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Breck Eisner

2025-10-16T21:50:05Z

2804:1B3:9202:87D7:74A9:7B9D:9C1:EC2: /* Filmography */

{{short description|American director}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Breck Eisner
| image =
| caption =
| birth_name = Michael Breckenridge Eisner
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1970|04|26|mf=y}}
| birth_place = [[California]], U.S.
| occupation = Director
| years_active = 1996–present
| spouse = {{marriage|Georgia Leigh Irwin |2006}}
| parents = Jane Breckenridge [[Michael Eisner]]
| family = [[Eric Eisner (producer)|Eric Eisner]] (brother) [[Stacey Bendet]] (sister-in-law) [[Sigmund Eisner]] (great-great-grandfather)
}}
'''Michael Breckenridge Eisner''' (born April 26, 1970) is an American television and film director.

== Early life ==
Eisner was born in California, the son of Jane Breckenridge, a business advisor and computer programmer, and [[Michael Eisner]], the former [[The Walt Disney Company|Walt Disney Company]] chief executive. To avoid confusion with his father, he uses a short version of his middle name/mother's maiden name as his professional first name.<ref name=Creativity>Terry Kattleman, [http://www.scenariolane.com/press/creativity_profile.pdf The Next …], ''[[Creativity (magazine)|Advertising Age's Creativity]]'', Vol. 5, Issue 5, June 1997, p. 44.</ref> His mother is a [[History of Unitarianism|Unitarian]] of [[Scottish American|Scottish]] and [[Swedish Americans|Swedish]] descent while his father is [[American Jews|Jewish]].<ref name="Pinsky">{{Cite book |last=Pinsky |first=Mark I. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YGtbYTyulb4C&dq=jane+breckenridge+eisner&pg=PA126 |title=The Gospel According to Disney |publisher=Westminster John Knox Press |isbn=978-0-664-23467-6 |pages=123–129 |language=en}}</ref>

Eisner attended Harvard High School (now [[Harvard-Westlake School]]), [[Georgetown University]], majoring in both English and Theatre, and the [[USC School of Cinematic Arts|University of Southern California's film school]] where he received a master's degree in film production.

== Career ==
For a directing project at Georgetown, he filmed a contemporary riff on ''[[Alice's Adventures in Wonderland|Alice in Wonderland]]'', shooting scenes in the vast empty attic of [[Healy Hall]] on the campus, as well as in an abandoned circular trolley-car tunnel under [[Dupont Circle]] in [[Northwest, Washington, D.C.]] He also directed [[William Shakespeare|Shakespeare]] plays on the campus.

His [[Master of Fine Arts|MFA]] [[thesis]] film, ''Recon'', a [[tech noir]] co-written and co-produced by [[Steven Cantor]], stars [[Peter Gabriel]], [[Elizabeth Peña]] and [[Charles Durning]]. Set in Los Angeles in 2007, Gabriel plays a weary detective who in order to catch a serial killer uses a new experimental technology, Recon, which allows him to see the last living minutes of the killer's victims through their eyes. Gabriel agreed to appear in the film after having been asked to by Cantor who had served with him on a media advisory board.<ref>Kathy DeSalvo, First Time Out, Director Eisner Breaks into Big Time, ''[[Shoot (advertising magazine)|Shoot]]'', Vol. 38, Issue 6, February 7, 1997, p. 7.</ref> Peña came on board because she wanted to work with Gabriel while Durning had the same agent as Peña.<ref name=Creativity /> The film, made for a budget of $21,000, was shot in 1994 but completion took until 1996. It screened at the [[53rd Venice International Film Festival]], the [[Edinburgh International Film Festival]] and the [[Hamptons International Film Festival]], among others.

Eisner had used some of [[Digital Domain]]'s processors to render images for his film, and the company suggested he meet with some commercial production houses. Thus began his career as a director of commercials, and after only a year-and-a-half, Eisner had directed 14 high-profile spots. His first commercial was [[Budweiser (Anheuser-Busch)|Budweiser]]'s Powersurge, which aired during the [[Super Bowl XXXI|1997 Super Bowl]]. He also took the helm for [[Rold Gold]] pretzels' "Comrades" starring [[Jason Alexander]], which featured Pretzel Boy on a rescue mission to the ''[[Mir]]'' space station. Eisner's two anti-smoking spots for the [[California Health and Human Services Agency|California Department of Health Services]], "Gala Event" and "Funeral", were selected as Best Spots in back-to-back issues of ''[[Adweek]]''. In addition, Eisner's "Mad Dog" for [[Coors Brewing Company|Coors]]'s [[Zima (drink)|Zima]] aired during the ''[[Seinfeld]]'' finale and was chosen by ''[[USA Today]]''{{'s}} "Ad Meter" as the #1 spot. He has also done commercials for Sony, Sega and Coca-Cola.<ref>William C. Martel, [http://scenariolane.com/press/shoot_profile.pdf Breck Eisner], ''Shoot'', Vol. 39, Issue 42, Supplement Directors, October 16, 1998, pp. 38 & 132.</ref>

Eisner's success in the commercial world opened the door for him to direct the TV film ''[[The Invisible Man (2000 TV series)|The Invisible Man]]'' for the [[Syfy|Sci Fi Channel]]. That led to an episode of [[DreamWorks Pictures|DreamWorks]] Television's mini-series ''[[Taken (TV miniseries)|Taken]]'' (2002), executive-produced by [[Steven Spielberg]] and starring [[Dakota Fanning]].

