Richard Donner

Richard Donner

1930-04-24 Bronx, New York, USA 86 Credits

Biography

Richard Donner (born Richard Donald Schwartzberg; April 24, 1930–July 5, 2021) was an American film director and producer. Described as "one of Hollywood's most reliable makers of action blockbusters," Donner directed some of the most financially successful films of the 1970s and 1980s. His 50-year career crossed genres and influenced trends among filmmakers across the world. Donner began his career in 1957 as a television director. In the 1960s, he directed episodes of the series The Rifleman,...

Known For

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Complete Filmography

Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story

Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story

2024

as Self (archive footage)

8.1
Acting

Christopher Reeve portrayed the Man of Steel in four Superman films and played dozens of other roles that displayed his talent and range as an actor, ...

Valerie

Valerie

2019

as Self

2.0
Acting

A documentary of the incredible life of actress Valerie Perrine and her battle with Parkinson's.

Making Apes: The Artists Who Changed Film

Making Apes: The Artists Who Changed Film

2019

as Self

6.8
Acting

Fifty years after its release, the special effects makeup team behind Planet of the Apes reflect on making the iconic film.

Davi's Way

Davi's Way

2018

as Self

Acting

Actor/singer Robert Davi gives himself one year to recreate Frank Sinatra's fabled 'Main Event' concert in Madison Square Garden to celebrate the cent...

Laddie: The Man Behind the Movies

Laddie: The Man Behind the Movies

2017

as Self

5.4
Acting

Profile of the producer and former studio head of 20th Century Fox in the 1970s, Alan Ladd Jr.

Life After Flash

Life After Flash

2017

as Self

5.7
Acting

A look at the roller coaster life of Sam J. Jones since his role as Flash Gordon, his struggles and successes, and the aftermath of when he went up ag...

Close Encounters with Vilmos Zsigmond

Close Encounters with Vilmos Zsigmond

2016

as Self

6.9
Acting

A very special encounter between legendary American cinematographer Vilmos Zsigmond and young French director Pierre Filmon. A personal journey with t...

Marlon Brando: An Actor Named Desire

Marlon Brando: An Actor Named Desire

2014

as Self - Filmmaker

7.3
Acting

In his early days as an actor, Marlon Brando (1924-2004) was a shy young man with theatrical ambitions, like many others; but his charisma and superb ...

Necessary Evil: Super-Villains of DC Comics

Necessary Evil: Super-Villains of DC Comics

2013

as Self

6.9
Acting

A documentary detailing the epic Rogues' Gallery of DC Comics from The Joker and Lex Luthor, Sinestro, Darkseid and more, this documentary will explor...

Tales from the Warner Bros. Lot

Tales from the Warner Bros. Lot

2013

as Self

5.7
Acting

Actors, crew and executives who worked at Warner Bros. Pictures recall their days at the studio.

Casting By

Casting By

2012

as Self

7.1
Acting

This essential new documentary pays tribute to the legacy of the late, legendary casting director Marion Dougherty and shines a light on one of the mo...

Maximum Impact: The Legacy of 'Lethal Weapon'

2012

as Self

6.7
Acting

This documentary showcases producer Joel Silver, Donner, Gibson, Glover, Rene Russo and other members of all four films' production teams as they exam...

Secret Origin: The Story of DC Comics

Secret Origin: The Story of DC Comics

2010

as Self (archive footage)

7.0
Acting

A look at the history of the comic book publication that launched such legendary characters as Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman.

Making of a Cult Classic: The Unauthorized Story of 'The Goonies'

Making of a Cult Classic: The Unauthorized Story of 'The Goonies'

2010

as Self

8.0
Acting

A retrospective documentary of the cult classic movie The Goonies. Including interviews with the cast, exploration of the film's locations and unique ...

X-Men Origins: Wolverine

X-Men Origins: Wolverine

2009

Executive Producer

6.3
Producing

After seeking to live a normal life, Logan sets out to avenge the death of his girlfriend by undergoing the mutant Weapon X program and becoming Wolve...

