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John G. Avildsen

Highest Rated: 93% Rocky (1976)

Lowest Rated: 0% Desert Heat (1999)

Birthday: Dec 21, 1935

Birthplace: Oak Park, Illinois, USA

Few directors experienced career highs and lows like filmmaker John G. Avildsen, whose résumé included two of the most popular films ever made - 1976's "Rocky" and 1984's "The Karate Kid" - as well as his share of critical misfires and box office failures. A former advertising manager, he entered film through the independent route in the early 1960s before making his first big splash with 1970's controversial "Joe." Subsequent efforts stumbled until he took on "Save the Tiger" (1973), a bleak look at the collapse of a businessman's life and self-esteem. Its Oscar win for star Jack Lemmon brought Avildsen to the attention of Hollywood, but it took the low-budget boxing drama "Rocky" to earn him an Oscar and industry respect. Unfortunately, he found it difficult to find worthy material in its wake; his few subsequent hits were cast in the mold of the Sylvester Stallone film, including his second major box office success, "The Karate Kid." However, the enduring popularity of both movies preserved Avildsen in the history books as a director with a unique skill for inspiring audiences through the triumphs of his underdog characters. John G. Avildsen died of pancreatic cancer in Los Angeles on June 16, 2017. He was 81.

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Highest rated movies

93% 69% Rocky Watchlist 89% 83% The Karate Kid Watchlist
86% 74% Save the Tiger
Watchlist
78% 79% American Satan Watchlist
75% 64% Joe
Watchlist
71% 52% Mickey One
Watchlist
68% 85% Lean on Me
Watchlist
57% 50% Neighbors
Watchlist
45% 52% The Karate Kid Part II Watchlist
35% 87% The Power of One
Watchlist

Filmography

Movies

Credit
No Score Yet 67% The Margarita Man Executive Producer - 2019
78% 79% American Satan Executive Producer $226.2K 2017
0% 36% Desert Heat Director - 1999
No Score Yet No Score Yet Coyote Moon Director - 1999
31% 94% 8 Seconds Director $19.6M 1994
35% 87% The Power of One Director $2.7M 1992
32% 31% Rocky V Director,
Film Editor
$40.1M 1990
15% 35% The Karate Kid Part III Director,
Film Editing
$36.8M 1989
68% 85% Lean on Me Director,
Executive Producer,
Film Editing
$28.9M 1989
17% 71% For Keeps Director $14.7M 1988
No Score Yet 12% Happy New Year Director $30.6K 1987
45% 52% The Karate Kid Part II Director,
Film Editor
$112.1M 1986
89% 83% The Karate Kid Director,
Film Editing
- 1984
No Score Yet 30% A Night in Heaven Director,
Film Editing
- 1983
57% 50% Neighbors Director - 1981
22% 23% The Formula Director - 1980
No Score Yet No Score Yet Slow Dancing in the Big City Director,
Producer,
Film Editing
- 1978
93% 69% Rocky Director - 1976
No Score Yet No Score Yet Foreplay Director - 1975
No Score Yet 30% W.W. and the Dixie Dancekings Director - 1975
86% 74% Save the Tiger Director - 1973
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Stoolie Director - 1972
No Score Yet 64% Cry Uncle Director - 1971
No Score Yet No Score Yet Okay Bill Director,
Screenwriter
- 1971
No Score Yet No Score Yet Guess What We Learned in School Today? Director,
Cinematographer,
Film Editing
- 1970
75% 64% Joe Director - 1970
No Score Yet No Score Yet Out of It Cinematographer - 1969
71% 52% Mickey One Executive Producer - 1965