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
Complete Filmography

Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story
2024
as Self (archive footage)
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
2019
as Self
A documentary of the incredible life of actress Valerie Perrine and her battle with Parkinson's.

Making Apes: The Artists Who Changed Film
2019
as Self
Fifty years after its release, the special effects makeup team behind Planet of the Apes reflect on making the iconic film.

Davi's Way
2018
as Self
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
2017
as Self
Profile of the producer and former studio head of 20th Century Fox in the 1970s, Alan Ladd Jr.

Life After Flash
2017
as Self
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
2016
as Self
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
2014
as Self - Filmmaker
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
2013
as Self
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
2013
as Self
Actors, crew and executives who worked at Warner Bros. Pictures recall their days at the studio.

Casting By
2012
as Self
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
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
2010
as Self (archive footage)
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'
2010
as Self
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
2009
Executive Producer
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
2009
as Self
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
2008
as Self - Director, Superman: The Movie
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
2006
as Self
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
2006
as Self
Behind the chaotic history and development of Richard Donner's cut of Superman II.

Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut
2006
as Man Walking by Diner (uncredited)
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
2006
Director
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
2006
as Self
The history of the comic book superhero, Superman, in his various media incarnations.

16 Blocks
2006
as Man Holding a Birthday Cake (uncredited)
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
2006
Director
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'
2005
as Self
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
2003
as Man in Car (uncredited)
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
2003
Producer, Director
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
2002
Producer
An American doctor encounters members of a voodoo cult when she is summoned to Jamaica to treat a wealthy man's brother.

Out Cold
2001
as Snooty Bartender (uncredited)
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
2001
as Self
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'
2001
as Self
Marc McClure presents a documentary on the making of 'Superman' (1978).

Making 'Superman': Filming the Legend
2001
as Self
Documentary on the making of the 1978 film 'Superman.'

666: The Omen Revealed
2000
Documentary about the making of The Omen, featuring interviews with Richard Donner, Harvey Bernhard, David Seltzer and others.

X-Men
2000
Executive Producer
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
1999
Executive Producer
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
1999
Producer
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
1999
Producer
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
1998
Director, Producer
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
1997
Producer
A drug-lord targets an undercover FBI agent and the hit man she falls in love with while tracking.

Conspiracy Theory
1997
as Cab Passenger (uncredited)
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
1997
Director, Producer
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
1997
Executive Producer
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
1996
Executive Producer
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
1995
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
1995
Director, Producer
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
1995
Executive Producer
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
1995
Executive Producer
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
1995
Executive Producer
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
1995
Executive Producer
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
1994
as Dealer (uncredited)
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
1994
Producer, Director
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
1993
Executive Producer
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
1992
Producer, Director
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
1992
Director
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
1992
Director, Executive Producer
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
1991
Executive Producer
A soap opera writer gets hit on the head and wakes up as a character in his own show.

First Works
1989
as Self
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
1989
Producer, Director
Riggs and Murtaugh are on the trail of South African diplomats using their immunity to engage in criminal activities.

Scrooged
1988
Producer, Director
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
1987
Executive Producer
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
1987
Director, Producer
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
1986
as Himself
Documentary tracks the rise of devil cults, witches and other elements of the "black arts."

The Goonies
1985
as Policeman (uncredited)
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
1985
Producer, Director
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
1985
Producer, Director
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
1982
Director
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'
1982
as Self
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
1981
Executive Producer
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
1980
as Man who closes the ambulance doors (uncredited)
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
1980
Director
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
1980
as Man Walking by Diner (uncredited)
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
1980
Director of Photography
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
1978
as Man in Street (extended version) (uncredited)
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
1978
Director
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
1976
Director
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
1975
Director
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
1975
Director
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
1974
Director
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
1974
Director
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
1973
Director
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
1972
Director
A gang of smugglers headed by an oil dealer are brought to justice by a lawman.

Sam Cade
1972
Director
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
1970
Director
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
1968
Director
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)
1963
Director
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
1961
Director
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.