Was this helpful?
Thumbs UP Thumbs Down

Lee Cronin honored with Oscar Wilde award for ‘Evil Dead Rise’


Oscars logo.
Table of Contents
santa monica ca march 09 2023 lee cronin at

Lee Cronin takes a star turn

Lee Cronin is having a huge moment after spending many years growing his skills in horror moviemaking. Fans love how he mixes classic scares with modern ideas that feel fresh, surprising, and thrilling to watch on the big screen.

His name is now showing up beside some of the biggest Hollywood talents who shape today’s movies. The rise shows how far he has traveled from a small Irish hometown to working on major studio projects that reach audiences around the world.

Oscars logo.

Honored with Oscar Wilde award

Lee Cronin will receive the Oscar Wilde Award this March in Los Angeles during a special event that celebrates Irish creators. The award is given to people with roots in Ireland who make a strong impact in film, television, and music across the globe.

The event happens just three days before the Oscars and brings stars together to celebrate creativity and storytelling. It marks a milestone for Cronin while shining a light on Irish voices working successfully in Hollywood and beyond.

Crowd celebrating together.

Celebrating Irish talent worldwide

The Oscar Wilde Awards focus on honoring Irish creators shaping culture and entertainment far outside of Ireland. Every year, the event highlights impressive careers from a wide mix of actors, musicians, and filmmakers who bring Irish stories and talent forward.

Cronin joins people who take big creative swings and work hard to build lasting careers. The recognition proves his movies have connected with audiences in America and in other countries that love bold horror storytelling.

langnas finland  7 september 2025 drone view of langnas

From small town dreamer

Cronin grew up in Skerries, a seaside town outside Dublin, where life feels friendly and close. As a kid, he dreamed of being a fisherman, a clown, and even a Ghostbuster, and he had the imagination to chase them all.

Movies became the perfect mix of every dream he felt drawn to. Once he picked up a camera, he realized he could build whole worlds and create stories instead of just watching them happen.

A horror movie on TV.

Early scares and short films

Cronin’s love for spooky stories showed up early as he created horror-themed short films filled with atmosphere. These smaller projects helped him explore ideas, find his personal style, and learn what kind of stories made him excited about directing.

His ideas quickly caught attention from film festivals and industry insiders who noticed his talent. Those short films opened doors throughout his career and slowly built a pathway toward creating his first full feature.

A film slate close-up image of a film production crew holding

Breakthrough with first feature

Cronin’s first movie, The Hole in the Ground, premiered at Sundance in 2019 and gained strong buzz. The story focused on fear, mystery, and motherhood, and audiences reacted strongly to its tense and creepy tone.

A24 released the film and helped it reach horror fans across the world. It proved Cronin could turn a small idea into a sharp, memorable movie that stayed with viewers long after they left the theater.

Little cinema with empty red chairs.

Evil Dead Rise changes everything

Cronin followed up with Evil Dead Rise, which premiered at SXSW in 2023 and won over fans. The movie delivered suspense, dark laughs, and heart in a way that longtime followers of the series appreciated and newcomers enjoyed.

It earned more than 147 million dollars on a modest budget, surprising many box office watchers. The success made Cronin one of the most exciting new voices in modern horror filmmaking today.

A person holding a Golden Globe Award trophy.

Awards follow big box office

Evil Dead Rise did more than make money and thrill moviegoers all over the world. Cronin won a Fangoria Chainsaw Award, which is considered a special honor among people who care deeply about horror movies.

Winning that award proved he earned respect from fans and other creators inside the genre. It placed him in the spotlight and helped show studios he could handle even bigger projects and future franchises confidently.

Horror silhouette in window with curtain inside bedroom at night.

A bold new mummy movie

Cronin’s next movie is a fresh take on The Mummy, arriving worldwide this April with heavy anticipation. He says it will be nothing like earlier mummy films that audiences have come to know from previous decades.

His goal is to build a darker world filled with suspense, mystery, and serious danger. The new film brings together large studios and strong cast members who are ready to scare viewers in surprising new ways.

Director in the big film studio professional crew shooting movie.

Backed by big studio partners

The Mummy is supported by James Wan’s Atomic Monster, Jason Blum’s Blumhouse, and New Line Cinema. All three companies are known for producing popular thrillers and horror films that find success and build excitement.

Cronin also runs his own company, Wicked/Good, which shows he wants creative control over future stories. With a first-look deal, he can pitch ideas, develop films, and stay bold with his storytelling choices.

Directors chair under spotlight.

A rare director name headline

Cronin’s new film includes his name in the official title, which almost never happens in Hollywood. That decision shows how much faith studios have in his direction, vision, and leadership behind the scenes.

It also helps audiences recognize his style and follow his work from project to project. When a director’s name sells a film, it means people trust their storytelling before even seeing the movie.

Domhnall Gleeson at an event.

Sharing honors with fellow talent

This year, Cronin will stand beside other respected honorees, including Domhnall Gleeson and Maura Tierney, in Los Angeles. The awards celebrate achievements built on commitment, skill, and creativity, not headlines or instant fame.

Musician Dave Lofts will perform, making the night feel fun, bright, and memorable for everyone involved. Events like this create connections between Ireland and Hollywood, helping talent shine even brighter on both sides.

Curious how creative differences are shaping Hollywood right now? Click through to see why ESPN passed on Spike Lee’s Colin Kaepernick docuseries and what it says about today’s industry conversations.

A personal development career.

A career still rising higher

Cronin’s story shows how passion, patience, and imagination can lead a person to remarkable places. He turned short films into global releases trusted by fans, critics, and large Hollywood studios.

With new projects coming, he looks ready to keep surprising audiences and exploring darker stories. Fans and filmmakers alike will watch closely to see what he creates next and where his career goes from here.

Love darker stories that stay with you? Take a look at the scariest American Horror Story episodes that kept fans watching through their fingers.

Share your thoughts in the comments and tap the like button if you’re eager to see where his career goes next.

This slideshow was made with AI assistance and human editing.

Don’t forget to follow us for more exclusive content right here on MSN.

Read More From This Brand:

This is exclusive content for our subscribers

Enter your email address to subscribe and get instant FREE access to all of our articles

Was this helpful?
Thumbs UP Thumbs Down
Prev Next
Share this post

Lucky you! This thread is empty,
which means you've got dibs on the first comment.
Go for it!

Send feedback to NashvilleGab

Close Feedback Form



    We appreciate you taking the time to share your feedback about this page with us.

    Whether it's praise for something good, or ideas to improve something that isn't quite right, we're excited to hear from you.