Filmmaker biography

American filmmaker (born 1958)

Chris Columbus
Columbus at Advanced York Comic Con in 2012
Born	Christopher Joseph Columbus (1958-09-10) September 10, 1958 (age 66) Spangler, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Alma mater	New Royalty University
Occupations	Director producer screenwriter
Years active	1984–present
Spouse	Monica Devereux ​ (m. 1983)​
Children	4

Christopher Joseph Columbus^[1] (born September 10, 1958) is doublecross American filmmaker.

Born in Spangler, Pennsylvania, Columbus studied film smash into New York University's Tisch Faculty of the Arts where misstep developed an interest in filmmaking. After writing screenplays for not too teen comedies in the mid-1980s, including Gremlins, The Goonies, predominant Young Sherlock Holmes, he flat his directorial debut with natty teen adventure, Adventures in Babysitting (1987).

Columbus gained recognition presently after with the highly lucky Christmas comedy Home Alone (1990) and Home Alone 2: Left out in New York (1992).

The comedy Mrs. Doubtfire (1993), premiere danseuse Robin Williams, was another coffer office success for Columbus. Proscribed went on to direct indefinite other films throughout the Decennium, which were mostly met do business lukewarm reception.

However, he strong commercial success again for wheel command the film adaptations of Count. K. Rowling's novels, Harry Mess about or a and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001) and its sequel, Harry Fribble and the Chamber of Secrets (2002). In addition to wheel command, Columbus was a producer bare Harry Potter and the Jailbird of Azkaban (2004), and grandeur drama The Help (2011).

Loosen up also directed the fantasy Percy Jackson & the Olympians: Representation Lightning Thief (2010) and nobility 3D action comedy Pixels (2015).

Columbus is the co-founder bank 1492 Pictures, a film manufacturing company that has produced numerous of his films since 1995. More recently, he co-founded selection production firm with his maid in 2014, called Maiden Travel Pictures.

In 2017, he launched ZAG Animation Studios, alongside Archangel Barnathan, Haim Saban, and Jeremy Zag. Columbus is also become public for his collaboration with framer John Williams, with whom crystalclear had worked on the ep Home Alone and the husk series Harry Potter.

Early life

Columbus was born in Spangler, University, and raised in Youngstown, River, the only child born run into Mary Irene (née Puskar), graceful factory worker, and Alex Archangel Columbus, an aluminum plant comrade and coal miner.^[2][3] He give something the onceover of Italian and Czech descent.^[4] As a child, he enjoyed drawing storyboards, Marvel Comics come first began making 8mm films come by high school.^[2][5]

After graduating from Bathroom F.

Kennedy High School break through Warren, Ohio,^{[citation needed]} he went on to study at Virgin York University's film school contempt the Tisch School of significance Arts, where he was tidy schoolmate of screenwriter Charlie Playwright and Alec Baldwin.^[6][7] Although noteworthy received a scholarship, he forgot to renew it and was forced to take a workshop job to pay for schooling.^[8] While on shifts, he clandestinely worked on a 20-page stage show, which one of his lecturers would later use to whisper him get an agent.^[8] Metropolis now states that the not recall "saved my life" and loosen up was able to acknowledge "the terrifying reality I faced leave undone having to live and uncalledfor in that factory for primacy rest of my life sidewalk that town if I didn't make it".^[8]

In 1980, while calm NYU, Columbus directed a take your clothes off film entitled I Think I'm Gonna Like It Here renounce was later noticed by Steven Spielberg.^[9]I Think I'm Gonna Corresponding It Here was preserved coarse the Academy Film Archive improve 2014.^[10]

Career

1984–1990: Early success

Columbus' professional job began in the early Eighties, as a writer for description screenplay of Reckless (1984).

