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Jay Pharoah

Jay Pharoah

Actor, also writer and producer · Born October 14, 1987 (39) · Chesapeake, Virginia, USA

Jared Antonio Farrow (born October 14, 1987), known professionally by his stage name Jay Pharoah, is an American actor, stand-up comedian, impressionist, rapper, and voice actor. He joined the cast of NBC's Saturday Night Live in 2010, for its thirty-sixth season.

Biography from TMDB.

Born
October 14, 1987 (39)
From
Chesapeake, Virginia, USA
Works as
Actor, also writer and producer
Titles
41 on MovieCove · 45 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 157 days to Oct 28Down 49% in 30 days

What are Jay Pharoah's films like?

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

Genres

Comedy12 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 35th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Drama3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 58th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: 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
Self
31%
Bonds
29%
Society
25%
Survival
7%
Morality
5%
Ideas
3%
Power
1%
Fame10 titles, browse their movies with this themeAmbition7 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship5 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity6 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love4 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity5 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds3 titles, browse their movies with this themeMortality2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 17 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Light: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their light movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 13 · Serious 1 · Dark 3

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

Grounded 10 · Stylized 6 · 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 8 · Charged 6 · Intense 3

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 4

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

Straight-faced 3 · Some laughs 3 · Funny 11

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

Slow burn 6 · Even-paced 9 · Relentless 2

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

Casual 14 · Engaged 2 · Full focus 1

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

Resolved 14 · Open-ended 1 · Ambiguous 2

Roles they play

11 analyzed roles

Usually the Ally: 5 of 11 analyzed roles.

Ally
5 of 11
Shadow
2 of 11
Hero
2 of 11
Trickster
1 of 11
Herald
1 of 11
Show the 11 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Joyful
16
Absurd
12
Tense
7
Melancholic
4
Thrilling
5
Other
15

How their films linger

Fun14 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good13 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 4 with a twist

  • Happy9
  • Bittersweet10
  • Ambiguous3
  • 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 Jay Pharoah's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 34 of their 41 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (11).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Jay Pharoah'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

45 credits, 41 with a MovieCove page; 47 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Busboys(2026)

    as DEA Agent

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films

  • The Paper(2025)

    Show 1 episode · as Martin Lawrence (voice)

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all shows

  • Jay Pharoah: Jared (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2024)

    Executive Producer · Writer · as Self

  • Running on Empty(2024)

    as Sid

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films

  • Sausage Party: Foodtopia(2024)

    Show 4 episodes · as (voice)

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all shows

  • Quiz with Balls(2024)

    Show 10 episodes · Producer · as Self - Host

    Midcredits score: 10th percentile of all shows

  • Good Times(2024)

    Show 10 episodes · as Junior (voice)

    Midcredits score: 5th percentile of all shows

  • Rock, Paper, Scissors(2024)

    Show 1 episode · as Toilet Paper (voice)

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all shows

  • Urkel Saves Santa: The Movie!(2023)

    as Jay-Z (voice)

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • The Venture Bros.: Radiant Is the Blood of the Baboon Heart(2023)

    as Nuno Blood / Additional Blackulas (voice)

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • The Blackening(2022)

    as Shawn

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Spinning Gold(2023)

    as Cecil Holmes

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Out of Office(2022)

    Producer · as Neal

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • Private Property(2022)

    as Richard Carlyle

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • Resort to Love(2021)

    as Jason

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • Bad Hair(2020)

    as Julius

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • The Mitchells vs. the Machines(2021)

    as Noah (voice)

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • Invincible(2021)

    Show 8 episodes · as Bulletproof (voice) · as Bulletproof / Dinosaur #2 / Zombie #1 (voice) · as Bulletproof / GDA Agents (voice) · as Bulletproof / Komodo Dragon / Sergeant (voice) · as Bulletproof / Komodo Dragon / Soldier (voice) · as Data 1 (voice) · as Data Twin #1 / Cute Guy / Council Member #1 (voice) · as Data Twin #1 / Viltrumites (voice)

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all shows

  • All My Life(2020)

    as Dave Berger

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • How to Fake a War(2019)

    as Harry Hope

    Midcredits score: 10th percentile of all films

  • Nickelodeon's Unfiltered(2020)

    Show 15 episodes · Producer · as Self - Host

    Midcredits score: 2nd percentile of all shows (provisional, few ratings)

  • 2 Minutes of Fame(2020)

    as Deandre

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • Live in Front of a Studio Audience: 'All in the Family' and 'Good Times'(2019)

    as James 'J.J.' Evans, Jr.

