Chris Columbus (filmmaker) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Chris Columbus
Columbus at the New York Comic Con in 2012
Born	Christopher Joseph Columbus (1958-09-10) September 10, 1958 (age 66) Spangler, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Alma mater	New York University
Occupation	Director producer screenwriter
Years active	1984–present
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Monica Devereux ​ (m. 1983)​
Children	4

Christopher Joseph Columbus (born September 10, 1958) is an American filmmaker. He is known for directing and producing many popular movies. Some of his most famous films include the Christmas comedies Home Alone and Home Alone 2: Lost in New York. He also directed the first two Harry Potter movies.

Columbus started his career by writing screenplays for fun adventure films like Gremlins and The Goonies. Later, he began directing his own movies. He also co-founded a film production company called 1492 Pictures.

Early Life and Education

Chris Columbus was born in Spangler, Pennsylvania. He grew up in Youngstown, Ohio. As a child, he loved drawing storyboards, which are like comic strips that plan out a movie. He also enjoyed Marvel Comics. In high school, he started making his own short films using an 8mm camera.

After high school, Columbus went to New York University's Tisch School of the Arts. He studied film there. While in college, he secretly worked on a screenplay. This script later helped him find an agent. He has said this experience "saved my life." It made him realize he needed to succeed in filmmaking.

In 1980, while at NYU, Columbus directed a short film. It was called I Think I'm Gonna Like It Here. This film was later noticed by famous director Steven Spielberg.

Career Highlights

Starting as a Writer (1984–1990)

Chris Columbus began his professional career as a writer in the early 1980s. He wrote the screenplay for the film Reckless (1984). He then wrote a comedy-horror script called Gremlins (1984). This script caught the attention of Steven Spielberg. Gremlins became a big success.

After this, Columbus moved to Los Angeles. He worked for Spielberg's company, Amblin Entertainment. There, he wrote more popular scripts. These included The Goonies and Young Sherlock Holmes (both 1985).

Columbus then started directing his own movies. His first film as a director was the teen comedy Adventures in Babysitting (1987). After that, he wrote and directed Heartbreak Hotel (1988).

Home Alone made Macaulay Culkin (pictured in 1991) a child star.

In the late 1980s, director John Hughes asked Columbus to direct Home Alone (1990). This comedy is about an eight-year-old boy named Kevin McCallister. He has to protect his home from two burglars. Columbus loved the Christmas theme of the script. He quickly accepted the job.

Home Alone was a huge success when it was released. It earned a lot of money worldwide. The film also made its young star, Macaulay Culkin, very famous. Many people still consider Home Alone a classic holiday movie.

Directing Comedies and Dramas (1991–2000)

In 1991, Columbus wrote and directed Only the Lonely. This was a romantic comedy-drama. The next year, he directed Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992). This sequel brought back the same characters. Kevin McCallister accidentally flies to New York City. He again faces the same burglars. The film was very popular at the box office.

Columbus's next big movie was Mrs. Doubtfire (1993). This film was based on a book. It tells the story of a father who pretends to be a nanny. He does this so he can spend time with his children. The movie starred Robin Williams. Williams was allowed to improvise many of his lines. This made the film very funny. Mrs. Doubtfire was a huge success. It won an Academy Award for Best Makeup. It also won Golden Globe Awards for Best Actor and Best Picture.

In 1995, Columbus started his own production company. It was called 1492 Pictures. The name is a fun reference to the year Christopher Columbus reached the Americas. His company produced his next film, Nine Months (1995). This was a romantic comedy about a man whose girlfriend becomes pregnant. It was a commercial success.

Columbus then directed Stepmom (1998). This was a drama starring Julia Roberts and Susan Sarandon. It also did well at the box office. In 1999, he reunited with Robin Williams for Bicentennial Man. This film was about a robot who becomes more human-like.

The Harry Potter Years and Beyond (2001–2010)

After reading J. K. Rowling's first Harry Potter book, Chris Columbus really wanted to direct the movie. In 2000, he convinced Warner Bros. to choose him. The film, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001), was the first in the famous film series. It showed Harry Potter's first year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

Columbus moved to the United Kingdom with his family to work on the film. He said choosing the actors was "very intense." But Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson were chosen for the main roles. The movie was a huge success. People loved its sets, costumes, and special effects. It earned almost a billion dollars worldwide.

In 2002, Columbus directed the second film, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. This movie continued Harry's story in his second year at Hogwarts. It also earned a lot of money and was praised by critics.

After directing the first two Harry Potter films, Columbus was very tired. So, for the third film, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004), he decided to be a producer instead of the director.

In 2005, Columbus directed Rent. This was a musical drama based on a Broadway show. He also produced Night at the Museum (2006). This fantasy film was about museum exhibits that come to life at night. He also produced its sequel, Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian (2009).

In 2010, Columbus directed Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief. This film was based on the popular book series about Greek mythology. It was the first movie in the Percy Jackson series. The film was a box office success.

Producing and Directing Pixels (2011–Present)

In 2011, Chris Columbus served as a producer for the film The Help. This movie told the story of a young journalist and two Black maids during the Civil Rights Movement. The film was very successful. It earned over $200 million worldwide. It also won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for Octavia Spencer.

In 2013, Columbus co-wrote a book series called House of Secrets. He also continued to produce films. He was an executive producer for Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters (2013). He also produced Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb (2014). This was the final film in the Night at the Museum series. It was also the last film appearance for Robin Williams.

In 2014, Columbus started a new production company with his daughter, Eleanor. It is called Maiden Voyage Pictures. He also co-founded an animation studio.

Columbus directed the science fiction comedy Pixels (2015). The film is based on a short film. It shows aliens attacking Earth in the form of classic arcade video games. The movie starred Adam Sandler and Kevin James. Pixels earned over $240 million at the box office.

Columbus has continued to produce many films. These include The Witch (2015), Tallulah (2016), and The Christmas Chronicles (2018). He also directed The Christmas Chronicles 2 (2020).

As of 2025, Columbus is working on new projects. He is set to direct a film based on the novel The Thursday Murder Club. He is also writing sequels to Gremlins and The Goonies.

Filmmaking Style

Chris Columbus's films often tell stories about families. These families might be a bit unusual or face challenges. He likes to explore characters who are afraid of losing their loved ones. He is known for making "sentimental" films. These movies often show how families live today.

Columbus has said he is fascinated by characters who might lose their family. He also likes to create scenes that show strong emotions. He believes movies should leave people with a feeling of hope. He thinks it's important for films to make people feel good.

His movies often feature everyday American people. These characters try to keep their family traditions strong. They do this even when society is changing or difficult.

Personal Life

Chris Columbus married choreographer Monica Devereux in 1983. They have four children together. His daughter, Eleanor, even had a small role in the first two Harry Potter films. The family lives in San Francisco.

Columbus is also a partner at Ocean Blue Entertainment. This company focuses on making films. He is not related to the famous explorer Christopher Columbus.

Filmography

Images for kids

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  Ned Vizzini and Columbus at the New York Comic Con, 2012

See also

In Spanish: Chris Columbus para niños