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Josh Safdie

Josh Safdie

Director, producer, actor, writer, cinematographer and editor · Born April 3, 1984 (42) · New York City, New York, USA

Primetime Emmy winner · Oscar nominee · Golden Globe nominee · 9 other major award bodies

Joshua Henry Safdie (born April 3, 1984) is an American filmmaker and screenwriter, best known for his work with his younger brother, Benny Safdie, as one half of the acclaimed Safdie Brothers. Together, they developed a reputation for raw, urgent storytelling in films such as Heaven Knows What (2014), Good Time (2017), and Uncut Gems (2019). In 2024, it was reported that the Safdie Brothers would no longer co-direct and would instead pursue solo projects. Josh's first feature since the split, Marty Supreme (2025), was critically acclaimed, earning him four Oscar nominations, including Best Director.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
April 3, 1984 (42)
From
New York City, New York, USA
Works as
Director, producer, actor, writer, cinematographer and editor
Titles
28 on MovieCove · 71 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 155 days to Oct 26Down 10% in 30 days

What are Josh Safdie's films like?

Across their 23 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Self and Society.

Genres

Comedy5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 74th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Documentary4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 86th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Documentary movies
Crime3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 92nd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime movies
Drama3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 60th percentile
: 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
38%
Society
15%
Power
14%
Bonds
13%
Survival
10%
Ideas
6%
Morality
5%
Ambition6 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity5 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose5 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds4 titles, browse their movies with this themeArt4 titles, browse their movies with this themeGreed3 titles, browse their movies with this themeIsolation3 titles, browse their movies with this themeObsession3 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 16 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 5 · Serious 4 · Dark 7

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

A split, not a type: Grounded 9 · Stylized 5 · Heightened 2

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

A split, not a type: Gentle 4 · Charged 5 · Intense 7

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

A split, not a type: Steady 6 · Shifting 4 · Whiplash 6

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

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 6 · Some laughs 5 · Funny 5

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 8 · Even-paced 5 · Relentless 3

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

Casual 5 · Engaged 6 · Full focus 5

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

A split, not a type: Easy watch 7 · Affecting 1 · Heavy 8

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

Resolved 5 · Open-ended 8 · Ambiguous 3

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
14
Contemplative
12
Absurd
8
Dread
7
Warm
5
Other
17

How their films linger

Thought-provoking12 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling11 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 1 with a twist

  • Happy1
  • Bittersweet9
  • Tragic4
  • Ambiguous7
  • 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 Josh Safdie's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 24 of their 28 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on HBO Max (12).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Josh Safdie'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

71 credits, 28 with a MovieCove page; 8 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

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

    Executive Producer

  • The History of Concrete(2026)

    Executive Producer · as Self (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • Monsters of God(2026)

    Show 5 episodes · Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all shows

  • The Lion Queen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2026)

    Executive Producer

  • Neighbors(2026)

    Show 6 episodes · Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all shows

  • Marty Supreme(2025)

    Director · Editor · Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • Sarah Squirm: Live + in the Flesh(2025)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • Noah Britton: The Best Stuff I've Ever Done(2025)

    Additional Camera

  • If I Had Legs I'd Kick You(2025)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Pee-wee as Himself(2025)

    Show 2 episodes · Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all shows

  • Thank You Very Much(2023)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • Adam Sandler: Love You(2024)

    Director · Producer

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Ren Faire(2024)

    Show 3 episodes · Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all shows

  • Love Has Won: The Cult of Mother God(2023)

    Show 3 episodes · Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all shows

  • The Curse(2023)

    Show 10 episodes · Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all shows

  • Telemarketers(2023)

    Show 3 episodes · Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all shows

  • Funny Pages(2022)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • The Weeknd: 103.5 Dawn FM (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    as Arthur Fleminger (voice)

  • Chillin Island(2021)

    Show 6 episodes · Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 10th percentile of all shows

  • Pigface (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2021)

    Executive Producer

  • Question & Answer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    Director · Editor · Writer · as Self

  • Goldman v Silverman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    Director · Camera Operator

