View source for Joseph Kahn (director)



{{Use American English|date=December 2025}}
{{Infobox person
| name               = Joseph Kahn
| image              = Joseph Kahn at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival (cropped).jpg
| caption            = Kahn at the [[2024 Toronto International Film Festival]]
| birth_name         = Ahn Jun-hee
| birth_date         = {{Birth date and age|1972|10|12}}
| birth_place        = [[Busan]], South Korea
| citizenship        = {{Hlist|South Korea|United States}}
| occupation         = Film director, music video director
| website            = {{URL|http://www.josephkahn.com}}
| years_active       = 1990–present
 {{Infobox Korean name/auto
| child = yes
| hangul = %안준희
| hanja = 安俊囍
}}
}}
'''Joseph Kahn''' (born '''Ahn Jun-hee''', {{langx|ko|안준희}}; October 12, 1972) is a South Korean-born American director known for his [[Music video|music videos]]. Kahn has worked with various artists such as [[Taylor Swift]], [[Britney Spears]], [[Garbage (band)|Garbage]], [[Eminem]], [[Backstreet Boys]], [[Imagine Dragons]], [[Lady Gaga]], [[Rob Thomas (musician)|Rob Thomas]], [[Snoop Dogg]], [[Chris Brown]], [[Kelly Clarkson]], [[Ava Max]], [[Mariah Carey]] and [[Destiny's Child]].

==Early life==
Kahn was born Ahn Jun-hee in [[Busan]], South Korea.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Jeong|first1=Cheon-gi (정천기)|title=American music video director Joseph Kahn enters Korea (美 뮤직비디오 감독 조셉 칸 한국 진출)|url=http://news.sbs.co.kr/news/endPage.do?news_id=N0300180820|publisher=[[Seoul Broadcasting System]]|access-date=June 17, 2015|language=ko|date=April 25, 2001|archive-date=June 4, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190604100208/http://news.sbs.co.kr/news/endPage.do?news_id=N0300180820|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Korea Times">{{cite web|last1=Han|first1=Brian|title=Taylor Swift 'Blank Space' director Joseph Kahn digs deep into Korean roots|url=http://www.koreatimesus.com/taylor-swift-blank-space-director-joseph-kahn-digs-deep-into-korean-roots/|website=[[The Korea Times]]|access-date=June 17, 2015|date=November 24, 2014|archive-date=December 29, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181229184954/http://www.koreatimesus.com/taylor-swift-blank-space-director-joseph-kahn-digs-deep-into-korean-roots/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Yun|first1=Hyeon-jin (윤현진)|title=Joseph Kahn: "Korea should be proud of BoA" (interview) [조셉칸 "한국은 보아를 자랑스러워하라" (인터뷰)]|url=http://www.newsen.com/news_view.php?uid=200906151527371002|publisher=Newsen|access-date=June 17, 2015|language=ko|date=June 16, 2009|archive-date=June 4, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190604232349/http://www.newsen.com/news_view.php?uid=200906151527371002|url-status=live}}</ref> His family spent part of his childhood there and in [[Livorno]], Italy until moving to [[Jersey Village, Texas]], a suburb of [[Houston]], when Joseph was seven.<ref name="official bio">{{cite web|title=Bio|url=http://josephkahn.com/bio/|website=JosephKahn.com|access-date=June 17, 2015|archive-date=October 29, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201029125132/http://www.josephkahn.com/bio|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Yin|first1=Wesley|title=Joseph Kahn, the infamous director of Taylor Swift's music videos, tells the ugly truth|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/joseph-kahn-the-infamous-director-of-taylor-swifts-music-videos-tells-the-ugly-truth/2016/08/05/14166a36-54d0-11e6-bbf5-957ad17b4385_story.html|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=February 21, 2018|archive-date=November 26, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201126064234/https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/joseph-kahn-the-infamous-director-of-taylor-swifts-music-videos-tells-the-ugly-truth/2016/08/05/14166a36-54d0-11e6-bbf5-957ad17b4385_story.html|url-status=live}}</ref> After graduating from [[Jersey Village High School]] in 1990, Kahn went to [[New York University]]'s [[Tisch School of the Arts]] but dropped out after a year. Returning to Houston, began to direct [[hip hop]] music videos.<ref name="Korea Times"/>

