Brad Pitt in a scene from "Ad Astra"

25 actors who produced their own movies

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June 1, 2022
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25 actors who produced their own movies

Many of the most well-known actors and actresses wear more than one hat behind the scenes. In front of the camera, they might change the original script with ad-libbing or suggesting different lines for their character. Behind the screen, many have been known to take a bigger creative role. Sometimes an actor or actress simply believes in a project and wants to make it happen, other times a film requires an additional investment during production and the studio well has run dry.

It's not uncommon for a star to help fund a project they work on, though that tends to translate to an executive producer credit, as opposed to a producer credit. The distinction there is that the executive producer need not be quite as "hands-on" with production. A producer鈥攊n addition to sourcing the funding for the project鈥攈elps with casting and also makes artistic contributions to the set, location arrangements, and the film's final form. In short, film producers have an enormous influence over everything from the filmmaking process to the culture of the movie set.

There are occasions when an actor is a frequent collaborator with a director, and their role as producer goes hand in hand with that partnership. But it's rare for an actor to take on the role of a core producer in the nitty-gritty of the production鈥攆rom pre- to post-production, or frankly, anywhere in between. Still, it does happen鈥攑erhaps more often than you might think.

To that end, compiled a list of actors representing a diverse range of age, race, and expression who have all produced at least two of their own movies. To be included, the actor had to have produced more than one of their own films and been billed not merely as executive producer but as producer or producer and executive producer.

Antonio Banderas

While not a prolific producer, Antonio Banderas has still helped make some movies a reality through his contributions. His first producing credit was 1999鈥檚 鈥淭he White River Kid,鈥 where he also portrayed a con man working alongside his adoptive brother (Bob Hoskins). He also produced and starred in the animated film 鈥淛ustin and the Knights of Valour鈥 in 2013 and the science fiction movie 鈥淎utomata鈥 in 2014.

Drew Barrymore

Drew Barrymore has been a driving force in producing many of her iconic movies, starting with an executive producer credit on 1999鈥檚 rom-com 鈥淣ever Been Kissed.鈥 Since then, Barrymore has taken a hands-on production approach in such films as 鈥淐harlie鈥檚 Angels鈥 and its follow-up 鈥淐harlie鈥檚 Angels: Full Throttle鈥; 鈥淒uplex,鈥 where she starred opposite Ben Stiller for director Danny DeVito; and 鈥淲hip It,鈥 the modern roller-derby classic, which she also directed. Perhaps her most surprising (executive) producing credit, however, is 鈥淒onnie Darko,鈥 which sees her in a small but pivotal role as the titular character鈥檚 English teacher.

Warren Beatty

Arguably one of Hollywood鈥檚 greatest actors, Warren Beatty is well-known for being an 鈥渁ll-hands鈥 filmmaker. From 1967鈥檚 鈥淏onnie and Clyde,鈥 where he starred alongside Faye Dunaway in the film鈥檚 titular roles, through his most recent credit, 2016鈥檚 鈥淩ules Don鈥檛 Apply,鈥 Beatty has produced鈥攐r executive produced, in a few rare cases鈥攅very film with which he鈥檚 been associated. Moreover, he is an accomplished director, and of course, he has produced each of his directorial efforts too. Several films he directed are contemporary classics, among them 鈥淩eds鈥 (for which he won the Best Picture Oscar), 鈥淒ick Tracy,鈥 and 鈥淏ugsy.鈥

Jackie Chan

Fang Shilong, known internationally as Jackie Chan, is considered a figurehead in globalizing kung fu martial arts through film. He has more than 60 producer credits to his name, among them the Hong Kong action flick 鈥淭he Accidental Spy鈥 and the 2004 remake of 鈥淎round the World in 80 Days.鈥 He is the chairman of JCE Movies Limited, which produces films for both China and the U.S.

Charlie Chaplin

Given how this silent film icon also directed and wrote many of the movies in which he starred, it should come as no surprise that Charlie Chaplin has an extensive producing r茅sum茅. The majority of his producing credits were uncredited during his lifetime, however, he still helped bring such classics as 鈥淭he Immigrant鈥 and 鈥淭he Great Dictator鈥 to the cinematic canon.

Not to mention, he was one of the founders of United Artists, along with actors Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford and director D.W. Griffith (which, today, is part of MGM and owned by Amazon Studios).

