Film maker Michael Mann has been injured at a gun range in Los Angeles.

He was taken to a hospital where he was treated and is being released, his representative told the Associated Press on Sunday (US time).

Mann sustained what his representative described as a superficial injury, reportedly to one of his legs, after a weapon accidentally discharged while holstered.

The 83-year-old director behind crime classics such as Heat, Collateral and Thief has apparently been an experienced target shooter for decades, and the accident happened at a sanctioned gun range.

The award-winning director, producer and screenwriter has worked on major films since the 1980s including Manhunter, Last Of The Mohicans, and Collateral.

Mann was also an executive producer on 1980s crime drama Miami Vice, which ran from 1984 to 1990, before directing its 2006 film adaptation

He was nominated for best director and best picture at the 2000 Academy Awards for The Insider and also received a best picture nod for The Aviator.

Mann continues to be quite active in Hollywood in his 80s. He most recently directed the film Ferrari, with Adam Driver, and is developing a sequel to Heat, which is supposed to begin filming early next year.