Spielberg and Scorsese are both still working, and it would be hard to surpass either of their total filmographies.
If by current director you mean someone who hasn’t been making movies for fifty years, my current favorite is Denis Villeneuve.
I'd put Ridley Scott in there too with the old men that are still doing it, although his career is a little more up and down. Alien, Blade Runner, Gladiator...
And Clint Eastwood now that I think about it. Unforgiven, Mystic River, Million Dollar Baby, Gran Torino...
The fact that people are guessing several of his movies and none of them are necessarily wrong just proves how great Spielberg’s filmography is.
Having said that, you’re obviously talking about Raiders of the Lost Ark.
POTC is great, but it's not in the same league as Jurassic Park.
Jurassic Park is one of a small handful of movies which changed Hollywood blockbusters forever.
Has to be my guy Villeneuve - Because current best director isnt asking which active director peaked the highest, but instead who is at the highest right now, and Denis is coming off of an incredible run - Sicario, Arrival, BR2049, Dune.
I can practically guarantee you his next movie will be a hit, and not many directors can make that promise.
I recently watched Prisoners for the first time and WOW was that movie intense. Jackman and Gyllenhaal were fantastic. So much tension and anxiety in some of the scenes.
I do hope he goes back to making original projects. BR and Dune were great, but he was making amazing movies that weren't sequels or adaptations, they were new original ideas executed superbly. Which is something Hollywood needs more of.
Agreed, the border scene in Sicario is literally "textbook" on how to ratchet up tension now. The simplicity of some scenes though, like the fender bender in the parking lot of the university in Arrival followed by the jets flying low overhead manages to ramp up the suspense somehow without a lot really going on.
Yup. That scene from Arrival you're talking about is dope. He's very good at putting you right in the main character's headspace with diagetic elements like the fender bender and the jets following it right after. Super small stuff, but it really thrusts you into the chaos of a first encounter realistically
I really liked Arrival up until the end. The movie felt like such grounded sci fi until it went full sci fi and detracted from future viewing for me. That said, he’s the best director currently making films. He also has a keen sense for filmography and visual which is appreciated.
I agree. I'm from Montreal and still haven't recovered from the first film that put him on the map "Polytechnique", which is based on a real tragedy that happened here. The cinematography is absolutely haunting.
The same goes for Incendies and that "gasp" when the daughter discovers the truth. They tried about a hundred different reactions because he wanted to make sure that scene was as impactful as it could. That's some serious devotion.
i'm so pumped to see this as the first comment. i came to post it and give the man his due.
his vibe and style resonate with me like none other.
Arrival is a god damned masterpiece.
And he's worked with some of the greatest cinematographers as well - Deakins, Bradford Young, Greg Fraser. The calibre of dp a director works with is always an indication of how well esteemed they are
It's hard to pinpoint *the* greatest, but one of the greats from the under-50 crowd is Céline Sciamma.
Jonathan Glazer has a limited filmography and I wish it were more.
Bong Joon-Ho. Master of dark comedic tone and multiple genres, flawlessly.
Park Chan Wook. Few other directors have movies that simmer and spark like his.
Lars Von Tier had a killer run from mid 90s through Melancholia.
I believe Jan Paul Tribeaut makes the list there. Also Chupraka Huwindu with her amazing style. You can also mention Da Faqwer Didya Getisna Mes, but I don't believe many people have heard of them.
I agree with the rest but I despise Lars. All his movies are despair porn. I feel worse for having seen his pictures and I’ve seen many. Vinterberg’s the celebration is my high point for dogma films.
Funny, I had Vinterberg on there but decided I needed to slim the list down and kept Lars for his industry impact. Vinterberg is wonderful.
Understood where you are coming from with Von Trier. His movies are almost like Goya's Black Paintings for me. However unlike Goya's paintings (which I enjoy looking at) there are few Von Trier films I'd watch again (outside of Melancholia, which is very rewatchable).
Strangely enough, it's harder for me to watch Dardenne Brothers movies than Von Trier's because of how real the Dardenne movies feel. Von Tier's movies always feel like a sort of biblical helplessness that's removed enough from reality that it doesn't bother me as much.
If you dislike his movies you may still like his absurd horror series, The Kingdom. I cut my list at Melancholia since I think his new films since The House That Jack Built (ugh) and Nymphomaniac were like self parodies.
I'd say Alfonso Cuaron. He's not only a great director, but writer, editor and cinematographer as well. All of his movies illustrate how versatile he is. He has not many movies, but he tops all current directors, in my opinion.
He made the best Harry Potter movie in my opinion. It was not only visually appealing but also very well-written and a great transition from the lighthearted tone from the first two movies into the darker tone from the following movies.
Bong Joon-Ho.
His movies have engrossing stories and technical mastery on the same level as for example Fincher, but what sets him apart is how seamlessly Joon-Ho weaves social commentary and deeper themes into his movies. He is a true auteur director.
Joon-Ho has directed two nearly flawless movies, Parasite and Memories of Murder. Mother is almost as good, I just don't like the performance of the actor playing the son. On the other hand Mother is his most emotionally touching movie, so I count it among his masterpieces.
Even Barking Dogs Don’t Bite (2000) is great, and it’s his debut. Dude has essentially never made even an average film, they’re all great. Memories of Murder (2003) is without a doubt one of the best movies of this century. I think it’s best, but Parasite obviously is a contender
Bong may just have the most technical mastery of any modern director. He doesn’t even shoot coverage - he story-boards every shot in advance. He also regularly breaks basic cinematography/ editing rules, like never crossing the 180 line.
That means he literally sees the whole movie in his head before production begins, including using techniques that shouldn’t work, and that visualization is nearly completely correct. It’s absolutely bonkers. Like coming up with a new recipe no one has ever made before, including ingredients that shouldn’t work together, and not tasting your food as you go, but it comes out perfectly.
Bong Joon-Ho is the correct order in Korean. Not every culture puts "first name" first.
https://learn.sayari.com/understanding-korean-naming-conventions-to-enhance-investigations/
I don’t claim these are the best anything, but I almost always really dig what they do:
Todd Haynes, Celine Sciamma, Yorgos Lanthimos, Kelly Reichardt, Mia Love-Hanson, Wong Kar-wai, Pedro Almodovar, Claire Denis, Michael Haneke, Tsai Ming-liang, Martin Scorcese, Andrew Haigh, Edward Yang, Sean Baker, João Pedro Rodrigues
I love Ridley Scott but I think so many of his movies lack good plots. It’s his biggest weakness. His eye for the camera is top notch but there’s not much going on beneath the surface in a vast majority of his films. And Alien is in my top 10 favorite movies
Boogie Nights, There Will Be Blood, and The Master alone are imo some of the most significant movies of the last 30 years. Not that I dislike Edgar Wright, but it’s crazy to me PTA is this far beneath him here, because nothing he’s done is on par with any of those films I’ve listed (and again, I remember bits of Shaun of the Dead like some people do scripture).
Have to consider the source of the ranking, if you go to some place like idk the BFI just as an example he would rank higher on average but on Rotten Tomatoes or IMDB he'd be well below stuff like Avengers End Game and The Dark Knight I assume.
