Daniel J. Heffner
Producer · Born March 30, 1956 (70) · New York City, New York, USA
Primetime Emmy winner
Daniel Jason Heffner attended Ithaca College Park School of Communications and graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Communications in 1978. Upon graduating, Mr. Heffner worked as a Stage Manager and Production Assistant on the Academy Award winning film "Kramer vs. Kramer", and then as a Research Assistant to Milos Forman on "Ragtime". In January of 1980 Mr. Heffner moved to Los Angeles and became a member of the Director's Guild of America as a Second Assistant Director. He has worked in this capacity on such films as: "Personal Best", the Academy Award winning "An Officer and a Gentleman", "Richard Pryor Live on the Sunset Strip", and the critically acclaimed "The Big Chill". In 1982 he went to work for Columbia Pictures, working on various projects as a Production Manager and a First Assistant Director. Mr. Heffner's Executive career began in August of 1985, when he was selected to be the first Production Executive for the newly restructured film division of the Walt Disney Studios. In this capacity he was instrumental in the rebuilding of the studios feature production division, serving on the studios New Technologies and Facilities Expansion committees. As a Production Executive, Mr. Heffner oversaw the production of the following projects: "The Color of Money", directed by Martin Scorcese starring Paul Newman and Tom Cruise, filmed on location in Chicago; "Tough Guys", which was the final collaboration of Kirk Douglas and the late Burt Lancaster; "Adventures in Babysitting", the directorial debut of Chris Columbus, starring Elizabeth Shue, filmed on location in Toronto and Chicago; "Three Men and a Baby", directed by Leonard Nimoy starring Tom Selleck, Ted Danson and Steve Guttenberg, filmed on location in Toronto and New York City. During his tenure at Disney, Mr. Heffner was called upon to Line Produce "Cocktail", directed by Roger Donaldson starring Tom Cruise, Elizabeth Shue, and Brian Brown, filmed on location in New York City, Jamaica, and Toronto. As well as "The Good Mother", directed by Leonard Nimoy starring Diane Keaton and Liam Neeson, filmed on location in Toronto and Boston, Mr. Heffner also served as the 1st Assistant Director on this film. In 1988, promoted to Vice President of Production, Buena Vista Pictures Distribution, a division of The Walt Disney Company, Mr. Heffner was charged with the creation and operation of the Buena Vista Pictures Production Division. Including both production and finance personnel, this division started with 5 employees in 1988 and grew to over 35 employees by the end of 1991. During this period, he was responsible for the production of over 25 pictures, including the successful "Ernest" series as well as "Mr. Destiny" directed by James Orr starring Jim Belushi. "Deceived" directed by Damian Harris starring Goldie Hawn. "The Hand That Rocks The Cradle" directed by Curtis Hanson starring Rebecca De Mornay and Anabella Sciorra, as well as "Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken", "White Fang", "Where The Heart Is", "Spaced Invaders", "Shipwrecked", "Paradise", "The Incredible Journey", "Greencard", and "Betsy's Wedding". In November of 1991 to pursue a career as an Independent Producer, Mr. Heffner left The Walt Disney Company. Since then he has served as Co-Executive Producer and Production Manager of "Holy Matrimony" directed by Leonard Nimoy starring Patricia Arquette, filmed on location in Great Falls, Montana; Co-Producer and First Assistant Director on Fred Dryer's "Highway 395", filmed in Lone Pine California; First Assistant Director on "Winter Break", filmed in Aspen Colorado; First Assistant Director on ACI/American Cinema, Inc's "Killer Buzz" filmed entirely in Brazil; Co-Producer on Walt Disney Pictures "George Of The Jungle 2", filmed in Queensland, Australia; Producer on Fox Television Studios MOW/Pilot "Anonymous Rex" for the Sci Fi Channel; Line Producer on "Checking Out" for Full Circle Productions, LP; Co-Producer on "P2" for Summit Entertainment; Producer on Twisted Pictures/Lionsgate "REPO! The Genetic Opera"; and Executive Producer on "Make Your Move", "Knights of Badassdom", "The Pin", "Grace Unplugged". Most recently he has served as Executive Producer for Netflix on "End of the Road", "Trigger Warning", and "Rebel Ridge". He also serves as the Executive Producer on the $1 billion grossing franchise "SAW". Starting with the original and including "SAW II", "SAW III", "SAW IV", "SAW V", "SAW VI", "SAW 3D", "Jigsaw", "Spiral: From the Book of SAW" and "SAW X". Mr. Heffner is currently serving as President of Production for Twisted Pictures, and is in development for Serendipity Productions, Inc. as Producer on "The Prince Test", "The Insurrectionist" and "The Iron Will of Shoeshine Cats". Mr. Heffner is contract services COVID-19 certified, and fully vaccinated
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Biography from IMDb.
