James Watkins
James Thomas Watkins (born 20 May 1973) is an English filmmaker. He is best known for horror films such as Eden Lake (2008), The Woman in Black (2012), and Speak No Evil (2024). He has also directed episodes of series such as Black Mirror (2016) and The Ipcress File (2022), and was the creator, writer, director, and executive producer of the series McMafia (2018).
Also recorded as James Thomas Watkins
James Watkins
Hettiesview · CC BY-SA 4.0
- Name
- James Watkins
- Born
- 20 May 1973
- Birthplace
- Nottingham, England
- Occupation
- Filmmaker
- Nationality
- United Kingdom.
- Known for
- Eden Lake and The Woman in Black.
- Languages
- English.
Reference Check
Propose documentary evidence for James Watkins. A contribution is never written directly as fact: identity, source, rights and evidence gates still decide.
Sign in to contribute
World of VALÉORINE
Documentary connections
Only confirmed graph relationships appear here. Images are shown only when their identity and reuse rights both pass the documentary gate.
Documentary evidence
Documentary basis
Authority files
wikidata · Q2057920
In this article
Biography
Biography
He directed the DC Universe film Clayface which is scheduled to be released in 2026.
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — James Watkins • Born — 20 May 1973 • Birthplace — Nottingham, England • Occupation — Filmmaker
Early life
Early life
Watkins was born in Nottingham on 20 May 1973.
Television
Television
Watkins directed the Black Mirror episode "Shut Up and Dance" (2016). He directed all six episodes of The Ipcress File (2022) and served as an executive producer. He co-created and co-wrote McMafia (2018) with Hossein Amini and directed all eight episodes.
Filmography
Filmography
Film • Year — Title — Director — Writer • 2002 — My Little Eye • 2007 — Gone • 2008 — Eden Lake • 2009 — The Descent Part 2 — 2nd unit • 2012 — The Woman in Black • 2016 — Bastille Day • 2024 — Speak No Evil • 2026 — Clayface Television • Year — Title — Director — Writer — Creator — Executive Producer — Notes • 2016 — Black Mirror — Episode: "Shut Up and Dance" • 2018 — McMafia — 8 episodes • 2022 — The Ipcress File — 6 episodes
Life and career
Dated record
Life and career
The full dated record · 2 entries
1973
James Watkins was born on 20 May 1973.
2004
Narrative Of The Life Of James Watkins is dated 2004.
Film
Watkins co-wrote the horror films My Little Eye (2002) and Gone (2007). In his directorial debut, he wrote and directed the horror-thriller film Eden Lake (2008). It won Best Horror Film at the 2009 Empire Awards, the Special Jury Prize at the Sitges Film Festival, and Best Director at Fantasporto. Watkins was also nominated for the Douglas Hickox Award at the 2008 British Independent Film Awards. Watkins was the co-writer and second unit director of The Descent Part 2 (2009). He directed the horror film The Woman in Black (2012) and co-wrote and directed the action thriller film Bastille Day (2016). He wrote and directed the horror-thriller film Speak No Evil (2024). Before moving into directing, Watkins had a first-look writing deal with Working Title Films from 2001 to 2007, under which he wrote several screenplays, including My Little Eye. He has also written screenplays for Warner Bros., Pathé, Film4 and BBC Films. Watkins will next direct the DC Universe supervillain horror film Clayface (2026).
Text attribution
Licensing
Text attribution
Part of the biographical narrative on this page reuses licensed material. Its origin, revision and licence are recorded here.
The biographical narrative on this page is based on the Wikipedia article James Watkins (director), revision 1376492284 (EN edition), by its contributors. VALÉORINE has edited that text and built its own documentary record around it. The reused material is available under CC BY-SA 4.0, and this page's reuse of it is offered under the same licence. Everything else on this page — the chronology, the holdings, the evidence, the plates and the connections — is VALÉORINE's own record. Sources and licences.
References
Citations
References
Each reference names the institution holding it, so a reader may go to the document itself.
authority record
Secondary witness
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 14 August 2026.
Elsewhere in Film memorabilia
38,713 published records in this field, each with its sources named.
- James VincentPerson
- James W. MorrisonPerson
- James WanPerson
- James WaterstonPerson
- James WilderPerson
- James WlcekPerson
- James WolkPerson
- James WongPerson
Best supported in this field
For owners
Own a work by James Watkins?
A specialist will read what you send and tell you what the house can establish, what it cannot, and whether the object is suited to sale. There is no charge and no obligation. The object stays with you throughout; nothing is shipped to us unless it is arranged in writing beforehand.