EXCLUSIVE: Acquisition news out today will have comedy fans giving thanks — Thank You Very Much, the documentary about the late Andy Kaufman, has been picked up by Drafthouse Films.
The film directed by Emmy winner Alex Braverman is presented by Morgan Neville’s Tremolo Productions, Elara Pictures, and Jenifer Westphal’s Wavelength. The acquisition deal covers North American theatrical and digital rights; Drafthouse plans an early 2025 release in select cities, followed by a digital release on select streaming platforms. Thank You Very Much premiered at the 80th Venice Film Festival last year — where it won the Venice Classics Award for Best Documentary – followed by a U.S. premiere at the Telluride Film Festival.
“THANK YOU VERY MUCH traces the life and career of legendary performance artist Andy Kaufman, exploring the enigmatic legend’s gonzo, boundary-shattering comedy which provoked and often outraged audiences,” notes a synopsis. “The film reveals a nuanced understanding of what drove the mercurial performer, who inspired an entire generation of offbeat comedians and entertainers after him. The film includes rare, never before seen footage and audio recordings that shed new light on Kaufman’s creative process; including newly uncovered archival footage and intimate recollections of friends, colleagues, and family members, and interviews with Kaufman’s closest collaborators such as Bob Zmuda, Lynne Margulies, Steve Martin, Danny DeVito, and Marilu Henner. THANK YOU VERY MUCH excavates the all-too-short life and career of a comedy iconoclast whose impact is felt all the more today with the blurring of artifice and reality that defines our present age.”
In addition to Venice and Telluride, the documentary has screened at CPH:DOX in Copenhagen, DOC NYC, the Santa Barbara International Film Festival, and the Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival in Arkansas, among other leading festivals.
Director Alex Braverman poses with the Venice Classics Award for Best Documentary for ‘Thank You Very Much’ at the Venice Film Festival
Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images
“I’ve been obsessed with Andy Kaufman my entire life. He’s the most thrilling, enigmatic performer and we can feel his influence across our entertainment, art, and politics – today more than ever,” said Braverman, who directed and produced the film. “It’s a great privilege and a joy to be able to share my vision of his life and work with audiences on the big screen.”
Producing along with Braverman are Tremolo Productions’ Lauren Belfer, and Wavelength’s Joe Plummer. Executive producers include Morgan Neville, Caitrin Rogers, Josh Safdie, Benny Safdie, Ronald Bronstein, Chuck Braverman (who produced Kaufman’s 1979 special Andy Kaufman Plays Carnegie Hall), record producer Rick Rubin, and Wavelength’s Jenifer Westphal.
“Andy Kaufman is a singular figure in our culture and Alex has made a brilliant film that helps our understanding of Andy, while somehow deepening the mystery,” Neville said in a statement. “All the great partners on this project—Wavelength, Elara Pictures and Rick [Rubin]—worked to help spread the gospel of Andy. Let the word carry.”
Giant Pictures’ Shayna Weingast negotiated the acquisition deal with Jessica Lacy of Range Media Partners for Thank You Very Much.
Andy Kaufman (1949 – 1984) performs onstage in Chicago, September 17, 1978
Paul Natkin/Getty Images
“THANK YOU VERY MUCH is a testament to Kaufman’s timeless impact on comedy and culture that affirms his status as a visionary whose body of work continues to resonate,” said Weingast, Giant Pictures’ content acquisitions manager. “Braverman paints a nuanced and comprehensive portrait that’s sure to satisfy both novices seeking an introduction and lifelong fans hoping to deepen their understanding of the man behind the enigmatic façade. The Drafthouse team is thrilled to have this opportunity to honor and celebrate Kaufman’s artistic legacy.”
Credits of Wavelength, the production studio based in New York and London, include the major box office hit Won’t You Be My Neighbor?, Oscar-shortlisted 32 Sounds, Emmy winners Art & Krimes By Krimes, Feels Good Man, and Athlete A, as well as the narrative film On Swift Horses, starring Daisy Edgar-Jones and Jacob Elordi, which just premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival.
“We are thrilled to once again partner with Drafthouse Films, following our recent collaboration on CHOP & STEELE, to bring Andy Kaufman’s remarkable story to audiences,” said Jenifer Westphal, Founder, CEO, and executive producer at Wavelength. “THANK YOU VERY MUCH offers an intimate and fresh perspective on an iconic artist whose influence continues to shape today’s comedic landscape, and we’re excited to share this definitive documentary with the world.”
