All Time Director Rankings

1. Clint Eastwood

Clint Eastwood was born May 31, 1930 in San Francisco, to Clinton Eastwood Sr., a bond salesman and later manufacturing executive for Georgia-Pacific Corporation, and Ruth Wood (née Margret Ruth Runner), a housewife turned IBM clerk. He grew up in nearby Piedmont. At school Clint took interest in ...

9 Movies Seen 8.6 Average

Hereafter 2010 7 Invictus 2009 8 Gran Torino 2008 9 Changeling 2008 9 Letters from Iwo Jima 2006 8 Flags of our Fathers 2006 7 Million Dollar Baby 2004 10 Mystic River 2003 9 Unforgiven 1992 10 9 Movie Avg. 8.6

2. Sam Mendes

Producer | 1917

Samuel Alexander Mendes was born on August 1, 1965 in Reading, England, UK to parents James Peter Mendes, a retired university lecturer, and Valerie Helene Mendes, an author who writes children's books. Their marriage didn't last long, James divorced Sam's mother in 1970 when Sam was just 5-...

Away We Go 2009 9 Revolutionary Road 2008 9 Jarhead 2005 8 Road to Perdition 2002 8 American Beauty 1999 9 5 Movie Avg. 8.5

3. Martin Scorsese

Producer | Killers of the Flower Moon

Martin Charles Scorsese was born on November 17, 1942 in Queens, New York City, to Catherine Scorsese (née Cappa) and Charles Scorsese, who both worked in Manhattan's garment district, and whose families both came from Palermo, Sicily. He was raised in the neighborhood of Little Italy, which later ...

10 Movies Seen- 8.4 Average

Shutter Island 2010 6 The Departed 2006 10 The Aviator 2004 9 Gangs of New York 2002 9 Bringing out the Dead 1999 7 Casino 1995 9 Cape Fear 1991 9 Goodfellas 1990 9 Raging Bull 1980 7 Taxi Driver 1976 9 10 Movie Avg. 8.4

4. Quentin Tarantino

Writer | Reservoir Dogs

Quentin Jerome Tarantino was born in Knoxville, Tennessee. His father, Tony Tarantino, is an Italian-American actor and musician from New York, and his mother, Connie (McHugh), is a nurse from Tennessee. Quentin moved with his mother to Torrance, California, when he was four years old.

In January of...

Inglorious Basterds 2009 9 Death Proof 2007 7 Kill Bill 2 2004 9 Kill Bill 2003 9 Jackie Brown 1997 8 Pulp Fiction 1994 9 Reservoir Dogs 1992 8 7 Movie Avg. 8.4

5. Gus Van Sant

Director | Elephant

Gus Green Van Sant Jr. is an American filmmaker, painter, screenwriter, photographer and musician from Louisville, Kentucky who is known for directing films such as Good Will Hunting, the 1998 remake of Psycho, Gerry, Elephant, My Own Private Idaho, To Die For, Milk, Last Days, Finding Forrester, ...

Milk 2008 9 Last Days 2005 6 Elephant 2003 9 Finding Forrester 2000 8 Good Will Hunting 1997 10 5 Movie Avg. 8.4

6. Alfred Hitchcock

Director | Psycho

Alfred Joseph Hitchcock was born in Leytonstone, Essex, England. He was the son of Emma Jane (Whelan; 1863 - 1942) and East End greengrocer William Hitchcock (1862 - 1914). His parents were both of half English and half Irish ancestry. He had two older siblings, William Hitchcock (born 1890) and ...

Psycho 1960 9 Rear Window 1954 9 Dial M for Murder 1954 7 Rebecca 1940 8 4 Movie Avg. 8.3

7. Steven Spielberg

Producer | Schindler's List

One of the most influential personalities in the history of cinema, Steven Spielberg is Hollywood's best known director and one of the wealthiest filmmakers in the world. He has an extraordinary number of commercially successful and critically acclaimed credits to his name, either as a director, ...

Munich 2005 9 War of the Worlds 2005 7 The Terminal 2004 7 Catch Me if You Can 2002 8 Minority Report 2002 8 Saving Private Ryan 1998 10 Jurassic Park 2 1997 5 Schindler’s List 1993 10 Jurassic Park 1993 9 Jaws 1975 9 10 Movie Avg. 8.2

8. Woody Allen

Writer | Annie Hall

Woody Allen was born on November 30, 1935, as Allen Konigsberg, in The Bronx, NY, the son of Martin Konigsberg and Nettie Konigsberg. He has one younger sister, Letty Aronson. As a young boy, he became intrigued with magic tricks and playing the clarinet, two hobbies that he continues today.

