Rankings of Directors' Films (J-R)

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: 7 May 2020

Updated: 14 July 2020

Peter Jackson

5. The Lovely Bones (2009)

4. King Kong (2005)

3. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)

2. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)

1. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)

Patty Jenkins

3. Exposed (2015)

2. Wonder Woman (2017)

1. Monster (2003)

Norman Jewison

4. Moonstruck (1987)

3. Fiddler on the Roof (1971)

2. The Hurricane (1999)

1. In the Heat of the Night (1967)

Roland Joffe

4. Captivity (2007)

3. The Scarlet Letter (1995)

2. The Killing Fields (1984)

1. The Mission (1986)

Rian Johnson

4. Star Wars: Episode VII – The Last Jedi (2017)

3. Knives Out (2019)

2. Looper (2012)

1. Brick (2005)

Spike Jonze

4. Jackass: The Movie (2002)

3. Her (2013)

2. Adaptation (2002)

1. Being John Malkovich (1999)

Phillip Kaufman

4. Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978)

3. The Right Stuff (1983)

2. The Unbearable Lightness of Being (1988)

1. Henry & June (1990)

Elias Kazan

4. Gentlemen’s Agreement (1947)

3. East of Eden (1955)

2. A Streetcar Named Desire (1951)

1. On the Waterfront (1954)

Gene Kelly

3. American in Paris (1964)

2. On the Town (1949)

1. Singin’ in the Rain (1952)

Irvin Kershner

3. RoboCop 2 (1990)

2. Never Say Never Again (1983)

1. Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

Brian Koppelman

7. Knockaround Guys (2001)

6. Walking Tall (2004)

5. Runner Runner (2013)

4. Runaway Jury (2003)

3. The Girlfriend Experience (2009)

2. Ocean’s Thirteen (2007)

1. Rounders (1998)

Ted Kotcheff

3. Fun with Dick and Jane (1977)

2. First Blood (1982)

1. Weekend At Bernie’s (1989)

Stanley Kramer

3. Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner (1967)

2. It’s a Mad Mad Mad World (1963)

1. Judgment at Nuremberg (1961)

Stanley Kubrick

10. Barry Lyndon (1975)

9. The Killing (1956)

8. Eyes Wide Shut (1999)

7. 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)

6. A Clockwork Orange (1971)

5. The Shining (1980)

4. Dr. Strangelove (1964)

3. Spartacus (1960)

2. Paths of Glory (1957)

1. Full Metal Jacket (1987)

Akira Kurosawa

5. Runaway Train (1985)

4. High and Low (1963)

3. Seven Samurai (1954)

2. Ran (1985)

1. Rashomon (1950)

Fritz Lang

4. The Big Heat (1953)

3. Fury (1936)

2. Metropolis (1927)

1. M (1931)

Yorgos Lanthimos

3. The Killing of a Sacred Deer (2017)

2. The Lobster (2015)

1. The Favourite (2018)

David Lean

3. The Bridge Over the River Kwai (1957)

2. Doctor Zhivago (1965)

1. Lawrence of Arabia (1962)

Mimi Leder

4. On the Basis of Sex (2018)

3. The Peacemaker (1997)

2. Pay It Forward (2000)

1. Deep Impact (1998)

Ang Lee

4. Hulk (2003)

3. Brokeback Mountain (2005)

2. Life of Pi (2012)

1. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)

Spike Lee

10. Miracle at St. Anna (2008)

9. Chi-Raq (2015)

8. School Daze (1988)

7. He Got Game (1998)

6. She’s Gotta Have It (1986)

5. Mo’ Better Blues (1990)

4. Blackkklansman (2018)

3. Inside Man (2006)

2. Do the Right Thing (1989)

1. Malcom X (1992)

Sergio Leone

5. A Fistful of Dollars (1964)

4. For a Few Dollars More (1965)

3. Once Upon a Time in America (1984)

2. The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly (1966)

1. Once Upon a Time in the West (1968)

Jonathan Levine

5. The Night Before (2015)

4. All the Boys Love Mandy Lane (2006)

3. 50/50 (2011)

2. Warm Bodies (2013)

1. Long Shot (2019)

Justin Lin

5. Fast & Furious 6 (2013)

4. Fast & Furious (2009)

3. The Fast and Furious: Tokyo Drift (2006)

2. Star Trek Beyond (2016)

1. Fast Five (2011)

Richard Linklater

10. The Newton Boys (1998)

9. Boyhood (2014)

8. Bernie (2011)

7. A Scanner Darkly (2006)

6. School of Rock (2003)

5. Everybody Wants Some! (2016)

4. Before Midnight (2013)

3. Before Sunset (2004)

2. Dazed and Confused (1993)

1. Before Sunrise (1995)

Richard Locraine

4. Firewall (2006)

3. 5 Flights Up (2014)

