Since making her debut as a screenwriter in 1980, filmmakerNancy Meyershas built an incredible career that’s ensured she’s regarded as one of the most financially successful writers, directors, and producers working in Hollywood today. Born in Philadelphia in 1949, Meyers made her break into the entertainment industry as a production assistant with CBS,working onThe Price Is Right.
She eventually moved to LA, where she quickly found work in the late 1970s as a story editor for the film division of record label Motown. Her big break came in 1980, when one of her scripts was picked up by Warner Bros, becoming the hit comedyPrivate Benjamin.From there, Nancy Meyers’ creative input led to hit after hit at the box office, and the best Nancy Meyers movies include some of the most memorable comedy movies of the last few decades.
The Holiday
Cast
The Holiday is a 2006 rom-com starring Cameron Diaz, Kate Winslet, Jude Law, and Jack Black. Directed and written by Nancy Meyers, The Holiday tells the story of two women who arrange a home swap to take a break from the stress of their recent breakups. But things take a turn when they both fall in love with local men.
2006’sThe Holidaywas the third movie written, directed, and produced by Nancy Meyers, and while it ranks among her best movies, it’s far from her most celebrated work. This is despite having an all-star cast that includes Kate Winslet, Cameron Diaz, Jude Law, and Jack Black, too. The romantic comedy focuses on a home exchange between Iris (Winslet) and Amanda (Diaz), who both trade houses for the holiday season, leading both of them to find unexpected romance.
The Holidayis a relatively by-the-numbers romantic comedy, though still makes for heartwarming seasonal viewing during the holiday season. Meyers’ script forThe Holidaymay not have reinventedthe holiday rom-comwheel, but it ticked every box viewers could want incredibly solidly.As is common with the best Nancy Meyers movies, it was also a hit at the box office, over doubling its $85 million budget to land over $205 million globally(viaBox Office Mojo).
Irreconcilable Differences
Irreconcilable Differences is a 1984 film that follows a young girl as she takes the extraordinary step of suing her ambitious parents for emancipation. The narrative intertwines past and present, highlighting the challenges within her fractured family as aspirations clash with parental responsibilities.
1984’sIrreconcilable Differenceswas the second movie in Nancy Meyers’ career as a filmmaker. The 1984 comedy was directed by Charle Shyer, who co-wroter the script alongside Myers, and starred Ryan O’Neal and Shelley Long alongside a young Drew Barrymore in her fourth feature-film appearance as Casey.
The plot ofIrreconcilable Differenceswas incredibly unique. The comedy focused on Barrymore’s Casey as she entered a legal battle to divorce her own parents. It was hilarious throughout thanks to Meyers’ incredible writing ability, though wasn’t anywhere near the success at the box office her later movies would be. The 1984 movie only landed $12 million at the box office internationally, barely breaking even against its $10 million budget(viaBox Office Mojo).However,it did lead to Golden Globe nominations for both Shelley Long and Drew Barrymore.
Father of the Bride Part II
Father of the Bride Part II: In this sequel, George Banks, played by Steve Martin, faces new family challenges as he learns that both his daughter and wife are pregnant. While navigating unexpected changes, George must adapt his plans when confronted with the dual arrival of a grandchild and a child.
While it might not be as highly regarded as the 1991 comedy it’s a sequel to,Father of the Bride Part IIis still considered by many to be one of the best Nancy Meyers movies, and a career highlight for two of the filmmakers frequent collaborators - Steve Martinand Diane Keaton. Picking up four years afterFather of the Bride,Father of the Bride Part IIfocuses on Steve Martin’s George as he experiences a series of comedic mishaps as he deals with learning he’s due to become a grandfather.
Nancy Meyers co-wrote the script alongside Charles Shyer, who she worked with onFather of the Bride. Father of the Bride Part IIwas a box-office success for studio Touchstone Pictures, over doubling its budget of $30 million with a $76 million worldwide gross(viaBox Office Mojo).This level of financial success was already becoming a hallmark of Nancy Meyers’ career, and it’s no surprise she found herself in the director’s chair for her next film, 1998’sThe Parent Trap.