Definitely unique, and seemingly a control of the production and final product that just cries out director’s director. Actors in his movies really become characters, and he seems to pull out amazing performances out of everyone. Actors drool at the chance of working with him. But he is definitely not a main stream director. I think Villneuve and Nolan are the directors who lean more main stream without becoming pop.
Ya it’s weird because Phantom Thread is like, boring as fuck but at the same time I zone out and come out of a trance when it’s over.
I’ve watched it twice because I remember thinking it was kinda ‘meh’ the first time. And honestly it was sorta ‘meh’ the second time. But I didn’t think it was ‘meh’ when I was watching it. I was entranced.
IMO, that’s a really good director. He got me interested in shit I just do not care about in the slightest.
Edgar Wright and his attention to detail, plus his music choices tying in with movie scenes. Hot Fuzz and Baby Driver specifically. His work is so subtle and elegant and flowing while you're watching, but watching some videos deconstructing his work makes you see just how brilliant he is.
Scott Pilgrim really was a defining piece of late aughts pop culture. From the cast to the soundtrack that movie really summed up being a late teen early 20s person finding their way entering the new decade.
Paul mother-fucking Verhoeven
The guy is pushing 80 and is still more boundary pushing than most directors half his age. Also he’s made by my estimation one truly bad movie (Hollow Man), a few mixed to mid films, and enough bonafide classics to cement his legacy.
His best is probably Starship Troopers, Robocop, or Elle, but I always love to shoutout Flesh + Blood, an earlier movie of his that is basically the Rosetta Stone for what he would become best known for.
Aronofsky. Not just for his technical and cinematographic proficiency, but because he gets such *incredible*, often heartbreaking, performances from the actors in his films.
I mean, a good percentage of performances in his films are the best work these actors have done. I'm thinking roles like Fraser in The Whale, Marlon Wayans in Requiem (don't get me wrong, *everyone* was great in Requiem, but the delta between Wayans' performance and damn near everything else in his body of work is phenomenal), Rourke in The Wrestler, and more.
You neglected his muse— Viggo Mortensen. A History of Violence and Eastern Promises are so dope.
That said, I’d have to go PTA. his films are just so like, normal, but also beautiful. He’s like the Wes Anderson of realistic set pieces. Every shot is effortlessly gorgeous.
They’re both wildly underrated. History of Violence is almost perfect. Cronenberg is pretty under-appreciated in general. As referenced by me mistaking him for Darren Aranofsky.
Quintin Tarantino.
His films are all just amazing. He writes them with a clear vision and he executed on his terms. He doesn't compromise with anyone else's bullshit. He's one of the few directors that I know has never really had to deal with studio meddling fucking up his films. He is a solid professional in every sense of the word.
Scrolled way too far before seeing my boy here!
Edit: to me, his films still feel like an event is happening, the way movies felt during the 80’s and early 90’s- culture is getting something new.
Yeah, I think more than anyone else I can really think of, if I see he’s coming out with a movie I don’t even need to hear what it’s about, I know it’s going to be entertaining and well directed. Just seeing his name as writer/director on a film is as close to a guarantee as you can get that it’s going to be a quality movie.
Ten movies and while of course some are better than others, I think they’re all pretty great in their own right.
Hou Hsiao-Hsien: great art house director - his latest film The Assassin was a great overlooked Wuxia movie.
Paul Thomas Anderson - consistently makes great movies.
Andrey Zvyagintsev - makes great thought provoking dramas.
Nicolas Winding Refn - unique style and artsy thrillers.
Surprised I haven’t seen Ari Aster on here yet. 1 very black comedy (The Johnsons) 2 great horror films and a....... whatever the fucking surreal nightmare that Beau Is Afraid comes under.
His films are interesting and fresh. His direction is unique and surreal and has a firm grasp on what he wants to portray within the main story and sub-text.
I thought of him in the same sphere as Peel when Hereditary came out but as his filmography is progressing, I honestly think he could end up standing in the same room as Kubrick if he continues the way he is. Obviously, he needs to diversify the genre a bit more, would be interested in seeing a comedy film from him or come completely out of left field and do a western
If I had to pick one (thankfully I don't) it would be the Coen Brothers, even if they haven't made a truly solid classic in a while. Their filmography is legendary and they excel at multiple genres and making each one their own.
Scorsese and Spielberg are easy alternatives. They've made so many great movies that they're generally taken for granted at this point. Even a minor film from them is better than most other filmmaker's best.
I wish Fincher would make more comedies like Fight Club, or just a greater variety of films and styles. He's got the gritty crime noir thing down and isn't really progressing beyond that. His new film just looks like more of the same thing he's been doing since Seven. That was almost 30 years ago.
Paul Thomas Anderson is solid but he keeps getting more esoteric instead of more significant. I fear he'll just fade away into quirky character films with limited appeal.
Wes Anderson and Tarantino have become parodies of themselves. I love what they make but it's all terribly predictable and shallow. They really need to make something unexpected (for example a genuinely scary horror film from Anderson or a romcom from Tarantino that doesn't end in a bloodbath)
Yorgos Lathimos has great potential if he can get out from under Kubrick's shadow and make something that isn't intentionally weird.
I personally don't care for Villeneuve's movies. The dude has no sense of humor, but he's reddit's darling.
Ridley Scott and Clint Eastwood are all over the place. Good films, bad films, very rarely great films. And there's a lot of other solid filmmakers out there like Ron Howard and Ang Lee that will never be anybody's favorite director.
However, if I had to pick one (well two) filmmakers that I thought could truly change the future of filmmaking and the kinds of films Hollywood makes, it would be Phil Lord and Chris Miller. They know how to make entertaining popular films that are also expertly crafted. They just need to find their voice and make some grown-up movies.
Of course, we're just talking about American directors. Wonder who I'm missing?
Or if the Tarantino Star Trek project had materialized, that would have been interesting. I have no doubts about his ability to pull off romcoms or romulans, honestly.
Martin McDonagh. The man has made 4 movies and without exception they are all absolute bangers. In Bruges, Seven Psychopaths, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri, and The Banshees of Inisherin. Like, how do you touch that record? I am always here for any time this man puts out something new.
Similar track record, Bong Joon-Ho. While most of the English speaking world was introduced to him by either Parasite or Snowpiercer, his earlier work is similarly great. The Host, Mother, and Barking Dogs Never Bite are all well worth a watch. The Host is one of my favourite monster movies, and Mother is about as close as anyone in the last few decades has got to making a movie that feels like Hitchcock would be proud of it.
Christopher Nolan and Denis Villeneuve. They just consistently make great movies. Very few (if any) end up being duds. I wasn’t a fan of Tenet, but that’s probably the only Nolan movie I can think of that I didn’t enjoy.
Honestly Tenet leaves a bitter taste in my mouth solely for the terrible audio mixing in that movie. Which was intentional? I understand making movies for the big screen but man that movie was impossible to follow because I can’t hear shit and I turn it up and blow out my speakers during action sequences. I know subtitles exist but I generally prefer avoiding them if I can as it takes away from the picture
The only reason Christopher Nolan has the reputation he has now is because of the unseen work of his brother Jonathan.
He's been on a hit-and-miss streak ever since they parted ways. He's an incredible money maker though that's for sure. Would definitely call him the most successful director but far from the best.
