Will Packer
Will Packer (born April 11, 1974) is an American film and television producer who founded Will Packer Productions in 2013 and Will Packer Media, producing a slate of commercially successful films that have grossed over $1 billion worldwide, including ten that opened at number one at the box office.[1][2][3]
A graduate of Florida A&M University with a Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering, Packer began his career producing low-budget independent films in the 1990s, co-founding Rainforest Films and achieving early success with Trois (2000), before transitioning to major studio comedies like Think Like a Man (2012), Ride Along (2014), and Girls Trip (2017).[1][3][2]
In 2022, he produced the 94th Academy Awards ceremony—the first led by a Black producer—during which Will Smith slapped Chris Rock onstage following a joke about Smith's wife, an incident for which Packer later explained his decision against immediate removal of Smith from the venue.[1][3][4]
Packer has extended his work into television, producing the limited series Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist (2024), which received four NAACP Image Awards, and in 2024 became a limited partner in the Atlanta Falcons ownership group.[3]
Early Life and Background
Childhood and Family
Will Packer was born on April 11, 1974, in St. Petersburg, Florida, to William Packer Sr. and Birice Packer.[1][5] He was raised in the same city, where his family placed a strong emphasis on education, with his mother particularly instilling values of academic achievement and community involvement; she worked as a community-service volunteer.[6][7] Limited public details exist regarding his siblings or extended family dynamics, though Packer has credited his parents' influence for shaping his early work ethic and aspirations.[1]Education at Florida A&M University
Packer enrolled at Florida A&M University (FAMU) on an academic scholarship, drawn by his strong performance in mathematics and science during high school.[8] He pursued a major in electrical engineering, reflecting his technical aptitude. While at FAMU, Packer began exploring filmmaking outside his engineering coursework, collaborating with classmate Rob Hardy to produce their first short film, Chocolate City, approximately 30 years prior to 2024.[9] The project was funded in part by student government allocations used to purchase Super 16mm film stock, marking an early hands-on entry into production despite his primary academic focus.[8] This extracurricular effort laid foundational experience that later influenced his career trajectory, though it occurred alongside his engineering studies.[9] Packer graduated in 1996 with a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering, earning magna cum laude honors for his academic performance. [10] Following commencement, he opted against a traditional engineering career, redirecting toward the film industry informed by his university experiences.[10]Professional Career
Founding and Success of Rainforest Films
Will Packer and Rob Hardy co-founded Rainforest Films in 1994 in Atlanta, Georgia, shortly after graduating from Florida A&M University, where they had collaborated on student film projects.[1][11] The company initially focused on producing low-budget, independent films targeted at African-American audiences, starting with direct-to-video releases like Chocolate City (1995), which achieved modest commercial success and helped establish their production capabilities.[12] Rainforest Films' breakthrough came with its first theatrical release, Trois (2000), an erotic thriller directed by Hardy and produced by Packer, which grossed $1,161,843 domestically despite a limited release and budget under $250,000.[13] This made Trois the fastest-grossing independent film by an African-American production company to exceed $1 million at the box office, demonstrating the viability of niche urban-market films.[14] Subsequent early releases, such as Trois 2: Pandora's Box (2002) and Motives (2004), built on this foundation by exploring dramatic themes appealing to similar demographics, though with smaller-scale distribution.[1] The company's success escalated in the late 2000s through partnerships with major studios like Screen Gems, enabling larger budgets and wider releases. Key hits included Stomp the Yard (2007), which debuted at number one and earned over $75 million domestically; Obsessed (2009), another top opener grossing $68 million; Takers (2010) at $69 million; Think Like a Man (2012) exceeding $90 million; and Ride Along (2014) surpassing $140 million.[15][5] These five films, all opening at number one, solidified Rainforest's reputation for delivering profitable urban comedies and thrillers, amassing significant returns and attracting mainstream attention without relying on broad crossover appeal.[16]Establishment of Will Packer Productions
