Justin Kuritzkes

Biography

Justin Kuritzkes is an American writer who has rapidly emerged as one of the most distinctive voices in contemporary cinema, known for crafting intense, structurally ambitious narratives that explore complex romantic and psychological dynamics.

🌟 Biography and Background

Born in Los Angeles, California, in 1990, Kuritzkes's writing roots are in theater and literature. He attended Brown University, where he studied philosophy and literary arts. Before his cinematic breakthrough, he spent a decade working as a playwright and novelist in New York, a period he credits with grounding his storytelling skills. His literary background includes the 2019 novel Famous People and numerous plays developed and produced at various prestigious theaters. He is married to acclaimed filmmaker Celine Song.

🎬 Screenwriting Career and Style

Kuritzkes transitioned into screenwriting with spectacular success, forming a key collaboration with director Luca Guadagnino. His work is noted for its sharp dialogue, non-linear structures, and unflinching examination of desire and obsession.

Challengers (2024): This original screenplay marked his feature film debut and became a pop culture phenomenon. The script, which uses the mechanics of a tennis match to mirror the dramatic tension of a long-running love triangle, was praised for its intricate structure and electric exploration of power, ambition, and "unsynchronized love."

Queer (2024): A starkly different project, this was his adaptation of the William S. Burroughs novel. Kuritzkes's screenplay adapted the novel's internal monologue and hallucinatory sequences into a film that explores a troubled American expatriate's obsession with a younger man in 1950s Mexico City.

His ability to write two tonally distinct but thematically connected films—both released in the same year—cemented his status as a versatile and in-demand writer. He brings a playwright's meticulous focus on character and dialogue to the cinematic medium, resulting in screenplays that are emotionally layered and intellectually provocative. His breakthrough script for Challengers was initially recognized on the annual Black List, which showcases the best unproduced screenplays in Hollywood.