History of Roger Corman in Timeline
Roger William Corman was a prolific American filmmaker known for his independent and often low-budget productions. Nicknamed "The Pope of Pop Cinema", "The Spiritual Godfather of the New Hollywood", and "The King of Cult", he pioneered techniques for quickly and efficiently creating genre films that found success with audiences. His work often provided early opportunities for aspiring filmmakers who went on to successful careers, including Francis Ford Coppola, Ron Howard, and James Cameron.
August 1956: Corman Films Naked Paradise in Hawaii
Roger Corman filmed the heist movie Naked Paradise in Hawaii, co-written by Charles Griffith and financed by AIP.
April 1957: Corman's New Strategy for Cost Efficiency
Roger Corman announced his plan to shoot two films back-to-back from this point forward to reduce production costs.
August 1957: Filming of The Saga of the Viking Women and Their Voyage to the Waters of the Great Sea Serpent
Roger Corman filmed The Saga of the Viking Women and Their Voyage to the Waters of the Great Sea Serpent for AIP.
December 1957: Planned Production of Rock'n'Roll Girl
Roger Corman planned to make the film Rock'n'Roll Girl for AIP.
1957: Corman Releases Multiple Films, Including The Undead and Not of this Earth
Roger Corman released several films, including The Undead, inspired by The Search for Bridey Murphy, and the science fiction film Not of this Earth, both written by Charles Griffith.
September 1958: Location Scouting for She Remake in Australia
Roger Corman was reported to be scouting locations in Australia for a remake of H. Rider Haggard's She.
1958: Allied Artists Offers Four-Picture Deal
Following the success of Not of this Earth and Attack of the Crab Monsters, Allied Artists offered Corman a four-picture deal.
1958: Release of She Gods of Shark Reef and Attack of the Crab Monsters
Roger Corman released She Gods of Shark Reef, a film he initially financed himself but later sold to AIP. He also released Attack of the Crab Monsters, which became one of his most successful early films.
1958: Release of Machine-Gun Kelly and Teenage Caveman
Roger Corman released the AIP biopic Machine-Gun Kelly, which marked Charles Bronson's first leading role and earned Corman critical acclaim. He also released Teenage Caveman, originally titled Prehistoric World, starring Robert Vaughn.
January 1959: Corman's Move into Distribution
Roger Corman announced his intention to expand into the field of film distribution.
February 1959: The Filmgroup's First Releases
The Filmgroup, founded by Roger and Gene Corman, announced the release of 10 films. Their first releases were High School Big Shot and T-Bird Gang, both produced by Stanley Bickman.
May 1959: Corman Proposes Color Film for AIP
Roger Corman, seeking to move beyond low-budget black-and-white films, proposed making a color film for AIP based on Edgar Allan Poe's "The Fall of the House of Usher."
1959: Release of A Bucket of Blood
Roger Corman and Charles Griffith created the black comedy A Bucket of Blood for AIP.
1959: Release of The Wasp Woman and Beast from Haunted Cave
Roger Corman directed The Wasp Woman, starring Susan Cabot and written by Leo Gordon, for Filmgroup. He also produced Beast from Haunted Cave, the first film directed by Monte Hellman, shot back-to-back with Ski Troop Attack in South Dakota.
1959: Production of Crime and Punishment U.S.
Roger Corman produced Crime and Punishment U.S., directed by Dennis Sanders and featuring George Hamilton in his first lead role.
1959: Release of Nebo Zovyot
The Soviet science-fiction film 'Nebo Zovyot' is released. Roger Corman will later acquire the rights to this film and adapt it as 'Battle Beyond the Sun.'
1960: Production of The Little Shop of Horrors
Roger Corman and Charles Griffith reused the script structure from A Bucket of Blood and employed many of the same cast members for The Little Shop of Horrors, a film shot in just two days and one night.
1960: Release of Ski Troop Attack
Roger Corman directed Ski Troop Attack, a war film written by Charles Griffith, for Filmgroup. It was filmed back-to-back with Beast from Haunted Cave in South Dakota.
1960: Back-to-Back Productions in Puerto Rico: Battle of Blood Island and Last Woman on Earth
Roger Corman produced two films back-to-back in Puerto Rico: Battle of Blood Island, directed by Joel Rapp, and Last Woman on Earth, which Corman directed from a script by Robert Towne.