==Career==
===Music videos===
Kahn's [[Joseph Kahn videography|videography]] spans thirty years. In the mid-1990s he directed music videos for artists including Aaliyah, Ice Cube, Backstreet Boys and Snoop Dogg. In 2003, Kahn won his first [[Grammy]] for [[Eminem]]'s "[[Without Me (Eminem song)|Without Me]]" video which also won the MTV VMA's [[MTV Video Music Award for Best Video of the Year|Best Video of the Year]], as well as [[Best Direction]]. His video for [[Katy Perry]] "[[Waking Up in Vegas]]" won the MVPA 2009 Best Video of the Year.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0994538/awards|title=Joseph Kahn|website=IMDb|access-date=October 12, 2018|archive-date=April 23, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170423181832/http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0994538/awards?|url-status=live}}</ref>{{Better source needed|reason=The current source is insufficiently reliable ([[WP:NOTRS]]).|date=December 2025}}

Kahn's usage of [[Japanese pop culture]] in music videos first began with [[Janet Jackson]]'s "[[Doesn't Really Matter]]" video. The video was also the most expensive video Kahn has directed and is among the [[list of most expensive music videos|most expensive]] of all time, costing over $2.5 million.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.asiaarts.ucla.edu/081017/article.asp?parentID=99179|title=Asia Pacific Arts: APA Top Ten: Joseph Kahn music videos|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|publisher=Diehl, Matt|date=October 17, 2008|access-date=May 30, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081022162010/http://www.asiaarts.ucla.edu/081017/article.asp?parentID=99179|archive-date=October 22, 2008}}</ref>

In 2014, Kahn was given The Icon Award by the [[UK Music Video Awards]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.promonews.tv/news/2014/11/11/uk-music-video-awards-2014-hiro-murai-wins-best-director-daniels-take-video-year|title=UK Music Video Awards 2014: Hiro Murai wins Best Director, DANIELS take Video Of The Year, Joseph Kahn accepts Icon Award on Promo News|work=Promonews|access-date=October 12, 2018|language=en|archive-date=October 13, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181013091724/http://www.promonews.tv/news/2014/11/11/uk-music-video-awards-2014-hiro-murai-wins-best-director-daniels-take-video-year|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2015, Kahn directed MTV's choices for Video of the Year, Best Pop Video, Best Female Video, and Best Collaboration for multiple videos from American singer-songwriter [[Taylor Swift]]'s fifth studio album ''[[1989 (Taylor Swift album)|1989]]'', including "[[Blank Space]]", "[[Bad Blood (Taylor Swift song)|Bad Blood]]", "[[Wildest Dreams]]" and "[[Out of the Woods]]" and her sixth studio album ''[[Reputation (Taylor Swift album)|Reputation]]'', including "[[Look What You Made Me Do]]", "[[...Ready for It?]]", "[[End Game (song)|End Game]]" and "[[Delicate (Taylor Swift song)|Delicate]]".<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://larkcreative.tv/portfolio_page/joseph-kahn/|title=Lark {{!}} Joseph Kahn|website=larkcreative.tv|language=en-US|access-date=October 12, 2018|archive-date=November 11, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181111104658/http://larkcreative.tv/portfolio_page/joseph-kahn/|url-status=live}}</ref> He won the [[Grammy Award]] for [[Best Music Video]] of 2015 for Swift's single "Bad Blood" featuring [[Kendrick Lamar]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.grammy.com/artists/joseph-kahn/9840|title=Joseph Kahn|date=May 22, 2018|work=GRAMMY.com|access-date=October 12, 2018|language=en}}</ref>

