Filmography

1. 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 ...

13. Eyes Wide Shut (1999) 12. Full Metal Jacket (1987) 11. The Shining (1980) 10. Barry Lyndon (1975) 9. A Clockwork Orange (1971) 8. 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) 7. Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964) 6. Lolita (1962) 5. Spartacus (1960) 4. Paths of Glory (1957) 3. The Killing (1956) 2. Killer's Kiss (1955) 1. Fear and Desire (1952)

2. 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 ...

28. Napoleon (2023) 27. House of Gucci (2021) 26. The Last Duel (2021) 25. All the Money in the World (2017) 24. Alien: Covenant (2017) 23. The Martian (2015) 22. Exodus: Gods and Kings (2014) 21. The Counselor (2013) 20. Prometheus (2012) 19. Robin Hood (2010) 18. Body of Lies (2008) 17. American Gangster (2007) 16. A Good Year (2006) 15. Kingdom of Heaven (2005) 14. Matchstick Men (2003) 13. Black Hawk Down (2001) 12. Hannibal (2001) 11. Gladiator (2000) 10. G.I. Jane (1997) 9. White Squall (1996) 8. 1492: Conquest of Paradise (1992) 7. Thelma & Louise (1991) 6. Black Rain (1989) 5. Someone to Watch Over Me (1987) 4. Legend (1985) 3. Blade Runner (1982) 2. Alien (1979) 1. The Duellists (1977)

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 ...

26. Killers of the Flower Moon (2023) 25. The Irishman (2019) 24. Silence (2016) 23. The Wolf of Wall Street (2013) 22. Hugo (2011) 21. Shutter Island (2010) 20. The Departed (2006) 19. The Aviator (2004) 18. Gangs of New York (2002) 17. Bringing Out the Dead (1999) 16. Kundun (1997) 15. Casino (1995) 14. The Age of Innocence (1993) 13. Cape Fear (1991) 12. Goodfellas (1990) 11. The Last Temptation of Christ (1988) 10. The Color of Money (1986) 9. After Hours (1985) 8. The King of Comedy (1982) 7. Raging Bull (1980) 6. New York, New York (1977) 5. Taxi Driver (1976) 4. Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore (1974) 3. Mean Streets (1973) 2. Boxcar Bertha (1972) 1. Who's That Knocking at My Door (1967)

4. 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 ...

22. Twixt (2011) 21. Tetro (2009) 20. Youth Without Youth (2007) 19. The Rainmaker (1997) 18. Jack (1996) 17. Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992) 16. The Godfather Part III (1990) 15. Tucker: The Man and His Dream (1988) 14. Gardens of Stone (1987) 13. Peggy Sue Got Married (1986) 12. The Cotton Club (1984) 11. Rumble Fish (1983) 10. The Outsiders (1983) 9. One from the Heart (1981) 8. Apocalypse Now (1979) 7. The Godfather Part II (1974) 6. The Conversation (1974) 5. The Godfather (1972) 4. The Rain People (1969) 3. Finian's Rainbow (1968) 2. You're a Big Boy Now (1966) 1. Dementia 13 (1963)

5. Sergio Leone

Writer | Once Upon a Time in America

Sergio Leone was virtually born into the cinema - he was the son of Roberto Roberti (A.K.A. Vincenzo Leone), one of Italy's cinema pioneers, and actress Bice Valerian. Leone entered films in his late teens, working as an assistant director to both Italian directors and U.S. directors working in ...

7. Once Upon a Time in America (1984) 6. Giù la testa (1971) 5. C'era una volta il West (1968) 4. Il buono, il brutto, il cattivo (1966) 3. Per qualche dollaro in più (1965) 2. Per un pugno di dollari (1964) 1. Il colosso di Rodi (1961)

6. 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, ...

32. The Fabelmans (2022) 31. West Side Story (2021) 30. Ready Player One (2018) 29. The Post (2017) 28. The BFG (2016) 27. Bridge of Spies (2015) 26. Lincoln (2012) 25. War Horse (2011) 24. The Adventures of Tintin (2011) 23. Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008) 22. Munich (2005) 21. War of the Worlds (2005) 20. The Terminal (2004) 19. Catch Me If You Can (2002) 18. Minority Report (2002) 17. A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001) 16. Saving Private Ryan (1998) 15. Amistad (1997) 14. The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997) 13. Schindler's List (1993) 12. Jurassic Park (1993) 11. Hook (1991) 10. Always (1989) 9. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989) 8. Empire of the Sun (1987) 7. The Color Purple (1985) 6. E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982) 5. Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) 4. 1941 (1979) 3. Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977) 2. Jaws (1975) 1. The Sugarland Express (1974)

7. 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 ...

12. Oppenheimer (2023) 11. Tenet (2020) 10. Dunkirk (2017) 9. Interstellar (2014) 8. The Dark Knight Rises (2012) 7. Inception (2010) 6. The Dark Knight (2008) 5. The Prestige (2006) 4. Batman Begins (2005) 3. Insomnia (2002) 2. Memento (2000) 1. Following (1998)

8. Denis Villeneuve

Director | Dune

Denis Villeneuve is a French Canadian film director and writer. He was born in 1967, in Trois-Rivières, Québec, Canada. He started his career as a filmmaker at the National Film Board of Canada. He is best known for his feature films Arrival (2016), Sicario (2015), Prisoners (2013), Enemy (2013), ...

11. Dune: Part Two (2024) 10. Dune (2021) 9. Blade Runner 2049 (2017) 8. Arrival (2016) 7. Sicario (2015) 6. Enemy (2013) 5. Prisoners (2013) 4. Incendies (2010) 3. Polytechnique (2009) 2. Maelström (2000) 1. Un 32 août sur terre (1998)

9. 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...

