---
name: "Edward Kitsis"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/edward-kitsis"
fi1m_id: "edward-kitsis"
imdb_id: "nm0457736"
tmdb_id: 1214366
wikidata_id: "Q713912"
roles: ["Writer","Producer"]
born: "4 February 1971"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 5
average_fi1m_score: 68
average_as: "writer"
average_over: 4
updated: "2026-10-07T04:02:45.684656+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Edward Kitsis

## Identity

Edward Kitsis

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/edward-kitsis
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** edward-kitsis
- **IMDb ID:** nm0457736
- **TMDB ID:** 1214366
- **Wikidata ID:** Q713912
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Kitsis, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q713912, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0457736/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/1214366

Writer and producer. Born 4 February 1971 in Minnesota, USA.

## Details

- **Work:** Writer, Producer
- **Born:** 4 February 1971, Minnesota, USA
- **Active:** 1998–present
- **Titles on Fi1m:** 5: 4 writing, 1 producing
- **Frequently works with:** [Adam Horowitz](https://film.one/person/adam-horowitz.md), [Craig Zisk](https://film.one/person/craig-zisk.md), [David Petrarca](https://film.one/person/david-petrarca.md), [Ellen S. Pressman](https://film.one/person/ellen-s-pressman.md), [Elodie Keene](https://film.one/person/elodie-keene.md), [Jack Bender](https://film.one/person/jack-bender.md), [James Duff](https://film.one/person/james-duff.md), [Jessica Queller](https://film.one/person/jessica-queller.md)
- **Average Fi1m score:** 68, as writer, over 4 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 2000s 74 (2), 2010s 62 (2), 2020s 50 (1)
- **Score spread:** 1 at 80+, 3 at 60–79, 0 under 60
- **Genres:** Drama 3, Action 1, Action & Adventure 1, Adventure 1, Mystery 1, Sci-Fi & Fantasy 1
- **Screen time:** 2 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $410m across 1 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Kitsis, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q713912, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0457736/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/1214366

## Streaming the US now

- **Disney+:** [*Lost*](https://film.one/tv/lost.md) (81), [*One Tree Hill*](https://film.one/tv/one-tree-hill.md) (66), [*Once Upon a Time*](https://film.one/tv/once-upon-a-time.md) (65), [*TRON: Legacy*](https://film.one/film/tron-legacy.md) (60)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Fi1m on Edward Kitsis

> Edward Kitsis writes fantasy with an interest in what people want from one another. With Adam Horowitz, he makes familiar stories inviting again, though the urge to connect everything too often means stopping to explain it.

In *Once Upon a Time* (2011), a familiar fairy-tale figure has to carry on living beyond the story we remember. Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz find a warm, workable premise there: recognition brings us in, and the possibility of someone behaving unexpectedly keeps us watching. We rate Kitsis as an emotionally attentive fantasy writer whose plots can require more explaining than they should. The appeal survives those interruptions, particularly when the cast makes the sillier moments enjoyable.

His writing credits include *One Tree Hill* (2003), where believable teenage hurt competes with familiar family quarrels and a shortage of humour. Kitsis and Horowitz joined *Lost* (2004) midway through its first series in 2005, as writers and producers. They were contributors to an existing programme, not its creators. We were frightened by *Lost* because its survival story made us care about the strangers facing it. Its habit of postponing answers can become wearing, but the ensemble gives us good reasons to stay.

The screenplay for *TRON: Legacy* (2010), written with Horowitz, put a father-and-son story inside a science-fiction sequel. After *Lost*, the pair created *Once Upon a Time*, making their interest in familiar stories and complicated connections the basis of a whole programme. Fairy-tale characters living in the modern world give the writers a clear way into questions of family and identity. It is a promising idea, but it needs the characters to hold our attention between explanations.

Too often, those explanations take over. The solemn fairy-tale flashbacks in *Once Upon a Time* slow the pleasure of seeing familiar figures find something new to do, while keeping their stories connected becomes a chore. The warmth survives, but the tangled plotting makes this a qualified recommendation for fantasy enthusiasts. Start with *Lost* for the stronger programme; come to Kitsis and Horowitz's fairy tales prepared to forgive the time spent sorting everyone out.

## Biography

Edward Kitsis is an American screenwriter and television producer. He was born on 4 February 1971 in Minnesota and graduated with a B.A. in radio, television and film from the University of Wisconsin–Madison in 1993, where he met his long-term writing partner Adam Horowitz.