In 2017, Kahn won the American Country Music Awards Video of the Year for "Forever Country."<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://theboot.com/2017-acm-awards-video-of-the-year/|title='Forever Country' Earns Video of the Year at the 2017 ACM Awards|website=The Boot|date=April 3, 2017|language=en|access-date=October 12, 2018|archive-date=October 12, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181012214613/http://theboot.com/2017-acm-awards-video-of-the-year/|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2019, Kahn collaborated with [[Ava Max]] for the "[[Torn (Ava Max song)|Torn]]" music video, and directed a new music video for [[Mariah Carey]]'s 1994 hit, "[[All I Want for Christmas Is You]]".<ref>[https://www.chaosandcomrades.com/news/2019/12/16/mariah-careys-all-i-want-for-christmas-becomes-her-19th-1-single Mariah Carey's 19th Number #1 Single and New Music Video by Joseph Kahn] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200802183055/https://www.chaosandcomrades.com/news/2019/12/16/mariah-careys-all-i-want-for-christmas-becomes-her-19th-1-single |date=August 2, 2020 }} by Ashton Brooks at Chaos and Comrades, December 16, 2019.</ref> In 2022, Kahn directed a music video for [[Chris Brown]]'s "[[Iffy (song)|Iffy]]".<ref>{{Cite web|title=Chris Brown Drops 'Iffy' Video|url=https://www.rap-up.com/2022/01/14/chris-brown-iffy-video/|access-date=2022-01-17|website=Rap-Up|language=en-US|archive-date=January 16, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220116110556/https://www.rap-up.com/2022/01/14/chris-brown-iffy-video/|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Film===
[[File:Joseph kahn 01 (cropped).jpg|thumb|right|150px|Kahn at a screening of ''[[Detention (2011 film)|Detention]]'' at the [[Los Angeles Film School]], 2012]]
Kahn also directed the 2004 action film ''[[Torque (film)|Torque]]'' starring [[Ice Cube]].<ref>{{Citation|title=Torque|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0329691/|access-date=October 12, 2018|archive-date=September 4, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180904183044/https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0329691/|url-status=live}}</ref>{{Better source needed|reason=The current source is insufficiently reliable ([[WP:NOTRS]]).|date=December 2025}} In May 2007, it was announced that he would direct an adaptation of [[William Gibson]]'s science fiction classic ''[[Neuromancer]]'' for producer Peter Hoffman. On May 7, 2010, ''[[Fangoria]]'' reported that [[Vincenzo Natali]], the director of ''[[Cube (1997 film)|Cube]]'' and ''[[Splice (film)|Splice]]'', had taken over directing duties and would also rewrite the screenplay.<ref>{{cite web |last=Gingold |first=Michael |url=http://fangoria.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=785:natali-takes-neuromancer-for-the-big-screen&catid=1:latest-news&Itemid=167 |title=Natali takes "NEUROMANCER" for the big screen |publisher=Fangoria.com |access-date=May 7, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100509052115/http://www.fangoria.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=785:natali-takes-neuromancer-for-the-big-screen&catid=1:latest-news&Itemid=167 |archive-date=May 9, 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In 2011, Kahn directed the low-budget self-financed horror comedy ''[[Detention (2011 film)|Detention]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bloody-disgusting.com/news/20521|title=Celebrated Music Video Director Shows Up for 'Detention'|date=June 11, 2010|access-date=June 10, 2010|archive-date=June 13, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100613012905/http://www.bloody-disgusting.com/news/20521|url-status=live}}</ref> After winning a number of audience favorite awards on the film festival circuit,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.josephkahn.com/project/7849/detention|title=Detention {{!}} Joseph Kahn|website=www.josephkahn.com|language=en|access-date=October 12, 2018|archive-date=December 16, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171216041829/http://www.josephkahn.com/project/7849/detention|url-status=live}}</ref> ''Detention'' was picked up for theatrical distribution by Sony for a release in 2012.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.indiewire.com/article/sony_pictures_worldwide_opts_for_detention/ |title=Sony Pictures Worldwide Opts For 'Detention' |date=June 15, 2011 |access-date=October 27, 2011 |archive-date=June 24, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110624041555/http://www.indiewire.com/article/sony_pictures_worldwide_opts_for_detention/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

