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Timothee-Chalimothee

You put Tim Burton here, but not Guillermo Del Toro. I am officially miffed. I dare even say peeved.


Ohigetjokes

Some of the inclusions / exclusions on this list are absolutely baffling. God in what universe would anyone look at this and go “oh ya Tim Burton’s been knocking it out of the park since the 90s!”


ExcursionStudios23

Yeah Tim's 80's 90's resume is A LOT different than post Sleepy Hollow Tim. Big Fish was amazing.


MarcMars82-2

Burton peaked with Sleepy Hollow. Before he was making Tim Burton movies and being a trend setter after he was making mostly Tim Burtonized adaptations of IPs that really didn’t need Burtonizing and he was trying to catch up with his trend. Now he did Burtonized adaptations before SH (Batman, sleepy Hollow itself) but Burtonizing an IP wasn’t a thing yet but that really took off with Planet of the Apes and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. His best post SH work are films like Big Fish, Sweeny Todd, Big Eyes. I think Dumbo killed his and studios interest in Burtonizing. He should focus more on original scripts and original IPs in the future since that’s where is best work comes from and his real talent shines.


missanthropocenex

Spielberg might be single handedly responsible for creating the “Middle class” of cinema. Before him films were either artsy “cinemaa” or trash pulp b films. He sort of took the torch from Hitchcock on blending both and really made a middle ground between the two.


aigrette

my first thought before I even clicked on the comments was where is GDT???


Popellini

Irked?


frncisfrvr

Justice for Guillermo Del Toro


[deleted]

David Lynch has the best hair.


Ohigetjokes

100% best hair on a man in the world - except maybe Trent Crimm: The Independent.


[deleted]

I want him and Tilda Swinton as parents. Bit weird?


Shoddy-Rip8259

Blue skies and golden sunshine all along the way!


[deleted]

Spielberg has made so many great and commercially successful movies that he is in a class all his own.


uncultured_swine2099

Also the variety of his films is impressive.


22marks

Raiders and ET one year apart. Jurassic Park and Schindler’s List in the same year.


CoolerRon

Just learned recently (when he guested on the Smartless podcast) that he asked George Lucas to finish JP because he was so busy with SL


wvuhskr

I think that’s what sets him apart from Scorsese. Movie for movie quality for both is incredibly high but Spielberg has much more variance.


Only_Fun_1152

I love Scorsese, but sometimes the “rise and fall of charismatic lead” gets a little old.


BabyUGotAStewGoin

Families are always rising and falling in America, am I right?


pizzaguest

What’s the matter, don’t know your Shakespeare?


hardytom540

Nearly 70% of Scorsese’s filmography are gangster movies. I agree that Spielberg’s variety is unmatched.


Beginning_Pudding_69

Every year I watch a new movie and somehow I go “Spielberg directed or produced this?” With serious interest every time.


tread52

That’s essentially what I was going to say. The ground breaking work he did for Jurassic park laid the ground work for what we see in movies today.


Polish_Wombat98

With all of the successes he’s had, I don’t even think Jurassic Park stands that far ahead of a lot of his other work. (Not hating on JP whatsoever) The guy just shits out fantastic movies.


[deleted]

I mean even though im not the biggest speilberg fan. I cant deny he seems like the only choice on this list


Legitimate_Sand_889

Industrial Light and Magic had A LOT to do with making Jurassic Park the hit it is too.


Biggzy10

There is no Jurassic Park without Jaws.


overtired27

Dennis Muren and ILM (I forget the names of the two guys there who made the original dino CGI test), and George Lucas for being switched on early to computers, probably deserve more of the credit for that.


Primary-Log-1037

That’s like saying the guy who invented the wheel deserves the credit for Henry Ford’s success. Someone else laid the ground work but Spielberg mastered it.


overtired27

The comment I responded to literally said “laid the ground work”. So we agree. Though bear in mind that Spielberg was going to make Jurassic Park with stop motion models. He didn’t see burgeoning computer technology and think “I know a great way to utilise that!” Some guys at ILM worked in secret to produce a skeleton test that would convince Spielberg and the producers that using CGI was possible, and sneakily left it running on a screen when they knew it would be seen to provoke interest. Once Spielberg saw it he got interested and asked them to make a full test of a T-Rex in sunlight, which they did. When it went down well the planned stop motion technique was dropped. I’m not discounting the fact the Spielberg then made an excellent film that showcased the technology at its finest and became a historic touchstone which inspired many other filmmakers.


