my favorite directors
by martin_trenevski | created - 04 May 2011 | updated - 12 Jan 2022 | Public
1. Alfred Hitchcock
Director | Psycho
Alfred Joseph Hitchcock was born in Leytonstone, Essex, England. He was the son of Emma Jane (Whelan; 1863 - 1942) and East End greengrocer William Hitchcock (1862 - 1914). His parents were both of half English and half Irish ancestry. He had two older siblings, William Hitchcock (born 1890) and ...
psycho 10/10 north by northwest 10/10 strangers on a train 10/10 rear window 10/10 vertigo 10/10 dial m for murder 10/10 the lady vanishes 9/10 notorious 9/10 frenzy 9/10 rebeca 8/10 spellbound 8/10 rope 8/10 troubles with harry 8/10 39 steps 8/10 lifeboat 7/10 the wrong man 7/10 foreign correspondent 7/10 to catch a thief 7/10 shadow of a doubt 7/10 the man who knew to much 7/10 marnie 6/10 the birds 6/10 suspicion 6/10
2. 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 ...
a clockwork orange 10/10
full metal jacket 10/10
paths of glory 9/10
2001: a space odyssey 9/10
barry lindon 9/10
the killing 9/10
lolita 8/10
dr strangelove 8/10
eyes wide shut 8/10
the shining 7/10
to watch:
spartacus
3. Billy Wilder
Writer | The Apartment
Originally planning to become a lawyer, Billy Wilder abandoned that career in favor of working as a reporter for a Viennese newspaper, using this experience to move to Berlin, where he worked for the city's largest tabloid. He broke into films as a screenwriter in 1929 and wrote scripts for many ...
some like it hot 10/10 double indemnity 10/10 sunset blvd 10/10 stalag 17 10/10 witnes for the prosecution 9/10 ace in the hole 9/10 sabrina 9/10 one, two, three 8/10 the apartment 8/10 a private life of Sherlock Holmes 8/10 teh front page 8/10 a fortune cookie 8/10 avanti 8/10 the lost weekend 8/10 love in the afternoon 8/10 the spirit of St. Louis 7/10 a foreign affair 7/10 the major and the minor 6/10 the seven years itch 5/10
4. 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 ...
once upon a time in america 10/10
the good the bad and the ugly 10/10
once upon a time in a west 9/10
for a few dolars more 9/10
fistful of dollars 9/10
to watch: duck, you sucker
5. 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 ...
raging bull 10/10
goodfelas 10/10
taxi driver 10/10
after hours 9/10
the king of comedy 9/10
shuter island 8/10
hugo 8/10
gangs of New York 8/10
the wolf of the wall street 7/10
casino 7/10
departed 6/10
the last temptation of christ 6/10
aviator 6/10
mean streets 5/10
cape fear 5/10
to watch:
the color of money
kundun
the age of innocence
6. Charles Chaplin
Writer | The Great Dictator
Considered to be one of the most pivotal stars of the early days of Hollywood, Charlie Chaplin lived an interesting life both in his films and behind the camera. He is most recognized as an icon of the silent film era, often associated with his popular character, the Little Tramp; the man with the ...
city lights 10/10
modern times 10/10
the great dictator 9/10
the gold rush 8/10
the circus 8/10
limelight 7/10
the kid 7/10
7. 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 ...
twin peaks 10/10 the elephant man 10/10 blue velvet 10/10 Lost highway 9/10 wild at heart 8/10 mulholand drive 8/10 twin peaks: fire walk with me 6/10 the straigth story 4/10
8. 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...
rashomon 10/10 ikiru 9/10 high and low 9/10 ran 9/10 seven samurai 8/10 yojimbo 8/10 dersu uzala 8/10 harikiri 7/10 throne of blood 7/10 stray dog 6/10
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...
se7en 10/10
fight club 10/10
the game 9/10
gone girl 9/10
the girl with the dragon tattoo 8/10
zodiac 8/10
Mank 8/10
panic room 8/10
the curious case of benjamin button 5/10
social network 3/10
10. 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 ...
12 angry men 10/10 network 9/10 fail-safe 9/10 dog day afternoon 9/10 the verdict 9/10 murder on a orient express 8/10 serpico 6/10
11. 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 ...
mystic river 10/10
million dolar baby 10/10
unforgiven 9/10
gran torino 8/10
sully 8/10
changeling 8/10
flags of our fathers 8/10
invictus 8/10
a perfect world 8/10
Bridges of a madison square 7/10
American Sniper 6/10
letters from Iwo Jima 5/10
high plains drifter 4/10
to watch:
hereafter
12. David Lean
Director | Lawrence of Arabia
An important British filmmaker, David Lean was born in Croydon on March 25, 1908 and brought up in a strict Quaker family (ironically, as a child he wasn't allowed to go to the movies). During the 1920s, he briefly considered the possibility of becoming an accountant like his father before finding ...
lawrence of arabia 10/10 doctor zhivago 10/10 bride of the river kwai 9/10 great expectations 9/10 brief encounter 8/10
13. Frank Capra
Director | It's a Wonderful Life
One of seven children, Frank Capra was born on May 18, 1897, in Bisacquino, Sicily. On May 10, 1903, his family left for America aboard the ship Germania, arriving in New York on May 23rd. "There's no ventilation, and it stinks like hell. They're all miserable. It's the most degrading place you ...
its a wonderful life 10/10 arcenic and old lace 9/10 mr smith goes to washington 9/10 you cant take it with you 8/10 lost horizon 8/10 mr deeds goes to town 7/10 meet John Doe 7/10 its hapened one night 6/10
14. 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, ...
