View source for J. J. Abrams

{{short description|American filmmaker (born 1966)}}
{{Use American English|date=September 2019}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2024}}
{{Infobox person
| name               = J. J. Abrams 
| image              = J. J. Abrams San Diego Comic Con International 2015.jpg
| caption            = Abrams in 2015
| birth_name         = Jeffrey Jacob Abrams
| birth_date         = {{birth date and age|1966|6|27}}
| birth_place        = New York City, U.S.
| occupation         = {{hlist|Film director|film producer|screenwriter|composer}}
| years_active       = 1982–present
| spouse             = {{marriage|Katie McGrath|1996}}
| children           = 3, including [[Gracie Abrams|Gracie]]
| parents            = {{ubl|[[Gerald W. Abrams]]|[[Carol Ann Abrams|Carol Ann Kelvin]]}}
| alma mater         = [[Sarah Lawrence College]]
}}
'''Jeffrey Jacob Abrams''' (born June 27, 1966)<ref name="britannica">{{Cite encyclopedia |title=J.J. Abrams |encyclopedia=[[Encyclopedia Britannica]] |url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/J-J-Abrams |access-date=November 25, 2019 |last=Augustyn |first=Adam |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180803015206/https://www.britannica.com/biography/J-J-Abrams |archive-date=August 3, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> is an American [[filmmaker]] and [[composer]]. He is best known for his works in the genres of [[Action (genre)|action]], [[Drama (genre)|drama]], and [[science fiction film|science fiction]]. Abrams wrote and produced films such as ''[[Regarding Henry]]'' (1991), ''[[Forever Young (1992 film)|Forever Young]]'' (1992), ''[[Armageddon (1998 film)|Armageddon]]'' (1998), ''[[Cloverfield]]'' (2008), ''[[Star Trek (2009 film)|Star Trek]]'' (2009), and the ''[[Star Wars]]'' sequels ''[[The Force Awakens]]'' (2015) and ''[[The Rise of Skywalker]]'' (2019). Abrams's films have grossed over $4 billion worldwide, making him the [[List of highest-grossing film directors|tenth highest-grossing film director of all-time]].

Abrams has created numerous television series, including ''[[Felicity (TV series)|Felicity]]'' (co-creator, 1998–2002), ''[[Alias (TV series)|Alias]]'' (creator, 2001–2006), ''[[Lost (TV series)|Lost]]'' (co-creator, 2004–2010), ''[[Fringe (TV series)|Fringe]]'' (co-creator, 2008–2013) and [[Duster (TV series)|''Duster'']] (co-creator, 2025-). He won two [[Emmy Awards]] for ''Lost'' – [[Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series]] and [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series|Outstanding Drama Series]].

His directorial film work includes ''[[Mission: Impossible III]]'' (2006), ''Star Trek'' (2009), ''[[Super 8 (2011 film)|Super 8]]'' (2011), and ''[[Star Trek Into Darkness]]'' (2013). He also directed, co-produced, and co-wrote ''The Force Awakens'', the seventh episode of the ''[[Star Wars]]'' [[List of Star Wars films#Skywalker Saga|Skywalker Saga]] and the first film of the [[Star Wars sequel trilogy|sequel trilogy]]. The film is his highest grossing, the [[List of highest-grossing films|sixth-highest-grossing film of all time not adjusted for inflation]], as well as the [[List of most expensive films|most expensive film ever made]]. He returned to ''Star Wars'' by executive producing ''[[Star Wars: The Last Jedi|The Last Jedi]]'' (2017), and directing, co-producing, and co-writing ''[[Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker|The Rise of Skywalker]]'' (2019).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Perry |first=Spencer |date=September 12, 2017 |title=J.J. Abrams to Direct Star Wars: Episode IX! - ComingSoon.net |url=https://www.comingsoon.net/movies/news/886927-j-j-abrams-will-direct-star-wars-episode-ix |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170912193946/http://www.comingsoon.net/movies/news/886927-j-j-abrams-will-direct-star-wars-episode-ix |archive-date=September 12, 2017 |access-date=September 12, 2017}}</ref>

Abrams's frequent collaborators include producer [[Bryan Burk]]; producer/directors [[Damon Lindelof]] and [[Tommy Gormley]]; actors [[Greg Grunberg]], [[Simon Pegg]], [[Amanda Foreman (actress)|Amanda Foreman]], and [[Keri Russell]]; composer [[Michael Giacchino]]; writers [[Alex Kurtzman]] and [[Roberto Orci]], cinematographers [[Daniel Mindel]] and [[Larry Fong]]; and editors [[Maryann Brandon]] and [[Mary Jo Markey]].{{Not verified in body|date=October 2023}}

==Early life==

Jeffrey Jacob Abrams was born on June 27, 1966, in [[New York City]], New York to veteran television producer [[Gerald W. Abrams]] (born 1939) of [[History of the Jews in Poland|Polish-Jewish]] descent and [[Carol Ann Abrams]] (née Kelvin; 1942–2012), a [[Peabody Awards|Peabody Award]] winning television executive producer as well as author and law academic.<ref name="variety">{{Cite news |date=June 5, 2012 |title=Carol Ann Abrams dies, producer, author was mother of J.J. Abrams |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |url=https://variety.com/2012/scene/news/carol-ann-abrams-dies-1118055047/ |url-status=live |access-date=June 6, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120710074439/http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118055047 |archive-date=July 10, 2012}}</ref> His sister is the screenwriter Tracy Rosen. His father worked at [[CBS]] in [[Midtown Manhattan]] the year prior to Abrams's birth. By 1971 the family had relocated to Los Angeles. His mother worked as a real estate agent while Abrams and his sister were at school.<ref name=variety/>

Abrams attended [[Palisades Charter High School|Palisades High School]] and after graduation planned on going to art school rather than a traditional college but eventually enrolled at [[Sarah Lawrence College]], in [[Bronxville, New York|Bronxville]], New York.<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bN-On2CusDM&t=5m48s&ab_channel=BAFTAGuru |title=J.J. Abrams: On Filmmaking |date=May 8, 2013 |publisher=[[BAFTA]] Guru |access-date=December 28, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160105234339/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bN-On2CusDM&t=5m48s&ab_channel=BAFTAGuru |archive-date=January 5, 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref>

==Film career==

===Early career===
Abrams's first job in the movie business was at age 16 when he wrote the music for [[Don Dohler]]'s 1982 horror movie ''[[Nightbeast]]''. During his senior year at college, he teamed with Jill Mazursky, the daughter of award-winning writer/director [[Paul Mazursky]], to write a feature [[film treatment]].<ref name="college">{{Cite magazine |title=J.J. Abrams |url=https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/jj-abrams/bio/194178 |url-status=dead |magazine=[[TV Guide]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110325072015/http://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/jj-abrams/bio/194178 |archive-date=March 25, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Natale |first=Richard |date=July 2014 |title=Paul Mazursky, Director of 'Unmarried Woman,' Dies at 84 |url=https://variety.com/2014/film/news/paul-mazursky-director-of-unmarried-woman-dies-at-84-1201256304/ |access-date=May 11, 2022 |website=Variety}}</ref> Purchased by [[Touchstone Pictures]], the treatment was the basis for ''[[Taking Care of Business (film)|Taking Care of Business]]'', Abrams's first produced film, which starred [[Charles Grodin]] and [[James Belushi]] and was directed by [[Academy Awards|Academy Award]] winner [[Arthur Hiller]]. He followed with ''[[Regarding Henry]]'', starring [[Harrison Ford]], and ''[[Forever Young (1992 film)|Forever Young]]'', starring [[Mel Gibson]]. He also co-wrote with Mazursky the script for the comedy ''[[Gone Fishin' (film)|Gone Fishin']]'' starring [[Joe Pesci]] and [[Danny Glover]].

