Steven E. de Souza

Writing

Steven E. de Souza

Born 1947-11-17 · Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Steven Edward de Souza (born 17 November 1947) is an American producer, director and screenwriter. He is among a handful of screenwriters whose films have earned over two billion dollars at the worldwide box office.

Acting credits

Ricochet poster
6.1

An attorney is terrorized by the criminal he put away years ago when he was a cop.

Ricochet

1991

In Search of Tomorrow poster
6.7

A nostalgic journey through ’80s Sci-Fi-films, exploring their impact and relevance today, told by the artists who made them and by those who were inspired to turn their visions into reality.

In Search of Tomorrow

2022

A Moral Right: The Politics of Dirty Harry poster
4.5

Filmmakers, social scientists and authors take a provocative look at the moral, political and ethical themes of the Dirty Harry films.

A Moral Right: The Politics of Dirty Harry

2008

Carolco, un rêve hollywoodien poster
7.0

No synopsis available yet.

Carolco, un rêve hollywoodien

2026

Tales from the Script poster
6.6

Shane Black ("Lethal Weapon"), John Carpenter ("Halloween"), Frank Darabont ("The Shawshank Redemption"), William Goldman ("The Princess Bride"), Paul Schrader ("Taxi Driver"), and dozens of other Hollywood screenwriters share hilarious anecdotes and penetrating insights in "Tales from the Script," the most comprehensive documentary ever made about screenwriting. By analyzing their triumphs and recalling their failures, the participants explain how successful writers develop the skills necessary for toughing out careers in one of the world's most competitive industries. They also reveal the untold stories behind some of the greatest screenplays ever written, describing their adventures with luminaries including Harrison Ford, Stanley Kubrick, Joel Silver, Martin Scorsese, and Steven Spielberg. The film was produced in tandem with the upcoming HarperCollins book of the same name.

Tales from the Script

2009

Here Comes a New Challenger poster
8.0

The story of the gaming phenomenon that is Street Fighter II, exploring its origins and its impact on the lives of kids and teenagers worldwide.

Here Comes a New Challenger

2023

Best Christmas Movies Ever! poster
7.0

Over 50 stars, writers, athletes, directors and critics share the spirit of the season.

Best Christmas Movies Ever!

2024

Deathcember poster
5.3

Advent – a time of joyful anticipation. You will surely remember the feeling you had as a child, waking up on the first December morning. Rising early, ready to open a new door for 24 consecutive days.

Deathcember

2019

The Evolution of Clint Eastwood poster
7.0

Follow Eastwood's career from television star to matinee idol to Oscar-winning director in this wide-ranging documentary.

The Evolution of Clint Eastwood

2008

No artwork available
NR

Writer and Producer Steven de Souza remembers his work on the first season of 'Knight Rider'.

A Man and His Horse: Steven E. de Souza on 'Knight Rider'

2022

Dreams on Spec poster
5.7

"Dreams on Spec" takes an intimate look at how far people will go - and how much they will sacrifice - for the chance to pursue their dreams. This feature-length documentary delves into the lives of three aspiring Hollywood screenwriters as they pour their hearts into their spec scripts, pitch their ideas to anyone who will listen, go to meetings, hold table reads, and work at low-level day-jobs - all in the hopes of one day seeing one of their beloved creations made into a movie. These poignant portraits are intercut with wisdom from a "Greek Chorus" of superstar Hollywood creative-types like James L. Brooks, Nora Ephron, Gary Ross, and Carrie Fisher to forge a funny and compelling look at inspiration, creativity, and solitude in the movie industry.

Dreams on Spec

2007

In Search of the Last Action Heroes poster
7.0

The most comprehensive retrospective of the '80s action film genre ever made.

In Search of the Last Action Heroes

2019

The Long Shadow of Dirty Harry poster
5.8

An in-depth look at Dirty Harry (1971), featuring interviews with such film artists as Michael Madsen, 'Hal Holbrook', John Milius, 'Shane Black' and John Badham.

The Long Shadow of Dirty Harry

2008

The Business End: Violence in Cinema poster
8.0

An unflinching look at the ongoing debate on violence in movies and its effect on the audience.

