Alexander Payne
Directing Born Feb 10, 1961 Omaha, Nebraska, USA 60 credits
Biography
Alexander Payne is a filmmaker born on February 10, 1961, whose work is recognized for its influence on modern American cinema. His directorial filmography includes Election, Sideways, The Descendants, About Schmidt, Nebraska, and The Holdovers. Across his career, his films have received 24 Academy Award nominations, including four for Best Picture and three for Best Director. Payne has personally won two Oscars for Best Adapted Screenplay for his work on Sideways and The Descendants. Additionally, two of his films have won the Golden Globe for Best Picture. His film The Holdovers earned an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for Da’Vine Joy Randolph. Five of his movies were shot during his career.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Dernsie: The Amazing Life of Bruce Dern
The Holdovers · DirectorFrank Capra: Mr. America
Christoph Waltz - The Charm of EvilBerlanga!!
The Last Shift · Executive ProducerSmall Town Wisconsin · Executive Producer
Hal
Downsizing · DirectorDownsizing · ScreenplayDownsizing · ProducerCrash Pad · Executive ProducerAbout a Trip: Alexander Payne on Hal Ashby's 'The Last Detail'
Kumiko, the Treasure Hunter · Executive Producer
Nebraska · DirectorTrespassing Bergman
The Descendants · DirectorThe Descendants · ScreenplayThe Descendants · ProducerCedar Rapids · Producer
Hung · DirectorHung · Executive ProducerSideways · StorySideways · Executive Producer
The Replacement Child · Thanks
I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry · ScreenplayKing of California · ProducerThe Savages · Executive ProducerGray Matters · Executive Producer
Paris Je T'aimeParis Je T'aime · DirectorParis Je T'aime · Writer14e Arrondissement · DirectorCinema16: American Short Films · Director
Sideways · DirectorSideways · ScreenplayThe Cutting Edge: The Magic of Movie EditingThe Assassination of Richard Nixon · Executive ProducerZ Channel: A Magnificent Obsession
About Schmidt · DirectorAbout Schmidt · Screenplay
Jurassic Park III · Writer
Election · DirectorElection · Screenplay
Citizen Ruth · DirectorCitizen Ruth · Screenplay
Inside Out 3 · Director
Inside Out · WriterInside Out · DirectorThe Passion of Martin · DirectorThe Passion of Martin · ScreenplayThe Passion of Martin · Editor
Carmen · DirectorCarmen · Music
Full filmography
- Dernsie: The Amazing Life of Bruce Dern (2026)
- The Holdovers (2023) Director
- Frank Capra: Mr. America (2023) as Self - Director and Screenwriter
- Christoph Waltz - The Charm of Evil (2021) as Self
- Berlanga!! (2021) as Self - Filmmaker
- The Last Shift (2020) Executive Producer
- Small Town Wisconsin (2020) Executive Producer
- Hal (2019) as Self
- Downsizing (2017) Director
- Downsizing (2017) Screenplay
- Downsizing (2017) Producer
- Crash Pad (2017) Executive Producer
- About a Trip: Alexander Payne on Hal Ashby's 'The Last Detail' (2017)
- Election - "The Passion of Martin" Introduction (2017) as Himself
- Program Notes: An Introduction To The Last Detail By Alexander Payne (2017) as Self
- Program Notes: An Introduction To The Last Detail By Alexander Payne (2017) Writer
- Kumiko, the Treasure Hunter (2014) Executive Producer
- Nebraska (2013) Director
- Trespassing Bergman (2013) as Self
- The Descendants (2011) Director
- The Descendants (2011) Screenplay
- The Descendants (2011) Producer
- Cedar Rapids (2011) Producer
- Hung (2009) Director
- Hung (2009) Executive Producer
- Sideways (2009) Story
- Sideways (2009) Executive Producer
- The Replacement Child (2008) Thanks
- I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry (2007) Screenplay
- King of California (2007) Producer
- The Savages (2007) Executive Producer
- Gray Matters (2007) Executive Producer
- Paris Je T'aime (2006) as Oscar Wilde (segment " Pere-Lachaise")
- Paris Je T'aime (2006) Director
- Paris Je T'aime (2006) Writer
- 14e Arrondissement (2006) Director
- Cinema16: American Short Films (2006) Director
- Sideways (2004) Director
- Sideways (2004) Screenplay
- The Cutting Edge: The Magic of Movie Editing (2004) as Self
- The Assassination of Richard Nixon (2004) Executive Producer
- Z Channel: A Magnificent Obsession (2004) as Self
- About Schmidt (2002) Director
- About Schmidt (2002) Screenplay
- Jurassic Park III (2001) Writer
- Election (1999) Director
- Election (1999) Screenplay
- Citizen Ruth (1996) Director
- Citizen Ruth (1996) Screenplay
- Inside Out 3 (1992) Director
- Inside Out (1991) Writer
- Inside Out (1991) Director
- The Passion of Martin (1991) Director
- The Passion of Martin (1991) Screenplay
- The Passion of Martin (1991) Editor
- The Passion of Martin (1991) Producer
- Carmen (1985) Director
- Carmen (1985) Music
- Somewhere Out There Director
- Untitled Alexander Payne Western Director