Directors Born 1965-

1. Tomas Alfredson

Tomas Alfredson was born on April 1, 1965 in Lidingö, Stockholms län, Sweden. He is a director, known for Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011), Let the Right One In (2008) and The Snowman (2017). He is married to Charlotte Alfredson. They have one child. He was previously married to Cissi Elwin.

1965 The Snowman (2017) Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011) Let the Right One In (2008) Four Shades of Brown (2004) -

2. Roger Avary

Writer | Pulp Fiction

Award-winning filmmaker Roger Avary first began experimenting in Beta I video and 8mm film formats during the late 1970s. In 1983, his Super-8mm supernatural thriller The Worm Turns won Best Film from the Los Angeles Film Teachers Association Film Expo. He went on to attend the Pasadena Art Center ...

1965 The Rules of Attraction (2002) Killing Zoe (1993) -

3. 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...

1965 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi (2016) Pain & Gain (2013) Transformers: Age of Extinction (2014) Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011) Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009) Transformers (2007) The Island (2005) Bad Boys II (2003) Pearl Harbor (2001) Armageddon (1998) The Rock (1996) Bad Boys (1995) -

4. D.J. Caruso

Director | I Am Number Four

Born in Norwalk, Connecticut, Caruso came west to play tennis and study Television Production at Pepperdine University. Interned at Disney Studios in the Product Placement department and later hooked up with Director John Badham, who mentored him into a second-unit director, after Badham lost his ...

1965 Standing Up (2013) I Am Number Four (2011) Eagle Eye (2008) Disturbia (2007) Two for the Money (2005) Taking Lives (2004) The Salton Sea (2002) -

5. Gary Fleder

Director | Things to Do in Denver When You're Dead

Gary Fleder was born on December 19, 1965 in Norfolk, Virginia, USA. He is a producer and director, known for Things to Do in Denver When You're Dead (1995), Impostor (2001) and Runaway Jury (2003).

1965 Homefront (2013) The Express (2008) Runaway Jury (2003) Impostor (2001) Don't Say a Word (2001) Kiss the Girls (1997) Things to Do in Denver When You're Dead (1995) -

6. Wayne Kramer

Writer | The Cooler

Wayne Kramer was born in South Africa, where he graduated from the Johannesburg School for Art, Drama and Music. His feature film debut came in 2003 with "The Cooler," a romantic drama set in Las Vegas and starring William H. Macy as a professional casino jinx and Maria Bello as the cocktail ...

1965 Caught Stealing (2016) Pawn Shop Chronicles (2013) Crossing Over (2009) Running Scared (2006) The Cooler (2003) -

7. 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 ...

1965 Mena (2017) Gambit (2016) Luna Park (2016) Edge of Tomorrow (2014) Fair Game (2010) Jumper (2008) Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2005) The Bourne Identity (2002) Go (1999) Swingers (1996) -

8. 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-...

1965 Spectre (2015) Skyfall (2012) Away We Go (2009) Revolutionary Road (2008) Jarhead (2005) Road to Perdition (2002) American Beauty (1999) -

9. 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....

1965 X-Men: Apocalypse (2016) X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014) Valkyrie (2008) Superman Returns (2006) X2 (2003) X-Men (2000) Apt Pupil (1998) The Usual Suspects (1995) -

10. Ben Stiller

Producer | Tropic Thunder

Benjamin Edward Meara Stiller was born on November 30, 1965, in New York City, New York, to legendary comedians Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara. His father was of Austrian Jewish and Polish Jewish descent, and his mother was of Irish Catholic descent (she converted to Judaism).

His parents made no real...

1965 Zoolander 2 (2016) The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (2013) Tropic Thunder (2008) Zoolander (2001) The Cable Guy (1996) Reality Bites (1994) The Ben Stiller Show (1992–1993) TV Series -

11. Tom Tykwer

Writer | Lola rennt

Director, writer, producer and composer Tom Tykwer was born in 1965 in Wuppertal, Germany. He showed an interest in film-making from childhood, making super 8 films from the age of 11. Among his first jobs was working at a local art-house cinema. Tykwer eventually relocated to Berlin, first working...

1965 A Hologram for the King (2016) Cloud Atlas (2012) 3 (2010) The International (2009) Perfume: The Story of a Murderer (2006) Heaven (2002) The Princess and the Warrior (2000) Run Lola Run (1998) Winter Sleepers (1997) -

12. Paul Weitz

Writer | About a Boy

Paul Weitz was born on November 19, 1965 in New York City, New York, USA as Paul J. Weitz. He is a director, writer and producer, known for Grandma (2015), About a Boy (2002), and Mozart in the Jungle (2014), for which he won a Golden Globe. He has been married to Patricia Brown since December 15, ...

1965 Grandma (2015) Admission (2013) Being Flynn (2012) Little Fockers (2010) Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant (2009) American Dreamz (2006) In Good Company (2004) About a Boy (2002) Down to Earth (2001) American Pie (1999) -

13. Rob Zombie

Writer | Grindhouse

Robert Bartleh Cummings, more famously known as Rob Zombie, was born in Haverhill, Massachusetts on January 12, 1965. He is the oldest son of Louise and Robert Cummings, and has a younger brother, Michael David (aka Spider One; b. 1968), who is the lead singer of Powerman 5000. Growing up, Zombie ...

