Darren Aronofsky | |
|---|---|
 Aronofsky in 2015 | |
| Born | (1969-02-12)February 12, 1969 (age 57) New York City, U.S. |
| Citizenship |
|
| Education | |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1997–present |
| Partner | Rachel Weisz (2001–2010) |
| Children | 1 |
Darren Aronofsky (born February 12, 1969) is an Americanfilmmaker. His films are noted for their surreal, dramatic, and often disturbing elements, frequently in the form ofpsychological realism. His accolades include aGolden Lion and aPrimetime Emmy Award as well as nominations for anAcademy Award, aGolden Globe Award and theBritish Academy Film Award.Aronofsky studied film and social anthropology atHarvard University before studying directing at theAFI Conservatory. He won several film awards after completing his senior thesis film,Supermarket Sweep, which became a National Student Academy Award finalist. In 1997, he founded the film and TV production companyProtozoa Pictures. His feature film debut, the surrealist psychological thrillerPi (1998), earned him the award for Best Director at theSundance Film Festival and anIndependent Spirit Award for Best First Screenplay.
Aronofsky then directed the psychological dramaRequiem for a Dream (2000), the romantic fantasy sci-fi dramaThe Fountain (2006), and the sports dramaThe Wrestler (2008), the latter of which earned theGolden Lion at theVenice Film Festival. For his critically acclaimed psychological horror[1]Black Swan (2010), he was nominated for Best Director at theAcademy Awards,British Academy Film Awards andGolden Globe Awards. He earned acclaim and controversy for his next films, theBiblical epicNoah (2014), the psychological horror filmMother! (2017) and the psychological dramaThe Whale (2022). He then directed the dark comedy crime filmCaught Stealing (2025).
Aronofsky was born in the Brooklyn borough of New York, United States, on February 12, 1969,[2] the son of teachers Charlotte and Abraham Aronofsky, both ofPolish-Jewish descent.[2][3] He grew up in Brooklyn'sManhattan Beach neighborhood.[4][5] He said he was "raisedculturally Jewish, but there wasvery little spiritual attendance in the temple. It was a cultural thing—celebrating the holidays, knowing where you came from, knowing your history, having respect for what your people have been through."[4][6] He graduated fromEdward R. Murrow High School.[7] He has one sister, Patti, who attended a professional ballet school through high school.[8] His parents would often take him toBroadway performances, which sparked his interest in show business.[9][10]
During his youth, Aronofsky trained as a field biologist withThe School for Field Studies in Kenya in 1985 andAlaska in 1986.[11] He attended school in Kenya to pursue an interest in learning aboutungulates.[11] He later said that the School for Field Studies "changed the way [he] perceived the world".[11] Aronofsky's interest in the outdoors led him to backpack his way through Europe and the Middle East. At the age of 18, he enteredHarvard University, where he majored insocial anthropology and studied filmmaking; he graduated in 1991.[12] He became seriously interested in film while attending Harvard after befriending Dan Schrecker, an aspiring animator,[13] andSean Gullette, who would go on to star in Aronofsky's first film,Pi.[14] His cinematic influences includedAkira Kurosawa,[15]Roman Polanski,[16]Federico Fellini,Terry Gilliam,[16]Shinya Tsukamoto,[16]Hubert Selby Jr.[16]Spike Lee,[17]Satoshi Kon,[18] andJim Jarmusch.[17]
Aronofsky's senior thesis film,Supermarket Sweep, was a finalist in the 1991 Student Academy Awards.[19] In 1992, Aronofsky received hisMFA degree in directing from theAFI Conservatory,[20] where his classmates includedTodd Field,Doug Ellin,Scott Silver, andMark Waters.[21][22] He won the institute'sFranklin J. Schaffner Alumni Medal.[23]
