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Jeff Zimbalist

Jeff Zimbalist

Producer, director, writer, editor and cinematographer · Born August 15, 1978 (48) · Northampton, Massachusetts, USA

Sundance award nominee · Writers Guild Award nominee

Jeffrey Leib Nettler Zimbalist (15 August 1978; Northampton) is an American documentary filmmaker. He has been Academy Award shortlisted, has won a Peabody, a DuPont, 5 Emmy Awards with 21 Emmy nominations. He is the owner of film and television production company All Rise Films.

Biography from TMDB.

Born
August 15, 1978 (48)
From
Northampton, Massachusetts, USA
Works as
Producer, director, writer, editor and cinematographer
Titles
27 on MovieCove · 49 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 156 days to Oct 27Down 26% in 30 days

What are Jeff Zimbalist's films like?

Across their 26 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Society and Morality.

Genres

Documentary16 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 82nd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Documentary movies
Biography2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 66th percentile
: browse their Biography 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
22%
Morality
19%
Survival
15%
Self
15%
Power
14%
Ideas
12%
Bonds
4%
Justice10 titles, browse their movies with this themeLegacy7 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity7 titles, browse their movies with this themeGrief6 titles, browse their movies with this themeTruth6 titles, browse their movies with this themeAmbition4 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity3 titles, browse their movies with this themeCorruption3 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 18 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 4 · Serious 3 · Dark 11

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

Grounded 14 · Stylized 4 · Heightened 0

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

Gentle 4 · Charged 7 · Intense 7

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

Steady 10 · Shifting 7 · Whiplash 1

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

Straight-faced 16 · Some laughs 2 · Funny 0

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

A split, not a type: Slow burn 12 · Even-paced 6 · Relentless 0

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

Casual 5 · Engaged 9 · Full focus 4

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 5 · Affecting 6 · Heavy 7

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

Resolved 7 · Open-ended 7 · Ambiguous 4

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
13
Contemplative
13
Melancholic
11
Hopeful
7
Dread
6
Other
21

How their films linger

Thought-provoking16 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteInfuriating6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 4 with a twist

  • Happy4
  • Bittersweet12
  • Tragic2
  • Ambiguous8

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 Zimbalist's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 21 of their 27 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Netflix (11).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Jeff Zimbalist'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

49 credits, 27 with a MovieCove page.

  • Harlan Coben's Final Twist(2026)

    Show Director · Producer

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all shows

  • The Stringer: The Man Who Took the Photo(2025)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Skywalkers: A Love Story(2024)

    Director · Editor · Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • How to Come Alive with Norman Mailer(2023)

    Director · Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • Crush(2023)

    Show 2 episodes · Director · Creator · Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all shows

  • Mayan Softball Revolution (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)

    Executive Producer

  • Invisible Beauty(2023)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • Super League: The War for Football(2023)

    Show 4 episodes · Director · Creator · Executive Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all shows

  • With This Breath I Fly (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    Executive Producer

  • 11 Minutes(2022)

    Show 4 episodes · Director · Creator · Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all shows

  • The Line(2021)

    Show 4 episodes · Director · Creator · Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all shows

  • Heist(2021)

    Show 6 episodes · Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all shows

  • Cantera 5v5 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    Show 5 episodes · Director · Cinematographer · Creator · Editor

  • ReMastered: The Lion's Share(2018)

    Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • ReMastered: Devil at the Crossroads(2019)

    Executive Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • ReMastered: The Miami Showband Massacre(2019)

    Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • ReMastered: The Two Killings of Sam Cooke(2019)

    Executive Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Ordinary Gods (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    Executive Producer

  • ReMastered: Massacre at the Stadium(2019)

    Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • Give Us This Day (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    Director · Producer · Writer

  • ReMastered: Tricky Dick and the Man in Black(2018)

    Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • ReMastered: Who Killed Jam Master Jay?(2018)

    Executive Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • ReMastered: Who Shot the Sheriff?(2018)

    Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • Phenoms(2018)

    Show 20 episodes · Director · Creator · Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all shows (provisional, few ratings)

  • Momentum Generation(2018)

