# Works by Jesse Eisenberg
**Jesse Eisenberg** (Jesse Adam Eisenberg, born 1983 in Queens, New York) is an American actor, playwright, screenwriter, director, and author whose screen career runs from the indie drama *Roger Dodger* (2002) through the Oscar-nominated lead role in *The Social Network* (2010) to his own films as writer-director, *When You Finish Saving the World* (2022) and *A Real Pain* (2024).[1](https://goldenglobes.com/person/jesse-eisenberg/) • [2](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/jesse_eisenberg) He has also written four stage plays, a story collection published by [Grove Press](https://www.edgepedia.org/grove-press), and an Audible Original that won a 2021 Audie Award.[3](https://www.caa.com/caaspeakers/jesse-eisenberg/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full name and birth | Jesse Adam Eisenberg, born 1983 in Queens, New York (Letterboxd gives 1983)[1](https://goldenglobes.com/person/jesse-eisenberg/) • [4](https://letterboxd.com/director/jesse-eisenberg/) |
| Breakthrough roles | *Roger Dodger* (2002), *The Squid and the Whale* (2005), *Zombieland* (2009), *The Social Network* (2010)[2](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/jesse_eisenberg) |
| Awards | Nominations for two Academy Awards, three BAFTA Awards, and three Golden Globe Awards[4](https://letterboxd.com/director/jesse-eisenberg/) |
| Films as writer-director | *When You Finish Saving the World* (2022, A24) and *A Real Pain* (2024); *The Debut* announced for 2026[3](https://www.caa.com/caaspeakers/jesse-eisenberg/) • [5](https://www.allmovie.com/artist/jesse-eisenberg-an322/filmography) |
| Stage plays | *Asuncion*, *The Revisionist* (with Vanessa Redgrave), *The Spoils*, and *Happy Talk* (Signature Theater, April 2019)[3](https://www.caa.com/caaspeakers/jesse-eisenberg/) |
| Published writing | *Bream Gives Me Hiccups: and Other Stories* (Grove Press, 2015); contributions to *The New Yorker* and McSweeney's[3](https://www.caa.com/caaspeakers/jesse-eisenberg/) • [4](https://letterboxd.com/director/jesse-eisenberg/) |
| Recent slate | *Manodrome* (2023), *Sasquatch Sunset* (2024), *Now You See Me: Now You Don't* (2025), *The Debut* (2026)[5](https://www.allmovie.com/artist/jesse-eisenberg-an322/filmography) |
## Film acting career
Eisenberg's first screen role of note came in Dylan Kidd's indie drama *Roger Dodger* (2002), in which he played Nick, a teenager looking to become a man; he has called it his big break in film.[2](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/jesse_eisenberg) • [6](https://www.sundance.org/blogs/give-me-the-backstory-get-to-know-jesse-eisenberg-the-writer-director-of-a-real-pain/) He earned strong critical praise for his performance as Walt in *The Squid and the Whale* (2005), which was also his first appearance at the [Sundance Film Festival](https://www.edgepedia.org/sundance-film-festival) as an actor.[2](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/jesse_eisenberg) • [6](https://www.sundance.org/blogs/give-me-the-backstory-get-to-know-jesse-eisenberg-the-writer-director-of-a-real-pain/)
**Breakout and signature performances.** His mainstream breakout was the horror-comedy hit *Zombieland* (2009), in which he played Columbus, a nebbish survivor of the zombie apocalypse.[2](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/jesse_eisenberg) • [7](https://www.dfi.dk/en/viden-om-film/filmdatabasen/person/jesse-eisenberg) The following year he played Facebook founder [Mark Zuckerberg](https://www.edgepedia.org/mark-zuckerberg) in *The Social Network* (2010), directed by [David Fincher](https://www.edgepedia.org/david-fincher) from [Aaron Sorkin](https://www.edgepedia.org/aaron-sorkin)'s screenplay, in a performance described as critically lauded; it brought him his first Academy Award nomination, for Best Actor.[1](https://goldenglobes.com/person/jesse-eisenberg/) • [2](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/jesse_eisenberg) • [4](https://letterboxd.com/director/jesse-eisenberg/)
Early in his career he balanced artistically fulfilling independent roles with higher-profile studio parts.[2](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/jesse_eisenberg) The American Film Institute catalog credits him as Blu in *Rio* (2011), Nick in *30 Minutes or Less* (2011), Eli Bloom in *Why Stop Now?