Tom Tykwer

Biography

Tom Tykwer (German: [ˈtɪkvɐ]; born 23 May 1965) is a German film director, screenwriter, and composer. He is best known internationally for directing Run Lola Run (1998), Heaven (2002), Perfume: The Story of a Murderer (2006), and The International (2009).

Career Overview

Tom Tykwer has 90 screen credits in a career dating back to 1979. Their work spans 3 cinematic universes — most prominently The Matrix with 1 titles. Signature works include Perfume: The Story of a Murderer, Cloud Atlas, The International. Explore the interactive character relationship maps on each title page to trace how their roles connect across franchises.

Personal Facts

Known For: Directing
Gender: male
Known Credits: 90
Birth Date: 1965-05-23 00:00:00
Birth Place: Wuppertal, Germany

Known For

Associated Universes

Universe traveler — spans 3 universes

The Matrix (1 titles)
Heaven, Hell and Purgatory Collection (1 titles)
Tarantino Universe (1 titles)

Frequent Collaborators

Ben Whishaw (3 collaborations)
Javier Cámara (2 collaborations)
Joana Preiss (2 collaborations)
Alan Rickman (1 collaborations)
Rachel Hurd-Wood (1 collaborations)
Dustin Hoffman (1 collaborations)
John Hurt (1 collaborations)
Karoline Herfurth (1 collaborations)
David Calder (1 collaborations)
Simon Chandler (1 collaborations)

Credits

production (13 credits)
- Kochschule Schwarz
  
  producer
  
  production
  
  2026
- The Light
  
  producer
  
  production
  
  2025
- Lusala
  
  executive producer
  
  production
  
  2019
- Supa Modo
  
  producer
  
  production
  
  2018
- Babylon Berlin
  
  - Episode 8 (2017) ... executive producer production
  
  - Episode 7 (2017) ... executive producer production
  
  - Episode 6 (2017) ... executive producer production
  
  - Episode 5 (2017) ... executive producer production
  
  - Episode 4 (2017) ... executive producer production
  
  2017
- Something Necessary
  
  producer
  
  production
  
  2013
- Cloud Atlas
  
  producer
  
  production
  
  2012
- Soul Boy
  
  producer
  
  production
  
  2010
- The Heart Is a Dark Forest
  
  producer
  
  production
  
  2007
- A Friend of Mine
  
  producer
  
  production
  
  2006
- Soundless
  
  producer
  
  production
  
  2004
- Gigantic
  
  producer
  
  production
  
  1999
- Deadly Maria
  
  producer
  
  production
  
  1993
actors (18 credits)
- What is an Ocean… Reconnecting the Cast and Crew of Cloud Atlas
  Self - Interviewee
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2025
- Was heißt hier Ende? Der Filmkritiker Michael Althen
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2015
- How I Learned to Love the Numbers
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2014
- Rosakinder
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2012
- On the Other Side of the Screen: 100 Years of Moviemento Cinema
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2009
- Michael Ballhaus - Eine Reise durch mein Leben
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2008
- Auge in Auge - Eine deutsche Filmgeschichte
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2008
- Critic
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2008
- Ernst Lubitsch in Berlin: From Schönhauser Allee to Hollywood
  Himself
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2006
- Who is Helene Schwarz?
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2005
- In Free Fall - Tom Tykwer and the Cinema
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2004
- ZIBB
  
