---
name: "Michael Cera"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/michael-cera"
fi1m_id: "michael-cera"
imdb_id: "nm0148418"
tmdb_id: 39995
wikidata_id: "Q309555"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "7 June 1988"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 10
average_fi1m_score: 75
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 10
updated: "2026-10-03T00:06:38.858678+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Michael Cera

## Identity

Michael Cera

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/michael-cera
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** michael-cera
- **IMDb ID:** nm0148418
- **TMDB ID:** 39995
- **Wikidata ID:** Q309555
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Cera, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q309555, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0148418/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/39995

Actor. Born 7 June 1988 in Brampton, Ontario, Canada.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 7 June 1988, Brampton, Ontario, Canada
- **Active:** 2003–present
- **Also known as:** Michael Austin Cera
- **Frequently works with:** [Edgar Wright](https://film.one/person/edgar-wright.md), [Greg Mottola](https://film.one/person/greg-mottola.md), [Jason Bateman](https://film.one/person/jason-bateman.md), [Michael Bacall](https://film.one/person/michael-bacall.md), [Nira Park](https://film.one/person/nira-park.md), [Will Arnett](https://film.one/person/will-arnett.md)
- **Average Fi1m score:** 75, as actor, over 10 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 2000s 83 (3), 2010s 75 (3), 2020s 69 (4)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 75 to 74 across 10 titles
- **Score spread:** 4 at 80+, 6 at 60–79, 0 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 4 of 9 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Comedy 8, Action 3, Adventure 2, Crime 2, Drama 2, Fantasy 2
- **Screen time:** 17 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $2,397m across 9 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Cera, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q309555, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0148418/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/39995

## Streaming the US now

- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*Superbad*](https://film.one/film/superbad.md) (82), [*The Phoenician Scheme*](https://film.one/film/the-phoenician-scheme.md) (70)
- **Apple TV:** [*Molly's Game*](https://film.one/film/mollys-game.md) (70), [*The Running Man*](https://film.one/film/the-running-man.md) (60)
- **Netflix:** [*Arrested Development*](https://film.one/tv/arrested-development.md) (87)
- **HBO Max:** [*The Lego Batman Movie*](https://film.one/film/the-lego-batman-movie.md) (74)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Fi1m on Michael Cera

> Michael Cera can make a small reaction the funniest thing in a crowded scene. We rate his quiet comic precision, though the familiar awkward-young-man parts can ask too little of it.

In *Arrested Development* (2003), Michael Cera’s George Michael Bluth can slow a crowded family scene with a small reaction. Alongside Alia Shawkat’s Maeby, he gives us a break from relatives working rather harder to be noticed. We rate him most when that restraint has a louder performance to work against. The hesitancy is carefully timed, and he knows how little he needs to add before the joke has registered.

The move into films brought *Superbad* (2007) and *Juno* (2007), followed by the title role in Edgar Wright’s *Scott Pilgrim vs. the World* (2010). His hesitant speech and physical unease became familiar enough to invite narrow casting. There is a limit to how often timidity alone can make a character interesting. His shift towards supporting roles from the mid-2010s gave that familiar manner different work to do.

*Dream Scenario* (2023) makes particularly good use of him as Trent, who runs an agency with Kate Berlant’s character. Under Kristoffer Borgli’s direction, he explains with complete seriousness what a soft drink might do inside a dream. We laughed at his unbroken businesslike confidence: the proposal is absurd, and he delivers it as a sensible next step. It is the film’s sharpest stretch of dialogue, before the script starts explaining too much.

Wes Anderson finds an equally useful place for him as Bjorn Lund in *The Phoenician Scheme* (2025). Benicio del Toro and Mia Threapleton carry the central relationship, while Cera, accompanying them as the sidekick, supplies most of the laughs beyond that pair. We would not recommend the film for him alone; its succession of meetings grows wearying. But his comic precision is a sound reason to stay with it when the journey starts to feel repetitive.