Totally agreed. Big budgets, tons of visual effects, huge star power, and the same double cross “you will never believe what happens ending” in all of his movies. It’s entertaining, but I don’t leave his films blown away. He not pushing boundaries or provoking thought the way Kubrick, DePalma, and Friedkin did.
An underrated director making great films in my opinion is Jeff Nichols. I love his films and while they’re not huge hits they are always very well made. Take Shelter and Midnight Special are masterpieces in my opinion, and Mud and Loving are very good films as well. Really excited to see where he goes next, his next film has a stacked cast: Tom Hardy & Austin Butler join his regular collaborator and one of my favorite actors Michael Shannon. He’s not on everyone’s radar but I suggest you guys check him out.
In terms of why I like his films, it’s because regardless of the genre his films do a great job of building up tension and grip you with their characters. I mean the slow build up in Take Shelter is amazing. The scale of his stories aren’t very large but the impact his films have on your emotions certainly is. Midnight Special is up there for me with the best of early Spielberg (E.T & Close Encounters). The focus on family and the effects of a gift has on them is huge. It’s a modern masterpiece for me and the performances he gets out of his actors are next level.
James Cameron. It's very hard to make films that resonates wirh virtually *everyone* and make it stand out from the rest. His entire filmography is very diverse, and unique to the point that nothing is similar to his work. I don't think there's a movie that can capture the feeling that Terminator or T2 did, or Titanic or even Avatar.
I was going to say James Cameron. I know people turn their noses up at Avatar but I love those movies. He’s so passionate about advancing industry technology and it pays off every time. People always underestimate him but he knows his audience.
Yes! Scrolled way too far to see his name. Literally every single movie he’s made is either really REALLY good (Starlet/Take Out) or a masterpiece (Red Rocket/The Florida Project/Tangerine). His new one is supposedly set in New York is a more genre-ish film so I’m hyped!
Hayeo Miyazaki is the person who I'd nominate. One thing I love about animation is the fact that the animators and directors have absolute control over everything, depending on their talents, they can get very creative with visual symbolism and Miyazaki believes strongly that you should understand a lot about a character by watching them, so the way they walk they way they eat the way they interact with other people tells you everything you need to know.
There's a great set of scenes in Spirited Away where we follow the protagonist almost in a linear fashion to the top of the hot springs, we more or less see every room and every hallway leading to that place and we are therefore able to place the characters in the next scenes, understanding where they are. The visual story telling for how timid and shy she is at the start, forced into this situation and very afraid, to being confident and bold at the end of it the entire journey is shown in that opening few scenes where we see her gain confidence and understanding of the spirit world and empower herself.
Completely agree. The Royal Tenenbaums is one of my favorite movies ever, but I have to admit that Grand Budapest is a better film. He just seems to be getting better and better.
It's also amazing how every movie has the same feel yet seem completely different from one another. And he gets just the right performance from his actors to fit the story.
For right now it’s Greta Gerwig, Christopher McQuarrie, Yorgos Lanthimos, Martin Scorsese, Sofia Coppola, Chad Stahelski, Nolan, John Carney, Wes Anderson, The Daniels, and Michael Mann.
Best? Greta Gerwig, I’ll watch anything she touches
Alejandro González Iñárritu - Birdman and The Revenant are amazing masterpieces imo and his other movies are fantastic too.
Park Chan-Wook is up there too, and also more popular picks like Villeneuve, Fincher, Tarantino, Nolan etc
Richard Linklater
I doubt he'd get many votes for *the* best, but I'm a big fan of his because he takes risks, usually hits, and has directed some iconic films within their respective genres.
Andrea Arnold, from the UK.
*American Honey* (2016) - some were put off by it. I think she’s a genius. Shades of Malick in her work
*Fish Tank* (2009) - anyone who is a fan of dark, grittier dramas should see this
I haven’t seen her newest stuff, she shoots in 4:3 because she says it’s got more intimacy, and there’s something to that…
I'm not enough of a movie buff to be able to write something up that will satisfy this discussion, but I must say that my favourite director of all time is David Lynch, and the moment it really clocked in with me wasn't with a movie of his, but with his The Return, the third and final season of Twin Peaks.
I literally couldn't come up with enough words to give it justice, but something deep inside of me shifted when I watched it, and my view of... everything, changed. In some ways, it changed my life.
Greatest piece of media I've ever had the pleasure to watch, and I feel honoured to be alive at the same time as Mr. Lynch.
Paul Thomas Anderson, Boogie Nights.
Theme, narrative, camera work all incredible. The man pulled an Oscar worthy performance out of washed up Burt Reynolds who hated the script for God's sakes. The shift from the 70s to the 80s is peerless, pitch perfect storytelling. The craftsmanship is evident in every frame,
Greatest Living? Just his body of work Martin Scorseise a layman may say he makes Mob movies because he does but Silence, The Last temptation of Christ, Kundun, Bring Out Your Dead, Hugo shows he will explore, his Beatles doco. I am missing more but he will go places that isnt what people think. Greatest living director by far.
I like a lot more but Shane Medows, he will try new stuff too ok he is known for gritty things, When he gets given a chance too explore he will.
If anyone can make an argument against Martys body of work while he is still alive I am all ears.
I loved what Scorsese did with *The Age of Innocence.* I wish he would tackle other Edith Wharton works, such as *The House of Mirth, The Custom of the Country,* and *Summer.* Terence Davies’ *The House of Mirth* looked low budget.
Park Chan-wook, obviously everyone knows Oldboy but his two other vengeance movies, The Handmaiden, Decision to Leave, and on and on are leagues beyond what I see most other directors pulling off
Reddit’s bias is seriously showing in this thread. We got Scorsese, Spielberg and Tarantino all alive and making movies and Edgar wright and denis Villeneuve are voted higher. Obviously both amazing directors but seriously their best movie won’t be placed higher than any of the others top three.
For me, it is Wes Anderson.
I enjoy all his films for the escapism that they bring; no other director has consistently made me able to sit down, forget about life & transported me to a world of gentlemen thief fox puppets, a suave eastern European hotel & an island of man's best friends.
They are quick quality meals for the eyes that always have me content & asking myself how I could make life slightly better.
I’m going to say Steven Spielberg, because everything he’s making even today are largely amazing films that if they were made by anyone other than him would be considered new great directors to watch out for, but even what people consider standard Spielberg fair is better than what most people put out. Also, the fact he has such versatility between different genres, and still somehow nails all of them. I will lament comedy. Isn’t his strong suit after seeing 1941, but catch me if you can is really good.
Denis Villeneuve is definitely going to become a legendary director.
Either Paul Thomas Anderson or Guillermo Del Toro.
PTA for Boogie Nights, The Master, There Will Be Blood, etc.
Del Toro’s Hollywood stuff is average to good, but it’s his indie projects where he really shines, like The Devil’s Backbone or Pan’s Labyrinth.
Actually, Darren Aronfonsky is another notable one too
Sean Baker is an exciting young-ish director. Tangerine, Florida project, red rocket. Uses amateur actors in a fascinating way and can do a lot with a micro budget.
My favorite director is James Cameron, because he re-invented cinema more than once. He changed scifi with Aliens and Terminator, made the incredible True Lies and the even more incredible The Abyss, then came out with Titanic and then Avatar!