schindlers list 10/10
raiders on a lost arc 10/10
e.t 10/10
amistad 9/10
saving private ryan 9/10
the color purple 9/10
indiana jones and the last crusade 9/10
bridge of spies 8/10
catch me if you can 8/10
the terminal 8/10
minority report 8/10
war horse 8/10
the post 8/10
ready player one 8/10
indiana jones and the temple of doom 8/10
close encounters of the third kind 8/10
munich 7/10
A.I. Artificial Intelligence 7/10
jurasic park 7/10
indiana jones and the kingdom of the crustal skull 7/10
lincoln 6/10
jaws 5/10
west side story 5/10
hook 3/10
to watch:
empire of the sun
15. Milos Forman
Director | One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
Milos Forman was born Jan Tomas Forman in Caslav, Czechoslovakia, to Anna (Svabova), who ran a summer hotel, and Rudolf Forman, a professor. During World War II, his parents were taken away by the Nazis, after being accused of participating in the underground resistance. His father died in ...
one flew over the cuckoos nest 10/10 amadeus 10/10 hair 8/10 the people vs larry flynt 7/10
16. 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 (...
wild strawberries 10/10 seventh seal 9/10 persona 9/10 my summer with monika 8/10 Funny and Alexander 8/10 Autumn sonata 8/10 cries and whispers 7/10 hour of the wolf 7/10 The virgin spring 7/10 winter light 6/10
17. Darren Aronofsky
Writer | Pi
Darren Aronofsky was born February 12, 1969, in Brooklyn, New York. Growing up, Darren was always artistic: he loved classic movies and, as a teenager, he even spent time doing graffiti art. After high school, Darren went to Harvard University to study film (both live-action and animation). He won ...
black swan 10/10 requim for a dream 10/10 the fountain 9/10 the wrestler 7/10 pi 5/10
18. 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 ...
revenant 9/10 babel 9/10 21 grams 9/10 birdman 8/10 amores perros 8/10 biutiful 6/10
19. Fred Zinnemann
Director | A Man for All Seasons
Initially grew up wanting to be a violinist, but while at the University of Vienna decided to study law. While doing so, he became increasingly interested in American film and decided that was what he wanted to do. He became involved in European filmaking for a short time before going to America to...
high noon 10/10 from here to eternity 9/10 a man for all seasons 9/10
20. 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 ...
manhattan murder mystery 9/10 manhattan 9/10 the purple rose of cairo 9/10 take the money and run 9/10 love and death 9/10 match point 8/10 midnight in paris 8/10 blue jasmine 8/10 whatever works 7/10 annie hall 7/10 stardust memories 6/10 crimes and misdemeanors 6/10 anything else 6/10 vicky cristina barcelona 4/10 husbands and wives 4/10 zelig 2/10
21. 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 ...
memento 10/10 the dark knight rises 9/10 prestige 9/10 betman begins 8/10 interstelar 8/10 inception 8/10 Dunkirk 8/10 the dark knight 7/10 insomnia 7/10 following 7/10 tenet 6/10
22. 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 ...
forest gump 10/10
back to the future 9/10
back to the future part 2 9/10
Romancing the Stone 8/10
what lies beneath 8/10
contact 8/10
cast away 8/10
polar express 8/10
a christmas carol 7/10
who framed roger the rabit 7/10
back to the future part 3 6/10
to watch: death becomes her
23. 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 ...
terminator 2 10/10 terminator 9/10 aliens 9/10 titanik 9/10 abyss 9/10 avatar 8/10 true lies 8/10
24. 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 ...
blade runner 10/10
alien 9/10
gladiator 9/10
matchstick man 9/10
the last duel 8/10
kingdom of heaven 8/10
the martian 7/10
robin hood 7/10
thelma and louise 6/10
prometheus 4/10
to watch: legend
25. Rob Reiner
Actor | All in the Family
Robert Reiner was born in New York City, to Estelle Reiner (née Lebost) and Emmy-winning actor, comedian, writer, and producer Carl Reiner.
As a child, his father was his role model, as Carl Reiner created and starred in The Dick Van Dyke Show. Estelle was also an inspiration for him to become a ...
stand by me 9/10 the princes bride 9/10 misery 9/10 when harry met sally 9/10 the bucket list 8/10 a few good men 8/10 flipped 7/10 this is spinal tab 6/10
26. 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 ...
big fish 9/10
ed wood 9/10
edward scissorhands 9/10
big eyes 8/10
sweeney todd 8/10
beetleljuice 8/10
sleepy hollow 8/10
corpse bride 8/10
batman 7/10
batman returns 5/10
alice in wonderland 5/10
charlie and the chocolate factory 3/10
to watch: mars attacks!
27. Roman Polanski
Director | Chinatown
Roman Polanski is a Polish film director, producer, writer and actor. Having made films in Poland, Britain, France and the USA, he is considered one of the few truly international filmmakers. Roman Polanski was born in Paris in 1933.
His parents returned to Poland from France in 1936, three years ...
the pianist 10/10
chinatown 8/10
Rosemary's Baby 7/10
bitter moon 7/10
the ninth gate 7/10
knife in the water 7/10
the tenant 7/10
the ghost writer 6/10
repulsion 4/10
28. Ron Howard
Producer | Arrested Development
Academy Award-winning filmmaker Ron Howard is one of this generation's most popular directors. From the critically acclaimed dramas A Beautiful Mind (2001) and Apollo 13 (1995) to the hit comedies Parenthood (1989) and Splash (1983), he has created some of Hollywood's most memorable films.
Howard ...
a beautiful mind 9/10 cinderella man 9/10 rush 9/10 willow 8/10 hillbily elegy 8/10 solo 5/10 apollo 13 5/10 frost/nixon 4/10
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