Christopher McQuarrie has become one of modern action cinema’s influential voices in the last decade. This, in no small part, is largely because of his successful directorial work on the Mission: Impossible franchise. With a career spanning over two decades, McQuarrie has gained recognition for his sharp storytelling, directing, and for producing works in film and television.
Although known for his blockbuster achievements, Christopher McQuarrie’s journey to the top has been fascinating and unconventional. From an Oscar-winning writer to a trusted action auteur, McQuarrie’s evolution offers a compelling look at the inner workings of big-budget filmmaking. Beyond the explosions and high-speed chases, Christopher McQuarrie is a filmmaker defined by his intelligence, collaborations, and deep respect for narrative. Here’s everything to know about the Mission: Impossible director Christopher McQuarrie.
He Attended & Graduated From the Same High School as Bryan Singer
The screenwriter and filmmaker was born Christopher Allen McQuarrie in Princeton, New Jersey, on October 25, 1968. Having been raised in Princeton Junction, New Jersey, McQuarrie attended West Windsor-Plainsboro High School South. It was while he was there that he first met director Bryan Singer. Although they weren’t classmates, with Singer graduating two years earlier, they were acquainted, which became a solid foundation for future collaborations. Christopher McQuarrie eventually graduated from high school in 1986.
Christopher McQuarrie Did an Intern Program in Australia
While most people look to college after high school, Christopher McQuarrie spent the next five years traveling and working. After being offered an internship, McQuarrie jumped on the opportunity to travel out of the country. The program took him to Perth, Western Australia, where he worked as an assistant at Christ Church Grammar School, an independent, single-sex primary and secondary day and boarding school for boys.
For accommodation, he stayed at the boarding school while working at the school. However, he didn’t last long as a staff member as he was fired after nine months. Still uncertain about his future or what he wanted to do, he reportedly hitchhiked for three months in Australia before deciding to return to the United States. Back in the United States, McQuarrie found work with a detective agency. However, he considered his job as “a glorified security guard position.” McQuarrie worked at the agency for about four years and worked on six investigations.
Christopher McQuarrie Made His Professional Debut as a Screenwriter
Christopher McQuarrie wasn’t an A-student in high school, as he generally struggled with his grades. However, he has always been drawn to creative writing and theater. Christopher McQuarrie began writing when he was 12, as a pastime hobby. At some point, he was convinced he would pursue a career as a novelist.
Two decades later, McQuarrie was collaborating with his longtime friend, Bryan Singer, co-writing the screenplay of the 1993 drama film Public Access. Singer made the movie in 18 days with only a $250,000 budget. Although not released theatrically, it premiered at the 1993 Sundance Film Festival. The movie won the Grand Jury Prize at the festival in a joint win with Victor Nunez’s Ashley Judd-led Ruby in Paradise.
Christopher McQuarrie Won an Academy Award Early in His Career
Years before his action-packed directorial efforts, Christopher McQuarrie made a name for himself in Hollywood with his 1995 screenplay for The Usual Suspects. The film, which was also directed by Bryan Singer, became a cult classic and earned McQuarrie his first Oscar nomination. He also won the nomination, winning for Best Original Screenplay. Besides its critical success, The Usual Suspects was a financial hit, grossing $67 million against its $6 million budget. It featured a star-studded ensemble cast, including Kevin Spacey, Gabriel Byrne, Stephen Baldwin, Benicio del Toro, Kevin Pollak, and Chazz Palminteri.
Christopher McQuarrie Has Worked Uncredited in Several Box Office Hits
Beyond his impressive work on the Mission: Impossible franchise, Christopher McQuarrie has worked on the scripts of other top films. As a screenwriter, McQuarrie understands that his final drafts are always subject to revisions. Besides having several of his scripts revised beyond recognition, McQuarrie has also been hired to help revise other writers’ scripts. While he goes uncredited when his contributions are small, he voluntarily opts out of being credited a few times because he understands the pains and struggles of making a final draft. Over the years, McQuarrie has helped improve scripts of movies, including Batman & Robin (1997), X-Men (2000), Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol (2011), World War Z (2013), The Wolverine (2013), and Rogue One (2016).
He’s Married to Heather McQuarrie
Although Christopher McQuarrie and Heather McQuarrie’s wedding date isn’t public knowledge, the couple has been married for over a decade. Heather McQuarrie has credits working behind the scenes as an assistant to writers and a production assistant. Although the McQuarries have yet to work officially on a project together, they own a production company, Invisible Ink Productions. While Christopher McQuarrie’s focus has been on the Mission: Impossible projects for a decade now, he intends to take on new projects with his production company.
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