Who is Zack Snyder? Everything You Need to Know

Quick Facts

Girlfriend: Kirsten Elin (ex)

Also Known As: Zachary Edward Snyder

Age: 58 Years, 58 Year Old Males

Family:

Spouse/Ex-: Deborah Snyder, Denise Weber

father: Charles Edward Snyder

mother: Marsha Manley

siblings: Audrey

Directors Cinematographers

U.S. State: Wisconsin

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Childhood & Early Life

Jack Snyder was born in Green Bay, Wisconsin, US, on 1st March 1966 to Charles Edward Snyder, who worked as an executive recruiter, and Marsha Manley, who was a painter and a photography teacher. He also has an older sister named Audrey. He was raised in Riverside, Connecticut.

After completing high school, he studied painting for a year at Heatherley School of Fine Art in England. Around the same time, he began dabbling in filmmaking too. Later, he attended Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California.

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Career

Zack Snyder began his career as a director with the 2004 action horror film ‘Dawn of the Dead’. The film was a remake of George Romero’s 1978 film of the same name. The film was a commercial success, earning over $100 million on a budget of $26 million. Critical reception was also mostly favorable. The film had actors such as Sarah Polley, Ving Rhames, Jake Weber and Mekhi Phifer.

His next film was the epic fantasy war film ‘300’ which released in 2006. The film was about King Leonidas, who leads 300 Spartans into battle against the Persian ‘God-King’ Xerxes and his invading army of 300,000 soldiers. Snyder was also a co-screenwriter along with Kurt Johnstad and Michael B Gordon. The film was a huge commercial success and earned multiple awards and nominations as well.

In 2009, he directed the superhero film ‘Watchmen’. With actors such as Malin Akerman, Billy Crudup, Matthew Goode and Carla Gugino, the film was based on a limited DC Comics series of the same name. The film was an average success commercially while its reviews were mixed. It won multiple awards, including the Saturn Award for Best Fantasy Film.

In 2010, he directed ‘Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole’. It was a commercial and critical success.

In 2011, he wrote, directed, and produced ‘Sucker Punch’, which starred Emily Browning Cornish, Jena Malone, Jena Malone and Vanessa Hudgens. The film didn’t do well commercially, earning only $90 million on a $82 million budget. Reviews were mostly negative as well.

In 2013, his popularity rose after he directed the superhero film ‘Man of Steel’ which was based on the famed DC Comics superhero Superman. The film was a commercial success and reviews were mixed.

He served as the producer and co-screenwriter for the movie ‘300: Rise of an Empire’ in 2014. It was the sequel to his movie ‘300’. The film was a commercial success, earning more than $330 million on a $110 million budget. It was met with mixed reviews.

In 2016, he directed the superhero film ‘Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice’. The film was a commercial success while the reviews were mixed. The same year, he also served as the executive producer for the superhero film ‘Suicide Squad’. The film received negative reviews though it was a financial success and earned an Oscar nomination as well.

In 2017, he was the producer of the superhero film ‘Wonder Woman’. Based on the popular DC Comics superhero of the same name, the film was directed by Patty Jenkins. It was a huge success commercially and critically, and won numerous awards. The same year, he directed the film ‘Justice League’, which was a commercial success and was met with mixed reviews.

In 2018, he served as the executive producer of the superhero film ‘Aquaman’. The film was a huge success at the box office, earning more than $1 billion on a budget of $200 million. The reviews were average.

Major Works

Zack Snyder’s most important works include ’300,’ a 2006 epic war film. He was the director and co-screenwriter. The film starred actors, such as Gerard Butler, Lena Headley, David Wenham and Dominic West. Made on a budget of $65 million, the film earned $456 million worldwide. Critical reception was mostly mixed. A sequel named ‘300: Rise of an Empire’ was also released in 2014.

Another one of Zack Snyder’s well-known works is the 2013 superhero film ‘Man of Steel’ which was based on the famous DC Comics superhero Superman. The film starred Henry Cavill in the lead role, along with other actors, such as Amy Adams, Michael Shannon and Kevin Costner. The film did well financially, earning $668 million on a budget of $225 million. Reviews were mixed. It also won multiple awards and nominations.

He co-wrote the story and directed the 2017 superhero film ‘Justice League’. Based on the DC Comics superhero team of the same name, film starred actors, such as Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill, Amy Adams and Ezra Miller. The film was a huge success financially, earning more than $650 million on a $300 million budget. Reviews were mixed.

Family & Personal Life

Jack Snyder has been married twice. His first wife was Denise Weber. The couple had four children, two biological and two adopted. He is currently married to Deborah Snyder, whom he wed in September 2004. The couple has two adopted children.

He was previously in a relationship with Kirsten Elin, who was once his line producer on commercials. They had two sons.

Zack Snyder Biography