Benjamin Safdie (born February 24, 1986) is an American filmmaker, actor, and editor best known for his collaborations with his older brother, Josh Safdie. Together, the Safdie brothers have established themselves as leading voices in contemporary independent cinema with acclaimed films such as Heaven Knows What (2014), Good Time (2017), and Uncut Gems (2019). In addition to directing, Benny has pursued a parallel career as an actor. His performance in Good Time earned him a nomination for the Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Male. He has since appeared in high-profile films including Paul Thomas Anderson’s Licorice Pizza (2021), Kelly Fremon Craig’s Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret. (2023), and Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer (2023). On television, he co-created, co-wrote, and starred alongside Nathan Fielder and Emma Stone in the Showtime series The Curse (2023).

Filmography

• 2026Cameron Winter at Carnegie Hall — Co-Producer, Camera Operator
• 2026Public Access — Executive Producer
• 2026The Odyssey — Agamemnon
• 2026The Super Mario Galaxy Movie — Bowser Junior (voice)
• 2025Happy Gilmore 2 — Frank Manatee
• 2025Marty Supreme — Thanks
• 2025Noah Britton: The Best Stuff I've Ever Done — Additional Camera
• Pee-wee as Himself — Executive Producer
• 2025Thank You Very Much — Executive Producer
• 2025The Smashing Machine — Director, Screenplay, Co-Producer, Editor
• Ren Faire — Executive Producer
• 2023Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret. — Herbert Simon
• Love Has Won: The Cult of Mother God — Executive Producer
• 2023Oppenheimer — Edward Teller
• Telemarketers — Executive Producer
• The Curse — Dougie Schecter, Executive Producer, Story, Teleplay, Writer, Creator
• 2022Funny Pages — Producer
• Obi-Wan Kenobi — Nari
• 2022Stars at Noon — CIA Man
• 2021Licorice Pizza — Joel Wachs
• 2020Goldman v Silverman — Al Silverman, Director
• 2020Pieces of a Woman — Chris
• 2020Question & Answer — Self, Director, Writer, Editor
• 2019Uncut Gems — Director, Writer, Editor
• 2017Good Time — Nick Nikas, Director, Editor, Sound Recordist
• 2017Person to Person — Eugene
• 2016Toback Vs. Mailer: The Incident — Director, Editor
• 2015A Hot Two Weeks: The Making of Heaven Knows What
• 2015Gone Tomorrow — Director
• 2015Heaven Knows What — Director, Editor, Sound Recordist, Sound Mixer
• Togetherness — Craddock Brother #2
• 2013Lenny Cooke — Director, Editor
• 2013Solid Gold — Goldman, Director
• 2012Heartland — Producer
• 2012The Black Balloon — Director, Writer, Sound Recordist, Editor, Casting Director
• 2012Trophy Hunter — Director, Writer
• 2011Buttons — Director, Director of Photography, Editor
• 2011Straight Hustle — Director, Writer
• 2010Daddy Longlegs — Director, Writer, Co-Producer, Editor, Sound Designer
• 2010John's Gone — John, Director, Writer, Editor, Producer
• The Neistat Brothers — Self, Set Decoration
• 2010The Surprise Tour — Editor
• 2008John's Lonely Trip to Coney Island — Director, Editor
• 2008The Acquaintances of a Lonely John — John, Director, Writer, Editor, Producer
• 2008The Pleasure of Being Robbed — Editor
• 2008The Story of Charles Riverbank — Charles Riverbank, Director, Writer
• 2008There's Nothing You Can Do — Director, Editor, Writer
• 2008Yeast — Riverguy 2
• 2007I Think I'm Missing Parts
• 2007The Back of Her Head — Writer
• 2007What To Do When Choking — Director, Editor
• 2006If You See Something, Say Something — Business Man 2, Writer
• 2006The Groomsmen — Production Assistant
• 2006The Ralph Handel Story — Ralph Handel, Director, Editor
• 2005The Adventures of Slater's Friend — 1st Cameraman, Director, Writer, Editor
• 2004Alberto Live in a Bathroom — Benny the Salesman
• Grown Ups 3
• Into the Woods with Mark — Director
• Lizard Music — Director, Producer, Screenplay, Editor
• Superfakes — Executive Producer

Appearances as themselves (7)

• 2026The Odyssey: The Making of an Epic — Self (archive footage)
• Mr. Scorsese — Self
• 2020Money on the Street: The Making of Uncut Gems — Self
• 2017Meet the Filmmakers: Josh and Benny Safdie — Self
• The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon — Self
• 2011Second Stop from Jupiter: The Making of Daddy Longlegs — Himself
• The Daily Show — Self