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Barry Sonnenfeld

Barry Sonnenfeld

Highest Rated: 98% Big (1988)

Lowest Rated: 14% Nine Lives (2016)

Birthday: Apr 1, 1953

Birthplace: New York, New York, USA

One of the most commercially successful director-producers of the 1990s, Barry Sonnenfeld experienced precipitous ups and downs in a lengthy career spanning both film and television. After cutting his teeth as a cinematographer for the likes of Joel and Ethan Coen on "Blood Simple" (1984) and "Raising Arizona" (1987), as well as Rob Reiner on "When Harry Met Sally" (1989) and "Misery" (1990), Sonnefeld made his directorial debut with the creepy comedy hit "The Addams Family" (1991). More box office success followed in the form of the crime-comedy "Get Shorty" (1995) and the blockbuster hit "Men in Black" (1997). Later efforts such as "Wild, Wild West" (1999) and "RV" (2006) proved disappointing, to say the least, although Sonnenfeld did have luck as a producer on films like Disney's "Enchanted" (2007) and the Emmy Award-winning fantasy series "Pushing Daisies" (ABC, 2007-09). After nearly six years away from the director's chair, he reteamed with Agents J and K (Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones) once again for "Men in Black III" (2012), this time with its eye-popping special effects delivered in 3-D. Boasting a 30-year career populated with smashing triumphs and unmitigated disasters, few understood the Hollywood axiom of "You're only as good as your last picture," better than Sonnenfeld.

Photos

Barry Sonnenfeld Barry Sonnenfeld at arrivals for LEMONY SNICKET'S A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS World Premiere on NETFLIX, AMC Loews Lincoln Square, New York, NY January 11, 2017. Photo By: Kristin Callahan/Everett Collection WILD WILD WEST, Director, Barry Sonnenfeld, holding the camera, 1999. R.V., Robin Williams, Director Barry Sonnenfeld, on set, 2006. ©Columbia Pictures GET SHORTY, John Travolta, discussing a scene with director, Barry Sonnenfeld, 1995. MEN IN BLACK, Director Barry Sonnenfeld preparing to shoot a blue screen shot with Will Smith, Tommy Lee Jones on-set, 1997 WILD WILD WEST, Director, Barry Sonnenfeld, directs Will Smith, in a scene, 1999. MEN IN BLACK 2, Michael Jackson, director Barry Sonnenfeld on the set, 2002 (c) Columbia. FOR LOVE OR MONEY, director Barry Sonnenfeld (with headphones), Gabrielle Anwar, Michael J. Fox on set, 1993, (c) Universal MEN IN BLACK II, Tommy Lee Jones, Victoria Jones, Barry Sonnenfeld, Stephanie Kemp, Will Smith, 2002 (c) Columbia. NINE LIVES, FROM LEFT: DIRECTOR BARRY SONNENFELD, KEVIN SPACEY, 2016. PH: TAKASHI SEIDA/© EUROPACORP USA NINE LIVES, FROM LEFT: DIRECTOR BARRY SONNENFELD, MR. FUZZYPANTS, JENNIFER GARNER, 2016. PH: TAKASHI SEIDA/© EUROPACORP USA WILD WILD WEST, Director, Barry Sonnenfeld, discusses a scene, with Kevin Kline and Will Smith, on location, 1999. THE ADDAMS FAMILY, Raul Julia, with 'Thing' on his head, is directed in a scene by Barry Sonnenfeld, 1991. MEN IN BLACK II, director Barry Sonnenfeld, Johnny Knoxville, Lara Flynn Boyle, on set, 2002. (c) Columbia ADDAMS FAMILY VALUES, director Barry Sonnenfeld, Anjelica Huston, on set, 1993. ©Paramount THE ADDAMS FAMILY, Director, Barry Sonnenfeld, Producer, Scott Rudin, watch a scene on the monitor with Christina Ricci and Jimmy Workman, 1991. WILD WILD WEST, Director, Barry Sonnenfeld, directs Salma Hayek, in a scene, 1999. MEN IN BLACK 2, Director Barry Sonnenfeld, Will Smith, Tommy Lee Jones on the set, 2002 (c) Columbia. R.V., Director Barry Sonnenfeld, on set, 2006. ©Columbia Pictures
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Filmography

Movies

Credit
38% 50% Disenchanted Producer - 2022
23% 66% Men in Black: International Executive Producer $80.0M 2019
14% 41% Nine Lives Director $19.6M 2016
67% 70% Men in Black 3 Director $179.0M 2012
33% 33% Space Chimps Producer $30.1M 2008
93% 80% Enchanted Producer $127.7M 2007
24% 45% RV Director $71.4M 2006
72% 63% Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events Executive Producer $118.6M 2004
54% 43% The Ladykillers Producer $39.7M 2004
38% 45% Men in Black II Director,
Producer 		$192.4M 2002
48% 54% Big Trouble Director,
Producer 		$7.3M 2002
20% 34% The Crew Producer $13.0M 2000
16% 28% Wild Wild West Director,
Producer 		$113.8M 1999
94% 74% Out of Sight Executive Producer $37.5M 1998
91% 80% Men in Black Director $250.1M 1997
89% 70% Get Shorty Director,
Executive Producer 		$68.8M 1995
37% 46% For Love or Money Director $10.4M 1993
75% 63% Addams Family Values Director $45.7M 1993
67% 66% The Addams Family Director $111.3M 1991
93% 90% Miller's Crossing Cinematographer $4.7M 1990
91% 90% Misery Cinematographer $54.7M 1990
89% 89% When Harry Met Sally... Cinematographer $90.4M 1989
98% 82% Big Cinematographer $113.5M 1988
64% 54% Throw Momma From the Train Cinematographer $54.4M 1987
91% 85% Raising Arizona Cinematographer $21.1M 1987
94% 88% Blood Simple Cinematographer $1.7M 1984
No Score Yet No Score Yet In Our Water Cinematographer - 1982

TV

Credit
93% 86% Schmigadoon! Executive Producer,
Director 		2021 2023
95% 93% The Tick Executive Producer 2016-2019
96% 87% A Series of Unfortunate Events Ike Anwhistle (Guest Star),
Executive Producer,
Director 		2017-2019
90% No Score Yet Jim Henson's Creature Shop Challenge Guest 2014
96% 95% Pushing Daisies Executive Producer,
Director 		2007-2009
39% No Score Yet Notes From the Underbelly Director 2007-2008
88% 83% The Tick Executive Producer 2001-2002 2007
0% No Score Yet Secret Agent Man Executive Producer 2000
No Score Yet No Score Yet Fantasy Island Executive Producer 1998-1999
No Score Yet No Score Yet Maximum Bob Unknown (Guest Star),
Executive Producer,
Director 		1998