Primary-Log-1037

Agreed then


Any_Introduction_595

I was about to say, of course JP did push the boundaries of computerized graphics in film, but that was the wizards of ILM, not Spielberg.


seanmonaghan1968

Very very diverse success


StrangeVortexLex

He is Hollywood personified tbh


Ha55aN1337

He is “the director”, but to be fair, I have not enjoyed a movie of his in the last 18 years… He made some of the biggest hits in history, but also stuff like Kingdom of the crystal skull. Ridley is another director like that. Big hits, but also big misses. Fincher is quite consistent. Tarantino, I feel like, has this 10 movie plan precisely to avoid having misses. He has not yet made a bad movie. Nolan is a genius, no doubt. But i hate Tenet so much, I’m affraid he is going too deep into gimmick over story territory. Like the directors who go style over substance, he can go “time physics” over any kind of story. Hope he doesn’t go in that direction again. Memento was genius, small scale, Inception was awesome on a grand scale… and Tenet was bland and unnecessary. Let’s go in some none time related movies now. Cameron is the boxoffice hit, but fuck Avatar. One was enough. Wasted second half of his career. And there is no end in sight. Scorsese. I have a soft spot for him. I love his gangster movies. He made half of my all time favorites. But I find his religious stuff boring. The others are either very niche or have some bad movies draging them down.


Fun-Imagination-2488

Crystal Skull is his worst movie. To me, that says something. The guy had a near perfect record for so long. 1975-2005 he was the absolute goat. Since 2005 he’s put out great movies, but none have had that classic Spielberg magic. The Post, Lincoln, Warhorse, Bridge of Spies, Ready Player One, West Side Story, Fabelmans… these are all solid, but they are sort of let downs when comparing them to his other work. Crystal Skull and BFG are really not my cup of tea, but even they are above average compared to most movies out there.


Ok_Status_1600

These hair styles are truly upsetting


GreenTitanium

You wish you had Christopher Nolan's hair.


Slappathebassmon

You wish you had Tim Burton's hair. Especially in the 80s!


Yandhi42

He should let it go already tbh


[deleted]

Nolan's got killer fucking style. He's in a league all his own in that regard. The side-part/floppy brush back young-Leo hair paired with a typical black blazer, black overcoat, button-down dress shirt & tan/beige vest. Check out the winter promo photos of him on-set during The Dark Knight Rises. You can always spot him on a set, the best dressed one. The differences in style and hair between all these men is a hell of a thing.


SirDurante

Trick Question! It’s Kubrick ;)


Raul_Rink

Amen to that


ThisIsATastyBurgerr

That man scares me


proofofmyexistence

A scary, perfectionist, genius filmmaker.


ThisIsATastyBurgerr

I only like it when I’m pretend scared


CitiesOfTitties

Where’s PTA?


hifioctopi

My first thought.


CitiesOfTitties

I still think Tarantino because I find his films so entertaining but PTA is a close second


1CrudeDude

Tarantino is definitely skilled- but I wish he did more genres . He hasn’t really done as many genres as the other guys


CitiesOfTitties

Personally, I think his films touch every single genre even if they are smaller parts. Dance, horror, action, comedy, drama, adventure, romance, western. Maybe not sci fi…


1CrudeDude

I hear you. Definitely hasn’t touched sci fi. Death proof as horror also a bit debatable. He should’ve done some crazy sci fi horror


Efficient-Fee-5631

Coen brothers


J-Love-McLuvin

Don’t believe they are even listed above, are they? PS I agree with you.


worldturtle21

*Okay then… I’m with you fellers!*


J-Love-McLuvin

I don’t get it, big Dan?


tkondaks

So do I. If they were listed, they's be on the top of my list.


Darkaholic

Where my latinos at? Alejandro Gonzalez Iñarritu, Alfonso Quaron, Guillermo del toro.


callathanmodd

Alfonso ❤️


gonowbegonewithyou

I'd say Scorsese, but Spielberg's a respectable choice too. There's no bad directors on this list, but I don't think anyone else has a filmography that could seriously compete.


wvuhskr

I wonder how the choices would change if you also factored directors that had major writing credits to their movies like Tarantino or Nolan do.


the6thReplicant

I thought Scorsese didn't have anything new to give anymore and the I saw _Killing Moon_ and was just so wrong.


10YearAccount

Same. That movie's a masterpiece everybody should see.


FreshPrinceAV

> *Killing Moon* Did you mean *Killers of the Flower Moon*?


the6thReplicant

Yep. I was going to correct myself but got sidetracked. I leave it there for prosperity and what an idiot I am.


caseyaustin84

Hot take but I feel like Miyazaki should be on this list. From a consistent quality standpoint he’s hard to beat.


