View source for Scott Derrickson



{{Infobox person
| name = 
| image       = Scott Derrickson by Gage Skidmore 2.jpg
| caption     = Derrickson at the 2019 [[San Diego Comic-Con]]
| birth_date  = {{birth date and age|1966|7|16}}
| birth_place = [[Denver]], [[Colorado]], U.S.
| occupation  = {{hlist|[[Film director]]|[[film producer]]|[[screenwriter]]}}
| education = [[Biola University]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]])<br>[[University of Southern California]] ([[Master of Fine Arts|MFA]])
| years_active = 1995–present
| spouse       = {{Ubl
  | {{marriage|Joyce Ericsson|1993|2019|end=div}}<ref name="Biola">{{Cite web |date=December 31, 2005 |title=Interview With Scott Derrickson |url=https://www.biola.edu/blogs/biola-magazine/2005/interview-with-scott-derrickson |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230616014025/https://www.biola.edu/blogs/biola-magazine/2005/interview-with-scott-derrickson |archive-date=June 16, 2023 |access-date=June 15, 2023 |website=[[Biola University]]}}</ref>
  | {{marriage|Maggie Levin|2022}}<ref>{{Cite web |title=Maggie Levin and Scott Derrickson's Wedding Registry on Zola - Zola |url=https://www.zola.com/registry/maggieandscottmay21 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230615192758/https://www.zola.com/registry/maggieandscottmay21 |archive-date=June 15, 2023 |access-date=June 15, 2023}}</ref>}}
| children     = 2}}

'''Scott Derrickson''' (born July 16, 1966) is an American filmmaker. He is known for his work in the horror genre, directing films such as ''[[The Exorcism of Emily Rose]]'' (2005), ''[[Sinister (film)|Sinister]]'' (2012), ''[[The Black Phone]]'' (2021), and its sequel, ''[[Black Phone 2]]'' (2025). He is also known for the superhero film ''[[Doctor Strange (2016 film)|Doctor Strange]]'' (2016), based on the [[Marvel Comics]] character.

==Early life==
Scott Derrickson grew up in [[Denver]], Colorado. He graduated from [[Biola University]] with a [[Bachelor of Arts|BA]] in [[Humanities]] with an emphasis in philosophy and literature and a B.A. in [[communications]] with an emphasis in film and a minor in theology.<ref name="Biola"/> He completed his graduate studies at [[USC School of Cinema-Television]].

== Career ==
Derrickson's debut feature was ''[[Hellraiser: Inferno]]'', the fifth installment in the [[Hellraiser (film series)|long-running ''Hellraiser'' film series]]. It was released [[straight to video]] in 2000. Following this, Derrickson and co-writer [[Paul Harris Boardman]] spent several years doing [[Script doctor|script-doctoring]] work for studios. "I was paid to write or rewrite 13 screenplays," Derrickson said, "None of them got made. I was earning a good living but all of my creativity would be read by just a handful of executives. It caused a kind of soul sickness in me."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Saavedra |first=John |date=September 21, 2021 |title=Guillermo del Toro, James Gunn, and Edgar Wright Reveal Secrets About Their Unmade Movie Scripts |url=https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/guillermo-del-toro-james-gunn-edgar-wright-unmade-scripts/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230707173352/https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/guillermo-del-toro-james-gunn-edgar-wright-unmade-scripts/ |archive-date=July 7, 2023 |access-date=July 7, 2023 |website=[[Den of Geek]]}}</ref> Some of Derrickson and Boardman's unproduced scripts include ''[[Scott Derrickson's unrealized projects#Future Tense|Future Tense]]'', ''[[Scott Derrickson's unrealized projects#The Mystic|The Mystic]]'', ''[[Scott Derrickson's unrealized projects#Ghosting|Ghosting]]'' and ''[[Scott Derrickson's unrealized projects#Mindbender|Mindbender]]''.<ref>{{cite web|last=Lyons|first=Charles|title=Duo sells 'Tense' sci-fi pitch|url=https://variety.com/2001/film/news/duo-sells-tense-sci-fi-pitch-1117797330/|website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=April 17, 2001|access-date=April 23, 2023}}</ref>