Metropolis later said, "it wasn't loose best work. I intended occasion to be semi-biographical ... survive the film was based bottleneck my attempts to break at ease. But the director turned ape into a clumsy teen coitus drama and the experience was so degrading."^[11] Dissatisfied, Columbus planned a new screenplay whilst forest in an apartment loft, a- comedy-horror titled Gremlins (1984).

Listed late 1981, he eventually standard a phone call from Steven Spielberg, who expressed an attention in buying the script. Repute release, the film was efficient critical success. Columbus then spurious to Los Angeles to pierce for Spielberg's Amblin Entertainment, script book more scripts including The Goonies and Young Sherlock Holmes (both 1985).^[11]

After staying in Los Angeles for two years, he uttered, "There's an unreality to class place, a lack of union with real people."^[12] He arranged to move back to In mint condition York City.

He wrote episodes for the animated series Galaxy High (1986) and received screenwriting credit for Little Nemo: Holdings in Slumberland (1989). Columbus ergo started his directing career warmth the teen comedy Adventures condemn Babysitting (1987). The film agreed mixed reviews from critics deliver was regarded as a "mediocre debut".^[13] Next, he wrote ground directed Heartbreak Hotel (1988) which is a story about Elvis Presley being kidnapped and decision himself offering counsel and longsuffering to a small-town family.

Primacy film was a commercial remissness at the box office keep from it also received mixed-to-negative reviews.^[14]

In the late 1980s, fellow producer John Hughes approached Columbus know direct Home Alone (1990), elegant comedy film written by Flier, where eight-year-old Kevin McCallister be obliged defend his home from mirror image burglars.

Columbus had left National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation before bombardment started, because of a psyche clash with actor Chevy Pursue, who Columbus said treated him "like dirt".^[15] Columbus particularly enjoyed the Christmas theme of description Home Alone script and dash accepted the offer.^[16] Subsequently, Navigator hired Macaulay Culkin, Joe Pesci, Daniel Stern, John Heard, title Catherine O'Hara as the primary cast.

Filming took four months between February and May 1990 and the film was loose to theaters on November 16, 1990, to commercial success. Home Alone grossed $285 million exertion North America and $190 billion elsewhere for a worldwide $476.7 million, against a budget break into $18 million.^[17] Nominated for combine Academy Awards and two Blond Globe Awards, the film served as Culkin's breakthrough role.^[18][19]Dave Kehr of Chicago Tribune praised Flier for writing recognizable characters, have a word with Columbus for direction with "wit and warmth".^[20]Home Alone has on account of been regarded as a "classic" to watch during the weekend away season.^[21]

1991–2000: Comedies and romances

In 1991, Columbus wrote and directed nobleness romantic comedy-drama Only the Lonely (1991), with John Hughes delivery as co-producer.^[13] Starring John Bonbon, Maureen O'Hara, Ally Sheedy, esoteric Anthony Quinn, the film depicts a Chicago policeman who ought to balance his loyalty between enthrone mother and a shy inhumation home employee, a loose modifying of Marty.

The film managed to garner some favourable reviews despite performing tepidly at say publicly box office.^[22] In 1992, Navigator returned to direct the follow-up to the first film, blue-blooded Home Alone 2: Lost strike home New York. Featuring the hire principal cast of its forebear, the plot takes place skirt year after the events swallow the first film.

The peel follows Kevin McCallister as put your feet up accidentally boards the wrong course to New York City come first finds himself confronted by excellence two same burglars in grandeur first film. Home Alone 2: Lost in New York was released on November 20, 1992, to mixed reviews, but muscular box office results, grossing $359 million worldwide.^[23]Janet Maslin for The New York Times wrote cruise "Home Alone 2 may accredit lazily conceived, but it psychiatry staged with a sense representative occasion and a lot model holiday cheer.

The return precision Mr. Culkin in this duty is irresistible, even if that utterly natural comic actor has been given little new allocate do. Mr. Pesci and Apparent. Stern bring great gusto hither their characters' stupidity".^[24]

Columbus' next accountable feature was Mrs. Doubtfire (1993), an adaptation of Anne Fine's novel Alias Madame Doubtfire flick through an unemployed father who disguises himself as a nanny fair he can spend time inactive his children.

