---
name: "Steven Knight"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/steven-knight"
fi1m_id: "steven-knight"
imdb_id: "nm1140275"
tmdb_id: 23227
wikidata_id: "Q1337354"
roles: ["Writer","Producer","Director"]
born: "5 August 1959"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 11
average_fi1m_score: 67
average_as: "writer"
average_over: 10
updated: "2026-10-23T04:06:16.415613+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."
---

# Steven Knight

## Identity

Steven Knight

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/steven-knight
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** steven-knight
- **IMDb ID:** nm1140275
- **TMDB ID:** 23227
- **Wikidata ID:** Q1337354
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steven_Knight, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1337354, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1140275/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/23227

Writer and producer. Born 5 August 1959 in Marlborough, England, UK.

## Details

- **Work:** Writer, Producer, Director
- **Born:** 5 August 1959, Marlborough, England, UK
- **Active:** 2007–present
- **Also known as:** Steven Knight CBE
- **Titles on Fi1m:** 11: 1 directing, 10 writing
- **Frequently works with:** [Guy Heeley](https://film.one/person/guy-heeley.md), [Cillian Murphy](https://film.one/person/cillian-murphy.md), [Juan de Dios Larraín](https://film.one/person/juan-de-dios-larrain.md), [Pablo Larraín](https://film.one/person/pablo-larrain.md), [Paul Webster](https://film.one/person/paul-webster.md), [Stephen Graham](https://film.one/person/stephen-graham.md), [Tom Hardy](https://film.one/person/tom-hardy.md), [Tom Harper](https://film.one/person/tom-harper.md)
- **Academy Awards:** 1 Oscar nomination
- **Average Fi1m score:** 67, as writer, over 10 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 2000s 79 (1), 2010s 63 (5), 2020s 72 (5)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 67 to 66 across 10 titles
- **Score spread:** 1 at 80+, 6 at 60–79, 3 under 60
- **Genres:** Drama 7, Crime 2, Music 2, Mystery 2, Thriller 2, Action 1
- **Screen time:** 11 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $316m across 5 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steven_Knight, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1337354, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1140275/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/23227

## Streaming the US now

- **Netflix:** [*Peaky Blinders*](https://film.one/tv/peaky-blinders.md) (77), [*House of Guinness*](https://film.one/tv/house-of-guinness.md) (74), [*Maria*](https://film.one/film/maria.md) (57)
- **Disney+:** [*A Thousand Blows*](https://film.one/tv/a-thousand-blows.md) (80)
- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*Eastern Promises*](https://film.one/film/eastern-promises.md) (79)
- **Peacock:** [*Taboo*](https://film.one/tv/taboo.md) (62)

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

## Fi1m on Steven Knight

> Steven Knight writes threats and family quarrels that give actors plenty to work with. We rate him most when he trusts the performances; too often, another speech explains what we have already understood.

Tom Hardy listens to another telephone call in *Locke* (2014), trying to keep his voice calm as work and family demand more of him. Knight, who wrote and directed, gives us little to watch beyond a man driving at night. We were gripped by Hardy's effort to sound reasonable as his composure became harder to sustain. The calls fit together too neatly, but the close attention to Hardy makes this our first recommendation.

Knight's breakthrough in features came with the screenplay for *Dirty Pretty Things* (2002). In David Cronenberg's *Eastern Promises* (2007), he brings a midwife into London's Russian underworld, giving us a route into an otherwise guarded company. The criminal types are familiar and the plotting sometimes convenient. Cronenberg allows the men's wary dealings and attraction to one another enough time to become more interesting than the mechanics of the story.

Television gives those struggles for control more room in *Peaky Blinders* (2013), Knight's Birmingham gangster saga. The first two series give Cillian Murphy's Tommy and Sam Neill's Campbell sharply written confrontations; later, the drama grows slower and starts repeating its tricks. Murphy and Helen McCrory remain reasons to stay. In *Taboo* (2017), co-created with Tom Hardy and Chips Hardy, the reliance on an imposing central man becomes a problem. Supporting characters get too little room, and withholding motives makes us wait for a story that ought to be moving.

His dialogue becomes more of an obstacle in Pablo Larraín's *Maria* (2024). Callas has an interviewer named Mandrax, also the name on her pill bottles, and Knight makes sure we notice the connection. Angelina Jolie's exact, composed performance cannot make the repeated rehearsals, interviews and walks sufficiently involving. We wanted fewer explanations and more time to watch her listen.

