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Max Landis

Max Landis (born August 3, 1985) is an American screenwriter, director, producer, and comic book writer.^[1] The son of filmmaker John Landis and costume designer Deborah Nadoolman Landis, he entered the industry with early acting cameos in his father's films before transitioning to writing.^[1]^[2] Landis achieved breakout success with the screenplay for the 2012 found-footage superhero film Chronicle, which grossed over $126 million worldwide on a $15 million budget and established his reputation for innovative genre storytelling.^[1] Subsequent credits include writing the action-comedy American Ultra (2015), the Netflix urban fantasy Bright (2017), and serving as showrunner for the BBC America series Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency (2016–2017), adapted from Douglas Adams's works, as well as comic book projects like Superman: American Alien.^[1] His career encountered major professional repercussions starting in 2017 amid public allegations of emotional manipulation, physical assault, and sexual abuse from multiple former girlfriends, which were amplified in 2019 media investigations and resulted in his agency dropping him.^[3]^[4]

Early life

Family background and upbringing

Max Landis was born on August 3, 1985, in Beverly Hills, California, to filmmaker John Landis, known for directing An American Werewolf in London (1981) and The Blues Brothers (1980), and costume designer Deborah Nadoolman Landis, who created iconic looks for films including Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) and Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984).^[1]^[5] He has an older sister, Rachel Landis, born in 1982.^[6] The family, which maintained a residence in Beverly Hills, provided Landis exposure to the entertainment industry from an early age, though he later described his parents' professional successes as not directly facilitating his own entry into Hollywood.^[7] Landis's upbringing was marked by significant personal challenges, including a diagnosis of cyclothymia—a milder form of bipolar disorder—that contributed to emotional volatility, severe tantrums, and social isolation during childhood.^[7]^[8] He also contended with dysgraphia, which complicated writing despite his early obsession with crafting stories.^[7] His parents reportedly nicknamed him "Little Hitler" due to the intensity of his outbursts, though they remained patient amid the exhaustion his behavior caused.^[7] Academically and socially, Landis struggled at Beverly Hills High School, where he was asked to leave during his freshman year, prompting enrollment in a therapeutic boarding school in Connecticut for three years.^[7]^[8] These experiences fostered a sense of alienation in the Hollywood-adjacent environment, contrasting with the privileges of his family's status.^[8]

Education and initial interests

Landis exhibited early creative interests in storytelling, beginning around age six when he pitched ideas for Godzilla movies to his father, director John Landis, despite challenges from dysgraphia that affected his handwriting. Influenced by his family's Hollywood environment and access to science fiction materials from his father's mentor Forrest J. Ackerman, he created original projects such as The Three Troll Brothers and Starships: The Adventure of Boochie using adaptive tools like an AlphaSmart word processor. These pursuits reflected a precocious focus on narrative construction, predating formal education in film.^[7] In high school, Landis initially attended Beverly Hills High School but was expelled during his freshman year amid behavioral difficulties attributed to cyclothymia, including intense tantrums that led his parents to nickname him "Little Hitler" privately. He transferred to The Learning Clinic, a therapeutic boarding school in Connecticut, for three years, where the program combined psychiatric treatment with academics, aiding his social development and friendships. He ultimately received a diploma from Beverly Hills High School upon completion.^[7]^[9] After high school, Landis enrolled in the University of Miami's film program through continuing studies but dropped out after one semester without earning a degree, having failed an introductory screenwriting class. Nonetheless, he wrote dozens of short scripts during this period, some produced by student peers, and by age 23 had drafted 47 feature-length screenplays, marking an intense self-directed immersion in writing that built on his childhood inclinations. Post-high school, he also co-wrote an episode of the television series Masters of Horror with his father, further honing his craft outside academia.^[7]^[10]^[11]

Career beginnings

Entry into screenwriting

Landis began writing screenplays at the age of 16, producing dozens over the subsequent years as a self-taught enthusiast influenced by his father's filmmaking career.^[12]^[13] By age 25, he had completed 59 screenplays, often completing drafts in short bursts driven by personal compulsion rather than external deadlines.^[13] His professional entry came through collaboration with his father, director John Landis, on the "Masters of Horror" episode "Deer Woman," which he co-wrote and which aired on December 9, 2005; sources indicate the script was sold when Landis was 18.^[12]^[14] This marked his first credited sale, though it leveraged familial connections in an industry where nepotism facilitates initial access.^[12] He followed with an independent credit on the "Fear Itself" episode "Something with Bite" in 2008, demonstrating early ability to secure anthology work without co-writers.^[12] Post-college, after graduating from the University of Miami's film program, Landis shifted to speculative (spec) scripts, selling three originals in six months during 2011: the found-footage superhero story that became Chronicle, a genre-bending spy comedy titled Good Time Gang, and a reimagined adaptation of an older property.^[13]^[15] These sales, handled through management at Circle of Confusion after four years of development, established him as a rising spec market talent, though his rapid output and Hollywood lineage drew scrutiny over merit versus privilege.^[13]

Early short films and spec scripts

Landis wrote several short scripts during his time at the University of Miami, where they were produced by students in the school's film program.^[11] One such effort, "Ghost Closet," completed around 2007, was selected for screening at the university's Quantum Film Festival in 2009.^[16] He also penned "Dupe," a 2008 short directed by Cory Braun and starring Yuriy Sardarov, which explored themes of deception through a narrative of identical twins.^[17] ^[18] Additionally, Landis contributed to fan fiction projects, writing "Red Harvest," an 18-chapter Star Wars fan film released online in 2008, featuring original characters amid established lore.^[19] After departing the university without graduating, Landis shifted toward speculative screenwriting while producing independent shorts. In November 2011, he wrote and directed "The Death and Return of Superman," a 15-minute comedic video essay-style short that satirized DC Comics' 1992-1993 Superman storyline, garnering over a million views on YouTube shortly after release and highlighting his affinity for genre deconstruction.^[20] ^[21] Landis's early spec scripts marked his entry into professional selling. In 2010, he sold an original science fiction action spec titled Chronicle to 20th Century Fox and Davis Entertainment, co-credited with a story by Josh Trank, which propelled his career forward.^[22] This success initiated a 2011 streak of spec sales, including an action comedy acquired by RCR Pictures on February 8, 2011, and others that drew attention from agencies like WME and management firms such as Circle of Confusion.^[23] ^[13] These unsolicited submissions demonstrated his focus on high-concept genre premises, often blending superhero elements with found-footage techniques or ensemble dynamics.^[24]