August 1961: Filming of The Intruder
Roger Corman directs 'The Intruder,' starring a young William Shatner in one of his first lead roles. The film, co-produced by Gene Corman, is based on a novel by Charles Beaumont.
1961: Release of The Pit and the Pendulum
Roger Corman directs the film adaptation of Edgar Allan Poe's 'The Pit and the Pendulum,' following the success of 'House of Usher.' The film is another hit, furthering the popularity of Corman's 'Poe cycle.'
1961: Filming of Tales of Terror
Roger Corman shoots the anthology horror film 'Tales of Terror' in late 1961.
1961: Creature from the Haunted Sea: A Third Production in Puerto Rico
The efficient filming of Battle of Blood Island and Last Woman on Earth, combined with tax incentives in Puerto Rico, led Corman to commission a third script from Charles Griffith, Creature from the Haunted Sea, which was shot simultaneously.
1962: Release of The Intruder
'The Intruder' is released after some delay, but unfortunately does not perform well at the box office, resulting in financial losses.
1962: Release of The Premature Burial
Dissatisfied with his profits from the first two Poe films, Roger Corman produces 'The Premature Burial' for different producers. The film is written by Charles Beaumont and stars Ray Milland.
1962: Release of Battle Beyond the Sun and The Magic Voyage of Sinbad
Roger Corman releases 'Battle Beyond the Sun,' an adaptation of the Soviet film 'Nebo Zovyot' with additional footage shot by Francis Ford Coppola. He also releases 'The Magic Voyage of Sinbad,' another dubbed Soviet film.
1963: Release of The Raven and The Terror
Roger Corman releases 'The Raven,' a comedic adaptation of Edgar Allan Poe's poem, starring Vincent Price, Boris Karloff, and Peter Lorre. He also releases 'The Terror,' another horror film starring Boris Karloff and Jack Nicholson, utilizing sets from 'The Raven.' Notably, Corman shares directing duties on 'The Terror' with Monte Hellman, Francis Ford Coppola, and Jack Hill.
1963: Release of The Young Racers and Dementia 13
Roger Corman releases 'The Young Racers,' a film set in the world of European racing, which he produced and directed in Europe for AIP. The film stars William Campbell, who also wrote the script. During this time, Corman finances Francis Ford Coppola's directorial debut, 'Dementia 13,' providing Coppola with his first opportunity to direct.
1963: Release of X: The Man with the X-Ray Eyes and The Haunted Palace
Roger Corman releases two films: 'X: The Man with the X-Ray Eyes,' a science fiction film starring Ray Milland, and 'The Haunted Palace,' a horror film starring Vincent Price. While 'The Haunted Palace' appears to be part of the Poe cycle due to the presence of Price and screenwriter Charles Beaumont, it is actually based on a story by H.P. Lovecraft.
1963: Release of Operation Titan
The Yugoslavian film 'Operation Titan' is released, and Roger Corman will later acquire the rights and add new footage directed by Jack Hill and Stephanie Rothman to create 'Blood Bath.'
1964: Release of The Masque of the Red Death
Roger Corman directs 'The Masque of the Red Death,' a long-delayed Poe adaptation starring Vincent Price and featuring a screenplay by William Campbell based on Charles Beaumont's earlier drafts.
1964: Release of The Secret Invasion and Announcement of The Life of Robert E. Lee and Other Projects
Roger Corman directs 'The Secret Invasion,' a war film set in Yugoslavia and starring Stewart Granger and Mickey Rooney. The screenplay is written by William Campbell. Corman announces a four-picture deal with Filmgroup worth $3.75 million, including plans for 'The Life of Robert E. Lee.' He also reveals other projects like 'Fun and Profit,' 'The Wild Surfers,' and 'Planet of Storms,' as well as a potential Poe adaptation, 'The Gold Bug.' However, none of these films ultimately get made.
1964: Corman Receives Retrospectives
Roger Corman, at a young age, was honored with retrospectives of his work at the Cinémathèque Française, the British Film Institute, and the Museum of Modern Art.
