---
name: "Paul Verhoeven"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/paul-verhoeven"
fi1m_id: "paul-verhoeven"
imdb_id: "nm0000682"
tmdb_id: 10491
wikidata_id: "Q129079"
roles: ["Director","Writer"]
born: "18 July 1938"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 8
average_fi1m_score: 76
average_as: "director"
average_over: 8
updated: "2026-10-01T19:01:20.451868+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."
---

# Paul Verhoeven

## Identity

Paul Verhoeven

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/paul-verhoeven
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** paul-verhoeven
- **IMDb ID:** nm0000682
- **TMDB ID:** 10491
- **Wikidata ID:** Q129079
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Verhoeven, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q129079, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000682/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/10491

Director and writer. Born 18 July 1938 in Amsterdam, Noord-Holland, Netherlands.

## Details

- **Work:** Director, Writer
- **Born:** 18 July 1938, Amsterdam, Noord-Holland, Netherlands
- **Active:** 1973–2016
- **Also known as:** 保罗·范霍文, 폴 버호벤, 폴 베호벤, 파울 페르후번, Паул Вергувен, Паул Верхувен, پل ورهوفن
- **Frequently works with:** [Gerard Soeteman](https://film.one/person/gerard-soeteman.md), [Alan Marshall](https://film.one/person/alan-marshall.md), [Rob Houwer](https://film.one/person/rob-houwer.md), [Edward Neumeier](https://film.one/person/edward-neumeier.md), [Jeroen Krabbé](https://film.one/person/jeroen-krabbe.md), [Joe Eszterhas](https://film.one/person/joe-eszterhas.md), [Rutger Hauer](https://film.one/person/rutger-hauer.md), [Sharon Stone](https://film.one/person/sharon-stone.md)
- **Venice Film Festival:** 1 Venice prize (1 won)
- **Average Fi1m score:** 76, as director, over 8 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1980s 84 (2), 1990s 69 (4), 2000s 80 (1), 2010s 82 (1)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 76 to 70 across 7 titles
- **Score spread:** 4 at 80+, 3 at 60–79, 1 under 60
- **Genres:** Thriller 6, Action 3, Drama 3, Science Fiction 3, Adventure 2, Mystery 2
- **Screen time:** 16 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $838m across 7 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Verhoeven, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q129079, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000682/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/10491

## Streaming the US now

- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*RoboCop*](https://film.one/film/robocop.md) (91), [*Elle*](https://film.one/film/elle.md) (82), [*Showgirls*](https://film.one/film/showgirls.md) (42)
- **Hulu:** [*Total Recall*](https://film.one/film/total-recall.md) (84), [*Basic Instinct*](https://film.one/film/basic-instinct.md) (72)
- **Tubi:** [*Black Book*](https://film.one/film/black-book.md) (80)
- **Netflix:** [*Starship Troopers*](https://film.one/film/starship-troopers.md) (79)

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

## Fi1m on Paul Verhoeven

> Paul Verhoeven makes violent, sexually frank genre films that let us feel the appeal of things we ought to question. We rate his blunt satire, though *Starship Troopers* also shows how much patience his characters can require.

The mock newsreels in *Starship Troopers* (1997) sell military obedience with a briskness that leaves no room for questions. The society looks healthy, clean and thoroughly pleased with itself. Paul Verhoeven knows that making it repellent from the start would miss what makes it dangerous: people might actually want to join. We value his willingness to make that attraction felt, even when the bloodshed becomes hard to watch.

The appetite for provocation was there before Hollywood. His Dutch breakthrough, *Turkish Delight* (1973), led to a run of provocative films through *The Fourth Man* (1983). *RoboCop* (1987) made violent action serve social criticism, while *Basic Instinct* (1992) put him to work in the erotic thriller. Those familiar genres suited a director interested in upsetting an audience's expectations. He returned to Europe for *Black Book* (2006), followed by the French productions *Elle* (2016) and *Benedetta* (2021).

In *Starship Troopers*, screenwriter Edward Neumeier helps turn military enthusiasm into a habit nobody thinks to examine. Cinematographer Jost Vacano gives the human world the reassuring polish of a television soap, while Allan Cameron's production design makes the apparent utopia inviting. The gruesome insect battles disrupt that cleanliness, with effects convincing enough to make the creatures frightening. We felt uneasy about how much we enjoyed the fighting after laughing at the military advertisements, because the excitement helped explain why their invitation worked. Verhoeven lets that discomfort stand without explaining the joke in a speech.