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • A Black Lady Sketch Show(2019)

    Show 1 episode · as Jaybrien

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all shows

  • Champaign Ill (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    Show 2 episodes · as Lou

  • A Million Little Things(2018)

    Show 3 episodes · as Omar

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all shows

  • Unsane(2018)

    as Nate Hoffman

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Taraji's White Hot Holiday Special (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    as DeMarcus / Reindeer

  • White Famous(2017)

    Show 10 episodes · as Floyd Mooney

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all shows

  • Sing(2016)

    as Meena's Grandfather (voice)

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • Legends of Chamberlain Heights(2016)

    Show 20 episodes · as Montrel

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all shows

  • Get a Job(2016)

    as Skeezy D

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films

  • Jay Pharoah: Can I Be Me?(2015)

    Producer · Writer · as Himself

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all films

  • Top Five(2014)

    as Mike

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • BoJack Horseman(2014)

    Show 2 episodes · as Dashawn Manheim (voice)

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all shows

  • Balls Out(2014)

    as Dan

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all films

  • Ride Along(2014)

    as Runflat

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • Shaquille O'Neal Presents: All Star Comedy Jam - Live from Orlando(2012)

    Writer · as Self

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Lola Versus(2012)

    as Randy

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • The Cookout 2 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    as Eddie O

  • Bubble Guppies(2006)

    Show 1 episode · as Buster (voice)

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all shows

  • Portlandia(2011)

    Show 1 episode · as Jay-Z

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all shows

  • American Dad!(2005)

    Show 2 episodes · as Dwayne Johnson (voice) · as Mr. Fritz (voice)

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

  • Family Guy(1999)

    Show 3 episodes · as (voice) · as Brick Baker (voice) · as Coffee Shop Patron (voice) · as Eddie Murphy (voice) · as James (voice) · as Kanye Canes (voice) · as Kanye West (voice) · as Moses / Man's Voice (voice) · as Reverend Lucius (voice) · as Skeetle (voice) · as Squirrel (voice) · as Stephen A. Smith (voice) · as Student on Bus (voice) · as Timothy Q. Mouse (voice) · as Waiter (voice)

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all shows

  • The Simpsons(1989)

    Show 4 episodes · as Drederick Tatum (voice)

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

Career shape

Star power in the 97th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 42 titles from 1989 to 2026; peak year 2021.

Biggest box office

Ride Along (2014)

$154M worldwide

Highest rated

Hot Ones (2015)

Midcredits 87th

Film career

19892026

Peak 2021 · at the high point of their film career. 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.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting40 of 42: 40 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score40thWriting2 of 42: 1 only writing, 1 with another roleProducing1 of 42: 0 only producing, 1 with another role

By decade

1980s1 · acting1990s1 · acting2000s1 · acting2010s19 · 18 acting · 1 crew2020s20 · 19 acting · 1 crew

Billing

usually 8th · top billed in 6% of 17 roles
121722

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.

How do Jay Pharoah's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 36th percentile, the median of all 24; across their 17 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 42nd percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

42ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 17

Approval · how many liked their films

33rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 17

Reach · how many have seen their films

78thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 17

Midcredits score across 41 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up10
  • 50th to 74th5
  • 25th to 49th13
  • Below 25th13

Shape of the crowd

18 of their 41 titles are Mixed.

  • Universally Loved5
  • Divisive4
  • Cult Classic5
  • Crowd Pleaser7
  • Broadly Agreed2
  • Mixed18

Most divisive · actor

Legends of Chamberlain Heights (2016)

99th percentile spread · 47% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Invincible (2021)

Midcredits 99th · 95% liked

Reviewers score the acting 59/100 in their films, across 13 reviewed titles; fans 73, detractors 37. 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 Jay Pharoah's work okay for kids?

Across up to 9 MovieCove titles with content scores, 1 of the 5 categories sits near the median of all films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore4 titlesmedian 57 · moderateMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity9 titles23–61 · median 37 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity4 titlesmedian 88 · severeMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs4 titlesmedian 48 · moderateMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense4 titlesmedian 47 · moderateMedian 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 Jay Pharoah work with?

People who share at least 2 of Jay Pharoah's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Leslie Small shares the most, 3.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Producers