- March 30, 1956 (70)
- New York City, New York, USA
- Producer
- 30 on MovieCove · 32 credits in all
What are Daniel J. Heffner's films like?
Across their 23 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Bonds.
Genres
Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.
Themes
What they feel like to watch
Ironic 1 · Wry 2 · Earnest 19
Light 6 · Serious 1 · Dark 16
Grounded 8 · Stylized 12 · Heightened 3
Gentle 3 · Charged 4 · Intense 16
Steady 3 · Shifting 14 · Whiplash 6
Straight-faced 17 · Some laughs 3 · Funny 3
A split, not a type: Slow burn 3 · Even-paced 9 · Relentless 11
Casual 7 · Engaged 8 · Full focus 8
A split, not a type: Easy watch 6 · Affecting 6 · Heavy 11
Resolved 12 · Open-ended 10 · Ambiguous 1
Moods and endings
- Happy7
- Bittersweet8
- Tragic4
- Ambiguous4
AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.
Where can I watch Daniel J. Heffner's films?
As of October 24, 2026, 22 of their 30 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service.
Subscription and free streaming for Daniel J. Heffner's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.
Filmography
32 credits, 30 with a MovieCove page; 1 appearance as themselves is hidden until asked for.
Trust(2025)
Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all films
Rebel Ridge(2024)
Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films
Trigger Warning(2024)
Midcredits score: 6th percentile of all films
Saw X(2023)
Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films
End of the Road(2022)
Midcredits score: 10th percentile of all films
Spiral(2021)
Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films
Jigsaw(2017)
Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films
Knights of Badassdom(2013)
Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films
Grace Unplugged(2013)
Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films
Make Your Move(2013)
Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films
Saw 3D(2010)
Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films
Saw VI(2009)
Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films
Repo! The Genetic Opera(2008)
Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films
Saw V(2008)
Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films
P2(2007)
Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films
Saw IV(2007)
Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films
Saw III(2006)
Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films
Checking Out (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)
Repo! The Genetic Opera (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)
Saw II(2005)
Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films
Saw(2004)
Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films
Anonymous Rex(2004)
Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films
George of the Jungle 2(2003)
Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all films
Flying Virus(2001)
Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all films
Holy Matrimony(1994)
Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films
Ernest Goes to Jail(1990)
Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films
The Good Mother(1988)
Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films
Cocktail(1988)
Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films
Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films
Tough Guys(1986)
Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films
Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films
Personal Best(1982)
Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films
Career shape
A full career of 28 titles from 1982 to 2024.
Biggest box office
Cocktail (1988)
Highest rated
Rebel Ridge (2024)
Most popular right now
Cocktail (1988)
Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored.
Awards
Won a Primetime Emmy in 2025, Outstanding Television Movie.
Major bodies only: the Oscars, Primetime Emmys, Golden Globes, BAFTAs and Screen Actors Guild Awards are named; Cannes, Venice, the Berlinale, Sundance, the directors', writers' and producers' guilds, the Grammys, Critics Choice and the Independent Spirit Awards count as other major bodies. Festival and regional prizes are not counted. Source: IMDb.
How do Daniel J. Heffner's films land?
Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 36th percentile, the median of all 30; across their 23 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 35th percentile for acclaim.
- 75th and up4
- 50th to 74th6
- 25th to 49th12
- Below 25th8
Shape of the crowd
15 of their 30 titles are Mixed.
- Universally Loved1
- Universally Panned2
- Cult Classic1
- Crowd Pleaser8
- Broadly Agreed3
- Mixed15
Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.
Is Daniel J. Heffner's work okay for kids?
Across up to 18 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore, profanity and frightening / intense run heavier than most films.
Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.
Who does Daniel J. Heffner work with?
People who share at least 2 of Daniel J. Heffner's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Mark Burg shares the most, 12.