Derrickson co-wrote and directed ''[[The Exorcism of Emily Rose]]'', which was loosely based on a true story about [[Anneliese Michel]].<ref name="washingtonpost">{{Cite news |last=Hansen |first=Eric T. |date=September 4, 2005 |title=What in God's Name?! |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/02/AR2005090200559.html |url-status=live |access-date=July 3, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201106192356/https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/02/AR2005090200559.html |archive-date=November 6, 2020}}</ref> The film was named in the Chicago Film Critics Association's list of the "Top 100 Scariest Films Ever Made." Theatrical box office gross for ''The Exorcism of Emily Rose'' was over $144 million worldwide.<ref name="BOM">{{Cite web |title=The Exorcism of Emily Rose (2005) - Box Office Mojo |url=http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=exorcismofemilyrose.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160607081502/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=exorcismofemilyrose.htm |archive-date=June 7, 2016 |access-date=July 3, 2019 |website=Box Office Mojo}}</ref> It received the award for Best Horror Film at the [[32nd Saturn Awards]].

[[File:Scott Derricson and Keanu Reeves.jpg|thumb|upright|Derrickson with star [[Keanu Reeves]] in 2008]]Derrickson next directed a [[The Day the Earth Stood Still (2008 film)|remake]] of ''[[The Day the Earth Stood Still]]'', starring [[Keanu Reeves]] and [[Jennifer Connelly]], written by [[David Scarpa]]. The film was released in late 2008 and earned over $233 million worldwide.<ref name="mojo">{{Cite web |title=The Day the Earth Stood Still (2008) |url=https://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=daytheearthstoodstill08.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190820054732/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=daytheearthstoodstill08.htm |archive-date=August 20, 2019 |access-date=August 28, 2021 |website=Box Office Mojo}}</ref>

In August 2011, Derrickson teamed up with producer [[Jason Blum]] to write and direct ''[[Sinister (film)|Sinister]]'', a mystery-horror film starring [[Ethan Hawke]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=May 3, 2011 |title=The scary minds behind 'Insidious' and 'Emily Rose' team up for more horror |url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/movies/2011/05/paranormal-activity-james-wan-insidious-derrickson-blum.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110507042231/http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/movies/2011/05/paranormal-activity-james-wan-insidious-derrickson-blum.html |archive-date=May 7, 2011 |access-date=June 23, 2012 |publisher=latimesblogs.latimes.com}}</ref> The $3 million picture was released in theaters by Summit Entertainment on October 12, 2012, and received generally positive critical reviews.<ref name="Rotten Tomatoes">{{Cite web |title=Scott Derrickson - Rotten Tomatoes |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/scott_derrickson |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230330004125/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/scott_derrickson |archive-date=March 30, 2023 |access-date=March 30, 2023 |website=www.rottentomatoes.com |language=en}}</ref> ''Sinister'' earned over $48 million at the U.S. box office and over $78 million worldwide. Derrickson co-wrote but did not direct [[Sinister 2|the film's sequel]].<ref name="Rotten Tomatoes" /> ''Sinister'' 
has repeatedly been named “The Scariest Movie of All Time According to Science” by the Science of Scare project, which measures the heart rates and heart rate variances of audience members as they watch 50 of the scariest horror films ever made. 

''[[Deliver Us from Evil (2014 film)|Deliver Us from Evil]]'' (2014) was produced by [[Jerry Bruckheimer]],<ref name="Scott">{{Cite news |last=Foreman |first=Liza |date=September 4, 2013 |title=Scott Derrickson Signs On to Direct 'Beware the Night' |work=thewrap.com |url=http://www.thewrap.com/movies/column-post/scott-derrickson-signs-direct-beware-night-exclusive-54696 |url-status=dead |access-date=December 27, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140109044637/http://www.thewrap.com/movies/column-post/scott-derrickson-signs-direct-beware-night-exclusive-54696 |archive-date=January 9, 2014}}</ref> and is based on a 2001 non-fiction book entitled ''Beware the Night'' by former police Sergeant [[Ralph Sarchie]] and [[Lisa Collier Cool]]; its marketing campaign highlighted that it was "inspired by actual accounts". It was released on July 2, 2014,<ref name="new">{{Cite news |last=Pictures |first=Sony |date=November 13, 2013 |title=Sony Pictures Moves Sex Tape and Beware the Night |work=comingsoon.net |url=http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=111353 |url-status=dead |access-date=December 28, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131116184316/http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=111353 |archive-date=November 16, 2013}}</ref> and grossed $87.9 million against a $30 million budget.