1965 31 (2016) The Lords of Salem (2012) The Haunted World of El Superbeasto (2009) Halloween II (2009) Halloween (2007) The Devil's Rejects (2005) House of 1000 Corpses (2003) -

14. Lenny Abrahamson

Director | Room

Lenny Abrahamson was born in Dublin in 1966. He studied physics and philosophy at Trinity College Dublin. While at university he directed short videos with the Trinity Video Society, which he co-founded with Ed Guiney. He graduated in 1991 with first class honours (gold medal). His first short film...

1966 Room (2015) Frank (2014) What Richard Did (2012) Garage (2007) Adam & Paul (2004) -

15. J.J. Abrams

Producer | Lost

Jeffrey Jacob Abrams was born in New York City and raised in Los Angeles, the son of TV producer parents. At 15, he wrote the music for Don Dohler's Nightbeast (1982). In his senior year of college, he and Jill Mazursky teamed up to write a feature film, which became Taking Care of Business (1990)....

1966 Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015) Star Trek Into Darkness (2013) Super 8 (2011) Star Trek (2009) Mission: Impossible III (2006) Lost (2004–2010) TV Series Alias (2001–2006) TV Series -

16. 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 ...

1966 The Jungle Book (2016) Chef (2014) Cowboys & Aliens (2011) Iron Man II (2010) Iron Man (2008) Zathura: A Space Adventure (2005) Elf (2003) Made (2001) -

17. Antoine Fuqua

Producer | The Magnificent Seven

Antoine Fuqua is an American film director, known for his work in the film Training Day as well as The Replacement Killers, Tears of the Sun, King Arthur, Shooter, Brooklyn's Finest, Olympus Has Fallen and The Equalizer.

He has directed music videos for such artists as Arrested Development, Prince, ...

1966 The Magnificent Seven (2016) Suge Knight (2016) Doc The Man Who Made It Snow (2016) Southpaw (2015) The Equalizer (2014) Olympus Has Fallen (2013) Brooklyn's Finest (2009) Shooter (2007) King Arthur (2004) Tears of the Sun (2003) Training Day (2001) Bait (2000) The Replacement Killers (1998) -

18. Gregor Jordan

Director | Two Hands

Gregor Jordan was born in 1966 in Sale, Victoria, Australia. He is a director and writer, known for Two Hands (1999), Ned Kelly (2003) and Buffalo Soldiers (2001).

1966 Unthinkable (2010) The Informers (2008) Ned Kelly (2003) Buffalo Soldiers (2001) Two Hands (1999) -

19. Baltasar Kormákur

Producer | Mýrin

Baltasar Kormákur is an actor, producer and director whose work spans theater, movies and television. Born in Reykjavik, Iceland, he graduated as an actor from Iceland's National Academy of Fine Arts in 1990. He was immediately signed on by the National Theatre of Iceland, where he worked as one of...

1966 Everest (2015) 2 Guns (2013) The Deep (2012) Contraband (2012) Inhale (2010) Jar City (2006) A Little Trip to Heaven (2005) The Sea (2002) 101 Reykjavík (2000) -

20. Tom McCarthy

Writer | The Station Agent

Tom McCarthy is an American film director, screenwriter, and actor. He is best known for direct and write The Station Agent (2003), The Visitor (2007), Win Win (2011), and Spotlight (2015), for which he won the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay, and was nominated for Best Director.

McCarthy...

1966 Spotlight (2015) Win Win (2011) The Visitor (2007) The Station Agent (2003) -

21. Bennett Miller

Director | Foxcatcher

Bennett Miller is an American film director, best known for Capote (2005), Moneyball (2011), and Foxcatcher (2014). He began his film career directing the 1998 documentary The Cruise.

In 2006 Miller directed the Bob Dylan music video "When the Deal Goes Down" starring Scarlett Johansson.

Miller has ...

1966 Foxcatcher (2014) Moneyball (2011) Capote (2005) The Cruise (1998) Doc -

22. Jean-François Richet

Director | L'instinct de mort

Jean-François Richet was born on July 2, 1966 in Paris, France. He is a director and writer, known for Mesrine: Killer Instinct (2008), Mesrine: Public Enemy No. 1 (2008) and État des lieux (1995).

1966 Twice (2016) Blood Father (2016) Mesrine: Public Enemy #1 (2008) Mesrine: Killer Instinct (2008) Assault on Precinct 13 (2005) -

23. Zack Snyder

Director | 300

Zachary Edward "Zack" Snyder (born March 1, 1966) is an American film director, film producer, and screenwriter, best known for action and science fiction films. Snyder made his feature film debut with the 2004 remake Dawn of the Dead and has gone on to be known for his comic book movies and ...

