Rankings of Directors' Films (A-I)

Rankings are not easy to make because many directors’ films fall into different genres. How can a comedy be sized up to a science fiction film? How does an action film made decades ago compare to a contemporary drama film? Overall, how does a director’s career look? What are the backgrounds of various films? Is popular opinion an influence on rankings? Should films be ranked? These are tough questions and ideas asked by movie goers, fans, cinema buffs, film reviewers, commentators, and more.

These rankings are for up to ten major motion pictures by movie directors (directed and/or written). In order to be ranked, I have to view at least three of a director’s films (directed and/or written). This post is constantly in the working as I enjoy more films.

Posted: 21 May 2020

Updated: 14 July 2020

J.J. Abrams

5. Super 8 (2011)

4. Mission: Impossible III (2006)

3. Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker (2019)

2. Star Trek (2009)

1. Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens (2015)

Ben Affleck

5. Live by Night (2016)

4. Gone Baby Gone (2007)

3. Argo (2012)

2. The Town (2010)

1. Good Will Hunting (1997)

Woody Allen

9. Café Society (2016)

8. Casino Royale (1967)

7. Midnight in Paris (2011)

6. Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008)

5. Blue Jasmine (2013)

4. Manhattan (1979)

3. Hannah and her Sisters (1986)

2. Match Point (2005)

1. Annie Hall (1977)

Brad Anderson

4. The Call (2013)

3. Stonehearst Asylum (2014)

2. Beirut (2018)

1. The Machinist (2004)

Paul W.S. Anderson

7. Resident Evil: Retribution (2012)

6. Resident Evil: Afterlife (2010)

5. Death Race (2008)

4. Alien vs. Predator (2004)

3. Resident Evil (2002)

2. Mortal Kombat (1995)

1. Event Horizon (1997)

Wes Anderson

8. The Darjeeling Limited (2007)

7. Isle of Dogs (2018)

6. Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009)

5. The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (2004)

4. Bottle Rocket (1996)

3. Rushmore (1998)

2. Moonrise Kingdom (2012)

1. The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014)

Paul Thomas Anderson

8. Inherent Vice (2014)

7. Phantom Thread (2017)

6. The Master (2012)

5. Magnolia (1999)

4. Hard Eight (1996)

3. Punch-Drunk Love (2002)

2. Boogie Nights (1997)

1. There Will Be Blood (2007)

Judd Apatow

4. This Is 40 (2012)

3. Knocked Up (2007)

2. Trainwreck (2015)

1. The 40-Year-Old Virgin (2005)

Darren Aronofsky

6. Mother! (2017)

5. Noah (2014)

4. The Fountain (2006)

3. The Wrestler (2008)

2. Black Swan (2010)

1. Requiem for a Dream (2000)

Richard Attenborough

3. Cry Freedom (1987)

2. Chaplin (1992)

1. Gandhi (1982)

Michael Bay

8. Transformers (2007)

7. 6 Underground (2019)

6. 13 Hours (2016)

5. The Island (2005)

4. Bad Boys (1995)

3. The Rock (1996)

2. Bad Boys II (2003)

1. Pain & Gain (2011)

Robert Benton

5. Nobody’s Fool (1994)

4. Twilight (1998)

3. The Human Stain (2003)

2. Bonnie & Clyde (1967)

1. Kramer vs. Kramer (1979)

Luc Besson

7. Kiss of the Dragon (2001)

6. The Transporter (2002)

5. Lucy (2014)

4. Taken (2008)

3. La Femme Nikita (1990)

2. The Fifth Element (1997)

1. Leon: The Professional (1994)

Kathryn Bigelow

7. K-19: The Widowmaker (2002)

6. Near Dark (1987)

5. Point Break (1991)

4. Detroit (2017)

3. Strange Days (1995)

2. The Hurt Locker (2008)

1. Zero Dark Thirty (2012)

Neill Bloomkamp

3. Chappie (2015)

2. Elysium (2013)

1. District 9 (2009)

Anna Boden

3. Mississippi Grind (2015)

2. Captain Marvel (2019)

1. Half Nelson (2006)

Uwe Boll

4. Assault on Wall Street (2013)

3. In the Name of the King: A Dungeon Siege Tale (2007)

2. Alone in the Dark (2005)

2. Rampage (2009)

Danny Boyle

6. Steve Jobs (2015)

5. Slumdog Millionaire (2008)

4. Millions (2004)

3. 127 Hours (2010)

2. 28 Days Later…(2002)