Allen ...

You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger 2010 8 Whatever Works 2009 8 Vicky Cristina Barcelona 2008 9 Cassandra’s Dream 2007 7 Scoop 2006 7 Match Point 2005 10 Crimes and Misdemeanors 1989 9 Manhattan 1979 7 Annie Hall 1977 9 Sleeper 1973 8 10 Movie Avg. 8.2

9. Stanley Kubrick

Director | 2001: A Space Odyssey

Stanley Kubrick was born in Manhattan, New York City, to Sadie Gertrude (Perveler) and Jacob Leonard Kubrick, a physician. His family were Jewish immigrants (from Austria, Romania, and Russia). Stanley was considered intelligent, despite poor grades at school. Hoping that a change of scenery would ...

Eyes Wide Shut 1999 6 Full Metal Jacket 1987 9 The Shining 1980 8 A Clockwork Orange 1971 8 Dr. Strangelove 1964 9 Paths of Glory 1957 9 6 Movie Avg. 8.2

10. James Cameron

Writer | Avatar: The Way of Water

James Francis Cameron was born on August 16, 1954 in Kapuskasing, Ontario, Canada. He moved to the United States in 1971. The son of an engineer, he majored in physics at California State University before switching to English, and eventually dropping out. He then drove a truck to support his ...

Avatar 2009 9 True Lies 1994 7 Terminator 2 1991 9 The Abyss 1989 8 The Terminator 1984 8 5 Movie Avg. 8.2

11. David Fincher

Director | Se7en

David Fincher was born in 1962 in Denver, Colorado, and was raised in Marin County, California. When he was 18 years old he went to work for John Korty at Korty Films in Mill Valley. He subsequently worked at ILM (Industrial Light and Magic) from 1981-1983. Fincher left ILM to direct TV commercials...

The Social Network 2010 8 Benjamin Button 2008 9 Zodiac 2007 9 Panic Room 2002 6 Fight Club 1999 9 The Game 1997 6 Se7ven 1995 10 7 Movie Avg. 8.1

12. Mike Nichols

Director | The Graduate

He, along with the other members of the "Compass Players" including Elaine May, Paul Sills, Byrne Piven, Joyce Hiller Piven and Edward Asner helped start the famed "Second City Improv" company. They used the games taught to them by fellow cast mate, Paul Sills 's mother, Viola Spolin. He later ...

Charlie Wilson’s War 2007 9 Closer 2004 8 Silkwood 1983 7 Carnal Knowledge 1971 7 The Graduate 1967 8 Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? 1966 9 6 Movie Avg. 8.0

13. Robert Zemeckis

Writer | Back to the Future

A whiz-kid with special effects, Robert is from the Spielberg camp of film-making (Steven Spielberg produced many of his films). Usually working with writing partner Bob Gale, Robert's earlier films show he has a talent for zany comedy (Romancing the Stone (1984), 1941 (1979)) and special effect ...

Beowulf 2007 6 Cast Away 2000 9 What Lies Beneath 2000 8 Forrest Gump 1994 9 Who Framed Roger Rabbit 1988 8 Back to the Future 1985 8 6 Movie Avg. 8.0

14. Francis Ford Coppola

Producer | Apocalypse Now

Francis Ford Coppola was born in 1939 in Detroit, Michigan, but grew up in a New York suburb in a creative, supportive Italian-American family. His father, Carmine Coppola, was a composer and musician. His mother, Italia Coppola (née Pennino), had been an actress. Francis Ford Coppola graduated ...

The Godfather 3 1990 7 The Outsiders 1983 6 The Godfather 2 1974 9 The Godfather 1972 10 4 Movie Avg. 8.0

15. Jim Sheridan

Producer | In America

Following a distinguished career in the theatre between the 1960s and the 1980s, Jim Sheridan wrote and directed his first critically acclaimed feature My Left Foot in 1989. The film was nominated for two European Film Awards. He followed this in 1990 with The Field which he also wrote and directed...