1966 Justice League Part Two (2019) The Justice League Part One (2017) Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016) Man of Steel (2013) Sucker Punch (2011) Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole (2010) Watchmen (2009) 300 (2006) Dawn of the Dead (2004) -

24. Judd Apatow

Producer | Girls

Judd Apatow is an American film director, screenwriter, producer and comedian. He directed The 40-Year Old Virgin, Knocked Up, This is 40, Funny People, Trainwreck and The King of Staten Island. He also developed the television shows Freaks and Geeks, Undeclared, Girls, Love and Crashing. He is ...

1967 Trainwreck (2015) This Is 40 (2012) Funny People (2009) Knocked Up (2007) The 40 Year Old Virgin (2005) Undeclared (2001–2002) TV Series Freaks and Geeks (1999–2000) TV Series The Larry Sanders Show (1992–1998) TV Series -

25. Craig Gillespie

Producer | I, Tonya

Craig Gillespie is an Australian film director, best known for his films Lars and the Real Girl (2007), I, Tonya (2017) and Cruella (2021). Born and raised in Sydney, Gillespie moved to New York City at the age of nineteen to study illustration, graphic design and advertising at Manhattan's School ...

1967 The Finest Hours (2016) Million Dollar Arm (2014) Fright Night (2011) Lars and the Real Girl (2007) Mr. Woodcock (2007) -

26. Mathieu Kassovitz

Actor | Le fabuleux destin d'Amélie Poulain

Mathieu Kassovitz was born on August 3, 1967 in Paris, France. He is an actor and director, known for Amélie (2001), La haine (1995) and The Fifth Element (1997).

1967 Rebellion (2011) Babylon A.D. (2008) Gothika (2003) The Crimson Rivers (2000) La Haine (1995) -

27. Kevin Macdonald

Director | The Last King of Scotland

Kevin Macdonald was born on October 28, 1967 in Glasgow, Scotland, UK. He is a director and producer, known for The Last King of Scotland (2006), The Mauritanian (2021) and How I Live Now (2013). He has been married to Tatiana Macdonald since July 2, 1999. They have three children.

1967 Black Sea (2014) How I Live Now (2013) Marley (2012) Doc The Eagle (2011) Life in a Day (2011) Doc State of Play (2009) My Enemy's Enemy (2007) Doc The Last King of Scotland (2006) Touching the Void (2003) Doc One Day in September (1999) Doc -

28. James McTeigue

Director | V for Vendetta

James McTeigue is known for V for Vendetta (2005), The Raven (2012) and Survivor (2015).

1967 The Raven (2012) Ninja Assassin (2009) V for Vendetta (2005) -

29. Morten Tyldum

Director | Hodejegerne

Morten Tyldum was born on May 19, 1967 in Bergen, Norway. He is a director and producer, known for Headhunters (2011), The Imitation Game (2014) and Passengers (2016).

1967 Passengers (2016) Pattern Recognition (2016) The Imitation Game (2014) Headhunters (2011) Fallen Angels (2008) Buddy (2003) -

30. 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 ...

1967 ( & Larry / Lana Wachowski ) Jupiter Ascending (2015) Cloud Atlas (2012) Speed Racer (2008) The Matrix Revolutions (2003) The Matrix Reloaded (2003) The Matrix (1999) Bound (1996) -

31. David Ayer

Producer | End of Watch

David Ayer is an American film director, producer, and screenwriter. David Ayer was born in Champaign, Illinois and grew up in Bloomington, Minnesota, and Bethesda, Maryland, where he was kicked out of his house by his parents as a teenager. Ayer then lived with his cousin in Los Angeles, ...

1968 Suicide Squad (2016) Fury (2014) Sabotage (2014) End of Watch (2012) Street Kings (2008) Harsh Times (2005) -

32. Adam McKay

Producer | Don't Look Up

Adam McKay (born April 17, 1968) is an American screenwriter, director, comedian, and actor. McKay has a comedy partnership with Will Ferrell, with whom he co-wrote the films Anchorman, Talladega Nights, and The Other Guys. Ferrell and McKay also founded their comedy website Funny or Die through ...

1968 The Big Short (2015) Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues (2013) The Other Guys (2010) Step Brothers (2008) Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby (2006) Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004) -

33. 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 ...

1968 Knights of the Roundtable: King Arthur (2016) The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (2015) Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (2011) Sherlock Holmes (2009) RocknRolla (2008) Revolver (2005) Snatch. (2000) Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998) -

34. 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 ...

1968 100 Years (2115) Alita: Battle Angel (2018) Jonny Quest (2017) Machete Kills in Space (2016) Sin City: A Dame to Kill For (2014) Machete Kills (2013) Machete (2010) Planet Terror (2007) Sin City (2005) Once Upon a Time in Mexico (2003) Spy Kids (2001) The Faculty (1998) From Dusk Till Dawn (1996) Four Rooms (1995) Desperado (1995) El Mariachi (1992) -

35. 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 ...

