Leigh Whannell
WritingAbout 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.
Career Statistics & Market Influence
Analyzing the cinematic journey of Leigh Whannell reveals a career defined by diverse artistic exploration. With a total of 41 major appearances, the actor has established a significant footprint in global cinema.
Genre Dominance: Horror
The majority of Leigh Whannell's filmography leans towards the Horror genre. Audience data suggests that viewers respond most favorably to this persona, though their versatility has allowed for successful crossovers into other categories.
The "Box Office" Signature
With a 32% Success Ratio (movies rated above 6.5), Leigh Whannell remains a reliable draw for studios. Their peak performance was recorded in Saw, which continues to be the benchmark for their career rating-wise.
Best Leigh Whannell Movies Ranked
Must-watch hits from Leigh Whannell's career based on audience ratings.
Complete Filmography & Success Status
Tracking the career evolution and box office verdicts of Leigh Whannell.
| Year | Movie | Character | Success | More |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 Stanheight | 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 Faulkner-Stanheight | 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 | Flop | Similar → |
| 2002 | The PhanDom Menace | Self | Flop | Similar → |
| 1998 | Stygian | Clown / Punk Kid | Flop | 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 "Saw" with a rating of 7.4/10.
How many movies has Leigh Whannell acted in?
Leigh Whannell has been featured in at least 41 major films throughout their career.
What are some other popular movies by Leigh Whannell?
Other notable films include "78/52", "The Matrix Reloaded", and "Saw".