* (2012), and J. Daniel Atlas in *[Now You See Me](https://www.edgepedia.org/now-you-see-me-film)* (2013).[8](https://catalog.afi.com/Person/212983-Jesse-Eisenberg) He played Jack in *To Rome with Love* (2012), Simon and his lookalike James in *[The Double](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-double-2013-film)* (2013), and Josh in *Night Moves* (2013).[5](https://www.allmovie.com/artist/jesse-eisenberg-an322/filmography) • [7](https://www.dfi.dk/en/viden-om-film/filmdatabasen/person/jesse-eisenberg) Smaller credits from this period include Joaquin in *The Living Wake* and Daniel Cheston in *Solitary Man* (both 2010), a cameo as himself in *He's Way More Famous Than You* (2013), and Tex in *Free Samples* (2013).[8](https://catalog.afi.com/Person/212983-Jesse-Eisenberg)
He returned as J. Daniel Atlas in *Now You See Me* sequel *Now You See Me 2* (2016) and played [Lex Luthor](https://www.edgepedia.org/lex-luthor) in [Zack Snyder](https://www.edgepedia.org/zack-snyder)'s *Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice* (2016) opposite [Ben Affleck](https://www.edgepedia.org/ben-affleck) and Henry Cavill.[1](https://goldenglobes.com/person/jesse-eisenberg/) Later independent work includes Louder Than Bombs (2015), *The End of the Tour* (2015), *Café Society* (2016), and *Vivarium* (2019), in which he played Tom and served as executive producer.[7](https://www.dfi.dk/en/viden-om-film/filmdatabasen/person/jesse-eisenberg) He reprised Columbus in *Zombieland: Double Tap* (2019) and played Ralphie in *Manodrome* (2023).[7](https://www.dfi.dk/en/viden-om-film/filmdatabasen/person/jesse-eisenberg) • [5](https://www.allmovie.com/artist/jesse-eisenberg-an322/filmography)
## Screenwriting and directing
Eisenberg has written scripts since he was 16, but only his plays were produced before his films.[6](https://www.sundance.org/blogs/give-me-the-backstory-get-to-know-jesse-eisenberg-the-writer-director-of-a-real-pain/) His directorial debut was A24's *When You Finish Saving the World* (2022), which premiered at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival, screened in Critics Week at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival, and was based on his Audible Original of the same name.[3](https://www.caa.com/caaspeakers/jesse-eisenberg/) He has said the film premiered at Sundance only online because of COVID.[6](https://www.sundance.org/blogs/give-me-the-backstory-get-to-know-jesse-eisenberg-the-writer-director-of-a-real-pain/)
His second feature as writer-director, *A Real Pain* (2024), premiered at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival, where the festival program described it as a poignant, funny exploration of the unexpected permutations of intergenerational trauma, following cousins played by Eisenberg and [Kieran Culkin](https://www.edgepedia.org/kieran-culkin) on a tour through Poland after the death of their grandmother, reckoning with the legacy of World War II.[9](https://festivalplayer.sundance.org/sundance-film-festival-2024/play/6574b8ed5c20550039512a89/656a0138abdae1005647482d) CAA describes him as writer, director, and star of the film, alongside Culkin as cousins on a Holocaust tour in Poland.[3](https://www.caa.com/caaspeakers/jesse-eisenberg/) AllMovie credits him on *A Real Pain* as actor (David Kaplan), director, producer, and writer, and lists the same four credits for *The Debut*, announced for 2026.[5](https://www.allmovie.com/artist/jesse-eisenberg-an322/filmography)
## Television and voice work
His television debut came in the short-lived comedy-drama *Get Real* (1999–2000).[4](https://letterboxd.com/director/jesse-eisenberg/) In 2022 he played Toby Fleishman in the FX limited series *Fleishman Is in Trouble*.[1](https://goldenglobes.com/person/jesse-eisenberg/) • [3](https://www.caa.com/caaspeakers/jesse-eisenberg/) As a voice actor he is the voice of Blu in the animated features *Rio* (2011) and *Rio 2* (2014).[7](https://www.dfi.dk/en/viden-om-film/filmdatabasen/person/jesse-eisenberg) • [8](https://catalog.afi.com/Person/212983-Jesse-Eisenberg) AllMovie also lists him as narrator of *Thunder Rolls: The World of Blind Baseball* (2025) and a voice role in *Minions & Monsters* (2026).[5](https://www.allmovie.com/artist/jesse-eisenberg-an322/filmography)
