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Russo brothers

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Russo brothers
Joe (left) and Anthony Russo in 2019
BornAnthony Russo
(1970-02-03) February 3, 1970 (age 55)
Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.
Joseph Russo
(1971-07-18) July 18, 1971 (age 53)
Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.
Occupations
  • Film directors
  • film producers
  • screenwriters
  • actors
Years active1997–present
FatherBasil Russo

Anthony Russo (born February 3, 1970) and Joseph Russo (born July 18, 1971), collectively known as the Russo brothers (/ˈruːsoʊ/ ROO-soh), are American filmmakers. They direct most of their work together, and their work has grossed more than 6.8 billion worldwide, making them the third-highest-grossing directors of all time. They are best known for directing four films in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU): Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014), Captain America: Civil War (2016), Avengers: Infinity War (2018), and Avengers: Endgame (2019). Endgame grossed over $2.798 billion worldwide, briefly becoming the highest-grossing film of all time.

The brothers have also worked as directors and producers on the comedy series Arrested Development (2003–2005), Community (2009–2014), and Happy Endings (2011–2012). They won a Primetime Emmy Award for Arrested Development.

Early life and education

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Anthony Russo (born February 3, 1970)[1][2] and Joseph Russo (born July 18, 1971)[2][3] were born to Patricia Gallupoli and attorney and judge Basil Russo in Cleveland, Ohio.[4] Both of their parents are of Italian descent,[5] with families emigrating from Sicily and Abruzzo, respectively.[4] After settling in Ohio, they raised Anthony, Joe, Gabriella, and Angela Russo, all of whom attended Benedictine High School.[6]

The brothers grew up regularly going to the Cleveland Cinematheque watching movies.[7]

After high school, Joe attended the University of Iowa, where he majored in English and writing and graduated in 1992 with a bachelor's degree in English.[8][9] He also had a short two-term stint studying abroad at the University of East Anglia in 1991 and became interested in acting after his professor encouraged him to write and perform a monologue for his class.[10]

Anthony attended the University of Pennsylvania, where he majored in business before switching his major to English.[11]

After their time in England, Anthony and Joe enrolled in graduate programs at Case Western Reserve University, where Anthony pursued law, and Joe joined the university's acting program.

After Joe received his graduate degree in Theatre in 1995[12], he attended the UCLA School of Theatre, Film, and Television, and Anthony attended Columbia University's film program. The brothers attended these two different schools to establish contacts on both east and west coasts and use the editing equipment to complete their first foray into filmmaking - their debut feature film, Pieces.[13]

Career

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Indie filmmaking

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The Russo brothers wrote, directed, produced, and completely self-financed their first feature film, Pieces, with student loans and their credit cards. The film was greatly influenced by the French New Wave, and their motivation to complete it was inspired by Robert Rodriguez after reading his book detailing how he made a movie for $7,000. In an interview with Deadline, Anthony Russo said, "We were both in Cleveland and Robert Rodriguez had just made El Mariachi, and that inspired us. We were film buffs growing up, and his experience inspired us to make our own credit card film."[14]

Pieces debuted at the Slamdance Film Festival and caught the attention of director Steven Soderbergh. An influential figure in independent cinema himself, Soderbergh was impressed by what the Russo brothers were able to achieve narratively on a limited budget. In an interview with the filmmakers at the Sands Film Festival in 2025, Soderbergh described the film, saying, "It was insanely ambitious and dense... I was just very activated by how activated they were and it was clear they were grinders."[15]

After seeing their film at Slamdance, Soderbergh reached out to the Russo brothers and, over a lunch meeting, offered to produce their next feature. The Russo brothers then dove into a two-year cycle writing three scripts, one being Welcome to Collinwood, which Soderbergh produced through Section Eight, the production company he founded with actor George Clooney.[15] The film, a crime comedy starring William H. Macy, Sam Rockwell, and Clooney, was shot in Cleveland, Ohio, the Russo brothers' hometown.[16]

The Russo brothers were part of the Directors' Fortnight lineup for the 2002 Cannes Film Festival.[17] Joe and Anthony Russo's first feature, Welcome to Collinwood, was one of the few U.S. entries, and closed the fest.[18]