Major works and breakthroughs

Chronicle and rise to prominence

In August 2010, Max Landis sold his original spec script Chronicle to Davis Entertainment for Twentieth Century Fox, marking a significant early career milestone.^[25]^[26] The screenplay, co-credited with director Josh Trank, depicted three high school teenagers gaining telekinetic powers through exposure to a mysterious underground object, presented in found-footage style.^[27] Production commenced with a modest $12 million budget, emphasizing practical effects and handheld camera techniques to enhance realism.^[28]^[29] Chronicle premiered on February 17, 2012, and expanded wide the following weekend, opening to $22 million at the North American box office despite competition from major releases.^[30] The film ultimately grossed $64.6 million domestically and $126.6 million worldwide, achieving a substantial return on investment.^[31] Critically, it earned an 85% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 185 reviews, praised for its fresh take on superhero origins and character-driven narrative amid the found-footage trend.^[27] The commercial and critical success of Chronicle propelled Landis to prominence in Hollywood, establishing him as a rising screenwriter capable of blending genre elements with emotional depth.^[32] In the aftermath, Landis embarked on a spec script selling streak, securing high-profile assignments including a draft for the Superman franchise and deals with studios like Warner Bros., which attributed his rapid ascent to the breakout hit's demonstration of marketable originality.^[26] This breakthrough contrasted with the nepotism critiques tied to his father John Landis's legacy, as Chronicle's performance underscored Landis's independent scriptwriting prowess.^[8]

Feature films post-Chronicle

Landis wrote the screenplay for American Ultra (2015), an action comedy directed by Daniel Goldberg and starring Jesse Eisenberg as a stoner who discovers he is a government-trained sleeper assassin, alongside Kristen Stewart. The film grossed $18.9 million against a $18 million budget and earned a 49% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 139 reviews.^[33] In the same year, he penned Victor Frankenstein (2015), directed by Paul McGuigan, reimagining Mary Shelley's novel from the perspective of Igor (Daniel Radcliffe) and his mentor Victor (James McAvoy), focusing on their scientific experiments to revive the dead. Budgeted at $40 million, it earned $34.2 million worldwide and received a 23% Rotten Tomatoes score from 104 reviews, with critics citing uneven tone and deviations from the source material.^[34] Landis made his feature directorial debut with Me Him Her (2015), which he also wrote, a low-budget indie comedy about a young man navigating relationships and identity on the eve of his girlfriend's birthday, starring Alia Shawkat, Max Landis in a supporting role, and others. Released theatrically in limited fashion, it garnered mixed audience reception but limited critical attention due to its independent scale. For Mr. Right (2015), Landis provided the screenplay for the romantic action film directed by Paco Cabezas, featuring Sam Rockwell as an assassin who refuses contracts by killing clients and Anna Kendrick as his quirky partner. With a $17 million budget, it underperformed commercially but holds a 45% Rotten Tomatoes rating from 53 critics, praised for performances but faulted for formulaic plotting.^[35] Landis scripted Bright (2017), a Netflix urban fantasy directed by David Ayer, starring Will Smith as a human LAPD officer partnered with an orc (Joel Edgerton) in a world blending modern Los Angeles with elves, orcs, and magic, centered on protecting a wand-wielding elf. Produced for $90 million, it drew 11 million viewers in its first three days but faced widespread critical derision, including a 1/4 star review from Roger Ebert for muddled world-building and heavy-handed allegory, and a 26% Rotten Tomatoes score from 236 reviews.^[36] His spec script formed the basis for Shadow in the Cloud (2020), a World War II horror-action film directed by Roseanne Liang and starring Chloë Grace Moretz as a pilot battling gremlins and sexism aboard a bomber. Credited to Landis alongside a rewrite by Liang and others, it premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival, grossed under $5 million against a modest budget, and received a 55% Rotten Tomatoes approval from 51 reviews, noted for its genre-blending but criticized for implausible elements.

Television projects

Landis created Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency, a loose adaptation of Douglas Adams' novels of the same name, which premiered on BBC America on October 22, 2016.^[37] He served as executive producer and wrote multiple episodes across the series' two seasons, totaling 18 episodes that concluded on December 16, 2017.^[38] The show followed the titular holistic detective and his reluctant assistant as they unraveled interconnected cases involving supernatural elements, emphasizing themes of causality and the universe's interconnectedness.^[37] In parallel, Landis executive produced the first two seasons of Syfy's horror anthology series Channel Zero, developed alongside Nick Antosca, with the project announced in June 2015.^[39] The series debuted on October 11, 2016, beginning with the "Candle Cove" storyline inspired by a creepypasta tale that Landis had optioned, followed by "No-End House" in 2017.^[40] Each season featured self-contained narratives drawing from internet horror fiction, with Landis overseeing creative direction but not scripting individual episodes.^[39]^[41] Subsequent seasons proceeded without his involvement.^[42]

Other creative outputs

Comics and publications

Landis contributed short stories to DC Comics' digital Adventures of Superman series, including issue #14 published in 2013, which featured a narrative involving Superman confronting the Atomic Skull.^[43] He also penned a backup story in Action Comics Special #1 released in 2012 as part of the New 52 initiative.^[43] In 2015, Landis created Superman: American Alien, a seven-issue miniseries published by DC Comics from December 2015 to August 2016, chronicling pivotal moments in Clark Kent's youth and early adulthood before fully becoming Superman.^[44] Landis wrote the opening three issues, with artists including Francis Manapul and Tommy Lee Edwards, while subsequent issues featured contributions from other writers under the series banner; the collection earned an Eisner Award nomination for Best Limited Series.^[45] The trade paperback compilation was released in December 2016.^[44] Shifting to Image Comics, Landis co-created Green Valley in 2016, a nine-issue fantasy series concluding in June 2017, centered on the Knights of Kelodia investigating a supernatural force in a medieval setting.^[46] Illustrated by Giuseppe Camuncoli, the story blended Arthurian tropes with horror elements, culminating in revelations about hidden powers within the titular valley.^[46] A hardcover collected edition followed in October 2017.^[46]

