---
name: "Jon Avnet"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/jon-avnet"
fi1m_id: "jon-avnet"
imdb_id: "nm0000816"
tmdb_id: 18250
wikidata_id: "Q939079"
roles: ["Director","Producer"]
born: "17 November 1949"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 4
average_fi1m_score: 81
average_as: "director"
average_over: 2
updated: "2026-09-17T15:45:49.449824+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."
---

# Jon Avnet

## Identity

Jon Avnet

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/jon-avnet
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** jon-avnet
- **IMDb ID:** nm0000816
- **TMDB ID:** 18250
- **Wikidata ID:** Q939079
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jon_Avnet, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q939079, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000816/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/18250

Director and producer. Born 17 November 1949 in Brooklyn, New York, USA.

## Details

- **Work:** Director, Producer
- **Born:** 17 November 1949, Brooklyn, New York, USA
- **Active:** 1983–2010
- **Also known as:** Jonathan Michael Avnet, 존 애브넷, 존 아브넷
- **Titles on Fi1m:** 4: 2 directing, 2 producing
- **Average Fi1m score:** 81, as director, over 2 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1980s 81 (1), 1990s 75 (1), 2010s 84 (2)
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jon_Avnet, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q939079, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000816/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/18250

## Streaming the US now

- **Disney+:** [*Justified*](https://film.one/tv/justified.md) (87)
- **HBO Max:** [*Risky Business*](https://film.one/film/risky-business.md) (81)

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

## Fi1m on Jon Avnet

> Jon Avnet is worth watching when he gives actors room to make familiar stories convincing. His warmth can be persuasive, but his preference for reassurance sometimes makes the difficult questions too easy to put aside.

A woman listens to another woman’s life and begins to reconsider her own in *Fried Green Tomatoes* (1991). Avnet gives the listener enough importance that we care about her, rather than simply waiting for the story to return to the past. We were moved by that attention: someone hearing a story is allowed to matter as much as the people in it. Kathy Bates and Jessica Tandy make the warmth persuasive. We recommend the film for his handling of the performers, with reservations about how insistently it reassures.

He came to directing through producing, with *Risky Business* (1983) preceding the television film *Between Two Women* (1986). *Fried Green Tomatoes* was his feature debut. *Up Close & Personal* (1996), with Robert Redford and Michelle Pfeiffer, continued a career in which established actors have been central. Later work attracted complaints about formula and pacing, notably *88 Minutes* (2007). That criticism points to a weakness already present in the film we recommend: the lessons in *Fried Green Tomatoes* arrive much as expected.

The caution is most apparent in the attachment between the women played by Masterson and Parker. They give it a depth that the film’s broad account of friendship does not quite acknowledge. We do not need a declaration, but Avnet’s discretion about sexuality feels evasive in a film that asks us to applaud its women for refusing to conform. The actors make us believe in the attachment, while the direction seems reluctant to let it trouble the reassuring story around them.

For us, that is a substantial reservation, though it does not make the pleasure of these performances any less real. Avnet gives the women enough attention for their need to change to hold our interest through the predictable plotting. There is nothing wrong with wanting a warm story, and this one earns enough of its sentiment to be worth an evening. Start with *Fried Green Tomatoes* for Bates and Tandy; do not expect the storytelling to take many risks.

## Biography

Jon Avnet is an American director, writer and producer. He began his career in off-Broadway theatre before receiving a directing fellowship at the American Film Institute. In 1977 he co-founded Tisch/Avnet Productions with Steve Tisch; the partnership produced *Risky Business* (1983).

Avnet made his feature directorial debut with *Fried Green Tomatoes* (1991), which he also produced. He has since directed *The War* (1994), *Up Close & Personal* (1996), *Red Corner* (1997) and *Righteous Kill* (2008), and produced *The Mighty Ducks* (1992), its sequels, *George of the Jungle* (1997) and *Black Swan* (2010, executive producer). His work has received Academy Award, Emmy, Golden Globe and Tony nominations.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, catalog.afi.com, encyclopedia.com.*

## On Fi1m (4)

### Directed (2) — the average rests on these

- *Justified* (2010), Fi1m 87, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/justified.md)
- *Fried Green Tomatoes* (1991), Fi1m 75, Director, Producer — [page](https://film.one/film/fried-green-tomatoes.md)

### Produced (2)

- *Black Swan* (2010), Fi1m 82, Executive Producer — [page](https://film.one/film/black-swan.md)
- *Risky Business* (1983), Fi1m 81, Producer — [page](https://film.one/film/risky-business.md)

