
Chris Columbus
Biography
Christopher Joseph Columbus (born September 10, 1958) is an American filmmaker. Born in Spangler, Pennsylvania, Columbus studied film at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts where he developed an interest in filmmaking. After writing screenplays for several teen comedies in the mid-1980s, including Gremlins, The Goonies, and Young Sherlock Holmes, he made his directorial debut with a teen adventure, Adventures in Babysitting(1987). Columbus gained recognition soon after with the highly successful Christmas comedy Home Alone (1990) and Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992).
The comedy Mrs. Doubtfire (1993), starring Robin Williams, was another box-office success for Columbus. He went on to direct several other films throughout the 1990s, which were mostly met with lukewarm reception. However, he found commercial success again by directing the film adaptations of J. K. Rowling's novels Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001) and its sequel, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002). In addition to directing, Columbus was a producer for Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004), as well as the drama The Help(2011). He also directed the fantasy Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief(2010) and the 3D action comedy Pixels (2015).
Columbus is the co-founder of 1492 Pictures, a film production company that has produced some of his films since 1995. More recently, he co-founded another production firm with his daughter in 2014 called Maiden Voyage Pictures. In 2017, he launched ZAG Animation Studios, alongside Michael Barnathan, Haim Saban, and Jeremy Zag. Columbus is also known for his collaboration with composer John Williams, with whom he had worked on the film Home Alone and the film series Harry Potter.
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Acting (11 movies)

The Magic Touch of Harry Potter
2004

Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts
2022

Daniel Radcliffe: Being Harry Potter
2012

No Day But Today: The Story of 'Rent'
2006

Music by John Williams
2024

Home Alone 2: Lost in New York
1992

From Gizmo to Gremlins: Creating the Creatures
2014

Cute. Clever. Mischievous. Intelligent. Dangerous: Making Gremlins
2014

Fog City Mavericks
2007

Child Star
2024

John Candy: I Like Me
2025
Directing (19 movies)

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
2001

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
2002

Home Alone
1990

Mrs. Doubtfire
1993

Rent
2005

Only the Lonely
1991

Bicentennial Man
1999

Nine Months
1995

Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief
2010

Stepmom
1998

Adventures in Babysitting
1987

Heartbreak Hotel
1988

I Love You, Beth Cooper
2009

Pixels
2015

Applebaum
2012
I Think I'm Going to Like it Here
1980

The Thursday Murder Club
2025

Home Alone 2: Lost in New York
1992

The Christmas Chronicles: Part Two
2020