The Noah's Ark Principle, a feature-length film created as a 1981 university thesis, marked the start of a career that eventually secured its creator a position as the 19th-highest-grossing Hollywood director of all time. Roland Emmerich has built a reputation for large-scale disaster and science-fiction productions that have generated over $3 billion in global revenue.
Early Development in West Germany
Born in Stuttgart in 1955, Emmerich spent his youth in Sindelfingen. He initially attended the University of Television and Film Munich in 1977 with the goal of becoming a production designer. After viewing the film Star Wars, he transitioned into the school’s director program. His final project, The Noah's Ark Principle, opened the 34th Berlin International Film Festival in 1984. In 1985, he established Centropolis Film Productions alongside his sister, Ute Emmerich, and directed subsequent projects including Joey, Hollywood-Monster, and Moon 44. Although these early works were filmed in English to reach broader markets, their initial theatrical release was primarily restricted to Germany.
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Emmerich moved to the United States following an invitation from producer Mario Kassar to direct a science-fiction project titled Isobar. After that script was rejected and the project abandoned, Emmerich was hired to direct the 1992 action film Universal Soldier. He frequently collaborated with Dean Devlin, who served as his writing and producing partner until 2000. In 1994, he directed Stargate, which set a record for the highest-grossing opening weekend for an October release at the time. This success was followed by Independence Day in 1996, which achieved significant financial milestones as one of the highest-grossing films in global box office history.
Blockbuster Disaster Cinema
Emmerich became known for high-budget spectacles, including Godzilla in 1998 and The Day After Tomorrow in 2004, the latter of which was co-written with Harald Kloser. His 2009 film, 2012, capitalised on apocalyptic theories regarding the Mayan calendar to become his second-highest-grossing production. Throughout his career, he has managed large-scale projects within shorter time frames and lower budgets than standard industry expectations. Other notable directorial credits include The Patriot, 10,000 BC, White House Down, Stonewall, Independence Day: Resurgence, Midway, and Moonfall.
Professional Honors
The director has received various international accolades for his contributions to cinema. In 1998, he was awarded the Officer's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany and the European Film Award - People's Choice Award for Best Director. He later received the Order of Merit of Baden-Württemberg in 2007, the Sitges Grand Honorary Award in 2014, and the GLAAD Stephen F. Kolzak Award in 2015. He maintains membership in the Writers Guild of America West.
Fast facts
- Born: 1955, Stuttgart, West Germany
- Education: University of Television and Film Munich
- First Feature Film: The Noah's Ark Principle (1984)
- Frequent Genre: Science fiction and disaster films
- Production Companies: Centropolis Entertainment, Reelmachine
- Awards: Officer's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany (1998)
- Citizenship: Germany, United States
- Languages: English, German
Questions readers ask
What was Roland Emmerich's first film?
His first full-length feature film was The Noah's Ark Principle, which he wrote and directed as a university thesis in 1981.
Which production company did he co-found?
He co-founded Centropolis Film Productions, now known as Centropolis Entertainment, with his sister Ute Emmerich in 1985.
Achievements
- Officer's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany — 1998
- Order of Merit of Baden-Württemberg — 2007
- Educated at University of Television and Film Munich
- Worked as screenwriter, film director and film producer
