Matthew Robbins (screenwriter)
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Matthew Robbins (born July 15, 1945) is an American screenwriter and film director best known for his writing work within the American New Wave movement.
He collaborated with numerous filmmakers within the movement including George Lucas, Walter Murch and Steven Spielberg, on films like The Sugarland Express, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, and Jaws. He has also worked frequently with Guillermo del Toro, writing his films Mimic, Crimson Peak and Pinocchio. Robbins has frequently worked with writer Hal Barwood.
Prior to attending USC School of Cinematic Arts, Robbins graduated from Johns Hopkins University in 1965 where he was classmate and friends with Walter Murch and Caleb Deschanel. He is a graduate of the AFI Conservatory. In 2004, Robbins received a Distinguished Alumnus Award from Johns Hopkins.
In 2011, he made his debut in Indian cinema by writing the screenplay for the Bollywood thriller 7 Khoon Maaf, along with director Vishal Bhardwaj. His second Indian film, Rangoon, was also directed by Bhardwaj.
Filmography
| Year | Title | Director | Writer | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1974 | The Sugarland Express | No | Yes | |
| 1976 | The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings | No | Yes | |
| 1977 | MacArthur | No | Yes | |
| 1978 | Corvette Summer | Yes | Yes | |
| 1981 | Dragonslayer | Yes | Yes | |
| 1985 | Warning Sign | No | Yes | Also executive producer |
| The Legend of Billie Jean | Yes | No | ||
| Amazing Stories | Yes | No | Episode: "The Main Attraction" | |
| 1987 | Batteries Not Included | Yes | Yes | |
| 1989 | Mothers, Daughters and Lovers | Yes | No | TV movie |
| 1991 | Bingo | Yes | No | |
| 1993 | "Off the Ground" | Yes | No | Music video by Paul McCartney |
| 1997 | Mimic | No | Yes | |
| 2007 | Blood Brothers | No | Story | Short film |
| 2009 | Le Concert | No | Collaboration | |
| 2010 | Don't Be Afraid of the Dark | No | Yes | |
| 2011 | 7 Khoon Maaf | No | Yes | |
| 2013 | Vijay and I | No | Yes | |
| Ek Thi Daayan | No | Collaboration | ||
| 2015 | Crimson Peak | No | Yes | |
| Chatô: O Rei do Brasil | No | Yes | ||
| 2017 | Rangoon | No | Yes | |
| Madame | No | Yes | ||
| 2022 | Pinocchio | No | Story | |
| 2026 | Ray Gunn | No | Yes |
Uncredited writer
- Electronic Labyrinth: THX 1138 4EB (1967, short film)
- THX 1138 (1971, also cameo as "THX 1138 in end scene")
- Jaws (1975)
- Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977, also second unit director and cameo as "Returnee #3 Flt. 19")
- E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
- Haunted Mansion (2023)
Awards and nominations
- 1974 Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Screenplay: The Sugarland Express (won)
- 1974 Writers Guild of America Award for Best Comedy Written Directly for the Screen: The Sugarland Express (nomination)
- 1976 Writers Guild of America Award for Best Comedy Adapted from Another Medium: The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings (nomination)
- 1981 Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation: Dragonslayer (nomination)
- 1997 Saturn Award for Best Writing: Mimic (nomination)
- 2010 César Award for Best Original Screenplay: Le Concert (nomination)
- 2015 Saturn Award for Best Writing: Crimson Peak (nomination)
External links
- at IMDb