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Renny Harlin

Directing

Born March 15, 1959 · Riihimäki, Finland

Also known as Lauri Harjola · Ренні Гарлін · Renny Lauri Mauritz Harjola

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.

Awards & recognition

  • Golden Raspberry AwardWorst Director · 1991 · nominated

Filmography33 titles

White Collar

2009Director

Never Sleep Again: The Elm Street Legacy

2010as Self

Burn Notice

2007Director

Graceland

2013Director

Die Hard 2

1990Director

Covert Affairs

2010Director

Blast from the Past

1999Producer

The Long Kiss Goodnight

1996Director, Producer

Cliffhanger

1993Director, Producer

Deep Water

2026Director

Mindhunters

2004Director, Executive Producer

Rambling Rose

1991Producer

The Strangers: Chapter 2

2025Director

Cleaner

2007Director

Deep Blue Sea

1999Director

Devil's Pass

2013Director, Producer

12 Rounds

2009Director

A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master

1988as Student (uncredited)

The Strangers: Chapter 3

2026Director

The Bricklayer

2023Director

Skiptrace

2016Director

The Resident

2011Executive Producer

Cutthroat Island

1995Director, Producer

The Strangers: Chapter 1

2024Director

5 Days of War

2011Director, Producer

The Covenant

2006Director

The Misfits

2021Director

Exorcist: The Beginning

2004Director

Mistrial

1996Executive Producer

Refuge

2023Director, Producer

Driven

2001as Replacement Driver

The Legend of Hercules

2014as Officer Linus (uncredited)

Born American

1986as Man's Voice from Ship's Loudspeakers (uncredited) (voice)