What Women Want
What Women Want is a romantic comedy featuring Mel Gibson as Nick Marshall, an ad executive who gains the ability to hear women’s thoughts after an accident. As he navigates this unexpected gift, he uses it to his advantage at work, particularly against his new boss, Darcy.
Nancy Meyers normally directs movies based on scripts she either wrote or co-wrote, but this isn’t always the case - nor do the filmmaker’s abilities suffer when bringing someone else’s story to the big screen. This is proved by 2000’sWhat Women Want,the only film directed by Nancy Meyers that she didn’t also write the script for.
While critical reviews for the romantic comedy were mixed, audiences fell in love with the fantastical plot ofWhat Women Want,especially with the performances of stars Mel Gibson and Helen Hunt when under Nancy Meyers’ direction.What’s more, the 2000 film was once again a box-office hit for the filmmaker, earning $374 million globally against a budget of $70 million(viaBox Office Mojo).
It’s Complicated
It’s Complicated, directed by Nancy Meyers, is a romantic comedy featuring Meryl Streep and Alec Baldwin as Jane and Jake Adler, who unexpectedly rekindle their romance at their son’s college graduation, complicating their post-divorce lives as Jake is remarried and Jane explores a new relationship with her architect.
2009’sIt’s Complicatedbuilds on creative foundations laid by the likes of 2003’sSomething’s Gotta Give,and showcases Nancy Meyers’ incredible abilities to find all the humor lurking in romances later on in life.Starring Meryl Streep, Alec Baldwin, and frequent Nancy Meyers collaborator Steve Martin, the title ofIt’s Complicatedperfectly sums up the hilarious love triangle that the filmmaker’s script brings to the screen.
As far as her abilities as a screenwriter go,It’s Complicatedis easily one of the best scripts Nancy Meyers has created -as evidenced by her nomination for the Golden Globe award for Best Screenplay, as well as Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy the same year.While the movie was received well by critics, it also notably wasn’t as successful at the box office as many of Nancy Meyers’ other movies, netting $220 million worldwide against a budget of $ 85 million(viaBox Office Mojo).
The Intern
The Intern, released in 2015, features Robert De Niro as 70-year-old widower Ben Whittaker, who becomes a senior intern at an online fashion company run by Anne Hathaway’s character, Jules Ostin. The film explores themes of mentorship and the intergenerational workplace dynamic in a modern business setting.
2015’sThe Internis the 6th movie directed by Nancy Meyers, and the most recent film she helmed. The lighthearted comedy drama may not be as widely known as the likes ofFather of the BrideorThe Parent Trap,though this doesn’t stop it ranking among the best Nancy Meyers movies, especially given the hilarious performances the filmmaker managed to draw out from stars Robert De Niro and Anne Hathaway.
The Internalso stands out among the best Nancy Meyers movies due to it being a workplace comedy - making it something of an anomaly against her wider body of work (which usually deal with family life or romance).Her most recent directorial turn landed an AARP Movies for Grownups award for Best Comedy, as well as a Teen Choice award nomination for Nancy Meyers in the Comedy category.
Father of the Bride
Father of the Bride is a family comedy directed by Charles Shyer, featuring Steve Martin as George Banks, a father coming to terms with his daughter’s impending wedding. The film examines the emotional and humorous aspects of family dynamics and explores the challenges of letting go. Diane Keaton stars as George’s supportive wife, alongside Kimberly Williams-Paisley as their daughter, Annie.
Of all the films made by Nancy Meyers that starredregular collaborator Steve Martin, few are as highly regarded or beloved by viewers as 1991’sFather of the Bride.The romantic comedy focused on Martin as George Banks alongside Diane Keaton (who Meyers, of course, also worked with regularly) as his wife Nina. The lighthearted plot followed George’s various struggles as his daughter, Annie (Kimberly Banks) gets ready for her wedding day.
