---
name: "Richard Linklater"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/richard-linklater"
fi1m_id: "richard-linklater"
imdb_id: "nm0000500"
tmdb_id: 564
wikidata_id: "Q40035"
roles: ["Director","Writer","Producer"]
born: "30 July 1960"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 11
average_fi1m_score: 82
average_as: "director"
average_over: 10
updated: "2026-10-01T20:46:10.287878+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."
---

# Richard Linklater

## Identity

Richard Linklater

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/richard-linklater
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** richard-linklater
- **IMDb ID:** nm0000500
- **TMDB ID:** 564
- **Wikidata ID:** Q40035
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Linklater, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q40035, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000500/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/564

Director and writer. Born 30 July 1960 in Houston, Texas, USA.

## Details

- **Work:** Director, Writer, Producer
- **Born:** 30 July 1960, Houston, Texas, USA
- **Active:** 1990–present
- **Also known as:** ريتشارد لينكليتر, 理查德·林克莱特, ริชาร์ด ลินเคลเตอร์, Ричард Линклейтер, リチャード・リンクレイター, 리처드 링클레이터
- **Titles on Fi1m:** 11: 1 acting, 10 directing
- **Frequently works with:** [Ethan Hawke](https://film.one/person/ethan-hawke.md), [Anne Walker-McBay](https://film.one/person/anne-walker-mcbay.md), [Julie Delpy](https://film.one/person/julie-delpy.md), [Rory Cochrane](https://film.one/person/rory-cochrane.md)
- **BAFTA Film Awards:** 1 BAFTA (1 won)
- **Average Fi1m score:** 82, as director, over 10 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1990s 80 (4), 2000s 80 (4), 2010s 88 (1), 2020s 76 (2)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 82 to 77 across 10 titles
- **Score spread:** 6 at 80+, 4 at 60–79, 0 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 1 of 1 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Drama 7, Comedy 6, Romance 3, History 2, Music 2, Animation 1
- **Screen time:** 18 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $229m across 10 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Linklater, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q40035, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000500/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/564

## Streaming the US now

- **The Roku Channel:** [*Before Sunset*](https://film.one/film/before-sunset.md) (91), [*Before Sunrise*](https://film.one/film/before-sunrise.md) (89)
- **Netflix:** [*Blue Moon*](https://film.one/film/blue-moon.md) (78), [*Hit Man*](https://film.one/film/hit-man.md) (74)
- **AMC+:** [*Boyhood*](https://film.one/film/boyhood.md) (88)
- **Apple TV:** [*The School of Rock*](https://film.one/film/the-school-of-rock.md) (84)
- **The Criterion Channel:** [*Slacker*](https://film.one/film/slacker.md) (81)

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

## Fi1m on Richard Linklater

> Richard Linklater makes conversation worth watching by noticing how people try to impress one another. We value his patience and his ear for awkwardness, though he sometimes lets his characters enjoy their own intelligence for too long.

In *Before Sunrise* (1995), Jesse and Céline wander through Vienna, trying to sound interesting without seeming to try. Richard Linklater makes their conversation absorbing because every opinion risks changing what one thinks of the other. We found their awkward efforts to impress each other unexpectedly touching. There is enough at stake in being liked to keep us watching, even when the pair have little practical business to attend to.

That willingness to let people talk their way through a film was there in the character-led Austin scenes of *Slacker* (1990). With *Dazed and Confused* (1993), he moved into studio filmmaking. Its ensemble story follows a single day of Texas high-school life, keeping his attention on young people spending time together. These films establish his preference for following people without hurrying them towards the next event. The risk is that an evening in this company can seem slight if the people do not interest us.

*Before Sunrise* shows how much writing is needed to make that freedom work. Linklater and co-writer Kim Krizan give Jesse and Céline opinions that also serve as attempts to make a favourable impression. Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy supply the awkwardness that stops the talk becoming a polished display of the screenplay. We listen for the response as much as the speech. The exchanges feel particular to these two people, which matters more than how profound either of them happens to be.

