About
James Wan
Overview
James Wan (born 26 February 1977) is a Malaysia-born Australian film director, screenwriter, producer, and comic book writer. He has primarily worked in the horror genre as the co-creator of the "Saw" and "Insidious" franchises and the creator of "The Conjuring" universe. Wan is also the founder of Atomic Monster, which has produced film and television projects.
After directing the micro-budget film "Stygian" (2000), Wan made his professional feature directorial debut with "Saw" (2004). The film was a hit and launched a franchise that has grossed more than $1 billion globally. Following a period of setbacks with the underperforming titles "Dead Silence" and "Death Sentence" (both 2007), Wan returned to commercial success with the PG-13 supernatural horror-fantasy "Insidious" (2010), and went on to direct "Insidious: Part 2" (2013) and to produce further sequels in the series. In between his two "Insidious" projects, Wan directed the more traditional supernatural horror film "The Conjuring" (2013), which achieved enormous critical and commercial success and spawned a sprawling set of sequels and spin-offs collectively known as The Conjuring Universe. Wan served as the director of "The Conjuring 2" (2016) while producing subsequent films in the franchise such as "Annabelle" (2014) and "The Nun" (2018). The Conjuring Universe is the second highest-grossing horror franchise at over $2 billion.
Outside of horror, Wan directed "Furious 7" (2015), the seventh installment in the "Fast & Furious" franchise, and the DC Extended Universe superhero film "Aquaman" (2018). Both grossed over $1 billion, making Wan the eighth director with two films to reach the milestone. He is the 20th highest-grossing director of all time as of 2021, with his films having grossed over $3.6 billion worldwide.
Known for
Acting |
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2020 | Faith & Fear: The Conjuring Universe | Actor | Self | 58 Average |
2019 | Going Deep Into the World of 'Aquaman' | Actor | Self | 59 Average |
2019 | Aquaman: Heroines of Atlantis | Actor | Self | 59 Average |
2015 | Game Changer: The Legacy of Saw | Actor | Self | 59 Average |
2015 | Lavalantula | Actor | Tour Bus Passenger | 56 Average |
2015 | Insidious: Chapter 3 | Actor | Theater Director | 62 Fair |
2008 | Not Quite Hollywood | Actor | Self | 60 Fair |
2007 | 30 Even Scarier Movie Moments | Actor | Himself | 69 Fair |
2007 | The Making of Dead Silence | Actor | Self | 59 Average |
2006 | Hitchcocked! | Actor | Self | N/A N/A |
2005 | Hacking Away at Saw | Actor | Self | 58 Average |
2004 | The Making of Saw | Actor | Himself | 60 Fair |
Directing |
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2023 | Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom | Directing | Director | 65 Fair |
2021 | Malignant | Directing | Director | 66 Fair |
2018 | Aquaman | Directing | Director | 68 Fair |
2016 | The Conjuring 2 | Directing | Director | 72 Good |
2015 | Furious 7 | Directing | Director | 71 Good |
2013 | Insidious: Chapter 2 | Directing | Director | 65 Fair |
2013 | The Conjuring | Directing | Director | 74 Good |
2011 | Insidious | Directing | Director | 68 Fair |
2008 | Doggie Heaven | Directing | Director | 58 Average |
2007 | Death Sentence | Directing | Director | 65 Fair |
2007 | Dead Silence | Directing | Director | 63 Fair |
2004 | Saw | Directing | Director | 73 Good |
2003 | Saw | Directing | Director | 64 Fair |
1998 | Stygian | Directing | Director | N/A N/A |
The Creature from the Black Lagoon | Directing | Director | N/A N/A |
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Writing |
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2025 | SOULM8TE | Writing | Story | N/A N/A |
2025 | Saw XI | Writing | Characters | N/A N/A |
2025 | The Conjuring: Last Rites | Writing | Story | N/A N/A |
2025 | M3GAN 2.0 | Writing | Characters | N/A N/A |
2023 | Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom | Writing | Story | 65 Fair |
2023 | Saw X | Writing | Characters | 69 Fair |
2023 | The Nun II | Writing | Characters | 65 Fair |
2022 | M3GAN | Writing | Story | 69 Fair |
2021 | Malignant | Writing | Story | 66 Fair |
2021 | The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It | Writing | Story | 72 Good |
2021 | Spiral: From the Book of Saw | Writing | Characters | 59 Average |
2019 | Annabelle Comes Home | Writing | Story | 63 Fair |
2018 | Aquaman | Writing | Story | 68 Fair |