1. Trainspotting (1996)

Kenneth Branagh

6. Murder on the Orient Express (2017)

5. Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit (2014)

4. Cinderella (2015)

3. Thor (2011)

2. Much Ado About Nothing (1993)

1. Hamlet (1996)

Tim Burton

10. Corpse Bride (2005)

9. Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007)

8. Sleepy Hollow (1999)

7. Big Fish (2003)

6. Batman Returns (1992)

5. Edward Scissorhands (1990)

4. Mars Attacks! (1996)

3. Batman (1989)

2. The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

1. Beetlejuice (1988)

James Cameron

10. Titanic (1997)

9. Piranha II: The Spawning (1981)

8. Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985)

7. Strange Days (1995)

6. The Abyss (1989)

5. Avatar (2009)

4. True Lies (1994)

3. The Terminator (1984)

2. Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)

1. Aliens (1986)

Frank Capra

3. Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939)

2. It’s A Wonderful Life (1946)

1. It Happened One Night (1934)

John Carpenter

10. Ghosts of Mars (2001)

9. Starman (1984)

8. The Fog (1980)

7. Christine (1983)

6. They Live (1988)

5. Assault on Precinct 13 (1976)

4. Big Trouble in Little China (1986)

3. Escape from New York (1981)

2. Halloween (1976)

1. The Thing (1982)

Nick Cassavetes

5. The Notebook (2004)

4. The Other Woman (2014)

3. Alpha Dog (2006)

2. John Q (2002)

1. Blow (2001)

Charlie Chaplin

4. The Great Dictator (1940)

3. The Gold Rush (1925)

2. City Lights (1928)

1. Modern Times (1936)

Damien Chazelle

4. First Man (2018)

3. La La Land (2016)

2. 10 Cloverfield Lane (2016)

1. Whiplash (2014)

Jon M. Chu

4. G.I. Joe: Retaliation (2013)

3. Step Up 3D (2010)

2. Step Up 2: The Streets (2008)

1. Crazy Rich Asians (2018)

Michael Cimino

3. Thunderbolt and Lightfoot (1974)

2. Magnum Force (1973)

1. The Deer Hunter (1978)

Ron Clements

5. Hercules (1997)

4. The Princess and the Frog (2009)

3. Moana (2016)

2. Aladdin (1992)

1. The Little Mermaid (1989)

Joel & Ethan Coen

10. Blood Simple (1984)

9. A Serious Man (2009)

8. The Ballad of Buster Scruggs (2018)

7. Inside Llewyn Davis (2013)

6. O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000)

5. Barton Fink (1991)

4. Fargo (1996)

3. Miller’s Crossing (1990)

2. No Country for Old Men (2007)

1. The Big Lebowski (1998)

Chris Columbus

10. Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief (2010)

9. Bicentennial Man (1999)

8. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002)

7. Rent (2005)

6. Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992)

5. Mrs. Doubtfire (1995)

4. Gremlins (1984)

3. Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (2001)

2. Home Alone (1990)

1. The Goonies (1985)

Francis Ford Coppola

8. The Godfather: Part III (1990)

7. The Outsiders (1983)

6. The Rainmaker (1997)

5. Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992)

4. The Conversation (1974)

3. Apocalypse Now (1979)

2. The Godfather (1972)

2. The Godfather: Part II (1974)

Sofia Coppola

5. The Bling Ring (2013)

4. The Beguiled (2017)

3. Marie Antoinette (2006)

2. The Virgin Suicides (1999)

1. Lost in Translation (2003)

Ryan Coogler

3. Fruitvale Station (2013)

2. Black Panther (2018)

1. Creed (2015)

George P. Cosmatos

4. The Cassandra Crossing (1976)

3. Leviathan (1989)

2. Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985)

2. Tombstone (1993)

Wes Craven

8. Scream 4 (2011)

7. Scream 3 (2000)

6. New Nightmare (1994)

5. Scream 2 (1997)

4. The Hills Have Eyes (1977)

3. Scream (1996)

2. A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)

1. The Last House on the Left (1972)

Michael Cristofer

3. Original Sin (2001)

2. The Night Clerk (2020)

1. Gia (1998)

David Cronenberg

5. A Dangerous Method (2011)

4. Eastern Promises (2007)

3. A History of Violence (2005)

2. eXistenZ (1999)

1. The Fly (1986)

Cameron Crowe

5. Elizabethtown (2005)

4. Vanilla Sky (2001)

3. Jerry Maguire (1996)

2. Almost Famous (2000)

1. Say Anything… (1989)

George Cukor

4. A Star is Born (1954)

3. The Philadelphia Story (1940)

2. My Fair Lady (1964)

1. Gone with the Wind (1939)

Alfonso Cuaron

7. A Little Princess (1995)

6. Great Expectations (1998)

5. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004)

