Roland Emmerich facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Roland Emmerich
Emmerich in 2016
Born	(1955-11-10) 10 November 1955 (age 69) Stuttgart, West Germany
Citizenship	Germany United States
Alma mater	University of Television and Film Munich
Occupation	Film director producer screenwriter
Years active	1979–present
Spouse(s)	Omar De Soto ​ (m. 2017)​
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Roland Emmerich (born November 10, 1955) is a German-American filmmaker. He is famous for making exciting science fiction and disaster films. Because he makes so many movies about huge disasters, people in the movie industry call him a "master of disaster."

Most of his movies are big Hollywood productions. They have earned more than $3 billion all over the world. This makes him one of the highest-earning directors in Hollywood history.

Some of his most famous movies include Independence Day, The Day After Tomorrow, and 2012. He has also directed films like Stargate, Godzilla, and White House Down.

Early Life and First Films

Roland Emmerich was born in Stuttgart, West Germany. When he was young, his father's successful business allowed him to travel around Europe and North America.

In 1977, he went to the University of Television and Film Munich. He first wanted to be a production designer. But after seeing the movie Star Wars, he decided to become a film director instead. For his final school project, he made a full-length movie called The Noah's Ark Principle. It was even shown at a major film festival in 1984.

In 1985, he started his own movie company, Centropolis Entertainment, with his sister Ute. He then directed a few more films in Germany, like Joey and Moon 44. He made these movies in English because he wanted people outside of Germany to see them.

A Hollywood Director's Career

Making a Mark in the 1990s

In the early 1990s, producer Mario Kassar invited Emmerich to the United States to direct movies. He began working with writer and producer Dean Devlin, who he met on the set of Moon 44. Their first big Hollywood movie together was the action film Universal Soldier (1992).

In 1994, Emmerich directed the science-fiction movie Stargate. It was a surprise hit and became so popular that it led to a whole franchise of TV shows and other stories.

His next film was Independence Day (1996). This movie about an alien invasion was a massive success. It was one of the fastest movies to earn $100 million and became one of the highest-grossing films of all time.

In 1998, he directed Godzilla. The movie made a lot of money at the box office, but many critics and fans did not like it as much as his other films.

Disasters and Epics in the 2000s

Emmerich started the 2000s with a historical movie, The Patriot. The film is about the American Revolutionary War. It received good reviews and is one of his most liked films.

He returned to disaster movies in 2004 with The Day After Tomorrow. This blockbuster film showed a world facing a new ice age caused by global warming.

In 2008, he directed 10,000 BC, an adventure about a tribe of prehistoric mammoth hunters. Then in 2009, he directed 2012. This disaster movie was about the idea that the world would end in 2012. It was another huge box office success for him.

New Stories in the 2010s

Emmerich in 2012

In 2011, Emmerich directed Anonymous. This historical thriller explored the idea that William Shakespeare might not have written his famous plays.

He returned to action with White House Down (2013). The film is about a terrorist attack on the White House.

In 2015, he directed Stonewall, a film about an important event for LGBT rights. He followed this with Independence Day: Resurgence in 2016, a sequel to his hit 1996 film. In 2019, he directed Midway, a movie about a famous battle during World War II.

Recent and Future Work

In 2022, Emmerich released Moonfall. In this science-fiction disaster film, the Moon is knocked out of its orbit and is on a collision course with Earth.

In 2023, Emmerich announced a new project called Space Nation. It will include a video game, a TV series, and animated shorts. He is also directing a TV series called Those About to Die, which was released in 2024.

Personal Life

Emmerich has homes in Los Angeles, New York City, London, and Stuttgart. He is married to Omar De Soto.

He is a strong supporter of LGBT rights. He has spoken out against unfair treatment he has seen in the movie industry. He has also said that while the movie business can be tough, he loves making movies.

Emmerich supports many causes. He gave a large donation to a project that saves and protects important films about the LGBT community. He is also a collector of art and supports raising awareness about global warming.

Filmography

Film

Television

See also

In Spanish: Roland Emmerich para niños