12. The Killer (2023) 11. Mank (2020) 10. Gone Girl (2014) 9. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011) 8. The Social Network (2010) 7. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008) 6. Zodiac (2007) 5. Panic Room (2002) 4. Fight Club (1999) 3. The Game (1997) 2. Se7en (1995) 1. Alien³ (1992)

10. 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 ...

8. The Whale (2022) 7. Mother! (2017) 6. Noah (2014) 5. Black Swan (2010) 4. The Wrestler (2008) 3. The Fountain (2006) 2. Requiem for a Dream (2000) 1. Pi (1998)

11. 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...

9. Once Upon a Time in... Hollywood (2019) 8. The Hateful Eight (2015) 7. Django Unchained (2012) 6. Inglourious Basterds (2009) 5. Death Proof (2007) 4. Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003), Kill Bill: Vol. 2 (2004) 3. Jackie Brown (1997) 2. Pulp Fiction (1994) 1. Reservoir Dogs (1992)

12. Alfonso Cuarón

Producer | Gravity

Alfonso Cuarón Orozco was born on November 28th 1961 in Mexico City, Mexico. From an early age, he yearned to be either a film director or an astronaut. However, he did not want to enter the army, so he settled for directing. He didn't receive his first camera until his twelfth birthday, and then ...

8. Roma (2018) 7. Gravity (2013) 6. Children of Men (2006) 5. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004) 4. Y tu mamá también (2001) 3. Great Expectations (1998) 2. A Little Princess (1995) 1. Sólo con tu pareja (1991)

13. 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-...

9. Empire of Light (2022) 8. 1917 (2019) 7. Spectre (2015) 6. Skyfall (2012) 5. Away We Go (2009) 4. Revolutionary Road (2008) 3. Jarhead (2005) 2. Road to Perdition (2002) 1. American Beauty (1999)

14. John Carpenter

Writer | The Fog

John Howard Carpenter was born in Carthage, New York, to mother Milton Jean (Carter) and father Howard Ralph Carpenter. His family moved to Bowling Green, Kentucky, where his father, a professor, was head of the music department at Western Kentucky University. He attended Western Kentucky ...

18. The Ward (2010) 17. Ghosts of Mars (2001) 16. Vampires (1998) 15. Escape from L.A. (1996) 14. Village of the Damned (1995) 13. In the Mouth of Madness (1994) 12. Memoirs of an Invisible Man (1992) 11. They Live (1988) 10. Prince of Darkness (1987) 9. Big Trouble in Little China (1986) 8. Starman (1984) 7. Christine (1983) 6. The Thing (1982) 5. Escape from New York (1981) 4. The Fog (1980) 3. Halloween (1978) 2. Assault on Precinct 13 (1976) 1. Dark Star (1974)

15. David Cronenberg

Actor | The Fly

David Cronenberg, also known as the King of Venereal Horror or the Baron of Blood, was born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, in 1943. His father, Milton Cronenberg, was a journalist and editor, and his mother, Esther (Sumberg), was a piano player. After showing an inclination for literature at an early...

20. Crimes of the Future (2022) 19. Maps to the Stars (2014) 18. Cosmopolis (2012) 17. A Dangerous Method (2011) 16. Eastern Promises (2007) 15. A History of Violence (2005) 14. Spider (2002) 13. eXistenZ (1999) 12. Crash (1996) 11. M. Butterfly (1993) 10. Naked Lunch (1991) 9. Dead Ringers (1988) 8. The Fly (1986) 7. The Dead Zone (1983) 6. Videodrome (1983) 5. Scanners (1981) 4. The Brood (1979) 3. Fast Company (1979) 2. Rabid (1977) 1. Shivers (1975)

16. 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 ...

20. Scream 4 (2011) 19. My Soul to Take (2010) 18. Red Eye (2005) 17. Cursed (2005) 16. Scream 3 (2000) 15. Music of the Heart (1999) 14. Scream 2 (1997) 13. Scream (1996) 12. Vampire in Brooklyn (1995) 11. Wes Craven's New Nightmare (1994) 10. The People Under the Stairs (1991) 9. Shocker (1989) 8. The Serpent and the Rainbow (1988) 7. Deadly Friend (1986) 6. A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984) 5. The Hills Have Eyes Part II (1984) 4. Swamp Thing (1982) 3. Deadly Blessing (1981) 2. The Hills Have Eyes (1977) 1. The Last House on the Left (1972)

17. 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 ...

12. Ferrari (2023) 11. Blackhat (2015) 10. Public Enemies (2009) 9. Miami Vice (2006) 8. Collateral (2004) 7. Ali (2001) 6. The Insider (1999) 5. Heat (1995) 4. The Last of the Mohicans (1992) 3. Manhunter (1986) 2. The Keep (1983) 1. Thief (1981)

18. George Miller

Producer | Mad Max: Fury Road

George Miller is an Australian film director, screenwriter, producer, and former medical doctor. He is best known for his Mad Max franchise, with Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior (1981) and Mad Max: Fury Road (2015) being hailed as amongst the greatest action films of all time. Aside from the Mad Max ...

11. Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga (2024) 10. Three Thousand Years of Longing (2022) 9. Mad Max: Fury Road (2015) 8. Happy Feet Two (2011) 7. Happy Feet (2006) 6. Babe: Pig in the City (1998) 5. Lorenzo's Oil (1992) 4. The Witches of Eastwick (1987) 3. Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome (1985) 2. Mad Max 2 (1981) 1. Mad Max (1979)

19. 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 ...

