BenDavid Grabinski
BenDavid Grabinski | |
|---|---|
| Born | BenDavid Thomas Grabinski February 12, 1983 |
| Alma mater | Iowa State University |
| Occupations | |
| Years active | 2005–present |
| Agent | WME |
BenDavid Thomas Grabinski (born February 12, 1983) is an American film director, screenwriter, and producer and television showrunner. He wrote and directed the 2026 buddy comedy film Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice starring Vince Vaughn, James Marsden, and Eiza González that is scheduled to headline the 2026 South by Southwest Film & TV Festival on March 14, 2026 and is distributed by Hulu. His directorial debut was the 2021 comedy thriller film Happily starring Joel McHale and Kerry Bishé.
Early life
Grabinski was born on February 12, 1983, in Lincoln, Nebraska.[1] Growing up, his only interest was in becoming a film director.[2] He graduated from Grinnell High School in Grinnell, Iowa and studied journalism at Iowa State University.[3][4]
Career
He moved to Los Angeles in 2005; that same year he optioned his first script.[5][6] His script The How-To Guide for Saving the World appeared on the 2008 Black List, a list of highly regarded but unproduced screenplays as voted on by industry members, and optioned to MGM with Barry Sonnenfeld directing.[7][8]
In 2011, Grabinski wrote and directed a short film titled, Cost of Living, starring Brandon Routh. Routh was cast as a result of losing a bet.[9]
He worked for Warner Bros. on the script for the Adventure Time movie and his spec script Bravado sold to Paramount in 2016.[8] He is a member of both the Writers Guild of America West and the Directors Guild of America and is represented by WME.[10][11]
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Director | Writer | Producer | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Cost of Living | Yes | Yes | No | Short |
| 2016 | Skiptrace | No | Yes | No | |
| 2021 | Happily | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| 2026 | Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice | Yes | Yes | Executive | SXSW |
| Coyote vs. Acme | No | Additional Literary Material | No | ||
| TBA | Hex | No | Yes | Executive |
Television
| Year | Title | Director | Writer | Producer | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Enormous | Yes | No | No | |
| 2019 | Are You Afraid of the Dark? | No | Yes | Showrunner | Developed by |
| 2023 | Scott Pilgrim Takes Off | No | Yes | Yes | Created for television by |
References
- ^ "Grabinski, BenDavid, 1983-". LC Linked Data Service: Authorities and Vocabularies. Library of Congress. September 11, 2020. Retrieved February 20, 2026.
- ^ Swinson, Brock. ""Write a Movie You Want to See" BenDavid Grabinski, Co-Creator Netflix's 'Scott Pilgrim Takes Off'". Creative Screenwriting. Retrieved February 20, 2026.
- ^ "Iowans Behind New Online Movie". KCCI. October 11, 2017. Retrieved February 20, 2026.
- ^ Edwards, Shanee (September 5, 2025). "BenDavid Grabinski Sells Bravado to Paramount". Final Draft. Retrieved February 20, 2026.
- ^ Patches, Matt (March 25, 2021). "Happily might be the first sci-fi rom-com thriller inspired by The OC". Polygon. Retrieved February 20, 2026.
- ^ Grabinski, BenDavid (October 21, 2019). "The Movie Crypt: Ep 334: BenDavid Grabinski". The Movie Crypt (Interview). Interviewed by Green, Adam; Lynch, Joe. Retrieved February 20, 2026.
- ^ Sciretta, Peter (December 18, 2008). "Barry Sonnenfeld To Direct The How-To Guide For Saving The World". /Film. Retrieved February 20, 2026.
- ^ a b Jr, Mike Fleming (March 3, 2016). "Paramount Buys BenDavid Grabinski Spec 'Bravado'; Andrew Lazar Producing". Deadline. Retrieved February 20, 2026.
- ^ "COST OF LIVING". Vimeo. BenDavid Grabinski. Retrieved March 17, 2026.
- ^ "BenDavid T. Grabinski - WGA Find A Writer". WGA Directory. Writers Guild of America West. Retrieved February 20, 2026.
- ^ "Profile (BenDavid T. Grabinski)". DGA Member Directory. Directors Guild of America. Retrieved February 20, 2026.