Robert Eggers | |
|---|---|
_(cropped).jpg) Eggers in 2015 | |
| Born | (1983-07-07)July 7, 1983 (age 42) New York City, U.S. |
| Occupation | Filmmaker |
| Years active | 2007–present |
| Spouse | Alexandra Shaker |
| Children | 1 |
Robert Houston Eggers (born July 7, 1983) is an American filmmaker. He has written and directed the feature filmsThe Witch (2015),The Lighthouse (2019),The Northman (2022), andNosferatu (2024). His films, set prior to the20th century, blend elements ofhorror,folklore, andmythology and are noted for their historical authenticity.[1]
Originally atheatre director,scenic designer andcostume designer, he transitioned to film in the late 2000s. Released in 2016 to critical and financial success,The Witch was Eggers' feature film debut as writer and director and kickstarted his career.
Robert Houston Eggers was born in New York City on July 7, 1983.[2][3] He does not know his biological father.[1] He and his mother Kelly Houston moved toLaramie, Wyoming, where she met and married Walter Eggers, an English literature professor at theUniversity of Wyoming.[1][4] The couple had twin sons named Max and Sam, who also became filmmakers.[5] In 1990, the family relocated toLee, New Hampshire, after Walter became aprovost at theUniversity of New Hampshire.[1][6]
Eggers returned to New York to attend theAmerican Musical and Dramatic Academy in 2001.[1] He gained an interest in designing, directing, and theatre while there, and would additionally show an interest in filmmaking by directing and designing short films.[7] His childhood inNew England often inspires his work; while writing his first feature film, he frequently visited thePlimoth Patuxet inMassachusetts.[8]
Eggers began his career as a designer and director of theatre productions in New York, primarily inexperimental andstreet theatre, before transitioning to working in film.[9] He wrote and directed the horror filmThe Witch (2015) in his feature filmdirectorial debut, and it premiered at the2015 Sundance Film Festival beforeA24 acquired it. It was released theatrically on February 19, 2016.[1] Critical reception was largely positive, and the film earned over $40 million against a budget of $4 million.[1]
Eggers's next film,The Lighthouse (2019), was also a period piece and received critical acclaim. He directed the film from a screenplay he co-wrote with his brother, Max, and it starsRobert Pattinson andWillem Dafoe.[10] In 2022, theAmleth-inspiredVikingepic filmThe Northman was released, starringAlexander Skarsgård,Nicole Kidman,Anya Taylor-Joy,Ethan Hawke,Björk, and Willem Dafoe.[11] Critical reception was largely positive, but the film underperformed at the box office and did not make a profit until it was released onVOD.
In July 2015, it was reported that Eggers would write and direct a remake of the silent filmNosferatu (1922). The film was set to be produced by Jay Van Hoy andLars Knudsen for Studio 8.[12] In November 2016, Eggers expressed surprise that theNosferatu remake was going to be his second film, saying, "It feels ugly and blasphemous and egomaniacal and disgusting for a filmmaker in my place to doNosferatu next. I was really planning on waiting a while, but that's how fate shook out." Eggers had previously directed his high school's performance of theNosferatu play, and was hired to direct a professional version of the play due to his work. Eggers credited this as the event that inspired him to pursue a career in filmmaking.[13] Eggers eventually opted to delay his version of the film, going on to directThe Lighthouse andThe Northman first.The Witch starAnya Taylor-Joy was attached to the cast alongsideHarry Styles, but both dropped out in 2022.[1][14] In September 2022, it was reported that the film would starBill Skarsgård inthe title role alongsideLily-Rose Depp.[15]Nosferatu became his fourth film.[1]
In January 2025, it was reported Eggers would directWerwulf, awerewolf horror film set in 13th-century England. The film's North American release is currently set for Christmas Day 2026.[16]Aaron Taylor-Johnson was confirmed to star inWerwulf in July 2025, with Lily Rose-Depp andWillem Dafoe in talks.[17][18]
