Rian Johnson

Rian Craig Johnson (born December 17, 1973) is an American filmmaker. He made his directorial debut with the neo-noir mystery film Brick (2005), which received positive reviews and grossed nearly $4 million on a $450,000 budget. Transitioning to higher-profile films, Johnson achieved mainstream recognition for writing and directing the science-fiction thriller Looper (2012) to critical and commercial success. Johnson landed his largest project when he wrote and directed the space opera Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017), which grossed over $1 billion. He returned to the mystery genre with Knives Out (2019), which earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Screenplay, and its sequel, Glass Onion (2022). Outside of film, Johnson directed three episodes of the television drama series Breaking Bad (2008–2013). He received the Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directing – Drama Series in 2013 for his work on the season 5 episode "Fifty-One".

Looper (2012)

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In the futuristic action thriller Looper, time travel will be invented but it will be illegal and only available on the black market. When the mob wants to get rid of someone, they will send their target 30 years into the past where a looper, a hired gun, like Joe ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Rian Johnson
CAST:  Joseph Gordon-Levitt  •  Bruce Willis  •  Emily Blunt  •  Paul Dano

In the futuristic action thriller Looper, time travel will be invented but it will be illegal and only available on the black market. When the mob wants to get rid of someone, they will send their target 30 years into the past where a looper, a hired gun, like Joe ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Rian Johnson
CAST:  Joseph Gordon-Levitt  •  Bruce Willis  •  Emily Blunt  •  Paul Dano

Brick (2006)

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A teenage loner pushes his way into the underworld of a high school crime ring to investigate the disappearance of his ex-girlfriend.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Rian Johnson
CAST:  Joseph Gordon-Levitt  •  Emilie de Ravin  •  Nora Zehetner  •  Lukas Haas

A teenage loner pushes his way into the underworld of a high school crime ring to investigate the disappearance of his ex-girlfriend.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Rian Johnson
CAST:  Joseph Gordon-Levitt  •  Emilie de Ravin  •  Nora Zehetner  •  Lukas Haas

Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017)

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Rey develops her newly discovered abilities with the guidance of Luke Skywalker, who is unsettled by the strength of her powers. Meanwhile, the Resistance prepares to do battle with the First Order.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Rian Johnson
CAST:  Oscar Isaac  •  Benicio del Toro  •  Adam Driver  •  Daisy Ridley

Rey develops her newly discovered abilities with the guidance of Luke Skywalker, who is unsettled by the strength of her powers. Meanwhile, the Resistance prepares to do battle with the First Order.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Rian Johnson
CAST:  Oscar Isaac  •  Benicio del Toro  •  Adam Driver  •  Daisy Ridley

Evil Demon Golfball from Hell!!! (1997)

A man is tormented by a seemingly possessed golf ball.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Rian Johnson
CAST:  Lucky McKee  •  Nobel Frye  •  Chris Sivertson  •  Todd Antonio Somodevilla

A man is tormented by a seemingly possessed golf ball.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Rian Johnson
CAST:  Lucky McKee  •  Nobel Frye  •  Chris Sivertson  •  Todd Antonio Somodevilla

Out of Print (2014)

A documentary exploring the importance of revival cinema and 35mm exhibition - seen through the lens of the patrons of the New Beverly Cinema - a unique and independent revival cinema in Los Angeles.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Julia Marchese
CAST:  Kevin Smith  •  Seth Green  •  Patton Oswalt  •  Edgar Wright

A documentary exploring the importance of revival cinema and 35mm exhibition - seen through the lens of the patrons of the New Beverly Cinema - a unique and independent revival cinema in Los Angeles.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Julia Marchese
CAST:  Kevin Smith  •  Seth Green  •  Patton Oswalt  •  Edgar Wright

No Half Measures: Creating the Final Season of Breaking Bad (2013)

A documentary about the making of season five of the acclaimed AMC series Breaking Bad.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Stuart Richardson
CAST:  Michael Bowen  •  Betsy Brandt  •  Sam Catlin  •  Bryan Cranston

A documentary about the making of season five of the acclaimed AMC series Breaking Bad.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Stuart Richardson
CAST:  Michael Bowen  •  Betsy Brandt  •  Sam Catlin  •  Bryan Cranston