In 1994, he was part of the "Propellerheads" with [[Rob Letterman]], Loren Soman, and Andy Waisler. The Propellerheads were a group of Sarah Lawrence alums experimenting with [[computer animation]] technology. They were contracted by [[Jeffrey Katzenberg]] to develop animation for the film ''[[Shrek]]''.<ref>The Men Who Would Be King: An Almost Epic Tale of Moguls, Movies, and a Company Called DreamWorks pgs. 55–56</ref> Abrams worked on the screenplay for the 1998 film ''[[Armageddon (1998 film)|Armageddon]]'' with producer [[Jerry Bruckheimer]] and director [[Michael Bay]]. That same year, he made his first foray into television with ''[[Felicity (TV series)|Felicity]]'', which ran for four seasons on [[The WB Network]], serving as the series' co-creator (with [[Matt Reeves]]) and executive producer. He also composed its opening [[theme music]].

===2000s===
[[File:J.J. Abrams by David Shankbone.jpg|right|upright|thumb|Abrams at the 2010 [[Time 100|Time 100 Gala]] in Manhattan]]
Under his production company, [[Bad Robot]], which he founded with [[Bryan Burk]] in 2001,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Warner |first=Tyrone |date=May 11, 2010 |title=J.J. Abrams not worried about writer's block on 'Fringe' |url=http://shows.ctv.ca/Fringe/article/JJ-Abrams-not-worried-about-writers-block-on-Fringe#c_0 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100726213716/http://shows.ctv.ca/Fringe/article/JJ-Abrams-not-worried-about-writers-block-on-Fringe |archive-date=July 26, 2010 |access-date=June 29, 2011 |publisher=[[CTV Television Network|CTV]]}}</ref> Abrams created and executive-produced [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]]'s ''[[Alias (TV series)|Alias]]'' and is co-creator (along with [[Damon Lindelof]] and [[Jeffrey Lieber]]) and was executive producer of ''[[Lost (2004 TV series)|Lost]].'' As with ''Felicity,'' Abrams also composed the opening [[theme music]] for ''Alias'' and ''Lost''. Abrams directed and wrote the two-part pilot for ''Lost'' and remained active producer for the first half of the season. Also in 2001, Abrams co-wrote and produced the horror-thriller ''[[Joy Ride (2001 film)|Joy Ride]]''.<ref name="Neil">Neil Daniels {{google books|TnsuCgAAQBAJ|Abrams – A Study in Genius: The Unofficial Biography}}</ref> In 2006, he served as executive producer of ''[[What About Brian]]'' and ''[[Six Degrees (TV series)|Six Degrees]]'', also on ABC. He also co-wrote the teleplay for ''Lost''{{'}}s third-season premiere "[[A Tale of Two Cities (Lost)|A Tale of Two Cities]]" and the same year, he made his feature directorial debut with ''[[Mission: Impossible&nbsp;III]]'', starring [[Tom Cruise]]. Abrams spoke at the [[TED (conference)|TED]] conference in 2007.<ref>{{Cite web |date=March 24, 2011 |title=J.J. Abrams's mystery box |url=http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/j_j_abrams_mystery_box.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110523003833/http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/j_j_abrams_mystery_box.html |archive-date=May 23, 2011 |access-date=March 24, 2011 |publisher=[[TED (conference)|TED]]}}</ref>{{Importance inline|date=June 2022}}

In 2008, Abrams produced the [[monster movie]] ''[[Cloverfield]]'', which Matt Reeves directed.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Moore |first=Debi |date=July 13, 2012 |title=San Diego Comic-Con 2012: Dexter Panel Highlights; Watch the First Two Minutes of Season 7! |url=https://www.dreadcentral.com/news/35377/san-diego-comic-con-2012-dexter-panel-highlights-watch-the-first-two-minutes-of-season-7/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100119164334/http://www.dreadcentral.com/news/35377/jj-abrams-talks-cloverfield-sequel |archive-date=January 19, 2010 |website=Dread Central}}</ref> In 2009, he directed the [[science fiction film]] ''[[Star Trek (2009 film)|Star Trek]]'',<ref>{{Cite web |last=Miska |first=Brad |date=January 16, 2010 |title=J.J. Abrams on 'Cloverfield' Sequel, "We're Working on Something" |url=https://bloody-disgusting.com/news/18726/j-j-abrams-on-cloverfield-sequel-were-working-on-something/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100121045938/http://www.bloody-disgusting.com/news/18726/ |archive-date=January 21, 2010}}</ref> which he produced with ''Lost'' co-creator Damon Lindelof. While it was speculated that they would be writing and producing an adaptation of [[Stephen King]]'s ''[[The Dark Tower (series)|The Dark Tower]]'' series of novels, they publicly stated in November 2009 that they were no longer looking to take on that project.<ref name="cf2">{{Cite web |date=February 23, 2008 |title=J.J. Abrams on ''Star Trek'' and ''Cloverfield 2'' |url=https://www.comingsoon.net/news/startreknews.php?id=42298 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080225132057/http://www.comingsoon.net/news/startreknews.php?id=42298 |archive-date=February 25, 2008 |access-date=February 23, 2008 |publisher=Comingsoon.net}}</ref> In 2008, Abrams co-created, executive produced, and co-wrote (along with [[Roberto Orci]] and [[Alex Kurtzman]]) the [[Fox Broadcasting Network|FOX]] science fiction series ''[[Fringe (TV series)|Fringe]]'', for which he also composed the theme music. He was featured in the [[2009 MTV Movie Awards]] 1980s-style digital short "[[Cool Guys Don't Look at Explosions]]", with [[Andy Samberg]] and [[Will Ferrell]], in which he plays a keyboard solo. [[NBC]] picked up Abrams's ''[[Undercovers (TV series)|Undercovers]]'' as its first new drama series for the 2010–11 season.<ref>{{Cite web |last=DiNunno |first=Gina |date=May 3, 2010 |title=NBC Picks Up New J.J. Abrams Drama Series |url=https://www.tvguide.com/News/Abrams-Picked-NBC-1018042.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110423210623/http://www.tvguide.com/News/Abrams-Picked-NBC-1018042.aspx |archive-date=April 23, 2011 |website=TV Guide}}</ref> However, it was subsequently cancelled by the network in November 2010.

===2010s===
[[File:J.J. Abrams by Gage Skidmore.jpg|thumb|right|Abrams speaking at [[San Diego Comic-Con]] in mid-2010]]
Abrams wrote and directed the [[Paramount Pictures|Paramount]] science fiction thriller ''[[Super 8 (2011 film)|Super 8]]'', starring [[Joel Courtney]] and [[Elle Fanning]], while co-producing with [[Steven Spielberg]] and Bryan Burk; it was released on June 10, 2011.<ref name="super8confirmed">{{Cite news |last=Pamela McClintock |date=May 6, 2010 |title=Abrams, Spielberg confirmed for 'Super 8' |work=Variety |url=https://variety.com/2010/film/news/abrams-spielberg-confirmed-for-super-8-1118018854/ |url-status=live |access-date=July 27, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100509124629/http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118018854.html |archive-date=May 9, 2010}}</ref>

