John G. Avildsen

John G. Avildsen

John Guilbert Avildsen (December 21, 1935 – June 16, 2017) was an American film director. He won the Academy Award for Best Director in 1977 for Rocky. Other films he directed include Joe, Save the Tiger, Fore Play, The Formula, Neighbors, For Keeps, Lean on Me, The Power of One, 8 Seconds, Inferno, Rocky V and the first three The Karate Kid films. Avildsen was born in Oak Park, Illinois, the son of Ivy (née Guilbert) and Clarence John Avildsen. He was educated at The Hotchkiss School and New York University. After starting out as an assistant director on films by Arthur Penn and Otto Preminger, John Avildsen received his first success with the low budget feature Joe (1970) which received critical acclaim for star Peter Boyle and moderate box office business. This was followed by another critical success, Save the Tiger (1973), that was nominated for three Oscars, winning Best Actor for star Jack Lemmon. Avildsen's greatest success was Rocky (1976), garnering ten Academy Award nominations and winning three, including Best Picture and Best Director. He later directed what was expected to be the series' final installment, Rocky V (1990). His other films include Cry Uncle! (1971), Neighbors (1981), The Karate Kid (1984), The Karate Kid Part II (1986), The Karate Kid Part III (1989), Lean on Me (1989) and 8 Seconds (1994). Avildsen was the original director for both Serpico (1973) and Saturday Night Fever (1977), but was fired over disputes with producers Martin Bregman and Robert Stigwood, respectively.

  • Title: John G. Avildsen
  • Popularity: 8.555
  • Known For: Directing
  • Birthday: 1935-12-21
  • Place of Birth: Oak Park, Illinois, USA
  • Homepage:
  • Also Known As:
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John G. Avildsen Movies

  • 2017
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    Saturday Night Fever: The Ultimate Disco Movie

    Saturday Night Fever: The Ultimate Disco Movie

    7.7 2017 HD

    John Travolta, Barry Gibb and the Saturday Night Fever cast and crew tell the story behind the mega-hit film. Bruno Tonioli goes through the disco...

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  • 1997
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    Sports on the Silver Screen

    Sports on the Silver Screen

    10 1997 HD

    HBO (in association with the American Film Institute) presents this 1997 anthology, narrated by Liev Schreiber, which looks at sports in cinema from...

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  • 2014
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    Electric Boogaloo: The Wild, Untold Story of Cannon Films

    Electric Boogaloo: The Wild, Untold Story of Cannon Films

    7.2 2014 HD

    A documentary about the rise and fall of the Cannon Film Group, the legendary independent film company helmed by Israeli cousins Menahem Golan and...

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  • 2015
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    The Real Miyagi

    The Real Miyagi

    6.5 2015 HD

    The life of Fumio Demura, the greatest karate master of a generation.

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  • 2017
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    John G. Avildsen: King of the Underdogs

    John G. Avildsen: King of the Underdogs

    6.8 2017 HD

    An examination of the Oscar-winning director who brought to life some of cinema's most beloved motion pictures.

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  • 2022
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    Ammo for Shooting Clouds: John G. Avildsen Before Rocky

    Ammo for Shooting Clouds: John G. Avildsen Before Rocky

    1 2022 HD

    John G. Avildsen has only recently cemented his reputation as the "king of the underdogs," owing to his having directed both Rocky (1976) and The...

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  • 2005
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    Make Your Own Damn Movie!

    Make Your Own Damn Movie!

    3.5 2005 HD

    South Park's Trey Parker and Matt Stone, Night of the Living Dead's George A. Romero and Spider-Man's Stan Lee share their filmmaking secrets with...

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  • 2020
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    40 Years of Rocky: The Birth of a Classic

    40 Years of Rocky: The Birth of a Classic

    7.652 2020 HD

    Sylvester Stallone and John G. Avildsen narrate behind-the-scenes footage from the making of "Rocky" to mark the film's 40th anniversary.

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  • 1993
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    The Troma System

    The Troma System

    1 1993 HD

    A 30 minute infomercial that originally aired on Comedy Central in 1993. The idea was that by purchasing Troma Inc. movie products you could better...

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  • 1963
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    Greenwich Village Story

    Greenwich Village Story

    6 1963 HD

    A struggling writer dumps a pregnant dancer for a well-off socialite. Later, he realizes his true feelings and opts to make amends.

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  • 2017
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    American Satan

    American Satan

    7.2 2017 HD

    A young rock band, half from England and half from the US, drop out of college and move to the Sunset Strip to chase their dreams.

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  • 2017
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    Frank Serpico

    Frank Serpico

    6.2 2017 HD

    In 1972, officer Frank Serpico exposes the corruption which poisons the roots of the NYPD and becomes famous in 1973 when director Sidney Lumet tells...

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  • 2011
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    The Rocky Saga: Going the Distance

    The Rocky Saga: Going the Distance

    6.2 2011 HD

    The 35th anniversary of the 1976 Oscar-winning film “Rocky” is marked with a TV retrospective in which Sylvester Stallone and others...

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  • 2006
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    Tribute To James Crabe

    Tribute To James Crabe

    1 2006 HD

    John G. Avildsen pays tribute to cinematographer James Crabe.

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  • 2005
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    The Way of The Karate Kid

    The Way of The Karate Kid

    1 2005 HD

    Retrospective documentary on the making of The Karate Kid (1984).