Music videos and acting roles

Landis appeared in minor acting roles early in his career, often in films directed by his father, John Landis. In Blues Brothers 2000 (1998), he played the role of a ghostrider.^[47] In Burke & Hare (2010), a black comedy historical film also directed by John Landis, Landis portrayed a handsome coachman.^[47] He later had a cameo appearance as a party bystander in Me Him Her (2015), a comedy-drama which Landis wrote and directed.^[47] These roles were uncredited or brief, reflecting his primary focus on writing and directing rather than performing.^[1] In music videos, Landis directed Ariana Grande's "One Last Time" in 2015, with the video premiering on February 16.^[48] The production depicted Grande navigating an apocalyptic, zombie-like outbreak in London while performing the song, emphasizing themes of resilience amid chaos.^[49] This marked his sole credited direction of a major artist's music video, aligning with his interest in genre-blending narratives.^[50]

Post-2019 independent projects

Following the public allegations of abuse leveled against him in June 2019, Max Landis shifted away from major studio productions toward self-directed independent creative output, primarily through online platforms and personal services.^[51] In February 2020, Landis announced the launch of Glass Planet Consulting, a remote creative coaching service targeted at aspiring and professional screenwriters, which he described as a "holistic creative consulting resource." Initially offered for free, with over 250 sessions conducted by November 2023, the service transitioned to paid consultations priced at $99 for 30-minute sessions and $175 for 60-minute sessions, booked via email at [email protected] and paid through Venmo under @maxlandis1985.^[52]^[53] Landis positioned the consultations as providing feedback on scripts, career advice, and creative problem-solving, drawing from his prior experience in Hollywood screenwriting.^[54] Parallel to this, Landis began producing and uploading content to his YouTube channel "Uptomyknees," focusing on hybrid pitch videos that combine script readings, performances, and visual elements to promote original film ideas. These self-financed projects, often featuring Landis in multiple on-camera roles, include pitches for superhero narratives within his interconnected "Kryptonian Epic" universe, such as "Batman: Deathwish" and "Z! The Magical Girl - Zatanna's Story," released on June 23, 2025.^[55]^[56] Other examples encompass a 30-minute one-take pitch for "The Society: Toyman" and a concept for "Slow," a drama centered on a protagonist with Down syndrome. Landis has additionally discussed unproduced scripts from his earlier career in these videos and related podcasts, including details of a proposed remake of An American Werewolf in London, where he outlined plot elements such as enhanced interactions between protagonists and supernatural transformations.^[57] These endeavors represent his primary independent activity as of October 2025, bypassing traditional industry gatekeepers amid ongoing professional ostracism.^[58]

Creative approach and reception

Writing style and influences

Max Landis's screenwriting style emphasizes genre-mashing, re-contextualizing established stories and tropes through innovative "what if" premises to achieve universal appeal, as seen in projects like Chronicle, which blends found-footage techniques with superhero origins.^[13] ^[59] He prioritizes enjoyment in the craft, viewing writing as a hobby rather than a burdensome job, which fueled his prolific early output of 59 screenplays between ages 16 and 25, including instances of completing drafts in a single day despite their uneven quality.^[13] Landis's process is structured and efficient: he outlines stories comprehensively before drafting, plans narratives linearly from beginning to middle to end, and aims to finish scripts within six months to maintain momentum.^[13] He incorporates engagement techniques such as "open loops"—unresolved narrative threads that hook audiences—and prioritizes surprises to sustain interest, while advocating separation of ego from feedback during revisions and pitches.^[60] Key influences include his father, director John Landis, who provided early instruction in storytelling principles and supported his initial spec script efforts.^[13] Broader inspirations stem from reimagining genre conventions, such as drawing from District 9's social commentary and handheld style for Chronicle's exploration of power dynamics among young protagonists.^[59] Landis has cited the value of personal vision over cynicism, encouraging writers to pitch concisely with two compelling sentences that highlight emotional stakes.^[13]

Critical and commercial assessments

Landis' screenplay for Chronicle (2012) marked a commercial breakthrough, grossing $126.9 million worldwide on a $12 million budget, while earning an 85% approval rating from 185 critics on Rotten Tomatoes, praised for its innovative found-footage style and exploration of superpowered adolescence.^[27]^[61] Subsequent feature films, however, consistently underperformed both critically and at the box office. American Ultra (2015), blending stoner comedy with action, received mixed reviews with a 44% Rotten Tomatoes score from 174 critics and opened to just $5.5 million domestically, failing to recoup its costs amid audience disinterest.^[33]^[62] Victor Frankenstein (2015), a reimagining of Mary Shelley's novel starring James McAvoy and Daniel Radcliffe, drew a 26% approval rating from 138 reviews and grossed only $5.7 million in the U.S., hampered by perceptions of tonal inconsistency and weak execution.^[34] The Netflix original Bright (2017), featuring Will Smith in a fantasy-police procedural, faced widespread derision, holding a 26% Rotten Tomatoes score from 113 critics who lambasted its clichéd script, heavy-handed social allegory, and muddled world-building despite a $90 million budget.^[63]^[36]^[64] Landis' directorial debut Me Him Her (2015), an independent comedy, similarly struggled with limited release and niche appeal, reflecting a broader pattern of post-Chronicle projects that outlets like IndieWire described as a "string of bad movies" failing to sustain initial momentum.^[65] In television, Landis' adaptation of Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency (2016–2017) for BBC America achieved relatively stronger critical reception, with Season 1 earning 71% approval from 28 reviews and the series overall at 85% on Rotten Tomatoes, lauded for its quirky ensemble and faithful yet expanded take on Douglas Adams' source material, though low ratings led to cancellation after two seasons.^[66]^[67] Landis' foray into comics, particularly Superman: American Alien (2015–2016), garnered favorable responses, averaging 4.2 out of 5 stars from over 3,600 Goodreads ratings and positive comic press for its episodic vignettes on Clark Kent's formative years, emphasizing personal growth over spectacle, though some reviewers noted uneven pacing in later issues.^[68]^[69] Publications including Vanity Fair and Pajiba have highlighted Landis' oeuvre as marked by early promise devolving into repeated underachievement, with scripts often criticized for ambition outpacing coherence.^[70]^[71]