    Director · Cinematographer · Editor · Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Nossa Chape (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    Director · Producer · Writer

  • Loving Pablo(2017)

    Associate Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • Battling Back (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    Director · Cinematographer · Editor · Producer

  • The 18th Annual 'A Home for the Holidays' (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    Director · Producer

  • Pele: Birth of a Legend(2016)

    Director · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • The 17th Annual 'A Home for the Holidays' (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    Director · Producer

  • 30 for 30: Soccer Stories (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    Show 1 episode · Executive Producer

  • Youngstown Boys (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    Director · Cinematographer · Editor · Producer · Writer

  • Arnold's Blueprint (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    Director · Producer · Writer

  • 30 for 30 Shorts(2012)

    Show 1 episode · Director · Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all shows

  • The Kann Artists (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    Director · Cinematographer · Editor · Producer · Writer

  • Bollywood: The Greatest Love Story Ever Told (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    Director · Editor

  • The Two Escobars(2010)

    Director · Cinematographer · Editor · Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • War Don Don(2010)

    Consulting Producer

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • AMERICA STRIPPED: Naked Las Vegas (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    Associate Producer

  • 30 for 30(2009)

    Show 2 episodes · Director · Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • Iron Ring (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    Show 13 episodes · Director · Creator

  • Children of the War (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    Writer

  • The Addiction Project (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    Show 10 episodes · Producer

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

    Editor

  • Favela Rising(2005)

    Director · Cinematographer · Editor · Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • Good Intentions (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Director · Cinematographer · Editor · Producer · Writer

  • Llama Lake (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Cinematographer · Editor

  • Lost Boyz (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Executive Producer

Career shape

A full career of 48 titles, 46 of them dated from 2002 to 2025.

Biggest box office

Loving Pablo (2017)

$18M worldwide

Highest rated

The Two Escobars (2010)

Midcredits 98th

Most popular right now

Loving Pablo (2017)

By role

only this rolewith another role
Directing25 of 48: 0 only directing, 25 with another role · typical Midcredits score80thWriting25 of 48: 1 only writing, 24 with another role · typical Midcredits score82ndProducing41 of 48: 11 only producing, 30 with another role · typical Midcredits score80thCinematography9 of 48: 0 only cinematography, 9 with another roleEditing12 of 48: 1 only editing, 11 with another roleOther crew7 of 48: 0 only other crew, 7 with another role · typical Midcredits score75th

48 titles, 35 with more than one role — producing and directing overlap on 21 of them.

By decade

2000s7 · crew2010s27 · crew2020s12 · 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

2 major nominations and no wins, 2011–2024.

  1. 2024
    • Sundance award, nominated · Documentary
  2. 2011
    • Writers Guild Award, nominated · Best Documentary 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 Jeff Zimbalist's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 82nd percentile, the median of all 18; across their 18 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 77th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

77thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 18

Approval · how many liked their films

84thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 18

Reach · how many have seen their films

52ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 18

Midcredits score across 27 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up20
  • 50th to 74th5
  • 25th to 49th1
  • Below 25th1

Shape of the crowd

20 of their 27 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved3
  • Divisive2
  • Crowd Pleaser20
  • Broadly Agreed1
  • Mixed1

Most divisive · producer

Invisible Beauty (2023)

93rd percentile spread · 26% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · director, writer, producer, cinematographer, editor

The Two Escobars (2010)

Midcredits 98th · 92% liked

Reviewers score the atmosphere 66/100 and the pacing 56/100 in their films, across 16 reviewed titles. The element that speaks to their work as a director.

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 Jeff Zimbalist work with?

People who share at least 2 of Jeff Zimbalist's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Michael Zimbalist shares the most, 14.

Directors

Cinematographers and editors

Producers

  • Stu Schreiberg12 titles    See all 12 shared titles with Stu Schreiberg
  • Victoria Marquette9 titles    See all 9 shared titles with Victoria Marquette
  • Alexandra Orton8 titles    See all 8 shared titles with Alexandra Orton
  • Barbara Gregson8 titles    See all 8 shared titles with Barbara Gregson

Mixed roles