Robert Eggers

• Name — Robert Eggers • Born — 7 July 1983 • Birthplace — New York City, U.S. • Occupation — Filmmaker • Years Active — 2007–present • Spouse — Alexandra Shaker • Children — 1

Robert Houston Eggers was born in New York City on July 7, 1983. He does not know his biological father. He and his mother Kelly Houston moved to Laramie, Wyoming, where she met and married Walter Eggers, an English literature professor at the University of Wyoming. The couple had twin sons named Max and Sam, who also became filmmakers. In 1990, the family relocated to Lee, New Hampshire, after Walter became a provost at the University of New Hampshire. Eggers returned to New York to attend the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in 2001. He gained an interest in designing, directing, and theater while there, and would additionally show an interest in filmmaking by directing and designing short films. His childhood in New England often inspires his work; while writing his first feature film, he frequently visited the Plimoth Patuxet in Massachusetts. He later said that he still has family in Epping, New Hampshire.

Eggers began his career as a designer and director of theatre productions in New York, primarily in experimental and street theatre, before transitioning to working in film. He wrote and directed the horror film The Witch (2015) in his feature film directorial debut, and it premiered at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival before A24 acquired it. It was released theatrically on February 19, 2016. Critical reception was largely positive, and the film earned over $40 million against a budget of $4 million. Eggers's next film, The Lighthouse (2019), was also a period piece and received critical acclaim. He directed the film from a screenplay he co-wrote with his brother, Max, and it stars Robert Pattinson and Willem Dafoe. In 2022, the Amleth-inspired Viking epic film The Northman was released, starring Alexander Skarsgård, Nicole Kidman, Anya Taylor-Joy, Ethan Hawke, Björk, and Willem Dafoe. Critical reception was largely positive, but the film underperformed at the box office and did not make a profit until it was released on VOD. In July 2015, it was reported that Eggers would write and direct a remake of the silent film Nosferatu (1922). The film was set to be produced by Jay Van Hoy and Lars Knudsen for Studio 8. In November 2016, Eggers expressed surprise that the Nosferatu remake was going to be his second film, saying, "It feels ugly and blasphemous and egomaniacal and disgusting for a filmmaker in my place to do Nosferatu next. I was really planning on waiting a while, but that's how fate shook out." Eggers had previously directed his high school's performance of the Nosferatu play, and was hired to direct a professional version of the play due to his work. Eggers credited this as the event that inspired him to pursue a career in filmmaking. Eggers eventually opted to delay his version of the film, going on to direct The Lighthouse and The Northman first. The Witch star Anya Taylor-Joy was attached to the cast alongside Harry Styles, but both dropped out in 2022. In September 2022, it was reported that the film would star Bill Skarsgård in the title role alongside Lily-Rose Depp. Nosferatu became his fourth film. In January 2025, it was reported Eggers would direct Werwulf, a werewolf horror film set in 13th-century England. The film's North American release is currently set for Christmas Day 2026. Aaron Taylor-Johnson was confirmed to star in Werwulf in July 2025, alongside Lily-Rose Depp and Willem Dafoe. In 2026, Eggers was honoured at the 59th Sitges Film Festival with the Time Machine Award (The Màquina del Temps).

Eggers was at one point developing a miniseries based on the life of Grigori Rasputin. However, he stated in 2024 that development has stalled as he would be unable to film in Russia. He has also developed a medieval film called The Knight, which has yet to be produced. In June 2025, it was reported Eggers was writing and directing a new adaptation of A Christmas Carol for Warner Bros. Pictures, with Willem Dafoe the frontrunner to play Ebenezer Scrooge. It was also reported that he would write and direct a sequel to the 1986 film Labyrinth. Additionally, Eggers started writing an "Elizabethan" script and expressed interest in making a Western.

One of the major traits of films directed by Eggers is his "strict attention to detail". All of his films are period dramas, and have been noted for their historical accuracy, especially their use of specific language and period-appropriate dialogue. Eggers stated in a Rotten Tomatoes interview that he is not interested in making films set in the contemporary era, claiming that the idea of photographing modern technology disgusts him. When asked what is the latest era he is willing to film, he answered that he will go as far as the 1950s.

Eggers is married to clinical psychologist Alexandra Shaker, whom he has known since childhood. They have a son together. They lived in Brooklyn from 2001 to 2023, when they relocated to London.

• Year — Title — Notes • 2009 — Drawing from Life — Short film • 2010 — Prelude and Fugue • Confessional Stories: Voluntary Damnation • Confessional Stories: First Confession • Monster • YellowBrickRoad — Feature • 2011 — The Tailor — Short film • The Five Stages of Grief • Tell Your Friends! The Concert Film! — Documentary • In the Pines — Short film • 2012 — Anemone • Legacy • Esther • 2013 — The House at the Edge of the Galaxy • Vivace! • Spirit Cabinet — Feature film • 2014 — Rose — Short film

Eggers is known for his recurring collaborations with certain actors and crew members. Frequent actor collaborations (2 or more projects) • scope="col" — The Witch (2015) — The Lighthouse (2019) — The Northman (2022) — Nosferatu (2024) — Werwulf (2026) — Total projects • Ralph Ineson — — — — — 4 • Anya Taylor-Joy — — — 2 • Willem Dafoe — — — — — 4 • Aaron Taylor-Johnson — — — 2 • Lily-Rose Depp — — — 2 • Kate Dickie — — — 2 • Jarin Blaschke (cinematographer) — — — — — — 5 • Louise Ford (editor) — — — — — — 5 • Craig Lathrop (production designer) — — — — — — 5 • Linda Muir (costume designer) — — — — — — 5 • Lars Knudsen (producer) — — — 2 • Rodrigo Teixeira (producer) — — — 2 • Arnon Milchan (producer) — — — 2 • Chris Columbus (executive producer) — — — — — 4 • Mark Korven (composer) — — — 2 • Robin Carolan (composer) — — — — 3 • Sjón (screenwriter) — — — 2

Robert Eggers was recorded at birth as Robert Neil Eggers. The authorities additionally record the headings Robert Houston Eggers and Robert Neil Eggers. His recorded language was English. Other recorded relations include Max Eggers and Sam Eggers.

Robert Eggers is recorded with the occupation production designer. Recorded with the occupation film director. Recorded as screenwriter, production designer and director.

• Year — Title — Director — Writer — Producer — Notes • 2015 — The Witch • 2019 — The Lighthouse — Co-written with Max Eggers • 2022 — The Northman — Co-written with Sjón • 2024 — Nosferatu • 2026 — Werwulf — Co-written with Sjón, Post-production

• Year — Title — Director — Writer — Notes • 2007 — Hansel and Gretel — Also production designer • 2008 — The Tell-Tale Heart • 2015 — Brothers