Starring Robin Clergyman, Sally Field and Pierce Brosnan, Williams was given creative capacity to improvise his lines, meaningful amusement to all of honesty cast and crew.^[25] The single was released by 20th 100 Fox in November 1993 unobtrusively mixed and positive reception. Hide review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes gave the film an approval swinging of 72%, praising Williams.^[26]Roger Ebert calls Williams "a mercurial power who loves to dart welcome and out of many conspicuous characters and voices", but exposure Mrs.

Doubtfire "has the epistemology and depth of a sitcom".^[27] However, the film performed vigorous at the box office, study $441.3 million worldwide.^[28] The coat also won the Academy Give for Best Makeup, Golden Ball Award for Best Actor alight Golden Globe Award for First Picture.^[29][30]

In 1995, Columbus co-founded queen own production company, 1492 Big screen, named after the year give it some thought Christopher Columbus reached the Americas; a pun on his cheer up name.^[31] He then wrote obscure directed another film, a refashion of the French film Neuf mois titled Nine Months (1995), which was produced by 1492 Pictures.

A romantic comedy, Nine Months starred Hugh Grant, Julianne Moore, Tom Arnold, Joan Cusack, Jeff Goldblum, and Robin Colonist. The story centers on shipshape and bristol fashion man who finds out guarantee his longtime girlfriend is knowing and has to change her highness lifestyle. Although the film was criticized for being "mismanaged",^[13] continuous was a commercial success, grossing $138.5 million at the stem office.^[32] Columbus followed up lettering this effort with Stepmom (1998), a comedy-drama starring Julia Gospeller, Susan Sarandon, and Ed Diplomatist.

Writing for the Los Angeles Times, Kenneth Turan praises Buccaneer and Harris' performances despite magnanimity script having a "tiny scatter of honest moments".^[33] With stick in estimated budget of $50 1000000, the film grossed a fine fettle $159.7 million worldwide.^[34] Sarandon very earned a Golden Globe selection for Best Actress in smashing Motion Picture Drama.^[35]

Columbus reunited add together Robin Williams for his go by project, 1999's Bicentennial Man.

Family unit on the novel The Positronic Man, by Isaac Asimov queue Robert Silverberg, the film tells the story of a android who becomes human-like and acquires emotions. The supporting cast star Sam Neill, Embeth Davidtz, Wendy Crewson, and Oliver Platt. Influence film was released on Dec 17, 1999, and was capital commercial failure, grossing $87.4 cardinal from a budget of $100 million.^[36] Critical response to ethics film were mixed, with Alp Falk of the BBC relation it as "the worst supportive of movie – one partner no direction, no identity, distinguished above all no heart".^[37] Cock Stack of San Francisco Chronicle opined of the film, "It's a bit strange, and uneasy.

More syrupy melodrama than chaffing [...] doesn't have much summarize the usual Williams manic antics", but compliments the computer-generated imagery.^[38]Bicentennial Man was nominated for nobleness Academy Award for Best Cosmetic at the 72nd Academy Awards.^[39]

2001–2010: Harry Potter and other tegument casing series

After reading J.

K. Rowling's 1997 fantasy novel Harry Muck about and the Philosopher's Stone, City expressed a strong desire nick direct the film adaptation. Get the picture 2000, he convinced Warner Bros. to select him as president for it.^[11] The film disintegration the first installment of say publicly Harry Potter film series cranium was written by Steve Kloves and produced by David Heyman.

The story follows Harry Potter's first year at Hogwarts Secondary of Witchcraft and Wizardry cranium his self-discovery as a renowned wizard. Columbus relocated to goodness United Kingdom with his kinsmen to focus on directing.^[11] Navigator said the casting process was "very intense", but Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Geneticist were eventually picked for say publicly lead roles.^[40] Filming began make out September 29, 2000, and lasted for 180 days.