Controversies

Public statements on gender and media

In November 2016, Landis publicly criticized the film Arrival on Twitter, describing Amy Adams' protagonist storyline as "unearned" due to its reliance on tropes involving "mothers, daughters, broken hearts, and tough relationship choices," which he likened to a diminished blend of Tree of Life and Close Encounters.^[70] This followed his December 2015 tweet labeling Rey from Star Wars: The Force Awakens a "Mary Sue," a term for overly idealized characters, which he later said he regretted using due to its politicized connotations but maintained critiqued narrative contrivances rather than gender.^[72] A Vanity Fair article framed Landis' Arrival comments as part of a pattern attacking female-led genre films, prompting accusations of misogyny from outlets like The Mary Sue.^[70] Landis responded via Twitter thread, rejecting the portrayal as "pathetic journalism" that ignored his praise for other female-protagonist films that year and his own scripts featuring strong women, such as Chronicle and Mr. Right, arguing his critiques targeted storytelling flaws, not protagonists' sex.^[73]^[74] In an October 2017 Newsweek interview, Landis voiced frustration with feminist-oriented media sites like Pajiba and The Mary Sue for repeatedly citing his past tweets without direct engagement, stating, "I'm sick of being a controversial figure" and "I'm not a sexist guy."^[72] He emphasized creating gender-neutral complex characters in projects like Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency and distanced himself from performative feminism, saying, "I don't want to be Joss Whedon... I'm not interested in saying, 'I'm a feminist!'" while inviting critics to interview him on specifics like the Force Awakens controversy.^[72] These remarks drew further backlash as dismissive of sexism concerns, though Landis positioned them as calls for substantive dialogue over caricature.^[72]

Allegations of emotional and physical abuse

In June 2019, eight women, including former girlfriends and associates, publicly accused screenwriter Max Landis of a pattern of emotional manipulation and physical aggression spanning over a decade, as detailed in a Daily Beast investigative report.^[75] The accusers described tactics such as gaslighting, body-shaming, and public humiliation to exert control, alongside incidents of choking, slapping, and restraining.^[51] Three women specifically alleged that Landis choked them during arguments or intimate encounters, with one claiming he did so until she lost consciousness.^[75] ^[51] Actress Ani Baker, an ex-girlfriend, recounted Landis choking her and threatening to kill her after she playfully slapped him, while also sharing a list ranking his sexual experiences with multiple women to demean her.^[75] Dani Manning alleged that around 2007, Landis body-shamed her, controlled her eating habits, choked her at a public event, and knocked her to the ground for laughing at him.^[75] Tasha Goldthwait described verbal harassment and physical overpowering on the set of Landis's 2013 film Me Him Her, including exposing her body without consent.^[75] Other accusers, using pseudonyms like Julie and Kerry, reported sustained emotional abuse through threats of breakup, encouragement of eating disorders, and alternating affection with neglect to foster dependency.^[75] One incident involved a 2008 police complaint filed by accuser Callie Ray, who alleged physical restraint while intoxicated, though the case was later dropped; a friend corroborated witnessing Landis's aggressive behavior toward her.^[75] ^[51] The Daily Beast reviewed supporting materials including emails and witness statements from some accounts, but no criminal charges resulted from these allegations.^[75] Initial accusations had appeared on social media as early as December 2017, predating the consolidated 2019 report.^[51]

Responses, defenses, and legal outcomes

In June 2019, following the publication of allegations by eight women in The Daily Beast, Max Landis did not issue an immediate public statement or denial, opting for silence amid the ensuing media coverage and professional repercussions.^[76]^[77] This lack of response was interpreted by some observers as tacit admission, though Landis later attributed it to the situation's complexity and his ongoing personal processing rather than guilt.^[77] Landis broke his silence in August 2021 via a Medium article, admitting to patterns of emotional abuse, infidelity, and erratic behavior in past relationships stemming from his personal instability, describing himself as a "messy and damaged, selfish person who caused chaos and harm."^[77] He explicitly denied characterizations of himself as a "monstrously misogynist soulless predator" or engaging in non-consensual physical or sexual acts, asserting that certain claims—particularly those from his college years—involved "heavily twisted or totally invented" stories.^[77] Landis claimed to have pursued intensive therapy for over four years, including inpatient mental health treatment on suicide watch, and stated that the "noxious larger-than-life Max Landis character" responsible for prior harms no longer exists.^[77] No criminal charges were filed against Landis as a result of the 2019 allegations, and no trials or convictions ensued.^[78] One accuser, identified as Callie Ray in secondary reports, reportedly filed a civil case alleging sexual assault, but no public records indicate a resolution, settlement, or judgment in her favor.^[79] Professionally, Landis was dropped by his management firm, Writ Large Management, on June 19, 2019, shortly after the allegations surfaced, contributing to a halt in major studio projects.^[78]

Legacy and impact

Influence on genre filmmaking

Landis's screenplay for Chronicle (2012), co-written with director Josh Trank, marked a significant innovation in the superhero genre by employing a found-footage style to portray three Seattle high school seniors gaining telekinetic powers through exposure to a mysterious underground object, emphasizing realistic psychological deterioration and moral consequences rather than traditional heroic arcs.^[80] The film grossed $126.6 million worldwide on a $15 million budget, demonstrating the commercial viability of low-budget, character-focused genre entries that subverted comic book conventions by exploring power's corrupting influence on adolescents without reliance on expansive visual effects or established IP.^[32] Critics noted its fresh synthesis of influences like Carrie and The Fly, crediting Landis's script for twisting familiar tropes into a grounded narrative that highlighted ethical quandaries and interpersonal fallout, influencing subsequent indie-leaning superhero tales by prioritizing emotional realism over spectacle.^[81]^[82] In horror and sci-fi, Landis contributed scripts blending speculative elements with human drama, such as American Ultra (2015), a stoner action-thriller about a CIA asset with repressed super-soldier abilities, which echoed Chronicle's theme of unintended power escalation in everyday settings.^[32] His original screenplay for Shadow in the Cloud (2020) envisioned an isolated WWII-era gremlin horror aboard a bomber, though director Roseanne Liang substantially reworked it into a female-led monster feature, underscoring Landis's initial intent to fuse historical pulp with creature effects for tense, confined-space terror.^[83] Projects like the unproduced underwater horror Deeper (acquired by MGM in 2016) and a pitched crossover of horror icons further illustrated his interest in revitalizing subgenres through high-concept premises, though many remained speculative.^[65]^[84] Landis's broader genre output, including adaptations like Victor Frankenstein (2015) reimagining Mary Shelley's novel from the monster's perspective, positioned him as a prolific voice for "outré" fare, attracting studios for his ability to inject irreverent twists into established properties.^[32] Universal's 2016 assignment of the An American Werewolf in London remake to him highlighted industry recognition of his genre versatility, aiming to update John Landis's 1981 lycanthropy classic with modern effects and narrative edge.^[85] Collectively, his work encouraged a shift toward psychologically layered genre films that interrogated power dynamics and personal agency, though its lasting emulation has been tempered by the outsized dominance of franchise-driven blockbusters post-2012.^[8]

