Wolfgang Petersen

Person

Wolfgang Petersen

Directing March 14, 1941

Emden, Germany

Wolfgang Petersen was a German-born screenwriter, producer and film director who spent most of his career in the United States. In the 1960s he began working directing plays at th…

IMDb

Known for

Popular titles

Troy

Troy

7.2 2004 Movie
The NeverEnding Story

The NeverEnding Story

7.2 1984 Movie
Bicentennial Man

Bicentennial Man

7.3 1999 Movie
Air Force One

Air Force One

6.5 1997 Movie
The Perfect Storm

The Perfect Storm

6.5 2000 Movie
Das Boot

Das Boot

8.1 1981 Movie
Outbreak

Outbreak

6.6 1995 Movie
Poseidon

Poseidon

5.9 2006 Movie
In the Line of Fire

In the Line of Fire

7.0 1993 Movie
DAS!

DAS!

4.7 1991 TV Show
Scene of the Crime

Scene of the Crime

6.2 1970 TV Show
Enemy Mine

Enemy Mine

7.0 1985 Movie

Photos

More stills of Wolfgang Petersen

Biography

A closer look

Read full biography

Wolfgang Petersen was a German-born screenwriter, producer and film director who spent most of his career in the United States. In the 1960s he began working directing plays at the Ernst Deutsch Theater in Hamburg. After becoming interested in theater in Berlin and Hamburg, Petersen attended the Berlin Film and Television Academy (1966-70). His first productions were for German state television, and it was during his work on the popular crime series Crime Scene that he met actor Jürgen Prochnow, who would later appear in his iconic film Das Boot (1981). His other films include The NeverEnding Story (1984), cult film Enemy Mine (1985), Shattered (1991), In the Line of Fire (1993), Outbreak (1995), Air Force One (1997), The Perfect Storm (2000), Troy (2004), Poseidon (2006) and Four Against the Bank (2016), his latest film.

Filmography

Movies and shows, newest first

  1. 2023
    U-96, The True Story of 'Das Boot'

    Movie Self (archive footage)

  2. 2021
    Das Boot Revisited: An Underwater Success Story

    Movie Self - Das Boot Screenwriter and Director

  3. 2017
    Open Wounds – A Journey through German Genre Films

    Movie

  4. 2016
    Four Against the Bank

    Movie Director

  5. 2013
    Stardust Hollywood - Sternenstaub und Götterwelten

    Movie Self

  6. 2012
    Der Bernd

    Movie Self

  7. 2011
    Wolfgang Petersen: Back to the Boat

    Movie Self

  8. 2006
    Poseidon

    Movie Director

  9. 2006
    Filmlegenden. Deutsch

    TV show Self

  10. 2005
    Gottschalk meets Petersen

    Movie Himself

  11. 2004
    Troy

    Movie Director

  12. 2003
    The Agency

    Movie Executive Producer

  13. 2002
    Starbuck Holger Meins

    Movie Self

  14. 2001
    The Agency

    TV show Creator

  15. 2000
    The Perfect Storm

    Movie Director

  16. 1999
    Bicentennial Man

    Movie Producer

More credits
  1. 1999
    Instinct

    Movie Executive Producer

  2. 1999
    The Directors

    TV show Self

  3. 1997
    Red Corner

    Movie Executive Producer

  4. 1997
    Air Force One

    Movie Director

  5. 1996
    Hollywood, Germany - Die amerikanische Herausforderung

    Movie Self

  6. 1995
    Outbreak

    Movie Director

  7. 1993
    In the Line of Fire

    Movie Director

  8. 1992
    HBO First Look

    TV show

  9. 1991
    Shattered

    Movie Director

  10. 1991
    DAS!

    TV show Self

  11. 1985
    Enemy Mine

    Movie Director

  12. 1985
    Das Boot

    TV show Screenplay

  13. 1985
    EL SUBMARINO Mini Serie TV

    TV show Creator

  14. 1984
    The NeverEnding Story

    Movie Man Who Drops Milk (uncredited)

  15. 1984
    Goldene Kamera

    TV show Self

  16. 1982
    Na sowas!

    TV show Self

  17. 1981
    Das Boot: Behind The Scenes

    Movie Self

  18. 1981
    Das Boot

    Movie Director

  19. 1981
    Wetten, dass..?

    TV show Self

  20. 1979
    Bavarian Film Awards

    TV show Self

  21. 1979
    NDR Talk Show

    TV show Self

  22. 1978
    Black and White Like Day and Night

    Movie Director

  23. 1978
    Bio’s Bahnhof

    TV show Self

  24. 1977
    The Consequence

    Movie Director