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// Workers AI · dad joke modeIs BenDavid Grabinski a good director? He's got a grab on the industry.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

BenDavid Grabinski
Born
BenDavid Thomas Grabinski

(1983-02-12) February 12, 1983 (age 43)
Lincoln, Nebraska
Alma materIowa State University
Occupations
Years active2005–present
AgentWME

BenDavid Thomas Grabinski (born February 12, 1983) is an American film director, screenwriter, and producer and television showrunner. His directorial debut was the 2021 comedy thriller film Happily starring Joel McHale and Kerry Bishé. He wrote and directed the 2026 buddy comedy film Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice starring Vince Vaughn, James Marsden, and Eiza González which headlined the 2026 South by Southwest Film & TV Festival on March 14, 2026 and is distributed by Hulu.

Early life

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Grabinski was born on February 12, 1983, in Lincoln, Nebraska.[1] Growing up, his only interest was in becoming a film director.[2] He graduated from Grinnell High School in Grinnell, Iowa and studied journalism at Iowa State University.[3][4]

Career

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He moved to Los Angeles in 2005; that same year he optioned his first script.[5][6] His script The How-To Guide for Saving the World appeared on the 2008 Black List, a list of highly regarded but unproduced screenplays as voted on by industry members, and optioned to MGM with Barry Sonnenfeld directing.[7][8]

In 2011, Grabinski wrote and directed a short film titled Cost of Living starring Brandon Routh. Routh was cast as a result of losing a bet.[9]

He worked for Warner Bros. on the script for the Adventure Time movie and his spec script Bravado sold to Paramount in 2016.[8] He is a member of both the Writers Guild of America West and the Directors Guild of America and is represented by WME.[10][11]

Filmography

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Short film

Year Title Director Writer
2011 Cost of Living Yes Yes

Feature film

Year Title Director Writer Producer
2016 Skiptrace No Yes No
2021 Happily Yes Yes Yes
2026 Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice Yes Yes No
TBA Hex No Yes Executive

Additional literary material

Television

Year Title Director Writer Executive
Producer		 Creator Developer Notes
2014 Enormous Yes No No No No
2019 Are You Afraid of the Dark? No Yes Yes Yes Yes Wrote 13 episodes
2023 Scott Pilgrim Takes Off No Yes Yes Yes Yes

References

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  1. ↑ "Grabinski, BenDavid, 1983-". LC Linked Data Service: Authorities and Vocabularies. Library of Congress. September 11, 2020. Retrieved February 20, 2026.
  2. ↑ Swinson, Brock. ""Write a Movie You Want to See" BenDavid Grabinski, Co-Creator Netflix's 'Scott Pilgrim Takes Off'". Creative Screenwriting. Retrieved February 20, 2026.
  3. ↑ "Iowans Behind New Online Movie". KCCI. October 11, 2017. Retrieved February 20, 2026.
  4. ↑ Edwards, Shanee (September 5, 2025). "BenDavid Grabinski Sells Bravado to Paramount". Final Draft. Retrieved February 20, 2026.
  5. ↑ Patches, Matt (March 25, 2021). "Happily might be the first sci-fi rom-com thriller inspired by The OC". Polygon. Retrieved February 20, 2026.
  6. ↑ Grabinski, BenDavid (October 21, 2019). "The Movie Crypt: Ep 334: BenDavid Grabinski". The Movie Crypt (Interview). Interviewed by Green, Adam; Lynch, Joe. Retrieved February 20, 2026.
  7. ↑ Sciretta, Peter (December 18, 2008). "Barry Sonnenfeld To Direct The How-To Guide For Saving The World". /Film. Retrieved February 20, 2026.
  8. 1 2 Jr, Mike Fleming (March 3, 2016). "Paramount Buys BenDavid Grabinski Spec 'Bravado'; Andrew Lazar Producing". Deadline. Retrieved February 20, 2026.
  9. ↑ "COST OF LIVING". Vimeo. BenDavid Grabinski. Retrieved March 17, 2026.
  10. ↑ "BenDavid T. Grabinski - WGA Find A Writer". WGA Directory. Writers Guild of America West. Retrieved February 20, 2026.
  11. ↑ "Profile (BenDavid T. Grabinski)". DGA Member Directory. Directors Guild of America. Retrieved February 20, 2026.
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