There is more pleasure in *A Thousand Blows* (2025), where Erin Doherty, Malachi Kirby and Stephen Graham make the threats worth hearing. The crowded stories and explanatory dialogue occasionally leave them waiting. *House of Guinness* (2025) similarly benefits from James Norton's charm and threat, though Knight spreads the attention too widely for one character to become indispensable. Start with *Locke*, then try *A Thousand Blows* if a larger cast and a period setting appeal.

## Biography

Steven Knight CBE (born 5 August 1959) is an English screenwriter, producer and director for film and television.

He wrote the screenplay for the film *Maria* (2024) and created and wrote the series *A Thousand Blows* (2025). Knight is the creator of the BBC series *Peaky Blinders* (2013–) and co-creator of the game show *Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?*. His other screenplays include *Dirty Pretty Things* (2002), *Eastern Promises* (2007), *Spencer* (2021) and *See* (2019).

Knight studied at University College London. He has also written and directed the films *Locke* (2013) and *Serenity* (2019). He was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the 2020 New Year Honours for services to drama, entertainment and the community in Birmingham.

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

## On Fi1m (11)

### Directed (1)

- *Locke* (2014), Fi1m 82, Writer, Director — [page](https://film.one/film/locke.md)

### Wrote (10) — the average rests on these

- *Oasis: Don't Look Back in Anger* (2026), Fi1m 74, Creator, Writer — [page](https://film.one/film/oasis-dont-look-back-in-anger.md)
- *A Thousand Blows* (2025), Fi1m 80, Writer, Executive Producer, Creator — [page](https://film.one/tv/a-thousand-blows.md)
- *House of Guinness* (2025), Fi1m 74, Creator, Executive Producer — [page](https://film.one/tv/house-of-guinness.md)
- *Maria* (2024), Fi1m 57, Writer, Executive Producer — [page](https://film.one/film/maria.md)
- *Spencer* (2021), Fi1m 73, Writer, Executive Producer — [page](https://film.one/film/spencer.md)
- *Taboo* (2017), Fi1m 62, Executive Producer, Writer, Creator — [page](https://film.one/tv/taboo.md)
- *Allied* (2016), Fi1m 57, Executive Producer, Writer — [page](https://film.one/film/allied.md)
- *Seventh Son* (2014), Fi1m 35, Screenplay — [page](https://film.one/film/seventh-son.md)
- *Peaky Blinders* (2013), Fi1m 77, Executive Producer, Creator, Writer — [page](https://film.one/tv/peaky-blinders.md)
- *Eastern Promises* (2007), Fi1m 79, Screenplay — [page](https://film.one/film/eastern-promises.md)

## Complete filmography (45)

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

- *Oasis: Don't Look Back in Anger* (2026), Writer, Creator — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/film/oasis-dont-look-back-in-anger.md)
- *Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man* (2026), Producer, Original Series Creator, Writer
- *House of Guinness* (2025), series, Executive Producer, Creator — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/tv/house-of-guinness.md)
- *Built in Birmingham: Brady & the Blues* (2025), series, Executive Producer
- *A Thousand Blows* (2025), series, Executive Producer, Writer, Creator — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/tv/a-thousand-blows.md)
- *Maria* (2024), Writer, Executive Producer — Fi1m 57, [page](https://film.one/film/maria.md)
- *Cross Away* (2024), Original Film Writer
- *The Veil* (2024), series, Writer, Executive Producer, Creator
- *This Town* (2024), series, Writer, Executive Producer, Creator
- *Peaky Blinders: Rambert’s The Redemption of Thomas Shelby* (2024), Writer, Executive Producer
- *All the Light We Cannot See* (2023), series, Executive Producer, Teleplay, Creator
- *Great Expectations* (2023), series, Executive Producer, Writer, Creator
- *SAS Rogue Heroes* (2022), series, Executive Producer, Writer, Creator
- *Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony* (2022), Executive Producer, Director
- *Spencer* (2021), Writer, Executive Producer — Fi1m 73, [page](https://film.one/film/spencer.md)
- *Locked Down* (2021), Writer, Executive Producer
- *FX's A Christmas Carol* (2019), Executive Producer, Writer
- *See* (2019), series, Executive Producer, Writer, Story, Teleplay, Creator
- *Serenity* (2019), Screenplay, Director, Producer
- *The Girl in the Spider's Web* (2018), Screenplay
- *Woman Walks Ahead* (2018), Screenplay
- *November Criminals* (2017), Screenplay, Executive Producer
- *Taboo* (2017), series, Writer, Executive Producer, Creator — Fi1m 62, [page](https://film.one/tv/taboo.md)
- *Allied* (2016), Writer, Executive Producer — Fi1m 57, [page](https://film.one/film/allied.md)
- *Burnt* (2015), Screenplay
- *Pawn Sacrifice* (2015), Screenplay, Story
- *Seventh Son* (2014), Screenplay — Fi1m 35, [page](https://film.one/film/seventh-son.md)
- *The Hundred-Foot Journey* (2014), Screenplay
- *Locke* (2014), Director, Writer — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/film/locke.md)
- *Peaky Blinders* (2013), series, Writer, Executive Producer, Creator — Fi1m 77, [page](https://film.one/tv/peaky-blinders.md)
- *Closed Circuit* (2013), Screenplay
- *Hummingbird* (2013), Screenplay, Director
- *Redemption* (2013), Producer
- *Kannadada Kotyadhipati* (2012), series, Creator
- *Eastern Promises* (2007), Screenplay — Fi1m 79, [page](https://film.one/film/eastern-promises.md)
- *Amazing Grace* (2006), Writer
- *Gypsy Woman* (2002), Writer
- *Dirty Pretty Things* (2002), Writer
- *Talking Telephone Numbers* (1994), series, Creator
- *Winning Lines*, series, Creator
- *Small Dark Look*, Screenplay
- *The People Versus*, series, Creator
- *Ningalkkum Aakaam Kodeeshwaran*, series, Creator
- *Untitled Peaky Blinders Sequel*, series, Writer, Creator
- *Untitled James Bond Film*, Writer

