Craig Johnson Popular Books

Craig Johnson Biography & Facts

Rian Craig Johnson (born December 17, 1973) is an American filmmaker. He made his directorial debut with the neo-noir mystery film Brick (2005), which received positive reviews and grossed nearly $4 million on a $450,000 budget. Transitioning to higher-profile films, Johnson achieved mainstream recognition for writing and directing the science-fiction thriller Looper (2012) to critical and commercial success. Johnson landed his largest project when he wrote and directed the space opera Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017), which grossed over $1 billion. He returned to the mystery genre with Knives Out (2019) and its sequel Glass Onion (2022), both of which earned him Academy Award nominations for Best Original Screenplay and Best Adapted Screenplay, respectively.Additionally, Johnson is also known for directing three highly acclaimed episodes for the television series Breaking Bad (2008–2013), namely "Ozymandias", "Fly", and "Fifty-One"; for the latter, he received the Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directing – Drama Series in 2013. He also created a murder mystery series titled Poker Face for Peacock with Natasha Lyonne. Johnson was named one of the 100 most influential people in the world by Time magazine in 2023. Early life Johnson was born on December 17, 1973, in Silver Spring, Maryland. He grew up in Denver, Colorado, until sixth grade, when he moved to San Clemente, California. He attended San Clemente High School (graduating in 1992), where Brick was predominantly filmed. He attended the University of Southern California and graduated from the USC School of Cinematic Arts in 1996. Johnson's second short film, Evil Demon Golfball from Hell!!!, loosely based on Edgar Allan Poe's "The Tell-Tale Heart", was included as an easter egg on the Looper Blu-ray. Career Johnson has said he was inspired to become a film director after seeing Woody Allen's 1977 film, Annie Hall. "It moved me in a way that very few other films have moved me. That's something that, I pray to God, if I am able to keep making movies, I can only hope, twenty years down the line maybe, I'll be able to approach."Johnson's debut film, Brick, is a crime drama released in 2005 and made for just under $500,000. Johnson has often said that he looked to the novels of Dashiell Hammett as inspiration for the film's unique use of language. While the film is classified as a film noir, Johnson claims that no references were made to film noir during production, so as to focus the production away from reproducing a genre piece. Brick was released on DVD by Focus Features.Johnson directed the video for the Mountain Goats' song "Woke Up New" in 2006. He is a professed fan of the band and was asked to direct the video when bandleader John Darnielle noticed a reference to them in the credits for Brick. A song is credited to "The Hospital Bombers Experience", which is a reference to the Mountain Goats song titled "The Best Ever Death Metal Band in Denton". Johnson also directed a live performance film of the Mountain Goats' 2009 album The Life of the World to Come. The film consists of a single shot, depicting Darnielle performing the entire album on guitar and piano with minimal accompaniment. This film was screened in New York City, Chicago, Seattle, and Portland, Oregon upon its completion, and was released as a limited edition DVD on Record Store Day (April 17, 2010). Johnson's second film, The Brothers Bloom, is a con-man story released in theaters in May 2009 to moderately positive critical reviews. On Metacritic, the film was assigned a weighted average score of 55 out of 100 based on 26 reviews from mainstream critics.In March 2010, Johnson announced that he was directing an episode of the TV series Breaking Bad for its third season. The episode, "Fly", aired on May 23, 2010. Johnson directed a second episode of the show, "Fifty-One", which aired on August 5, 2012, and earned him a Directors Guild of America Award. He directed a third episode, "Ozymandias", which received high praise from critics, frequently cited as being 'one of the best television episodes' to air.Johnson has made a number of short films, some of which are available on his website. His short film from high school titled Ninja Ko is available as an easter egg on the Brick DVD. The Brothers Bloom DVD features a short, Buster Keaton-esque silent film he made in college. After working with Joseph Gordon-Levitt on Brick, the two shot a short film in Paris, France titled Escargots. In 2002, he directed a short film titled The Psychology of Dream Analysis, which is available to view on his Vimeo account. Johnson directed the episode "Manifest Destiny" of the TV series Terriers. Johnson's third film, Looper, began shooting in Louisiana on January 24, 2011 and was released on September 28, 2012, by TriStar Pictures and FilmDistrict. Set in the near future, it has been described as dark science fiction, and involves hitmen whose victims are sent from the future. The film opened the 2012 Toronto International Film Festival and the 2012 Palo Alto International Film Festival. Looper was a surprise success at the box office. On June 20, 2014, news broke that Johnson would write and direct the eighth installment in the Star Wars film series. Johnson confirmed the report that following month and the film, Star Wars: The Last Jedi, was released on December 15, 2017, to positive reviews from critics and audiences. After Colin Trevorrow departed Episode IX, Johnson turned down an offer from Lucasfilm to write and direct the follow-up to The Last Jedi. On November 9, 2017, it was announced that Johnson would write a new trilogy of Star Wars films, separate from the main story arc of previous films in the franchise, and would direct the first installment of his trilogy.Following The Last Jedi, Johnson directed the murder mystery film Knives Out, starring Daniel Craig, Ana de Armas and Christopher Plummer. He penned the script and co-produced with longtime producing partner Ram Bergman. Knives Out was released on November 27, 2019, and was a major success with critics, as well as audiences, grossing over $300 million at the box office worldwide. It earned Johnson his first Academy Award nomination, for Best Original Screenplay.In September 2019, Johnson and producer Ram Bergman launched T-Street, a company that will generate original content for film and TV shows. The venture is fully capitalized by global media company Valence Media. T-Street launched with a first look deal with Valence Media's Media Rights Capital for film and television projects. Valence Media holds a substantial minority equity stake in the company. Johnson and Bergman intend to make their own original creations through the company, and produce others.Due to the success of Knives Out, Lionsgate announced that a sequel was officially approved in February 2020, with Johnson set to return to write and direct the film. In July 2020, Johnson directed a commercial for the aug.... Discover the Craig Johnson popular books. Find the top 100 most popular Craig Johnson books.