Brothers 2009 8 In America 2002 7 In the Name of the Father 1993 8 My Left Foot 1989 9 4 Movie Avg. 8.0

16. Allen Hughes

Director | The Book of Eli

Albert and Allen Hughes began making movies at age 12, but their formal film education began their freshman year of high school when Allen took a TV production class. They soon made a short film entitled How To Be A Burglar and people began to take notice. Their next work, Uncensored videos, was ...

(Along With Brother Albert) The Book of Eli 2010 7 From Hell 2001 8 Dead Presidents 1995 8 Menace II Society 1993 9 4 Movie Avg. 8.0

17. Christopher Nolan

Writer | Tenet

Best known for his cerebral, often nonlinear, storytelling, acclaimed Academy Award winner writer/director/producer Sir Christopher Nolan CBE was born in London, England. Over the course of more than 25 years of filmmaking, Nolan has gone from low-budget independent films to working on some of the ...

Inception 2010 8 The Dark Knight 2008 9 The Prestige 2006 7 Batman Begins 2005 8 Insomnia 2002 6 Memento 2000 9 6 Movie Avg. 7.8

18. Edward Zwick

Producer | Thirtysomething

Zwick moves deftly between the roles of writer, director and producer. He was nominated for a Golden Globe for his direction of the 1989 critically acclaimed Civil War drama, Glory. He received his second Golden Globe nomination as a director for Legends of the Fall. Zwick received an Academy Award...

Love & Other Drugs 2010 7 Defiance 2008 7 Blood Diamond 2006 9 The Last Samurai 2003 8 Legends of the Fall 1994 7 Glory 1989 9 6 Movie Avg. 7.8

19. Bryan Singer

Director | X-Men

Bryan Singer is an American film director and producer who got his start writing and co-directing the short film Lions Den with his classmates while he attended USC. He was hired by 20th Century Fox to direct X-Men, which helped kick-start the superhero renaissance. He later directed three sequels....

Valkyrie 2008 8 Superman Returns 2006 7 X2 2003 7 X-Men 2000 8 The Usual Suspects 1994 9 5 Movie Avg. 7.8

20. Billy Wilder

Writer | The Apartment

Originally planning to become a lawyer, Billy Wilder abandoned that career in favor of working as a reporter for a Viennese newspaper, using this experience to move to Berlin, where he worked for the city's largest tabloid. He broke into films as a screenwriter in 1929 and wrote scripts for many ...

The Apartment 1960 7 Ace In The Hole 1951 7 The Lost Weekend 1945 8 Double Idemnity 1944 9 4 Movie Avg. 7.8

21. Sidney Lumet

Director | 12 Angry Men

Sidney Lumet was a master of cinema, best known for his technical knowledge and his skill at getting first-rate performances from his actors -- and for shooting most of his films in his beloved New York. He made over 40 movies, often complex and emotional, but seldom overly sentimental. Although ...

Sidney Lumet Before The Devil Knows You’re 2007 7 Serpico 1973 8 Fail-Safe 1964 8 12 Angry Men 1957 8 4 Movie Avg. 7.8

22. Jon Favreau

Producer | Chef

Initially an indie film favorite, actor Jon Favreau has progressed to strong mainstream visibility into the millennium and, after nearly two decades in the business, is still enjoying character stardom as well as earning notice as a writer/producer/director.

The amiable, husky-framed actor with the ...

Iron Man 2 2010 7 Iron Man 2008 9 Elf 2003 7 Made 2001 8 4 Movie Avg. 7.8

23. Tim Burton

Producer | Edward Scissorhands

Timothy Walter Burton was born in Burbank, California, to Jean Rae (Erickson), who owned a cat-themed gift shop, and William Reed Burton, who worked for the Burbank Park and Recreation Department. He spent most of his childhood as a recluse, drawing cartoons, and watching old movies (he was ...

Sweeney Todd 2007 8 Charlie and Chocolate Factory 2005 9 Planet of the Apes 2001 7 Ed Wood 1994 9 Edward Scissorhands 1990 6 Pee-Wee’s Bg Adventure 1985 7 6 Movie Avg. 7.7

24. Roman Polanski

Director | Chinatown

Roman Polanski is a Polish film director, producer, writer and actor. Having made films in Poland, Britain, France and the USA, he is considered one of the few truly international filmmakers. Roman Polanski was born in Paris in 1933.