Tom Cruise

Much like he does many of his own stunts, Tom Cruise has produced a significant number of the movies he鈥檚 starred in. His producing career began with 1996鈥檚 鈥淢ission: Impossible,鈥 and he has produced every film in the franchise ever since, including the forthcoming 鈥淢ission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning.鈥

In 1992, Cruise and his then-agent Paula Wagner founded Cruise/Wagner Productions in order to give him more creative control over his movies. When the shingle went defunct in 2008, Cruise simply carried on alone, by which time he had more than enough bankability in the industry to make the films he wanted. He also produced 2004鈥檚 鈥淭he Last Samurai,鈥 both films in his Jack Reacher series, as well as the 2022 installment of his popular Top Gun franchise, 鈥淭op Gun: Maverick.鈥

Danny DeVito

Not only has he directed and starred in films such as 1992鈥檚 鈥淗offa鈥 and 1996鈥檚 beloved family film 鈥淢atilda,鈥 Danny DeVito has also produced some of the most successful films of the past 30 years. After co-founding Jersey Films in 1992, DeVito went on to produce hits including 鈥淩eality Bites,鈥 鈥淕et Shorty鈥 (in which he also starred), and a pair of Steven Soderbergh films, including 鈥淥ut of Sight鈥 and the Oscar-winning 鈥淓rin Brockovich.鈥 Additionally, he鈥檚 been the producing force behind the Liam Neeson action thriller, 鈥淎 Walk Among the Tombstones,鈥 and the 2007 drama, 鈥淔reedom Writers,鈥 starring two-time Oscar-winning actress Hilary Swank.

Tina Fey

Given her status as a comedic icon, it might be surprising that Tina Fey has only produced two of her movies. While a prolific television producer, her first feature producing credit was 2015鈥檚 鈥淪isters,鈥 in which Fey starred alongside former 鈥淪aturday Night Live鈥 cast member Amy Poehler, which she followed with 鈥淲hiskey Tango Foxtrot,鈥 a dramedy about a journalist covering the war in Afghanistan. However, she is (based on the 2004 film she herself wrote) into a film, which is currently in development.

Jodie Foster

Like other entries on this list, Oscar-winning actress Jodie Foster is known for producing movies she鈥檚 also starred in and occasionally directs. Her first producing credit came with 1985鈥檚 鈥淢esmerized,鈥 which she co-produced alongside Antony I. Ginnane and Christopher J. Kirkham. Nearly 10 years and two Best Actress Oscars later, Foster produced and starred in 鈥淣ell,鈥 followed swiftly by her first directorial effort, the 1995 Thanksgiving holiday comedy 鈥淗ome for the Holidays.鈥

She also produced and took a supporting role in 鈥淭he Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys鈥 in 2002. Her latest producing effort was the documentary, 鈥淏e Natural: The Untold Story of Alice Guy-Blach茅,鈥 which she also narrated.

Tom Hanks

In 1996, Tom Hanks wrote and co-starred in his directorial debut, 鈥淭hat Thing You Do!鈥 That story of a one-hit-wonder rock 鈥檔鈥 roll band was the genesis for Hanks鈥 production shingle, Playtone, which is taken from the record label the fictional band was signed to in the movie. Beginning with the HBO limited series 鈥淔rom the Earth to the Moon,鈥 Hanks and Playtone have been behind numerous successful film and TV series since.

Hanks鈥 first feature producing credit was 2000鈥檚 鈥淐ast Away,鈥 for which he also secured a Best Actor Academy Award nomination. Since then he has pulled double duty in such films as 鈥淐harlie Wilson鈥檚 War,鈥 鈥淭he Great Buck Howard,鈥 and 鈥淟arry Crowne,鈥 which he also directed. He is also producing the upcoming dramedy, 鈥淎 Man Called Otto,鈥 in which he is also starring.

Salma Hayek

While her producing credits are not as lengthy as other entries on this list, Salma Hayek has helped bring important and engaging stories to the big screen. She co-produced 2002鈥檚 鈥淔rida,鈥 the acclaimed biopic in which she also played Frida Kahlo. Other movies that Hayek helped to produce include 2014鈥檚 鈥淭he Prophet,鈥 an animated drama about the homebound journey of an exiled poet to whom Hayek also lent her voice acting, and the following year鈥檚 鈥淪eptembers of Shiraz,鈥 in which she co-starred with Oscar winner Adrien Brody.

