Joseph Ruben has gained a reputation for his offbeat, psychological, and dark examinations of modern American family life. His 1987 film The Stepfather, which looks at an outwardly normal dad whose bland face masks the ruthless heart of a serial killer, has become a cult favorite and is a good example of his work. Before becoming a filmmaker, Ruben studied theater and film at the University of Michigan and earned a master’s degree at Brandeis University. He made his film debut in 1974 with The Sister-in-Law. Ruben had his first mainstream success with the Julia Roberts vehicle Sleeping With the Enemy.

Most of his earlier films are B movies, of which some, such as The Stepfather have become cult classics. In the 1990s, he went to direct high grossing mainstream films such as Sleeping with the Enemy starring Julia Roberts (which grossed over $100,000,000 at the box office), the controversial thriller The Good Son starring Macaulay Culkin and Elijah Wood, Money Train, and Return to Paradise. He frequently collaborates with film editor George Bowers.

He has won awards at various film festivals for his films The Stepfather, True Believer and Dreamscape. He will return to direct the serial killer thriller Jack after not working for six years. Ruben is also attached to direct the film The Politician’s Wife written by Nicholas Meyer.

The Forgotten (2004)
Return to Paradise (1998)
Money Train (1995)
The Good Son (1993)
Sleeping with the Enemy (1991)
True Believer (1989)
The Stepfather (1987)
Dreamscape (1984)
Breaking Away (1980) (unknown episodes)
Gorp (1980)
Our Winning Season (1978)
Joyride (1977)
The Pom Pom Girls (1976)
The Sister-in-Law (1974)