His parents returned to Poland from France in 1936, three years ...

The Ghost Writer 2010 8 The Pianist 2002 9 The Ninth Gate 1999 6 Frantic 1988 7 Tess 1979 8 Chinatown 1974 10 Rosemary’s Baby 1968 7 Dance of the Vampires 1967 6 8 Movie Avg. 7.6

25. Spike Lee

Director | Do the Right Thing

Spike Lee was born Shelton Jackson Lee on March 20, 1957, in Atlanta, Georgia. At a very young age, he moved from pre-civil rights Georgia, to Brooklyn, New York. Lee came from artistic, education-grounded background; his father was a jazz musician, and his mother, a schoolteacher. He attended ...

Miracle at St. Anna 2008 6 Inside Man 2006 9 25th Hour 2002 8 Summer of Sam 1999 7 Do the Right Thing 1989 8 5 Movie Avg. 7.6

26. Brian De Palma

Director | Body Double

Brian De Palma is one of the well-known directors who spear-headed the new movement in Hollywood during the 1970s. He is known for his many films that go from violent pictures, to Hitchcock-like thrillers. Born on September 11, 1940, De Palma was born in Newark, New Jersey in an Italian-American ...

The Black Dahlia 2006 6 Mission Impossible 1996 7 The Untouchables 1987 9 Scarface 1983 9 Sisters 1973 7 5 Movie Avg. 7.6

27. Robert Rodriguez

Producer | El mariachi

Robert Anthony Rodriguez was born and raised in San Antonio, Texas, USA, to Rebecca (Villegas), a nurse, and Cecilio G. Rodríguez, a salesman. His family is of Mexican descent.

Of all the people to be amazed by the images of John Carpenter's 1981 sci-fi parable, Escape from New York (1981), none ...

Machete 2010 8 Planet Terror 2007 9 Sin City 2005 9 Once Upon a Time in Mexico 2003 7 The Faculty 1998 5 Desperado 1995 7 6 Movie Avg. 7.5

28. Peter Berg

Actor | Chicago Hope

Peter Berg is an American actor, director, writer, and producer. His first role was in the Adam Rifkin road movie Never on Tuesday (1988). He went on to star in the World War 2 film A Midnight Clear (1992). Roles in Fire in the Sky (1993) and Cop Land (1997) followed, and the Tom Cruise films ...

Hancock 2008 6 The Kingdom 2007 9 Friday Night Lights 2004 8 The Rundown 2003 7 4 Movie Avg. 7.5

29. Sam Raimi

Director | Spider-Man

Highly inventive U.S. film director/producer/writer/actor Sam Raimi first came to the attention of film fans with the savage, yet darkly humorous, low-budget horror film, The Evil Dead (1981). From his childhood, Raimi was a fan of the cinema and, before he was ten-years-old, he was out making ...

Drag me to Hell 2009 6 Spiderman 3 2007 7 Spiderman 2 2004 8 Spiderman 2002 9 4 Movie Avg. 7.5

30. Oliver Stone

Director | JFK

Oliver Stone has become known as a master of controversial subjects and a legendary film maker. His films are filled with a variety of film angles and styles, he pushes his actors to give Oscar-worthy performances, and despite his failures, has always returned to success.

William Oliver Stone was ...

Wall Street 2 2010 7 W. 2008 8 World Trade Center 2006 8 Alexander 2004 5 Any Given Sunday 1999 6 U-Turn 1997 7 Natural Born Killers 1994 7 Born on the Fourth of July 1989 9 Wall Street 1987 8 Platoon 1986 9 10 Movie Avg. 7.4

31. Joel Coen

Producer | The Ballad of Buster Scruggs

Joel Daniel Coen is an American filmmaker who regularly collaborates with his younger brother Ethan. They made Raising Arizona, Barton Fink, Fargo, The Big Lebowski, True Grit, O Brother Where Art Thou?, Burn After Reading, A Serious Man, Inside Llewyn Davis, Hail Caesar and other projects. Joel ...

