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Curtis Hanson

Curtis Hanson

Highest Rated: 100% Never Cry Wolf (1983)

Lowest Rated: 18% Losin' It (1982)

Birthday: Mar 24, 1945

Birthplace: Reno, Nevada, USA

A former high school dropout who became a photographer and editor at Cinema magazine, writer-director Curtis Hanson honed his filmmaking skills by writing screenplays for low-budget horror flicks before directing eventually Oscar-caliber films. As with seemingly everyone of his age who wielded a camera, Hanson had his start penning "The Dunwich Horror" (1970) for the definitive mentor, Roger Corman, before directing "Sweet Kill" (1973) for the low-brow producer. In the 1980s, he graduated to Hitchcockian thrillers like "The Bedroom Window" (1987) and "Bad Influence" (1990), which paved the way for his true breakthrough film, "The Hand That Rocks the Cradle" (1992), a tense psychological thriller that became his first bona fide box office hit. Following the action adventure "The River Wild" (1994), Hanson reached true artistic heights with his lush adaptation of James Ellroy's "L.A. Confidential" (1997), widely considered to be the best crime noir since "Chinatown" (1974). From there, he made the quirky adaptation of Michael Chabon's "Wonder Boys" (2000) before drawing a convincing performance from rap star Eminem in "8 Mile" (2002). After directing the dueling-sisters comedy-drama "In Her Shoes (2005), poker drama "Lucky You" (2007) and television political drama "Too Big to Fail" (HBO 2010), Hanson fell ill with heart trouble during the filming of surf drama "Chasing Mavericks" (2012), causing the film to be finished by Michael Apted. Hanson never directed another film and died at his home in the Hollywood Hills on September 20, 2016 at the age of 71. Throughout his career, Hanson was able to keep critics guessing while maintaining his status as one of Hollywood's most diverse directors.

Highest rated movies

90% 85% Adaptation

Filmography

Movies

Credit
33% 70% Chasing Mavericks Director,
Producer
$6.0M 2012
77% 75% Too Big to Fail Director - 2011
42% 41% The Big Year Producer $7.2M 2011
28% 28% Lucky You Director,
Screenwriter,
Producer
$5.8M 2007
74% 66% In Her Shoes Director,
Producer
$32.9M 2005
90% 85% Adaptation Orlean's Husband (Character) $22.2M 2002
75% 54% 8 Mile Director,
Producer
$116.7M 2002
81% 83% Wonder Boys Director,
Producer
$19.4M 2000
99% 94% L.A. Confidential Director,
Writer,
Producer
$64.6M 1997
63% 52% The River Wild Director $46.5M 1994
66% 61% The Hand That Rocks the Cradle Director $87.5M 1992
65% 51% Bad Influence Director $11.3M 1990
72% 50% The Bedroom Window Director $8.8M 1987
No Score Yet 50% The Children of Times Square Director - 1986
100% 84% Never Cry Wolf Screenwriter - 1983
18% 28% Losin' It Director - 1982
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Little Dragons Director,
Producer
- 1980
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Arousers Director,
Screenwriter,
Producer
- 1970
29% 29% The Dunwich Horror Writer - 1970

TV

Credit
31% No Score Yet Three Rivers Executive Producer 2009-2010
No Score Yet No Score Yet Greg the Bunny Director 2002