Movies by Gregory Jacobs

Gregory Jacobs has quietly carved out a distinctive career in Hollywood as a versatile director and producer with a knack for capturing slice-of-life humor and drama. Though he's often worked in the shadow of frequent collaborator Steven Soderbergh, Jacobs has developed his own assured directorial voice, bringing a keen observational eye and a wry, naturalistic touch to a diverse array of projects. Jacobs first garnered attention with the gritty urban thriller Criminal in 2004, displaying a talent for building suspense and developing complex characters. He later demonstrated his versatility with the bittersweet supernatural drama Wind Chill in 2007. However, it was his work on the surprise hit Magic Mike XXL in 2015 that truly showcased Jacobs' ability to blend crowd-pleasing entertainment with insightful social commentary. Tackling the world of male strippers with a refreshingly unsensationalized approach, Jacobs crafted a vibrant, affectionate portrait of working-class camaraderie and masculine identity. More recently, Jacobs has turned his lens to the world of stand-up comedy, directing the acclaimed specials Tom Papa: What a Day! (2022) and Tom Papa: You're Doing Great! (2020). These projects further demonstrate his skill at finding the universal truths and bittersweet humor in the everyday experiences of his subjects. Whether helming a gritty thriller or a lighthearted comedy special, Gregory Jacobs brings a distinctive voice and a keen observational eye to his work, making him a filmmaker worth watching.