# Paul Weitz (filmmaker)
**Paul Weitz** (born 1965) is an American screenwriter, director, producer, and actor who first became known for co-writing the animated feature *Antz* (1998) and co-directing the teen comedy *American Pie* (1999) with his brother [Chris Weitz](https://www.edgepedia.org/chris-weitz), and who later earned an Academy Award nomination for the adapted screenplay of *About a Boy* (2002)[1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/paul_weitz) • [2](https://www.encyclopedia.com/arts/educational-magazines/weitz-paul-1966). His full name is recorded as Paul John Weitz[3](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/paul-weitz/bio/3030209190/).
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1965, New York City (Encyclopedia.com gives 1966)[1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/paul_weitz) • [2](https://www.encyclopedia.com/arts/educational-magazines/weitz-paul-1966) |
| Family | Son of fashion designer John Weitz and Oscar-nominated actress Susan Kohner; younger brother and frequent collaborator of director Chris Weitz[1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/paul_weitz) • [4](https://www.nepm.org/2003-01-24/directors-chris-and-paul-weitz) |
| Breakthrough | Co-wrote *Antz* (1998); co-directed *American Pie* (1999), which earned more than $235 million worldwide[1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/paul_weitz) • [5](https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/2006/04/21/paul-weitz-all-american-director/632468c3-6df0-4e45-8c28-1eabcf8fd25c/) |
| Awards recognition | Academy Award and Writers Guild of America nominations, best adapted screenplay, 2003, for *About a Boy*; Golden Globe win for the series *Mozart in the Jungle*[2](https://www.encyclopedia.com/arts/educational-magazines/weitz-paul-1966) • [6](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0919369/) |
| Signature solo films | *In Good Company* (2004), *About a Boy* (co-directed), *Grandma* (2015), *Moving On* (2023), each directed, and in some cases written or produced by Weitz[7](https://catalog.afi.com/Person/183394-Paul-Weitz?isMiscCredit=False) • [1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/paul_weitz) |
| Education | Allen-Stevenson School, Collegiate School, and Wesleyan University (film)[3](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/paul-weitz/bio/3030209190/) |
| Acting | Small roles in *Chuck & Buck* (2000, as Sam) and in films by friend Jeff Baena: *Life After Beth* (2014), *Joshy* (2016), *The Little Hours* (2017)[7](https://catalog.afi.com/Person/183394-Paul-Weitz?isMiscCredit=False) • [1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/paul_weitz) |
## Family and background
Weitz came to film from a Hollywood family. His mother, [Susan Kohner](https://www.edgepedia.org/susan-kohner), was an Academy Award-nominated actress; his father, John Weitz, was a fashion designer and writer[2](https://www.encyclopedia.com/arts/educational-magazines/weitz-paul-1966). His grandfather was the talent agent Paul Kohner, his grandmother the Mexican actress Lupita Tovar, and his uncle the producer Pancho Kohner[1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/paul_weitz). His younger brother Chris Weitz became his creative partner[1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/paul_weitz).
He was educated at the Allen-Stevenson School and Collegiate School in New York and graduated from [Wesleyan University](https://www.edgepedia.org/wesleyan-university), where he studied film[3](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/paul-weitz/bio/3030209190/). He married Patricia Brown on December 15, 2001, and they have three children[2](https://www.encyclopedia.com/arts/educational-magazines/weitz-paul-1966) • [6](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0919369/).
## Playwriting and entry into film
Before working in cinema, Weitz built a record as a playwright. His play *Mango Tea* was produced by New York's Ensemble Studio Theater and performed off-Broadway with [Marisa Tomei](https://www.edgepedia.org/marisa-tomei) and [Rob Morrow](https://www.edgepedia.org/rob-morrow); other EST-produced plays included *All for One* and *Captive*[1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/paul_weitz). *Captive*, the story of a couple for whom taking a hostage becomes romantic inspiration, was adapted by writer-director Karl Slovin into the film *Sex and the Other Man* (1995), giving Weitz his first film credit[1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/paul_weitz). In an interview, Weitz said he segued into filmmaking when an agent who represented directors noticed *Captive*[8](https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/articles/201205/eccentrics-corner-about-boy-named-paul).
## Work with Chris Weitz
The brothers first gained notice by co-writing the screenplay for the computer-animated feature *Antz* (1998), credited alongside Todd Alcott and Chris Miller[1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/paul_weitz) • [2](https://www.encyclopedia.com/arts/educational-magazines/weitz-paul-1966). Their directing debut followed with *American Pie* (1999), a teen sex comedy that became one of the most talked-about films of the summer of 1999 and earned more than $235 million worldwide[5](https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/2006/04/21/paul-weitz-all-american-director/632468c3-6df0-4e45-8c28-1eabcf8fd25c/). Paul Weitz later said the film was his first opportunity to direct because no one else wanted to direct it[8](https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/articles/201205/eccentrics-corner-about-boy-named-paul).
The pair co-directed *Down to Earth* (2001) with [Chris Rock](https://www.edgepedia.org/chris-rock) and *About a Boy* (2002), an adaptation of [Nick Hornby](https://www.edgepedia.org/nick-hornby)'s novel made with screenwriter [Peter Hedges](https://www.edgepedia.org/peter-hedges) and starring Hugh Grant[2](https://www.encyclopedia.com/arts/educational-magazines/weitz-paul-1966) • [1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/paul_weitz). *About a Boy* brought both brothers Academy Award and Writers Guild of America nominations for best adapted screenplay in 2003[2](https://www.encyclopedia.com/arts/educational-magazines/weitz-paul-1966).
