Skip to content
MovieCove
Andrea Sperling

Andrea Sperling

Producer, also writer

Primetime Emmy nominee · BAFTA Award nominee · 3 other major award bodies

With over thirty feature films and seven seasons of television under her belt, Andrea Sperling is one of the most prolific producers of the past three decades. She produced her first movie at the age of 21 and helped foster the careers of critically-acclaimed writers and directors such as David Ayer, Gregg Araki, Nisha Ganatra, Jamie Babbit, Malik Vitthal, Angela Robinson, Ry Russo-Young, James Ponsoldt and Drake Doremus. In 2014, Sperling was inducted into the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) and made her first foray into television, Executive Producing Joey Soloway's groundbreaking series Transparent garnering 21 Emmy nominations, 8 Emmy wins and 2 Golden Globes in 5 Seasons. Together, Sperling and Soloway founded Topple, a production company dedicated to bringing under-represented voices to the screen. Under Topple's exclusive television deal at Amazon, Sperling Executive Produced Sarah Gubbins' series I Love Dick, an adaptation of Chris Kraus' cult feminist novel, as well as Marja Lewis-Ryan's pilot College. As President of Production, Sperling oversaw a team of 12 employees and a development slate of 8-10 projects per year including feature films set up at Searchlight, MakeReady, Lionsgate, Millenium, Universal, Blumhouse, Amazon and Participant. Prior to her stint at Topple, Sperling served as Head of Production at Super Crispy Entertainment and Blaspheme, a company she formed with actress Christina Ricci with a first look deal at Millennium. Over the years, Sperling has worked with talent the likes of Christian Bale, Mark Ruffalo, Michelle Williams, John Boyega, Natasha Lyonne, John Krasinski, Kevin Bacon, Felicity Jones, Whoopie Goldberg, Sharon Stone, Jessica Biel, Melanie Lynskey, Rebecca Hall, Clea DuVall, Kate Hudson, Casey Affleck, Peter Sarsgaard, Juliette Lewis, Kathryn Hahn, Octavia Spencer and many others. Sperling most recently completed production on FX's Limited Series Retreat, a sci-fi murder mystery from creators Brit Marling and Zal Batmanglij (The OA), starring Clive Owen, Emma Corrin and Harris Dickinson. Sperling sits on the Board of Directors of Film Independent and has been nominated twice for a Spirit Award in Producing Achievement. She has been a member of the Television Academy since 2015 and the recipient of Career Achievement Awards from the San Francisco, Torino, Vienna and Miami LGBTQ+ Film Festivals. In 2012, Sperling was awarded a Special Jury Prize for Outstanding Producing Achievement-the only time in Sundance history that a producer has been awarded a Special Jury Prize. She has appeared in OUT Magazine's OUT 100 list twice and profiled in The New York Times, The Village Voice, Art Forum, Paper Magazine, The Hollywood Reporter, Detour, The Advocate, IndieWire, Filmmaker Magazine, and Vanity Fair. Sperling graduated with honors from UC Santa Barbara and holds a degree in Film Theory, History and Criticism.

Read more

Biography from IMDb.

Works as
Producer, also writer
Titles
36 on MovieCove · 45 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 157 days to Oct 28Up 11% in 30 days

What are Andrea Sperling's films like?

Across their 32 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Self and Bonds.

Genres

Comedy12 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 46th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Drama8 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 51st percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Action3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 55th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Action movies
Biography2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 71st percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Biography movies
Crime2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 31st percentile
: browse their Crime 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
40%
Bonds
24%
Society
11%
Survival
9%
Power
6%
Morality
5%
Ideas
4%
Identity15 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds9 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love6 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth4 titles, browse their movies with this themeComing of age4 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose4 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity6 titles, browse their movies with this themeFreedom4 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 27 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 10 · Serious 8 · Dark 9

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

A split, not a type: Grounded 15 · Stylized 4 · Heightened 8

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

Gentle 8 · Charged 11 · Intense 8

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

Steady 8 · Shifting 12 · Whiplash 7

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

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 12 · Some laughs 11 · Funny 4

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

Slow burn 13 · Even-paced 13 · Relentless 1

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 14 · Engaged 13 · Full focus 0

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 9 · Affecting 5 · Heavy 13

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

Resolved 11 · Open-ended 12 · Ambiguous 4

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
16
Melancholic
16
Absurd
11
Contemplative
10
Dread
5
Other
27

How their films linger

Bittersweet14 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking13 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 5 with a twist

  • Happy4
  • Bittersweet15
  • Tragic3
  • Ambiguous10

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 Andrea Sperling's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 30 of their 36 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service.

