Ari Aster

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Lore & Background

Aster's filmmaking style focuses on the unraveling of self rather than simple jump scares. His works explore unresolved grief, familial trauma, and deep psychological deterioration, often juxtaposing vividly bright imagery with visceral violence. Hereditary was filmed to look like a dollhouse, Midsommar utilized idyllic Swedish mountains, and Beau Is Afraid featured child-like animation sequences. This approach creates an atmosphere where the human element remains central even in terrifying scenarios. His thesis film, The Strange Thing About the Johnsons (2011), premiered at Slamdance before leaking online and going viral due to comments ranging from acclaim to vitriol. He conceived the story while discussing taboos with friends. Aster's pivot away from horror began in June 2020 when he described his next project as a four-hour nightmare comedy. This led to Beau Is Afraid (originally titled Disappointment Blvd.), which followed an anxious man on a surreal odyssey. Despite mixed reviews criticizing its length, the film showcased his willingness to experiment with genre boundaries.

In Their Own Story

In June 2019, Aster and Danish producer Lars Knudsen launched Square Peg, expanding their slate to include films by Kantemir Balagov, Guy Maddin, Don Hertzfeldt, and Sebastián Silva. The company also adapted J. G. Ballard's The Drowned World, Nick Drnaso's Acting Class, and Junji Ito's Uzumaki. Aster signed a first-look TV deal with A24 in 2021 and re-teamed to produce Kristoffer Borgli's Dream Scenario starring Nicolas Cage. His feature Eddington (2025) was set in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic and George Floyd protests, examining political turmoil in a fictional New Mexico town over a contested mayoral election between a sheriff and mayor. It debuted May 16, 2025, at Cannes before a July 18 theatrical release. Critics found its satire lacking despite praising its ambition. Reflecting on the commercial failure of Beau Is Afafa, which earned $10 million against a $35 million budget, Aster stated in 2025: "I was pretty sad that it was so maligned […] it was a bummer. It lost money." He admitted he would do things differently and noted, "I think I ejected a number of people from the theater with that [last hour]."

Reader's Guide

Aster's journey began in Princeton, New Jersey, moving to NYC at one week old before settling in Santa Fe at age ten after time in England. Describing himself as a "fat kid with a stutter" who was kicked out of Santa Fe Preparatory School, he found solace in film and Leonard Maltin's Movie Guide. At four, he saw Dick Tracy (1990) and ran six blocks in fear after a machine gun scene. He wrote six feature screenplays in high school before attending the College of Santa Fe, graduating in 2008. There, he made short films and wrote for the Weekly Alibi arts magazine. After earning an MFA at the AFI Conservatory (class of 2010), he directed The Strange Thing About the Johnsons. His feature debut, Hereditary (2018), grossed over $90 million on a $10 million budget, becoming A24's highest-grossing film worldwide at release. Toni Collette received particular praise for her performance. Midsommar (2019) followed a group of students in Sweden encountering a pagan cult every 90 years. Released July 3, it garnered positive reviews for Florence Pugh and Aster's direction. An original 171-minute cut premiered at the Film Society of Lincoln Center on August 20, earning him a Best Screenplay nomination at the 29th Gotham Independent Film Awards.

Did You Know?

• Aster saw Dick Tracy (1990) at age four and ran six New York City blocks in fear after a machine gun scene.
• His thesis film, The Strange Thing About the Johnsons (2011), premiered at Slamdance before leaking online and going viral.
• Hereditary grossed over $90 million on a $10 million budget, but it was not A24's highest-grossing film worldwide at the time of its release—both 'Lady Bird' (2017) and 'Moonlight' (2016) had higher worldwide grosses.
• The original cut of Midsommar was 171 minutes long; Aster trimmed it for wide theatrical release.
• Midsommar was a box office success, grossing $47 million worldwide against a $9 million budget.

Early Life and Influences

Born to Jewish parents in Princeton, New Jersey on July 15, 1986, Aster moved to New York City when he was about a week old. His mother was a poet and his father a jazz musician who opened a nightclub in Chester, England. The family returned to the U.S. when Ari was 10, settling in Santa Fe, New Mexico. He described himself as a "fat kid with a stutter" who felt alienated and was kicked out of Santa Fe Preparatory School. Obsessed with films, Leonard Maltin's Movie Guide, and Hastings Video Store, he saw Dick Tracy (1990) at age four, running six blocks after a machine gun scene. He wrote six feature-length screenplays in high school before studying film at the College of Santa Fe, graduating in 2008.

Breakthrough in Horror Cinema

Aster was accepted into the AFI Conservatory's 2010 class, earning an MFA in directing. His thesis film, The Strange Thing About the Johnsons (2011), a short psychological horror about incest, premiered at Slamdance before leaking online and going viral. He made his feature debut with Hereditary (2018), which premiered at Sundance and grossed over $90 million on a $10 million budget, becoming A24's highest-grossing film worldwide at the time. Toni Collette's performance was widely praised. His next film, Midsommar (2019), followed students in Sweden encountering a pagan cult. Released July 3, it received positive reviews for Aster's direction and Florence Pugh's acting. An original 171-minute cut premiered at the Film Society of Lincoln Center on August 20. For this work, he was nominated for Best Screenplay at the 29th Gotham Independent Film Awards.

Business Ventures and Genre Pivot

In June 2019, Aster co-founded Square Peg with Lars Knudsen. In February 2021, A24 announced Beau Is Afafa (2023), a surrealist comedy-drama originally titled Disappointment Blvd., following an anxious man on a surreal odyssey. Released April 21, it starred Joaquin Phoenix. Aster also wrote and directed Eddington (2025), a satirical neo-Western thriller set in 2020 during the pandemic and George Floyd protests, focusing on a contested mayoral election in fictional Eddington, New Mexico.

Commercial Challenges and Reflection

Beau Is Afafa received mixed reviews; critics praised the direction and performance but criticized its length. It earned around $10 million against a $35 million budget, losing the studio over $35 million. In 2025, Aster called it "a bummer" that lost money and noted he would do things differently, stating he "ejected a number of people from the theater." Eddington debuted May 16, 2025, at Cannes and released July 18. It received mixed reviews, with critics praising its ambition but finding its satire lacking. Both films failed to recoup their budgets.