Industry standing and career trajectory

Max Landis emerged as a promising screenwriter in the early 2010s, co-writing Chronicle (2012), a found-footage superhero film that grossed $126.6 million worldwide against a $12 million budget.^[28] His recognition grew with inclusions on Forbes' "30 Under 30" list in Hollywood & Entertainment for both 2011 and 2012, highlighting his potential as a young talent in the industry.^[86] Subsequent scripts like American Ultra (2015) and Victor Frankenstein (2015) showcased his affinity for genre blending, while television work on Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency (2016–2017) and the Netflix film Bright (2017) expanded his profile among major studios and streamers.^[1] By 2017, Landis' career trajectory indicated prolific output and industry demand, with multiple projects in development including a planned Bright sequel. However, allegations of emotional and physical abuse publicized in June 2019 prompted his management firm, Writ Large, to drop him as a client the following day.^[3] This fallout contributed to the cancellation or stalling of several high-profile endeavors, such as the thriller Deeper, from which MGM withdrew and star Idris Elba departed shortly after the reports emerged.^[87] Pre-existing projects like Shadow in the Cloud (2020), co-written with director Roseanne Liang, proceeded to release, but Landis' mainstream opportunities sharply declined thereafter. As of October 2025, Landis' industry standing remains diminished, with no major studio productions credited since the controversies, leading him to independent and self-produced content such as YouTube pitch hybrids and small-scale shorts like The Listerine Monologue (2021).^[58] An announced remake of An American Werewolf in London, which he was set to write and direct in 2016, has seen no advancement beyond script development stages reported in 2021.^[88] His shift to fringe platforms reflects a broader marginalization, though he maintains an active online presence discussing creative work.^[89]

