Liz Garbus: Movies, Awards & Box Office
- films
- 20
- on screen
- 1998–2025
- box office
- $588K
- nominations
- 2
- average score
- 68
- Born
- April 11, 1970 (age 56)
- Birthplace
- New York City, USA
- Full name
- Elizabeth Freya Garbus
- Citizenship
- American
- Occupations
- Documentary filmmaker
- Years active
- 1993-present
- Spouses
- Dan Cogan
- Children
- 2
The Best Liz Garbus Movies
The highest-rated films Liz Garbus is credited on, by the Movie Echo Score that blends critic reviews, audience ratings and lasting impact. All In: The Fight for Democracy (2020) scores highest, at 75. The full ranking adds the biggest box office hits and the most awarded films.
Liz Garbus's Career in Numbers
Liz Garbus's films in numbers — as a director, not counting appearances as themselves: when they were made, the genres Liz Garbus works in most and the milestones along the way. The filmography runs from The Farm: Angola, USA (1998) to Good American Family (2025), and the 2020s were the busiest decade.
Liz Garbus Movies by Decade
- 1990s 1
- 2000s 5
- 2010s 6
- 2020s 7
The 2020s were Liz Garbus's busiest decade, with 7 films.
Liz Garbus Movies by Genre
- Documentary 11
- Crime 3
- Drama 2
- Adventure 1
- Biography 1
- History 1
Documentary is the genre Liz Garbus has worked in most, with 11 films, ahead of crime (3).
Liz Garbus Career Milestones
- First film
- The Farm: Angola, USA 1998
- Biggest box office hit
- Becoming Cousteau $283K worldwide
- Best-rated film
- All In: The Fight for Democracy Movie Echo Score 75
- Newest film
- Good American Family 2025
Liz Garbus Filmography: Every Movie
Every film Liz Garbus is credited on, newest first, with the role, the box office and the Movie Echo Score. Rated films average a score of 68. Re-order the list to see the best-rated films or the biggest hits first.
Movies Directed by Liz Garbus
19- 2025
Good American Family Drama - 2022
Harry & Meghan Documentary - 2021
Becoming Cousteau Adventure Worldwide box office: $283K Movie Echo Score: 72 - 2020
All In: The Fight for Democracy Documentary Movie Echo Score: 75 - 2020
Lost Girls Drama Worldwide box office: $106K Movie Echo Score: 70 - 2020
I’ll Be Gone in the Dark Crime - 2020
I’ll Be Gone in the Dark Crime - 2018
A Dangerous Son Documentary Movie Echo Score: 55 - 2016
Nothing Left Unsaid: Gloria Vanderbilt & Anderson Cooper Documentary - 2015
What Happened, Miss Simone? Documentary - 2014
A Good Job: Stories of the FDNY Documentary - 2012
Love, Marilyn Documentary Worldwide box office: $6.95K - 2011
Bobby Fischer Against the World Biography Worldwide box office: $90.5K - 2007
Coma Documentary - 2006
¡Yo soy Boricua, pa’ que tú lo sepas! Documentary - 2003
Girlhood Crime Worldwide box office: $100K - 2003
The Nazi Officer's Wife History - 2002
The Execution of Wanda Jean Documentary Worldwide box office: $1.39K - 1998
The Farm: Angola, USA Documentary
Liz Garbus in Documentaries & Specials
1Liz Garbus: Awards & Nominations
2 nominations across 2 award bodies, from 2016 to 2022. Every ceremony is listed newest first, with the category and the film.
-
BAFTA 1 nomination -
DGA Awards 1 nomination
-
75th British Academy Film Awards- Liz Garbus: Nominated Best Documentary Becoming Cousteau
-
68th Directors Guild of America Awards- Liz Garbus: Nominated Outstanding Directing – Documentaries What Happened, Miss Simone?
Who Is Liz Garbus?
Liz Garbus was born in New York City, USA in 1970 and is 56 years old. Credited on films since 1998, as a director. The background, training and the roles that shaped the career.
Elizabeth Freya Garbus often known as Liz Garbus, born on April 11, 1970, stands out amongst her peers as a talented American documentary film director and producer. She rose to prominence through her achievements in the film industry, notable documentaries she has helmed include The Farm: Angola, USA, Ghosts of Abu Ghraib, Bobby Fischer Against the World, Love, Marilyn, What Happened, Miss Simone?, and Becoming Cousteau. Co-founder and co-director of New York City-based documentary film production firm, Story Syndicate, Garbus is known for her in-depth understanding and presentation of diverse subjects. Born and raised in New York City, she comes from an intellectual background, being the daughter of civil rights attorney Martin Garbus and social worker Ruth Meitin Garbus. A Magna cum laude graduate from Brown University in history and semiotics, she stepped into the world of documentaries during high school. Her career started at Miramax and then she got an opportunity to work with the filmmaker Jonathan Stack. Later, Garbus and fellow Brown University alumna Rory Kennedy co-founded Moxie Firecracker Films which produced multiple critically acclaimed documentaries. She's won several awards and has been nominated for an Academy Award multiple times. In recent years, her works explore a range of topics, from politics to pop culture icons, each bearing her unique style of relatability and depth. Outside of her professional life, Garbus is married to film producer Dan Cogan and has two children.
Her works are characterized by a profound pursuit for truth, humanized narrative, and nuanced storytelling. This commitment to her craft reflects not only in her films but also in her path-breaking productions, such as The Fourth Estate and A Dangerous Son. Another of her notable projects include All In: The Fight for Democracy, and most recently, Becoming Cousteau for National Geographic and Harry & Meghan, a series for Netflix. As an influential figure in the documentary genre, her works continue to stimulate thought, provoke discussion, and encapsulate moments of history, bridging the past and the present in a captivating narrative. A multidimensional professional, and a versatile powerhouse of talent, Garbus makes a significant contribution to the world of filmmaking.
Liz Garbus: Questions & Answers
How many movies Liz Garbus has made, the biggest hit, the best-rated film, the award record and more, answered from the filmography above.
How many movies has Liz Garbus been in?
Liz Garbus is credited on 20 films, from 1998 to 2025. All of them as a director. The filmography on this page lists every one of them, newest first, with the role and the Movie Echo Score.
What is Liz Garbus's highest-grossing movie?
Becoming Cousteau (2021) is Liz Garbus's biggest box office hit, with $283K worldwide, ahead of Lost Girls (2020) ($106K). Across every film with box office figures, Liz Garbus's movies have made $588K.
Liz Garbus's biggest hits What is the best Liz Garbus movie?
By the Movie Echo Score, which blends critic reviews, audience ratings and lasting impact, Liz Garbus's best-rated film is All In: The Fight for Democracy (2020) with a score of 75, followed by Becoming Cousteau (2021) (72).
Best Liz Garbus movies, ranked Has Liz Garbus won an Oscar?
Liz Garbus has not been nominated for an Oscar. Across every ceremony in the awards database, Liz Garbus has 0 wins from 2 nominations.
How old is Liz Garbus?
Liz Garbus is 56 years old, born on April 11, 1970 in New York City, USA.
What is Liz Garbus's newest movie?
The most recent film on Liz Garbus's filmography is Good American Family (2025), which Liz Garbus directed.
The Best Liz Garbus Movies, Ranked
Top rated, most awarded and biggest box office hits from 20 directing credits.
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