(Along with Brother Ethan) True Grit 2010 8 A Serious Man 2009 8 Burn After Reading 2008 6 No Country For Old Men 2007 9 The Ladykillers 2004 6 Intolerable Cruelty 2003 6 The Big Lebowski 1998 8 Fargo 1996 8 8 Movie Avg. 7.4

32. Ridley Scott

Producer | The Martian

Described by film producer Michael Deeley as "the very best eye in the business", director Ridley Scott was born on November 30, 1937 in South Shields, Tyne and Wear. His father was an officer in the Royal Engineers and the family followed him as his career posted him throughout the United Kingdom ...

Robin Hood 2010 6 Body of Lies 2008 7 American Gangster 2007 9 Kingdom of Heaven 2005 7 Black Hawk Down 2001 7 Gladiator 2000 9 Thelma and Louise 1991 7 7 Movie Avg. 7.4

33. Michael Mann

Producer | The Insider

As a director, screenwriter, and producer, four-time Academy Award nominee Michael Mann has established himself as one of the most innovative and influential filmmakers in American cinema. After writing and directing the Primetime Emmy Award-winning television movie The Jericho Mile (1979), Mann ...

Public Enemies 2009 6 Miami Vice 2006 8 Collateral 2004 7 Ali 2001 6 The Insider 1999 8 Heat 1995 9 The Last of the Mohicans 1992 7 7 Movie Avg. 7.3

34. Gore Verbinski

Director | Rango

Gore Verbinski, one of American cinema's most inventive directors who was a punk-rock guitarist as a teenager and had to sell his guitar to buy his first camera, is now the director of Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (2006) which made the industry record for highest opening weekend of ...

Pirates 3 At World’s End 2007 6 Pirates 2 Dead Man’s Chest 2006 8 The Weather Man 2005 7 Pirates Curse of Black Pearl 2003 8 4 Movie Avg. 7.3

35. Darren Aronofsky

Writer | Pi

Darren Aronofsky was born February 12, 1969, in Brooklyn, New York. Growing up, Darren was always artistic: he loved classic movies and, as a teenager, he even spent time doing graffiti art. After high school, Darren went to Harvard University to study film (both live-action and animation). He won ...

Black Swan 2010 8 The Wrestler 2008 9 The Fountain 2006 4 Requiem for a Dream 2000 9 Pi 1998 6 5 Movie Avg. 7.2

36. M. Night Shyamalan

Producer | Lady in the Water

Born in Puducherry, India, and raised in the posh suburban Penn Valley area of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, M. Night Shyamalan is a film director, screenwriter, producer, and occasional actor, known for making movies with contemporary supernatural plots.

He is the son of Jayalakshmi, a Tamil ...

The Last Airbender 2010 6 The Happening 2008 6 Lady in the Water 2006 7 The Village 2004 9 Signs 2002 9 Unbreakable 2000 5 The Sixth Sense 1999 8 7 Movie Avg. 7.1

37. Michael Bay

Producer | Armageddon

A graduate of Wesleyan University, Michael Bay spent his 20s working on advertisements and music videos. His first projects after film school were in the music video business. He created music videos for Tina Turner, Meat Loaf, Lionel Richie, Wilson Phillips, Donny Osmond and Divinyls. His work won...

Transformers 2 2009 6 Transformers 2007 9 The Island 2005 7 Bad Boys 2 2003 5 Pearl Harbor 2001 6 Armageddon 1998 8 The Rock 1996 8 Bad Boys 1995 7 8 Movie Avg. 7.0

38. Barry Levinson

Director | Rain Man

Barry Lee Levinson was born in Baltimore, Maryland, to Violet (Krichinsky) and Irvin Levinson, who worked in furniture and appliance. He is of Russian Jewish descent. Levinson graduated from high school in 1960, attended college at American University in Washington, DC. He did well, but decided he ...

What Just Happened 2008 6 Man of the Year 2006 7 Sleepers 1996 8 Avalon 1990 6 Rain Man 1988 8 Good Morning Vietnam 1987 6 The Natural 1984 8 7 Movie Avg. 7.0

39. Guy Ritchie

Director | Sherlock Holmes

Guy Ritchie was born in Hatfield, Hertfordshire, UK on September 10, 1968. After watching Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969) as a child, Guy realized that what he wanted to do was make films. He never attended film school, saying that the work of film school graduates was boring and ...

