Trivia

Credits Sylvester Stallone with giving him his big break. Stallone was impressed with Moon 44: prisión espacial (1990) and began recommending Emmerich to producers all around Hollywood.

Is one of the few openly gay directors in Hollywood. Although he claims to have encountered a certain degree of homophobia from studios, he nevertheless feels that as a director, coming out has not harmed his career in the way that it did for some high-profile actors (who had difficulties finding work afterwards). By his own admission, he can still do the movies that he wants to make.

His five favorite films are Lawrence de Arabia (1962), Encuentros cercanos del tercer tipo (1977), Cinema Paradiso (1988), El padrino (1972) and El Ciudadano Kane (1941).

Donated $150,000 to the Outfest's Legacy Project, which is dedicated to the gay and lesbian film preservation, the largest gift in the festival's history (2006).

Along with other celebrities, he raised money for women's rights in the developing world.

His nickname of "Das Spielbergle aus Sindelfingen" (translated as "lil' Spielberg of Sindelfingen") sounds flattering, but it was actually bestowed upon him in the 1980s by the German media as an insult. Emmerich made his films in English and in the style of the latter part of the "New Hollywood" era. This did not sit well with German movie critics who still preferred the conventional styles that were influenced by the French New Wave and the New German Cinema..

He lists La aventura del Poseidón (1972), Infierno en la torre (1974) and Terremoto (1974) (disaster movies) as his favourites.

Turned down the offer to direct 007: Otro día para morir (2002).

Since directing El día después de mañana (2004), he has tried to focus the public's attention on the issue of global warming.

Emmerich was interested into doing Transformers (2007), but Dreamworks wanted Steven Spielberg and Michael Bay over him.

Frequently casts members of a particular group of actors in minor roles in his movies. This group includes John Storey, David Pressman, Erick Avari, Leon Rippy, Christopher John Fields, Derek Webster, Jack Moore and Steve Giannelli, among others. All of these actors appeared in at least three films directed by Emmerich, including Soldado universal (1992), Stargate: la puerta del tiempo (1994), Día de la independencia (1996), Godzilla (1998), and El patriota (2000). All of these films were produced by Centropolis Entertainment, the company co-founded by Emmerich.

Was originally considered to direct El hombre araña (2002).

Emmerich is best-known for his action disaster films and most identifiable with his trademarks, which include blowing up national landmarks, destroying cities, and focusing heavily on extravagant special effects. Emmerich joked that La caída de la Casa Blanca (2013) actually was a step down from his previous more over-the-top action films. Emmerich directed Stargate: la puerta del tiempo (1994), Día de la independencia (1996), Godzilla (1998), El día después de mañana (2004), 10,000 A.C. (2008), 2012 (2009), La caída de la Casa Blanca (2013). He is a great fan of disaster movies and is attracted to tearing down cities. If you see a disaster film, then you know it's him.

Produced The Visitor (1997), El ataque de las arañas (2002), and 2012 (2009), each of which features a major character who hosts his own radio show dealing with the paranormal and conspiracy theories. Each character also broadcasts from their camper.

His movie Das Arche Noah Prinzip (1984) has been the most high budgeted film-school examination film (DEM 1,000,000) in Germany (1984).

Attended the School of Television and Film in Munich from 1977 to 1981.

Brother of Ute Emmerich

Lives in Beverly Hills, California.

Supported Hillary Clinton's 2008 electoral campaign.

President of the 'Official Competition' jury at the 55th Berlin International Film Festival in 2005.

Graduated from the Hochschule Fur Film & Fernsehen.