Columbus is the co-founder of1492 Pictures, a film production company that has produced some of his films since 1995. More recently, he co-founded another production firm with his daughter in 2014, called Maiden Voyage Pictures. In 2017, he launchedZAG Animation Studios, alongsideMichael Barnathan,Haim Saban, and Jeremy Zag. Columbus is also known for his collaboration with composerJohn Williams, with whom he has worked both on the first twoHome Alone films and the first twoHarry Potter films.
He studied atNew York University's film school at theTisch School of the Arts, where he was a classmate of screenwriterCharlie Kaufman andAlec Baldwin.[12][13] Although he received a scholarship, he forgot to renew it and was forced to take a factory job to pay for schooling.[14] While on shifts, he secretly worked on a 20-page screenplay, which one of his teachers would later use to help him get an agent.[14] Columbus now states that the experience "saved my life" and he was able to acknowledge "the terrifying reality I faced of having to live and work in that factory for the rest of my life in that town if I didn't make it".[14] Columbus graduated from NYU in 1980.
In 1980, while a senior at NYU, Columbus directed a short film entitledI Think I'm Gonna Like It Here that was later noticed bySteven Spielberg.[15]I Think I'm Gonna Like It Here was preserved by theAcademy Film Archive in 2014.[16]
Columbus' professional career began in the early 1980s, as a writer for the screenplay ofReckless (1984). Columbus later said, "it wasn't my best work. I intended it to be semi-biographical ... and the film was based on my attempts to break free. But the director turned it into a clumsy teen sex drama and the experience was so degrading."[17] Dissatisfied, Columbus conceived a new screenplay while living in an apartment loft, a comedy-horror titledGremlins (1984). In late 1981, he eventually received a phone call fromSteven Spielberg, who expressed an interest in buying the script. Upon release, the film was a critical success. Columbus then moved toLos Angeles to work for Spielberg'sAmblin Entertainment, writing more scripts includingThe Goonies andYoung Sherlock Holmes (both 1985).[17]
After staying in Los Angeles for two years, he said, "There's an unreality to the place, a lack of connection with real people."[18] He decided to move back to New York City. He wrote episodes for the animated seriesGalaxy High (1986) and received screenwriting credit forLittle Nemo: Adventures in Slumberland (1989). Columbus then started his directing career with the teen comedyAdventures in Babysitting (1987). The film received mixed reviews from critics and was regarded as a "mediocre debut".[19] Next, he wrote and directedHeartbreak Hotel (1988) which is a story aboutElvis Presley being abducted and finding himself offering counsel and help to a small-town family. The film was a commercial failure at the box office and it also received mixed-to-negative reviews.[20]
Home Alone made Culkin (pictured here in 1991) a child star.
In the late 1980s, fellow filmmakerJohn Hughes approached Columbus to directHome Alone (1990), a comedy film written by Hughes, where eight-year-old Kevin McCallister must defend his home from two burglars. Columbus had leftNational Lampoon's Christmas Vacation before shooting started, because of a personality clash with actorChevy Chase, who Columbus said treated him "like dirt".[21] Columbus particularly enjoyed the Christmas theme of theHome Alone script and quickly accepted the offer.[22] Subsequently, Columbus hiredMacaulay Culkin,Joe Pesci,Daniel Stern,John Heard, andCatherine O'Hara as the principal cast. Filming took four months between February and May 1990 and the film was released to theaters on November 16, 1990, to commercial success.Home Alone grossed $285 million in North America and $190 million elsewhere for a worldwide $476.7 million, against a budget of $18 million.[23] Nominated for twoAcademy Awards and twoGolden Globe Awards, the film served as Culkin's breakthrough role.[24][25]Dave Kehr ofChicago Tribune praised Hughes for writing recognizable characters, and Columbus for direction with "wit and warmth".[26]Home Alone has since been regarded as a "classic" to watch during the holiday season.[27]
In 1991, Columbus wrote and directed the romantic comedy-dramaOnly the Lonely (1991), with John Hughes serving as co-producer.[19] StarringJohn Candy,Maureen O'Hara,Ally Sheedy, andAnthony Quinn, the film depicts a Chicago policeman who must balance his loyalty between his mother and a shy funeral home employee, a loose adaptation ofMarty. The film managed to garner some favourable reviews despite performing tepidly at the box office.[28] In 1992, Columbus returned to direct the sequel to the first film, titledHome Alone 2: Lost in New York. Featuring the same principal cast of its predecessor, the plot takes place one year after the events of the first film. The film follows Kevin McCallister as he accidentally boards the wrong flight to New York City and finds himself confronted by the two same burglars in the first film.Home Alone 2: Lost in New York was released on November 20, 1992, to mixed reviews, but strong box office results, grossing $359 million worldwide.[29]Janet Maslin forThe New York Times wrote that "Home Alone 2 may be lazily conceived, but it is staged with a sense of occasion and a lot of holiday cheer. The return of Mr. Culkin in this role is irresistible, even if this utterly natural comic actor has been given little new to do. Mr. Pesci and Mr. Stern bring great gusto to their characters' stupidity".[30]
Columbus' next directorial feature wasMrs. Doubtfire (1993), an adaptation ofAnne Fine's novelAlias Madame Doubtfire about an unemployed father who disguises himself as a nanny so he can spend time with his children. StarringRobin Williams,Sally Field andPierce Brosnan, Williams was given creative freedom to improvise his lines, provoking amusement to all of the cast and crew.[31] The film was released by20th Century Fox in November 1993 to mixed and positive reception. Film review aggregatorRotten Tomatoes gave the film an approval rating of 72%, praising Williams.[32]Roger Ebert calls Williams "a mercurial talent who loves to dart in and out of many different characters and voices", but thoughtMrs. Doubtfire "has the values and depth of a sitcom".[33] However, the film performed well at the box office, earning $441.3 million worldwide.[34] The film also won the Academy Award for Best Makeup,Golden Globe Award for Best Actor andGolden Globe Award for Best Picture.[35][36]
