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Zoe Kazan

Zoe Kazan

Actor and producer, also writer · Born September 9, 1983 (43) · Los Angeles, California, USA

Primetime Emmy nominee · Screen Actors Guild Award nominee · 2 other major award bodies

Zoe Swicord Kazan (born September 9, 1983) is an American actress, playwright, and screenwriter. She made her acting debut in Swordswallowers and Thin Men (2003) and later appeared in films such as The Savages (2007), Revolutionary Road (2008), and It's Complicated (2009). She starred in Happy. Thank You. More. Please. (2010), Meek's Cutoff (2010), Ruby Sparks (2012), and What If (2013). In 2014 she appeared in the HBO miniseries Olive Kitteridge, for which she received an Emmy nomination. She portrayed Emily Gardner in the film The Big Sick (2017), and in 2018 appeared in the Coen Brothers film The Ballad of Buster Scruggs in the episode "The Gal Who Got Rattled". She has appeared in several Broadway productions. She also wrote Ruby Sparks and co-wrote Wildlife (2018) with her partner, Paul Dano (who directed Wildlife and co-starred with Kazan in Ruby Sparks). In 2020, she co-starred in the HBO miniseries The Plot Against America.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
September 9, 1983 (43)
From
Los Angeles, California, USA
Works as
Actor and producer, also writer
Titles
33 on MovieCove · 38 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 156 days to Oct 27Up 3% in 30 days

What are Zoe Kazan's films like?

Across their 24 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Self.

Genres

Comedy11 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 62nd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Drama5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 59th percentile
: browse their Drama 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
Bonds
38%
Self
27%
Morality
11%
Survival
8%
Ideas
7%
Power
6%
Society
1%
Romantic love10 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds9 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth7 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity5 titles, browse their movies with this themeAmbition3 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice3 titles, browse their movies with this themeComing of age2 titles, browse their movies with this themeCorruption2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 21 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 5 · Dark 6

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

Grounded 17 · Stylized 3 · Heightened 1

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

A split, not a type: Gentle 11 · Charged 7 · Intense 3

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

Steady 14 · Shifting 7 · Whiplash 0

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

Straight-faced 8 · Some laughs 8 · Funny 5

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

Slow burn 13 · Even-paced 8 · 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 13 · Engaged 5 · 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 9 · Affecting 6 · Heavy 6

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

Resolved 15 · Open-ended 4 · Ambiguous 2

Roles they play

17 analyzed roles

Usually the Hero: 6 of 17 analyzed roles.

Hero
6 of 17
Ally
4 of 17
Shapeshifter
4 of 17
Shadow
1 of 17
Mentor
1 of 17
Herald
1 of 17
Show the 17 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
11
Warm
9
Contemplative
10
Melancholic
9
Bittersweet
7
Other
22

How their films linger

Bittersweet10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteWistful3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 1 with a twist

  • Happy5
  • Bittersweet13
  • Tragic1
  • Ambiguous4
  • 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 Zoe Kazan's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 26 of their 33 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service.

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Zoe Kazan'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

38 credits, 33 with a MovieCove page; 6 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • East of Eden(2026)

    Show 7 episodes · Creator · Executive Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows

  • She Said(2022)

    as Jodi Kantor

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • Causeway(2022)

    Thanks

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • The Last Movie Stars (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    Show 5 episodes · as Jackie McDonald (voice) · as Self

  • Clickbait(2021)

    Show 8 episodes · as Pia Brewer

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all shows

  • Cryptozoo(2021)

    as Magdalene (voice)

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • The Plot Against America(2020)

    Show 6 episodes · as Bess Finkel

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all shows

  • The Kindness of Strangers(2019)

    as Clara

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • The Ballad of Buster Scruggs(2018)

    as Alice Longabaugh (segment "The Gal Who Got Rattled")

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • Wildlife(2018)

    Executive Producer · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • The Deuce(2017)