Queen Latifah

A powerhouse in the entertainment industry, Queen Latifah has helped produce many movies that she starred in over the years. Her first executive producing credit was 2003鈥檚 鈥淏ringing Down the House,鈥 and she very quickly transitioned to producer with 鈥淭he Cookout鈥 and 鈥淏eauty Shop鈥 in the two years after. Her film production has dwindled in recent years as she began appearing more on television, but she has continued to be an active producer on the small screen through her entertainment company Flavor Unit Entertainment.

Jennifer Lopez

While having starred in several movies previously, pop star Jennifer Lopez鈥檚 first foray into producing was the 2006 film 鈥淓l Cantante,鈥 in which she starred alongside ex-husband Marc Anthony. Perhaps her most successful producing role was 2019鈥檚 鈥淗ustlers,鈥 where she also gave a critically acclaimed performance. She most recently produced, starred in, and performed the entire soundtrack for the 2022 romantic comedy 鈥淢arry Me鈥 and has several projects in the pipeline, including the action thriller 鈥淭he Mother,鈥 which will see her playing an assassin who comes out of hiding to protect the daughter she once gave up.

Eddie Murphy

Given how influential Eddie Murphy has been in the comedy world, it might come as a surprise just how few of his films he produced himself. His first producing credit was 1995鈥檚 鈥淰ampire in Brooklyn,鈥 though he had been a credited executive producer on his comedy films of the 1980s as well as his directorial effort, 1989鈥檚 鈥淗arlem Nights.鈥 In the last two decades, Murphy has produced and acted in 2007鈥檚 鈥淣orbit,鈥 2019鈥檚 鈥淒olemite Is My Name,鈥 and the 2021 sequel to one of his most successful films of the 鈥80s, 鈥淐oming 2 America.鈥

Tyler Perry

Tyler Perry has become a modern-day Hollywood legend, thanks in large part to his prolific production company, Tyler Perry Studios. He has produced the majority of movies he has starred in, most notably every single entry of his Madea franchise. Other notable movies he has produced, starred in, and even directed include 鈥淲hy Did I Get Married?鈥 and 鈥淎 Fall from Grace.鈥 He is currently producing 鈥淪ister Act 3,鈥 the long-awaited sequel that will see as the beloved Deloris Wilson.

Brad Pitt

Oscar-winning actor Brad Pitt has produced a plethora of movies under his company Plan B Entertainment Inc., many of which he also starred in. He produced and starred in 2007鈥檚 鈥淭he Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford,鈥 marking the first time he ever produced a movie in which he also acted. He has been both the face of and behind-the-scenes power for such films as 鈥淢oneyball,鈥 鈥淲orld War Z,鈥 鈥淭he Big Short,鈥 and most recently, 2019鈥檚 鈥淎d Astra.鈥

Aubrey Plaza

It took a bit for Aubrey Plaza to begin her producing journey, but it has already resulted in some notable credits and roles. The 鈥淧arks and Recreation鈥 star鈥檚 first producing credit was 2017鈥檚 鈥淭he Little Hours,鈥 directed by her husband and frequent collaborator, Jeff Baena. That same year also saw the release of 鈥淚ngrid Goes West,鈥 in which Plaza plays a slightly unhinged social media stalker opposite actress Elizabeth Olsen, of Avengers franchise fame. Plaza also produced and starred in the acclaimed 鈥淏lack Bear鈥 in 2020 as well as 2022鈥檚 鈥淓mily the Criminal.鈥

Robert Redford

In addition to founding the Sundance Film Festival, Robert Redford has one of the longest and strongest r茅sum茅s in Hollywood鈥攁nd not just as an actor but as a producer and director as well. His Wildwood Enterprises Inc. production company has been behind many of Redford鈥檚 films, including 鈥淭hree Days of the Condor,鈥 鈥淭he Company You Keep,鈥 and 鈥淥ur Souls at Night.鈥 Moreover, Redford is a credited producer on many of the other films he has directed and/or starred in, notable among them are 1994鈥檚 Oscar-nominated 鈥淨uiz Show,鈥 1998鈥檚 鈥淭he Horse Whisperer,鈥 and 2015鈥檚 鈥淎 Walk in the Woods,鈥 an adaptation of Bill Bryson鈥檚 classic account of wanderlust.