1968 Four Brothers (2005) 2 Fast 2 Furious (2003) Baby Boy (2001) Shaft (2000) Rosewood (1997) Higher Learning (1995) Boyz n the Hood (1991) -

36. Wes Anderson

Director | Fantastic Mr. Fox

Wesley Wales Anderson was born in Houston, Texas. His mother, Texas Ann (Burroughs), is an archaeologist turned real estate agent, and his father, Melver Leonard Anderson, worked in advertising and PR. He has two brothers, Eric and Mel. Anderson's parents divorced when he was a young child, an ...

1969 The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014) Moonrise Kingdom (2012) Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009) The Darjeeling Limited (2007) The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (2004) The Royal Tenenbaums (2001) Rushmore (1998) Bottle Rocket (1996) -

37. 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 ...

1969 Noah (2014) Black Swan (2010) The Wrestler (2008) The Fountain (2006) Requiem for a Dream (2000) Pi (1998) -

38. Bong Joon Ho

Writer | Snowpiercer

Bong Joon-ho is a South Korean filmmaker. The recipient of three Academy Awards, his filmography is characterized by emphasis on social themes, genre-mixing, black humor, and sudden tone shifts. He first became known to audiences and achieved a cult following with his directorial debut film, the ...

1969 Okja (2017) Snowpiercer (2013) Mother (2009) The Host (2006) Memories of Murder (2003) -

39. Joe Carnahan

Writer | Smokin' Aces

Joe Carnahan is an American film director and screenwriter. He was born in Michigan in 1969, and was raised in California. He attended Fairfield High School in Fairfield, California. He graduated in 1987, at the age of 18. He first attended the San Francisco State University, and later transferred ...

1969 Bad Boys 3 (2017) Stretch (2014) The Grey (2011) The A-Team (2010) Smokin' Aces (2006) Narc (2002) -

40. David Dobkin

Producer | The Judge

David Dobkin was born on June 23, 1969 in Washington, District of Columbia, USA. He is a producer and director, known for The Judge (2014), R.I.P.D. (2013) and Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga (2020). He has been married to Megan Wolpert since November 19, 2005. They have one child.

1969 The Judge (2014) The Change-Up (2011) Fred Claus (2007) Wedding Crashers (2005) Shanghai Knights (2003) Clay Pigeons (1998) -

41. Marc Forster

Producer | World War Z

Marc Forster is a German-born filmmaker and screenwriter. He is best known for directing the films Monster's Ball (2001), Finding Neverland (2004), Stay (2005), Stranger than Fiction (2006), The Kite Runner (2007), Quantum of Solace (2008), and World War Z (2013).

His breakthrough film was Monster's...

1969 All I See Is You (2016) World War Z (2013) Machine Gun Preacher (2011) Quantum of Solace (2008) The Kite Runner (2007) Stranger Than Fiction (2006) Stay (2005) Finding Neverland (2004) Monster's Ball (2001) Everything Put Together (2000) -

42. 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 ...

1969 Furious 8 (2017) Straight Outta Compton (2015) Law Abiding Citizen (2009) Be Cool (2005) The Italian Job (2003) A Man Apart (2003) The Negotiator (1998) Friday (1995) -

43. James Gray

Director | The Immigrant

Writer/director James Gray made his first film Little Odessa (1994) at the age of twenty-five. The film, which starred Tim Roth, Edward Furlong, Vanessa Redgrave and Maximilian Schell, received critical acclaim and was the winner of the Venice Film Festival's prestigious Silver Lion Award in 1994.

...

1969 The Lost City of Z (2016) The Immigrant (2013) Two Lovers (2008) We Own the Night (2007) The Yards (1999) Little Odessa (1994) -

44. Spike Jonze

Producer | Her

Spike Jonze made up one-third (along with Andy Jenkins and Mark Lewman) of the triumvirate of genius minds behind Dirt Magazine, the brother publication of the much lamented ground-breaking Sassy Magazine. These three uncommon characters were all editors for Grand Royal Magazine as well, under the ...

1969 Her (2013) Where the Wild Things Are (2009) Adaptation. (2002) Being John Malkovich (1999) -

45. Steve McQueen

Director | 12 Years a Slave

Steve McQueen was born on October 9, 1969 in London, England, UK. He is a director and producer, known for 12 Years a Slave (2013), Shame (2011) and Hunger (2008). He is married to Bianca Stigter. They have two children.

1969 12 Years a Slave (2013) Shame (2011) Hunger (2008) -

46. Trey Parker

Music_department | South Park

Trey was born in Conifer, Colorado, on October 19, 1969 to Randy Parker, a geologist, and Sharon Parker, an insurance broker. He has an older sister, Shelley Parker. He met Matt Stone (co-creator of South Park (1997)) while attending the University of Colorado in Boulder, where he had a double ...

1969 ( + Matt Stone ) South Park (1997– ) TV Series Team America: World Police (2004) South Park: Bigger Longer & Uncut (1999) Orgazmo (1997) Cannibal! The Musical (1993) -

47. 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...

