Judd Apatow started out as a comedian and hosted many "Comedy Night" events before being hired as a writer for the 1991 Grammy Awards. Around the same time, he became a part of the stand-up special ‘Tom Arnold: The Naked Truth,’ as a writer and co-producer. In 1992, he came together with Ben Stiller to create the sketch comedy series ‘The Ben Stiller Show.’ The show ran for 13 episodes before it was canceled due to low ratings in 1993. He next joined the American television sitcom ‘The Larry Sanders Show’ as a writer and director. He earned 5 Emmy Award nominations and remained part of the show until it went off-air in 1998.Â
Apatow made his big-screen debut in the 1995 American family comedy film ‘Heavyweights’ where he played the role of ‘Homer Schulz.’ He was also the writer of the film. ‘Heavyweights’ received negative reviews from critics and was not a successful box office venture. In 1996, he became a part of the comedy film ‘Celtic Pride’ as a writer. The film was panned by critics and was not a commercial success.Â
In 2005, he marked his directorial debut with the romantic comedy film ‘The 40-Year-Old Virgin.’ The film opened to critical acclaim and was a massive box office success, managing to gross over $177.4 million against a budget of $26 million. He went on to write films like ‘Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story’ (2007), ‘You Don't Mess with the Zohan’ (2008), and ‘Pineapple Express’ (2008). In 2012, the comedy film ‘This Is 40,’ which was written and directed by Apatow, was released. The film received a mixed response from critics and was a moderate success at the box office. In 2020, he wrote and directed the comedy-drama film ‘The King of Staten Island.’ The film garnered praise from critics who appreciated Apatow’s writing and direction.Â
He will return to the director’s chair in the upcoming comedy film ‘The Bubble.’ He is also the writer of the film.
A sex comedy film that follows the titular 40-year-old virgin Andy and his friends who try to help him lose his virginity, the movie is full of funny moments filled with sexual innuendos. The film received positive reviews and was a commercial success.
Unable to cope with the death of his father, who was a firefighter, a 21 year old spends his time smoking weed and dreaming of becoming a tattoo artist.
Alison Scott goes to a night club to celebrate her promotion and ends up having a one night stand with reckless pothead Ben Stone that results in pregnancy. Deciding to keep the baby despite possible negative implications in her life and job, she tracks down Ben who, a big baby himself, tries his best to support her.
Successful stand-up comedian George Simmons, who has no close family or friends, is diagnosed with a rare, terminal disorder. With less than a year to live, he appoints Ira Wright, a struggling comedian, as his personal assistant who soon becomes his close friend. When his disease goes into remission and his ex-girlfriend re-connects with him, George tries to figure out his priorities.
Following her parents' divorce, Amy's father inculcated into his two daughters that monogamy is not realistic, which became the life mantra for the commitment-phobic heavy-drinking party girl after she grew up to be a magazine writer. However, she begins to question herself after she falls for the charming sports doctor Aaron Conners while writing an article about him.
A spin-off of the movie Knocked Up, the comedy follows Pete and Debbie, whose complicated married lives are under severe stress as they both turn 40. Besides a stale marriage, they also need to contend with financial struggles and two bickering young daughters Charlotte and Sadie, and not kill each other.
After a problematic film role nearly destroys her career, Carol Cobb, an actress is offered a chance to revive it, by reprising the role of Dr Lacey Nightingale, in the sixth installment of a popular film franchise which was highly successful. She feels that her former castmates may have a grudge against her, since she had turned down the fifth film. Shortly after, the lives of the cast and crew of the film are turned upside down, when a pandemic is declared due to the Coronavirus situation, and chaos ensues worldwide.
In 1970s San Diego, Ron Burgundy is a highly successful news anchorman in male-dominated Channel 4. However, the arrival of Veronica Corningstone, an ambitious woman aspiring to be a newswoman, changes the entire scenario. Ron becomes increasingly resentful of Veronica’s success beginning a fierce rivalry between the two.
Heavyweights is a comedy drama film which revolves around the lives of a few fat kids who are lured into joining a camp with the promise of quick weight loss. However, they soon find out that the former owners have declared bankruptcy and the new owner is a fitness fanatic. He turns the lives of the kids into a nightmare.
This comedy film tells the story of Sandy Wexler, a talent manager, who is working in Los Angeles in the 1990s, representing several eccentric clients. His life takes a turn when he falls for one of his clients, Courtney Clarke, a talented singer, after discovering her at an amusement park.
Griffin Keyes is the best keeper at Franklin Park Zoo. When the woman he loves declares that it is his career as zookeeper which is keeping her away. he decides to leave his job and join his brother’s car dealership. But the animals at the zoo are not ready to let him go and break their code of silence in order to help him. Will he finally be able to win his love?
Aspiring filmmaker and actor, Tommy Wiseau, forms an unlikely friendship with actor, Greg Sestero, and the two move to Los Angeles. Eventually, as Tommy, writes and directs The Room, one of the worst movies ever made, his awful behavior alienates everyone including his friends. The Room is a flop but goes on to become a cult classic.
Judd Apatow Awards
| The Ben Stiller Show | Outstanding Writing in a Variety or Music Program | 1993 |
| The Zen Diaries of Garry Shandling | Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special | 2018 |
| Girls | Best International | 2013 |
