Performer
A performer whose catalogue work here is strong, with the fuller case still to be made.
Nutevio rank
#436
of 909177 performers
Top 1%
Bill Hader works on versatility rather than volume, and the catalogue keeps proving that the quieter choice was the correct one.
The essay
Our editors on the work, the patterns and the reason this body of work holds together.
Bill Hader appears in 55 films in the Nutevio catalogue, and none of them would work the same way without Bill. Carol Burnett: 90 Years of Laughter + Love is the clearest case: a film rated 8.3 by our editors, where the performance carries weight the script only implies.
The recognisable elements are versatility, transformation, quiet performance. Watch two of these films back to back and the method separates from the material — the same instrument, tuned differently for documentary, comedy, fantasy. It is a style built on what is withheld as much as what is played.
Working with Morgan Neville, Erica Rivinoja, Brent Hodge and others, Bill Hader helped set a standard other performers now audition against. Awards bodies have been slower than the work, which is usually the sign of a career built on choices rather than campaigns.
Carol Burnett: 90 Years of Laughter + Love (2023) as Self - Guest · Inside Out (2015) as Fear (voice) · Her (2013) as Chat Room Friend #2 (voice)
Career snapshot
Ranked #436 of 909177 performers tracked in the Nutevio library.
Films in Nutevio
55
2006–2026
Career length
20 yrs
Measured across our catalogue
Academy Awards
—
Unknown
Oscar nominations
—
Unknown
Highest Nutevio score
8.3
Carol Burnett: 90 Years of Laughter + Love
Average Nutevio score
6.3
Across catalogue work
Highest IMDb rating
8.3
Carol Burnett: 90 Years of Laughter + Love
Most frequent director
Greg Mottola
4 films together
Longest collaboration
4×
With Greg Mottola
Most common genre
Comedy
41 titles
Average runtime
1h 41m
Across catalogue work
Golden Globe wins
—
Unknown
Nutevio metric
Ten weighted categories, applied identically to everyone we cover.
Nutevio Performer Score
6.9
out of 10
A performer whose catalogue work here is strong, with the fuller case still to be made.
Nutevio metric
Cultural impact and legacy, measured separately from craft — how far the work travelled once it left the cinema.
Nutevio Influence Score
6.4
out of 10
A quieter influence — felt inside the films rather than across the industry.
How far the work travelled past the people who saw it first.
What survives once the release-week conversation has burned off.
Institutional acknowledgement, weighted but never decisive.
Years of chosen, relevant work rather than years merely employed.
Statuettes, read as evidence rather than verdict.
Roles named without needing the film named alongside them.
Directors who wrote parts because this performer existed.
The reading other performers now have to answer.
Actor DNA
A fingerprint derived from the roles themselves — register, range and the kind of film they carry.
The shape of a career
Every performance plotted in time. Hover a point to read the title behind it.
Peak years
Where the scores, the awards and the sheer volume of work agree with each other.
Best decade
2010s
6.5 average MV
The 2010s are where the work and the material meet. Toy Story 4, The Summers of It - Chapter Two: It Ends, It Chapter Two — the run our editors reach for first when the argument is about range rather than fame.
Highest average Nutevio score
2010s
6.5
Across 31 catalogue films in this decade, our scores never drop below the level a career is judged on.
Highest average IMDb rating
2010s
6.5
The public agrees most strongly about this stretch — useful context, and occasionally a decade behind our own reading.
Most awarded era
2000s
0 Academy Awards
Statuettes for the films themselves, which is the honest way to read an ensemble career. Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs.
Most productive era
2010s
31 films
The busiest stretch of the catalogue — volume that reads as appetite rather than availability.
Range, mapped
Genres down the side, decades across the top. Warmer cells mean stronger titles.
| Genre | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drama | 6.43 films | 6.97 films | — |
| Action | 6.54 films | 6.96 films | — |
| Thriller | — | 6.81 film | — |
| Comedy | 6.313 films | 6.421 films | 5.07 films |
| Crime | 6.61 film | 6.81 film | — |
| Romance | 6.24 films | 6.38 films | — |
| Horror | — | 6.81 film | — |
Chronology
Firsts and peaks
The turning points, in the order they happened.
