Lawrence Kasdan

Writing

Lawrence Kasdan

Born 1949-01-14 · Miami, Florida, USA

Lawrence Edward Kasdan (born January 14, 1949) is an American filmmaker. He is the co-writer of the Star Wars films The Empire Strikes Back (1980), Return of the Jedi (1983), The Force Awakens (2015), and Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018). He also wrote Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) and The Bodyguard (1992), and is the writer-director of Body Heat (1981), The Big Chill (1983), Silverado (1985), The Accidental Tourist (1988), and Dreamcatcher (2003). Kasdan is known for updating old Hollywood genres—film noir, science fiction, and Westerns—in a classical dramatic style with quick-witted dialogue while dealing with contemporary social themes. As a director, he has made various personal films that examine characters and generations. Kasdan has been nominated for four Academy Awards: as a producer for Best Picture nominee The Accidental Tourist, for which he was also nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay, and for Best Original Screenplay for both The Big Chill and Grand Canyon (1991). He has often collaborated with his wife, Meg Kasdan, his brother, Mark Kasdan, and his two sons, Jonathan Kasdan and Jake Kasdan. He has frequently cast Kevin Kline and William Hurt in his films. Description above from the Wikipedia article Lawrence Kasdan, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

Acting credits

As Good as It Gets poster
7.4

A misanthropic author, a single mother and waitress, and a gay artist form an unlikely friendship after the artist is assaulted in a robbery.

As Good as It Gets

1997

Marty, Life Is Short poster
7.9

Martin Short looks back on a life fueled by joy in this documentary with classic clips, fresh interviews and star-studded, never-before-seen home movies.

Marty, Life Is Short

2026

Music by John Williams poster
8.0

His unforgettable scores are an essential part of some of the most beloved movies of our time, over a career that spans decades. See and hear maestro John Williams' own story, with insights from filmmakers, musicians, and others he has inspired, complete with rare behind-the-scenes looks at the making of movie history.

Music by John Williams

2024

Wyatt Earp poster
6.8

From Wichita to Dodge City, to the O.K. Corral in Tombstone, Wyatt Earp is taught that nothing matters more than family and the law. Joined by his brothers and Doc Holliday, Earp wages war on the dreaded Clanton and McLaury gangs.

Wyatt Earp

1994

Timeless Heroes: Indiana Jones and Harrison Ford poster
7.7

An in-depth look at an incredible moment in film history when Steven Spielberg and George Lucas assembled an amazing creative team to collaborate on another cinematic benchmark featuring never-before-seen footage and interviews with Spielberg, Lucas, Harrison Ford, Kathleen Kennedy, Frank Marshall, James Mangold, and many others as well.

Timeless Heroes: Indiana Jones and Harrison Ford

2023

Into the Night poster
6.5

Ed Okin used to have a boring life. He used to have trouble getting to sleep. Then one night, he met Diana. Now, Ed's having trouble staying alive.

Into the Night

1985

Empire of Dreams: The Story of the Star Wars Trilogy poster
7.6

From the earliest versions of the script to the blockbuster debuts, explore the creation of the Star Wars Trilogy.

Empire of Dreams: The Story of the Star Wars Trilogy

2004

The Cutting Edge: The Magic of Movie Editing poster
7.0

Documentary about the art of film editing. Clips are shown from many groundbreaking films with innovative editing styles.

The Cutting Edge: The Magic of Movie Editing

2004

Steve McQueen: The Essence of Cool poster
5.9

Friends, family, co-stars and admirers of actor Steve McQueen talk about his life and his movie career.

Steve McQueen: The Essence of Cool

2005

100 Greatest Sexy Moments poster
3.5

Documentary, based on a British poll, listing the 100 sexiest movie and TV moments. Supplemented by new interviews with performers, filmmakers, and authors/critics.

100 Greatest Sexy Moments

2003

Guns for Hire: The Making of 'The Magnificent Seven' poster
7.0

A documentary about 'The Magnificent Seven'.

Guns for Hire: The Making of 'The Magnificent Seven'

2000

Five Came Back poster
7.9

The extraordinary story of how Hollywood changed World War II – and how World War II changed Hollywood, through the interwoven experiences of five legendary filmmakers who went to war to serve their country and bring the truth to the American people: John Ford, William Wyler, John Huston, Frank Capra, and George Stevens. Based on Mark Harris’ best-selling book, “Five Came Back: A Story of Hollywood and the Second World War.”

Five Came Back

2017

Indiana Jones: Making the Trilogy poster
7.9

George Lucas and Steven Spielberg tell the struggles and the passion for making the Indiana Jones Trilogy.

