James L. Brooks

Best known as a Producer based on credits in that role in 11 films, with $1,636,032,373 worldwide aggregate box office (rank #214)

Best-known technical roles: The Simpsons Movie (Producer), The Simpsons Movie (Screenwriter), As Good as it Gets (Director), As Good as it Gets (Screenwriter), Jerry Maguire (Producer)

Best-known acting roles: Himself (Harry Benson: Shoot First), David (Modern Romance)

Most productive collaborators: David Silverman, Dan Castellaneta, Julie Kavner, Richard Sakai, Yeardley Smith

Born: May 9, 1940 (85 years old)

Summary
News
Acting Credits
Technical Credits

Career Summary

		Movies	Domestic Box Office	International Box Office	Worldwide Box Office
As an Actor	Supporting	1	$29,137	$0	$29,137
	Inverviewee	1	$18,092	$0	$18,092
	(Unclassified)	1	$0	$0	$0
In Technical Roles	Producer	11	$859,276,535	$776,755,838	$1,636,032,373
	Director	7	$394,650,198	$213,967,037	$608,617,235
	Screenwriter	7	$456,312,319	$541,820,880	$998,133,199

Latest Ranking on Selected Box Office Record Lists

Record	Rank	Amount
Top Stars at the Domestic Box Office (Rank 76,501-76,600)	76,526	$47,229
Top Stars at the Worldwide Box Office (Rank 83,401-83,500)	83,405	$47,229
Top Grossing Director at the Domestic Box Office (Rank 201-300)	250	$394,650,198
Top Grossing Producer at the Domestic Box Office (Rank 101-200)	170	$859,276,535
Top Grossing Screenwriter at the Domestic Box Office (Rank 201-300)	259	$456,312,319
Top Grossing Director at the International Box Office (Rank 501-600)	505	$213,967,037
Top Grossing Producer at the International Box Office (Rank 201-300)	254	$776,755,838
Top Grossing Screenwriter at the International Box Office (Rank 301-400)	341	$541,820,880
Top Grossing Director at the Worldwide Box Office (Rank 301-400)	328	$608,617,235
Top Grossing Producer at the Worldwide Box Office (Rank 201-300)	214	$1,636,032,373
Top Grossing Screenwriter at the Worldwide Box Office (Rank 201-300)	281	$998,133,199

See the Acting Credits tab for all Acting Box Office Records and the Technical Credits tab for all Technical Box Office Records.

Featured Blu-ray Review: Filmmakers Signature Series

October 10th, 2012

A few weeks ago, there a number of films were released on Blu-ray as part of the Filmmakers Signature Series, including Hoffa on Blu-ray. I received The French Connection, Wall Street, and The War of the Roses, the first of which I previously reviewed. Are any of the three worth picking up? More...

All Acting Credits

Release Date	Title	Role	Domestic Box Office	International Box Office	Worldwide Box Office
Dec 9, 2016	Harry Benson: Shoot First	Himself	$18,092		$18,092
Mar 13, 1981	Modern Romance	David	$29,137		$29,137
Mar 2, 1979	Real Life	Driving Evaluator

Averages			$23,615	n/a	$23,615
Totals	3		$47,229	n/a	$47,229

Supporting Roles

Release Date	Title	Opening Weekend	Maximum Theaters	Domestic Box Office	Worldwide Box Office	Domestic Share
Mar 13, 1981	Modern Romance	$18,225	1	$29,137	$29,137	100.0%

Averages		$18,225	1	$29,137	$29,137	100.0%
Totals	1			$29,137	$29,137

Latest Ranking on All Acting Box Office Record Lists

Record	Rank	Amount
Top 100 Stars in Supporting Roles at the Domestic Box Office (Rank 68,101-68,200)	68,178	$29,137
Top Live Action Stars at the Domestic Box Office (Rank 73,101-73,200)	73,199	$47,229
Top Above the Line Stars at the Domestic Box Office (Rank 18,301-18,400)	18,380	$29,137
Top Below the Line Stars at the Domestic Box Office (Rank 62,701-62,800)	62,771	$18,092
Top Stars at the Domestic Box Office (Rank 76,501-76,600)	76,526	$47,229
Top 100 Stars in Supporting Roles at the Worldwide Box Office (Rank 73,101-73,200)	73,105	$29,137
Top Live Action Stars at the Worldwide Box Office (Rank 79,601-79,700)	79,693	$47,229
Top Above the Line Stars at the Wordwide Box Office (Rank 23,601-23,700)	23,618	$29,137
Top Below the Line Stars at the Worldwide Box Office (Rank 65,701-65,800)	65,735	$18,092
Top Stars at the Worldwide Box Office (Rank 83,401-83,500)	83,405	$47,229

All Technical Credits

Release Date	Title	Role	Domestic Box Office	International Box Office	Worldwide Box Office
Dec 12, 2025	Ella McCay	Director Screenwriter	$4,033,242	$535,403	$4,568,645
Apr 28, 2023	Are You There God? It’s Me,…	Producer	$20,372,406	$1,209,418	$21,581,824
Nov 18, 2016	The Edge of Seventeen	Producer	$14,431,633	$4,664,370	$19,096,003
Dec 17, 2010	How Do You Know?	Producer Director Screenwriter	$30,212,620	$19,415,557	$49,628,177
Jul 27, 2007	The Simpsons Movie	Producer Screenwriter	$183,135,014	$343,936,008	$527,071,022
Dec 17, 2004	Spanglish	Director Screenwriter Producer	$42,044,321	$12,300,000	$54,344,321
Oct 19, 2001	Riding in Cars with Boys	Producer	$29,781,453		$29,781,453
Dec 24, 1997	As Good as it Gets	Director Screenwriter Producer	$148,478,011	$165,633,912	$314,111,923
Dec 13, 1996	Jerry Maguire	Producer	$153,952,592	$119,600,000	$273,552,592
Feb 4, 1994	I'll Do Anything	Director Screenwriter	$10,209,111		$10,209,111
Dec 8, 1989	The War of the Roses	Producer	$83,699,711	$73,300,000	$156,999,711
Jun 3, 1988	Big	Producer	$114,968,774	$36,696,573	$151,665,347
Dec 16, 1987	Broadcast News	Director	$51,249,404	$16,081,905	$67,331,309
Nov 23, 1983	Terms of Endearment	Director	$108,423,489	$260	$108,423,749
Oct 5, 1979	Starting Over	Screenwriter Producer	$38,200,000		$38,200,000