Aronofsky's debut feature, titledPi—sometimes stylized asπ—was shot in October 1997. The film was financed in part from $100 donations from his friends and family.[24] In return, he promised to pay each back $150 if the film made money, and they would at least get screen credit if the film lost money.[9] Producing the film with an initial budget of $60,000, AronofskypremieredPi at the 1998Sundance Film Festival, where he won theBest Director award. The film itself was nominated for a special Jury Award.[25]Artisan Entertainment bought distribution rights for $1 million.[9] The film was released to the public later that year to critical acclaim and it grossed a total of $3,221,152 at the box-office.[26][27]Pi was the first film to be made available for download on theInternet.[28]
Aronofsky followed his debut withRequiem for a Dream, a film based onHubert Selby Jr.'snovel of the same name. He was paid $50,000, and worked for three years with nearly the same production team as his previous film.[29] Following the financial breakout ofPi, he was capable of hiring established actors, includingEllen Burstyn andJared Leto, and received a budget of $3,500,000 to produce the film.[30] Production of the film occurred over the period of one year, with the film being released in October 2000. The film went on to gross $7,390,108 worldwide.[31] Aronofsky received acclaim for his stylish direction, and was nominated for another Independent Spirit Award, this time for Best Director.[32] The film itself was nominated for five awards in total, winning two, for Best Actress and Cinematography.[32]Clint Mansell's soundtrack for the film was also well-regarded, and since their first collaboration in 1996, Mansell has composed the music to every Aronofsky film (except forMother!, 2017 andThe Whale, 2022).[33][34] Ellen Burstyn was nominated for numerous awards, including for anAcademy Award for Best Actress, and won the Independent Spirit Award.[32][35][36] Aronofsky was awarded thePRISM Award from theRobert Wood Johnson Foundation with theNational Institute on Drug Abuse for the film's depiction of drug abuse.[37]
In May 2000, Aronofsky was briefly attached to make an adaptation ofDavid Wiesner's 1999 children's bookSector 7 forNickelodeon Movies; as of 2025, the project remains unmade.[38] In mid-2000,Warner Bros. hired Aronofsky to write and directBatman: Year One, which was to be the fifth film in theBatman franchise.[39] Aronofsky, who collaborated withFrank Miller on an unproduced script forRonin, brought Miller in to co-writeYear One with him, intending toreboot the series.[40] "It'ssomewhat based on the comic book", Aronofsky later said. "Toss out everything you can imagine about Batman! Everything! We're starting completely anew", who intended to re-imagine the titular character in a darker, adult-oriented and grounded style, with his adaptation aiming for an R-rating.[41] Regular Aronofsky collaboratorMatthew Libatique was set as cinematographer,[42] and Aronofsky had also approachedChristian Bale for the role of Batman. Bale was ultimately cast in the role forBatman Begins.[43] After that project failed to develop, Aronofsky declined the opportunity to direct a film in theBatman franchise.[44] In March 2001, he helped write the screenplay to thehorror filmBelow, which he also produced.[45]
In April 2001, Aronofsky entered negotiations withWarner Bros. andVillage Roadshow to direct a then-untitled science fiction film, withBrad Pitt in the lead role.[46] In June 2001, actressCate Blanchett entered talks to join the film,[47] which Aronofsky, wanting the title to remain secret, had given theworking title ofThe Last Man.[48] Production was postponed to wait for a pregnant Blanchett to give birth to her child in December 2001. Production was ultimately set for late October 2002 in Queensland and Sydney.
