Directing
Renny Harlin
Born 1959-03-15
Riihimäki, Finland
Department: Directing
Biography
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.
Known For
Prominent works featuring Renny Harlin
Movie
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Die Hard 2
1990
TMDB3.5
Movie
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Deep Blue Sea
1999
TMDB3.0
Movie
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Cliffhanger
1993
TMDB3.3
TV
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White Collar
2009
TMDB4.1
Movie
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A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master
1988
TMDB3.0
Movie
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Deep Water
2026
TMDB3.6
Movie
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The Legend of Hercules
2014
TMDB2.4
Movie
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The Long Kiss Goodnight
1996
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Movie
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Mindhunters
2004
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Movie
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Blast from the Past
1999
TMDB3.4
Filmography & Credits
Complete career catalog (82 titles)
| Poster | Title | Character / Role | Type | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | The Beast | Director | Movie | 2026 |
 | Deep Water | Ship Radio Dispatcher (voice) | Movie | 2026 |
| Deep Water | Director | Movie | 2026 |
 | The Strangers: Chapter 3 | Director | Movie | 2026 |
 | The Strangers | Director | Movie | 2026 |
 | The Strangers: Chapter 2 | Director | Movie | 2025 |
 | The Strangers: Chapter 1 | Director | Movie | 2024 |
 | The Bricklayer | Director | Movie | 2023 |
 | Refuge | Director | Movie | 2023 |
| Refuge | Producer | Movie | 2023 |
 | Reunion 3: Singles Cruise | Director | Movie | 2021 |
| Reunion 3: Singles Cruise | Screenplay | Movie | 2021 |
 | The Misfits | Director | Movie | 2021 |
 | The Dinosaur | Self (archive footage) | Movie | 2021 |
 | Bodies at Rest | Director | Movie | 2019 |
 | Legend of the Ancient Sword | Director | Movie | 2018 |
 | Skiptrace | Director | Movie | 2016 |
 | The Legend of Hercules | Officer Linus (uncredited) | Movie | 2014 |
| The Legend of Hercules | Director | Movie | 2014 |
| The Legend of Hercules | Writer | Movie | 2014 |
| The Legend of Hercules | Producer | Movie | 2014 |
 | Graceland | Director | TV Series | 2013 |
 | The Dyatlov Pass Incident | Director | Movie | 2013 |
| The Dyatlov Pass Incident | Producer | Movie | 2013 |
| Hard Time: The Making of Prison | Himself | Movie | 2013 | |
 | Fear Himself: The Life and Crimes of Freddy Krueger | Self | Movie | 2012 |
 | 5 Days of War | Director | Movie | 2011 |
| 5 Days of War | Producer | Movie | 2011 |
 | The Resident | Executive Producer | Movie | 2011 |
 | Covert Affairs | Director | TV Series | 2010 |
 | Never Sleep Again: The Elm Street Legacy | Self | Movie | 2010 |
 | White Collar | Director | TV Series | 2009 |
 | 12 Rounds | Director | Movie | 2009 |
 | Cleaner | Director | Movie | 2007 |
 | Burn Notice | Director | TV Series | 2007 |
 | The Covenant | Director | Movie | 2006 |
 | Exorcist: The Beginning | Director | Movie | 2004 |
 | Mindhunters | Executive Producer | Movie | 2004 |
| Mindhunters | Director | Movie | 2004 |
 | Wreckage and Rage: Making 'Alien³' | Self | Movie | 2003 |
 | Driven | Replacement Driver | Movie | 2001 |
| Driven | Producer | Movie | 2001 |
| Driven | Director | Movie | 2001 |
 | Deep Blue Sea | Director | Movie | 1999 |
 | Blast from the Past | Producer | Movie | 1999 |
 | Johtaja Uuno Turhapuro pisnismies | Renny Harlin | Movie | 1998 |
 | Mistrial | Executive Producer | Movie | 1996 |
 | The Long Kiss Goodnight | Director | Movie | 1996 |
| The Long Kiss Goodnight | Producer | Movie | 1996 |
 | Cutthroat Island | Director | Movie | 1995 |
| Cutthroat Island | Producer | Movie | 1995 |
 | A Night to Die For | Self | Movie | 1995 |
 | Speechless | Producer | Movie | 1994 |
 | The Foot Shooting Party | Executive Producer | Movie | 1994 |
 | Cliffhanger | Director | Movie | 1993 |
| Cliffhanger | Producer | Movie | 1993 |
 | Gladiaattorit | Director | TV Series | 1993 |
 | Stallone on the Edge: The Making of Cliffhanger | Self | Movie | 1993 |
 | Slash & Burn: The Freddy Krueger Story | Self | Movie | 1991 |
 | Rambling Rose | Producer | Movie | 1991 |
 | Raptori Moe! | Self / Appearance | Movie | 1990 |
 | The Adventures of Ford Fairlane | Director | Movie | 1990 |
 | Die Hard 2 | Director | Movie | 1990 |
 | The Making of 'Nightmare on Elm Street IV' | Self | Movie | 1989 |
 | A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master | Student (uncredited) | Movie | 1988 |
| A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master | Director | Movie | 1988 |
 | Prison | Director | Movie | 1987 |
 | Born American | Man's Voice from Ship's Loudspeakers (uncredited) (voice) | Movie | 1986 |
| Born American | Screenplay | Movie | 1986 |
| Born American | Director | Movie | 1986 |
| Born American | Stunt Double | Movie | 1986 |
 | The Breakthrough | Police officer (uncredited) | Movie | 1981 |
| Kohtauspaikka 33 | Self (voice) | Movie | 1981 | |
| Kohtauspaikka 33 | Director | Movie | 1981 | |
| Kohtauspaikka 33 | Producer | Movie | 1981 | |
| Custody | Writer | Movie | 1980 | |
| Custody | Director | Movie | 1980 | |
| Carrier | Producer | Movie | — | |
| Inspector Palmu | Director | Movie | — | |
| Inspector Palmu | Writer | Movie | — | |
| Black Tides | Director | Movie | — | |
| Trial by Combat | Director | Movie | — |