August 1965: Corman Signs with United Artists and Columbia
Roger Corman signs a two-picture deal with United Artists over three years. He also signs with Columbia to make a Western titled 'The Long Ride Home,' with a screenplay written by Robert Towne.
1965: Release of The Tomb of Ligeia
Roger Corman directs 'The Tomb of Ligeia,' another Poe adaptation starring Vincent Price. Robert Towne writes the screenplay for this film. Following 'Ligeia,' Corman ceases making Poe adaptations, despite AIP's continuation of the cycle without him in the late 1960s.
1965: Voyage to the Prehistoric Planet
Roger Corman finances and releases "Voyage to the Prehistoric Planet," an English-dubbed version of the Soviet film "Planeta Bur" with additional footage directed by Curtis Harrington.
1965: Release of Beach Ball
Roger Corman invests in the beach party film 'Beach Ball.'
June 1966: Corman Leaves The Long Ride Home and is Replaced by Phil Karlson
Roger Corman starts directing 'The Long Ride Home' at Columbia with Glenn Ford in the lead role. However, a few weeks into filming, he departs from the project and is replaced by Phil Karlson.
1966: Release of The Wild Angels and Premiere at Venice Film Festival
After a year-long break from directing, Roger Corman directs 'The Wild Angels,' considered the first biker movie, starring Peter Fonda and Nancy Sinatra. Charles B. Griffith writes the screenplay, and Peter Bogdanovich works as Corman's assistant. The film premieres at the Venice Film Festival and becomes a box office hit, grossing over $6 million on a $350,000 budget. It significantly impacts the emergence of the 'biker movie' genre.
1966: Queen of Blood and Blood Bath
Corman releases two more films utilizing Soviet footage: "Queen of Blood," mostly new footage directed by Curtis Harrington, and "Blood Bath," an adapted Yugoslavian film with additional footage shot by Stephanie Rothman and Jack Hill.
1966: Release of Queen of Blood
Curtis Harrington uses footage from 'Planeta Bur' to create another film, 'Queen of Blood,' financed by Roger Corman.
1966: Corman Proposes New Projects, But Faces Rejections and Delays
Following the success of 'The Wild Angels,' Roger Corman aims to make a film about the Red Baron but faces rejection from Columbia due to the recent release of 'The Blue Max.' He then proposes a film about the St. Valentine's Day Massacre and an adaptation of the novel 'Only Lovers Left Alive,' with Nick Ray initially slated to direct the latter in Britain. However, these projects experience setbacks and delays.
September 1967: Studio Plans Announced
Roger Corman announces plans to build a new film studio. However, this would not come to fruition for several years.
1967: Release of A Time for Killing
'The Long Ride Home,' now retitled 'A Time for Killing,' is released under the direction of Phil Karlson after Roger Corman's departure from the project.
1967: Financing Genre Films
Corman finances several genre films, including "Navy vs. the Night Monsters," two Westerns directed by Monte Hellman and written and co-produced by Jack Nicholson ("The Shooting" and "Ride in the Whirlwind"), and "Devil's Angels," a biker film directed by Daniel Haller and written by Robert Thom.
1967: Voyage to the Planet of Prehistoric Women
Corman releases another dubbed version of "Planeta Bur," titled "Voyage to the Planet of Prehistoric Women," with additional footage directed by Peter Bogdanovich.
1967: The St. Valentine's Day Massacre
Roger Corman directs "The St. Valentine's Day Massacre," a studio film for 20th Century Fox, starring Jason Robards and George Segal. Despite not enjoying the restrictions of studio filmmaking, he completes the film under budget.
1967: Release of It's a Bikini World
Roger Corman invests in another beach party film, 'It's a Bikini World.'
1968: Target: Harry and Targets
Corman directs "Target: Harry" for American TV, shot in Europe. He also finances Peter Bogdanovich's first feature film, "Targets," which incorporates footage from Corman's earlier film "The Terror."
1968: The Wild Racers
Roger Corman finances "The Wild Racers," a car racing film directed by Daniel Haller and shot in Europe.
1969: Uncredited Work on De Sade
Corman does uncredited directing work on AIP's "De Sade" when the original director, Cy Endfield, falls ill.