2. Wimbledon (2004)

1. Richard III (1995)

George Lucas

6. Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones (2002)

5. Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999)

4. Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith (2005)

3. THX 1138 (1971)

2. American Graffiti (1973)

1. Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope (1977)

Sidney Lumet

7. Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead (2007)

6. The Verdict (1982)

5. Dog Day Afternoon (1975)

4. Network (1976)

3. Long Day’s Journey into Night (1962)

2. Serpico (1973)

1. 12 Angry Men (1957)

David Lynch

3. Dune (1984)

2. Mulholland Drive (2001)

1. Elephant Man (1980)

Terrence Malick

5. Song to Song (2017)

4. To the Wonder (2012)

3. Knight of Cups (2015)

2. The Tree of Life (2011)

1. The Thin Red Line (1998)

David Mamet

8. Wag the Dog (1997)

7. Heist (2001)

6. Hoffa (1992)

5. Hannibal (2001)

4. Spartan (2004)

3. Ronin (1998)

2. Glengarry Glen Ross (1992)

1. The Untouchables (1987)

James Mangold

9. Knight & Day (2010)

8. Kate & Leopold (2001)

7. Cop Land (1997)

6. Girl, Interrupted (1999)

5. 3:10 to Yuma (2007)

4. The Wolverine (2013)

3. Walk the Line (2005)

2. Ford v. Ferrari

1. Logan (2017)

Joseph L. Mankiewicz

3. Cleopatra (1963)

2 . Sleuth (1972)

1. All About Eve (1950)

Michael Mann

9. Public Enemies (2009)

8. Miami Vice (2006)

7. L.A. Takedown (1989)

6. Ali (2001)

5. The Insider (1999)

4. Manhunter (1986)

3. The Last of the Mohicans (1992)

2. Collateral (2004)

1. Heat (1995)

James McTeigue

4. The Invasion (2007)

3. The Raven (2012)

2. Ninja Assassin (2009)

1. V for Vendetta (2005)

John McTeirnan

6. Basic (2002)

5. Last Action Hero (1993)

4. Die Hard with a Vengeance (1995)

3. The Hunt for Red October (1990)

2. Predator (1987)

1. Die Hard (1988)

Adam McKay

7. The Campaign (2012)

6. Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues (2013)

5. The Other Guys (2010)

4. The Big Short (2015)

3. Step Brothers (2008)

2. Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)

1. Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby (2006)

Fernando Meirelles

3. The Two Popes (2019)

2. The Constant Gardener (2005)

1. Ciudad de Deus (2002)

Sam Mendes

7. Spectre (2015)

6. Revolutionary Road (2008)

5. Jarhead (2005)

4. Road to Perdition (2002)

3. Skyfall (2012)

2. 1917 (2019)

1. American Beauty (1999)

Nancy Meyers

6. The Parent Trap (1998)

5. It’s Complicated (2009)

4. The Intern (2015)

3. Something’s Gotta Give (2003)

2. What Women Want (2000)

1. The Holiday (2006)

Takashi Miike

3. Sukiyaki Western Django (2007)

2. Dead or Alive (1999)

1. 13 Assassins (2010)

George Miller

6. Happy Feet (2006)

5. Babe: Pig in the City (1998)

4. Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome (1985)

3. Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)

2. Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior (1981)

1. Mad Max (1979)

Lewis Milestone

3. Ocean’s 11 (1960)

2. Mutiny on the Bounty (1962)

1. All Quiet on the Western Front (1930)

Hayao Miyazaki

3. My Neighbor Totoro (1988)

2. Spirited Away (2001)

1. Princess Mononoke (1997)

Michael Moore

3. Fahrenheit 9/11 (2004)

2. Sicko (2007)

1. Bowling for Columbine (2002)

Mira Nair

3. Kama Sutra: A Tale of Love (1996)

2. Mississippi Masala (1991)

1. Monsoon Wedding (2001)

Mike Newell

5. Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time (2010)

4. Into the West (1992)

3. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005)

2. Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994)

1. Donnie Brasco (1997)

Andrew Niccol

5. The Host (2013)

4. In Time (2011)

3. Lord of War (2005)

2. The Truman Show (1998)

1. Gattaca (1997)

Joseph McGinty Nichol (McG)

5. 3 Days to Kill (2014)

4. This Means War (2012)

3. Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle (2003)

2. Charlie’s Angels (2000)

1. Terminator: Salvation (2009)

Christopher Nolan

10. Following (1998)

9. The Dark Knight Rises (2012)

8. Insomnia (2002)

7. Batman Begins (2005)

6. The Prestige (2006)

5. Memento (2000)

4. Dunkirk (2017)

3. Inception (2010)

2. Interstellar (2014)

1. The Dark Knight (2008)

Phillip Noyce

5. The Giver (2014)

4. Salt (2010)

3. The Saint (1994)

2. Sliver (1993)

1. Patriot Games (1992)

Frank Oz

5. The Score (2001)

4. Bowfinger (1999)

3. The Indian in the Cupboard (1995)

2. Little Shop of Horrors (1986)

1. Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (1988)