Abrams directed the sequel to ''Star Trek'', ''[[Star Trek Into Darkness]]'', released in May 2013.<ref>{{Cite web |title=J.J. Abrams Will Direct STAR TREK 2 |url=http://www.nextnewmovies.com/j-j-abrams-will-direct-star-trek-2 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120402130857/http://www.nextnewmovies.com/j-j-abrams-will-direct-star-trek-2 |archive-date=April 2, 2012 |access-date=December 6, 2011 |publisher=NextNewMovies}}</ref> The film was interpreted as a loose [[remake]] of ''[[Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |date=November 27, 2018 |title=The Wrath of Khan director wasn't impressed by Star Trek Into Darkness |url=https://www.flickeringmyth.com/2018/11/the-wrath-of-khan-director-wasnt-impressed-by-star-trek-into-darkness/ |access-date=June 19, 2019 |website=Flickering Myth |language=en-US}}</ref> Critics generally reacted positively to the film, while [[Nicholas Meyer]], the director of ''The Wrath of Khan'', called it a "gimmick".<ref>{{Cite web |date=November 25, 2018 |title=Wrath of Khan Director Disappointed by Star Trek Into Darkness |url=https://screenrant.com/wrath-khan-director-disappointed-star-trek-into-darkness/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181203055432/https://screenrant.com/wrath-khan-director-disappointed-star-trek-into-darkness/ |archive-date=December 3, 2018 |access-date=December 2, 2018 |website=[[Screen Rant]]}}</ref> Abrams was criticized for the film's treatment of classic villain [[Khan Noonien Singh]] ([[Benedict Cumberbatch]]). Many felt that much of the character, originally played by [[Mexico|Mexican]] actor [[Ricardo Montalbán]], had been lost, especially his ethnic identity.{{efn|Khan is an explicitly non-white character in the [[Star Trek canon|''Star Trek'' canon]], introduced as a [[Sikh]] and former ruler of much of eastern Eurasia.<ref name="Blauvelt, Christian 1">{{Cite web |last=Blauvelt, Christian |date=May 18, 2013 |title=A 'Star Trek Into Darkness' Fan Review: Your 'Star Wars' Prequel Anger Is What I Feel Now |url=http://www.hollywood.com/news/movies/55014633/star-trek-into-darkness-fan-review-betrayal-star-wars-prequels |access-date=May 19, 2013 |website=2. Khan |publisher=Hollywood.com |page=1}}</ref>}} Two years after the film's release, Abrams said of the film, "there were certain things I was unsure of. ... Any movie ... has a fundamental conversation happening during it. And [for ''Into Darkness'',] I didn't have it... [The weakness of the plot] was not anyone's fault but mine. ... [The script] was a little bit of a collection of scenes that were written by my friends ... And yet, I found myself frustrated by my choices, and unable to hang my hat on an undeniable thread of the main story. So then I found myself on that movie basically tap-dancing as well as I could to try and make the sequences as entertaining as possible. ... I would never say that I don't think that the movie ended up working. But I feel like it didn't work as well as it could have, had I made some better decisions before we started shooting."<ref>{{Cite news |title=The Triumphs And Mistakes That Got J.J. Abrams Ready For "Star Wars" |language=en |work=BuzzFeed |url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/kateaurthur/jj-abrams-and-the-long-road-to-star-wars |access-date=May 14, 2017}}</ref>

On January 25, 2013, [[The Walt Disney Studios (production company)|Disney]] and [[Lucasfilm]] introduced Abrams as director and producer of ''[[Star Wars: The Force Awakens]]'', the seventh entry in the ''[[Star Wars]]'' film saga,<ref>{{Cite news |date=January 26, 2013 |title=It's official: Abrams to direct new 'Star Wars' film |work=CNN |url=http://marquee.blogs.cnn.com/2013/01/26/its-official-abrams-to-direct-new-star-wars-film/?hpt=hp_c3 |url-status=dead |access-date=January 26, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130127122221/http://marquee.blogs.cnn.com/2013/01/26/its-official-abrams-to-direct-new-star-wars-film/?hpt=hp_c3 |archive-date=January 27, 2013}}</ref> with Bryan Burk and Bad Robot producing the film.<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 25, 2013 |title=Star Wars Is Being Kick-Started with Dynamite J.J. Abrams to Direct Star Wars: Episode VII |url=http://starwars.com/news/star-wars-is-being-kick-started-with-dynamite-jj-abrams-to-direct-star-wars-episode-vii.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160105234339/http://www.starwars.com/news/star-wars-is-being-kick-started-with-dynamite |archive-date=January 5, 2016 |access-date=January 26, 2013 |website=StarWars.com }}</ref> Following this news, speculation arose as to Abrams's future with Paramount Pictures, under which he had released all of his previous feature work as a director, and which had a first-look deal with his company, Bad Robot. Paramount vice-chairman Rob Moore stated that Abrams would continue to have a hand in the ''Star Trek'' and ''Mission: Impossible'' franchises going forward.<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 25, 2013 |title=J.J. Abrams directing 'Star Wars': What happens to 'Star Trek'? |url=http://herocomplex.latimes.com/2013/01/25/j-j-abrams-directing-star-wars-what-happens-to-star-trek/#/0 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130126184555/http://herocomplex.latimes.com/2013/01/25/j-j-abrams-directing-star-wars-what-happens-to-star-trek/#/0 |archive-date=January 26, 2013 |access-date=January 26, 2013 |website=[[Los Angeles Times]]}}</ref>

Abrams directed, produced, and co-wrote the screenplay for ''The Force Awakens'',<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 25, 2013 |title=J.J. Abrams to script as well as direct |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2013/oct/25/star-wars-jj-abrams-script-episode-vii |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131028074823/http://www.theguardian.com/film/2013/oct/25/star-wars-jj-abrams-script-episode-vii |archive-date=October 28, 2013 |access-date=October 25, 2013 |website=Guardian UK}}</ref> which opened in theaters on December 18, 2015.<ref>{{Cite web |date=December 16, 2013 |title='Star Wars: Episode VII' script delayed |url=https://www.nme.com/filmandtv/news/star-wars-episode-vii-script-delayed/328150#GeOc2GrVGM0rZHbW.99 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131216192105/http://www.nme.com/filmandtv/news/star-wars-episode-vii-script-delayed/328150#GeOc2GrVGM0rZHbW.99 |archive-date=December 16, 2013 |access-date=December 16, 2013 |website=[[NME]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=April 5, 2014 |title=Disney Chief Reveals 'Star Wars: VII' Casting Almost Complete, Says Film Is Already Shooting (Video) |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/disney-chief-reveals-star-wars-693950 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140703160617/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/disney-chief-reveals-star-wars-693950 |archive-date=July 3, 2014 |access-date=July 4, 2014 |website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]}}</ref> Despite its strong box office performance and positive reviews, the film was considered by some, including ''Star Wars'' creator [[George Lucas]], to be too similar to [[Star Wars (film)|the original 1977 film]].<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=McFarland |first=Kevin |date=March 4, 2016 |title=The Force Awakens and A New Hope Are More Similar Than You Think |url=https://www.wired.com/2016/03/mapping-star-wars-force-awakens-characters/ |url-status=live |magazine=Wired |issn=1059-1028 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181204061835/https://www.wired.com/2016/03/mapping-star-wars-force-awakens-characters/ |archive-date=December 4, 2018 |access-date=June 19, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Child |first=Ben |date=December 31, 2015 |title=Attack of the moans: George Lucas hits out at 'retro' Star Wars: The Force Awakens |work=[[The Guardian]] |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2015/dec/31/george-lucas-attacks-retro-star-wars-the-force-awakens |url-status=live |access-date=April 18, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181001032034/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2015/dec/31/george-lucas-attacks-retro-star-wars-the-force-awakens |archive-date=October 1, 2018}}</ref> In 2016, Abrams responded towards these complaints, stating: "What was important for me was introducing brand new characters using relationships that were embracing the history that we know to tell a story that is new — to go backwards to go forwards".<ref>{{Cite news |last=McMillan |first=Graeme |date=January 8, 2016 |title=J.J. Abrams Responds to "Rip-Off" Criticism About 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens' |work=The Hollywood Reporter |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/jj-abrams-responds-rip-criticism-853352 |url-status=live |access-date=November 13, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191104073333/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/jj-abrams-responds-rip-criticism-853352 |archive-date=November 4, 2019}}</ref>{{efn|In 2017, Abrams said he would not do more remakes or reboots, to instead focus on his own creations, saying: "You know, I do think that if you're telling a story that is not moving anything forward, not introducing anything that's relevant, that's not creating a new mythology or an extension of it, then a complete remake of something feels like a mistake."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hall |first=Jason |date=January 9, 2017 |title=J.J. Abrams Says He's Done With the Remake/Reboot Business |url=https://www.slashfilm.com/j-j-abrams-says-hes-done-with-reboots/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191113233113/https://www.slashfilm.com/j-j-abrams-says-hes-done-with-reboots/ |archive-date=November 13, 2019 |access-date=November 13, 2019 |website=/Film}}</ref>}}