## Gallery

- ![Steven Knight](https://film.one/media/person/10095/gallery-77b7c3832c5a.jpg) Steven Knight — Harald Krichel, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/60/Steven_Knight-64548.jpg/1280px-Steven_Knight-64548.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Maria Premiere - BFI LFF - Royal Festival Hall - Friday 18th October 2024](https://film.one/media/person/10095/gallery-685d66c8c3ff.jpg) Maria Premiere - BFI LFF - Royal Festival Hall - Friday 18th October 2024 — Raph_PH, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cc/JolieMariaBFILFF181024_%2826_of_28%29_%2854081391644%29.jpg/1280px-JolieMariaBFILFF181024_%2826_of_28%29_%2854081391644%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Maria Premiere - BFI LFF - Royal Festival Hall - Friday 18th October 2024](https://film.one/media/person/10095/gallery-b8c1d95185f0.jpg) Maria Premiere - BFI LFF - Royal Festival Hall - Friday 18th October 2024 — Raph_PH, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/41/JolieMariaBFILFF181024_%2827_of_28%29_%2854081391619%29.jpg/1280px-JolieMariaBFILFF181024_%2827_of_28%29_%2854081391619%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Maria Premiere - BFI LFF - Royal Festival Hall - Friday 18th October 2024](https://film.one/media/person/10095/gallery-6950188a31e0.jpg) Maria Premiere - BFI LFF - Royal Festival Hall - Friday 18th October 2024 — Raph_PH, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3f/JolieMariaBFILFF181024_%2828_of_28%29_%2854081391624%29.jpg/1280px-JolieMariaBFILFF181024_%2828_of_28%29_%2854081391624%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Lisa Nandy MP & Steven Knight at the SXSW London festival hosted in London, England during June 2026. Misspelt Steven on screen.](https://film.one/media/person/10095/gallery-0d1f7d70fa79.jpg) Lisa Nandy MP & Steven Knight at the SXSW London festival hosted in London, England during June 2026. Misspelt Steven on screen. — DavidPMaynard, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c4/Lisa_Nandy_MP_%26_Steven_Knight_at_2026_SXSW_London.jpg/1280px-Lisa_Nandy_MP_%26_Steven_Knight_at_2026_SXSW_London.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Cast and crew of the movie Maria at the 81st Venice International Film Festival (2024)](https://film.one/media/person/10095/gallery-8de248901267.jpg) Cast and crew of the movie Maria at the 81st Venice International Film Festival (2024) — Harald Krichel, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4c/Maria_%282024_film%29-64582.jpg/1280px-Maria_%282024_film%29-64582.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)

## Awards

### Academy Awards — 0 won, 1 nominated

- 2004: Best Writing, Original Screenplay (nominated), for *Dirty Pretty Things*

### Other awards — 2 won, 3 nominated

- Commander of the Order of the British Empire 2020: Commander of the Order of the British Empire (won)
- European Film Award for Best Director 2014: European Film Award for Best Director (nominated), for *Locke*
- European Film Award for Best Screenwriter 2014: European Film Award for Best Screenwriter (nominated), for *Locke*
- Edgar Awards 2004: Edgar Awards (won)
- European Film Award for Best Screenwriter 2003: European Film Award for Best Screenwriter (nominated), for *Dirty Pretty Things*

*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/steven-knight