By now officially titledThe Fountain, the film had a budget of $70 million, co-financed by Warner Bros. andNew Regency, which had filled the gap after Village Roadshow withdrew.[49] Pitt left the project seven weeks before the first day of shooting, halting production.[50] In February 2004, Warner Bros. resurrected it on a $35 million budget withHugh Jackman in the lead role.[51] In August, actressRachel Weisz filled the vacancy left by Blanchett.[52]The Fountain was released on November 22, 2006, a day before the AmericanThanksgiving holiday; ultimately it grossed $15,978,422 in theaters worldwide.[53] Audiences and critics were divided in their responses to it.[54][55][56][57]
In 2007, Aronofsky hired writerScott Silver to developThe Fighter with him.[58] Aronofsky approached Bale to star in the film, but Aronofsky dropped out because of its similarities toThe Wrestler and to work onMGM'sRoboCop remake.[clarification needed][59] In July 2010, Aronofsky had left the project due to uncertainty over the financially distressed studio's future.[60] When asked about the film, he said, "I think I'm still attached. I don't know. I haven't heard from anyone in a while".[61] Later during 2007, Aronofsky said he was planning to film a movie aboutNoah's Ark.[62]
Aronofsky had the idea forThe Wrestler for over a decade.[63] He hiredRobert Siegel to turn his idea into a script. The actorNicolas Cage entered negotiations in October 2007 to star as Randy, the film's protagonist.[64] The following month Cage left the project, andMickey Rourke replaced him in the lead role. Aronofsky said that Cage pulled out of the movie because Aronofsky wanted Rourke to star; Aronofsky said, stating that Cage was "a complete gentleman, and he understood that my heart was with Mickey and he stepped aside. I have so much respect for Nic Cage as an actor and I think it really could have worked with Nic but, you know, Nic was incredibly supportive of Mickey and he is old friends with Mickey and really wanted to help with this opportunity, so he pulled himself out of the race."[65] Cage responded, "I wasn't quote 'dropped' from the movie. I resigned from the movie because I didn't think I had enough time to achieve the look of the wrestler who was on steroids, which I would never do".[66] The roughly 40-day shoot began in January 2008.[67]
The Wrestler premiered at the 65thVenice International Film Festival. Initially receiving little attention, the film wound up winning theGolden Lion, the highest award at the world's oldest film festival.[68]The Wrestler received critical acclaim, and both Rourke and co-starMarisa Tomei receivedAcademy Award,Golden Globe,SAG, andBAFTA nominations for their performances.[69] Rourke won a Golden Globe, as didBruce Springsteen for his original song written for the film.The Wrestler grossed $44,674,354 worldwide on a budget of $6,000,000 making it Aronofsky's highest-grossing film to that point.[70]
Aronofsky's next film wasBlack Swan, which had been in development since 2001, apsychological thrillerhorror film about aNew York City ballerina.[71][72] The film starred actressNatalie Portman, whom Aronofsky had known since 2000. She introduced Aronofsky toMila Kunis, who joined the cast in 2009.[73]Black Swan had its world premiere as the opening film at the67th Venice Film Festival in September 2010. It received a standing ovation whose lengthVariety said made it "one of the strongest Venice openers in recent memory".[74]
Black Swan has received high praise from film critics, and received a record12 Broadcast Film Critics Association nominations, fourIndependent Spirit Award nominations, fourGolden Globe nominations, threeSAG nominations, andmany more accolades.[75][76][77] Aronofsky received a Golden Globe nomination forBest Director.[77] The film broke limited-release box-office records and grossed an unexpectedly high $329,398,046.[78][79] On January 25, 2011, the film was nominated for a total of fiveAcademy Awards;Best Picture,Best Director,Best Actress,Best Cinematography andBest Film Editing. On February 27, 2011, Portman won forBest Actress.[80] The film was awarded thePRISM Award from theSubstance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration for its depiction of mental health issues.[81] Aronofsky served as an executive producer onThe Fighter, which was also nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars and won two forBest Supporting Actor andBest Supporting Actress forChristian Bale andMelissa Leo.[80]
.jpg)
Aronofsky was attached toThe Wolverine, which was scheduled to begin production in March 2011, but he left the project due to scheduling issues.[82] The film was set to be sixth entry of theX-Men film series, featuring a story revolving aroundWolverine's adventures in Japan.[82] In April 2011, Aronofsky was announced as the president of the jury for the68th Venice International Film Festival.[83]
In December 2011, Aronofsky directed the music video forLou Reed andMetallica's "The View" from their albumLulu.[84]
