---
name: "David Fincher"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/david-fincher"
fi1m_id: "david-fincher"
imdb_id: "nm0000399"
tmdb_id: 7467
wikidata_id: "Q184903"
roles: ["Director"]
born: "28 August 1962"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 18
average_fi1m_score: 78
average_as: "director"
average_over: 12
updated: "2026-10-21T04:27:13.283114+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."
---

# David Fincher

## Identity

David Fincher

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/david-fincher
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** david-fincher
- **IMDb ID:** nm0000399
- **TMDB ID:** 7467
- **Wikidata ID:** Q184903
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Fincher, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q184903, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000399/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/7467

Director. Born 28 August 1962 in Denver, Colorado, USA.

## Details

- **Work:** Director
- **Born:** 28 August 1962, Denver, Colorado, USA
- **Active:** 1983–present
- **Also known as:** Dave Fincher , David Andrew Leo Fincher 
- **Titles on Fi1m:** 18: 1 acting, 12 directing, 1 crew, 4 other
- **Frequently works with:** [Ceán Chaffin](https://film.one/person/cean-chaffin.md), [Brad Pitt](https://film.one/person/brad-pitt.md), [Andrew Kevin Walker](https://film.one/person/andrew-kevin-walker.md), [Jared Leto](https://film.one/person/jared-leto.md), [Rooney Mara](https://film.one/person/rooney-mara.md), [Scott Rudin](https://film.one/person/scott-rudin.md)
- **BAFTA Film Awards:** 1 BAFTA (1 won)
- **Average Fi1m score:** 78, as director, over 12 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1980s 75 (1), 1990s 79 (5), 2000s 70 (5), 2010s 78 (5), 2020s 74 (2)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 78 to 74 across 12 titles
- **Score spread:** 6 at 80+, 6 at 60–79, 0 under 60
- **Genres:** Thriller 8, Drama 7, Crime 6, Mystery 5, Action 1, Fantasy 1
- **Screen time:** 25 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $2,144m across 11 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Fincher, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q184903, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000399/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/7467

## Coming up

- *THE FURTHER MIS-ADVENTURES OF CLIFF BOOTH* (2026-11-25), Director — [page](https://film.one/film/the-further-mis-adventures-of-cliff-booth.md)

## Streaming the US now

- **Netflix:** [*Gone Girl*](https://film.one/film/gone-girl.md) (84), [*MINDHUNTER*](https://film.one/tv/mindhunter.md) (83), [*The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo*](https://film.one/film/the-girl-with-the-dragon-tattoo.md) (74)
- **Apple TV:** [*The Social Network*](https://film.one/film/the-social-network.md) (91)
- **Paramount+:** [*Zodiac*](https://film.one/film/zodiac.md) (91)
- **The Roku Channel:** [*Se7en*](https://film.one/film/se7en.md) (88)
- **Pluto TV:** [*The Curious Case of Benjamin Button*](https://film.one/film/the-curious-case-of-benjamin-button.md) (64)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Fi1m on David Fincher

> David Fincher makes waiting and watching feel dangerous. We rate his patience and precision, but *The Killer* shows the limit: the work can be absorbing even when there is little beneath it.

In *The Killer* (2023), Michael Fassbender waits in an empty Paris office, does yoga and listens to The Smiths while preparing to shoot a man across the street. Fincher makes the waiting absorbing and the assassin's solemn rules faintly ridiculous. The film is lean, dry and worth an evening, though its interest in the man scarcely extends beyond his working habits. Fincher has often made procedure compelling; here, we wish he had given it a little more purpose.

After his feature debut, *Alien 3* (1992), *Se7en* (1995) established his thriller style, with Andrew Kevin Walker providing the screenplay. *Fight Club* (1999) pursued masculinity and consumerism through a non-linear story. *Zodiac* (2007) gave patient investigation a larger subject: a city's fear across a decade. The sustained tension of *The Social Network* (2010) and the misdirection of *Gone Girl* (2014) show how much he can do with that control. Returning to procedure in *The Killer*, he strips away too much of what made *Zodiac* matter.