[[File:ScottDerricksonWonderCon2015.jpg|thumb|upright|Derrickson at the 2015 [[WonderCon]]]]Derrickson next directed the film ''[[Doctor Strange (2016 film)|Doctor Strange]]'', based on the [[Marvel Comics]] [[Doctor Strange|property]] and part of the [[Marvel Cinematic Universe]]. It was released in November 2016.<ref name="IMAX">{{Cite web |last=Han |first=Angie |date=April 8, 2015 |title='Star Wars: Rogue One', 'Captain America: Civil War', and More Get IMAX Releases |url=http://www.slashfilm.com/disney-imax-star-wars-marvel/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150410185054/http://www.slashfilm.com/disney-imax-star-wars-marvel |archive-date=April 10, 2015 |access-date=April 8, 2015 |publisher=[[/Film]]}}</ref> The film was a commercial and critical success. It received the award for Best Comic-To-Film Motion Picture at the [[43rd Saturn Awards]], and received an Academy Award nomination for Best Visual Effects.

In December 2018, it was announced that Derrickson would direct the ''Doctor Strange'' sequel entitled ''[[Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness]]'' which was planned for a May 2021 release.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lussier |first=Germain |date=December 11, 2018 |title=Director Scott Derrickson Is Coming Back for More Doctor Strange |url=https://io9.gizmodo.com/director-scott-derrickson-is-coming-back-for-more-docto-1827999348 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181212053543/https://io9.gizmodo.com/director-scott-derrickson-is-coming-back-for-more-docto-1827999348 |archive-date=December 12, 2018 |access-date=December 12, 2018 |website=[[Gizmodo]]}}</ref> In January 2020, Derrickson announced that he had stepped away from directing duties as a result of unspecified creative differences, after which [[Sam Raimi]] took over. Derrickson remained involved with the film as an executive producer.<ref name="Variety">{{Cite web |date=January 10, 2020 |title='Doctor Strange 2' Loses Director Scott Derrickson – Variety |url=https://variety.com/2020/film/news/doctor-strange-in-the-multiverse-of-madness-director-scott-derrickson-drops-out-marvel-1203462569/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200110003111/https://variety.com/2020/film/news/doctor-strange-in-the-multiverse-of-madness-director-scott-derrickson-drops-out-marvel-1203462569/ |archive-date=January 10, 2020 |access-date=January 10, 2020 |website=Variety}}</ref> Derrickson's departure from the film allowed him to put more focus on ''[[The Black Phone]]''.<ref name="fandomwire.com">{{Cite web |date=May 18, 2022 |title=Scott Derrickson Reveals Leaving Doctor Strange 2 Was "Hardest Decision of his Career" - FandomWire |url=https://fandomwire.com/scott-derrickson-reveals-leaving-doctor-strange-2-was-hardest-decision-of-his-career/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230330004131/https://fandomwire.com/scott-derrickson-reveals-leaving-doctor-strange-2-was-hardest-decision-of-his-career/ |archive-date=March 30, 2023 |access-date=March 30, 2023 |website=fandomwire.com |language=en-US}}</ref>

In 2021, Derrickson directed an adaptation of [[Joe Hill (writer)|Joe Hill]]'s short story "[[20th Century Ghosts#The Black Phone|The Black Phone]]", from a script he co-wrote with [[C. Robert Cargill]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=McNary |first=Dave |date=October 30, 2020 |title='Doctor Strange' Director Scott Derrickson Boards Blumhouse Horror Movie 'Black Phone' |url=https://variety.com/2020/film/news/scott-derrickson-black-phone-blumhouse-1234820046/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210212202346/https://variety.com/2020/film/news/scott-derrickson-black-phone-blumhouse-1234820046/ |archive-date=February 12, 2021 |access-date=February 12, 2021 |website=Variety}}</ref> Produced by [[Blumhouse Productions]] and [[Universal Pictures]], ''The Black Phone'' re-teamed Derrickson with Ethan Hawke and [[James Ransone]], and was theatrically released to positive reviews on June 24, 2022. The film was very personal to Derrickson, as he claimed it had grown out of three years of therapy. He also said that it was a way for him to explore "the traumatic nature of [his] own childhood".<ref name="fandomwire.com"/> It received the awards for Best Horror Film and Best Adapted Screenplay at the [[47th Saturn Awards]], Best Wide Release Movie and Best Screenplay at the 2023 [[Fangoria Chainsaw Awards|''Fangoria'' Chainsaw Awards]], and the [[Bram Stoker Award]] for Superior Achievement in a Screenplay.<ref>{{Cite web |title=FANGORIA 2023 Chainsaw Awards Winners! |date=May 23, 2023 |url=https://www.fangoria.com/original/fangoria-2023-chainsaw-awards-winners/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230525015955/https://www.fangoria.com/original/fangoria-2023-chainsaw-awards-winners/ |archive-date=May 25, 2023 |access-date=September 29, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Winners & Nominees – the Bram Stoker Awards |url=https://www.thebramstokerawards.com/uncategorized/winners-nominees/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220619223201/https://www.thebramstokerawards.com/uncategorized/winners-nominees/ |archive-date=June 19, 2022 |access-date=September 29, 2023}}</ref>