His taste for provocation does not excuse the dull stretches. The teenage romance in *Starship Troopers* is a substantial drag, and some of the acting tests our patience. Start with it if science fiction is your territory, but expect to lose patience with the courtship and feel uncomfortable about enjoying the combat.

## Biography

Paul Verhoeven is a Dutch film director, screenwriter and producer. He was born on 18 July 1938 in Amsterdam and studied at Leiden University.

Verhoeven began his career in the Netherlands with films such as *Turkish Delight* (1973) and *Soldier of Orange* (1977). He later directed several Hollywood productions, including *RoboCop* (1987), *Total Recall* (1990), *Basic Instinct* (1992), *Showgirls* (1995) and *Starship Troopers* (1997).

His work often features explicit content and social satire. He has also directed *Black Book* (2006) and *Benedetta* (2021).

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org.*

## On Fi1m (8)

- *Elle* (2016), Fi1m 82, Director — [page](https://film.one/film/elle.md)
- *Black Book* (2006), Fi1m 80, Director, Screenplay — [page](https://film.one/film/black-book.md)
- *Starship Troopers* (1997), Fi1m 79, Director — [page](https://film.one/film/starship-troopers.md)
- *Showgirls* (1995), Fi1m 42, Director — [page](https://film.one/film/showgirls.md)
- *Basic Instinct* (1992), Fi1m 72, Director — [page](https://film.one/film/basic-instinct.md)
- *Total Recall* (1990), Fi1m 84, Director — [page](https://film.one/film/total-recall.md)
- *RoboCop* (1987), Fi1m 91, Director — [page](https://film.one/film/robocop.md)
- *The 4th Man* (1983), Fi1m 76, Director — [page](https://film.one/film/the-4th-man.md)

## Complete filmography (54)

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

- *Carolco, un rêve hollywoodien* (2026), Actor
- *The Draft!* (2023), Thanks
- *Benedetta* (2021), Director, Screenplay
- *Bukan Cinta Aku* (2018), Actor
- *Elle* (2016), Director — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/film/elle.md)
- *Lotgenoten* (2013), Writer
- *Tricked* (2012), Director, Writer
- *Something Unknown Is Doing We Don't Know What* (2009), Associate Producer
- *Black Book* (2006), Director, Screenplay — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/film/black-book.md)
- *Hollow Man II* (2006), Executive Producer
- *Le court des grands* (2005), Director
- *Roughnecks: The Starship Troopers Chronicles - The Zephyr Campaign* (2003), Executive Producer
- *Roughnecks: The Starship Troopers Chronicles - The Homefront Campaign* (2002), Executive Producer
- *Roughnecks: The Starship Troopers Chronicles - The Tesca Campaign* (2001), Executive Producer
- *Roughnecks - The Starship Troopers Chronicles - The Hydora Campaign* (2001), Executive Producer
- *Roughnecks: The Starship Troopers Chronicles - The Pluto Campaign* (2001), Executive Producer
- *Roughnecks: The Starship Troopers Chronicles - The Klendathu Campaign* (2001), Executive Producer
- *Roughnecks: The Starship Troopers Chronicles - The Tophet Campaign* (2001), Executive Producer
- *Hollow Man* (2000), Director
- *Roughnecks: Starship Troopers Chronicles* (1999), series, Executive Producer
- *Starship Troopers* (1997), Director — Fi1m 79, [page](https://film.one/film/starship-troopers.md)
- *Showgirls* (1995), Director — Fi1m 42, [page](https://film.one/film/showgirls.md)
- *Eurotrash* (1993), series, Actor
- *Basic Instinct* (1992), Director — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/film/basic-instinct.md)
- *Total Recall* (1990), Director — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/total-recall.md)
- *RoboCop* (1987), as Dancer at Disco (uncredited) · Director — Fi1m 91, [page](https://film.one/film/robocop.md)
- *Flesh + Blood* (1985), Screenplay, Director
- *The Hitchhiker* (1983), series, Director
- *The 4th Man* (1983), Director — Fi1m 76, [page](https://film.one/film/the-4th-man.md)
- *All Things Pass* (1981), Director
- *Spetters* (1980), Director
- *For Queen and Country* (1979), series, Director
- *Soldier of Orange* (1977), Screenplay, Director
- *Katie Tippel* (1975), Director
- *Turkish Delight* (1973), Director
- *Business Is Business* (1971), Director
- *The Wrestler* (1971), Director, Writer
- *Portrait of Anton Adriaan Mussert* (1970), Director
- *Floris* (1969), series, Director, Creator
- *The Lonely Dorymen* (1968), Sound Effects
- *The Royal Dutch Marine Corps* (1965), Director
- *Slochteren aan de lijn* (1964), Production Assistant
- *Let's Have a Party* (1963), Director
- *The Hitchhikers* (1962), Director
- *Nothing Special* (1961), Director
- *One Lizard Too Many* (1960), Director
- *The Kiss* (1959), Director
- *Cups of Coffee* (1959), Director
- *Gottes Utopia* (1955), as Marino
- *Het gestolen kasteel*, series, Creator
- *De koperen hond*, series, Creator
- *Young Sinner*, Writer, Director
- *RoboCop Returns*, Screenplay
- *Sans Compter*, Screenplay