Indiana Jones: Making the Trilogy

2003

The Force Is with Them: The Legacy of 'Star Wars' poster
8.0

The Force Is with Them: The Legacy of Star Wars is a Video Documentary included in the 2004 DVD of the Star Wars Original Trilogy. It explained the impact of "Star Wars" on various directors and actors.

The Force Is with Them: The Legacy of 'Star Wars'

2004

The Big Chill: A Reunion poster
6.3

A look back at the making of the film "The Big Chill" (1983) with cast and crew.

The Big Chill: A Reunion

1999

Star Wars: The Magic & the Mystery poster
8.0

Host Howie Long takes viewers on a tour of the "Star Wars" universe, as Fox TV celebrates the re-release of the original three legendary films in this one hour special.

Star Wars: The Magic & the Mystery

1997

No artwork available
9.0

Film noir, which enjoyed particular success in the 1930s and 1940s, is probably the most profound genre of classic Hollywood cinema. Eckhart Schmidt tries to show the background and developments and speaks, among others, with directors such as Richard Fleischer and Robert Wise as well as with "femme fatale" actresses. Filmmakers of the following generations explain how the style and themes of noir continue to shape cinema today.

Männer im Trenchcoat, Frauen im Pelz

2004

Kasdan on Kasdan poster
NR

Lawrence Kasdan and his son Jonathan discuss life with the franchise, working together on the film Solo: A Star Wars Story, and Lawrence's love for the Han Solo character.

Kasdan on Kasdan

2018

All of What Follows Is True: The Making of 'Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid' poster
4.6

A retrospective on the 1969 classic "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid," its impact on the careers of the filmmakers and cast, and how the film made a distinct impact on the Western genre.

All of What Follows Is True: The Making of 'Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid'

2006

John Williams: The Seventh Symphony poster
6.0

A discussion of Williams' iconic work and new material for The Force Awakens.

John Williams: The Seventh Symphony

2016

A Conversation with the Masters: The Empire Strikes Back 30 Years Later poster
NR

George Lucas, Irvin Kershner, Lawrence Kasdan and John Williams look back at The Empire Strikes Back 30 years later.

A Conversation with the Masters: The Empire Strikes Back 30 Years Later

2011

No artwork available
7.0

Making of the film Silverado directed by Lawrence Kasdan.

The Making of Silverado

1999

Behind the camera

Star Wars: The Force Awakens poster
7.2

Thirty years after defeating the Galactic Empire, Han Solo and his allies face a new threat from the evil Kylo Ren and his army of Stormtroopers.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens

2015

Raiders of the Lost Ark poster
7.9

When Dr. Indiana Jones – the tweed-suited professor who just happens to be a celebrated archaeologist – is hired by the government to locate the legendary Ark of the Covenant, he finds himself up against the entire Nazi regime.

Raiders of the Lost Ark

1981

The Empire Strikes Back poster
8.4

The epic saga continues as Luke Skywalker, in hopes of defeating the evil Galactic Empire, learns the ways of the Jedi from aging master Yoda. But Darth Vader is more determined than ever to capture Luke. Meanwhile, rebel leader Princess Leia, cocky Han Solo, Chewbacca, and droids C-3PO and R2-D2 are thrown into various stages of capture, betrayal and despair.

The Empire Strikes Back

1980

Solo: A Star Wars Story poster
6.6

Through a series of daring escapades deep within a dark and dangerous criminal underworld, Han Solo meets his mighty future copilot Chewbacca and encounters the notorious gambler Lando Calrissian.

Solo: A Star Wars Story

2018

Return of the Jedi poster
7.9

Luke Skywalker leads a mission to rescue his friend Han Solo from the clutches of Jabba the Hutt, the Emperor prepares to crush the Rebellion with a more powerful Death Star, and the Rebel fleet mounts a massive attack on the space station. Luke Skywalker confronts Darth Vader in a final climactic duel before the evil Emperor.

Return of the Jedi

1983

The Bodyguard poster
6.7

A former Secret Service agent grudgingly takes an assignment to protect a pop idol who's threatened by a crazed fan. At first, the safety-obsessed bodyguard and the self-indulgent diva totally clash. But before long, all that tension sparks fireworks of another sort, and the love-averse tough guy is torn between duty and romance.

The Bodyguard

1992

The Bodyguard poster
6.7

A former Secret Service agent grudgingly takes an assignment to protect a pop idol who's threatened by a crazed fan. At first, the safety-obsessed bodyguard and the self-indulgent diva totally clash. But before long, all that tension sparks fireworks of another sort, and the love-averse tough guy is torn between duty and romance.