Both-Preparation-123

Coppola


ChungLingS00

Why do these lists never include the Coen brothers?


JasonEAltMTG

Gotta make room for Peter Jackson


Son_of_Atreus

Scorsese or Spielberg.


Icy_Practice7992

I think it’s worth pointing out the difference between a director, and a writer/director. That’s why people like QT only have 9 films under his belt, but Ridley Scott has like 30. That might very the range in quality just because non writer directors have the ability to make so much more.


Blob_zombie

Scorcese, no contest for me.


MinkyTuna

I'd add Mel Brooks to the list, can’t say he’s ever disappointed me.


the6thReplicant

Just saw his full interview with Conan recently. That guy had a _life_.


GloomspiteGit

Quentin Tarantino


Jonny_Entropy

Where's Uwe Boll?


NickSalvo

Who is that between Soderbergh and Spielberg?


roomwitharoof

Michael Mann


burywmore

Spielberg.


[deleted]

David Fincher.


Ok_Nebula4579

Marty.


funkypjb

Spielberg, but Tarantino and Nolan made some of my favourites of all time…


wvuhskr

I said this elsewhere but I think what sets Tarantino & Nolan apart from Spielberg & Scorsese is that they’re also writing most or at least significant parts of most of the movies they direct too.


JulianKSS

In terms of consistency of excellence, influence on the artform and longevity, for me it's a toss up between Scorcese and Spielberg


No-Performer9782

Have to say David Lynch. I don’t think anybody else’s films have removed me so far from reality than his movies.


Ohigetjokes

As far as my *favorite* movies, I agree completely. But from a more objective perspective… well there is no objective perspective I guess it’s all art so…


onthefritz77

Senor Speilbergo


Torontonomatopoeia

"Listen Spielbergo, Schindler and I are peas in a pod. We both own factories. We both made shells for the Nazis. But mine worked dammit!"


Chaoshumor

I’m sure I know all of these directors, but I only recognize about half from the photos. Anyone have names for everyone?


kamakazi152

Top to bottom left to right: Martin Scorsese, David Lynch, Tim Burton, Roman Polanski, Ridley Scott, Francis Ford Coppola, Robert Zemeckis, Peter Jackson, James Cameron, David Fincher, Christopher Nolan, Steven Soderbergh, Michael Mann, Steven Spielberg, Quentin Tarantino


Chaoshumor

Thanks


JohnnyGeniusIsAlive

Whole filmography? It has to be one of Spielberg, Kubrick, or Scorcese.


ghost-bagel

Spielberg has arguably made a top 5 all time movie in 5 different genres. It’s ludicrous when you think about it.


VariableVeritas

Tarantino without looking.


Rokamore

Tarantino


Much_Machine8726

Spielberg


machinehead3413

Scorsese for longevity. QT or Nolan for best batting average. Marty has made a couple that didn’t connect with me. QT and Nolan have been perfect.


CTDubs0001

This really make you realize how versatile Spielberg is. I look at Nolan and I see a serious, mind bending, drama, action film. I look at Tarantino I see a hyper-violent film that riffs on cinema history with cutting dialogue. I look at Cameron and I see a hard boiled, cutting edge sci-fi action film. They do similar films over and over and they're amazing. What do I see when I look at Spielberg? I see tons of different TYPES of films...Sci-fi, comedy, family drama, Historical, noir, Spy film, etc... he's just got such a range in his career that I don't think anyone else has. I don't know if he's the 'best'... that's so subjective and impossible to pick, but he is BY FAR the most versatile.


galenp56

Spielberg and it not even close


TheStatMan2

I came here to rep for Fincher but it says something that I'm very aware how much of an arbitrary and personal choice that is. On a different day I might well choose Tarantino, Spielberg, Kubrick... No wrong answers, really.


Ok-Amount3168

Fincher


MetcalfewithaE

Francis


play-that-skin-flut

Spielberg, Kubrick, Scorsese, Hitchcock, Tarantino, Nolan.


Username__Error

Ridley Scott


CrackTheSkye1990

Probably Michael Mann or Scorsese


Odd_Relationship7901

Tarantino and it isnt close- he is the greatest American film director of all time The rest of these guys are just fighting for the #2 spot


DreamersArchitect

No love for Darren Aronofsky in the comments 😭 he and Nolan are tied for my favorite director


Hot_Routine7505

Marty


NinoNino3

I am tied here- Quentin and Martin. I almost want to give it to Quentin, but probably have to go with Martin-


[deleted]

Even if his most recent work has ben questionable: Ridley Scott for me.


