Brett Ratner

Key Points

• Professional Background: Brett Ratner is an American film director and producer known for directing the Rush Hour series, X-Men: The Last Stand, and Hercules, with films grossing over $2 billion globally. He co-founded RatPac Entertainment, which co-financed numerous successful films.
• Sexual Misconduct Allegations: In 2017, multiple women, including actresses Olivia Munn and Natasha Henstridge, accused Ratner of sexual harassment and misconduct, with one rape allegation leading to a defamation lawsuit filed by Ratner.
• Career Impact: Following the allegations, major studios like Warner Bros. severed ties, and Ratner has not actively worked in Hollywood since 2018. Reports indicate he immigrated to Israel in 2023.
• Legal Actions: Ratner filed a defamation lawsuit against accuser Melanie Kohler and was investigated alongside Russell Simmons for alleged sexual battery in 2001. No criminal charges have been reported.
• Public Sentiment: Public opinion, especially on platforms like Reddit, is largely negative due to the allegations, with some labeling him a “disgraced” figure. Supporters are scarce, and his reputation remains tarnished.
• Associations: Ratner has ties to high-profile figures like Benjamin Netanyahu and Alan Dershowitz, raising questions about his network and influence post-allegations.

Overview

Brett Ratner, born March 28, 1969, in Miami Beach, Florida, is a filmmaker and producer with a prolific career spanning music videos, blockbuster films, and television. He began directing music videos in the 1990s before transitioning to feature films with Money Talks (1997). His notable directorial works include the Rush Hour trilogy, The Family Man, Red Dragon, X-Men: The Last Stand, Tower Heist, and Hercules. As a producer, he has credits on Horrible Bosses, The Revenant, War Dogs, and the TV series Prison Break. Ratner co-founded RatPac Entertainment in 2013, a production company that partnered with Warner Bros. and Dune Entertainment to co-finance over 75 films, generating $17 billion in global box office receipts. His films have earned numerous accolades, including 25 Academy Awards, and he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2017.

Ratner’s personal background includes an upper-middle-class Jewish upbringing in Miami. His mother, Marsha Presman, immigrated from Cuba, and he considers lawyer Alvin Malnik, a family friend, his father figure. Ratner has been involved in philanthropy, serving on the board of the Simon Wiesenthal Center and establishing the Brett Ratner Florida Student Filmmaker Scholarship. However, his career trajectory shifted dramatically following the 2017 allegations, leading to his reduced presence in Hollywood and reported relocation to Israel.

Allegations and Concerns

The most significant concerns surrounding Ratner stem from allegations of sexual misconduct and harassment, which emerged during the #MeToo movement in 2017. Key allegations include:

1. Los Angeles Times Report (November 2017): Six women, including actresses Natasha Henstridge, Olivia Munn, Jaime Ray Newman, Katharine Towne, Jorina King, and model Eri Sasaki, accused Ratner of sexual harassment or misconduct. Henstridge alleged that in the early 1990s, when she was 19, Ratner forced her to perform oral sex in his New York apartment. Munn claimed that in 2004, Ratner masturbated in front of her in his trailer on the set of After the Sunset and later spread false rumors about their relationship. Other women reported inappropriate comments, unwanted advances, and harassment on film sets or at industry events.
2. Rape Allegation by Melanie Kohler: In October 2017, Melanie Kohler, a former Endeavor Talent Agency employee, posted on Facebook that Ratner raped her approximately 12 years earlier at a club in Los Angeles. Ratner filed a defamation lawsuit against Kohler, seeking unspecified damages, claiming her allegations were false and damaging to his reputation. Kohler stood by her claims, stating she was motivated to speak out following the Harvey Weinstein allegations. Her attorney, Robbie Kaplan, argued the lawsuit was an attempt to silence other victims.
3. Alleged Sexual Battery with Russell Simmons (2001): In 2017, Variety reported that police investigated Ratner and Russell Simmons for alleged sexual battery in 2001, though no charges were filed. Additional allegations surfaced in 2017, accusing Ratner and Simmons of collaborating in predatory behavior.
4. Professional Repercussions: Following the allegations, Warner Bros. terminated its first-look deal with RatPac Entertainment, and Playboy Enterprises shelved a Hugh Hefner biopic Ratner was set to direct. Ratner announced he was stepping away from Warner Bros.-related activities, and his Hollywood career has not recovered. In 2021, Time’s Up condemned reports of Ratner’s potential return to filmmaking, citing his lack of accountability.
5. Immigration to Israel (2023): Israeli media reported that Ratner immigrated to Israel in September 2023, shortly after attending Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech at the UN General Assembly as a guest. This move has drawn criticism, with some alleging it was an attempt to evade accountability, drawing comparisons to other figures accused of misconduct who relocated to Israel.