May 1970: New World Pictures Founded
Roger Corman establishes New World Pictures, an independent production and distribution company.
July 1970: Von Richthofen and Brown
Filming begins in Ireland for Corman's passion project, "Von Richthofen and Brown," a film about the Red Baron, financed by United Artists. The production is marred by several plane crashes, resulting in one fatality.
1970: Bloody Mama
Corman directs "Bloody Mama," a gangster film for AIP starring Shelley Winters and a young Robert De Niro. It becomes a box office success.
1970: The Dunwich Horror
Corman produces "The Dunwich Horror" for AIP, directed by Daniel Haller and co-written by Curtis Hanson.
1970: Corman Marries Julie Halloran
Roger Corman married Julie Halloran. They had four children together.
1971: Break from Directing
Corman decides to take a break from directing, finding the process "very hard and very painful." He shifts his focus towards producing, which he considers "easy."
1971: Early Successes
New World Pictures achieves early success with "Angels Die Hard," a biker film, and "The Student Nurses," directed by Stephanie Rothman.
1972: Boxcar Bertha
Corman produces "Boxcar Bertha" at AIP, the second feature film directed by Martin Scorsese and starring David Carradine.
1972: New World Pictures Distributes "Cries and Whispers"
Roger Corman's New World Pictures acquired the distribution rights to Ingmar Bergman's "Cries and Whispers" for $75,000, achieving significant financial success with over $2 million in U.S. box office earnings.
1973: Sweet Kill
Corman finances the directorial debut of Curtis Hanson with "Sweet Kill," produced by Corman protégée Tamara Asseyev.
1974: Big Bad Mama
"Big Bad Mama," a gangster film directed by Steve Carver and starring Angie Dickinson, becomes a big hit for New World Pictures.
1974: New World Pictures Releases "Fantastic Planet"
Roger Corman's New World Pictures released the animated science fiction film "Fantastic Planet", further expanding the company's distribution of foreign and independent films.
1975: Corman Directs "Capone" for 20th Century Fox
As part of a four-picture deal with 20th Century Fox, Roger Corman directed the biographical crime film "Capone".
1975: New World's Continued Success
Corman's New World Pictures solidifies its position as a leading independent film company in the country, known for its efficient low-budget productions and consistent profitability.
1975: "Death Race 2000" Released, Inspiring Car Chase Film Trend
Roger Corman produced the dystopian action film "Death Race 2000", directed by Paul Bartel, which became a box office hit and spurred a wave of car chase movies.
1975: Corman Releases "Tidal Wave"
Roger Corman released the Japanese disaster film "Tidal Wave" after adding additional footage.
1976: Corman Produces "Fighting Mad" and "Moving Violation"
Continuing his four-picture deal with 20th Century Fox, Roger Corman produced "Fighting Mad", directed by Jonathan Demme, and "Moving Violation".
1976: Corman Gives Dante and Arkush Directorial Debut with "Hollywood Boulevard"
Recognizing the talents of Joe Dante and Alan Arkush, who were cutting trailers for New World Pictures, Roger Corman gave them their first directorial opportunity with "Hollywood Boulevard". The film, made from outtakes of other New World productions, proved successful.
1976: Release of "Cannonball," "Eat My Dust!", and "The Great Texas Dynamite Chase"
Roger Corman produced "Cannonball" directed by Paul Bartel, and "Eat My Dust!" directed by Charles B. Griffith and starring Ron Howard. Both films capitalized on the car chase movie trend initiated by "Death Race 2000". Additionally, "The Great Texas Dynamite Chase", another car chase film, was released this year.
1976: Release of "Jackson County Jail"
Roger Corman released the women-in-prison exploitation film "Jackson County Jail".
1977: Corman Produces "Thunder and Lightning"
Concluding his four-picture deal with 20th Century Fox, Roger Corman produced the action film "Thunder and Lightning".
1978: Joe Dante Directs "Piranha"
Following the success of "Hollywood Boulevard", Joe Dante was given the opportunity to direct the horror film "Piranha" for Roger Corman's New World Pictures.
1978: Release of "Grand Theft Auto" and "Deathsport"
Ron Howard made his directorial debut with "Grand Theft Auto," a follow-up to his earlier acting role in "Eat My Dust!". Another car chase film, "Deathsport", was also released, continuing the trend.