First film in Nutevio
Where our catalogue meets this career, as Mark.
Career peak
2015Inside Out
Weighing billing against the film's own quality, this is the point where everything aligned at once.
Highest rated performance
2023Carol Burnett: 90 Years of Laughter + Love
8.3 on the Nutevio scale, the top of the catalogue for this performer.
Most recent film
The current state of the argument, as The Cat in the Hat (voice).
Our order
Every performance in the catalogue, ordered by Nutevio Score.
Every title
Filter by genre or decade, and compare any two titles side by side.
55 of 55 films
as Fear (voice)
Directed by Pete Docter
as Self - Guest
Directed by Paul Miller
as Chat Room Friend #2 (voice)
Directed by Spike Jonze
as Axel the Carnie (voice)
Directed by Josh Cooley
as Officer Slater
Directed by Greg Mottola
From the library
Every movie and TV credit stored for this name in the Nutevio catalogue — filter by media, role or sort by rating.
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The defining work
#1
Fear (voice)
Inside Out (2015)
Performance score8.1
The performance the rest of the career is read through. Fear (voice) gives Bill Hader a structure to work against, and the film hands over its centre of gravity without hesitation.
View movie#2
Self - Guest
Carol Burnett: 90 Years of Laughter + Love (2023)
Performance score8.0
Carol Burnett: 90 Years of Laughter + Love asks for something the previous films did not, and gets it. Self - Guest is played without a single line of pleading for the audience's sympathy — which is exactly why it lands.
View movie#3
Chat Room Friend #2 (voice)
Her (2013)
Performance score7.8
Her asks for something the previous films did not, and gets it. Chat Room Friend #2 (voice) is played without a single line of pleading for the audience's sympathy — which is exactly why it lands.
View movie#4
Axel the Carnie (voice)
Toy Story 4 (2019)
Performance score7.5
Toy Story 4 asks for something the previous films did not, and gets it. Axel the Carnie (voice) is played without a single line of pleading for the audience's sympathy — which is exactly why it lands.
View movieStart here
A guided path through the work, ordered so each film explains the next.
Best entry point
as Fear (voice)
Start here. Inside Out is the clearest statement of what Bill Hader does — accessible, 95 minutes, and rated 8.1 by our editors. No context required.
Our editors order this path by accessibility first and chronology second. You meet Bill at the most legible performance, then move forward in time so each film reads as a response to the one before it rather than a repetition of it.
Superbad (2007)
Keeps the comedy register of Inside Out but asks for a colder reading of it.
Her (2013)
A deliberate change of key after Superbad — same instrument, unfamiliar tuning, and the reason range gets mentioned.
Toy Story 4 (2019)
A deliberate change of key after Her — same instrument, unfamiliar tuning, and the reason range gets mentioned.
Carol Burnett: 90 Years of Laughter + Love (2023)
Keeps the comedy register of Toy Story 4 but asks for a colder reading of it.
Company kept
The directors and performers this career keeps returning to.
