Benny Safdie is a name that has resonated with cinephiles over the past decade, not just as an actor, but as a filmmaker with a distinct voice. Emerging first through his collaborations with his brother, Josh Safdie, Benny has now broadened his scope to solo directing and surprising new terrain—including joining the voice cast of the upcoming The Super Mario Galaxy Movie.
In this post, we’ll dive into his journey: from his early New York-indie roots, through his acclaimed work on films like Uncut Gems and The Smashing Machine, and now to his unexpected link to the world of gaming and animation. We’ll also look at how his latest involvement ties to the Nintendo-driven hype around Mario, including the first trailer, Nintendo Direct announcements, and how this fits into the broader pop-culture landscape.
Early Life & Foundations
Born February 24, 1986 in New York City, Benny Safdie comes from a family with artistic and cultural roots. His father Alberto is of Syrian-Jewish descent, his mother Amy of Russian-Jewish descent. He attended Columbia Grammar & Preparatory School and later Boston University.
His early work often overlapped with his brother Josh. Together, they carved out a distinctive aesthetic—gritty, raw, full of kinetic energy and real-world pressure. Their films frequently explore anxiety, risk, urgency, and survival in ways that feel deeply lived-in. The Safdies have been described as part of a new wave of “New Hollywood” indie filmmakers.
Breakthrough Projects & Distinctive Style
Here are some key milestones in Benny’s career:
- Good Time (2017): Directed by Josh and Benny together, starring Robert Pattinson and Benny himself. The film received critical acclaim for its frenetic pace, immersive camera work, and unrelenting tension.
- Uncut Gems (2019): This film is arguably the high point of the Safdie Brothers’ joint work—Adam Sandler gave a career-defining performance, and the Safdies’ style reached mainstream attention. Benny’s editing and acting contributions were integral.
- Transition to solo: More recently, Benny has stepped out to direct solo. His film The Smashing Machine (2025) marks his first directorial solo venture, and it has been recognized with awards (Silver Lion at Venice).
- Acting & versatility: Apart from directing, Benny has continued to act—roles in Oppenheimer (2023) and in television (the series The Curse, 2023-24) show his range.
His style is notable for immersive camera work, raw emotional stakes, a sense of place (often New York), and characters operating at the edges of desperation or transformation. He’s known for searching for authenticity, even if the world he depicts is stylized.
What Makes Benny Safdie’s Work Stand Out
There are several aspects of Benny Safdie’s approach worth highlighting:
- Location & atmosphere: Many of his earlier films are rooted in New York, giving them a sense of lived-in urban anxiety.
- Collaboration & editing: Benny often co‐edits with Ronald Bronstein (especially in the Safdie Brothers era), which gives their films a distinctive rhythm and pacing.
- Character materiality: Whether as actor or director, he’s interested in characters whose identities are under threat, whose environment is unstable, whose resources are limited.
- Transition & reinvention: What’s exciting is not just the style but the way Benny is evolving—from gritty indie to bigger canvas, from actor/director duo to solo artist, and now branching into voice acting for an animated blockbuster. That reinvention is key.
Benny Safdie Meets the Mushroom Kingdom – A Surprise Turn
One of the most intriguing developments in Benny Safdie’s career is his involvement in the upcoming The Super Mario Galaxy Movie. This might seem like a departure—and in many ways it is—but it also reflects his ability to pivot toward new genres and audiences.
What we know so far
- During a recent Nintendo Direct presentation, it was revealed that Brie Larson will voice Princess Rosalina and Benny Safdie will voice Bowser Jr. in The Super Mario Galaxy Movie.
- The trailer for the film dropped on November 12, 2025 and teased a massive intergalactic adventure, built on the legacy of Nintendo’s Super Mario Galaxy video games.
- According to reports, Bowser Jr., as voiced by Safdie, is portrayed with “galactic ambition,” a villain with cosmic stakes.
- The film is set for theatrical release on April 3, 2026.
Why this matters
For fans of Benny Safdie’s earlier work, this casting is noteworthy:
- It signals his entry into mainstream/popular genres (animated blockbuster, family film).
- It hints that he is comfortable leveraging his acting chops in very different modes—from edgy thrillers to playful villainy.
- It broadens his audience. While his directorial work might be revered by cinephiles, his voice role in a Mario film opens him up to younger generations and global markets.
- It showcases his willingness to evolve, which is key for longevity in entertainment.
How Benny Safdie’s Indie Roots Inform His New Role
It might seem odd to connect the gritty real-worldism of Uncut Gems with the cartoonish fun of Mario, but in many ways, they share creative DNA, and Benny’s background informs his new role:
- Attention to character motivation: Even as Bowser Jr., a seemingly light‐hearted character, Safdie will bring depth—an understanding of ambition, pressure, legacy.
- Energy & pacing: The Safdie Brothers’ films thrive on kinetic energy; a Mario film starring Bowser Jr. with Safdie could bring that same momentum but in an animated form.
- Risk & audience reward: In his indie work, Safdie often takes risks—hard subject matter, unconventional storytelling. His move into voice acting in a blockbuster is a different kind of risk: stepping out of comfort zone and into a genre where many people will see him.
- Visual sensibility: His experience behind the camera likely gives him a richer understanding of how his voice work fits into animation, pacing, scene composition—he’s not just another actor, but a filmmaker’s actor.
The Broader Landscape: Mario, Trailer & What’s Next
The fact that Benny Safdie is linked to the Mario universe via The Super Mario Galaxy Movie opens up several interesting angles:
- The Mario franchise is massive: The first film, The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023), grossed over $1 billion worldwide. The sequel is highly anticipated.
- The Super Mario Galaxy video game(s) are iconic, and this film plays off that heritage. The trailer shows cosmic travel, planets, a higher scale for the franchise.
- The Nintendo Direct reveal underscores how video-game IP and film are increasingly intertwined, and how casting choices matter for marketing and fan engagement. Benny Safdie lends credibility outside of typical voice casting choices.
- For Safdie, this role opens the possibility of branching into animation, voice work, and perhaps more collaboration with mainstream studios.
What’s Next for Benny Safdie?
Given his trajectory so far, here are the things to watch:
- Solo directing track: With The Smashing Machine now released (2025) and acknowledged, his next directorial steps will matter—what genres, what budgets, what themes.
- Acting diversification: His voice role in Mario may open doors for more animation or voice work; also his live-action acting continues to grow.
- Cross-genre shifts: Benny seems interested in switching gears (from gritty indie to blockbuster). How far will he go? Will he return to his roots occasionally?
- Collaborations: Whether he’ll continue working with his brother Josh, or maintain his separate path, is something many observers will track.
- Creator & producer role: As his reputation grows, he may take on more producing or mentorship roles—shaping other stories beyond his own.
Final Thoughts
Benny Safdie is a filmmaker’s filmmaker—but one who never stops evolving. From the brutal streets of New York in Good Time and Uncut Gems, to stepping into the cosmos as Bowser Jr. in The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, his career reflects diversity, ambition, and fearless reinvention.
For readers and movie-lovers in the U.S. and beyond: Keep an eye on Safdie—not just what he’s doing (a Mario movie!), but how he’s doing it: moving from the fringes to the mainstream, while maintaining an undercurrent of authenticity and edge.
If you thought you knew Benny Safdie from his indie roots, think again: the galaxy awaits.
Recent news on Benny Safdie and Mario movie
