Jason Reitman facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jason Reitman
Reitman in 2012
Born	(1977-10-19) October 19, 1977 (age 47) Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Citizenship	Canada United States
Education	Skidmore College University of Southern California (BA)
Occupation	Film director producer screenwriter actor
Years active	1988–present
Spouse(s)	Michele Lee ​ ​ (m. 2004; div. 2014)​
Children	1
Parent(s)	Ivan Reitman (father)
Relatives	Catherine Reitman (sister)

Jason Reitman (born October 19, 1977) is a Canadian-American filmmaker. He is famous for directing movies like Thank You for Smoking (2005), Juno (2007), and Up in the Air (2009). He also directed Ghostbusters: Afterlife (2021) and Saturday Night (2024).

Jason has won a Grammy Award and a Golden Globe. He has also been nominated for four Academy Awards, including two for Best Director. His father, Ivan Reitman, was also a well-known director. Jason often works with screenwriter Diablo Cody and director Gil Kenan.

Early Life and Education

Jason Reitman was born in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. His mother, Geneviève Robert, was an actress. His father, Ivan Reitman, was a famous film director. Jason has two younger sisters: Catherine Reitman, who is an actress and writer, and Caroline Reitman.

When Jason was a child, his family moved to Los Angeles. His father, Ivan, directed popular films like Ghostbusters and Kindergarten Cop. Being around his father's work taught Jason that making movies is a real job, not just magic.

Jason described himself as a "movie geek" and "shy" when he was young. In the late 1980s, he started acting in small roles. He also worked as a production assistant on his father's films. He spent time in editing rooms, learning how movies are put together.

He graduated from Harvard-Westlake School in 1995. Jason was a high jumper in high school. He first went to Skidmore College to study pre-med. Later, he transferred to the University of Southern California (USC). There, he studied English and Creative Writing. At USC, he performed with an improv comedy group.

Filmmaking Career

Jason Reitman began his career by making short films while at USC. In his 20s, he chose to direct his own short films and commercials. He turned down offers to direct bigger commercial movies. For example, he declined to direct Dude, Where's My Car? twice.

First Feature Films

Reitman's first full-length movie was Thank You for Smoking, released in 2005. He turned a novel by Christopher Buckley into a screenplay and then a film. The movie was very successful with critics and audiences. It earned over $39 million worldwide. It was also nominated for two Golden Globe awards.

His second film, Juno, came out in December 2007. It was a huge hit after showing at the 2007 Toronto International Film Festival. Many critics loved it, including Roger Ebert, who called it his favorite film of 2007.

Juno received Oscar nominations for Best Picture and Elliot Page's acting. Diablo Cody won an Oscar for her original screenplay. Reitman himself was nominated for Best Director. He won Best Director at the 2008 Canadian Comedy Awards for Juno. The film made over $140 million in the U.S.

Later Projects and Successes

In 2006, Reitman started a production company called "Hard C Productions." He wanted to make "small subversive comedy that is independent but accessible." Through this company, he produced films like Jennifer's Body. In 2009, he left Hard C to create "Right of Way Films."

In 2009, Reitman directed Up in the Air, starring George Clooney. The movie is about a corporate downsizer who travels a lot. Reitman and Sheldon Turner won the Golden Globe Award for Best Screenplay for this film in 2010.

Reitman at the 2009 Toronto International Film Festival

On January 15, 2019, Reitman announced he would direct Ghostbusters: Afterlife. This film continued the story of the original Ghostbusters movies directed by his father. It was released in November 2021 and was very successful. After this, Reitman and his writing partner Gil Kenan signed a deal with Sony Pictures Entertainment. They plan to create more projects together.

Reitman co-wrote and directed Saturday Night, released in October 2024. This comedy movie is about the events leading up to the very first live broadcast of Saturday Night Live in 1975.

Other Work

Before making feature films, Jason Reitman wrote and directed six short films. His first short film, Operation, premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 1998.

He has also directed commercials for big brands like Wal-Mart, Burger King, Nintendo, BMW, and Buick. In television, Reitman directed two episodes of The Office. He also directed a sketch for Saturday Night Live.

Since 2011, Reitman has directed the Live Read series. This is a monthly event where film scripts are read live on stage. In 2020, Reitman directed The Princess Bride, a TV adaptation of the novel. This project helped raise money for World Central Kitchen.

Personal Life

Jason Reitman is a dual citizen of Canada and the United States. He has one child, a daughter named Josie, born in 2006.

Filmography

Short film

Feature film

Jason Reitman at the premiere of Men, Women & Children in 2014

Executive producer

• Chloe (2009)
• Ceremony (2010)
• Whiplash (2014)
• Demolition (2015)

Acting roles

Television

Awards and Nominations

Academy Awards

BAFTA Awards

Golden Globe Awards

Other awards