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Alexander Payne

Writer, Director, Producer, Actor, Editor, Additional CreditsBorn February 10, 1961 (64 years)
Alexander Payne (born February 10, 1961) is an Oscar-winning filmmaker whose work has helped define modern-day American cinema. He is best known for the features Election (1999), Sideways (2004), The Descendants (2011), About Schmidt (2002), Nebraska (2013) and The Holdovers (2023). His movies have garnered a total of 24 Academy Award nominations, including four times for Best Picture and three times for Best Director. He has won two Oscars for Best Adapted Screenplay (Sideways, The Descendants), and two of his films have won the Golden Globe for Best Picture. His most recent film, The Holdovers, earned a Best Supporting Actress Oscar for Da’Vine Joy Randolph. Five of his movies were shot at least partially in Nebraska, where he continues to live, dividing his time between there and Los Angeles. An Omaha native, Payne studied History and Spanish Literature at Stanford before earning an MFA in Film at UCLA. He serves on the boards of the Telluride Film Festival and The Film Foundation.

Movies & Shows on Plex

  • Paris, Je T'aime
  • Kumiko, The Treasure Hunter
  • Gray Matters
  • Small Town Wisconsin

Known For

  • The Descendants
  • Sideways
  • The Holdovers
  • About Schmidt
  • Election
  • Nebraska
  • I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry
  • Downsizing
  • Jurassic Park III
  • The Savages
  • King of California
  • Citizen Ruth
  • Cedar Rapids
  • Gray Matters
  • Paris, Je T'aime
  • Crash Pad
  • Hung
  • Inside Out
  • Small Town Wisconsin
  • Sideways
  • Inside Out III

Featured Videos

  • Wendy Chuck On What Sets This Film Apart From Other Alexander Payne Films
    Wendy Chuck On What Sets This Film Apart From Other Alexander Payne FilmsDownsizingBehind the Scenes
  • Kevin Tent On How The Film Compares To Other Alexander Payne Films
    Kevin Tent On How The Film Compares To Other Alexander Payne FilmsDownsizingBehind the Scenes
  • Alexander Payne On The Origins Of The Story
    Alexander Payne On The Origins Of The StoryDownsizingBehind the Scenes
  • Stacy Keach On Alexander Payne
    Stacy Keach On Alexander PayneNebraskaBehind the Scenes
  • Alexander Payne On Why Shooting In Honolulu Appealed To Him
    Alexander Payne On Why Shooting In Honolulu Appealed To HimThe DescendantsBehind the Scenes

Alexander Payne Filmography

2017
Downsizing · as Screenplay
2011
The Descendants · as Screenplay
2007
2006
2004
Sideways · as Screenplay
2002
About Schmidt · as Screenplay
2001
1999
Election · as Screenplay
1996
Citizen Ruth · as Screenplay
1991
The Passion of Martin · as Screenplay
1991

2020
The Last Shift · as Executive Producer
2020
Small Town Wisconsin · as Executive Producer
2017
2017
Crash Pad · as Executive Producer
2014
Kumiko, The Treasure Hunter · as Executive Producer
2011
2011
2009
Sideways · as Executive Producer
2009
Hung (TV Series) · as Executive Producer
2007
The Savages · as Executive Producer
2007
2006
Gray Matters · as Executive Producer
2004
The Assassination of Richard Nixon · as Executive Producer
1991

2006
Paris, Je T'aime · as Oscar Wilde (pere-Lachaise)

2024
The Oscars · as Self - Nominee
2024
2024
2024
2023
2021
2018
2018
Hal · as Self
2016
TruInside (TV Series) · as Self - Director, Co-Screenwriter
2014
The Oscars · as Self - Nominee
2014
2014
71st Golden Globe Awards · as Self - Nominee
2013
2012
Trespassing Bergman (TV Series) · as Self
2012
The 84th Annual Academy Awards · as Self - Winner
2012
2012
2007
2006
Made in Hollywood: Teen Edition (TV Series) · as Self
2006
Wanderlust · as Self
2006
Cinema16: American Short Films · as Self - Commentary
2005
The Colbert Report (TV Series) · as Self - Guest
2005
Made In Hollywood (TV Series) · as Self
2005
The 77th Annual Academy Awards · as Self - Winner
2005
2005
2005
2004
2004
2003
imagine... (TV Series) · as Self
2003
1998
ARTE Journal Clips (TV Series) · as Self
1991
Movie Days (TV Series) · as Self - Interviewee
1991
Charlie Rose (TV Series) · as Self - Guest

2009
Sideways · as Story

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