THE RUSSO BROTHERS
FOUNDERS
Anthony Russo and Joe Russo have been absorbing classic movies since growing up in Cleveland in the 1970s. By high school, the brothers were immersing themselves in every genre, as well as catching every classic they could at their local arthouse theater. They each went on to study English and Film — Anthony at the University of Pennsylvania and Columbia, Joe at the University of Iowa and UCLA — and the result is a contribution to worldwide moviegoing that mixes storytelling craft, filmmaking skill, and a deep understanding of how great characters can connect us all.
Through a quartet of movies within the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the Russos raised the bar for blockbuster filmmaking in artistry, scope, and box office returns: Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014), Captain America: Civil War (2016), Avengers: Infinity War (2018), and Avengers: Endgame (2019), which in addition to concluding the “Avengers saga” racked up numerous industry records, including Biggest Single-Day Gross, Highest-Grossing Opening Weekend, and Highest-Grossing Film of All Time.
While working on the Marvel films with screenwriters Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely; director of photography Trent Opaloch; composers Henry Jackman and Alan Silvestri; amazing below-the-line and FX crews; and the most extraordinary roster of actors ever assembled, the Russos have always stood by their belief that strong teamwork brings stratospheric results. Rejecting the label of “auteurs,” the Russos subscribe to the “collective theory,” noting that collaboration is crucial. It’s a philosophy that can be felt in their debut feature, Welcome to Collinwood (2002), and underscores their work on TV’s critically-acclaimed "Arrested Development" (for which they won an Emmy for Outstanding Directing of a Comedy Series), "Community," and "Happy Endings" — for which the Russos directed the pilot episodes as numerous beloved signature episodes.
Similarly, the Russos are committed to helping young storytellers gain a foothold in the film industry. Just as their own careers received an early boost from producers including Steven Soderbergh and George Clooney, the Russos now lend their skills to producing films that spotlight fresh talent and ideas and are eager to help filmmakers they believe deserve membership in the Directors Guild of America. Beyond their sponsorship, the Russos try to personally mentor aspiring directors as they strive to grow as filmmakers, and they regularly host internships to help educate and guide them.
In addition to the film community, the Russo Brothers — whose family back home are longtime members of Cleveland’s Italian Sons and Daughters of America (ISDA) organization, which is defined by a strong belief in “Tradition, History, Family, and Philanthropy” — believe in giving back to the community they grew up in. Toward that end, they founded a forum with The National Italian-American Foundation (NIAF) that encourages and advises filmmakers who are eager to tell stories unique to the Italian-American experience.
In 2017 the Russo Brothers were pleased to announce the formation of their independent film and TV studio, AGBO. Through AGBO, the Russo Brothers have produced 21 Bridges, Mosul, Relic, Extraction 1 & 2, "Citadel" andEverything Everywhere All At Once. They directed Cherry which released on Apple TV in 2021 and The Gray Man which is Netflix's #1 movie of the year and #4 most watched film of all time.
In addition to their film and television successes, the Russos are also co-founders — along with almost two-dozen fellow directors and artists — of Bullitt, a filmmakers’ collective and creative studio that is centered on the creation of brand-integrated entertainment and advertising content, and which utilizes state-of-the-art technology to break down barriers between advertisers and audiences.