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IMDbPro

Rian Johnson

  • Producer
  • Writer
  • Director
IMDbProStarmeterTop 5,00021
Rian Johnson
From 'Brick' to 'Knives Out,' we explore the unique cinematic stylings of director Rian Johnson.
64
 
Play clip1:39
A Guide to the Films of Rian Johnson
64
35 Videos
99+ Photos
Rian Johnson was born in Maryland and at a young age his family moved to San Clemente, California, where he was raised. After graduating from high school, he went on to attend the University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts. His first feature film, Brick (2005), was released in 2005 and was the metaphorical building block that launched his career. He is a director, writer, and musician, among other areas of expertise.

His second feature, The Brothers Bloom (2008), proved his ability to tell an exciting story with A-list actors, and the visionary Looper (2012) cemented him as a modern science-fiction icon. Among his highest-rated work are three episodes of the critically acclaimed Breaking Bad (2008). His filmography made him a strong candidate to write and direct Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi (2017), the penultimate episode of the 'Star Wars' series. Lucasfilm was pleased with his work and announced that we would write and direct a 'Star Wars' trilogy separate from the main Skywalker story.
BornDecember 17, 1973
  • More at IMDbPro
    • Contact info
    • Agent info
    • Resume
BornDecember 17, 1973
IMDbProStarmeterTop 5,00021
  • View contact info at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 2 Oscars
      • 50 wins & 118 nominations total

    Photos190

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    + 184
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    Known for

    Jamie Lee Curtis, Don Johnson, Toni Collette, Christopher Plummer, Daniel Craig, Chris Evans, Michael Shannon, Ana de Armas, LaKeith Stanfield, Jaeden Martell, and Katherine Langford in Knives Out (2019)
    Knives Out
    7.9
    • Producer(produced by, p.g.a.)
    • 2019
    Bruce Willis, Jeff Daniels, Piper Perabo, Paul Dano, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and Emily Blunt in Looper (2012)
    Looper
    7.4
    • Writer
    • 2012
    Edward Norton, Kate Hudson, Daniel Craig, Kathryn Hahn, Dave Bautista, Leslie Odom Jr., Janelle Monáe, Madelyn Cline, and Jessica Henwick in Glass Onion (2022)
    Glass Onion
    7.1
    • Producer(p.g.a.)
    • 2022
    Anthony Daniels, Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill, Oscar Isaac, Brian Herring, Domhnall Gleeson, Florian Robin, Jimmy Vee, Dave Chapman, David R. Grant, Adam Driver, Gwendoline Christie, John Boyega, James Cox, Kelly Marie Tran, Daisy Ridley, and Joonas Suotamo in Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi (2017)
    Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi
    6.9
    • Writer
    • 2017

    Credits

    Edit
    IMDbPro

    Producer



    • Wake Up Dead Man
      • producer
      • Post-production
      • 2025
    • 3 Body Problem
      • executive producer
      • Released
      • TV Series
      • 2026
    • Disinherited
      • executive producer
      • Pre-production
      • TV Movie
    • Golf
      • executive producer
      • Pre-production
      • TV Series
    • The Whites
      • executive producer
      • Pre-production
      • TV Series



    • Natasha Lyonne in Poker Face (2023)
      Poker Face
      7.8
      TV Series
      • executive producer
      • 2023–2025
    • 3 Body Problem (2024)
      3 Body Problem
      7.5
      TV Series
      • executive producer
      • 2024
    • Erika Alexander, Tracee Ellis Ross, Jeffrey Wright, Sterling K. Brown, and Issa Rae in American Fiction (2023)
      American Fiction
      7.5
      • executive producer
      • 2023
    • Alden Ehrenreich and Phoebe Dynevor in Fair Play (2023)
      Fair Play
      6.4
      • executive producer
      • 2023
    • Edward Norton, Kate Hudson, Daniel Craig, Kathryn Hahn, Dave Bautista, Leslie Odom Jr., Janelle Monáe, Madelyn Cline, and Jessica Henwick in Glass Onion (2022)
      Glass Onion
      7.1
      • producer (p.g.a.)
      • 2022
    • Jamie Lee Curtis, Don Johnson, Toni Collette, Christopher Plummer, Daniel Craig, Chris Evans, Michael Shannon, Ana de Armas, LaKeith Stanfield, Jaeden Martell, and Katherine Langford in Knives Out (2019)
      Knives Out
      7.9
      • producer (produced by, p.g.a.)
      • 2019