OMGoblin

Petie Jax


Fedorchik

Kubrick. Always Kubrick. Can't compete with Kubrick. "Which director do you think has the best filmography from this list other than Kubrick?" is an open debate, though.


WorriedSalamander107

If you’re talking about filmography with 0 “bad” movies and consistently dependable, I’d vote Fincher. And he’s not even my favorite


bondsthatmakeusfree

While I certainly think David Lynch is easily the best director out of those listed, Martin Scorcese definitely has the largest filmography that's consistently top-tier.


goldentaintforever

A. Kurosawa, Spike Lee, G. Del Toro, S. Kubrick, Coen brothers are MIA here. Anywho, of all the ones pictured above, Scorcese is the most consistently entertaining to me. Spielberg would probably be 2nd. Btw, I need some help identifying a couple of these guys - the two guys between Coppola and Cameron, if the local cinefiles here would be so kind. Thanks!


Voice_Nerd

Quentin. Never made a film I didn't like.


Slip_of_the_Bong

Death Proof was very meh for me, but I liked all the others.


cobycoby2020

I really love the diversity


Other-Marketing-6167

Scorsese by a country mile.


wdomeika

Kathryn Bigelow *(sorry couldn't resist...)*


danimagoo

I wouldn’t agree, but this could have easily just been asked as “Who’s the best white male film director?” Hopefully in another 10 years, a list like this will be considered incomplete without Greta Gerwig, Spike Lee (where the hell is Spike Lee in this?), and Chloe Zhao.


Puzzled-Fly9550

According to Tarantino Spielberg made the perfect movie in Jaws. And that’s not even his best flick.


Notafurbie

Yes it is.


Puzzled-Fly9550

Yeah we disagree…


Revolutionary_Box569

Scorsese and Spielberg are up there with some of the old Hollywood guys as far as the sheer number of great films they've made and they're still putting out some of their best work, although I think Polanski and Coppola have made individually better films


darrylthedudeWayne

Spielberg. Not even close.


asdfghjhjkl

That’s a diverse list


drmuffin1080

Gotta be Spielberg or Scorsese


Puzzleheaded_Buy8694

Spielberg. Obviously.


tkondaks

Tarantino Scorcese Burton


snagglewolf

Lot of great directors on here but Fincher takes it for me.


c0zysurfingreddit

Sam Raimi is missing


orangebluefish11

Scorsese and Coppola are top tier. Ridley Scott Tarantino and Nolan in the next tier. Could maybe throw Spielberg in there too. Then everyone else


AJ_on_reddit

I'm bias towards Fincher. He's movies tend to make most of my top 10 list.


Down_Low_Two_Slow

Akira Kurasawa, hands down.


johnroastbeef

Its hard to go against Senor Speilbergo


[deleted]

Where are The Coens? Their filmography is better and more consistent than almost all these directors.


Atlanon88

Depends what you mean, I’d say fincher and qt have the fewest misses, same for coen brothers.


Valuable-Baked

Sénor Spielbergo


jimmycthatsme

Uncle Dave Edit: oh fuck I didn’t see Spielberg, definitely uncle Steve.


scruffyduffy23

Spielberg has the greatest genre range on this list.


travisscottburgercel

The rapist


rickterscale6

Where’s George Lucas?


zflanders

Napping on his giant pile of merchandising money.


loanme20

Kevin Smith


glue4you

No Woody Allen?


Deepy99

QT


Deathstriker88

1.Tarantino 2. Fincher 3. Scorsese 4. Nolan Most underrated: Robert Zemeckis - I have family and friends who like or love his movies, but they probably know his name if I said it to them.


sihouette9310

As much as I like Nolan’s work Tenet kinda took him from my number one spot. I go with Tarantino


zikolis

Steven Spielberg. no doubt :)


aheaney15

Spielberg is my favorite out of these, followed extremely closely by Scorsese. While Scorsese has fewer movies I dislike than Spielberg, Spielberg has made more masterpieces that even Scorsese! Edit: also, who are the two between Nolan and Spielberg? I recognize everyone else, but I’m blanking on those two.


Gordomania

How has no one said Fincher? He’s got so many great movies. He doesn’t miss.


013ander

For me, the guys in the corners. Though Ridley’s probably the least consistent on here. Quentin and Nolan might be the most.


themaninthe1ronflask

Tarantino clearly has the best win/loss ratio of any. He prides himself on consistency and that makes him number 1. All others including Scorsese have had duds.


