Richard Donner

Richard Donner (born Richard Donald Schwartzberg; April 24, 1930 – July 5, 2021) was an American film director, producer, and occasional comic book writer. The production company The Donners' Company was owned by Donner and his wife, producer Lauren Shuler Donner. After directing the horror film "The Omen" (1976), Donner became famous for the creation of the first modern superhero film, "Superman" (1978), starring Christopher Reeve. The influence of this film eventually helped establish the superhero concept as a respected film genre. Donner went on to direct such enduringly popular titles as "The Goonies" (1985), "Scrooged" (1988) and the "Lethal Weapon" series (1987-98).

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Scrooged (1988)

Frank Cross is a wildly successful television executive whose cold ambition and curmudgeonly nature has driven away the love of his life. But after firing staff member Eliot Loudermilk on Christmas Eve, Frank is visited by a series of ghosts who give him a chance ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Richard Donner
CAST:  Bill Murray  •  Karen Allen  •  John Glover  •  John Forsythe

Frank Cross is a wildly successful television executive whose cold ambition and curmudgeonly nature has driven away the love of his life. But after firing staff member Eliot Loudermilk on Christmas Eve, Frank is visited by a series of ghosts who give him a chance ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Richard Donner
CAST:  Bill Murray  •  Karen Allen  •  John Glover  •  John Forsythe

The Goonies (1985)

AdventurousClassicGoofyFunny

A young teenager named Mikey Walsh finds an old treasure map in his father's attic. Hoping to save their homes from demolition, Mikey and his friends Data Wang, Chunk Cohen, and Mouth Devereaux run off on a big quest to find the secret stash of Pirate One-Eyed Willie.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Richard Donner
CAST:  Sean Astin  •  Josh Brolin  •  Jeff Cohen  •  Corey Feldman

A young teenager named Mikey Walsh finds an old treasure map in his father's attic. Hoping to save their homes from demolition, Mikey and his friends Data Wang, Chunk Cohen, and Mouth Devereaux run off on a big quest to find the secret stash of Pirate One-Eyed Willie.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Richard Donner
CAST:  Sean Astin  •  Josh Brolin  •  Jeff Cohen  •  Corey Feldman

16 Blocks (2006)

Fast pacedBrainyAction-packedBeautiful

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 the gauntlet as other forces try to prevent them from getting there.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Richard Donner
CAST:  Bruce Willis  •  Yasiin Bey  •  David Morse  •  Jenna Stern

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 the gauntlet as other forces try to prevent them from getting there.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Richard Donner
CAST:  Bruce Willis  •  Yasiin Bey  •  David Morse  •  Jenna Stern

Assassins (1995)

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 results. Horrified by the murder of innocent bystanders, Rath decides to take one last job and then return to civilian ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Richard Donner
CAST:  Sylvester Stallone  •  Antonio Banderas  •  Julianne Moore  •  Anatoli Davydov

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 results. Horrified by the murder of innocent bystanders, Rath decides to take one last job and then return to civilian ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Richard Donner
CAST:  Sylvester Stallone  •  Antonio Banderas  •  Julianne Moore  •  Anatoli Davydov

Conspiracy Theory (1997)

FunnyCharmingEnjoyableFun

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 has to figure out which theory it is.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Richard Donner
CAST:  Mel Gibson  •  Julia Roberts  •  Patrick Stewart  •  Cylk Cozart

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 has to figure out which theory it is.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Richard Donner
CAST:  Mel Gibson  •  Julia Roberts  •  Patrick Stewart  •  Cylk Cozart

Ladyhawke (1985)

EpicRomanticClassicAdventurous

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 lover, Lady Isabeau, takes the form of a hawk by day. Together, with the thief Philippe Gaston, they must try to ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Richard Donner
CAST:  Matthew Broderick  •  Rutger Hauer  •  Michelle Pfeiffer  •  Alfred Molina

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 lover, Lady Isabeau, takes the form of a hawk by day. Together, with the thief Philippe Gaston, they must try to ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Richard Donner
CAST:  Matthew Broderick  •  Rutger Hauer  •  Michelle Pfeiffer  •  Alfred Molina

Lethal Weapon (1987)

