Jason Orley

Directing

Jason Orley

Jason Orley is an American writer-director originally from Michigan. He grew up in Michigan with two older brothers and attended Lahser High School in the Detroit area, where he was exposed to film and TV production early on through a high school program and was accepted into NYU’s summer high school film program. During or after college, he interned for Nancy Meyers, including on It’s Complicated (2009) and later appeared as an actor in The Intern (2015). Orley’s debut feature film was Big Time Adolescence (2019), which he both wrote and directed. The screenplay for Big Time Adolescence had been one of his earliest, and it was written while he was in his early twenties; it appeared on the 2014 Black List. The film made its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival in 2019 and was nominated for the Grand Jury Prize in Drama. His second feature as director is I Want You Back (2022), a romantic comedy starring Charlie Day and Jenny Slate. In addition to feature films, Orley has done TV work as a writer (for example, Graves on Epix) and developed pilots for various networks and streaming platforms. Known for writing from personal experience, Orley has said that Big Time Adolescence was inspired by aspects of his childhood—growing up with older brothers, having mentors or role models who were not conventional, and exploring friendship and identity in adolescence. His style tends to favour authenticity, allowing characters to breathe rather than strictly controlling every detail, and staying grounded in emotional truth, even in comedic scenarios.

Acting credits

Behind the camera

I Want You Back poster
6.3

Peter and Emma thought they were on the precipice of life’s biggest moments – marriage, kids, and houses in the suburbs – until their respective partners dumped them. Horrified to learn that the loves of their lives have already moved on, Peter and Emma hatch a hilarious plan to win back their exes with unexpected results.

I Want You Back

2022

Big Time Adolescence poster
7.2

A seemingly bright and mostly innocent 16-year-old named Mo attempts to navigate high school under the guidance of his best friend Zeke, an unmotivated-yet-charismatic college dropout. Although Zeke genuinely cares about Mo, things start to go awry as he teaches Mo nontraditional life lessons in drug dealing, partying, and dating. Meanwhile, Mo’s well-meaning dad tries to step in and take back the reins of his son’s upbringing.

Big Time Adolescence

2020

Big Time Adolescence poster
7.2

A seemingly bright and mostly innocent 16-year-old named Mo attempts to navigate high school under the guidance of his best friend Zeke, an unmotivated-yet-charismatic college dropout. Although Zeke genuinely cares about Mo, things start to go awry as he teaches Mo nontraditional life lessons in drug dealing, partying, and dating. Meanwhile, Mo’s well-meaning dad tries to step in and take back the reins of his son’s upbringing.

Big Time Adolescence

2020

Pete Davidson Presents: The Best Friends poster
5.1

Pete Davidson jokes about rumors, free plane rides and his very weird year as he invites his friends onstage for a night of stand-up comedy and music.

Pete Davidson Presents: The Best Friends

2022

Pete Davidson: Turbo Fonzarelli poster
6.5

Pete Davidson's fourth comedy special explores what it means to grow up, turning 30, love, life, and living in the woods.

Pete Davidson: Turbo Fonzarelli

2024

Close Personal Friends poster
NR

A couple meets and befriends a celebrity couple while on a trip to Santa Barbara. Personal lines get crossed, among other things, and awkward hilarity ensues.

Close Personal Friends

Pete Davidson: Alive from New York poster
6.2

Comedian and "SNL" star Pete Davidson drops a candid and intimate stand-up special shot live in New York City.

Pete Davidson: Alive from New York

2020

No artwork available
NR

Plot TBA.

Untitled Baby Love Project