Academy Award–winning duo Daniels—two filmmakers named Daniel—are among the most distinctive voices in contemporary American cinema. One grew up in Massachusetts with a background in animation and graphic design; the other hails from Alabama, shaped by comedy and theater. Together, they write, direct, edit, and craft their own visual effects, stepping in as performers, dancers, or stunt doubles when needed. Their work fuses absurdist drama with deadpan comedy, creating self-aware, emotionally sincere films that deconstruct themselves to reveal something unexpected and deeply human.
They first gained international attention with a series of boundary-pushing music videos that redefined the form: Foster the People’s 'Houdini' (Grammy nomination), Manchester Orchestra’s 'Simple Math' (UK MVA Video of the Year), and DJ Snake x Lil Jon’s 'Turn Down for What' (MTV VMA for Best Direction; 1B+ views). Their work has been recognized with top industry honors, including the Cannes Lions Grand Prix, Ciclopes Gold, Silver and Bronze, and D&AD Yellow Pencils.
In advertising, Daniels have directed campaigns for global brands such as Levi Strauss & Co., Toyota, Weetabix, Delta Air Lines, Gap Inc., and Nike. Their Gap Instagram micro-series 'Spring Is Weird,' starring Jenny Slate and Paul Dano, won Silver at Cannes Lions (Mobile), Gold at SHOTS, and a 2016 AICP Next Award. Their Nike spot 'Unlimited' aired during the 2016 Summer Olympics and featured Serena Williams, Kevin Durant, Giancarlo Stanton, and Mo Farah.
For television, they directed episodes of Childrens Hospital and NTSF:SD:SUV::, and created innovative short-form projects including 'Interesting Ball' (selected for SXSW and the LA Film Festival) and 'Possibilia' (Tribeca premiere; Future of Storytelling top prize; Sundance New Frontier).
Their debut feature, 'Swiss Army Man', premiered at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival, where it won the U.S. Dramatic Directing Award, and was released worldwide by A24. They returned to Sundance in 2020 as co-directors of the anthology comedy 'Omniboat: A Fast Boat Fantasia'.
Their latest feature, 'Everything Everywhere All at Once', achieved near-universal acclaim for its ambition and originality. The film grossed approximately $107 million worldwide, becoming A24’s first release to surpass the $100 million mark. It received 11 Academy Award nominations and won seven, including Best Director and Best Picture.
