Matthew Vaughn
A stylish English filmmaker who jump-started the British gangster revival before launching high-energy, subversive comic book and spy franchises.
Born 1971 (age 55)·English filmmaker·Birthday: March 7·Generation X
Biography
Matthew Vaughn began his career not behind the camera, but as a producer with a keen eye for sharp, commercial material. His first major move was helping to finance and produce Guy Ritchie's "Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels," a film that reinvigorated British cinema with its cockney swagger. After producing its follow-up, "Snatch," Vaughn stepped into the director's chair with "Layer Cake," a sleek, sophisticated crime thriller that served as Daniel Craig's audition for James Bond. Vaughn then proved his versatility, hopping genres with the fairy-tale adventure "Stardust" before fully embracing his flair for stylized, hyper-kinetic action. He reinvigorated the X-Men franchise with the vibrant period piece "First Class," and later created his own signature series with the "Kingsman" films, which mashed up spy tropes with outrageous comic-book violence and a distinct sartorial flair. His work is defined by a producer's commercial instinct fused with a director's love for bold visuals and irreverent humor.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Matthew was born in 1971, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Matthew Was Born
The biggest hits of 1971
#1 Movie
Fiddler on the Roof
Best Picture
The French Connection
#1 TV Show
Marcus Welby, M.D.
Matthew's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1971Born
Voting age lowered to 18 in the US
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $18,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Joy to the World" — Three Dog NightBest Picture: The French Connection
1976Started school
Apple Computer founded; US bicentennial
Gas: $0.59/galHome: $29,300Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Silly Love Songs" — WingsBest Picture: Rocky
1984Became a teenager
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1987Could drive
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1989Could vote
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1992Turned 21
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
2001Turned 30
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2011Turned 40
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2021Turned 50
January 6 Capitol breach; COVID vaccines roll out globally
Gas: $3.01/galHome: $298,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Levitating" — Dua LipaBest Picture: CODA
2026Age 55 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- He produced the cult hits 'Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels' and 'Snatch,' which defined a new era of British gangster cinema.
- He directed 'X-Men: First Class,' a critical and commercial success that revitalized the flagship Marvel franchise.
- He created, co-wrote, and directed the 'Kingsman' film series, a globally successful spy-action franchise based on his own comic book.
- His directorial debut, 'Layer Cake,' is widely credited with helping Daniel Craig land the role of James Bond.
Did You Know?
He was married to supermodel Claudia Schiffer from 2002 to 2024, and they have three children together.
He was knighted in the 2022 New Year Honours for services to film and to charity.
He initially turned down directing 'X-Men: The Last Stand' before later accepting 'X-Men: First Class.'
He dropped out of university and worked as a production assistant on a film in Thailand before starting his career.
“"I make films I want to see. If I'm not excited, how can I expect an audience to be?"”
