# Christopher Landon (filmmaker)
**Christopher Landon** (also credited as Christopher B. Landon) is an American screenwriter, producer, and director born in 1975 in Los Angeles, California, known for writing several *Paranormal Activity* sequels, for directing the horror comedy *Happy Death Day* (2017) (which was written by [Scott Lobdell](https://www.edgepedia.org/scott-lobdell)), and for writing and directing the horror comedies *Happy Death Day 2U* (2019) and *Freaky* (2020)[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0484907) • [2](https://catalog.afi.com/Catalog/PersonDetails/265532) • [17](https://www.universalpicturesathome.com/movies/happy-death-day). His career runs from studio screenwriting on the 2007 thriller *[Disturbia](https://www.edgepedia.org/disturbia-film)* through a long association with [Blumhouse Productions](https://www.edgepedia.org/blumhouse-productions), the low-budget horror house behind the *Paranormal Activity* franchise[3](https://www.fandango.com/people/christopher-landon-373937/film-credits) • [4](https://uhra.herts.ac.uk/id/eprint/14383/1/The_BlumHouse_Found_Footage_Horror_Built_S._McMurdo.pdf).
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1975, Los Angeles, California, USA[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0484907) |
| Breakthrough as writer | *Disturbia* (2007), a hit thriller, and *Blood and Chocolate* (2007)[3](https://www.fandango.com/people/christopher-landon-373937/film-credits) • [5](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/christopher_landon) |
| *Paranormal Activity* role | Screenwriter on parts 2, 3, 4, and *The Marked Ones*; director of *The Marked Ones* (2014)[2](https://catalog.afi.com/Catalog/PersonDetails/265532) |
| Signature films | *Happy Death Day* (2017), *Happy Death Day 2U* (2019), *Freaky* (2020), *We Have a Ghost* (2023), *Drop* (2025)[3](https://www.fandango.com/people/christopher-landon-373937/film-credits) |
| Box office | *Happy Death Day* earned $125 million on a reported $5 million budget[6](https://comicbook.com/horror/news/christopher-landon-happy-death-day-interview-comments-horror/) |
| Critical range | Highest-rated film on Rotten Tomatoes: *Freaky* at 84%; lowest: *Blood and Chocolate* at 10%[5](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/christopher_landon) |
| *Scream 7* | Announced as director in 2023, formally exited in December 2023; replaced by Kevin Williamson[7](https://au.variety.com/2025/film/global/scream-7-trailer-neve-campbell-sidney-prescott-29527/) |
## Screenwriting career
Landon began in Hollywood as a working screenwriter on smaller projects before co-writing the 2007 thriller *Disturbia*, a commercial hit, and the werewolf film *Blood and Chocolate* the same year[8](https://loudandclearreviews.com/christopher-landon-movies-ranked/) • [3](https://www.fandango.com/people/christopher-landon-373937/film-credits). Earlier credits include *Another Day in Paradise* (1999) and the anthology *Boys Life 3* (2000)[3](https://www.fandango.com/people/christopher-landon-373937/film-credits).
He then became a creative voice for the *Paranormal Activity* franchise, writing the second through fourth installments (2010, 2011, 2012) and the fifth, *[Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones](https://www.edgepedia.org/paranormal-activity-the-marked-ones)* (2014), which he also directed[2](https://catalog.afi.com/Catalog/PersonDetails/265532) • [8](https://loudandclearreviews.com/christopher-landon-movies-ranked/). He later returned to write the seventh installment, *[Paranormal Activity: Next of Kin](https://www.edgepedia.org/paranormal-activity-next-of-kin)* (2021)[3](https://www.fandango.com/people/christopher-landon-373937/film-credits). The franchise sat at the center of Blumhouse Productions' rise; the company's growth stemmed from the success of the first *Paranormal Activity* film and its sequels, produced on budgets averaging just over $5 million per film[4](https://uhra.herts.ac.uk/id/eprint/14383/1/The_BlumHouse_Found_Footage_Horror_Built_S._McMurdo.pdf) • [9](https://www.researchgate.net/profile/William-Proctor-2/publication/353986996_Building_imaginary_horror_worlds/links/680f5333df0e3f544f4c25f6/Building-imaginary-horror-worlds.pdf).
