Paul Verhoeven (born July 18, 1938) is a famous Dutch-born film director best known for his extremely violent science fiction films.

He was born in Amsterdam, Netherlands. He graduated from the University of Leiden with a double in mathematics and physics. He joined the Dutch navy and it was in that service that he gained his first exposure to film, making documentaries. He left the navy and took his skills into Dutch television. His first major success was the 1969 Floris television series, starring Rutger Hauer. His first film was released in 1971, Wat Zien Ik? was not especially well received. But his first national success did not come until 1973 with Turks Fruit, featuring Hauer. He built on his reputation and following minor international successes, such as the Golden Globe winning Soldaat van Oranje, he moved to the USA. Crossing the Atlantic may also have been the result of resentment Verhoeven felt towards the Dutch film society. His work was seen as too commercial and it didn't get the recognition it deserved.

Working in the USA he made a serious change in style, directing big-budget, violent, effects heavy smashes such as Robocop (1987) and Total Recall (1990). He followed those successes with the provocative Basic Instinct (1992) and then the dreadful flop Showgirls (1995). After that he returned to the violence and effects that marked his earlier films with Starship Troopers (1997) and Hollow Man (2000).

Filmography

• Wat Zien Ik? (1971)
• Turks Fruit (1973)
• Keetje Tippel (1975)
• Soldaat van Oranje (1977)
• Spetters (1980)
• De Vierde Man (1983)
• Flesh & Blood (1985)
• Robocop (1987)
• Total Recall (1990)
• Basic Instinct (1992)
• Showgirls (1995)
• Starship Troopers (1997)
• Hollow Man (2000)