Chris Columbus
Chris Joseph Columbus (born September 10, 1958) is an American filmmaker. Born in Spangler, Pennsylvania, Columbus studied film at Tisch School of the Arts where he developed an interest in filmmaking. After writing screenplays for several teen comedies in the mid-1980s, he made his directorial debut with a teen adventure, Adventures in Babysitting (1987). Columbus gained recognition soon after with the highly successful Christmas comedy Home Alone (1990) and its sequel Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992). The comedy Mrs. Doubtfire (1993), starring Robin Williams, was another box office success for Columbus. He went on to direct several other films throughout the 1990s, which were mostly met with lukewarm reception. However, he found commercial success again for directing the film adaptations of J. K. Rowling's novels, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001) and its sequel, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002), which are his highest-grossing films to date. In addition to directing, Columbus was a producer for Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004), and the drama The Help (2011). He also directed the fantasy Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief (2010) and the 3D action comedy Pixels (2015). Columbus is the co-founder of 1492 Pictures, a film production company that has produced some of his films since 1995. More recently, he co-founded another production firm with his daughter in 2014, called Maiden Voyage Pictures. In 2017, he launched ZAG Animation Studios, alongside Michael Barnathan, Haim Saban, and Jeremy Zag.
Known for
DirectingBirthday
September 10, 1958Gender
MaleKnown Movie Credits
68Place of birth
Spangler, Pennsylvania, USAAlso known as
Christopher Joseph ColumbusCast credits
Home Alone 2: Lost in New York
Man in Toy Store (uncredited)From Gizmo to Gremlins: Creating the Creatures
SelfCute. Clever. Mischievous. Intelligent. Dangerous: Making Gremlins
SelfFog City Mavericks
SelfHarry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts
SelfThe Magic Touch of Harry Potter
SelfDaniel Radcliffe: Being Harry Potter
SelfDavid Holmes: The Boy Who Lived
Self (archive footage)Showbiz Kids
Self (archive footage)Crew credits
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
Director, Executive ProducerHarry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Director, Executive ProducerHome Alone
DirectorMrs. Doubtfire
DirectorNight at the Museum
ProducerRent
Director, ProducerBicentennial Man
Director, ProducerOnly the Lonely
Director, ScreenplayNine Months
Producer, Director, ScreenplayYoung Sherlock Holmes
ScreenplayJingle All the Way
ProducerPercy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief
Director, ProducerThe Goonies
ScreenplayStepmom
Director, ProducerFantastic Four
Executive ProducerChristmas with the Kranks
Screenplay, ProducerAdventures in Babysitting
DirectorHeartbreak Hotel
Director, WriterReckless
WriterNight at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian
ProducerThe Help
Producer