- Born
- Nickname
- Rif Coogan
- Adam Rifkin is a Writer/Director whose eclectic career ranges from broad family comedies to cult classics to dark and gritty dramas. Most recently, Rifkin Wrote and Directed THE LAST MOVIE STAR, a poignant drama starring Burt Reynolds, Ariel Winter and Chevy Chase. The critically acclaimed film premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival where it was bought and released by A24. Rifkin also Directed DIRECTOR'S CUT, a wild and twisted meta-thriller penned by iconic illusionist and comedian, Penn Jillette of Penn & Teller. DIRECTOR'S CUT was the opening night film of the 2016 Slamdance Film Festival and was released by Epic Pictures under their new, DREAD CENTRAL PRESENTS, horror banner. Additionally, Rifkin Directed GIUSEPPE MAKES A MOVIE, an outrageous yet touching documentary about trailer park filmmaker Giuseppe Andrews and the misfit family of homeless people he's assembled to perform in all of his bizarre yet heartfelt movies. GIUSEPPE MAKES A MOVIE holds a coveted 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Previously, Rifkin Wrote and Directed the award winning film LOOK, a controversial drama that takes us into the foreboding world of surveillance and explores the conceit that the average American is captured on camera at least 300 times a day. Adam also Executive Produced LOOK: The Series for Showtime. The stand alone limited series enjoyed the highest ratings in its time slot in Showtime's history. Rifkin earned cult status when his film THE DARK BACKWARD was named one of the top ten films of its year by The New York Post. He would then be immortalized as the director responsible for New Line Cinema's DETROIT ROCK CITY, a bona fide cult classic that continues to speak to and inspire generations of rock fans around the world. Rifkin gained critical recognition for NIGHT AT THE GOLDEN EAGLE. The dark drama was an official selection of the London Film Festival and opened to rave reviews. An A-list screenwriter, Rifkin has a penchant for family fare. He wrote UNDERDOG for Walt Disney Studios, a tent pole comedy based on the iconic 1960's cartoon show, ZOOM, starring Tim Allen and two hits for DreamWorks, MOUSEHUNT and SMALL SOLDIERS. His next foray into family entertainment will be PEEPS, a Lego Movie-esque animated feature he'll write and produce based on the icon PEEPS candies.- IMDb Mini Biography By: Originally by Peas and Onions, edited in 2012 by Reid Harris Cooper
- At 21 Rifkin was hired by 20th Century Fox to write and direct Return of the Planet of the Apes, which he compared to Halloween (2018) on the Best Movies Never Made podcast. In Rifkin's original script the ape empire had reached its Roman era and the film was going to feel very much like Spartacus with primates. The studio loved Rifkin's draft but several days before pre-production was to commence the head of the studio was fired and the project was shelved. Subsequently the project changed many hands including Oliver Stone, Chris Columbus, James Cameron and eventually Tim Burton.
- Basis for character "Adam Rafkin" on the show "Action" (1999) .
- John Faverau played Adam in the film love and sex which was a based on Adam Rifkin and writer director Valerie Breiman's real life 3 year relationship. Famke Jensen plays the role based on Breiman.
- Using his background as a cartoonist Rifkin designed the movie poster for the caveman comedy "Encino Man" as a favor to Hollywood Pictures President Ricardo Mestres. Coincidently 15 years later Rifkin wrote, directed and starred in his own caveman comedy "Homo Erectus".
- He wanted to start a magazine about unmade movies.
- An Adam Rifkin movie is really a movie that I think of as a career movie. Rif Coogan movies are more for fun, my own personal edification, and for practice.
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