Director Shane Black at the premiere of 'Play Dirty'. Photo: Prime Video.

Director Shane Black at the premiere of 'Play Dirty'. Photo: Prime Video.

Filmmaker Shane Black is one of the most successful screenwriters turned directors of all time!

Black began his career writing screenplays for such beloved movies as 'Lethal Weapon', 'The Monster Squad', 'The Last Boy Scout' and 'The Long Kiss Goodnight', as well as playing the role of Hawkins in 1987's 'Predator' starring Arnold Schwarzenegger.

He made his directorial debut in 2005 with 'Kiss Kiss Bang Bang' starring Robert Downey Jr. and would go on to direct Downey in Marvel Studios' 'Iron Man 3', as well as the action comedy 'The Nice Guys' and 'The Predator', which was the forth film in that franchise.

Play Dirty

"Even robbers get robbed."
Review
Score
70
Release Date: Oct 1, 2025
Run Time: 2 hr 5 min
Budget: $2,500,000

Black's latest movie, 'Play Dirty', which is based on the 'Parker' books by author Donald E, Westlake and stars Mark Wahlberg, is currently available to watch on Prime Video.

In honor of the new release, Moviefone is counting down every film Shane Black has either written or directed.

NOTE: For this list we are only including films where Black has a writing or directing credit, and not films where he only has a Story By credit or an acting credit.

Let's begin!

Related Article: Movie Review: 'Play Dirty'


10. 'The Predator' (2018)

2018's 'The Predator.' Photo: 20th Century Fox.

2018's 'The Predator.' Photo: 20th Century Fox.

When a young boy (Jacob Tremblay) accidentally triggers the universe's most lethal hunters' return to Earth, only a ragtag crew of ex-soldiers and a disgruntled scientist (Olivia Munn) can prevent the end of the human race.

Audience
Score
56
Release Date: Sep 14, 2018
Run Time: 1 hr 47 min
Budget: $88,000,000


9. 'Last Action Hero' (1993)

Arnold Schwarzenegger in 'Last Action Hero'. Photo: Sony Pictures Entertainment.

Arnold Schwarzenegger in 'Last Action Hero'. Photo: Sony Pictures Entertainment.

After his father's death, a young boy (Austin O'Brien) finds solace in action movies featuring an indestructible cop (Arnold Schwarzenegger). Given a magic ticket by a theater manager, he is transported into the film and teams up with the cop to stop a villain who escapes into the real world.

Last Action Hero

Last Action Hero

"This isn't the movies anymore."
Audience
Score
65
Release Date: Jun 18, 1993
Run Time: 2 hr 11 min
Budget: $85,000,000


8. 'The Monster Squad' (1987)

1987's 'The Monster Squad.' Photo: Tri-Star Pictures.

1987's 'The Monster Squad.' Photo: Tri-Star Pictures.

Count Dracula (Duncan Regehr) adjourns to Earth, accompanied by Frankenstein's Monster (Tom Noonan), the Wolfman (Carl Thibault), the Mummy (Michael Reid MacKay), and the Gillman (Tom Woodruff Jr.). The uglies are in search of a powerful amulet that will grant them power to rule the world. Our heroes - the Monster Squad are the only ones daring to stand in their way.

The Monster Squad

The Monster Squad

"You know who to call when you have ghosts. But who do you call when you have monsters?"
Audience
Score
67
Release Date: Aug 14, 1987
Run Time: 1 hr 22 min
Budget: $12,000,000


7. 'Play Dirty' (2025)

(L to R) Mark Wahlberg and LaKeith Stanfield in 'Play Dirty'. Photo: Prime Video.

(L to R) Mark Wahlberg and LaKeith Stanfield in 'Play Dirty'. Photo: Prime Video.

Expert thief Parker (Mark Wahlberg) gets a shot at a major heist, but to pull it off he and his team must outsmart a South American dictator, the New York mob, and the world's richest man.

Play Dirty

"Even robbers get robbed."
Review
Score
70
Release Date: Oct 1, 2025
Run Time: 2 hr 5 min
Budget: $2,500,000


6. 'The Long Kiss Goodnight' (1996)

(L to R) Geena Davis and Samuel L. Jackson in 'The Long Kiss Goodnight'. Photo: New Line Cinema.