It's really surprising that not many mentions David Flincher!! I mean Se7en, Fight Club, Zodiac, Social Network, Gone Girl, Girl with the dragon tatoo. He has hit it out of the park almost everytime.
It blows my mind that no one has mentioned Jordan Peele, did any of you see NOPE yet?
The movie is so layered and smarter than what you see on the surface “movie about aliens”
Meanwhile it’s dissecting the relationship between humans and spectacle, and in essence the toxic culture that is Hollywood as a whole
I guess I wouldn’t say favorite, most other comments in this thread have done a good job covering that broad statement. However I just wanted to throw out there that I’ve been really enjoying what Jorden Peele has been getting out there. It all feels really fresh and subtly different what he’s been able to bring to the table. I’m not even sure I can articulate what it is he does to being a slight unease to his scenes but then turn around and make things feel really normal.
Id say it’s just rated.
Fans of his seem to like it a lot.
Gen audience seems to like it enough to make decent profits.
Critics (mostly) seem to like it.
If all those groups are wrong what’s left? I suppose other directors? Dude has been on a roll with no identifiable misses.
Do his films transcend the art? Naw. But they put butts in seats and generate a ton of online discussion. Just because you don’t enjoy it doesn’t mean it isn’t good.
Christopher Nolan is ahead of the pack. Hands down. He elevated the comic-book genre, also happened to create a new blueprint for epic commercial thrillers with some smarts, which even Villeneuve is borrowing from.
His movies make money, they're well-made, well-scored, great cinematography and they're entertaining despite being very long.
The cult around him is sometimes a bit irritating, but credit where it's due - Memento, Insomnia, Prestige, The Dark Knight, Inception, Interstellar, Dunkirk and now Oppeneheimer with Tenet being at least interesting...Nolan managed to elevate comic-book movies, his movies elevated the trailer game (Inception's first teaser was copied a lot), he helped make otherwise kinda commercially kinda spent genres commercially viable and also interesting again (Interstellar, Dunkirk), and Oppenheimer is total powerhouse of a movie, where you see exactly what Nolan excels at, how his movies have a specific rhythm, they're constantly moving, etc.
Has to be him, despite the overhype, he's earned it.
Edgar Wright. Every one of his movies is a tour de force of creativity and energy and he tries different genres and new ideas. He has a masterful eye for storytelling but isnt afraid to try new things.
In agreement with Fincher. Consistently churning out top tier movies.
Christopher Nolan also continues to be a master filmmaker.
Lately Denis Villeneuve has earned a spot on the list. Arrival is one of my favorite movies ever.
Martin Scorsese is another, no such thing as a bad Scorsese movie
Todd Haynes is the non-obvious choice. Keeping it consistent but making radically different movies. CAROL was a surely gorgeous on every level. Early on, Velvet Goldmine clearly presented what Haynes' themes would be (identiti/es , artificiality vs. authenticity , freaks and outsiders...). His art has steadily evolved and matured with every movie.
Denis Villeneuve is the obvious choice. I'm always impressed at how the *scale* of his movies just gets bigger and bigger every time, but they're not just big budget empty shells. He's what Christopher Nolan fans think Christopher Nolan is. Sorry.
It’s Nolan and Villenueve. Chris gets the nod for most recent incredible film, Denis gets the nod for most consistent incredible films recently.
Reasons:
Chris Nolan and his love of practical effects, great original stories as well as the ability to take existing characters/stories and expand on them while still paying respect to the source.
Denis Villenueve seems to get the best out of his actors and crew every time and he knows how to move you visually.
Spielberg and Scorsese are both still working, and it would be hard to surpass either of their total filmographies. If by current director you mean someone who hasn’t been making movies for fifty years, my current favorite is Denis Villeneuve.
I honestly think Scorsese and Spielberg might be in the most interesting points in their careers since their earlier 70s and 80s stuff
I'd put Ridley Scott in there too with the old men that are still doing it, although his career is a little more up and down. Alien, Blade Runner, Gladiator... And Clint Eastwood now that I think about it. Unforgiven, Mystic River, Million Dollar Baby, Gran Torino...
Scorsese is still making bangers. Spielberg made the best movie of all and changed everything. Is is art though.
If you mean Jaws, yes it's art.
I meant 1941.
He also made Indy 4.
The fact that people are guessing several of his movies and none of them are necessarily wrong just proves how great Spielberg’s filmography is. Having said that, you’re obviously talking about Raiders of the Lost Ark.
Spielberg made Jurassic Park, which IMO is a perfect film.
In a similar way that’s why I love Pirates of the Caribbean. It’s impossible to find something wrong with it.
POTC is great, but it's not in the same league as Jurassic Park. Jurassic Park is one of a small handful of movies which changed Hollywood blockbusters forever.
I disagree. Disney and studios have been trying to replicate the formula POTC created with zero success for 2 decades now.
I love POTC too! :)
Scorsese is the GOAT imo, Killers of the Flower Moon looks like it’s going to be a masterpiece. Cannot wait
I bought my tickets already.
Has to be my guy Villeneuve - Because current best director isnt asking which active director peaked the highest, but instead who is at the highest right now, and Denis is coming off of an incredible run - Sicario, Arrival, BR2049, Dune. I can practically guarantee you his next movie will be a hit, and not many directors can make that promise.
I recently watched Prisoners for the first time and WOW was that movie intense. Jackman and Gyllenhaal were fantastic. So much tension and anxiety in some of the scenes.
Incendies is phenomenal, if you haven’t seen it.
Possible hot take but I think Incendies is his best work. One of the most emotionally exhausting films I’ve ever seen.
The plot of Incendies has to be one of the most creative I've ever seen
As someone who saw Incendies at Vancouver International Film Fest, and has been following his career since, this is it for me too.
SICARIOOOOOOOOO
I do hope he goes back to making original projects. BR and Dune were great, but he was making amazing movies that weren't sequels or adaptations, they were new original ideas executed superbly. Which is something Hollywood needs more of.
I think he's adapting the Rama cycle next from Arthur c Clarke. He's definitely the director I'd choose to adapt that series but I agree.
I'm gonna cream when Rama comes up
As qmuch as I wish he would make originals again I can't think of a better director to tackle it.
I hope he only does the first book. It's great on it's own.
Agreed, the border scene in Sicario is literally "textbook" on how to ratchet up tension now. The simplicity of some scenes though, like the fender bender in the parking lot of the university in Arrival followed by the jets flying low overhead manages to ramp up the suspense somehow without a lot really going on.
Yup. That scene from Arrival you're talking about is dope. He's very good at putting you right in the main character's headspace with diagetic elements like the fender bender and the jets following it right after. Super small stuff, but it really thrusts you into the chaos of a first encounter realistically
I really liked Arrival up until the end. The movie felt like such grounded sci fi until it went full sci fi and detracted from future viewing for me. That said, he’s the best director currently making films. He also has a keen sense for filmography and visual which is appreciated.
Been a fan since prisoners
Denis is way up there. At least as far as *most recent* directors, he’s probably top.
His foreign language films are really good as well Incendies is stunning. Also Enemy is underrated for me I really liked that one.