  - Episode 186 (2018) ... Self actor actors
  
  - Episode 63 (2017) ... Self actor actors
  
  - Episode 22 (2012) ... Self actor actors
  
  - Episode 242 (2010) ... Self actor actors
  
  2003
- The Johannes B. Kerner Show
  
  - Episode 74 (2006) ... Self actor actors
  
  - Episode 20 (2002) ... Self actor actors
  
  1998
- Kulturzeit
  
  - Episode 51 (2012) ... self actor actors
  
  - Episode 16 (2000) ... self actor actors
  
  1995
- Die Harald Schmidt Show
  
  - Episode 98 (2002) ... Self actor actors
  
  1995
- Morgenmagazin
  
  - Episode 24 (2010) ... self actor actors
  
  1992
- NDR Talk Show
  
  - Episode 15 (2006) ... Self actor actors
  
  1979
- Bambi
  
  - Episode 1 (2006) ... Self actor actors
  
  1948
writing (16 credits)
- The Light
  
  screenplay
  
  writing
  
  2025
- Looop Lapeta
  
  original story
  
  writing
  
  2022
- Babylon Berlin
  
  - Episode 12 (2022) ... writer writing
  
  - Episode 11 (2022) ... writer writing
  
  - Episode 10 (2022) ... writer writing
  
  - Episode 9 (2022) ... writer writing
  
  - Episode 8 (2022) ... writer writing
  
  2017
- A Hologram for the King
  
  screenplay
  
  writing
  
  2016
- Cloud Atlas
  
  screenplay
  
  writing
  
  2012
- Three
  
  screenplay
  
  writing
  
  2010
- Perfume: The Story of a Murderer
  
  screenplay
  
  writing
  
  2006
- Paris Je T'aime
  
  writer
  
  writing
  
  2006
- True
  
  screenplay
  
  writing
  
  2004
- The Princess and the Warrior
  
  screenplay
  
  writing
  
  2000
- Run Lola Run
  
  screenplay
  
  writing
  
  1998
- Winter Sleepers
  
  screenplay
  
  writing
  
  1997
- Life Is All You Get
  
  screenplay
  
  writing
  
  1997
- Deadly Maria
  
  screenplay
  
  writing
  
  1993
- Epilog
  
  writer
  
  writing
  
  1992
- Because
  
  writer
  
  writing
  
  1990
sound (16 credits)
- The Light
  
  original music composer
  
  sound
  
  2025
- The Matrix Resurrections
  
  original music composer
  
  sound
  
  2021
- Babylon Berlin
  
  - Episode 12 (2020) ... original music composer sound
  
  - Episode 11 (2020) ... original music composer sound
  
  - Episode 10 (2020) ... original music composer sound
  
  - Episode 9 (2020) ... original music composer sound
  
  - Episode 8 (2020) ... original music composer sound
  
  2017
- A Hologram for the King
  
  original music composer
  
  sound
  
  2016
- Cloud Atlas
  
  original music composer
  
  sound
  
  2012
- Three
  
  original music composer
  
  sound
  
  2010
- The International
  
  original music composer
  
  sound
  
  2009
- Perfume: The Story of a Murderer
  
  original music composer
  
  sound
  
  2006
- Paris Je T'aime
  
  music
  
  sound
  
  2006
- True
  
  original music composer
  
  sound
  
  2004
- The Princess and the Warrior
  
  original music composer
  
  sound
  
  2000
- Run Lola Run
  
  original music composer
  
  sound
  
  1998
- Winter Sleepers
  
  original music composer
  
  sound
  
  1997
- Deadly Maria
  
  original music composer
  
  sound
  
  1993
- Epilog
  
  original music composer
  
  sound
  
  1992
- Because
  
  original music composer
  
  sound
  
  1990
directing (22 credits)
- The Light
  
  director
  
  directing
  
  2025
- Babylon Berlin
  
  - Episode 12 (2022) ... director directing
  
  - Episode 11 (2022) ... director directing
  
  - Episode 10 (2022) ... director directing
  
  - Episode 9 (2022) ... director directing
  
  - Episode 8 (2022) ... director directing
  
  2017
- A Hologram for the King
  
  director
  
  directing
  
  2016
- Sense8
  
  - If All the World's a Stage, Identity Is Nothing But a Costume (2017) ... director directing
  
  - Just Turn the Wheel and the Future Changes (2015) ... director directing
  
  - What's Going On? (2015) ... director directing
  
  2015
- Cloud Atlas
  
  director
  
  directing
  
  2012
- Rosakinder
  
  director
  
  directing
  
  2012
- 60 Seconds of Solitude in Year Zero
  
  director
  
  directing
  
  2011
- Three
  
  director
  
  directing
  
  2010
- Germany ’09 – 13 Short Films About the State of the Nation
  
  director
  
  directing
  
  2009
- The International
  
  director
  
  directing
  
  2009
- Man in Things
  
  director
  
  directing
  
  2008
- Perfume: The Story of a Murderer
  
  director
  
  directing
  
  2006
- Paris Je T'aime
  
  director
  
  directing
  
  2006
- Cinema 16: European Short Films (European Edition)
  
  director
  
  directing
  
  2006
- True
  
  director
  
  directing
  
  2004
- Heaven
  
  director
  
  directing
  
  2002
- The Princess and the Warrior
  
  director
  
  directing
  
  2000
- Run Lola Run
  
  director
  
  directing
  
  1998
- Winter Sleepers
  
  director
  
  directing
  
  1997
- Deadly Maria
  
  director
  
  directing
  
  1993
- Epilog
  
  director
  
  directing
  
  1992
- Because
  
  director
  
  directing
  
  1990
creators (1 credits)
- Babylon Berlin
  
  creator
  
  creators
  
  2017
crew (3 credits)
- Soul Boy
  
  supervising technical director
  
  crew
  
  2010
- Inglourious Basterds
  
  thanks
  
  crew
  
  2009
- Downfall
  
  thanks
  
  crew
  
  2004
camera (1 credits)
- Zyklopen-Uschi
  
  assistant camera
  
  camera
  
  1984