Sherlock Holmes 2009 7 RocknRolla 2008 8 Revolver 2006 6 Swept Away 2002 4 Snatch 2000 9 Lock, Stock and Two Smoking B. 1998 8 6 Movie Avg. 7.0

40. Lilly Wachowski

Writer | The Matrix

Director, writer, and producer Lilly Wachowski was born in 1967 in Chicago, the daughter of Lynne, a nurse and painter, and Ron, a businessman. Lilly was educated at Kellogg Elementary School in Chicago, before moving on to Whitney M. Young High School. After graduating from high school, she ...

(Along with Brother Lana) Matrix Revolutions 2003 6 Matrix Reloaded 2003 8 The Matrix 1999 9 Bound 1996 5 4 Movie Avg. 7.0

41. Ron Howard

Producer | Arrested Development

Academy Award-winning filmmaker Ron Howard is one of this generation's most popular directors. From the critically acclaimed dramas A Beautiful Mind (2001) and Apollo 13 (1995) to the hit comedies Parenthood (1989) and Splash (1983), he has created some of Hollywood's most memorable films.

Howard ...

The Dilemma 2011 4 Angels and Demons 2009 6 Frost/Nixon 2008 9 The Da Vinci Code 2006 6 Cinderella Man 2005 9 The Missing 2003 8 A Beautiful Mind 2001 9 Far and Away 1992 4 Backdraft 1991 7 9 Movie Avg. 6.9

42. Tony Scott

Producer | Domino

Tony Scott was a British-born film director and producer. He was the youngest of three brothers, one of whom is fellow film director Ridley Scott. He was born in North Shields, Northumberland, England to parents Jean and Colonel Francis Percy Scott. As a result of his father's career in the British...

Unstoppable 2010 6 The Taking of Pelham 123 2009 7 Déjà vu 2006 7 Domino 2005 5 Man on Fire 2004 8 Spy Game 2001 8 Crimson Tide 1995 7 True Romance 1993 7 The Last Boy Scout 1991 6 Beverly Hills Cop 2 1987 7 Top Gun 1986 7 11 Movie Avg. 6.8

43. Danny Boyle

Director | 127 Hours

Daniel Francis Boyle is a British filmmaker, producer and writer from Radcliffe, Greater Manchester. He is known for directing 28 Days Later, 127 Hours, Trainspotting, T2 Trainspotting, Slumdog Millionaire, Millions, Shallow Grave, The Beach, Yesterday, and Steve Jobs. He won many awards for ...

127 Hours 2010 8 Slumdog Millionaire 2008 9 Millions 2004 7 The Beach 2000 6 A Life Less Ordinary 1997 3 Trainspotting 1996 8 6 Movie Avg. 6.8

44. James Mangold

Producer | Logan

James Mangold is an American film and television director, screenwriter and producer. Films he has directed include Girl, Interrupted (1999), Walk the Line (2005), which he also co-wrote, the 2007 remake 3:10 to Yuma (2007), The Wolverine (2013), and Logan (2017).

Mangold also wrote and directed Cop...

Knight & Day 2010 5 3:10 to Yuma 2007 7 Walk the Line 2005 9 Identity 2003 6 Girl Interrupted 1999 7 Cop Land 1997 7 6 Movie Avg. 6.8

45. Steven Soderbergh

Director | Sex, Lies, and Videotape

Steven Andrew Soderbergh was born on January 14, 1963 in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, the second of six children of Mary Ann (Bernard) and Peter Soderbergh. His father was of Swedish and Irish descent, and his mother was of Italian ancestry. While he was still at a very young age, his family moved to ...

Ocean’s 13 2007 7 Ocean’s 12 2004 6 Solaris 2002 3 Ocean’s 11 2001 9 Traffic 2000 9 Sex, Lies, and Videotape 1989 6 6 Movie Avg. 6.7

46. Brett Ratner

Director | Red Dragon

Brett Ratner is one of Hollywood's most successful filmmakers. His diverse films resonate with audiences worldwide and, as director, his films have grossed over $2 billion at the global box office. Brett began his career directing music videos before making his feature directorial debut at 26 years...

Rush Hour 3 2007 5 X3 The Last Stand 2006 7 After the Sunset 2004 7 Red Dragon 2002 8 Rush Hour 2 2001 7 5 Movie Avg. 6.8

47. F. Gary Gray

Director | Set It Off

Felix Gary Gray is an African-American music video director, film producer and film director from New York City known for directing films such as Friday, Men in Black: International, Be Cool, The Fate of the Furious, Set It Off, The Negotiator, Straight Outta Compton and The Italian Job. He ...

