--- name: "Barry Levinson" canonical: "https://film.one/person/barry-levinson" fi1m_id: "barry-levinson" imdb_id: "nm0001469" tmdb_id: 8246 wikidata_id: "Q269692" roles: ["Director","Producer","Writer"] born: "6 April 1942" reviewed_on_fi1m: 18 average_fi1m_score: 71 average_as: "director" average_over: 11 updated: "2026-10-05T05:13:06.819533+00:00" licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Barry Levinson ## Identity Barry Levinson - **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/barry-levinson - **Type:** Person - **Fi1m ID:** barry-levinson - **IMDb ID:** nm0001469 - **TMDB ID:** 8246 - **Wikidata ID:** Q269692 - **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barry_Levinson, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q269692, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001469/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/8246 Director and producer. Born 6 April 1942 in Baltimore, Maryland, USA. ## Details - **Work:** Director, Producer, Writer - **Born:** 6 April 1942, Baltimore, Maryland, USA - **Active:** 1982–present - **Also known as:** Barry Lee Levinson - **Titles on Fi1m:** 18: 2 acting, 11 directing, 4 producing, 1 crew - **Frequently works with:** [Mark Johnson](https://film.one/person/mark-johnson.md), [Bruno Kirby](https://film.one/person/bruno-kirby.md), [Dustin Hoffman](https://film.one/person/dustin-hoffman.md), [Kevin Bacon](https://film.one/person/kevin-bacon.md), [Paul Attanasio](https://film.one/person/paul-attanasio.md), [Robert De Niro](https://film.one/person/robert-de-niro.md) - **Academy Awards:** 1 Oscar (1 won · 5 nominated) - **Average Fi1m score:** 71, as director, over 11 titles - **Fi1m score by decade:** 1980s 75 (6), 1990s 74 (10), 2000s 55 (1), 2020s 68 (1) - **Fi1m against the critics:** 71 to 68 across 11 titles - **Score spread:** 2 at 80+, 7 at 60–79, 2 under 60 - **Genres:** Drama 10, Crime 5, Comedy 3, Mystery 3, Thriller 3, Adventure 1 - **Screen time:** 19 hours of reviewed films - **Box office:** $1,098m across 9 films with figures - **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barry_Levinson, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q269692, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001469/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/8246 ## Streaming the US now - **Tubi:** [*Bugsy*](https://film.one/film/bugsy.md) (76), [*Sleepers*](https://film.one/film/sleepers.md) (57), [*Disclosure*](https://film.one/film/disclosure-1994.md) (56) - **Amazon Prime Video:** [*The Natural*](https://film.one/film/the-natural.md) (67), [*Bee Movie*](https://film.one/film/bee-movie.md) (55) - **HBO Max:** [*Rain Man*](https://film.one/film/rain-man.md) (76) - **Disney+:** [*Dopesick*](https://film.one/tv/dopesick.md) (68) For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country. ## Fi1m on Barry Levinson > Barry Levinson is worth watching for the freedom he gives actors and his ear for conversation. *Wag the Dog* makes appalling people entertaining company, though we wish its satire asked harder questions. Dustin Hoffman’s producer in *Wag the Dog* (1997) has a war to invent and treats it as a job worth doing properly. Levinson makes his professional satisfaction funny without asking us to excuse the deception. We laughed at that pride in getting the work done, because Hoffman gives the producer’s vanity such unembarrassed confidence. Levinson knows how long we will listen to someone objectionable if the conversation is good enough. He began writing for television variety shows, then worked on scripts for Mel Brooks’s films, including *High Anxiety* (1977). His directing debut, *Diner* (1982), which he also wrote, began a recurring group of Baltimore-set films about family, community and growing up. The breakthrough with *Rain Man* (1988) led into a stretch of major studio work, including the biographical crime drama *Bugsy* (1991). Those shifts in subject are worth keeping in mind before treating him simply as a comedy director. He allows improvisation rather than binding actors to a rigid shot list, and *Wag the Dog* gives us reason to value that flexibility. Hoffman’s expansiveness works against Robert De Niro’s economical performance as spin doctor Conrad Brean. Levinson gets the pairing right: their different ways of working make their conversations worth following. David Mamet and Hilary Henkin supply the quick dialogue, so the