4. Gravity (2013)

3. Y Tu Mama Tambien (2001)

2. Roma (2018)

1. Children of Men (2006)

John Francis Daley

4. Horrible Bosses 2 (2014)

3. Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)

2. Horrible Bosses (2011)

1. Game Night (2018)

Frank Darabont

3. The Green Mile (2001)

2. The Mist (2007)

1. The Shawshank Redemption (1994)

Andrew Davis

5. Holes (2003)

4. Above the Law (1988)

3. Under Siege (1992)

2. Collateral Damage (2002)

1. The Fugitive (1993)

Johnathan Demme

5. The Manchurian Candidate (2004)

4. Rachel Getting Married (2008)

3. Beloved (1998)

2. Philadelphia (1993)

1. The Silence of the Lambs (1991)

Guillermo Del Toro

7. Pacific Rim (2013)

6. Blade II (2002)

5. Hellboy (2004)

4. Hellboy II: The Golden Army (2008)

3. The Shape of Water (2017)

2. The Devil’s Backbone (2001)

1. Pan’s Labyrinth (2006)

Brian De Palma

10. Raising Cain (1992)

9. Dressed to Kill (1980)

8. Casualties of War (1989)

7. Femme Fatale (2002)

6. Body Double (1984)

5. Mission: Impossible (1996)

4. Carrie (1976)

3. Carlito’s Way (1993)

2. The Untouchables (1987)

1. Scarface (1983)

Howard Deutch

7. My Best Friend’s Girl (2008)

6. The Whole Ten Yards (2004)

5. The Replacements (2000)

4. Some Kind of Wonderful (1987)

3. Grumpier Old Men (1995)

2. Pretty in Pink (1986)

1. The Great Outdoors (1988)

Kirby Dick

3. The Hunting Ground (2015)

2. The Invisible War (2012)

1. This Film Is Not Yet Rated (2006)

Clint Eastwood

10. Pale Rider (1985)

9. Flags of Our Fathers (2006)

8. Million Dollar Baby (2004)

7. The Outlaw Josey Wales (1976)

6. American Sniper (2014)

5. Letters from Iwo Jima (2006)

4. Gran Torino (2008)

3. Mystic River (2003)

2. High Plains Drifter (1973)

1. Unforgiven (1992)

Roland Emmerich

8. Independence Day: Resurgence (2016)

7. White House Down (2013)

6. 2012 (2009)

5. The Day After Tomorrow (2004)

4. Universal Soldier (1992)

3. Godzilla (1998)

2. Independence Day (1996)

1. Stargate (1994)

Gareth Evans

4. Merantau (2009)

3. Apostle (2018)

2. The Raid: Redemption (2011)

1. The Raid 2: Berandal (2014)

Peter Farrelly

6. Shallow Hal (2001)

5. Hall Pass (2011)

4. Me, Myself and Irene (2000)

3. Kingpin (1996)

2. Dumb and Dumber (1994)

1. Green Book (2018)

Jon Favreau

5. The Jungle Book (2016)

4. Chef (2014)

3. Iron Man 2 (2010)

2. Iron Man (2008)

1. Elf (2003)

Paul Feig

4. Spy (2015)

3. A Simple Favor (2018)

2. Bridesmaids (2011)

1. The Heat (2013)

Glenn Ficarra

4. Whiskey Tango Foxtrot (2016)

3. I Love you Phillip Morris (2009)

2. Crazy, Stupid, Love (2011)

1. Bad Santa (2003)

David Fincher

9. Panic Room (2002)

8. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011)

7. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008)

6. Alien 3 (1992)

5. Gone Girl (2014)

4. Zodiac (2007)

3. The Social Network (2010)

2. The Game (1997)

1. Se7en (1995)

Marc Forster

6. The Kite Runner (2007)

5. World War Z (2013)

4. Stranger Than Fiction (2006)

3. Quantum of Solace (2008)

2. Finding Neverland (2004)

1. Monster’s Ball (2001)

John Frankenheimer

5. Reindeer Games (2000)

4. French Connection II (1975)

3. Ronin (1998)

2. Black Sunday (1977)

1. The Train (1964)

William Friedkin

5. Killer Joe (2011)

4. The Hunted (2003)

3. To Live and Die in L.A. (1985)

2. The French Connection (1971)

1. The Exorcist (1973)

Antoine Fuqua

10. Olympus Has Fallen (2013)

9. The Equalizer 2 (2018)

8. The Magnificent Seven (2016)

7. Tears of the Sun (2003)

6. Southpaw (2015)

5. Brooklyn’s Finest (2009)

4. King Arthur (2004)

3. Shooter (2007)

2. The Equalizer (2014)

1. Training Day (2001)

Greta Gerwig

3. Little Women (2019)

2. Frances Ha (2012)

1. Lady Bird (2017)

Terry Gilliam

6. The Brothers Grimm (2005)

5. Tideland (2005)

4. Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998)