No Subtitles Necessary: Laszlo & Vilmos

No Subtitles Necessary: Laszlo & Vilmos

2009

as Self

5.9
Acting

The artistry, triumph and lifelong friendship of the great cinematographers Laszlo Kovacs and Vilmos Zsigmond. With film school equipment, they shoot ...

Starz Inside: Comic Books Unbound

Starz Inside: Comic Books Unbound

2008

as Self - Director, Superman: The Movie

6.5
Acting

From superheroes to superstars, Hollywood has always turned to comic books for imagination and inspiration. In this Starz Inside documentary, discover...

You Will Believe: The Cinematic Saga of Superman

You Will Believe: The Cinematic Saga of Superman

2006

as Self

6.0
Acting

A 5-part documentary of the history of Superman in the movies. • Origin - Superman in the media and the challenges the Salkinds faced • Vision - Cre...

Superman II: Restoring the Vision

Superman II: Restoring the Vision

2006

as Self

Acting

Behind the chaotic history and development of Richard Donner's cut of Superman II.

Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut

Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut

2006

as Man Walking by Diner (uncredited)

7.3
Acting

Superman agrees to sacrifice his powers to start a relationship with Lois Lane, unaware that three Kryptonian criminals he inadvertently released are ...

Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut

Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut

2006

Director

7.3
Directing

Superman agrees to sacrifice his powers to start a relationship with Lois Lane, unaware that three Kryptonian criminals he inadvertently released are ...

Look, Up in the Sky! The Amazing Story of Superman

Look, Up in the Sky! The Amazing Story of Superman

2006

as Self

7.5
Acting

The history of the comic book superhero, Superman, in his various media incarnations.

16 Blocks

16 Blocks

2006

as Man Holding a Birthday Cake (uncredited)

6.4
Acting

An aging cop is assigned the ordinary task of escorting a fast-talking witness from police custody to a courthouse, but they find themselves running t...

16 Blocks

16 Blocks

2006

Director

6.4
Directing

An aging cop is assigned the ordinary task of escorting a fast-talking witness from police custody to a courthouse, but they find themselves running t...

The Curse of 'The Omen'

The Curse of 'The Omen'

2005

as Self

6.0
Acting

The filming of "The Omen" (1976) was plagued by tragedy and bizarre incidents. "The devil was at work and he didn't want that film made" - Producer Ha...

Timeline

Timeline

2003

as Man in Car (uncredited)

5.7
Acting

A group of archaeological students become trapped in the past when they go there to retrieve their professor. The group must survive in 14th century F...

Timeline

Timeline

2003

Producer, Director

5.7
Producing Directing

A group of archaeological students become trapped in the past when they go there to retrieve their professor. The group must survive in 14th century F...

Ritual

Ritual

2002

Producer

4.5
Producing

An American doctor encounters members of a voodoo cult when she is summoned to Jamaica to treat a wealthy man's brother.

Out Cold

Out Cold

2001

as Snooty Bartender (uncredited)

5.8
Acting

Rick Rambis and his friends are having the time of their lives on Bull Mountain—until the legendary Papa Muntz' son decides to sell the mountain to a ...

The Omen Legacy

The Omen Legacy

2001

as Self

7.0
Acting

The true stories that spawned the eerie tale of Damien, a small boy with an angelic face, whose very name still conjures up thoughts of Satan. This do...

Taking Flight: The Development of 'Superman'

Taking Flight: The Development of 'Superman'

2001

as Self

7.8
Acting

Marc McClure presents a documentary on the making of 'Superman' (1978).

Making 'Superman': Filming the Legend

Making 'Superman': Filming the Legend

2001

as Self

6.8
Acting

Documentary on the making of the 1978 film 'Superman.'

666: The Omen Revealed

666: The Omen Revealed

2000

5.3
Acting

Documentary about the making of The Omen, featuring interviews with Richard Donner, Harvey Bernhard, David Seltzer and others.