1969 Beverly Hills Cop 4 (2016) Hercules (2014) Tower Heist (2011) Rush Hour 3 (2007) X-Men: The Last Stand (2006) After the Sunset (2004) Red Dragon (2002) Rush Hour 2 (2001) The Family Man (2000) Rush Hour (1998) Money Talks (1997) -

48. David Wain

Writer | Wet Hot American Summer

David Wain was born and raised in Shaker Heights, Ohio.

He met the other members of the comedy troupe The State while a film student at NYU, where he graduated from in 1991.

As part of The State, he co-created and co-starred on their self-titled MTV sketch comedy show in the mid 90's. He then ...

1969 They Came Together (2014) Wanderlust (2012) Role Models (2008) Wet Hot American Summer (2001) -

49. Paul Thomas Anderson

Director | Punch-Drunk Love

Anderson was born in 1970. He was one of the first of the "video store" generation of film-makers. His father was the first man on his block to own a V.C.R., and from a very early age Anderson had an infinite number of titles available to him. While film-makers like Spielberg cut their teeth making...

1970 Inherent Vice (2014) The Master (2012) There Will Be Blood (2007) Punch-Drunk Love (2002) Magnolia (1999) Boogie Nights (1997) Hard Eight (1996) -

50. John Moore

Director | Max Payne

John Moore was born in Dundalk, Ireland in 1970, a small town situated about 60 miles from the country's capital Dublin. Moore attended a technical college in Dublin where he studied filmmaking and after completing the school he went on to direct and write a series of short films all produced in ...

1970 I.T. (2016) A Good Day to Die Hard (2013) Max Payne (2008) The Omen (2006) Flight of the Phoenix (2004) Behind Enemy Lines (2001) -

51. 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 ...

1970 Interstellar (2014) The Dark Knight Rises (2012) Inception (2010) The Dark Knight (2008) The Prestige (2006) Batman Begins (2005) Insomnia (2002) Memento (2000) Following (1998) -

52. Todd Phillips

Producer | Joker

Todd Phillips is an American film director, producer, and screenwriter.

Growing up on Long Island, New York, Todd Phillips fell in love with feature film teen comedies made in the 1980s, and claims they were his biggest influence in becoming a filmmaker. While studying film at New York University, ...

1970 Arms and the Dudes (2016) The Hangover Part III (2013) The Hangover Part II (2011) Due Date (2010) The Hangover (2009) School for Scoundrels (2006) Starsky & Hutch (2004) Old School (2003) Road Trip (2000) -

53. Nicolas Winding Refn

Writer | The Neon Demon

Writer, director, and producer Nicolas Winding Refn was born in Copenhagen, Denmark, in 1970, to Anders Refn, a film director and editor, and Vibeke Winding (née Tuxen), a cinematographer. Just before he turned 11, in 1981, he moved to New York with his parents, where he lived out his teen years. ...

1970 The Neon Demon (2016) Only God Forgives (2013) Drive (2011) Valhalla Rising (2009) Bronson (2008) I'm the Angel of Death: Pusher III (2005) With Blood on My Hands: Pusher II (2004) Fear X (2003) Bleeder (1999) Pusher (1996) -

54. 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 ...

1970 Split (2017) Labor of Love (2016) The Visit (2015) After Earth (2013) The Last Airbender (2010) The Happening (2008) Lady in the Water (2006) The Village (2004) Signs (2002) Unbreakable (2000) The Sixth Sense (1999) -

55. Kevin Smith

Producer | Clerks

Kevin Patrick Smith was born in Red Bank but grew up in Highlands, New Jersey, the son of Grace (Schultz) and Donald E. Smith, a postal worker. He is very proud of his native state; this fact can be seen in all of his movies. Kevin is of mostly German, with some Irish and English, ancestry.

His ...

1970 MallBrats (2016) Holidays (2016) Yoga Hosers (2016) Clerks III (2016) Tusk (2014) Red State (2011) Cop Out (2010) Zack and Miri Make a Porno (2008) Clerks II (2006) Jersey Girl (2004) Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back (2001) Dogma (1999) Chasing Amy (1997) Mallrats (1995) Clerks. (1994) -

56. Sofia Coppola

Actress | The Godfather Part III

Sofia Coppola was born on May 14, 1971 in New York City, New York, USA as Sofia Carmina Coppola. She is a director, known for Somewhere (2010), Lost in Translation (2003), and Marie Antoinette (2006). She has been married to Thomas Mars since August 27, 2011. They have two daughters, Romy and ...

1971 A Very Murray Christmas (2015) The Bling Ring (2013) Somewhere (2010) Marie Antoinette (2006) Lost in Translation (2003) The Virgin Suicides (1999) -

57. Duncan Jones

Director | Moon

Duncan Jones was born on May 30, 1971 in Bromley, Kent, England, UK. He is a director and writer, known for Moon (2009), Source Code (2011) and Mute (2018). He has been married to Rodene Ronquillo since November 6, 2012. They have two children.