3. 12 Monkeys (1995)

2. Brazil (1985)

1. Monty Python the Holy Grail (1975)

Michel Gondry

3. The Green Hornet (2011)

2. Be Kind Rewind (2008)

1. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)

F. Gary Gray

6. The Fate of the Furious (2017)

5. Law Abiding Citizen (2009)

4. The Italian Job (2003)

3. Be Cool (2005)

2. Straight Outta Compton (2015)

1. Friday (1995)

Paul Greengrass

7. Jason Bourne (2016)

6. Green Zone (2010)

5. United 93 (2006)

4. Captain Phillips (2013)

3. The Bourne Supremacy (2004)

2. The Bourne Ultimatum (2007)

1. Bloody Sunday (2002)

Luca Guadagnino

3. I Am Love (2009)

2. Call Me By Your Name (2017)

1. A Bigger Splash (2015)

Paul Haggis

6. The Next Three Days (2010)

5. Crash (2004)

4. In the Valley of Elah (2007)

3. Letters from Iwo Jima (2006)

2. Casino Royale (2006)

1. Million Dollar Baby (2004)

Guy Hamilton

5. The Man with the Golden Gun (1974)

4. Diamonds Are Forever (1971)

3. Force 10 from Navarone (1978)

2. Goldfinger (1964)

1. Live and Let Die (1973)

Curtis Hanson

3. 8 Mile (2002)

2. The River Wild (1994)

1. L.A. Confidential

Catherine Hardwicke

3. Twilight (2008)

2. Red Riding Hood (2011)

1. Thirteen (2003)

Amy Heckerling

4. Johnny Dangerously (1984)

3. National Lapoon’s European Vacation (1985)

2. Fast times at Ridgemont High (1982)

1. Clueless (1995)

Marielle Heller

3. The Diary of a Teenage Girl (2015)

2. A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood (2019)

1. Can You Ever Forgive Me? (2018)

Alfred Hitchcock

10. To Catch a Thief (1955)

9. Rebecca (1940)

8. Rope (1948)

7. Vertigo (1958)

6. Lifeboat (1944)

5. Dial M For Murder (1954)

4. Strangers on a Train (1951)

3. North by Northwest (1959)

2. Psycho (1960)

1. Rear Window (1954)

Bong Joon Ho

3. Okja (2017)

2. Snowpiercer (2013)

1. Parasite (2019)

Tobe Hooper

3. Eaten Alive (1976)

2. Poltergeist (1982)

1. The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)

Tom Hooper

3. The Danish Girl (2015)

2. Les Miserables (2012)

1. The King’s Speech (2010)

Ron Howard

10. Backdraft (1991)

9. Angels and Demons (2009)

8. Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018)

7. Willow (1988)

6. Frost/Nixon (2008)

5. Cinderella Man (2005)

4. Apollo 13 (1995)

3. How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)

2. A Beautiful Mind (2001)

1. Rush (2013)

Albert Hughes

5. American Pimp (1999)

4. From Hell (2001)

3. Dead Presidents (1995)

2. The Book of Eli (2010)

1. Menace II Society (1993)

John Hughes

8. Weird Science (1985)

7. Uncle Buck (1989)

6. Sixteen Candles (1984)

5. Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987)

4. Home Alone (1990)

3. National Lapoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989)

2. The Breakfast Club (1985)

1. Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986)

John Huston

3. The African Queen (1951)

2. The Maltese Falcon (1941)

1. The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948)

Peter Hyams

4. Timecop (1994)

3. 2010 (1984)

2. The Musketeer (2001)

1. End of Days (1999)

Alejandro Inarritu

4. Birdman or the Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance (2014)

3. Babel (2006)

2. 21 Grams (2003)

1. The Revenant (2015)

James Ivory

4. Call Me By Your Name (2017)

3. A Room with a View (1985)

2. The Remains of the Day (1993)

1. Howards End (1992)