His first full-length effort was the crime drama ''[[Thoughtcrimes]]'' (2003), which was produced as a backdoor pilot and went straight to video. His theatrical directorial debut was the film ''[[Sahara (2005 film)|Sahara]]'' (2005) starring [[Matthew McConaughey]], [[Penélope Cruz]] and [[William H. Macy]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Breck Eisner biography and filmography {{!}} Breck Eisner movies |url=https://www.tribute.ca/people/Breck+Eisner/12001/ |access-date=2025-04-30 |website=Tribute |language=en-US}}</ref> The film is considered one of the biggest financial failures in Hollywood history.<ref>[http://www.moviefone.com/insidemovies/2007/11/15/biggest-box-office-bombs/ Biggest Box-Office Bombs of All Time] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080723010419/http://www.moviefone.com/insidemovies/2007/11/15/biggest-box-office-bombs/ |date=July 23, 2008 }}</ref><ref name="LATBunting041507">{{Cite web |last=Bunting |first=Glenn F. |date=2007-04-15 |title=$78 million of red ink? |url=https://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-movie15apr15-story.html |access-date=2025-04-30 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=BuntingLAT030507>Glenn F. Bunting, [https://archive.today/20120906163619/http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/la-fi-cussler5mar05,0,3908474,full.story Jurors hear tales of studio maneuvering], ''Los Angeles Times'', March 5, 2007.</ref>

Eisner currently works as a [[film director|director]] of film and television. In October 2005, it was announced that Eisner would direct a remake of the classic monster film ''[[Creature from the Black Lagoon]]'' which was dropped in 2009 for unnamed reasons, and in February 2008, it was announced that he would direct ''[[The Crazies (2010 film)|The Crazies]]'', a remake of the film [[The Crazies (1973 film)|of the same name]], released in 2010.<ref>[http://iconsoffright.com/news/2008/02/breck_eisner_directing_the_cra.html Icons of Fright]</ref> In December 2009, it was announced he will direct the remakes of ''[[Flash Gordon#Flash Gordon 3D|Flash Gordon]]'' and ''[[The Brood]]'',<ref>{{Cite web |last=Central |first=Dread |title=Breck Eisner Talks The Crazies, Flash Gordon, and What's Up with The Brood |url=https://www.dreadcentral.com/news/35988/breck-eisner-talks-the-crazies-flash-gordon-and-what%E2%80%99s-up-with-the-brood |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20121127115130/http://www.dreadcentral.com:80/news/35988/breck-eisner-talks-the-crazies-flash-gordon-and-what%E2%80%99s-up-with-the-brood |archive-date=2012-11-27 |access-date=2025-04-30 |website=Dread Central.com}}</ref> though he later backed out of the latter.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Miska |first=Brad |date=2010-02-20 |title=Breck Eisner NOT Attached to 'The Brood' Remake |url=https://bloody-disgusting.com/news/19193/ |access-date=2025-04-30 |website=Bloody Disgusting! |language=en-US}}</ref> He is rumored to direct the remake of ''[[Escape from New York]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Miska |first=Brad |date=2010-04-23 |title='Crazies' Director to 'Escape From New York' |url=https://bloody-disgusting.com/news/19937/ |access-date=2025-04-30 |website=Bloody Disgusting! |language=en-US}}</ref> Eisner is set to direct the film adaptation of the [[Mark Wheatley (comics)|Mark Wheatley]] comic book ''[[Blood of the Innocent]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Barton |first=Steve |date=2012-10-02 |title=Godzilla vs. Biollante Roaring its Way to Blu-ray |url=https://www.dreadcentral.com/news/37985/godzilla-vs-biollante-roaring-its-way-to-blu-ray/ |access-date=2025-04-30 |website=Dread Central |language=en-US}}</ref> In December 2010, he was in talks to direct the film adaption of the Hasbro board game [[Ouija]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Barton |first=Steve |date=2013-02-18 |title=Producer Exits Jurassic Park 4 Star Wars |url=https://www.dreadcentral.com/news/41530/producer-exits-jurassic-park-4-star-wars/ |access-date=2025-04-30 |website=Dread Central |language=en-US}}</ref>

On March 5, 2013, Eisner was set to direct action fantasy film ''[[The Last Witch Hunter]]'' by [[Summit Entertainment]] based on Cory Goodman's script,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Fleming |first=Mike Jr. |date=2013-03-05 |title=Breck Eisner To Helm 'The Witch Hunter' For Summit/Emmett/Furla; Vin Diesel Circling Title Role |url=https://deadline.com/2013/03/breck-eisner-to-helm-summits-the-witch-hunter-vin-diesel-circling-title-role-446018/ |access-date=2025-04-30 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}</ref> [[Melisa Wallack]] would re-write the script.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Yamato |first=Jen |date=2014-03-31 |title='Dallas Buyers Club's Melisa Wallack To Polish Vin Diesel's 'Last Witch Hunter' |url=https://deadline.com/2014/03/dallas-buyers-club-melisa-wallack-vin-diesel-last-witch-hunter-707173/ |access-date=2025-04-30 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}</ref> [[Vin Diesel]] stars as lead with [[Rose Leslie]], [[Julie Engelbrecht]], [[Michael Caine]], [[Elijah Wood]] and [[Ólafur Darri Ólafsson]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Vin Diesel in Talks for Summit's 'The Last Witch Hunter'|url=https://www.thewrap.com/movies/column-post/vin-diesel-talks-summits-last-witch-hunter-exclusive-55156/|accessdate=July 12, 2014|publisher=thewrap.com|date=September 6, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title='Game of Thrones' Actress Joins Vin Diesel in 'The Last Witch Hunter'|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/game-thrones-actress-joins-vin-718066|accessdate=July 12, 2014|publisher=hollywoodreporter.com|date=July 11, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Yamato |first=Jen |date=2014-09-03 |title=German Actress Julie Engelbrecht Joins 'The Last Witch Hunter' |url=https://deadline.com/2014/09/last-witch-hunter-julie-engelbrecht-828137/ |access-date=2025-04-30 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=McNary |first=Dave |date=2014-07-21 |title=Michael Caine Joins Vin Diesel in 'Last Witch Hunter' |url=https://variety.com/2014/film/news/michael-caine-vin-diesel-last-witch-hunter-1201265818/ |access-date=2025-04-30 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Yamato|first1=Jen|title=Elijah Wood Joins 'The Last Witch Hunter'|url=https://deadline.com/2014/08/elijah-wood-last-witch-hunter-vin-diesel-814293/|access-date=August 5, 2014|publisher=[[Deadline Hollywood]]|date=August 4, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Sneider |first=Jeff |date=2014-08-05 |title='True Detective's' Olafur Darri Olafsson Joins Vin Diesel in 'The Last Witch Hunter' (Exclusive) |url=https://www.thewrap.com/true-detectives-olafur-darri-olafsson-joins-vin-diesel-in-the-last-witch-hunter-exclusive/ |access-date=2025-04-30 |website=TheWrap |language=en-US}}</ref>

In April 2014, [[Sony Pictures Classics]] announced that Eisner would direct ''[[The Karate Kid (2010 film)|The Karate Kid]]'' sequel starring [[Jaden Smith]] and [[Jackie Chan]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2014/film/news/jaden-smiths-karate-kid-sequel-draws-breck-eisner-to-direct-1201153638/|title=Jaden Smith's 'Karate Kid' Sequel Draws Breck Eisner to Direct|work=Variety |date=April 7, 2014 |publisher=Variety.com |last1=McNary |first1=Dave }}</ref> In June 2014, Eisner left the project because of scheduling conflicts with ''The Last Witch Hunter'',<ref>{{cite news|last=Yamato|first=Jen|title=Breck Eisner Out For 'Karate Kid 2′ As Sony, Overbrook Hire New Scripting Duo|url=https://deadline.com/2014/06/karate-kid-2-jeremiah-friedman-nick-palmer-breck-eisner-796428/|access-date=July 23, 2015|publisher=[[Deadline Hollywood]]|date=June 25, 2014}}</ref> released in 2015.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Moore |first=Debi |date=2015-08-06 |title=New Trailer for The Last Witch Hunter Will Live Forever |url=https://www.dreadcentral.com/news/117487/new-trailer-for-the-last-witch-hunter-will-live-forever/ |access-date=2025-04-30 |website=Dread Central |language=en-US}}</ref>

In November 2024, it was announced that a production company ''[[Expanding Universe (production company)|Expanding Universe]]'' co-founded by Eisner with [[Naren Shankar]], [[Daniel Abraham (author)|Daniel Abraham]] and [[Ty Franck]] has a development deal with [[Amazon MGM Studios]], with their first project, television adaptation of ''The Captive's War'' trilogy, being directed and co-executive produced by Eisner.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pinto |first=Jordan |date=2024-11-22 |title=Team behind The Expanse launches sci-fi prodco, agrees Amazon development deal |url=https://www.c21media.net/news/team-behind-the-expanse-launches-sci-fi-prodco-agrees-amazon-development-deal/ |access-date=2024-12-04 |website=C21media}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Maas |first=Jennifer |date=2024-11-21 |title='The Expanse' Creators Set 'Captive's War' TV Series at Amazon, Launch New Media Company Expanding Universe (EXCLUSIVE) |url=https://variety.com/2024/tv/news/the-expanse-captives-war-tv-series-amazon-expanding-universe-1236215983/ |access-date=2024-11-21 |website=Variety}}</ref>

== Personal life ==
In 2006, he married Georgia Leigh Irwin in a ceremony officiated by a [[Roman Catholic]] priest and held at her parents' house.<ref name="NYTIrwinWedding">{{Cite news |date=2006-06-25 |title=Georgia Irwin and Breck Eisner |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/25/fashion/25irwi.html?ex=1308888000&en=f7a07b705de5ac38&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss |access-date=2025-04-30 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> Irwin's father is a real estate broker in [[Palm Springs, California|Palm Springs]] who developed and sold the resort La Mancha; and her maternal grandfather, [[Carroll Rosenbloom]], was the owner of the [[Los Angeles Rams]] and the [[Baltimore Colts]].<ref name=NYTIrwinWedding />