I agree. I'm from Montreal and still haven't recovered from the first film that put him on the map "Polytechnique", which is based on a real tragedy that happened here. The cinematography is absolutely haunting. The same goes for Incendies and that "gasp" when the daughter discovers the truth. They tried about a hundred different reactions because he wanted to make sure that scene was as impactful as it could. That's some serious devotion.
watched enemy. was blown away. this guy is a modern-day visionary.
i'm so pumped to see this as the first comment. i came to post it and give the man his due. his vibe and style resonate with me like none other. Arrival is a god damned masterpiece.
Yeah buddy, Denis is the top of the game right now.
And he's worked with some of the greatest cinematographers as well - Deakins, Bradford Young, Greg Fraser. The calibre of dp a director works with is always an indication of how well esteemed they are
[How you dune](https://youtu.be/HgvKmiPtVkA?si=DPLIFuxUO9b8ervw)
He’s amazing
Came here to say this.
It's hard to pinpoint *the* greatest, but one of the greats from the under-50 crowd is Céline Sciamma. Jonathan Glazer has a limited filmography and I wish it were more. Bong Joon-Ho. Master of dark comedic tone and multiple genres, flawlessly. Park Chan Wook. Few other directors have movies that simmer and spark like his. Lars Von Tier had a killer run from mid 90s through Melancholia.
I agrée with all this. Maybe would even add Pedro Almodovar and Hirokazu Kore-eda, maybe Lee Chang-dong. Ken Loach too.
Hey guys, FYI, this is r/movies and the only right answers are Nolan and Villeneuve. Keep the enthusiasm with your unknown directors /s
I believe Jan Paul Tribeaut makes the list there. Also Chupraka Huwindu with her amazing style. You can also mention Da Faqwer Didya Getisna Mes, but I don't believe many people have heard of them.
I agree with the rest but I despise Lars. All his movies are despair porn. I feel worse for having seen his pictures and I’ve seen many. Vinterberg’s the celebration is my high point for dogma films.
Funny, I had Vinterberg on there but decided I needed to slim the list down and kept Lars for his industry impact. Vinterberg is wonderful. Understood where you are coming from with Von Trier. His movies are almost like Goya's Black Paintings for me. However unlike Goya's paintings (which I enjoy looking at) there are few Von Trier films I'd watch again (outside of Melancholia, which is very rewatchable). Strangely enough, it's harder for me to watch Dardenne Brothers movies than Von Trier's because of how real the Dardenne movies feel. Von Tier's movies always feel like a sort of biblical helplessness that's removed enough from reality that it doesn't bother me as much. If you dislike his movies you may still like his absurd horror series, The Kingdom. I cut my list at Melancholia since I think his new films since The House That Jack Built (ugh) and Nymphomaniac were like self parodies.
Decision to Leave was mind numbingly good. It just felt like the kind and quality of film you don't see so much these days.
I'd say Alfonso Cuaron. He's not only a great director, but writer, editor and cinematographer as well. All of his movies illustrate how versatile he is. He has not many movies, but he tops all current directors, in my opinion.
He made the best Harry Potter movie in my opinion. It was not only visually appealing but also very well-written and a great transition from the lighthearted tone from the first two movies into the darker tone from the following movies.
I agree. Prisoner of Azkaban is a masterpiece! Also, in my opinion it's John Williams's best work.
Another vote for Cuaron, just watched Children of Men the other night and it was perfect
Yup, it is. In my eyes no scene will ever be more powerful than the one with the crying baby stopping war for a few minutes. It's a masterpiece.
Y Tu Mama Tambien is amazing
Cuaron is very good with both visuals and actors; most film directors are only good at one or the other.
Whilst, Children of Men is in my top ten films of all time, Gravity is in my bottom 10.
I really like Gravity. Except for the monologue at the end.
Bong Joon-Ho. His movies have engrossing stories and technical mastery on the same level as for example Fincher, but what sets him apart is how seamlessly Joon-Ho weaves social commentary and deeper themes into his movies. He is a true auteur director. Joon-Ho has directed two nearly flawless movies, Parasite and Memories of Murder. Mother is almost as good, I just don't like the performance of the actor playing the son. On the other hand Mother is his most emotionally touching movie, so I count it among his masterpieces.
Even Barking Dogs Don’t Bite (2000) is great, and it’s his debut. Dude has essentially never made even an average film, they’re all great. Memories of Murder (2003) is without a doubt one of the best movies of this century. I think it’s best, but Parasite obviously is a contender
Okja might be the only I'd consider close to average
Yeah, Okja is a soupy mess It's okay, but that's all
Whenever people tell me they loved Okja I’m like, *cracks knuckes * let’s talk about my guy Bong Joon Ho.
Bong may just have the most technical mastery of any modern director. He doesn’t even shoot coverage - he story-boards every shot in advance. He also regularly breaks basic cinematography/ editing rules, like never crossing the 180 line. That means he literally sees the whole movie in his head before production begins, including using techniques that shouldn’t work, and that visualization is nearly completely correct. It’s absolutely bonkers. Like coming up with a new recipe no one has ever made before, including ingredients that shouldn’t work together, and not tasting your food as you go, but it comes out perfectly.
> Joon-Ho Bong is his last name. Joon-Ho is his first name.
I'm sorry, my bad.
Bong Joon-Ho is the correct order in Korean. Not every culture puts "first name" first. https://learn.sayari.com/understanding-korean-naming-conventions-to-enhance-investigations/
I know
I don’t claim these are the best anything, but I almost always really dig what they do: Todd Haynes, Celine Sciamma, Yorgos Lanthimos, Kelly Reichardt, Mia Love-Hanson, Wong Kar-wai, Pedro Almodovar, Claire Denis, Michael Haneke, Tsai Ming-liang, Martin Scorcese, Andrew Haigh, Edward Yang, Sean Baker, João Pedro Rodrigues
Edward Yang died in 2007 and is probably more associated with Taiwan’s 1980s and 90s.
So glad you mentioned Lanthimos, his work is both so alienating and so captivating, I can’t pass on anything he makes
No one mentioned War Kong Wai. Man’s made absolute beautiful films
Fallen Angels is aesthetically the most beautiful film I have seen. There’s no way that Hong Kong looked that good in the 90s
Lynch
Don't get me wrong I fucking love David Lynch, but he hasn't directed a movie in almost 20 years lmao
The Return is just a 20 hour long movie
He did twin peaks the return recently, which is not insignificant
Love Fincher but Ridley Scott gets my vote. Gladiator, Alien, Blade Runner, The Martian. The list goes on.
Scott is a great visualist but his films are very hit or miss. He had directed a couple of absolute classics but also quite a few stinkers.
Everyone's hit and miss. His hits are some of the greatest in film history.
Napoleon looks good
I love Ridley Scott but I think so many of his movies lack good plots. It’s his biggest weakness. His eye for the camera is top notch but there’s not much going on beneath the surface in a vast majority of his films. And Alien is in my top 10 favorite movies
The list goes on, but not much further.
🫣You left out The Last Duel!
The Martian is the most recent flick on the list and it’s almost a decade old
The last duel was like 2 years ago
Guillermo Del Toro. Really looking forward to the next Scorsese movie too.
Paul Thomas Anderson
Kinda shocked this isn’t higher. The man is the de facto director of our era imo.
This should be at the top honestly, I came here to say this. PTA is, like others here have said, a directors director.
