberg10 titles    See all 10 shared titles with Stu Schreiberg
  • Robert Hartmann9 titles    See all 9 shared titles with Robert Hartmann
  • Jeff Thorsen5 titles    See all 5 shared titles with Jeff Thorsen