  • Uncut Gems(2019)

    Director · Music Producer · Writer · as Mohegan Sun Gambler (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • Ezer Kenegdo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    as Levi

  • Good Time(2017)

    Director · Writer

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • Toback Vs. Mailer: The Incident (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    Director

  • My Art(2016)

    as Tom

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • 10 Crosby (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    Actor

  • This Summer Feeling(2015)

    as Thomas

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • A Hot Two Weeks: The Making of Heaven Knows What (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    Actor

  • A Fairy-Nose (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    Director

  • Heaven Knows What(2014)

    Director · Casting · Writer

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • Gone Tomorrow (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    Director · Actor

  • Togetherness(2015)

    Show 1 episode · as Craddock Brother #1

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all shows

  • Stand Clear of the Closing Doors(2013)

    as Fighter

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Lenny Cooke(2013)

    Director · Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • Solid Gold (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    Director · Cinematographer

  • Hellaware(2013)

    as Gallery Patron

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Lydia Hoffman Lydia Hoffman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    as Bruce

  • Trophy Hunter (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    Director · Cinematographer · Editor · Writer

  • Heartland (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    Director · Producer

  • The Black Balloon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    Director · Casting Director · Writer

  • Lose Her Island (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    Director

  • Straight Hustle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    Director · Writer

  • Buttons (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    Director · Cinematographer · Editor

  • Tiny Furniture(2010)

    Thanks

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • John's Gone (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    Director · Cinematographer · Editor · Producer · Writer

  • The Neistat Brothers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    Show 8 episodes · Set Decoration · as Self

  • Daddy Longlegs(2009)

    Director · Cinematographer · Co-Producer · Editor · Writer · as Chris

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • Taking Woodstock(2009)

    as Documentary Cameraman (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • The Pleasure of Being Robbed (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    Director · Additional Camera · Editor · Producer · Story · Writer · as Josh

  • John's Lonely Trip to Coney Island (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    Director · Cinematographer

  • There's Nothing You Can Do (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    Director · Cinematographer · Editor · Writer

  • Yeast (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    Camera Operator · Sound · as Riverguy 1

  • The Story of Charles Riverbank (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    Cinematographer

  • I Think I'm Missing Parts (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    Director · Writer

  • Puberty: The Movie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    Art Direction

  • Jerry Ruis, Shall We Do This? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    Director

  • The Back of Her Head (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    Director · Producer · Writer · as Him

  • We're Going to the Zoo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Director · Producer · Writer · as The Hitchhiker

  • The Ralph Handel Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Director · Cinematographer · as The Director (voice)

  • If You See Something, Say Something (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Director · Cinematographer · Editor · Writer

  • The Adventures of Slater's Friend (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Director · Writer · as 2nd Cameraman

  • Alberto Live in a Bathroom (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Director · Writer

  • Lethargy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Director · Writer

  • Deep Cuts (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Producer

  • Into the Woods with Mark (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Cinematographer

  • Martha & Muhammad (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Producer

  • Superfakes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Show 8 episodes · Executive Producer

  • The Land of Nod (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Producer

  • Untitled Josh Safdie Project (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Director · Producer · Writer

Career shape

A full career of 71 titles, 64 of them dated from 2002 to 2026.

Biggest box office

Marty Supreme (2025)

$192M worldwide

Highest rated

Pee-wee as Himself (2025)

Midcredits 97th

Most popular right now

Marty Supreme (2025)

Film career

MilestoneAward win
  • 2008Screen debut· The Pleasure of Being Robbed
  • 2010Independent Spirit Award win· Daddy Longlegs

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting20 of 71: 11 only acting, 9 with another role · typical Midcredits score67thDirecting33 of 71: 4 only directing, 29 with another role · typical Midcredits score81stWriting20 of 71: 0 only writing, 20 with another role · typical Midcredits score92ndProducing29 of 71: 20 only producing, 9 with another role · typical Midcredits score67thMusic1 of 71: 0 only music, 1 with another roleCinematography12 of 71: 2 only cinematography, 10 with another roleEditing9 of 71: 0 only editing, 9 with another roleOther crew9 of 71: 4 only other crew, 5 with another role

71 titles, 30 with more than one role — directing and producing overlap on 9 of them.

