David Koepp

David Koepp (born June 9, 1963, in Pewaukee, Wisconsin) is an American screenwriter and director whose work has helped shape modern blockbuster storytelling. Known primarily for writing, he ranks among the most commercially successful screenwriters in U.S. box-office history, with films tied to billions in ticket sales.

Koepp’s credits span an unusually wide range of genres—thrillers, science fiction, action, comedy, crime, horror, and adventure—often blending sharp pacing with accessible character stakes. He is widely associated with major franchises and hit films, including Jurassic Park, The Lost World: Jurassic Park, Mission: Impossible, Spider-Man, War of the Worlds, Carlito’s Way, and Angels & Demons.

Beyond the page, Koepp has also built a parallel career as a filmmaker, directing features such as The Trigger Effect, Stir of Echoes, Secret Window, Ghost Town, Premium Rush, Mortdecai, and You Should Have Left. He has appeared in several documentaries and making-of specials as himself, and even turned up in a small on-screen role in The Lost World: Jurassic Park.