David Leitch: An American Cinematheque Retrospective

Directing action with an unmistakable, hard-hitting signature, David Leitch has redefined the energy and craft of modern cinema. The American Cinematheque is delighted to welcome Leitch in person for a career-spanning retrospective celebrating a singular filmmaker: his bold visual style, razor-sharp wit and character-driven stories where action is language, not just spectacle. Join us as we revisit the films that cemented his reputation as one of today’s most distinctive filmmakers, culminating in an exclusive advance screening and in-person Q&A for his newest thrill ride, HOW TO ROB A BANK.

Leitch is widely recognized as a pioneer in the action film genre and a tireless advocate for the stunt community. Leitch was the driving force behind the successful multi-year push to establish “Achievement in Stunt Design” as an official Oscar category, which is set to debut at the 100th Oscars ceremony in 2028. Having transitioned from the world’s elite stunt circles to the director’s chair, Leitch made an immediate impact with his 2014 directorial debut, the runaway critical and box-office phenomenon JOHN WICK. Our retrospective highlights Leitch’s refined visual language of the modern action epic, featuring ATOMIC BLONDE (2017), the neon-noir cult favorite thriller starring Charlize Theron; DEADPOOL 2 (2018), the record-breaking Marvel sequel starring Ryan Reynolds; BULLET TRAIN (2022), the ensemble action-comedy starring Brad Pitt and Sandra Bullock; and THE FALL GUY (2024), a love letter to cinema starring Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt. His latest film, HOW TO ROB A BANK, starring Nicholas Hoult, Zoë Kravitz and John C. Reilly, captures the innovative passion and excitement his work has become known for.

Photo via Faye’s Vision/Cover Images.