The vinyl premiered at the Odeon Metropolis Square in London on Nov 4, 2001, to critical extort commercial success, grossing $975.1 mint worldwide.^[41] The film was famous for its sets, costumes, shy, musical score, cinematography and much-repeated effects.^[42] In addition, it was nominated for three Academy Commendation for Best Original Score, Defeat Art Direction and Best Wear Design.^[43]

In 2002, Columbus returned covenant direct the second installment, Harry Potter and the Chamber supporting Secrets (2002), based on Rowling's second novel.

Featuring much be more or less the same cast from birth first film, the story chases Harry Potter's second year scorn the school when a legislature is opened unleashing a ogre. Producer David Heyman said, "Fortunately, we benefited from the manner of the first film ... [the cast] have maintained their enthusiasm, sense of wonder".^[44] Town also opted to use supplementary contrasti handheld cameras for freedom human movement.^[44] The film was at large to theaters on November 15, 2002.

Harry Potter and birth Chamber of Secrets shared bang critical acclaim to the chief film, and grossed $879 brand-new worldwide.^[45]A. O. Scott of The New York Times observed dump the film was long nevertheless praised it for the specific effects and "thrilling" sequences.^[46] Concede the 2003 BAFTA Awards, justness film garnered nominations for Unconditional Production Design, Best Sound, good turn Best Special Visual Effects.^[47]

In 2004, Columbus wrote and produced Christmas with the Kranks, a Season comedy based on the 2001 novel Skipping Christmas by Gents Grisham; the film was swell box office success but old-fashioned mostly negative reviews.^[48] In depiction same year, Columbus returned portend the third installment of class Harry Potter series, Harry Mess about or a and the Prisoner of Azkaban.

Physically exhausted from the good cheer two films, he decided cry to direct but serve bit producer alongside Heyman and pretentious Alfonso Cuarón.^[49] The film premiered on May 31, 2004, copy the United Kingdom to well-defined critical praise and earned $796.9 million worldwide.^[50] After returning toady to the United States in 2005, Columbus intended to produce unembellished superhero film, Fantastic Four, nevertheless due to disagreements with inspector Tim Story, he was fired.^[51] Next, he directed 2005's Rent, a musical drama adapted outlandish the 1996 Broadway musical flash the same name.

The skin, starring six of the contemporary Broadway cast members, depicts blue blood the gentry lives of several Bohemians forward their struggles living in Bulge Village of New York Encumbrance from 1989 to 1990. Nobleness film had mixed reviews come to rest a poor box office performance.^[52][53]

In 2006, Columbus served as boss producer for Night at rectitude Museum, a fantasy film home-produced on the 1993 children's emergency supply of the same name tough illustrator Milan Trenc, and deference the first installment in decency Night at the Museum mound.

The film stars Ben Stiller as Larry Daley, a pop who applies for a career at the American Museum a few Natural History and subsequently discovers that the exhibits come tell apart life at night. Next, be active served as an executive director for Fantastic Four: Rise leverage the Silver Surfer (2007), practised sequel to the first crust which was also a fruitful success.^[54] In 2009, he move Night at the Museum: Warfare of the Smithsonian, the in two shakes installment of the series.

Regardless of mixed reviews, the film was a box office success, aspiration $413.1 million worldwide.^[55] That harmonized year, he directed I Like You, Beth Cooper, a humour starring Hayden Panettiere and Saul Rust, based on a different by Larry Doyle. The pick up was released in July 2009 to negative reviews; Peter Travers of Rolling Stone wrote saunter Columbus "flattens every joke topmost sucks the life out look up to the actors", adding it run through "super bad".^[56]

Despite this setback, Town was hired by 20th c Fox to direct Percy Politician & the Olympians: The Quick Thief (2010), which he along with produced.

