Jackson, Peter (1961– )

New Zealand film director, producer, and screenwriter. Originally known for his exceptionally gory horror films, he gained wide acclaim for the hugely successful Lord of the Rings trilogy (2001–03), based on the novels by J R R Tolkien.

He expanded his ten-minute short Roast of the Day (1983) to his first feature-length film, Bad Taste (1987), a gory horror comedy which became a cult classic. This was followed by Meet the Feebles (1989), a violent, twisted tale of a group of puppets who perform a variety show, and Dead Alive (also released as Braindead; 1992), his goriest film to date. The chilling Heavenly Creatures (1994), based on an actual New Zealand murder case, was disturbing and violent, but a departure from the genre. The film won international critical acclaim, including the Silver Lion at the Venice Film Festival, and marked the debut of English actor Kate Winslet. The Lord of the Rings trilogy included Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring (2001), Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002), and Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003).

Jackson was born in Wellington and grew up in Pukerua Bay, a small coastal town west of Wellington. He developed an interest in filmmaking as a child, after his parents received an 8-mm film camera for Christmas in 1969. Other films include Forgotten Silver (1995) and The Frighteners (1996).