Rather than directing the *American Pie* sequels, the brothers executive-produced *American Pie 2* (2001) and *American Wedding* (2003) before taking a more hands-off approach to the series[1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/paul_weitz). They also co-created the production company Depth of Field in 2002 and executive-produced television including the sitcom *Off Centre* (2001–03) and Mike White's *Cracking Up* (2004)[2](https://www.encyclopedia.com/arts/educational-magazines/weitz-paul-1966) • [1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/paul_weitz). [Eugene Levy](https://www.edgepedia.org/eugene-levy), the American Pie films' recurring father figure, credited the brothers with letting him reshape the character from a nudge-nudge friend of his son into a square dad, a change that he said turned his career around[9](https://time.com/4259152/eugene-levy-schitts-creek/).
## Solo directing career
From the mid-2000s Weitz worked increasingly on his own. He wrote, directed, and produced *In Good Company* (2004), starring [Dennis Quaid](https://www.edgepedia.org/dennis-quaid), Topher Grace, and [Scarlett Johansson](https://www.edgepedia.org/scarlett-johansson), and the political satire *American Dreamz* (2006)[1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/paul_weitz). His later directing credits include the fantasy *Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant* (2009), the comedy sequel *Little Fockers* (2010), the dark drama *Being Flynn* (2012), adapted from [Nick Flynn](https://www.edgepedia.org/nick-flynn)'s memoir, the Tina Fey and Paul Rudd comedy *Admission* (2013), and *Grandma* (2015), a vehicle for Lily Tomlin[7](https://catalog.afi.com/Person/183394-Paul-Weitz?isMiscCredit=False) • [1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/paul_weitz).
His recent work has returned to smaller-scale films. He wrote, directed, and produced *Bel Canto* (2018), directed and wrote *Fatherhood* (2021), and wrote, directed, and produced *Moving On* (2023), a dark comedy starring [Jane Fonda](https://www.edgepedia.org/jane-fonda) and [Lily Tomlin](https://www.edgepedia.org/lily-tomlin) that critics received as a balance of comedic conceit and emotional resonance[10](https://cinegraph.org/people/paul-weitz) • [11](https://apnews.com/article/0f2114a02dc83ed1059a3ecedd9785ce). He also works as a producer on other directors' projects, including *The Golden Compass* (2007), *Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist* (2008), *Crush* (2022), and *About My Father* (2023)[1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/paul_weitz).
## Television and acting
In television, Weitz produced the Amazon series *Mozart in the Jungle* (2014– ), for which he also occasionally wrote and directed episodes, and the series won him a Golden Globe[1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/paul_weitz) • [6](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0919369/). As an actor he appeared in a small role as Sam in Mike White's *Chuck & Buck* (2000), and later in small roles in films written and directed by his longtime friend [Jeff Baena](https://www.edgepedia.org/jeff-baena): *Life After Beth* (2014), *Joshy* (2016), and *The Little Hours* (2017)[7](https://catalog.afi.com/Person/183394-Paul-Weitz?isMiscCredit=False) • [1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/paul_weitz).
## Reception
On the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, *About a Boy* is the highest-rated film among Weitz's credits at 93 percent, with *Grandma* and *Antz* at 92 percent, while *Little Fockers* is the lowest at 9 to 10 percent[1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/paul_weitz). Interviewers have noted his movement between broad teen comedy and quieter character studies, a range that runs from *American Pie* through *About a Boy*, *In Good Company*, and *Being Flynn*[12](https://www.hollywoodchicago.com/news/17712/interview-director-paul-weitz-has-tips-on-being-flynn).
## References
1. [Paul Weitz Movies & TV Shows List, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/paul_weitz)
2. [Weitz, Paul 1966-, Encyclopedia.com (Contemporary Authors)](https://www.encyclopedia.com/arts/educational-magazines/weitz-paul-1966)
3. [Paul Weitz Biography, Celebrity Facts and Awards, TV Guide](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/paul-weitz/bio/3030209190/)
4. [Directors Chris and Paul Weitz, New England Public Media (Fresh Air)](https://www.nepm.org/2003-01-24/directors-chris-and-paul-weitz)
5. [Paul Weitz, All-'American' Director, The Washington Post](https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/2006/04/21/paul-weitz-all-american-director/632468c3-6df0-4e45-8c28-1eabcf8fd25c/)
6. [Paul Weitz, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0919369/)
7. [Paul Weitz filmography, AFI Catalog](https://catalog.afi.com/Person/183394-Paul-Weitz?isMiscCredit=False)
8. [Eccentric's Corner: About a Boy, Named Paul, Psychology Today](https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/articles/201205/eccentrics-corner-about-boy-named-paul)
9. [Eugene Levy on Playing the Straight Man in Schitt's Creek, TIME](https://time.com/4259152/eugene-levy-schitts-creek/)
10. [Paul Weitz, Cinegraph](https://cinegraph.org/people/paul-weitz)
11. [Review: Tomlin, Fonda anchor darkly comedic 'Moving On', AP News](https://apnews.com/article/0f2114a02dc83ed1059a3ecedd9785ce)
12. [Interview: Director Paul Weitz Has Tips on 'Being Flynn', HollywoodChicago.com](https://www.hollywoodchicago.com/news/17712/interview-director-paul-weitz-has-tips-on-being-flynn)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Films and standalone screen works › Film people and crafts › Directors, producers, and screenwriters › Film directors by country and region › North and South American directors › Contemporary American directors*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license