---
name: "John Dahl"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/john-dahl"
fi1m_id: "john-dahl"
imdb_id: "nm0001093"
tmdb_id: 21053
wikidata_id: "Q1699742"
roles: ["Director"]
born: "11 December 1956"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 20
average_fi1m_score: 77
average_as: "director"
average_over: 20
updated: "2026-10-07T14:32:39.073241+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."
---

# John Dahl

## Identity

John Dahl

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/john-dahl
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** john-dahl
- **IMDb ID:** nm0001093
- **TMDB ID:** 21053
- **Wikidata ID:** Q1699742
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Dahl, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1699742, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001093/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/21053

Director. Born 11 December 1956 in Billings, Montana, USA.

## Details

- **Work:** Director
- **Born:** 11 December 1956, Billings, Montana, USA
- **Active:** 1993–present
- **Frequently works with:** [Guy Ferland](https://film.one/person/guy-ferland.md), [Adam Arkin](https://film.one/person/adam-arkin.md), [Clark Johnson](https://film.one/person/clark-johnson.md), [Dan Attias](https://film.one/person/dan-attias.md), [Félix Enríquez Alcalá](https://film.one/person/felix-alcala.md), [Gwyneth Horder-Payton](https://film.one/person/gwyneth-horder-payton.md), [Jeremy Podeswa](https://film.one/person/jeremy-podeswa.md), [Kevin Bray](https://film.one/person/kevin-bray.md)
- **Average Fi1m score:** 77, as director, over 20 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1990s 76 (2), 2000s 76 (6), 2010s 77 (11), 2020s 82 (1)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 77 to 71 across 18 titles
- **Score spread:** 8 at 80+, 12 at 60–79, 0 under 60
- **Genres:** Drama 18, Crime 11, Sci-Fi & Fantasy 7, Mystery 4, Action & Adventure 3, Comedy 3
- **Screen time:** 2 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $6m across 1 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Dahl, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1699742, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001093/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/21053

## Streaming the US now

- **Disney+:** [*The Americans*](https://film.one/tv/the-americans.md) (91), [*Justified*](https://film.one/tv/justified.md) (87), [*Homeland*](https://film.one/tv/homeland.md) (78)
- **Netflix:** [*Breaking Bad*](https://film.one/tv/breaking-bad.md) (91), [*Hannibal*](https://film.one/tv/hannibal-2013.md) (81)
- **Peacock:** [*Poker Face*](https://film.one/tv/poker-face.md) (82), [*Person of Interest*](https://film.one/tv/person-of-interest.md) (78)
- **Apple TV:** [*Outlander*](https://film.one/tv/outlander.md) (74), [*Dexter*](https://film.one/tv/dexter.md) (74)
- **Paramount+:** [*Battlestar Galactica*](https://film.one/tv/battlestar-galactica.md) (83)
- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*The Last Seduction*](https://film.one/film/the-last-seduction.md) (81)
- **HBO Max:** [*The Vampire Diaries*](https://film.one/tv/the-vampire-diaries.md) (71)

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

## Fi1m on John Dahl

> John Dahl is a deft director of liars, gamblers and people who ought to know better. We like his dry humour and attention to behaviour, though his television work can make his individual contribution harder to see.

Put two people opposite one another, give each a reason to lie, and John Dahl has something to work with. We rate him for the attention he pays to suspicion, and for finding humour in people behaving badly. *Kill Me Again* (1989), his directing debut, set out the greed and deceit. *Red Rock West* (1993) and *The Last Seduction* (1994) established his reputation, with Linda Fiorentino's performance in the latter a particular strength.

*Rounders* (1998) made poker another way for Dahl to put people under pressure. After *You Kill Me* (2007), his work shifted chiefly to television, including episodes of *Dexter* and *Breaking Bad*. It is a sensible home for a director interested in what people conceal from one another. The reservation is that being good at the job does not always make his contribution easy to recognise within somebody else's series.