Greg Mottola
Director
4 films together
Notably Superbad
Judd Apatow
Director
3 films together
Notably Knocked Up
Phil Lord
Director
2 films together
Notably 22 Jump Street
Spike Jonze
Director
2 films together
Notably Her
Conrad Vernon
Director
2 films together
Notably The Addams Family 2
Anthony Russo
Director
1 film together
Notably You, Me and Dupree
Bob Odenkirk
Director
1 film together
Notably The Brothers Solomon
Akiva Schaffer
Director
1 film together
Notably Hot Rod
Nicholas Stoller
Director
1 film together
Notably Forgetting Sarah Marshall
David Gordon Green
Director
1 film together
Notably Pineapple Express
Ben Stiller
Director
1 film together
Notably Tropic Thunder
Harold Ramis
Director
1 film together
Notably Year One
Carlos Saldanha
Director
1 film together
Notably Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs
Shawn Levy
Director
1 film together
Notably Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian
Edgar Wright
Director
1 film together
Notably Scott Pilgrim vs. the World
Barry Sonnenfeld
Director
1 film together
Notably Men in Black 3
Maggie Carey
Director
1 film together
Notably The To Do List
Cody Cameron
Director
1 film together
Notably Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2
David Wain
Director
1 film together
Notably They Came Together
David O. Russell
Director
1 film together
Notably Accidental Love
Pete Docter
Director
1 film together
Notably Inside Out
Rebecca Miller
Director
1 film together
Notably Maggie's Plan
Jorma Taccone
Director
1 film together
Notably Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping
Andrew Stanton
Director
1 film together
Notably Finding Dory
Steven Spielberg
Director
1 film together
Notably The BFG
Dean Israelite
Director
1 film together
Notably Power Rangers
Phil Johnston
Director
1 film together
Notably Ralph Breaks the Internet
Thurop Van Orman
Director
1 film together
Notably The Angry Birds Movie 2
Andy Muschietti
Director
1 film together
Notably It Chapter Two
Josh Cooley
Director
1 film together
Notably Toy Story 4
R.J. Cutler
Director
1 film together
Notably Belushi
Paul Miller
Director
1 film together
Notably Carol Burnett: 90 Years of Laughter + Love
Ari Aster
Director
1 film together
Notably Beau Is Afraid
John Krasinski
Director
1 film together
Notably IF
Brent Hodge
Director
1 film together
Notably Downey Wrote That
Erica Rivinoja
Director
1 film together
Notably The Cat in the Hat
Morgan Neville
Director
1 film together
Notably Lorne
Behind the camera
Who casts this performer, how often, and what the pairing produces.
Greg Mottola
Director
4 films together · 6.7 avg MV
A working relationship rather than a booking — 4 films, and the register shifts each time.
Best film together
SuperbadJudd Apatow
Director
3 films together · 6.0 avg MV
A working relationship rather than a booking — 3 films, and the register shifts each time.
Best film together
Knocked UpSpike Jonze
Director
2 films together · 7.8 avg MV
A working relationship rather than a booking — 2 films, and the register shifts each time.
Best film together
HerPhil Lord
Director
2 films together · 6.8 avg MV
A working relationship rather than a booking — 2 films, and the register shifts each time.
Best film together
22 Jump StreetConrad Vernon
Director
2 films together · 6.3 avg MV
A working relationship rather than a booking — 2 films, and the register shifts each time.
Best film together
The Addams Family 2Paul Miller
Director
1 film together · 8.3 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
Carol Burnett: 90 Years of Laughter + LovePete Docter
Director
1 film together · 8.1 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
Inside OutJosh Cooley
Director
1 film together · 7.7 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
Toy Story 4Edgar Wright
Director
1 film together · 7.5 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
Scott Pilgrim vs. the WorldPhil Johnston
Director
1 film together · 7.2 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
Ralph Breaks the InternetThurop Van Orman
Director
1 film together · 7.1 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
The Angry Birds Movie 2R.J. Cutler
Director
1 film together · 7.0 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
BelushiAndrew Stanton
Director
1 film together · 7.0 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
Finding DoryJohn Krasinski
Director
1 film together · 6.9 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
IFCarlos Saldanha
Director
1 film together · 6.9 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
Ice Age: Dawn of the DinosaursMorgan Neville
Director
1 film together · 6.8 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
LorneAndy Muschietti
Director
1 film together · 6.8 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
It Chapter TwoAri Aster
Director
1 film together · 6.7 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
Beau Is AfraidBen Stiller
Director
1 film together · 6.7 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
Tropic ThunderJorma Taccone
Director
1 film together · 6.6 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
