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Brett Ratner - Biography

Brett Ratner is rapidly establishing himself as one of today's most promising directors. As part of Hollywood's next generation, Ratner has amassed an impressive body of work that encompasses feature films, music videos and commercials. He began his directing career wielding a camcorder as a young boy in Miami, creating different scenarios in which his friends would play characters. Ratner's talents were quickly acknowledged when he enrolled in New York University's prestigious Tisch Schooll of the Arts at the age of 16, becoming the department's youngest film major. Funded by a donation from Steven Spielberg's Amblin Entertainment, Ratner's senior thesis project, "Whatever Happened to Mason Reese", won various student awards.

Ratner made his feature film directorial debut with the hit comedy, Money Talks, with Charlie Sheen, Chris Tucker, Paul Sorvino and Heather Locklear. His second feature Rush Hour, starring Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker, racked up over $250 million worldwide, breaking all records for that time of year and was New Line Cinema's highest grossing film ever.

His box office smash hit, Rush Hour 2 (sequel to Rush Hour), reunited Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker with Ratner to generate the highest grossing comedy ever to be released on a non-holiday weekend. Ratner's previous film, The Family Man, with Nicolas Cage and Tea Lioni received both critical and box office success.

Brett is currently in production on the Thomas Harris thriller, Red Dragon, the prequel to Silence of Lambs and Hannibal. Red Dragon focuses on FBI agent Will Graham, who turns to Dr. Hannibal "The Cannibal" Lector to help solve the case of "the Tooth Fairy". The film stars Anthony Hopkins, Edward Norton and Emily Watson.