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Chris Messina

Chris Messina

Actor, also producer, director and writer · Born August 11, 1974 (52) · New York City, New York, USA

Screen Actors Guild Award winner

Christopher Messina (born August 11, 1974) is an American actor, director, writer, and producer. He is best known for starring as Danny Castellano in the series The Mindy Project (2012–2017), which earned him two nominations for the Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Actor in a Comedy Series. He has appeared in films such as Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008), Julie & Julia (2009), Devil (2010), Argo (2012), Ruby Sparks (2012), Celeste and Jesse Forever (2012), Cake (2014), Birds of Prey (2020), I Care a Lot (2020), Call Jane (2022), Air (2023) and The Boogeyman (2023). Messina wrote, executive produced, and starred in the comedy film Fairhaven (2012). He also directed and starred in the drama film Alex of Venice (2014). On television, Messina appeared as Ted Fairwell in the HBO drama series Six Feet Under (2005), Chris Sanchez in the Audience Network legal thriller series Damages (2011–2012), Reese Lansing in the HBO political drama series The Newsroom (2012–2014), Richard Willis in the HBO miniseries Sharp Objects (2018), Nick Haas in the USA Network crime drama series The Sinner (2020), Angelo Lano in the Starz political miniseries Gaslit (2022), and as Nathan Bartlett in the Peacock comedy thriller Based on a True Story (2023). Description above from the Wikipedia article Chris Messina, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
August 11, 1974 (52)
From
New York City, New York, USA
Works as
Actor, also producer, director and writer
Titles
62 on MovieCove · 71 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 155 days to Oct 26Down 30% in 30 days

What are Chris Messina's films like?

Across their 46 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Self and Bonds.

Genres

Drama16 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 40th percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Comedy15 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 53rd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Action2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 50th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Action movies
Biography2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 70th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Biography movies
Crime2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 45th percentile
: browse their Crime movies
Horror2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 42nd percentile
: browse their Horror 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
30%
Bonds
21%
Morality
16%
Survival
14%
Society
12%
Power
3%
Ideas
3%
Romantic love11 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose12 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth10 titles, browse their movies with this themeGrief7 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds7 titles, browse their movies with this themeTrauma6 titles, browse their movies with this themeIsolation8 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity5 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 43 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 12 · Serious 14 · Dark 17

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

Grounded 34 · Stylized 7 · Heightened 2

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

Gentle 14 · Charged 15 · Intense 14

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

A split, not a type: Steady 22 · Shifting 18 · Whiplash 3

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

Straight-faced 24 · Some laughs 17 · Funny 2

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

Slow burn 26 · Even-paced 15 · Relentless 2

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

A split, not a type: Casual 21 · Engaged 19 · Full focus 3

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

A split, not a type: Easy watch 10 · Affecting 15 · Heavy 18

Open-ended: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their open-ended movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 18 · Open-ended 18 · Ambiguous 7

Roles they play

23 analyzed roles

Usually the Ally: 6 of 23 analyzed roles.

Ally
6 of 23
Hero
5 of 23
Mentor
3 of 23
Threshold guardian
3 of 23
Shadow
2 of 23
Herald
2 of 23
Shapeshifter
1 of 23
Trickster
1 of 23
Show the 23 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
21
Melancholic
21
Bittersweet
18
Contemplative
20
Dread
9
Other
43

How their films linger

Bittersweet19 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking17 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful16 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 5 with a twist

  • Happy5
  • Bittersweet24
  • Tragic2
  • Ambiguous14
  • Cyclical1

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 Chris Messina's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 48 of their 62 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (19).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Chris Messina'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

71 credits, 62 with a MovieCove page; 6 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Pressure(2026)

    as Irving Krick

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • Juror #2(2024)

    as Eric Resnick

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • I.S.S.(2023)

    as Gordon Barrett

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • Dreamin' Wild(2022)

    as Matt Sullivan

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Based on a True Story(2023)

    Show 16 episodes · as Nathan Bartlett

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all shows

  • The Boogeyman(2023)

    as Will Harper

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • Air(2023)

    as David Falk

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Call Jane(2022)

    as Will

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • The Aviary(2022)

    as Seth

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Gaslit(2022)

    Show 4 episodes · as Angelo Lano

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all shows

  • Love Is Love Is Love(2020)

    as Jack (segment "Two for Dinner")

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • I Care a Lot(2020)

    as Dean Ericson

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • The Secrets We Keep(2020)

    as Lewis

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • She Dies Tomorrow(2020)

    as Jason

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • Birds of Prey and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn(2020)

    as Victor Zsasz

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • The True Adventures of Wolfboy(2019)

    as Denny

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Zeroville(2019)

    as Brian De Palma

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films

  • Light of My Life(2019)

    Thanks

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Too Long at the Fair (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    as Lee

  • Sharp Objects(2018)