Abrams returned as producer for ''[[Star Trek Beyond]]'', released in 2016. In 2016, he also produced ''[[The Cloverfield Paradox]]'', a sequel to ''[[10 Cloverfield Lane]]'', which was released on [[Netflix]] in February 2018.<ref>{{Cite web |date=October 26, 2016 |title=God Particle is Cloverfield 3 |url=https://www.slashfilm.com/god-particle-is-cloverfield-3/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161030050016/http://www.slashfilm.com/god-particle-is-cloverfield-3 |archive-date=October 30, 2016 |access-date=October 30, 2016}}</ref><ref name="sb">{{Cite web |last=D'Alessandro |first=Anthony |date=February 4, 2018 |title=Netflix's Ultimate Super Bowl Surprise: 'The Cloverfield Paradox' – Watch Trailer |url=https://deadline.com/2018/02/cloverfield-sequel-god-particle-super-bowl-trailer-netflix-streaming-release-1202276386/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180205003638/http://deadline.com/2018/02/cloverfield-sequel-god-particle-super-bowl-trailer-netflix-streaming-release-1202276386/ |archive-date=February 5, 2018 |access-date=February 4, 2018 |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]}}</ref> Also in 2018, Abrams produced ''[[Overlord (2018 film)|Overlord]]'', a horror film set behind German enemy lines in [[World War II]] and directed by [[Julius Avery]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kroll |first=Justin |date=February 1, 2017 |title=Bad Robot's D-Day Movie 'Overlord' Finds Director (EXCLUSIVE) |url=https://variety.com/2017/film/news/son-of-a-gun-director-bad-robots-nazi-zombie-pic-overlord-1201975823/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180131132206/http://variety.com/2017/film/news/son-of-a-gun-director-bad-robots-nazi-zombie-pic-overlord-1201975823/ |archive-date=January 31, 2018 |access-date=December 10, 2017}}</ref> Abrams also produced the fourth, fifth, and sixth ''Mission: Impossible'' films.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pedersen |first=Erik |date=November 30, 2015 |title=Christopher McQuarrie Back To Write & Direct 'Mission: Impossible 6' |url=https://deadline.com/2015/11/christopher-mcquarrie-mission-impossible-6-director-writer-1201646710/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161030074825/http://deadline.com/2015/11/christopher-mcquarrie-mission-impossible-6-director-writer-1201646710/ |archive-date=October 30, 2016 |access-date=October 30, 2016}}</ref>

In September 2017, Abrams returned to direct and co-write ''[[Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker]]'' with [[Chris Terrio]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Osborn |first=Alex |date=September 12, 2017 |title=Star Wars: Episode IX To Be Directed by J.{{nbsp}}J. Abrams |work=[[IGN]] |publisher=Ziff Davis |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2017/09/12/star-wars-episode-ix-to-be-directed-by-jj-abrams |url-status=live |access-date=September 12, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170912151838/http://www.ign.com/articles/2017/09/12/star-wars-episode-ix-to-be-directed-by-jj-abrams |archive-date=September 12, 2017}}</ref> The film was released in December 2019 and received mixed reviews from critics and fans,<ref>{{Cite web |title=''Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker'' Reviews |url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/star-wars-episode-ix---the-rise-of-skywalker |access-date=March 14, 2020 |website=[[Metacritic]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=''Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker'' (2019) |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/star_wars_the_rise_of_skywalker/ |access-date=March 14, 2020 |website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]]}}</ref> while audience reactions were also mixed.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Breznican |first=Anthony |date=December 21, 2019 |title=J.J. Abrams on ''The Rise of Skywalker'' Critics and Defenders: "They're All Right" |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2019/12/jj-abrams-reacts-last-jedi-rise-of-skywalker |magazine=[[Vanity Fair (magazine)|Vanity Fair]] |access-date=March 14, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |date=December 20, 2019 |title=Opening night ''The Rise of Skywalker'' audience score shows a split with critics |url=https://ew.com/movies/2019/12/20/star-wars-the-rise-of-skywalker-audience-score/ |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |access-date=March 14, 2020}}</ref>

===2020s===
In September 2019, Abrams and his Bad Robot company signed a $250&nbsp;million five-year deal with [[WarnerMedia]], including [[HBO]] and [[Warner Bros. Pictures]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 12, 2019 |title=J.J. Abrams signs exclusivity deal with WarnerMedia reportedly worth $250&nbsp;million |url=https://www.theverge.com/platform/amp/2019/9/12/20862868/warnermedia-jj-abrams-movies-hbo-tv-streaming-bad-robot-productions |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190925121623/https://www.theverge.com/platform/amp/2019/9/12/20862868/warnermedia-jj-abrams-movies-hbo-tv-streaming-bad-robot-productions |archive-date=September 25, 2019 |access-date=September 25, 2019 |website=theverge}}</ref> In April 2020, it was announced that Abrams would be developing three new shows for [[HBO Max]]: ''[[Duster (TV series)|Duster]]'', ''[[The Shining (novel)#Adaptations|Overlook]]'', and ''[[Justice League Dark#Television|Justice League Dark]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |date=April 16, 2020 |title=J.J. Abrams Sets 3 HBO Max Shows: Justice League Dark, 'The Shining' Spinoff, 'Duster' |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/jj-abrams-sets-3-hbo-max-shows-justice-league-dark-shining-spinoff-duster-1290530 |access-date=June 6, 2020 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en}}</ref> Since then, the latter two have been scrapped.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Porter |first=Rick |date=February 16, 2023 |title='Duster' Series from J.J. Abrams a Go at HBO Max |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/jj-abrams-duster-series-hbo-max-1235327731/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230216191718/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/jj-abrams-duster-series-hbo-max-1235327731/ |archive-date=February 16, 2023 |access-date=February 16, 2023 |website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]}}</ref>

Abrams was one of the producers of an animated short film of ''[[The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse]]'', shown on [[BBC One]] and [[BBC iPlayer]] at Christmas 2022.<ref>{{Cite news |title=The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse coming to BBC One and iPlayer this Christmas |publisher=BBC Media Centre. June 30, 2022 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/2022/the-boy-the-mole-the-fox-and-the-horse-bbc-christmas |access-date=June 30, 2022}}</ref>

Abrams served as executive producer and co-creator of a new [[Batman]] animated series titled ''[[Batman: Caped Crusader]]'' alongside [[Matt Reeves]] and [[Bruce Timm]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Skrebels |first=Joe |date=October 16, 2021 |title=Batman: Caped Crusader Is 'Adult', 'Psychologially Complex', and Includes New Versions of Familiar Characters – DC FanDome 2021 |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/batman-caped-crusader-adult-bruce-timm-jj-abrams-matt-reeves |access-date=January 31, 2022 |website=IGN |language=en}}</ref> The production team created eleven episodes which premiered August 1, 2024.<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14681596/ |title=Batman: Caped Crusader (TV Series 2024– ) {{!}} Animation, Action, Adventure |language=en-US |access-date=June 2, 2024 |via=m.imdb.com}}</ref>

On May 8, 2024, it was announced that Abrams would write and direct an untitled new film, with [[Glen Powell]] in early talks to star in the project with Bad Robot signing on as the production company.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Gajewski|first=Ryan|date=May 8, 2024|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/glen-powell-jj-abrams-next-film-1235894264/|title=Glen Powell in Talks to Star in J.J. Abrams' Next Movie|access-date=May 9, 2024|website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Kroll|first=Justin|date=May 8, 2024|title=J.J. Abrams Eyeing Glen Powell To Star In Next Movie|url=https://deadline.com/2024/05/j-j-abrams-glen-powell-1235909569/|access-date=May 9, 2024|website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]}}</ref> The company's five-year deal with Warner Bros. was also extended in August 2024, although it was expected to be less expensive than the previous agreement with future projects having significant budget cuts.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Andreeva |first=Nellie |date=August 20, 2024 |title=J.J. Abrams' Bad Robot In Negotiations With Warner Bros. To Extend Film & TV Deal |url=https://deadline.com/2024/08/jj-abrams-bad-robot-warner-bros-film-tv-deal-extension-1236044367/ |access-date=August 20, 2024 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}</ref>

Future projects include ''[[Flowervale Street]]'', a ''[[Hot Wheels]]'' film adaptation, and an animated film based on [[Dr. Seuss]]' ''[[Oh, the Places You'll Go!]]''.