That precision is shared work. Fincher's collaborators include cinematographers Jeff Cronenweth and Erik Messerschmidt, editor Kirk Baxter, composers Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, and production designer Donald Graham Burt. The controlled camera movements and clinical lighting suit his thrillers. They keep our attention on people absorbed in tasks, watching and checking. The risk is that we stop caring about those people, particularly when a film spends as much time explaining its protagonist's methods as *The Killer* does.

The smaller film also shows why control need not mean a fixed camera. During its fight sequence, Fincher goes handheld and close, with almost no music to soften the blows. We flinched because the impacts sound painfully solid, and for those minutes we feared for a man the film had kept at a distance. Walker's repeated voiceover is less successful: what begins as a joke about self-importance keeps returning after we have understood it. Start with *Zodiac*; save *The Killer* for an evening when a well-made thriller is enough.

## Biography

David Fincher is an American film director. Born in Denver, Colorado, in 1962, he began his career in the 1980s directing music videos and commercials before making his feature debut with *Alien 3* (1992).

He is known for directing thrillers including *Se7en* (1995), *Fight Club* (1999), *Zodiac* (2007), *The Social Network* (2010), *Gone Girl* (2014), *Mank* (2020) and *The Killer* (2023). Fincher has received three Academy Award nominations for Best Director.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com, britannica.com.*

## On Fi1m (18)

### Performed in (1)

- *Full Frontal* (2002), Fi1m 40, as Film Director — [page](https://film.one/film/full-frontal.md)

### Directed (12) — the average rests on these

- *The Killer* (2023), Fi1m 72, Director — [page](https://film.one/film/the-killer.md)
- *MINDHUNTER* (2017), Fi1m 83, Executive Producer, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/mindhunter.md)
- *Gone Girl* (2014), Fi1m 84, Director — [page](https://film.one/film/gone-girl.md)
- *The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo* (2011), Fi1m 74, Director — [page](https://film.one/film/the-girl-with-the-dragon-tattoo.md)
- *The Social Network* (2010), Fi1m 91, Director — [page](https://film.one/film/the-social-network.md)
- *The Curious Case of Benjamin Button* (2008), Fi1m 64, Director — [page](https://film.one/film/the-curious-case-of-benjamin-button.md)
- *Zodiac* (2007), Fi1m 91, Director — [page](https://film.one/film/zodiac.md)
- *Panic Room* (2002), Fi1m 73, Director — [page](https://film.one/film/panic-room.md)
- *Fight Club* (1999), Fi1m 81, Director — [page](https://film.one/film/fight-club.md)
- *The Game* (1997), Fi1m 76, Director — [page](https://film.one/film/the-game.md)
- *Se7en* (1995), Fi1m 88, Director — [page](https://film.one/film/se7en.md)
- *Alien³* (1992), Fi1m 62, Director — [page](https://film.one/film/alien3.md)

### Crew (1)

- *Return of the Jedi* (1983), Fi1m 75, Assistant Camera, Visual Effects Camera — [page](https://film.one/film/return-of-the-jedi.md)

### Also credited (4) — thanks, archive footage, uncredited

- *Weapons* (2025), Fi1m 75, Thanks — [page](https://film.one/film/weapons.md)
- *I'm Still Here* (2010), Fi1m 60, Thanks — [page](https://film.one/film/im-still-here-2010.md)
- *Where the Wild Things Are* (2009), Fi1m 80, Thanks — [page](https://film.one/film/where-the-wild-things-are.md)
- *Being John Malkovich* (1999), Fi1m 89, as Christopher Bing (uncredited) — [page](https://film.one/film/being-john-malkovich.md)

