Joel Silver

Biography: A movie buff practically since infancy, American producer Joel Silver attended the film school at New York University. After graduation Silver quickly worked his way up to an assistant producer post under Universal's Lawrence Gordon; after considerable success with a series of popular pictures, including a handful of Burt Reynolds vehicles, Silver was appointed president of Lawrence Gordon Productions. As head of his own Silver Pictures in 1980, Silver began inauspiciously with the mishmosh Olivia Newton-John vehicle Xanadu before finding his niche with the stylized violent action of 1984's Streets of Fire. Intense and demanding, Silver drove his staff, cast and crews mercilessly, but such prize properties as the Lethal Weapon and Die Hard series made the effort worthwhile. Silver was able to maintain his industry standing on the basis of these successes, permitting him to ride out his many failures, including Jumpin' Jack Flash (1985), Ford Fairlane (1990), and the potentiallyA movie buff practically since infancy, American producer Joel Silver attended the film school at New York University. After graduation Silver quickly worked his way up to an assistant producer post under Universal's Lawrence Gordon; after considerable success with a series of popular pictures, including a handful of Burt Reynolds vehicles, Silver was appointed president of Lawrence Gordon Productions. As head of his own Silver Pictures in 1980, Silver began inauspiciously with the mishmosh Olivia Newton-John vehicle Xanadu before finding his niche with the stylized violent action of 1984's Streets of Fire. Intense and demanding, Silver drove his staff, cast and crews mercilessly, but such prize properties as the Lethal Weapon and Die Hard series made the effort worthwhile. Silver was able to maintain his industry standing on the basis of these successes, permitting him to ride out his many failures, including Jumpin' Jack Flash (1985), Ford Fairlane (1990), and the potentially career-busting Hudson Hawk (1991). Silver more or less played himself (loud clothes and all) in the on-camera role of an explosive cartoon director in 1988's Who Framed Roger Rabbit? (1988). Silver's trademark franchises would continue to pad his resume as the years went by, as he produced sequels to movies like Die Hard, Lethal Weapon, and Predator. He would also produce new, but less successful action movies of a similar style, like 1993's Demolition Man and 1995's Fair Game. He would also executive produce countless episodes of the HBO series Tales from the Crypt between 1989 and 1996. Then, in 1999, Silver struck gold -- once again -- when he produced the monumentally successful sci-fi thriller The Matrix. The movie was a huge hit, even if its sequels, released in 2003 and 2004, were dramatically less so. Silver wouldn't be able to duplicate the Matrix's success with productions like 2001's Swordfish and 2002's Ghost Ship, but he gained some niche popularity with 2006's V for Vendetta, and as an executive producer for the series Veronica Mars. Middling projects like the 2009 horror flick Orphan and Arctic thriller Whiteout kept Silver hard at work, and he would find serious box office success again with the Robert Downy, Jr. hit Sherlock Holmes in 2009, and 2010's apocalyptic Denzel Washington picture, The Book of Eli. Expand

Joel Silver's Scores

Average career score: 46
Highest Metascore: 83 Who Framed Roger Rabbit
Lowest Metascore: 13 Fair Game
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 15 out of 76
  2. Negative: 27 out of 76
76 movie reviews
Title: Year: Credit: User score:
62 V for Vendetta Mar 17, 2006 Producer / Producer tbd
73 Kiss Kiss Bang Bang Oct 21, 2005 Producer 8.5
41 House of Wax May 6, 2005 Producer 7.8
38 Gothika Nov 21, 2003 Producer 6.5
47 The Matrix Revolutions Nov 5, 2003 Producer / Producer tbd
62 The Matrix Reloaded May 15, 2003 Producer 7.3
36 Cradle 2 the Grave Feb 28, 2003 Producer 8.1
28 Ghost Ship Oct 25, 2002 Producer 7.8
30 Thirteen Ghosts Oct 26, 2001 Producer / Producer 7.8
32 Swordfish Jun 8, 2001 Producer 7.4
39 Exit Wounds Mar 16, 2001 Producer / Producer tbd
14 Dungeons & Dragons Dec 8, 2000 Executive Producer / Executive Producer tbd
52 Romeo Must Die Mar 22, 2000 Producer 7.2
28 House on Haunted Hill Oct 29, 1999 Producer 4.6
73 The Matrix Mar 31, 1999 Producer / Producer 8.5
39 Lethal Weapon 4 Jul 10, 1998 Producer 7.7
50 Conspiracy Theory Aug 8, 1997 Producer 6.7
43 Fathers' Day May 9, 1997 Producer 5.5
36 Tales From the Crypt Presents Bordello of Blood Aug 16, 1996 Executive Producer / Executive Producer tbd
62 Executive Decision Mar 15, 1996 Producer 7.1
13 Fair Game Nov 3, 1995 Producer / Producer tbd
48 Tales from the Crypt: Demon Knight Jan 13, 1995 Executive Producer 8.3
49 Richie Rich Dec 21, 1994 Producer 5.8
34 Demolition Man Oct 8, 1993 Producer 8.2
40 Lethal Weapon 3 May 15, 1992 Producer / Producer 8.0
52 The Last Boy Scout Dec 13, 1991 Producer 8.3
49 Ricochet Oct 4, 1991 Producer 6.3
17 Hudson Hawk May 24, 1991 Producer / Producer 8.4
46 Predator 2 Nov 21, 1990 Producer / Producer 5.4
24 The Adventures of Ford Fairlane Jul 11, 1990 Producer / Producer tbd