For over 40 years, producer Kathleen Kennedy has been on the forefront of a few of Hollywood’s most profitable films. As a long-time collaborator with director Steven Spielberg, Kennedy has been a vital addition to his work and has performed a central position as producer of every thing from E.T. the Additional-Terrestrial proper as much as more moderen releases like Lincoln. With an unimaginable expertise for producing absolute megahits on the field workplace, Kennedy has earned her standing as a Hollywood legend.
Whereas many will affiliate Kennedy together with her involvement in a few of the very best films ever, as she government produced sequence like Again to the Future and even the Finest Image-winner Schindler’s Checklist, she’s additionally been a important producer on numerous different acclaimed classics. With maybe probably the most spectacular resume in all of Hollywood, Kathleen’s position as President of LucasFilm noticed her oversee all Star Wars-related releases since 2012, however this’s solely the tip of the iceberg relating to her attraction.
Directed by Steven Spielberg
After first assembly director Steven Spielberg whereas engaged on his 1979 comedy 1941, Kathleen Kennedy rapidly grew to become the filmmaker’s secretary and by 1981 had taken on a big position in his skilled life. Together with Spielberg, Kennedy co-founded the manufacturing firm Amblin Leisure, and Kennedy’s first movie as a producer was E.T. the Additional-Terrestrial. Because the quintessential instance of Spielberg’s distinctive emotional and notalgia-inducing fashion, this fruitful partnership would proceed for many years to return as she produced a few of the filmmaker’s best releases.
14 The Cash Pit (1986)
Directed by Richard Benjamin
Whereas Kathleen Kennedy was finest recognized for her work with Steven Spielberg, she additionally produced a number of acclaimed releases by different filmmakers, such because the Richard Benjamin comedy The Cash Pit. With Tom Hanks and Shelley Lengthy, this hilarious free remake of the Cary Grant comedy Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream Home featured loads of slapstick humor. Though The Cash Pit was slated by critics and has didn’t construct an enduring legacy, wanting again, it’s an early indication of Hanks’ unimaginable comedic expertise and vibrant future as certainly one of Hollywood’s greatest stars.
13 Arachnophobia (1990)
Directed by Frank Marshall
Kathleen Kennedy produced the comedy horror Arachnophobia alongside Richard Vane to inform the hilarious story of a California city overtaken by a lethal spider species. As the directional debut from Kennedy’s husband, Frank Marshall, Arachnophobia featured unimaginable performances from Jeff Daniels and Jeff Goldblum, who excelled on this underrated, fast-paced thriller that’s certain to frighten the lives out of any arachnophobic viewers. Marshall mentioned his intention when making Arachnophobia was that it might be like “a rollercoaster” (through New York Occasions), and he wished viewers “to be scared however laughing.”
12 Hook (1991)
Directed by Steven Spielberg
With Amblin Leisure, Kathleen Kennedy and Steven Spielberg tackled J. M. Barrie’s traditional story of Peter Pan with a intelligent twist as this sequel story centered on the misadventures of his previous arch-enemy Captain Hook. Hook featured an older Peter Pan who, after forgetting his childhood adventures, returned to Neverland as soon as once more. Whereas Spielberg himself has expressed disappointment with Hook, it’s remained a beloved favourite amongst audiences, primarily as a result of Robin Williams’ unimaginable characterization of Captain Hook.
11 Jurassic Park (1993)
Directed by Steven Spielberg
The true magic of Steven Spielberg and Kathleen Kennedy’s artistic partnership was encapsulated by the astounding achievement of Jurassic Park. As a spellbinding depiction of dinosaur life, the CGI seen in Jurassic Park signaled a brand new period in cinema the place films might ultimately depict what had beforehand been virtually unimaginable. As probably the most profitable film of 1993, Jurassic Park led to the event of a complete franchise, and Kennedy returned as an government producer for The Misplaced World: Jurassic Park and acted as a full producer for Jurassic Park III.
10 The Bridges Of Madison County (1995)
Directed by Clint Eastwood
Kathleen Kennedy turned her producing skills towards one more icon of Hollywood for the Clint Eastwood romance, The Bridges of Madison County. With Eastwood and Meryl Streep within the starring roles, this story of an Italian warfare bride and Nationwide Geographic photographer was successful with viewers who turned out to witness their intense, four-day love affair. Whereas Sydney Pollock was initially connected as director, Eastwood quickly took over directing duties and co-produced the movie himself alongside Kennedy.
9 Tornado (1996)
Directed by Jan de Bont
The long-lasting catastrophe film Tornado reunited Kathleen Kennedy with Jurassic Park author Michael Crichton as, together with Ian Bryce, the trio produced this partaking story of twister chasers. Taking in virtually $500 million on the field workplace (through The Numbers), Tornado was a significant hit for Kennedy, and it showcased that even with out Spielberg within the directing chair, she might produce unimaginable mega hits. The legacy of Tornado was so nice {that a} standalone sequel was made almost 20 years later with the current launch of Twisters starring Glenn Powell.