The Business End: Violence in Cinema

2008

The Check In poster
NR

Crisco, an actor, wakes up in a resort and discovers that his husband has disappeared. He struggles to find out what happened only to be told that his husband doesn't exist. While trapped, he finally finds an escape and a new idea about their relationship.

The Check In

2022

Shooting the Police: Cops on Film poster
NR

An investigation of the cop movie phenomena with some of Hollywood’s most intriguing filmmakers, actors, and personalities.

Shooting the Police: Cops on Film

2006

Arnold's Wrecking Co. poster
4.8

A student tries pot for the first time, loves it and decides to distribute it in a big business kind of way. Soon he has the police and the mafia on his tail.

Arnold's Wrecking Co.

1973

Behind the camera

Die Hard poster
7.8

High above the city of L.A. a team of terrorists has seized a building, taken hostages, and declared war. One man has manages to escape... An off-duty cop hiding somewhere inside. He's alone, tired... and the only chance anyone has got.

Die Hard

1988

Commando poster
6.7

John Matrix, the former leader of a special commando strike force that always got the toughest jobs done, is forced back into action when his young daughter is kidnapped. To find her, Matrix has to fight his way through an array of punks, killers, one of his former commandos, and a fully equipped private army. With the help of a feisty stewardess and an old friend, Matrix has only a few hours to overcome his greatest challenge: finding his daughter before she's killed.

Commando

1985

Die Hard 2 poster
7.0

One year after his heroics in Los Angeles, John McClane is an off-duty cop who is the wrong guy in the wrong place at the wrong time. On a snowy Christmas Eve, as he waits for his wife's plane to land at Washington Dulles International Airport, terrorists take over the air traffic control system in a plot to free a South American army general and drug smuggler being flown into the US to face drug charges. It's now up to McClane to take on the terrorists, while coping with an inept airport police chief, an uncooperative anti-terrorist squad, and the life of his wife and everyone else trapped in planes circling overhead.

Die Hard 2

1990

The Running Man poster
6.5

By 2017, the global economy has collapsed and U.S. society has become a totalitarian police state, censoring all cultural activity. The government pacifies the populace by broadcasting a number of game shows in which convicted criminals fight for their lives, including the gladiator-style The Running Man, hosted by the ruthless Damon Killian, where “runners” attempt to evade “stalkers” and certain death for a chance to be pardoned and set free.

The Running Man

1987

Judge Dredd poster
5.9

In a dystopian future where Judges maintain law and order by acting as judge, jury, and executioner, Dredd fights to prove his innocence after being falsely accused of murder.

Judge Dredd

1995

The Flintstones poster
5.4

Modern Stone Age family the Flintstones hit the big screen in this live-action version of the classic cartoon. Fred helps Barney adopt a child. Barney sees an opportunity to repay him when Slate Mining tests its employees to find a new executive. But no good deed goes unpunished.

The Flintstones

1994

48 Hrs. poster
6.7

A hard-nosed cop reluctantly teams up with a wise-cracking criminal temporarily paroled to him, in order to track down a killer.

48 Hrs.

1982

Beverly Hills Cop III poster
5.9

When his boss is killed, Detroit cop Axel Foley finds evidence that the murderer had ties to a California amusement park called Wonder World. Returning to sunny Beverly Hills once more, Foley reunites with Detective Billy Rosewood to solve the case. Along with Billy's new partner, Detective Jon Flint, they discover that Wonder World is being used as a front for a massive counterfeiting ring.

Beverly Hills Cop III

1994

Street Fighter poster
4.7

Colonel Guile and various other martial arts heroes fight against the tyranny of dictator M. Bison and his cohorts.

Street Fighter

1994

Street Fighter poster
4.7

Colonel Guile and various other martial arts heroes fight against the tyranny of dictator M. Bison and his cohorts.

Street Fighter

1994

Hudson Hawk poster
5.7

Eddie Hawkins, called Hudson Hawk has just been released from ten years of prison and is planning to spend the rest of his life honestly. But then the crazy Mayflower couple blackmail him to steal some of the works of Leonardo da Vinci. If he refuses, they threaten to kill his friend Tommy.