Television breakthrough

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After their sophomore film, the Russo brothers landed on the radar of FX Networks executive Kevin Reilly, who then hired them to direct the pilot for the series Lucky, having liked the pair's work on Collinwood. Following their work on Lucky, director and producer Ron Howard hand-picked the brothers to direct the pilot for Fox's Arrested Development.[19] In an interview with /Film, producer Dan Harmon praised the Russos' ability to spot talent and cast based on character regardless of status in the industry.[20] This philosophy paid off when the brothers fought to cast Jason Bateman as the show's lead despite widespread skepticism at the time.[21]

Harmon also credited the Russo brothers with the idea to cast Donald Glover on the NBC sitcom Community, calling the brothers "geniuses in casting."[20] The brothers directed 34 episodes of Community and were praised for playing an integral role in the series' success with their strong casting choices and implementation of cinematic storytelling into the format. Their creative voice was most evident in their episodes "A Fistful of Paintballs" and "For a Few Paintballs More," which served as the season two finale and received critical acclaim and notoriety. Alan Sepinwall of Uproxx described the Russo brothers' installment as "nothing short of The Godfather Part II of sitcom episodes".[22]

These episodes put the Russo brothers on the radar of Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige, who subsequently brought them into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, where they would eventually set the tone and build the narrative trajectory in the years that followed.[23][24]

2014–2019: Marvel Cinematic Universe

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In 2014, the Russo brothers directed their first film within the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the action mystery thriller film Captain America: The Winter Soldier starring Chris Evans as Captain America. This serves as the sequel to Captain America: The First Avenger (2011) directed by Joe Johnston. The Winter Soldier received critical acclaim, with Owen Gleiberman of Entertainment Weekly praising its tackling of serious subject matter, comparing it favorably to The Dark Knight (2008).[25] The film was a financial success earning $714 million worldwide.[26] They directed the third film in the Captain America trilogy entitled Captain America: Civil War (2016) which also was a success both critically and commercially.[27][28]

In 2017, the brothers founded the production company AGBO.[29] The Russo brothers directed Avengers: Infinity War (2018), which became the first superhero movie to gross over $2 billion at the box office. They are the third directors to make a $2 billion movie after James Cameron's films Avatar and Titanic and J. J. Abrams's film Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Its sequel, Avengers: Endgame, was released on April 26, 2019, broke numerous box office records, and became the second superhero movie to gross over $2 billion.[30] They join James Cameron as the only directors to make two $2 billion films.[31]

2020–2024: AGBO

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The Russos also served as producers of the film Everything Everywhere All At Once, written and directed by Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert.[32] The film, released in theatres in March 2022, is A24's highest-grossing film worldwide at the box office.[33] The brothers are financing the Los Angeles and Beijing joint-production company Anthem & Song, which is producing the Chinese superhero film The Hero's Awakening.[34][35]

Since leaving the MCU, the Russo brothers directed a string of films for streaming outlets such as the Apple TV+ crime drama Cherry (2021) starring Tom Holland and the Netflix action thriller The Gray Man starring Chris Evans, Ryan Gosling and Ana de Armas. Both films received negative reviews. The duo reunited with Netflix for the science-fiction action film The Electric State (2025) starring Millie Bobby Brown and Chris Pratt. To date, it is the worst-reviewed film of their career, receiving a 15% score on Rotten Tomatoes. Lindsey Bahr of The Associated Press wrote, "It’s lacking a spark and a soul that might distinguish it as memorable or special. Worse, considering everything it has going for it, The Electric State is kind of dull."[36] In a review for the film, New York Post's Johnny Oleksinski noted the Russo brothers' directing efforts after Avengers: Endgame as "some of the worst and priciest movies of the past six years"; he panned the film's lack of originality.[37]

2025–present: Return to the MCU

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At San Diego Comic-Con in July 2024, Marvel Studios announced that the Russo brothers would return to direct and produce Avengers: Doomsday (2026) and Avengers: Secret Wars (2027).[38]