References

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Max Landis - IMDb
He is a writer and producer, known for Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency (2016), Bright (2017) and Mr. Right (2015). BornAugust 3, 1985.Endangered Species (2023) · The Death of Batman · Pepe Le Pew · DeconMissing: notable | Show results with:notable
[2]
Max Landis - Ethnicity of Celebs | EthniCelebs.com
Jan 29, 2017 · Max is the son of director and producer John Landis and costume designer, author, and professor Deborah Nadoolman Landis. He has a sister, ...
[3]
Max Landis Dropped by Manager Following Sexual Assault ... - Variety
Jun 19, 2019 · Landis is facing allegations of sexual abuse and psychological manipulation from eight women who told their stories to the Daily Beast. Two of ...Missing: verified facts
[4]
Max Landis Accused By Multiple Women Of Sexual Abuse - Deadline
Jun 18, 2019 · The latest allegations, as detailed today in the Daily Beast, include charges that he sexually assaulted and mentally tortured several girlfriends.Missing: controversies verified facts
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Deborah Nadoolman Landis - UCLA School of Theater, Film, and ...
Landis received an M.F.A. in costume design from the UCLA College of Fine Arts in 1975 and a Ph.D. in the history of design from the Royal College of Art, ...
[6]
Rachel Landis - Biography - IMDb
Sister of actor Max Landis. Eldest child of director John Landis and costume designer Deborah Nadoolman.
[7]
The Amazing Origin Story Of A Hollywood Wonder Boy ... - BuzzFeed
Nov 5, 2013 · He suffers from cyclothymia, a form of bipolar disorder, which made childhood a nightmare. "It was an exhausting way to be, but for my parents, ...
[8]
Who's Afraid of Max Landis? - Vulture
Oct 3, 2017 · “He wanted to tell me about himself, about what it was like growing up as Max Landis, and what his family was like, what his school life was ...Missing: background parents upbringing
[9]
Max Landis Net Worth
Early Life and Education He still ended up graduating from Beverly Hills High School. For his higher education, Landis attended the University of Miami.Missing: background | Show results with:background
[10]
I'm Max Landis, writer of Chronicle and director of Death and Return ...
Feb 6, 2012 · What was it like growing up with the guy who directed 'American Werewolf in London' , 'Animal House' and 'Coming to America' as your father?Max Landis (son of director John Landis) goes off on reddditors ...I am writer/director/producer Max Landis. : r/IAmA - RedditMore results from www.reddit.comMissing: background | Show results with:background<|separator|>
[11]
Max Landis - Idea Wiki - Fandom
Max Landis (born August 3, 1985) is an American screenwriter, director, producer, and actor. He is best known for writing the films Chronicle (2012), American ...Missing: notable | Show results with:notable
[12]
Screenwriter Max Landis - The Writing Studio
Nov 26, 2015 · Since he started writing at 16, Landis has written 75 screenplays. He sold his first script at the age of 18, a collaboration with his father, ...
[13]
WRITERS ON BREAKING IN: 6 Tips from Max Landis
Jun 22, 2016 · An Max Landis' secret is no secret: Be true to your vision, enjoy writing, and find a story that has universal appeal. And you can find success, too.
[14]
"Masters of Horror" Deer Woman (TV Episode 2005) - IMDb
Rating 6.4/10 (4,453) A harried, burned-out cop believes that a recent string of murders proves that the murderer might be a deer-like creature in the form of a beautiful woman.Plot · Filmmakers · Full cast & crew · Parents guide
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WHY IS NO ONE TALKING ABOUT WHAT A GENIUS MAX LANDIS ...
Jun 3, 2012 · Max Landis is born to successful film director John Landis (BLUES BROTHERS, THREE AMIGOS, Michael Jackson's THRILLER video) and costume ...Missing: family background parents upbringing
[16]
Quantum Film Festival to feature two student-produced films
Apr 12, 2009 · The two films that were selected for this year are Ghost Closet written by Max Landis, a 2008 graduate, and Façade, written by Blessing, a ...Missing: early | Show results with:early<|control11|><|separator|>
[17]
Dupe (Short 2008) - IMDb
Rating 7.8/10 (19) Dupe ; Director. Cory Braun ; Writer. Max Landis ; Stars. Yuriy Sardarov · Jenny Heaton · Mike Aljadeff ; Country of origin. United States ; Official site. Official ...
[18]
Dupe Trailer #2 - YouTube
Feb 18, 2008 · A trailer for my short film Dupe. The movie is directed by Cory Braun and written by Max Landis. Starring Yuriy Sardarov, Jenny Heaton, and Mike Aljadeff.
[19]
Red Harvest (Chapter 18)-Star Wars Fanfilm - YouTube
Jun 19, 2008 · ... Max Landis Starring Ethan Landry, Mark Ramos and Erin Resimius Shot by Jay ... TIE Fighter - short film. OtaKing Animation•15M views.
[20]
The Death and Return of Superman (Short 2011) - IMDb
Rating 7.5/10 (1,269) Nov 27, 2011 · The Death and Return of Superman: Directed by Max Landis. With Max Landis ... It's not your traditional short film. Rather, it's kind of a hybrid between ...
[21]
Photos from Max Landis' THE DEATH AND RETURN OF SUPERMAN
Nov 17, 2011 · Max Landis (Chronicle) was impacted enough that he decided to make a short film called The Death and Return of Superman. The film is a comedic viral short ...
[22]
The Definitive Spec Script Deals List (1991–2012): 2010
Jul 2, 2012 · Writer: Max Landis Management: Circle of Confusion Studio: Twentieth Century Fox Prod. Co: Davis Entertainment Genre: Science Fiction Action ...
[23]
The Definitive Spec Script Sales List (1991–2012): 2011
Jul 3, 2012 · Writer: Max Landis Agency: WME Management: Circle of Confusion Prod.Co: RCR Pictures Genre: Action Comedy Date: 2/8/2011. 4. Title: Voices ...
[24]
Max Landis Is Changing Things For Screenwriters - Deadline
May 13, 2016 · Chronicle writer Max Landis explains the philosophy behind his approach to pitching original projects as packages, and keeping involved.
[25]
Spec Script Sale: “Chronicle” | by Scott Myers | Go Into The Story
Aug 11, 2010 · Spec Script Sale: “Chronicle” Per HeatWave, Twentieth Century Fox buys “Chronicle,” a sci-fi script from Max Landis: According to the studio ...
[26]
Max Landis on a spec-selling streak - Variety
Feb 8, 2011 · Landis sold his spec script “Chronicle” in August to producer John Davis and his 20th Century Fox-based banner Davis Entertainment. The story ...
[27]
Chronicle | Rotten Tomatoes
Rating 85% (185) Box Office (Gross USA): $64.6M. Runtime: 1h 24m. Sound Mix: Dolby , SDDS. Most ... The percentage of Approved Tomatometer Critics who have given this movie a ...185 Reviews · Josh Trank · Dane DeHaan · Audience Reviews
[28]
Chronicle (2012) - IMDb
Rating 7/10 (274,144) Box office ; Budget. $12,000,000 (estimated) ; Gross US & Canada. $64,575,175 ; Opening weekend US & Canada. $22,004,098 ; Gross worldwide. $126,636,097.Full cast & crew · Parents guide · Chronicle · Chronicle 2
[29]
Chronicle (2012) - Box Office and Financial Information - The Numbers