In 1995, Columbus co-founded his own production company,1492 Pictures, named after the year thatChristopher Columbus reached the Americas, as a pun on his own name.[37] He then wrote and directed another film, a remake of the French filmNeuf mois titledNine Months (1995), which was produced by 1492 Pictures. A romantic comedy,Nine Months starredHugh Grant,Julianne Moore,Tom Arnold,Joan Cusack,Jeff Goldblum, and Robin Williams. The story centers on a man who finds out that his longtime girlfriend is pregnant and has to change his lifestyle. Although the film was criticized for being "mismanaged",[19] it was a commercial success, grossing $138.5 million at the box office.[38] Columbus followed up on this effort withStepmom (1998), a comedy-drama starringJulia Roberts,Susan Sarandon, andEd Harris. Writing for theLos Angeles Times, Kenneth Turan praises Roberts and Harris' performances despite the script having a "tiny handful of honest moments".[39] With an estimated budget of $50 million, the film grossed a healthy $159.7 million worldwide.[40] Sarandon also earned a Golden Globe nomination forBest Actress in a Motion Picture Drama.[41]
Columbus collaborated again with Robin Williams for his next project, 1999'sBicentennial Man. Based on the novelThe Positronic Man, byIsaac Asimov andRobert Silverberg, the film tells the story of arobot who becomes human-like and acquires emotions. The supporting cast includedSam Neill,Embeth Davidtz,Wendy Crewson, andOliver Platt. The film was released on December 17, 1999, and was a commercial failure, grossing $87.4 million from a budget of $100 million.[42] Critical response to the film were mixed, with Ben Falk of theBBC describing it as "the worst kind of movie – one with no direction, no identity, and above all no heart".[43] Peter Stack ofSan Francisco Chronicle opined of the film, "It's a bit strange, and strained. More syrupy melodrama than comedy [...] doesn't have much of the usual Williams manic antics", but compliments thecomputer-generated imagery.[44]Bicentennial Man was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Makeup at the72nd Academy Awards.[45]
In 2002, Columbus returned to direct the second installment,Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002), based on Rowling's second novel. Featuring much of the same cast from the first film, the story follows Harry Potter's second year at the school when achamber is opened unleashing a monster. Producer David Heyman said, "Fortunately, we benefited from the experience of the first film ... [the cast] have maintained their enthusiasm, sense of wonder".[50] Columbus also opted to use more handheld cameras for freedom of movement.[50] The film was released to theaters on November 15, 2002.Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets shared similar critical acclaim to the first film, and grossed $879 million worldwide.[51]A. O. Scott ofThe New York Times observed that the film was long but praised it for the special effects and "thrilling" sequences.[52] At the 2003BAFTA Awards, the film garnered nominations forBest Production Design,Best Sound, andBest Special Visual Effects.[53]
In 2004, Columbus wrote and producedChristmas with the Kranks, a Christmas comedy based on the 2001 novelSkipping Christmas byJohn Grisham; the film was a box office success but received mostly negative reviews.[54] In the same year, Columbus returned for the third installment of theHarry Potter series,Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. Physically exhausted from the first two films, he decided not to direct but serve as producer alongside Heyman and directorAlfonso Cuarón.[55] The film premiered on May 31, 2004, in the United Kingdom to strong critical praise and earned $796.9 million worldwide.[56] After returning to the United States in 2005, Columbus intended to produce a superhero film,Fantastic Four, but due to disagreements with directorTim Story, he was fired.[57] Next, he directed 2005'sRent, a musical drama adapted from the 1996 Broadwaymusical of the same name. The film, starring six of the original Broadway cast members, depicts the lives of severalBohemians and their struggles living inEast Village of New York City from 1989 to 1990. The film had mixed reviews and a poor box office performance.[58][59]
Despite this setback, Columbus was hired by 20th Century Fox to directPercy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief (2010), which he also produced. The film is the first installment in thePercy Jackson series and is based on fantasyGreek mythology: the 2005 novelThe Lightning Thief byRick Riordan. Starring an ensemble led byLogan Lerman, the film received mixed reviews (and was panned by fans of the original series) but found box office success upon its release in February.[63] The film grossed $226.4 million worldwide.[64] Kenneth Turan of theLos Angeles Times described it as "unadventurous and uninteresting" and criticized screenwriterCraig Titley for changing the original story.[65] TheToronto Star's Linda Barnard praised Columbus' ability to "woo a young audience" but thought the film lackedHarry Potter charm.[66]
In 2013, Columbus co-authored theHouse of Secrets book series withNed Vizzini.[72] Shortly, Columbus returned to thePercy Jackson series, as an executive producer for the sequel titledPercy Jackson: Sea of Monsters. Directed byThor Freudenthal, and starring much of the cast from the previous installment, the film grossed $200.9 million worldwide.[73] However, it received a divided critical reaction.[74] Columbus next producedNight at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb, the final installment in theNight at the Museum series. Released in December 2014, the film was a financial success, grossing $363.2 million at the box office.[75] It was also Robin Williams' final film appearance before his death.
