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Chris Columbus(I)

  • Producer
  • Writer
  • Director
IMDbProStarmeterTop 5,000492
Chris Columbus
A nerdy valedictorian proclaims his love for the most popular girl in school, Beth Cooper (Panettiere), during his graduation speech. Much to his surprise, Beth shows up at his door that very night and decides to show him the night of his life.
Play trailer2:30
I Love You, Beth Cooper (2009)
15 Videos
28 Photos
Born in Pennsylvania and raised in Ohio, Chris Columbus was first inspired to make movies after seeing "The Godfather" at age 15. After enrolling at NYU film school, he sold his first screenplay (never produced) while a sophomore there. After graduation Columbus tried to sell his fourth script, "Gremlins", with no success, until Steven Spielberg optioned it; Columbus moved to Los Angeles for a year during rewrites on the project in Spielberg's bungalow at Universal. After writing two more scripts for Spielberg, "The Goonies" and "Young Sherlock Holmes", Columbus' own directing career was launched a few years later with "Adventures in Babysitting". He is best known to audiences as the director of the runaway hit "Home Alone", written and produced by John Hughes its sequel "Home Alone 2", and most recently "Mrs. Doubtfire".
BornSeptember 10, 1958
  • More at IMDbPro
    • Contact info
    • Agent info
    • Resume
BornSeptember 10, 1958
IMDbProStarmeterTop 5,000492
  • View contact info at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 1 Oscar
      • 6 wins & 23 nominations total

    Photos28

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    Known for

    Robbie Coltrane, Warwick Davis, Richard Harris, Rupert Grint, Daniel Radcliffe, and Emma Watson in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001)
    Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
    7.7
    • Producer
    • 2001
    Rupert Grint, Toby Jones, Daniel Radcliffe, and Emma Watson in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002)
    Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
    7.4
    • Producer
    • 2002
    Viola Davis, Bryce Dallas Howard, Octavia Spencer, and Emma Stone in The Help (2011)
    The Help
    8.1
    • Producer
    • 2011
    Rent (2005)
    Rent
    6.8
    • Producer(produced by)
    • 2005

    Credits

    Edit
    IMDbPro

    Producer



    • The Thursday Murder Club
      • producer
      • Completed
      • 2025
    • Werwulf
      • executive producer
      • In Development
      • 2026
    • House of Secrets
      • producer
      • Pre-production
      • TV Series
    • Gremlins 3
      • executive producer
      • In Development
    • Untitled Labyrinth Sequel
      • producer
      • In Development



    • Lily-Rose Depp in Nosferatu (2024)
      Nosferatu
      7.2
      • producer (p.g.a.)
      • 2024
    • Izaac Wang in Dìdi (2024)
      Dìdi
      7.3
      • executive producer
      • 2024
    • Evan Whitten in Chupa (2023)
      Chupa
      5.5
      • producer (produced by, p.g.a.)
      • 2023
    • Steve Zahn, Dee Bradley Baker, Thomas Lennon, Akmal Saleh, Zachary Levi, Joseph Kamal, Kieran Sequoia, Jack Whitehall, Kelemete Misipeka, Alice Isaaz, Alexander Salamat, and Joshua Bassett in Night at the Museum: Kahmunrah Rises Again (2022)
      Night at the Museum: Kahmunrah Rises Again
      5.0
      • executive producer
      • 2022
    • The Exiles (2022)
      The Exiles
      7.2
      • executive producer
      • 2022
    • Cusp (2021)
      Cusp
      5.8
      • executive producer
      • 2021
    • Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell in The Christmas Chronicles: Part Two (2020)
      The Christmas Chronicles: Part Two
      6.0
      • producer (p.g.a.)
      • 2020
    • Mark Wahlberg, Will Forte, Ken Jeong, Frank Welker, Amanda Seyfried, Zac Efron, Gina Rodriguez, and Kiersey Clemons in Scoob! (2020)
      Scoob!
      5.6
      • executive producer
      • 2020
    • Willem Dafoe and Robert Pattinson in The Lighthouse (2019)
      The Lighthouse
      7.4
      • executive producer
      • 2019
    • Natalia Dyer in Yes, God, Yes (2019)
      Yes, God, Yes
      6.1
      • executive producer
      • 2019
    • Kurt Russell in The Christmas Chronicles (2018)
      The Christmas Chronicles
      7.0
      • producer (p.g.a.)
      • 2018
    • Madison Wolfe in I Kill Giants (2017)
      I Kill Giants
      6.1
      • producer (produced by)
      • 2017
    • Menashe Lustig in Menashe (2017)
      Menashe
      6.5
      • executive producer
      • 2017
    • Patti Cake$ (2017)
      Patti Cake$
      6.8
      • producer
      • 2017
    • French Exchange (2017)
      French Exchange
      6.2
      Short
      • executive producer
      • 2017