Business interests

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In January 2025, Joe Russo was announced as a board member and investor of English football club Sheffield United. The club was taken over by the consortium group COH Sports led by fellow American businessmen Steve Rosen and Helmy Eltoukhy.[39] Joe was joined on the board of directors by former Cleveland Cavaliers CEO Len Komoroski and real estate figure Terry Ahern.[40]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Directors Producers Writer(s)
1997 Pieces[a] Yes Yes Yes
2002 Welcome to Collinwood Yes No Yes
2006 You, Me and Dupree Yes No No
2014 Captain America: The Winter Soldier Yes No No
2016 Captain America: Civil War Yes No No
2018 Avengers: Infinity War Yes No No
2019 Avengers: Endgame Yes No No
21 Bridges No Yes No
Mosul No Yes No
2020 Extraction No Yes Story (Both) /
Screenplay (Joe)
2021 Cherry Yes Yes No
2022 The Gray Man Yes Yes Joe
Everything Everywhere All at Once No Yes No
2023 Extraction 2 No Yes Story (Both) /
Screenplay (Joe)
2025 The Electric State Yes Yes No
2026 Avengers: Doomsday Yes Yes No
TBA The Bluff No Yes No
The Whisper Man No Yes No

Executive producers only

Other

  • Captain Marvel (2019) (Uncredited directors; mid-credits scene only)
  • Thunderbolts* (2025) (Uncredited directors; post-credits scene only)

Television

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Year Title Director(s) Executive
producers 		Episode(s)
2003 Lucky Yes No "Pilot", "Up the Streaks"
2003–2005 Arrested Development Yes No
Episodes
Both: "Pilot"
Anthony only: "Top Banana", "Key Decisions", "The Immaculate Election", "Spring Breakout"
Joe only: "Bringing Up Buster", "In God We Trust", "Pier Pressure", "Marta Complex", "Shock and Aww", "Missing Kitty", "Hand to God", "Motherboy XXX", "Meat the Veals"
2004–2005 LAX Yes Yes
Episodes
Both: "Pilot"
Anthony only: "The Longest Day", "The Pictures to Prove It", "Mixed Signals"
Joe only: "Finnegan Again, Begin Again", "Thanksgiving", "Senator's Daughter"
7 episodes
2006 What About Brian Yes No "Pilot"
2007–2008 Carpoolers Yes Yes
Episodes
Both: "Pilot"
Anthony only: "The Code", "Wheel of Fortune", "The Recital"
Joe only: "Laird of the Rings", "What Would You Do?", "Down for the Count", "A Divorce to Remember", "The Seminar", "The Handsomest Man", "Lost in America"
11 episodes
2009 Comedy Showcase Yes No "The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret"
2009–2014 Community Yes Yes
Episodes
Both: "Pilot"
Anthony only: "Introduction to Film", "Social Psychology", "Home Economics", "The Politics of Human Sexuality", "Physical Education", "Beginner Pottery", "The Psychology of Letting Go", "Basic Rocket Science", "Asian Population Studies", "Custody Law and Eastern European Diplomacy", "Biology 101", "Competitive Ecology", "Foosball and Nocturnal Vigilantism"
Joe only: "Spanish 101", "Advanced Criminal Law", "Football, Feminism and You", "Debate 109", "Investigative Journalism", "Romantic Expressionism", "Pascal's Triangle Revisited", "Anthropology 101", "Accounting for Lawyers", "Cooperative Calligraphy", "Advanced Dungeons & Dragons", "Intermediate Documentary Filmmaking", "Competitive Wine Tasting", "A Fistful of Paintballs", "For a Few Paintballs More", "Geography of Global Conflict", "Advanced Gay", "Documentary Filmmaking: Redux", "Geothermal Escapism", "Advanced Advanced Dungeons & Dragons"
34 episodes
2010 Running Wilde Yes Yes "Pilot"
The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret Yes No Original Comedy Showcase Pilot
2011–2012 Happy Endings Yes Yes
Episodes
Both: "Pilot"
Anthony only: "Barefoot Pedaler", "Blax, Snake, Home", "Secrets and Limos"
Joe only: "Bo Fight", "Yesandwitch", "The St. Valentine's Day Massacre"
7 episodes
Up All Night Joe No
Episodes
"Cool Neighbors", "Working Late and Working It", "Day After Valentine's Day"
2012 Animal Practice Yes Yes
Episodes
Both: "Pilot"
Anthony only: "Clean-Smelling Pirate"
Joe only: "Ralphie"
3 episodes
2015 Agent Carter Joe No Episode: "Bridge and Tunnel" (as Joseph V. Russo)
2019 Deadly Class No Yes 10 episodes
Larry Charles' Dangerous World of Comedy No Yes 4 episodes
2022–present From No Yes 20 episodes
2023–present Citadel Joe Yes Director of Season 2