## Move into directing
Landon's first feature as a director was the indie anthology *Burning Palms* (2010), a five-vignette satire of Californian stereotypes that critics received poorly[8](https://loudandclearreviews.com/christopher-landon-movies-ranked/) • [5](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/christopher_landon). He followed with *[Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse](https://www.edgepedia.org/scouts-guide-to-the-zombie-apocalypse)* (2015), which he wrote and directed[2](https://catalog.afi.com/Catalog/PersonDetails/265532).
**The horror-comedy run.** *Happy Death Day* (2017), which Landon directed from Scott Lobdell's script, made a college student relive the day of her murder until she identifies her killer. The film earned $125 million on a reported $5 million budget and drew critical praise for straddling comedy, horror, and romance[6](https://comicbook.com/horror/news/christopher-landon-happy-death-day-interview-comments-horror/) • [10](https://time.com/6837569/best-horror-movies-blumhouse-ranked/). Landon wrote and directed the sequel *Happy Death Day 2U* (2019), which shifted the formula toward science fiction[3](https://www.fandango.com/people/christopher-landon-373937/film-credits) • [8](https://loudandclearreviews.com/christopher-landon-movies-ranked/).
*Freaky* (2020), co-written with Michael Kennedy, crossed the slasher film with the body-swap comedy in the mold of *Freaky Friday*, casting [Vince Vaughn](https://www.edgepedia.org/vince-vaughn) as a serial killer who switches bodies with a high school senior played by [Kathryn Newton](https://www.edgepedia.org/kathryn-newton)[11](https://www.fangoria.com/christopher-landon-reinventing-slasher/) • [10](https://time.com/6837569/best-horror-movies-blumhouse-ranked/). It was shot over 30 days on a reported $5 million production budget[12](https://www.looper.com/279608/freaky-director-christopher-landon-talks-happy-death-day-vince-vaughn-and-body-swaps-exclusive-interview/). On Rotten Tomatoes it stands as his highest-rated film, at 84 percent from critics and 80 percent from audiences[5](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/christopher_landon). A FANGORIA feature described this run of slashers as reinventing the genre for a new generation rather than looking back at its 1980s glories[11](https://www.fangoria.com/christopher-landon-reinventing-slasher/).
## Later work
*[We Have a Ghost](https://www.edgepedia.org/we-have-a-ghost)* (2023), which Landon wrote, directed, and executive produced for Netflix, moved him toward family-friendly supernatural comedy[3](https://www.fandango.com/people/christopher-landon-373937/film-credits) • [13](https://guides.justwatch.com/us/author/christopher-landon). As a producer his credits include *My Best Friend's Exorcism* (2022), *[Time Cut](https://www.edgepedia.org/time-cut)* (2024), and *Heart Eyes* (2025), the last of which he also wrote[3](https://www.fandango.com/people/christopher-landon-373937/film-credits).
In 2025 he directed *[Drop](https://www.edgepedia.org/drop-film)*, a thriller starring [Meghann Fahy](https://www.edgepedia.org/meghann-fahy) as a widow who receives threatening messages via AirDrop during a first date[14](https://www.gamesradar.com/entertainment/horror-movies/after-stepping-down-from-scream-7-happy-death-day-director-sets-horror-return-with-supernatural-pic-that-may-or-may-not-be-set-on-an-airplane/). Landon has said he hoped the film would prompt reflection on how people communicate with strangers behind technological anonymity[13](https://guides.justwatch.com/us/author/christopher-landon).
## Scream 7 and upcoming projects
The success of the *Happy Death Day* franchise led to Landon being offered *Scream 7*, which he was set to write and direct[14](https://www.gamesradar.com/entertainment/horror-movies/after-stepping-down-from-scream-7-happy-death-day-director-sets-horror-return-with-supernatural-pic-that-may-or-may-not-be-set-on-an-airplane/). After lead actress [Melissa Barrera](https://www.edgepedia.org/melissa-barrera) was fired by producer [Spyglass Media Group](https://www.edgepedia.org/spyglass-media-group) over social media posts about the Israel-Hamas war, Landon received death threats and formally exited the project in December 2023, calling the job "a dream job that turned into a nightmare"[7](https://au.variety.com/2025/film/global/scream-7-trailer-neve-campbell-sidney-prescott-29527/) • [15](https://au.variety.com/2026/film/global/protest-scream-7-premiere-melissa-barrera-paramount-33593/). He later said he did not fire Barrera and that the script he had signed on to make centered on her character[14](https://www.gamesradar.com/entertainment/horror-movies/after-stepping-down-from-scream-7-happy-death-day-director-sets-horror-return-with-supernatural-pic-that-may-or-may-not-be-set-on-an-airplane/). Kevin Williamson, creator of the series, took over as director[7](https://au.variety.com/2025/film/global/scream-7-trailer-neve-campbell-sidney-prescott-29527/).
