Abrams's first job in the movie business started when he was 16 when he wrote music for Don Dohler's film Nightbeast. His first notable television production was the cult BBC comedy Rentaghost; for which he won his first Emmy, and gained widespread media acclaim. During his senior year at college, he teamed with Jill Mazursky to write a feature film treatment. Purchased by Touchstone Pictures, the treatment was the basis for Taking Care of Business, Abrams's first produced film, which starred Charles Grodin and Jim Belushi. He followed that up with Regarding Henry, starring Harrison Ford, and Forever Young, starring Mel Gibson.

Abrams collaborated with producer Jerry Bruckheimer and director Michael Bay on the 1998 film, Armageddon. That same year, he made his first foray into television with Felicity, which ran for four seasons on The WB Network, serving as the show's co-creator (with Matt Reeves) and executive producer. Under his production company, Bad Robot, Abrams created and executive-produced ABC's Alias and is co-creator (with Damon Lindelof) and executive producer of Lost. He also served as executive producer of What About Brian and Six Degrees, also on ABC. Abrams directed and wrote the two-part pilot for Lost and remained active producer for the first half of the season. He later co-wrote the teleplay for Losts third season premiere "A Tale of Two Cities", and continued to participate in creative meetings with Damon Lindleof and Carlton Cuse about the direction and mythology of the show until its finish.

Abrams co-wrote and produced Joy Ride (2001) and wrote an unproduced screenplay for a fifth Superman film in 2002. He made his feature directorial debut in 2006 with Impossible III, starring Tom Cruise. He also directed the 2009 blockbuster film Star Trek. Abrams is also the producer of the 2008 monster movie, Cloverfield. His partnership with Lost co-creator Damon Lindelof has grown into the duo producing Star Trek together and while it was speculated that they would be writing and producing an adaptation of Stephen King's The Dark Tower series of novels, they have publicly stated in November 2009, that they were no longer looking at that right now.

Abrams composed the opening theme music for Alias, Lost, Fringe, and co-wrote both of the opening theme songs for Felicity. He signed deals with Warner Bros. for new television shows and Paramount Pictures for new films worth around $50 million.

Abrams is featured in the 2009 MTV Movie Awards 1980s-style digital short "Cool Guys Don't Look at Explosions", with Andy Samberg and Will Ferrell, in which he plays a keyboard solo.

The NBC network picked up Abrams's Undercovers as its first new drama series for the 2010—11 season. He will be writing and directing Super 8, co-producing with Steven Spielberg; it is expected to be released in 2011.

• Taking Care of Business (1990) (writer)
• Regarding Henry (1991) (writer, co-producer)
• Forever Young (1992) (writer, executive producer)
• The Pallbearer (1996) (producer)
• Gone Fishin' (1997) (co-writer)
• Armageddon (1998) (writer)
• The Suburbans (1999) (producer)
• Joy Ride (2001) (writer, producer)
• Impossible III (2006) (director, co-writer)
• Cloverfield (2008) (producer)
• Star Trek (2009) (director, producer)
• Morning Glory (2010) (producer)
• Super 8 (2011) (director, writer, producer)
• Impossible IV (December 16, 2011) (producer)
• Untitled Star Trek sequel (2012) (producer/possible director)
• Samurai Jack feature film (2012) (co-producer)

Television

• Felicity (1998—2002) (co-creator, writer, executive producer, director)
• Alias (2001—2006) (creator, writer, executive producer, director)
• Lost (2004—2010) (co-creator, writer, executive producer, director)
• The Office (2005—present) (guest director)
• What About Brian (2006—2007) (executive producer)
• Six Degrees (2006—2007) (executive producer)
• Jimmy Kimmel Live! (2006) (guest director)
• Fringe (2008—present) (co-creator, writer, executive producer)
• Anatomy of Hope (2009) (executive producer, writer, director)
• Undercovers (2010—present) (co-creator, executive producer, writer, director)
• Alcatraz (Announced - Pilot by Fox)
• Odd Jobs (Announced - NBC)

Born in New York and raised in Los Angeles, Abrams is the son of television producer Gerald W. Abrams and executive producer Carol. He is Jewish. He attended Sarah Lawrence College. Abrams is married to Katie McGrath and has three children, two sons August and Henry and a daughter Gracie. He resides in Pacific Palisades, California.

Abrams is a long time supporter of the Democratic Party and has donated $202,500 to the party since 1995.