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Darren Criss

Darren Criss

Actor · Born February 5, 1987 (39) · San Francisco, California, USA

Primetime Emmy winner · Golden Globe winner · Screen Actors Guild Award winner · 2 other major award bodies

Darren Everett Criss (born February 5, 1987) is an American actor, singer, and songwriter. He rose to fame starring on the television series Glee (2010–2015) and received Emmy and Golden Globe acting awards for his leading role as spree killer Andrew Cunanan in The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story (2018). He has also appeared on Broadway and in film and has released several musical albums. A founding member and co-owner of StarKid Productions, a musical theater company based in Chicago, Criss first garnered attention playing the lead role of Harry Potter in, and writing most of the music and lyrics for, StarKid's musical production of A Very Potter Musical. Criss has also starred on Broadway as a replacement in both How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying and Hedwig and the Angry Inch. In 2015, Criss co-founded Elsie Fest which is touted as "New York City's first outdoor music festival celebrating tunes from the stage and screen". In March 2017, Criss debuted his indie pop band Computer Games along with his brother Chuck Criss. In addition to his music endeavors, Criss starred in the second installment of Ryan Murphy's American Crime Story. Subtitled The Assassination of Gianni Versace (2018), Criss's portrayal of spree killer Andrew Cunanan received acclaim from critics, and earned him an Emmy win for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie and a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Miniseries, or Television Film.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
February 5, 1987 (39)
From
San Francisco, California, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
36 on MovieCove · 48 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 157 days to Oct 28Down 14% in 30 days

What are Darren Criss' films like?

Across their 19 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Self.

Genres

Animation9 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 48th percentile
: browse their Animation movies
Documentary4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 77th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Documentary 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
27%
Self
26%
Society
17%
Morality
12%
Ideas
7%
Survival
5%
Power
5%
Identity5 titles, browse their movies with this themeLoyalty4 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity5 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds3 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose4 titles, browse their movies with this themeSacrifice4 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship2 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 15 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 8 · Serious 5 · Dark 2

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

Grounded 4 · Stylized 6 · Heightened 5

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

A split, not a type: Gentle 5 · Charged 3 · Intense 7

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

Steady 9 · Shifting 5 · Whiplash 1

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

Straight-faced 6 · Some laughs 7 · Funny 2

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

Slow burn 5 · Even-paced 6 · Relentless 4

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

Casual 9 · Engaged 5 · Full focus 1

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

Resolved 15 · Open-ended 0 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

11 analyzed roles

Usually the Hero: 7 of 11 analyzed roles.

Hero
7 of 11
Ally
1 of 11
Trickster
1 of 11
Shapeshifter
1 of 11
Mentor
1 of 11
Show the 11 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Hopeful
12
Thrilling
9
Joyful
7
Tense
6
Warm
5
Other
15

How their films linger

Feel-good10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end

  • Happy10
  • Bittersweet7
  • Ambiguous2

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 Darren Criss' films?

As of October 24, 2026, 25 of their 36 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Netflix (8).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Darren Criss' 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

48 credits, 36 with a MovieCove page; 41 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • MISCAST26 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2026)

    Actor

  • Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths - Part Three(2024)

    as Superman / Earth-2 Superman (voice)

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths - Part Two(2024)

    as Superman / Earth-2 Superman (voice)

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Babes(2024)

    as Doula as a Man

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Hazbin Hotel(2019)

    Show 2 episodes · as St. Peter (voice)

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all shows

  • Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths - Part One(2024)

    as Superman / Earth-2 Superman (voice)

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Justice League: Warworld(2023)

    as Superman / Agent Kent (voice)

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • My Adventures with Superman(2023)

    Show 3 episodes · as Jon Kent / Superboy (voice) · as Jonathan Lane / Superboy (voice)

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all shows

  • Legion of Super-Heroes(2023)

    as Superman (voice)

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • The Wonderful World of Disney: Magical Holiday Celebration (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2021)

    Actor

  • Muppets Haunted Mansion(2021)

    as The Caretaker

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • Show of Titles (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2021)

    as "Fade Out – Fade In" Performer

  • Trese(2021)

    Show 3 episodes · as Marco Guerrero (voice)

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

  • Yasuke(2021)

    Show 6 episodes · as Haruto (voice)

    Midcredits score: 22nd percentile of all shows

  • Justice Society: World War II(2021)

    as Superman / Clark Kent (voice)

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Superman: Man of Tomorrow(2020)

    as Superman / Clark Kent (voice)

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • Royalties (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    Show 10 episodes · as Pierce

  • Solar Opposites(2020)

    Show 1 episode · as Jesse's Girl Choir #2 & #3 (voice) · as Splash / Z'ash (voice)

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all shows

  • Hollywood(2020)

    Show 7 episodes · Executive Producer · as Raymond Ainsley

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all shows

  • Green Eggs and Ham(2019)

    Show 6 episodes · as Looka (voice)

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all shows

  • Midway(2019)

    as Commander Eugene Lindsey

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Batman vs Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles(2019)

    as Raphael (voice)

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • All You Ever Wished For(2018)

    as Tyler Hutton

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • Speech & Debate(2017)

    as Darren Criss

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel(2017)

