---
name: "Lawrence Kasdan"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/lawrence-kasdan"
fi1m_id: "lawrence-kasdan"
imdb_id: "nm0001410"
tmdb_id: 8844
wikidata_id: "Q240872"
roles: ["Writer","Producer","Director"]
born: "14 January 1949"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 11
average_fi1m_score: 76
average_as: "writer"
average_over: 6
updated: "2026-10-05T00:02:00.960533+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."
---

# Lawrence Kasdan

## Identity

Lawrence Kasdan

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/lawrence-kasdan
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** lawrence-kasdan
- **IMDb ID:** nm0001410
- **TMDB ID:** 8844
- **Wikidata ID:** Q240872
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lawrence_Kasdan, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q240872, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001410/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/8844

Writer and producer. Born 14 January 1949 in Miami, Florida, USA.

## Details

- **Work:** Writer, Producer, Director
- **Born:** 14 January 1949, Miami, Florida, USA
- **Active:** 1980–2018
- **Also known as:** Larry Kasdan, Lawrence Edward Kasdan
- **Titles on Fi1m:** 11: 1 acting, 4 directing, 6 writing
- **Frequently works with:** [Carrie Fisher](https://film.one/person/carrie-fisher.md), [Harrison Ford](https://film.one/person/harrison-ford.md), [William Hurt](https://film.one/person/william-hurt.md), [Anthony Daniels](https://film.one/person/anthony-daniels.md), [Billy Dee Williams](https://film.one/person/billy-dee-williams.md), [Howard G. Kazanjian](https://film.one/person/howard-g-kazanjian.md), [Kathleen Kennedy](https://film.one/person/kathleen-kennedy.md), [Kathleen Turner](https://film.one/person/kathleen-turner.md)
- **Berlin International Film Festival:** 1 Berlin prize (1 won)
- **Average Fi1m score:** 76, as writer, over 6 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1980s 81 (6), 1990s 65 (3), 2010s 68 (2)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 76 to 70 across 6 titles
- **Score spread:** 2 at 80+, 3 at 60–79, 1 under 60
- **Genres:** Action 6, Adventure 5, Science Fiction 4, Drama 1, Romance 1
- **Screen time:** 13 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $4,373m across 6 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lawrence_Kasdan, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q240872, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001410/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/8844

## Streaming the US now

- **Disney+:** [*The Empire Strikes Back*](https://film.one/film/the-empire-strikes-back.md) (92), [*Return of the Jedi*](https://film.one/film/return-of-the-jedi.md) (75), [*Solo: A Star Wars Story*](https://film.one/film/solo-a-star-wars-story.md) (58)
- **Apple TV:** [*Raiders of the Lost Ark*](https://film.one/film/raiders-of-the-lost-ark.md) (93), [*Star Wars: The Force Awakens*](https://film.one/film/star-wars-the-force-awakens.md) (77)
- **The Roku Channel:** [*The Accidental Tourist*](https://film.one/film/the-accidental-tourist.md) (78)
- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*As Good as It Gets*](https://film.one/film/as-good-as-it-gets.md) (77)
- **Tubi:** [*The Big Chill*](https://film.one/film/the-big-chill.md) (67)
- **Paramount+:** [*The Bodyguard*](https://film.one/film/the-bodyguard.md) (63)

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

## Fi1m on Lawrence Kasdan

> Lawrence Kasdan makes adventure characters worth listening to between chases, and we rate his feel for human weakness. His dialogue can be a pleasure, though he occasionally polishes a line until we hear the writer instead of the character.

In *Raiders of the Lost Ark* (1981), the exchanges between Harrison Ford and Karen Allen make us wish the next chase could wait. Kasdan gives them enough humour and friction to make conversation worth staying for. Steven Spielberg keeps the adventure moving, but the screenplay is often most enjoyable when the actors have room to spar. We would happily lose a little action for more time with Allen’s Marion Ravenwood.

His first produced credit, *The Empire Strikes Back* (1980), already shows how well he can write uncertainty without making everyone solemn. George Lucas supplies the story; Leigh Brackett and Kasdan share the screenplay credit. Under Irvin Kershner’s direction, characters have time to argue and hesitate even with danger nearby. Luke’s difficulty listening to Yoda is particularly useful: the lesson can be ponderous, but the pupil’s frustration gives the writing something recognisably human to work with.

*Body Heat* (1981), his directing debut, makes foolish desire the reason to keep watching. We were drawn into the affair because William Hurt makes Ned’s susceptibility plain and Kathleen Turner makes the temptation convincing. Kasdan gives their attraction time to develop, so the crime matters because we believe in the people contemplating it. The difficulty comes when his fondness for older noir dictates how those people speak and behave. Some lines strain to sound dangerous, and the plotting occasionally makes us notice the preparation when we ought to be worrying about what happens next.

*Return of the Jedi* (1983) is a less persuasive example of his relationship writing. His screenplay with Lucas handles immediate danger more confidently than the stretches connecting one adventure to another. Han and Leia have too little interesting conversation to make their romance convincing, despite Ford and Carrie Fisher’s company. The film remains good fun, but these scenes need more than our existing affection for the characters.

His directing continued with the ensembles of *The Big Chill* (1983) and *Silverado* (1985). He later returned to *Star Wars* for *The Force Awakens* (2015) and *Solo: A Star Wars Story* (2018). Start with *Raiders of the Lost Ark*, then try *Body Heat* if a little conspicuous cleverness will not spoil the suspense.

## Biography

Lawrence Kasdan is an American screenwriter, director and producer. He wrote or co-wrote the screenplays for *The Empire Strikes Back* (1980), *Raiders of the Lost Ark* (1981), *Return of the Jedi* (1983), *The Bodyguard* (1992), *Star Wars: The Force Awakens* (2015) and *Solo: A Star Wars Story* (2018). He also directed *Body Heat* (1981), *The Big Chill* (1983), *Silverado* (1985), *The Accidental Tourist* (1988) and *Dreamcatcher* (2003).

Kasdan has received four Academy Award nominations: for Best Original Screenplay for *The Big Chill* and *Grand Canyon* (1991), and for Best Picture and Best Adapted Screenplay for *The Accidental Tourist*. He has frequently collaborated with his wife Meg Kasdan and his sons Jonathan Kasdan and Jake Kasdan. He appeared as Dr. Green in *As Good as It Gets* (1997).

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

## On Fi1m (11)

### Performed in (1)

- *As Good as It Gets* (1997), Fi1m 77, as Dr. Green — [page](https://film.one/film/as-good-as-it-gets.md)

### Directed (4)

- *French Kiss* (1995), Fi1m 55, Director — [page](https://film.one/film/french-kiss.md)
- *The Accidental Tourist* (1988), Fi1m 78, Screenplay, Producer, Director — [page](https://film.one/film/the-accidental-tourist.md)
- *The Big Chill* (1983), Fi1m 67, Writer, Director, Executive Producer — [page](https://film.one/film/the-big-chill.md)
- *Body Heat* (1981), Fi1m 83, Writer, Director — [page](https://film.one/film/body-heat.md)

### Wrote (6) — the average rests on these

- *Solo: A Star Wars Story* (2018), Fi1m 58, Writer, Executive Producer — [page](https://film.one/film/solo-a-star-wars-story.md)
- *Star Wars: The Force Awakens* (2015), Fi1m 77, Co-Producer, Writer — [page](https://film.one/film/star-wars-the-force-awakens.md)
- *The Bodyguard* (1992), Fi1m 63, Screenplay, Producer — [page](https://film.one/film/the-bodyguard.md)
- *Return of the Jedi* (1983), Fi1m 75, Screenplay — [page](https://film.one/film/return-of-the-jedi.md)
- *Raiders of the Lost Ark* (1981), Fi1m 93, Screenplay — [page](https://film.one/film/raiders-of-the-lost-ark.md)
- *The Empire Strikes Back* (1980), Fi1m 92, Screenplay — [page](https://film.one/film/the-empire-strikes-back.md)

## Complete filmography (31)

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

- *Marty, Life Is Short* (2026), Director, Producer
- *LIGHT & MAGIC* (2022), series, Executive Producer, Director
- *Last Week at Ed's* (2019), Director, Producer
- *Solo: A Star Wars Story* (2018), Writer, Executive Producer — Fi1m 58, [page](https://film.one/film/solo-a-star-wars-story.md)
- *Star Wars: The Force Awakens* (2015), Creative Consultant, Co-Producer, Writer — Fi1m 77, [page](https://film.one/film/star-wars-the-force-awakens.md)
- *Darling Companion* (2012), Director, Writer, Producer
- *In the Land of Women* (2007), Producer
- *The TV Set* (2007), Executive Producer
- *Dreamcatcher* (2003), Director, Screenplay, Producer
- *Mumford* (1999), Director, Writer, Producer
- *Home Fries* (1998), Producer
- *As Good as It Gets* (1997), as Dr. Green — Fi1m 77, [page](https://film.one/film/as-good-as-it-gets.md)
- *French Kiss* (1995), Director — Fi1m 55, [page](https://film.one/film/french-kiss.md)
- *Wyatt Earp* (1994), as Gambler · Director, Screenplay, Producer
- *Montana Jones* (1994), series, Original Story
- *The Bodyguard* (1992), Screenplay, Producer — Fi1m 63, [page](https://film.one/film/the-bodyguard.md)
- *Grand Canyon* (1991), Director, Writer, Producer
- *Jumpin' at the Boneyard* (1991), Executive Producer
- *I Love You to Death* (1990), Director
- *Immediate Family* (1989), Executive Producer
- *The Accidental Tourist* (1988), Director, Screenplay, Producer — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/film/the-accidental-tourist.md)
- *Cross My Heart* (1987), Producer
- *Silverado* (1985), Director, Screenplay, Producer
- *Into the Night* (1985), as Detective #2
- *The Big Chill* (1983), Director, Executive Producer, Writer — Fi1m 67, [page](https://film.one/film/the-big-chill.md)
- *Return of the Jedi* (1983), Screenplay — Fi1m 75, [page](https://film.one/film/return-of-the-jedi.md)
- *Continental Divide* (1981), Writer
- *Body Heat* (1981), Director, Writer — Fi1m 83, [page](https://film.one/film/body-heat.md)
- *Raiders of the Lost Ark* (1981), Screenplay — Fi1m 93, [page](https://film.one/film/raiders-of-the-lost-ark.md)
- *The Empire Strikes Back* (1980), Screenplay — Fi1m 92, [page](https://film.one/film/the-empire-strikes-back.md)
- *November Road*, Director, Writer

## Gallery

- ![Actors Kevin Kline, Richard Jenkins, Meg Kasdan, Elizabeth Redleaf, Casey (aka Freeway) and Lawrence Kasdan at the 2012 Miami International Film Festival Premie](https://film.one/media/person/87525/gallery-c9c5ea54776d.jpg) Actors Kevin Kline, Richard Jenkins, Meg Kasdan, Elizabeth Redleaf, Casey (aka Freeway) and Lawrence Kasdan at the 2012 Miami International Film Festival Premie — MiamiFilmFestival, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9a/Cast_%26_crew_of_Darling_Companion.jpg/1280px-Cast_%26_crew_of_Darling_Companion.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Kathleen Kennedy, J. J. Abrams and Lawrence Kasdan speaking at the 2015 San Diego Comic Con International, for "Star Wars: The Force Awakens", at the San Diego ](https://film.one/media/person/87525/gallery-6f018793aea4.jpg) Kathleen Kennedy, J. J. Abrams and Lawrence Kasdan speaking at the 2015 San Diego Comic Con International, for "Star Wars: The Force Awakens", at the San Diego  — Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4c/Kathleen_Kennedy%2C_J._J._Abrams%2C_Lawrence_Kasdan_by_Gage_Skidmore.jpg/1280px-Kathleen_Kennedy%2C_J._J._Abrams%2C_Lawrence_Kasdan_by_Gage_Skidmore.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Kathleen Kennedy, J. J. Abrams and Lawrence Kasdan speaking at the 2015 San Diego Comic Con International, for "Star Wars: The Force Awakens", at the San Diego ](https://film.one/media/person/87525/gallery-6f4bcb8c6fc9.jpg) Kathleen Kennedy, J. J. Abrams and Lawrence Kasdan speaking at the 2015 San Diego Comic Con International, for "Star Wars: The Force Awakens", at the San Diego  — Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/03/Kathleen_Kennedy%2C_J._J._Abrams%2C_Lawrence_Kasdan_by_Gage_Skidmore_%28cropped%29.jpg/1280px-Kathleen_Kennedy%2C_J._J._Abrams%2C_Lawrence_Kasdan_by_Gage_Skidmore_%28cropped%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Lawrence Kasdan](https://film.one/media/person/87525/gallery-b23065d379b6.jpg) Lawrence Kasdan — Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2d/Lawrence_Kasdan_by_Gage_Skidmore.jpg/1280px-Lawrence_Kasdan_by_Gage_Skidmore.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Lawrence Kasdan](https://film.one/media/person/87525/gallery-14f0084f36de.jpg) Lawrence Kasdan — Image via TMDB
- ![Lawrence Kasdan](https://film.one/media/person/87525/gallery-0082fb6aa987.jpg) Lawrence Kasdan — Image via TMDB
- ![Lawrence Kasdan](https://film.one/media/person/87525/gallery-c4f583e8af18.jpg) Lawrence Kasdan — Image via TMDB
- ![Santa Barbara International Film Festival Opening Night, Darling Companion, Julia Dreyfus, Kevin Kline, Diane Keaton, Lawrence Kasdan, Ayelet Zurer, Mark Duplas (2012)](https://film.one/media/person/87525/gallery-c891574e0920.jpg) Santa Barbara International Film Festival Opening Night, Darling Companion, Julia Dreyfus, Kevin Kline, Diane Keaton, Lawrence Kasdan, Ayelet Zurer, Mark Duplas (2012) — sbclick, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8b/SBIFF_2012_SBCLICK_Darling_Companion_cast_%286772896213%29.jpg/1280px-SBIFF_2012_SBCLICK_Darling_Companion_cast_%286772896213%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Lawrence Kasdan](https://film.one/media/person/87525/gallery-4143f7140001.jpg) Lawrence Kasdan — Image via TMDB
- ![Lawrence Kasdan](https://film.one/media/person/87525/gallery-f314779f281f.jpg) Lawrence Kasdan — Image via TMDB
- ![Lawrence Kasdan](https://film.one/media/person/87525/gallery-dc924270ae58.jpg) Lawrence Kasdan — Image via TMDB

## Awards

### Academy Awards — 0 won, 4 nominated

- 1992: Best Writing, Original Screenplay (nominated), for *Grand Canyon*
- 1989: Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay (nominated), for *The Accidental Tourist*
- 1989: Best Picture (nominated), for *The Accidental Tourist*
- 1984: Best Writing, Original Screenplay (nominated), for *The Big Chill*

### Berlin International Film Festival — 1 won

- 1992: Golden Bear (won), for *Grand Canyon*

### Other awards — 4 won, 1 nominated

- Laurel Award for Screenwriting Achievement 2006: Laurel Award for Screenwriting Achievement (won)
- Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Picture 1993: Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Picture (nominated), for *The Bodyguard*
- Hugo Awards 1984: Best Dramatic Presentation (won), for *Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi*
- Hugo Awards 1982: Best Dramatic Presentation (won), for *Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi*
- Hugo Awards 1981: Best Dramatic Presentation (won), for *Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi*

*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/lawrence-kasdan