8 The Sixth Sense (1999)
Directed by M. Night time Shyamalan
Boasting one of many best film twists of all time, The Sixth Sense was the psychological thriller that put M. Night time Shyamalan on the map and was nominated for six Academy Awards, together with Finest Image. With the backing of The Kennedy/Marshall Firm, husband-and-wife Kathleen Kennedy and Frank Marshall co-produced The Sixth Sense together with Barry Mendel. The success of The Sixth Sense showcased Kennedy’s growing success away from films related to Steven Spielberg.
7 A.I. Synthetic Intelligence (2001)
Directed by Steven Spielberg
Steven Spielberg’s A.I. Synthetic Intelligence had a posh manufacturing historical past and was initially supposed to be directed by Stanley Kubrick as “a picaresque robotic model of Pinocchio” (through Panteli.) Whereas Kubrick was unable to complete the undertaking earlier than his loss of life in 1999, Spielberg took over together with Kathleen Kennedy and Bonnie Curtis as producers. The outcome was a sentimental and insightful sci-fi story a couple of childlike android in want of a mom’s love that stood as certainly one of Spielberg’s most emotionally resonating movies and a uniquely poignant entry in his huge filmography.
6 Conflict Of The Worlds (2005)
Directed by Steven Spielberg
Steven Spielberg’s alien invasion adaptation of H. G. Wells’ 1898 novel The Conflict of the Worlds noticed producer Kathleen Kennedy returning to the identical catastrophe film stylings that made Tornado so successful the earlier decade. With the intense star energy of Tom Cruise within the main position, some really spectacular visuals, and well-known supply materials, it’s no shock Conflict of the Worlds took in over $600 million on the field workplace (through Field Workplace Mojo.) As one more unimaginable success for Kennedy and Spielberg, Conflict of the Worlds signaled the continued energy of their collaboration within the twenty first century,
5 The Diving Bell And The Butterfly (2007)
Directed by Julian Schnabel
In a profession filled with blockbuster hits, the French-language biographical drama The Diving Bell and the Butterfly was one thing of an anomaly amongst Kathleen Kennedy’s producing credit. Nevertheless, that didn’t make this story of a person affected by locked-in syndrome after a stroke any extra astounding. Co-produced by The Kennedy/Marshall Firm, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly was a panoramic movie that allowed viewers to expertise the trauma of this debilitating sickness by telling its story from the angle of Jean-Dominique Bauby, a paralyzed man with totally useful psychological colleges.
4 The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button (2008)
Directed by David Fincher
Though the vast majority of Kathleen Kennedy’s manufacturing work with main administrators was executed in collaboration with Steven Spielberg, her position as producer for David Fincher’s The Curious Case of Benjamin Button was underneath The Kennedy/Marshall Firm banner. Whereas Spielberg was initially connected to an adaptation of this F. Scott Fitzgerald story again in 1991, with Tom Cruise because the proposed star, this by no means got here to fruition, and Kennedy and Frank Marshal purchased the rights (through Collider.) A vastly profitable film, Benjamin Button was nominated for 13 Academy Awards, together with Finest Image and Finest Actor for Brad Pitt.
3 Conflict Horse (2011)
Directed by Steven Spielberg
Steven Spielberg introduced collectively a lot of his long-standing collaborators for Conflict Horse, a drama centering on Joey, a bay Irish Hunter touching numerous lives throughout the First World Conflict. With Katheleen Kennedy and Spielberg as co-producers, cinematographer Janusz Kamiński, editor Michael Kahn, manufacturing designer Rick Carter, and composer John Williams all engaged on the movie, Conflict Horse had all of the makings of a contemporary Spielberg traditional. With severe emotional resonance and spectacular visuals, Conflict Horse was a late-career triumph for each Spielberg and Kennedy.
2 Lincoln (2012)
Directed by Steven Spielberg
Lincoln was a co-production between Amblin Leisure and the Kennedy/Marshall Firm that noticed Steven Spielberg and producer Kathleen Kennedy inform the story of the ultimate 4 months of Abraham Lincoln’s life. As a robust depiction of the top of the Civil Conflict and the abolition of slavery, Lincoln starred Daniel Day-Lewis in certainly one of his finest roles. Spielberg first thought of making this undertaking in 1999 with Liam Neeson within the lead position (through Hollywood Elsewhere.) Nevertheless, Neeson aged out of the half, and it took 13 years to return to fruition.
1 Indiana Jones And The Dial Of Future (2023)
Directed by James Mangold
Kathleen Kennedy has been busy because the president of Lucasfilm since 2012 and has overseen every thing from Star Wars sequels to their spectacular slate of Disney+ tv sequence. Nevertheless, amid all these initiatives, Kennedy nonetheless discovered time to co-produce Indiana Jones and the Dial of Future, the ultimate outing for Harrison Ford because the titular archeologist. Whereas The Dial of Future was a enjoyable ultimate journey, its bloated finances meant that though it grossed $384 million (through Field Workplace Mojo), it was nonetheless thought of a field workplace bomb.
Sources: New York Occasions, The Numbers, Panteli, Field Workplace Mojo, Collider, Hollywood Elsewhere, Field Workplace Mojo
