His first main film as a director was Citizen Ruth as a satire on the abortion debate. Three years later he released Election which is a mix of comedy and satire on the process. In About Schmidt he directed a strong performance from Jack Nicholson. In 2004 he directed Sideways which he was nominated for an Oscar and his most successful film. There was a gap before The Descendents in 2011 for which he ws again nominated for an Oscar for best director. He won best director for Nebraska.which he filmed in black and white. In 2017 he released Downsizing which is a saitre about wealth and the environment.
