Benny and Josh Safdie are two American brothers who have directed four feature films collaboratively, but in 2025 they decided to go in their own creative directions. Their two most popular works are their 2019 film Uncut Gems and their 2017 film Good Time. Both had very large critical acclaim, so why did they choose to split up? Well, Benny had started to make somewhat of a name for himself as an actor as well as director, with Josh remaining solely a writer-director. According to the brothers, there was no bad blood, rather they believed that it was a natural progression in their careers. They each wanted to explore their own artistic visions and not be hampered by the other. Each brother has been a part of various projects since their last collaboration, and it is worth checking in on how their solo careers are going.
Benny Safdie has secured acting roles in films like Paul-Thomas Anderson’s Licorice Pizza, Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer, and Happy Gilmore 2. Clearly directing is not the only passion of his, seemingly unlike his brother. He did, however, direct his first solo-directed film in 2025 called The Smashing Machine, to mixed reviews. It was considered quite a box-office flop, losing around 10 million dollars. It certainly wasn’t the most successful debut for Benny, but that’s not to say he won’t come out with anything incredible in the future. “I don’t think The Smashing Machine was great, but I’m still excited to see what Benny does next,” adds Julian Neighbors (11).
Josh Safdie directed one of the most anticipated movies of 2025, Marty Supreme, and it did not disappoint. It received massive critical acclaim and serious Oscar buzz. Many believe it is in contention for best picture, and Timothée Chalamet is a favorite for best actor. Nolan Woodard (11) claims, “Marty Supreme was the best movie by either of the Safdie brothers. Timmy’s performance is so good.” It also broke box office records for the distribution company A24.
Josh’s success and Benny’s comparative failure are causing many to believe that Josh was the main creative driving force of their successful collaborative works. However, that’s an unfair assessment considering each of them have only directed one solo film. People tend to forget about Benny’s acting roles, as he was great in Oppenheimer and Licorice Pizza. Ultimately, it is easy to be excited about the future projects that both of them are involved in.