Other

Joe Russo acting credits

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Year Title Role Notes
2005 Arrested Development Joe Episode "Hand to God"
2006 You, Me and Dupree Personal Trainer
2014 Captain America: The Winter Soldier Dr. Fine
2016 Captain America: Civil War Dr. Theo Broussard
2018 Avengers: Infinity War Bert Deleted scene
2019 Avengers: Endgame Grieving Man Credited as Gozie Agbo
Thanos[42] Additional motion-capture only, uncredited
2020 The Simpsons Movie Executive (Voice) Episode "Bart the Bad Guy"
2021 Cherry Restaurant Owner
2022 The Gray Man CIA DDO Fine
2025 The Electric State CNN Reporter / Various Robots (voice)

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ Unreleased theatrically in the United States.

References

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  1. ^ "Anthony Russo Biography". Tribute. Archived from the original on December 15, 2019. Retrieved December 2, 2019.
  2. ^ a b Lovece, Frank (March 25, 2014). "Soldier showdown: Joe and Anthony Russo take the helm of 'Captain America' franchise". Archived from the original on September 21, 2016. I was born in February of 1970 and Joe was born in the hood of Brooklyn, New York. I am the top shot.
  3. ^ Russo Brothers verified account [@Russo_Brothers] (July 18, 2019). "Happy Birthday Joe" (Tweet). Archived from the original on August 5, 2019 – via Twitter. "Despite what Wiki says, it's actually today."
  4. ^ a b "Italians in Hollywood". Italian American Museum of Los Angeles. Archived from the original on July 18, 2020. Retrieved May 9, 2020 – via Google Arts & Culture. The Russo and Gallupoli families ... emigrated from the humble villages of Longi and Caccamo, Sicily, and Spoltore, Abruzzo
  5. ^ O'Connor, Clint (January 12, 2019). "'Captain America: The Winter Soldier': Directors Anthony and Joe Russo on landing in the Marvel universe and their love of '70s crime thrillers". The Plain Dealer. Cleveland, Ohio. Archived from the original on July 18, 2020.
  6. ^ Luttermoser, John (August 29, 2009). "Anthony and Joe Russo put 'Community' on edge for NBC comedy series". The Plain Dealer. Cleveland, Ohio. Archived from the original on July 18, 2020. Retrieved February 11, 2014.
  7. ^ "Russos bring infinite grace to Cinematheque". Cleveland Institute of Art. May 16, 2018.
  8. ^ "Iowa Alumni Magazine: Captain Middle America". University of Iowa Alumni. Archived from the original on February 11, 2017. Retrieved February 10, 2017.
  9. ^ Crowder, Courtney (May 9, 2016). "Iowa has close ties to 'Captain America' series". Des Moines Register. Iowa, U.S. Archived from the original on July 18, 2020. Retrieved July 18, 2017.
  10. ^ "Avengers director Joe Russo returns to UEA to share filmmaking tips with students and receive honorary degree". University of East Anglia. April 5, 2023.
  11. ^ Cohen, Rich (April 22, 2019). "The Russo Brothers Have Post-'Avengers' Grand Plans". Esquire. Archived from the original on April 28, 2019. Retrieved June 17, 2019.
  12. ^ "Joe (GRS '95, theater) and Anthony Russo". Case Western Reserve University.
  13. ^ Hitch, John (March 31, 2014). "Lights, Camera, Action: Hometown Heroes". Cleveland Magazine.
  14. ^ Fleming Jr, Mike (January 20, 2018). "Soderbergh, Credit Card Debt & An Unreleased Movie: Joe & Anthony Russo Recall Slamdance Debut Pic 'Pieces'". Deadline Hollywood.
  15. ^ a b Fleming Jr, Mike (April 21, 2024). "Steven Soderbergh And Russo Brothers Talk 'Welcome to Collinwood,' Marvel & Their "Tremendous Hope" For The Future Of The Movie Biz — Sands Film Festival". Deadline Hollywood.
  16. ^ Cassady, Charles Jr. (September 28, 2002). "Russo brothers put Cleveland in spotlight". The Morning Journal. Retrieved July 18, 2017.
  17. ^ "FESTIVALS: 2002 Cannes Film Festival Directors Fortnight Lineup". IndieWire. March 25, 2001.