1978: Hollywood's Wild Angel Documentary Released
The documentary "Roger Corman: Hollywood's Wild Angel", produced and directed by Christian Blackwood, was released.
1979: Alan Arkush Directs "Rock 'n' Roll High School"
Building on the success of "Hollywood Boulevard", Alan Arkush directed the musical comedy "Rock 'n' Roll High School" for New World Pictures.
1979: John Sayles Writes "The Lady in Red" for Corman
John Sayles, discovered by Corman's story editor, Frances Doel, wrote the crime drama "The Lady in Red" for Roger Corman. The film was directed by Lewis Teague and featured the first score by James Horner.
1979: Corman Directs "Fast Charlie... the Moonbeam Rider" and Produces "Saint Jack"
Roger Corman directed "Fast Charlie... the Moonbeam Rider" for Universal Pictures, starring David Carradine. He also produced Peter Bogdanovich's "Saint Jack".
1979: Corman Releases "Avalanche," a Box Office Flop
Roger Corman produced and released the disaster film "Avalanche", directed by Corey Allen, which suffered a significant financial loss, grossing only $87,000 against a budget of $6.5 million.
1980: Corman Makes "The Georgia Peaches" for CBS
Roger Corman directed the television film "The Georgia Peaches" for CBS.
1980: Controversy Surrounds Corman's "Humanoids from the Deep" and "Galaxy of Terror"
Roger Corman faced criticism for adding a rape scene to "Humanoids from the Deep" and for a scene in "Galaxy of Terror" involving a rape and death scene with actress Taaffe O'Connell and a worm-monster, raising ethical concerns about exploitation and consent.
1981: Release of "Smokey Bites the Dust"
"Smokey Bites the Dust", a film influenced by the popularity of car chase movies, was released.
1981: London Retrospective Inspires New Company Name
A retrospective of Roger Corman's work was held at the National Film Theatre in London, inspiring the name of his new production company, "Millennium."
1981: Footage and Music from "Battle Beyond the Stars" Reused
Capitalizing on the success of "Battle Beyond the Stars," Roger Corman reused footage and the music score from the film in other productions, including "Galaxy of Terror".
1981: "Battle Beyond the Stars" Released, Prompts Studio Purchase
Driven by the success of "Star Wars", Roger Corman produced "Battle Beyond the Stars", New World Pictures' most expensive film to date. The film's extensive special effects requirements led Corman to purchase a movie studio in Venice, California.
1982: "Forbidden World" Released, Utilizing "Battle Beyond the Stars" Assets
Roger Corman produced and released "Forbidden World", which reused footage and music from his earlier film "Battle Beyond the Stars".
January 1983: Corman Sells New World Pictures
Roger Corman sold New World Pictures to a consortium of lawyers for $16.9 million.
1983: Corman Acquires and Releases "The Personals"
Roger Corman acquired and released the film "The Personals", which achieved commercial success.
1983: Millennium Releases "Space Raiders"
Roger Corman's new production company, Millennium, released the science fiction film "Space Raiders", utilizing footage and music from "Battle Beyond the Stars".
March 1984: Corman's Distribution Agreement with New World Ends
Roger Corman's agreement with New World Pictures to distribute his films concluded.
1984: Millennium Renamed New Horizons
Due to difficulties with the name "Millennium", Roger Corman changed the name of his production company to New Horizons.
1984: Release of Hardbodies
Roger Corman produced Hardbodies, which was distributed by Columbia Pictures, leading to disputes with New World Pictures.
1984: Millennium Releases Diverse Range of Films
Roger Corman's Millennium production company released a diverse range of films, including "Love Letters", a serious drama directed by Amy Holden Jones; "Screwballs", a sex comedy; "Suburbia", directed by Penelope Spheeris; "Deathstalker"; and "The Warrior and the Sorceress", originally titled "Kain of Dark Planet."
March 1985: Establishment of Concorde Pictures
Following the lawsuit with New World Pictures, Roger Corman established Concorde Pictures, a new distribution cooperative aimed at providing affordable distribution for producers.
