An Australian film director, producer and screen writer, James Wan was born on 27 February 1977, in Kuching, Malaysia, of Malaysian and Chinese descent. He is perhaps best known for directing the popular 2004 horror film “Saw”, and creating Billy the Puppet.
A successful filmmaker, how rich is James Wan? It has been reported that the amount of Wan’s net worth is over $50 million, his wealth having been accumulated during his directing and producing careers.
James Wan Net Worth $50 Million
Wan was raised in Perth, Western Australia. He studied at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology from where he graduated with his Bachelor of Arts degree. Before becoming successful in the mainstream film industry, Wan made his first feature film “Stygian”, which won “Best Guerrilla Film” at the 2000 Melbourne Underground Film Festival. While studying, he met Leigh Whannell and together they came up with an idea for a horror movie, for which they made a short version to showcase their script for a potential feature film. With a few stand-in actors and Whannell himself starring, they shot the film with virtually no budget. Producers at the US film company Evolution were impressed when seeing the film and they asked Wan and Whannell to make it into a full-length feature in order to produce it. After the full-length “Saw” had been released in 2004, it became a surprise record-breaking theatrical horror franchise earning over $103 million, and an incredible net worth for Wan. The movie was followed by six sequels, with Wan being the executive producer and partially the screen writer. The collection of “Saw” movies has been a great financial success grossing over $873 million, and improving James’ net worth considerably.
Wan went on to direct and produce several successful movies with the help of his collaborator and close friend Whannell. In 2007, he directed the horror “Dead Silence”, and an action drama “Death Sentence”. His next movie, the 2010 indie horror “Insidious” was an instant success iat the box office reception worldwide. In 2013, Wan directed “The Conjuring” with very positive critiques, and a sequel “Insidious: Chapter 2” the same year. The following year he produced another horror movie “Demonic”, while also serving as the producer on “Annabelle”, a spin-off from “The Conjuring”, grossing over $166 million. Wan then directed the seventh sequel of the “Fast and Furious” action franchise “Furious 7”, which was released in 2015. It became the most successful film in terms of box office revenues and critics reviews in the “Fast and Furious” franchise ,and has also added a lot to Wan’s net worth. Meanwhile, he agreed to direct “The Conjuring 2” sequel which will be released in June 2016. In addition to the movies, he also directed a trailer for the survival horror video game “Dead Space”.
Wan has had a number of unreleased projects as well as future projects to direct, including an adaption of the 1980’s television series “Macgyver”, and the remake of Disney’s “The Rocketeer”. It has also been announced that he will serve as a director for the film adaptation of the DC comic book “Aquaman”, and the producer for “Mortal Combat” reboot.
Wan resides in Los Angeles. As for his personal life, he reveals nothing to the public.
Full Name
James Wan
Net Worth
$50 Million
Date Of Birth
February 26, 1977
Place Of Birth
Kuching, Malaysia
Height
5 ft 6 in (1.68 m)
Profession
Film director, Film Producer, Screenwriter, Film Editor
Education
RMIT University
Nationality
Malaysia
Nicknames
Jimmy Wan
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
IMDB
Awards
Pegasus Audience Award
Nominations
Fright Meter Awards
Movies
The Conjuring 2, Furious 7, Saw, The Conjuring, Aquaman, Lights Out, Annabelle, Insidious, Insidious: Chapter 2, Dead Silence, Death Sentence, Demonic, Insidious: Chapter 3, Saw III, Dream Home, Insidious: Chapter 4
Trademark
1
Backwards tracking shot
2
Frequently works with Leigh Whannell
3
Ventriloquist dolls
Quote
1
Not many people realize this, but I’m a really squeamish guy. When I watch other horror films that are really over-the-top with their blood and guts, I cannot watch it. So if my threshold to something on-screen is at that level, you can imagine how my threshold is to all the pain and suffering that is happening in the real world.
2
We think craft is important, and the irony has always been that horror may be disregarded by critics, but often they are the best-made movies you’re going to find in terms of craft. You can’t scare people if they see the seams.
3
I can’t point anything specific out, but I’m a big David Lynch fan, he’s a big influence on Saw, and another director I truly admire as well, is an Italian, Dario Argento? These two guys have a big impact on us, Deep Red, Lost Highway.
4
When we handed in our first cut, the Sundance version, we were essentially told the film was too intense. Really? I’m going to be penalized for doing what I’m supposed to do as a director? I think they have a problem with the ‘tone’ as well. How do you cut ‘tone’? How do you censor ‘tone’?
5
[on ‘Saw’] That was part of my aesthetic that I was going for. I wanted to make the film really claustrophobic, and one way I was going to do that was, every time we go to a new location, I’m not going to set it up using an establishing shot. You don’t see a house, and then cut to the inside of the house. You cut to inside, to inside, to inside.
Fact
1
His overall deal at New Line includes an option to develop and produce modest budget science fiction, horror and comedy films via his Atomic Monster production company.
2
His father passed away when he was 14 years of age.
3
Member of the unofficial “Splat Pack,” a term coined by film historian Alan Jones in Total Film magazine for the modern wave of directors making brutally violent horror films. The other “Splat Pack” members are Alexandre Aja, Darren Lynn Bousman, Neil Marshall, Greg McLean, Eli Roth, Leigh Whannell & Rob Zombie.
