J.J. Abrams

Jeffrey Jacob Abrams (/ˈeɪbrəmz/; born June 27, 1966) is an American filmmaker. He is best known for his work in the genres of action, drama, and science fiction. Abrams wrote and produced films such as Regarding Henry (1991), Forever Young (1992), Armageddon (1998), Cloverfield (2008), Star Trek (2009), Super 8 (2011), and the Star Wars sequels The Force Awakens (2015) and The Rise of Skywalker (2019). Abrams's films have grossed more than $4 billion.

Abrams has created numerous television series, including Felicity (co-creator, 1998–2002), Alias (2001–2006), Lost (co-creator, 2004–2010), Fringe (co-creator, 2008–2013), and Duster (co-creator, 2025). He won two Emmy Awards for Lost: Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series and Outstanding Drama Series.

His directorial film work includes Mission: Impossible III (2006), Star Trek (2009), Super 8 (2011), and Star Trek Into Darkness (2013). He also directed, co-produced, and co-wrote The Force Awakens (2015), the seventh episode of the Star Wars Skywalker Saga and the first film of the sequel trilogy. The film is his highest grossing, the seventh-highest-grossing film of all time not adjusted for inflation, as well as the most expensive film ever made. He returned to Star Wars by executive producing The Last Jedi (2017), and directing, co-producing, and co-writing The Rise of Skywalker (2019).

Abrams's frequent collaborators include producer Bryan Burk; producer/directors Damon Lindelof and Tommy Gormley; actors Greg Grunberg, Simon Pegg, Amanda Foreman, and Keri Russell; composers Michael Giacchino and John Williams; writers Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci, cinematographers Dan Mindel and Larry Fong; editors Maryann Brandon and Mary Jo Markey; and violinist Charlie Bisharat.