Under the tutelage of his filmmaker father Ivan, Jason Reitman has become one of the most talented writer/directors of his generation. Since bursting onto the scene with his well-received irreverent comedy Thank You For Smoking in 2005, Reitman has directed an additional seven feature films, earning four Oscar nominations in the process.
In the past five years, Jason Reitman has helmed a slew of TV episodes while continuing to make mainstream Hollywood movies. His most recent project to hit the airwaves is the 10-part Princess Bride TV series; Reitman also has Ghostbusters: Afterlife due out next year, picking up on the legacy left behind by his father Ivan.
Men, Women & Children (2014) 33%
The worst critical and commercial film of Reitman's career to date belongs to Men, Women & Children, the 2014 dramedy that failed to resonate at the box-office as well as among professional movie reviewers.
Based on the Chad Kultgen novel, the film explores how the internet has changed the ways people, mainly high-school teenagers, interact with one another in modern society. Despite the star power of Adam Sandler, Emma Thompson, Ansel Elgort, and Jennifer Garner, the film lost roughly $15 million when performing dismally at the box-office, grossing just $1.7 million globally. In addition to its low Rotten Tomatoes rating, the film currently holds a 38/100 Metascore.
Labor Day (2013) 35%
Until Men, Women & Children supplanted it one year later, Labor Day had ed as Reitman's lowest cinematic moment. The romantic thriller stars Josh Brolin as Henry, a rugged but sensitive escaped con who forges an unlikely bond with Adele (Kate Winslet), a single mother of one.
Adapted from the Joyce Maynard novel, the drama increases when Adele learns about Henry's sordid past upon hiding out in her rural Massachusetts. The poor to middling reviews led to a poor box-office performance, with the film ultimately losing money by earning roughly $13.3 million against an $18 million budget.
The Front Runner (2018) 60%
The most recent Reitman film to hit theaters was Hugh Jackman).
In 1987, U.S. Senator from the state of Colorado Gary Hart organizes a campaign to run for President of the country. As part of his campaign, Hart encourages the press to follow him on a road-trip across the country as he meets and greets potential voters. However, when a sex scandal comes to light, Hart's entire personal and professional life comes crashing down in front of the entire country. Despite glowing reviews for Jackman's performance, the $25-million-movie earned just $3.2 million in global ticket sales.
Young Adult (2011) 80%
In Juno.
The title doubles for the YA novels Gary pens professionally. However, his popular book series about teenager Kendall has been canceled, leaving her career as ruinous as her failed marriage. When Mavis learns her high-school flame Buddy (Patrick Wilson) is expecting a child with his wife Beth (Elizabeth Reaser), she embarrasses herself irreparably upon confronting them both.
Thank You For Smoking (2005) 86%
Reitman earned plaudits right out of the gate for his feature debut Thank You For Smoking, in which a pro-tobacco lobbyist played by Aaron Eckhart is somehow made the protagonist.
Nick Naylor (Eckhart) is the chief spokesman for big tobacco who publicly defends the carcinogenic product that kills hundreds of thousands of people every year. While on a promotional tour, Nick tries to remain a positive role model for his young son Joey (Cameron Bright) even when his son questions the morals and ethics of his profession. The film was nominated for Best Picture - Comedy or Musical - at the 2007 Golden Globes.
Tully (2018) 87%
In the third collaboration between Reitman and Diablo Cody and the second between Reitman and Charlize Theron, Tully is a low-key psychological thriller under the guise of a domestic dramedy.
Theron stars as Marlo, an exhausted mother of three in desperate need of a little relief. Marlo reluctantly hires a young nanny named Tully (Mackenzie Davis) to babysit at night so she can get some much-needed sleep. Over time, the relationship between Marlo and Tully develops into a strange kinship that leads to a shocking revelation at the end of the story. Theron scored a Golden Globe nod for Best Female Performance in a Comedy or Musical.
Up In The Air (2009) 91%
Reitman won a Golden Globe for Best Screenplay following the release of Up in the Air, a highly-praised dramedy that also scored six Oscar nominations.
George Clooney stars as Ryan Bingham in the film, a professional job-terminator who flies around the country to inform corporate employees that they've been laid off. When Ryan meets the hungry young upstart Natalie (Vera Farmiga), who has more secrets than she initially lets on.
Juno (2007) 94%
The finest film of Jason Reitman's career thus far, according to Rotten Tomatoes, the beloved indie hit rom-com Juno, the coming-of-age tale that introduced the world to star Ellen Page. The film's screenwriter, Diablo Cody, won an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay.
Page stars as the titular teenager who is wise beyond her years. When Juno becomes pregnant, she imagines every scenario possible before making a decision on what to do with the baby. As she becomes closer with high-school friend Paulie Bleeker (Michael Cera), Juno jeopardizes everything when starting an affair with the married man (Jason Bateman) interested in adopting her unborn baby. Juno not only became a critical hit and awards-circuit darling, but the film was also a major commercial smash, earning over $230 million globally against a $7.5 million budget.
