How did Matt Reeves transition from a sitcom showrunner to the director of big-budget sci-fi films? The moviemaker has been on the scene since the mid-90s, where his professional relationship with J.J. Abrams helped him land a gig directing Cloverfield in 2008. The found-footage monster movie wowed audiences, and it gave Reeves the boost he needed.
Fast forward just over a decade, and Reeves is now helming The Batman, the first installment in a DC revival of the Caped Crusader. His seventh feature film is one of the most highly anticipated superhero films of the new decade, and it's guaranteed to incorporate Reeves's unique blend of dark humor, action-packed sci-fi, and compelling characterizations.
Future Shock (1994)
Future Shock is a long-forgotten anthology film that features Reeves's first foray into big-screen work. Reeves directed and wrote the segment "Mr. Petrified Forest," which stars Sam Clay as a man going through an out-of-body experience.
The overarching frame story that connects Future Shock's three chapters involves a psychiatrist who uses virtual reality to infiltrate the minds of unsuspecting patients.
The Pallbearer (1996)
Reeves's first feature-length film is the rom-com The Pallbearer, which stars Gwyneth Paltrow and David Schwimmer. After agreeing to give the eulogy at the funeral of the high school "best friend" Schwimmer's character Tom doesn't remember, the aimless 20-something embarks on a bizarre journey that leads him back toward his old teenage crush Julie (Paltrow).
Reeves throws in a bit of the dark humor he's known for her, but The Pallbearer is a pretty standard fare entry for '90s rom-coms.
Relativity (1997)
Reeves directed the episode "Billable Hours" from the short-lived ABC sitcom Relativity. Produced by the same people responsible for the Claire Danes-led My So-Called Life, the show centers around a young couple trying their best to survive in late-90s Los Angeles.
Reeves likely landed the gig thanks to Jason Katims, the Relativity showrunner who co-wrote The Pallbearer's script.
Homicide: Life On The Street (1997)
That same year, Reeves also directed an episode of the long-running police procedural Homicide: Life on the Street. Set in Baltimore, the series is based on a 1991 book written by The Wire's creator David Simon.
Reeves helmed the season six episode "All is Bright," which focuses on a murder investigation during the holiday season.
Felicity (1998 - 2002)
With Felicity, which Reeves co-created with J.J. Abrams, the burgeoning director forged his own path. The very popular WB series stars Keri Russell as the titular character, a recent high school graduate who moves from Palo Alto, California to New York City for college.
During its four year run, Felicity earned numerous awards and accolades while making a star out of Russell.
Gideon's Crossing (2000)
Reeves directed the pilot for Gideon's Crossing, a medical drama that never took off and was canceled after its first season. The series stars Homicide: Life on the Street's Andre Braugher as Dr. Ben Gideon, the head oncology doctor at a fictional New England teaching hospital.
Gideon's Crossing is based on the experiences of real-life Harvard Medica School physician Dr. Jerome Groopman.
Miracles (2003)
After Gideon's Crossing, Reeves directed another pilot, this time for the supernatural mystery series Miracles. It stars Skeet Ulrich as a Catholic Church investigator of modern miracles who eventually breaks free from the church and joins an underground group of vigilante miracle hunters.
Even though the pilot garnered 10 million viewers, the show's ratings plummeted from there and it was never renewed past its original 13-episode run.
Conviction (2006)
Conviction is yet another one-season series whose pilot was directed by Reeves. This NBC legal drama is a Law & Order: SVU spin-off starring Stephanie March, who reprises her role as New York City Assistant District Attorney Alexandra Cabot.
Despite producer Dick Wolf's assertions that the show would be more character-driven than others like it, Conviction ultimately offered up more of the same.
Cloverfield (2008)
Reeves suddenly changed course in 2008, transitioning from TV to movies with the found-footage monster movie Cloverfield. This well-received and financially lucrative horror flick, produced by J.J. Abrams, showcases Reeves's ability to make explosive, action-packed features that still contain dynamic, rounded characters.
The success of Cloverfield led to the creation of a franchise, but Reeves was not involved in any of the sequels.
Let Me In (2010)
Let Me In is a remake of the acclaimed 2008 Swedish vampire movie Let The Right One In. With his reimagining, Reeves manages to preserve the most vital components of the original, namely its terrifying and dark anti-Hollywood tone, while breathing new life into it with an American twist.
Set in 1980s New Mexico, Let Me In tells the story of a bullied 12-year-old named Owen (Kodi Smit-McPhee) who develops a special bond with a child vampire named Abby (Chloë Grace Moretz).
Dawn Of The Planet Of The Apes (2014)
Reeves signed on to direct the second installment in Fox's most recent reboot of Planet of the Apes. In Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, Reeves appeals both to popcorn blockbuster lovers and moviegoers who like stories with developed characters and emotional resonance.
Set 10 years after the events in 2011's Rise of the Planet of the Apes, the film stars Andy Serkis, Jason Clarke, Keri Russel, and Gary Oldman; it shows humans and apes struggling to survive in the wake of the devastating plague seen in the previous movie.
War For The Planet Of The Apes (2017)
It's not surprising Reeves stayed on with the franchise after Dawn of the Planet of the Apes proved to be both a critical and box-office success. While War for the Planet of the Apes didn't make as much money as the second film, it received higher critical accolades - a major feat for the third film in a series.
With Andy Serkis returning as the ape Caesar, who is joined on the screen by Woody Harrelson and Steve Zahn, War for the Planet of the Apes dramatizes the final confrontation between humans and apes as they both vie for control of Earth.