9. Avatar: The Way of Water (2022) 8. Avatar (2009) 7. Titanic (1997) 6. True Lies (1994) 5. Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991) 4. The Abyss (1989) 3. Aliens (1986) 2. The Terminator (1984) 1. Piranha Part Two: The Spawning (1982)

20. 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 ...

21. Pinocchio (2022) 20. The Witches (2020) 19. Welcome to Marwen (2018) 18. Allied (2016) 17. The Walk (2015) 16. Flight (2012) 15. A Christmas Carol (2009) 14. Beowulf (2007) 13. The Polar Express (2004) 12. Cast Away (2000) 11. What Lies Beneath (2000) 10. Contact (1997) 9. Forrest Gump (1994) 8. Death Becomes Her (1992) 7. Back to the Future Part III (1990) 6. Back to the Future Part II (1989) 5. Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988) 4. Back to the Future (1985) 3. Romancing the Stone (1984) 2. Used Cars (1980) 1. I Wanna Hold Your Hand (1978)

21. George Lucas

Writer | Star Wars

George Walton Lucas, Jr. was raised on a walnut ranch in Modesto, California. His father was a stationery store owner and he had three siblings. During his late teen years, he went to Thomas Downey High School and was very much interested in drag racing. He planned to become a professional racecar ...

8. Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (2005) 7. Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones (2002) 6. Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999) 5. Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983) 4. Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980) 3. Star Wars (1977) 2. American Graffiti (1973) 1. THX 1138 (1971)

22. Peter Jackson

Producer | The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring

Sir Peter Jackson made history with The Lord of the Rings trilogy, becoming the first person to direct three major feature films simultaneously. The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers and The Return of the King were nominated for and collected a slew of awards from around the globe, with The ...

13. The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies (2014) 12. The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (2013) 11. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012) 10. The Lovely Bones (2009) 9. King Kong (2005) 8. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003) 7. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002) 6. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001) 5. The Frighteners (1996) 4. Heavenly Creatures (1994) 3. Braindead (1992) 2. Meet the Feebles (1989) 1. Bad Taste (1987)

23. Lana Wachowski

Writer | The Matrix

Lana Wachowski and her sister Lilly Wachowski, also known as the Wachowskis, are the duo behind such ground-breaking movies as The Matrix (1999) and Cloud Atlas (2012). Born to mother Lynne, a nurse, and father Ron, a businessman of Polish descent, Wachowski grew up in Chicago and formed a tight ...

w/ Lilly Wachowski

9. The Matrix Resurrections (2021) 8. Jupiter Ascending (2015) 7. Cloud Atlas (2012) 6. Speed Racer (2008) 5. V for Vendetta (2005) 4. The Matrix Revolutions (2003) 3. The Matrix Reloaded (2003) 2. The Matrix (1999) 1. Bound (1996)

24. 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 ...

15. The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare (2024) 14. The Covenant (2023) 13. Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre (2023) 12. Wrath of Man (2021) 11. The Gentlemen (2019) 10. Aladdin (2019) 9. King Arthur: Legend of the Sword (2017) 8. The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (2015) 7. Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (2011) 6. Sherlock Holmes (2009) 5. RocknRolla (2008) 4. Revolver (2005) 3. Swept Away (2002) 2. Snatch (2000) 1. Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998)

25. Frank Darabont

Writer | The Shawshank Redemption

Three-time Oscar nominee Frank Darabont was born in a refugee camp in 1959 in Montbeliard, France, the son of Hungarian parents who had fled Budapest during the failed 1956 Hungarian revolution. Brought to America as an infant, he settled with his family in Los Angeles and attended Hollywood High ...

4. The Mist (2007) 3. The Majestic (2001) 2. The Green Mile (1999) 1. The Shawshank Redemption (1994)

26. Mel Gibson

Actor | Braveheart

Mel Columcille Gerard Gibson was born January 3, 1956 in Peekskill, New York, USA, as the sixth of eleven children of Hutton Gibson, a railroad brakeman, and Anne Patricia (Reilly) Gibson (who died in December of 1990). His mother was Irish, from County Longford, while his American-born father is ...

5. Hacksaw Ridge (2016) 4. Apocalypto (2006) 3. The Passion of the Christ (2004) 2. Braveheart (1995) 1. The Man Without a Face (1993)

27. David Lynch

Writer | Twin Peaks

Born in precisely the kind of small-town American setting so familiar from his films, David Lynch spent his childhood being shunted from one state to another as his research scientist father kept getting relocated. He attended various art schools, married Peggy Lynch and then fathered future ...

13. Twin Peaks: The Missing Pieces (2014) 12. Twin Peaks: The Return (2017) 11. Inland Empire (2006) 10. Mulholland Dr. (2001) 9. The Straight Story (1999) 8. Lost Highway (1997) 7. Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me (1992) 6. Twin Peaks (1990) 5. Wild at Heart (1990) 4. Blue Velvet (1986) 3. Dune (1984) 2. The Elephant Man (1980) 1. Eraserhead (1977)

28. Michael Haneke

Writer | Caché

A true master of his craft, Michael Haneke is one of the greatest film artists working today and one who challenges his viewers each year and work goes by, with films that reflect real portions of life in realistic, disturbing and unforgettable ways. One of the most genuine filmmakers of the world ...

12. Happy End (2017) 11. Amour (2012) 10. Das weiße Band - Eine deutsche Kindergeschichte (2009) 9. Funny Games (2007) 8. Caché (2005) 7. Le temps du loup (2003) 6. La pianiste (2001) 5. Code inconnu: Récit incomplet de divers voyages (2000) 4. Funny Games (1997) 3. 71 Fragmente einer Chronologie des Zufalls (1994) 2. Benny's Video (1992) 1. Der siebente Kontinent (1989)

29. 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 ...