Landon's announced return to horror is *Final Boarding*, which he will write and direct for Sony's Screen Gems, based on a short story of the same name; the film does not yet have a release date[14](https://www.gamesradar.com/entertainment/horror-movies/after-stepping-down-from-scream-7-happy-death-day-director-sets-horror-return-with-supernatural-pic-that-may-or-may-not-be-set-on-an-airplane/). A third *Happy Death Day* film, listed as *Happy Death Day to Us* on IMDb, remains in development, and Landon has said he wrote a treatment but would not draft a full script without studio commitment[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0484907) • [16](https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/happy-death-day-3-update-from-jessica-rothe-has-me-pumped).
## References
1. [Christopher Landon, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0484907)
2. [Christopher Landon, AFI Catalog](https://catalog.afi.com/Catalog/PersonDetails/265532)
3. [Christopher Landon Filmography and Movies, Fandango](https://www.fandango.com/people/christopher-landon-373937/film-credits)
4. [https://uhra.herts.ac.uk/id/eprint/14383/1/The_BlumHouse_Found_Footage_Horror_Built_S._McMurdo.pdf](https://uhra.herts.ac.uk/id/eprint/14383/1/The_BlumHouse_Found_Footage_Horror_Built_S._McMurdo.pdf)
5. [Christopher Landon, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/christopher_landon)
6. [Happy Death Day Director Christopher Landon Details His Horror History, ComicBook.com](https://comicbook.com/horror/news/christopher-landon-happy-death-day-interview-comments-horror/)
7. ['Scream 7' Trailer: Neve Campbell Brings Sidney Prescott Back, Variety](https://au.variety.com/2025/film/global/scream-7-trailer-neve-campbell-sidney-prescott-29527/)
8. [All Christopher Landon Movies Ranked Worst to Best, Loud And Clear Reviews](https://loudandclearreviews.com/christopher-landon-movies-ranked/)
9. [Building Imaginary Horror Worlds (Blumhouse chapter), ResearchGate](https://www.researchgate.net/profile/William-Proctor-2/publication/353986996_Building_imaginary_horror_worlds/links/680f5333df0e3f544f4c25f6/Building-imaginary-horror-worlds.pdf)
10. [The Best Blumhouse Horror Movies, Ranked, TIME](https://time.com/6837569/best-horror-movies-blumhouse-ranked/)
11. [How Christopher Landon Is Reinventing The Slasher Movie, FANGORIA](https://www.fangoria.com/christopher-landon-reinventing-slasher/)
12. [Freaky Director Christopher Landon Talks Happy Death Day, Vince Vaughn, And Body-Swaps, Looper](https://www.looper.com/279608/freaky-director-christopher-landon-talks-happy-death-day-vince-vaughn-and-body-swaps-exclusive-interview/)
13. [Christopher Landon, JustWatch](https://guides.justwatch.com/us/author/christopher-landon)
14. [After stepping down from Scream 7, Happy Death Day director sets horror return with Final Boarding, GamesRadar+](https://www.gamesradar.com/entertainment/horror-movies/after-stepping-down-from-scream-7-happy-death-day-director-sets-horror-return-with-supernatural-pic-that-may-or-may-not-be-set-on-an-airplane/)
15. [Protestors Gather at 'Scream 7' Premiere After Melissa Barrera Fired, Variety](https://au.variety.com/2026/film/global/protest-scream-7-premiere-melissa-barrera-paramount-33593/)
16. [Happy Death Day 3 Update From Jessica Rothe, CinemaBlend](https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/happy-death-day-3-update-from-jessica-rothe-has-me-pumped)
17. [Happy Death Day, Universal Pictures At Home](https://www.universalpicturesathome.com/movies/happy-death-day)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Films and standalone screen works › Film people and crafts › Directors, producers, and screenwriters › Genre and specialist film directors*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license