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Are you wondering; Who are the most iconic movie directors of all time? We discuss the top movie directors from throughout film history.

Movie directors are individually recognised for their personal touches on how a movie is filmed, from Tim Burtons' gothic style to Charley Chaplins' visual directing owed to his roots in silent films. Below we list the top 50 greatest movie directors of all time, giving a summary of their style, the movies they've completed and any awards gained during their run.

The best movie directors listed below are largely taken from English-language films, but it should be noted that many great and innovative directors worked on movies using differing languages. Although many movie directors were involved in tv show production, any tv achievements are not included to allow focus on their run as movie directors.

TOP 50 Movie Directors (in no particular order)

Mel Brooks (28th June 1926 - PRESENT)

Born Melvin Kaminsky, Mel Brooks is one of the best movie directors of all time and an actor and comedian. The movies he directed have a parody style, pocking fun at other movie franchises and fairytales. His career continues to this day, spanning over a seven-decade run and producing over 40 movies.

His greatest movies include The Producers (1967), Blazing Saddles (1974), Young Frankenstein (1974), Silent Movie (1976), Spaceballs (1987), and Robin Hood: Men in Tights (1993). During his career, he's achieved one Oscar, four Emmys, three Grammys and three Tony Awards!

Woody Allen (30th November 1935 - PRESENT)

Allan Stewart Konigsberg, better known as Woody Allen, is an infamous movie director, actor, writer and comedian, with his career spanning more than six decades (1960s - 2020s). His most-famed filmography idea was to envision New York Dramatics during the late 1970s to 80s, focusing on the moral dilemmas and complicated love lives faced by the middle class.

He's best known for his classic movies from the '70s and 80s, including hit movies Annie Hall' (1977), 'Manhattan' (1979) and 'Hannah and Her Sisters' (1986).

Allen's recent films are equally acclaimed, such as; 'Midnight in Paris' (2011) and 'Blue Jasmine' (2013). Woody Allen has received many competitive awards; these are two Golden Globe Awards, four Academy Awards, and ten BAFTA awards.

Robert Altman (20th February 1925 - 20th November 2006)

Robert Altman was an American movie director, producer and screenwriter. His cinematic style is orientated around satire and dark humour with disruptive plot twists that reflect his personal views. Altman's humour has been regarded as similar to Charlie Chaplin's style by Chaplin's own daughter- Geraldine Chaplin. Altman was known for inspiring actors to improvise, enabling creative freedom and leading many actors to love working with him.

His tendency to expel the typical Hollywood mindset gained him a reputation for being non-conformist and "anti-Hollywood". Some of his greatest movies include M*A*S*H (1970), McCabe & Mrs Miller (1971), Nashville (1975), and Popeye (1980). Altman's film awards include; two Oscars, one Golden Globe Award and one Primetime Emmy Award.

Ingmar Bergman (14th July, 1918 – 30th July, 2007) 

Broadly regarded as one of the best movie directors of all time, Ingmar Bergman was a controversial Swedish director, producer, screenwriter and playwright, with a career spanning over 5 decades. He directed and completed over 60 films and documentaries, retiring from his filmmaking run in December 2003. Ingmar's film style encompassed the multifarious struggles of the soul and mind, with watchers feeling a methodic effect from his films.

During his career, he directed over 60 films, with his most notable being- The Seventh Seal (1957), Persona (1966), Cries & Whispers (1972), Fanny and Alexander (1982) and Wild Strawberries (1957). He received three Oscars for the 'Best Foreign Language Film' and various film festival achievements during his cinematic life. 

Tim Burton (25th August 1958 - PRESENT)

One of the best movie directors of all time, Tim Burton, had an incredibly unique filmography style that was defined by German Expressionism, Gothic cinematics and very smart use of lighting to create moods.

His films focused on humanity's dark parts like revenge, loneliness and death. Although it's hard to narrow down his best movies, the ones listed below are extremely well-known and loved whilst explicitly displaying Burton's unique work style.

These include; Edward Scissorhands (1990), Mars Attacks! (1996), Beetlejuice (1988), Corpse Bride (2005), Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005) and Alice in Wonderland (2010). Somehow throughout his run, Tim Burton has personally only received one Emmy Award and one Golden Globe Award throughout his career, although some others involved in the production of his films have received various awards. 

James Cameron (16th August 1954 - PRESENT)

Canadian filmmaker James Cameron is best known for producing epic science fiction movies, focusing on a dramatic 'end-of-world' event during the films. Cameron formed his own production firm, Lightstorm Entertainment, in 1990.

He went on to write and direct many of his movies, including Titanic (1977), The Terminator (1984) and Avatar (2009), often producing top-grossing films. Cameron's achieved various awards for his work, including three Oscars and five Golden Globe Awards, with his movies receiving numerous awards. 

Frank Capra (18th May 1897 - 3rd September 1991)

Born in Italy and raised in LA from age five, Frank Capra has produced over 35 films and 15 documentaries, directing some of the best, award-winning movies of the 1930s and 1940s during his movie career.

His most famed movies include; It Happened One Night (1934), Mr Deeds Goes to Town (1936), You Can't Take It with You (1938), Mr Smith Goes to Washington (1939), and It's a Wonderful Life (1946). During his run, Capra won three Oscars and one Golden Globe.

John Cassavetes (9th December 1929 - 3rd February 1989)

Originally working as a TV and film actor, John Cassavetes became a pioneering film director and screenwriter, producing over 10 movies between 1959 and 1986. His non-dominative directing style allowed the actor's creative freedom to develop characters, helping his movies portray the 'small feelings' and intricate psych of the characters often repressed by typical Hollywood filmmaking.