Will Packer established Will Packer Productions in 2013 as an independent film and television production company following the commercial successes of his prior venture, Rainforest Films.[17][1] The company was launched to focus on developing and producing content under Packer's sole leadership, building on his track record of box-office hits targeted at diverse audiences.[17] In July 2013, Packer secured a two-year overall deal with Universal Television to create new television projects, marking an early expansion into scripted and unscripted programming.[18] Concurrently, he signed a three-year first-look film deal with Universal Pictures, providing priority access to the studio for theatrical releases and enabling Packer to oversee development from script to production.[17][1] These agreements positioned Will Packer Productions as a key partner for Universal, emphasizing commercially viable narratives often centered on African American experiences.[1] The establishment coincided with the wind-down of Rainforest Films in 2014, allowing Packer to transition assets and momentum into his new entity without the collaborative structure of his earlier partnership with Rob Hardy.[17] This move reflected a strategic pivot toward broader studio integration while maintaining creative control, as evidenced by the company's rapid output of projects aligned with Packer's established formula of ensemble comedies and dramas.[19]Key Film Productions and Box Office Achievements
Will Packer's films as producer have amassed over $1.25 billion in worldwide box office earnings across 28 credits, ranking him among the top 300 producers by aggregate gross.[20] Ten of his productions debuted at number one domestically, a rare feat highlighting his consistent commercial appeal, particularly in comedies and urban-market thrillers.[2] Early efforts under Rainforest Films, co-founded in 1994, laid the foundation with mid-budget hits like Stomp the Yard (2007), a dance drama that grossed $75.5 million worldwide on a $14 million budget, and Takers (2010), a heist film earning $69.1 million worldwide.[20] The establishment of Will Packer Productions in 2013 amplified these successes, focusing on star-driven vehicles with efficient production values. Think Like a Man (April 20, 2012) adapted a self-help book into a romantic comedy ensemble, opening at number one with $33.6 million domestically and totaling $113.4 million worldwide. Its sequel, Think Like a Man Too (June 20, 2014), followed suit, debuting atop the charts with $29.3 million and grossing $70.2 million worldwide despite mixed reviews.[21] Action-comedy Ride Along (January 17, 2014), starring Ice Cube and Kevin Hart, marked a breakout with $153.7 million worldwide, including a $41.7 million opening weekend. The follow-up, Ride Along 2 (January 15, 2016), earned $124.8 million worldwide, opening with $35.3 million.[21] Thrillers like No Good Deed (September 12, 2014), featuring Taraji P. Henson, opened at number one with $24.3 million on a $13.2 million budget, yielding $54.3 million worldwide.[21] Girls Trip (July 21, 2017), a raunchy comedy with Jada Pinkett Smith, Queen Latifah, and Tiffany Haddish, debuted at number one with $31.2 million and grossed $140.9 million worldwide, propelled by word-of-mouth among adult female audiences.[21] Night School (September 28, 2018), reuniting Kevin Hart and Tiffany Haddish, added $104.1 million worldwide, including $77.3 million domestically.[21] As executive producer, Packer contributed to the biopic Straight Outta Compton (August 14, 2015), which opened at number one and amassed $202.2 million worldwide, driven by strong cultural resonance.[22]| Film | Release Date | Worldwide Gross | Key Achievement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Straight Outta Compton | Aug 14, 2015 | $202.2M | #1 opener; highest-grossing biopic of its era |
| Ride Along | Jan 17, 2014 | $153.7M | #1 opener; launched Hart-Cube franchise |
| Girls Trip | Jul 21, 2017 | $140.9M | #1 opener; strong female-led comedy performance |
| Ride Along 2 | Jan 15, 2016 | $124.8M | #1 opener; sequel profitability |
| Think Like a Man | Apr 20, 2012 | $113.4M | #1 opener; book adaptation success |
| Night School | Sep 28, 2018 | $104.1M | Hart-Haddish vehicle; 10th #1 for Packer |