Matthew Robbins (screenwriter)

Matthew Robbins (born July 15, 1945) is an American screenwriter and film director^[1] best known for his writing work within the American New Wave movement.

Matthew Robbins
Robbins in 2005
Born	(1945-07-15) July 15, 1945 (age 80) San Antonio, Texas, U.S.
Education	AFI Conservatory
Occupations	Screenwriter Film director
Years active	1971–present
Known for	The Sugarland Express Dragonslayer Batteries Not Included Mimic
Spouse	Janet Robbins
Awards	Best Screenplay Award (Cannes Film Festival) 1974 The Sugarland Express

He collaborated with numerous filmmakers within the movement including George Lucas, Walter Murch and Steven Spielberg, on films like The Sugarland Express, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, and Jaws. He has also worked frequently with Guillermo del Toro, writing his films Mimic, Crimson Peak and Pinocchio. Robbins has frequently worked with writer Hal Barwood.

Prior to attending USC School of Cinematic Arts, Robbins graduated from Johns Hopkins University in 1965 where he was classmate and friends with Walter Murch and Caleb Deschanel. He is a graduate of the AFI Conservatory. In 2004, Robbins received a Distinguished Alumnus Award from Johns Hopkins.^[2]

In 2011, he made his debut in Indian cinema by writing the screenplay for the Bollywood thriller 7 Khoon Maaf, along with director Vishal Bhardwaj.^[3] His second Indian film, Rangoon, was also directed by Bhardwaj.

Filmography

Year	Title	Director	Writer	Notes
1974	The Sugarland Express		Yes
1976	The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings		Yes
1977	MacArthur		Yes
1978	Corvette Summer	Yes	Yes
1981	Dragonslayer	Yes	Yes
1985	Warning Sign		Yes	Also executive producer
	The Legend of Billie Jean	Yes
	Amazing Stories	Yes		Episode: "The Main Attraction"
1987	Batteries Not Included	Yes	Yes
1989	Mothers, Daughters and Lovers	Yes		TV movie
1991	Bingo	Yes
1993	"Off the Ground"	Yes		Music video by Paul McCartney
1997	Mimic		Yes
2007	Blood Brothers		Story	Short film
2009	Le Concert		Collaboration
2010	Don't Be Afraid of the Dark		Yes
2011	7 Khoon Maaf		Yes
2013	Vijay and I		Yes
	Ek Thi Daayan		Collaboration
2015	Crimson Peak		Yes
	Chatô: O Rei do Brasil		Yes
2017	Rangoon		Yes
	Madame		Yes
2022	Pinocchio		Story
TBD	Ray Gunn[4]		Yes

Uncredited writer

• Electronic Labyrinth: THX 1138 4EB (1967, short film)
• THX 1138 (1971, also cameo as "THX 1138 in end scene")
• Jaws (1975)
• Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977, also second unit director and cameo as "Returnee #3 Flt. 19")
• E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial (1982)

Awards and nominations

• 1974 Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Screenplay: The Sugarland Express (won)
• 1974 Writers Guild of America Award for Best Comedy Written Directly for the Screen: The Sugarland Express (nomination)
• 1976 Writers Guild of America Award for Best Comedy Adapted from Another Medium: The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings (nomination)
• 1981 Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation: Dragonslayer (nomination)
• 1997 Saturn Award for Best Writing: Mimic (nomination)
• 2010 César Award for Best Original Screenplay: Le Concert (nomination)
• 2015 Saturn Award for Best Writing: Crimson Peak (nomination)