19. Dumbo (2019) 18. Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children (2016) 17. Big Eyes (2014) 16. Dark Shadows (2012) 15. Frankenweenie (2012) 14. Alice in Wonderland (2010) 13. Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007) 12. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005) 11. Corpse Bride (2005) 10. Big Fish (2003) 9. Planet of the Apes (2001) 8. Sleepy Hollow (1999) 7. Mars Attacks! (1996) 6. Ed Wood (1994) 5. Batman Returns (1992) 4. Edward Scissorhands (1990) 3. Batman (1989) 2. Beetlejuice (1988) 1. Pee-wee's Big Adventure (1985)

30. Pedro Almodóvar

Writer | Hable con ella

The most internationally acclaimed Spanish filmmaker since Luis Buñuel was born in a small town (Calzada de Calatrava) in the impoverished Spanish region of La Mancha. He arrived in Madrid in 1968, and survived by selling used items in the flea-market called El Rastro. Almodóvar couldn't study ...

22. Madres paralelas (2021) 21. Dolor y gloria (2019) 20. Julieta (2016) 19. Los amantes pasajeros (2013) 18. La piel que habito (2011) 17. Los abrazos rotos (2009) 16. Volver (2006) 15. La mala educación (2004) 14. Hable con ella (2002) 13. Todo sobre mi madre (1999) 12. Carne trémula (1997) 11. La flor de mi secreto (1995) 10. Kika (1993) 9. Tacones lejanos (1991) 8. Átame! (1989) 7. Mujeres al borde de un ataque de "nervios" (1988) 6. La ley del deseo (1987) 5. Matador (1986) 4. ¿Qué he hecho YO para merecer esto!! (1984) 3. Entre tinieblas (1983) 2. Laberinto de pasiones (1982) 1. Pepi, Luci, Bom y otras chicas del montón (1980)

31. Terrence Malick

Writer | Days of Heaven

Terrence Malick was born in Ottawa, Illinois. His family subsequently lived in Oklahoma and he went to school in Austin, Texas. He did his undergraduate work at Harvard, graduating summa cum laude with a degree in philosophy in 1965.

A member of the Phi Beta Kappa honor society, he attended Magdalen ...

9. A Hidden Life (2019) 8. Song to Song (2017) 7. Knight of Cups (2015) 6. To the Wonder (2012) 5. The Tree of Life (2011) 4. The New World (2005) 3. The Thin Red Line (1998) 2. Days of Heaven (1978) 1. Badlands (1973)

32. Gaspar Noé

Director | Enter the Void

Gaspar Noé is an Argentinian filmmaker and screenwriter who lives in France. He is the son of Luis Felipe Noé, an Argentinian artist. He directed I Stand Alone, Irréversible, Enter the Void, Love, Climax, Carne, Lux Æterna, Sodomites and Vortex. His films are known for having a sensory overload ...

7. Vortex (2021) 6. Lvx Æterna (2019) 5. Climax (2018) 4. Love (2015) 3. Enter the Void (2009) 2. Irréversible (2002) 1. Seul contre tous (1998)

33. Lars von Trier

Writer | Dancer in the Dark

Probably the most ambitious and visually distinctive filmmaker to emerge from Denmark since Carl Theodor Dreyer over 60 years earlier, Lars von Trier studied film at the Danish Film School and attracted international attention with his very first feature, The Element of Crime (1984). A highly ...

15. The House That Jack Built (2018) 14. Nymphomaniac: Vol. II (2013) 13. Nymphomaniac: Vol. I (2013) 12. Melancholia (2011) 11. Antichrist (2009) 10. Direktøren for det hele (2006) 9. Manderlay (2005) 8. Dogville (2003) 7. Dancer in the Dark (2000) 6. Idioterne (1998) 5. Breaking the Waves (1996) 4. Europa (1991) 3. Epidemic (1987) 2. Forbrydelsens element (1984) 1. Befrielsesbilleder (1982)

34. 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).

8. Matthias et Maxime (2019) 7. The Death & Life of John F. Donovan (2018) 6. Juste la fin du monde (2016) 5. Mommy (2014) 4. Tom à la ferme (2013) 3. Laurence Anyways (2012) 2. Les amours imaginaires (2010) 1. J'ai tué ma mère (2009)

35. 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 ...

w/ Ethan Coen

19. The Tragedy of Macbeth (2021) 18. The Ballad of Buster Scruggs (2018) 17. Hail, Caesar! (2016) 16. Inside Llewyn Davis (2013) 15. True Grit (2010) 14. A Serious Man (2009) 13. Burn After Reading (2008) 12. No Country for Old Men (2007) 11. The Ladykillers (2004) 10. Intolerable Cruelty (2003) 9. The Man Who Wasn't There (2001) 8. O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000) 7. The Big Lebowski (1998) 6. Fargo (1996) 5. The Hudsucker Proxy (1994) 4. Barton Fink (1991) 3. Miller's Crossing (1990) 2. Raising Arizona (1987) 1. Blood Simple (1984)

36. 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...

9. Licorice Pizza (2021) 8. Phantom Thread (2017) 7. Inherent Vice (2014) 6. The Master (2012) 5. There Will Be Blood (2007) 4. Punch-Drunk Love (2002) 3. Magnolia (1999) 2. Boogie Nights (1997) 1. Sydney (1996)

37. Alejandro G. Iñárritu

Director | Biutiful

Alejandro González Iñárritu (ih-nyar-ee-too), born August 15th, 1963, is a Mexican film director.

