Leigh Whannell - Actor Profile

Leigh Whannell

Writing
Updated: May 09, 2026
42Total Films
8.0 Highest Rated
Born: Jan 17, 1977
Birth Place: Melbourne, Australia

About Leigh Whannell

Leigh Whannell (/ˈli ˈwɑːnɛl/; born 17 January 1977) is an Australian filmmaker and actor. He has written multiple films that were directed by his friend James Wan, including Saw (2004), Dead Silence (2007), Insidious (2010), and Insidious: Chapter 2 (2013). Whannell made his directorial debut with Insidious: Chapter 3 (2015) and has since directed three more films, Upgrade (2018), The Invisible Man (2020) and Wolf Man (2025). Whannell and Wan are the creators of the Saw franchise. Whannell wrote the first installment, co-wrote the second and third installments, was the producer or executive producer for all the films, and appeared as the Adam Stanheight character in three of the installments. He was also the writer of the Saw video game (2009) and co-writer of the film Cooties (2014). Description above from the Wikipedia article Leigh Whannell, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

Leigh Whannell Movies & Career Overview

The filmography of Leigh Whannell reflects a career marked by diverse experimentation. Across 42 major appearances, the actor has built a reputation through performances in multiple genres and storytelling styles.

Dominant Genre

A large portion of Leigh Whannell's work falls within the Horror genre, where audiences tend to respond most strongly to their on-screen presence.

Success Ratio

Approximately 38% of Leigh Whannell's films maintain ratings above 6.5, indicating a consistent level of audience approval.

One of the most highly rated entries in their career remains Stygian, which stands out as a key performance.

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Best Leigh Whannell Movies Ranked

Must-watch hits from Leigh Whannell's career based on audience ratings.

Full Filmography

Every movie Leigh Whannell has appeared in, with audience ratings and verdicts.

YearMovieCharacterSuccessMore
2025 Legacy of Screams: The Evolution of Horror Movies Self - (archive footage) Flop Similar →
2025 Wolf Man Dan (voice) Average Similar →
2023 Insidious: The Red Door Specs Hit Similar →
2020 Director’s Journal: Making The Invisible Man Self Flop Similar →
2018 Aquaman Cargo Pilot Hit Similar →
2018 Insidious: The Last Key Specs Average Similar →
2017 78/52 Self Hit Similar →
2017 Keep Watching Matt Flop Similar →
2017 The Bye Bye Man Larry Redmon Flop Similar →
2015 Game Changer: The Legacy of Saw Self Hit Similar →
2015 Lavalantula Darren Flop Similar →
2015 Insidious: Chapter 3 Specs Average Similar →
2014 Cooties Doug Average Similar →
2014 The Mule Gavin Ellis Average Similar →
2013 Insidious: Chapter 2 Specs Hit Similar →
2013 Raze Security Guard Flop Similar →
2013 The Pardon Clement Moss Flop Similar →
2013 Crush David Average Similar →
2012 The Debt Collector Donovan Average Similar →
2011 Dick Elves Larry Average Similar →
2011 Insidious Specs Hit Similar →
2010 Saw 3D Adam Stanheight (archive footage) (uncredited) Average Similar →
2010 Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole Jatt (voice) Hit Similar →
2009 The Last Supper Phillip Flop Similar →
2008 Doggie Heaven Neil Average Similar →
2008 Not Quite Hollywood Self Hit Similar →
2008 Dying Breed Matt Flop Similar →
2007 Death Sentence Spink Hit Similar →
2007 The Making of Dead Silence Self Average Similar →
2007 Making of Saw III Self Flop Similar →
2006 Saw III Adam Radford Average Similar →
2005 Full Disclosure Report Adam Faulkner-Stanheight Flop Similar →
2005 Saw II Adam Stanheight (voice) (uncredited) Hit Similar →
2005 Hacking Away at Saw Self Average Similar →
2004 Saw Adam Radford Hit Similar →
2004 One Perfect Day Chris Flop Similar →
2003 Saw David Hit Similar →
2003 Razor Eaters Nick D. Average Similar →
2003 The Matrix Reloaded Axel Hit Similar →
2003 The Referees Footy Mate Super Hit Similar →
2002 The PhanDom Menace Self Super Hit Similar →
1998 Stygian Clown / Punk Kid Super Hit Similar →

Leigh Whannell - Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best movie of Leigh Whannell?

According to audience ratings, the best movie starring Leigh Whannell is "Stygian" with a rating of 8.0/10.

How many movies has Leigh Whannell acted in?

Leigh Whannell has been featured in at least 42 major films throughout their career.

What are some other popular movies by Leigh Whannell?

Other notable films include "The PhanDom Menace", "The Referees", and "Saw".

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