Best Seller Craig Johnson Books of 2024

  • The Great Race synopsis, comments

    The Great Race

    Aaron Noonan

    The cars, the stars, the thrills and the spills from 60 years of the Bathurst classic by Australia's premier motorsports journalist with a foreword by fivetime winner Garth TanderT...

  • Depth of Winter synopsis, comments

    Depth of Winter

    Craig Johnson

    “It’s the sceneryand the big guy standing in front of the scenerythat keeps us coming back to Craig Johnson’s lean and leathery mysteries.”  The New York Times Book ReviewWalt...

  • The Book-Makers synopsis, comments

    The Book-Makers

    Adam Smyth

    The fivehundredyear history of printed books, told through the people who created them Books tell all kinds of storiesromances, tragedies, comediesbut if we learn to read the signs...

  • Kindness Goes Unpunished synopsis, comments

    Kindness Goes Unpunished

    Craig Johnson

    Walt brings Westernstyle justice to Philadelphia in this actionpacked thriller from the New York Times bestselling author of Land of WolvesWalt Longmire has been Sheriff of Absarok...

  • Any Other Name synopsis, comments

    Any Other Name

    Craig Johnson

    “It’s the sceneryand the big guy standing in front of the scenerythat keeps us coming back to Craig Johnson’s lean and leathery mysteries.”  The New York Times Book ReviewA sh...

  • Next to Last Stand synopsis, comments

    Next to Last Stand

    Craig Johnson

    The new novel in the beloved New York Times bestselling Longmire series.One of the most viewed paintings in American history, Custer's Last Fight, copied and distributed by Anheuse...

  • With a Little Help from His Friends synopsis, comments

    With a Little Help from His Friends

    Rachel Schaffer

    Craig Johnson's Walt Longmire series features a protagonist who, together with his best friend, serves as champion of, intermediary between, and observer of a variety of nondominan...

  • The Longmire Defense synopsis, comments

    The Longmire Defense

    Craig Johnson

    Sheriff Walt Longmire uncovers a cold case that hits very close to home and forces him to put his life on the line with implications that some people would kill to keep buried fore...

  • See That My Grave Is Kept Clean synopsis, comments

    See That My Grave Is Kept Clean

    Bart Paul

    "Mr. Paul, a veteran rancher as well as an author, writes fine action scenes, and his descriptions of nature and animals can seem just as thrilling." Tom Nolan, Wall Street Journal...

  • The Western Star synopsis, comments

    The Western Star

    Craig Johnson

    The thirteenth novel in Craig Johnson's beloved New York Times bestselling Longmire series, the basis for the hit Netflix series LongmireSheriff Walt Longmire is enjoying a celebra...

  • Daughter of the Morning Star synopsis, comments

    Daughter of the Morning Star

    Craig Johnson

    A new novel in the beloved New York Times bestselling Longmire series.When Lolo Long's niece Jaya begins receiving death threats, Tribal Police Chief Long calls on Absaroka County ...

  • Death Without Company synopsis, comments

    Death Without Company

    Craig Johnson

    Walt investigates a death by poison in this gripping novel from the New York Times bestselling author of Depth of WinterDeath Without Company is the second in the Longmire ser...

  • Riverwatcher synopsis, comments

    Riverwatcher

    Ronald Weber

    Lottery winner and exjournalist Donal Fitzgerald joins forces with his girlfriend, DNR conservation officer Mercy Virdon, to solve the mysterious death of a beloved angler, Charlie...