His interest in time also became a way of making films. The *Before* trilogy, developed with Hawke and Delpy, carried those conversations across nearly two decades, through to *Before Midnight* (2013). *Boyhood* (2014) took 12 years to film its story of a boy growing up. Returning to the same people allows changes that a single evening cannot reveal, though the years spent making a film are no guarantee that we will care about its characters.

Our reservation is about how readily he grants a conversation extra time. In *Before Sunrise*, some exchanges continue after we have understood what each person wants to communicate, and an occasional line sounds pleased with its own intelligence. The freedom from practical worries also gives the night a slightly protected quality. Start with this film if watching two people work out what they think sounds like a promising evening; their occasional self-satisfaction is worth putting up with.

## Biography

Richard Linklater is an American film director, screenwriter and producer. Born on 30 July 1960 in Houston, Texas, he began his career with the independent feature *Slacker* (1990).

His subsequent films include *Dazed and Confused* (1993), the *Before* trilogy (*Before Sunrise*, 1995; *Before Sunset*, 2004; *Before Midnight*, 2013), *The School of Rock* (2003), *Boyhood* (2014) and *Hit Man* (2024). Several of his projects, including the *Before* films and *Boyhood*, were filmed with the same actors over many years.

Linklater has received five Academy Award nominations. He won the Golden Globe Award for Best Director for *Boyhood* and the Silver Bear for Best Director for *Before Sunrise*.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org.*

## On Fi1m (11)

### Performed in (1)

- *The Underneath* (1995), Fi1m 62, as Ember Doorman — [page](https://film.one/film/the-underneath.md)

### Directed (10) — the average rests on these

- *Blue Moon* (2025), Fi1m 78, Producer, Director — [page](https://film.one/film/blue-moon.md)
- *Hit Man* (2024), Fi1m 74, Screenplay, Producer, Director — [page](https://film.one/film/hit-man.md)
- *Boyhood* (2014), Fi1m 88, Producer, Writer, Director — [page](https://film.one/film/boyhood.md)
- *Me and Orson Welles* (2008), Fi1m 72, Producer, Director — [page](https://film.one/film/me-and-orson-welles.md)
- *A Scanner Darkly* (2006), Fi1m 73, Screenplay, Director — [page](https://film.one/film/a-scanner-darkly.md)
- *Before Sunset* (2004), Fi1m 91, Director, Story, Screenplay, Producer, Characters — [page](https://film.one/film/before-sunset.md)
- *The School of Rock* (2003), Fi1m 84, Director — [page](https://film.one/film/the-school-of-rock.md)
- *Before Sunrise* (1995), Fi1m 89, as Man in Shonen Knife T-Shirt Playing Foosball (uncredited) — [page](https://film.one/film/before-sunrise.md)
- *Dazed and Confused* (1993), Fi1m 86, Producer, Writer, Director — [page](https://film.one/film/dazed-and-confused.md)
- *Slacker* (1990), Fi1m 81, as Should Have Stayed at Bus Station — [page](https://film.one/film/slacker.md)

