Direction: James L. Brooks

The best movies, series, and documentaries directed by James L. Brooks. Explore exceptional titles that showcase a unique filmmaking vision.


The Simpsons (TV Series)

1989 · Series · 22 min. · United States

Direction Matt Groening · Sam Simon · James L. Brooks · Mark Kirkland

Synopsis TV Series (1989-Today). 32 Seasons. The Simpsons started out in the Tracy Ullman Show on the 19th April 1987, as shorts, and then, worked it's way up, to become as full length episodes, (First one in the 17th December 1989,)...

8.6

170K votes

8.6

170K votes

As Good As It Gets

1997 · Movie · 138 min. · United States

Direction James L. Brooks

Cast Jack Nicholson · Helen Hunt · Greg Kinnear · Cuba Gooding Jr.

Synopsis In New York, Melvin Udall (Jack Nicholson) is the most dysfunctional of men, an acid-tongued romance novelist who suffers from obsessive-compulsive disorder. As part of Melvin's unwavering daily routine, he consumes an artery-hardening breakfast of bacon, sausages and eggs at...

Max

7.6

132K votes

7.6

132K votes

Terms of Endearment

1983 · Movie · 130 min. · United States

Direction James L. Brooks

Cast Debra Winger · Shirley MacLaine · Jack Nicholson · Danny DeVito

Synopsis An account of the complex and difficult relationship between a mother (Shirley MacLaine) and a daughter (Debra Winger) as they face life's challenges over three decades.

6.8

21K votes

6.8

21K votes

Lou Grant (TV Series)

1977 · Series · 60 min. · United States

Direction James L. Brooks · Allan Burns · Gene Reynolds · Alexander Singer

Cast Ed Asner · Robert Walden · Linda Kelsey · Mason Adams

Synopsis TV Series (1977-1982). 5 Seasons. 114 Episodes. After everyone on the "Mary Tyler Moore Show" got fired, Lou Grant went to Los Angeles and became city editor of the L.A. Tribune, owned by Mrs. Pynchon, with whom Lou often has...

6.6

2K votes

6.6

2K votes

Broadcast News

1987 · Movie · 131 min. · United States

Direction James L. Brooks

Cast William Hurt · Holly Hunter · Albert Brooks · Jack Nicholson

Synopsis In James L. Brooks’ quirky, romantic comedy, three ambitious workaholics are set loose in a network TV newsroom where their professional and personal lives become hopelessly cross-wired. Tom (William Hurt) is the modern anchorman, smooth, handsome and a bit dumb....

6.3

7K votes

6.3

7K votes

Taxi (TV Series)

1978 · Series · 30 min. · United States

Direction James L. Brooks · Stan Daniels · David Davis · James Burrows

Cast Danny DeVito · Judd Hirsch · Marilu Henner · Tony Danza

Synopsis TV Series (1978-1983). 115 episodes. Louie De Palma (Danny DeVito) is a cantankerous, acerbic taxi dispatcher in New York City. He tries to maintain order over a collection of varied and strange characters who drive for him. As he bullies...

6.2

569 votes

6.2

569 votes

Mary Tyler Moore (TV Series)

1970 · Series · 30 min. · United States

Direction James L. Brooks · Allan Burns · Jay Sandrich · Peter Baldwin

Cast Mary Tyler Moore · Ed Asner · Valerie Harper · Gavin MacLeod

Synopsis TV Series (1970-1977). 7 Seasons. 168 Episodes. Mary Richards moves to Minneapolis after a relationship goes bad. She finds work as an associate producer in a small television newsroom where the characters include Lou Grant, her gruff boss, Murray Slaughter...

6.1

410 votes

6.1

410 votes

I'll Do Anything

1994 · Movie · 116 min. · United States

Direction James L. Brooks

Cast Nick Nolte · Whittni Wright · Albert Brooks · Julie Kavner

Synopsis Matt Hobbs is a talented but unsuccessful actor. When estranged (and strange) ex-wife Beth dumps their daughter Jeannie on Matt, father and daughter have a lot of adjusting to do. His budding relationship with attractive production assistant Cathy Breslow is...

5.1

439 votes

5.1

439 votes

Spanglish

2004 · Movie · 130 min. · United States

Direction James L. Brooks

Cast Adam Sandler · Téa Leoni · Paz Vega · Cloris Leachman

Synopsis Flor (Paz Vega) plays a Mexican woman who moves to the States to find a better life for her daughter. She finds a job as a housekeeper with the Clasky family (Adam Sandler & Téa Leoni), where - despite the...

5.0

12K votes

5.0

12K votes

How Do You Know

2010 · Movie · 122 min. · United States

Direction James L. Brooks

Cast Reese Witherspoon · Paul Rudd · Owen Wilson · Jack Nicholson

Synopsis A romantic comedy centered on the love triangle between professional softball player Lisa Jorgenson (Reese Witherspoon), George (Paul Rudd), a corporate executive in a middle of a crisis, and Manny (Owen Wilson), a major-league pitcher. US releases date: december 17th,...

4.1

5K votes

4.1

5K votes

The Associates (TV Series)

1979 · Movie · 30 min. · United States

Direction James L. Brooks · Stan Daniels · Charlie Hauck · Ed Weinberger

Cast Wilfrid Hyde-White · Martin Short · Alley Mills · Joe Regalbuto

Synopsis TV Series (1979-1980). 13 episodes. It revolves around three young law school graduates who had just joined the prestigious firm of Bass and Marshall as associates, beginning their five-to-seven-year trial period.

Not rated

Not rated

Ella McCay

2025 · Movie · United States

Direction James L. Brooks

Cast Emma Mackey · Jamie Lee Curtis · Rebecca Hall · Ayo Edebiri

Synopsis It follows an idealistic young politician juggling her family problems and difficult work life as she prepares to take the seat of her mentor, the state's longtime acting governor.

Not rated

Not rated

Room 222 (TV Series)

1969 · Series · 30 min. · United States

Direction James L. Brooks · William Wiard · Charles R. Rondeau · Terry Becker

Cast Lloyd Haynes · Denise Nicholas · Michael Constantine · Karen Valentine

Synopsis TV Series (1969-1974). Black teacher Pete Dixon tries to teach the students at Walt Whitman High to be tolerant. He is assisted by girlfriend and school counselor Liz and student teacher (later teacher) Alice. The students love him.

Not rated

Not rated

Rhoda (TV Series)

1974 · Series · 30 min. · United States

Direction James L. Brooks · Allan Burns · Tony Mordente · Robert Moore

Cast Valerie Harper · Julie Kavner · Ron Silver · Lorenzo Music

Synopsis Rhoda Morgenstern was born in the Bronx in December 1941. She's always felt responsible for World War II. She had a bad puberty. It lasted 17 years. She's a college graduate, she went to art school. Her entrance exam was...

Not rated

Not rated