Biography
Benjamin Safdie (born February 24, 1986) is an American film director, screenwriter, actor, and film editor best known for working with his older brother Josh as a filmmaker. His directorial works include Heaven Knows What (2014), Good Time (2017), and Uncut Gems (2019). Transitioning towards acting, Safdie was nominated for the Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Male for his role in Good Time and has since taken on roles in films such as Licorice Pizza (2021), Are You There God? It's ...
Known For
Complete Filmography
The Odyssey
2026
An adaptation of Homer's epic poem of the same name, follow Odysseus in his perilous journey home after the Trojan War, showcasing his encounters with...
The Smashing Machine
2025
Director, Screenplay, Co-Producer
MMA fighter Mark Kerr struggles with addiction, winning and love during his peak era in the UFC.
Happy Gilmore 2
2025
Revisit Happy Gilmore's golf career after his win in the Tour Championship.
Thank You Very Much
2025
Executive Producer
Andy Kaufman's provocative comedy often outraged audiences, challenging them to confront their own presumptions. Through never-before-seen footage and...
Oppenheimer
2023
as Edward Teller
The story of J. Robert Oppenheimer's role in the development of the atomic bomb during World War II.
Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret.
2023
as Herbert Simon
When her family moves from New York City to New Jersey, an 11-year-old girl navigates new friends, feelings, and the beginning of adolescence.
Stars at Noon
2022
as CIA Man
In present-day Nicaragua, a headstrong American journalist and a mysterious English businessman strike up a romance as they become embroiled in a dang...
Funny Pages
2022
Producer
A teenage cartoonist rejects the comforts of his suburban life in a misguided quest for soul.
Licorice Pizza
2021
as Joel Wachs
The story of Gary Valentine and Alana Kane growing up, running around and going through the treacherous navigation of first love in the San Fernando V...
Pieces of a Woman
2020
as Chris
When a young mother's home birth ends in unfathomable tragedy, she begins a year-long odyssey of mourning that fractures relationships with loved ones...
Money on the Street: The Making of Uncut Gems
2020
as Self
A behind the scenes look at Uncut Gems (2019) by the Safdie Brothers with interviews from the cast and more.
Question & Answer
2020
as Self
The Safdie brothers go undercover to record an interview with Adam Sandler, the star of their film UNCUT GEMS.
Question & Answer
2020
Director, Writer, Editor
The Safdie brothers go undercover to record an interview with Adam Sandler, the star of their film UNCUT GEMS.
Goldman v Silverman
2020
as Al Silverman
Rod Goldman and Al Silverman are street performers who work the tourist scene of Times Square. Goldman gets no respect and Silverman is the first one ...
Goldman v Silverman
2020
Director
Rod Goldman and Al Silverman are street performers who work the tourist scene of Times Square. Goldman gets no respect and Silverman is the first one ...
Uncut Gems
2019
Director, Writer, Editor
A charismatic New York City jeweler always on the lookout for the next big score makes a series of high-stakes bets that could lead to the windfall of...
Marcy Me
2017
Director
JAY-Z reminisces on his days as a hustler in Marcy Houses in Brooklyn.
The Universe Is Out There: Josh and Benny Safdie
2017
as Self
Get to know the siblings whose films have captured the skittering pulse of New York’s city streets. An original documentary featuring footage from the...
The Pure and the Damned
2017
Director
Oneohtrix Point Never’s ‘The Pure and the Damned’ music video from the soundtrack of Good Time (2017) featuring Iggy Pop.
Good Time
2017
as Nick Nikas
After a botched bank robbery lands his younger brother in prison, Connie Nikas embarks on a twisted odyssey through New York City's underworld to get ...
Good Time
2017
Director, Editor, Sound Recordist
After a botched bank robbery lands his younger brother in prison, Connie Nikas embarks on a twisted odyssey through New York City's underworld to get ...
Person to Person
2017
as Eugene
Follows a variety of New York characters as they navigate personal relationships and unexpected problems over the course of one day.
Toback Vs. Mailer: The Incident
2016
Editor, Director
Betting, boxing, and boozing: this is the weird, true story of the time Norman Mailer confronted James Toback to argue about the difference between bo...
Heaven Knows What
2015
Editor, Sound Mixer, Director
A young heroin addict roams the streets of New York to panhandle and get her next fix, while her unstable boyfriend drifts in and out of her life at r...
A Hot Two Weeks: The Making of Heaven Knows What
2015
The story behind the acclaimed film, "Heaven Knows What," directed by Josh and Benny Safdie, and inspired by the life of Arielle Holmes.
Lenny Cooke
2013
Director, Editor
In 2001, Lenny Cooke was the most hyped high school basketball player in the country, ranked above future greats LeBron James, Amar’e Stoudemire, and ...
Solid Gold
2013
as Goldman
SOLID GOLD is an experiment in street performance and how to be seen. It's about a Golden Man in the streets and subways of New York, who tries and th...
Solid Gold
2013
Director
SOLID GOLD is an experiment in street performance and how to be seen. It's about a Golden Man in the streets and subways of New York, who tries and th...
Heartland
2013
Director, Producer
A horror film inspired by cults and Los Angeles in the late 1970s.
