- Known For
- Directing
- Born
- March 15, 1959
- Place of Birth
- Riihimäki, Finland
Renny Harlin
Renny Harlin (born Renny Lauri Mauritz Harjola on March 15, 1959) is a Finnish film director and producer, known for his prolific work in the action and horror genres. The peak of his success spanned from the late 1980s to the late 1990s, during which period he directed numerous hits, including A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master, Die Hard 2, Cliffhanger, and Deep Blue Sea. The commercial performance of his films has waned since the mid 2000s, but Harlin remains 86th on the list of highest-grossing directors of all time (based on U.S. domestic gross revenue). He has primarily worked in the Hollywood studio system, in addition to time spent in his native Finland and a brief stint in China.
Filmography
movieDeep Water
2026 · Ship Radio Dispatcher (voice), Director
movieThe Strangers: Chapter 3
2026 · Director
movieThe Strangers
2026 · Director
movieThe Strangers: Chapter 2
2025 · Director
movieThe Strangers: Chapter 1
2024 · Director
movieThe Bricklayer
2023 · Director
movieRefuge
2023 · Director, Producer
movieReunion 3: Singles Cruise
2021 · Director, Screenplay
movieThe Misfits
2021 · Director
movieThe Dinosaur
2021 · Self (archive footage)
movieBodies at Rest
2019 · Director
movieLegend of the Ancient Sword
2018 · Director
movieSkiptrace
2016 · Director
movieThe Legend of Hercules
2014 · Officer Linus (uncredited), Director, Writer, Producer
tvGraceland
2013 · Director
movieThe Dyatlov Pass Incident
2013 · Director, Producer
Hard Time: The Making of Prison
movieHard Time: The Making of Prison
2013 · Himself
movieFear Himself: The Life and Crimes of Freddy Krueger
2012 · Self
movie5 Days of War
2011 · Director, Producer
movieThe Resident
2011 · Executive Producer
tvCovert Affairs
2010 · Director
movieNever Sleep Again: The Elm Street Legacy
2010 · Self
tvWhite Collar
2009 · Director
movie12 Rounds
2009 · Director
movieCleaner
2007 · Director
tvBurn Notice
2007 · Director
movieThe Covenant
2006 · Director
movieExorcist: The Beginning
2004 · Director
movieMindhunters
2004 · Executive Producer, Director
movieWreckage and Rage: Making 'Alien³'
2003 · Self
movieDriven
2001 · Replacement Driver, Producer, Director
movieDeep Blue Sea
1999 · Director
movieBlast from the Past
1999 · Producer
movieJohtaja Uuno Turhapuro pisnismies
1998 · Renny Harlin
movieMistrial
1996 · Executive Producer
movieThe Long Kiss Goodnight
1996 · Director, Producer
movieCutthroat Island
1995 · Director, Producer
movieA Night to Die For
1995 · Self
movieSpeechless
1994 · Producer
movieThe Foot Shooting Party
1994 · Executive Producer
movieCliffhanger
1993 · Director, Producer
tvGladiaattorit
1993 · Director
movieSlash & Burn: The Freddy Krueger Story
1991 · Self
movieRambling Rose
1991 · Producer
movieRaptori Moe!
1990
movieThe Adventures of Ford Fairlane
1990 · Director
movieDie Hard 2
1990 · Director
movieThe Making of 'Nightmare on Elm Street IV'
1989 · Self
movieA Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master
1988 · Student (uncredited), Director
moviePrison
1987 · Director
movieBorn American
1986 · Man's Voice from Ship's Loudspeakers (uncredited) (voice), Screenplay, Director, Stunt Double
movieThe Breakthrough
1981 · Police officer (uncredited)
Kohtauspaikka 33
movieKohtauspaikka 33
1981 · Self (voice), Director, Producer
Custody
movieCustody
1980 · Writer, Director
movieStallone on the Edge: The Making of Cliffhanger
— · Self
Carrier
movieCarrier
— · Producer
Inspector Palmu
movieInspector Palmu
— · Director, Writer
The Beast
movieThe Beast
— · Director
Black Tides
movieBlack Tides
— · Director
Trial by Combat
movieTrial by Combat
— · Director