    Writer



    • Wake Up Dead Man
      • written by
      • Post-production
      • 2025
    • Untitled Star Wars Trilogy: Episode III
      • written by
      • In Development
    • Untitled Star Wars Trilogy: Episode II
      • written by
      • In Development
    • Untitled Star Wars Trilogy: Episode I
      • Writer
      • In Development



    • Natasha Lyonne in Poker Face (2023)
      Poker Face
      7.8
      TV Series
      • created by
      • written by
      • 2023–2025
    • Edward Norton, Kate Hudson, Daniel Craig, Kathryn Hahn, Dave Bautista, Leslie Odom Jr., Janelle Monáe, Madelyn Cline, and Jessica Henwick in Glass Onion (2022)
      Glass Onion
      7.1
      • written by
      • 2022
    • Jamie Lee Curtis, Don Johnson, Toni Collette, Christopher Plummer, Daniel Craig, Chris Evans, Michael Shannon, Ana de Armas, LaKeith Stanfield, Jaeden Martell, and Katherine Langford in Knives Out (2019)
      Knives Out
      7.9
      • written by
      • 2019
    • Anthony Daniels, Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill, Oscar Isaac, Brian Herring, Domhnall Gleeson, Florian Robin, Jimmy Vee, Dave Chapman, David R. Grant, Adam Driver, Gwendoline Christie, John Boyega, James Cox, Kelly Marie Tran, Daisy Ridley, and Joonas Suotamo in Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi (2017)
      Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi
      6.9
      • written by
      • 2017
    • HitRECord on TV (2014)
      HitRECord on TV
      8.1
      TV Series
      • Writer
      • 2014
    • Bruce Willis, Jeff Daniels, Piper Perabo, Paul Dano, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and Emily Blunt in Looper (2012)
      Looper
      7.4
      • written by
      • 2012
    • Rachel Weisz, Adrien Brody, Rinko Kikuchi, and Mark Ruffalo in The Brothers Bloom (2008)
      The Brothers Bloom
      6.7
      • written by
      • 2008
    • Brick (2005)
      Brick
      7.1
      • written by
      • 2005
    • The Psychology of Dream Analysis (2002)
      The Psychology of Dream Analysis
      5.8
      Short
      • Writer
      • 2002
    • Evil Demon Golf Ball from Hell!!! (1997)
      Evil Demon Golf Ball from Hell!!!
      6.1
      Short
      • writer
      • 1997
    • Brendan Koelber in Ninja Ko (1990)
      Ninja Ko
      4.3
      Video
      • written by
      • 1990

    Director



    • Wake Up Dead Man
      • Director (directed by)
      • Post-production
      • 2025
    • Untitled Star Wars Trilogy: Episode III
      • Director
      • In Development
    • Untitled Star Wars Trilogy: Episode II
      • Director
      • In Development
    • Untitled Star Wars Trilogy: Episode I
      • Director
      • In Development