After moving to Los Angeles, Kitsis and Horowitz began as assistants before writing for series including *Fantasy Island*, *Felicity* (1998), *Popular* (1999) and *Birds of Prey* (2002). They joined the writing and producing staff of *Lost* (2004) midway through its first season, rising to executive producer roles and contributing to 21 episodes. They later created and executive produced *Once Upon a Time* (2011) and wrote the screenplay for *TRON: Legacy* (2010). Kitsis has also written for *One Tree Hill* (2003) and other series.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com.*

## On Fi1m (5)

### Wrote (4) — the average rests on these

- *Once Upon a Time* (2011), Fi1m 65, Writer, Story, Creator, Executive Producer — [page](https://film.one/tv/once-upon-a-time.md)
- *TRON: Legacy* (2010), Fi1m 60, Story, Screenplay — [page](https://film.one/film/tron-legacy.md)
- *Lost* (2004), Fi1m 81, Supervising Producer, Writer, Co-Executive Producer, Executive Producer — [page](https://film.one/tv/lost.md)
- *One Tree Hill* (2003), Fi1m 66, Writer — [page](https://film.one/tv/one-tree-hill.md)

### Produced (1)

- *TRON: Ares* (2025), Fi1m 50, Co-Producer — [page](https://film.one/film/tron-ares.md)

## Complete filmography (16)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *TRON: Ares* (2025), Co-Producer — Fi1m 50, [page](https://film.one/film/tron-ares.md)
- *Amazing Stories* (2020), series, Executive Producer, Creator
- *Dead of Summer* (2016), series, Writer, Creator
- *Once Upon a Time in Wonderland* (2013), series, Writer, Creator
- *TRON: Uprising* (2012), series, Producer, Creator
- *Once Upon a Time* (2011), series, Writer, Executive Producer, Story, Creator — Fi1m 65, [page](https://film.one/tv/once-upon-a-time.md)
- *TRON: Legacy* (2010), Screenplay, Story — Fi1m 60, [page](https://film.one/film/tron-legacy.md)
- *Confessions of an American Bride* (2007), Writer
- *Life As We Know It* (2004), series, Writer, Producer
- *Lost* (2004), series, Writer, Producer, Supervising Producer, Co-Executive Producer, Executive Producer — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/tv/lost.md)
- *One Tree Hill* (2003), series, Writer — Fi1m 66, [page](https://film.one/tv/one-tree-hill.md)
- *Birds of Prey* (2002), series, Writer
- *Popular* (1999), series, Writer
- *Felicity* (1998), series, Writer
- *Fantasy Island* (1998), series, Writer
- *Black Sash*, series, Writer

## Gallery

- ![Adam Horowitz and Eddy Kitsis speaking at the 2012 WonderCon in Anaheim, California. Please attribute to Gage Skidmore if used elsewhere](https://film.one/media/person/100821/gallery-d6c268fb4ca9.jpg) Adam Horowitz and Eddy Kitsis speaking at the 2012 WonderCon in Anaheim, California. Please attribute to Gage Skidmore if used elsewhere — Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d7/Adam_Horowitz_%26_Eddy_Kitsis_%287002067289%29.jpg/1280px-Adam_Horowitz_%26_Eddy_Kitsis_%287002067289%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Edward Kitsis & Adam Horowitz speaking at the 2012 San Diego Comic-Con International in San Diego, California. Please attribute to Gage Skidmore if used els](https://film.one/media/person/100821/gallery-a31c31d15159.jpg) Edward Kitsis & Adam Horowitz speaking at the 2012 San Diego Comic-Con International in San Diego, California. Please attribute to Gage Skidmore if used els — Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c4/Adam_Horowitz_%26_Edward_Kitsis_%287600470422%29.jpg/1280px-Adam_Horowitz_%26_Edward_Kitsis_%287600470422%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Eddy Kitsis speaking at the 2012 WonderCon in Anaheim, California. Please attribute to Gage Skidmore if used elsewhere](https://film.one/media/person/100821/gallery-ef14bb75eb1a.jpg) Eddy Kitsis speaking at the 2012 WonderCon in Anaheim, California. Please attribute to Gage Skidmore if used elsewhere — Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8a/Eddy_Kitsis_%287002066505%29.jpg/1280px-Eddy_Kitsis_%287002066505%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Eddy Kitsis speaking at the 2012 WonderCon in Anaheim, California. Please attribute to Gage Skidmore if used elsewhere](https://film.one/media/person/100821/gallery-81eee9f1f22f.jpg) Eddy Kitsis speaking at the 2012 WonderCon in Anaheim, California. Please attribute to Gage Skidmore if used elsewhere — Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/49/Eddy_Kitsis_%287002066889%29.jpg/1280px-Eddy_Kitsis_%287002066889%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Edward Kitsis](https://film.one/media/person/100821/gallery-c55df2380f28.jpg) Edward Kitsis — Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/87/Eddy_Kitsis_by_Gage_Skidmore.jpg/1280px-Eddy_Kitsis_by_Gage_Skidmore.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/edward-kitsis