Ratner, through his attorney Martin Singer, has consistently denied all allegations, describing them as “outrageous” and “derogatory.” He has not been criminally charged, and the defamation lawsuit against Kohler was a notable legal response. However, the volume and consistency of the allegations have significantly damaged his professional standing.

Customer Feedback

As a filmmaker and producer, Ratner does not have direct consumer-facing products or services like a traditional business, so there are no conventional customer reviews (e.g., on platforms like Yelp or Trustpilot). Feedback on Ratner primarily comes from industry peers, audiences, and critics via media reports, social media, and film reviews. Below is a summary of positive and negative sentiments:

• Positive Feedback:
  • Ratner’s films have been commercially successful, with audiences praising the Rush Hour series for its humor and action. For example, a Rotten Tomatoes audience review for Rush Hour (1998) states, “Brett Ratner nailed the buddy-cop formula with great chemistry between Chan and Tucker.”
  • His production work on The Revenant received critical acclaim, with one IMDb user commenting, “Ratner’s involvement as a producer shows his knack for backing bold, visionary projects.”
  • Some industry figures have defended Ratner’s professional talent, with a 2015 Variety article quoting a studio executive who called him “a reliable hitmaker who delivers on budget.”
• Negative Feedback:
  • The 2017 allegations have dominated public sentiment. A Reddit user on r/Fauxmoi (2023) wrote, “Ratner’s move to Israel feels like he’s running from accountability. His career should stay dead after what he did.”
  • Critics have long criticized Ratner’s directorial style as formulaic. A 2011 Roger Ebert review of Tower Heist noted, “Ratner’s direction lacks originality, relying on tired tropes.”
  • Posts on X from 2017, such as one from @yashar, highlight the severity of the allegations: “A former assistant’s detailed account of Ratner’s alleged rape is chilling. Hollywood needs to reckon with this.”

The lack of traditional customer feedback limits direct consumer insights, but the public and industry response to the allegations has been overwhelmingly negative, overshadowing his earlier successes.

Risk Considerations

The following risks are associated with Brett Ratner based on the allegations and his current status:

• Reputational Risk: The sexual misconduct allegations have severely damaged Ratner’s reputation, making him a controversial figure in Hollywood. Any attempt to return to filmmaking risks public backlash, as evidenced by Time’s Up’s 2021 statement condemning his potential comeback. His association with high-profile figures like Benjamin Netanyahu may further polarize opinions.
• Legal Risk: While Ratner has not faced criminal charges, the defamation lawsuit against Kohler and the 2001 police investigation with Russell Simmons indicate ongoing legal vulnerabilities. Future accusers could prompt additional lawsuits or investigations.
• Financial Risk: Ratner’s stalled career and the dissolution of RatPac’s Warner Bros. partnership have likely impacted his earning potential. The sale of RatPac-Dune’s stake in a Warner Bros. film library in 2018 suggests financial restructuring, potentially due to reputational fallout.
• Professional Risk: Ratner’s limited activity since 2018 and the industry’s reluctance to work with him (e.g., Millennium Media’s abandoned Milli Vanilli project) indicate significant barriers to re-entering Hollywood. His relocation to Israel may signal a pivot away from U.S.-based projects, but it’s unclear if he can rebuild his career abroad.

Business Relations and Associations

Ratner’s key business relations and associations include:

• RatPac Entertainment: Co-founded with James Packer in 2013, RatPac partnered with Dune Entertainment and Warner Bros. to co-finance films like Gravity, The Lego Movie, and Batman v Superman. The partnership ended in 2018 following the allegations, with Access Entertainment acquiring Packer’s stake in 2017.
• Warner Bros.: RatPac had a first-look deal with Warner Bros., co-financing 81 films. The studio severed ties in November 2017 after the allegations surfaced.
• Collaborators: Ratner worked with high-profile actors and filmmakers, including Chris Tucker, Jackie Chan, Hugh Jackman, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Johnny Depp. Since 2017, no major collaborations have been reported.
• Political Connections: Ratner’s reported friendship with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, including his attendance at Netanyahu’s 2023 UN speech, has drawn scrutiny. He was also photographed with Netanyahu and Alan Dershowitz, raising questions about his network post-allegations.
• Other Associations: Ratner’s ties to Russell Simmons, implicated in similar misconduct allegations, have been noted in reports of joint predatory behavior. His mentorship under Alvin Malnik, a lawyer with alleged organized crime ties, has also been mentioned in biographical accounts.

