Michael Gallagher (filmmaker)
Michael Gallagher | |
|---|---|
| Born | December 6, 1988 San Diego, California, U.S. |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 2009–present |
Michael J. Gallagher (born December 6, 1988) is an American filmmaker. Born and raised in San Diego, California, Gallagher got his start by creating the popular sketch comedy YouTube channel TotallySketch and co-founding Maker Studios. He directed and wrote The Leader about the Heaven's Gate Cult, starring Academy Award Nominee Vera Farmiga, Tim Blake Nelson, and Golden Globe Winner Jim Parsons, which premiered at the 2026 Tribeca Festival and the 2026 Fantasia International Film Festival to positive reviews.[1]
Early life
Gallagher was eight-years-old when 39 members of the Heaven's Gate cult committed suicide in his neighborhood in San Diego, California.[1][2]
Career
Gallagher founded the popular YouTube sketch comedy channel TotallySketch which quickly garnered over 1.2 Million Subscribers and over 600 Million views.[3] In 2011, Business Insider declared TotallySketch as one of the ten "World's Most Powerful YouTube Stars".[4] Gallagher became one of the original co-founders of Maker Studios, a creator-led studio and the world's first multi-channel network.[5]
In 2014, Gallagher won Legendary's "House of Horrors" short film contest, hand selected by Academy Award Winning Director Guillermo del Toro.[6][7] That same year, Maker Studios was bought by The Walt Disney Company directly after acquiring Lucasfilm and Marvel Studios.[8]
Filmography
Feature films
| Year | Title | Director | Writer | Producer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Smiley | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 2016 | Internet Famous | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 2016 | The Thinning | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 2018 | The Thinning: New World Order | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 2019 | Funny Story | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 2026 | The Leader | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Series
| Year | Title | Director | Writer | Producer | Showrunner | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | The Real Bros of Simi Valley | Yes | No | Yes | No | Season 1 |
| 2022 | PBC | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Seasons 1-3 |
References
- 1 2 "'The Leader' Director Michael Gallagher and Star Tim Blake Nelson on Why the Story of the Heaven's Gate Cult Is Relevant Today: 'When There Is Nothing but Certainty Within a Group, Danger Can Strike'". Variety. June 12, 2026. Retrieved July 27, 2026.
- ↑ "Fantasia Fest 2026 Review: Michael J. Gallagher Finds a Cult Story Worth Following Up on In "The Leader"". The Moveable Fest. July 26, 2026. Retrieved July 27, 2026.
- ↑ "Rancho Santa Fe Native Pursuing Comedy Hits Milestone With YouTube Channel Totally Sketch". San Diego Union Tribune. April 2, 2014. Retrieved July 27, 2026.
- ↑ "THE WORLD'S MOST POWERFUL YOUTUBE STARS". Business Insider. January 14, 2011. Retrieved August 5, 2026.
- ↑ "Actors in Smaller Studios, Making Pictures for the Smaller Screen". The New York Times. April 11, 2011. Retrieved August 5, 2026.
- ↑ "Guillermo del Toro Talks YouTube Space House of Horrors". Collider. October 29, 2014. Retrieved July 27, 2026.
- ↑ "YouTube Red Picks Up 'The Thinning' Thriller Starring Logan Paul, Peyton List". Variety. August 5, 2016. Retrieved July 27, 2026.
- ↑ "5 Reasons Disney Will Pay Up to $950 Million to Be on YouTube". Time. March 25, 2014. Retrieved August 5, 2026.