    Writer



    • House of Secrets
      • book, screenplay
      • Pre-production
      • TV Series
    • Gremlins 3
      • characters
      • In Development



    • Matthew Lillard, Kevin Conroy, William Hanna, George Newbern, Eric Bauza, Jeremy Shada, Maisie Williams, and Daniel DiVenere in MultiVersus (2024)
      MultiVersus
      6.3
      Video Game
      • characters: Gizmo, Stripe
      • 2024
    • Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell in The Christmas Chronicles: Part Two (2020)
      The Christmas Chronicles: Part Two
      6.0
      • written by
      • 2020
    • Dan Aykroyd, Jamie Lee Curtis, Tim Allen, and Erik Per Sullivan in Christmas with the Kranks (2004)
      Christmas with the Kranks
      5.5
      • screenplay
      • 2004
    • Michel Leeb in Madame Doubtfire (2003)
      Madame Doubtfire
      6.4
      TV Movie
      • from the movie 'Mrs Doubtfire'
      • 2003
    • Gremlins: Stripe vs Gizmo (2002)
      Gremlins: Stripe vs Gizmo
      6.2
      Video Game
      • characters
      • 2002
    • Gremlins: Unleashed! (2001)
      Gremlins: Unleashed!
      5.6
      Video Game
      • characters
      • 2001
    • Julianne Moore and Hugh Grant in Nine Months (1995)
      Nine Months
      5.5
      • screenplay
      • 1995
    • Maureen O'Hara, Ally Sheedy, and John Candy in Only the Lonely (1991)
      Only the Lonely
      6.4
      • written by
      • 1991
    • Howie Mandel and Tony Randall in Gremlins 2: The New Batch (1990)
      Gremlins 2: The New Batch
      6.4
      • based on characters created by
      • 1990
    • Little Nemo: Adventures in Slumberland (1989)
      Little Nemo: Adventures in Slumberland
      7.0
      • screenplay
      • 1989
    • Heartbreak Hotel (1988)
      Heartbreak Hotel
      5.7
      • written by
      • 1988
    • Sean Astin and Anne Ramsey in The Goonies II (1987)
      The Goonies II
      6.9
      Video Game
      • characters
      • 1987
    • Galaxy High School (1986)
      Galaxy High School
      7.3
      TV Series
      • developer
      • writer (creator)
      • 1986
    • Gremlins (1985)
      Gremlins
      7.8
      Video Game
      • characters
      • 1985
    • Sophie Ward, Alan Cox, and Nicholas Rowe in Young Sherlock Holmes (1985)
      Young Sherlock Holmes
      6.8
      • screenplay
      • 1985

    Director



    • The Thursday Murder Club
      • Director
      • Completed
      • 2025
    • House of Secrets
      • Director
      • Pre-production
      • TV Series
    • The Secret Lives of Road Crews
      • Director (rumored)
      • In Development



    • Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell in The Christmas Chronicles: Part Two (2020)
      The Christmas Chronicles: Part Two
      6.0
      • Director
      • 2020
    • Adam Sandler, Peter Dinklage, Kevin James, Michelle Monaghan, and Josh Gad in Pixels (2015)
      Pixels
      5.6
      • Director
      • 2015
    • Applebaum
      6.4
      TV Movie
      • Director
      • 2012
    • Logan Lerman in Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief (2010)
      Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief
      5.9
      • Director
      • 2010
    • I Love You, Beth Cooper: Alternate Ending (2009)
      I Love You, Beth Cooper: Alternate Ending
      6.3
      Video
      • Director
      • 2009
    • Hayden Panettiere and Paul Rust in I Love You, Beth Cooper (2009)
      I Love You, Beth Cooper
      5.3
      • Director
      • 2009
    • 3-D Rocks
      7.7
      • Director
      • 2005
    • Rent (2005)
      Rent
      6.8
      • Director
      • 2005
    • Rupert Grint, Toby Jones, Daniel Radcliffe, and Emma Watson in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002)
      Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
      7.4
      • Director
      • 2002
    • Robbie Coltrane, Warwick Davis, Richard Harris, Rupert Grint, Daniel Radcliffe, and Emma Watson in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001)
      Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
      7.7
      • Director
      • 2001
    • Robin Williams in Bicentennial Man (1999)
      Bicentennial Man
      6.9
      • Director
      • 1999
    • Julia Roberts and Susan Sarandon in Stepmom (1998)
      Stepmom
      6.8
      • Director
      • 1998
    • Julianne Moore and Hugh Grant in Nine Months (1995)
      Nine Months
      5.5
      • Director
      • 1995
    • Robin Williams, Sally Field, Lisa Jakub, Matthew Lawrence, and Mara Wilson in Mrs. Doubtfire (1993)
      Mrs. Doubtfire
      7.1
      • Director
      • 1993
    • Macaulay Culkin, Joe Pesci, and Daniel Stern in Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992)
      Home Alone 2: Lost in New York
      6.9
      • Director
      • 1992

    • In-development projects at IMDbPro

    Videos15

    Did You Know This 'Harry Potter' Trivia Fact?
    Clip 0:23
    Did You Know This 'Harry Potter' Trivia Fact?
    'Home Alone': 5 Things You Didn't Know
    Clip 3:02
    'Home Alone': 5 Things You Didn't Know
    'Home Alone': 5 Things You Didn't Know
    Clip 3:02
    'Home Alone': 5 Things You Didn't Know
    I Love You, Beth Cooper -- "That's Not Food"
    Clip 1:06
    I Love You, Beth Cooper -- "That's Not Food"
    I Love You, Beth Cooper -- "Crashing the Party"
    Clip 0:56
    I Love You, Beth Cooper -- "Crashing the Party"
    I Love You, Beth Cooper -- "Lights Out"
    Clip 0:55
    I Love You, Beth Cooper -- "Lights Out"
    I Love You, Beth Cooper -- "I Thought You Were Smart"
    Clip 1:00
    I Love You, Beth Cooper -- "I Thought You Were Smart"

    Personal details

    Edit
    • Height
      • 5′ 8½″ (1.74 m)
    • Born
      • September 10, 1958
      • Spangler, Pennsylvania, USA
    • Spouse
      • Monica DevereuxAugust 6, 1983 - present (4 children)
    • Children
        Eleanor Columbus
    • Parents
        Irene Columbus
    • Other works
      In 1995, Columbus also wrote a draft of the fourth Indiana Jones film, Indiana Jones and the Lost Continent (2001)
    • Publicity listings
      • 4 Interviews
      • 4 Articles

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      In the original script, Gremlins (1984) was meant to be a much darker horror film in which the mother was decapitated, the family dog was eaten, and the adorable Mogwai "Gizmo" actually turned into the infamous Gremlin "Stripe".
    • Quotes
      I was up on 140th Street in Harlem, in 1992. It was 3 in the morning, and I was walking back to get a cup of coffee. These two young kids came up to me and said to me, "What movie is this?" I said, "Home Alone 2," and they said, "What do you do?" And I said, "I'm the director." They said, "Oh, you're John Hughes!"
    • Trademarks
        Leading characters who are underage and develops through situations
    • Salary
      • Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
        (2001)
        $10,000,000 + gross participations

    FAQ11

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