  18. ^ Lyons, Charles; McCarthy, Todd (April 26, 2002). "'Sex' to open Directors Fortnight".
  19. ^ Abele, Robert (Spring 2019). "Family Dynamic". DGA Quarterly.
  20. ^ a b Busch, Jenna (April 13, 2023). "Donald Glover's Community Casting Was Masterminded By The Russo Brothers". /Film.
  21. ^ Couch, Aaron (March 14, 2025). "The Russo Brothers, Marvel's Money-Minting Directors, Reveal Their Secret Weapons". The Hollywood Reporter.
  22. ^ "'Community' – 'A Fistful of Paintballs': The good, the bad and the Pierce". Uproxx. May 5, 2011. Retrieved March 17, 2025.
  23. ^ Barnes, Brooks (February 28, 2014). "A Blockbuster Landed in Their Laps Anthony and Joe Russo on 'Captain America: Winter Soldier'". New York Times. Archived from the original on March 20, 2015. Retrieved February 28, 2014.
  24. ^ Yahr, Emily (April 4, 2014). "'Captain America 2' directors talk filming in D.C., casting Robert Redford and the movie's very timely politics". Washington Post. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved April 5, 2014.
  25. ^ "Captain America: The Winter Soldier Movie". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved March 17, 2025.
  26. ^ "Captain America: The Winter Soldier". Boxofficemojo. Retrieved March 17, 2025.
  27. ^ "Captain America: Civil War". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved March 17, 2025.
  28. ^ "Captain America: Civil War". Boxofficemojo. Retrieved March 17, 2025.
  29. ^ Fleming, Mike Jr (May 5, 2020). "Russo Brothers Tap Chernin Group Vet Jason Bergsman As New AGBO CEO". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved March 5, 2024.
  30. ^ Kit, Borys; Siegemund-Broka, Austin (March 23, 2015). "Russo Brothers to Direct 'Avengers: Infinity War' Parts 1 and 2". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on March 23, 2015. Retrieved March 23, 2015.
  31. ^ Raman, Sruthi Ganapathy. "What to expect as the countdown to 'Avengers: Endgame' begins: 'The cost of being a hero'". Scroll. India.
  32. ^ Galuppo, Mia (August 30, 2018). "Michelle Yeoh, Awkwafina in Talks for Film From 'Swiss Army Man' Directors". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved June 28, 2018.
  33. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (June 10, 2022). "'Everything Everywhere All At Once' Becomes A24's Highest Grossing Movie Of All-Time At Global Box Office". Deadline. Retrieved June 28, 2022.
  34. ^ Brzeski, Patrick (March 13, 2016). "Russo Brothers Launch Studio to Produce Chinese-Language Films (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter.
  35. ^ Frater, Patrick (May 10, 2016). "'Captain America' Filmmakers Announce Chinese Superhero Project". Variety.
  36. ^ "Movie Review: Russo brothers' sci-fi 'The Electric State' is big, ambitious and dull". The Associated Press. March 12, 2025. Retrieved March 17, 2025.
  37. ^ Oleksinski, Johnny (March 13, 2025). "'The Electric State' review: Netflix spent $320 million on a movie you'll hate". Retrieved March 16, 2025.
  38. ^ Vary, Adam B.; Woerner, Meredith (July 28, 2024). "Marvel Announces 'Avengers: Doomsday' and 'Avengers: Secret Wars' Directed by the Russo Brothers". Variety. Archived from the original on July 29, 2024. Retrieved July 29, 2024.
  39. ^ "COH Sports completes Blades acquisition". sufc.co.uk. December 23, 2024. Retrieved January 20, 2025.
  40. ^ "COH Sports announces three new board members and investors". sufc.co.uk. January 20, 2025. Retrieved January 20, 2025.
  41. ^ Webster, Andrew (March 17, 2021). "Fortnite's season 6 opening cinematic was co-directed by the Russo brothers". The Verge. Retrieved March 17, 2021.
  42. ^ "Avengers: Endgame Director Played Thanos in Karen Gillan's Nebula Scenes". Marvel. November 8, 2019. Retrieved January 8, 2023.
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