=== Unrealized projects ===
{{main|J. J. Abrams's unrealized projects}}

In 1989, Abrams met [[Steven Spielberg]] at a film festival, where Spielberg spoke about a possible [[Who Framed Roger Rabbit 2|''Who Framed Roger Rabbit'' sequel]], with Abrams as a possible writer and with [[Robert Zemeckis]] as producer.<ref name="slashfilm.com">{{Cite web |last=Giroux |first=Jack |date=March 12, 2016 |title=J.J. Abrams Once Had a Pitch for Who Framed Roger Rabbit 2 |url=https://www.slashfilm.com/who-framed-roger-rabbit-2/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161030142233/http://www.slashfilm.com/who-framed-roger-rabbit-2/ |archive-date=October 30, 2016 |access-date=October 30, 2016 |website=Slash Film}}</ref> Nothing came up from this project, although Abrams has some storyboards for a ''[[Roger Rabbit]]'' short.<ref name="slashfilm.com" />

In July 2002, Abrams wrote a script for a possible fifth [[Superman]] film entitled ''[[Superman: Flyby]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |date=February 16, 2008 |title=Cashiers du Cinemart Issue 15 |url=http://www.impossiblefunky.com/archives/issue_15/15_superman.asp?IshNum=15 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080216230219/http://www.impossiblefunky.com/archives/issue_15/15_superman.asp?IshNum=15 |archive-date=February 16, 2008 }}</ref> [[Brett Ratner]] and [[McG]] entered into talks to direct,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Stax |date=September 17, 2002 |title=Ratner Talks Superman |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2002/09/17/ratner-talks-superman |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130421042508/http://www.ign.com/articles/2002/09/17/ratner-talks-superman |archive-date=April 21, 2013 |access-date=October 30, 2016}}</ref> although Abrams tried to get the chance to direct his own script.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Fleming |first1=Michael |last2=McNary |first2=Dave |date=August 12, 2004 |title=Par girding up for 'War' |url=https://variety.com/2004/film/markets-festivals/par-girding-up-for-war-1117908978/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180104192428/https://variety.com/2004/film/markets-festivals/par-girding-up-for-war-1117908978/ |archive-date=January 4, 2018 |access-date=December 10, 2017 |website=Variety}}</ref> However, the project was finally cancelled in 2004 and instead ''[[Superman Returns]]'' was released in 2006.

In November 2009, Abrams and [[Bad Robot Productions]] along with [[Cartoon Network Movies]], [[Warner Bros.]], [[Frederator Films]] and [[Paramount Pictures]], reportedly were producing a [[Samurai Jack (film)|film adaptation]] of ''[[Samurai Jack]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=J.J. Abrams Producing Samurai Jack: The Movie – Film Junk |url=https://filmjunk.com/2009/11/19/j-j-abrams-producing-samurai-jack-the-movie/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190704095207/https://filmjunk.com/2009/11/19/j-j-abrams-producing-samurai-jack-the-movie/ |archive-date=July 4, 2019 |access-date=July 4, 2019}}</ref> However, the production of the film was scrapped after Abrams's departure from the project to direct ''[[Star Trek (2009)|Star Trek]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Douglas |first=Edward |date=June 26, 2012 |title=A Preview of Sony Animation's Hotel Transylvania - ComingSoon.net |url=https://www.comingsoon.net/horror/news/727845-a-preview-of-sony-animations-hotel-transylvania |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161030144430/http://www.comingsoon.net/horror/news/727845-a-preview-of-sony-animations-hotel-transylvania |archive-date=October 30, 2016 |access-date=October 30, 2016 |website=Coming Soon}}</ref> For this and other reasons, series creator [[Genndy Tartakovsky]] made a [[Samurai Jack (season 5)|new season]] instead of a feature film. Also in 2009, Abrams and [[Bad Robot]] were reportedly set to produce a film based on the [[Micronauts]] toy line.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Schuker |first=Lauren A. E. |date=November 6, 2009 |title=The Cry Goes Out in Hollywood: 'Get Me Mr. Potato Head's Agent!' |work=The Wall Street Journal |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB125737028160428961 |url-status=live |access-date=August 4, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170821084527/https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB125737028160428961 |archive-date=August 21, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Blogger |url=http://theplaylist.blogspot.pe/2009/11/jj-abrams-to-produce-micronauts.html |website=theplaylist.blogspot.pe}}</ref> However, the film has never gone into production.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Marshall |first=Rick |date=March 27, 2013 |title='G.I. Joe: Retaliation' Writers Offer Updates on 'Cowboy Ninja Viking,' 'Micronauts' and 'Epsilon' (Exclusive) |url=http://www.movies.com/movie-news/39g-i-joe-retaliation39-writers-offer-updates-on-39cowboy-ninja-viking39-39micronauts39-39epsilon39-exclusive/11704 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161030142213/http://www.movies.com/movie-news/39g-i-joe-retaliation39-writers-offer-updates-on-39cowboy-ninja-viking39-39micronauts39-39epsilon39-exclusive/11704 |archive-date=October 30, 2016 |access-date=October 30, 2016 |website=Movies.com}}</ref>

In February 2018, HBO ordered Abrams's sci-fi drama ''Demimonde'' to series.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Snierson |first=Dan |date=February 1, 2018 |title=HBO orders J.J. Abrams sci-fi drama 'Demimonde' to series |url=https://ew.com/tv/2018/02/01/hbo-orders-j-j-abrams-sci-fi-drama-demimonde-to-series/ |url-status=live |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |language=en |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200111024804/https://ew.com/tv/2018/02/01/hbo-orders-j-j-abrams-sci-fi-drama-demimonde-to-series/ |archive-date=January 11, 2020 |access-date=June 19, 2019}}</ref> In June 2022, the project was cancelled.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hailu |first=Selome |date=June 8, 2022 |title=J.J. Abrams' 'Demimonde' Sci-Fi Drama Series Not Moving Forward at HBO |url=https://variety.com/2022/tv/news/jj-abrams-demimonde-scrapped-hbo-1235287793/ |access-date=June 8, 2022 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref>

===Bad Robot===
{{See also|Bad Robot}}
[[File:1221olympicblvd.jpg|thumb|right|Bad Robot's Santa Monica headquarters]]
In 2001, Abrams founded his own production company, [[Bad Robot]], in association with [[Paramount Pictures]] and [[Warner Bros. Pictures]]. Initially a television production company under [[Touchstone Television]], Bad Robot would branch out into film production, with the first movie to be produced under the Bad Robot name being ''[[Joy Ride (2001 film)|Joy Ride]]'' (2001). Bad Robot is well known for ''[[Lost (2004 TV series)|Lost]]'', the ''[[Star Trek (franchise)|Star Trek]]'' [[List of Star Trek films#Reboot (Kelvin timeline) films|Kelvin timeline]] films, the ''[[Mission: Impossible (film series)|Mission: Impossible]]'' films excluding ''[[Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One]]'', the [[Cloverfield (franchise)|''Cloverfield'' franchise]], and the [[Star Wars sequel trilogy|''Star Wars'' sequel trilogy]].

==Other work==
===Video game===
As of November 2015, a  video game called ''Spyjinx'' was in development, with Abrams in a collaboration with Bad Robot and [[Chair Entertainment]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Webster |first=Andrew |date=November 11, 2015 |title=J.J Abrams is making a game with the studio behind Infinity Blade |url=https://www.theverge.com/2015/11/11/9713768/jj-abrams-bad-robot-game-spyjinx |magazine=[[The Verge]]}}</ref><ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/-q2sZ8XxD14 Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20151111225606/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-q2sZ8XxD14 Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{Cite news |last=Spyjinx |date=November 11, 2015 |title=J.J Abrams And Donald Mustard Announces Video Game Partnership #SPYJINX |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-q2sZ8XxD14}}{{cbignore}}</ref>{{clarify|date=October 2022}} A beta test was launched on April 2, 2020, by [[Epic Games]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Statt |first1=Nick |title=Epic Games reveals new mobile game Spyjinx in collaboration with J.J. Abrams' Bad Robot Games |url=https://www.theverge.com/2020/4/2/21206332/epic-games-spyjinx-bad-robot-games-reveal-ios-android-beta-release |website=[[The Verge]] |date=April 3, 2020 |access-date=May 31, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Oloman |first1=Jordan |title=Epic Games, J.J. Abrams' Long-Dormant Spyjinx Finally Revealed, Getting a Limited Beta |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/epic-games-jj-abrams-long-dormant-spyjinx-finally-revealed-getting-a-limited-beta |website=[[IGN]] |date=April 2, 2020 |access-date=May 31, 2024}}</ref>