Law Abiding Citizen 2009 5 Be Cool 2005 7 The Italian Job 2003 8 A Man Apart 2003 6 Friday 1995 8 5 Movie Avg. 6.8

48. Wes Craven

Writer | A Nightmare on Elm Street

Wes Craven has become synonymous with genre bending and innovative horror, challenging audiences with his bold vision.

Wesley Earl Craven was born in Cleveland, Ohio, to Caroline (Miller) and Paul Eugene Craven. He had a midwestern suburban upbringing. His first feature film was The Last House on ...

Scream 4 2011 7 Red Eye 2005 7 Scream 3 2000 6 Scream 2 1997 5 Scream 1996 9 5 Movie Avg. 6.8

49. Robert Redford

Actor | The Natural

Born on August 18, 1936, in Santa Monica, California, to Charles Robert Redford, an accountant for Standard Oil, and Martha Redford, Charles Robert Redford, Jr. was a scrappy kid who stole hubcaps in high school and lost his college baseball scholarship at the University of Colorado because of ...

Lions for Lambs 2007 7 Bagger Vance 2000 5 A River Runs Through it 1992 7 Ordinary People 1980 8 4 Movie Avg. 6.8

50. Lewis Gilbert

Director | Alfie

Lewis Gilbert was a British film director, producer and screenwriter best known for Alfie (1966), as well as three James Bond films: You Only Live Twice (1967), The Spy Who Loved Me (1977) and Moonraker (1979).

He also directed Reach for the Sky (1956), Sink the Bismarck! (1960), Educating Rita (...

Moonraker 1979 6 The Spy Who Loved Me 1977 8 You Only Live Twice 1967 7 Alfie 1966 6 4 Movie Avg. 6.8

51. Doug Liman

Producer | Edge of Tomorrow

Douglas Eric Liman is a Jewish-American filmmaker and producer who directed Swingers, The Bourne Identity, Chaos Walking, Jumper, Go, Mr. & Mrs. Smith, Fair Game, Locked Down, Edge of Tomorrow, The Wall and American Made. He executive produced the Bourne sequels except The Bourne Legacy, The ...

Mr. and Mrs. Smith 2005 5 The Bourne Identity 2002 7 Go 1999 6 Swingers 1996 9 4 Movie Avg. 6.8

52. Ang Lee

Director | Xi yan

Born in 1954 in Pingtung, Taiwan, Ang Lee has become one of today's greatest contemporary filmmakers. Ang graduated from the National Taiwan College of Arts in 1975 and then came to the U.S. to receive a B.F.A. Degree in Theatre/Theater Direction at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, ...

Ang Lee^ Taking Woodstock 2009 6 Brokeback Mountain 2005 8 Hulk 2003 5 Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon 2000 8 4 Movie Avg. 6.8

53. Roland Emmerich

Writer | Independence Day

Roland Emmerich is a German film director and producer of blockbuster films like The Day After Tomorrow (2004), Godzilla (1998), Independence Day (1996) and The Patriot (2000). Before fame, he originally wanted to be a production designer, but decided to be a director, after watching the original ...

The Day After Tomorrow 2004 6 The Patriot 2000 6 Godzilla 1998 5 Independence Day 1996 7 4 Movie Avg. 6.0

54. John Singleton

Writer | Boyz n the Hood

Son of Danny Singleton, a mortgage broker, and Sheila Ward, a pharmaceutical company sales executive, and raised in separate households by his unmarried parents, John Singleton attended the Film Writing Program at USC, after graduating from high school in 1986. While studying there, he won three ...

2 Fast 2 Furious 2003 4 Rosewood 1997 6 Higher Learning 1995 6 Boyz n tha Hood 1991 8 4 Movie Avg. 6.0

55. Joel Schumacher

Director | The Phantom of the Opera

Joel Schumacher was an American film director, film producer, screenwriter and fashion designer from New York City. He rose to fame in the 1980s for directing the coming-of-age drama "St. Elmo's Fire" (1985), and the vampire-themed horror film "The Lost Boys" (1987). In the 1990s, he worked on two ...

The Number 23 2007 4 Veronica Guerin 2003 7 Bad Company 2002 6 Batman Forever 1995 6 4 Movie Avg. 5.8