## Theater work
Eisenberg has written and starred in plays for the New York stage: *Asuncion*, *The Revisionist*, and *The Spoils*.[4](https://letterboxd.com/director/jesse-eisenberg/) *The Revisionist* was staged with [Vanessa Redgrave](https://www.edgepedia.org/vanessa-redgrave), and *The Spoils* had a box-office record-breaking run in the West End.[3](https://www.caa.com/caaspeakers/jesse-eisenberg/) His fourth play, *Happy Talk*, starring [Susan Sarandon](https://www.edgepedia.org/susan-sarandon) and [Marin Ireland](https://www.edgepedia.org/marin-ireland), opened in April 2019 at the Signature Theater in New York.[3](https://www.caa.com/caaspeakers/jesse-eisenberg/)
## Published writing
Eisenberg released his first book, the story collection *Bream Gives Me Hiccups: and Other Stories*, in 2015, published by Grove Press.[4](https://letterboxd.com/director/jesse-eisenberg/) • [3](https://www.caa.com/caaspeakers/jesse-eisenberg/) He has contributed pieces to *The New Yorker* and McSweeney's websites.[4](https://letterboxd.com/director/jesse-eisenberg/) His Audible Original *When You Finish Saving the World* won Best Original Work at the 2021 Audie Awards, and it became the basis of his first feature film.[3](https://www.caa.com/caaspeakers/jesse-eisenberg/)
## Awards and recognition
Eisenberg has received nominations for two Academy Awards, three BAFTA Awards, and three [Golden Globe Awards](https://www.edgepedia.org/golden-globe-awards).[4](https://letterboxd.com/director/jesse-eisenberg/) The Oscar nominations are for Best Actor for *The Social Network* (2010) and for Best Original Screenplay for *A Real Pain* (2024).[4](https://letterboxd.com/director/jesse-eisenberg/) AllMovie records a nomination at the 82nd Golden Globe Awards as Actor in 2025.[5](https://www.allmovie.com/artist/jesse-eisenberg-an322/filmography)
## What has changed since 2023
Since late 2023, Eisenberg's output has centered on *A Real Pain*, which premiered at Sundance in January 2024 and went on to bring him his second Oscar nomination, for Best Original Screenplay.[9](https://festivalplayer.sundance.org/sundance-film-festival-2024/play/6574b8ed5c20550039512a89/656a0138abdae1005647482d) • [4](https://letterboxd.com/director/jesse-eisenberg/) AllMovie lists a busy 2024–2026 slate: *Sasquatch Sunset* (2024, actor and producer), *I'll Be Right There* (2024, executive producer), *Secret Mall Apartment* (2025, executive producer), *Now You See Me: Now You Don't* (2025, returning as J. Daniel Atlas), *Thunder Rolls: The World of Blind Baseball* (2025, narrator), *The Debut* (2026, as actor, director, producer, and writer), and *Minions & Monsters* (2026, voice).[5](https://www.allmovie.com/artist/jesse-eisenberg-an322/filmography) He also appeared in *The New Yorker at 100* (2025) and *The 78th Annual Tony Awards* (2025).[5](https://www.allmovie.com/artist/jesse-eisenberg-an322/filmography)
## References
1. [Jesse Eisenberg, Golden Globes](https://goldenglobes.com/person/jesse-eisenberg/)
2. [Jesse Eisenberg Movies & TV Shows List, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/jesse_eisenberg)
3. [Jesse Eisenberg, CAA Speakers](https://www.caa.com/caaspeakers/jesse-eisenberg/)
4. [Films directed by Jesse Eisenberg, Letterboxd](https://letterboxd.com/director/jesse-eisenberg/)
5. [Jesse Eisenberg filmography, AllMovie](https://www.allmovie.com/artist/jesse-eisenberg-an322/filmography)
6. [Give Me the Backstory: Get to Know Jesse Eisenberg, Sundance.org](https://www.sundance.org/blogs/give-me-the-backstory-get-to-know-jesse-eisenberg-the-writer-director-of-a-real-pain/)
7. [Jesse Eisenberg, Danish Film Institute](https://www.dfi.dk/en/viden-om-film/filmdatabasen/person/jesse-eisenberg)
8. [Jesse Eisenberg, AFI Catalog](https://catalog.afi.com/Person/212983-Jesse-Eisenberg)
9. [A Real Pain, Sundance Film Festival 2024](https://festivalplayer.sundance.org/sundance-film-festival-2024/play/6574b8ed5c20550039512a89/656a0138abdae1005647482d)
---
*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Awards and screen reference › Individual filmographies › Western and East Asian filmographies*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 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