While not as much of a critical success or awards magnet as some of Nancy Meyers’ other movies, the legacy ofFather of the Brideis impossible to deny.The film was also a huge hit at the box office, netting in $129 million against a budget of $20 million(viaBox Office Mojo),cementing the reputation of Nancy Meyers as a creator of safe-bet and timeless comedies that all but guarantee high levels of profits for studios.
Something’s Gotta Give
Something’s Gotta Give is a romantic comedy directed by Nancy Meyers, starring Jack Nicholson and Diane Keaton. The film follows a successful but aging bachelor who falls for his much younger girlfriend’s mother. Also featuring performances by Keanu Reeves and Amanda Peet, the story explores themes of love, aging, and self-discovery amidst the backdrop of the Hamptons.
Many of the best Nancy Meyers movies are those that seen the filmmaker serving as writer, director, and producer, and this is the case with 2003’sSomething’s Gotta Give.Theearly 2000s rom-comwas a breath of fresh air for the genre during the decade, as it focused on a later-in-life couple rather than teens or lovers in their 20s. Jack Nicholson and Diane Keaton starred, and both received praise for their performances - including a Best Actress Academy Award nomination and Golden Globe win for Keaton.
This, of course, wouldn’t be possible without the incredibly sharp script penned by Nancy Meyers forSomething’s Gotta Give.Like many of the filmmaker’s projects,Something’s Gotta Givewas a phenomenal financial success during its theatrical run too, earning over $265million worldwide against a budget of $80million(viaBox Office Mojo).
Private Benjamin
Private Benjamin stars Goldie Hawn as a pampered socialite who joins the U.S. Army on a whim, expecting an easy life. The comedy unfolds as she confronts the reality of military discipline as she learns more about herself in the process.
Nancy Meyers may have a filmmaking career spanning over four decades, but her debut is still considered by many to be among her best movies. Coming 18 years before she would find herself in the director’s chair, Nancy Meyers co-wrote (alongside Charles Shyer and Harvey Miller) and produced 1980’sPrivate Benjamin.Directed by Howard Zieff and starring Goldie Hawn,Private Benjaminwas a box-office hit when it arrived in theaters.
Nancy Meyers’ debut earned over $69 million worldwide (viaBox Office Mojo),and received multiple accolades. These include Academy Award nominations for Best Actress (Goldie Hawn), Best Supporting Actress (Eileen Brennan), and Best Screenplay - Writer Directly for the Screen (for Meyers, Shyer, and Miller).While the screenplay Meyers’ co-wrote may have missed out at the Oscars, she and her writer partners did win the same category at the Writers Guild of America Awards the same year.
The Parent Trap
The Parent Trap is a family comedy about identical twin sisters, played by Lindsay Lohan, who are separated at birth and raised by their respective single parents. Meeting for the first time at a summer camp, the sisters switch places to reunite their estranged parents, leading to various comedic and heartfelt moments. Directed by Nancy Meyers, the film is a remake of the 1961 classic of the same name.
While she’s helmed multiple films since, her directorial debut for 1998’sThe Parent Trapstill remains the best Nancy Meyers movie so far. A remake of the 1961 movie of the same name, Nancy Meyers co-wroteThe Parent Trapalongside David Swift and Charles Shyer. The movie is most remembered for thethen-child star Lindsay Lohan’sperformance as twins Hal and Ann, and the many clever tricks used to ensure both sisters could be on-screen at once still defy belief to this day.
Nancy Meyers was praised for this in her capacity as a director, as well as for her work modernizing the plot of the 1960s original for a 1990s audience. While many ofNancy Meyers’ movies remain timeless classics in the eyes of fans, few have a following as consistently strong asThe Parent Trap.It’s still considered one of the best live-action movies Disney ever made, and was a career-defining project not only for Meyers but also, of course, star Lindsay Lohan.