4
Attended the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology along with close friend Leigh Whannell
5
Comes from Melbourne, Australia.
6
Met fellow collaborator and friend Leigh Whannell at film school in Australia.
Producer
Title
Year
Status
Character
The Nun
2018
producer pre-production
Insidious: Chapter 4
2017
producer post-production
Saw: Legacy
2017
executive producer completed
Annabelle 2
2017
producer completed
Mortal Kombat
producer announced
MacGyver
2016-2017
TV Series executive producer – 18 episodes
Lights Out
2016/II
producer
The Conjuring 2
2016
producer
Insidious: Chapter 3
2015
producer
Demonic
2015
producer
Annabelle
2014/I
producer
Saw 3D: The Final Chapter
2010
executive producer
Saw VI
2009
executive producer
Saw V
2008
executive producer
Saw IV
2007
executive producer
Saw III
2006
executive producer
Saw II
2005
executive producer
Writer
Title
Year
Status
Character
Aquaman
2018
story pre-production
The Nun
2018
pre-production
Saw: Legacy
2017
creator completed
SAW Heritage
2016
Short creator
The Conjuring 2
2016
screenplay / story
Insidious: Chapter 2
2013
story
Saw
2009
Video Game treatment by
Doggie Heaven
2008
Video short creator
Dead Silence
2007
story
Saw III
2006
story
The Scott Tibbs Documentary
2006
Video short characters
Saw Rebirth
2005
Short characters
Saw
2004
story
Stygian
2000
written by
Director
Title
Year
Status
Character
Aquaman
2018
pre-production
MacGyver
2016
TV Series 1 episode
The Conjuring 2
2016
Furious 7
2015
Insidious: Chapter 2
2013
The Conjuring
2013
Insidious
2010/I
Doggie Heaven
2008
Video short
Death Sentence
2007
Dead Silence
2007
Saw
2004
Saw
2003
Short
Stygian
2000
Editor
Title
Year
Status
Character
Insidious
2010/I
Doggie Heaven
2008
Video short
Saw
2003
Short
Actor
Title
Year
Status
Character
Insidious: Chapter 3
2015
Theater Director
Kaylocks
1999
Short
Pizza Dude
Sound Department
Title
Year
Status
Character
Hot and Cold
2011
Short sound editor
Miscellaneous
Title
Year
Status
Character
Saw
2003
Short title sequence
Thanks
Title
Year
Status
Character
Walking After You
2016
Short special thanks
Fender Bender
2016
thanks
Codename: The Dragon
2015
TV Movie the producers wish to thank
Pernicious
2014
the director wishes to thank
The Taking of Deborah Logan
2014
special thanks
Legend of the Red Reaper
2013
thanks
August
2011/II
Short special thanks
Cell/Phone
2011
TV Series special thanks – 1 episode
Corman’s World: Exploits of a Hollywood Rebel
2011
Documentary thanks
The Psycho Legacy
2010
Video documentary special thanks
2001 Maniacs: Field of Screams
2010
special thanks
Delivery
2006
Video special thanks
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
Furious 7: Race Wars
2015
Video short
Himself
Furious 7: Snatch and Grab
2015
Video short
Himself
Furious 7: Talking Fast
2015
Video documentary short
Himself
Furious 7: Tower Jumps
2015
Video short
Himself
The Cars of Furious 7
2015
Video short
Himself
Reel Junkie
2014
TV Series
Himself
Vivir de cine
2013
TV Series
Himself
The Hollywood Fast Lane
2013
TV Series
Himself – Interviewee
Cinema 3
2011
TV Series
Himself
The Mo’Nique Show
2011
TV Series
Himself
This Week in Horror
2011
TV Series
Himself
Not Quite Hollywood: The Wild, Untold Story of Ozploitation!
2008
Documentary
Himself
Up Close with Carrie Keagan
2007
TV Series
Himself
30 Even Scarier Movie Moments
2006
TV Mini-Series
Himself
Hitchcocked!
2006
TV Movie documentary
Himself
Hacking Away at ‘Saw’
2005
Video documentary short
Himself
Días de cine
2010-2016
TV Series
Himself
Made in Hollywood
2013-2016
TV Series
Himself
Last Call with Carson Daly
2016
TV Series
Himself
Furious 7: Back to the Starting Line
2015
Video short
Himself
Furious 7: Flying Cars
2015
Video short
Himself
Furious 7: Inside the Fight
2015
Video short
Himself
Won Awards
Year
Award
Ceremony
Nomination
Movie
2015
Hollywood Blockbuster Award
Hollywood Film Awards
Furious Seven (2015)
2015
Hollywood Movie Award
Hollywood Film Awards
Furious Seven (2015)
2014
Chainsaw Award
Fangoria Chainsaw Awards
Best Wide-Release Film
The Conjuring (2013)
2014
Fangoria Horror Hall of Fame
Fangoria Chainsaw Awards
2013
Fright Meter Award
Fright Meter Awards
Best Director
The Conjuring (2013)
2011
Titra Film Award
Neuchâtel International Fantastic Film Festival
Insidious (2010)
2005
Pegasus Audience Award
Brussels International Festival of Fantasy Film (BIFFF)