Rian Johnson

Rian Johnson

1973-12-17 Silver Spring, Maryland, USA 62 Credits

Biography

Rian Craig Johnson (born December 17, 1973) is an American filmmaker. He made his directorial debut with the neo-noir mystery film Brick (2005), which received positive reviews and grossed nearly $4 million on a $450,000 budget. Transitioning to higher-profile films, Johnson achieved mainstream recognition for writing and directing the science-fiction thriller Looper (2012) to critical and commercial success. Johnson landed his largest project when he wrote and directed the space opera Star Wars...

Known For

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Complete Filmography

Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery

Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery

2025

Writer, Producer, Director

Writing Producing Directing

World-renowned detective Benoit Blanc returns for his most dangerous case yet.

Netflix Tudum 2025

Netflix Tudum 2025

2025

as Self

4.8
Acting

Celebrate your favorite shows and movies at this star-studded, live global fan event with special performances and exclusive reveals.

Blake Edwards: A Love Story in 24 Frames

Blake Edwards: A Love Story in 24 Frames

2024

as Self

8.0
Acting

While known for cinema classics such as Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Days of Wine and Roses and the Pink Panther series, the iconic director, screenwriter ...

American Fiction

American Fiction

2023

Executive Producer

7.3
Producing

A novelist fed up with the establishment profiting from "Black" entertainment uses a pen name to write a book that propels him into the heart of hypoc...

Temple of Film: 100 Years of the Egyptian Theatre

Temple of Film: 100 Years of the Egyptian Theatre

2023

as Self

6.4
Acting

Guillermo del Toro, Rian Johnson and other film luminaries look back at LA's historic Egyptian Theatre as it returns to its former movie palace glory.

Fair Play

Fair Play

2023

Executive Producer

6.3
Producing

An unexpected promotion at a cutthroat hedge fund pushes a young couple's relationship to the brink, threatening to unravel not only their recent enga...

The Space Western of the Southwest

The Space Western of the Southwest

2023

Acting

Eric Cameron chronicles the relationship between Star Wars Episode VIII: The Last Jedi and the quaint town of Dingle, Ireland where it was filmed.

Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery

Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery

2022

Writer, Director, Producer

7.0
Writing Directing Producing

World-famous detective Benoit Blanc heads to Greece to peel back the layers of a mystery surrounding a tech billionaire and his eclectic crew of frien...

Blood Relatives

Blood Relatives

2022

Thanks

4.4

A nomadic recluse living on the fringes of society reconsiders his bloodthirsty legacy when a teenage girl shows up claiming to be his daughter.

Metal Lords

Metal Lords

2022

Thanks

6.9

For teenage misfits Hunter and Kevin, the path to glory is clear: Devote themselves to metal. Win Battle of the Bands. And be worshipped like gods.

Scream

Scream

2022

as Party Guest (voice) (uncredited)

6.7
Acting

Twenty-five years after a streak of brutal murders shocked the quiet town of Woodsboro, a new killer has donned the Ghostface mask and begins targetin...

Scream

Scream

2022

Thanks

6.7

Twenty-five years after a streak of brutal murders shocked the quiet town of Woodsboro, a new killer has donned the Ghostface mask and begins targetin...

tick, tick... BOOM!

tick, tick... BOOM!

2021

Thanks

7.6

On the brink of turning 30, a promising theater composer navigates love, friendship and the pressure to create something great before time runs out.

Last Night in Soho

Last Night in Soho

2021

Thanks

7.3

A young girl, passionate about fashion design, is mysteriously able to enter the 1960s where she encounters her idol, a dazzling wannabe singer. But 1...

Capone

Capone

2020

Thanks

5.0

The 47-year old Al Capone, after 10 years in prison, starts suffering from dementia and comes to be haunted by his violent past.

Knives Out

Knives Out

2019

Writer, Producer, Director

7.8
Writing Producing Directing

When renowned crime novelist Harlan Thrombey is found dead at his estate just after his 85th birthday, the inquisitive and debonair Detective Benoit B...

Scare Package

Scare Package

2019

Thanks

5.6

Chad Buckley is a horror aficionado, and he's lonely. Chad spends his days at his struggling genre video store arguing with his only regular customer,...

Destroyer

Destroyer

2018

Thanks

5.9

When Erin Bell was a young cop, she was given an undercover assignment that ended badly and destroyed her life. Years later, she must face her demons ...