The warm, funny crime series *Poker Face* (2023) is a good place to consider that distinction. Natasha Lyonne makes it excellent company, and the cases give the work of catching a killer time to become a pleasure in itself. We enjoyed it because Lyonne makes that investigative business worth watching, rather than merely a wait for the answer. Its combination of crime and humour suits Dahl's interests, though we would not give him all the credit for a programme whose appeal depends so heavily on its lead.

A few cases dawdle, particularly when they keep their most interesting person off screen. That is a meaningful flaw: once a series has made us want someone's company, time spent away from them needs to earn its place. It is a criticism of the programme, not a failing we can assign to Dahl from a directing credit alone. Nor is his move into episodic work itself a reason for disappointment; an interest in mistrust and an ability to direct actors remain useful there. Choose *Poker Face* for the company, and allow for the occasional slow case.

## Biography

John Dahl is an American film and television director and screenwriter. He was born in Billings, Montana, and trained at Montana State University and the American Film Institute.

Dahl is known for his early neo-noir feature films, including *Kill Me Again* (1989), which he also wrote, *Red Rock West* (1993) and *The Last Seduction* (1994). He later directed features such as *Rounders* (1998) and *You Kill Me* (2007) before moving primarily into television.

His television directing credits include episodes of *Yellowstone*, *The Walking Dead*, *Ray Donovan*, *Billions* and *Poker Face* (2025).

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

## On Fi1m (20)

- *Poker Face* (2023), Fi1m 82, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/poker-face.md)
- *For All Mankind* (2019), Fi1m 66, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/for-all-mankind-2019.md)
- *The Looming Tower* (2018), Fi1m 70, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/the-looming-tower.md)
- *Outlander* (2014), Fi1m 74, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/outlander.md)
- *Hannibal* (2013), Fi1m 81, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/hannibal-2013.md)
- *The Americans* (2013), Fi1m 91, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/the-americans.md)
- *Homeland* (2011), Fi1m 78, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/homeland.md)
- *Person of Interest* (2011), Fi1m 78, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/person-of-interest.md)
- *Shameless* (2011), Fi1m 70, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/shameless-2011.md)
- *Justified* (2010), Fi1m 87, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/justified.md)
- *Terriers* (2010), Fi1m 82, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/terriers.md)
- *The Walking Dead* (2010), Fi1m 68, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/the-walking-dead.md)
- *The Vampire Diaries* (2009), Fi1m 71, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/the-vampire-diaries.md)
- *Breaking Bad* (2008), Fi1m 91, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/breaking-bad.md)
- *True Blood* (2008), Fi1m 71, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/true-blood.md)
- *Californication* (2007), Fi1m 63, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/californication.md)
- *Dexter* (2006), Fi1m 74, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/dexter.md)
- *Battlestar Galactica* (2004), Fi1m 83, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/battlestar-galactica.md)
- *The Last Seduction* (1994), Fi1m 81, Director — [page](https://film.one/film/the-last-seduction.md)
- *Fallen Angels* (1993), Fi1m 72, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/fallen-angels-1993.md)