Worldwide Cumulative Box Office Records ; All Time Worldwide Box Office (Rank 1,501-1,600), 1,584, $123,681,790 ; All Time Worldwide Non-Sequel Box Office (Rank ...
[30]
Box Office Report: 'Chronicle' Scores Touchdown With $22 Mil ...
Feb 5, 2012 · Box Office Report: 'Chronicle' Scores Touchdown With $22 Mil, 'Woman in Black' Earns $21 Mil. Both films overperform on the strength of younger ...
[31]
Chronicle - Box Office Mojo
Grosses ; Feb 25 · Saturday, 11, $1,672,971, +55.8% ; Feb 26 · Sunday, 12, $938,274, -43.9% ...
[32]
Max Landis Is a Hollywood Disrupter With an Attitude
Oct 20, 2016 · He first came to prominence with the 2012 sci-fi hit “Chronicle,” and his credits have since included “American Ultra” and “Victor Frankenstein.<|separator|>
[33]
American Ultra | Rotten Tomatoes
Rating 44% (174) Discover reviews, ratings, and trailers for American Ultra on Rotten Tomatoes. Stay updated with critic and audience scores today!174 Reviews · Cast and Crew · Video
[34]
Victor Frankenstein (2015) | Rotten Tomatoes
Rating 26% (138) Discover reviews, ratings, and trailers for Victor Frankenstein (2015) on Rotten Tomatoes ... Box Office (Gross USA): $5.7M. Runtime: 1h 50m. Most Popular at Home ...
[35]
Mr. Right - Rotten Tomatoes
Rating 45% (53) A woman (Anna Kendrick) comes to a crossroad when she finds out that her new beau (Sam Rockwell) is a professional assassin who kills the people who hire him.
[36]
Bright movie review & film summary (2017) | Roger Ebert
Rating 1/4 · Review by Brian TallericoDec 22, 2017 · Written by Max Landis, “Bright” imagines a world in which fantasy creatures like elves and orcs live alongside human beings. If you're ...Missing: reception | Show results with:reception
[37]
Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency (TV Series 2016–2017) - IMDb
Rating 8.1/10 (61,314) Release date · October 22, 2016 (United States) · Country of origin. United States · Official site. Hulu · Language. English · Also known as. Dirk Gentlys Holistic ...Full cast & crew · Episode list · Dirk Gently · Dirk Gentlys holistische Detektei
[38]
Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency Season 2 Premiere Date ...
Aug 23, 2017 · Based on Douglas Adams' novels, Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency will premiere on BBC America on Saturday, October 14 at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m ...
[39]
Horror Anthology Series From Max Landis & Nick Antosca In Works ...
Jun 30, 2015 · In their latest collaboration, Syfy and Universal Cable Prods are teaming on horror anthology series Channel Zero from Max Landis (Chronicle ...
[40]
Channel Zero (TV Series 2016–2018) - IMDb
Rating 7.1/10 (13,155) On an episode of the Schmoes Know Movie Show podcast, Max Landis said that it would be an anthology series based on short horror stories on the Creepypasta ...Full cast & crew · Episode list · Parents guide · User reviews
[41]
Channel Zero: Candle Cove | Cast and Crew - Rotten Tomatoes
Character(s) Amy Welch. Credit(s) Actor. Nick Antosca. Character(s). Credit(s) Executive Producer. Max Landis. Character(s). Credit(s) Executive Producer.
[42]
Syfy Greenlights Anthology Series 'Channel Zero' | Next TV
Syfy has greenlit Channel Zero, a horror anthology series from Max Landis (Chronicle) and Nick Antosca (Hannibal). The deal calls for 12 episodes in two ...
[43]
Max Landis - DC Comics
Max Landis, writer, Superman: American Alien #7, Adventures of Superman #14, Superman: American Alien #1, Action Comics Special #1, Superman: American Alien #4.Missing: publications | Show results with:publications
[44]
SUPERMAN: AMERICAN ALIEN - DC Comics
Screenwriter and Eisner Award nominee Max Landis (Chronicle, American Ultra, ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN) presents the seven-issue miniseries that chronicles ...
[45]
SUPERMAN: AMERICAN ALIEN #1 - DC Comics
Hollywood screenwriter and Eisner Award nominee Max Landis (Chronicle, American Ultra, ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN) joins forces with top comics artists ...
[46]
Green Valley HC | Image Comics
In stockOct 25, 2017 · The knights of Kelodia are the finest in the land, but they've never faced a POWER like the one that resides in the Green Valley.
[47]
Max Landis - TV Guide
Writer · The Society: Endangered Species ; created for television by · Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency ; screen story · Victor Frankenstein ; screenplay.
[48]
Ariana Grande - One Last Time (2015) - IMVDb
Feb 16, 2015 · 'One Last Time' music video by Ariana Grande. Premiered on February 16, 2015. Directed by Max Landis.
[49]
Ariana Grande "One Last Time" (Max Landis, dir.) - VideoStatic
Feb 17, 2015 · It's the end of the world as we know it, but Ariana Grande looks like she'll do just fine in this apocalyptic adventure directed by ...
[50]
Max Landis Music Video Credits by Year - IMVDb
Music Videos credits for Max Landis, sorted by Year. 2015 (1).
[51]
Max Landis Accused of Rape, Assault and Psychological Abuse
Jun 18, 2019 · Screenwriter Max Landis is facing allegations of sexual abuse and psychological manipulation from eight women who told their stories to the Daily Beast.
[52]
“Why don't you use a pen name?” — a brief answer to ... - Max Landis
Jun 10, 2022 · An easy example of this is Glass Planet. When I started a free creative consulting company, and offered to meet with anyone for 25 minutes ...
[53]
After 250+ free sessions, Glass Planet consulting is now ... - Instagram
Nov 16, 2023 · After 250+ free sessions, Glass Planet consulting is now available as a paid service! All requests go through officialglassplanet@gmail.com.
[54]
Welcome Back To Glass Planet Consulting - YouTube
Dec 13, 2023 · Announcing the return of Glass Planet Consulting, holistic creative consulting service created by screenwriter Max Landis.
[55]
Uptomyknees - YouTube
The Kryptonian Epic ; BATMAN : DEATHWISH - Pitch By Max Landis #kryptonianepic · 54K views. Streamed 4 years ago ; An Announcement Regarding Glass Planet ...
[56]
Max Landis Presents: Z! The Magical Girl - Zatanna's Story - YouTube
Jun 23, 2025 · Zatanna's story in the #kryptonianepic. Spanning 15 years, Z! The Magical Girl shows how Z's life has interwoven with the other threads in ...<|separator|>
[57]
Max Landis' AN AMERICAN WEREWOLF IN LONDON remake details
Mar 27, 2024 · As the shooter walks closer to David, it transforms to a werewolf. David and dead-Jack have more interactions: after Jack compares David and ...Max Landis : r/HollywoodReceipts - RedditApparently Max Landis is now staging a comeback as a script ...More results from www.reddit.com
[58]
Best of 2023: Hollywood Cancelled Max Landis So He's Making ...
Jun 15, 2023 · Max Landis Presents The Society: Endangered Species is a juvenile conception of an “adult” superhero movie where superheroes swear and do Molly ...
[59]
Chronicle - Variety
Feb 1, 2012 · Clearly inspired by “District 9,” Trank shot in South Africa as a ... Screenplay, Max Landis; story, Landis, Trank. Crew: Camera (color ...
[60]