Chan-wook Park

3. Stoker (2013)

2. The Handmaiden (2016)

1. Oldboy (2003)

Alexander Payne

6. Downsizing (2017)

5. The Descendants (2011)

4. Nebraska (2013)

3. Election (1999)

2. About Schmidt (2002)

1. Sideways (2004)

Drew Pearce

4. Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw (2019)

3. Iron Man 3 (2013)

2. Hotel Artemis (2018)

1. Mission Impossible – Rogue Nation (2015)

Jordan Peele

3. Keanu (2016)

2. Us (2019)

1. Get Out (2017)

Arthur Penn

3. The Miracle Worker (1962)

2. Little Big Man (1970)

1. Bonnie and Clyde (1967)

Wolfgang Peterson

6. Poseidon (2006)

5. Outbreak (1995)

4. In the Line of Fire (1993)

3. Air Force One (1997)

2. Troy (2004)

1. Das Boot (1981)

Todd Phillips

7. Due Date (2010)

6. Road Trip (2000)

5. Starsky & Hutch (2004)

4. War Dogs (2016)

3. The Hangover (2009)

2. Old School (2003)

1. Joker (2019)

Roman Polanski

4. The Pianist (2002)

3. Macbeth (1971)

2. Chinatown (1974)

1. Rosemary’s Baby (1968)

Sydney Pollack

6. The Interpreter (2005)

5. The Firm (1993)

4. Three Days of the Condor (1975)

3. Tootsie (1982)

2. Jeremiah Johnson (1972)

1. Out of Africa (1985)

Alex Proyas

4. Gods of Egypt (2016)

3. I, Robot (2004)

2. The Crow (1994)

1. Dark City (1998)

Sam Raimi

8. Spider-Man 3 (2007)

7. Oz the Great and Powerful (2013)

6. Drag Me To Hell (2009)

5. Army of Darkness (1992)

4. Evil Dead II (1987)

3. Spider-Man 2 (2004)

2. Spider-Man (2002)

1. The Evil Dead (1981)

Harold Ramis

7. Year One (2009)

6. Bedazzled (2000)

5. Analyze That (2002)

4. Analyze This (1999)

3. National Lapoon’s Vacation (1983)

2. Caddyshack (1980)

1. Groundhog Day (1993)

Brett Ratner

7. Hercules (2014)

6. Tower Heist (2011)

5. X-Men: The Last Stand (2006)

4. Rush Hour 3 (2007)

3. Red Dragon (2002)

2. Rush Hour 2 (2001)

1. Rush Hour (1998)

Robert Redford

4. The Conspirator (2010)

3. Lions for Lambs (2007)

2. Ordinary People (1980)

1. Quiz Show (1994)

Matt Reeves

3. Cloverfield (2008)

2. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014)

1. War for the Planet of the Apes (2017)

Nicolas Winding Refn

4. Only God Forgives (2013)

3. Drive (2011)

2. Bronson (2008)

1. Valhalla Rising (2009)

Rob Reiner

7. The Bucket List (2007)

6. A Few Good Men (1992)

5. When Harry Met Sally… (1989)

4. Misery (1990)

3. Stand by Me (1986)

2. This Is Spinal Tap (1984)

1. The Princess Bride (1987)

Ivan Reitman

5. Meatballs (1979)

4. Evolution (2001)

3. Stripes (1981)

2. Ghostbusters II (1989)

1. Ghostbusters (1984)

Guy Ritchie

6. The Gentlemen (2019)

5. The Man from U.N.C.L.E (2015)

4. Sherlock Holmes (2009)

3. Revolver (2005)

2. Snatch (2000)

1. Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998)

Robert Rodriguez

10. Machete Kills (2013)

9. Spy Kids (2001)

8. Once Upon a Time in Mexico (2003)

7. Planet Terror (2007)

6. Sin City: A Dame to Kill For (2014)

5. Machete (2010)

4. From Dusk Till Dawn (1996)

3. El Mariachi (1992)

2. Desperado (1995)

1. Sin City (2005)

Eli Roth

4. Death Wish (2018)

3. Knock Knock (2015)

2. Cabin Fever (2002)

1. Hostel (2005)

David O. Russell

4. American Hustle (2013)

3. Three Kings (1999)

2. Silver Linings Playbook (2012)

1. The Fighter (2010)

Anthony & Joe Russo

4. Captain America: Civil War (2016)

3. Avengers: Infinity War (2018)

2. Avengers: Endgame (2019)

1. Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)