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Bo Burnham

Bo Burnham

Producer, actor, director, writer, composer, editor and cinematographer · Born August 21, 1990 (36) · Hamilton, Massachusetts, USA

3 Primetime Emmys · 6 other major award bodies

Robert Pickering "Bo" Burnham (born August 21, 1990) is an American comedian, musician, actor, film director, screenwriter, and poet. He began his career on YouTube in March 2006, with his videos gaining more than 300 million views as of March 2021. Burnham signed a four-year record deal with Comedy Central Records and released his debut EP, Bo fo Sho, in 2008. His first full-length album, Bo Burnham, was released the following year. At the age of 18, he became the youngest person to record a half-hour comedy special with Comedy Central. In 2010, his second album, Words Words Words, was released along with his first live comedy special of the same name on Comedy Central. His third album and second comedy special, what., was released in 2013 on his YouTube channel and Netflix. He finished in first place at the 2011 Comedy Central Stand-up Showdown. His third stand-up comedy special, Make Happy, was released exclusively on Netflix in 2016. His fourth comedy special, Bo Burnham: Inside, premiered on Netflix in 2021. In 2013, Burnham co-created and starred in the MTV television series Zach Stone Is Gonna Be Famous and released a book of poetry called Egghead: Or, You Can't Survive on Ideas Alone. His first feature film as a writer and director, Eighth Grade, was released in 2018 to widespread critical acclaim; among other accolades, it received the Writers Guild of America Award for Best Original Screenplay and the Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directing – First-Time Feature Film. In 2020, Burnham starred as Ryan Cooper in the film Promising Young Woman.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
August 21, 1990 (36)
From
Hamilton, Massachusetts, USA
Works as
Producer, actor, director, writer, composer, editor and cinematographer
Titles
28 on MovieCove · 33 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 27% in 30 days

What are Bo Burnham's films like?

Across their 17 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Self and Bonds.

Genres

Comedy11 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 80th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Documentary3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 99th 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
Self
35%
Bonds
20%
Society
15%
Morality
10%
Survival
9%
Ideas
8%
Power
2%
Identity8 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds6 titles, browse their movies with this themeTruth3 titles, browse their movies with this themeMental illness2 titles, browse their movies with this themePrejudice2 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love3 titles, browse their movies with this themeComing of age2 titles, browse their movies with this themeIsolation2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 16 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Light: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their light movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 10 · Serious 4 · Dark 2

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

Grounded 11 · Stylized 3 · Heightened 2

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

Gentle 7 · Charged 7 · Intense 2

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

A split, not a type: Steady 9 · Shifting 4 · Whiplash 3

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

Straight-faced 1 · Some laughs 4 · Funny 11

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

Slow burn 7 · Even-paced 9 · 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 9 · Engaged 6 · Full focus 1

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

Resolved 9 · Open-ended 6 · Ambiguous 1

Roles they play

6 analyzed roles

Usually the Hero: 2 of 6 analyzed roles.

Hero
2 of 6
Trickster
1 of 6
Shadow
1 of 6
Ally
1 of 6
Shapeshifter
1 of 6

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Absurd
11
Contemplative
7
Melancholic
6
Tense
5
Bittersweet
4
Other
12

How their films linger

Thought-provoking8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 1 with a twist

  • Happy5
  • Bittersweet6
  • Ambiguous4
  • Cyclical2

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 Bo Burnham's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 23 of their 28 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on HBO Max (7).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Bo Burnham'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

33 credits, 28 with a MovieCove page; 7 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Primetime(2026)

    Thanks

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • Eddington(2025)

    Thanks

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • Past Lives(2023)

    Thanks

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • Beau Is Afraid(2023)

    Thanks

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Kate Berlant: Cinnamon in the Wind(2022)

    Director · Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • The Inside Outtakes(2022)

    Director · Cinematographer · Composer · Editor · Producer · Sound Editor · Writer · as Self

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Jerrod Carmichael: Rothaniel(2022)

    Director · Editor · Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • Bo Burnham: Inside(2021)

    Director · Cinematographer · Composer · Editor · Executive Producer · Sound Editor · Writer · as Self

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Promising Young Woman(2020)

    as Ryan

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • Whitmer Thomas: The Golden One(2020)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Lil Rel Howery: Live in Crenshaw(2019)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • Sermon on the Mount(2019)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Home Videos (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    Executive Producer

  • Tamborine(2018)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • Eighth Grade(2018)

    Director · Writer

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Rough Night(2017)

    as Tobey

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • The Big Sick(2017)

    as CJ

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • 8(2017)

    Director · Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • Bo Burnham: Make Happy(2016)

    Director · Composer · Producer · Writer · as Self

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • We Bare Bears(2014)

    Show 1 episode · as Andy Bangs / Additional Voices (voice)