González Iñárritu is the first Mexican director to be nominated for the Academy Award for Best Director and by the Directors Guild of America for Best Director. He is also the first Mexican-born ...

6. The Revenant (2015) 5. Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) (2014) 4. Biutiful (2010) 3. Babel (2006) 2. 21 Grams (2003) 1. Amores perros (2000)

38. 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 ...

10. The French Dispatch of the Liberty, Kansas Evening Sun (2021) 9. Isle of Dogs (2018) 8. The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014) 7. Moonrise Kingdom (2012) 6. Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009) 5. The Darjeeling Limited (2007) 4. The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (2004) 3. The Royal Tenenbaums (2001) 2. Rushmore (1998) 1. Bottle Rocket (1996)

39. 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. ...

10. The Neon Demon (2016) 9. Only God Forgives (2013) 8. Drive (2011) 7. Valhalla Rising (2009) 6. Bronson (2008) 5. Pusher III (2005) 4. Pusher II (2004) 3. Fear X (2003) 2. Bleeder (1999) 1. Pusher (1996)

40. Guillermo del Toro

Writer | El laberinto del fauno

Guillermo del Toro was born October 9, 1964 in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico. Raised by his Catholic grandmother, del Toro developed an interest in filmmaking in his early teens. Later, he learned about makeup and effects from the legendary Dick Smith (The Exorcist (1973)) and worked on making his ...

11. Nightmare Alley (2021) 10. The Shape of Water (2017) 9. Crimson Peak (2015) 8. Pacific Rim (2013) 7. Hellboy II: The Golden Army (2008) 6. El laberinto del fauno (2006) 5. Hellboy (2004) 4. Blade II (2002) 3. El espinazo del diablo (2001) 2. Mimic (1997) 1. Cronos (1992)

41. 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...

6. Last Night in Soho (2021) 5. Baby Driver (2017) 4. The World's End (2013) 3. Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (2010) 2. Hot Fuzz (2007) 1. Shaun of the Dead (2004)

42. 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 ...

7. Gisaengchung (2019) 6. Okja (2017) 5. Snowpiercer (2013) 4. Madeo (2009) 3. Gwoemul (2006) 2. Salinui chueok (2003) 1. Flandersui gae (2000)

43. Park Chan-wook

Director | Oldeuboi

Park Chan-wook was born on August 23, 1963 in Seoul, South Korea. He is a producer and director, known for Oldboy (2003), The Handmaiden (2016) and Decision to Leave (2022). He is married to Eun-hee Kim. They have one child.

8. Ah-ga-ssi (2016) 7. Stoker (2013) 6. Bakjwi (2009) 5. Ssa-i-bo-geu-ji-man-gwen-chan-a (2006) 4. Chinjeolhan geumjassi (2005) 3. Oldeuboi (2003) 2. Boksuneun naui geot (2002) 1. Gongdong gyeongbi guyeok JSA (2000)

44. Na Hong-jin

Writer | Chugyeokja

Na Hong-jin born in 1974 is a South Korean film director and screenwriter. His debut film The Chaser (2008) won Best Director at the 45th Grand Bell Awards in 2008. The film also won the award for Best Film. His follow up film, The Yellow Sea, was released in South Korea on December 15, 2010. It is...

3. Gokseong (2016) 2. Hwanghae (2010) 1. Chugyeokja (2008)

45. Damien Chazelle

Writer | La La Land

Damien Sayre Chazelle is an American director and screenwriter. He was born in Providence, Rhode Island. His mother, Celia Sayre (Martin) Chazelle, is an American-Canadian writer and professor of history at The College of New Jersey. His father, Bernard Chazelle, is a French-American Eugene Higgins...

4. First Man (2018) 3. La La Land (2016) 2. Whiplash (2014) 1. Guy and Madeline on a Park Bench (2009)

46. 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.

4. Widows (2018) 3. 12 Years a Slave (2013) 2. Shame (2011) 1. Hunger (2008)

47. Yorgos Lanthimos

Director | The Lobster

Yorgos Lanthimos was born in Athens, Greece. He studied directing for Film and Television at the Stavrakos Film School in Athens. He has directed a number of dance videos in collaboration with Greek choreographers, in addition to TV commercials, music videos, short films and theater plays. Kinetta,...

6. The Favourite (2018) 5. The Killing of a Sacred Deer (2017) 4. The Lobster (2015) 3. Alpeis (2011) 2. Kynodontas (2009) 1. Kinetta (2005)

48. Robert Eggers

Director | The Lighthouse

Robert Houston Eggers is an American filmmaker and production designer. He is best known for writing and directing the historical horror films The Witch (2015) and The Lighthouse (2019), as well as directing and co-writing the historical fiction epic film The Northman (2022). His films are noted ...

3. The Northman (2022) 2. The Lighthouse (2019) 1. The VVitch: A New-England Folktale (2015)

49. Ari Aster

Director | Hereditary

Ari Aster is an American film director, screenwriter, and producer. He is known for writing and directing the A24 horror films Hereditary (2018) and Midsommar (2019). Aster was born into a Jewish family in New York City on July 15, 1986, the son of a poet mother and musician father. He has a ...

3. Beau Is Afraid (2023) 2. Midsommar (2019) 1. Hereditary (2018)

50. David Lowery

Editor | A Ghost Story

David Lowery is an American writer and director. He is best known for The Green Knight (2021), Pete's Dragon (2016), A Ghost Story (2017) and Pioneer (2011). He has been making movies since he was seven years old, but his first work to be widely seen was the short film A Catalog Of Anticipations (...