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Andrea Sperling'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

45 credits, 36 with a MovieCove page; 1 appearance as themselves is hidden until asked for.

  • Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen(2026)

    Show 8 episodes · Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all shows

  • The Vince Staples Show(2024)

    Show 6 episodes · Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all shows

  • A Murder at the End of the World(2023)

    Show 7 episodes · Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all shows

  • Transparent: Musicale Finale (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    Executive Producer

  • Spivak(2018)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • Professor Marston & the Wonder Women(2017)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • I Love Dick(2016)

    Show 8 episodes · Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all shows

  • Addicted to Fresno(2015)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • This Is Me(2015)

    Show 5 episodes · Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all shows (provisional, few ratings)

  • Bleeding Heart(2015)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • Transparent(2014)

    Show 31 episodes · Co-Executive Producer · Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all shows

  • All the Wilderness(2014)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Imperial Dreams(2014)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Breathe In(2013)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Nobody Walks(2012)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • Smashed(2012)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Breaking the Girls(2012)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • Like Crazy(2011)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Kaboom(2010)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Sympathy for Delicious(2010)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Adventures of Power (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    Producer

  • Itty Bitty Titty Committee(2007)

    Producer · Story

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • If I Had Known I Was a Genius(2007)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films

  • The Quiet(2005)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • Harsh Times(2005)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Starcrossed (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Producer

  • D.E.B.S.(2004)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • Prozac Nation(2001)

    Co-Producer

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • D.E.B.S. (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Producer

  • 13 Moons (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Producer

  • Scumrock (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Producer

  • Pumpkin(2002)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • But I'm a Cheerleader(1999)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • Desert Blue(1998)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • No Vacancy(1999)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • Nowhere(1997)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • My Pretty Little Girlfriend (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Producer

  • Color of a Brisk and Leaping Day(1996)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • A Small Domain (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Producer

  • The Doom Generation(1995)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • Totally F***ed Up(1993)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • Terminal USA (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Producer

  • The Living End(1992)

    Associate Producer

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • F.A.R.T. The Movie(1991)

    Production Manager

    Midcredits score: 8th percentile of all films

  • Cold Feet(1989)

    Production Assistant

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films

Career shape

A full career of 43 titles from 1989 to 2026.

Biggest box office

Harsh Times (2005)

$6M worldwide

Highest rated

Professor Marston & the Wonder Women (2017)

Midcredits 83rd

Most popular right now

Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen (2026)

By role

only this rolewith another role
Writing1 of 43: 0 only writing, 1 with another roleProducing41 of 43: 40 only producing, 1 with another role · typical Midcredits score52ndOther crew2 of 43: 2 only other crew, 0 with another role

By decade

1980s1 · crew1990s11 · crew2000s12 · crew2010s16 · crew2020s3 · 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.

Awards

1 major award from 7 major nominations, 1999–2017.

WinNomination
  1. 2017
    • BAFTA Award, nominated · Best International
  2. 2016
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Comedy Series
    • +1 other major body · 1 win
      • Producers Guild Award, won · Outstanding Producer of Episodic Television, Comedy
  3. 2015
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Comedy Series
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Short-Format Nonfiction Program
  4. 2012
    • Sundance award, nominated · Dramatic
  5. 1999
    • Independent Spirit Award, nominated

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 Andrea Sperling's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 46th percentile, the median of all 30; across their 27 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 27

Approval · how many liked their films

52ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 27

Reach · how many have seen their films

87thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 27

Midcredits score across 36 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up2
  • 50th to 74th15
  • 25th to 49th10
  • Below 25th9

Shape of the crowd

15 of their 36 titles are Mixed.

  • Divisive2
  • Cult Classic4
  • Crowd Pleaser13
  • Broadly Agreed2
  • Mixed15

Most divisive · producer

This Is Me (2015)

93rd percentile spread · 30% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · producer

Professor Marston & the Wonder Women (2017)

Midcredits 83rd · 73% liked

Reviewers score the dialogue 45/100 and the plot and story 38/100 in their films, across 27 reviewed titles. The element that speaks to their work as a writer.

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 Andrea Sperling's work okay for kids?

Across up to 23 MovieCove titles with content scores, sex & nudity, profanity, alcohol & drugs and frightening / intense run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore13 titles14–89 · median 45 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity23 titles29–71 · median 53 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity16 titles43–85 · median 61 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs13 titles36–89 · median 62 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense12 titles11–83 · median 52 · 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 Andrea Sperling work with?

People who share at least 2 of Andrea Sperling's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Jonathan Schwartz shares the most, 8.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles