--- name: "Rob Tapert" canonical: "https://film.one/person/robert-tapert" fi1m_id: "robert-tapert" imdb_id: "nm0849964" tmdb_id: 11359 wikidata_id: "Q1336149" roles: ["Producer","Director"] born: "14 May 1955" reviewed_on_fi1m: 7 average_fi1m_score: 70 average_as: "producer" average_over: 6 updated: "2026-10-04T23:46:01.062150+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." --- # Rob Tapert ## Identity Rob Tapert - **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/robert-tapert - **Type:** Person - **Fi1m ID:** robert-tapert - **IMDb ID:** nm0849964 - **TMDB ID:** 11359 - **Wikidata ID:** Q1336149 - **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rob_Tapert, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1336149, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0849964/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/11359 Producer and director. Born 14 May 1955 in Royal Oak, Michigan, USA. ## Details - **Work:** Producer, Director - **Born:** 14 May 1955, Royal Oak, Michigan, USA - **Active:** 1983–present - **Also known as:** Robert Tapert, Rip Tapert, Rpb Tapert, Robert G. Tapert, Robert Gerard Tapert, Rip Tappert, Robert Tappert - **Titles on Fi1m:** 7: 1 directing, 6 producing - **Frequently works with:** [Sam Raimi](https://film.one/person/sam-raimi.md), [Bruce Campbell](https://film.one/person/bruce-campbell.md) - **Average Fi1m score:** 70, as producer, over 6 titles - **Fi1m score by decade:** 1980s 82 (2), 1990s 69 (2), 2010s 63 (1), 2020s 64 (2) - **Fi1m against the critics:** 68 to 65 across 5 titles - **Score spread:** 1 at 80+, 4 at 60–79, 1 under 60 - **Genres:** Horror 4, Thriller 2, Action 1, Comedy 1, Drama 1, Fantasy 1 - **Screen time:** 8 hours of reviewed films - **Box office:** $383m across 5 films with figures - **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rob_Tapert, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1336149, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0849964/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/11359 ## Coming up - *Evil Dead Wrath* (2028-04-05), Producer ## Streaming the US now - **HBO Max:** [*Evil Dead II*](https://film.one/film/evil-dead-ii.md) (86), [*The Evil Dead*](https://film.one/film/the-evil-dead.md) (77), [*Evil Dead Rise*](https://film.one/film/evil-dead-rise.md) (72) - **The Roku Channel:** [*Xena: Warrior Princess*](https://film.one/tv/xena-warrior-princess.md) (74) - **Amazon Prime Video:** [*Timecop*](https://film.one/film/timecop.md) (64) For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country. ## Fi1m on Rob Tapert > Rob Tapert's trade is keeping *The Evil Dead* alive by handing it to someone new each time, and the trick has held for forty-odd years with one recent wobble. The show he created himself, *Xena: Warrior Princess*, is the one with the most of him in it. The first thing anyone notices about *The Evil Dead* (1983) is the camera, which does things no camera had done before, in a film that is otherwise crude, badly acted and made on almost nothing. Sam Raimi did that. Bruce Campbell was on the receiving end of it. Rob Tapert, who had met the pair at Michigan State while studying economics, produced it, and has in one way or another gone on producing it ever since. A producer's work is invisible when done well; the way to see Tapert is to look at what has stayed standing around him for four decades. The early answer is the partnership. *Evil Dead II* (1987) made gore funny without making it harmless, and it remains the best thing with his name on it. *Timecop* (1994) is darker and better built than anything else Jean-Claude Van Damme has fronted, provided you do not inspect the plot. Then came the turn, and it was to television. He co-created and produced *Hercules: The Legendary Journeys*, and from it he and John Schulian spun *Xena: Warrior Princess*, which began on 4 September 1995 and ran six seasons, with Tapert writing and directing episodes himself. *Spartacus* (2010) and *Ash vs Evil Dead* (2015–2018) followed. Since founding Ghost House Pictures in 2002 he has mostly run the cabin as a landlord, letting it to new tenants. That is his method, and he has said as much: "We like to get a young voice and a new take for the franchise, and I think that has allowed Sam and me to keep the films fresh and original." Fede Álvarez got *Evil Dead* (2013) and then *Don't Breathe* (2016). Lee Cronin got *Evil Dead Rise* (2023), moved it into a condemned block of flats and made something lean, loud and horribly efficient, and rather less fun than it thought. Sébastien Vaniček got *Evil Dead Burn* (2026) and made the cruellest film to carry the name and, for long stretches, the least enjoyable. Our scores for the series run 77, 86, 72, 55. Each new hand has kept the blood and lost a little more of the joke, and the joke was always Raimi's and Campbell's, which is the one thing a producer cannot hire in. Which is why *Xena* matters more than its wigs suggest. It was plainly built as *Hercules* with a taller lead and a different chest plate, and that is what the fights deliver. What surprised us, and went on surprising us across 134 episodes, was how much of it is Lucy Lawless and Renée O'Connor talking round a campfire, and how sincerely the show believed in the friendship. We came for the swordplay and were moved by the sitting down. It is the one piece of Tapert's work he shaped from the inside, and it is the warmest. The next *Evil Dead* will go to someone new; he has said so. We would only ask that whoever it is be allowed a laugh. ## Biography Robert Tapert is an American film and television producer. Born on 14 May 1955 in Royal Oak, Michigan, he studied economics at Michigan State University. There he met Sam Raimi and Bruce Campbell, with whom he later collaborated on short films and his first feature, *The Evil Dead* (1981). Tapert has produced or executive produced multiple entries in the *Evil Dead* franchise, including *Evil Dead II* (1987), *Army of Darkness* (1992), the 2013 remake, *Evil Dead Rise* (2023) and *Evil Dead Burn* (2026). He co-founded Ghost House Pictures in 2002 and has credits on films such as *The Grudge* (2004), *Drag Me to Hell* (2009) and *Don't Breathe* (2016). He co-created the television series *Xena: Warrior Princess* (1995–2001) and worked on *Hercules: The Legendary Journeys*. Tapert has been married to actress Lucy Lawless since 1998. *Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com.* ## On Fi1m (7) ### Directed (1) - *Xena: Warrior Princess* (1995), Fi1m 74, Director, Story, Creator — [page](https://film.one/tv/xena-warrior-princess.md) ### Produced (6) — the average rests on these - *Evil Dead Burn* (2026), Fi1m 55, Producer — [page](https://film.one/film/evil-dead-burn.md) - *Evil Dead Rise* (2023), Fi1m 72, Producer — [page](https://film.one/film/evil-dead-rise.md) - *Spartacus* (2010), Fi1m 63, Executive Producer — [page](https://film.one/tv/spartacus-2010.md) - *Timecop* (1994), Fi1m 64, Producer — [page](https://film.one/film/timecop.md) - *Evil Dead II* (1987), Fi1m 86, as Airport Worker (uncredited) — [page](https://film.one/film/evil-dead-ii.md) - *The Evil Dead* (1983), Fi1m 77, as Local Yokel (uncredited) — [page](https://film.one/film/the-evil-dead.md) ## Complete filmography (65) Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page. - *Evil Dead Wrath* (2028), Producer - *Evil Dead Burn* (2026), Producer — Fi1m 55, [page](https://film.one/film/evil-dead-burn.md) - *Evil Dead Rise* (2023), Producer — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/film/evil-dead-rise.md) - *Nightbooks* (2021), Producer - *Don't Breathe 2* (2021), Producer - *The Unholy* (2021), Producer - *The Grudge* (2019), Producer - *Don't Breathe* (2016), Producer - *Poltergeist* (2015), Producer - *Evil Dead* (2013), Producer - *The Possession* (2012), Producer - *30 Days of Night: Dark Days* (2010), Producer - *Zombie Roadkill* (2010), series, Executive Producer - *Spartacus* (2010), series, Executive Producer — Fi1m 63, [page](https://film.one/tv/spartacus-2010.md) - *Messengers 2: The Scarecrow* (2009), Executive Producer - *Drag Me to Hell* (2009), Producer - *Legend of the Seeker* (2008), series, Producer - *Boogeyman 2* (2007), Executive Producer - *30 Days of Night* (2007), Producer - *Rise: Blood Hunter* (2007), Co-Producer - *The Messengers* (2007), Producer - *The Grudge 2* (2006), Producer - *Boogeyman* (2005), Producer - *The Grudge* (2004), Producer - *The Gift* (2000), Executive Producer - *Jack of All Trades* (2000), series, Producer - *Cleopatra 2525* (2000), series, Creator - *A Simple Plan* (1998), Thanks — Fi1m 86, [page](https://film.one/film/a-simple-plan.md) - *Young Hercules* (1998), series, Executive Producer, Story, Creator - *Young Hercules* (1998), Story, Executive Producer - *Hercules and Xena - The Animated Movie: The Battle for Mount Olympus* (1998), Executive Producer - *Hercules & Xena: Wizards of the Screen* (1997), Writer - *Spy Game* (1997), series, Executive Producer - *Amazon High* (1997), Story - *Darkman III: Die Darkman Die* (1996), Executive Producer - *American Gothic* (1995), series, Producer - *Xena: Warrior Princess* (1995), series, Executive Producer, Director, Story, Creator — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/tv/xena-warrior-princess.md) - *Darkman II: The Return of Durant* (1995), Executive Producer - *The Quick and the Dead* (1995), Executive Producer - *Hercules: The Legendary Journeys* (1995), series, Executive Producer, Director - *Hercules in the Maze of the Minotaur* (1994), Executive Producer - *Hercules in the Underworld* (1994), Executive Producer - *Hercules and the Circle of Fire* (1994), Executive Producer - *Timecop* (1994), Producer — Fi1m 64, [page](https://film.one/film/timecop.md) - *Hercules and the Lost Kingdom* (1994), Executive Producer - *Hercules and the Amazon Women* (1994), Executive Producer - *M.A.N.T.I.S.* (1994), Executive Producer - *Freaked* (1993), as Crooked Cop (uncredited) - *Hard Target* (1993), Executive Producer - *Army of Darkness* (1992), Producer - *Darkman* (1992), Executive Producer - *Darkman* (1990), Producer - *Evil Dead II* (1987), as Airport Worker (uncredited) · Producer — Fi1m 86, [page](https://film.one/film/evil-dead-ii.md) - *The Sappy Sap* (1985), Actor - *Crimewave* (1985), as Bar patron in Rialto (uncredited) · Producer - *The Evil Dead* (1983), as Local Yokel (uncredited) · Producer, Executive Producer — Fi1m 77, [page](https://film.one/film/the-evil-dead.md) - *Cleveland Smith, Bounty Hunter* (1982), Actor - *Torro. Torro. Torro!* (1981), Actor - *The Blind Waiter* (1980), Actor - *Within the Woods* (1979), Executive Producer - *Tortures of the Damned*, Producer - *Watchful Eye*, Producer - *Play Dead*, Producer - *You're Dead Helen*, Producer - *Desperation*, Producer ## Gallery - ![Rob Tapert](https://film.one/media/person/6554/gallery-2b4a09226893.jpg) Rob Tapert — GabboT, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/67/Lawless_13_%2828461569318%29.jpg/1280px-Lawless_13_%2828461569318%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![An image from SXSW that I took when viewing the panel in person. It features the producer of the film, Rob Tapert, the director, Lee Cronin, producer Sam Raimi, (2023)](https://film.one/media/person/6554/gallery-801ccb89277b.jpg) An image from SXSW that I took when viewing the panel in person. It features the producer of the film, Rob Tapert, the director, Lee Cronin, producer Sam Raimi, (2023) — Sean Dudley, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/07/Evil_Dead_Rise_-_SXSW_2023_Panel.jpg/1280px-Evil_Dead_Rise_-_SXSW_2023_Panel.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Q&A with Lucy Lawless and Rob Tapert (2018)](https://film.one/media/person/6554/gallery-e6d0232e03af.jpg) Q&A with Lucy Lawless and Rob Tapert (2018) — GabboT, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/ba/Lawless_08_%2841611693484%29.jpg/1280px-Lawless_08_%2841611693484%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Q&A with Lucy Lawless and Rob Tapert (2018)](https://film.one/media/person/6554/gallery-9457f8ad5f8f.jpg) Q&A with Lucy Lawless and Rob Tapert (2018) — GabboT, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2f/Lawless_09_%2841432802265%29.jpg/1280px-Lawless_09_%2841432802265%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Q&A with Lucy Lawless and Rob Tapert (2018)](https://film.one/media/person/6554/gallery-fbf1fed69539.jpg) Q&A with Lucy Lawless and Rob Tapert (2018) — GabboT, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/27/Lawless_10_%2828461564688%29.jpg/1280px-Lawless_10_%2828461564688%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Q&A with Lucy Lawless and Rob Tapert (2018)](https://film.one/media/person/6554/gallery-37e38e579df8.jpg) Q&A with Lucy Lawless and Rob Tapert (2018) — GabboT, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2d/Lawless_12_%2841611721724%29.jpg/1280px-Lawless_12_%2841611721724%29.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/robert-tapert