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Rian Johnson, director
Director

Rian Johnson: Movies, Awards & Box Office

films
22
as director
11
on screen
1993–2025
box office
$1.52B
nominations
10
average score
80
Born
December 17, 1973 (age 52)
Birthplace
Silver Spring, Maryland, U.S.
Full name
Rian Craig Johnson
Citizenship
American
Occupations
Director, Producer, Writer
Years active
1990-present
Spouses
Karina Longworth
Known for

The Best Rian Johnson Movies

The highest-rated films Rian Johnson is credited on, by the Movie Echo Score that blends critic reviews, audience ratings and lasting impact. Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery (2025) scores highest, at 90. The full ranking adds the biggest box office hits and the most awarded films.

Full ranking
Career at a glance

Rian Johnson's Career in Numbers

Rian Johnson's films in numbers — as a director, not counting appearances as themselves: when they were made, the genres Rian Johnson works in most and the milestones along the way. The filmography runs from Hey Lady, You Dropped Your Wallet!!! (1993) to Wake Up Dead Man (2025), and the 2000s were the busiest decade.

Rian Johnson Movies by Decade

  1. 1990s 2
  2. 2000s 5
  3. 2010s 4
  4. 2020s 2

The 2000s were Rian Johnson's busiest decade, with 5 films.

Rian Johnson Movies by Genre

  • Comedy 4
  • Action 2
  • Adventure 2
  • Music 1
  • Documentary 1
  • Drama 1
  • Fantasy 1

Comedy is the genre Rian Johnson has worked in most, with 4 films, ahead of action (2).

Rian Johnson Career Milestones

Biggest box office hit
Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi $1.33B worldwide
Best-rated film
Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery Movie Echo Score 90
Newest film
Wake Up Dead Man 2025
22 credits

Rian Johnson Filmography: Every Movie

Every film Rian Johnson is credited on, newest first, with the role, the box office and the Movie Echo Score. 11 as director and 2 as actor. Rated films average a score of 80. Re-order the list to see the best-rated films or the biggest hits first.

10 nominations

Rian Johnson: Awards & Nominations

10 nominations across 6 award bodies, from 2013 to 2025. Every ceremony is listed newest first, with the category and the film.

All movie awards
  • Critics' Choice logo Critics' Choice 3 nominations
  • TIFF logo TIFF 2 nominations
  • Oscars logo Oscars 2 nominations
  • BAFTA logo BAFTA 1 nomination
  • PGA Awards logo PGA Awards 1 nomination
  • WGA Awards logo WGA Awards 1 nomination
Biography

Who Is Rian Johnson?

Rian Johnson was born in Silver Spring, Maryland, U.S. in 1973 and is 52 years old. Credited on films since 1993, as a director. The background, training and the roles that shaped the career.

Rian Craig Johnson (born December 17, 1973) is an American filmmaker whose work spans independent neo‑noir, high‑concept science‑fiction, and mainstream franchise cinema. Growing up in Denver before moving to San Clemente, California, he honed his storytelling at the USC School of Cinematic Arts, graduating in 1996 and quickly earning a reputation for inventive low‑budget filmmaking. His debut feature Brick (2005), a stylized crime drama shot for under half a million dollars, showcased his knack for crisp dialogue and genre‑bending narrative, earning critical praise and establishing him as a fresh voice in modern noir. Johnson’s breakthrough into larger‑scale cinema arrived with Looper (2012), a time‑travel thriller that combined tight plotting with emotional depth, grossing over $170 million worldwide and cementing his status as a director capable of marrying commercial success with auteur sensibility. In 2017 he took on the monumental task of writing and directing Star Wars: The Last Jedi, delivering a film that grossed more than $1 billion while sparking vigorous debate among fans, and demonstrating his willingness to engage with iconic franchises on his own terms. Returning to the mystery genre, Johnson wrote, directed, and co‑produced Knives Out (2019) and its sequel Glass Onion (2022), both of which earned Academy Award nominations for screenplay and highlighted his skill at crafting ensemble‑driven whodunits that balance humor, wit, and social commentary. Beyond the big screen, he has directed acclaimed episodes of Breaking Bad, winning a Directors Guild of America award for “Fifty‑One,” and created the television series Poker Face for Peacock, starring Natasha Lyonne, which premiered in 2023. A folk‑music enthusiast, he performs in the duo the Preserves with his cousin Nathan Johnson, and since 2018 he has been married to film critic and podcaster Karina Longworth, with the couple residing in Los Angeles. His entrepreneurial venture T‑Street, founded with producer Ram Bergman, continues to develop original film and television projects, and a recent multi‑year deal with Warner Bros. ensures his influence on Hollywood storytelling will endure for years to come.

Works with

Who Rian Johnson Makes Movies With

The actors and directors Rian Johnson shares the most films with. Noah Segan comes first, with 7 films together, followed by Mark Hamill (5).

FAQ

Rian Johnson: Questions & Answers

How many movies Rian Johnson has made, the biggest hit, the best-rated film, the award record and more, answered from the filmography above.

How many movies has Rian Johnson been in?

Rian Johnson is credited on 22 films, from 1993 to 2025. 2 of them as an actor and 11 as a director. The filmography on this page lists every one of them, newest first, with the role and the Movie Echo Score.

What is Rian Johnson's highest-grossing movie?

Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi (2017) is Rian Johnson's biggest box office hit, with $1.33B worldwide, ahead of Looper (2012) ($177M). Across every film with box office figures, Rian Johnson's movies have made $1.52B.

Rian Johnson's biggest hits

What is the best Rian Johnson movie?

By the Movie Echo Score, which blends critic reviews, audience ratings and lasting impact, Rian Johnson's best-rated film is Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery (2025) with a score of 90, followed by Wake Up Dead Man (2025) (84).

Best Rian Johnson movies, ranked

Has Rian Johnson won an Oscar?

Rian Johnson has been nominated for 2 Oscars but has not won one yet. Across every ceremony in the awards database, Rian Johnson has 0 wins from 10 nominations.

How old is Rian Johnson?

Rian Johnson is 52 years old, born on December 17, 1973 in Silver Spring, Maryland, U.S..

What is Rian Johnson's newest movie?

The most recent film on Rian Johnson's filmography is Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery (2025), which Rian Johnson directed.

Who does Rian Johnson work with most often?

Rian Johnson shares the most films with Noah Segan (7 films), Mark Hamill (5 films) and Daisy Ridley (5 films).

The Best Rian Johnson Movies, Ranked

Top rated, most awarded and biggest box office hits from 22 directing credits.

See the ranking

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