The Last Jedi: Meet the Porgs

2018

Acting

This piece explores Porg origins and inspiration, design, transition from sketches to final physical puppet, puppet control, sound effects, and digita...

The Director and the Jedi

The Director and the Jedi

2018

as Self

7.2
Acting

An intimate documentary delving into Rian Johnson's process as he comes in as a director new to the Star Wars universe.

Balance of the Force

Balance of the Force

2018

as Self

7.0
Acting

Explore the mythology of the Force and why Rian Johnson chose to interpret its role in such a unique way.

The Force of Sound

The Force of Sound

2018

as Self

8.7
Acting

Go inside the sound design of Star Wars: The Last Jedi. From the ignition of a lightsaber to the chirp of a porg, Star Wars would not be the same with...

Star Wars: The Last Jedi

Star Wars: The Last Jedi

2017

Writer, Director

6.8
Writing Directing

Rey develops her newly discovered abilities with the guidance of Luke Skywalker, who is unsettled by the strength of her powers. Meanwhile, the Resist...

Baby Driver

Baby Driver

2017

Thanks

7.4

After being coerced into working for a crime boss, a young getaway driver finds himself taking part in a heist doomed to fail.

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story

2016

as Imperial Technician (uncredited)

7.5
Acting

A rogue band of resistance fighters unite for a mission to steal the Death Star plans and bring a new hope to the galaxy.

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story

2016

Thanks

7.5

A rogue band of resistance fighters unite for a mission to steal the Death Star plans and bring a new hope to the galaxy.

The Hollars

The Hollars

2016

Thanks

6.3

Aspiring New York City artist John Hollar returns to his Middle America hometown on the eve of his mother’s brain surgery. Joined by his girlfriend, e...

The Invitation

The Invitation

2016

Thanks

6.4

Will and his new girlfriend Kira are invited to a dinner with old friends at the house of Will’s ex Eden and her new partner David. Although the eveni...

Tales of Halloween

Tales of Halloween

2015

Thanks

5.7

Ten stories from horror's top directors. Ghosts, ghouls, monsters, and the devil delight in terrorizing unsuspecting residents of a suburban neighborh...

Out of Print

Out of Print

2014

as Self

5.7
Acting

A documentary exploring the importance of revival cinema and 35mm exhibition - seen through the lens of the patrons of the New Beverly Cinema - a uniq...

Nosferatu vs. Father Pipecock & Sister Funk

Nosferatu vs. Father Pipecock & Sister Funk

2014

Thanks

2.0

A reimagining /regurgitation and re-dubbing of a classic silent horror flick! Shot in mind-shattering 2D (& 36DD), featuring T&A and epic voice-over ‘...

No Half Measures: Creating the Final Season of Breaking Bad

No Half Measures: Creating the Final Season of Breaking Bad

2013

as Self

8.4
Acting

A documentary about the making of season five of the acclaimed AMC series Breaking Bad.

Don Jon

Don Jon

2013

Thanks

6.0

A New Jersey guy dedicated to his family, friends, and church, develops unrealistic expectations from watching porn and works to find happiness and in...

The World's End

The World's End

2013

Thanks

6.8

Five friends who reunite in an attempt to top their epic pub crawl from 20 years earlier unwittingly become humankind's only hope for survival.

The English Teacher

The English Teacher

2013

Thanks

5.6

Small-town Pennsylvania schoolteacher Linda Sinclair balances her staid home life with an incredible passion for her subject. Then a former star pupil...

Welcome to the Jungle

Welcome to the Jungle

2013

Thanks

5.0

A company retreat on a tropical island goes terribly awry.

Looper

Looper

2012

Director, Writer

6.9
Directing Writing

In the year 2044, time travel has not yet been invented but in 30 years it will have been. When the mob wants to get rid of someone, they will send th...

The Outsider: A Looper's Story

The Outsider: A Looper's Story

2012

Thanks

1.0

Anna is a Looper, and she has a plan to survive closing her Loop.

The Woman

The Woman

2011

Songs

6.0

A lawyer puts his family in jeopardy when he captures the last member of a violent clan and tries to forcibly tame her.