By decade

2000s16 · 7 acting · 15 crew2010s27 · 12 acting · 18 crew2020s21 · 1 acting · 20 crew

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.

Awards

a Primetime Emmy and 6 other major awards from 38 major nominations, 2008–2026.

WinNomination
  1. 2026
    • Oscar, nominated · Best Achievement in Directing
    • Oscar, nominated · Best Achievement in Film Editing
    • Oscar, nominated · Best Motion Picture of the Year
    • Oscar, nominated · Best Original Screenplay
    • Golden Globe, nominated · Best Screenplay - Motion Picture
    • BAFTA Award, nominated · Best Director
    • BAFTA Award, nominated · Best Editing
    • BAFTA Award, nominated · Best Film
    • BAFTA Award, nominated · Best Screenplay (Original)
    • +5 other major bodies · 2 wins and 6 nominations
      • Directors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Theatrical Feature Film
      • Writers Guild Award, nominated · Original Screenplay
      • Producers Guild Award, won · Outstanding Producer of Non-Fiction Television
      • Producers Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Producer of Theatrical Motion Pictures
      • Critics Choice Award, nominated · Best Director
      • Critics Choice Award, nominated · Best Editing
      • Critics Choice Award, nominated · Best Original Screenplay
      • Independent Spirit Award, won · Best New Non-Scripted or Documentary Series
  2. 2025
    • Primetime Emmy, won · Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Variety Special (Pre-Recorded)
    • +1 other major body · 1 nomination
      • Independent Spirit Award, nominated · Best New Non-Scripted or Documentary Series
  3. 2024
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Series
  4. 2020
    • Critics Choice Award, nominated · Best Director
    • Independent Spirit Award, won · Best Director
    • Independent Spirit Award, nominated · Best Screenplay
  5. 2018
    • Independent Spirit Award, nominated · Best Director
  6. 2017
    • Cannes award, nominated
  7. 2016
    • Independent Spirit Award, nominated
  8. 2014
    • Venice award, won
    • Venice award, nominated · Best Film
Show 5 earlier years
  1. 2012
    • Sundance award, won · Fiction
    • Sundance award, nominated
  2. 2011
    • Independent Spirit Award, won
  3. 2010
    • Venice award, nominated · Best Short Film
  4. 2009
    • Cannes award, nominated · Directors' Fortnight
    • Cannes award, nominated
  5. 2008
    • Cannes award, nominated · Directors' Fortnight
    • Cannes award, nominated ×2

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 Josh Safdie's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 73rd percentile, the median of the 18 of 19 with a score; across their 16 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 80th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

80thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 16

Approval · how many liked their films

73rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 16

Reach · how many have seen their films

86thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 16

Midcredits score across 27 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up9
  • 50th to 74th9
  • 25th to 49th7
  • Below 25th2

Shape of the crowd

16 of their 27 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved1
  • Divisive1
  • Cult Classic2
  • Crowd Pleaser16
  • Mixed7

Most divisive · producer

Sarah Squirm: Live + in the Flesh (2025)

91st percentile spread · 43% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · producer

Pee-wee as Himself (2025)

Midcredits 97th · 93% liked

Reviewers score the atmosphere 75/100 and the pacing 54/100 in their films, across 15 reviewed titles. The element that speaks to their work as a director.

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 Josh Safdie's work okay for kids?

Across up to 8 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore, sex & nudity, profanity, alcohol & drugs and frightening / intense run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore6 titles61–71 · median 68 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity8 titles33–69 · median 55 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity7 titles67–95 · median 80 · severeheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs6 titles34–94 · median 61 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense7 titles32–83 · median 75 · intenseheavier 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 Josh Safdie work with?

People who share at least 2 of Josh Safdie's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Ronald Bronstein shares the most, 16.

Directors

  • Benny Safdie12 titles · 5 as director    See all 12 shared titles with Benny Safdie

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers