Emmerich was born in Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg, Germany. As a youth, he pursued painting and sculpting and, while in the director's program at film school in Munich, studied production design. His student film, The Noah's Ark Principle, went on to open the 1984 Berlin Film Festival. The feature became a huge success and was sold to more than 20 countries. He formed his production company Centropolis Film Productions (now named Centropolis Entertainment) and began directing supernatural fantasy features in his native Germany. His first American film, 1990's Moon 44, was a straight-to-video action film which featured Dean Devlin. Devlin would subsequently become Emmerich's writing and producing partner once Emmerich set up shop in Hollywood.

After making his solo Hollywood debut directing the cyborg action fest Universal Soldier, Emmerich helmed the science-fiction film Stargate, an unexpected success. Emmerich hit his blockbuster stride with his next film, Independence Day. The alien invasion feature went on to become one of the most successful films of all time. However his next film, the much-hyped remake of Godzilla, was a box office hit,but planned by fans of the original. After a change of pace directing the American Revolutionary War epic The Patriot, Emmerich returned once again to directing a visual effects-laden adventure with 2004's The Day After Tomorrow. He is rumored to be the director of the live-action Dragon Ball Z film.

He is the partial namesake of fictional character Dr. Hal "Otacon" Emmerich, in the famous video game series Metal Gear Solid.

Roland is not related to the Emmerich brothers (actor Noah and producer Toby).