## Complete filmography (66)

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

- *Butthole Surfers: The Hole Truth and Nothing Butt* (2026), Actor
- *How To Not Have Sex* (2026), Executive Producer
- *Brenda* (2026), Executive Producer
- *Blue Moon* (2025), Director, Producer — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/film/blue-moon.md)
- *Nouvelle Vague* (2025), Director
- *Clemente* (2025), Executive Producer
- *The Confession* (2025), Executive Producer
- *The Wasps* (2025), Executive Producer
- *Tape* (2024), Executive Producer
- *Hit Man* (2024), Director, Producer, Screenplay — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/film/hit-man.md)
- *God Save Texas* (2024), series, Executive Producer, Director
- *Help Her Live* (2022), Executive Producer
- *Apollo 10½: A Space Age Childhood* (2022), Director, Producer, Writer
- *Shouting Down Midnight* (2022), Executive Producer
- *The Pushback* (2020), Producer
- *Another Day at the Office* (2019), as Rick · Director, Writer, Producer
- *Where'd You Go, Bernadette* (2019), Director, Screenplay
- *Blaze* (2018), as Oilman 1
- *Also Starring Austin* (2018), Actor
- *Last Flag Flying* (2017), Producer, Director, Screenplay
- *I Dream Too Much* (2016), Executive Producer
- *Everybody Wants Some!!* (2016), Director, Writer, Producer
- *Boyhood* (2014), Director, Writer, Producer — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/film/boyhood.md)
- *Computer Chess* (2013), Thanks
- *Before Midnight* (2013), Director, Producer, Writer, Characters
- *Bernie* (2012), as Deadbeat Dad (uncredited) · Director, Screenplay, Producer
- *Me and Orson Welles* (2008), Director, Producer — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/film/me-and-orson-welles.md)
- *Inning by Inning: A Portrait of a Coach* (2008), Director
- *RSO [Registered Sex Offender]* (2008), as Principal Mallard
- *The Hottest State* (2007), as John Wayne Enthusiast · Thanks
- *In Search of a Midnight Kiss* (2007), Thanks
- *Fast Food Nation* (2006), Director, Screenplay
- *A Scanner Darkly* (2006), Director, Screenplay — Fi1m 73, [page](https://film.one/film/a-scanner-darkly.md)
- *Bad News Bears* (2005), Director, Producer
- *Before Sunset: Behind the Scenes* (2005), Actor
- *Before Sunset* (2004), Director, Screenplay, Producer, Characters, Story — Fi1m 91, [page](https://film.one/film/before-sunset.md)
- *The School of Rock* (2003), Director — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/the-school-of-rock.md)
- *Live from Shiva's Dance Floor* (2003), Director
- *Tape* (2001), Director, Camera Operator
- *Waking Life* (2001), as Pinball Playing Man / Man on Back of Boat · Director of Photography, Director, Writer
- *Chelsea Walls* (2001), as Crony 2
- *Spy Kids* (2001), as Cool Spy
- *Scotch and Milk* (1998), as Cab Passenger
- *The Newton Boys* (1998), Director, Screenplay
- *Good Will Hunting* (1997), Thanks — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/film/good-will-hunting.md)
- *SubUrbia* (1997), Director
- *Beavis and Butt-Head Do America* (1996), as Tour Bus Driver (voice)
- *The Underneath* (1995), as Ember Doorman — Fi1m 62, [page](https://film.one/film/the-underneath.md)
- *Before Sunrise* (1995), as Man in Shonen Knife T-Shirt Playing Foosball (uncredited) · Director, Writer — Fi1m 89, [page](https://film.one/film/before-sunrise.md)
- *Totally F***ed Up* (1994), Thanks
- *Dazed and Confused* (1993), Director, Producer, Writer — Fi1m 86, [page](https://film.one/film/dazed-and-confused.md)
- *North on Evers* (1992), Actor
- *Heads I Win/Tails You Lose* (1991), Director
- *Slacker* (1990), as Should Have Stayed at Bus Station · Director, Writer, Producer — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/film/slacker.md)
- *Never Leave Nevada* (1990), Video Assist Operator
- *It's Impossible to Learn to Plow by Reading Books* (1988), Screenplay, Producer, Cinematography, Editor, Director
- *Woodshock* (1985), Director
- *Dazed and Confused: Behind the Scenes*, Actor
- *Untitled Lou Gehrig Biopic*, Director
- *Merrily We Roll Along*, Director, Producer, Screenplay
- *Untitled Richard Linklater Bill Hicks Project*, Director, Screenplay, Producer
- *Untitled Richard Linklater John Brinkley Project*, Director, Producer, Screenplay
- *Queen Takes Bishop*, Executive Producer
- *Deep Eddy*, Executive Producer
- *Hippies*, Director, Writer
- *Before Sunrise: Behind the Scenes*, Actor