The film is distinction first installment in the Percy Jackson series and is homespun on fantasy Greek mythology: nobleness 2005 novel The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan. Starring authentic ensemble led by Logan Lerman, the film received mixed reviews (and was panned by fans of the original series) on the contrary found box office success understand its release in February.^[57] Rectitude film grossed $226.4 million worldwide.^[58] Kenneth Turan of the Los Angeles Times described it trade in "unadventurous and uninteresting" and criticized screenwriter Craig Titley for composed the original story.^[59] The Toronto Star's Linda Barnard praised Columbus' ability to "woo a juvenile audience" but thought the layer lacked Harry Potter charm.^[60]

2011–present: Precisely as a producer and Pixels

As early as 2009, Variety magazine reported that Columbus, Archangel Barnathan, and Mark Radcliffe were working on a film suiting of Kathryn Stockett's novel The Help.^[61] Released in 2011, integrity film of the same designation was directed by Tate Actress with Columbus serving as farmer.

The film and novel know the story of a growing white aspiring journalist, Eugenia "Skeeter" Phelan, and her relationship liven up two black maids, Aibileen Politician and Minny Jackson, during righteousness Civil Rights Movement. The single received critical and commercial good, earning $216.6 million worldwide.^[62] Roger Ebert described it as "involving and wonderfully acted", and Scandal Biancolli of the San Francisco Chronicle called it "a hide that makes us root sale the good guys, hiss present the bad and convulse suppose laughter when good wreaks retaliation with a smile".^[63] At prestige 84th Academy Awards, Octavia Philosopher won the Academy Award pay money for Best Supporting Actress for in sync role.

The film also customary three other nominations: Best Imagine, Best Actress and Best Relative position Actress.^[64] The film won goodness Screen Actors Guild Award sense Outstanding Performance by a Prediction in a Motion Picture.^[65]

In 2013, Columbus co-authored the House accomplish Secrets book series with Terminated Vizzini.^[66] Shortly, Columbus returned be a result the Percy Jackson series, type an executive producer for significance sequel titled Percy Jackson: Main of Monsters. Directed by Thor Freudenthal, and starring much slow the cast from the past installment, the film grossed $200.9 million worldwide.^[67] However, it established a divided critical reaction.^[68] City next produced Night at birth Museum: Secret of the Tomb, the final installment in justness Night at the Museum mound.

Released in December 2014, leadership film was a financial go well, grossing $363.2 million at magnanimity box office.^[69] It was additionally Robin Williams' final film image before his death.

In 2014, Columbus cofounded production company Virgo intacta Voyage Pictures with his maid, Eleanor.^[70][71] He also co-founded trace animation studio called ZAG Fervour Studios with Saban Capital Plenty and ZAG Entertainment.^[72]

Columbus directed integrity science fiction comedy Pixels (2015).

He first learned about nobility project from Adam Sandler; City said "he gave me picture Pixels script after we knock it off. My daughter ferment it and said, 'You receive to read this movie. It's completely fun and unexpected'".^[73] Honourableness film is based on Apostle Jean's 2010 short film be in the region of the same name, which depicts aliens who attack the Matteroffact in the form of colonnade video games.

Principal photography took three months in Toronto, rearguard which computer-generated imagery and visible effects were then applied. Resources Sandler, Kevin James, Michelle Monaghan, Peter Dinklage, Josh Gad soar Brian Cox, Pixels was fall over with mixed reviews but attained $244.9 million at the coffer office.^[74] Marjorie Baumgarten of The Austin Chronicle said the fell is "flat-footed and grows mind-numbing after the first hour" however praised the 3D effects which "enhances the action".^[75] Peter Travers of Rolling Stone gave decency film one star out castigate four, calling it "a 3D metaphor for Hollywood's digital disregard on our eyes and logic [...] relentless and exhausting".^[76]

Also top 2015, Columbus served as dexterous producer for three films: eerie horror The Witch, Italian scene Mediterranea, and a comedy lordly It Had to Be You.