== Filmography ==
'''Short film'''
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Director
! Writer
! Note
|-
| 1996
| ''Recon''
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| Eisner's MFA thesis film for the University of Southern California
|-
|}

=== Feature film ===
'''Director'''
* ''[[Sahara (2005 film)|Sahara]]'' (2005)
* ''[[The Crazies (2010 film)|The Crazies]]'' (2010)
* ''[[The Last Witch Hunter]]'' (2015)

'''Producer'''
* ''[[A Sound of Thunder (film)|A Sound of Thunder]]'' (2005)

'''Actor'''
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! Note
|-
| 1999
| ''The Auteur Theory''
| Moshe
| Segment ''Brooklyn Will Be Ours''
|}

=== Television ===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Notes
|-
| 2000
| ''[[The Invisible Man (2000 TV series)|The Invisible Man]]''
| Episode "Pilot"
|-
| 2001
| ''Wilder''
| Unaired pilot
|-
| 2002
| ''[[Taken (TV miniseries)|Taken]]''
| Episode "Jacob and Jesse"
|-
| 2003
| ''[[Thoughtcrimes]]''
| TV movie
|-
| 2006
| ''Beyond''
| Unaired pilot
|-
| 2008
| ''[[Fear Itself (TV series)|Fear Itself]]''
| Episode "[[The Sacrifice (Fear Itself)|The Sacrifice]]"
|-
| 2017
| ''[[The Brave (TV series)|The Brave]]''
| Episode "It's All Personal"
|-
| 2017–2022
| ''[[The Expanse (TV series)|The Expanse]]''
| 14 episodes
|-
|}

== Accolades ==
Eisner has earned [[Hugo Award]] nomination for [[Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation|Best Dramatic Presentation]] in 2020 for directing "Cibola Burn" episode of ''[[The Expanse (TV series)|The Expanse]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thehugoawards.org/hugo-history/2020-hugo-awards/ |title=2020 Hugo Awards |date=2020-04-07 |publisher=World Science Fiction Society |access-date=2020-04-08 |archive-date=2021-11-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211119170105/http://www.thehugoawards.org/hugo-history/2020-hugo-awards/ |url-status=live }}</ref> He got an award in this category for directing this show, in 2022 for "Nemesis Games" and in 2023 for "[[Babylon's Ashes (The Expanse episode)|Babylon's Ashes]]".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thehugoawards.org/hugo-history/2021-hugo-awards/ |title=2021 Hugo Awards |date=2021-12-18 |publisher=World Science Fiction Society |access-date=2022-01-03 |archive-date=2022-01-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220103115504/http://www.thehugoawards.org/hugo-history/2021-hugo-awards/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thehugoawards.org/hugo-history/2022-hugo-awards/ |title=2022 Hugo Awards |date=2022-09-04 |publisher=World Science Fiction Society |access-date=2022-09-04 |archive-date=2022-09-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220905072855/https://www.thehugoawards.org/hugo-history/2022-hugo-awards/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* [http://expanding-universe.com Expanding Universe LLC]
* {{IMDb name|252135}}

{{Breck Eisner}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Eisner, Breck}}
[[Category:1970 births]]
[[Category:American advertising directors]]
[[Category:American people of German-Jewish descent]]
[[Category:American people of Scottish descent]]
[[Category:American people of Swedish descent]]
[[Category:American television directors]]
[[Category:Film directors from Los Angeles]]
[[Category:Georgetown University College of Arts & Sciences alumni]]
[[Category:Harvard-Westlake School alumni]]
[[Category:Hugo Award winners]]
[[Category:Jewish American film people]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:USC School of Cinematic Arts alumni]]

Jan de Bont

2025-10-16T18:41:01Z

2804:1B3:9202:87D7:74A9:7B9D:9C1:EC2:

{{Short description|Dutch film director}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2024}}
{{Infobox person
| image = Jan de Bont, première-voorstelling Turks Fruit in Tuschinski, Amsterdam.jpg
| name = Jan de Bont
| caption = De Bont in 1973
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1943|10|22|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Eindhoven]], Netherlands
| death_date =
| death_place =
| othername =
| yearsactive = 1965–2012
| spouse = {{plainlist|
* {{marriage|[[Monique van de Ven]]|1973|1988|reason=divorced}}
* Trish Reeves
}}
| children = 2
| notable_works = ''[[Speed (1994 film)|Speed]]'' ''[[Twister (1996 film)|Twister]]''
| website =
| occupation = {{hlist|Film director|producer|cinematographer}}
}}
'''Jan de Bont''' ({{IPA|nl|ˈjɑn də ˈbɔnt|lang}}; born 22 October 1943) is a Dutch former cinematographer, film director, and film producer. He is best known for directing the action films ''[[Speed (1994 film)|Speed]]'' (1994) and ''[[Twister (1996 film)|Twister]]'' (1996). As a director of photography, de Bont also worked on numerous [[Blockbuster (entertainment)|blockbusters]] and [[Genre fiction|genre films]], including ''[[Roar (film)|Roar]]'' (1981), ''[[Cujo (film)|Cujo]]'' (1983), ''[[Flesh and Blood (1985 film)|Flesh and Blood]]'' (1985), ''[[Die Hard]]'' (1988), ''[[The Hunt for Red October (film)|The Hunt for Red October]]'' (1990), ''[[Lethal Weapon 3]]'' (1992), and ''[[Basic Instinct]]'' (1992).

==Early life and career==
De Bont was born to a [[Roman Catholic]] family in [[Eindhoven]], [[Netherlands]], one of 17 children. His earliest works were made while studying at the Amsterdam Film Academy with Dutch avant-garde director [[Adriaan Ditvoorst]].<ref name="nytimes">{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/06/14/movies/hurtling-to-the-top-a-director-is-born.html|title=Hurtling to the Top: A Director Is Born|work=[[New York Times]]|last=Weinraub|first=Bernard|date=14 June 1994|access-date=21 September 2019}}</ref> He first became known in the Netherlands as the [[cinematography|cinematographer]] for the infamous [[1971 in film|1971 film]] ''[[Blue Movie (1971 film)|Blue Movie]]'', followed by the [[1973 in film|1973 film]] ''[[Turkish Delight (1973 film)|Turkish Delight]]'' (1973), directed by [[Paul Verhoeven]], starring [[Rutger Hauer]] and [[Monique van de Ven]]. Followed by ''Max Havelaar'' Since the early 1980s, he has worked frequently in [[Cinema of the United States|Hollywood]], often collaborating with directors including Verhoeven and [[John McTiernan]].{{citation needed|date=December 2020}}

While serving as cinematographer for the 1981 film ''[[Roar (film)|Roar]]'', de Bont experienced one of many on-set injuries during filming, when a lion lifted his scalp, requiring 220 stitches.<ref name="bmd">{{cite web|url=https://birthmoviesdeath.com/2015/02/19/utterly-brainsick-roar-starring-tippi-hedren-melanie-griffith-joins-pride-o|title=Utterly Terrifying ROAR, Starring Tippi Hedren And Melanie Griffith, Joins Pride Of Drafthouse Films|last=Stobezki|first=Jon|work=Birth.Movies.Death.|date=19 February 2015|access-date=30 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190331022245/https://birthmoviesdeath.com/2015/02/19/utterly-brainsick-roar-starring-tippi-hedren-melanie-griffith-joins-pride-o|archive-date=31 March 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> After ''Roar'', de Bont shot the 1983 horror film [[Cujo (film)|''Cujo'']], an adaptation of the [[Stephen King]] [[Cujo|novel of the same name]].

In 1988, he was director of photography on the critically acclaimed action film ''[[Die Hard]]''.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Weinraub|first=Bernard|date=14 June 1994|title=Hurtling to the Top: A Director Is Born|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/06/14/movies/hurtling-to-the-top-a-director-is-born.html|access-date=21 July 2020|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> The following year, de Bont shot the [[Ridley Scott]]-directed action thriller ''[[Black Rain (1989 American film)|Black Rain]]''.<ref>{{Citation|title=Black Rain - Movie Reviews|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1002512-black_rain/reviews|language=en|access-date=21 July 2020}}</ref>

==Directing==
De Bont made his directorial debut with the action thriller ''[[Speed (1994 film)|Speed]]'' in 1994, which was a [[sleeper hit]]. He followed this up with the even more successful ''[[Twister (1996 film)|Twister]]'' in 1996. His output since has had mixed commercial and critical success. In 1997, he returned to direct ''Speed''{{'}}s sequel ''[[Speed 2: Cruise Control]]'', which achieved the opposite of its predecessor, faring much worse both critically and commercially. In 1999, he oversaw [[The Haunting (1999 film)|the commercially successful remake]] of ''[[The Haunting (1963 film)|The Haunting]]'', which received generally negative reviews from critics at the time. His most recent directorial outing was the 2003 action adventure film ''[[Lara Croft: Tomb Raider – The Cradle of Life]]'', based on the [[Tomb Raider|video game series of the same name]], and starring [[Angelina Jolie]] as the eponymous [[Lara Croft]].

===Unrealised projects===

De Bont began pre-production on an American ''Godzilla'' film for a summer 1996 release, but quit at the end of 1994 when [[Sony Pictures Entertainment]] ([[Columbia Pictures]] and [[TriStar Pictures]]'s parent company) refused to approve his budget request. He was eventually replaced by [[Roland Emmerich]], who rewrote the script in addition to directing. While critically panned, Emmerich's ''[[Godzilla (1998 film)|Godzilla]]'' was moderately successful at the box-office.<ref name=Variety>{{cite magazine|last=Gilchrist|first=Todd|url=https://variety.com/2024/film/features/twister-director-jan-de-bont-1236062857/|title='Twister' Director Jan de Bont Never Heard of Sequel 'Twisters' Until Its Trailer Came Out and Pines for 'Godzilla' Movie He Never Got to Make|magazine=Variety|date=9 July 2024|access-date=14 July 2024}}</ref>

