Michael Ritchie

1938–2001 · American film director

Michael Brunswick Ritchie was an American film director, producer, and writer of films with comical or satirical leanings, such as The Candidate (1972) and Smile (1975). He scored commercial successes directing sports films like Downhill Racer (1969) and The Bad News Bears (1976), and comedies like Chevy Chase's Fletch (1985) and Eddie Murphy's The Golden Child (1986).

Michael Ritchie, in order

1. 1965 Run for Your Life (TV series): directed
2. 1969 Downhill Racer: directed
3. 1972 Film: The Art Of The Impossible (short film): directed
4. 1972 Prime Cut: directed
5. 1972 The Candidate: directed
6. 1975 Smile: directed, produced
7. 1976 The Bad News Bears: directed
8. 1977 Semi-Tough: directed
9. 1979 An Almost Perfect Affair: directed
10. 1980 Divine Madness: directed
11. 1980 The Island: directed
12. 1981 Student Bodies: directed
13. 1983 The Survivors: directed
14. 1985 Fletch: directed · critics 81%, audiences 81% · streaming on Prime Video
15. 1986 The Golden Child: directed
16. 1986 Wildcats: directed
17. 1988 The Couch Trip: directed
18. 1989 Fletch Lives: directed
19. 1992 Diggstown: directed
20. 1992 Innocent Blood: acted · directed by John Landis
21. 1993 The Positively True Adventures of the Alleged Texas Cheerleader-Murdering Mom (TV movie): directed
22. 1994 Cops & Robbersons: directed
23. 1994 The Scout: directed · critics 32%, audiences 21%
24. 1995 The Fantasticks: directed
25. 1997 A Simple Wish: directed
26. 1999 Beggars and Choosers (TV series): directed