Patty Jenkins is a multifaceted creative force, renowned for her work as a writer and director in the film and television industries. Her most notable achievement to date is the direction of the 2017 blockbuster film Wonder Woman, a Warner Bros./DC Comics production that shattered box office records and captivated audiences worldwide.
Prior to her feature film debut with Monster, Jenkins honed her skills as a painter at The Cooper Union in New York City. She later transitioned to filmmaking, spending eight years as an Assistant Camera Person/Focus Puller on commercials and music videos. After attending the American Film Institute (AFI) in Los Angeles, Jenkins wrote and directed Monster, which received widespread critical acclaim.
Roger Ebert named Monster the #1 Best Film of 2004 and #3 Best Film of the decade, while the American Film Institute (AFI) included it on their list of the Ten Best Films of the Year. Jenkins' work on Monster also earned her numerous awards and nominations, including the Best First Feature award at the 2004 Independent Spirit Awards. Charlize Theron's performance in the film earned her widespread recognition, including the Oscar, Golden Globe, SAG Award, and numerous critics' awards in the Best Actress category.
Jenkins has also made a significant impact in the world of television, directing numerous commercials and TV programs, including episodes of Fox's Arrested Development and HBO's Entourage. She has also directed pilot episodes for ABC's Betrayal and Exposed, and received a Directors Guild of America (DGA) award for her work on the pilot episode of AMC's The Killing. In addition, Jenkins was nominated for an Emmy award for her work on the final segment of FIVE, a series of short films about breast cancer.
In 2017, Jenkins made history by becoming the first woman to direct a film with a domestic gross of over $100 million, with Wonder Woman. The film received widespread critical acclaim, broke several box office records, and went on to become the highest-grossing film of the summer of 2017.