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Liz Garbus, director
Director

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
Known for

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.

Full ranking
Career at a glance

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

  1. 1990s 1
  2. 2000s 5
  3. 2010s 6
  4. 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
20 credits

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.

2 nominations

Liz 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.

All movie awards
  • BAFTA logo BAFTA 1 nomination
  • DGA Awards logo DGA Awards 1 nomination
Biography

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.

FAQ

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.

See the ranking

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