2018 | The Nun | Writing | Story | 58 Average |
2017 | Jigsaw | Writing | Characters | 61 Fair |
2017 | Annabelle: Communion | Writing | Story | N/A N/A |
2016 | The Conjuring 2 | Writing | Story | 72 Good |
2016 | The Conjuring 2 | Writing | Screenplay | 72 Good |
2013 | Insidious: Chapter 2 | Writing | Story | 65 Fair |
2010 | Saw 3D | Writing | Characters | 59 Average |
2009 | Saw VI | Writing | Characters | 62 Fair |
2008 | Doggie Heaven | Writing | Story | 58 Average |
2008 | Saw V | Writing | Characters | 61 Fair |
2007 | Saw IV | Writing | Characters | 61 Fair |
2007 | Dead Silence | Writing | Story | 63 Fair |
2006 | Saw III | Writing | Story | 63 Fair |
2006 | The Scott Tibbs Documentary | Writing | Characters | 58 Average |
2005 | Saw II | Writing | Characters | 65 Fair |
2005 | Saw: Rebirth | Writing | Characters | 58 Average |
2004 | Saw | Writing | Story | 73 Good |
1998 | Stygian | Writing | Writer | N/A N/A |
The Creature from the Black Lagoon | Writing | Story | N/A N/A |
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The Crooked Man | Writing | Story | N/A N/A |
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Cosmetic | Writing | Original Concept | N/A N/A |
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Smart House | Writing | Idea | N/A N/A |
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Production |
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2026 | The Mummy | Production | Producer | N/A N/A |
2025 | SOULM8TE | Production | Producer | N/A N/A |
2025 | Mortal Kombat 2 | Production | Producer | N/A N/A |
2025 | Saw XI | Production | Executive Producer | N/A N/A |
2025 | The Conjuring: Last Rites | Production | Producer | N/A N/A |
2025 | Insidious: The Bleeding World | Production | Producer | N/A N/A |
2025 | M3GAN 2.0 | Production | Producer | N/A N/A |
2025 | The Monkey | Production | Producer | N/A N/A |
2024 | Teacup | Production | Executive Producer | 71 Good |
2024 | Salem's Lot | Production | Producer | 60 Fair |
2024 | Night Swim | Production | Producer | 57 Average |
2023 | Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom | Production | Producer | 65 Fair |
2023 | Saw X | Production | Executive Producer | 69 Fair |
2023 | The Nun II | Production | Producer | 65 Fair |
2023 | Insidious: The Red Door | Production | Producer | 64 Fair |
2022 | M3GAN | Production | Producer | 69 Fair |
2022 | Samurai Rabbit: The Usagi Chronicles | Production | Executive Producer | 65 Fair |
2022 | Archive 81 | Production | Executive Producer | 71 Good |
2021 | Aquaman: King of Atlantis | Production | Executive Producer | 68 Fair |
2021 | I Know What You Did Last Summer | Production | Executive Producer | 66 Fair |
2021 | There's Someone Inside Your House | Production | Producer | 56 Average |
2021 | Malignant | Production | Producer | 66 Fair |
2021 | The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It | Production | Producer | 72 Good |
2021 | Spiral: From the Book of Saw | Production | Executive Producer | 59 Average |
2021 | Mortal Kombat | Production | Producer | 69 Fair |
2019 | Annabelle Comes Home | Production | Producer | 63 Fair |
2019 | Swamp Thing | Production | Executive Producer | 73 Good |
2019 | The Curse of La Llorona | Production | Producer | 57 Average |
2018 | The Nun | Production | Producer | 58 Average |
2018 | Insidious: The Last Key | Production | Producer | 61 Fair |
2017 | Jigsaw | Production | Executive Producer | 61 Fair |
2017 | Annabelle: Creation | Production | Producer | 65 Fair |
2016 | MacGyver | Production | Executive Producer | 72 Good |
2016 | Lights Out | Production | Producer | 63 Fair |
2016 | The Conjuring 2 | Production | Producer | 72 Good |
2015 | Insidious: Chapter 3 | Production | Producer | 62 Fair |
2015 | Demonic | Production | Producer | 55 Average |
2014 | Annabelle | Production | Producer | 58 Average |
2010 | Saw 3D | Production | Executive Producer | 59 Average |
2009 | Saw VI | Production | Executive Producer | 62 Fair |
2008 | Saw V | Production | Executive Producer | 61 Fair |
2007 | Saw IV | Production | Executive Producer | 61 Fair |
2006 | Saw III | Production | Executive Producer | 63 Fair |
2005 | Saw II | Production | Executive Producer | 65 Fair |
Untitled Leah McKendrick Monster Movie | Production | Producer | N/A N/A |
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The Crooked Man | Production | Producer | N/A N/A |
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Below | Production | Producer | N/A N/A |
