---
name: "Robert Pulcini"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/robert-pulcini"
fi1m_id: "robert-pulcini"
imdb_id: "nm0700301"
tmdb_id: 72206
wikidata_id: "Q14071714"
roles: ["Director"]
born: "24 August 1964"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 6
average_fi1m_score: 73
average_as: "director"
average_over: 6
updated: "2026-09-30T22:48:16.105628+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."
---

# Robert Pulcini

## Identity

Robert Pulcini

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/robert-pulcini
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** robert-pulcini
- **IMDb ID:** nm0700301
- **TMDB ID:** 72206
- **Wikidata ID:** Q14071714
- **Same entity:** https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q14071714, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0700301/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/72206

Director. Born 24 August 1964 in New York City, New York, USA.

## Details

- **Work:** Director
- **Born:** 24 August 1964, New York City, New York, USA
- **Active:** 2011–present
- **Frequently works with:** [Shari Springer Berman](https://film.one/person/shari-springer-berman.md), [Jude Weng](https://film.one/person/jude-weng.md), [Kevin Bray](https://film.one/person/kevin-bray.md), [Mark Mylod](https://film.one/person/mark-mylod.md)
- **Academy Awards:** 1 Oscar nomination
- **Average Fi1m score:** 73, as director, over 6 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 2010s 79 (2), 2020s 70 (4)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 73 to 69 across 6 titles
- **Score spread:** 1 at 80+, 5 at 60–79, 0 under 60
- **Genres:** Comedy 4, Drama 4, Crime 1, Mystery 1
- **Elsewhere:** https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q14071714, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0700301/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/72206

## Streaming the US now

- **Netflix:** [*Shameless*](https://film.one/tv/shameless-2011.md) (70), [*Vladimir*](https://film.one/tv/vladimir.md) (67), [*The Four Seasons*](https://film.one/tv/the-four-seasons.md) (64)
- **Disney+:** [*Only Murders in the Building*](https://film.one/tv/only-murders-in-the-building.md) (76), [*Fleishman Is in Trouble*](https://film.one/tv/fleishman-is-in-trouble.md) (74)
- **HBO Max:** [*Succession*](https://film.one/tv/succession.md) (88)

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

## Fi1m on Robert Pulcini

> Robert Pulcini is drawn to outsiders and to stories that mix documentary and fiction. We value his willingness to experiment, but *Vladimir* leaves us wanting tighter storytelling and fewer returns to its professor’s fantasies.

In *Vladimir* (2026), the professor’s fantasies recur often enough to become a problem. Rachel Weisz keeps her midlife crisis amusing, but the series relies too heavily on returning to those fantasies. We grew impatient with the repetition, despite enjoying the company of this difficult woman. Pulcini’s interest in outsiders suits the material, and we find the series worth trying with reservations: its uneven storytelling gives Weisz more to carry than a leading performance ought to.

His taste for mixing storytelling methods was already apparent in *American Splendor* (2003), the first narrative feature he made with Shari Springer Berman after their documentary work in the late 1990s. Acted scenes, documentary footage and animation sit within the same film. We rate that willingness to find an unusual form for a story, though the novelty needs to keep earning its place. It would also be misleading to discuss Pulcini as if he worked alone.

Berman is his frequent co-director and co-writer; Pulcini has often handled visuals and camera work while she works closely with actors. That division should make us cautious about crediting either of them with everything we like in a performance or an image. Pulcini’s subsequent features include the comedy adaptation *The Nanny Diaries* (2007) and the horror film *Things Heard & Seen* (2021). The results have not been consistent: *Girl Most Likely* (2012) received mixed notices for uneven tone and under-developed characters.

From 2019, he has worked primarily in television, directing episodes of *Succession* (2018) and *Fleishman Is in Trouble* (2022). His account of directing *Succession* emphasises the live screen feeds and the characters’ reactions to leaked news. It suggests a practical concern with what the actors are responding to, rather than simply where to put the camera. Try *Vladimir* for Weisz if difficult people are your kind of company; expect to need some patience with the storytelling.

## Biography

Robert Pulcini is an American director and screenwriter. Born on 24 August 1964 in New York City, he frequently collaborates with his wife Shari Springer Berman. He graduated from Rutgers University-Camden and both received master's degrees in film from Columbia University.

