David Fincher is an American Film director and producer born on August 28, 1962. He’s known for making movies that mess with your mind, like “Seven” and “Fight Club.” His films have made a ton of money, over $2.1 billion worldwide! Plus, he’s won loads of awards, including three Oscar nominations for Best Director.
Back in 1986, Fincher helped start a production company called Propaganda Films. He directed a bunch of music videos there like Madonna’s “Express Yourself” and Vogue, which won him MTV Video Music Awards. He even won two Grammys for directing music videos for the Rolling Stones and Justin Timberlake.
His first big movie was “Alien 3” in 1992, but he hit it big with “Seven” in 1995. After that, he directed lots of other cool movies like “Fight Club” and “Gone Girl.” He’s been nominated for Oscars several times for movies like “The Social Network” and “Mank.”
Fincher’s also a big deal on TV. He worked on Netflix shows like “House of Cards” and “Mindhunter” as a director and producer, winning an Emmy for directing the first episode of “House of Cards.” He’s also behind the Netflix animated series “Love, Death + Robots” which has won three Emmys.
| Full Name | David Andrew Leo Fincher |
| Date of Birth | August 28, 1962 |
| Place of Birth | Denver, Colorado, USA |
| Occupation | Film Director |
| Height | 6 ft (1.84 m) |
| Spouse | Ceán Chaffin (m. 1996) Donya Fiorentino (m. 1990–1995) |
| Children | Phelix Imogen Fincher |
| Net Worth | $100 million |
David Fincher’s Early Life and Education
David Andrew Leo Fincher was born in Denver on August 28, 1962. His mom, Claire Mae worked as a mental health nurse, helping people with drug problems. His dad, Howard Kelly “Jack” Fincher was a writer and journalist. When Fincher was two, his family moved to San Anselmo, California. George Lucas, the famous filmmaker was one of their neighbors.
Fincher got interested in making movies when he was just eight years old. He saw a documentary about how movies were made and was amazed. He never knew it took so long to make a movie. It showed him that movies were like magic tricks with lots of work behind the scenes to make them look real.
As a teenager, David Fincher moved to Ashland, Oregon, where he went to high school. After school, he directed plays and helped with the lights and sets. He also worked at a theater and a news station to support himself. He did all sorts of jobs like washing dishes and cooking fries.
Career
David Fincher began his career in the film industry at John Korty’s studio initially as a production head. He gained more experience as a visual effects producer collaborating with George Lucas on the animated film “Twice Upon a Time” in 1983. He then joined Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) as an assistant cameraman and matte photographer contributing to movies like “Return of the Jedi” and “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.”
In 1984, Fincher left ILM to direct a TV commercial for the American Cancer Society which depicted a fetus smoking. This controversial ad caught the attention of producers in Los Angeles leading to his opportunity to direct Rick Springfield’s documentary “The Beat of the Live Drum” in 1985.
Deciding to pursue directing, David Fincher co-founded Propaganda Films and started directing commercials and music videos. Many other successful directors like Michael Bay and Michel Gondry also got their start at Propaganda Films before moving on to feature films. Despite his success, Fincher disliked directing commercials preferring the creative challenges of music videos.
Between 1984 and 1993, Fincher directed 53 music videos including notable works for George Michael’s “Freedom! ’90” and Madonna’s “Vogue.” His style was often praised for its cinematic quality with “Vogue” in particular being considered one of the best music videos ever made.
In 1990, Fincher made his directorial debut with “Alien 3” replacing another director. The film received mixed reviews but was noted for its visual effects earning an Academy Award nomination. Despite this Fincher was unhappy with the final product due to studio interference.
After “Alien 3” Fincher briefly returned to directing commercials and music videos before deciding to focus on films again. He directed “Seven” in 1995 a thriller starring Brad Pitt and Morgan Freeman which was critically acclaimed and commercially successful. This was followed by “The Game” in 1997 and “Fight Club” in 1999 both of which further established Fincher as a director known for his dark complex narratives.
In 1999, David Fincher was considered to direct “Spider-Man” but his pitch for the film’s direction was rejected. Despite this setback, Fincher’s distinctive style and ability to handle intricate storytelling have continued to influence the film industry.
In 2001, David Fincher worked as an executive producer on the first season of “The Hire” a series of short films promoting BMW cars online. That same year he released the thriller “Panic Room” starring Jodie Foster and Forest Whitaker. The movie about a mother and daughter hiding from intruders in a safe room was delayed but still succeeded critically and financially earning nearly $200 million worldwide.
Five years later, Fincher directed “Zodiac” a thriller based on a real-life serial killer’s hunt in the late 1960s and early 1970s. It starred Jake Gyllenhaal and Robert Downey Jr. and though it did well internationally it faced challenges at the U.S. box office.
