Renny Harlin
Directing Born Mar 15, 1959 Riihimäki, Finland 82 credits
Biography
Renny Harlin, born Renny Lauri Mauritz Harjola on March 15, 1959, is a Finnish film director and producer recognized for his extensive work in the action and horror genres. He achieved his peak success between the late 1980s and the late 1990s, directing notable films such as A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master, Die Hard 2, Cliffhanger, and Deep Blue Sea. While his commercial performance has declined since the mid 2000s, Harlin is ranked 86th on the list of highest-grossing directors of all time based on U.S. domestic gross revenue. His career has primarily taken place within the Hollywood studio system, supplemented by work in his native Finland.
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Frequent co-stars
Sylvester Stallone
1 shared title
Burt Reynolds
1 shared title
Kip Pardue
1 shared title
Stacy Edwards
1 shared title
Til Schweiger
1 shared title
Gina Gershon
1 shared title
Estella Warren
1 shared title
Cristián de la Fuente
1 shared title
Brent Briscoe
1 shared title
Robert Sean Leonard
1 shared title
Career timeline
Deep WaterDeep Water · DirectorThe Strangers: Chapter 3 · DirectorThe Strangers · Director
The Strangers: Chapter 2 · Director
The Strangers: Chapter 1 · Director
The Bricklayer · DirectorRefuge · DirectorRefuge · Producer
The Misfits · DirectorThe DinosaurReunion 3: Singles Cruise · DirectorReunion 3: Singles Cruise · Screenplay
Bodies at Rest · Director
Legend of the Ancient Sword · Director
Skiptrace · Director
The Legend of HerculesThe Legend of Hercules · DirectorThe Legend of Hercules · WriterThe Legend of Hercules · Producer
Graceland · DirectorThe Dyatlov Pass Incident · DirectorThe Dyatlov Pass Incident · ProducerHard Time: The Making of Prison
Fear Himself: The Life and Crimes of Freddy Krueger
The Resident · Executive Producer5 Days of War · Director5 Days of War · Producer
Covert Affairs · DirectorNever Sleep Again: The Elm Street Legacy
White Collar · Director12 Rounds · Director
Burn Notice · DirectorCleaner · Director
The Covenant · Director
Mindhunters · Executive ProducerMindhunters · DirectorExorcist: The Beginning · Director
Wreckage and Rage: Making 'Alien³'
DrivenDriven · ProducerDriven · Director
Deep Blue Sea · DirectorBlast from the Past · Producer
Johtaja Uuno Turhapuro pisnismies
The Long Kiss Goodnight · DirectorThe Long Kiss Goodnight · ProducerMistrial · Executive Producer
Cutthroat Island · DirectorCutthroat Island · ProducerA Night to Die For
Speechless · ProducerThe Foot Shooting Party · Executive Producer
Cliffhanger · DirectorCliffhanger · ProducerGladiaattorit · Director
Rambling Rose · ProducerSlash & Burn: The Freddy Krueger Story
Die Hard 2 · DirectorThe Adventures of Ford Fairlane · DirectorRaptori Moe!
The Making of 'Nightmare on Elm Street IV'
A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream MasterA Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master · Director
Prison · Director
Full filmography
- Deep Water (2026) as Ship Radio Dispatcher (voice)
- Deep Water (2026) Director
- The Strangers: Chapter 3 (2026) Director
- The Strangers (2026) Director
- The Strangers: Chapter 2 (2025) Director
- The Strangers: Chapter 1 (2024) Director
- The Bricklayer (2023) Director
- Refuge (2023) Director
- Refuge (2023) Producer
- The Misfits (2021) Director
- The Dinosaur (2021) as Self (archive footage)
- Reunion 3: Singles Cruise (2021) Director
- Reunion 3: Singles Cruise (2021) Screenplay
- Bodies at Rest (2019) Director
- Legend of the Ancient Sword (2018) Director
- Skiptrace (2016) Director
- The Legend of Hercules (2014) as Officer Linus (uncredited)
- The Legend of Hercules (2014) Director
- The Legend of Hercules (2014) Writer
- The Legend of Hercules (2014) Producer
- Graceland (2013) Director
- The Dyatlov Pass Incident (2013) Director
- The Dyatlov Pass Incident (2013) Producer
- Hard Time: The Making of Prison (2013) as Himself
- Fear Himself: The Life and Crimes of Freddy Krueger (2012) as Self
- The Resident (2011) Executive Producer
- 5 Days of War (2011) Director
- 5 Days of War (2011) Producer
- Covert Affairs (2010) Director
- Never Sleep Again: The Elm Street Legacy (2010) as Self
- White Collar (2009) Director
- 12 Rounds (2009) Director
- Burn Notice (2007) Director
- Cleaner (2007) Director
- The Covenant (2006) Director
- Mindhunters (2004) Executive Producer
- Mindhunters (2004) Director
- Exorcist: The Beginning (2004) Director
- Wreckage and Rage: Making 'Alien³' (2003) as Self
- Driven (2001) as Replacement Driver
- Driven (2001) Producer
- Driven (2001) Director
- Deep Blue Sea (1999) Director
- Blast from the Past (1999) Producer
- Johtaja Uuno Turhapuro pisnismies (1998) as Renny Harlin
- The Long Kiss Goodnight (1996) Director
- The Long Kiss Goodnight (1996) Producer
- Mistrial (1996) Executive Producer
- Cutthroat Island (1995) Director
- Cutthroat Island (1995) Producer
- A Night to Die For (1995) as Self
- Speechless (1994) Producer
- The Foot Shooting Party (1994) Executive Producer
- Cliffhanger (1993) Director
- Cliffhanger (1993) Producer
- Gladiaattorit (1993) Director
- Rambling Rose (1991) Producer
- Slash & Burn: The Freddy Krueger Story (1991) as Self
- Die Hard 2 (1990) Director
- The Adventures of Ford Fairlane (1990) Director
- Raptori Moe! (1990)
- The Making of 'Nightmare on Elm Street IV' (1989) as Self
- A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master (1988) as Student (uncredited)
- A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master (1988) Director
- Prison (1987) Director
- Born American (1986) as Man's Voice from Ship's Loudspeakers (uncredited) (voice)
- Born American (1986) Screenplay
- Born American (1986) Director
- Born American (1986) Stunt Double
- The Breakthrough (1981) as Police officer (uncredited)
- Kohtauspaikka 33 (1981) as Self (voice)
- Kohtauspaikka 33 (1981) Director
- Kohtauspaikka 33 (1981) Producer
- Custody (1980) Writer
- Custody (1980) Director
- Black Tides Director
- Trial by Combat Director
- Stallone on the Edge: The Making of Cliffhanger as Self
- The Beast Director
- Carrier Producer
- Inspector Palmu Director
- Inspector Palmu Writer