Margot Robbie

Although Margot Robbie鈥檚 producing credits are relatively small, she is on her way to becoming a powerhouse producer. She produced (and starred in) 2017鈥檚 critically acclaimed, Oscar-winning 鈥淚, Tonya鈥 and has since produced the noir 鈥淭erminal,鈥 Depression-era thriller 鈥淒reamland,鈥 and perhaps most well-known, 鈥淏irds of Prey.鈥 She will also be producing and starring in , slated for 2023.

Barbra Streisand

There is no denying that Barbra Streisand is an entertainment icon, having conquered the music and filmmaking industries in more ways than one. Despite only having three film-producing credits to her name, they were movies that she also directed and starred in. 1983鈥檚 鈥淵entl鈥 won her two Golden Globes for both Best Motion Picture鈥揗usical or Comedy and Best Director. She was nominated for the Best Picture Oscar for her producing work on 鈥淭he Prince of Tides鈥 in 1991. 1996鈥檚 鈥淭he Mirror Has Two Faces鈥 was met with equal acclaim鈥攃o-star and acting legend Lauren Bacall earned an Oscar nomination for the movie鈥攂ut Streisand has not produced or directed a film since.

Charlize Theron

Like many similarly acclaimed actresses, Charlize Theron has produced many movies she鈥檚 also starred in. Her first producing credit was the 2003 biopic 鈥淢onster,鈥 a film for which Theron took home the Academy Award for Best Actress. Since then, she has pulled double duty for projects like 鈥淭ully,鈥 the film adaptation of Gillian Flynn鈥檚 novel 鈥淒ark Places,鈥 the action smash 鈥淎tomic Blonde,鈥 and 鈥淏ombshell,鈥 a drama film that looks at how three women in the Fox News empire took on the network鈥檚 toxic work environment.

Denzel Washington

Two-time Oscar winner Denzel Washington has made a respectable name for himself as a producer and director, ever since his first foray into producing with 2002鈥檚 鈥淎ntwone Fisher.鈥 Since then he has worked as both actor and producer on 鈥淭he Book of Eli鈥 and both films in the Equilizer series and took a threefer on 鈥淔ences,鈥 directing Viola Davis to win the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, the first Oscar triumph of her career.

Forest Whitaker

Starting with 1991鈥檚 鈥淎 Rage in Harlem,鈥 Forest Whitaker has used his star power to help produce movies by new filmmakers such as 2005鈥檚 鈥淎merican Gun,鈥 the directorial debut of 鈥淏ehind the Movement鈥 filmmaker Aric Avelino, and 鈥淧owder Blue,鈥 Timothy Linh Bui鈥檚 critically heralded sophomore effort. Whitaker took supporting roles in both films. He also produced the critical and commercially successful 鈥淔ruitvale Station,鈥 鈥淪orry to Bother You,鈥 and 鈥淧assing,鈥 the 2021 Rebecca Hall adaptation of the classic Nella Larsen novel.

Oprah Winfrey

Dubbed the 鈥淨ueen of All Media,鈥 Oprah Winfrey has developed a media empire that includes stints in film production. Her first film producing credit was the ABC television movie 鈥淏efore Women Had Wings鈥 in 1997, and soon after she stepped boldly into film, producing and starring in Jonathan Demme鈥檚 1998 adaptation of Toni Morrison鈥檚 novel 鈥淏eloved.鈥 Winfrey also helped produce 2014鈥檚 鈥淪elma,鈥 the 2017 TV movie 鈥淭he Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks,鈥 and was the producer behind Denzel Washington鈥檚 sophomore directorial effort, 2007鈥檚 鈥淭he Great Debaters.鈥

Reese Witherspoon

While in recent years she鈥檚 become most well-known for her burgeoning book club, 鈥淩eese鈥檚 Book Club,鈥 Reese Witherspoon is still a very powerful player behind the camera. She served as executive producer on 2003鈥檚 鈥淟egally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde,鈥 and from there has used her largesse as a producer to get such acclaimed acting vehicles as 2014鈥檚 鈥淲ild鈥 and 2006鈥檚 鈥淧enelope鈥 off the ground. Her most recent film producing and starring credit was 2015鈥檚 鈥淗ot Pursuit,鈥 but she has not faded away in the slightest; she starred in and produced the series 鈥淏ig Little Lies,鈥 鈥淟ittle Fires Everywhere,鈥 and 鈥淭he Morning Show.鈥

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