Action-packedFunnyClassicFun

Veteran buttoned-down LAPD detective Roger Murtaugh is partnered with unhinged cop Martin Riggs, who -- distraught after his wife's death -- has a death wish and takes unnecessary risks with criminals at every turn. The odd couple embark on their first homicide ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Richard Donner
CAST:  Mel Gibson  •  Danny Glover  •  Gary Busey  •  Mitchell Ryan

Veteran buttoned-down LAPD detective Roger Murtaugh is partnered with unhinged cop Martin Riggs, who -- distraught after his wife's death -- has a death wish and takes unnecessary risks with criminals at every turn. The odd couple embark on their first homicide ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Richard Donner
CAST:  Mel Gibson  •  Danny Glover  •  Gary Busey  •  Mitchell Ryan

Lethal Weapon 3 (1992)

Archetypal buddy cops Riggs and Murtaugh are back for another round of high-stakes action, this time setting their collective sights on bringing down a former Los Angeles police lieutenant turned black market weapons dealer. Lorna Cole joins as the beautiful yet ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Richard Donner
CAST:  Mel Gibson  •  Danny Glover  •  Joe Pesci  •  Rene Russo

Archetypal buddy cops Riggs and Murtaugh are back for another round of high-stakes action, this time setting their collective sights on bringing down a former Los Angeles police lieutenant turned black market weapons dealer. Lorna Cole joins as the beautiful yet ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Richard Donner
CAST:  Mel Gibson  •  Danny Glover  •  Joe Pesci  •  Rene Russo

Lethal Weapon 4 (1998)

Officers Martin Riggs and Roger Murtaugh of the Los Angeles Police Department must stop a dangerous crime lord from China from getting his brother out of jail.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Richard Donner
CAST:  Mel Gibson  •  Danny Glover  •  Joe Pesci  •  Rene Russo

Officers Martin Riggs and Roger Murtaugh of the Los Angeles Police Department must stop a dangerous crime lord from China from getting his brother out of jail.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Richard Donner
CAST:  Mel Gibson  •  Danny Glover  •  Joe Pesci  •  Rene Russo

Lethal Weapon 2 (1989)

Action-packedIntenseViolentBeautiful

In the opening chase, Martin Riggs and Roger Murtaugh stumble across a trunk full of Krugerrands. They follow the trail to a South African diplomat who's using his immunity to conceal a smuggling operation. When he plants a bomb under Murtaugh's toilet, the action ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Richard Donner
CAST:  Mel Gibson  •  Danny Glover  •  Joe Pesci  •  Joss Ackland

In the opening chase, Martin Riggs and Roger Murtaugh stumble across a trunk full of Krugerrands. They follow the trail to a South African diplomat who's using his immunity to conceal a smuggling operation. When he plants a bomb under Murtaugh's toilet, the action ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Richard Donner
CAST:  Mel Gibson  •  Danny Glover  •  Joe Pesci  •  Joss Ackland

Look, Up in the Sky! The Amazing Story of Superman (2006)

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

DIRECTION:  Kevin Burns
CAST:  Kevin Spacey  •  Richard Donner  •  Bryan Singer  •  Stan Lee

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

DIRECTION:  Kevin Burns
CAST:  Kevin Spacey  •  Richard Donner  •  Bryan Singer  •  Stan Lee

Maverick (1994)

Maverick is a gambler who would rather con someone than fight them, and needs an additional three thousand dollars in order to enter a winner-takes-all poker game that begins in a few days, so he joins forces with a woman gambler with a marvellous southern accent, ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Richard Donner
CAST:  Mel Gibson  •  Jodie Foster  •  James Garner  •  Graham Greene

Maverick is a gambler who would rather con someone than fight them, and needs an additional three thousand dollars in order to enter a winner-takes-all poker game that begins in a few days, so he joins forces with a woman gambler with a marvellous southern accent, ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Richard Donner
CAST:  Mel Gibson  •  Jodie Foster  •  James Garner  •  Graham Greene

Out Cold (2001)

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 sleazy land developer, have the staff fired and turn Bull Mountain into 'Yuppieville'.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Emmett Malloy  •  Brendan Malloy
CAST:  Jason London  •  Lee Majors  •  Zach Galifianakis  •  David Koechner

