Akiva Schaffer
Directing Born Dec 1, 1977 Berkeley, California, USA 88 credits
Biography
Akiva Schaffer is an American filmmaker born on December 1, 1977, in Berkeley, California, USA. He began his career as a writer for Saturday Night Live and a member of The Lonely Island, a sketch-comedy troupe. Schaffer majored in film at the University of California, Santa Cruz. He is known for directing films including Hot Rod, Popstar, and the reboot of The Naked Gun. Schaffer has a total of 54 known credits. His content score is 10.
Advertisement
Career overview
Akiva Schaffer is a director who began his career in the entertainment industry. He is a member of The Lonely Island, a sketch-comedy troupe that initially gained success online. Schaffer majored in film at the University of California, Santa Cruz.
As a director, Schaffer is known for his work on several films. He directed the 2007 film Hot Rod and the 2016 film Popstar. Schaffer is also credited with directing the 2025 reboot of The Naked Gun. The details of his directing career are limited to these specific films.
Schaffer's directing credits are extensive, with a total of 54 known credits. His work as a director has been well-received, with a content score of 10.
Ask the Vault
Ask anything about Akiva Schaffer.
Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
The Naked GunThe Naked Gun · DirectorThe Naked Gun · Executive ProducerThe Naked Gun · WriterLadies & Gentlemen... 50 Years of SNL Music
Self Reliance · Executive Producer
Scream VIDigman! · Executive Producer
Chip 'n Dale: Rescue RangersChip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers · DirectorWeird: The Al Yankovic Story
Palm Springs · ProducerI Used to Go Here · Producer
I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson · DirectorI Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson · Executive ProducerPEN15 · Executive ProducerThe Lonely Island Presents: The Unauthorized Bash Brothers ExperienceThe Lonely Island Presents: The Unauthorized Bash Brothers Experience · Director
Alone Together · Executive Producer7 Splinters in Time
Carpool Karaoke: The SeriesTour de Pharmacy · Recording SupervisionBrigsby Bear · ProducerMichael Bolton's Big, Sexy Valentine's Day SpecialMichael Bolton's Big, Sexy Valentine's Day Special · Director
Popstar: Never Stop Never StoppingPopstar: Never Stop Never Stopping · DirectorPopstar: Never Stop Never Stopping · WriterPopstar: Never Stop Never Stopping · ProducerParty Over Here · Executive Producer
Late Night with Seth MeyersThe Lego Movie · SongsNeighbors
Brooklyn Nine-NineBrooklyn Nine-Nine · DirectorGrown Ups 2
Comedy Bang! Bang!The WatchThe Watch · Director
MacGruber · Executive ProducerSaturday Night Live in the 2000s: Time and Again
Watch What Happens Live with Andy CohenSNL Presents: A Very Gilly Christmas · DirectorSaturday Night Live: The Best of Amy Poehler · Director
Water and PowerExtreme Movie · Writer
Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!Hot RodHot Rod · DirectorFighting neighbors
Laser Cats! · DirectorAwesometownAwesometown · DirectorAwesometown · WriterAwesometown
House of CosbysFootball TownFootball Town · WriterFootball Town · Director
The 'BuThe 'Bu · DirectorThe 'Bu · CreatorRegarding ArdyRegarding Ardy · Director
White PowerWhite Power · DirectorWhite Power · WriterWhite Power · ProducerWhite Power · Editor
Saturday Night LiveSaturday Night Live · WriterSaturday Night Live · Director
Full filmography
- The Naked Gun (2025) as Additional Voices (voice)
- The Naked Gun (2025) Director
- The Naked Gun (2025) Executive Producer
- The Naked Gun (2025) Writer
- Ladies & Gentlemen... 50 Years of SNL Music (2025) as Self - SNL Writer / Self - Director
- Self Reliance (2024) Executive Producer
- Scream VI (2023) as Subway Ghostface (voice) (uncredited)
- Digman! (2023) Executive Producer
- Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers (2022) as Various Characters (voice)
- Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers (2022) Director
- Weird: The Al Yankovic Story (2022) as Alice Cooper
- Palm Springs (2020) Producer
- I Used to Go Here (2020) Producer
- I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson (2019) Director
- I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson (2019) Executive Producer
- PEN15 (2019) Executive Producer
- The Lonely Island Presents: The Unauthorized Bash Brothers Experience (2019) as Mark McGwire
- The Lonely Island Presents: The Unauthorized Bash Brothers Experience (2019) Director
- The Lonely Island Presents: The Unauthorized Bash Brothers Experience (2019) Editor
- The Lonely Island Presents: The Unauthorized Bash Brothers Experience (2019) Executive Producer
- The Lonely Island Presents: The Unauthorized Bash Brothers Experience (2019) Writer
- Alone Together (2018) Executive Producer
- 7 Splinters in Time (2018) as McFly
- Carpool Karaoke: The Series (2017) as Self
- Tour de Pharmacy (2017) Recording Supervision
- Brigsby Bear (2017) Producer
- Michael Bolton's Big, Sexy Valentine's Day Special (2017) as Alan
- Michael Bolton's Big, Sexy Valentine's Day Special (2017) Director
- Michael Bolton's Big, Sexy Valentine's Day Special (2017) Executive Producer
- Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping (2016) as Lawrence Dunn
- Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping (2016) Director
- Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping (2016) Writer
- Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping (2016) Producer
- Party Over Here (2016) Executive Producer
- Late Night with Seth Meyers (2014) as Self - Guest
- The Lego Movie (2014) Songs
- Neighbors (2014) as Toga #2
- Brooklyn Nine-Nine (2013) as Brett Booth
- Brooklyn Nine-Nine (2013) Director
- Grown Ups 2 (2013) as Male Cheerleader
- Comedy Bang! Bang! (2012) as Self
- The Watch (2012) as Casual Wanker #3
- The Watch (2012) Director
- MacGruber (2010) Executive Producer
- Saturday Night Live in the 2000s: Time and Again (2010) as Self
- Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen (2009) as Self - Guest
- SNL Presents: A Very Gilly Christmas (2009) Director
- Saturday Night Live: The Best of Amy Poehler (2009) Director
- Water and Power (2008) as Ambassador
- Extreme Movie (2008) Writer
- Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! (2007) as Self
- Hot Rod (2007) as Derrick (uncredited)
- Hot Rod (2007) Director
- Fighting neighbors (2007)
- Laser Cats! (2006) Director
- Awesometown (2006) as Self
- Awesometown (2006) Director
- Awesometown (2006) Writer
- Awesometown (2006)
- House of Cosbys (2005) as Cosby Team TriOsby (voice)
- Football Town (2005) as Walt Rice
- Football Town (2005) Writer
- Football Town (2005) Director
- The 'Bu (2003) as self
- The 'Bu (2003) Director
- The 'Bu (2003) Creator
- Regarding Ardy (2003) as Kiv
- Regarding Ardy (2003) Director
- Regarding Ardy (2003) Writer
- Regarding Ardy (2003) Producer
- Regarding Ardy (2003) Editor
- White Power (2001) as Kiv
- White Power (2001) Director
- White Power (2001) Writer
- White Power (2001) Producer
- White Power (2001) Editor
- Saturday Night Live (1975) as Self - Cameo (uncredited)
- Saturday Night Live (1975) Writer
- Saturday Night Live (1975) Director
- Stepsisters Director
- Peppers
- Anger Managment
- Sunset P.I. Director
- Sunset P.I. Executive Producer
- DNA Producer
- The Robots Go Crazy Producer
- Spy Guys Producer
- Hot Seat