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John Early

John Early

Actor and producer, also writer and director · Born January 21, 1988 (38) · Nashville, Tennessee, USA

Primetime Emmy nominee

John Early (born January 21, 1988) is an American comedian, actor and singer. He has appeared on 30 Rock as Jenna Maroney's son and in the independent film Fort Tilden. He starred in Search Party, which aired on TBS and HBO Max from 2016 to 2022. In 2025, he made his directorial debut in Maddie's Secret, where John starred as Maddie Ralph alongside long-time collaborator and comedian Kate Berlant. Description above from the Wikipedia article John Early (comedian), licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
January 21, 1988 (38)
From
Nashville, Tennessee, USA
Works as
Actor and producer, also writer and director
Titles
51 on MovieCove · 73 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 11% in 30 days

What are John Early's films like?

Across their 21 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Self and Bonds.

Genres

Comedy13 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 60th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Animation2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 59th percentile
: browse their Animation movies
Documentary2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 75th 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
39%
Bonds
26%
Morality
13%
Ideas
8%
Survival
5%
Society
5%
Power
4%
Coming of age7 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship5 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity5 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth4 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds4 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love3 titles, browse their movies with this themeArt3 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice3 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 18 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Wry: How sincerely it treats its story and characters, from ironic to earnest. Browse their wry movies.
Tone · Sincerity
ironicearnest

A split, not a type: Ironic 5 · Wry 2 · Earnest 11

Light: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their light movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 14 · Serious 2 · Dark 2

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

Grounded 6 · Stylized 6 · Heightened 6

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

Gentle 6 · Charged 9 · Intense 3

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

Steady 7 · Shifting 8 · Whiplash 3

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

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 1 · Some laughs 9 · Funny 8

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 9 · Even-paced 8 · Relentless 1

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

A split, not a type: Casual 10 · Engaged 6 · Full focus 2

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

A split, not a type: Resolved 10 · Open-ended 6 · Ambiguous 2

Roles they play

10 analyzed roles

Usually the Trickster: 5 of 10 analyzed roles.

Trickster
5 of 10
Shadow
3 of 10
Mentor
1 of 10
Hero
1 of 10
Show the 10 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Absurd
16
Joyful
7
Tense
7
Melancholic
5
Contemplative
5
Other
15

How their films linger

Thought-provoking8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 2 with a twist

  • Happy6
  • Bittersweet10
  • Ambiguous5

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 John Early's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 45 of their 51 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Netflix (13).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for John Early'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

73 credits, 51 with a MovieCove page; 7 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Naughty (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2027)

    Actor

  • Coyote vs. Acme(2026)

    as Henry Heslop

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • The Arrow at Rest at Every Instant of its Flight(2026)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Maddie's Secret(2025)

    Director · Producer · Writer · as Maddie Ralph

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • Never Change!(2026)

    as Tim

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films

  • She Keeps Me Young (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2026)

    as Daniel

  • Eternity(2025)

    as Ryan

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • Long Story Short(2025)

    Show 1 episode · as Jean-Pierre / JP (voice)

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all shows

  • Laid(2024)

    Show 1 episode · as John Early

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all shows

  • Universal Basic Guys(2024)

    Show 1 episode · as Kardgen (voice)

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all shows

  • Fantasmas(2024)

    Show 1 episode · as Chips/Figero

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all shows

  • Big City Greens the Movie: Spacecation(2024)

    as Alexander (voice)

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Stress Positions (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2024)

    Producer · as Terry Goon

  • Jacqueline Novak: Get on Your Knees(2024)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • Very Important People(2023)

    Show 2 episodes · as Bill

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all shows

  • John Early: Now More Than Ever(2023)

    Executive Producer · Writer · as Self

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • Kate Berlant: Cinnamon in the Wind(2022)

    Consulting Producer

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • DC League of Super-Pets(2022)

    as Barry Allen / The Flash (voice)

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • No Man's Land (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    as Daddy Likes it Raw

  • Would It Kill You to Laugh?(2022)

    Executive Producer · Writer · as John Early

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • The Afterparty(2022)

    Show 9 episodes · as Detective Culp

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all shows

  • My Trip to Spain (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    Executive Producer · as Charlie

  • Girls5eva(2021)

    Show 1 episode · as Chuck Dennis

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all shows

  • Cinema Toast (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2021)

    Show 10 episodes · as Joe Bunker

  • The Great North(2021)

    Show 15 episodes · as Boat Mechanic (voice) · as Briggs (voice) · as Henry Tuntley (voice) · as Sherman (voice) · as Tooth 1 (voice)

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all shows

  • Save Yourselves!(2020)

    as Blake

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • Inspector Ike(2020)

    as Chip Conrad

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Close Enough (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    Show 11 episodes · as Mr. Campbell (voice)

  • VR Food (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    as Steve

  • Good Posture(2019)

    as Sol

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • Rachel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    Writer · Actor

  • Tuca & Bertie(2019)

    Show 10 episodes · as Dirk (voice)

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all shows

  • I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson(2019)

    Show 1 episode · as Leslie

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all shows

  • Marlon Brando (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    as Director