pleasure cannot all be credited to the man directing it. The reservation is that *Wag the Dog* does not examine the political system as closely as it enjoys the plotters. Its confidence can make the satire seem more searching than it is. We recommend it, but for the performances and comic exchanges, not as a complete account of how deception succeeds. His later directing work turns towards television with *The Wizard of Lies* (2017), a biographical drama, and the series *Dopesick* (2021). That is a return to the medium of his early writing, though not to variety comedy. Start with *Wag the Dog* if an evening with capable, appalling people sounds agreeable. ## Biography Barry Levinson is an American film director, producer and screenwriter. Born in Baltimore, Maryland, he studied at American University before moving to Los Angeles, where he began as a comedy writer for The Carol Burnett Show and collaborated with Mel Brooks on films including Silent Movie (1976) and High Anxiety (1977). Levinson made his directorial debut with Diner (1982). He won the Academy Award for Best Director for Rain Man (1988). Other notable films include The Natural (1984), Good Morning, Vietnam (1987), Bugsy (1991), which he also produced, and Wag the Dog (1997), on which he served as director and producer. He continues to work in film and television, including as executive producer and director on the 2021 miniseries Dopesick. *Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com.* ## On Fi1m (18) ### Performed in (2) - *Bee Movie* (2007), Fi1m 55, as Martin Benson (voice) — [page](https://film.one/film/bee-movie.md) - *Quiz Show* (1994), Fi1m 84, as Dave Garroway — [page](https://film.one/film/quiz-show.md) ### Directed (11) — the average rests on these - *Dopesick* (2021), Fi1m 68, Director, Executive Producer — [page](https://film.one/tv/dopesick.md) - *Wag the Dog* (1997), Fi1m 77, Director, Producer — [page](https://film.one/film/wag-the-dog.md) - *Sleepers* (1996), Fi1m 57, Director, Producer, Screenplay — [page](https://film.one/film/sleepers.md) - *Disclosure* (1994), Fi1m 56, Producer, Director — [page](https://film.one/film/disclosure-1994.md) - *Homicide: Life on the Street* (1993), Fi1m 89, Director, Producer — [page](https://film.one/tv/homicide-life-on-the-street.md) - *Bugsy* (1991), Fi1m 76, Producer, Director — [page](https://film.one/film/bugsy.md) - *Rain Man* (1988), Fi1m 76, Director — [page](https://film.one/film/rain-man.md) - *Good Morning, Vietnam* (1987), Fi1m 68, Director — [page](https://film.one/film/good-morning-vietnam.md) - *Young Sherlock Holmes* (1985), Fi1m 68, Director — [page](https://film.one/film/young-sherlock-holmes.md) - *The Natural* (1984), Fi1m 67, Director — [page](https://film.one/film/the-natural.md) - *Diner* (1982), Fi1m 84, Writer, Director — [page](https://film.one/film/diner.md) ### Produced (4) - *Donnie Brasco* (1997), Fi1m 84, Producer — [page](https://film.one/film/donnie-brasco.md) - *Oz* (1997), Fi1m 80, Executive Producer — [page](https://film.one/tv/oz.md) - *A Little Princess* (1995), Fi1m 84, Executive Producer — [page](https://film.one/film/a-little-princess.md) - *Kafka* (1991), Fi1m 58, Executive Producer — [page](https://film.one/film/kafka.md) ### Crew (1) - *Tootsie* (1982), Fi1m 85, Additional Writing — [page](https://film.one/film/tootsie.md) ## Complete filmography (86) Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page. - *Bucks County, USA* (2026), series, Executive Producer - *American Sweatshop* (2025), Producer - *The Alto Knights* (2025), Director, Producer - *Megalopolis* (2024), Thanks — Fi1m 54, [page](https://film.one/film/megalopolis.md) - *America's Burning* (2024), Executive Producer - *Monsieur Spade* (2024), series, Executive Producer - *The Calling* (2022), series, Director, Executive Producer - *The Survivor* (2022), Producer, Director - *Dopesick* (2021), series, Director, Executive Producer — Fi1m 68, [page](https://film.one/tv/dopesick.md) - *Malcolm & Marie* (2021), Thanks - *Stars and Strife* (2020), Executive Producer - *City on a Hill* (2019), series, Executive Producer - *Paterno* (2018), Executive Producer, Director - *The Wizard of Lies* (2017), Director, Executive Producer - *Shades of Blue* (2016), series, Director - *Rock the Kasbah* (2015), Director - *The Humbling* (2014), Director, Producer - *Muhammad Ali's Greatest Fight* (2013), as Justice Potter Stewart - *Phil