Aronofsky was set to direct an HBO series pilot calledHobgoblin. Announced on June 16, 2011, the series would have depicted a group of magicians and con artists who use their powers of deception to defeatHitler duringWorld War II.[85] He was set to work on the project withPulitzer Prize winning authorMichael Chabon and his wife Ayelet Waldman.[85] In June 2013, it was announced that HBO had dropped the show and Aronofsky had pulled out, as well.[86]
In 2011, Aronofsky tried to launch production onNoah, a retelling of the Bible story ofNoah's Ark, projected for a $115 million budget.[87][88] By the following year, the film had secured funding and distribution fromNew Regency andParamount Pictures, withRussell Crowe hired for the title role.[89] The film was adapted into a serializedgraphic novel written by Aronofsky andAri Handel, published in French in October 2011 by the Belgian publisherLe Lombard.[90] By July 2012, Aronofsky's crews were building an ark set inOyster Bay, New York. Aronofsky announced the start of filming onNoah on Twitter in the same month, tweeting shots of the filming inIceland.[91] The film featuredEmma Watson,Anthony Hopkins,Logan Lerman, andJennifer Connelly, with the latter having also starred inRequiem for a Dream.[92] During its opening weekend,Noah held the largest non-sequel opening within Russia and Brazil, and the fourth-largest opening of all time.[93] Aronofsky did not use live animals for the film, saying in aPETA video that "there's really no reason to do it anymore because the technology has arrived".[94] TheHumane Society of the United States gave him their inaugural Humane Filmmaker Award in honor of his use of computer-generated animals.[95] That same year, he was announced as the president of the jury for the65th Berlin International Film Festival for February 2015.[96]
In 2016, he produced thePablo Larraín dramaJackie (2016). Aronofsky's next film,Mother!, was released by Paramount Pictures on September 15, 2017.[97] It starsJennifer Lawrence,Javier Bardem,Michelle Pfeiffer,Domhnall Gleeson,Ed Harris andKristen Wiig.[98][99] The film sparked controversy upon release for itsdepiction of violence,[100] and, though it received generally positive reviews,[101] it polarized audiences, becoming one of few films to receive a "F"CinemaScore grade.[102][103] On review aggregatorRotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 68% based on 278 reviews, and an average rating of 6.8/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "There's no denying thatMother! is the thought-provoking product of a singularly ambitious artistic vision, though it may be too unwieldy for mainstream tastes."[101]
In 2018, he was the co-executive producer ofSPHERES, a virtual reality journey through the universe, that was acquired in a seven figure deal at the 2018Sundance Film Festival.[104]
In January 2021, his next film was announced to beThe Whale, a film adaptation ofSamuel D. Hunter's play of the same name, starringBrendan Fraser.[105]The Whale had its world premiere at the79th Venice International Film Festival on September 4, 2022, where it received a six-minute standing ovation.[106] Fraser's performance was highly praised and won him theAcademy Award for Best Actor.[107] The film also won theBest Makeup and Hairstyling as well as a nomination for theBest Supporting Actress (Hong Chau) as well as four nominations for the76th British Academy Film Awards. In 2023, Aronofsky directed the featurePostcard from Earth, which was produced and filmed exclusively for theSphere in the Las Vegas Valley on its16K resolution screen.
In 2024, it was announced that Aronofsky would direct the 1990s-set crime thrillerCaught Stealing forSony Pictures, withCharlie Huston adapting his own novel andAustin Butler attached to star.[108] The film was theatrically released on August 29, 2025.[109]
In 2018, Aronofsky executive produced the 10-part documentary seriesOne Strange Rock forNational Geographic. Episodes cover topics like the universe's origins, alien life, human intelligence, and themes of survival and destruction. Daniel Fienberg ofThe Hollywood Reporter describesOne Strange Rock as "spectacular, delivering the same sort of bringing-science-to-life thrills for Earth asCosmos did with the universe andBlue Planet andPlanet Earth have done with myriad lifeforms."[110]
Aronofsky executive produced another National Geographic docuseries showcasing the planet's wonders,Welcome to Earth. The six-episode program was released in December 2021.[111]
In 2020, Aronofsky produced directorLance Oppenheim's debut feature documentary,Some Kind of Heaven. Set inThe Villages retirement community in Florida, the film follows four residents who struggle to fit into the community's prepackaged paradise. InThe A.V. Club, A.A. Dowd saysSome Kind of Heaven "is surely one of the most gorgeously, strikingly shot documentaries in recent memory".[112] The film premiered at theSundance Film Festival[113] before being released byMagnolia Pictures in 2021.