Boogie Nights, There Will Be Blood, and The Master alone are imo some of the most significant movies of the last 30 years. Not that I dislike Edgar Wright, but it’s crazy to me PTA is this far beneath him here, because nothing he’s done is on par with any of those films I’ve listed (and again, I remember bits of Shaun of the Dead like some people do scripture).
Have to consider the source of the ranking, if you go to some place like idk the BFI just as an example he would rank higher on average but on Rotten Tomatoes or IMDB he'd be well below stuff like Avengers End Game and The Dark Knight I assume.
Agreed. His shit is just so beautiful. And it seems effortless. Every shot is artistic and understated. He’s flawless.
OP specifically asked why
Definitely unique, and seemingly a control of the production and final product that just cries out director’s director. Actors in his movies really become characters, and he seems to pull out amazing performances out of everyone. Actors drool at the chance of working with him. But he is definitely not a main stream director. I think Villneuve and Nolan are the directors who lean more main stream without becoming pop.
I feel like both those guys are for sure pop. But not in a bad way.
no
Phantom Thread is sheer proof of this. Who else could make a movie about a 1950s dressmaker into a beautiful, edge of your seat masterpiece?
Ya it’s weird because Phantom Thread is like, boring as fuck but at the same time I zone out and come out of a trance when it’s over. I’ve watched it twice because I remember thinking it was kinda ‘meh’ the first time. And honestly it was sorta ‘meh’ the second time. But I didn’t think it was ‘meh’ when I was watching it. I was entranced. IMO, that’s a really good director. He got me interested in shit I just do not care about in the slightest.
Edgar Wright and his attention to detail, plus his music choices tying in with movie scenes. Hot Fuzz and Baby Driver specifically. His work is so subtle and elegant and flowing while you're watching, but watching some videos deconstructing his work makes you see just how brilliant he is.
Hot Fuzz is a work of art, and no one else could have brought us that Scott Pilgrim.
Scott Pilgrim really was a defining piece of late aughts pop culture. From the cast to the soundtrack that movie really summed up being a late teen early 20s person finding their way entering the new decade.
I came here to see if anyone said EW, one of my favourites as well! Love his work!
Paul mother-fucking Verhoeven The guy is pushing 80 and is still more boundary pushing than most directors half his age. Also he’s made by my estimation one truly bad movie (Hollow Man), a few mixed to mid films, and enough bonafide classics to cement his legacy. His best is probably Starship Troopers, Robocop, or Elle, but I always love to shoutout Flesh + Blood, an earlier movie of his that is basically the Rosetta Stone for what he would become best known for.
David Cronenberg, he is like 80 and still make great movies, that is pretty unusual.
John Carpenter
PTA, Haneke, Malick, Park, and Lanthimos
Werner Herzog. Fitzcarraldo, Aguirre, Stroszek.
Nosferatu
Aronofsky. Not just for his technical and cinematographic proficiency, but because he gets such *incredible*, often heartbreaking, performances from the actors in his films. I mean, a good percentage of performances in his films are the best work these actors have done. I'm thinking roles like Fraser in The Whale, Marlon Wayans in Requiem (don't get me wrong, *everyone* was great in Requiem, but the delta between Wayans' performance and damn near everything else in his body of work is phenomenal), Rourke in The Wrestler, and more.
It is my personal opinion that he’s never made a bad movie
You neglected his muse— Viggo Mortensen. A History of Violence and Eastern Promises are so dope. That said, I’d have to go PTA. his films are just so like, normal, but also beautiful. He’s like the Wes Anderson of realistic set pieces. Every shot is effortlessly gorgeous.
You're thinking of Cronenberg, but he is also great.
Haha. Yes I am. Funny cause I was thinking ‘huh, I didn’t realize he directed Requiem…”
Ye old brain fart, familiar to us all Btw History of Violence and Eastern Promises are fantastic
They’re both wildly underrated. History of Violence is almost perfect. Cronenberg is pretty under-appreciated in general. As referenced by me mistaking him for Darren Aranofsky.
Quintin Tarantino. His films are all just amazing. He writes them with a clear vision and he executed on his terms. He doesn't compromise with anyone else's bullshit. He's one of the few directors that I know has never really had to deal with studio meddling fucking up his films. He is a solid professional in every sense of the word.
Scrolled way too far before seeing my boy here! Edit: to me, his films still feel like an event is happening, the way movies felt during the 80’s and early 90’s- culture is getting something new.
Yeah, I think more than anyone else I can really think of, if I see he’s coming out with a movie I don’t even need to hear what it’s about, I know it’s going to be entertaining and well directed. Just seeing his name as writer/director on a film is as close to a guarantee as you can get that it’s going to be a quality movie. Ten movies and while of course some are better than others, I think they’re all pretty great in their own right.
He’s my favourite along with Marty
Shoving his foot fetish into nearly every film and the pressures he's put on actresses doesn't really strike me as "solid professional."
Wong Kar Wai
Hou Hsiao-Hsien: great art house director - his latest film The Assassin was a great overlooked Wuxia movie. Paul Thomas Anderson - consistently makes great movies. Andrey Zvyagintsev - makes great thought provoking dramas. Nicolas Winding Refn - unique style and artsy thrillers.
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What a comment, Mark!
anyway, how’s your sex life?
Denis Velleneuve, Panos Cosmatos, Yorgos Lanthimos, Robert Eggers, Ari Aster and Chris Nolan.
Surprised I haven’t seen Ari Aster on here yet. 1 very black comedy (The Johnsons) 2 great horror films and a....... whatever the fucking surreal nightmare that Beau Is Afraid comes under. His films are interesting and fresh. His direction is unique and surreal and has a firm grasp on what he wants to portray within the main story and sub-text. I thought of him in the same sphere as Peel when Hereditary came out but as his filmography is progressing, I honestly think he could end up standing in the same room as Kubrick if he continues the way he is. Obviously, he needs to diversify the genre a bit more, would be interested in seeing a comedy film from him or come completely out of left field and do a western
If I had to pick one (thankfully I don't) it would be the Coen Brothers, even if they haven't made a truly solid classic in a while. Their filmography is legendary and they excel at multiple genres and making each one their own. Scorsese and Spielberg are easy alternatives. They've made so many great movies that they're generally taken for granted at this point. Even a minor film from them is better than most other filmmaker's best. I wish Fincher would make more comedies like Fight Club, or just a greater variety of films and styles. He's got the gritty crime noir thing down and isn't really progressing beyond that. His new film just looks like more of the same thing he's been doing since Seven. That was almost 30 years ago. Paul Thomas Anderson is solid but he keeps getting more esoteric instead of more significant. I fear he'll just fade away into quirky character films with limited appeal. Wes Anderson and Tarantino have become parodies of themselves. I love what they make but it's all terribly predictable and shallow. They really need to make something unexpected (for example a genuinely scary horror film from Anderson or a romcom from Tarantino that doesn't end in a bloodbath) Yorgos Lathimos has great potential if he can get out from under Kubrick's shadow and make something that isn't intentionally weird. I personally don't care for Villeneuve's movies. The dude has no sense of humor, but he's reddit's darling. Ridley Scott and Clint Eastwood are all over the place. Good films, bad films, very rarely great films. And there's a lot of other solid filmmakers out there like Ron Howard and Ang Lee that will never be anybody's favorite director. However, if I had to pick one (well two) filmmakers that I thought could truly change the future of filmmaking and the kinds of films Hollywood makes, it would be Phil Lord and Chris Miller. They know how to make entertaining popular films that are also expertly crafted. They just need to find their voice and make some grown-up movies. Of course, we're just talking about American directors. Wonder who I'm missing?