## Complete filmography (70)

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

- *The Last Rodeo* (2025), as Dr. Agre · Director, Writer, Producer
- *Justified: City Primeval* (2023), series, Director
- *Four Good Days* (2021), Producer
- *The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers* (2021), series, Executive Producer
- *Five Points* (2018), series, Executive Producer
- *Three Christs* (2017), Writer, Producer, Director
- *Manhunt* (2017), series, Director, Executive Producer
- *Ape* (2017), Executive Producer
- *Sickhouse* (2016), Producer
- *Sneaky Pete* (2015), series, Director, Executive Producer
- *Jackie & Ryan* (2014), Producer
- *Paloma* (2013), series, Executive Producer
- *Gumdrop* (2012), Executive Producer
- *Celia* (2012), Executive Producer
- *Ruth & Erica* (2012), series, Executive Producer
- *Georgia* (2012), series, Executive Producer
- *Allison* (2012), Executive Producer
- *Denise* (2012), Executive Producer
- *Serena* (2012), Executive Producer
- *Have a Little Faith* (2011), Director
- *Black Swan* (2010), Executive Producer — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/film/black-swan.md)
- *Pleading Guilty* (2010), Director
- *Justified* (2010), series, Director — Fi1m 87, [page](https://film.one/tv/justified.md)
- *Bunker Hill* (2009), Director
- *Righteous Kill* (2008), Director, Producer
- *The Starter Wife* (2007), series, Executive Producer, Director
- *Nobel Son* (2007), Thanks
- *88 Minutes* (2007), Director, Producer
- *Land of the Blind* (2006), Producer
- *Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow* (2004), Producer, Presenter
- *Boomtown* (2002), series, Producer, Director, Executive Producer
- *Uprising* (2001), Director, Writer, Producer
- *Uprising* (2001), series, Director, Producer, Writer
- *Things You Can Tell Just by Looking at Her* (2000), Producer
- *Inspector Gadget* (1999), Executive Producer
- *My Last Love* (1999), Executive Producer
- *Poodle Springs* (1998), Executive Producer
- *Red Corner* (1997), Director, Producer
- *George of the Jungle* (1997), Producer
- *D3: The Mighty Ducks* (1996), Producer
- *Up Close & Personal* (1996), Director, Producer
- *Miami Rhapsody* (1995), Executive Producer
- *The War* (1994), Director, Producer
- *When a Man Loves a Woman* (1994), Producer
- *D2: The Mighty Ducks* (1994), Producer
- *The Three Musketeers* (1993), Executive Producer
- *For Their Own Good* (1993), Executive Producer
- *The Mighty Ducks* (1992), Producer
- *The Nightman* (1992), Executive Producer
- *Fried Green Tomatoes* (1991), Director, Producer — Fi1m 75, [page](https://film.one/film/fried-green-tomatoes.md)
- *Funny About Love* (1990), Producer
- *Men Don't Leave* (1990), Producer, Second Unit Director
- *Do You Know the Muffin Man?* (1989), Executive Producer
- *Breaking Point* (1989), Producer
- *My First Love* (1988), Executive Producer
- *Side by Side* (1988), Executive Producer
- *Less Than Zero* (1987), Producer
- *In Love and War* (1987), Executive Producer
- *Between Two Women* (1986), Director, Writer, Executive Producer
- *The Burning Bed* (1984), Executive Producer
- *Call to Glory* (1984), series, Director, Executive Producer
- *Calendar Girl Murders* (1984), Producer
- *Deal of the Century* (1983), Executive Producer
- *Risky Business* (1983), Producer — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/film/risky-business.md)
- *Something So Right* (1982), Executive Producer
- *Prime Suspect* (1982), Producer
- *Homeward Bound* (1980), Producer
- *Coast to Coast* (1980), Producer
- *Outlaw Blues* (1977), Post Production Supervisor
- *Checkered Flag or Crash* (1977), Associate Producer

## Gallery

- ![Jon Avnet](https://film.one/media/person/79730/gallery-daaaf8fe4dc6.jpg) Jon Avnet — Art Directors Guild, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9b/Jon_Avnet.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![PHOTO CREDIT: ANDERS KRUSBERG / PEABODY AWARDS Gary Basaraba, Jason Gedrick, Graham Yost, Jon Avnet, Mykelti Williamson, and Neal McDonough, 62nd Annual Peabody (2003)](https://film.one/media/person/79730/gallery-b98fc4e341f2.jpg) PHOTO CREDIT: ANDERS KRUSBERG / PEABODY AWARDS Gary Basaraba, Jason Gedrick, Graham Yost, Jon Avnet, Mykelti Williamson, and Neal McDonough, 62nd Annual Peabody (2003) — Peabody Awards, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a3/Gary_Basaraba%2C_Jason_Gedrick%2C_Graham_Yost%2C_Jon_Avnet%2C_Mykelti_Williamson%2C_and_Neal_McDonough%2C_May_2003_%281%29.jpg/1280px-Gary_Basaraba%2C_Jason_Gedrick%2C_Graham_Yost%2C_Jon_Avnet%2C_Mykelti_Williamson%2C_and_Neal_McDonough%2C_May_2003_%281%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![PHOTO CREDIT: ANDERS KRUSBERG / PEABODY AWARDS Gary Basaraba, Jason Gedrick, Graham Yost, Jon Avnet, Mykelti Williamson, and Neal McDonough, 62nd Annual Peabody (2003)](https://film.one/media/person/79730/gallery-72361f35c3b3.jpg) PHOTO CREDIT: ANDERS KRUSBERG / PEABODY AWARDS Gary Basaraba, Jason Gedrick, Graham Yost, Jon Avnet, Mykelti Williamson, and Neal McDonough, 62nd Annual Peabody (2003) — Peabody Awards, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5a/Gary_Basaraba%2C_Jason_Gedrick%2C_Graham_Yost%2C_Jon_Avnet%2C_Mykelti_Williamson%2C_and_Neal_McDonough%2C_May_2003_%282%29.jpg/1280px-Gary_Basaraba%2C_Jason_Gedrick%2C_Graham_Yost%2C_Jon_Avnet%2C_Mykelti_Williamson%2C_and_Neal_McDonough%2C_May_2003_%282%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![PHOTO CREDIT: ANDERS KRUSBERG / PEABODY AWARDS Gary Basaraba, Jason Gedrick, Graham Yost, Jon Avnet, Mykelti Williamson, and Neal McDonough, 62nd Annual Peabody (2003)](https://film.one/media/person/79730/gallery-7782f4bc1a61.jpg) PHOTO CREDIT: ANDERS KRUSBERG / PEABODY AWARDS Gary Basaraba, Jason Gedrick, Graham Yost, Jon Avnet, Mykelti Williamson, and Neal McDonough, 62nd Annual Peabody (2003) — Peabody Awards, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/67/Gary_Basaraba%2C_Jason_Gedrick%2C_Graham_Yost%2C_Jon_Avnet%2C_Mykelti_Williamson%2C_and_Neal_McDonough%2C_May_2003_%283%29.jpg/1280px-Gary_Basaraba%2C_Jason_Gedrick%2C_Graham_Yost%2C_Jon_Avnet%2C_Mykelti_Williamson%2C_and_Neal_McDonough%2C_May_2003_%283%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Jon Avnet](https://film.one/media/person/79730/gallery-bee759e1183b.jpg) Jon Avnet — Image via TMDB
- ![Jon Avnet](https://film.one/media/person/79730/gallery-97401336b5bc.jpg) Jon Avnet — Image via TMDB
- ![Jon Avnet](https://film.one/media/person/79730/gallery-c3f56b5127c0.jpg) Jon Avnet — Image via TMDB
- ![PHOTO CREDIT: ANDERS KRUSBERG / PEABODY AWARDS Gary Basaraba, Jason Gedrick, Graham Yost, Jon Avnet, Mykelti Williamson, and Neal McDonough, 62nd Annual Peabody (2003)](https://film.one/media/person/79730/gallery-4a51aca0ce33.jpg) PHOTO CREDIT: ANDERS KRUSBERG / PEABODY AWARDS Gary Basaraba, Jason Gedrick, Graham Yost, Jon Avnet, Mykelti Williamson, and Neal McDonough, 62nd Annual Peabody (2003) — Peabody Awards, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/74/Gary_Basaraba%2C_Jason_Gedrick%2C_Graham_Yost%2C_Jon_Avnet%2C_Mykelti_Williamson%2C_and_Neal_McDonough%2C_May_2003_%284%29.jpg/1280px-Gary_Basaraba%2C_Jason_Gedrick%2C_Graham_Yost%2C_Jon_Avnet%2C_Mykelti_Williamson%2C_and_Neal_McDonough%2C_May_2003_%284%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![PHOTO CREDIT: ANDERS KRUSBERG / PEABODY AWARDS Gary Basaraba, Jason Gedrick, Graham Yost, Jon Avnet, Mykelti Williamson, and Neal McDonough, 62nd Annual Peabody (2003)](https://film.one/media/person/79730/gallery-5c4c5e56fc0c.jpg) PHOTO CREDIT: ANDERS KRUSBERG / PEABODY AWARDS Gary Basaraba, Jason Gedrick, Graham Yost, Jon Avnet, Mykelti Williamson, and Neal McDonough, 62nd Annual Peabody (2003) — Peabody Awards, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/77/Gary_Basaraba%2C_Jason_Gedrick%2C_Graham_Yost%2C_Jon_Avnet%2C_Mykelti_Williamson%2C_and_Neal_McDonough%2C_May_2003_%285%29.jpg/1280px-Gary_Basaraba%2C_Jason_Gedrick%2C_Graham_Yost%2C_Jon_Avnet%2C_Mykelti_Williamson%2C_and_Neal_McDonough%2C_May_2003_%285%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)

---
© 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/jon-avnet