    Show 1 episode · as Taylor

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • Turtles Take Time (and Space) (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    as Raphael (voice)

  • American Crime Story(2016)

    Show 9 episodes · as Andrew Cunanan

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all shows

  • Supergirl(2015)

    Show 1 episode · as Music Meister

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all shows

  • Luna Goes Cruising (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    as Rufus (voice)

  • Transformers: Robots in Disguise(2014)

    Show 71 episodes · as Sideswipe (voice)

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all shows

  • Big with Evan Rachel Wood and Darren Criss (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    as Jeff

  • The Flash(2014)

    Show 1 episode · as Music Meister

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all shows

  • Stan Lee's Mighty 7(2014)

    as Micro (voice)

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • Six by Sondheim(2013)

    as Frank

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Rick and Morty(2013)

    Show 1 episode · as Additional Voices (voice) · as Bruce Chutback (voice)

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all shows

  • Girl Most Likely(2012)

    as Lee

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all films

  • Katy Perry: Part of Me(2012)

    as Aaron Christopherson (archive footage)

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • American Horror Story(2011)

    Show 2 episodes · as Justin

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all shows

  • Glee: The 3D Concert Movie(2011)

    as Blaine Anderson

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Web Therapy(2011)

    Show 2 episodes · as Augie Sayles

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all shows

  • The Chicago 8(2011)

    as Yippee Man

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Eastwick (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Show 5 episodes · as Josh Burton

  • Archer(2009)

    Show 1 episode · as Mikey / Tommy (voice)

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all shows

  • Little White Lie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Show 11 episodes · Songs · as Toby Phillips

  • Glee(2009)

    Show 90 episodes · as Blaine Anderson

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all shows

  • Web Therapy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    Show 3 episodes · as Augie Sayles

  • Cold Case (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Show 1 episode · as Reuben Harris (1969)

  • Hidden Heroes: A Descendants Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    as Jiminy Cricket

Career shape

Star power in the 99th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 48 titles, 47 of them dated from 2003 to 2026; peak year 2024.

Biggest box office

Katy Perry: Part of Me (2012)

$33M worldwide

Highest rated

Six by Sondheim (2013)

Midcredits 97th

Most popular right now

Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2014)

Film career

MilestoneAward winNomination
20032026

Peak 2024 · their film career is on the way up. Top draw in 4 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.

Show 1 more milestone

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting48 of 48: 46 only acting, 2 with another role · typical Midcredits score58thProducing1 of 48: 0 only producing, 1 with another roleOther crew1 of 48: 0 only other crew, 1 with another role

By decade

2000s6 · 6 acting · 1 crew2010s22 · acting2020s19 · 19 acting · 1 crew

Billing

usually 4th · top billed in 7% of 15 roles
1121

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

a Primetime Emmy, a Golden Globe, a Screen Actors Guild Award and 1 other major award from 8 major nominations, 2012–2026.

WinNomination
  1. 2026
    • Grammy Award, nominated · Best Musical Theater Album
  2. 2019
    • Golden Globe, won · Best Performance by an Actor in a Limited Series or a Motion Picture Made for Television
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, won · Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Limited Series
    • +1 other major body · 1 win
      • Critics Choice Award, won · Best Actor in a Movie Made for Television or Limited Series
  3. 2018
    • Primetime Emmy, won · Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie
  4. 2015
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics
  5. 2013
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series
  6. 2012
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series

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 Darren Criss' films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 51st percentile, the median of all 19; across their 15 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 56th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

56thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 15

Approval · how many liked their films

45thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 15

Reach · how many have seen their films

90thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 15

Midcredits score across 36 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up10
  • 50th to 74th12
  • 25th to 49th10
  • Below 25th4

Shape of the crowd

13 of their 36 titles are Mixed.

  • Universally Loved5
  • Divisive1
  • Cult Classic3
  • Crowd Pleaser11
  • Broadly Agreed3
  • Mixed13

Most divisive · actor

Glee: The 3D Concert Movie (2011)

91st percentile spread · 29% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Six by Sondheim (2013)

Midcredits 97th · 88% liked

Reviewers score the acting 66/100 in their films, across 15 reviewed titles; fans 73, detractors 51. 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 Darren Criss' work okay for kids?

Across up to 7 MovieCove titles with content scores, frightening / intense runs heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore5 titles41–83 · median 54 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity7 titles16–56 · median 32 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity5 titles31–64 · median 33 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs5 titles8–53 · median 24 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense5 titles25–75 · median 50 · 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 Darren Criss work with?

People who share at least 2 of Darren Criss' MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Kimberly S. Moreau shares the most, 8.

Directors

  • Jeff Wamester6 titles    See all 6 shared titles with Jeff Wamester

Writers

Actors

Composers and editors

  • Bruce A. King7 titles    See all 7 shared titles with Bruce A. King
  • Kevin Riepl7 titles    See all 7 shared titles with Kevin Riepl

Producers

  • Kimberly S. Moreau8 titles    See all 8 shared titles with Kimberly S. Moreau
  • Sam Register8 titles    See all 8 shared titles with Sam Register
  • Butch Lukic7 titles    See all 7 shared titles with Butch Lukic
  • Michael E. Uslan5 titles    See all 5 shared titles with Michael E. Uslan