The reunion with Wright on *The Running Man* (2025) is less rewarding, though Cera’s Elton Perrakis brings welcome nervous comedy to a film that keeps restarting its chase. He helps; he cannot fix the structure. That is the practical limit of the smaller parts: a welcome appearance need not make the whole film worth recommending. For a sustained sense of what he contributes, start with *Arrested Development*, where his smaller reactions have an ensemble to play against.

## Biography

Michael Cera is a Canadian actor. Born in Brampton, Ontario, he began his career as a child actor, voicing Brother Bear in the television series The Berenstain Bears and appearing in Confessions of a Dangerous Mind (2002).

He is known for his role as George Michael Bluth in the sitcom Arrested Development (2003–2006, 2013, 2018–2019) and for film roles including Evan in Superbad (2007), Paulie Bleeker in Juno (2007), Scott Pilgrim in Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (2010), and Allan in Barbie (2023). He played Trent in Dream Scenario (2023).

Cera made his Broadway debut in This Is Our Youth (2014) and was nominated for a Tony Award for Lobby Hero (2018). He has also released music, including the album True That (2014). He appears as Elton Perrakis in The Running Man (2025) and as Bjorn Lund in The Phoenician Scheme (2025).

*Sources: imdb.com, en.wikipedia.org.*

## On Fi1m (10)

- *The Phoenician Scheme* (2025), Fi1m 70, as Bjorn Lund — [page](https://film.one/film/the-phoenician-scheme.md)
- *The Running Man* (2025), Fi1m 60, as Elton Perrakis — [page](https://film.one/film/the-running-man.md)
- *Barbie* (2023), Fi1m 76, as Allan — [page](https://film.one/film/barbie.md)
- *Dream Scenario* (2023), Fi1m 70, as Trent — [page](https://film.one/film/dream-scenario.md)
- *Molly's Game* (2017), Fi1m 70, as Player X — [page](https://film.one/film/mollys-game.md)
- *The Lego Batman Movie* (2017), Fi1m 74, as Robin / Dick Grayson (voice) — [page](https://film.one/film/the-lego-batman-movie.md)
- *Scott Pilgrim vs. the World* (2010), Fi1m 81, as Scott Pilgrim — [page](https://film.one/film/scott-pilgrim-vs-the-world.md)
- *Juno* (2007), Fi1m 81, as Paulie Bleeker — [page](https://film.one/film/juno.md)
- *Superbad* (2007), Fi1m 82, as Evan — [page](https://film.one/film/superbad.md)
- *Arrested Development* (2003), Fi1m 87, as George Michael Bluth — [page](https://film.one/tv/arrested-development.md)