5. The Green Knight (2021) 4. The Old Man & the Gun (2018) 3. A Ghost Story (2017) 2. Pete's Dragon (2016) 1. Ain't Them Bodies Saints (2013)

51. Alex Garland

Writer | Ex Machina

Alex Garland is an English novelist, screenwriter, film producer and director. He is best known for the films Ex Machina (2015) and Annihilation (2018).

Garland's others works as a writer includes The Beach (2000), 28 Days Later (2002), Sunshine (2007), Never Let Me Go (2011) and Dredd (2012).

He is ...

3. Men (2022) 2. Annihilation (2018) 1. Ex Machina (2014)

52. Tom Ford

Director | A Single Man

Tom Ford is an American fashion designer, film director, screenwriter and film producer. He gained fame as the creative director at Gucci and Yves Saint Laurent. In 2006, Ford launched his own "Tom Ford" label.

Ford directed the films A Single Man (2009) and Nocturnal Animals (2016), both films were...

2. Nocturnal Animals (2016) 1. A Single Man (2009)

53. Jordan Peele

Writer | Nope

Jordan Peele is an Oscar- and Emmy-winning director, writer, actor, producer, and founder of Monkeypaw Productions. Peele's first feature film, "Get Out," was a critically acclaimed blockbuster, recognized with four Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture. The film would earn Peele the ...

3. Nope (2022) 2. Us (2019) 1. Get Out (2017)

54. Julia Ducournau

Director | Titane

Julia Ducournau is a French film director and screenwriter. She attended film school at La Fémis in Paris, where she studied screenwriting. In 2011, her short film JUNIOR won the Petit Rail d'Or at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival. Her first feature, the horror movie Raw (2016), won the coveted ...

2. Titane (2021) 1. Grave (2016)

55. Martin McDonagh

Writer | In Bruges

Martin McDonagh was born on March 26, 1970 in Camberwell, London, England, UK. He is a writer and director, known for In Bruges (2008), Seven Psychopaths (2012) and Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (2017).

3. Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (2017) 2. Seven Psychopaths (2012) 1. In Bruges (2008)

56. Chloé Zhao

Director | Nomadland

Chloé Zhao or Zhao Ting (born March 31, 1982) is a Chinese film director, screenwriter, and producer. Her debut feature film, Songs My Brothers Taught Me (2015), premiered at Sundance Film Festival. Her second feature film, The Rider (2017), was critically acclaimed and received several accolades ...

4. Eternals (2021) 3. Nomadland (2020) 2. The Rider (2017) 1. Songs My Brothers Taught Me (2015)

57. David Robert Mitchell

Writer | It Follows

David Robert Mitchell is an American director mainly known for the breakout horror film ''It Follows'' which had its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2014. in 2002, Mitchell wrote and directed ''Virgin'' a short film featuring Carolina Castro and Cameron Diskin about a local legend...

3. Under the Silver Lake (2018) 2. It Follows (2014) 1. The Myth of the American Sleepover (2010)

58. Benny Safdie

Actor | Good Time

Born and raised in New York City: in both Queens & Manhattan. He attended the school of Communication at Boston University. He often collaborates with his brother Josh Safdie. He is a director, writer, editor and actor known for Daddy Longlegs(2009),Heaven Knows What(2014), Good Time (2017), Uncut ...

w/ Josh Safdie

4. Uncut Gems (2019) 3. Good Time (2017) 2. Heaven Knows What (2014) 1. Go Get Some Rosemary (2009)

59. 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 ...

4. Her (2013) 3. Where the Wild Things Are (2009) 2. Adaptation. (2002) 1. Being John Malkovich (1999)

60. Charlie Kaufman

Writer | I'm Thinking of Ending Things

Avid reader Charlie Kaufman wrote plays and made short films as a young student. He moved from Massapequa, New York to West Hartford, Connecticut in 1972 where he attended high school. As a comedic actor, he performed in school plays and, after graduation, he enrolled at Boston University but soon ...

3. I'm Thinking of Ending Things (2020) 2. Anomalisa (2015) 1. Synecdoche, New York (2008)

61. Luca Guadagnino

Director | Call Me by Your Name

Luca Guadagnino was born on August 10, 1971 in Palermo, Sicily, Italy. He is a director and producer, known for Call Me by Your Name (2017), Suspiria (2018) and Bones and All (2022).

6. Suspiria (2018) 5. Call Me by Your Name (2017) 4. A Bigger Splash (2015) 3. Io sono l'amore (2009) 2. Melissa P. (2005) 1. The Protagonists (1999)

62. Derek Cianfrance

Writer | Blue Valentine

Derek Cianfrance began making movies at age 13. He later attended The University of Colorado where he studied under avant-garde film legends Stan Brakhage and Phil Solomon. His first three films, 'Five O'clock Shadow', 'Raw Footage', and Brother Tied (1998), won consecutive Goldfarb Awards for best...

3. The Light Between Oceans (2016) 2. The Place Beyond the Pines (2012) 1. Blue Valentine (2010)

63. Andrew Dominik

Director | Chopper

Andrew Dominik was born on October 7, 1967 in Wellington, New Zealand. He is a director and writer, known for Chopper (2000), Blonde (2022) and Killing Them Softly (2012).

3. Killing Them Softly (2012) 2. The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (2007) 1. Chopper (2000)

64. 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).

5. Loving (2016) 4. Midnight Special (2016) 3. Mud (2012) 2. Take Shelter (2011) 1. Shotgun Stories (2007)

65. Aaron Sorkin

Writer | The West Wing

Aaron Sorkin grew up in Scarsdale, a suburb of New York City where he was very involved in his high school drama and theater club. After graduating from Syracuse University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theater, Sorkin intended to pursue a career in acting. It took him only a short time to ...