1971 Warcraft (2016) Source Code (2011) Moon (2009) -

58. Matthew Vaughn

Producer | Kick-Ass

Matthew Vaughn is an English film producer and director. He is known for producing such films as Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998) and Snatch (2000) and for directing the crime thriller, Layer Cake (2004), the fantasy epic, Stardust (2007), the superhero comedy, Kick-Ass (2010), and the ...

1971 I Am Pilgrim (2017) Kingsman: The Secret Service (2014) X-Men: First Class (2011) Kick-Ass (2010) Stardust (2007) Layer Cake (2004) -

59. Ben Affleck

Producer | Argo

Benjamin Géza "Ben" Affleck-Boldt was born on August 15, 1972 in Berkeley, California and raised in Cambridge, Massachusetts, to mother Chris Anne (Boldt), a school teacher, and father Timothy Byers "Tim" Affleck, a social worker. Ben has a younger brother, actor Casey Affleck, who was born in 1975...

1972 Live by Night (2017) Argo (2012) The Town (2010) Gone Baby Gone (2007) -

60. Albert 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 ...

1972 ( + Allen Hughes ) The Solutrean (2016) The Book of Eli (2010) From Hell (2001) American Pimp (1999) Doc Dead Presidents (1995) Menace II Society (1993) -

61. Joe Wright

Director | Pride & Prejudice

Joe Wright is an English film director. He is best known for Pride & Prejudice (2005), Atonement (2007), Anna Karenina (2012), and Darkest Hour (2017).

Wright always had an interest in the arts, especially painting. He would also make films on his Super 8 camera as well as spend time in the evenings...

1972 Pan (2015) Anna Karenina (2012) Hanna (2011) The Soloist (2009) Atonement (2007) Pride & Prejudice (2005) -

62. Rupert Wyatt

Director | The Escapist

Writer, Director and Producer Rupert Wyatt was born and raised in the South of England.

He is the founding member of the film collective Picture Farm that along with its prolific Commercial output has produced numerous Documentaries and Feature Films including the multi-award winning DARK DAYS (2001...

1972 The Gambler (2014) Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011) The Escapist (2008) -

63. Jay Duplass

Actor | Industry

Jay Duplass, along with his brother, Mark Duplass, first made a name for himself writing and directing several award-winning short films. His first feature film was the Sundance 2005 breakout hit "The Puffy Chair," which went on to win the Audience Award at SXSW and receive two Independent Spirit ...

1973 ( + Mark Duplass ) The Do-Deca-Pentathlon (2012) Jeff, Who Lives at Home (2011) Cyrus (2010) -

64. Rian Johnson

Producer | Knives Out

Rian Johnson was born in Maryland and at a young age his family moved to San Clemente, California, where he was raised. After graduating from high school, he went on to attend the University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts. His first feature film, Brick (2005), was released in 2005 ...

1973 Star Wars: Episode VIII (2017) Looper (2012) The Brothers Bloom (2008) Brick (2005) -

65. Louis Leterrier

Director | The Incredible Hulk

Louis Leterrier is a French film director and producer. He notably directed the first two Transporter films, Unleashed, The Incredible Hulk, Clash of the Titans, Now You See Me, Tower of Strength and The Brothers Grimsby. He also directed episodes of The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance on Netflix ...

1973 G aka Low-G (2017) The Brothers Grimsby (2016) Now You See Me (2013) Clash of the Titans (2010) The Incredible Hulk (2008) Transporter 2 (2005) Unleashed (2005) The Transporter (2002) -

66. Justin Lin

Producer | Better Luck Tomorrow

Justin Lin is a Taiwanese-American film director whose films have grossed $2 billion worldwide. He is best known for his work on Better Luck Tomorrow, The Fast and the Furious 3-6 and Star Trek Beyond. He is also known for his work on television shows like Community and the second season of True ...

1973 Star Trek Beyond (2016) Fast & Furious 6 (2013) Fast Five (2011) Fast & Furious (2009) Finishing the Game: The Search for a New Bruce Lee (2007) The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift (2006) Better Luck Tomorrow (2002) -

67. Mark Neveldine

Director | Gamer

Mark Neveldine was born in Watertown, New York, USA. He is a writer and director, known for Gamer (2009), Crank (2006) and Crank: High Voltage (2009). He has been married to Alison Lohman since August 19, 2009. They have three children.

1973 ( + Brian Taylor ) The Vatican Tapes (2015) Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance (2011) Gamer (2009) Crank: High Voltage (2009) Crank (2006) -

68. Len Wiseman

Writer | Underworld

Filmmaker Len Wiseman's career began through his work in the art department on the blockbuster hits like Godzilla (1998), Men in Black (1997), and Independence Day (1996). His design talents soon got him behind the camera directing commercials for PlayStation, Time Warner, Oracle, Intel, and ...

1973 Die Hard Year One (2017) Total Recall (2012) Live Free or Die Hard (2007) Underworld: Evolution (2006) Underworld (2003) -

69. Ruben Fleischer

Director | Zombieland

Ruben Fleischer was born on October 31, 1974 in Washington, District of Columbia, USA. He is a producer and director, known for Zombieland (2009), Gangster Squad (2013) and Venom (2018). He has been married to Holly Shakoor Fleischer since November 10, 2012.

