Alexander Payne

Best known as a Director based on credits in that role in 10 films, with $537,816,126 worldwide aggregate box office (rank #349)
Best-known technical roles: I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry (Screenwriter), The Descendants (Director), The Descendants (Screenwriter), The Descendants (Producer), The Holdovers (Director)
Best-known acting roles: Oscar Wilde (Paris, je t'aime), Himself (Hal)
Most productive collaborators: George Clooney, Jim Taylor, Shailene Woodley, Matt Damon, Beau Bridges
Born: February 10, 1961 (63 years old)
                                    

  1. Summary
  2. News
  3. Acting Credits
  4. Technical Credits

Career Summary


  MoviesDomestic
Box Office
International
Box Office
Worldwide
Box Office
As an ActorInverviewee1$45,889$1,360$47,249
(Unclassified)1$4,857,374$317,714$5,175,088
In Technical RolesDirector10$301,729,948$236,086,178$537,816,126
Screenwriter3$226,799,995$188,879,238$415,679,233
Producer3$113,935,817$123,897,085$237,832,902
Executive Producer2$643,658$660$644,318

Latest Ranking on Selected Box Office Record Lists


Weekend Estimates: Last Jedi Easily Holds Off Five Newcomers

December 24th, 2017

Star Wars: The Last Jedi

It’s a very crowded weekend, to say the least, in theaters, with five new wide releases already playing, and another joining the fray tomorrow. The Last Jedi is unperturbed by the competition, and will come out an easy winner, according to studio estimates released on Sunday. Its $68.486 million projected 3-day gross takes it to $365 million after 10 days in release. Among its new records this weekend, it became the 3rd-fastest film to earn $350 million at the domestic box office, and will have the 3rd-best Christmas weekend. All this is in spite of the fact that takings are expected to be down significantly today as everyone prepares for, or starts celebrating, the holiday. More...

2017 Preview: December

December 1st, 2017

The Last Jedi

The box office was mostly as expected during November. Granted, Thor: Ragnarok over-performed and Justice League underperformed, but overall there were no real surprises. This means the month started slow, but we got a couple of wins in the end and that bodes well going into the final month of the year. That said, December is a weird month. There are five weekends, but only seven films that I’m sure are opening truly wide. Additionally, five of those seven films are opening Christmas weekend. I’ve never seen a month this lop-sided. There are no real wide releases the first two weeks of the month, so we will likely start slow again, but when The Last Jedi debuts, we should see explosive growth at the box office. It will open with more than any film last December made and that should help 2017 cut into 2016’s lead. 2017 won’t be able to close the gap entirely, but the month could do well enough to cut 2016’s lead to under $250 million. That’s my goal. If that happens, I will be happy. More...

Downsizing Trailer

November 2nd, 2017

Black comedy starring Matt Damon and Kristen Wiig, written and directed by Alexander Payne, opens December 22 ... Full Movie Details. More...

2014 Awards Season: Oscar Highlight: Best Director

February 27th, 2014

Gravity poster

With our annual Oscar Prediction contest underway, now is the best time to look at the nominees and try and figure out who the favorites are and which films should just feel honored to be nominated. Today we end this with the two most prestigious awards, starting with Best Director. You could generously call this a two-horse race, but in reality there is only one director expected to win. More...

DVD and Blu-ray Releases for February 25th, 2014

February 24th, 2014

It's a very impressive week at the top of the new DVD and Blu-ray releases. There's not one, but two $200 million hits coming out this week. Likewise, there are not one, but two major Awards Season hits coming out as well. One film, Gravity, is in both groups. All three films, Gravity, Thor: The Dark World, and Nebraska, are all contenders for Pick of the Week. Gravity is the only one I didn't get a chance to review, but the Blu-ray Combo Pack or the 3D Combo Pack are clearly the Pick of the Week. It's an amazing movie and the Blu-ray releases are loaded with extras. More...

