Phil Joanou

About Phil Joanou

Phil Joanou is a filmmaker with a career spanning features, music videos and commercials, and deep experience in visual storytelling and VFX.

Born and raised in Los Angeles, Phil was discovered by Steven Spielberg, who saw his USC student film and hired him to direct an episode of Amazing Stories that went on to win John Lithgow an Emmy. Spielberg then produced Phil’s first feature, Three O’Clock High. His later films include State of Grace, Final Analysis, Heaven’s Prisoners, Gridiron Gang and the Blumhouse thriller The Veil, as well as the Peabody Award-winning documentary Age 7 in America.

Phil is best known for his long collaboration with U2, directing the concert film U2: Rattle and Hum, which documented the band’s landmark Joshua Tree tour, along with some of their most celebrated music videos, including “One,” “All Because of You,” “Bad” and the MTV Award-winning “When Love Comes to Town.” He has also directed videos for Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey, Bon Jovi, and Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, whose “You Don’t Know How It Feels” earned him a second MTV Award.

Phil brings that cinematic experience to commercial work for clients including Disney, Mercedes, Budweiser, Nike, Coca-Cola, Samsung, Gatorade, NASCAR and ESPN. His work has been recognized by the AICP, D&AD and the Addys, and has earned a Cannes Lion.

Phil Joanou – ACTION

• Fight – Mortal Kombat
• Marina Towers – Allstate
• Horror – Nike
• Green Hornet – Carl's Jr
• Tic-Tac-Toe – Samsung
• Csar – US Air Force

Phil Joanou – COMEDY

• Aaron Rodgers – Bose
• Hidden – Bud Light
• Early Risers – Mercedes
• Conference – Mike's Hard Lemonade
• Pigs – Trojan
• Robots – GM