Spector* (2013), Executive Producer - *Copper* (2012), series, Producer - *The Bay* (2012), Director, Producer - *Borgia* (2011), series, Producer - *You Don't Know Jack* (2010), Director, Executive Producer - *The Band That Wouldn't Die* (2009), Director - *30 for 30* (2009), series, Director - *PoliWood* (2009), Director - *The Philanthropist* (2009), series, Writer - *What Just Happened* (2008), Director, Producer - *Bee Movie* (2007), as Martin Benson (voice) — Fi1m 55, [page](https://film.one/film/bee-movie.md) - *Man of the Year* (2006), Director, Writer - *The Bedford Diaries* (2006), series, Executive Producer - *Aitraaz* (2004), Original Story - *The Jury* (2004), series, Director, Executive Producer, Story, Creator - *Envy* (2004), Director, Producer - *Strip Search* (2004), Executive Producer - *Deliver Us from Eva* (2003), Executive Producer - *Analyze That* (2002), Executive Producer - *Possession* (2002), Producer - *Shot in the Heart* (2001), Executive Producer - *Bandits* (2001), Director, Producer - *An Everlasting Piece* (2000), Director, Producer - *Falcone* (2000), series, Producer - *The Beat* (2000), series, Director, Executive Producer - *Homicide: The Movie* (2000), Executive Producer - *Liberty Heights* (1999), Director, Writer, Producer - *Original Diner Guys* (1999), Director, Producer - *Yesterday's Tomorrows* (1999), Executive Producer, Director - *Home Fries* (1998), Producer - *Sphere* (1998), Director, Producer - *Wag the Dog* (1997), as Man at a Movie Studio (uncredited) · Director, Producer — Fi1m 77, [page](https://film.one/film/wag-the-dog.md) - *The Second Civil War* (1997), Executive Producer - *Oz* (1997), series, Executive Producer — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/tv/oz.md) - *Donnie Brasco* (1997), Producer — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/donnie-brasco.md) - *Sleepers* (1996), Director, Screenplay, Producer — Fi1m 57, [page](https://film.one/film/sleepers.md) - *A Little Princess* (1995), Executive Producer — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/a-little-princess.md) - *Disclosure* (1994), Director, Producer — Fi1m 56, [page](https://film.one/film/disclosure-1994.md) - *Quiz Show* (1994), as Dave Garroway — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/quiz-show.md) - *Jimmy Hollywood* (1994), Director of 'Life Story', Director, Writer, Producer - *Homicide: Life on the Street* (1993), series, as Barry Levinson · Director, Producer — Fi1m 89, [page](https://film.one/tv/homicide-life-on-the-street.md) - *Toys* (1992), Director, Producer, Writer - *The Larry Sanders Show* (1992), series, as Barry Levinson — Fi1m 91, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-larry-sanders-show.md) - *Bugsy* (1991), Director, Producer — Fi1m 76, [page](https://film.one/film/bugsy.md) - *Kafka* (1991), Executive Producer — Fi1m 58, [page](https://film.one/film/kafka.md) - *Avalon* (1990), Director, Producer, Writer - *Rain Man* (1988), Director — Fi1m 76, [page](https://film.one/film/rain-man.md) - *Good Morning, Vietnam* (1987), Director — Fi1m 68, [page](https://film.one/film/good-morning-vietnam.md) - *Tin Men* (1987), Director, Writer - *Harry* (1987), series, Producer - *Young Sherlock Holmes* (1985), Director — Fi1m 68, [page](https://film.one/film/young-sherlock-holmes.md) - *Displaced Person* (1985), Producer - *The Natural* (1984), Director — Fi1m 67, [page](https://film.one/film/the-natural.md) - *Unfaithfully Yours* (1984), Screenplay - *Diner* (1983), Director, Writer, Executive Producer - *Tootsie* (1982), as Additional Writing — Fi1m 85, [page](https://film.one/film/tootsie.md) - *Best Friends* (1982), Writer - *Diner* (1982), Director, Writer — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/diner.md) - *American Playhouse* (1982), series, Teleplay - *History of the World: Part I* (1981), as Column Salesman - The Roman Empire - *Inside Moves* (1980), Screenplay - *...And Justice for All* (1979), Writer - *Peeping Times* (1978), Writer, Director - *High Anxiety* (1977), as Dennis - Bellboy · Writer - *Silent Movie* (1976), Executive, Screenplay - *Street Girls* (1975), Writer - *The Catholics* (1973), Producer - *Assassination*, Director ## Gallery - ![Barry Levinson at the 2009 Tribeca Film Festival premiere of Poliwood. Photographer's blog post about the event at which this portrait was taken.](https://film.one/media/person/78815/gallery-fe6adedb65a9.jpg) Barry Levinson at the 2009 Tribeca Film Festival premiere of Poliwood. Photographer's blog post about the event at which this portrait was taken. — David Shankbone, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/38/Barry_Levinson_2_Shankbone_2009_Tribeca.jpg/1280px-Barry_Levinson_2_Shankbone_2009_Tribeca.