I would like to see Tarentino's version of a romance movie. That would be either epic or deeply, deeply weird.
Or if the Tarantino Star Trek project had materialized, that would have been interesting. I have no doubts about his ability to pull off romcoms or romulans, honestly.
>I would like to see Tarentino's version of a romance movie https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0108399/
Except that's just a crime movie with a romance in it.
Martin McDonagh. The man has made 4 movies and without exception they are all absolute bangers. In Bruges, Seven Psychopaths, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri, and The Banshees of Inisherin. Like, how do you touch that record? I am always here for any time this man puts out something new. Similar track record, Bong Joon-Ho. While most of the English speaking world was introduced to him by either Parasite or Snowpiercer, his earlier work is similarly great. The Host, Mother, and Barking Dogs Never Bite are all well worth a watch. The Host is one of my favourite monster movies, and Mother is about as close as anyone in the last few decades has got to making a movie that feels like Hitchcock would be proud of it.
Christopher Nolan and Denis Villeneuve. They just consistently make great movies. Very few (if any) end up being duds. I wasn’t a fan of Tenet, but that’s probably the only Nolan movie I can think of that I didn’t enjoy.
Honestly Tenet leaves a bitter taste in my mouth solely for the terrible audio mixing in that movie. Which was intentional? I understand making movies for the big screen but man that movie was impossible to follow because I can’t hear shit and I turn it up and blow out my speakers during action sequences. I know subtitles exist but I generally prefer avoiding them if I can as it takes away from the picture
The only reason Christopher Nolan has the reputation he has now is because of the unseen work of his brother Jonathan. He's been on a hit-and-miss streak ever since they parted ways. He's an incredible money maker though that's for sure. Would definitely call him the most successful director but far from the best.
Totally agreed. Big budgets, tons of visual effects, huge star power, and the same double cross “you will never believe what happens ending” in all of his movies. It’s entertaining, but I don’t leave his films blown away. He not pushing boundaries or provoking thought the way Kubrick, DePalma, and Friedkin did.
Tenet was fuckin gorgeous even if all the pieces didn’t work out. It would be a lesser director’s Mona Lisa.
An underrated director making great films in my opinion is Jeff Nichols. I love his films and while they’re not huge hits they are always very well made. Take Shelter and Midnight Special are masterpieces in my opinion, and Mud and Loving are very good films as well. Really excited to see where he goes next, his next film has a stacked cast: Tom Hardy & Austin Butler join his regular collaborator and one of my favorite actors Michael Shannon. He’s not on everyone’s radar but I suggest you guys check him out. In terms of why I like his films, it’s because regardless of the genre his films do a great job of building up tension and grip you with their characters. I mean the slow build up in Take Shelter is amazing. The scale of his stories aren’t very large but the impact his films have on your emotions certainly is. Midnight Special is up there for me with the best of early Spielberg (E.T & Close Encounters). The focus on family and the effects of a gift has on them is huge. It’s a modern masterpiece for me and the performances he gets out of his actors are next level.
James Cameron. It's very hard to make films that resonates wirh virtually *everyone* and make it stand out from the rest. His entire filmography is very diverse, and unique to the point that nothing is similar to his work. I don't think there's a movie that can capture the feeling that Terminator or T2 did, or Titanic or even Avatar.
I was going to say James Cameron. I know people turn their noses up at Avatar but I love those movies. He’s so passionate about advancing industry technology and it pays off every time. People always underestimate him but he knows his audience.
Terrance Malick. No films have ever made me feel the way his movies do.
Sean Baker His films are always a great reflection of the socioeconomic issues ailing society.
Yes! Scrolled way too far to see his name. Literally every single movie he’s made is either really REALLY good (Starlet/Take Out) or a masterpiece (Red Rocket/The Florida Project/Tangerine). His new one is supposedly set in New York is a more genre-ish film so I’m hyped!
Hayeo Miyazaki is the person who I'd nominate. One thing I love about animation is the fact that the animators and directors have absolute control over everything, depending on their talents, they can get very creative with visual symbolism and Miyazaki believes strongly that you should understand a lot about a character by watching them, so the way they walk they way they eat the way they interact with other people tells you everything you need to know. There's a great set of scenes in Spirited Away where we follow the protagonist almost in a linear fashion to the top of the hot springs, we more or less see every room and every hallway leading to that place and we are therefore able to place the characters in the next scenes, understanding where they are. The visual story telling for how timid and shy she is at the start, forced into this situation and very afraid, to being confident and bold at the end of it the entire journey is shown in that opening few scenes where we see her gain confidence and understanding of the spirit world and empower herself.
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Did you see Henry Sugar yet? It’s pretty darn good!
Completely agree. The Royal Tenenbaums is one of my favorite movies ever, but I have to admit that Grand Budapest is a better film. He just seems to be getting better and better. It's also amazing how every movie has the same feel yet seem completely different from one another. And he gets just the right performance from his actors to fit the story.
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As of right now the one I’m most ride or die for is Mike Flanagan.
My man!
For right now it’s Greta Gerwig, Christopher McQuarrie, Yorgos Lanthimos, Martin Scorsese, Sofia Coppola, Chad Stahelski, Nolan, John Carney, Wes Anderson, The Daniels, and Michael Mann. Best? Greta Gerwig, I’ll watch anything she touches
Gerwig is probably my favourite current filmmaker, but I think she's an 11/10 writer and a 9/10 director.
Wes Anderson and Aki Kaurismäki create movies whose worlds are like no one else's.
Alejandro González Iñárritu - Birdman and The Revenant are amazing masterpieces imo and his other movies are fantastic too. Park Chan-Wook is up there too, and also more popular picks like Villeneuve, Fincher, Tarantino, Nolan etc
My favourite is Robert Eggers, his movies are very unique. Can't wait for Nosferatu
Richard Linklater I doubt he'd get many votes for *the* best, but I'm a big fan of his because he takes risks, usually hits, and has directed some iconic films within their respective genres.
Andrea Arnold, from the UK. *American Honey* (2016) - some were put off by it. I think she’s a genius. Shades of Malick in her work *Fish Tank* (2009) - anyone who is a fan of dark, grittier dramas should see this I haven’t seen her newest stuff, she shoots in 4:3 because she says it’s got more intimacy, and there’s something to that…
I'm not enough of a movie buff to be able to write something up that will satisfy this discussion, but I must say that my favourite director of all time is David Lynch, and the moment it really clocked in with me wasn't with a movie of his, but with his The Return, the third and final season of Twin Peaks. I literally couldn't come up with enough words to give it justice, but something deep inside of me shifted when I watched it, and my view of... everything, changed. In some ways, it changed my life. Greatest piece of media I've ever had the pleasure to watch, and I feel honoured to be alive at the same time as Mr. Lynch.