Averages			$68,879,452	$66,114,451	$121,771,012
Totals	15		$1,033,191,781	$793,373,406	$1,826,565,187

Director Credits

Release Date	Title	Opening Weekend	Maximum Theaters	Domestic Box Office	Worldwide Box Office	Domestic Share
Dec 12, 2025	Ella McCay	$2,020,541	2,500	$4,033,242	$4,568,645	88.3%
Dec 17, 2010	How Do You Know?	$7,484,696	2,483	$30,212,620	$49,628,177	60.9%
Dec 17, 2004	Spanglish	$8,817,853	2,587	$42,044,321	$54,344,321	77.4%
Dec 24, 1997	As Good as it Gets	$12,606,928	1,837	$148,478,011	$314,111,923	47.3%
Feb 4, 1994	I'll Do Anything	$4,702,625	1,205	$10,209,111	$10,209,111	100.0%
Dec 16, 1987	Broadcast News		848	$51,249,404	$67,331,309	76.1%
Nov 23, 1983	Terms of Endearment	$3,498,813	1,259	$108,423,489	$108,423,749	100.0%

Averages		$6,521,909	1,817	$56,378,600	$86,945,319	78.6%
Totals	7			$394,650,198	$608,617,235

Producer Credits

Release Date	Title	Opening Weekend	Maximum Theaters	Domestic Box Office	Worldwide Box Office	Domestic Share
Apr 28, 2023	Are You There God? It’…	$6,739,037	3,343	$20,372,406	$21,581,824	94.4%
Nov 18, 2016	The Edge of Seventeen	$4,754,215	1,945	$14,431,633	$19,096,003	75.6%
Dec 17, 2010	How Do You Know?	$7,484,696	2,483	$30,212,620	$49,628,177	60.9%
Jul 27, 2007	The Simpsons Movie	$74,036,787	3,926	$183,135,014	$527,071,022	34.7%
Dec 17, 2004	Spanglish	$8,817,853	2,587	$42,044,321	$54,344,321	77.4%
Oct 19, 2001	Riding in Cars with Boys	$10,404,652	2,770	$29,781,453	$29,781,453	100.0%
Dec 24, 1997	As Good as it Gets	$12,606,928	1,837	$148,478,011	$314,111,923	47.3%
Dec 13, 1996	Jerry Maguire	$17,084,296	2,531	$153,952,592	$273,552,592	56.3%
Dec 8, 1989	The War of the Roses	$9,688,794	1,559	$83,699,711	$156,999,711	53.3%
Jun 3, 1988	Big	$8,216,190	1,419	$114,968,774	$151,665,347	75.8%
Oct 5, 1979	Starting Over			$38,200,000	$38,200,000	100.0%

Averages		$15,983,345	2,440	$78,116,049	$148,730,216	70.5%
Totals	11			$859,276,535	$1,636,032,373

Writer Credits

Release Date	Title	Opening Weekend	Maximum Theaters	Domestic Box Office	Worldwide Box Office	Domestic Share
Dec 12, 2025	Ella McCay	$2,020,541	2,500	$4,033,242	$4,568,645	88.3%
Dec 17, 2010	How Do You Know?	$7,484,696	2,483	$30,212,620	$49,628,177	60.9%
Jul 27, 2007	The Simpsons Movie	$74,036,787	3,926	$183,135,014	$527,071,022	34.7%
Dec 17, 2004	Spanglish	$8,817,853	2,587	$42,044,321	$54,344,321	77.4%
Dec 24, 1997	As Good as it Gets	$12,606,928	1,837	$148,478,011	$314,111,923	47.3%
Feb 4, 1994	I'll Do Anything	$4,702,625	1,205	$10,209,111	$10,209,111	100.0%
Oct 5, 1979	Starting Over			$38,200,000	$38,200,000	100.0%

Averages		$18,278,238	2,423	$65,187,474	$142,590,457	72.6%
Totals	7			$456,312,319	$998,133,199

Latest Ranking on All Technical Box Office Record Lists

Record	Rank	Amount
Top Grossing Director at the Domestic Box Office (Rank 201-300)	250	$394,650,198
Top Grossing Producer at the Domestic Box Office (Rank 101-200)	170	$859,276,535
Top Grossing Screenwriter at the Domestic Box Office (Rank 201-300)	259	$456,312,319
Top Grossing Director at the International Box Office (Rank 501-600)	505	$213,967,037
Top Grossing Producer at the International Box Office (Rank 201-300)	254	$776,755,838
Top Grossing Screenwriter at the International Box Office (Rank 301-400)	341	$541,820,880
Top Grossing Director at the Worldwide Box Office (Rank 301-400)	328	$608,617,235
Top Grossing Producer at the Worldwide Box Office (Rank 201-300)	214	$1,636,032,373
Top Grossing Screenwriter at the Worldwide Box Office (Rank 201-300)	281	$998,133,199