Cary Woods is an American film producer whose career spans major studio and independent productions, television, and documentary filmmaking. He began as an agent at the William Morris Agency, held a senior position at Sony Pictures, produced under deals at Sony and Miramax/Disney, and founded Independent Pictures.

Woods began his career at the William Morris Agency, representing actors Uma Thurman, Charlie Sheen, Matt Dillon, Jennifer Connelly, Milla Jovovich, and Gregory Peck; filmmakers Gus Van Sant, Michael Lehmann, and Todd Solondz; writers Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio; and comedians Sam Kinison, Gilbert Gottfried, Andrew Dice Clay, Sandra Bernhard, Tommy Davidson, and Jackie Mason. That roster would prove to be a preview of the producer Woods became, recognizing talent early and often before the wider industry did.

Woods was hired by Peter Guber, one of the industry's most prominent executives, as Vice President in the Office of the Chairman at Sony Pictures, a position inside studio-level decision-making that marked his move from agent to executive. He then entered a three-year production deal at Sony. Films from that deal include So I Married an Axe Murderer, starring Mike Myers in his first film after Wayne's World; Rudy, frequently cited among the best sports movies ever made; and Only You, directed by Norman Jewison.

Woods next held a production deal at Miramax/Disney. Films from this period include Kids, the directing debut of Larry Clark, written by Harmony Korine and introducing Chloë Sevigny and Rosario Dawson; Swingers, Doug Liman's breakout feature, starring Jon Favreau and Vince Vaughn; Citizen Ruth, the directing debut of Alexander Payne; Wide Awake, M. Night Shyamalan's first studio film; Cop Land, written and directed by James Mangold, starring Sylvester Stallone, Robert De Niro, Harvey Keitel, and Ray Liotta; and Scream, which launched a franchise that has grossed over $1 billion.

Woods founded Independent Pictures, producing Gummo, Harmony Korine's directing debut, which Bernardo Bertolucci called "the one truly revolutionary film of the last twenty-five years" and which was later restored and added to the Criterion Collection. Independent Pictures was capitalized through a $10 million investment and production relationship with New Line Cinema, along with investment from Dilmun Capital and private investors. The financing marked Woods's move from producing under studio deals to running an independently financed company able to originate, develop, and control its own slate.

Beyond its original film slate, Independent Pictures expanded Woods's work into television and documentary production. Woods co-founded Plum TV, serving as Co-Chairman and Chief Creative Officer of the cable network, which produced lifestyle and cultural programming for markets including Aspen, the Hamptons, and Miami Beach, winning eight Emmy Awards during its run.

He also served as executive producer, alongside Wyclef Jean, on Ghosts of Cité Soleil, Asger Leth's documentary chronicling the armed gangs and political upheaval of Haiti, released in the United States by Sony Pictures Classics.

In 2010, Woods's career was interrupted by a catastrophic accident that resulted in a traumatic brain injury, leaving him in a coma for more than a week, along with 60 broken bones. His recovery kept him largely away from producing for approximately six years.

After returning to work, Woods resumed producing through Independent Pictures. Among his recent productions is Hard Hat Riot for PBS's American Experience. The documentary examines the 1970 confrontation in lower Manhattan between construction workers and student protesters, an early flashpoint in the class and cultural re-alignment that reshaped American politics, and received strong critical notice, with Progressive.org calling it possibly one of the best nonfiction films made about the turbulence of the 1960s and '70s. It premiered on PBS in September 2025.

Woods also held a seat on the Board of Directors of J.Crew for seven years, from 1992 to 1999.

Today, Woods continues to lead Independent Pictures, developing feature films, television projects, and documentaries.