X-Men

X-Men

2000

Executive Producer

7.0
Producing

Two mutants, Rogue and Wolverine, come to a private academy for their kind whose resident superhero team, the X-Men, must oppose a terrorist organizat...

Any Given Sunday

Any Given Sunday

1999

Executive Producer

6.8
Producing

A star quarterback gets knocked out of the game and an unknown third stringer is called in to replace him. The unknown gives a stunning performance an...

Tales from the Crypt: The Robert Zemeckis Collection

Tales from the Crypt: The Robert Zemeckis Collection

1999

Producer

8.7
Producing

In "All Through the Night," perhaps the single most famous story from the original comic book series, a psychotic killer dressed as Santa escapes Chri...

Made Men

Made Men

1999

Producer

5.3
Producing

A man and a woman are on the run from gangsters whom he has stolen $12.5 million. When the gangsters show up, he takes them supposedly to where the mo...

Lethal Weapon 4

Lethal Weapon 4

1998

Director, Producer

6.6
Directing Producing

With personal crises and age weighing in on them, Riggs and Murtaugh must contend with deadly Chinese triads trying to free their former leaders from ...

Double Tap

Double Tap

1997

Producer

5.3
Producing

A drug-lord targets an undercover FBI agent and the hit man she falls in love with while tracking.

Conspiracy Theory

Conspiracy Theory

1997

as Cab Passenger (uncredited)

6.6
Acting

A man obsessed with conspiracy theories becomes a target after one of his theories turns out to be true. Unfortunately, in order to save himself, he h...

Conspiracy Theory

Conspiracy Theory

1997

Director, Producer

6.6
Directing Producing

A man obsessed with conspiracy theories becomes a target after one of his theories turns out to be true. Unfortunately, in order to save himself, he h...

Free Willy 3: The Rescue

Free Willy 3: The Rescue

1997

Executive Producer

6.1
Producing

Willy the whale is back, this time threatened by illegal whalers making money off sushi. Jesse, now 16, has taken a job on an orca-researching ship, a...

Bordello of Blood

Bordello of Blood

1996

Executive Producer

5.9
Producing

Private eye Rafe Guttman is hired by repressed, born-again Katherine to find her missing bad-boy brother. The trail leads him to a whorehouse run by a...

Film Music Masters: Jerry Goldsmith

Film Music Masters: Jerry Goldsmith

1995

6.0
Acting

A limited DVD (1500 copies) of "Film Music Masters: Jerry Goldsmith" was released in June 2005. Bonus features included extended interviews and 60 min...

Assassins

Assassins

1995

Director, Producer

6.5
Directing Producing

Assassin Robert Rath arrives at a funeral to kill a prominent mobster, only to witness a rival hired gun complete the job for him -- with grisly resul...

W.E.I.R.D. World

W.E.I.R.D. World

1995

Executive Producer

2.5
Producing

Greed, murder, sex - all appear to thrive at the Wilson Emery Institute for Research and Development, aka W.E.I.R.D., where brilliant, young, but emot...

The Omen

The Omen

1995

Executive Producer

4.0
Producing

Jack Mann is a writer reporter for the Associated Press. Annalisse Summer is an ER nurse dedicated to help people: Dr Linus is a doctor who has seen w...

Free Willy 2: The Adventure Home

Free Willy 2: The Adventure Home

1995

Executive Producer

5.9
Producing

Jesse becomes reunited with Willy three years after the whale's jump to freedom as the teenager tries to rescue the killer whale and other orcas from ...

Tales from the Crypt: Demon Knight

Tales from the Crypt: Demon Knight

1995

Executive Producer

6.9
Producing

Ex-soldier Frank Brayker is the guardian of an ancient key that can unlock tremendous evil; the sinister Collector is a demon who wants the key so he ...