Popstar: Never Stop Never StoppingBarry Sonnenfeld
Director
1 film together · 6.6 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
Men in Black 3David Gordon Green
Director
1 film together · 6.6 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
Pineapple ExpressCody Cameron
Director
1 film together · 6.5 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2Nicholas Stoller
Director
1 film together · 6.5 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
Forgetting Sarah MarshallAkiva Schaffer
Director
1 film together · 6.4 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
Hot RodSteven Spielberg
Director
1 film together · 6.3 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
The BFGShawn Levy
Director
1 film together · 6.3 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
Night at the Museum: Battle of the SmithsonianDean Israelite
Director
1 film together · 6.2 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
Power RangersMaggie Carey
Director
1 film together · 5.8 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
The To Do ListRebecca Miller
Director
1 film together · 5.7 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
Maggie's PlanDavid Wain
Director
1 film together · 5.6 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
They Came TogetherAnthony Russo
Director
1 film together · 5.6 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
You, Me and DupreeHarold Ramis
Director
1 film together · 5.0 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
Year OneBob Odenkirk
Director
1 film together · 5.0 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
The Brothers SolomonDavid O. Russell
Director
1 film together · 4.3 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
Accidental LoveErica Rivinoja
Director
1 film together · 0.0 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
The Cat in the HatBrent Hodge
Director
1 film together · 0.0 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
Downey Wrote ThatSix degrees
Follow the thread outward — director, film, co-star, and the film after that.
Categories of our own
Six editorial categories we apply to every performer we cover.
Most rewatchable
Her
as Chat Room Friend #2 (voice)
The one that survives a fourth viewing. Nothing in the performance depends on surprise, which is why it keeps paying out.
Most emotional performance
Inside Out
as Fear (voice)
Grief played at conversational volume. The film never asks the audience to cry; the performance simply makes it difficult not to.
Most influential performance
Carol Burnett: 90 Years of Laughter + Love
as Self - Guest
You can hear this reading in other actors' auditions a decade later — the surest measure of influence there is.
Best ensemble performance
Ralph Breaks the Internet
as J.P. Spamley (voice) (uncredited)
Work that makes everyone else in the frame better without ever pulling the camera towards itself.
Career defining performance
Inside Out
as Fear (voice)
If the career had to be argued in a single scene, our editors would pick one from this film and rest the case.
In their films' words
“You can build a whole film around a performer who knows when not to speak. Bill Hader has known it for a long time.”
Head to head
Put two careers on the same scale and see where the argument actually sits.
Ours alone
Recognitions handed out by this desk, on criteria no awards body uses.
Career Achievement
Awarded
20 years of relevant work — not merely a long career, but a long career of choices.
Modern Classic Performer
Awarded
Defining performances delivered inside the last twenty-five years, in films already being taught rather than merely remembered.
Comedy Legend
Awarded
41 catalogue titles in comedy, each one a reference point for the films that followed.
Our desk
Best ending, best opening, best twist and the rest — categories we apply to everyone we cover.
Best ending
Carol Burnett: 90 Years of Laughter + Love
as Self - Guest
The last five minutes reorganise everything before them, and hold up when you already know what's coming.
Best opening
It Chapter Two
as Richie Tozier
A first sequence that states the rules of the film without explaining a single one of them.
Most emotional
The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby: Her
as Stuart
The film where the technique steps aside and lets the feeling arrive undefended.
Best twist
Celebrity Escape Room
as Self
A reversal earned by information the film gave you and trusted you to misread.
Best visual achievement
Inside Out
as Fear (voice)
Images that would survive with the sound switched off.
Best action sequence
Power Rangers
as Alpha 5 (voice)
Geography, stakes and consequence held in the same frame — spectacle you can follow.
Best dialogue
Inside Out
as Fear (voice)
Lines written to be spoken, staged so the pauses do half the work.
Most underrated film
Toy Story 4
as Axel the Carnie (voice)
The public vote sits below ours on this one, and the direction is the reason for the gap.
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Have your say
Community
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Reference
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