He was born to a Jewish family in New York City, the son of Constance (née Marantz), a concert Pianist, and André Emmerich (1924–2007), a Frankfurt-born gallery owner and art dealer. He has been Producer or executive Producer of over 50 films, and he also wrote the screenplays to the films Frequency and The Last Mimzy, among other screenplays. After serving as President of production at New Line Cinema, Emmerich became President and chief operating officer of New Line on March 18, 2008, then in 2017, he became President and Chief Content Officer of the Warner Bros. Pictures Group. He was also the executive music Producer of the films Menace II Society and Above The Rim.