Pulcini and Berman are best known for the 2003 feature *American Splendor*, for which they received an Academy Award nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay. Their other feature credits include *The Nanny Diaries* (2007), *Girl Most Likely* (2012) and *Things Heard & Seen* (2021).

In television, Pulcini has directed episodes of *Succession* (2018–2023), *Only Murders in the Building*, *Fleishman Is in Trouble* (2022), *The Four Seasons* (2025) and *Vladimir* (2026).

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

## On Fi1m (6)

- *Vladimir* (2026), Fi1m 67, Executive Producer, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/vladimir.md)
- *The Four Seasons* (2025), Fi1m 64, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/the-four-seasons.md)
- *Fleishman Is in Trouble* (2022), Fi1m 74, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/fleishman-is-in-trouble.md)
- *Only Murders in the Building* (2021), Fi1m 76, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/only-murders-in-the-building.md)
- *Succession* (2018), Fi1m 88, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/succession.md)
- *Shameless* (2011), Fi1m 70, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/shameless-2011.md)

## Complete filmography (21)

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

- *Vladimir* (2026), series, Executive Producer, Director — Fi1m 67, [page](https://film.one/tv/vladimir.md)
- *The Four Seasons* (2025), series, Director — Fi1m 64, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-four-seasons.md)
- *Fleishman Is in Trouble* (2022), series, Director — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/tv/fleishman-is-in-trouble.md)
- *Night Sky* (2022), series, Director
- *WeCrashed* (2022), series, Director
- *Only Murders in the Building* (2021), series, Director — Fi1m 76, [page](https://film.one/tv/only-murders-in-the-building.md)
- *Things Heard & Seen* (2021), Screenplay, Director
- *Succession* (2018), series, Director — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/tv/succession.md)
- *10,000 Saints* (2015), Screenplay, Editor, Director
- *Girl Most Likely* (2012), Director, Editor
- *Cinema Verite* (2011), Director, Editor
- *Shameless* (2011), series, Director — Fi1m 70, [page](https://film.one/tv/shameless-2011.md)
- *The Extra Man* (2010), Editor, Executive Producer, Director, Screenplay
- *The Nanny Diaries* (2007), Screenplay, Editor, Director
- *Wanderlust* (2006), Director, Writer
- *American Splendor* (2003), Bob the Director, Director, Writer, Editor
- *The Young and the Dead* (2000), Director
- *Off the Menu: The Last Days of Chasen's* (1998), Director
- *Love After Death* (1993), Director, Writer, Editor
- *A Boy And His Car* (1990), Production Assistant
- *This Is Pleasure*, Director

## Awards

### Academy Awards — 0 won, 1 nominated

- 2004: Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay (nominated), for *American Splendor*

### Primetime Emmy Awards — 0 won, 1 nominated

- 2011: Outstanding Directing for a Limited Series, Movie, or Dramatic Special (nominated), for *Cinema Verite*

### Other awards — 4 won, 7 nominated

- Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Screenplay 2004: Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Screenplay (nominated), for *American Splendor*
- Chlotrudis Award for Best Adapted Screenplay 2004: Chlotrudis Award for Best Adapted Screenplay (won), for *American Splendor*
- Chlotrudis Award for Best Director 2004: Chlotrudis Award for Best Director (nominated), for *American Splendor*
- Independent Spirit Awards 2004: Best Director (nominated), for *American Splendor*
- Independent Spirit Awards 2004: Best Screenplay (nominated), for *American Splendor*
- Satellite Award for Best Adapted Screenplay 2004: Satellite Award for Best Adapted Screenplay (nominated), for *American Splendor*
- Satellite Award for Best Director 2004: Satellite Award for Best Director (nominated), for *American Splendor*
- Writers Guild of America Award for Best Adapted Screenplay 2004: Writers Guild of America Award for Best Adapted Screenplay (won), for *American Splendor*
- Boston Society of Film Critics Award for Best Screenplay 2003: Boston Society of Film Critics Award for Best Screenplay (nominated), for *American Splendor*
- National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Screenplay 2003: National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Screenplay (won), for *American Splendor*
- Sundance Film Festival U.S. Dramatic Grand Jury Prize Award 2003: Sundance Film Festival U.S. Dramatic Grand Jury Prize Award (won), for *American Splendor*

*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/robert-pulcini