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  • 2002
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    Magic Time: A Tribute to Jack Lemmon

    Magic Time: A Tribute to Jack Lemmon

    1 2002 HD

    Documentary on Jack Lemmon featuring interviews with those who knew him and worked with him.

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  • 1976
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    Rocky

    Rocky

    7.8 1976 HD

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  • 1990
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    Rocky V

    Rocky V

    5.769 1990 HD

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  • 1990
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    Rocky V

    Rocky V

    5.769 1990 HD

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  • 1984
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    The Karate Kid

    The Karate Kid

    7.2 1984 HD

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  • 1984
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    The Karate Kid

    The Karate Kid

    7.2 1984 HD

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  • 1989
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    The Karate Kid Part III

    The Karate Kid Part III

    5.9 1989 HD

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  • 1989
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    The Karate Kid Part III

    The Karate Kid Part III

    5.9 1989 HD

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  • 1999
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    Inferno

    Inferno

    6.081 1999 HD

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  • 1983
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    A Night in Heaven

    A Night in Heaven

    4.5 1983 HD

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  • 1980
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    The Formula

    The Formula

    5.5 1980 HD

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  • 1971
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    Guess What We Learned in School Today?

    Guess What We Learned in School Today?

    4.4 1971 HD

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  • 1971
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    Guess What We Learned in School Today?

    Guess What We Learned in School Today?

    4.4 1971 HD

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  • 1986
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    The Karate Kid Part II

    The Karate Kid Part II

    6.292 1986 HD

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  • 1986
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    The Karate Kid Part II

    The Karate Kid Part II

    6.292 1986 HD

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  • 1988
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    For Keeps

    For Keeps

    6.5 1988 HD

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  • 1992
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    The Power of One

    The Power of One

    7.5 1992 HD

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  • 1992
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    The Power of One

    The Power of One

    7.5 1992 HD

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  • 1989
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    Lean On Me

    Lean On Me

    7.3 1989 HD

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  • 1983
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    A Night in Heaven

    A Night in Heaven

    4.5 1983 HD

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  • 1975
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    W.W. and the Dixie Dancekings

    W.W. and the Dixie Dancekings

    5.9 1975 HD

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  • 1970
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    Joe

    Joe

    6.517 1970 HD

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  • 1970
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    Joe

    Joe

    6.517 1970 HD

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  • 1973
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    Save the Tiger

    Save the Tiger

    6.604 1973 HD

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  • 1994
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    8 Seconds

    8 Seconds

    7.3 1994 HD

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  • 1981
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    Neighbors

    Neighbors

    5.7 1981 HD

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  • 1964
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    Smiles

    Smiles

    1 1964 HD

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  • 1964
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    Smiles

    Smiles

    1 1964 HD

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  • 1975
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    Fore Play

    Fore Play

    3 1975 HD

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  • 1971
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    Cry Uncle!

    Cry Uncle!

    4.6 1971 HD

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  • 1987
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    Happy New Year

    Happy New Year

    5.5 1987 HD

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  • 1982
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    Traveling Hopefully

    Traveling Hopefully

    5.7 1982 HD

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  • 1978
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    Slow Dancing In The Big City

    Slow Dancing In The Big City

    5.5 1978 HD

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  • 1978
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    Slow Dancing In The Big City

    Slow Dancing In The Big City

    5.5 1978 HD

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  • 1978
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    Slow Dancing In The Big City

    Slow Dancing In The Big City

    5.5 1978 HD

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  • 1971
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    Guess What We Learned in School Today?

    Guess What We Learned in School Today?

    4.4 1971 HD

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  • 1971
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    Guess What We Learned in School Today?

    Guess What We Learned in School Today?

    4.4 1971 HD

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  • 1972
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    The Stoolie

    The Stoolie

    1 1972 HD

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  • 1965
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    Mickey One

    Mickey One

    5.7 1965 HD

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  • 1989
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    Lean On Me

    Lean On Me

    7.3 1989 HD

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  • 1989
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    Lean On Me

    Lean On Me

    7.3 1989 HD

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  • 1971
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    Cry Uncle!

    Cry Uncle!

    4.6 1971 HD

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  • 1988
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    For Keeps

    For Keeps

    6.5 1988 HD

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  • 1969
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    Out of It

    Out of It

    4.2 1969 HD

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  • 1972
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    The Stoolie

    The Stoolie

    1 1972 HD

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  • 2017
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    American Satan

    American Satan

    7.2 2017 HD

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  • 1971
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    Cry Uncle!

    Cry Uncle!

    4.6 1971 HD

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  • 1971
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    Okay Bill

    Okay Bill

    5 1971 HD

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  • 1971
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    Okay Bill

    Okay Bill

    5 1971 HD

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  • 1971
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    Okay Bill

    Okay Bill

    5 1971 HD

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  • 1971
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    Okay Bill

    Okay Bill

    5 1971 HD

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  • 1969
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    Out of It

    Out of It

    4.2 1969 HD

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  • 1971
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    Cry Uncle!

    Cry Uncle!

    4.6 1971 HD

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  • 1969
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    Turn On to Love

    Turn On to Love

    2 1969 HD

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  • 1978
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    Slow Dancing In The Big City

    Slow Dancing In The Big City

    5.5 1978 HD

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  • 1967
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    Hurry Sundown

    Hurry Sundown

    6.435 1967 HD

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  • 1953
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    The Oscars

    The Oscars

    7 1953 HD

    An annual American awards ceremony honoring cinematic achievements in the film industry. The various category winners are awarded a copy of a...

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