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 sleazy land developer, have the staff fired and turn Bull Mountain into 'Yuppieville'.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Emmett Malloy  •  Brendan Malloy
CAST:  Jason London  •  Lee Majors  •  Zach Galifianakis  •  David Koechner

Radio Flyer (1992)

InspiringIntenseUpliftingThought provoking

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. When the younger brother is subjected to physical abuse at the hands of their brutal stepfather, Mike decides to ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Richard Donner
CAST:  Elijah Wood  •  Lorraine Bracco  •  Adam Baldwin  •  John Heard

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. When the younger brother is subjected to physical abuse at the hands of their brutal stepfather, Mike decides to ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Richard Donner
CAST:  Elijah Wood  •  Lorraine Bracco  •  Adam Baldwin  •  John Heard

Superman (1978)

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 nefarious Lex Luthor launches a plan to take over the world.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Richard Donner
CAST:  Christopher Reeve  •  Margot Kidder  •  Marlon Brando  •  Gene Hackman

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 nefarious Lex Luthor launches a plan to take over the world.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Richard Donner
CAST:  Christopher Reeve  •  Margot Kidder  •  Marlon Brando  •  Gene Hackman

Superman II (1980)

OriginalMindlessAction-packedEnjoyable

Three escaped criminals from the planet Krypton test the Man of Steel's mettle. Led by General Zod, the Kryptonians take control of the White House and partner with Lex Luthor to destroy Superman and rule the world. But Superman, who attempts to make himself human ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Richard Lester
CAST:  Christopher Reeve  •  Margot Kidder  •  Gene Hackman  •  Jackie Cooper

Three escaped criminals from the planet Krypton test the Man of Steel's mettle. Led by General Zod, the Kryptonians take control of the White House and partner with Lex Luthor to destroy Superman and rule the world. But Superman, who attempts to make himself human ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Richard Lester
CAST:  Christopher Reeve  •  Margot Kidder  •  Gene Hackman  •  Jackie Cooper

The Omen (1976)

DarkScaryDisturbingSuspenseful

Immediately after their miscarriage, the US diplomat Robert Thorn adopts the newborn Damien without the knowledge of his wife. Yet what he doesn’t know is that their new son is the son of the devil.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Richard Donner
CAST:  Gregory Peck  •  Lee Remick  •  David Warner  •  Billie Whitelaw

Immediately after their miscarriage, the US diplomat Robert Thorn adopts the newborn Damien without the knowledge of his wife. Yet what he doesn’t know is that their new son is the son of the devil.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Richard Donner
CAST:  Gregory Peck  •  Lee Remick  •  David Warner  •  Billie Whitelaw

The Toy (1982)

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. Eric chooses a black janitor who has made him laugh with his antics. At first the man suffers many indignities as ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Richard Donner
CAST:  Richard Pryor  •  Jackie Gleason  •  Ned Beatty  •  Scott Schwartz

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. Eric chooses a black janitor who has made him laugh with his antics. At first the man suffers many indignities as ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Richard Donner
CAST:  Richard Pryor  •  Jackie Gleason  •  Ned Beatty  •  Scott Schwartz

Timeline (2003)

Fast pacedAction-packedEmotionalAdventurous

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 France long enough to be rescued.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Richard Donner
CAST:  Paul Walker  •  Frances O'Connor  •  Gerard Butler  •  Billy Connolly

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 France long enough to be rescued.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Richard Donner
CAST:  Paul Walker  •  Frances O'Connor  •  Gerard Butler  •  Billy Connolly

Inside Moves (1980)

After a failed suicide attempt leaves him partially crippled, Rory begins spending a lot of time at a neighborhood bar full of interesting misfits. When Jerry the bartender suddenly finds himself playing basketball for the Golden State Warriors, Rory and the rest ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Richard Donner
CAST:  John Savage  •  David Morse  •  Diana Scarwid  •  Amy Wright

After a failed suicide attempt leaves him partially crippled, Rory begins spending a lot of time at a neighborhood bar full of interesting misfits. When Jerry the bartender suddenly finds himself playing basketball for the Golden State Warriors, Rory and the rest ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Richard Donner
CAST:  John Savage  •  David Morse  •  Diana Scarwid  •  Amy Wright
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