At one point, de Bont mooted an [[asteroid]]/space shuttle [[disaster film]] project called ''Galileo's Wake'' as a possible follow-up to ''[[Speed 2: Cruise Control]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://corona.bc.ca/films/details/ghostriderssky.html|title=Coming Attractions - Ghost Riders in the Sky|publisher=[[IGN]]|date=March 31, 1999|access-date=April 13, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030210133505/http://corona.bc.ca/films/details/ghostriderssky.html|archive-date=February 10, 2003|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://legacy.aintitcool.com/node/52896|title=The Return of Jan De Bont!? He's Remaking A...Johnny Cash Film??|website=[[Ain't It Cool News]]|date=January 23, 2012|access-date=April 13, 2025}}</ref>

In 1997, de Bont was originally attached to direct the film ''[[Minority Report (film)|Minority Report]]'', which [[Steven Spielberg]] would end up directing instead.<ref>{{cite news|last=Todd|first=McCarthy|title=Review: Minority Report|url=https://variety.com/2002/film/reviews/minority-report-2-1200549076/|magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|access-date=November 9, 2024|date=June 16, 2002}}</ref> Also that year, de Bont was attached to direct ''Supertanker'' at [[Centropolis Entertainment]]. [[Bill Pullman]] and [[Samuel L. Jackson]] were set to star to the film.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.corona.bc.ca/films/details/supertanker.html|title=Coming Attractions - Supertanker|publisher=[[IGN]]|date=July 12, 1998|access-date=April 13, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19990221112336/http://www.corona.bc.ca/films/details/supertanker.html|archive-date=February 21, 1999|url-status=dead}}</ref> In May that same year it was reported the [[20th Century Fox]] [[thriller film]] ''Zero Hour'' would be his next film;<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Petrikin|first=Chris|url=https://variety.com/1997/scene/vpage/de-bont-debarks-next-for-zero-hour-1117341808/|title=De Bont debarks next for 'Zero Hour'|magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=May 6, 1997|access-date=June 29, 2025}}</ref> though he would drop out by the end of the year.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Petrikin|first=Chris|url=https://variety.com/1997/film/news/zlotoff-on-zero-1116680284/|title=Zlotoff on 'Zero'|magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=December 14, 1997|access-date=June 29, 2025}}</ref>

In February 1998, Fox optioned the rights to [[Gregory Benford]]'s sci-fi novel ''Cosm'' for de Bont's Blue Tulip Productions to produce as a feature film, with Robert Collins attached as script writer.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Petrikin|first=Chris|url=https://variety.com/1998/film/news/fox-options-cosm-rights-for-de-bont-1117467552/|title=Fox options 'Cosm' rights for De Bont|magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=February 8, 1998|access-date=June 29, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://corona.bc.ca/films/details/dust.html|title=Coming Attractions - Cosm|publisher=[[IGN]]|date=December 1, 1998|access-date=June 29, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20011227195641/http://corona.bc.ca/films/details/cosm.html|archive-date=December 27, 2001|url-status=dead}}</ref> In March he was developing to produce and direct the action film ''Pathfinder'' for [[Paramount Pictures]].<ref>{{cite magazine|author=Fleming, Michael|author-link=|url=https://variety.com/1998/film/news/pathfinder-now-on-track-1117468494/|title='Pathfinder' now on track|magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=March 5, 1998|access-date=January 7, 2025}}</ref> By September, he was confirmed to additionally direct ''Cosm''. Other projects touted as potential directing vehicles for de Bont that year included the [[Tazio Nuvolari]] [[Biographical film|biopic]] ''Nuvolari'', the [[time travel]] thriller ''Old City'', and the thriller ''Hindenberg''.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Petrikin|first=Chris|url=https://variety.com/1998/film/news/more-de-bont-for-fox-1117480880/|title=More De Bont for Fox|magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=September 29, 1998|access-date=June 29, 2025}}</ref>

In 1999 it was announced that he would direct ''[[The Adaptive Ultimate]]'' for Fox, with [[Nicole Kidman]] attached to star but her schedule was too busy to commit at the time.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Petrikin|first=Chris|url=https://variety.com/1999/film/news/de-bont-fox-huddle-over-sci-fi-pic-1117743018/|title=De Bont, Fox huddle over sci-fi pic|magazine=Variety|date=15 July 1999|access-date=17 July 2024}}</ref>

In January 2000, it was reported that de Bont would take on ''Dust'' as his next film, which would have been based upon the novel of the same name by [[Charles Pellegrino]]. De Bont planned to develop the script with his production partner [[Lucas Foster]] under his company label, Blue Tulip, based on an adaptation already written by [[Ted Humphrey]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.allocine.fr/article/fichearticle_gen_carticle=324915.html|title="Dust" pour Jan de Bont|website=[[AlloCiné]]|date=January 20, 2000|access-date=April 13, 2025|language=fr}}</ref> [[Peter Dowling]], [[Patrick Massett]] and [[John Zinman]] also worked on the script.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://corona.bc.ca/films/details/dust.html|title=Coming Attractions - Dust|publisher=[[IGN]]|date=March 18, 2002|access-date=April 13, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030210144236/http://corona.bc.ca/films/details/dust.html|archive-date=February 10, 2003|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In June 2000, de Bont was considering directing either ''Adventures of the Stainless Steel Rat'', ''Food'', ''LAX'', or ''The 28th Amendment'' as his next film.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Fleming|first=Michael|url=https://variety.com/2000/voices/columns/rat-rights-finally-go-to-de-bont-1117782261/|title='Rat' rights finally go to De Bont|magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=June 6, 2000|access-date=January 6, 2025}}</ref> None of the projects were produced, though the latter was reportedly further developed with Artists Production Group for [[Warner Bros.]]<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Lyons|first=Charles|url=https://variety.com/2001/film/news/apg-reups-schulman-1117801369/|title=APG reups Schulman|magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=June 13, 2001|access-date=January 6, 2025}}</ref>