In 2008, Fincher planned to adapt Arthur C. Clarke’s “Rendezvous with Rama” but the project stalled. Instead, he made “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” a romantic drama starring Brad Pitt. It was a hit receiving multiple Academy Award nominations and winning for Best Art Direction Makeup and Visual Effects.
In 2010, David Fincher directed “The Social Network” a biopic about Mark Zuckerberg and the rise of Facebook. The film acclaimed for its sharp dialogue and editing won several awards including Best Original Score and Best Adapted Screenplay at the Oscars.
In 2011, Fincher released “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” a psychological thriller based on Stieg Larsson’s novel. It was noted for its tense atmosphere and faithful adaptation earning accolades including an Oscar for Best Film Editing.
From 2013 onwards, David Fincher expanded into television producing and directing “House of Cards” a political thriller for Netflix. He also directed music videos and explored other film projects including “Gone Girl” a mystery adapted from Gillian Flynn’s novel which became his highest-grossing film.
Between 2016 and 2019, Fincher worked on “Mindhunter” a series exploring the FBI’s profiling of serial killers. Despite critical acclaim, the series was halted after two seasons due to costs.
David Fincher has been involved in various projects including a failed attempt to make a sequel to World War Z and directing “Mank” a biopic about Citizen Kane screenwriter Herman J. Mankiewicz. He’s also explored animation with “Love Death + Robots.”
Net Worth
David Fincher has an estimated net worth of $100 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. The main source of David Fincher’s net worth comes from his work as a highly successful film and television director. Known for his meticulous and innovative style, he has directed several critically acclaimed and commercially successful movies such as “Seven,” “Fight Club,” “The Social Network,” and “Gone Girl.” These films have grossed hundreds of millions of dollars worldwide.
Additionally, Fincher has earned significant income from his work in television, notably as a director and producer of the hit series “House of Cards” and “Mindhunter.” His consistent success in both industries has established him as one of the most respected and financially rewarded directors in Hollywood.
Personal life
David Fincher the famous director first tied the knot with model Donya Fiorentino, who happens to be the sister of actress Linda Fiorentino. They had a daughter named Phelix Imogen in 1994, but unfortunately, they split up in 1995. However, Fincher found love again and married producer Ceán Chaffin the following year in 1996.
Filmmaking style
David Fincher didn’t go to film school. His influences include filmmakers like Alfred Hitchcock and Stanley Kubrick and his favorite movies range from classics like “Rear Window” and “Lawrence of Arabia” to modern hits like “Jaws” and “Taxi Driver.” His film “Panic Room” for example combines elements from “Rear Window” and “Straw Dogs.”
For his movie “Seven,” Fincher drew inspiration from films like “The French Connection” and “Klute” and photographer Robert Frank. He’s also influenced by graphic designer Saul Bass known for his iconic title sequences in “Hitchcock” and Kubrick films.
David Fincher’s approach to filmmaking involves extensive research and meticulous preparation. He’s known for his perfectionism and control over every aspect of production. He prefers using Red digital cameras and natural lighting avoiding handheld shots. His editing style is detailed and precise akin to solving complex mathematical problems.
When working with actors, Fincher demands multiple takes to achieve the perfect scene sometimes pushing them through grueling sessions. This method aims to capture natural authentic performances without the earnestness that can develop over time.
His visual style often features precise camera movements synchronized with character actions or music beats. He’s associated with film noir themes and uses specific color palettes such as desaturated blues and greens to enhance storytelling and mood.
David Fincher explores dark themes like martyrdom and alienation in modern society through flawed and troubled characters. He’s known for his loyalty to cast and crew often collaborating repeatedly with them across different projects.
Overall Fincher’s films reflect his meticulous approach to storytelling and his deep fascination with exploring darker aspects of human nature and society.
Awards
Tim Walker from “The Independent” liked David Fincher’s work. He said Fincher is good at showing what’s going on in people’s minds nowadays, better than most other filmmakers. The Guardian, a newspaper, ranked Fincher as one of the best directors twice, once in 2003 and again in 2012. They said he’s great at keeping the mood and excitement going in his movies. Two of his films, “Zodiac” and “The Social Network,” were even listed in the BBC’s top 100 movies of the 21st century.
David Fincher was nominated three times for an Academy Award for Best Director, for “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” “The Social Network,” and “Mank.” He won both a BAFTA Award and a Golden Globe Award for “The Social Network.” He’s also won two Grammy Awards for making music videos for The Rolling Stones and Justin Timberlake with Jay-Z. And he’s got four Primetime Emmy Awards for directing the show “House of Cards” and for a show called “Love, Death & Robots.”