Hudson Hawk

1991

Ricochet poster
6.1

An attorney is terrorized by the criminal he put away years ago when he was a cop.

Ricochet

1991

Knock Off poster
5.4

A fashion designer and his CIA agent business partner must join forces to stop a group of terrorists from smuggling explosives in counterfeit jeans during the handover of Hong Kong.

Knock Off

1998

Vault of Horror I poster
5.3

A compilation of three episodes from the Tales from the Crypt series ("Carrion Death", "None but the lonely heart" and "Abra Cadaver") with some famous cast and directors.

Vault of Horror I

1994

Possessed poster
5.4

An 11 year old boy starts throwing temper tantrums, vomiting on and attacking people, and swearing uncontrollably. Furniture begins to move on its own when he is around, and he doesn't remember any of it. After giving up on the protestants, the boy's parents turn to the catholic church for help. Father Bowden is a WWII veteran who is experiencing nightmares, flashbacks and other personal problems, including alcoholism. He is recruited by the archbishop to perform a series of exorcisms. This is the apparent true account of the last exorcism known to have been done by the catholic church.

Possessed

2000

Possessed poster
5.4

An 11 year old boy starts throwing temper tantrums, vomiting on and attacking people, and swearing uncontrollably. Furniture begins to move on its own when he is around, and he doesn't remember any of it. After giving up on the protestants, the boy's parents turn to the catholic church for help. Father Bowden is a WWII veteran who is experiencing nightmares, flashbacks and other personal problems, including alcoholism. He is recruited by the archbishop to perform a series of exorcisms. This is the apparent true account of the last exorcism known to have been done by the catholic church.

Possessed

2000

Bad Dreams poster
5.7

Unity Field, a "free love" cult from the '70s, is mostly remembered for its notorious mass suicide led by Harris, its charismatic leader. While all members are supposed to burn in a fire together, young Cynthia is spared by chance. Years later, the nightmare of Unity Field remains buried in her mind. But when those around Cynthia start killing themselves, and she begins having visions of Harris, she may be forced to confront the past -- before it confronts her.

Bad Dreams

1988

Blast poster
4.9

Former Navy SEAL Lamont Dixon thought he left his fighting days behind when he became a tugboat captain assigned to tow an offshore oil rig. But calm waters begin to stir as an offshore drilling protest turns into a terrorist hijacking. When the hijackers reveal part of their elaborate scheme, Dixon suspects foul play. With the help of FBI Agent Lisa Reed coordinating the counter-attack from shore, it's sink or swim as Dixon and Reed try to save the hostages, but can they diffuse the deadly plan before it's too late?

Blast

2004

K-9000 poster
4.8

A policeman and a scientist team up to recover her latest creation, a cybernetic, crime-fighting dog.

K-9000

1990

Gotta Catch Santa Claus poster
4.5

Trevor is a true believer in the holiday spirit, so his skeptical best friend, Veronica, challenges him to show the world actual proof that Santa is real! Trevor and his friends embark on the adventure of a lifetime to catch Santa in action and reveal the true magic of Christmas. But they've got to find Santa before LeFreeze - a dim-witted monster who's carrying a serious 100-year-old grudge - and his snowman minions put Christmas on ice forever!

Gotta Catch Santa Claus

2008

The Renegades poster
6.6

In this drama, undercover investigators are recruited from the streets to prevent arms smugglers from getting their weapons to street gangs.

The Renegades

1982

The Spirit poster
4.9

A legally dead police detective decides to battle crime as a masked superhero.

The Spirit

1987

The Return of Captain Invincible poster
6.2

In WWII, Captain Invincible used his superpowers against the Nazis and was hailed as a hero. But when he was accused of treason, he retired to Australia in disgrace. Cut to the present, when a US super secret super weapon is stolen and he's asked to come back to the States in order to help stop evil and restore his sterling reputation. Unfortunately, Captain Invincible is a drunk now...

The Return of Captain Invincible

1983

Arnold's Wrecking Co. poster
4.8

A student tries pot for the first time, loves it and decides to distribute it in a big business kind of way. Soon he has the police and the mafia on his tail.

Arnold's Wrecking Co.

1973