The Bodyguard

1992

Body Heat poster
7.0

During an extreme heatwave, a beautiful Florida woman and a seedy lawyer engage in an affair while plotting the murder of her rich husband.

Body Heat

1981

Body Heat poster
7.0

During an extreme heatwave, a beautiful Florida woman and a seedy lawyer engage in an affair while plotting the murder of her rich husband.

Body Heat

1981

Silverado poster
6.9

Four unwitting heroes cross paths on their journey to the sleepy town of Silverado. Little do they know the town where their family and friends reside has been taken over by a corrupt sheriff and a murderous posse. It's up to the sharp-shooting foursome to save the day, but first they have to break each other out of jail, and learn who their real friends are.

Silverado

1985

Silverado poster
6.9

Four unwitting heroes cross paths on their journey to the sleepy town of Silverado. Little do they know the town where their family and friends reside has been taken over by a corrupt sheriff and a murderous posse. It's up to the sharp-shooting foursome to save the day, but first they have to break each other out of jail, and learn who their real friends are.

Silverado

1985

Silverado poster
6.9

Four unwitting heroes cross paths on their journey to the sleepy town of Silverado. Little do they know the town where their family and friends reside has been taken over by a corrupt sheriff and a murderous posse. It's up to the sharp-shooting foursome to save the day, but first they have to break each other out of jail, and learn who their real friends are.

Silverado

1985

Dreamcatcher poster
5.7

Four childhood friends reunite for a hunting trip in the Maine woods, bound by a psychic force born from a childhood friend's dreamcatcher. They find themselves caught in a grotesque alien invasion that twists memory, sanity and reality into something far more sinister.

Dreamcatcher

2003

Dreamcatcher poster
5.7

Four childhood friends reunite for a hunting trip in the Maine woods, bound by a psychic force born from a childhood friend's dreamcatcher. They find themselves caught in a grotesque alien invasion that twists memory, sanity and reality into something far more sinister.

Dreamcatcher

2003

Dreamcatcher poster
5.7

Four childhood friends reunite for a hunting trip in the Maine woods, bound by a psychic force born from a childhood friend's dreamcatcher. They find themselves caught in a grotesque alien invasion that twists memory, sanity and reality into something far more sinister.

Dreamcatcher

2003

Marty, Life Is Short poster
7.9

Martin Short looks back on a life fueled by joy in this documentary with classic clips, fresh interviews and star-studded, never-before-seen home movies.

Marty, Life Is Short

2026

Marty, Life Is Short poster
7.9

Martin Short looks back on a life fueled by joy in this documentary with classic clips, fresh interviews and star-studded, never-before-seen home movies.

Marty, Life Is Short

2026

Wyatt Earp poster
6.8

From Wichita to Dodge City, to the O.K. Corral in Tombstone, Wyatt Earp is taught that nothing matters more than family and the law. Joined by his brothers and Doc Holliday, Earp wages war on the dreaded Clanton and McLaury gangs.

Wyatt Earp

1994

Wyatt Earp poster
6.8

From Wichita to Dodge City, to the O.K. Corral in Tombstone, Wyatt Earp is taught that nothing matters more than family and the law. Joined by his brothers and Doc Holliday, Earp wages war on the dreaded Clanton and McLaury gangs.

Wyatt Earp

1994

Wyatt Earp poster
6.8

From Wichita to Dodge City, to the O.K. Corral in Tombstone, Wyatt Earp is taught that nothing matters more than family and the law. Joined by his brothers and Doc Holliday, Earp wages war on the dreaded Clanton and McLaury gangs.

Wyatt Earp

1994

The Big Chill poster
6.8

Seven old college friends gather for a weekend reunion after the funeral of one of their own.

The Big Chill

1983

The Big Chill poster
6.8

Seven old college friends gather for a weekend reunion after the funeral of one of their own.

The Big Chill

1983

French Kiss poster
6.5

After her fiancee admits to infidelity while on a business trip in France, a woman attempts to get her lover back and marry him by traveling to Paris despite her crippling fear of flying. On the way she unwittingly smuggles something of value that has a charming crook chasing her across France as she chases after her future husband.

French Kiss

1995

Home Fries poster
5.1

Dorian and Angus chase down their womanizing stepfather with a helicopter, frightening him to death. In his effort to cover their tracks, Dorian begins investigating his stepfather's mistress, Sally. She works at a fast-food drive-through, she's pregnant and Dorian quickly falls in love with her. Unfortunately, his scheming mother wants Sally dead. And Sally isn't sure she wants Dorian to be her child's father and also his brother.

Home Fries

1998