Trivia

Has a private bathroom designed to look like a public bathroom, complete with stalls and urinals in his house in New York.

Has stated in many interviews that before making Men in Black (1997) he was considering doing a live-action film version of The Jetsons (1962). With Jim Carrey playing George Jetson and Nicole Kidman playing Jane Jetson.

Started his career as a cinematographer in porn films. He's quoted in the January 26, 1998 Newsweek magazine (page 60) saying that he was depressed when he heard that Boogie Nights (1997) was being made (a film about making pornos) because he had wanted to make a movie about the time he shot 9 feature length pornos in nine days.

Was offered the job of directing Forrest Gump (1994), but declined. The job then went to Robert Zemeckis, who won an Academy Award for it.

One of his most embarrassing moments occurred at the age of 16 on January 29, 1970, while he was attending his first concert, the Winter Festival for Peace at Madison Square Garden. His mother had the PA announcer say, "Barry Sonnenfeld. Call your mother," which he found out was because he was twenty minutes past his 2:00 am curfew. He used the line as the title of his 2020 memoir.

Nephew of Vaudeville and screen comedian Gus Schilling, whose voice likeness he inherited genetically.

Was uninjured when a private jet he was travelling in collided with five empty 'planes after a rough landing in Van Nuys, California. (February 16, 1999)

Was at one time attached to direct The Heartbreak Kid (2007).

Was set to direct Fun with Dick and Jane (2005), but bowed out citing personal reasons.

Stepfather of Amelia A. Erwitt (born in 1981).

NYU Film School Assistant to Elliott Erwitt.

Father of Chloe Sonnenfeld.