Prolific Action Movie Director Wolfgang Petersen Dies at 81

Wolfgang Petersen Dies of Cancer at 81

One of the most prolific action film directors of his time, Wolfgang Petersen, has sadly died of pancreatic cancer.

His name was synonymous with quality action movies in the 1990’s and early 2000’s. Acclaimed filmmaker, Wolfgang Petersen, has passed away leaving behind a body of work that includes some of the most intense action pictures ever made.

It’s hard not to remember his 1981 masterpiece Das Boot which set the stage for the movies he would make which would become American blockbusters racking up huge box-office bucks throughout the years. Petersen quickly made 1980’s science fiction fantasy Hollywood movies such as Enemy Mine and The NeverEnding Story following the success of Das Boot. All bets were off, however, when he made the most politically charged action picture of 1993, In the Line of Fire, which starred the incomparable Clint Eastwood. That Eastwood movie did amazing business at the box-office with over $100 million domestically which was terrific for an adult themed movie during a summer of blockbusters which included the original Jurassic Park. In the Line of Fire featured a bone-chilling turn by John Malkovich in the prominent bad guy role in the film.

It didn’t stop there. In 1995, his virus movie Outbreak made a whopping $67 million at the domestic box-office and another $122 million internationally. It was, however, the political action movie he directed titled Air Force One that became one of his most loved movies. That film starred Harrison Ford as the President of the United States. Air Force One cemented Petersen’s status as a talent to contend with when the film made $172 million domestically and scored an “A” CinemaScore grade.

The 2000’s weren’t as kind to Petersen in terms of the audience reception of his action pictures but the movies were nevertheless successful. The Perfect Storm was a perfect blockbuster grossing $182 million at the box-office but earned just a “B+” CinemaScore mark as some claimed there was too much going on in that particular movie. The 2004 Brad Pitt star vehicle Troy was helmed by Petersen but fell a bit short at the box-office with just $133 million domestically on a huge budget and got an okay “B” CinemaScore. Petersen’s big 2006 action picture remake, Poseidon, also got just a “B” CinemaScore and grossed only $60 million domestically. It saved face with $121 million additionally in its international release.

It was Petersen’s political thriller, In the Line of Fire, which he will be remembered for most by American audiences while blockbuster fans would probably prefer the more accessible Air Force One. Das Boot was his masterpiece, however, and remains a film of enormous scope and integrity. Wolfgang Petersen was a master of his craft regardless of the box-office results of his later films. In the Line of Fire still holds up today and is one of the best American political thrillers of all-time.

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