## Gallery

- ![Paul Verhoeven](https://film.one/media/person/77472/gallery-cf91e7d88cea.jpg) Paul Verhoeven — Maximilian Bühn, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5a/Paul_Verhoeven_Berlinale_2017.jpg/1280px-Paul_Verhoeven_Berlinale_2017.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![The Benedetta crew during the press conference (2021)](https://film.one/media/person/77472/gallery-52c4c1af725b.jpg) The Benedetta crew during the press conference (2021) — Matej o filmu; tako in drugače[1], CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/92/Benedetta_crew_at_Cannes_2021.jpg/1280px-Benedetta_crew_at_Cannes_2021.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Dutch 1969 TV series Floris (1968)](https://film.one/media/person/77472/gallery-0576bc14a3f6.jpg) Dutch 1969 TV series Floris (1968) — F. van Geelen, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/73/Floris1968Verhoeven1.jpg/1280px-Floris1968Verhoeven1.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Dutch 1969 TV series Floris (1968)](https://film.one/media/person/77472/gallery-220c77778d84.jpg) Dutch 1969 TV series Floris (1968) — F. van Geelen, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/aa/Floris1968Verhoeven2.jpg/1280px-Floris1968Verhoeven2.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Paul Verhoeven](https://film.one/media/person/77472/gallery-18bc43533ec1.jpg) Paul Verhoeven — Image via TMDB
- ![Paul Verhoeven](https://film.one/media/person/77472/gallery-fc53ddeae725.jpg) Paul Verhoeven — Image via TMDB
- ![Dutch 1969 TV series Floris. Director Paul Verhoeven enacts a role. (1968)](https://film.one/media/person/77472/gallery-f2a540b47034.png) Dutch 1969 TV series Floris. Director Paul Verhoeven enacts a role. (1968) — F. van Geelen, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/91/Floris1968Verhoeven3.png/1280px-Floris1968Verhoeven3.png?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Ólafur Elíasson, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Paul Verhoeven und Julia Jentsch bei der Pressekonferenz der Internationalen Jury zur Berlinale 2017](https://film.one/media/person/77472/gallery-c25ec320980d.jpg) Ólafur Elíasson, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Paul Verhoeven und Julia Jentsch bei der Pressekonferenz der Internationalen Jury zur Berlinale 2017 — Maximilian Bühn, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/82/International_Jury_Berlinale_2017_01.jpg/1280px-International_Jury_Berlinale_2017_01.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)

## Awards

### Venice Film Festival — 1 won

- 2006: Golden Lion (won)

### Other awards — 9 won, 3 nominated

- César Award for Best Film 2016: César Award for Best Film (won), for *Elle*
- European Film Award for Best Director 2016: European Film Award for Best Director (nominated), for *Elle*
- European Film Award for Best Film 2016: European Film Award for Best Film (nominated), for *Elle*
- Goya Award for Best European Film 2016: Goya Award for Best European Film (won), for *Elle*
- European Film Award – People's Choice Award for Best European Film 2007: European Film Award – People's Choice Award for Best European Film (nominated), for *Black Book*
- Golden Calf for Best Director 2006: Golden Calf for Best Director (won), for *Black Book*
- Sitges Grand Honorary Award 2006: Sitges Grand Honorary Award (won)
- Bert Haanstra Oeuvreprijs van de Nederlandse Film 2004: Bert Haanstra Oeuvreprijs van de Nederlandse Film (won)
- Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Picture 1995: Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Picture (won), for *Showgirls*
- Saturn Awards 1987: Best Director (won), for *RoboCop*
- Sitges Film Festival Best Director award 1987: Sitges Film Festival Best Director award (won), for *RoboCop*
- Golden Calf for Best Director 1985: Golden Calf for Best Director (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/paul-verhoeven