The Life of the World to Come (2010)

The Mountain Goats in solo and duo performance at Pomona College. In this film by Rian Johnson, John Darnielle performs The Life of the World to Come on piano and guitar. Shot in the same building where, as an eight-year-old piano student and new transplant to ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Rian Johnson
CAST:  John Darnielle  •  Rachel Ware

The Mountain Goats in solo and duo performance at Pomona College. In this film by Rian Johnson, John Darnielle performs The Life of the World to Come on piano and guitar. Shot in the same building where, as an eight-year-old piano student and new transplant to ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Rian Johnson
CAST:  John Darnielle  •  Rachel Ware

The Brothers Bloom (2008)

The Brothers Bloom are the best con men in the world, swindling millionaires with complex scenarios of lust and intrigue. Now they've decided to take on one last job – showing a beautiful and eccentric heiress the time of her life with a romantic adventure that ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Rian Johnson
CAST:  Rachel Weisz  •  Adrien Brody  •  Mark Ruffalo  •  Rinko Kikuchi

The Brothers Bloom are the best con men in the world, swindling millionaires with complex scenarios of lust and intrigue. Now they've decided to take on one last job – showing a beautiful and eccentric heiress the time of her life with a romantic adventure that ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Rian Johnson
CAST:  Rachel Weisz  •  Adrien Brody  •  Mark Ruffalo  •  Rinko Kikuchi

The Psychology of Dream Analysis (2002)

Soon after entering a course called "The Psychology of Dream Analysis," Lillian discovers she has been having another person's dreams all her life.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Rian Johnson
CAST:  Danielle Taddei  •  Craig Stark  •  Angela Bettis

Soon after entering a course called "The Psychology of Dream Analysis," Lillian discovers she has been having another person's dreams all her life.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Rian Johnson
CAST:  Danielle Taddei  •  Craig Stark  •  Angela Bettis

Ben Boyer and the Phenomenology of Automobile Marketing (2001)

While sitting on the toilet one November morning, Ben Boyer receives a Jungian lesson on archetypal marketing.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Rian Johnson
CAST:  Starck Johnson

While sitting on the toilet one November morning, Ben Boyer receives a Jungian lesson on archetypal marketing.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Rian Johnson
CAST:  Starck Johnson

The Director and the Jedi (2018)

An intimate documentary delving into Rian Johnson's process as he comes in as a director new to the Star Wars universe.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Anthony Wonke
CAST:  Rian Johnson  •  Ram Bergman  •  Kathleen Kennedy  •  Daisy Ridley

An intimate documentary delving into Rian Johnson's process as he comes in as a director new to the Star Wars universe.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Anthony Wonke
CAST:  Rian Johnson  •  Ram Bergman  •  Kathleen Kennedy  •  Daisy Ridley

Balance Of The Force (2018)

Explore the mythology of the Force and why Rian Johnson chose to interpret its role in such a unique way.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Ian Bucknole
CAST:  Rian Johnson  •  Ram Bergman  •  Mark Hamill  •  Daisy Ridley

Explore the mythology of the Force and why Rian Johnson chose to interpret its role in such a unique way.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Ian Bucknole
CAST:  Rian Johnson  •  Ram Bergman  •  Mark Hamill  •  Daisy Ridley

The Force of Sound (2018)

Go inside the sound design of Star Wars: The Last Jedi. From the ignition of a lightsaber to the chirp of a porg, Star Wars would not be the same without the brilliant sound design and mixing created by Skywalker Sound.  (more)

DIRECTION: 
CAST:  Rian Johnson  •  Ben Burtt  •  Margie O'Malley  •  Ronni Brown

Go inside the sound design of Star Wars: The Last Jedi. From the ignition of a lightsaber to the chirp of a porg, Star Wars would not be the same without the brilliant sound design and mixing created by Skywalker Sound.  (more)

DIRECTION: 
CAST:  Rian Johnson  •  Ben Burtt  •  Margie O'Malley  •  Ronni Brown

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)

A rogue band of resistance fighters unite for a mission to steal the Death Star plans and bring a new hope to the galaxy.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Gareth Edwards
CAST:  Felicity Jones  •  Diego Luna  •  Ben Mendelsohn  •  Donnie Yen

