Josh and Benny Safdie’s split stunned the indie film world when it was announced in 2023, ending one of the most celebrated directing partnerships of the past decade. At the time, the brothers framed the breakup as a mutual decision to pursue separate creative paths. Now, new industry chatter is complicating that narrative and reviving uncomfortable questions about what may have happened behind the scenes years earlier.
Recent reports have linked the Safdies’ fallout to an alleged incident during the production of their 2017 breakout film, Good Time. While the claims remain unverified and no legal action has ever been taken, the renewed attention has reignited debate about accountability and on-set ethics, particularly in independent filmmaking environments.
The Safdie brothers built their reputation on gritty, high-energy films that felt raw and unfiltered. Good Time, starring Robert Pattinson, marked their breakthrough moment, followed by Uncut Gems in 2019, which cemented their status as indie powerhouses. Their sudden decision to stop co-directing came as a shock to fans and industry insiders alike.
Benny Safdie later confirmed in interviews that the partnership had ended, though he stopped short of offering detailed explanations and expressed uncertainty about whether the brothers would ever collaborate again. Since the split, both have moved forward independently, with Josh directing Marty Supreme and Benny focusing on a mix of directing and acting projects.
According to multiple entertainment reports, the tension may trace back to a scene filmed during Good Time involving a then-17-year-old actress and actor Buddy Duress. Sources claim the footage raised concerns about on-set supervision and conduct and was ultimately removed from the final cut. No complaints were filed at the time, and the allegations have never been substantiated.
Industry insiders suggest the issue may have resurfaced years later, becoming a point of disagreement between the brothers long after the film’s release. Accounts differ on when each brother became aware of the details and how responsibility was handled, adding to the uncertainty surrounding the split.
Neither Josh nor Benny Safdie has publicly addressed the specific allegations, and their representatives have not issued statements responding to the reports. As Hollywood continues to confront broader questions about safeguarding, transparency, and ethics on set, the Safdies’ breakup has become a flashpoint in ongoing conversations about how unresolved issues can fracture even the most successful creative partnerships.