## Complete filmography (100)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *The Running Man* (2025), as Elton Perrakis — Fi1m 60, [page](https://film.one/film/the-running-man.md)
- *The Phoenician Scheme* (2025), as Bjorn Lund — Fi1m 70, [page](https://film.one/film/the-phoenician-scheme.md)
- *Sacramento* (2025), as Glenn
- *Christmas Eve in Miller's Point* (2024), as Officer Gibson · Producer
- *Sausage Party: Foodtopia* (2024), series, as Barry (voice)
- *Self Reliance* (2024), Thanks
- *Scott Pilgrim Takes Off* (2023), series, as Scott Pilgrim (voice)
- *Dream Scenario* (2023), as Trent — Fi1m 70, [page](https://film.one/film/dream-scenario.md)
- *Under the Boardwalk* (2023), as Armen (voice)
- *The Adults* (2023), as Eric · Producer
- *Barbie* (2023), as Allan — Fi1m 76, [page](https://film.one/film/barbie.md)
- *Command Z* (2023), series, as Kerning Fealty
- *Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank* (2022), as Hank (voice)
- *Life & Beth* (2022), series, as John
- *The Boys Presents: Diabolical* (2022), series, as Great Wide Wonder (voice)
- *Cryptozoo* (2021), as Matthew (voice)
- *Medical Police* (2020), series, as Sal Viscuso (voice)
- *Avenues* (2019), Original Music Composer
- *Gloria Bell* (2019), as Peter
- *Weird City* (2019), series, as Tawny Clem
- *Tyrel* (2018), as Alan
- *Spivak* (2018), as Robby LeBeau
- *The Zen Diaries of Garry Shandling* (2018), series, as Garry Shandling (voice)
- *Molly's Game* (2017), as Player X — Fi1m 70, [page](https://film.one/film/mollys-game.md)
- *Person to Person* (2017), as Phil
- *Cooking with Alfred* (2017), as Dick Grayson / Robin (voice)
- *How to Be a Latin Lover* (2017), as Remy
- *The Lego Batman Movie* (2017), as Robin / Dick Grayson (voice) — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/film/the-lego-batman-movie.md)
- *Lemon* (2017), as Alex
- *Man Rots from the Head* (2016), as Sydney Ward
- *Sausage Party* (2016), as Barry (voice)
- *Lunar Jim* (2016), series, Actor
- *A Very Murray Christmas* (2015), as Jackie the Talent Agent
- *Entertainment* (2015), as Tommy
- *That Dog* (2015), as Tim
- *Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp* (2015), series, as Jim Stansel
- *Beef* (2014), as Clovis
- *Hits* (2014), as Bennie
- *Bitch* (2013), as Dave McKenna · Director
- *Here Comes the Night Time* (2013), as Bartender / Grandmaster Mike
- *Magic Magic* (2013), as Brink · Executive Producer
- *Crystal Fairy & the Magical Cactus* (2013), as Jamie
- *Failure* (2013), as Man · Director, Music
- *This Is the End* (2013), as Michael Cera
- *Gregory Go Boom* (2013), as Gregory
- *Brazzaville Teen-Ager* (2013), as Gunther · Director, Writer
- *The End of Love* (2013), as Michael
- *Bright Day* (2012), as Michael Cera
- *The Boring Life of Jacqueline* (2012), series, Actor
- *Burning Love* (2012), series, as Wally
- *The Immigrant* (2012), as Michael
- *Black Mirror* (2011), series, as Beppe — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/tv/black-mirror.md)
- *Bad Dads* (2011), as Cory
- *Scott Pilgrim vs. the World* (2010), as Scott Pilgrim — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/film/scott-pilgrim-vs-the-world.md)
- *Scott Pilgrim vs. the Animation* (2010), as Scott Pilgrim (voice)
- *Youth in Revolt* (2009), as Nick Twisp / François Dillinger
- *Paper Heart* (2009), as Michael Cera · Original Music Composer
- *Year One* (2009), as Oh
- *Childrens Hospital* (2008), series, as Sal Viscuso
- *Extreme Movie* (2008), as Fred
- *Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist* (2008), as Nick
- *Juno* (2007), as Paulie Bleeker — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/film/juno.md)
- *Superbad* (2007), as Evan — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/film/superbad.md)
- *Clark and Michael* (2007), series, as Michael · Creator
- *Derek and Simon: The Show* (2007), series, Actor
- *Wayside* (2007), series, as Todd (voice)
- *Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!* (2007), series, as Jamie Stevens
- *Wayside: The Movie* (2005), as Todd (voice)
- *Darling Darling* (2005), as Harold
- *Tom Goes to the Mayor* (2004), series, as Scrotch (voice)
- *Veronica Mars* (2004), series, as Dean — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/veronica-mars.md)
- *Arrested Development* (2003), series, as George Michael Bluth · Producer, Consulting Producer — Fi1m 87, [page](https://film.one/tv/arrested-development.md)
- *The Berenstain Bears* (2003), series, as Brother
- *Confessions of a Dangerous Mind* (2002), as Chuck (8 & 11 years)
- *Rolie Polie Olie: The Great Defender of Fun* (2002), as Young Gizmo (voice)
- *Stolen Miracle* (2001), as Brandon McKinley
- *I Was a Rat* (2001), as Buzzer
- *The Ripping Friends* (2001), series, as Boy Boy (voice)
- *Anne of Green Gables: The Animated Series* (2001), series, as Benjamin (voice)
- *Walter and Henry* (2001), as Crying Kid
- *Braceface* (2001), series, as Josh Spitz (voice)
- *My Louisiana Sky* (2001), as Jesse Wade Thompson
- *My Husband's Double Life* (2001), as Young Ted Welsh
- *Doc* (2001), series, as Max
- *Custody of the Heart* (2000), as Johnny Raphael
- *Steal This Movie* (2000), as America - 7 & 8 Years Old
- *Frequency* (2000), as Gordy Jr. (10 Years)
- *Ultimate G's: Zac's Flying Dream* (2000), as Young Zac
- *Switching Goals* (1999), as Taylor
- *Twice in a Lifetime* (1999), series, as Skateboarder #2
- *I Was a Sixth Grade Alien* (1999), series, as Larrabe Hicks
- *What Katy Did* (1999), as Dorry Carr
- *Rolie Polie Olie* (1998), series, as Little Gizmo (voice)
- *Noddy* (1998), series, as Butch
- *La Femme Nikita* (1997), series, as Jerome
- *Twin Peaks* (1990), series, as Wally Brando — Fi1m 86, [page](https://film.one/tv/twin-peaks.md)
- *The Simpsons* (1989), series, as Nick (voice) — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-simpsons.md)
- *Gummy*, Director, Writer
- *How and Why*, as Mendelson
- *Love Is Not the Answer*, Director, Writer, Producer

