- 2009: Co-wrote (with Akiva Goldsman) the film adaptation of Dan Brown's novel, "Angels & Demons"; directed by Ron Howard and starring Tom Hanks
- 2008: Penned the fourth installment of the adventure series, "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull"
- 2008: Co-wrote and directed "Ghost Town" starring Ricky Gervais and Greg Kinnear
- 2005: Re-teamed with Spielberg to write the film adaptation of "War of the Worlds"
- 2004: Directed and wrote the psychological thriller, "Secret Window"
- 2002: Earned up to $4 million (for writing and producing) for the thriller, "Panic Room"
- 2002: Penned the feature adaption of "Spider-Man"
- 1999: Directed (also wrote) Kevin Bacon in the horror film "Stir of Echoes"
- 1996: Feature directorial debut, "The Trigger Effect"; also scripted
- 1994: Made directing debut (also wrote) with the short "Suspicious"
- 1993: Received screenwriting credit for "Carlito's Way"; first collaboration with director Brian De Palma
- 1993: Co-wrote the screenplay for Spielberg's "Jurassic Park"; first collaboration with Spielberg
- 1992: Reteamed with Martin Donovan to co-write Robert Zemeckis's "Death Becomes Her"
- 1990: First solo screenwriting credit, "Bad Influence"
- 1988: Feature writing and producing debut (with Donovan), "Apartment Zero"
- Wrote plays and screenplays while attending the University of Wisconsin at Madison
- Worked as a script reader
- Moved from his native Wisconsin to attend UCLA's film school in Los Angeles
- Met producer-writer-director Martin Donovan
- Worked with Donovan as a co-writer on a writing project for an Italian producer
- Sold "Bad Influence" to Trans World Entertainment, an independent production company
- Met producer-writer-director Robert Zemeckis
- Performed some writing assignments for independent producers
- Hired by Universal's Casey Silver Silver (now president of Universal) as an in-house contract writer