  • Junkyard Dogs synopsis, comments

    Junkyard Dogs

    Craig Johnson

    From the New York Times bestselling author of Land of Wolves, a modernday ranch war takes place in the sixth Longmire novel Junkyard Dogs, the sixth installment in t...

  • Hell Is Empty synopsis, comments

    Hell Is Empty

    Craig Johnson

    Walt Longmire faces an icy hell in this New York Times bestseller from the author of Land of WolvesWellread and worldweary, Sheriff Walt Longmire has been maintaining order in Wyom...

  • Northwoods synopsis, comments

    Northwoods

    Amy Pease

    “A novel you absolutely don’t want to miss.” William Kent Krueger, New York Times bestselling authorThe dark underbelly of an idyllic Midwestern resort town is revealed in the afte...

  • The Dark Horse synopsis, comments

    The Dark Horse

    Craig Johnson

    Walt doubts a confession of murder in this novel from the New York Times bestselling author of The Western StarFans of Ace Atkins, Nevada Barr and Robert B. Parker will love The Da...

  • The Cold Dish synopsis, comments

    The Cold Dish

    Craig Johnson

    Introducing Wyoming’s Sheriff Walt Longmire in this riveting first Longmire novel from the New York Times bestselling author of Land of WolvesFans of Ace Atkins, Nevada B...

  • Montana synopsis, comments

    Montana

    William W. Johnstone & J.A. Johnstone

    Two families. Nine generations. One stretch of land under the Big Sky of Montana Territory. From national bestselling authors William W. Johnstone and J.A. Johnstone, a bold new sa...

  • An Obvious Fact synopsis, comments

    An Obvious Fact

    Craig Johnson

    In the twelfth Longmire novel, Walt, Henry, and Vic discover much more than they bargained for when they are called in to investigate a hitandrun accident involving a young motorcy...

  • State Minnesota v. Mark Craig Johnson synopsis, comments

    State Minnesota v. Mark Craig Johnson

    Supreme Court of North Carolina

    The decisive issue in this case is whether the stop, which led to the arrest and conviction of defendant for driving after revocation, was justified. The district court determined ...

  • Dry Bones synopsis, comments

    Dry Bones

    Craig Johnson

    Walt investigates the death elderly Cheyenne Danny Lone Elk and runs into problems on site of a dinosaur fossil discoveryfrom the New York Times bestselling author of Lan...

  • Unwinnable synopsis, comments

    Unwinnable

    Theo Farrell

    Afghanistan was an unwinnable war. As British and American troops withdraw, discover this definitive account that explains why. It could have been a very different story. British f...

  • Statesmanship synopsis, comments

    Statesmanship

    Various Authors

    No British periodical or weekly magazine has a richer and more distinguished archive than The New Statesman, which has long been at the centre of British political and cultural lif...

  • Bright Rivers synopsis, comments

    Bright Rivers

    Nick Lyons

    Bright Rivers chronicles the angling passions and frustrations of one of flyfishing's greatest men of letters.A city dweller trapped in the complexities of modern life, Nick Lyons ...

  • Hard Winter synopsis, comments

    Hard Winter

    William W. Johnstone & J.A. Johnstone

    From bestselling authors William W. and J.A. Johnstone comes the latest installment in a bold, new, generationsspanning saga of the American West set in historical Montana territor...

  • Hell and Back synopsis, comments

    Hell and Back

    Craig Johnson

    A new novel in the beloved New York Times bestselling Longmire series.What if you woke up lying in the middle of the street in the infamous town of Fort Pratt, Montana, where thirt...

  • Trail of the Fallen synopsis, comments

    Trail of the Fallen

    Bart Paul

    A suspensefilled western noir thriller set in California's Sierra mountainsfor readers of Craig Johnson and C. J. Box.Tommy Smith, former sniper and Army combat veteran, wants noth...

  • As the Crow Flies synopsis, comments

    As the Crow Flies

    Craig Johnson

    “It’s the sceneryand the big guy standing in front of the scenerythat keeps us coming back to Craig Johnson’s lean and leathery mysteries.” The New York Times Book ReviewThe e...

  • River of No Return synopsis, comments

    River of No Return

    David Riley Bertsch

    A Wyoming fishing guide must return to his investigative roots to find his best friend’s girlfriend in this “nonstop adventure and suspenseful pageturner that leaves the reader bre...

  • Fruit Compotes synopsis, comments

    Fruit Compotes

    Jenny Fox-Johnson

    A selection of recipes of fruit compotes developed by Jenny whilst creating the no added sugar simply fruit granolas. The no added sugar fruit compotes are delicious when served wi...

  • Land of Wolves synopsis, comments

    Land of Wolves

    Craig Johnson

    The new novel in Craig Johnson's beloved New York Times bestselling Longmire series."It's the sceneryand the big guy standing in front of the scenerythat keeps us coming back to Cr...