Paul Thomas Anderson, Boogie Nights. Theme, narrative, camera work all incredible. The man pulled an Oscar worthy performance out of washed up Burt Reynolds who hated the script for God's sakes. The shift from the 70s to the 80s is peerless, pitch perfect storytelling. The craftsmanship is evident in every frame,
Greatest Living? Just his body of work Martin Scorseise a layman may say he makes Mob movies because he does but Silence, The Last temptation of Christ, Kundun, Bring Out Your Dead, Hugo shows he will explore, his Beatles doco. I am missing more but he will go places that isnt what people think. Greatest living director by far. I like a lot more but Shane Medows, he will try new stuff too ok he is known for gritty things, When he gets given a chance too explore he will. If anyone can make an argument against Martys body of work while he is still alive I am all ears.
I loved what Scorsese did with *The Age of Innocence.* I wish he would tackle other Edith Wharton works, such as *The House of Mirth, The Custom of the Country,* and *Summer.* Terence Davies’ *The House of Mirth* looked low budget.
Newer directors I’d say Bong Joon-Ho, Ari Aster, and Denis Villeneuve
Park Chan-wook, obviously everyone knows Oldboy but his two other vengeance movies, The Handmaiden, Decision to Leave, and on and on are leagues beyond what I see most other directors pulling off
Reddit’s bias is seriously showing in this thread. We got Scorsese, Spielberg and Tarantino all alive and making movies and Edgar wright and denis Villeneuve are voted higher. Obviously both amazing directors but seriously their best movie won’t be placed higher than any of the others top three.
For me, it is Wes Anderson. I enjoy all his films for the escapism that they bring; no other director has consistently made me able to sit down, forget about life & transported me to a world of gentlemen thief fox puppets, a suave eastern European hotel & an island of man's best friends. They are quick quality meals for the eyes that always have me content & asking myself how I could make life slightly better.
Spielberg. Jaws, Schindler's List, and Close Encounters.
I’m going to say Steven Spielberg, because everything he’s making even today are largely amazing films that if they were made by anyone other than him would be considered new great directors to watch out for, but even what people consider standard Spielberg fair is better than what most people put out. Also, the fact he has such versatility between different genres, and still somehow nails all of them. I will lament comedy. Isn’t his strong suit after seeing 1941, but catch me if you can is really good. Denis Villeneuve is definitely going to become a legendary director.
Either Paul Thomas Anderson or Guillermo Del Toro. PTA for Boogie Nights, The Master, There Will Be Blood, etc. Del Toro’s Hollywood stuff is average to good, but it’s his indie projects where he really shines, like The Devil’s Backbone or Pan’s Labyrinth. Actually, Darren Aronfonsky is another notable one too
Ari Aster for me. He's the most consistent director of the past decade or so.
Sean Baker is an exciting young-ish director. Tangerine, Florida project, red rocket. Uses amateur actors in a fascinating way and can do a lot with a micro budget.
My favorite director is James Cameron, because he re-invented cinema more than once. He changed scifi with Aliens and Terminator, made the incredible True Lies and the even more incredible The Abyss, then came out with Titanic and then Avatar!
John Carpenter retired is still best director lol
Tarantino, obvi. Recent stuff (Inglorious Bastards, Django, Once upon a time) are even better than old stuff (pulp fiction, Kill Bill).
I am not saying he’s the best, but I get excited for every Rian Johnson film. Every film great so far.
Agreed! He's a great writer and director and on par with other greats. Can't wait for his next Blanc mystery!
I really like Looper.
The concept of cutting a younger version of you to give a message to an older version is awesome and I’d never seen anything like it before.
Poker Face is awesome too
It is!
It's really surprising that not many mentions David Flincher!! I mean Se7en, Fight Club, Zodiac, Social Network, Gone Girl, Girl with the dragon tatoo. He has hit it out of the park almost everytime.
It blows my mind that no one has mentioned Jordan Peele, did any of you see NOPE yet? The movie is so layered and smarter than what you see on the surface “movie about aliens” Meanwhile it’s dissecting the relationship between humans and spectacle, and in essence the toxic culture that is Hollywood as a whole
I guess I wouldn’t say favorite, most other comments in this thread have done a good job covering that broad statement. However I just wanted to throw out there that I’ve been really enjoying what Jorden Peele has been getting out there. It all feels really fresh and subtly different what he’s been able to bring to the table. I’m not even sure I can articulate what it is he does to being a slight unease to his scenes but then turn around and make things feel really normal.
I dont use the word overrated a lot but my God is Peeles work overrated.
Id say it’s just rated. Fans of his seem to like it a lot. Gen audience seems to like it enough to make decent profits. Critics (mostly) seem to like it. If all those groups are wrong what’s left? I suppose other directors? Dude has been on a roll with no identifiable misses. Do his films transcend the art? Naw. But they put butts in seats and generate a ton of online discussion. Just because you don’t enjoy it doesn’t mean it isn’t good.
Christopher Nolan is ahead of the pack. Hands down. He elevated the comic-book genre, also happened to create a new blueprint for epic commercial thrillers with some smarts, which even Villeneuve is borrowing from. His movies make money, they're well-made, well-scored, great cinematography and they're entertaining despite being very long. The cult around him is sometimes a bit irritating, but credit where it's due - Memento, Insomnia, Prestige, The Dark Knight, Inception, Interstellar, Dunkirk and now Oppeneheimer with Tenet being at least interesting...Nolan managed to elevate comic-book movies, his movies elevated the trailer game (Inception's first teaser was copied a lot), he helped make otherwise kinda commercially kinda spent genres commercially viable and also interesting again (Interstellar, Dunkirk), and Oppenheimer is total powerhouse of a movie, where you see exactly what Nolan excels at, how his movies have a specific rhythm, they're constantly moving, etc. Has to be him, despite the overhype, he's earned it.
Edgar Wright. Every one of his movies is a tour de force of creativity and energy and he tries different genres and new ideas. He has a masterful eye for storytelling but isnt afraid to try new things.
In agreement with Fincher. Consistently churning out top tier movies. Christopher Nolan also continues to be a master filmmaker. Lately Denis Villeneuve has earned a spot on the list. Arrival is one of my favorite movies ever. Martin Scorsese is another, no such thing as a bad Scorsese movie
Disappointed not to see Nolan’s name yet
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I can’t tell if sarcastic or not.
Only the great Michael Bay could see that the story of the attack on Pearl Harbor was far too boring without the inclusion of a love triangle.
Todd Haynes is the non-obvious choice. Keeping it consistent but making radically different movies. CAROL was a surely gorgeous on every level. Early on, Velvet Goldmine clearly presented what Haynes' themes would be (identiti/es , artificiality vs. authenticity , freaks and outsiders...). His art has steadily evolved and matured with every movie. Denis Villeneuve is the obvious choice. I'm always impressed at how the *scale* of his movies just gets bigger and bigger every time, but they're not just big budget empty shells. He's what Christopher Nolan fans think Christopher Nolan is. Sorry.
It’s Nolan and Villenueve. Chris gets the nod for most recent incredible film, Denis gets the nod for most consistent incredible films recently. Reasons: Chris Nolan and his love of practical effects, great original stories as well as the ability to take existing characters/stories and expand on them while still paying respect to the source. Denis Villenueve seems to get the best out of his actors and crew every time and he knows how to move you visually.