Josh Safdie Career Summary
My Oscar Book:
Jan 25, 2026
Joshua Henry Safdie (born April 3, 1984) is best known for writing and directing the crime thriller films Good Time (2017) and Uncut Gems (2019) with his younger brother Benny Safdie as the Safdie brothers.
In 2024, it was reported that he and his brother would no longer be directing together and would pursue solo careers. His first film since the split, Marty Supreme, was released on December 25, 2025, and earned him four Oscar nominations, including Best Picture and Best Director. It is his first solo directorial effort since 2008’s The Pleasure of Being Robbed.
Safdie was born in New York City to Amy and Alberto Safdie.
Safdie is Jewish. His father was born in Italy, raised in France, and is of Syrian-Jewish descent. His mother is of Russian-Jewish descent.
His great uncle is architect Moshe Safdie. His cousin once removed is playwright Oren Safdie.
He and brother Benny Safdie divided their childhood living between their father in Queens and their mother and stepfather in Manhattan after their parents’ divorce.
He attended Columbia Grammar & Preparatory School and graduated from Boston University College of Communication in 2007.
The Safdies’ first feature was the 2009 film +, which they also wrote the screenplay for and edited together.
The film was showcased in the Directors’ Fortnight at the 2009 Cannes Film Fest.
In 2013, they debuted the documentary film Lenny Cooke at the Tribeca Film Fest, docu they became attached to after Cooke approached them to review the footage.
In 2014, the pair premiered their film Heaven Knows What at the 71st Venice Film Fest
In February 2016, the brothers filmed their crime thriller Good Time, which premiered at the 2017 Cannes Film Fest in Competition.
Uncut Gems, Josh and Benny’s next film, starred Adam Sandler, Lakeith Stanfield and Julia Fox and was exec-produced by Martin Scorsese. The brothers won the Independent Spirit Award for Best Director, and Benny shared the Independent Spirit Award for Best Editing with Ronald Bronstein, with whom he co-edited all the Safdie brother films.
In early 2024, it was reported that Josh and Benny would no longer be directing films together and would pursue solo careers. Benny described the split as amicable, a “natural progression of what we each want to explore.”
Josh’s first feature as a solo director is Marty Supreme, loosely based on Marty Reisman, a hustler-turned-champion table tennis player. It stars Timothée Chalamet and Gwyneth Paltrow, and was released by A24 on December 25, 2025.
His frequent collaborator Ronald Bronstein both co-wrote and edited the film, while Darius Khondji was the cinematographer and Jack Fisk was the production designer.
The film’s $70 million budget makes it A24’s most expensive film.
Safdie is married to producer Sara Rossein. They have two children.
Filmography
2008 The Pleasure of Being Robbed Yes Yes Yes Yes No Also actor, producer
2009 Daddy Longlegs
2013 Lenny Cooke
2014 Heaven Knows
2017 Good Time
2019 Uncut Gems
2022 Funny, also producer
2025 Marty Supreme, also producer; contributed to snakebites, forces of nature, locomotion to the soundtrack of the film
Television
2023 The Curse No No Executive Miniseries
Telemarketers No No Executive TV series
Love Has Won: The Cult of Mother God No No Executive Documentary mini-series
2024 Ren Faire No No Executive Documentary mini-series
Adam Sandler: Love You Yes No Yes Netflix comedy special
As actor
2006 We’re Going to the Zoo The Hitchhiker Short film
The Ralph Handel Story The Director (voice) Short film
2007 The Back of Her Head Him Short film
2008 The Pleasure of Being Robbed Josh
Yeast Riverguy 1
2009 Taking Woodstock Documentary Cameraman Uncredited
Daddy Longlegs Chris
La corsa Alessandro Short film
2013 Lydia Hoffman Lydia Hoffman Bruce Short film
Hellaware Gallery Patron
Stand Clear of the Closing Doors Fighter
2015 This Summer Feeling Thomas
2016 Togetherness Craddock Brother #1 Episode: “Advanced Pretend”
My Art Tom
2017 Ezer Kenegdo Levi