===Books and comics===
On October 29, 2013, ''[[S. (Dorst novel)|S.]]'', a novel written by [[Doug Dorst]] based on a concept by Abrams, was released.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Stranger |url=http://soonyouwillknow.com |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131119154437/http://soonyouwillknow.com/ |archive-date=November 19, 2013 |access-date=November 25, 2013 |publisher=Soonyouwillknow.com}}</ref>

In 2019, Abrams made his debut as a writer for [[Marvel Comics]], co-authoring the company's title [[Spider-Man]] from September of that year with his son Henry.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Marcus |first=Tucker |date=June 19, 2019 |title=J.J. Abrams Makes His Marvel Debut with 'Spider-Man' #1 |url=https://www.marvel.com/articles/comics/j-j-abrams-makes-his-marvel-debut-with-spider-man-1 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190624130746/https://www.marvel.com/articles/comics/j-j-abrams-makes-his-marvel-debut-with-spider-man-1 |archive-date=June 24, 2019 |access-date=September 29, 2019}}</ref> The first issue of the comic includes the death of [[Mary Jane Watson]], and a twelve-year time shift, with the series' protagonist being Ben Parker, son of Peter Parker and Mary Jane.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Patches |first=Matt |date=September 18, 2019 |title=Spider-Man #1 is a J.J. Abrams comic book in every twist-filled way |url=https://www.polygon.com/comics/2019/9/18/20870550/j-j-abrams-spider-man-1-mary-jane-ben-parker-spoilers |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190929012029/https://www.polygon.com/comics/2019/9/18/20870550/j-j-abrams-spider-man-1-mary-jane-ben-parker-spoilers |archive-date=September 29, 2019 |access-date=September 29, 2019 |website=[[Polygon (website)|Polygon]]}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Abrams is married to public relations executive Katie McGrath and has three children.<ref name=college/><ref>[http://alias.unfiction.com/s1/background.htm "EW Gets the Stories Behind Those Goofy TV Production-Company Logos"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717155632/http://alias.unfiction.com/s1/background.htm |date=July 17, 2011 }}, ''Entertainment Weekly'', December 7, 2001: "The title came to creator J.J. Abrams during a writers' meeting, and he recorded his children, Henry and Gracie (ages 2 and 3), saying the words into his Powerbook's microphone. 'That day in the office while editing,' says Abrams, 'I put together sound effects on my computer, burned a QuickTime movie on a CD, gave it to postproduction, and three days later it was on national television.'"</ref> His daughter, [[Gracie Abrams]], is a pop singer-songwriter.<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 29, 2020 |title=Her famous dad's a fan. So is Phoebe Bridgers. But Gracie Abrams has a voice all her own |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2020-07-29/gracie-abrams-jj-abrams-phobe-bridgers-minor |access-date=August 7, 2020 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref> He resides in [[Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles]], California.<ref>{{Cite magazine |title=Jj Abrams, Katie McGrath 4th Annual Pink Party to... – Picture 2072721 |url=http://www.contactmusic.com/photos.nsf/main/jj_abrams_2072721 |magazine=Contactmusic.com |access-date=November 25, 2013}}</ref><ref>[http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/object/article?f=/g/a/2009/05/06/movie_premieres.DTL&o=2 Director J.J. Abrams and wife, actress Katie – Media (3 of 46) Movie Premieres: 'Star Trek,' 'Angels] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090510144455/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/object/article?f=%2Fg%2Fa%2F2009%2F05%2F06%2Fmovie_premieres.DTL&o=2 |date=May 10, 2009 }}, "Director J.J. Abrams and wife, actress Katie McGrath, parade on the red carpet as they arrives at [[Grauman's Chinese Theatre]] in Hollywood for the premiere of the movie 'Star Trek' in Los Angeles on April 30, 2009.</ref> He is [[Jews|Jewish]] and his wife is [[Catholic Church|Catholic]], and he sometimes takes his children to religious services on Jewish holidays.<ref>[http://www.jewishjournal.com/community/article/now_its_jj_abrams_turn_to_trek_20090506/ Jewishjournal.com: Now It's J.J. Abrams' Turn to 'Trek'] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222081039/http://www.jewishjournal.com/community/article/now_its_jj_abrams_turn_to_trek_20090506/ |date=December 22, 2015 }}, accessed December 16, 2015</ref>

Abrams serves on the Creative Council of [[Represent.Us]], a [[Nonpartisanism|nonpartisan]] anti-corruption organization<ref>{{Cite news |title=About {{!}} Represent.Us |language=en-US |work=End corruption. Defend the Republic. |url=http://represent.us/about |url-status=live |access-date=November 1, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161023054916/https://represent.us/about/ |archive-date=October 23, 2016}}</ref> and the [[Motion Picture & Television Fund]] (MPTF) Board of Governors.<ref>{{Cite web |title=About Us |url=https://mptf.com/about-us/ |access-date=February 4, 2021 |website=mptf.com}}</ref> It was also reported that he attended the [[2024 Democratic National Convention]] in Chicago.<ref name=":0" />

In September 2024, Abrams signed a letter along with over 125 other Hollywood professionals urging California Governor [[Gavin Newsom]] to sign AI safety bill [[SB 1047]].<ref>{{Cite news |last= |date=September 24, 2024 |title=Mark Hamill, Jane Fonda, J.J. Abrams urge Gov. Newsom to sign AI safety bill |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/business/story/2024-09-24/mark-hamill-jane-fonda-joseph-gordon-levitt-sign-letter-in-support-of-ai-safety-bill-sb-1047 |access-date=September 26, 2024 |work=L[[os Angeles Times]] |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Artists For Safe AI |url=https://artists4safeai.com/ |access-date=September 26, 2024 |website=artists4safeai.com |language=en}}</ref>

== Filmography ==
=== Film ===
{| class="wikitable"
|-  style="background:#ccc; text-align:center;"
! rowspan="2" style="width:33px;" | Year
! rowspan="2" | Title
! colspan="3" | Credited as
|-
! width=65 | [[Film director|Director]]
! width=65 | [[Screenwriter|Writer]]
! [[Film producer|Producer]]
|-
| 1990
| ''[[Taking Care of Business (film)|Taking Care of Business]]''
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
|-
| 1991
| ''[[Regarding Henry]]''
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
| {{partial|Co-producer}}
|-
| 1992
| ''[[Forever Young (1992 film)|Forever Young]]''
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
| {{partial|Executive}}
|-
| 1997
| ''[[Gone Fishin' (film)|Gone Fishin']]''
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
|-
|1998
|[[Armageddon (1998 film)|''Armageddon'']]
|{{No}}
|{{Yes}}
|{{No}}
|-
| 2001
| ''[[Joy Ride (2001 film)|Joy Ride]]''
|{{No}}
|{{Yes}}
|{{Yes}}
|-
| 2006
| ''[[Mission: Impossible III]]''
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
|-
| 2009
| ''[[Star Trek (2009 film)|Star Trek]]''
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
|-
| 2011
| ''[[Super 8 (2011 film)|Super 8]]''
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
|-
| 2013
| ''[[Star Trek Into Darkness]]''
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
|-
| 2015
| ''[[Star Wars: The Force Awakens]]''
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
|-
| 2019
| ''[[Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker]]''
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
|-
| {{TBA}}
| [[Untitled J. J. Abrams film|Untitled film]]
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
|}