    Show 8 episodes · as Richard Willis

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows

  • Blame(2017)

    as Jeremy Woods

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all films

  • The Sweet Life(2016)

    as Kenny

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Live by Night(2016)

    as Dion Bartolo

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all films

  • Ordinary World(2016)

    as Jake

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • Digging for Fire(2015)

    as Tango

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • OM CITY (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    Show 1 episode · as Joseph

  • Manglehorn(2014)

    as Jacob

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • Alex of Venice(2014)

    Director · as George

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all films

  • Everything Is Copy(2015)

    as Eric Powell

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

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

    as Narrator

  • Cake(2014)

    as Jason Bennett

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Palo Alto(2013)

    as Mitch

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Fairhaven(2012)

    Executive Producer · Writer · as Dave

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • Argo(2012)

    as Malinov

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • The Mindy Project(2012)

    Show 98 episodes · as Dr. Danny Castellano

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all shows

  • Celeste & Jesse Forever(2012)

    as Paul

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • Ruby Sparks(2012)

    as Harry

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • Denise (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    as Brad

  • The Newsroom(2012)

    Show 14 episodes · as Reese Lansing

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • The Giant Mechanical Man(2012)

    as Tim

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • 28 Hotel Rooms(2012)

    Executive Producer · as Man

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Like Crazy(2011)

    as Mike Appletree

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • The Trouble with Bliss(2011)

    as NJ

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • An Invisible Sign(2010)

    as Ben Smith

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • Devil(2010)

    as Detective Bowden

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Monogamy(2010)

    as Theo

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • Greenberg(2010)

    as Phillip Greenberg

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Brief Interviews with Hideous Men(2009)

    as Subject #19

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • Julie & Julia(2009)

    as Eric Powell

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • Away We Go(2009)

    as Tom

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Humboldt County(2008)

    as Max

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Towelhead(2007)

    as Barry

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • Vicky Cristina Barcelona(2008)

    as Doug

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • Made of Honor(2008)

    as Dennis

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • Damages(2007)

    Show 16 episodes · as Chris Sanchez

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all shows

  • Security (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    as Zelly

  • Ira & Abby(2006)

    as Ira Black

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Road(2005)

    as Larry

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • Medium(2005)

    Show 1 episode · as Casey Edward Frank

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all shows

  • Six Feet Under(2001)

    Show 6 episodes · as Ted Fairwell

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all shows

  • Ordinary Sinner(2001)

    as Silvio

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films

  • Turn It Up(2000)

    as Baz

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all films

  • Third Watch(1999)

    Show 1 episode · as Charlie

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all shows

  • You've Got Mail(1998)

    as Fox Salesperson

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • The Siege(1998)

    as Corporal

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Rounders(1998)

    as Higgins

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • Law & Order(1990)

    Show 1 episode · as Don Cushman · as Kevin Turner · as Tommy Bell

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all shows

  • Hellhound (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Actor

  • Lear Rex (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    as Cornwall

  • Tumor (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Actor

  • We're Just Married (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Actor

Career shape

Star power in the 99th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 69 titles, 65 of them dated from 1990 to 2026; peak year 2011.

Biggest box office

Birds of Prey and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn (2020)

$206M worldwide

Highest rated

Air (2023)

Midcredits 94th

Most popular right now

The Mindy Project (2012)

Film career

MilestoneBreakoutAward win
19902026

Peak 2011 · back in prominent film roles after a quiet stretch. Top draw in 19 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
Acting68 of 69: 65 only acting, 3 with another role · typical Midcredits score54thDirecting1 of 69: 0 only directing, 1 with another roleProducing2 of 69: 0 only producing, 2 with another roleOther crew1 of 69: 1 only other crew, 0 with another role

69 titles, 3 with more than one role — acting and producing overlap on 2 of them.

By decade

1990s5 · acting2000s14 · acting2010s31 · 30 acting · 4 crew2020s15 · acting

Billing

usually 5th · top billed in 9% of 43 roles
98131823

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

Won a Screen Actors Guild Award in 2013, Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture.

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 Chris Messina's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 50th percentile, the median of all 52; across their 43 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 51st percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

51stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 43

Approval · how many liked their films

45thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 43

Reach · how many have seen their films

85thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 43

Midcredits score across 62 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up16
  • 50th to 74th20
  • 25th to 49th16
  • Below 25th10

Shape of the crowd

27 of their 62 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved5
  • Divisive1
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser27
  • Broadly Agreed9
  • Mixed19

Most divisive · actor

The Aviary (2022)

91st percentile spread · 38% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

The Newsroom (2012)

Midcredits 98th · 92% liked

Reviewers score the acting 71/100 in their films, across 41 reviewed titles; fans 80, detractors 49. 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 Chris Messina's work okay for kids?

Across up to 30 MovieCove titles with content scores, profanity and frightening / intense run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore22 titles8–81 · median 40 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity30 titles11–67 · median 35 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity22 titles40–83 · median 59 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs24 titles31–81 · median 42 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense22 titles6–73 · median 51 · moderateheavier 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 Chris Messina work with?

People who share at least 2 of Chris Messina's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Doug Emmett shares the most, 5.

Directors

Actors

Cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles