---
name: "Matt Shakman"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/matt-shakman"
fi1m_id: "matt-shakman"
imdb_id: "nm0787687"
tmdb_id: 1212522
wikidata_id: "Q6789317"
roles: ["Director"]
born: "8 August 1975"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 17
average_fi1m_score: 78
average_as: "director"
average_over: 17
updated: "2026-09-24T04:37:20.978826+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."
---

# Matt Shakman

## Identity

Matt Shakman

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/matt-shakman
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** matt-shakman
- **IMDb ID:** nm0787687
- **TMDB ID:** 1212522
- **Wikidata ID:** Q6789317
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matt_Shakman, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q6789317, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0787687/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/1212522

Director. Born 8 August 1975 in Ventura, California, USA.

## Details

- **Work:** Director
- **Born:** 8 August 1975, Ventura, California, USA
- **Active:** 2001–present
- **Also known as:** مت شکمن, 麦特·夏克曼
- **Frequently works with:** [Dan Attias](https://film.one/person/dan-attias.md), [Lesli Linka Glatter](https://film.one/person/lesli-linka-glatter.md), [Tucker Gates](https://film.one/person/tucker-gates.md), [Adam Arkin](https://film.one/person/adam-arkin.md), [Alan Taylor](https://film.one/person/alan-taylor.md), [Andrew Bernstein](https://film.one/person/andrew-bernstein.md), [Arlene Sanford](https://film.one/person/arlene-sanford.md), [Colin Bucksey](https://film.one/person/colin-bucksey.md)
- **Average Fi1m score:** 78, as director, over 17 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 2000s 79 (9), 2010s 80 (6), 2020s 72 (2)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 79 to 74 across 12 titles
- **Score spread:** 8 at 80+, 9 at 60–79, 0 under 60
- **Genres:** Drama 13, Comedy 8, Action & Adventure 3, Crime 2, Sci-Fi & Fantasy 2, Action 1
- **Screen time:** 2 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $522m across 1 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matt_Shakman, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q6789317, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0787687/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/1212522

## Streaming the US now

- **Disney+:** [*New Girl*](https://film.one/tv/new-girl.md) (80), [*Everybody Hates Chris*](https://film.one/tv/everybody-hates-chris.md) (80), [*House*](https://film.one/tv/house-2004.md) (78), [*You're the Worst*](https://film.one/tv/youre-the-worst.md) (76), [*Boston Legal*](https://film.one/tv/boston-legal.md) (76)
- **HBO Max:** [*Succession*](https://film.one/tv/succession.md) (88), [*Six Feet Under*](https://film.one/tv/six-feet-under.md) (86), [*Game of Thrones*](https://film.one/tv/game-of-thrones.md) (82)
- **Paramount+:** [*The Good Wife*](https://film.one/tv/the-good-wife.md) (84), [*Weeds*](https://film.one/tv/weeds.md) (76)
- **AMC+:** [*Mad Men*](https://film.one/tv/mad-men.md) (88)
- **Hulu:** [*Fargo*](https://film.one/tv/fargo-2014.md) (82)

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

## Fi1m on Matt Shakman

> Matt Shakman is good at making elaborate fantasy feel like somewhere people live. We rate his feel for ensembles and period detail, though *The Fantastic 4: First Steps* is more engaging at home with its family than out saving the planet.

In *The Fantastic 4: First Steps* (2025), the four heroes already share a home at the top of the Baxter Building, and Shakman skips the business of explaining their powers. Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn and Ebon Moss-Bachrach seem accustomed to one another rather than newly assembled for a film. We warmed to them because that ease makes the household convincing before the danger arrives. Shakman's strength is getting us interested in the people before asking us to worry about them.

His television work included 43 episodes of *It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia* between 2007 and 2017. *Cut Bank* (2015), an ensemble crime drama, was his first feature, but the clearest route towards his superhero work runs through television. His *Game of Thrones* episodes in 2017 brought large-scale fantasy action; *WandaVision* (2021), all nine episodes of it, brought the period sitcom. These are different jobs, and his willingness to adapt helps explain why the family in *First Steps* gets as much care as its surroundings.

The early-1960s setting of *First Steps* lets Shakman pursue that interest in period styles through rounded rockets, flying cars and domestic detail. Nona Khodai and Tim Roche keep the film moving across its 115 minutes. Michael Giacchino's brass-and-drum score has a tune worth remembering, and the restraint in its use lets it count when it swells. We can see the value of a director who does not treat conversation as a delay before the next emergency. The trouble is that the family needs sharper things to argue about.

The creature threatening the planet is the least interesting element of *First Steps*, and Shakman's care with the household cannot make it otherwise. We would like to see him given a script that makes those family conversations more difficult. Try *First Steps* if superheroes are already your sort of company.

## Biography

Matt Shakman is an American director and former child actor. Born on 8 August 1975 in Ventura, California, he studied at Yale University before transitioning to directing.

He has directed episodes of numerous television series, including *Succession* (2018), *Game of Thrones*, *Fargo*, *Mad Men*, *The Boys* and *It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia*. Shakman directed all episodes of the Marvel miniseries *WandaVision* (2021) and the feature film *The Fantastic Four: First Steps* (2025).

From 2017 to 2023 he served as artistic director of the Geffen Playhouse in Los Angeles.

