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Mark O'Brien

Mark O'Brien

Actor, director and producer, also writer · Born May 7, 1984 (42) · St. Johns, Newfoundland, Canada

Mark O'Brien (born May 7th, 1984) is a Canadian actor and director. He is best known for playing the role of Des Courtney in Republic of Doyle (2010) and Tom Rendon in Halt and Catch Fire (2014).

Biography from TMDB.

Born
May 7, 1984 (42)
From
St. Johns, Newfoundland, Canada
Works as
Actor, director and producer, also writer
Titles
38 on MovieCove · 59 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 19% in 30 days

What are Mark O'Brien's films like?

Across their 28 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Self.

Genres

Drama7 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 36th percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Comedy4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 34th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Biography3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 65th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Biography movies
Crime3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 53rd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime movies
Action2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 26th percentile
: browse their Action 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
23%
Self
22%
Morality
16%
Power
15%
Survival
14%
Society
7%
Ideas
3%
Family bonds10 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity6 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival5 titles, browse their movies with this themeCorruption3 titles, browse their movies with this themeAmbition3 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice3 titles, browse their movies with this themeGreed3 titles, browse their movies with this themeBetrayal2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 23 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Dark: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their dark movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 3 · Serious 7 · Dark 13

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

A split, not a type: Grounded 14 · Stylized 5 · Heightened 4

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

A split, not a type: Gentle 1 · Charged 9 · Intense 13

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

Steady 10 · Shifting 11 · Whiplash 2

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

Straight-faced 19 · Some laughs 1 · Funny 3

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

Slow burn 8 · Even-paced 13 · Relentless 2

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

Casual 2 · Engaged 18 · 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 2 · Affecting 9 · Heavy 12

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

A split, not a type: Resolved 9 · Open-ended 8 · Ambiguous 6

Roles they play

14 analyzed roles

Usually the Hero: 4 of 14 analyzed roles.

Hero
4 of 14
Ally
4 of 14
Shadow
4 of 14
Trickster
2 of 14
Show the 14 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
24
Melancholic
12
Dread
9
Bittersweet
9
Contemplative
7
Other
14

How their films linger

Thought-provoking16 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling11 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 10 with a twist

  • Happy2
  • Bittersweet17
  • Ambiguous9

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 Mark O'Brien's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 32 of their 38 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (11).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Mark O'Brien'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

59 credits, 38 with a MovieCove page; 1 appearance as themselves is hidden until asked for.

  • The Outer Threat(2026)

    as Daniel Ashford

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • The Voices of Our Mother(2026)

    Director · Writer · as William

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films

  • The Copenhagen Test(2025)

    Show 8 episodes · as Edmund Cobb

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all shows

  • Nuremberg(2025)

    as Colonel John Amen

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • Falsehood(2025)

    as Elizeus Carrier

    Midcredits score: 7th percentile of all films

  • Shadow of God(2025)

    Producer · as Mason Harper

    Midcredits score: 4th percentile of all films

  • Seven Veils(2023)

    as Paul

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • Topper (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2025)

    as Topper

  • The Sticky(2024)

    Show 1 episode · as Charlie

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

  • 61st Street (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    Show 8 episodes · as Officer Logan

  • Blue Bayou(2021)

    as Ace

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • The Righteous(2021)

    Director · Executive Producer · Writer · as Aaron Smith

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Your Honor(2020)

    Show 3 episodes · as Father Jay

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all shows

  • Perry Mason(2020)

    Show 7 episodes · as Thomas Milligan

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all shows

  • Hammer(2019)

    as Chris Davis

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Marriage Story(2019)

    as Carter Mitchum

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • Ready or Not(2019)

    as Alex

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • City on a Hill(2019)

    Show 14 episodes · as Jimmy Ryan

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all shows

  • Goalie(2019)

    Executive Producer · as Terry Sawchuk

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • State Like Sleep(2018)

    as Darren

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all films

  • The Front Runner(2018)

    as Billy Shore

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Bad Times at the El Royale(2018)

    as Larsen Rogers

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • Kin(2018)

    as Jake

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • The Darkest Minds(2018)

    as Rob Meadows

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • How It Ends(2018)

    as Jeremiah

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all films

  • Anon(2018)

    as Cyrus Frear

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Parallel(2018)

    as Josh

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • The Last Tycoon(2016)

