‏William Packer‏

Producer Will Packer has established himself as one of Hollywood's blockbuster hit makers with seven of his films opening number one at the box office. In 2013, Packer signed first-look production deals with Universal Pictures and Universal Television. Under both deals he develops new projects for the studios under his Will Packer Productions banner. In 2014, he accomplished the rare feat of producing two films in the top six at the box office and became one of the only African-American producers to have seven films debut at number one during opening weekend.His most successful film to date is Universal's Ride Along, starring Ice Cube and Kevin Hart, that debuted number one at the box office in 2014 with record-breaking receipts totaling over $48 million during the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday weekend opening of the film, making it one of the biggest January opening box office tallies of all time. The film also went on to be number one at the box office for three consecutive weeks and grossed over $153 million worldwide.Packer's number one films also include No Good Deed (2014), Think Like A Man Too (2014), Think Like A Man (2012), Takers (2010), Obsessed (2008) and Stomp The Yard (2007). Think Like A Man, the film adaptation of Steve Harvey's best-selling book, "Act Like A Lady, Think Like a Man" grossed over $96 million worldwide and won the 2013 BET Award for Best Movie. Stomp The Yard held at number one for two weekends and received the 2007 Movie of the Year honors from the The BET Hip Hop Awards while Obsessed, featuring mega-star Beyonce, was Screen Gems' third highest opening in company history when it debuted. No Good Deed, starring Idris Elba and Taraji P. Henson, is his most recent number one film and raked in over $53 million. Packer also enjoyed the success of his holiday film This Christmas (2007) which grossed nearly $50 million worldwide as well as About Last Night (2014) that hit theaters during Valentine's Day weekend and opened as the #1 romantic comedy in America. His most recent release this year, The Wedding Ringer starring Hart and Josh Gad, holds the world record as the #1 R rated comedy opening in January. Collectively, Will Packer's films have grossed well over a half billion dollars.In 2012, Packer was inducted as a member of The Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences, the organization known around the world for its annual Academy Awards, now officially known as The Oscars. As part of the Academy Conversations series, the organization presented a conversation with Packer at the Sundance Film Festival in 2013. This marked the first time the Academy participated in a program at the renowned festival. Packer has been featured on the cover of Black Enterprise and Essence magazines and acknowledged on several high profile magazine lists including Variety's 10 Producers To Watch, Black Enterprise's Most Powerful Players Under 40 and 10 Most Bankable Producers In Hollywood, Jet's Who's Hot To Watch and Ebony's prestigious Power 100 list.As Producer and Founder of the Los Angeles based production company, Will Packer Productions, Packer oversees all aspects of the business. Prior to launching his own company in 2013, he co-founded Rainforest Films with director Rob Hardy in the summer of 1994 while both were engineering students at Florida A & M University. After graduating magna cum laude from Florida A&M University (FAMU) with a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering in 1996, Packer decided to forego lucrative job offers in the field of engineering to capitalize on his entrepreneurial instincts and his passion for filmmaking.Packer is a dynamic and inspiring speaker who delivers educational and motivational speeches to film industry groups, colleges and universities (including Harvard University), as well as youth and community organizations nationwide. He has been honored with the key to the city of his hometown, St. Petersburg, FL as well as Miami, FL; and "Will Packer Day" has been proclaimed in Chattanooga, TN and Ft. Lauderdale, FL. Packer has also been honored with the Meritorious Achievement Award from his alma mater, FAMU. It is the highest honor the University bestows.Packer resides in Atlanta with his family.