Academy-Award-winning duo Daniels are comprised of two guys named Daniel. Daniel grew up in Massachusetts and began working in animation and graphics when, one day, he met Daniel. Daniel is from Alabama and comes from a comedy and theater background. Together they direct, edit, create special effects, and, when necessary, act, dance, and even stunt double. They have a penchant for weird dramas and straight-faced comedies; self-aware, honest stories that tear themselves apart and show audiences something new and exciting.
The duo initially gained attention with their boundary-busting music videos, including Foster the People’s “Houdini” which was nominated for a Grammy, Manchester Orchestra’s “Simple Math” (UK MVA winner for Video of the Year), and DJ Snake x Lil’ Jon’s “Turn Down for What”, winner of the MTV VMA for Best Direction (which has over a billion views to date). They have won the Cannes Lions Grand Prix, Gold, Silver, and Bronze Ciclopes, and Yellow Pencils from D&AD.
In addition to their radical music videos, Daniels has taken their visionary approach to commercials, directing spots for Levi’s, Toyota, Weetabix, and Delta, among many others. Their Instagram micro-series “Spring Is Weird” for Gap, starring Jenny Slate and Paul Dano, won Silver in the 2015 Cannes Lions mobile category, Gold at the 2015 Shots Awards, and a 2016 AICP Next Award. In 2016, Daniels directed a high-profile ad for Nike’s “Unlimited” campaign, which aired during the Rio Olympics and stars numerous professional athletes, including Serena Williams, Kevin Durant, Giancarlo Stanton, and Mo Farah.
The directing duo has helmed episodes of Children’s Hospital, as well as NTSF:SD:SUV:: for Adult Swim. In 2014, they released Interesting Ball, a series of surreal vignettes presented in collaboration with Dazed Digital. The short film was an official selection at the 2015 SXSW and Los Angeles Film Festival. Daniels followed up with Possibilia, a groundbreaking interactive short film commissioned for Xbox Live, which Daniels describes as “a love story set in the multiverse.” The film premiered at the 2014 Tribeca Film Festival, took home the top prize at the Future of Storytelling conference, and was featured in the New Frontier exhibit at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival.
Daniels’ first feature film, Swiss Army Man, starring Paul Dano and Daniel Radcliffe, premiered to wide critical acclaim at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival and won the U.S. Dramatic Directing Award. It made its theatrical debut in the summer of 2016 and was later distributed worldwide by A24. They returned to Sundance in 2020 as co-directors of the anthology comedy Omniboat: A Fast Boat Fantasia.
Their latest feature film, Everything Everywhere All at Once, has received near-universal acclaim for its vision and ingenuity. It has grossed roughly $107 million worldwide, becoming A24’s first film to cross $100 million. The film went on to receive 11 Oscar nominations and win 7 – including Best Director and Best Picture.