Maverick

Maverick

1994

as Dealer (uncredited)

6.9
Acting

Bret Maverick is a gambler who would rather con someone than fight them, and needs an additional $3k in order to enter a winner-takes-all poker game b...

Maverick

Maverick

1994

Producer, Director

6.9
Producing Directing

Bret Maverick is a gambler who would rather con someone than fight them, and needs an additional $3k in order to enter a winner-takes-all poker game b...

Free Willy

Free Willy

1993

Executive Producer

6.2
Producing

When maladjusted orphan Jesse vandalizes a theme park, he is placed with foster parents and must work at the park to make amends. There he meets Willy...

Lethal Weapon 3

Lethal Weapon 3

1992

Producer, Director

6.7
Producing Directing

Riggs and Murtaugh pursue a former officer who uses his knowledge of police procedure and policies to steal and sell confiscated guns and ammunition t...

Radio Flyer

Radio Flyer

1992

Director

7.0
Directing

A father reminisces about his childhood when he and his younger brother moved to a new town with their mother, her new husband and their dog, Shane. W...

Two-Fisted Tales

Two-Fisted Tales

1992

Director, Executive Producer

5.0
Directing Producing

The foul-mouthed, wheelchair-bound Mr. Rush introduces three adventure tales inspired by the EC Comics of the 1950s: "Showdown," "King of the Road," a...

Delirious

Delirious

1991

Executive Producer

5.6
Producing

A soap opera writer gets hit on the head and wakes up as a character in his own show.

First Works

First Works

1989

as Self

Acting

It's a mixed bag in the age of illuminating DVD supplements, but First Works effectively demonstrates the early promise of 13 successful filmmakers. C...

Lethal Weapon 2

Lethal Weapon 2

1989

Producer, Director

7.0
Producing Directing

Riggs and Murtaugh are on the trail of South African diplomats using their immunity to engage in criminal activities.

Scrooged

Scrooged

1988

Producer, Director

6.8
Producing Directing

Frank Cross is a wildly successful television executive whose cold ambition and curmudgeonly nature has driven away the love of his life. But after fi...

The Lost Boys

The Lost Boys

1987

Executive Producer

7.1
Producing

When an unsuspecting town newcomer is drawn to local blood fiends, the Frog brothers and other unlikely heroes gear up to rescue him.

Lethal Weapon

Lethal Weapon

1987

Director, Producer

7.3
Directing Producing

Two newly paired cops who are complete opposites must put aside their differences in order to catch a gang of drug smugglers.

Scream Greats, Vol.2: Satanism and Witchcraft

Scream Greats, Vol.2: Satanism and Witchcraft

1986

as Himself

4.0
Acting

Documentary tracks the rise of devil cults, witches and other elements of the "black arts."

The Goonies

The Goonies

1985

as Policeman (uncredited)

7.5
Acting

Young teen Mikey Walsh and his friends set off on a quest to find Pirate One-Eyed Willie's treasure in hopes of saving their homes from demolition.

The Goonies

The Goonies

1985

Producer, Director

7.5
Producing Directing

Young teen Mikey Walsh and his friends set off on a quest to find Pirate One-Eyed Willie's treasure in hopes of saving their homes from demolition.

Ladyhawke

Ladyhawke

1985

Producer, Director

7.0
Producing Directing

Captain Etienne Navarre is a man on whose shoulders lies a cruel curse. Punished for loving each other, Navarre must become a wolf by night whilst his...

The Toy

The Toy

1982

Director

5.9
Directing

On one of his bratty son Eric's annual visits, the plutocrat U.S. Bates takes him to his department store and offers him anything in it as a gift. Eri...

The Making of 'Superman: The Movie'

The Making of 'Superman: The Movie'

1982

as Self

6.3
Acting

Ernie Anderson narrates this look at the making of Richard Donner's blockbuster 1978 film. Behind-the-scenes footage, as well as scenes from the film,...

