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Peter Jackson

New Zealand film director, screenwriter, producer and actor · New Zealand · On the map · Directors · Born 1961 · age 65

He turned a three-volume fantasy saga into the biggest gamble in studio history, shot it all at once in New Zealand, and walked away with eleven Oscars for the final film. Before that: splatter comedies with puppets and gore. After: a $6.5 billion career that made him the fifth-highest-grossing director alive.

Peter Jackson is read about 4,139 times a day, in 89 languages.

A typical day, 30 days to 31 October 2026

The middle day of the days counted, so one week of news cannot move it. The line under it is the last 400 days, one point a day.

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A life in dates

20265.9× usualReceived the Honorary Palme d'Or on 12 May 2026.12 May 2026, 5.9 times the usual readers on 12 May 2026See the momentHonorary Palme d'OrAward2024The Life and Deaths of Christopher LeeFilm2023The Muppets MayhemSeries, Peter Jackson (uncredited)2022The Beatles: Get Back - The Rooftop ConcertFilm, Director, Producer2021The Beatles: Get BackSeries, Director, Creator2018Mortal EnginesFilm, Writer, Producer2015The Late Show with Stephen ColbertSeries2014Producers Guild of America AwardsAwardLast Week Tonight with John OliverSeries, 20142013The Five(ish) Doctors RebootFilm2012“I regard myself as an entertainer much more than an artist.”In their wordsHobbit interview, 2012.

Order of New ZealandAwardRay Harryhausen: Special Effects TitanFilm, 20122009Last Chance to SeeSeriesDistrict 9Film, 2009Producer2006“And so I look back on not just the last ten years but everything that I've done as being sort of an ongoing growing continual film school.”In their words27 March 2006Darkhorizons interview

Saturn AwardsAwardThe Making of 'The Fellowship of the Ring'Film, 20062005King KongFilm, Director, Writer2004Academy Award for Best DirectorAwardAcademy Award for Best Writing, Adapted ScreenplayAwardCritics' Choice Movie Award for Best DirectorAwardDirectors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directing - Feature FilmAwardSaturn Award for Best WritingAwardEntourageSeries, 2004Peter Jackson2003Australian Film Institute Award for Best Foreign FilmAwardGolden Globe Award for Best DirectorAward2002BAFTA Award for Best DirectionAwardHugo Award for Best Dramatic PresentationAwardIconsSeries, 2002The Lord of the Rings: The Two TowersFilm, 2002Director, Writer2000ClickSeries1997Forgotten SilverFilm, Director, Writer1996“Kong bites his head off in a PG13 kinda way”In their wordsA note in the 1996 script for 'King Kong quoted in USA Today

The FrightenersFilm, 1996Director, Writer1994Silver LionAward1992“I don't take stuff seriously. I saw 'Hellraiser 3' the other day at Cannes; it's OK, it's a good film, I didn't hate it or anything.”In their wordsTrash City Interview (1992)

BraindeadFilm, 1992Director, Writer1989The SimpsonsSeries, Peter Jackson (voice)Meet the FeeblesFilm, 1989Director, Writer1987“I'm a Derek and Dereks don't run”In their wordsBad Taste (1987)

Bad TasteFilm, 1987Director, Writer1961Born31 October 1961

People around Peter

Known for

View all 40 titles
  • The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King 2003
  • The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers 2002
  • The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring 2001
  • They Shall Not Grow Old 2018
  • The Five(ish) Doctors Reboot 2013

Also in Deutsch

Filmography 40

198 credits on file

Television 14

Media & music

In their own words 2

,
Peter Jackson
,
2 statements, newest first

  1. Fantasy is an 'F' word that hopefully the five second delay won't do anything with

    After receiving the Best Picture Oscar for "Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King" at the 76th Academy Awards, Own words

  2. Remember, pain is temporary; film is forever.

    Return of the King: Extended Edition Special Feature, Own words

Wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0

Awards

Honorary Palme d'Or2026
Producers Guild of America Awards2022
Producers Guild of America Awards2014
Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame2014
Producers Guild of America Awards2012
Order of New Zealand2012
Arts Foundation of New Zealand Whakamana Hiranga Icon Award2011
Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit2009
Saturn Awards2006
Producers Guild of America Awards2004
Saturn Awards2004
BAFTA Award for Best Adapted Screenplay2004
Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Director2004
Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directing - Feature Film2004
Saturn Award for Best Writing2004
Directors Guild of America Award2004
Academy Award for Best Director2004
Academy Award for Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay2004
Academy Award for Best Picture2004
Australian Film Institute Award for Best Foreign Film2004
Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation, Long Form2004
Australian Film Institute Award for Best Foreign Film2003
Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation, Long Form2003
Golden Globe Award for Best Director2003
Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture - Drama2003
Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association Award for Best Director2003
Saturn Awards2002
Australian Film Institute Award for Best Foreign Film2002
Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association Award for Best Director2002
BAFTA Award for Best Direction2002
Saturn Award for Best Director2002
Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation2002
Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit2001
Silver Lion1994
Officer of Arts and Letters
Golden Globes

About this person

Peter Jackson started in 1987 with Bad Taste, a homemade horror-comedy he shot on weekends, followed by Meet the Feebles and the zombie-splatter Braindead. Heavenly Creatures in 1994, a drama about two girls who commit murder, earned him an Oscar nomination for screenplay and opened the door to Hollywood. He spent the next decade building Weta Workshop and Weta Digital in Wellington, the effects houses that would eventually render Middle-earth. The Lord of the Rings trilogy, shot back-to-back from 1999 to 2000 and released 2001 to 2003, became a cultural landmark - The Return of the King won all eleven Oscars it was nominated for, including Best Picture and Best Director. The Hobbit trilogy followed a decade later, then King Kong, the World War I restoration They Shall Not Grow Old, and The Beatles: Get Back. He was knighted in 2010, given an Honorary Palme d'Or in 2026, and now holds an estimated net worth of $1.9 billion.

Country
New Zealand
Category
Directors
Type
Movie Director
Status
Living
Dates
Born 1961 · age 65

In common with Peter

Harrison FordAround the same time: Honorary Palme d'OrCatherine DeneuveAround the same time: Honorary Palme d'OrGeorge LucasAround the same time: Honorary Palme d'OrJeanne MoreauAround the same time: Honorary Palme d'OrBarbra StreisandAround the same time: Honorary Palme d'OrBernardo BertolucciAround the same time: Honorary Palme d'Or