March 1985: Lawsuit with New World Pictures
Roger Corman and New World Pictures sued each other over distribution agreements and alleged breaches of contract.
1985: Early Concorde Releases
Concorde Pictures released several films, including Loose Screws, a sequel to Screwballs, and Streetwalkin', a drama directed by Joan Freeman.
1986: Expansion into South America
Corman financed Cocaine Wars, marking the beginning of his film productions in South America.
1987: International Productions and Genre Expansion
Concorde Pictures released Hour of the Assassin, filmed in Peru and directed by Luis Llosa, and Munchies, a comedy spoofing Gremlins.
1987: Continued Genre Filmmaking
Roger Corman produced several films, including Sweet Revenge, Big Bad Mama II, and Hour of the Assassin, directed by Luis Llosa, marking the start of his productions in Peru.
1988: Genre Film Production and Directorial Collaborations
Corman remade Not of this Earth, released Big Bad Mama II, and produced Slumber Party Massacre II and Andy Colby's Incredible Adventure, both directed by Deborah Brock. He also financed early films by Carl Franklin and Katt Shea.
1989: Further Genre Film Production and Collaboration
Corman released Transylvania Twist, produced another version of Masque of the Red Death, and financed Nowhere to Run, directed by Carl Franklin, and Stripped to Kill and its sequel, both directed by Katt Shea. Concorde also had a major success with Bloodfist, leading to a long-term contract with its star, Don "the Dragon" Wilson, and several sequels.
1990: Release of Overexposed
Concorde Pictures released Overexposed, continuing their production of genre films.
1990: Corman Wins Lifetime Achievement Award
Roger Corman received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Stockholm International Film Festival.
1990: Directorial Return and International Productions
Roger Corman returned to directing with Frankenstein Unbound and continued filming in Peru with Crime Zone, directed by Luis Llosa, and Full Fathom Five, directed by Carl Franklin. Concorde also sued MGM for $6 million.
1991: Release of The Unborn and Fire on the Amazon
Concorde Pictures released The Unborn, a horror film. Corman financed Fire on the Amazon, featuring early roles for Sandra Bullock and Craig Sheffer.
1992: Release of In the Heat of Passion
Concorde Pictures released In the Heat of Passion, continuing their production of genre films.
1993: Success of Carnosaur and its Sequels
Concorde Pictures achieved a significant hit with Carnosaur, leading to the production of several sequels.
1995: Roger Corman Presents and Showtime Collaboration
Corman served as executive producer for Roger Corman Presents, a series of 13 films produced for Showtime with budgets of approximately $1.5 million each. The series aimed to deliver action, humor, and some titillation while incorporating a moral message. A second season followed with 11 more movies.
1995: Launch of Roger Corman's Cosmic Comics
Roger Corman launched his own comic book imprint, Roger Corman's Cosmic Comics, which produced comics based on his films in a bold and unrestrained style. The imprint featured notable creators such as Trevor Goring, James Kochalka, Jason Lutes, Pat Mills, Shane Oakley, Jerry Prosser, and J. R. Williams.
1996: Closure of Roger Corman's Cosmic Comics
Roger Corman's Cosmic Comics imprint ceased operations, leaving some titles, such as Death Race 2020, unfinished.
1997: Genre Evolution and Production of Overdrive and Moving Target
Corman produced Overdrive, released by Concorde-New Horizons, and Moving Target, filmed in County Galway, Ireland. Moving Target was Corman's last film produced with Concorde-New Horizons. He observed the evolution of genre films, noting their increased scale and quality.
1998: Corman Wins Cannes Producer's Award
Roger Corman won the first Producer's Award ever presented by the Cannes Film Festival.
2000: Death Race 2000 Released
Roger Corman produced "Death Race 2000", which starred David Carradine and Sylvester Stallone.
2001: Release of Raptor
Roger Corman produced Raptor, a creature film directed by Jim Wynorski, demonstrating his continued interest in the genre.
2001: Escape from Afghanistan Released
Roger Corman released the action film "Escape from Afghanistan", a Russian film utilizing footage from "Peshavar Waltz" with additional scenes.
2004: Success of Dinocroc
Corman produced Dinocroc, which aired on the Syfy channel and achieved sufficient popularity to spawn two sequels and a spin-off film.