## Complete filmography (56)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *THE FURTHER MIS-ADVENTURES OF CLIFF BOOTH* (2026), Director — coming soon, [page](https://film.one/film/the-further-mis-adventures-of-cliff-booth.md)
- *Weapons* (2025), Thanks — Fi1m 75, [page](https://film.one/film/weapons.md)
- *The Killer* (2023), Director — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/film/the-killer.md)
- *Beau Is Afraid* (2023), Thanks — Fi1m 60, [page](https://film.one/film/beau-is-afraid.md)
- *Is That Black Enough for You?!?* (2022), Producer
- *Blonde* (2022), Thanks — Fi1m 40, [page](https://film.one/film/blonde.md)
- *Voir* (2021), series, Executive Producer
- *Mank* (2020), Director
- *Love, Death & Robots* (2019), series, Executive Producer, Director
- *The Girl in the Spider's Web* (2018), Executive Producer
- *MINDHUNTER* (2017), series, Executive Producer, Director — Fi1m 83, [page](https://film.one/tv/mindhunter.md)
- *Gone Girl* (2014), Director — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/gone-girl.md)
- *The One I Love* (2014), Thanks
- *Gravity* (2013), Thanks — Fi1m 85, [page](https://film.one/film/gravity.md)
- *House of Cards* (2013), series, Executive Producer, Director
- *The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo: On Location - Sweden and Hollywood* (2012), Actor
- *The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo: Post-Production* (2012), Actor
- *The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo: Metal One Sheet* (2012), Actor
- *The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo* (2011), Director — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/film/the-girl-with-the-dragon-tattoo.md)
- *The Social Network* (2010), Director — Fi1m 91, [page](https://film.one/film/the-social-network.md)
- *I'm Still Here* (2010), Thanks — Fi1m 60, [page](https://film.one/film/im-still-here-2010.md)
- *Sympathy for Delicious* (2010), Thanks
- *Where the Wild Things Are* (2009), Thanks — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/film/where-the-wild-things-are.md)
- *Logorama* (2009), as Pringles Original (voice)
- *The Curious Case of Benjamin Button* (2008), Director — Fi1m 64, [page](https://film.one/film/the-curious-case-of-benjamin-button.md)
- *WALL·E* (2008), Thanks — Fi1m 92, [page](https://film.one/film/walle.md)
- *Zodiac* (2007), Director — Fi1m 91, [page](https://film.one/film/zodiac.md)
- *The Fall* (2006), Executive Producer, Presenter
- *Love and Other Disasters* (2006), Executive Producer
- *Lords of Dogtown* (2005), Executive Producer
- *Beat the Devil* (2002), Original Concept
- *Ticker* (2002), Original Concept, Executive Producer
- *Full Frontal* (2002), as Film Director — Fi1m 40, [page](https://film.one/film/full-frontal.md)
- *Panic Room* (2002), Director — Fi1m 73, [page](https://film.one/film/panic-room.md)
- *Star* (2001), Executive Producer
- *Powder Keg* (2001), Executive Producer
- *The Follow* (2001), Executive Producer
- *Ambush* (2001), Executive Producer
- *The Hire* (2001), series, Creator
- *Chosen* (2001), Executive Producer
- *Keeping the Faith* (2000), Thanks
- *Madonna: The Video Collection 93:99* (1999), Director
- *Being John Malkovich* (1999), as Christopher Bing (uncredited) — Fi1m 89, [page](https://film.one/film/being-john-malkovich.md)
- *Fight Club* (1999), Director — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/film/fight-club.md)
- *The Game* (1997), Director — Fi1m 76, [page](https://film.one/film/the-game.md)
- *Se7en* (1995), Director — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/film/se7en.md)
- *Aerosmith: Big Ones You Can Look At* (1994), Director
- *Michael Jackson: Dangerous - The Short Films* (1993), Director
- *Alien³* (1992), Director — Fi1m 62, [page](https://film.one/film/alien3.md)
- *Madonna: The Immaculate Collection* (1990), Director
- *Rick Springfield: The Beat of the Live Drum* (1985), Director
- *The Ewok Adventure* (1984), Visual Effects Camera
- *Twice Upon a Time* (1983), Special Effects, Visual Effects Camera
- *Return of the Jedi* (1983), Visual Effects Camera, Assistant Camera — Fi1m 75, [page](https://film.one/film/return-of-the-jedi.md)
- *Lange*, Executive Producer
- *Bitterroot*, Director