    • Natasha Lyonne in Poker Face (2023)
      Poker Face
      7.8
      TV Series
      • Director
      • 2023–2025
    • Edward Norton, Kate Hudson, Daniel Craig, Kathryn Hahn, Dave Bautista, Leslie Odom Jr., Janelle Monáe, Madelyn Cline, and Jessica Henwick in Glass Onion (2022)
      Glass Onion
      7.1
      • Director
      • 2022
    • Jamie Lee Curtis, Don Johnson, Toni Collette, Christopher Plummer, Daniel Craig, Chris Evans, Michael Shannon, Ana de Armas, LaKeith Stanfield, Jaeden Martell, and Katherine Langford in Knives Out (2019)
      Knives Out
      7.9
      • Director
      • 2019
    • Sissy Spacek and David Strathairn in LCD Soundsystem: Oh Baby (2018)
      LCD Soundsystem: Oh Baby
      8.2
      Music Video
      • Director
      • 2018
    • Anthony Daniels, Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill, Oscar Isaac, Brian Herring, Domhnall Gleeson, Florian Robin, Jimmy Vee, Dave Chapman, David R. Grant, Adam Driver, Gwendoline Christie, John Boyega, James Cox, Kelly Marie Tran, Daisy Ridley, and Joonas Suotamo in Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi (2017)
      Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi
      6.9
      • Director
      • 2017
    • Bryan Cranston in Breaking Bad (2008)
      Breaking Bad
      9.5
      TV Series
      • Director
      • 2010–2013
    • Bruce Willis, Jeff Daniels, Piper Perabo, Paul Dano, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and Emily Blunt in Looper (2012)
      Looper
      7.4
      • Director
      • 2012
    • The Mountain Goats: The Life of the World to Come (2010)
      The Mountain Goats: The Life of the World to Come
      4.7
      Video
      • Director
      • 2010
    • Donal Logue and Michael Raymond-James in Terriers (2010)
      Terriers
      8.3
      TV Series
      • Director
      • 2010
    • Rachel Weisz, Adrien Brody, Rinko Kikuchi, and Mark Ruffalo in The Brothers Bloom (2008)
      The Brothers Bloom
      6.7
      • Director
      • 2008
    • The Mountain Goats in The Mountain Goats: Woke Up New (2008)
      The Mountain Goats: Woke Up New
      4.0
      Music Video
      • Director
      • 2008
    • Brick (2005)
      Brick
      7.1
      • Director
      • 2005
    • The Psychology of Dream Analysis (2002)
      The Psychology of Dream Analysis
      5.8
      Short
      • Director
      • 2002
    • Ben Boyer and the Phenomenology of Automobile Marketing (2001)
      Ben Boyer and the Phenomenology of Automobile Marketing
      3.8
      Short
      • Director
      • 2001
    • Evil Demon Golf Ball from Hell!!! (1997)
      Evil Demon Golf Ball from Hell!!!
      6.1
      Short
      • Director
      • 1997

    • In-development projects at IMDbPro

    Videos35

    What to Watch: Halloween for All Tastes on Prime Video
    Clip 2:32
    What to Watch: Halloween for All Tastes on Prime Video
    43
    Rian Johnson Is Thinking About 'Whodunit' for 'Knives Out 2'
    Clip 1:00
    Rian Johnson Is Thinking About 'Whodunit' for 'Knives Out 2'
    1
    Rian Johnson Is Thinking About 'Whodunit' for 'Knives Out 2'
    Clip 1:00
    Rian Johnson Is Thinking About 'Whodunit' for 'Knives Out 2'
    1
    Rian Johnson: Crafting the Perfect Plot Twist
    Clip 5:32
    Rian Johnson: Crafting the Perfect Plot Twist
    128
    'Last Jedi' Director Rian Johnson Pitches His Dream 'Star Wars' Spin-Off
    Clip 1:00
    'Last Jedi' Director Rian Johnson Pitches His Dream 'Star Wars' Spin-Off
    11
    'Knives Out' Cast Have 'Deep Love' for Their Co-Stars
    Clip 3:36
    'Knives Out' Cast Have 'Deep Love' for Their Co-Stars
    43
    How Director Rian Johnson Collaborated With His 'Knives Out' Cast
    Clip 2:20
    How Director Rian Johnson Collaborated With His 'Knives Out' Cast
    46

    Personal details

    Edit
    • Official sites
      • Instagram
      • Official Site
    • Height
      • 5′ 5½″ (1.66 m)
    • Born
      • December 17, 1973
      • Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
    • Spouse
      • Karina Longworth2018 - present
    • Children
      • No Children
    • Relatives
        Aaron Johnson(Sibling)
    • Other works
      Directed the music video "Woke Up New" for The Mountain Goats (2006).
    • Publicity listings
      • 1 Portrayal
      • 5 Articles

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Wrote the screenplay for Brick (2005) in 1997. He waited for financing for six years and then in 2003 his parents paid to have Brick (2005) produced.
    • Quotes
      Teen movies often have an unspoken underlying premise in which high school is seen as less serious than the adult world. But when your head is encased in that microcosm it's the most serious time of your life.
    • Trademarks
        Often casts Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Noah Segan.

    FAQ

    Powered by Alexa
    • How old is Rian Johnson?
      51 years old
    • When was Rian Johnson born?
      December 17, 1973
    • Where was Rian Johnson born?
      Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
    • What is Rian Johnson's birth name?
      Rian Craig Johnson
    • How tall is Rian Johnson?
      5 feet 6 inches, or 1.66 meters

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