## Complete filmography (61)

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

- *M.I.A.* (2026), series, Director
- *Manhunt* (2024), series, Director, Executive Producer
- *Poker Face* (2023), series, Director — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/tv/poker-face.md)
- *Super Pumped: The Battle for Uber* (2022), series, Director
- *American Rust* (2021), series, Director
- *Servant* (2019), series, Director
- *For All Mankind* (2019), series, Director — Fi1m 66, [page](https://film.one/tv/for-all-mankind-2019.md)
- *Evil* (2019), series, Director
- *Yellowstone* (2018), series, Director
- *The Looming Tower* (2018), series, Director — Fi1m 70, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-looming-tower.md)
- *For Love* (2018), Director
- *SEAL Team* (2017), series, Director
- *The Good Doctor* (2017), series, Director
- *Marvel's Iron Fist* (2017), series, Director
- *Billions* (2016), series, Director
- *Marvel's Jessica Jones* (2015), series, Director
- *Aquarius* (2015), series, Director
- *The Man vs. The Machine* (2014), Executive Producer
- *The Affair* (2014), series, Director
- *Kingdom* (2014), series, Director
- *Outlander* (2014), series, Director — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/tv/outlander.md)
- *The Strain* (2014), series, Director
- *The Bridge* (2013), series, Director
- *Ray Donovan* (2013), series, Director
- *Hannibal* (2013), series, Director — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/tv/hannibal-2013.md)
- *House of Cards* (2013), series, Director
- *The Americans* (2013), series, Director — Fi1m 91, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-americans.md)
- *Arrow* (2012), series, Director
- *House of Lies* (2012), series, Director
- *Homeland* (2011), series, Director — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/tv/homeland.md)
- *Cooper and Stone* (2011), Director
- *Person of Interest* (2011), series, Director — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/tv/person-of-interest.md)
- *Falling Skies* (2011), series, Director
- *Shameless* (2011), series, Director — Fi1m 70, [page](https://film.one/tv/shameless-2011.md)
- *The Walking Dead* (2010), series, Director — Fi1m 68, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-walking-dead.md)
- *Hellcats* (2010), series, Director
- *Terriers* (2010), series, Director — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/tv/terriers.md)
- *Justified* (2010), series, Director — Fi1m 87, [page](https://film.one/tv/justified.md)
- *Caprica* (2010), series, Director
- *The Vampire Diaries* (2009), series, Director — Fi1m 71, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-vampire-diaries.md)
- *United States of Tara* (2009), series, Director
- *Chance* (2009), Director
- *True Blood* (2008), series, Director — Fi1m 71, [page](https://film.one/tv/true-blood.md)
- *Fear Itself* (2008), series, Director
- *Breaking Bad* (2008), series, Director — Fi1m 91, [page](https://film.one/tv/breaking-bad.md)
- *Life* (2007), series, Director
- *Californication* (2007), series, Director — Fi1m 63, [page](https://film.one/tv/californication.md)
- *You Kill Me* (2007), Director
- *Dexter* (2006), series, Director — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/tv/dexter.md)
- *The Great Raid* (2005), Director
- *Tilt* (2005), series, Director
- *Battlestar Galactica* (2004), series, Director — Fi1m 83, [page](https://film.one/tv/battlestar-galactica.md)
- *Joy Ride* (2001), Director
- *Rounders* (1998), Director
- *Unforgettable* (1996), Director
- *The Last Seduction* (1994), Director — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/film/the-last-seduction.md)
- *Fallen Angels* (1993), series, Director — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/tv/fallen-angels-1993.md)
- *Red Rock West* (1993), Director, Writer
- *Kill Me Again* (1989), Director, Writer
- *Alle elsker Debbie* (1988), series, Director of Photography
- *P.I. Private Investigations* (1987), Writer

