Lee Cronin

Biography

Lee Cronin is a highly acclaimed Irish writer and director who has rapidly become one of the most significant names in modern horror cinema. Originally from Skerries, North County Dublin, he first gained international recognition with his award-winning short film Ghost Train (2013). He made a major splash with his feature debut, the atmospheric folk-horror The Hole in the Ground (2019), which premiered at Sundance to critical acclaim. This success caught the eye of industry legend Sam Raimi, who hand-picked Cronin to write and direct Evil Dead Rise (2023). The film went on to become the highest-grossing movie ever written and directed by an Irish-born person, cementing his status as a "genre specialist" in Hollywood. Known for his ability to blend intense, visceral horror with grounded family dynamics, Cronin often explores themes of motherhood and domestic dread. In 2024, he co-founded the production company Wicked/Good (formerly Doppelgängers), aiming to bring more Irish talent and stories to the global stage. To be honest, it is his commitment to his Irish roots—vowing to develop projects with clear "Irish origins"—that makes him such an interesting figure in an industry often dominated by American perspectives. As of 2026, he is overseeing a slate of high-profile projects, including a reimagining of The Mummy for Blumhouse and Atomic Monster, further expanding his influence across the horror landscape.