## Gallery

- ![Michael Cera as Evan in Superbad (2007)](https://film.one/media/title/5445/still-5fd2d8211059.jpg) Michael Cera as Evan in *Superbad* (2007) — Image via TMDB
- ![Michael Cera as Scott Pilgrim in Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (2010)](https://film.one/media/title/382/still-088fcb8ea949.jpg) Michael Cera as Scott Pilgrim in *Scott Pilgrim vs. the World* (2010) — Image via TMDB
- ![Michael Cera as Paulie Bleeker in Juno (2007)](https://film.one/media/title/5444/still-8e9ab0fc54b7.jpg) Michael Cera as Paulie Bleeker in *Juno* (2007) — Image via TMDB
- ![Michael Cera presenting the movie The Adults at the Berlinale 2023](https://film.one/media/person/7668/gallery-caf3e304948d.jpg) Michael Cera presenting the movie The Adults at the Berlinale 2023 — Martin Kraft, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/37/MKr22364_Michael_Cera_%28The_Adults%2C_Berlinale_2023%29.jpg/1280px-MKr22364_Michael_Cera_%28The_Adults%2C_Berlinale_2023%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Michael Cera](https://film.one/media/person/7668/gallery-13db6f5ae28d.jpg) Michael Cera — Eva Rinaldi, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8e/Michael_Cera_2012_%28Cropped%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Michael Cera presenting the movie The Adults at the Berlinale 2023](https://film.one/media/person/7668/gallery-d1fb11cf3213.jpg) Michael Cera presenting the movie The Adults at the Berlinale 2023 — Martin Kraft, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8e/MKr22369_Michael_Cera_%28The_Adults%2C_Berlinale_2023%29.jpg/1280px-MKr22369_Michael_Cera_%28The_Adults%2C_Berlinale_2023%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![This is Our Youth New York 1980s Play Comes To Sydney Opera House (2012)](https://film.one/media/person/7668/gallery-93ba04fdb437.jpg) This is Our Youth New York 1980s Play Comes To Sydney Opera House (2012) — Eva Rinaldi, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/91/Michael_Cera_%286840263738%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Michael Cera in Sydney to play his role in This is Our Youth New York (2012)](https://film.one/media/person/7668/gallery-ef17f37c3296.jpg) Michael Cera in Sydney to play his role in This is Our Youth New York (2012) — Eva Rinaldi, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/af/Michael_Cera_%286840261982%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![This is Our Youth New York 1980s Play Comes To Sydney Opera House (2012)](https://film.one/media/person/7668/gallery-ca0453a7c2cb.jpg) This is Our Youth New York 1980s Play Comes To Sydney Opera House (2012) — Eva Rinaldi, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a5/Michael_Cera_%286840267202%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/michael-cera