  • Late Night(2019)

    as Reynolds

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • The Emperor's Newest Clothes(2018)

    as Syco (voice)

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • Summer Camp Island(2018)

    Show 3 episodes · as Bearded Sheep (voice)

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all shows

  • 2 Dope Queens(2018)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all shows

  • At Home with Amy Sedaris (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    Show 1 episode · as Russell

  • Fun Mom Dinner(2017)

    as Alfred

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • Wet Hot American Summer: Ten Years Later(2017)

    Show 4 episodes · as Logan

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all shows

  • Beatriz at Dinner(2017)

    as Evan

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • What Children Do(2017)

    as Pastor Wes

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • The Disaster Artist(2017)

    as Chris

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • 555 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    Show 5 episodes · Creator · Executive Producer · as Boy · as Cody / Boy / Luke / Background Actor 2 / Josh

  • Search Party(2016)

    Show 50 episodes · as Elliott Goss

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all shows

  • Haters Back Off!(2016)

    Show 1 episode · as Maureen the Mattress Queen

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all shows

  • Other People(2016)

    as Gabe

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising(2016)

    as Darren

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

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

    as Emcee Creamy

  • Boy Band (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    Show 1 episode · as Chris Romney

  • The Characters(2016)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 6th percentile of all shows

  • Animals.(2016)

    Show 1 episode · as Assistant · as The Assistant

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all shows

  • Difficult People(2015)

    Show 1 episode · as Mickey

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all shows

  • Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp(2015)

    Show as Logan St Bogan

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

  • Dinner Party (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    Writer · Actor

  • Sea Beach Local (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    Actor

  • Santa Monica (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    as Man

  • The Greggs (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    as Shelley’s Assistant

  • Fort Tilden(2014)

    as John

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • Broad City(2014)

    Show 1 episode · as Brandon

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows

  • Rick and Morty(2013)

    Show 1 episode · as Eternal (voice)

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all shows

  • Sardines out of a Can (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    as Arnie

  • High Maintenance(2012)

    Show 1 episode · as Wayne

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • Family Dinner (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    as Dad

  • Portlandia(2011)

    Show 1 episode · as Funeral Director

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all shows

  • Bob's Burgers(2011)

    Show 2 episodes · as Dalton Crespin (voice) · as Receptionist (voice)

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all shows

  • Archer(2009)

    Show 1 episode · as Wally (voice)

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all shows

  • 30 Rock(2006)

    Show 1 episode · as Jerome

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows

  • Robot Chicken(2005)

    Show 1 episode · as Elefun / World War 1 Pilot #1 (voice)

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all shows

  • The Simpsons(1989)

    Show 1 episode · as Joel (voice)

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • Cassandra at the Wedding (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Producer

  • Skindergarten (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Writer · as Ms. Lapachet

Career shape

Star power in the 96th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 73 titles, 70 of them dated from 1989 to 2026; peak year 2016.

Biggest box office

Coyote vs. Acme (2026)

$92M worldwide

Highest rated

Coyote vs. Acme (2026)

Midcredits 93rd

Film career

19892026

Peak 2016 · steadily prominent in film for years. Top draw in 2 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
Acting69 of 73: 61 only acting, 8 with another role · typical Midcredits score64thDirecting1 of 73: 0 only directing, 1 with another roleWriting6 of 73: 0 only writing, 6 with another roleProducing9 of 73: 3 only producing, 6 with another role · typical Midcredits score68thOther crew1 of 73: 0 only other crew, 1 with another role

73 titles, 9 with more than one role — acting and producing overlap on 5 of them.

By decade

1980s1 · acting2000s3 · acting2010s39 · 39 acting · 3 crew2020s27 · 24 acting · 7 crew

Billing

usually 9th · top billed in 0% of 13 roles
1419

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

2 major nominations and no wins, 2023–2024.

  1. 2024
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Writing for a Variety Special
  2. 2023
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Writing for a Variety Special

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 John Early's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 65th percentile, the median of all 23; across their 18 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 70th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

70thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 18

Approval · how many liked their films

58thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 18

Reach · how many have seen their films

71stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 18

Midcredits score across 51 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up18
  • 50th to 74th16
  • 25th to 49th10
  • Below 25th7

Shape of the crowd

17 of their 51 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved9
  • Divisive3
  • Cult Classic6
  • Crowd Pleaser17
  • Broadly Agreed2
  • Mixed14

Most divisive · actor

The Arrow at Rest at Every Instant of its Flight (2026)

94th percentile spread · 25% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Coyote vs. Acme (2026)

Midcredits 93rd · 81% liked

Reviewers score the acting 72/100 in their films, across 14 reviewed titles; fans 81, 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 John Early's work okay for kids?

Across up to 9 MovieCove titles with content scores, sex & nudity runs heavier than most films and violence & gore and frightening / intense lighter.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore7 titles8–51 · median 26 · mildlighter than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity9 titles14–64 · median 45 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity7 titles34–72 · median 44 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs7 titles23–50 · median 33 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense5 titles12–46 · median 25 · mildlighter 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 John Early work with?

People who share at least 2 of John Early's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Kate Berlant shares the most, 4.

Writers

Actors

Cinematographers

Producers

Mixed roles