David Fincher facts for kids

Quick facts for kids David Fincher
Fincher in 2023
Born	(1962-08-28) August 28, 1962 (age 62) Denver, Colorado, U.S.
Occupation	Film director
Years active	1980–present
Works	Filmography
Spouse(s)	Donya Fiorentino ​ ​ (m. 1990; div. 1995)​ Ceán Chaffin ​ ​ (m. 1996)​
Children	1
Relatives	Jack Fincher (father)
Awards	Full list

David Andrew Leo Fincher (born August 28, 1962) is a famous American film director. He is known for making exciting movies, especially psychological thrillers. His films have earned over $2.1 billion around the world. He has also won many awards, including three nominations for the Academy Award for Best Director. He has also won four Primetime Emmy Awards, two Grammy Awards, a BAFTA Award, and a Golden Globe Award.

Fincher helped start a company called Propaganda Films in 1986. There, he directed many music videos. These included "Express Yourself" (1989) and "Vogue" (1990) for Madonna. Both videos won him the MTV Video Music Award for Best Direction. He also won two Grammy Awards for "Love Is Strong" (1994) by the Rolling Stones and "Suit & Tie" (2013) by Justin Timberlake and Jay-Z.

His first big movie was Alien 3 (1992). He became very well-known after directing Seven (1995). Since then, he has directed other popular films like Fight Club (1999), Zodiac (2007), The Social Network (2010), and Gone Girl (2014). He was nominated for Best Director at the Academy Awards for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008), The Social Network (2010), and Mank (2020).

On television, Fincher has been a main producer and director for Netflix shows. These include House of Cards (2013–2018) and Mindhunter (2017–2019). He won an Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series for the first episode of House of Cards. He also helped create and produce the animated Netflix series Love, Death & Robots (2019–present). This show has won three Primetime Emmy Awards.

Fincher's Early Life and Start in Film

David Andrew Leo Fincher was born on August 28, 1962, in Denver, Colorado. His father, Jack Fincher, was a writer and reporter for Life magazine. When David was two, his family moved to California. A famous filmmaker, George Lucas, lived nearby. David became interested in making films at age eight. He started by using an 8mm camera.

As a teenager, Fincher moved to Ashland, Oregon. He went to Ashland High School. After school, he directed plays and helped with stage design. He also worked at a local TV news station, KOBI. He supported himself by working jobs like a busboy and cook.

Fincher's Journey in Filmmaking

Starting Out: Music Videos and Commercials (1983–1991)

David Fincher began his career by working at John Korty's studio. He gained experience in visual effects. He worked on the animated movie Twice Upon a Time (1983) with George Lucas. In 1983, he joined Industrial Light & Magic (ILM). He was an assistant cameraman there. He worked on big movies like Return of the Jedi (1983) and Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984).

In 1984, he left ILM to direct a TV commercial. It was for the American Cancer Society. This commercial got him noticed in Los Angeles. Soon, he directed a documentary for Rick Springfield. Fincher then helped start Propaganda Films. He began directing many commercials and music videos. Other famous directors also started their careers at Propaganda Films.

Fincher directed commercials for brands like Levi's, Nike, and Coca-Cola. He also directed music videos for many artists. These included George Michael's "Freedom! '90" and Michael Jackson's "Who Is It". He directed several iconic videos for Madonna, such as "Express Yourself" and "Vogue". Between 1984 and 1993, Fincher directed 53 music videos. He called this time his "film school." He learned how to make films well, even with small budgets.

Becoming Well-Known: First Movies (1992–2000)

In 1990, Fincher was hired by 20th Century Fox. He was chosen to direct Alien 3 (1992). This was his first full-length movie. It was the third film in the Alien series. The movie was released in 1992. Critics had mixed feelings about it. Fincher later said he was unhappy with the film. He felt the studio interfered too much.

After Alien 3, Fincher went back to directing commercials and music videos. He directed "Love Is Strong" for the Rolling Stones in 1994. This video won a Grammy Award for Best Music Video. Soon, Fincher decided to make another movie. He read the script for Seven (1995). This movie was a big success. Critics loved it, and it earned over $320 million worldwide.

After Seven, Fincher directed The Game (1997). This was a mystery thriller starring Michael Douglas. The story is about a banker who gets involved in a strange "game." This game makes it hard for him to tell what is real. Critics liked the movie's visuals. It showed how Fincher could make ordinary places look scary.

In 1997, Fincher agreed to direct Fight Club. This movie was based on a popular book. It starred Brad Pitt, Edward Norton, and Helena Bonham Carter. The film is about an office worker who starts an underground fighting club. When it first came out in 1999, people had different opinions. It earned a fair amount of money. Over time, Fight Club became a cult classic. Many people now study its deep meanings.

Fincher was also considered to direct Spider-Man (2002). He wanted to show an older, more experienced Spider-Man. But the studio did not like his idea. Sam Raimi was chosen to direct the movie instead.

Continued Success: More Films and Netflix (2001–Present)

In 2002, Fincher directed the thriller Panic Room. The movie is about a mother and daughter hiding in a safe room during a home invasion. It starred Jodie Foster and Kristen Stewart. The film was very popular and earned a lot of money. Fincher said it was a "popcorn movie" about survival.

Five years later, Fincher released Zodiac (2007). It starred Jake Gyllenhaal, Mark Ruffalo, and Robert Downey Jr.. Zodiac was filmed using digital cameras. Critics loved the movie, but it did not earn much money in the U.S.

In 2008, Fincher directed The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. This movie was based on a short story. It's about a man who is born old and ages backward. Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett starred in it. The movie had amazing visual effects. It was a big success and received many Academy Award nominations. It won three awards, including for Best Visual Effects.