{| style="width:100%;"
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
| width="45%" | 
'''Producer only'''
* ''[[The Pallbearer]]'' (1996)
* ''[[The Suburbans]]'' (1999)
* ''[[Cloverfield]]'' (2008)
* ''[[Morning Glory (2010 film)|Morning Glory]]'' (2010)
* ''[[Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol]]'' (2011)
* ''[[Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation]]'' (2015)
* ''[[10 Cloverfield Lane]]'' (2016)
* ''[[Star Trek Beyond]]'' (2016)
* ''[[The Cloverfield Paradox]]'' (2018)
* ''[[Mission: Impossible – Fallout]]'' (2018)
* ''[[Overlord (2018 film)|Overlord]]'' (2018)
* ''[[Lou (2022 film)|Lou]]'' (2022)
* ''[[The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse (film)|The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse]]'' (2022, short film)
* ''[[The Blue Angels (film)|The Blue Angels]]'' (2024)
* ''[[Elizabeth Taylor: The Lost Tapes]]'' (2024)
* ''[[Flowervale Street]]'' (2026)
* ''Oh, the Places You'll Go!'' (2028)<ref>{{cite web |work=The Hollywood Reporter |title=Dr. Seuss' 'Oh, the Places You'll Go!' Lands 2028 Release From Director Jon M. Chu and Warner Bros. |author=Ryan Gajewski |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/oh-the-places-youll-go-jon-m-chu-release-1236119860/ |date=2025-01-27 |accessdate=2025-03-07 }}</ref>

| width="65%" | 
'''Executive producer'''
* ''[[Infinitely Polar Bear]]'' (2014)
* ''[[Star Wars: The Last Jedi]]'' (2017)
|}

==== Acting credits ====
{| class="wikitable"
|-  style="background:#ccc; text-align:center;"
! style="width:33px;" | Year
! Title
! Role
! Notes
! {{Tooltip|Ref.|Reference(s)}}
|-
| 1991
| ''[[Regarding Henry]]''
| Delivery Boy
| 
| 
|-
| 1993
| ''[[Six Degrees of Separation (film)|Six Degrees of Separation]]''
| Doug
| 
| 
|-
| 1996
| ''[[Diabolique (1996 film)|Diabolique]]''
| Video Photographer #2
| 
| 
|-
| 1999
| ''[[The Suburbans]]''
| Rock Journalist
| 
| 
|-
| 2015
| ''[[Star Wars: The Force Awakens]]''
| 
| Vocal cameo
| 
|-
| 2017
| ''[[The Disaster Artist (film)|The Disaster Artist]]''
| Himself
| 
| 
|-
| rowspan="2" | 2019
| ''[[Love, Antosha]]''
| Himself
| Documentary film
| 
|-
| ''[[Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker]]''
| D-O
| Voice
| <ref>{{cite web |last1=Fullerton |first1=Huw |date=December 19, 2019 |title=Star Wars' cute new droid in The Rise of Skywalker is played by JJ Abrams |url=https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/sci-fi/star-wars-droid-jj-abrams/ |website=Radio Times |language=en-GB |access-date=May 12, 2023}}</ref>
|-
| 2024
| ''[[Music by John Williams]]''
| Himself
| Documentary film
|
|-
|}

==== Other roles ====
{| class="wikitable"
|+
! Year
! Title
! Role
! {{Tooltip|Ref.|Reference(s)}}
|-
| 1982
| ''[[Nightbeast]]''
| Composer / Sound effects composer
| 
|-
| 1995
|''[[Casper (film)|Casper]]''
| Uncredited rewrites
| <ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Jensen |first=Jeff |date=June 9, 2011 |title=Super 8: Steven Spielberg meets J.J. Abrams |url=https://ew.com/article/2011/06/09/super-8-steven-spielberg-jj-abrams/ |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |language=en-US |access-date=July 8, 2020}}</ref>
|-
| 2006
| ''[[Mission: Impossible III]]''
| Digital artist: [[Industrial Light & Magic]]
| 
|-
|}

=== Television ===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; margin-right:auto; margin-right:auto"
|-
! rowspan="2" | Year
! rowspan="2" | Title
! colspan="5" | Credited as
! rowspan="2" | Notes
|-
! style="width:65px;" | Creator
! style="width:65px;" | Director
! style="width:65px;" | Writer
! style="width:65px;" | Executive Producer
! style="width:65px;" | Theme<br>Composer
|-
| 1998–2002
| style="text-align:left;" | ''[[Felicity (TV series)|Felicity]]''
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| style="text-align:left;" | Director (2 episodes) / Writer (17 episodes)
|-
| 2001–06
| style="text-align:left;" | ''[[Alias (TV series)|Alias]]''
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| style="text-align:left;" | Director (2 episodes) / Writer (13 episodes)
|-
| 2004–10
| style="text-align:left;" | ''[[Lost (2004 TV series)|Lost]]''
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| style="text-align:left;" | Director (2 episodes) / Writer (3 episodes) 
|-
| 2006
| style="text-align:left;" | ''[[Jimmy Kimmel Live!]]''
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| style="text-align:left;" | Episode: "4.269"
|-
| 2007
| style="text-align:left;" | ''[[The Office (U.S. TV series)|The Office]]''
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| style="text-align:left;" | Episode: "[[Cocktails (The Office)|Cocktails]]"
|-
| 2008–13
| style="text-align:left;" | ''[[Fringe (TV series)|Fringe]]''
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| style="text-align:left;" | Writer (6 episodes)
|-
| 2010
| style="text-align:left;" | ''[[Undercovers (TV series)|Undercovers]]''
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| style="text-align:left;" | Director (1 episode) / Writer (3 episodes)
|-
| 2011–16
| style="text-align:left;" | ''[[Person of Interest (TV series)|Person of Interest]]''
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
|
|-
| 2012
| style="text-align:left;" | ''[[Alcatraz (TV series)|Alcatraz]]''
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
|
|-
| 2012–14
| style="text-align:left;" | ''[[Revolution (TV series)|Revolution]]''
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
|
|-
| 2013–14
| style="text-align:left;" | ''[[Almost Human (TV series)|Almost Human]]''
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
|
|-
| 2025
| style="text-align:left;" | ''[[Duster (TV series)|Duster]]''
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
|
|-
|}

'''Executive producer only'''
* ''[[What About Brian]]'' (2006–07)
* ''[[Six Degrees (TV series)|Six Degrees]]'' (2006–07)
* ''[[Believe (TV series)|Believe]]'' (2014)
* ''[[11.22.63]]'' (2016) (Miniseries<ref>{{Cite web |date=October 30, 2015 |title=Hulu Original "11.22.63" Premieres Presidents Day 2016 |url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news/2015/10/30/hulu-original-112263-premieres-presidents-day-2016-828412/20151030hulu01/ |access-date=November 25, 2015 |website=[[The Futon Critic]]}}</ref>)
* ''[[Roadies (TV series)|Roadies]]'' (2016)
* ''[[Westworld (TV series)|Westworld]]'' (2016–2022)
* [[Castle Rock (TV series)|''Castle Rock'']] (2018–19)
* ''[[Little Voice (TV series)|Little Voice]]'' (2020)
* ''[[Lovecraft Country (TV series)|Lovecraft Country]]'' (2020)
* ''[[Challenger: The Final Flight]]'' (2020)
* ''[[Lisey's Story (miniseries)|Lisey's Story]]'' (2021) (Miniseries)
* ''[[UFO (docuseries)|UFO]]'' (2021)
* ''[[Presumed Innocent (TV series)|Presumed Innocent]]'' (2024)
* ''[[Batman: Caped Crusader]]'' (2024–present)

==== Acting credits ====
{| class="wikitable"
|-  style="background:#ccc; text-align:center;"
! style="width:33px;"|Year
! Title
! Role
! Notes
|-
| 2012
| style="text-align:left;" | ''[[Family Guy]]''
|rowspan=5|Himself
| style="text-align:left;" | Voice, Episode: "[[Ratings Guy]]"
|-
| rowspan="2" | 2017
| style="text-align:left;" | ''[[Nightcap (2016 TV series)|Nightcap]]''
| style="text-align:left;" | Episode: "The Show Might Go on, Part 2"
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | ''[[Tour de Pharmacy]]''
| style="text-align:left;" | Television film
|-
| 2021
| style="text-align:left;" | ''[[The Simpsons]]''
| style="text-align:left;" | Episode: "[[Do Pizza Bots Dream of Electric Guitars]]"
|-
| 2022
| style="text-align:left;" | ''[[Light & Magic (TV series)|Light & Magic]]''
| style="text-align:left;" | Documentary series
|-
|}

=== Theatre ===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; margin-right:auto; margin-right:auto"
|-
! rowspan="2" | Year
! rowspan="2" | Title
! colspan="3" | Credited as
! rowspan="2" | Notes
|-
! style="width:65px;" | Director
! style="width:65px;" | Writer
! style="width:65px;" | Producer
|-
| 2017
| style="text-align:left;" | ''[[The Play That Goes Wrong]]''
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
| style="text-align:left;" | Broadway version
|-
|}