Featured Blu-ray / DVD Review: Nebraska

February 23rd, 2014

Nebraska is one of the major players during this year's Awards Season earning six Oscar nominations. That sets up really high expectations. Then again, it's a movie directed by Alexander Payne. That alone sets up really high expectations. Can the film live up to The Descendants' high quality? If it can't, is it still worth checking out? More...

2014 Awards Season: Oscars Understand the Gravity of the Situation

January 16th, 2014

Gravity poster

The Oscar nominations were announced this morning and there are some surprises mixed in with the predictable results. Gravity and American Hustle led the way with ten nominations each while 12 Years a Slave was right behind with nine. The fact that 12 Years a Slave wasn't the leader is the first of the surprises. More...

2014 Awards Season: DGA: Telling Stories about Documentaries

January 14th, 2014

Stories We Tell poster

The Directors Guild of America finished its theatrical nominations yesterday with the Documentary category. I'm of two minds with the list of nominees. On the one hand, I feel like I should be surprised, because a number of documentaries thought to be Oscar favorites were left off the list. On the other hand, they've been left off the list a number of times. I think it is time to rethink who is and is not an Oscar favorite. More...

2014 Awards Season: DGA Dips into Nominations

January 7th, 2014

12 Years a Slave poster

The Directors Guild of America handed out their nominations for Feature Films today and will do the same for Documentaries next week. I have no idea why they do this, but it makes my job harder. Usually, I just wait till the Documentary nominations are announced, but this year I will do two stories. Next week will be mostly cut and paste job. More...

2014 Awards Season: Slave Hustles to the Top

December 14th, 2013

12 Years a Slave poster

Hollywood Foreign Press Association announced their Golden Globe nominations this week, and a clear picture is forming. 12 Years a Slave was again the recipient of the most nominations, but this time it was a tie, as it and American Hustle both grabbed seven nominations. If you look down the list of other multi-nominated films, you will find a number of familiar faces. More...

2014 - Awards Season: Slave Earns Independence

November 28th, 2013

12 Years a Slave poster

Independent Spirit Award started the Awards Season this week, handing out its nominations. 12 Years a Slave led the way with seven nominations, but it wasn't the only film to pick up multiple nominations. More...

Per Theater Chart: Everyone Takes a Trip to Nebraska

November 20th, 2013

Nebraska poster

Nebraska led the way on the per theater average with an average of $35,100 in four theaters. This is not as strong as Alexander Payne's previous release, especially if you take into account the difference in the theater count between the two films. The Great Beauty was next with $23,442 in its lone theater. The Best Man Holiday was the only wide release to crack the $10,000 club earning an average of $14,875 during its opening weekend. The Book Thief and The Christmas Candle were right behind with averages of $14,501 and $14,140 respectively. More...

(Updated) Weekend Projections: Thor Almost Bested By Best Man Holiday

November 17th, 2013

The Best Man Holiday

Although it's still the calm before the storm that will be Catching Fire next weekend, this weekend has a healthy look to it thanks to a stronger-than-expected debut for The Best Man Holiday, which will post about $30.5 million according to Universal's Sunday projection, more than three times the debut figure for the previous film in the franchise. That won't be enough to unseat Thor at the top of the chart though. The Marvel superhero will post about $38 million, down a reasonable 55% from its opening frame. Most other returning films are enjoying good holds too. More...

Limited Releases: Dear Limited Releases

November 15th, 2013

Nebraska poster

There are not a lot of limited releases on this week's list, but there are a few that are intriguing. Nebraska has the best reviews and an excellent pedigree. Dear Mr. Watterson is a good choice for fans of Calvin and Hobbes. While Faust is earning good enough reviews to be worth checking out, even if it will be overshadowed by some of the Oscar contenders out there. More...