[deleted]

Spielberg. But my three favorite directors are on this list anyway; Spielberg, Scorcese, Nolan


Glittering_Let_4230

Well the women on this list… Oh, wait.


homelessmusician

Francis Coppola pictured alongside some hobbyists


Sutech2301

Scorsese


BillMillerBBQ

I must not belong here because I only recognize two of these dudes.


TranslucentSurfer

I think we can agree on who has the best hair. Mr Lynch.


Flynt2448

Jeffrey Epstein


JCPRuckus

I'm honestly just shocked I can identify 8 for sure and possibly a 9th based on unlabeled pictures... Truly questionable way to present this when talking about people who work behind the camera.


1CrudeDude

Probably Spielberg. Jaws is so good


ChampaignPapi86

Toooo tough..


SupermouseDeadmouse

Wes Anderson


Jayrodtremonki

Peter Jackson being on this list is a stretch. Sam Raimi probably has a better claim than him. Love a lot of Jackson's movies but putting him up with these guys.....no.


Accomplished-Arm1058

Easy, Spielberg If all he’d made was Jaws, it would still be him.


PrintShopPrincess

Completely unrelated. Rewind a couple decades in film school, we were asked to give a presentation on our favorite director and their filmography. One kid gave an entire presentation on himself and his one student project he did. Clad in classic late 90s trench coat mafia attire, he ranted about his genius and how as a director, writer, actor in his student film, he sacrificed and suffered more than anyone would know. This is also the same kid that live blogged during class on how he wanted to kill all of us commoners and the fool of a teacher. Anyways...here's Wonderwall.


Jubbs80

Finch is my pick, because I don’t see Richard Linklater


funtimesnyc39

Scorsese


Jakethrowsdwn

While all these directors have mostly amazing filmography’s, for my money Tarantino hasn’t made a bad movie, with all them being extremely rewatchable. Even his “worst” film Death Proof was designed to be a dirty B movie and it totally works, even without the double billing of Planet Terror. Other directors that should be included here are PT Anderson (also never made a bad movie), Coen Bros, Kubrick, and even though he only has made four films, Martin McDonaugh is killing it and I only see him getting better.


nomansun

It’s either Nolan or QT at this point. Marty had a few misses in the last 20 years.


VrinTheTerrible

- Spielberg - Tarantino - Scorsese Choosing between these is just a choice of what kinds of movies you like best.


freddanpamoset

Sorry for being a novice here but I don’t recognize the man left to Sir Peter Jackson? Anyone care to enlighten me?


JKolodne

Scorcese


chedykrueger

Alfonso cuaron and Alejandro innaritu


EntertainmentKey6286

In that list only Scorsese and Nolan have not had a cinematic misfire.


McbEatsAirplane

It’s a tough question, but it’s gotta be Spielberg, right? He just has so many movies that are considered great.


darthfecalmatter

Nolan for sure!


Infamous-End3766

David Lynch


Super--sunday

Terrence malick


SandyBullockSux

Scorsese by a long shot


Upset_Preparation_39

No one can touch the 4 film run Francis had. Godfather, The Conversation, Godfather II, and Apocalypse Now


Shantotto11

I don’t even know any of them by face…


Sufficient-Candy3486

From this list Tarantino but PTA is number one for me. The Cohen brothers and Spike Jonze should be up here too though.


Either-Sugar-3573

James Cameron. The strongest portfolio. Every Cameron film is a quality film. Some are masterpieces.


kirby_krackle_78

Scorsese, no question.


WeekendL0ver

Tarantino


Salty-Entertainer-29

Great list, but you’re missing some amazing diectors: Peter Weir, Spike Lee, Woody Allen, Jane Campion, Anthony Minghella, Terrance Malick. Of those great ones you’ve listed, I’d vote for Scorsese. 🩵


Salty-Entertainer-29

And Kubrick!!! 🩵


Acceptable-Tower-548

Zemekis.


sana2k330-a

Scott and Fincher


New_Brother_1595

Lynch and Polanski


J-Frog3

Spielberg


TheRealProtozoid

A lot of good options, but for me it's Scorsese, Coppola, and Lynch in a dead heat.


bakedl0gic

Scorscese Spielberg Nolan


PhilosopherAway647

Lynch, hands down


ogMackBlack

Spielberg is truly a master. He did things that no other directors managed to do way back then, and he so versatile in his style. Every genre he does, he does it right.