== Bibliography ==
* ''[[S. (Dorst novel)|S.]]'' (with [[Doug Dorst]], 2013)

==Awards and nominations==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Award
! Category
! Nominated work
! Result
|-
||1999
|[[Razzie Award]]
|Worst Screenplay
|''Armageddon''
|{{nom}}
|-
||2002
|[[Emmy Award]]<ref name=Emmy/>
|Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series
|rowspan=2|''Alias''
|{{nom}}
|-
||2004
|[[PGA Award]]
|Best Drama
|{{nom}}
|-
|rowspan=5|2005
|[[ASCAP|ASCAP Film and Television Music Awards]]
|Top TV Series
|rowspan=8|''Lost''
|{{won}}
|-
|[[Directors Guild of America]]
|Best Director
|{{nom}}
|-
|rowspan=3|[[Emmy Award]]<ref name="Emmy">{{Cite web |title=The Academy of Television Arts and Sciences |url=http://www.emmys.org/awards/awardsearch.php |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090403022947/http://www.emmys.org/awards/awardsearch.php |archive-date=April 3, 2009 |access-date=February 18, 2008}}</ref>
|[[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series|Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series]] – [[Pilot (Lost)|Pilot]]
|{{won}}
|-
|[[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series|Outstanding Drama Series]]<ref name=Emmy/>
|{{won}}
|-
|[[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series|Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series]] – [[Pilot (Lost)|Pilot]]<ref name=Emmy/>
|{{nom}}
|-
|rowspan=3|2006
|[[ASCAP|ASCAP Film and Television Music Awards]]
|Top TV Series
|{{won}}
|-
|[[PGA Award]]
|Best Drama
|{{won}}
|-
|[[Writers Guild of America]]<ref name="WGA">{{Cite news |title=Awards Winners |publisher=[[Writers Guild of America]] |url=http://www.wga.org/awards/awardssub.aspx?id=1517 |url-status=dead |access-date=October 17, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100703004257/http://www.wga.org/awards/awardssub.aspx?id=1517 |archive-date=July 3, 2010}}</ref>
|Dramatic Series
|{{won}}
|-
|rowspan=4|2007
|[[Saturn Award]]
|Best Director
|''Mission: Impossible III''
|{{nom}}
|-
|[[British Academy Television Awards|BAFTA]]
|[[British Academy Television Award for Best International Programme|Best International Programme]]
|rowspan=5|''Lost''
|{{nom}}
|-
|[[PGA Award]]
|Best Drama
|{{nom}}
|-
|[[Writers Guild of America]]
|Dramatic Series
|{{nom}}
|-
||2008
|rowspan=2|[[Emmy Award]]
|rowspan=2|Outstanding Drama Series
|{{nom}}
|-
|rowspan=4|2009
|{{nom}}
|-
|rowspan=2|[[Writers Guild of America]]
|Long Form
|rowspan=2|''Fringe''
|{{nom}}
|-
|New Series
|{{nom}}
|-
|[[Scream Awards]]
|Best Director
|rowspan=6|''Star Trek''
|{{won}}
|-
|rowspan=6|2010
|[[Saturn Award]]
|Best Director
|{{nom}}
|-
|[[Empire Awards]]
|Best Director
|{{nom}}
|-
|[[PGA Award]]
|Theatrical Motion Picture
|{{nom}}
|-
|[[SFX Awards]]
|Best Director
|{{won}}
|-
|[[Hugo Awards]]
|Best Dramatic Presentation – Long Form
|{{nom}}
|-
|[[Emmy Award]]<ref name=Emmy/>
|Outstanding Drama Series
|''Lost''
|{{nom}}
|-
|rowspan=4|2011
|rowspan=2|Scream Award
|Best Director
|rowspan=7|''Super 8''
|{{nom}}
|-
|Best Scream-Play
|{{won}}
|-
|rowspan=2|BAM Awards
|Best Director
|{{nom}}
|-
|Best Screenplay
|{{won}}
|-
|rowspan=3|2012
|rowspan=2|[[Saturn Award]]
|Best Director
|{{won}}
|-
|Best Writing
|{{nom}}
|-
|SFX Awards
|Best Director
|{{nom}}
|-
|2013
|[[Producers Guild of America Awards 2012|PGA Award]]
|Norman Lear Achievement Award in Television
|
|{{won}}
|-
|2014	
|rowspan=3|[[Saturn Award]]	
|rowspan=2|Best Director	
|''Star Trek Into Darkness''	
|{{nom}}	
|-
|rowspan=8|2016
|rowspan=8|''[[Star Wars: The Force Awakens]]''
|{{nom}}
|-
|Best Writing
|{{won}}
|-
|rowspan=3|[[Empire Awards]]
|[[Empire Award for Best Director|Best Director]]
|{{won}}
|-
|Best Sci-Fi/Fantasy Film
|{{won}}
|-
|Best Film
|{{nom}}
|-
|[[Critics' Choice Movie Awards]]
|[[Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Picture|Best Picture]]
|{{nom}}
|-
|Jupiter Awards
|Best International Film
|{{won}}
|-
|Hugo Awards
|Best Dramatic Presentation, Long Form
|{{nom}}
|}

==Notes==
{{Notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
*{{Cite magazine |last=Kamp, David |date=Jun 2013 |title=What you should know about J. J. Abrams |department=In the Details |magazine=Vanity Fair |volume=634 |page=36}}
*{{Cite web |last1=LaPorte |first1=Nicole |last2=Ifeanyi |first2=KC |date=April 9, 2019 |title=Exclusive: J.J. Abrams on Star Wars, Apple, and building Bad Robot into a Hollywood force |url=https://www.fastcompany.com/90331236/exclusive-j-j-abrams-on-star-wars-apple-and-building-bad-robot-into-a-hollywood-force |website=[[Fast Company]]}}

==External links==
{{sister project links|d=Q188137|c=Category:J. J. Abrams|n=no|b=no|v=no|voy=no|m=no|mw=no|s=no|wikt=no}}
* {{IMDb name}}
* {{TCMDb name}}
* {{TED speaker}}
* {{Charlie Rose guest|7539}}
* {{NYTtopic|people/a/j_j_abrams}}

{{J. J. Abrams|state=expanded}}
{{Navboxes
|title = Awards for J. J. Abrams
|list =
{{EmmyAward DirectingDrama 2001-2025}}
{{International Emmy Founders Award}}
{{Empire Award for Best Director}}
{{Norman Lear Achievement Award in Television}}
{{Saturn Award for Best Director}}
{{Saturn Award for Best Writing}}}}
{{portal bar|Biography|Film}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Abrams, J.J.}}
[[Category:J. J. Abrams| ]]
[[Category:1966 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:20th-century American male composers]]
[[Category:20th-century American composers]]
[[Category:20th-century American Jews]]
[[Category:20th-century American male writers]]
[[Category:20th-century American screenwriters]]
[[Category:21st-century American male composers]]
[[Category:21st-century American composers]]
[[Category:21st-century American Jews]]
[[Category:21st-century American male writers]]
[[Category:21st-century American screenwriters]]
[[Category:American action film directors]]
[[Category:American male screenwriters]]
[[Category:American male television writers]]
[[Category:American people of Polish-Jewish descent]]
[[Category:American people of Latvian-Jewish descent]]
[[Category:American people of Latvian descent]]
[[Category:American science fiction film directors]]
[[Category:American showrunners]]
[[Category:American television directors]]
[[Category:Film directors from New York City]]
[[Category:Film producers from New York City]]
[[Category:International Emmy Founders Award winners]]
[[Category:Jewish American musicians]]
[[Category:Jewish American screenwriters]]
[[Category:Jewish American television composers]]
[[Category:Jewish American television writers]]
[[Category:American television writers]]
[[Category:American male television composers]]
[[Category:American television composers]]
[[Category:Primetime Emmy Award winners]]
[[Category:Sarah Lawrence College alumni]]
[[Category:Screenwriters from New York City]]
[[Category:Television producers from New York City]]
[[Category:American television show creators]]
[[Category:Writers Guild of America Award winners]]
[[Category:AI safety advocates]]