2006: Corman Receives David O. Selznick Award and National Film Registry Recognition
Roger Corman received the David O. Selznick Award from the Producers Guild of America. His film "Fall of the House of Usher" was also selected for preservation in the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress.
2006: The Hunt for Eagle One Films Released
Roger Corman released two action films shot in the Phillipines: "The Hunt for Eagle One" and "The Hunt for Eagle One: Crash Point".
2006: Corman Discusses Overseas Filmmaking
Roger Corman stated that he produced 60% of his films overseas due to the substantial subsidies offered by foreign countries.
2007: Production of Supergator
Corman produced Supergator despite its rejection by the Syfy channel, showcasing his determination to bring the film to audiences.
2008: Corman Makes Cameo in Rachel Getting Married
Roger Corman made a cameo appearance in Jonathan Demme's film "Rachel Getting Married", continuing a trend of cameo appearances in films directed by those who had worked with him earlier in their careers.
2008: Death Race Remake Released
Universal Pictures released "Death Race", a remake of Corman's 1975 film "Death Race 2000". Corman served as executive producer on the film starring Jason Statham. This led to two direct-to-video prequels and one sequel.
November 14, 2009: Corman Receives Academy Honorary Award
Roger Corman was awarded an Academy Honorary Award at the inaugural Governors Awards presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
2009: Splatter Web Series Released
Roger Corman produced and directed the web series "Splatter" for Netflix, alongside director Joe Dante. The series stars Corey Feldman and tells the haunting story of rock-and-roll legend Johnny Splatter.
2010: Release of Dinocroc Sequels and Spin-off
Corman released Dinocroc vs. Supergator and Dinoshark, capitalizing on the success of the original Dinocroc film.
2010: Corman Praises Avatar and Inception
Roger Corman cited James Cameron's "Avatar" (2009) and Christopher Nolan's "Inception" as examples of films with "great imagination and originality".
2010: Roger Corman's Cult Classics Launched
Roger Corman partnered with New Horizons Pictures and Shout! Factory to release new DVD and Blu-ray editions of his productions under the "Roger Corman's Cult Classics" label. The releases focused on films from the 1970s and 1980s produced through New World Pictures.
2010: Sharktopus Released
Roger Corman produced "Sharktopus" for the SyFy Channel.
2010: Corman Featured in A History of Horror and Inducted into Beverly Hills High School Hall of Fame
Roger Corman was interviewed by Mark Gatiss for the BBC documentary series "A History of Horror", with the second half of the second episode focusing on Corman's career. He was also inducted into the Beverly Hills High School Hall of Fame.
2011: Corman Contributes to Trailers From Hell
Roger Corman started contributing trailer commentaries to Joe Dante's web series "Trailers From Hell".
2011: Corman's World Documentary Released
The documentary "Corman's World" was released, which included portions of the 1978 film "Roger Corman: Hollywood's Wild Angel".
2012: Piranhaconda Released
Roger Corman produced "Piranhaconda" for the SyFy Channel.
2012: Corman Receives Filmmaker on the Edge Award
Roger Corman was honored with the Filmmaker on the Edge Award at the Provincetown International Film Festival.
2014: Operation Rogue Released
Roger Corman released the action film "Roger Corman's Operation Rogue".
2015: Fist of the Dragon Released
Roger Corman released the action film "Fist of the Dragon".
2017: Death Race 2050 Released
Roger Corman produced "Death Race 2050", a sequel to his 1975 film "Death Race 2000". This was his first film made with a major studio in over two decades.
2018: Corman Receives Extraordinary Contribution to Film Award
Roger Corman received the "Extraordinary Contribution to Film" award at the Austin Film Festival.
2019: The Masque of the Red Death Restored
The Academy Film Archive restored Roger Corman's film "The Masque of the Red Death".
2020: Fictional Date in Death Race 2020
This date refers to the fictional year in the comic book title Death Race 2020, published by Roger Corman's Cosmic Comics. It does not represent an actual event in Corman's history.
2022: Corman Participates in Sight & Sound Poll
Roger Corman participated in the Sight & Sound film polls, which are held every ten years to determine the greatest films of all time by surveying contemporary directors.