    Show 8 episodes · as Andrea Martino

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all shows

  • The Big Sick(2017)

    as Emily Gardner

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • The Monster(2016)

    as Kathy

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • My Blind Brother(2016)

    as Francie

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Our Brand Is Crisis(2015)

    as LeBlanc

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all films

  • Olive Kitteridge(2014)

    Show 4 episodes · as Denise Thibodeau

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all shows

  • In Your Eyes(2014)

    as Rebecca Porter

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • The Pretty One(2013)

    as Laurel / Audrey

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • What If(2013)

    as Chantry

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Some Girl(s) (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    as Reggie

  • Ruby Sparks(2012)

    Executive Producer · Writer · as Ruby

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • Meek's Cutoff(2010)

    as Millie Gately

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • Happythankyoumoreplease(2010)

    as Mary Catherine

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • The Exploding Girl(2009)

    as Ivy

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • It's Complicated(2009)

    as Gabby Adler

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • Justice League Mortal (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    as Iris Allen

  • Bored to Death(2009)

    Show 4 episodes · as Nina

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all shows

  • The Private Lives of Pippa Lee(2009)

    as Grace Lee

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • I Hate Valentine's Day(2009)

    as Tammy Greenwood

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all films

  • Revolutionary Road(2008)

    as Maureen Grube

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • Me and Orson Welles(2008)

    as Gretta Alder

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • August(2008)

    as Gal Employee

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • The Savages(2007)

    as Student

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • In the Valley of Elah(2007)

    as Angie

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all films

  • Fracture(2007)

    as Mona

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • Medium(2005)

    Show 1 episode · as Izzy

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all shows

  • Swordswallowers and Thin Men (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    as Samantha

  • Lonesome Dove (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Show 1 episode · Creator · Executive Producer

Career shape

Star power in the 99th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 38 titles, 37 of them dated from 2003 to 2026; peak year 2013.

Biggest box office

It's Complicated (2009)

$219M worldwide

Highest rated

The Big Sick (2017)

Midcredits 94th

Most popular right now

East of Eden (2026)

Film career

MilestoneNomination
20032026

Peak 2013 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Top draw in 13 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
Acting34 of 38: 33 only acting, 1 with another role · typical Midcredits score67thWriting3 of 38: 0 only writing, 3 with another roleProducing4 of 38: 0 only producing, 4 with another roleOther crew3 of 38: 1 only other crew, 2 with another role

38 titles, 4 with more than one role — acting and producing overlap on 1 of them.

By decade

2000s13 · acting2010s17 · 16 acting · 2 crew2020s7 · 5 acting · 2 crew

Billing

usually 4th · top billed in 21% of 24 roles
0712

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

4 major nominations and no wins, 2013–2018.

  1. 2018
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
    • +1 other major body · 1 nomination
      • Critics Choice Award, nominated · Best Actress in a Comedy
  2. 2015
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or a Movie
  3. 2013
    • Independent Spirit Award, nominated · Best Screenplay

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 Zoe Kazan's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 67th percentile, the median of all 26; across their 21 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 59th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

59thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 21

Approval · how many liked their films

67thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 21

Reach · how many have seen their films

89thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 21

Midcredits score across 33 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up14
  • 50th to 74th13
  • 25th to 49th4
  • Below 25th2

Shape of the crowd

24 of their 33 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved2
  • Crowd Pleaser24
  • Broadly Agreed2
  • Mixed5

Most divisive · actor

I Hate Valentine's Day (2009)

50th percentile spread · 41% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

The Big Sick (2017)

Midcredits 94th · 83% liked

Reviewers score the acting 72/100 in their films, across 20 reviewed titles; fans 81, detractors 48. 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 Zoe Kazan's work okay for kids?

Across up to 17 MovieCove titles with content scores, profanity runs heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore13 titles15–65 · median 45 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity17 titles13–65 · median 38 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity14 titles31–70 · median 50 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs14 titles29–58 · median 42 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense12 titles29–66 · median 44 · moderatenear the median of all 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 Zoe Kazan work with?

People who share at least 2 of Zoe Kazan's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Paul Dano shares the most, 3.

Actors

Cinematographers

Producers