AGE: 41
OCCUPATION: Writer, director, producer, composer
NUMBER OF TIME COVERS: 0
PREVIOUS APPEARANCES ON THE TIME 100: 1
PRO: Presiding over an ever-expanding constellation of fantasy hits, Abrams is hard at work at what could be the biggest film of 2009: a prequel re-boot of classic sci-fi series Star Trek, and cryptic drama Lost has finally returned to must-see status after a lackluster third season.
CON: Die-hard Trekkies are more than ready to tear apart his new vision (with its mostly no-name cast). Despite the hype that surrounded it, the Abrams-produced monster flick Cloverfield was a critical flop. Non-fantastical efforts such as What About Brian and Six Degrees have been met with non-fantastical ratings (and cancellation).