Screenwriter/Director Max Landis on the Art of Writing & Selling Scripts
Sep 27, 2017 · Max Landis is one of the most sought-after screenwriters in Hollywood. From his first big film Chronicle to his upcoming Bright, with Will ...Missing: early career
[61]
Chronicle (2012) - News - IMDb
The film earned an 85% from critics and a 72% from audiences on Rotten Tomatoes, and it grossed $126 million at the box office against a budget of $12 million.
[62]
American Ultra: Why Did It Fail At the Box Office? - Screen Rant
Aug 24, 2015 · American Ultra, a new action comedy that opened last Friday, flopped hard over the weekend, earning just $5.5 million at the domestic box office.
[63]
Bright - Rotten Tomatoes
Rating 26% (113) It has a great premise, but execution is extraordinarily clumsy. It is far from the worst film of the year as many have said, but it isn't a magnificent, ...113 Reviews · Cast and Crew · 10000+ Ratings · Trailers & Videos
[64]
Bright Review: Netflix's First Blockbuster Is the Worst Movie of 2017
Dec 20, 2017 · Max Landis and the director of Suicide Squad team up for a movie that's part Training Day, part Lord of the Rings, and all miserable.Missing: reception | Show results with:reception
[65]
Max Landis Should Have Been Thrown Out of Hollywood Years Ago
Jun 18, 2019 · Landis' IMDbpro page lists 11 projects in various states of creation, including a Pepe Le Pew feature, a Harry Houdini biopic, and “Deeper.” A ...<|separator|>
[66]
Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency - Rotten Tomatoes
Rating 85% (41) ... , Mystery & Thriller. Original Language: English. Release Date: Oct 22, 2016. Advertise With Us. About Tomatometer. A series gets an Average Tomatometer when at ...Season 1 · Season 2 · Cast and Crew
[67]
Season 1 – Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency - Rotten Tomatoes
Rating 71% (28) Discover reviews, ratings, and trailers for Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency: Season 1 on Rotten Tomatoes. Stay updated with critic and audience ...
[68]
Superman: American Alien by Max Landis | Goodreads
Rating 4.2 (3,661) Nov 11, 2015 · Superman: American Alien (Single Issues) #1. Superman: American Alien. Max Landis, Jock (Illustrator), Francis Manapul (Illustrator) ...more.
[69]
Superman: American Alien Reviews - Comic Book Roundup
Superman: American Alien ; Issues: 7 ; Collected Vols: 1 ; Pulls: 93 ; Critic Reviews: 144 ; User Reviews: 236.<|control11|><|separator|>
[70]
Screenwriter Max Landis Attacks Another Popular Genre Film with a Female Protagonist
### Summary of Max Landis' Criticisms of *Arrival*
[71]
All The Upcoming and Announced Max Landis Projects To Avoid In ...
Around the same time Shadow in the Cloud was announced, another Landis project got off the ground. Deeper has none other than internet favourite Idris Elba ...
[72]
Screenwriter Max Landis Says He's 'Sick' of Feminist Media Calling ...
Oct 6, 2017 · The writer behind 'Victor Frankenstein' and 'Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective' speaks to Newsweek about Internet outrage.
[73]
Max Landis Has Twitter Meltdown Over Vanity Fair Story Implying ...
Nov 13, 2016 · Writer-director Max Landis put up his dukes and came out swinging Sunday in self-defense after a Vanity Fair story accused him of “attacking ...<|separator|>
[74]
Max Landis Has Twitter Meltdown Over Vanity Fair Story Implying ...
Nov 13, 2016 · Writer-director Max Landis put up his dukes and came out swinging Sunday in self-defense after a Vanity Fair story accused him of “attacking ...
[75]
https://www.thedailybeast.com/max-landis-8-women-accuse-hollywood-filmmaker-of-emotional-and-sexual-abuse-were-not-people-to-him
[76]
Max Landis: 8 Women Accuse Hollywood Filmmaker of Emotional ...
Jun 18, 2019 · ... and Hollywood scion alleging a pattern of emotional, physical, and sexual abuse that spans a decade.
[77]
Why I Never Responded To My Public Shaming | by Max Landis
Aug 25, 2021 · It's definitely true that my instability translated into relationships as emotional abuse, infidelity, and wild unpredictable emotional behavior ...
[78]
Max Landis Dropped By His Writ Large Managers Amid Allegations
Jun 19, 2019 · Max Landis, the screenwriter accused of sexually assaulting and mentally torturing several women, has been fired by Writ Large, his personal ...
[79]
Max Landis faces eight abuse allegations after canceled appearance
Aug 25, 2019 · Students from the Dodge College of Film and Media Arts might remember Max Landis as the speaker whose Nov. 7 guest appearance was canceled.Missing: education | Show results with:education
[80]
Review: Smart and angry 'Chronicle' pushes superhero genre past ...
Feb 3, 2012 · Director Josh Trank and screenwriter Max Landis have taken a variety of recognizable genre influences and twisted them into something fresh ...
[81]
2012 Films Appreciation: Chronicle | by David B Morris - Medium
May 12, 2023 · By the climax of the film, writer Max Landis and director John Trank ... Chronicle is also very clearly a variation on the superhero movie.
[82]
Chronicle: Teenage Found Footage Superheroes
Sep 6, 2015 · Furthermore, despite anything else Max Landis was able to flip the superhero genre on its head with this one, at least slightly.Missing: impact | Show results with:impact
[83]
Shadow in the Cloud: How Roseanne Liang Made Her Own Monster ...
Jan 1, 2021 · The project was first announced in January 2019, more than a year after Landis, best known for projects like “Bright” and “Chronicle,” had been ...
[84]
Max Landis Pitches Epic Horror Icons Crossover - Screen Rant
Oct 24, 2017 · Landis has also openly pitched a number of ideas for major franchise over the years, ranging from Ghostbusters to Power Rangers and Fantastic Four.Missing: contributions | Show results with:contributions
[85]
Cinematography Loses a Legend, Max Landis Gets an Inheritance ...
Nov 9, 2016 · Max Landis, screenwriter of Chronicle and American Ultra has been signed by Universal to write and direct the remake of An American Werewolf in London.
[86]
Max Landis - Forbes
Max Landis on the 2013 30 Under 30 - Hollywood & Entertainment - Landis' debut film was last year's Chronicle, a sort of found-footage movie about a.
[87]
Max Landis' Upcoming Film 'Deeper' Has Been Cancelled - Reddit
Jun 19, 2019 · Max Landis' upcoming film 'Deeper' has been cancelled - MGM has left the project and Idris Elba will no longer star.[DISCUSSION] Just read Max Landis' 'Deeper' and wow just wow.Tom Cruise's 'Deeper' Put on Hold as Warner Bros. Refuses $275 ...More results from www.reddit.com
[88]
Max Landis is halfway done writing the An American Werewolf in ...
Jul 30, 2021 · Although he acknowledges the possibility that the remake might not happen at all, since it's a big studio project and those tend not to happen, ...
[89]
Max Landis (@uptomyknees1985) • Instagram photos and videos
24K Followers, 1193 Following, 1492 Posts - Max Landis (@uptomyknees1985) on Instagram: "special Ed student, still learning"Missing: independent work 2020-2025