The Fabelmans 2022

Movie · 151 min · English · September 10, 2022

Directed by Steven SpielbergWritten by Steven Spielberg, Tony Kushner

Starring Michelle Williams, Paul Dano, Seth Rogen, Gabriel LaBelle, Mateo Zoryan Francis-DeFord

A 2022 American coming-of-age drama film, The Fabelmans is directed and produced by Steven Spielberg, with co-writing credits shared with Tony Kushner. The semi-autobiographical story centers on Sammy Fabelman, a young filmmaker whose journey explores how movies can reveal truths about his troubled family dynamics and surrounding people. The character of Sammy is played by Gabriel LaBelle, supported by Michelle Williams, Paul Dano, Seth Rogen, Judd Hirsch, and David Lynch in a final acting appearance before his passing in 2025.

Spielberg initially developed the idea as early as 1999 under the title I'll Be Home, written by his sister Anne. He delayed its development for 20 years because of worries over the impact on his parents. The project resurfaced in 2019 during work on West Side Story, when Spielberg collaborated with screenwriter Kushner. The screenplay wrapped up in late 2020, followed by casting between March and May 2021. Principal photography commenced in July in Los Angeles and concluded in September. The film pays tribute to the memories of Spielberg’s parents, Leah Adler and Arnold Spielberg, who passed away in 2017 and 2020 respectively.

The Fabelmans made its debut at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 10, 2022, winning the People's Choice Award. Distributed by Universal Pictures, it had a limited release in the U.S. on November 11, 2022 before expanding nationwide on November 23. The film brought in $45.6 million against a $40 million budget. It was widely praised by critics and recognized as one of the top ten films of 2022 by both the National Board of Review and the American Film Institute, marking a return to form for Spielberg.

The film earned multiple accolades and nominations, including seven at the 95th Academy Awards—Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress (Williams), and Best Supporting Actor (Hirsch). It also received 11 nods at the 28th Critics' Choice Awards, winning Best Young Performer (LaBelle), and five at the 80th Golden Globe Awards, taking home Best Motion Picture – Drama and Best Director.