In 2022, Aronofsky produced director Alex Pritz's documentaryThe Territory, about the IndigenousUru-Eu-Wau-Wau people's struggle against advancing deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon, caused by farmers and unauthorized settlers.[114] The film had its world premiere at the2022 Sundance Film Festival on January 22, 2022, and was released theatrically on August 19, 2022, by National Geographic to critical praise.[115][116] Guy Lodge ofVariety writes, "'The Territory' is handsome without resting unduly on the natural beauty of its imperiled landscape, though iridescent closeups of plant and insect activity make clear the larger circle of life at stake here."[117] The film was awarded a2022 Peabody Award and was shortlisted for an Academy Award in the Documentary Feature Film category.[118][119]
Aronofsky also created and executive producedLimitless for National Geographic, released in November 2022. The six-part series featuresChris Hemsworth and delves into the science of longevity.[120]
In 2026, Aronofsky announced the first project from hisAI film studio Primordial Soup, titledOn This Day... 1776. The series re-creates moments from theAmerican revolution by combining voice acting from unionizedSAG-AFTRA actors withsynthetic visuals produced with AI fromGoogle DeepMind.[121] The series is licensed by Time Studios and was released onYouTube on January 29, 2026.[122] The series received overwhelmingly negative reception,[123][124][125][126][127] with critics calling itAI slop.[128][129][130][131][132]
Aronofsky's first two films,Pi andRequiem for a Dream, were low budget and usedmontages of extremely short shots, also known aship hop montages.[133] While an average 100-minute film has 600 to 700 cuts,Requiem for a Dream features more than 2,000. Split-screen is used extensively, along with extremely tightcloseups.[134] Long tracking shots, including those shot with an apparatus strapping a camera to an actor, called theSnorricam, andtime-lapse photography are also prominent stylistic devices.[135] Often with his films, Aronofsky alternates between extreme closeups and extreme wide shots to create a sense of isolation.[136]
WithThe Fountain, Aronofsky restricted the use ofcomputer-generated imagery. Henrik Fett, the visual effects supervisor of Look Effects, said, "Darren was quite clear on what he wanted and his intent to greatly minimize the use of computer graphics ... and I think the results are outstanding."[137] Aronofsky filmed bothThe Wrestler andBlack Swan with a muted palette and a grainy style.[138] Part of this consistent style involves collaborations with frequent partners cinematographerMatthew Libatique, editorAndrew Weisblum and composerClint Mansell.[139] Mansell's music is often an important element of the films.[140]
Pi features several references to mathematics and mathematical theories.[24] In a 1998 interview, Aronofsky acknowledged several influences forPi: "I'm a big fan ofKurosawa andFellini. In this film in particular I think there's a lot ofRoman Polanski influence andTerry Gilliam influence as well as a Japanese director namedShinya Tsukamoto—he directedThe Iron Man, Tetsuo." The visual style ofPi andRequiem for a Dream features numerous similarities toTetsuo: The Iron Man.[141][142]
The majority of reviewers characterizedRequiem for a Dream in thegenre of "drug movies", along with films likeThe Basketball Diaries,Trainspotting,Spun, andFear and Loathing in Las Vegas.[133] But, Aronofsky placed his movie in a wider context, saying:
Requiem for a Dream is not about heroin or about drugs ... The Harry-Tyrone-Marion story is a very traditional heroin story. But putting it side by side with the Sara story, we suddenly say, 'Oh, my God, what is a drug?' The idea that the same inner monologue goes through a person's head when they're trying to quit drugs, as with cigarettes, as when they're trying to not eat food so they can lose 20 pounds, was really fascinating to me. I thought it was an idea that we hadn't seen on film and I wanted to bring it up on the screen.[143]
Dream logic is anotherleitmotif in Aronosfky's work.[144]
In theToronto International Film Festival interview conducted by James Rocchi, Aronofsky credited the 1957Charles Mingus song "The Clown" as a major influence onThe Wrestler. It is an instrumental piece, with a poem read over the music about a clown who accidentally discovers the bloodlust of the crowds and eventually kills himself in performance.[145]
