Brian Robbins


Brian Robbins is an American film producer, director, and studio executive. He was the Co-CEO of Paramount Global from 2024 to 2025; President and Chief Executive Officer of Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon from 2021 to 2025 and 2018 to 2025 respectively; and Chief Content Officer, Movies & Kids & Family, Paramount+ until his departure from the company after the completion of the merger between Paramount Global and Skydance Media. As President & CEO of Paramount Pictures, Robbins oversaw the filmed entertainment division's creative strategy and worldwide business operations including Paramount Pictures, Paramount Animation, Paramount Home Entertainment, Paramount Pictures International, Paramount Licensing Inc., and Paramount Studio Group. In early 2026, he founded the animation company Big Shot Pictures, with backing from Sony Pictures.

Early life

Robbins was born on November 22, 1963 in New York City and raised in the Marine Park, Brooklyn, neighborhood. Robbins was born to a Jewish family. His father was the actor Floyd Levine. When he was 14, he moved with his family to Los Angeles. He graduated from Grant High School in 1982.

Career

Following his father into acting, Robbins made his television debut on an episode of Trapper John, M.D. He guest starred on a number of television series and had a recurring role on General Hospital. As an actor, he became known for his role as Eric Mardian on the ABC sitcom Head of the Class. He also hosted the children's version of the game show Pictionary in 1989. In the 1990s, Robbins started producing the show All That and its spin-offs on Nickelodeon. He has produced several sports films including Coach Carter and Hardball. He produced Smallville and also One Tree Hill. He has often collaborated with producer Michael Tollin. Robbins is the founder of AwesomenessTV, a YouTube channel aimed at teenagers. The channel spun off into a television series, on which Robbins served as executive producer. DreamWorks Animation acquired the company in 2013. On February 22, 2017, following NBCUniversal/Comcast's acquisition of DreamWorks Animation, Robbins resigned as AwesomenessTV's CEO, ending his five-year run with the company.
Robbins first joined Paramount in 2017 as the first president of Paramount Players, after which he became president of Nickelodeon in 2018, and then president of Kids & Family Entertainment, for Viacom. On October 1, 2018, shortly after being appointed as president of Nickelodeon, he resigned his position as the president of Paramount Players, ending his 16-month run at the studio. Despite leaving the studio, he remained involved with Paramount Players division Nickelodeon Movies.
Robbins became head of Paramount Pictures in September 2021. In this role, he is focused on driving Paramount's multi-platform strategy and theatrical success through a diversified portfolio of films. Robbins is also at the forefront of securing strategic filmmaker partnerships to expand the studio's global franchise business across live-action features, animation, consumer products and themed entertainment.
As President and CEO of Paramount Pictures alongside from his dual role at Nick, Brian Robbins has overseen the expansion and revitalization of well-known franchises from Nick and Paramount Pictures such as Transformers, Sonic [the Hedgehog (film)|Sonic the Hedgehog], Mission: Impossible, A Quiet Place, Scream, SpongeBob SquarePants, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and PAW Patrol, with the latter two receiving a combined $2.5 billion in consumer products revenue in 2023 alone. Robbins has emphasized allowing intellectual property-driven brands to drive other lines of business, particularly consumer products. Robbins has been instrumental in leading a multi-platform franchise strategy including greenlighting both a third Sonic The Hedgehog film and the spinoff series Knuckles. Most recently, Sonic the Hedgehog 3 surpassed the $405 million box office record of the previous film and the film franchise surpassed $1.2 billion in worldwide box office gross across its three movies. Following its debut, Knuckles, in its first 28 days streaming on Paramount+, received over 11 million total global hours and is the most-watched children's and family series on Paramount+ in terms of hours.
Under Robbins' tenure, Paramount Pictures has received over $6 billion in worldwide box office gross and had numerous number 1 hits, including Top Gun: Maverick. In 2024, Robbins oversaw the theatrical release of five number 1 openings, including Sonic the Hedgehog 3, Smile 2, Bob Marley: One Love, Mean Girls, and IF.
Robbins has been recognized for his strategic approach to theatrical release windows relative to streaming. As an example of this, he shifted the release strategy of Smile from streaming to theatrical, with Smile becoming the top-grossing original horror film of that year and becoming the studio's third most profitable film in a decade. Robbins has also strengthened Paramount Animation and Paramount's consumer products division through the success of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and PAW Patrol. Robbins has emphasized allowing intellectual property-driven properties to drive other lines of business, particularly consumer products.
On April 29, 2024, Robbins, along with George Cheeks and Chris McCarthy, became co-CEOs of Paramount Global after Bob Bakish resigned from his role.
Robbins is a board member of the Motion Picture Association; a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences; sits on the board of trustees for the AFI and is the recipient of a Directors Guild Award, a Peabody Award, and the Pioneer Prize from the International Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.
Following the merger of Skydance Media and Paramount Global, Robbins stepped down from his positions within Paramount and Nickelodeon. In January 2026, it was announced that Robbins was creating a new animation studio titled Big Shot Pictures, managing to acquire a first look deal with Sony Pictures.

Personal life

He married publicist Laura Cathcart and they had two sons together before divorcing in 2013. He married stylist Tracy James in 2014. They have a daughter, and live with his sons in the Hancock Park neighborhood of Los Angeles.

Filmography

Film

Producer onlySummer Catch Big Fat Liar Radio Coach Carter Wild Hogs The To Do List Before I Fall Bigger Fatter Liar The Loud House Movie
Acting roles
YearTitleRole
1988Cellar DwellerPhillip Lemley
1989C.H.U.D. II: Bud the C.H.U.D.Steve Williams

Television

Executive producer onlyThe Amanda Show Smallville The Nick Cannon Show What I Like About You One Tree Hill Crumbs Sonny with a Chance Fred: The Movie So Random! AwesomenessTV
Thanks creditsAre You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? The Loud House SpongeBob SquarePants Middle School Moguls Blaze and the Monster Machines Are You Afraid of the Dark? The Casagrandes Blue's Clues & You! It's Pony Glitch Techs Santiago of the Seas Baby Shark's Big Show! Kamp Koral: SpongeBob's Under Years Rugrats The Patrick Star Show Middlemost Post
Acting roles
YearTitleRoleNotes
1982Harper Valley PTACharlie's NephewEpisode: "The Return of Charlie's Chow Palace"
1982Archie Bunker's PlaceDanny FergusonEpisode: "Double Date"
1982The Facts of LifeBenEpisode: "For the Asking"
1982TaxiYoung ManEpisode: "Alex the Gofer"
1983Teachers OnlyVinnie MinettiEpisodes: "Praise the Lord and Pasta Ammunition" and "Rex, the Wonder Husband"
1983Three's CompanyMark FurleyEpisode: "Janet's Little Helper"
1983Knight RiderRandy MerrittEpisode: "Soul Survivor"
1984Diff'rent StrokesSkyhighEpisode: "Undercover Lover"
1984NewhartRobEpisode: "The Fan"
1985Charles in ChargeTodd BaldwinEpisode: "Mr. President"
1985Growing PainsMitchEpisode: "Dirt Bike"
1986The GladiatorJeff BentonTV movie
1986Mr. BelvedereEricEpisode: "The Dropout"
1986–1991Head of the ClassEric Mardian114 episodes
1987Kids IncorporatedBrianEpisode: "Win a Date with Renee"
1990Camp CucamongaRoger BergTV movie
1992Full HouseDavid JanolariEpisodes: "Captain Video: Part 1" and "Captain Video: Part 2"
1997Kenan & KelRisottoEpisode: "Safe and Sorry"