In 2023, Derrickson co-wrote and directed the segment ''Dreamkill'' for the horror anthology film ''[[V/H/S/85]]''. The film won the ''Fangoria'' Chainsaw Award for Best Streaming Premiere.

In June 2024, Derrickson completed his next film, ''[[The Gorge (film)|The Gorge]]'', for [[Skydance Media]]. [[Apple TV+]] acquired the rights for the film.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kroll |first=Justin |date=March 17, 2022 |title=Scott Derrickson To Direct 'The Gorge' For Skydance |work=Deadline Hollywood |url=https://deadline.com/2022/03/scott-derickson-gorge-skydance-1234980948/ |url-status=live |access-date=March 21, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230529055445/https://deadline.com/2022/03/scott-derickson-gorge-skydance-1234980948/ |archive-date=May 29, 2023}}</ref> It stars [[Anya Taylor-Joy]], [[Miles Teller]] and [[Sigourney Weaver]].<ref>{{Citation |title=The Gorge - IMDb |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt13654226/ |access-date=March 30, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230322031230/https://www.imdb.com/title/tt13654226/ |url-status=live |language=en-US |archive-date=March 22, 2023}}</ref> ''The Gorge'' received two [[Emmy Awards]] nominations: Outstanding Television Movie and Outstanding Sound Editing for a Limited or Anthology Series, Movie or Special. It also received a [[Critics Choice Awards]] nomination for Best Movie Made for Television, and a [[Directors Guild of America Awards]] nomination for Best Achievement in Movies for Television. ''The Gorge'' became Apple TV+'s most-watched film premiere, surpassing previous records and boosting global viewership by 80% over its debut weekend in February 2025. It was the most watched movie on Apple TV+ in 2025.

Derrickson next directed ''[[Black Phone 2]]'' from his own co-written script. Released on October 27th, 2025, the film received generally positive reviews according to aggregators Rotten Tomatoes and Metacritic, and grossed over 130 million dollars against a 30 million dollar budget.

==Filmography==
===Short film===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! width=65| Director
! width=65| Writer
! width=65| Producer
! Notes
|-
| 1995
| ''Love in the Ruins''
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| Also editor
|-
| 2021
| ''Shadowprowler''
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{partial|Executive}}
|
|-
| 2023
| ''Dreamkill''
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
| Segment of ''[[V/H/S/85]]''
|}

===Feature film===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! width=65| Director
! width=65| Writer
! width=65| Producer
! Notes
|-
|rowspan=2|2000
| ''[[Urban Legends: Final Cut]]''
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
|
|-
| ''[[Hellraiser: Inferno]]''
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
| [[Direct-to-video]]
|-
| 2004
| ''[[Land of Plenty]]''
| {{no}}
| {{partial|Story}}
| {{no}}
|
|-
| 2005
| ''[[The Exorcism of Emily Rose]]''
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
|
|-
| 2008
| ''[[The Day the Earth Stood Still (2008 film)|The Day the Earth Stood Still]]''
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
|
|-
| 2012
| ''[[Sinister (film)|Sinister]]''
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{partial|Executive}}
|
|-
| 2013
| ''[[Devil's Knot (film)|Devil's Knot]]''
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
| {{partial|Executive}}
|
|-
| 2014
| ''[[Deliver Us from Evil (2014 film)|Deliver Us from Evil]]''
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
|
|-
| 2015
| ''[[Sinister 2]]''
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
|
|-
| 2016
| ''[[Doctor Strange (2016 film)|Doctor Strange]]''
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
|
|-
| 2021
| ''[[The Black Phone]]''
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
|
|-
|rowspan=2|2025
| ''[[The Gorge (film)|The Gorge]]''
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
|
|-
| ''[[Black Phone 2]]''
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
|
|}