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

## On Fi1m (17)

- *The Fantastic 4: First Steps* (2025), Fi1m 71, Director — [page](https://film.one/film/the-fantastic-4-first-steps.md)
- *The Great* (2020), Fi1m 74, Executive Producer, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/the-great.md)
- *The Boys* (2019), Fi1m 72, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/the-boys.md)
- *Succession* (2018), Fi1m 88, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/succession.md)
- *Fargo* (2014), Fi1m 82, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/fargo-2014.md)
- *You're the Worst* (2014), Fi1m 76, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/youre-the-worst.md)
- *Game of Thrones* (2011), Fi1m 82, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/game-of-thrones.md)
- *New Girl* (2011), Fi1m 80, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/new-girl.md)
- *The Good Wife* (2009), Fi1m 84, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/the-good-wife.md)
- *Chuck* (2007), Fi1m 73, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/chuck.md)
- *Mad Men* (2007), Fi1m 88, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/mad-men.md)
- *Everybody Hates Chris* (2005), Fi1m 80, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/everybody-hates-chris.md)
- *Weeds* (2005), Fi1m 76, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/weeds.md)
- *Boston Legal* (2004), Fi1m 76, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/boston-legal.md)
- *House* (2004), Fi1m 78, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/house-2004.md)
- *One Tree Hill* (2003), Fi1m 66, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/one-tree-hill.md)
- *Six Feet Under* (2001), Fi1m 86, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/six-feet-under.md)

## Complete filmography (65)

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

- *The Fantastic 4: First Steps* (2025), Director — Fi1m 71, [page](https://film.one/film/the-fantastic-4-first-steps.md)
- *Monarch: Legacy of Monsters* (2023), series, Director, Executive Producer
- *The Consultant* (2023), series, Director, Executive Producer
- *Welcome to Chippendales* (2022), series, Director, Executive Producer
- *WandaVision* (2021), series, Director, Executive Producer
- *The Great* (2020), series, Executive Producer, Director — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-great.md)
- *The Boys* (2019), series, Director — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-boys.md)
- *Strange Angel* (2018), series, Director
- *Succession* (2018), series, Director — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/tv/succession.md)
- *American Gothic* (2016), series, Director
- *Billions* (2016), series, Director
- *Heroes Reborn* (2015), series, Director, Executive Producer
- *Grace and Frankie* (2015), series, Director
- *Cut Bank* (2014), Director
- *You're the Worst* (2014), series, Director — Fi1m 76, [page](https://film.one/tv/youre-the-worst.md)
- *Fargo* (2014), series, Director — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/tv/fargo-2014.md)
- *GCB* (2012), series, Director
- *Revenge* (2011), series, Director
- *New Girl* (2011), series, Director — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/tv/new-girl.md)
- *Game of Thrones* (2011), series, Director — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/tv/game-of-thrones.md)
- *Happy Endings* (2011), series, Director
- *Breaking In* (2011), series, Director
- *Outsourced* (2010), series, Director
- *Raising Hope* (2010), series, Director
- *The Good Guys* (2010), series, Director
- *A Very Sunny Christmas* (2009), Supervising Producer
- *The Good Wife* (2009), series, Director — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-good-wife.md)
- *The Nightman Cometh: Live* (2009), Director
- *Hung* (2009), series, Director
- *Childrens Hospital* (2008), series, Director
- *Chuck* (2007), series, Director — Fi1m 73, [page](https://film.one/tv/chuck.md)
- *Mad Men* (2007), series, Director — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/tv/mad-men.md)
- *The Riches* (2007), series, Director
- *Ugly Betty* (2006), series, Director
- *Brothers and Sisters* (2006), series, Director
- *Men in Trees* (2006), series, Director
- *Psych* (2006), series, Director
- *Windfall* (2006), series, Director
- *What About Brian* (2006), series, Director
- *Inconceivable* (2005), series, Director
- *Everybody Hates Chris* (2005), series, Director — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/tv/everybody-hates-chris.md)
- *Kitchen Confidential* (2005), series, Director
- *Weeds* (2005), series, Director — Fi1m 76, [page](https://film.one/tv/weeds.md)
- *It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia* (2005), series, Director
- *House* (2004), series, Director — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/tv/house-2004.md)
- *Huff* (2004), series, Director
- *Boston Legal* (2004), series, Director — Fi1m 76, [page](https://film.one/tv/boston-legal.md)
- *Summerland* (2004), series, Director
- *One Tree Hill* (2003), series, Director — Fi1m 66, [page](https://film.one/tv/one-tree-hill.md)
- *Oliver Beene* (2003), series, Director
- *Everwood* (2002), series, Director
- *Six Feet Under* (2001), series, Director — Fi1m 86, [page](https://film.one/tv/six-feet-under.md)
- *Once and Again* (1999), series, Director
- *Judging Amy* (1999), series, Director
- *Meet the Hollowheads* (1989), as Billy Hollowhead
- *Just the Ten of Us* (1988), series, as Graham "J.R." Lubbock, Jr.
- *A Night at the Magic Castle* (1988), as Maxfield 'Max' Finch III
- *Growing Pains* (1985), series, as Graham Jr.
- *Highway to Heaven* (1984), series, Actor
- *Night Court* (1984), series, as Brian
- *The Facts of Life* (1979), series, Actor
- *Discretion*, series, Director, Executive Producer
- *Wild Things*, series, Director, Executive Producer
- *The Last Orbit*, Director
- *Untitled Planet of the Apes Film*, Director, Producer

## Gallery

- ![Matt Shakman](https://film.one/media/person/733/gallery-f2d81c265f3f.png) Matt Shakman — Rotten Tomatoes TV, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ee/Matt_Shakman.png?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Matt Shakman](https://film.one/media/person/733/gallery-08801f0c7bae.jpg) Matt Shakman — Image via TMDB

---
© 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/matt-shakman