More recently, de Bont was attached as the director of an early version of ''[[The Meg]]'',<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2008-apr-13-ca-newline13-story.html |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |title=Trapped down in the depths |date=April 13, 2008 |first=Robert W. |last=Welkos |access-date=April 20, 2021 |archive-date=April 18, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210418104830/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2008-apr-13-ca-newline13-story.html |url-status=live }}</ref> the ''[[Dracula]]'' sequel ''[[Dracula the Un-dead|The Undead]]'',<ref>{{cite magazine|last=O'Hara|first=Helen|url=https://www.empireonline.com/movies/news/dracula-sequel-headed-screens/|title=Dracula Sequel Headed To Screens?|magazine=Empire|date=October 6, 2008|access-date=April 13, 2025}}</ref> the [[John Cusack]] action thriller vehicle ''Stopping Power'',<ref>{{cite web|last=Gardner|first=Eriq|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/jan-de-bont-sues-125-63334/|title=Jan de Bont sues for $1.25 million over pay-or-play snub|date=September 15, 2009|access-date=April 13, 2025}}</ref> the ''[[Point Break]]'' sequel ''Indo'',<ref>{{cite web|last=Kay|first=Jeremy|url=https://www.screendaily.com/jan-de-bont-to-direct-point-break-sequel-in-indonesia/4038736.article|title=Jan de Bont to direct Point Break sequel in Indonesia|website=Screen Daily|date=13 May 2008|access-date=16 July 2024}}</ref> the [[Mulan (2020 film)|live action ''Mulan'']], which would have starred [[Zhang Ziyi]],<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Coonan|first=Clifford|url=https://variety.com/2010/biz/news/jan-de-bont-to-direct-mulan-1118023855/|title=Jan de Bont to direct 'Mulan'|magazine=Variety|date=8 September 2010|access-date=17 July 2024}}</ref> as well as a proposed remake of the [[Johnny Cash]] film ''[[Five Minutes to Live]]'' written by Raul Inglis.<ref>{{cite web|last=Kay|first=Jeremy|url=https://www.screendaily.com/production/jan-de-bont-to-remake-crime-drama-five-minutes-to-live/5036765.article|title=Jan De Bont to remake crime drama Five Minutes To Live|website=Screen Daily|date=20 January 2012|access-date=16 July 2024}}</ref>

De Bont's passion project, a film titled ''Riders in the Sky'', about [[Tribe (Native American)|Indian tribes]] in the Midwest has been stuck in [[development hell]] for many years. "It was a beautiful story, very imaginative," said de Bont. The project went as far as locations having already been scouted and the sets designed, before being cancelled.<ref name=Variety/>

==Personal life==
He was married to Dutch actress [[Monique van de Ven]] from 1973 to 1988. Monique starred in the 1973 film ''[[Turkish Delight (1973 film)|Turkish Delight]]'', for which de Bont did the cinematography. De Bont has two children from his second marriage with Trish Reeves.<ref name="nytimes"/> He is an avid collector of photographic prints from noted photographers, having hundreds of them in his house.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.frick.org/interact/miniseries/photography/conversation_collectors_jan_trish_de_bont_moderated_denise_bethel|title=Conversation with collectors Jan and Trish De Bont, moderated by Denise Bethel|website=The Frick Collection|date=8 May 2015|access-date=19 November 2024}}</ref>

==Filmography==
{| class="wikitable"
|- style="background:#b0c4de; text-align:center;"
! Year
! Title
! [[Film director|Director]]
! [[Film producer|Producer]]
! Notes
|-
|1994
|''[[Speed (1994 film)|Speed]]''
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}
|
|-
|1996
|''[[Twister (1996 film)|Twister]]''
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}
|
|-
|1997
|''[[Speed 2: Cruise Control]]''
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|Also story writer
|-
|1998
|''[[SLC Punk!]]''
|{{no}}
|{{yes|Executive}}
|
|-
|1999
|''[[The Haunting (1999 film)|The Haunting]]''
|{{yes}}
|{{yes|Executive}}
|
|-
| rowspan="2" |2002
|''[[Equilibrium (film)|Equilibrium]]''
|{{no}}
|{{yes}}
|
|-
|''[[Minority Report (film)|Minority Report]]''
|{{no}}
|{{yes}}
|
|-
| rowspan="2" |2003
| ''[[Lara Croft: Tomb Raider – The Cradle of Life]]''
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
|
|-
| ''[[Thoughtcrimes]]''
|{{no}}
|{{yes|Executive}}
| [[Television film]]
|-
| 2012
| ''[[The Paperboy (2012 film)|The Paperboy]]''
|{{no}}
|{{yes|Executive}}
|
|}