3. Being the Ricardos (2021) 2. The Trial of the Chicago 7 (2020) 1. Molly's Game (2017)

66. Brandon Cronenberg

Director | Possessor

Brandon Cronenberg was born on January 10, 1980 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. He is a director and writer, known for Possessor (2020), Infinity Pool (2023) and Antiviral (2012).

3. Infinity Pool (2023) 2. Possessor (2020) 1. Antiviral (2012)

67. 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 ...

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68. Thomas Vinterberg

Director | Jagten

With Sidste omgang (1993) (Last Round), his graduation short from The National Film School of Denmark, Thomas Vinterberg got an early taste of critical success. He received the Jury's and Producers' Awards at the International Student Film Fest in Munich and won the 1st Prize at the Tel Aviv Film ...

69. Hayao Miyazaki

Writer | Sen to Chihiro no kamikakushi

Hayao Miyazaki is one of Japan's greatest animation directors. The entertaining plots, compelling characters, and breathtaking visuals in his films have earned him international renown from critics as well as public recognition within Japan.

Miyazaki started his career in 1963 as an animator at the ...

70. Clint Eastwood

Actor | Million Dollar Baby

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 ...

71. Kathryn Bigelow

Director | Zero Dark Thirty

A very talented painter, Kathryn spent two years at the San Francisco Art Institute. At 20, she won a scholarship to the Whitney Museum's Independent Study Program. She was given a studio in a former Offtrack Betting building, literally in an old bank vault, where she made art and waited to be ...

72. Terry Gilliam

Writer | Brazil

Terry Gilliam was born near Medicine Lake, Minnesota. When he was 12 his family moved to Los Angeles where he became a fan of MAD magazine. In his early twenties he was often stopped by the police who suspected him of being a drug addict and Gilliam had to explain that he worked in advertising. In ...

73. 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 ...

74. 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 ...

75. 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 ...

76. Luc Besson

Writer | Le Cinquième Élément

Luc Besson spent the first years of his life following his parents, scuba diving instructors, around the world. His early life was entirely aquatic. He already showed amazing creativity as a youth, writing early drafts of The Big Blue (1988) and The Fifth Element (1997), as an adolescent bored in ...

77. Andrei Tarkovsky

Writer | Offret

The most famous Soviet film-maker since Sergei Eisenstein, Andrei Tarkovsky (the son of noted poet Arseniy Tarkovsky) studied music and Arabic in Moscow before enrolling in the Soviet film school VGIK. He shot to international attention with his first feature, Ivan's Childhood (1962), which won the...

78. 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 ...

79. Ingmar Bergman

Writer | Smultronstället

Ernst Ingmar Bergman was born July 14, 1918, the son of a priest. The film and T.V. series, The Best Intentions (1992) is biographical and shows the early marriage of his parents. The film Sunday's Children (1992) depicts a bicycle journey with his father. In the miniseries Private Confessions (...

80. Akira Kurosawa

Writer | Kakushi-toride no san-akunin

After training as a painter (he storyboards his films as full-scale paintings), Kurosawa entered the film industry in 1936 as an assistant director, eventually making his directorial debut with Sanshiro Sugata (1943). Within a few years, Kurosawa had achieved sufficient stature to allow him greater...

81. 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 ...

82. 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 ...

83. 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 ...

22. J'accuse (2019) 21. D'après une histoire vraie (2017) 20. La Vénus à la fourrure (2013) 19. Carnage (2011) 18. The Ghost Writer (2010) 17. Oliver Twist (2005) 16. The Pianist (2002) 15. The Ninth Gate (1999) 14. Death and the Maiden (1994) 13. Bitter Moon (1992) 12. Frantic (1988) 11. Pirates (1986) 10. Tess (1979) 9. Le locataire (1976) 8. Chinatown (1974) 7. Che? (1972) 6. The Tragedy of Macbeth (1971) 5. Rosemary's Baby (1968) 4. Dance of the Vampires (1967) 3. Cul-de-sac (1966) 2. Repulsion (1965) 1. Nóz w wodzie (1962)

84. Paul Verhoeven

Director | RoboCop

Paul Verhoeven graduated from the University of Leiden, with a degree in math and physics. He entered the Royal Netherlands Navy, where he began his film career by making documentaries for the Navy and later for TV. In 1969, he directed the popular Dutch TV series, Floris (1969), about a medieval ...

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85. 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 ...

13. Old (2021) 12. Glass (2019) 11. Split (2016) 10. The Visit (2015) 9. After Earth (2013) 8. The Last Airbender (2010) 7. The Happening (2008) 6. Lady in the Water (2006) 5. The Village (2004) 4. Signs (2002) 3. Unbreakable (2000) 2. The Sixth Sense (1999) 1. Wide Awake (1998)

86. James Wan

Writer | Saw

James Wan (born 26 February 1977) is an Australian film producer, screenwriter and film director of Malaysian Chinese descent. He is widely known for directing the horror film Saw (2004) and creating Billy the puppet. Wan has also directed Dead Silence (2007), Death Sentence (2007), Insidious (2010)...

10. Malignant (2021) 9. Aquaman (2018) 8. The Conjuring 2 (2016) 7. Fast & Furious 7 (2015) 6. Insidious: Chapter 2 (2013) 5. The Conjuring (2013) 4. Insidious (2010) 3. Death Sentence (2007) 2. Dead Silence (2007) 1. Saw (2004)

87. 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 ...

