Biography
Zak Penn (born March 23, 1968) is an American screenwriter. Penn wrote and directed Incident at Loch Ness and The Grand, wrote the script for The Incredible Hulk, co-wrote the scripts for X2 and X-Men: The Last Stand, and the story for The Avengers. With Michael Karnow, Penn is the co-creator of the TV series Alphas on the Syfy network. Penn was born in New York. He is the son of New York businessman and lawyer Arthur Penn, who led the acquisition of the Capital Markets Assurance Corporation fr...
Known For
Complete Filmography
1982: Greatest Geek Year Ever!
2022
as Self
A remarkable new epic documentary spotlighting the pop culture milestones of 1982 including notable motion pictures, TV, music and video games of that...
Free Guy
2021
Screenplay
A bank teller discovers he is actually a background player in an open-world video game, and decides to become the hero of his own story. Now, in a wor...
In Search of the Last Action Heroes
2019
as Himself
The most comprehensive retrospective of the '80s action film genre ever made.
Ready Player One
2018
Screenplay
When the creator of a popular video game system dies, a virtual contest is created to compete for his fortune.
Grimsby
2016
Thanks
Wrongfully accused and on the run, a top MI6 assassin joins forces with his long-lost, football hooligan brother to save the world from a sinister plo...
Atari: Game Over
2014
Director, Writer
The Xbox Originals documentary that chronicles the fall of the Atari Corporation through the lens of one of the biggest mysteries of all time, dubbed ...
The Avengers
2012
Story
When an unexpected enemy emerges and threatens global safety and security, Nick Fury, director of the international peacekeeping agency known as S.H.I...
Tales from the Script
2009
as Self
Shane Black ("Lethal Weapon"), John Carpenter ("Halloween"), Frank Darabont ("The Shawshank Redemption"), William Goldman ("The Princess Bride"), Paul...
The Incredible Hulk
2008
Screenplay, Screenstory
Scientist Bruce Banner scours the planet for an antidote to the unbridled force of rage within him: the Hulk. But when the military masterminds who dr...
Starz Inside: Comic Books Unbound
2008
as Self - Screenwriter, X2 & X-Men: The Last Stand
From superheroes to superstars, Hollywood has always turned to comic books for imagination and inspiration. In this Starz Inside documentary, discover...
The Grand
2007
Director, Writer, Producer
The Grand is in the tradition of improvisational comedies like Best In Show and This Is Spinal Tap. The story is set in the world of professional poke...
X-Men: The Last Stand
2006
Writer
When a cure is found to treat mutations, lines are drawn amongst the X-Men—led by Professor Charles Xavier—and the Brotherhood, a band of powerful mut...
Elektra
2005
Writer
Elektra the warrior survives a near-death experience, becomes an assassin-for-hire, and tries to protect her two latest targets, a single father and h...
Incident at Loch Ness
2004
as Self
When renowned director Werner Herzog and fellow filmmaker Zak Penn set off to explore the legend of Scotland's Loch Ness monster, they uncover much mo...
Incident at Loch Ness
2004
Director, Writer
When renowned director Werner Herzog and fellow filmmaker Zak Penn set off to explore the legend of Scotland's Loch Ness monster, they uncover much mo...
Suspect Zero
2004
Screenplay, Story
A killer is on the loose, and an FBI agent sifts through clues and learns that the bloodthirsty felon's victims of choice are other serial killers.
X2
2003
Story
Professor Charles Xavier and his team of genetically gifted superheroes face a rising tide of anti-mutant sentiment led by Col. William Stryker. Storm...
Behind Enemy Lines
2001
Screenplay
While flying a routine reconnaissance mission over Bosnia, fighter pilot Lt. Chris Burnett photographs something he wasn't supposed to see and gets sh...
Osmosis Jones
2001
Producer
A white blood cell policeman, with the help of a cold pill, must stop a deadly virus from destroying the human they live in, Frank.
Nutty Professor II: The Klumps
2000
Writer
The hilarity begins when professor Sherman Klump finds romance with fellow DNA specialist, Denise Gaines, and discovers a brilliant formula that rever...
Chuck & Buck
2000
as Josh Weintraub
Chuck and Buck are childhood best friends whose lives have taken very different paths. While Chuck moved away and now has a real life, Buck stayed beh...
Inspector Gadget
1999
Screenplay
John Brown is a bumbling but well-intentioned security guard who is badly injured in an explosion planned by an evil mastermind. He is taken to a labo...
Antz
1998
Story Consultant
A neurotic worker ant in love with a rebellious princess rises to unlikely stardom when he switches places with a soldier. Signing up to march in a pa...
Star Maps
1997
as Carmel County Writer
Carlos wants to be an actor. But his father, Pepe, wants him to work in the family business, that is, male prostitution. Carlos decides that he will b...
PCU
1994
as Bathroom Patron
Nervous high school senior Tom Lawrence visits Port Chester University, where he gets a taste of politically correct college life when he's guided by ...
PCU
1994
Writer
Nervous high school senior Tom Lawrence visits Port Chester University, where he gets a taste of politically correct college life when he's guided by ...
Last Action Hero
1993
Story
After his father's death, a young boy finds solace in action movies featuring an indestructible cop. Given a magic ticket by a theater manager, he is ...