The Final Conflict

The Final Conflict

1981

Executive Producer

5.8
Producing

Damien Thorn has helped rescue the world from a recession, appearing to be a benign corporate benefactor. When he then becomes U.S. Ambassador to the ...

Inside Moves

Inside Moves

1980

as Man who closes the ambulance doors (uncredited)

6.4
Acting

After a failed suicide attempt leaves him partially crippled, Rory begins spending a lot of time at a neighborhood bar full of interesting misfits. Wh...

Inside Moves

Inside Moves

1980

Director

6.4
Directing

After a failed suicide attempt leaves him partially crippled, Rory begins spending a lot of time at a neighborhood bar full of interesting misfits. Wh...

Superman II

Superman II

1980

as Man Walking by Diner (uncredited)

6.7
Acting

Three Kryptonian criminals led by General Zod team up with Lex Luthor to conquer Earth, forcing a depowered Superman to regain his strength and stop t...

Superman II

Superman II

1980

Director of Photography

6.7
Directing

Three Kryptonian criminals led by General Zod team up with Lex Luthor to conquer Earth, forcing a depowered Superman to regain his strength and stop t...

Superman

Superman

1978

as Man in Street (extended version) (uncredited)

7.1
Acting

Mild-mannered Clark Kent works as a reporter at the Daily Planet alongside his crush, Lois Lane. Clark must summon his superhero alter-ego when the ne...

Superman

Superman

1978

Director

7.1
Directing

Mild-mannered Clark Kent works as a reporter at the Daily Planet alongside his crush, Lois Lane. Clark must summon his superhero alter-ego when the ne...

The Omen

The Omen

1976

Director

7.4
Directing

Immediately after their miscarriage, the US diplomat Robert Thorn adopts the newborn Damien without the knowledge of his wife. Yet what he doesn’t kno...

Sarah T. - Portrait of a Teenage Alcoholic

Sarah T. - Portrait of a Teenage Alcoholic

1975

Director

5.3
Directing

Finding herself unable to cope with the divorce of her parents and the stress of daily life, 15-year-old Sarah Travis starts drinking in secret. At fi...

Shadow in the Street

Shadow in the Street

1975

Director

2.0
Directing

An ex-convict trying to straighten his life out takes a job as a parole agent in an experimental project to help former inmates.

Lucas Tanner

Lucas Tanner

1974

Director

Directing

A high school teacher's career is threatened because of a student's death when the rumor is spread that his negligence killed the boy. This pilot film...

Senior Year

Senior Year

1974

Director

Directing

Pilot for the short-lived series "Sons and Daughters" set in a high school in the 1950's and seen through the eyes of five carefree seniors.

Nightside

Nightside

1973

Director

Directing

The story of three people - a press agent, a private detective and a nightclub owner - whose careers require them to spend most of the night awake and...

The Marshal of Madrid

The Marshal of Madrid

1972

Director

Directing

A gang of smugglers headed by an oil dealer are brought to justice by a lawman.

Sam Cade

Sam Cade

1972

Director

Directing

Sam Cade was the first feature-length "movie" put together from episodes of Cade's County, the early '70s series starring Glenn Ford as a modern-day s...

Twinky

Twinky

1970

Director

4.8
Directing

A middle aged writer of pornographic novels meets and falls in love with a sixteen year old school girl. This alone is cause for concern but when the ...

Salt & Pepper

Salt & Pepper

1968

Director

5.1
Directing

After discovering the body of a murdered female agent in their trendy Soho, London nightclub, groovy owners Charles Salt and Christopher Pepper partak...

Philbert (Three's a Crowd)

Philbert (Three's a Crowd)

1963

Director

3.3
Directing

In this live-action sitcom with animated elements, a cartoonist named Griff draws Philbert comics. Philbert has the ability to come to life in the for...

X-15

X-15

1961

Director

5.9
Directing

X-15 is a 1961 movie that tells a fictionalized account of the X-15 research rocket plane, the men who flew it and the women who loved them.