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Hunting Season | Production | Producer | N/A N/A |
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Mass Extinction | Production | Producer | N/A N/A |
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The Boy Who Drew Monsters | Production | Producer | N/A N/A |
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The Creature from the Black Lagoon | Production | Producer | N/A N/A |
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Shelter | Production | Producer | N/A N/A |
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You Take Care Now | Production | Producer | N/A N/A |
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The Entity | Production | Producer | N/A N/A |
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GMO | Production | Producer | N/A N/A |
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The Troop | Production | Producer | N/A N/A |
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Van Helsing | Production | Producer | N/A N/A |
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The Backrooms | Production | Producer | N/A N/A |
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Thread: An Insidious Tale | Production | Producer | N/A N/A |
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Dead by Daylight | Production | Producer | N/A N/A |
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My Wife and I Bought a Ranch | Production | Producer | N/A N/A |
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Knight Rider | Production | Producer | N/A N/A |
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Cosmetic | Production | Producer | N/A N/A |
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Smart House | Production | Producer | N/A N/A |
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Untitled Annabelle Film | Production | Producer | N/A N/A |
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Incidents Around the House | Production | Producer | N/A N/A |
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Rabbit Rabbit Rabbit | Production | Producer | N/A N/A |
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Sweet Tooth | Production | Producer | N/A N/A |
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Milk | Production | Producer | N/A N/A |
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The Burden | Production | Producer | N/A N/A |
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The Root of All Evil | Production | Producer | N/A N/A |
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The Last Train to New York | Production | Producer | N/A N/A |
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Untitled James Wan Universal Monster Project | Production | Producer | N/A N/A |
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Arachnophobia | Production | Producer | N/A N/A |
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Border Patrol | Production | Producer | N/A N/A |
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Concrete Jungle | Production | Executive Producer | N/A N/A |
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Area 51 | Production | Executive Producer | N/A N/A |
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The Conjuring | Production | Executive Producer | N/A N/A |
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The Magic Order | Production | Executive Producer | N/A N/A |
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Obsession | Production | Executive Producer | N/A N/A |
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1313 | Production | Executive Producer | N/A N/A |
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Dylan Dog | Production | Executive Producer | N/A N/A |
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Gargoyles | Production | Executive Producer | N/A N/A |
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Copenhagen | Production | Executive Producer | N/A N/A |
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Crew |
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2020 | Faith & Fear: The Conjuring Universe | Crew | Thanks | 58 Average |
2015 | Game Changer: The Legacy of Saw | Crew | Thanks | 59 Average |
Editing |
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2011 | Insidious | Editing | Editor | 68 Fair |
2008 | Doggie Heaven | Editing | Editor | 58 Average |
2003 | Saw | Editing | Editor | 64 Fair |