Trophy Hunter
2012
Director, Writer
Trophy Hunter, a short, fake documentary about illegal wildlife trade that Josh and Benny made for the Turtle Conservancy in 2012. It features the la...
The Black Balloon
2012
Director, Writer, Sound Recordist
An alien in a crowded land searched for some semblance of companionship after losing all of its friends.
Second Stop from Jupiter: The Making of Daddy Longlegs
2011
as Himself
A documentary chronicling the production of Daddy Longlegs.
Straight Hustle
2011
Writer, Director
Hustle, hustle, hustle... hard. These two got a cold hustle going on in downtown Seattle. Commissioned and produced by the Northwest Film Forum for th...
Buttons
2011
Director, Director of Photography, Editor
Josh & Benny Safdie, Alex Kalman, and Factory 25 present this feature-length program of found moments from the everyday—films that showcase the wonder...
John's Gone
2010
as John
John sells things online, cheats off dollar stores, needs friends but settles for strangers, has roaches. He is punch drunk, not with love but somethi...
John's Gone
2010
Writer, Director, Editor
John sells things online, cheats off dollar stores, needs friends but settles for strangers, has roaches. He is punch drunk, not with love but somethi...
Daddy Longlegs
2010
Director, Writer, Co-Producer
After months of living a solitary existence, Lenny, 34, picks up his kids from school. Every year he spends a couple of weeks with his sons Sage, 9, a...
The Surprise Tour
2010
Editor
Punk/Performance art band The Best Thing Ever tours the USA for three weeks performing exclusively unscheduled concerts for audiences who don't expect...
The Pleasure of Being Robbed
2008
Editor, Sound Designer
Mumblecore movie about a young woman named Eleonore who wanders New York City committing acts of theft.
John's Lonely Trip to Coney Island
2008
John embarks on a trip to Coney Island for a day of fun and happiness. Things don't quite work out as planned.
John's Lonely Trip to Coney Island
2008
Director, Editor
John embarks on a trip to Coney Island for a day of fun and happiness. Things don't quite work out as planned.
There's Nothing You Can Do
2008
The Safdie brothers repurpose reality television’s vocabulary of confrontation and cramped cinematography for a miniature study of urban maladies.
There's Nothing You Can Do
2008
Director, Writer, Editor
The Safdie brothers repurpose reality television’s vocabulary of confrontation and cramped cinematography for a miniature study of urban maladies.
The Acquaintances of a Lonely John
2008
This is the story of a lonely man named John. He wanders through the city into various acquaintances of varying levels of niceness. He sees a lot of p...
The Acquaintances of a Lonely John
2008
Director, Editor, Writer
This is the story of a lonely man named John. He wanders through the city into various acquaintances of varying levels of niceness. He sees a lot of p...
Yeast
2008
as Riverguy 2
A maddeningly oblivious, tyrannical and emotionally stunted young woman tries her best to negotiate two toxic friendships.
The Story of Charles Riverbank
2008
as Charles Riverbank
This is the story of a man named Charles Riverbank, who upon losing his home, wanders into various adventures and lot of dirty looks.
The Story of Charles Riverbank
2008
Writer, Director
This is the story of a man named Charles Riverbank, who upon losing his home, wanders into various adventures and lot of dirty looks.
I Think I'm Missing Parts
2007
A woman's car breaks down at a house in the woods. She looks out the window to see a variety of bizarre activities.
The Back of Her Head
2007
Writer
This is a story about him, who lives above an older Hindi man, who lives above a delinquent British guy, who lives on top of her. It is the back of he...
What To Do When Choking
2007
A short film by Ben Safdie.
What To Do When Choking
2007
Editor, Director
A short film by Ben Safdie.
The Ralph Handel Story
2006
as Ralph Handel
Benny Safdie’s deadpan spoof of stand-up comedy and staged cinéma verité verges on performance art. His Ralph Handel is a humorless white-collar worke...
The Ralph Handel Story
2006
Director, Editor
Benny Safdie’s deadpan spoof of stand-up comedy and staged cinéma verité verges on performance art. His Ralph Handel is a humorless white-collar worke...
The Groomsmen
2006
Production Assistant
Blue-collar Paulie prepares for fatherhood and his forthcoming wedding to Sue by hanging out with his groomsmen. Brother Jimbo, cousin Mike, and his p...
If You See Something, Say Something
2006
A short film by JoshSafdie.
If You See Something, Say Something
2006
Writer
A short film by JoshSafdie.
The Adventures of Slater's Friend
2005
Director, Editor, Writer
This is a Film about Slater's Friend. A camera crew follows a man by the name of Philbert Powell around on his journey from the supermarket to his job...
Projection/Admiration
N/A
as Himself (Archival)
Charli contemplates the messiness of the ethics in filmmaking and collaboration.
Into the Woods with Mark
N/A
A film by Ben Safdie.
Untitled Adam Sandler/Josh Safdie Project
N/A
Screenplay, Producer
Set in the world of high-end sports card collecting in the 1990s, a retired Baseball pitcher attempts a comeback as a sports memorabilia agent attempt...
Gone Tomorrow
N/A
Director
A short film by Josh Safdie, Benny Safdie, & Alex Kalman.
Into the Woods with Mark
N/A
Director
A film by Ben Safdie.