1974 Zombieland 2 (2017) Gangster Squad (2013) 30:Minutes or Less (2011) Zombieland (2009) -

70. Marc Webb

Director | (500) Days of Summer

Marc Webb is an American film and music video director. He directed over 100 music videos before he made his film directorial debut with 500 Days of Summer, a romantic comedy. He later directed The Amazing Spider-Man and its 2014 sequel starring Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone. He also directed ...

1974 Gifted (2016) The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014) The Amazing Spider-Man (2012) (500) Days of Summer (2009) -

71. Edgar Wright

Director | Shaun of the Dead

Edgar Howard Wright (born 18 April 1974) is an English director, screenwriter, producer, and actor. He is best known for his comedic Three Flavours Cornetto film trilogy consisting of Shaun of the Dead (2004), Hot Fuzz (2007), and The World's End (2013), made with recurrent collaborators Simon Pegg...

1974 Baby Driver (2017) The World's End (2013) Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (2010) Hot Fuzz (2007) Shaun of the Dead (2004) -

72. James Cox

Director | Atomic Tabasco

James Cox' short film "Atomic Tabasco" caught the eyes of Michael Gruber and Mike Deluca, who hired him to direct "Highway," written by Scott Rosenberg, starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Jared Leto. Next, working with long-time collaborator Captain Mauzner, Cox co-wrote and directed "Wonderland" ...

1975 Billionaire Boys Club (2016) Wonderland (2003) Highway (2002) -

73. Gareth Edwards

Visual_effects | Monsters

Gareth James Edwards was born on June 1, 1975 in the English town of Nuneaton, Warwickshire. Growing up, he admired movies such as the 1977 classic "Star Wars", and went on to pursue a film career. He even cites George Lucas and Steven Spielberg as his biggest influences. Edwards studied BA (Hons) ...

1975 Godzilla 2 (2018) Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016) Godzilla (2014) Monsters (2010) -

74. David Gordon Green

Producer | Halloween Kills

David Gordon Green was born on April 9, 1975 in Little Rock, Arkansas, USA. He is a producer and director, known for Halloween Kills (2021), Prince Avalanche (2013) and Halloween (2018).

1975 Stronger (2016) Our Brand Is Crisis (2015) Manglehorn (2014) Joe (2013) Prince Avalanche (2013) The Sitter (2011) Your Highness (2011) Pineapple Express (2008) Snow Angels (2007) Undertow (2004) All the Real Girls (2003) George Washington (2000) -

75. Phil Lord

Writer | The Lego Movie

Philip A. Lord is an American filmmaker, producer and writer who collaborates with Christopher Miller. They both worked on Clone High, a cult classic animated sci-fi teen comedy show, The Lego Movie, 21 Jump Street, 22 Jump Street and Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. Into the Spider-Verse is ...

1975 ( + Christopher Miller) Untitled Han Solo Star Wars Anthology Film (2018) 22 Jump Street (2014) The Lego Movie (2014) 21 Jump Street (2012) Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs (2009) -

76. Taika Waititi

Producer | What We Do in the Shadows

Taika Waititi, also known as Taika Cohen, hails from the Raukokore region of the East Coast of the North Island of New Zealand, and is the son of Robin (Cohen), a teacher, and Taika Waititi, an artist and farmer. His father is Maori (Te-Whanau-a-Apanui), and his mother is of Ashkenazi Jewish, Irish...

1975 Thor: Ragnarok (2017) Hunt for the Wilderpeople (2016) What We Do in the Shadows (2014) Boy (2010) Eagle vs Shark (2007) -

77. Ryan Fleck

Director | Half Nelson

Ryan K. Fleck is an American film director, cinematographer, editor, and screenwriter best known for directing and writing the 2006 film Half Nelson and the 2008 film Sugar. He is known for his collaborations with fellow filmmaker Anna Boden. Ryan was born in Berkeley, California and raised in ...

1976 Mississippi Grind (2015) It's Kind of a Funny Story (2010) Sugar (2008) Half Nelson (2006) -

78. Jonathan Levine

Director | 50/50

Jonathan Levine was born on June 18, 1976. He is a producer and director, known for 50/50 (2011), The Wackness (2008) and Warm Bodies (2013).

1976 Brooklyn Castle (2017) The Night Before (2015) Warm Bodies (2013) 50/50 (2011) The Wackness (2008) -

79. Nicholas Stoller

Writer | The Muppets

Nicholas Stoller is an English-American screenwriter and director. He is known best for directing the 2008 comedy Forgetting Sarah Marshall, and writing/directing its 2010 spin-off/sequel, Get Him to the Greek. He also wrote The Muppets and directed the Seth Rogen comedy, Neighbors. He is a ...