'''As cinematographer'''
{| class="wikitable"
|- style="background:#b0c4de; text-align:center;"
! Year
! Title
! Director
! Notes
|-
|rowspan="2"|1971
|''[[Blue Movie (1971 film)|Blue Movie]]''
|[[Wim Verstappen]]
|With Werner Leckebusch
|-
|''[[Business Is Business (1971 film)|Business Is Business]]''
|rowspan=3|[[Paul Verhoeven]]
|
|-
|1973
|''[[Turkish Delight (1973 film)|Turkish Delight]]''
|
|-
|1975
|''[[Keetje Tippel]]''
|
|-
|1976
|''[[Max Havelaar (film)|Max Havelaar]]''
| [[Fons Rademakers]]
|-
|rowspan="2"|1981
|''[[Private Lessons (1981 film)|Private Lessons]]''
|[[Alan Myerson]]
|
|-
|''[[Roar (film)|Roar]]''
|[[Noel Marshall]]
| Also Supervising Editor
|-
|rowspan="2"|1982
|''[[I'm Dancing as Fast as I Can]]''
|[[Jack Hofsiss]]
|
|-
|''[[Butcher, Baker, Nightmare Maker|Night Warning]]''
|[[William Asher]]
|Uncredited
|-
|rowspan="3"|1983
|''[[Cujo (film)|Cujo]]''
|[[Lewis Teague]]
|
|-
|''[[The Fourth Man (1983 film)|The Fourth Man]]''
|Paul Verhoeven
|
|-
|''[[All the Right Moves (film)|All the Right Moves]]''
|[[Michael Chapman (cinematographer)|Michael Chapman]]
|
|-
|rowspan="2"|1984
|''[[Bad Manners (1984 film)|Bad Manners]]''
|[[Robert Houston (actor)|Robert Houston]]
|alternatively titled ''Growing Pains''
|-
| ''[[American Dreamer (1984 film)|American Dreamer]]''
| [[Rick Rosenthal]]
| With [[Giuseppe Rotunno]]
|-
| rowspan="2" |1985
|''[[Flesh and Blood (1985 film)|Flesh & Blood]]''
|Paul Verhoeven
|
|-
|''[[The Jewel of the Nile]]''
|Lewis Teague
|
|-
|rowspan="2"|1986
|''[[Ruthless People]]''
|[[Jim Abrahams]] [[David Zucker]] [[Jerry Zucker]]
|
|-
|''[[The Clan of the Cave Bear (film)|The Clan of the Cave Bear]]''
|Michael Chapman
|
|-
|rowspan="2"|1987
|''[[Who's That Girl (1987 film)|Who's That Girl]]''
|[[James Foley (director)|James Foley]]
|
|-
|''[[Leonard Part 6]]''
|[[Paul Weiland]]
|
|-
|1988
|''[[Die Hard]]''
|[[John McTiernan]]
|
|-
|rowspan="2"|1989
|''[[Black Rain (American film)|Black Rain]]''
|[[Ridley Scott]]
|
|-
|''[[Bert Rigby, You're a Fool]]''
|[[Carl Reiner]]
|
|-
|rowspan="2"|1990
|''[[The Hunt for Red October (film)|The Hunt for Red October]]''
|John McTiernan
|
|-
|''[[Flatliners]]''
|[[Joel Schumacher]]
|
|-
|rowspan="3"|1992
|''[[Lethal Weapon 3]]''
|[[Richard Donner]]
|
|-
|''[[Basic Instinct]]''
|Paul Verhoeven
|
|-
|''[[Shining Through]]''
|[[David Seltzer]]
|
|-
|1997
|''[[Beyond Words (1997 film)|Beyond Words]]''
|rowspan=2|[[Louis van Gasteren]]
| Filmed in 1967
|-
|2012
|''[[Nema aviona za Zagreb]]''
| Filmed during the 1960s.
|-
|}

==Accolades==
{| class="wikitable "
|+
! Year
! Award
! Category
! Title
! Result
|-
| 1995
| [[Saturn Awards]]
| [[Saturn Award for Best Director|Best Director]]
| ''[[Speed (1994 film)|Speed]]''
| {{nom}}
|-
| 1997
|rowspan=2| [[Stinkers Bad Movie Awards]]
|rowspan=2| Worst Sense of Direction (Stop them before they direct again!)
| ''[[Speed 2: Cruise Control]]''
| {{nom}}
|-
| 1999
| ''[[The Haunting (1999 film)|The Haunting]]''
| {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan=3| 1998
| rowspan=4| [[Golden Raspberry Awards]]
| [[Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Picture|Worst Picture]]
| rowspan=3 | ''Speed 2: Cruise Control''
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Director|Worst Director]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Screenplay|Worst Screenplay]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| 2000
| Worst Director
| ''The Haunting''
| {{nom}}
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{IMDb name|0000957}}


{{Jan de Bont|state=expanded}}
{{MTV Movie Award for Best Action Sequence|state=expanded}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bont, Jan De}}
[[Category:1943 births]]
[[Category:Dutch Roman Catholics]]
[[Category:Dutch cinematographers]]
[[Category:Dutch film directors]]
[[Category:Dutch emigrants to the United States]]
[[Category:People from Eindhoven]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:English-language film directors]]
[[Category:Action film directors]]