All Acting Credits



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Release
Date
TitleRoleDomestic
Box Office
International
Box Office
Worldwide
Box Office
Sep 7, 2018Hal Himself $45,889$1,360$47,249
May 4, 2007Paris, je t'aime Oscar Wilde $4,857,374$317,714$5,175,088
 
Averages $2,451,632$159,537$2,611,169
Totals 2 $4,903,263$319,074$5,222,337

Latest Ranking on All Acting Box Office Record Lists



All Technical Credits



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Release
Date
TitleRoleDomestic
Box Office
International
Box Office
Worldwide
Box Office
Oct 27, 2023The Holdovers Director $20,355,375$23,232,924$43,588,299
Sep 25, 2020The Last Shift Executive Producer $643,658$660$644,318
Dec 22, 2017Downsizing Director
Written by
Producer
$24,449,754$30,013,217$54,462,971
Oct 27, 2017Crash Pad Executive Producer
Nov 15, 2013Nebraska Director $17,654,912$7,106,448$24,761,360
Nov 16, 2011The Descendants Director
Screenwriter
Producer
$82,624,961$92,882,839$175,507,800
Feb 11, 2011Cedar Rapids Producer $6,861,102$1,001,029$7,862,131
Jul 20, 2007I Now Pronounce You Chuck a… Screenwriter $119,725,280$65,983,182$185,708,462
May 4, 2007Paris, je t'aime Director $4,857,374$317,714$5,175,088
Oct 22, 2004Sideways Director $71,502,303$38,224,497$109,726,800
Dec 13, 2002About Schmidt Director $65,005,217$42,049,267$107,054,484
Apr 23, 1999Election Director $14,943,582$2,259,272$17,202,854
Dec 13, 1996Citizen Ruth Director $336,470$336,470
 
Averages $35,746,666$27,551,914$61,002,586
Totals 13 $428,959,988$303,071,049$732,031,037


Director Credits


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Release
Date
TitleOpening
Weekend
Maximum
Theaters
Domestic
Box Office
Worldwide
Box Office
Domestic
Share
Oct 27, 2023The Holdovers $211,0931,601$20,355,375$43,588,29946.7%
Dec 22, 2017Downsizing $4,954,2872,668$24,449,754$54,462,97144.9%
Nov 15, 2013Nebraska $140,401968$17,654,912$24,761,36071.3%
Nov 16, 2011The Descendants $1,190,0962,038$82,624,961$175,507,80047.1%
May 4, 2007Paris, je t'aime $39,242200$4,857,374$5,175,08893.9%
Oct 22, 2004Sideways $207,0421,787$71,502,303$109,726,80065.2%
Dec 13, 2002About Schmidt $282,3671,240$65,005,217$107,054,48460.7%
Apr 23, 1999Election $119,080827$14,943,582$17,202,85486.9%
Dec 13, 1996Citizen Ruth $26,70910$336,470$336,470100.0%
 
Averages $796,7021,260$33,525,550$59,757,34768.5%
Totals 9 $301,729,948$537,816,126


Producer Credits


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Release
Date
TitleOpening
Weekend
Maximum
Theaters
Domestic
Box Office
Worldwide
Box Office
Domestic
Share
Dec 22, 2017Downsizing $4,954,2872,668$24,449,754$54,462,97144.9%
Nov 16, 2011The Descendants $1,190,0962,038$82,624,961$175,507,80047.1%
Feb 11, 2011Cedar Rapids $302,968462$6,861,102$7,862,13187.3%
 
Averages $2,149,1171,723$37,978,606$79,277,63459.7%
Totals 3 $113,935,817$237,832,902


Writer Credits


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Release
Date
TitleOpening
Weekend
Maximum
Theaters
Domestic
Box Office
Worldwide
Box Office
Domestic
Share
Dec 22, 2017Downsizing $4,954,2872,668$24,449,754$54,462,97144.9%
Nov 16, 2011The Descendants $1,190,0962,038$82,624,961$175,507,80047.1%
Jul 20, 2007I Now Pronounce You Ch… $34,233,7503,501$119,725,280$185,708,46264.5%
 
Averages $13,459,3782,736$75,599,998$138,559,74452.1%
Totals 3 $226,799,995$415,679,233