'''Uncredited script revisions'''
* ''[[Dracula 2000]]'' (2000)<ref>{{cite web|last=Seibold|first=Witney|url=https://www.slashfilm.com/786251/scott-derrickson-reveals-one-of-the-most-upsetting-moments-of-his-filmmaking-career/|title=Scott Derrickson Reveals One Of The Most Upsetting Moments Of His Filmmaking Career|date=March 2, 2022|website=Slashfilm|access-date=February 16, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.booksandculture.com/articles/2005/novdec/5.21.html|title=The Devil Is Real. Therefore|newspaper=Books and Culture|access-date=February 16, 2024|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170104091049/http://www.booksandculture.com/articles/2005/novdec/5.21.html|archive-date=January 4, 2017|df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.patheos.com/blogs/filmchat/2005/08/scott-derrickson-the-interview.html|title=Patheos, Interview; Derrickson, Scott|date=August 30, 2005 |url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161222223324/http://www.patheos.com/blogs/filmchat/2005/08/scott-derrickson-the-interview.html|archive-date=December 22, 2016|df=mdy-all}}</ref>
* ''[[The Messengers (film)|The Messengers]]'' (2007)
* ''[[Scream 4]]'' (2011)
* ''[[Poltergeist (2015 film)|Poltergeist]]'' (2015)<ref>{{cite web|author= Wax, Alyse|url=http://www.fearnet.com/news/interview/exclusive-scott-derrickson-sinister-and-poltergeist-and-birds-remakes|title= Exclusive: Scott Derrickson on 'Sinister' and the 'Poltergeist' and 'The Birds' Remakes|website=FEARnet|date=February 21, 2013|access-date=November 29, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130224034120/http://www.fearnet.com/news/interview/exclusive-scott-derrickson-sinister-and-poltergeist-and-birds-remakes|archive-date=February 24, 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref>

'''Executive producer only'''
* ''[[Misunderstood (2014 film)|Misunderstood]]'' (2014)
* ''[[Kristy (film)|Kristy]]'' (2014)
* ''[[No Man of God]]'' (2021)
* ''[[Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness]]'' (2022)

'''Co-producer'''
* ''[[The Visitation (film)|The Visitation]]'' (2006)

===Television===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! width=65| Director
! width=65| Executive<br />producer
! Notes
|-
|rowspan=2|2020
| ''[[Into the Dark (TV series)|Into the Dark]]''
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
| Episode "My Valentine"
|-
| ''[[Snowpiercer (TV series)|Snowpiercer]]''
| {{partial|Uncredited}}
| {{yes}}
| Unused TV pilot<br />Shot in 2017<ref>{{Cite news|last=Goldberg|first=Leslie|date=June 29, 2018|title=Snowpiercer Director Quits After Blasting New Showrunner's "Radically Different Vision"|work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/snowpiercer-director-quits-blasting-new-showrunners-radically-vision-1124310/|url-status=live|access-date=June 14, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230619204150/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/snowpiercer-director-quits-blasting-new-showrunners-radically-vision-1124310/|archive-date=June 19, 2023}}</ref>
|}

==See also==
* [[Scott Derrickson's unrealized projects]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}

* {{IMDb name|0220600}}
* {{Twitter|scottderrickson}}
* {{Facebook|Scott-Derrickson-898172373557746}}
* {{Instagram|scottderrickson}}


{{Scott Derrickson}}
{{Bram Stoker Award for Best Screenplay}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Derrickson, Scott}}
[[Category:1966 births]]
[[Category:Film directors from Colorado]]
[[Category:Film producers from Colorado]]
[[Category:American male screenwriters]]
[[Category:Biola University alumni]]
[[Category:English-language film directors]]
[[Category:American horror film directors]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Screenwriters from Colorado]]
[[Category:USC School of Cinematic Arts alumni]]
[[Category:Writers from Denver]]

{{Wikipedia attribution|original_title=Scott Derrickson|access_date=2026-03-05}}