In 2014, Columbus cofounded production company Maiden Voyage Pictures with his daughter, Eleanor.[76][77] He also co-founded an animation studio called ZAG Animation Studios withSaban Capital Group and ZAG Entertainment.[78]
Columbus directed the science fiction comedyPixels (2015). He first learned about the project fromAdam Sandler; Of that encounter, he said, "He gave me thePixels script after we hit it off. My daughter read it and said, 'You have to read this movie. It's completely fun and unexpected'".[79] The film is based on Patrick Jean's 2010 short film of thesame name, which depicts aliens who attack the Earth in the form ofarcade video games. Principal photography took three months inToronto, after which computer-generated imagery and visual effects were then applied. Starring Sandler,Kevin James,Michelle Monaghan,Peter Dinklage,Josh Gad andBrian Cox,Pixels was met with mixed reviews but earned $244.9 million at the box office.[80] Marjorie Baumgarten ofThe Austin Chronicle said the film is "flat-footed and grows tedious after the first hour" but praised the 3D effects which "enhances the action".[81] Peter Travers ofRolling Stone gave the film one star out of four, calling it "a 3D metaphor for Hollywood's digital assault on our eyes and brains [...] relentless and exhausting".[82]
Also in 2015, Columbus served as a producer for three films: supernatural horrorThe Witch, Italian dramaMediterranea, and a comedy titledIt Had to Be You. During 2016, Columbus produced small-scale and independent features. First,The Young Messiah, a fictional story of a seven-year-oldJesus who tries to discover the truth about his life when he returns toNazareth fromEgypt. Second,Tallulah, a comedy drama starringElliot Page,Allison Janney, andTammy Blanchard; the film is about a young woman who takes a baby from its negligent mother and pretends the child is her own.Tallulah premiered at theSundance Film Festival on January 23, 2016, and was released onNetflix on July 29, 2016.[83][84] In 2017, Columbus served as an executive producer forMenashe,[85] and a producer forPatti Cake$ andI Kill Giants. Columbus also producedThe Christmas Chronicles (2018), a family film directed byClay Kaytis.
Columbus has been attached as a director to aHello Ghost remake, announced in 2011.[93] In 2017, Columbus said he had written a script forGremlins 3.[94]
In January 2025, it was reported byDeadline that Columbus was writing sequels toGremlins andThe Goonies forWarner Bros., which were later confirmed by the studio.[95][96]
Columbus's films are often grounded in stories about unconventional and dysfunctional families, and explore characters who lose their loved ones. He is regarded as a "sentimental" filmmaker due to his exploration of contemporary domesticity.[97][98] "One of the themes I've always been fascinated by is a character facing the potential of losing their family and what that means," Columbus said in 2017.[99] Columbus is also known for creating "emotionally vivid scenes", and admits that he is drawn to extreme emotions.[100]
Burhan Wazir ofThe Guardian states that Columbus prefers characters that are the "everyday American men, women, and children who struggle to uphold family traditions against a changing, sometimes intimidating society".[3] In 1993, Columbus said: "I can understand the validity of showing people the ugliness of the world, but I also think there is a place for movies to leave people with a sense of hope. If your film isn't going to do that, I just don't think it's worth making."[3] Culture websiteThe Take opined that Columbus excels in creating heartwarming family films with untrained child actors, but found box office success without an "incredibly distinct cinematic style" to his work.[101]
Columbus has served as a mentor to Robert Eggers sinceThe Witch.[102]
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