Josh Gad Takes Girls to ‘Say Anything’ Screening
Star shares a classic film lesson with daughters, tagging iconic Say Anything cast in joy!
Image: Instagram
Actor Josh Gad is turning family movie night into a hands-on film lesson. Late last evening, Gad posted a snapshot on Instagram showing himself alongside his two daughters and some of cinema’s most beloved iconoclasts from the 1989 classic, Say Anything.
Gad’s caption read: “Tonight’s Gad girls education in cinema. @johncusack @ioneskyelee @lilittaylor @itspetergabriel #sayanything PERFECTION.” The post tagged John Cusack, Ione Skye, Lili Taylor and even Peter Gabriel, who famously contributed the song “In Your Eyes” to Cameron Crowe’s breakout romantic dramedy.
Teaching Cinema 101
Say Anything, released in April 1989, marked Cameron Crowe’s directorial debut and turned John Cusack’s character, Lloyd Dobler, into an unlikely ’80s heartthrob. Gad clearly wanted his girls to understand why the film still resonates today. The boombox scene—where Dobler serenades Skyes’s character, Diane Court—has become shorthand for grand romantic gestures in pop-culture lore.
By tagging Skye, Cusack and Taylor (who played Lloyd’s sardonic sister), Gad underscored each actor’s role in shaping a modern classic. And Peter Gabriel’s cameo in the closing credits lends the film its musical heartbeat—one that Gad’s daughters will now associate with this special father-daughter outing.
A Night To Remember
In his Instagram snapshot, Gad beams as he stands between Ione Skye and Lili Taylor, while his daughters clutch popcorn buckets and beam with excitement. The image serves as a reminder that—even in an era of streaming and short attention spans—there’s still magic in experiencing a film on the big screen.
Gad married actress Ida Darvish in 2008, and the couple welcomed daughters Ava (born 2017) and Esme (born 2020). Both children have already appeared in their father’s social media feed, but this cinematic field trip marks their first documented deep dive into Hollywood history alongside some of its original stars.
Beyond baby-wearing roles and animated hits like Frozen (2013), Gad has always been an outspoken champion of storytelling. He recently voiced Beast in Disney’s live-action Beauty and the Beast (2017) and starred in The Wedding Ringer (2015), but it’s clear he still treasures the films that first inspired him.
Whether Gad’s daughters will grow up quoting “I gave her my heart,” remains to be seen. What’s undeniable is that this evening reunited a beloved ’80s ensemble for one more perfect moment—captured by Josh Gad for film fans and future cinephiles alike.
As Gad continues to juggle busy projects on stage and screen, he’s reminded us that family time—and sharing the stories that moved us—remains at the heart of his persona. His “Gad girls education” series may just be getting started.
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