‘Spanking the Monkey’ (1994)

Russell's debut earned $1.3 million domestically. The black comedy won the Audience Award at the 1994 Sundance Film Festival.
Russell's debut earned $1.3 million domestically. The black comedy won the Audience Award at the 1994 Sundance Film Festival.
Flirting With Disaster grossed $14.7 million domestically and was greeted with critical acclaim. Russell wrote and directed the film, starring Ben Stiller, Patricia Arquette, Tea Leoni and Mary Tyler Moore.
The war drama starring George Clooney, Mark Wahlberg and Ice Cube took $60.6 million at the domestic box office. "What makes him great is twofold," says his friend Spike Jonze, who appeared in the movie. "One is, his brain is incredible; he's got an incredible mind, he's incredibly smart. And on the other side, whatever he's feeling, he expresses."
Russell's existential comedy grossed $12.7 million domestically and starred Dustin Hoffman, Jude Law, Jason Schwartzman, Lily Tomlin, Mark Wahlberg, Naomi Watts and Isabelle Huppert.
The boxing drama reinvigorated Russell's career, with the film taking $93.6 million domestically and earning Christian Bale a supporting actor Oscar.
The film, starring Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper, earned $132.1 at the domestic box office and earned Lawrence an Oscar.
American Hustle has grossed $133.4 domestically. It is only the second film since Reds (1981) to score nominations for best picture, best director, best adapted or original screenplay and in each of the four acting categories. (The other: 2012's Silver Linings Playbook.)