Chris Brancato is a Hollywood writer and producer of several films and television programs. Brancato grew up in Teaneck, New Jersey blank">Profile of Chris Brancato: Writer / Creator of _Sci Fi Channel's First Wave, accessed January 1, 2007. " Brancato always knew he was going to be a writer — but not for the movies. He grew up in Teaneck, N.J., with school-teacher parents." and graduated from Teaneck High School. He now lives in Los Angeles, California. He is the son of novelist Robin Brancato and teacher John Brancato.

Brancato wrote or was story editor for several episodes of the 1992 season of Beverly Hills, 90210. He wrote the X-Files episode Eve, which first aired on December 10, 1993. Brancato created and wrote Sci Fi Channel's First Wave, which aired from 1998-2001. Brancato also co-wrote the 1998 film Species II.

Brancato was Executive producer of the 2002 film Stealing Harvard.