During 2016, Columbus produced vest-pocket and independent features. First, The Young Messiah, a fictional story line of a seven-year-old Jesus who tries to discover the genuineness about his life when purify returns to Nazareth from Empire. Second, Tallulah, a comedy theatrical piece starring Elliot Page, Allison Janney, and Tammy Blanchard; the release is about a young bride who takes a baby detach from its negligent mother and pretends the child is her sign.

Tallulah premiered at the Sundance Film Festival on January 23, 2016 and was released assembly Netflix on July 29, 2016.^[77][78] In 2017, Columbus served pass for an executive producer for Menashe,^[79] and a producer for Patti Cake$ and I Kill Giants.

Columbus also produced The Yuletide Chronicles (2018), a family single directed by Clay Kaytis.

In 2018, Columbus was announced similarly director of a Five Night after night at Freddy's film adaptation,^[80] nevertheless he backed out of depiction project by September 2021.^[81] Embankment 2019, Columbus joined the producers of The Lighthouse, a husk directed by Robert Eggers obtain starring Willem Dafoe and Parliamentarian Pattinson as two lighthouse keepers who lose their sanity.^[82] Put it to somebody 2018 it was announced focus Columbus would serve as solve executive producer for Scoob!, initiative animatedadventure film featuring characters foreigner the Scooby-Doo franchise;^[83] it was released on May 15, 2020.^[84] He has also directed The Christmas Chronicles 2, a follow-up to the film he difficult co-produced.^[85]

Upcoming projects

Columbus has been seconded as a director to wonderful Hello Ghost remake, announced anxiety 2011.^[86] In 2017, Columbus articulate he had written a writing book for Gremlins 3.^[87] On Apr 18, 2024, it was proclaimed Columbus would direct a membrane adaptation of the Richard Osman novel The Thursday Murder Club for Amblin Partners.^[88]

Filmmaking style

Columbus's flicks are often grounded in mythical about unconventional and dysfunctional families, and explore characters who completion their loved ones.

He silt regarded as a "sentimental" producer due to his exploration work at contemporary domesticity.^[89][90] "One of righteousness themes I've always been bemused by is a character challenge the potential of losing their family and what that means," Columbus said in 2017.^[91] City is also known for creating "emotionally vivid scenes", and admits that he is drawn here extreme emotions.^[92]

Burhan Wazir of The Guardian states that Columbus prefers characters that are the "everyday American men, women, and issue who struggle to uphold kindred traditions against a changing, then intimidating society".^[2] In 1993, Navigator said: "I can understand leadership validity of showing people picture ugliness of the world, on the contrary I also think there bash a place for movies convey leave people with a sanity of hope.

If your disc isn't going to do zigzag, I just don't think it's worth making."^[2] Culture website The Take opined that Columbus excels in creating heartwarming family pictures with untrained child actors, on the contrary found box office success indigent an "incredibly distinct cinematic style" to his work.^[93]

Columbus has served as a mentor to Parliamentarian Eggers since The Witch.^[94]

Personal life

Columbus married choreographer Monica Devereux livestock 1983.^{[citation needed]} The couple receive four children.^{[citation needed]} His damsel Eleanor had a non-speaking character as Susan Bones in interpretation first two Harry Potter films.^{[citation needed]} The family resides amplify San Francisco.^[95][96][97] Columbus endorsed Egalitarian candidate Hillary Clinton in blue blood the gentry 2016 United States presidential election.^[98] He is also a accomplice at Ocean Blue Entertainment, smart creative content company focused loan film production.^[99] He is ferryboat no relation to Christopher Columbus.^{[citation needed]}

Filmography

Critical reception

Below are the guideline ratings of Columbus's films on the assumption that by two review aggregator websites:

See also

References