## Gallery

- ![PHOTO CREDIT: ANDERS KRUSBERG / PEABODY AWARDS Connor Schell. Bill Simmons and John Dahl 70th Annual Peabody Awards Luncheon Waldorf=Astoria Hotel May 23, 2011](https://film.one/media/person/46494/gallery-3a56804214c5.jpg) PHOTO CREDIT: ANDERS KRUSBERG / PEABODY AWARDS Connor Schell. Bill Simmons and John Dahl 70th Annual Peabody Awards Luncheon Waldorf=Astoria Hotel May 23, 2011 — Peabody Awards, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8d/Connor_Schell%2C_Bill_Simmons_and_John_Dahl%2C_May_2011.jpg/1280px-Connor_Schell%2C_Bill_Simmons_and_John_Dahl%2C_May_2011.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![PHOTO CREDIT: ANDERS KRUSBERG / PEABODY AWARDS Connor Schell. Bill Simmons and John Dahl 70th Annual Peabody Awards Luncheon Waldorf=Astoria Hotel May 23, 2011](https://film.one/media/person/46494/gallery-b551ee7eefea.jpg) PHOTO CREDIT: ANDERS KRUSBERG / PEABODY AWARDS Connor Schell. Bill Simmons and John Dahl 70th Annual Peabody Awards Luncheon Waldorf=Astoria Hotel May 23, 2011 — Peabody Awards, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4c/Connor_Schell%2C_Bill_Simmons_and_John_Dahl%2C_May_23%2C_2011.jpg/1280px-Connor_Schell%2C_Bill_Simmons_and_John_Dahl%2C_May_23%2C_2011.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![PHOTO CREDIT: ANDERS KRUSBERG / PEABODY AWARDS Connor Schell. Bill Simmons and John Dahl with the Peabody for 30 for 30 70th Annual Peabody Awards Luncheon Wald (2011)](https://film.one/media/person/46494/gallery-c0a90de7bb0a.jpg) PHOTO CREDIT: ANDERS KRUSBERG / PEABODY AWARDS Connor Schell. Bill Simmons and John Dahl with the Peabody for 30 for 30 70th Annual Peabody Awards Luncheon Wald (2011) — The Peabody Awards, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/59/Connor_Schell%2C_Bill_Simmons_and_John_Dahl_at_the_70th_Annual_Peabody_Awards.jpg/1280px-Connor_Schell%2C_Bill_Simmons_and_John_Dahl_at_the_70th_Annual_Peabody_Awards.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![PHOTO CREDIT: ANDERS KRUSBERG / PEABODY AWARDS Connor Schell. Bill Simmons, John Dahl and Raúl Garza, 70th Annual Peabody Awards Luncheon Waldorf=Astoria Hotel  (2011)](https://film.one/media/person/46494/gallery-bad2e14da60f.jpg) PHOTO CREDIT: ANDERS KRUSBERG / PEABODY AWARDS Connor Schell. Bill Simmons, John Dahl and Raúl Garza, 70th Annual Peabody Awards Luncheon Waldorf=Astoria Hotel  (2011) — Peabody Awards, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/80/Connor_Schell._Bill_Simmons%2C_John_Dahl_and_Ra%C3%BAl_Garza%2C_May_2011_%281%29.jpg/1280px-Connor_Schell._Bill_Simmons%2C_John_Dahl_and_Ra%C3%BAl_Garza%2C_May_2011_%281%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![PHOTO CREDIT: ANDERS KRUSBERG / PEABODY AWARDS Connor Schell. Bill Simmons, John Dahl and Raúl Garza, 70th Annual Peabody Awards Luncheon Waldorf Astoria Hotel  (2011)](https://film.one/media/person/46494/gallery-911bdef17b25.jpg) PHOTO CREDIT: ANDERS KRUSBERG / PEABODY AWARDS Connor Schell. Bill Simmons, John Dahl and Raúl Garza, 70th Annual Peabody Awards Luncheon Waldorf Astoria Hotel  (2011) — Peabody Awards, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b7/Connor_Schell._Bill_Simmons%2C_John_Dahl_and_Ra%C3%BAl_Garza%2C_May_2011_%282%29.jpg/1280px-Connor_Schell._Bill_Simmons%2C_John_Dahl_and_Ra%C3%BAl_Garza%2C_May_2011_%282%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![PHOTO CREDIT: ANDERS KRUSBERG / PEABODY AWARDS Connor Schell. Bill Simmons, John Dahl and Raúl Garza, 70th Annual Peabody Awards Luncheon Waldorf=Astoria Hotel  (2011)](https://film.one/media/person/46494/gallery-82dd27d1b16b.jpg) PHOTO CREDIT: ANDERS KRUSBERG / PEABODY AWARDS Connor Schell. Bill Simmons, John Dahl and Raúl Garza, 70th Annual Peabody Awards Luncheon Waldorf=Astoria Hotel  (2011) — Peabody Awards, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/17/Connor_Schell._Bill_Simmons%2C_John_Dahl_and_Ra%C3%BAl_Garza%2C_May_2011_%283%29.jpg/1280px-Connor_Schell._Bill_Simmons%2C_John_Dahl_and_Ra%C3%BAl_Garza%2C_May_2011_%283%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)

## Awards

### Other awards — 5 won

- American Film Institute Awards 2003: American Film Institute Awards (won)
- Cognac Festival du Film Policier 1997: Cognac Festival du Film Policier (won)
- 1994 Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards 1994: 1994 Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards (won)
- Cognac Festival du Film Policier 1994: Cognac Festival du Film Policier (won)
- Cognac Festival du Film Policier 1990: Cognac Festival du Film Policier (won)

*From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.*

---
© 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/john-dahl