Eggers was at one point developing aminiseries based on the life ofGrigori Rasputin.[19] However, he stated in 2024 that development has stalled as he would be unable to film in Russia.[20] He has also developed amedieval film calledThe Knight, which has yet to be produced.[1]
In June 2025, it was reported Eggers was writing and directing a new adaptation ofA Christmas Carol forWarner Bros., with Willem Dafoe the frontrunner to playEbenezer Scrooge.[21] It was also reported that he will write and direct a sequel to the 1986 filmLabyrinth.[22][23] Additionally, Eggers started writing an "Elizabethan" script and expressed interest in making aWestern.[24][25][26]
One of the major traits of films directed by Eggers is his "strict attention to detail".[27] All of his films areperiod dramas, and have been noted for their historical accuracy, especially their use of specific language and period-appropriate dialogue.[28][29]
Eggers stated in aRotten Tomatoes interview that he is not interested in making films set in the contemporary era, claiming that the idea of photographing modern technology disgusts him. When asked what is the latest era he is willing to film, he answered that he will go as far as the 1950s.[30]
Eggers is married toclinical psychologist Alexandra Shaker, whom he has known since childhood.[31] They resided inBrooklyn until 2023[8] and have a son.[31] Currently, Eggers and his family live inLondon.[32]
| Title | Year | Director | Writer | Producer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | The Witch | Yes | Yes | No |
| 2019 | The Lighthouse | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 2022 | The Northman | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 2024 | Nosferatu | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 2026 | Werwulf | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Year | Title | Director | Writer | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Hansel and Gretel | Yes | Yes | Also production designer | [33] |
| 2008 | The Tell-Tale Heart | Yes | Yes | [34] | |
| 2015 | Brothers | Yes | Yes | [35] |
| Year | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Drawing from Life | Short film |
| 2010 | Prelude and Fugue | |
| Confessional Stories: Voluntary Damnation | ||
| Confessional Stories: First Confession | ||
| Monster | ||
| YellowBrickRoad | Feature | |
| 2011 | The Tailor | Short film |
| The Five Stages of Grief | ||
| Tell Your Friends! The Concert Film! | Documentary | |
| In the Pines | Short film | |
| 2012 | Anemone | |
| Legacy | ||
| Esther | ||
| 2013 | The House at the Edge of the Galaxy | |
| Vivace! | ||
| Spirit Cabinet | Feature film | |
| 2014 | Rose | Short film |
| Year | Film | Rotten Tomatoes | Metacritic | Budget | Box office[36] | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | Reviews | |||||
| 2015 | The Witch | 91% (337 reviews)[37] | 84 | 46[38] | $4 million[39] | $40.4 million |
| 2019 | The Lighthouse | 90% (396 reviews)[40] | 83 | 51[41] | $11 million[42] | $18.3 million |
| 2022 | The Northman | 90% (382 reviews)[43] | 82 | 60[44] | $70–90 million[45][46] | $69.4 million |
| 2024 | Nosferatu | 85% (372 reviews)[47] | 78 | 59[48] | $50 million | $181.2 million |
Eggers is known for his recurring collaborations with certain actors and crew members.
Work Collaborator | The Witch (2015) | The Lighthouse (2019) | The Northman (2022) | Nosferatu (2024) | Werwulf (2026) | Total projects |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ralph Ineson |  | | | | 4 | |
| Anya Taylor-Joy | | | 2 | |||
| Willem Dafoe | | | | | 4 | |
| Aaron Taylor-Johnson | | | 2 | |||
| Lily-Rose Depp | | | 2 | |||
| Kate Dickie | | | 2 | |||
| Jarin Blaschke (Cinematographer) | | | | | | 5 |
| Louise Ford (Editor) | | | | | | 5 |
| Lars Knudsen (Producer) | | | 2 | |||
| Rodrigo Teixeira (Producer) | | | 2 | |||
| Arnon Milchan (Producer) | | | 2 | |||
| Chris Columbus (Executive producer) | | | | | 4 | |
| Mark Korven (Composer) | | | 2 | |||
| Sjón (Screenwriter) | | | 2 |
Walter F. Eggers, Associate Professor of English, was appointed as Acting Director of the University Libraries...
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