Directors
- Darren Lynn BousmanShared titles: Spiral (2021), Repo! The Genetic Opera (2008), Saw IV (2007), Saw III (2006), Saw II (2005)See all 5 shared titles with Darren Lynn Bousman
- Kevin GreutertShared titles: Saw X (2023), Spiral (2021), Jigsaw (2017), Saw 3D (2010), Saw VI (2009), Saw V (2008), Saw IV (2007), Saw III (2006), Saw II (2005), George of the Jungle 2 (2003)See all 10 shared titles with Kevin Greutert
- Leonard NimoyShared titles: Holy Matrimony (1994), The Good Mother (1988)See all 2 shared titles with Leonard Nimoy
Writers
- Marcus DunstanShared titles: Saw 3D (2010), Saw VI (2009), Saw V (2008), Saw IV (2007)See all 4 shared titles with Marcus Dunstan
- Patrick MeltonShared titles: Saw 3D (2010), Saw VI (2009), Saw V (2008), Saw IV (2007)See all 4 shared titles with Patrick Melton
- Josh StolbergShared titles: Saw X (2023), Spiral (2021), Jigsaw (2017)See all 3 shared titles with Josh Stolberg
- Pete GoldfingerShared titles: Saw X (2023), Spiral (2021), Jigsaw (2017)See all 3 shared titles with Pete Goldfinger
Actors
- Tobin BellShared titles: Saw X (2023), Jigsaw (2017), Saw 3D (2010), Saw VI (2009), Saw V (2008), Saw IV (2007), Saw III (2006), Saw II (2005)See all 8 shared titles with Tobin Bell
- Costas MandylorShared titles: Saw X (2023), Saw 3D (2010), Saw VI (2009), Saw V (2008), Saw IV (2007)See all 5 shared titles with Costas Mandylor
- Shawnee SmithShared titles: Saw X (2023), Grace Unplugged (2013), Saw VI (2009), Saw III (2006), Saw II (2005)See all 5 shared titles with Shawnee Smith
- Betsy RussellShared titles: Saw 3D (2010), Saw VI (2009), Saw V (2008), Saw IV (2007)See all 4 shared titles with Betsy Russell
Composers, cinematographers and editors
- Charlie ClouserShared titles: Saw X (2023), Spiral (2021), Jigsaw (2017), Saw 3D (2010), Saw VI (2009), Saw V (2008), Saw IV (2007), Saw III (2006), Saw II (2005)See all 9 shared titles with Charlie Clouser
- David A. ArmstrongShared titles: Saw VI (2009), Saw V (2008), Saw IV (2007), Saw III (2006), Saw II (2005)See all 5 shared titles with David A. Armstrong
- Andrew CouttsShared titles: Saw 3D (2010), Saw VI (2009)See all 2 shared titles with Andrew Coutts
- Andy MilburnShared titles: P2 (2007), Anonymous Rex (2004)See all 2 shared titles with Andy Milburn
Producers
- Mark BurgShared titles: Saw X (2023), End of the Road (2022), Spiral (2021), Jigsaw (2017), Grace Unplugged (2013), Saw 3D (2010), Saw VI (2009), Repo! The Genetic Opera (2008), Saw V (2008), Saw IV (2007), Saw III (2006), Saw II (2005)See all 12 shared titles with Mark Burg
- Oren KoulesShared titles: Trust (2025), Saw X (2023), Spiral (2021), Jigsaw (2017), Saw 3D (2010), Saw VI (2009), Repo! The Genetic Opera (2008), Saw V (2008), Saw IV (2007), Saw III (2006), Saw II (2005)See all 11 shared titles with Oren Koules
- Gregg HoffmanShared titles: Saw X (2023), Spiral (2021), Jigsaw (2017), Saw 3D (2010), Saw VI (2009), Saw V (2008), Saw IV (2007), Saw III (2006), Saw II (2005), George of the Jungle 2 (2003)See all 10 shared titles with Gregg Hoffman
- Jason ConstantineShared titles: Saw X (2023), Spiral (2021), Jigsaw (2017), Saw 3D (2010), Saw VI (2009), Repo! The Genetic Opera (2008), Saw V (2008), Saw IV (2007), Saw III (2006), Saw II (2005)See all 10 shared titles with Jason Constantine