Fincher directed The Social Network (2010). This movie was about the start of Facebook and its founder, Mark Zuckerberg. Jesse Eisenberg played Zuckerberg. The film was a huge success. It won three Academy Awards, including for Best Adapted Screenplay. It also won four Golden Globe Awards, including Best Motion Picture – Drama.

In 2011, Fincher directed The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. This was a psychological thriller based on a Swedish novel. It starred Daniel Craig and Rooney Mara. The movie was filmed mainly in Sweden. Critics generally liked it. It won an Academy Award for Best Film Editing.

Since 2013, Fincher has worked a lot with Netflix. He was a main producer for the TV series House of Cards. He also directed the first two episodes. He won an Emmy Award for directing the first episode. He also directed the music video for "Suit & Tie" by Justin Timberlake, which won a Grammy.

In 2014, Fincher directed Gone Girl. This movie was based on a popular book. It starred Ben Affleck and Rosamund Pike. The story is a mystery about a wife who disappears. The movie was a big hit. It earned $369 million worldwide. Pike was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress.

Between 2016 and 2019, Fincher directed and produced another Netflix series, Mindhunter. Fincher has said that a third season is unlikely because the show was very expensive.

In 2019, Fincher became a main producer for Love, Death & Robots. This is an animated science-fiction series on Netflix. In 2020, he directed Mank. This movie was about the writer of Citizen Kane. It starred Gary Oldman. Mank received ten Academy Award nominations and won two.

In 2022, Fincher directed an episode for Love, Death & Robots called "Bad Travelling." In 2023, he directed The Killer for Netflix. This movie was based on a graphic novel. It starred Michael Fassbender. In 2024, it was reported that Fincher is interested in making an American version of the Korean series Squid Game.

How David Fincher Makes Movies

Who Influenced Fincher?

David Fincher did not go to film school. He learned by doing. He looks up to famous directors like Alfred Hitchcock, Stanley Kubrick, and Martin Scorsese. Some of his favorite movies include Rear Window (1954) and Jaws (1975). He said his movie Panic Room was like a mix of Rear Window and Straw Dogs.

For Seven, Fincher and his camera person were inspired by films like The French Connection. He also likes the work of graphic designer Saul Bass. Bass designed many famous movie title sequences.

Fincher's Filming Methods

Fincher always starts by doing a lot of research. He likes to be involved in every part of making a movie. People say he is a perfectionist. He pays close attention to every small detail. He is very good at finding things that others might miss.

When working with actors, Fincher often asks for many takes of a scene. Sometimes, actors have to do a scene 50 or even 70 times! For example, Rooney Mara did 99 takes for one scene in The Social Network. Fincher says he does this to make the acting feel more real and natural. Some actors like this method, but others do not.

Fincher prefers to shoot with digital cameras. He likes to use natural light. He usually uses cameras on a tripod, not handheld cameras. He also uses computer-generated imagery (CGI) in his films. But he uses it so well that you often don't even notice it.

Fincher's Style and Themes

One special part of Fincher's style is how he moves the camera. The camera often moves at the same speed as the characters. This helps the audience feel what the characters are feeling. In his music videos, the camera movements are often timed to the music.

Many people see Fincher as an "auteur" filmmaker. This means he has a very distinct style. His movies are often like film noir (dark crime films). He uses colors like blue, green, and yellow. These colors often make the world in his movies look a bit sad or cold. He also uses a lot of shadows and minimal light. He says bright lights can make skin look unnatural.

Fincher's films often explore themes like loneliness and how modern life can make people feel like outsiders. His characters are often troubled and unhappy. In movies like Seven and Zodiac, characters become obsessed. This can lead to their downfall. Fincher is fascinated by dark themes. He believes evil often hides in plain sight.

Working with Others: Fincher's Collaborators

Fincher often works with the same people on his movies. He has cast Brad Pitt in three of his films. He says Pitt is a great person to work with. Other actors like Rooney Mara and Jared Leto have also been in more than one of his movies.

The music for many of his films is composed by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross. They have worked on The Social Network, Gone Girl, and Mank. They say working with Fincher is inspiring. Before they worked together, Fincher used a remix of a Nine Inch Nails song in Seven.

Fincher has also worked with the same camera people, sound designers, and editors for many years. He trusts his team. He believes that when people bring different experiences to a project, it makes the final film better.

Fincher's Personal Life

David Fincher was married to Donya Fiorentino. They had one daughter. They divorced in 1995. In 1996, Fincher married producer Ceán Chaffin.

Fincher's Filmography

Awards and Recognitions for Fincher's Work

Critics have praised David Fincher's work. They say his movies show the "modern mind" with great power. In 2003 and 2012, The Guardian newspaper listed him among the best directors in the world. His films Zodiac and The Social Network were even named among the "100 Greatest Films of the 21st Century" by the BBC. People also admire his creative music videos.

Fincher has been nominated three times for the Academy Award for Best Director. These nominations were for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008), The Social Network (2010), and Mank (2020). He won the BAFTA Award for Best Direction and the Golden Globe Award for Best Director for The Social Network.

He also won two Grammy Awards for music videos: "Love Is Strong" (1995) by The Rolling Stones and "Suit & Tie" (2013) by Justin Timberlake and Jay-Z. He has won four Primetime Emmy Awards. One was for directing House of Cards (2013). The other three were for producing Love, Death & Robots.

Images for kids

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  Jesse Eisenberg and Fincher at the 2010 New York Film Festival.

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  Rooney Mara, Daniel Craig, and Fincher at the premiere of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.

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  Fincher and Gillian Flynn at the 52nd New York Film Festival.

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  Frequent Fincher collaborators Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross.

See also

• David Fincher's unrealized projects