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all shows

  • Bo Burnham: What. (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    Director · Executive Producer · Writer · as Self

  • Zach Stone Is Gonna Be Famous(2013)

    Show 12 episodes · Creator · Executive Producer · Writer · as Zach Stone

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all shows

  • Adventures in the Sin Bin(2012)

    as Tony

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • Key and Peele(2012)

    Show 1 episode · as Lyle

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all shows

  • Hall Pass(2011)

    as Bartender

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • Bo Burnham: Words, Words, Words(2010)

    Composer · Executive Producer · Writer · as Self

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • American Virgin(2009)

    as Rudy

    Midcredits score: 5th percentile of all films

  • Funny People(2009)

    as Yo Teach Cast Member

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Yo Teach...! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Show 6 episodes · as Bo

  • Parks and Recreation(2009)

    Show 1 episode · as Chipp McCapp

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • Comedy Central Presents(1998)

    Show 1 episode · Writer · as Self

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all shows

  • Gay Kid and Fat Chick (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Producer · Writer

  • Outside (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Director

Career shape

Star power in the 87th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 33 titles, 31 of them dated from 1998 to 2026; peak year 2020.

Biggest box office

The Big Sick (2017)

$56M worldwide

Highest rated

Bo Burnham: Inside (2021)

Midcredits 99th

Most popular right now

Promising Young Woman (2020)

Film career

19982026

Peak 2020 · at the high point of their film career. 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
Acting12 of 33: 11 only acting, 1 with another role · typical Midcredits score83rdDirecting10 of 33: 2 only directing, 8 with another role · typical Midcredits score93rdWriting8 of 33: 1 only writing, 7 with another role · typical Midcredits score98thProducing13 of 33: 4 only producing, 9 with another role · typical Midcredits score87thMusic3 of 33: 0 only music, 3 with another roleCinematography2 of 33: 0 only cinematography, 2 with another roleEditing3 of 33: 0 only editing, 3 with another roleOther crew7 of 33: 4 only other crew, 3 with another role · typical Midcredits score94th

33 titles, 11 with more than one role — producing and acting overlap on 1 of them.

By decade

1990s1 · crew2000s4 · acting2010s16 · 7 acting · 10 crew2020s10 · 1 acting · 9 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

3 Primetime Emmys and 4 other major awards from 16 major nominations, 2018–2024.

WinNomination
  1. 2024
    • Grammy Award, nominated · Best Boxed or Special Limited Edition Package
  2. 2022
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Directing for a Variety Special
    • +2 other major bodies · 1 win and 2 nominations
      • Directors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Variety/Talk/News/Sports - Specials
      • Grammy Award, won · Best Song Written for Visual Media
      • Grammy Award, nominated · Best Music Film
  3. 2021
    • Primetime Emmy, won · Outstanding Directing for a Variety Special
    • Primetime Emmy, won · Outstanding Music Direction
    • Primetime Emmy, won · Outstanding Writing for a Variety Special
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Picture Editing for Variety Programming
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Variety Special (Pre-Recorded)
  4. 2019
    • Directors Guild Award, won · Outstanding Directorial Achievement in First-Time Feature Film
    • Writers Guild Award, won · Original Screenplay
    • Critics Choice Award, nominated · Best Original Screenplay
    • Independent Spirit Award, won · Best First Screenplay
  5. 2018
    • Sundance award, nominated · Dramatic

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 Bo Burnham's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 71st percentile, the median of all 23; across their 16 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 88th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

88thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 16

Approval · how many liked their films

80thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 16

Reach · how many have seen their films

78thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 16

Midcredits score across 28 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up16
  • 50th to 74th7
  • 25th to 49th2
  • Below 25th3

Shape of the crowd

11 of their 28 titles are Universally Loved.

  • Universally Loved11
  • Cult Classic5
  • Crowd Pleaser6
  • Broadly Agreed2
  • Mixed4

Most divisive · producer

Sermon on the Mount (2019)

88th percentile spread · 27% rated it 4 or lower

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

Bo Burnham: Inside (2021)

Midcredits 99th · 92% liked

Reviewers score the acting 72/100 in their films, across 11 reviewed titles; fans 77, detractors 43. 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 Bo Burnham's work okay for kids?

Across up to 7 MovieCove titles with content scores, profanity runs heavier than most films and violence & gore and alcohol & drugs lighter.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore6 titles5–34 · median 7 · minimallighter than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity7 titles34–54 · median 39 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity6 titles59–92 · median 82 · severeheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs6 titles2–49 · median 18 · mildlighter than most filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense6 titles18–62 · median 33 · mildnear 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 Bo Burnham work with?

People who share at least 2 of Bo Burnham's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Christopher Storer shares the most, 9.

Directors

Cinematographers and editors

Producers