10. A Cure for Wellness (2016) 9. The Lone Ranger (2013) 8. Rango (2011) 7. Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (2007) 6. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (2006) 5. The Weather Man (2005) 4. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003) 3. The Ring (2002) 2. The Mexican (2001) 1. Mouse Hunt (1997)

88. 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...

11. Ford v Ferrari (2019) 10. Logan (2017) 9. The Wolverine (2013) 8. Knight and Day (2010) 7. 3:10 to Yuma (2007) 6. Walk the Line (2005) 5. Identity (2003) 4. Kate & Leopold (2001) 3. Girl, Interrupted (1999) 2. Cop Land (1997) 1. Heavy (1995)

89. Paul Greengrass

Director | United 93

Paul Greengrass started his filmmaking career with a super 8 camera he found in his art room in secondary school. Those short movies were animation horror films he made using old dolls, artist dummies, and the general art room clutter.

After studying in Cambridge University he got into Granada ...

10. News of the World (2020) 9. 22 July (2018) 8. Jason Bourne (2016) 7. Captain Phillips (2013) 6. Green Zone (2010) 5. The Bourne Ultimatum (2007) 4. United 93 (2006) 3. The Bourne Supremacy (2004) 2. Bloody Sunday (2002) 1. The Theory of Flight (1998)

90. 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 ...

4. Demonic (2021) 3. Chappie (2015) 2. Elysium (2013) 1. District 9 (2009)

91. 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.

4. Mute (2018) 3. Warcraft (2016) 2. Source Code (2011) 1. Moon (2009)

92. Andrew Niccol

Writer | GATTACA

New Zealand-born screenwriter-director Andrew Niccol began his career in London, successfully directing TV commercials before moving to Los Angeles in order to make films "longer than 60 seconds." He interested high-powered producer Scott Rudin in his The Truman Show (1998) script, but Rudin was not...

7. Anon (2018) 6. Good Kill (2014) 5. The Host (2013) 4. In Time (2011) 3. Lord of War (2005) 2. S1m0ne (2002) 1. GATTACA (1997)

93. 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 ...

10. Army of the Dead (2021) 9. Zack Snyder's Justice League (2021) 8. Justice League (2017) 7. Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016) 6. Man of Steel (2013) 5. Sucker Punch (2011) 4. Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole (2010) 3. Watchmen (2009) 2. 300 (2006) 1. Dawn of the Dead (2004)

94. 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 ...

7. The King's Man (2021) 6. Kingsman: The Golden Circle (2017) 5. Kingsman: The Secret Service (2014) 4. X: First Class (2011) 3. Kick-Ass (2010) 2. Stardust (2007) 1. Layer Cake (2004)

95. 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....

10. Bohemian Rhapsody (2018) 9. X-Men: Apocalypse (2016) 8. X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014) 7. Jack the Giant Slayer (2013) 6. Valkyrie (2008) 5. Superman Returns (2006) 4. X2 (2003) 3. X-Men (2000) 2. Apt Pupil (1998) 1. The Usual Suspects (1995)

96. 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)....

6. Star Wars: Episode IX - The Rise of Skywalker (2019) 5. Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens (2015) 4. Star Trek Into Darkness (2013) 3. Super 8 (2011) 2. Star Trek (2009) 1. Mission: Impossible III (2006)

97. 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...

15. Ambulance (2022) 14. 6 Underground (2019) 13. Transformers: The Last Knight (2017) 12. 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi (2016) 11. Transformers: Age of Extinction (2014) 10. Pain & Gain (2013) 9. Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011) 8. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009) 7. Transformers (2007) 6. The Island (2005) 5. Bad Boys II (2003) 4. Pearl Harbor (2001) 3. Armageddon (1998) 2. The Rock (1996) 1. Bad Boys (1995)

98. 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 ...

15. Moonfall (2022) 14. Midway (2019) 13. Independence Day: Resurgence (2016) 12. Stonewall (2015) 11. White House Down (2013) 10. Anonymous (2011) 9. 2012 (2009) 8. 10,000 BC (2008) 7. The Day After Tomorrow (2004) 6. The Patriot (2000) 5. Godzilla (1998) 4. Independence Day (1996) 3. Stargate (1994) 2. Universal Soldier (1992) 1. Moon 44 (1990)

99. Oriol Paulo

Writer | El cuerpo

Oriol Paulo studied audiovisual communication at Pompeu Fabra University and film at the Los Angeles Film School.

As a scriptwriter, he wrote screenplays for small screen films such as Ecos (2006) and Codi 60 (2011), but is best known for his work in series such as Absolute majority (2004) and The ...

3. Durante la tormenta (2018) 2. Contratiempo (2016) 1. El cuerpo (2012)

100. Dario Argento

Writer | Profondo rosso

Dario Argento was born on September 7, 1940, in Rome, Italy, the first-born son of famed Italian producer Salvatore Argento and Brazilian fashion model Elda Luxardo. Argento recalls getting his ideas for filmmaking from his close-knit family from Italian folk tales told by his parents and other ...

20. Occhiali neri (2022) 19. Dracula 3D (2012) 18. Giallo (2009) 17. La terza madre (2007) 16. Il cartaio (2003) 15. Non ho sonno (2001) 14. Il fantasma dell'opera (1998) 13. La sindrome di Stendhal (1996) 12. Trauma (1993) 11. Due occhi diabolici (1990) 10. Opera (1987) 9. Phenomena (1985) 8. Tenebre (1982) 7. Inferno (1980) 6. Suspiria (1977) 5. Profondo rosso (1975) 4. Le cinque giornate (1973) 3. 4 mosche di velluto grigio (1971) 2. Il gatto a nove code (1971) 1. L'uccello dalle piume di cristallo (1970)