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Barry Levinson at the 2009 Tribeca Film Festival premiere of Poliwood. Photographer's blog post about the event at which this portrait was taken.](https://film.one/media/person/78815/gallery-1377ddeb174f.jpg) Barry Levinson at the 2009 Tribeca Film Festival premiere of Poliwood. Photographer's blog post about the event at which this portrait was taken. — David Shankbone, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cb/Barry_Levinson_Shankbone_2009_Tribeca.jpg/1280px-Barry_Levinson_Shankbone_2009_Tribeca.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Barry Levinson at the 2009 Tribeca Film Festival premiere of Poliwood. Photographer's blog post about the event at which this portrait was taken.](https://film.one/media/person/78815/gallery-b989cc658d82.jpg) Barry Levinson at the 2009 Tribeca Film Festival premiere of Poliwood. Photographer's blog post about the event at which this portrait was taken. — David Shankbone, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/44/Barry_Levinson_Shankbone_2009_Tribeca_%28cropped%29.jpg/1280px-Barry_Levinson_Shankbone_2009_Tribeca_%28cropped%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Barry Levinson at the 2009 Tribeca Film Festival premiere of Poliwood. Photographer's blog post about the event at which this portrait was taken.](https://film.one/media/person/78815/gallery-38895454dfe8.jpg) Barry Levinson at the 2009 Tribeca Film Festival premiere of Poliwood. Photographer's blog post about the event at which this portrait was taken. — David Shankbone, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b1/Barry_Levinson_at_the_2009_Tribeca_Film_Festival.jpg/1280px-Barry_Levinson_at_the_2009_Tribeca_Film_Festival.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Barry Levinson](https://film.one/media/person/78815/gallery-387456c38fe4.jpg) Barry Levinson — Image via TMDB - ![Barry Levinson](https://film.one/media/person/78815/gallery-4d928d7544a3.jpg) Barry Levinson — Image via TMDB - ![Barry Levinson](https://film.one/media/person/78815/gallery-e974eda81e6b.jpg) Barry Levinson — Image via TMDB - ![Barry Levinson](https://film.one/media/person/78815/gallery-1985da0ed8ed.jpg) Barry Levinson — Kevin Paul, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/37/Barry_Levinson_-_The_Natural.jpg/1280px-Barry_Levinson_-_The_Natural.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Barry Levinson at the 2009 Tribeca Film Festival premiere of Poliwood. Photographer's blog post about the event at which this portrait was taken.](https://film.one/media/person/78815/gallery-f31e4e8d18a9.jpg) Barry Levinson at the 2009 Tribeca Film Festival premiere of Poliwood. Photographer's blog post about the event at which this portrait was taken. — David Shankbone, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/67/Barry_Levinson_Shankbone_2009_Tribeca_%28cropped%29_%28cropped%29.jpg/1280px-Barry_Levinson_Shankbone_2009_Tribeca_%28cropped%29_%28cropped%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Barry Levinson](https://film.one/media/person/78815/gallery-ced50d5956e0.jpg) Barry Levinson — Image via TMDB ## Awards ### Academy Awards — 1 won, 5 nominated - 1992: Best Director (nominated), for *Bugsy* - 1992: Best Picture (nominated), for *Bugsy* - 1991: Best Writing, Original Screenplay (nominated), for *Avalon* - 1989: Best Director (won), for *Rain Man* - 1983: Best Writing, Original Screenplay (nominated), for *Diner* - 1980: Best Writing, Original Screenplay (nominated), for *...And Justice for All* ### Primetime Emmy Awards — 1 won - 1993: Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series (won), for *Homicide: Life on the Street* ### Berlin International Film Festival — 2 won - 1998: Silver Bear Grand Jury Prize (won), for *Wag the Dog* - 1989: Golden Bear (won), for *Rain Man* ### Other awards — 1 won - Laurel Award for Screenwriting Achievement 2010: Laurel Award for Screenwriting Achievement (won) *From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.* --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/barry-levinson