    Show 9 episodes · as Max Miner

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all shows

  • Arrival(2016)

    as Captain Marks

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Wanderer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    Director · Producer · as Eric

  • The Dark Stranger(2015)

    as Mark

    Midcredits score: 10th percentile of all films

  • How to Plan an Orgy in a Small Town(2015)

    as Bruce Buck

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • Killjoys(2015)

    Show 1 episode · as Grayson Hicks

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all shows

  • End of Days, Inc.(2015)

    as Jason

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • Dennis (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    Producer · as Dennis

  • Halt and Catch Fire(2014)

    Show 15 episodes · as Tom Rendon

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • Hannibal(2013)

    Show 2 episodes · as Randall Tier

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • Sweetieface (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    Director · Editor · Producer · as Sam

  • Beat Down(2012)

    as Michael

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • Kathy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    Director

  • Snarbuckled (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    as Jacob O'Higgins

  • Brad (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    Editor · Producer · as Brad

  • Grown Up Movie Star(2009)

    as Will

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • Republic of Doyle(2010)

    Show 77 episodes · as Des Courtney

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all shows

  • Mum's the Word (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    as Curtis

  • Quiet at Dawn (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    as Watts

  • Warehouse 13(2009)

    Show 1 episode · as Jerry Hoffler

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all shows

  • Cut from the Same Cloth (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    as Jack Cochrane

  • Heartless Disappearance Into Labrador Seas (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    as Charlie

  • Epilogue (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    as Henry

  • Pretty Girls (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    Director · Cinematographer · Editor · Writer

  • The One That Got Away(2008)

    as Tommy Palchek

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • The Four Horsemen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    as Eric Rollins

  • Better People (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Director · Editor · Writer · as John

  • Good in the Room (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Executive Producer · Writer · as Charlie

  • Little One (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Actor

  • Nice People (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Director · Actor

  • Soma (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    as Paul

  • Stillwater (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Show as Deputy Ted Keegan

Career shape

Star power in the 99th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 59 titles, 53 of them dated from 2008 to 2026; peak year 2018.

Biggest box office

Arrival (2016)

$214M worldwide

Highest rated

Arrival (2016)

Midcredits 97th

Most popular right now

Republic of Doyle (2010)

Film career

MilestoneBreakout
20082026

Peak 2018 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Top draw in 8 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.

  • 2008Screen debut· The Four Horsemen
  • 2008First top-billed film· The Four Horsemen
  • 2018Breakout· Parallel
  • 2019Career best· City on a Hill

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting57 of 59: 47 only acting, 10 with another role · typical Midcredits score51stDirecting8 of 59: 1 only directing, 7 with another roleWriting5 of 59: 0 only writing, 5 with another roleProducing7 of 59: 0 only producing, 7 with another roleCinematography1 of 59: 0 only cinematography, 1 with another roleEditing4 of 59: 0 only editing, 4 with another role

59 titles, 11 with more than one role — acting and directing overlap on 6 of them.

By decade

2000s9 · 8 acting · 1 crew2010s30 · 29 acting · 6 crew2020s14 · 14 acting · 2 crew

Billing

usually 5th · top billed in 16% of 19 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 Mark O'Brien's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 41st percentile, the median of all 27; across their 23 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 40th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

40thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 23

Approval · how many liked their films

36thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 23

Reach · how many have seen their films

83rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 23

Midcredits score across 38 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up12
  • 50th to 74th7
  • 25th to 49th9
  • Below 25th10

Shape of the crowd

15 of their 38 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved4
  • Universally Panned1
  • Crowd Pleaser15
  • Broadly Agreed4
  • Mixed14

Most divisive · actor

The One That Got Away (2008)

69th percentile spread · 34% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Marriage Story (2019)

Midcredits 98th · 87% liked

Reviewers score the acting 72/100 in their films, across 22 reviewed titles; fans 80, detractors 44. 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 Mark O'Brien's work okay for kids?

Across up to 15 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore, profanity, alcohol & drugs and frightening / intense run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore13 titles23–82 · median 62 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity15 titles10–65 · median 25 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity13 titles25–87 · median 63 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs12 titles10–66 · median 44 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense12 titles40–74 · median 55 · 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 Mark O'Brien work with?

People who share at least 2 of Mark O'Brien's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Adriana Maggs shares the most, 3.

Directors

Actors

Composers and cinematographers

Producers

Mixed roles