Aronofsky calledBlack Swan a companion piece toThe Wrestler, recalling one of his early projects about a love affair between a wrestler and a ballerina. He eventually separated the wrestling and the ballet worlds, considering them as "too much for one movie". He compared the two films: "Wrestling some consider the lowest art—if they would even call it art—and ballet some people consider the highest art. But what was amazing to me was how similar the performers in both of these worlds are. They both make incredible use of their bodies to express themselves."[73] About the psychological thriller nature ofBlack Swan, actress Natalie Portman compared the film's tone to Polanski's 1968 filmRosemary's Baby,[146] while Aronofsky said Polanski'sRepulsion (1965) andThe Tenant (1976) were "big influences" on the final film.[73] Actor Vincent Cassel also comparedBlack Swan to Polanski's early films, commenting that it was also influenced byAlejandro Jodorowsky's movies[147] andDavid Cronenberg's early work.[148]
Aronofsky has also mentioned that he "learned a lot" fromJean-Luc Godard's filmBreathless.[149]
Requiem for a Dream was originally set for release in 2000, but it was met with controversy in the U.S., being ratedNC-17 by theMPAA due to a graphic sex scene.[150] Aronofsky appealed the rating, claiming that cutting any portion of the film would dilute its message. The appeal was denied and the film's distributorArtisan Entertainment decided to release the film unrated.[151]
The question of who had designed 40 ballet costumes for Portman and the dancers inBlack Swan was one publicized controversy related to the film.[152] The media also gave substantial coverage to thedance double controversy: how much credit for the dancing in the film was being given to Portman and how much to her "dance double",Sarah Lane, anAmerican Ballet Theatresoloist.[153] Lane claimed to have danced more than she was credited. The director and Fox Searchlight disputed Lane's claim. Their released statements said, "We were fortunate to have Sarah there to cover the more complicated dance sequences and we have nothing but praise for the hard work she did. However, Natalie herself did most of the dancing featured in the final film."[154]
Aronofsky said in an interview withEntertainment Weekly:[155]
I had my editor count shots. There are 140 dance shots in the film. 111 are Natalie Portman untouched. 28 are her dance double Sarah Lane. If you do the math, that's 80% Natalie Portman. What about duration? The shots that feature the double are wide shots and rarely play for longer than one second. There are two complicated longer dance sequences that we used face replacement. Even so, if we were judging by time, over 90% would be Natalie Portman. And to be clear, Natalie did danceen pointe in pointe shoes. If you look at the final shot of the opening prologue, which lasts 85 seconds, and was danced completely by Natalie, she exits the scene on pointe. That is completely her without any digital magic.
Aronofsky's 2014 filmNoah was banned on religious grounds in theUnited Arab Emirates,Malaysia,Qatar, andIndonesia, with other countries following suit.[156]Box Office Mojo said it was one of the most controversial movies of the past 35 years, along with such titles asThe Passion of the Christ orThe Da Vinci Code.[157]
Aronofsky's films have also been criticized for content and casting. His seventh filmMother! (2017) sparked controversy upon release due to its graphic and disturbing content, polarizing both critics and audiences.[100][102][103] His eighth filmThe Whale (2022) also received controversy for lead starBrendan Fraser wearing a prosthetic suit; and for casting the heterosexual Fraser as a homosexual character. Some critics labeled the film's messaging relating to its lead character's obesity asfatphobic.[158][159][160][161][162] In preparing for the role, Fraser consulted the Obesity Action Coalition (OAC) and conversed with members of the group about their life experiences. The OAC recognized the controversial use of prosthetics in portraying obesity, but the organization supported its role in the film because it helped "realistically portray one person's story with obesity, something rarely seen in media" rather than existing to "demean or ridicule".[163]
Aronofsky is known for his environmental activism andveganism. A number of his films, notablyNoah andMother!, can be read as environmentalparables. In 2014 he traveled to theAlberta Tar Sands with theSierra Club'sMichael Brune andLeonardo DiCaprio.[164] In 2015, he traveled to Alaska'sArctic National Wildlife Refuge with Brune,Keri Russell, and the leaders of several veterans groups.[165]
In 2014, he received the Humane Filmmaker Award from theHumane Society of the United States.[166]
In 2015, he collaborated with the artistJR onThe Standing March, a public art installation in Paris encouraging diplomats atCOP21 to take action against climate change.[167]
He coproduced the 2022 documentaryThe Territory about a Brazilian rainforest tribe's fight to protect its existence from encroaching land grabbers.