(L to R) Geena Davis and Samuel L. Jackson in 'The Long Kiss Goodnight'. Photo: New Line Cinema.

Samantha Caine (Geena Davis) is a small-town schoolteacher and mom with no memory of her life before washing up on a beach eight years ago. After a car accident and a violent home invasion trigger flashes of her past, she discovers she used to be a deadly CIA assassin. Teaming up with a wisecracking private investigator (Samuel L. Jackson), Samantha must return to her old ways to take down the people who tried to erase her.

The Long Kiss Goodnight

The Long Kiss Goodnight

"What's forgotten is not always gone."
Audience
Score
66
Release Date: Oct 11, 1996
Run Time: 2 hr 1 min
Budget: $65,000,000


5. 'Iron Man 3' (2013)

Robert Downey Jr. in 'Iron Man 3'. Photo: Marvel Studios.

Robert Downey Jr. in 'Iron Man 3'. Photo: Marvel Studios.

When Tony Stark's (Robert Downey Jr.) world is torn apart by a formidable terrorist called the Mandarin, he starts an odyssey of rebuilding and retribution.

Iron Man 3

"Unleash the power behind the armor."
Audience
Score
69
Release Date: May 3, 2013
Run Time: 2 hr 10 min
Budget: $200,000,000


4. 'The Nice Guys' (2016)

(L to R) Ryan Gosling and Russell Crowe in 'The Nice Guys'. Photo: Warner Bros. Pictures.

(L to R) Ryan Gosling and Russell Crowe in 'The Nice Guys'. Photo: Warner Bros. Pictures.

A private eye (Ryan Gosling) and an enforcer (Russell Crowe) investigate the apparent suicide of a fading porn star (Margaret Qualley) in 1970s Los Angeles and uncovers a conspiracy.

The Nice Guys

"They're not that nice."
Audience
Score
71
Release Date: May 20, 2016
Run Time: 1 hr 56 min
Budget: $50,000,000


3. 'Lethal Weapon' (1987)

(L to R) Danny Glover and Mel Gibson in 'Lethal Weapon'. Photo: Warner Bros.

(L to R) Danny Glover and Mel Gibson in 'Lethal Weapon'. Photo: Warner Bros.

A veteran cop (Danny Glover) and an unstable detective (Mel Gibson) become partners who must put their differences aside in order to bring down a heroin-smuggling ring run by ex-Special Forces.

Lethal Weapon

"If these two can learn to stand each other... the bad guys don't stand a chance."
Audience
Score
73
Release Date: Mar 6, 1987
Run Time: 1 hr 50 min
Budget: $15,000,000


2. 'The Last Boy Scout' (1991)

(L to R) Bruce Willis and Damon Wayans in 'The Last Boy Scout'. Photo: Warner Bros.

(L to R) Bruce Willis and Damon Wayans in 'The Last Boy Scout'. Photo: Warner Bros.

When the girl (Halle Berry) that detective Joe Hallenback (Bruce Willis) is protecting gets murdered, the boyfriend (Damon Wayans) of the murdered girl attempts to investigate and solve the case. What they discover is that there is deep seated corruption going on between a crooked politician and the owner of a pro football team.

The Last Boy Scout

The Last Boy Scout

"Everyone had counted them out. But they're about to get back in the game."
Audience
Score
68
Release Date: Dec 13, 1991
Run Time: 1 hr 45 min
Budget: $29,000,000


1. 'Kiss Kiss Bang Bang' (2005)

(L to R) Val Kilmer and Robert Downey Jr. in 'Kiss Kiss Bang Bang.' Photo: Warner Bros.

(L to R) Val Kilmer and Robert Downey Jr. in 'Kiss Kiss Bang Bang.' Photo: Warner Bros.

A petty thief posing as an actor (Robert Downey Jr.) is brought to Los Angeles for an unlikely audition and finds himself in the middle of a murder investigation along with his high school dream girl (Michelle Monaghan) and a detective (Val Kilmer) who's been training him for his upcoming role.

Kiss Kiss Bang Bang

"Sex. Murder. Mystery. Welcome to the party."
Audience
Score
72
Release Date: Nov 11, 2005
Run Time: 1 hr 43 min
Budget: $15,000,000