Biography
Joseph "Joe" Berlinger (born October 30, 1961) is an American documentary film-maker who, in collaboration with Bruce Sinofsky, has created such films as Paradise Lost about the West Memphis 3, Brother's Keeper, Some Kind of Monster, and Crude. In collaboration with journalist Greg Milner, Berlinger has also written a book called Metallica: This Monster Lives, which is about his journey from making the poorly received Blair Witch 2 to creating Some Kind of Monster with Metallica, one of the world's most famous metal bands. Berlinger has also worked in TV series such as Homicide: Life on the Street, D.C. and FanClub. The first movie Berlinger directed, in 1992, was the documentary My Brother's Keeper, which tells the story of Delbart Ward, an elderly man in Munnsville, New York, who was charged with second-degree murder following the death of his brother William. Chicago Tribune film critic Roger Ebert, in his review of the movie, called it "an extraordinary documentary about what happened next, as a town banded together to stop what folks saw as a miscarriage of justice." He graduated from Colgate University in 1983. He lives with his wife and daughters in New York.
Directed 37
2020s
- 2026
Primetime Preacher$
Director
- 2025
- 2024
- 2023
- 2022
- 2021
Confronting a Serial Killer
Director
2010s
- 2019
The Longest Wave
Director
- 2018
Cold Blooded: The Clutter Family Murders
Director
- 2017
Intent to Destroy: Death, Denial & Depiction
Director
- 2016
Judgment Day: Prison or Parole?
Director
- 2015
Ubah!
Director
- 2014
We the Economy: 20 Short Films You Can't Afford to Miss
Director
Metallica: This Monster Lives
Director
Whitey: United States of America v. James J. Bulger
Director
- 2013
Hank: 5 Years from the Brink
Director
- 2012
Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory
Director
Paul Simon: Under African Skies
Director
2000s
- 2009
Crude
Director
- 2006
10 Days That Unexpectedly Changed America
Director
- 2004
Gray Matter
Director
Metallica: Some Kind of Monster
Director
- 2003
- 2000
Paradise Lost 2: Revelations
Director
1990s
- 1996
- 1993
- 1992
Brother's Keeper
Director
1980s
- 1982
Produced 34
2020s
- 2026
- 2025
- 2024
- 2023
- 2022
- 2021
Confronting a Serial Killer
Executive Producer
- 2020
2010s
- 2019
The Longest Wave
Producer
- 2018
- 2017
Intent to Destroy: Death, Denial & Depiction
Producer
- 2016
Judgment Day: Prison or Parole?
Executive Producer
- 2014
Whitey: United States of America v. James J. Bulger
Producer
- 2012
Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory
Producer
- 2011
Captive Beauty
Executive Producer
2000s
- 2009
Crude
Producer
- 2006
10 Days That Unexpectedly Changed America
Producer
- 2004
Metallica: Some Kind of Monster
Producer, Executive Producer
- 2000
Paradise Lost 2: Revelations
Producer
1990s
- 1996
- 1992
Brother's Keeper
Producer
Created 8
2020s
- 2026
- 2022
- 2021
Confronting a Serial Killer
Creator
2010s
- 2019
- 2016
Judgment Day: Prison or Parole?
Creator
Wrote 5
2010s
- 2019
The Longest Wave
Writer
- 2017
Intent to Destroy: Death, Denial & Depiction
Writer
2000s
- 2006
- 2004
Gray Matter
Writer
- 2000
Acted in 3
Camera 3
2010s
- 2019
The Longest Wave
Additional Camera
- 2016
2000s
- 2009
Crude
Director of Photography
Edited 2
1990s
- 1996
- 1992
Brother's Keeper
Editor
Appearances4
2020s
- 2023
Lust for Fear - True Crime Fascination
Self
2000s
- 2004
Gray Matter
Self