A rogue band of resistance fighters unite for a mission to steal the Death Star plans and bring a new hope to the galaxy.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Gareth Edwards
CAST:  Felicity Jones  •  Diego Luna  •  Ben Mendelsohn  •  Donnie Yen

Knives Out (2019)

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When renowned crime novelist Harlan Thrombey is found dead at his estate just after his 85th birthday, the inquisitive and debonair Detective Benoit Blanc is mysteriously enlisted to investigate. From Harlan's dysfunctional family to his devoted staff, Blanc sifts ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Rian Johnson
CAST:  Daniel Craig  •  Chris Evans  •  Ana de Armas  •  Jamie Lee Curtis

When renowned crime novelist Harlan Thrombey is found dead at his estate just after his 85th birthday, the inquisitive and debonair Detective Benoit Blanc is mysteriously enlisted to investigate. From Harlan's dysfunctional family to his devoted staff, Blanc sifts ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Rian Johnson
CAST:  Daniel Craig  •  Chris Evans  •  Ana de Armas  •  Jamie Lee Curtis

Building Brick (2006)

Building Brick is the Behind the Scenes documentary for the film Brick (2006). Brick was written and directed by Rian Johnson in San Clemente, CA in 2003. The film stars Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Nora Zehetner, Lucas Haas, Noah Segan Building Brick was filmed and ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Lauren Jean Schwartz
CAST:  Lauren Jean Schwartz  •  Rian Johnson  •  Joseph Gordon-Levitt  •  Noah Fleiss

Building Brick is the Behind the Scenes documentary for the film Brick (2006). Brick was written and directed by Rian Johnson in San Clemente, CA in 2003. The film stars Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Nora Zehetner, Lucas Haas, Noah Segan Building Brick was filmed and ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Lauren Jean Schwartz
CAST:  Lauren Jean Schwartz  •  Rian Johnson  •  Joseph Gordon-Levitt  •  Noah Fleiss

Scream (2022)

Twenty-five years after a streak of brutal murders shocked the quiet town of Woodsboro, a new killer has donned the Ghostface mask and begins targeting a group of teenagers to resurrect secrets from the town’s deadly past.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Matt Bettinelli-Olpin  •  Tyler Gillett
CAST:  David Arquette  •  Courteney Cox  •  Neve Campbell  •  Mikey Madison

Twenty-five years after a streak of brutal murders shocked the quiet town of Woodsboro, a new killer has donned the Ghostface mask and begins targeting a group of teenagers to resurrect secrets from the town’s deadly past.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Matt Bettinelli-Olpin  •  Tyler Gillett
CAST:  David Arquette  •  Courteney Cox  •  Neve Campbell  •  Mikey Madison

Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (2022)

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World-famous detective Benoit Blanc heads to Greece to peel back the layers of a mystery surrounding a tech billionaire and his eclectic crew of friends.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Rian Johnson
CAST:  Daniel Craig  •  Edward Norton  •  Dave Bautista  •  Janelle Monáe

World-famous detective Benoit Blanc heads to Greece to peel back the layers of a mystery surrounding a tech billionaire and his eclectic crew of friends.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Rian Johnson
CAST:  Daniel Craig  •  Edward Norton  •  Dave Bautista  •  Janelle Monáe

Knives Out 3

The third installment in the Knives Out franchise.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Rian Johnson
CAST:  Daniel Craig

The third installment in the Knives Out franchise.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Rian Johnson
CAST:  Daniel Craig

The Space Western of the Southwest (2023)

Eric Cameron chronicles the relationship between Star Wars Episode VIII: The Last Jedi and the quaint town of Dingle, Ireland where it was filmed.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Eric Patrick Cameron
CAST:  Eric Patrick Cameron  •  Rian Johnson  •  Billy Mag Fhloinn  •  Dara Jauch

Eric Cameron chronicles the relationship between Star Wars Episode VIII: The Last Jedi and the quaint town of Dingle, Ireland where it was filmed.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Eric Patrick Cameron
CAST:  Eric Patrick Cameron  •  Rian Johnson  •  Billy Mag Fhloinn  •  Dara Jauch