Michael Dougherty

Michael Patrick Dougherty, born on October 28, 1974, is a critically acclaimed American writer, director, animator, and producer recognized for his innovative work in various genre films both big and small. Initially starting his career as an animator and illustrator, Dougherty had his animated works featured on distinguished networks like MTV and Nickelodeon. His illustrative talent also extended to a line of 'twisted' greeting cards published by NobleWorks. He stepped into the world of blockbuster films as a co-writer for X2 and Superman Returns, before transitioning into a director with the horror comedy, Trick 'r Treat in 2009. He later directed and co-wrote the widely popular holiday horror comedy Krampus in 2015. His extensive portfolio includes directing and co-writing the blockbuster Godzilla: King of the Monsters in 2019, and co-writing the story for its sequel, Godzilla vs. Kong in 2021. Over time, the combined gross from Dougherty's work has exceeded over two billion dollars at the box office. Born and raised in Columbus, Ohio, he has Vietnamese, Irish, and Hungarian descent. Professionally, he started his career with an animated short film, Season's Greetings, released in 1996, and then he moved onto co-writing various screenplays including the superhero sequel X2, Urban Legends: Bloody Mary, and Superman Returns. The success of his directorial debut, Trick 'r Treat, led to a cult following and subsequently to theme park attractions, toys, comics, and Halloween decor. Dougherty's influence left an indelible mark in the comic book realm as well. As a fan and writer, two of his early screenwriting credits, X-Men 2 and Superman Returns, were based on classic Marvel and DC characters, and his original feature films sparked their own graphic novels.