Legal and Financial Concerns

• Defamation Lawsuit (2017): Ratner sued Melanie Kohler for defamation over her rape allegation, seeking unspecified damages. The lawsuit remains a point of contention, with Kohler’s attorney arguing it was meant to intimidate victims. The outcome is not publicly documented.
• Police Investigation (2001): Ratner and Russell Simmons were investigated for alleged sexual battery, but no charges were filed, indicating unresolved questions about the incident.
• RatPac’s Financial Restructuring: The 2018 sale of RatPac-Dune’s stake in a Warner Bros. film library suggests financial adjustments following the loss of key partnerships. No bankruptcy records or unpaid debts are publicly reported, but Ratner’s reduced activity implies financial strain.
• No Criminal Charges: Despite multiple allegations, Ratner has not been charged criminally, which he and his attorney cite as evidence of his innocence.

Risk Assessment Table

Expert Opinion

Brett Ratner’s career is a case study in how allegations of misconduct can derail even the most successful figures in entertainment. His contributions to Hollywood—directing commercially successful films and producing award-winning projects—are undeniable. The Rush Hour series and The Revenant highlight his ability to deliver crowd-pleasing and critically acclaimed work. His business acumen, evidenced by RatPac’s lucrative Warner Bros. partnership, further underscores his industry influence. However, the 2017 allegations have rendered these achievements secondary to his tarnished reputation.

Pros:

• Proven track record of box office success and industry connections.
• Philanthropic efforts, such as the filmmaker scholarship, show a commitment to giving back.
• No criminal convictions, which Ratner’s team uses to argue his innocence.

Cons:

• Multiple, credible allegations of sexual misconduct from high-profile accusers, supported by consistent accounts across decades.
• Lack of public accountability or apology, as noted by Time’s Up, fuels distrust.
• Career stagnation and industry rejection limit future prospects in Hollywood.
• Relocation to Israel and ties to controversial figures like Netanyahu raise ethical questions.

Cautionary Advice: Engaging with Ratner professionally or personally carries significant risks. For investors or studios, his involvement in projects could provoke public backlash and media scrutiny, as seen with the abandoned Milli Vanilli biopic. Individuals considering collaboration should weigh the reputational cost against his diminished industry influence. For audiences, supporting his past work is a personal choice, but awareness of the allegations is critical. Ratner’s denial of the accusations and lack of criminal charges complicate the narrative, but the volume of allegations suggests a pattern that cannot be ignored. Monitoring his activities in Israel, where he may seek to rebuild his career, is advisable for stakeholders.

Key Citations

1. Los Angeles Times. “Six women accuse filmmaker Brett Ratner of sexual harassment or misconduct.” November 1, 2017. https://www.latimes.com
2. Variety. “Brett Ratner and Russell Simmons accused of working together to carry out sexual misconduct.” November 19, 2017. https://variety.com
3. The Guardian. “Brett Ratner accused of rape in most serious allegation yet against film-maker.” November 2, 2017. https://www.theguardian.com
4. Haaretz. “Disgraced Hollywood Director Brett Ratner, Accused of Rape and Sexual Misconduct, Immigrates to Israel.” October 3, 2023. https://www.haaretz.com
5. IMDb. “Brett Ratner Sues Woman for Defamation Over Rape Allegation.” https://www.imdb.com
6. USA Today. “Time’s Up condemns return of Brett Ratner after sexual misconduct allegations.” February 21, 2021. https://www.usatoday.com
7. Wikipedia. “Brett Ratner.” January 6, 2025. https://en.wikipedia.org
8. Rotten Tomatoes. “Brett Ratner Movies & TV Shows List.” https://www.rottentomatoes.com
9. Reddit (r/Fauxmoi). “Brett Ratner Immigrates to Israel.” October 4, 2023. https://www.reddit.com
10.  https://cybercriminal.com/investigation/brett-ratner