Joseph Ruben

Joseph Porter Ruben (born May 10, 1950) is an American retired filmmaker. He is best known for directing The Stepfather and Sleeping with the Enemy (1991).

Movie career Ruben's earlier films, such as The Stepfather, have become cult classics. In the 1990s, he went to direct high-grossing mainstream films such as Sleeping with the Enemy starring Julia Roberts (which grossed over $150,000,000 on box office), the controversial thriller The Good Son starring Macaulay Culkin and Elijah Wood, Money Train starring Woody Harrelson and Wesley Snipes, and Return to Paradise starring Vince Vaughn and Joaquin Phoenix. He frequently collaborated with film editor George Bowers.

Ruben has won awards at various film festivals for his films The Stepfather, True Believer, starring Robert Downey Jr. and James Woods, and Dreamscape, starring Dennis Quaid. His 2013 feature, Penthouse North, stars Michael Keaton and Michelle Monaghan. He will return to direct the serial killer thriller Jack after not working for six years. Ruben is also attached to direct the film The Politician's Wife written by Nicholas Meyer.

The Ottoman Lieutenant was released around the period of the film The Promise, a film depicting the Armenian genocide. The perceived similarities between the films resulted in accusations that The Ottoman Lieutenant existed to deny the Armenian genocide.

Filmography Film Year Title Director Producer Writer 1974 The Sister-in-Law 1976 The Pom Pom Girls 1977 Joyride 1978 Our Winning Season 1980 Gorp 1984 Dreamscape 1987 The Stepfather 1989 True Believer 1991 Sleeping with the Enemy 1993 The Good Son 1995 Money Train 1998 Return to Paradise 2004 The Forgotten 2013Penthouse North 2017 The Ottoman Lieutenant

Television Year Title Note 1980 Breaking Away Episode "The Cutters"