## Gallery

- ![David Fincher](https://film.one/media/person/15704/gallery-a7e56568dc5e.jpg) David Fincher — Elen Nivrae from Paris, France, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/67/David_Fincher_%282012%29_3.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![De izquierda a derecha: el guionista Aaron Sorkin, los actores Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield y Justin Timberlake y el director David Fincher en el estreno de (2010)](https://film.one/media/person/15704/gallery-6cc472435601.jpg) De izquierda a derecha: el guionista Aaron Sorkin, los actores Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield y Justin Timberlake y el director David Fincher en el estreno de (2010) — Raffi Asdourian, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/25/Aaron_Sorkin_-_Jesse_Eisenberg_-_David_Fincher_-_Andrew_Garfield_-_Justin_Timberlake_-_The_Social_Network_-_2010_New_York_Film_Festival_-_01.jpg/1280px-Aaron_Sorkin_-_Jesse_Eisenberg_-_David_Fincher_-_Andrew_Garfield_-_Justin_Timberlake_-_The_Social_Network_-_2010_New_York_Film_Festival_-_01.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![De izquierda a derecha: Aaron Sorkin, Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield, Justin Timberlake y David Fincher en el estreno de The social network en el Festival de  (2010)](https://film.one/media/person/15704/gallery-fafa4de791bf.jpg) De izquierda a derecha: Aaron Sorkin, Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield, Justin Timberlake y David Fincher en el estreno de The social network en el Festival de  (2010) — Raffi Asdourian, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c0/Aaron_Sorkin_-_Jesse_Eisenberg_-_David_Fincher_-_Andrew_Garfield_-_Justin_Timberlake_-_The_Social_Network_-_2010_New_York_Film_Festival_-_02.jpg/1280px-Aaron_Sorkin_-_Jesse_Eisenberg_-_David_Fincher_-_Andrew_Garfield_-_Justin_Timberlake_-_The_Social_Network_-_2010_New_York_Film_Festival_-_02.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![David Fincher, American film and music video director (2012)](https://film.one/media/person/15704/gallery-6ef3e0f6241d.jpg) David Fincher, American film and music video director (2012) — Elen Nivrae from Paris, France, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/78/David_Fincher.jpg/1280px-David_Fincher.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![David Fincher](https://film.one/media/person/15704/gallery-a616ee3edcfb.jpg) David Fincher — Image via TMDB
- ![David Fincher](https://film.one/media/person/15704/gallery-46cdb5a5b91c.jpg) David Fincher — Image via TMDB
- ![David Fincher](https://film.one/media/person/15704/gallery-c06e03bdec24.jpg) David Fincher — Image via TMDB
- ![El director de cine David Fincher en el estreno de The social network en el Festival de Cine de Nueva York. 24 de septiembre de 2010.](https://film.one/media/person/15704/gallery-24c8435356af.jpg) El director de cine David Fincher en el estreno de The social network en el Festival de Cine de Nueva York. 24 de septiembre de 2010. — Raffi Asdourian, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4b/David_Fincher_-_The_Social_Network_-_2010_New_York_Film_Festival.jpg/1280px-David_Fincher_-_The_Social_Network_-_2010_New_York_Film_Festival.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![De izquierda a derecha: el guionista Aaron Sorkin, los actores Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield y Justin Timberlake y el director David Fincher en el estreno de (2010)](https://film.one/media/person/15704/gallery-c5e2bf75b801.jpg) De izquierda a derecha: el guionista Aaron Sorkin, los actores Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield y Justin Timberlake y el director David Fincher en el estreno de (2010) — Raffi Asdourian, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e3/David_Fincher_2010_New_York_Film_Festival.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![David Fincher](https://film.one/media/person/15704/gallery-faa7daea894a.jpg) David Fincher — Image via TMDB
- ![David Fincher](https://film.one/media/person/15704/gallery-d4cfef8628b3.jpg) David Fincher — Image via TMDB
- ![David Fincher](https://film.one/media/person/15704/gallery-e8122bdc3998.jpg) David Fincher — Image via TMDB

## Awards

### Academy Awards — 0 won, 3 nominated

- 2021: Best Director (nominated), for *Mank*
- 2011: Best Director (nominated), for *The Social Network*
- 2009: Best Director (nominated), for *The Curious Case of Benjamin Button*

### BAFTA Film Awards — 1 won

- 2011: Best Direction (won), for *The Social Network*

### Primetime Emmy Awards — 1 won

- 2013: Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series (won), for *House of Cards*

### Other awards — 2 won

- Honorary César 2023: Honorary César (won)
- Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association Award for Best Director 2010: Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association Award for Best Director (won), for *The Social Network*

*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/david-fincher