Brawler

Brawler

2011

Thanks

4.2

Sidelined by an injury incurred while protecting his young brother, underground fighter Charlie Fontaine feels blindsided when he discovers his brothe...

The Life of the World to Come

The Life of the World to Come

2010

Director

Directing

The Mountain Goats in solo and duo performance at Pomona College. In this film by Rian Johnson, John Darnielle performs The Life of the World to Come ...

The Brothers Bloom

The Brothers Bloom

2008

Director, Writer

6.6
Directing Writing

The Brothers Bloom are the best con men in the world, swindling millionaires with complex scenarios of lust and intrigue. Now they've decided to take ...

Spike

Spike

2008

Thanks

2.2

Described as "Angela Carter rewriting La Belle et la Bête as an episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer", the story follows, through a tapestry of dreamli...

Building Brick

2006

3.0
Acting

Building Brick is the Behind the Scenes documentary for the film Brick (2006). Brick was written and directed by Rian Johnson in San Clemente, CA in 2...

Building Brick

2006

Camera Operator, Thanks

3.0

Building Brick is the Behind the Scenes documentary for the film Brick (2006). Brick was written and directed by Rian Johnson in San Clemente, CA in 2...

Brick

Brick

2006

Director, Editor, Writer

6.8
Directing Writing

A teenage loner pushes his way into the underworld of a high school crime ring to investigate the disappearance of his ex-girlfriend.

Escargots

Escargots

2006

Camera Operator

An adaptation of a children's poem called Chanson des escargots qui vont à l'enterrement by Jacques Prévert, starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt. Filmed in ...

May

May

2003

Editor

6.6

A socially awkward veterinary assistant with a lazy eye and obsession with perfection descends into depravity after developing a crush on a boy with p...

People Are Dead

People Are Dead

2002

Thanks

1.0

A group of disconnected people are brought together by a string of awkward events in post-9/11 Manhattan. A body-snatcher (Mia Tyler) is gathering dea...

The Psychology of Dream Analysis

The Psychology of Dream Analysis

2002

Director, Writer

5.5
Directing Writing

Soon after entering a course called "The Psychology of Dream Analysis," Lillian discovers she has been having another person's dreams all her life.

Ben Boyer and the Phenomenology of Automobile Marketing

Ben Boyer and the Phenomenology of Automobile Marketing

2001

Director

2.7
Directing

While sitting on the toilet one November morning, Ben Boyer receives a Jungian lesson on archetypal marketing.

Phyfutima

1998

Camera Operator

Evil Demon Golfball from Hell!!!

Evil Demon Golfball from Hell!!!

1997

Writer, Director, Editor

5.7
Writing Directing

A man is tormented by a seemingly possessed golf ball.

Greater Than a Tiger

Greater Than a Tiger

1997

Editor

Omaha (The Movie)

Omaha (The Movie)

1995

Production Assistant

7.0

From the co-founder of Slamdance comes the story of a young man who returns home from a trip abroad to confront not just his peculiar family and frien...

Cleaning the Pool

Cleaning the Pool

1995

Director, Writer

Directing Writing

A sinister battle arises when a young man attempts to clean a pool. (Super8 student short film by Rian Johnson at USC, inspired by the works of Sam Ra...

Hey Lady, You Dropped Your Wallet!!!

Hey Lady, You Dropped Your Wallet!!!

1993

as The Whacky Protagonist

Acting

A hapless young man attempts to return a lost wallet to a woman as she ventures through the city of San Fransisco

Hey Lady, You Dropped Your Wallet!!!

Hey Lady, You Dropped Your Wallet!!!

1993

Writer, Director, Editor

Writing Directing

A hapless young man attempts to return a lost wallet to a woman as she ventures through the city of San Fransisco

Ninja Ko

Ninja Ko

1990

Director, Writer

4.0
Directing Writing

Ninja Ko runs into trouble somewhere in the tropical rain forests of northern Tennessee. He must use his guile and his abilities with origami to escap...

Rian Johnson: Planning the Perfect Murder

N/A

as Himself

Acting

Director Rian Johnson explains his thought process behind the 2019 film Knives Out.

Untitled Gene Kelly Project

N/A

Producer

Producing

A 12 year old boy who works on the MGM Lot in 1952, begins to create an imagined friendship with the legendary movie star Gene Kelly while working on ...

Untitled AI Thriller

N/A

Producer

Producing