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Russo brothers
Joe Russo & Anthony Russo by Gage Skidmore.jpg
Joe (left) and Anthony Russo in 2019
Born Anthony Russo
(1970-02-03) February 3, 1970 (age 55)
Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.
Joseph Russo
(1971-07-18) July 18, 1971 (age 53)
Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.
Occupation
  • Film directors
  • film producers
  • screenwriters
  • actors
Years active 1997–present
Parent(s)
  • Basil Russo (father)

Anthony Russo (born February 3, 1970) and Joseph Russo (born July 18, 1971), collectively known as the Russo brothers (/ˈrs/ ROO-soh), are American filmmakers. They direct most of their work together. They are best known for directing four films in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU): Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014), Captain America: Civil War (2016), Avengers: Infinity War (2018), and Avengers: Endgame (2019). Endgame grossed over $2.798 billion worldwide, briefly becoming the highest-grossing film of all time.

The brothers have also worked as directors and producers on the comedy series Arrested Development (2003–2005), Community (2009–2014), and Happy Endings (2011–2012). They won a Primetime Emmy Award for Arrested Development.

Early life

Anthony Russo (born February 3, 1970) and Joseph Russo (born July 18, 1971) were born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, the sons of Patricia Gallupoli and attorney and judge Basil Russo. Their parents were both of Italian descent. Their paternal and maternal families emigrated from Sicily and Abruzzo, respectively, and settling in Ohio. They attended Benedictine High School. Joe graduated from the University of Iowa and majored in English and writing, while Anthony graduated from the University of Pennsylvania and majored in business before switching to English.

Career

The Russo brothers were graduate students at Case Western Reserve University (where Anthony studied law and Joe studied acting at UEA) when they began directing, writing, and producing their first feature, Pieces. They financed the film with student loans and credit cards. After viewing Pieces at the Slamdance Film Festival, Steven Soderbergh approached the duo and offered to produce their next film, along with his producing partner George Clooney. This project was the crime comedy Welcome to Collinwood, starring William H. Macy, Sam Rockwell, and Clooney.

FX network executive Kevin Reilly hired the Russos to direct the pilot for the series Lucky, having liked the pair's work on Collinwood. Ron Howard was a fan of the pilot, and he had a hand in hiring the brothers to direct the pilot for Fox's Arrested Development.

In 2017, the brothers founded the production company AGBO.

The Russo brothers directed Avengers: Infinity War (2018), which became the first superhero movie to gross over $2 billion at the box office. They are the third directors to make a $2 billion movie after James Cameron's films Avatar and Titanic and J. J. Abrams's film Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Its sequel, Avengers: Endgame, was released on April 26, 2019, broke numerous box office records, and became the second superhero movie to gross over $2 billion. They join James Cameron as the only directors to make two $2 billion films.

The brothers are financing the Los Angeles and Beijing joint-production company Anthem & Song, which is producing the Chinese superhero film The Hero's Awakening.

The Russos also served as producers of the film Everything Everywhere All At Once, written and directed by Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert. The film, released in theatres in March 2022, is A24's highest-grossing film worldwide at the box office.

At San Diego Comic-Con in July 2024, Marvel Studios announced that the Russo brothers would return to direct and also produce Avengers: Doomsday (2026) and Avengers: Secret Wars (2027).

Business interests

In January 2025, Joe Russo was announced as a board member and investor of English football club Sheffield United. The club was taken over by the consortium group COH Sports led by fellow American businessmen Steve Rosen and Helmy Eltoukhy. Joe was joined on the board of directors by former Cleveland Cavaliers CEO Len Komoroski and real estate figure Terry Ahern.

Filmography

Film

Year Title Directors Producers Writer(s)
1997 Pieces Yes Yes Yes
2002 Welcome to Collinwood Yes No Yes
2006 You, Me and Dupree Yes No No
2007 Crashing No Executives No
2014 Captain America: The Winter Soldier Yes No No
2014 A Merry Friggin' Christmas No Executives No
2016 Captain America: Civil War Yes No No
2018 Avengers: Infinity War Yes No No
2018 Dizzy Pursuit No Executives No
2019 Avengers: Endgame Yes No No
2019 21 Bridges No Yes No
2019 Mosul No Yes No
2019 Super Me No Executives No
2020 Extraction No Yes Joe
2020 Relic No Executives No
2021 Cherry Yes Yes No
2022 The Gray Man Yes Yes Joe
2022 Everything Everywhere All at Once No Yes No
2023 Extraction 2 No Yes Joe
2023 All Fun and Games No Executives No
2025 The Electric State Yes Yes No
TBA The Bluff No Yes No

Television

Year Title Director(s) Executive
producers
Episode(s)
2003 Lucky Yes No "Pilot", "Up the Streaks"
2003–2005 Arrested Development Yes No
2004–2005 LAX Yes Yes
2006 What About Brian Yes No "Pilot"
2007–2008 Carpoolers Yes Yes
2009 Comedy Showcase Yes No "The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret"
2009–2014 Community Yes Yes
2010 Running Wilde Yes Yes "Pilot"
The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret Yes No Original Comedy Showcase Pilot
2011–2012 Happy Endings Yes Yes
Up All Night Yes No
2012 Animal Practice Yes Yes
2015 Agent Carter Joe No Episode: "Bridge and Tunnel" (as Joseph V. Russo)
2019 Deadly Class No Yes 10 episodes
Larry Charles' Dangerous World of Comedy No Yes 4 episodes
2022–present From No Yes 20 episodes
2023–present Citadel Yes Yes Director of Season 2: Joe only

Other

  • Fortnite Battle Royale - Season 6, Chapter 2 opening cinematic (co-directed, March 2021).

Joe Russo's acting credits

Year Title Role Notes
2005 Arrested Development Joe Episode "Hand to God"
2006 You, Me and Dupree Personal Trainer
2014 Captain America: The Winter Soldier Dr. Fine
2016 Captain America: Civil War Dr. Theo Broussard
2018 Avengers: Infinity War Bert Deleted scene
2019 Avengers: Endgame Grieving Man Credited as Gozie Agbo
Thanos Additional motion-capture only; uncredited
2020 The Simpsons Movie Executive (Voice) Episode "Bart the Bad Guy"
2021 Cherry Restaurant Owner
2022 The Gray Man CIA DDO Fine uncredited

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Hermanos Russo para niños

  • List of highest-grossing film directors
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