## Gallery

- ![Richard Linklater as Should Have Stayed at Bus Station in Slacker (1990)](https://film.one/media/title/4057/still-bbde84781743.jpg) Richard Linklater as Should Have Stayed at Bus Station in *Slacker* (1990) — Image via TMDB
- ![BlueMoonBFILFF161025-22 (2025)](https://film.one/media/person/9922/gallery-f47618576be2.jpg) BlueMoonBFILFF161025-22 (2025) — Raph_PH, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bf/BlueMoonBFILFF161025-22_%2854875254276%29.jpg/1280px-BlueMoonBFILFF161025-22_%2854875254276%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![BlueMoonBFILFF161025-23 (2025)](https://film.one/media/person/9922/gallery-413a1e8d5f1f.jpg) BlueMoonBFILFF161025-23 (2025) — Raph_PH, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/03/BlueMoonBFILFF161025-23_%2854875494469%29.jpg/1280px-BlueMoonBFILFF161025-23_%2854875494469%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Richard Linklater](https://film.one/media/person/9922/gallery-abff99cdd989.jpg) Richard Linklater — Sarah K Joyce, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/65/Richard_Linklater_at_the_2026_Sundance_Film_Festival_for_Nouvelle_Vague_%282%29_%28cropped%29.jpg/1280px-Richard_Linklater_at_the_2026_Sundance_Film_Festival_for_Nouvelle_Vague_%282%29_%28cropped%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![BlueMoonBFILFF161025-20 (2025)](https://film.one/media/person/9922/gallery-b4c35e622ec1.jpg) BlueMoonBFILFF161025-20 (2025) — Raph_PH, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/49/BlueMoonBFILFF161025-20_%2854875475723%29.jpg/1280px-BlueMoonBFILFF161025-20_%2854875475723%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Richard Linklater](https://film.one/media/person/9922/gallery-f1adda7a3b27.jpg) Richard Linklater — Image via TMDB
- ![Richard Linklater](https://film.one/media/person/9922/gallery-c141d31bb713.jpg) Richard Linklater — Image via TMDB
- ![Richard Linklater](https://film.one/media/person/9922/gallery-fbecd8d709b0.jpg) Richard Linklater — Image via TMDB
- ![BlueMoonBFILFF161025-21 (2025)](https://film.one/media/person/9922/gallery-f7f0aa7b736a.jpg) BlueMoonBFILFF161025-21 (2025) — Raph_PH, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/27/BlueMoonBFILFF161025-21_%2854875548910%29.jpg/1280px-BlueMoonBFILFF161025-21_%2854875548910%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![BlueMoonBFILFF161025-17 (2025)](https://film.one/media/person/9922/gallery-4fc987bfa3d9.jpg) BlueMoonBFILFF161025-17 (2025) — Raph_PH, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e3/BlueMoonBFILFF161025-17_%2854874382592%29.jpg/1280px-BlueMoonBFILFF161025-17_%2854874382592%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Richard Linklater](https://film.one/media/person/9922/gallery-e655abff9307.jpg) Richard Linklater — Image via TMDB
- ![Richard Linklater](https://film.one/media/person/9922/gallery-afaeea45d9c5.jpg) Richard Linklater — Image via TMDB

## Awards

### Academy Awards — 0 won, 5 nominated

- 2015: Best Director (nominated), for *Boyhood*
- 2015: Best Writing, Original Screenplay (nominated), for *Boyhood*
- 2015: Best Picture (nominated), for *Boyhood*
- 2014: Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay (nominated), for *Before Midnight*
- 2005: Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay (nominated), for *Before Sunset*

### BAFTA Film Awards — 1 won

- 2015: Best Direction (won), for *Boyhood*

### Golden Globes — 1 won

- 2015: Best Director (won), for *Boyhood*

### Berlin International Film Festival — 3 won

- 2014: Best Director (won), for *Boyhood*
- 2013: Berlinale Camera (won)
- 1995: Best Director (won), for *Before Sunrise*

### Other awards — 1 won

- César Award for Best Director 2026: César Award for Best Director (won), for *Nouvelle Vague*

*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/richard-linklater