1976 Storks (2016) Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising (2016) Neighbors (2014) The Five-Year Engagement (2012) Get Him to the Greek (2010) Forgetting Sarah Marshall (2008) -

80. Richard Ayoade

Writer | Submarine

Richard Ellef Ayoade was born in Hammersmith, and grew up in Suffolk, in England, the son of a Norwegian mother, Dagny Amalie (Baassuik), and a Nigerian father, Layide Ade Laditi Ayoade. He studied Law at Cambridge university, and followed in the footsteps of British Comedy legends like Monty ...

1977 The Double (2013) Submarine (2010) -

81. Cary Joji Fukunaga

Producer | Beasts of No Nation

Cary Joji Fukunaga is a Japanese-American film director, screenwriter, cinematographer and producer from Oakland, California who is known for directing the James Bond film No Time to Die, Kofi, Beasts of No Nation, Jane Eyre and Sin Nombre. He co-wrote the 2017 film adaptation of the Stephen King ...

1977 Beasts of No Nation (2015) True Detective (2014-) TV Series Jane Eyre (2011) Sin Nombre (2009) -

82. Jason Reitman

Producer | Up in the Air

Jason Reitman is a Canadian filmmaker and producer who notably directed Ghostbusters: Afterlife, Juno, Thank You for Smoking, Up in the Air, Young Adult and Tully. He produced Chloe and Jennifer's Body, two films that advanced Amanda Seyfried's career for adult oriented roles. He is the son of Ivan...

1977 Men, Women & Children (2014) Labor Day (2013) Young Adult (2011) Up in the Air (2009) Juno (2007) Thank You for Smoking (2005) -

83. Jeff Nichols

Writer | Take Shelter

Jeff Nichols was born on December 7, 1978 in Little Rock, Arkansas, USA. He is a writer and director, known for Take Shelter (2011), Mud (2012) and Midnight Special (2016).

1978 Loving (2016) Midnight Special (2016) Mud (2012) Take Shelter (2011) Shotgun Stories (2007) -

84. Neill Blomkamp

Director | District 9

Neill Blomkamp is a South African-Canadian film director and screenwriter who is known for the science fiction films District 9, Elysium and Chappie. He also directed the supernatural horror film Demonic and the 2007 short film Halo: Landfall, based on the Microsoft science fiction video game ...

1979 Chappie (2015) Elysium (2013) District 9 (2009) -

85. Sarah Polley

Actress | My Life Without Me

Sarah Polley is an actress and director renowned in her native Canada for her political activism. Blessed with an extremely expressive face that enables directors to minimize dialog due to her uncanny ability to suggest a character's thoughts, Polley has become a favorite of critics for her ...

1979 Stories We Tell (2012) Doc Take This Waltz (2011) Away from Her (2006) -

86. Gareth Evans

Writer | Serbuan maut

Welsh born writer/director, in 2003 directed a short film "Samurai Monogatari" telling the tale of a Samurai waiting to be executed. The short was in Japanese language and starred students from Tokyo who were studying at Cardiff University at the time.

In 2003 he also graduated with an MA in ...

1980 The Raid 3 (2017) The Raid 2 (2014) The Raid: Redemption (2011) Merantau (2009) -

87. Sean Durkin

Director | Martha Marcy May Marlene

Sean Durkin was born on December 9, 1981 in Canada. He is a producer and director, known for Martha Marcy May Marlene (2011), The Nest (2020) and The Iron Claw (2023).

1981 Janis (2016) Martha Marcy May Marlene (2011) -

88. Josh Trank

Writer | Fantastic Four

Joshua Trank is an American filmmaker and screenwriter. He got his big break by directing the found footage superhero film Chronicle for 20th Century Fox in 2012. He was later hired to direct Fant4stic, an ill-fated reboot to the Tim Story Fantastic Four film series of the 2000s starring Miles ...

1984 Fantastic Four (2015) Chronicle (2012) -

89. Xavier Dolan

Actor | J'ai tué ma mère

Xavier Dolan was born on March 20, 1989 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. He is an actor and producer, known for I Killed My Mother (2009), Tom at the Farm (2013) and Heartbeats (2010).

1989 It's Only the End of the World (2016) The Death and Life of John F. Donovan (2016) Mommy (2014) Tom at the Farm (2013) Laurence Anyways (2012) Heartbeats (2010) I Killed My Mother (2009) -

90. Neil Burger

Director | Divergent

Neil Burger is an American film and television director, writer, and producer. Most recently, he wrote and directed Voyagers (2021), starring Colin Farrell, Tye Sheridan, and Lily-Rose Depp. He is also known for The Upside (2017), Divergent (2014), Limitless (2011), and The Illusionist (2006). For ...

n/a All the Old Knives (2017) Divergent (2014) Limitless (2011) The Lucky Ones (2008) The Illusionist (2006) Interview with the Assassin (2002) -

91. Billy Ray

Writer | Captain Phillips

Billy Ray is known for Captain Phillips (2013), The Hunger Games (2012) and Shattered Glass (2003). He is married to Stacy Sherman. They have two children.

n/a The Last Tycoon Secret in Their Eyes (2015) Breach (2007) Shattered Glass (2003) -