In July 2016, test footage for the [[DC Comics]] character [[Swamp Thing]] was released which was directed by Kahn for the potential [[Justice League Dark]] film.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://collider.com/swamp-thing-justice-league-dark-joseph-kahn/|title=Watch 'Detention' Director Joseph Kahn's 'Swamp Thing' Test for 'Justice League Dark'|website=[[Collider (website)|Collider]]|date=July 27, 2016|access-date=May 17, 2017|archive-date=May 12, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170512200944/http://collider.com/swamp-thing-justice-league-dark-joseph-kahn|url-status=live}}</ref> Kahn's next film was ''[[Bodied]]'', a satirical black comedy about racial tensions in the world of battle rap. The film was produced by [[Eminem]] and premiered at the [[2017 Toronto International Film Festival]], where it won the People's Choice Award in the Midnight Madness section. ''Bodied'' continued to pick up the Audience Awards at both AFI Fest<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.afi.com/news/afi-fest-2017-announces-award-winners/ | title=AFI FEST 2017 Announces Award Winners | date=February 17, 2024 | access-date=October 30, 2023 | archive-date=October 30, 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231030205612/https://www.afi.com/news/afi-fest-2017-announces-award-winners/ | url-status=live }}</ref> and Austin's Fantastic Fest.<ref>[http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/toronto-three-billboards-ebbing-missouri-captures-audience-award-1039727 "Toronto: 'Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri' Captures Audience Award"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170921071139/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/toronto-three-billboards-ebbing-missouri-captures-audience-award-1039727 |date=September 21, 2017 }}. ''[[The Hollywood Reporter]]'', September 17, 2017.</ref> His fourth feature film, ''[[Ick (film)|Ick]]'', starring [[Brandon Routh]], [[Malina Weissman]] and [[Mena Suvari]], premiered at the [[2024 Toronto International Film Festival]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2024/film/news/brandon-routh-mena-suvarijoseph-kahn-ick-1235943576/|title=Brandon Routh and Mena Suvari to Star in Joseph Kahn's 'Ick' From Interstellar Entertainment|author=Katcy Stephan|date=March 15, 2024}}</ref> and later received a theatrical release in July 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 5, 2025 |title=Ick trailer: Brandon Routh, Mena Suvari creature feature is coming to theatres in July |url=https://www.joblo.com/ick-trailer/ |website=JoBlo}}</ref>
== Filmography ==
{{main|Joseph Kahn videography}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{official website|http://www.josephkahn.com}}
* {{IMDb name|0994538}}

{{Joseph Kahn}}
{{MTV Video Music Award for Best Direction}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Kahn, Joseph}}
[[Category:1972 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:American film directors of Korean descent]]
[[Category:American horror film directors]]
[[Category:American music video directors]]
[[Category:American television directors]]
[[Category:Film directors from Los Angeles]]
[[Category:Film directors from Texas]]
[[Category:Grammy Award winners]]
[[Category:Jersey Village High School alumni]]
[[Category:South Korean music video directors]]
[[Category:South Korean horror film directors]]
[[Category:South Korean television directors]]
[[Category:People from Busan]]
[[Category:Mass media people from Houston]]
[[Category:People from Livorno]]
[[Category:People from Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles]]
[[Category:South Korean emigrants to the United States]]
[[Category:Tisch School of the Arts alumni]]
[[Category:Television commercial directors]]

{{Wikipedia attribution|original_title=Joseph Kahn (director)|access_date=2026-03-04}}