He is a board member of theSierra Club Foundation andThe School for Field Studies.[168][169]
Aronofsky began dating English actressRachel Weisz in 2001, and they were engaged in 2005.[170] They lived inManhattan's East Village and had a son on May 31, 2006.[171][172] In November 2010, they announced that they had been separated for months but were raising their son together.[173]
In September 2016, he began dating American actressJennifer Lawrence, whom he met during the filming ofMother!.[174][175] The relationship ended in November 2017.[176]
In 2018, Aronofsky was in a relationship with Russian actressAglaya Tarasova, daughter of actressKseniya Rappoport.[177]
Aronofsky said of his spiritual beliefs in 2014, "I think I definitely believe. My biggest expression of what I believe is inThe Fountain."[178] In 2022, he said, "I do TM [Transcendental Meditation] and I love it. It's a really helpful exercise."[179]
In 2024, both he and his sister Patti becamePolish citizens. His Polish lawyer explained that Aronofsky applied for Polish citizenship to fulfill his parents' wish.[180]
Short film
| Year | Title | Director | Writer | Producer | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | Supermarket Sweep | Yes | Yes | No | Senior thesis film[181] |
| Fortune Cookie | Yes | No | Yes | AFI Conservatory masters program[182] | |
| 1993 | Protozoa | Yes | Yes | No | |
| 1994 | No Time | Yes | No | No | |
| 2005 | Trapped in the Television | Yes | No | No | Commissioned byNokia at theTribeca Film Festival[183] |
Feature film
| Year | Title | Director | Writer | Producer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Pi | Yes | Yes | No |
| 2000 | Requiem for a Dream | Yes | Yes | No |
| 2002 | Below | No | Yes | Yes |
| 2006 | The Fountain | Yes | Yes | No |
| 2008 | The Wrestler | Yes | No | Yes |
| 2010 | Black Swan | Yes | No | No |
| 2014 | Noah | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 2017 | Mother! | Yes | Yes | No |
| 2022 | The Whale | Yes | No | Yes |
| 2025 | Caught Stealing | Yes | No | Yes |
Producer only
| Executive producer
|
Acting credits
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Pi | Assistant positive cutter | |
| 2000 | Requiem for a Dream | Visitor | Uncredited cameo |
| 2022 | Night of the Coconut | Himself |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | One Strange Rock | Executive producer | Documentary series |
| 2022 | Limitless with Chris Hemsworth | Creator and executive producer |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Soldier Boyz | Designer and cutscenes director | FMV Game[184][185] |
| 2018 | Spheres: Songs of Spacetime | Producer | Virtual reality |
| 2023 | Postcard from Earth | Director, writer and producer | Bespoke production for theSphere[186] |
| Year | Title | Academy Awards | BAFTA Awards | Golden Globe Awards | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nominations | Wins | Nominations | Wins | Nominations | Wins | ||
| 2000 | Requiem for a Dream | 1 | 1 | ||||
| 2006 | The Fountain | 1 | |||||
| 2008 | The Wrestler | 2 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | |
| 2010 | Black Swan | 5 | 1 | 12 | 1 | 4 | 1 |
| 2014 | Noah | 1 | |||||
| 2022 | The Whale | 3 | 2 | 4 | 1 | ||
| Total | 11 | 3 | 18 | 2 | 10 | 3 | |
Directed Academy Award performances
Under Aronofsky's direction, these actors have receivedAcademy Award nominations and wins for their performances in their respective roles.
| Year | Performer | Title | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Academy Award for Best Actor | |||
| 2009 | Mickey Rourke | The Wrestler | Nominated |
| 2023 | Brendan Fraser | The Whale | Won |
| Academy Award for Best Actress | |||
| 2001 | Ellen Burstyn | Requiem for a Dream | Nominated |
| 2011 | Natalie Portman | Black Swan | Won |
| Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress | |||
| 2009 | Marisa Tomei | The Wrestler | Nominated |
| 2023 | Hong Chau | The Whale | Nominated |
He describes his family background as "culturally Jewish".
In this film [Pi] in particular I think there's a lot of [Roman] Polanski influence and Terry Gilliam influence as well as a Japanese director named [Shinya] Tsukamoto ... As far as being a storyteller I think my biggest influence was Bill Cosby and his comedy. And also as far as writing would probably be Hubert Selby, Jr.
Filmmakers like Spike Lee and Jim Jarmusch were big influences and expanded [my sense of] what film could be.
Black Swan" director Darren Aronofsky tweeted: "learned a lot from my vhs copy of breathless… thank you maestro.
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Academics | |
| Artists | |
| People | |
| Other | |