Some of Cassavetes's greatest movies include; Shadows (1959), Faces (1968), A Woman Under The Influence (1974) and The Killing of a Chinese Bookie (1976). 

Charlie Chaplin (16th April 1889 -  25th December 1977)

With a career spanning 75 years, Charlie Chaplin was an English filmmaker, comedic actor and composer who was renowned during the silent film era and to this day. His style is orientated around visual aspects owed to his roots in silent films, and his character 'The Tramp' often took centre stage when Chaplin acted in his movies. Chaplin directed over 15 films and acted in over 80 pictures, including; One A.M. (1916), A Woman of Paris (1923) and The Gold Rush (1925).

During his career, he received various awards for acting and directing, namely three Oscars.

Joel and Ethan Coen   (Joel: 29th November 1954 - PRESENT)  (Ethan: 21st September 1957 - PRESENT)

Known as the Coen brothers or their alias Roderick Jaynes, Joel and Ethan Coen directed over 20 films with a subvert and parody style. They had a love for Greek tragedy and combined its aspects of drama and comedy, with many of their pictures centring around eccentric characters in winding plots.

Joel and Ethan Coen's greatest movies include Raising Arizona (1987), Fargo (1996), Lebowski (1998), O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000), True Grit (2010) and The Ballad of Buster Scruggs (2018). During their joint run as movie directors, they earnt four Oscars and various other awards together and individually. 

Francis Ford Coppola  (7th April 1939 - PRESENT)

Francis Coppola was a prominent figure during the New Hollywood age (1960s - 1970s), working as one of the greatest movie directors of all time and a movie producer and screenwriter. His cinematic style often featured long build-up sequences that came to a crescendo with lots of emotion, style and intellect.

Some of his greatest works include; Apocalypse Now (1979), Jack (1996), The Godfather trilogy (1972, 1974, 1990), Jeepers Creepers (2001) and Lost in Translation (2003). Coppola has won a range of awards during his run as a movie director, including six Golden Globes, five Oscars and a BAFTA award. 

George Cukor (7th July 1899 - 24th January 1983)

Mainly focusing on comedic literary adaptions, George Dewy Cukor was an American film producer and director. Cukor's directing style focused on creating a true immersive reality aiming to let viewers forget the camera was there; he achieved this by mitigating a distinctive directing style, unlike many other directors who centred themselves around.

As a gay director, it was argued that in a less understanding time, Cukor was able to develop amazing working relationships with female actresses, producing some of their best works during his run. 

Michael Curtiz  (4th December 1886 - 24 April 1962)

Regarded as one of the best movie directors of all time, Micheal Curtiz was a Hungarian-American movie director that worked during the famed 'silent era' and 'Hollywood's Golden Age'. He directed over 100 movies and was known for enriching the swashbuckler movie genre with classics like Captain Blood (1935) and The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938). He also directed cult classics like White Christmas (1954) and Casablanca (1942), which are still revered today.

He directed his last film in 1961 and, during his career, received only one Oscar for Casablanca. 

Cecil B. DeMille (12th August 1881 - 21st January 1959)

Acknowledged as the founding father of American Cinema, American Cecil Blount DeMille was a film producer, director and actor. He directed over 70 films, both sound and silent, between 1914 and 1958 and is regarded as the most successful director in film history. His films were often sexual romantic comedies set in Biblical settings.

Some of his greatest films include; Joan the Woman (1916), The Ten Commandments (1923), The Sign of the Cross (1932), The Crusades (1935) and The Greatest Show on Earth (1952). During his long film career, he received only one Oscar amongst various other awards and honours later to celebrate his long service and pioneering in the film industry. 

Clint Eastwood (31 May 1930 - PRESENT)

First, rising to international fame as an actor in the "Dollars Trilogy" and continuing to play similar roles made Eastwood a symbol of desired masculinity for many viewers. Eastwood later began directing, producing and composing for films, creating over 35 movies during his career and being considered one of the greatest movie directors of all time.

Some of his greatest films include; Unforgiven (1992), Mystic River (2003), Million Dollar Baby (2004) and American Sniper (2014). Eastwood received four Oscars and four Golden Globe Awards, among a large amount other miscellaneous awards throughout his continuing career as one of the best movie directors in film history. 

John Ford  (1st February 1894 - 31st August 1973)

American movie director and ex-naval officer John Martin Feeney, professionally known as John Ford, was renowned for both Western movies and 20th-century literary adaptions, directing over 140 films throughout his film career (1913 to 1971). Some of his most well-known movies include; The Iron Horse (1924), The Informer (1935), Stagecoach (1939) and The Searchers (1956). During his career, he won various awards, including six Oscars. 

D.W. Griffith  (23rd July 1948 - 22nd January 1875)

D.W. Griffith was regarded as one of the greatest movie directors of all time, pioneering various editing techniques and cultivating the narrative film genre. During his impressive career, he produced over 500 films, all of which were silent apart from three; some most notable ones include The Birth of a Nation (1915), Intolerance (1916), Broken Blossoms (1919), Way Down East (1920) and The Struggle (1931).

Griffith only received one Honouaray Academy Award, although his reputation as the 'father of film' maintains his importance in cinema history. 

Howard Hawks  (30th May 1896 - 26th December 1977)

American film producer, director and screenwriter Howard Winchester Hawks was dubbed 'the greatest American director who isn't a household name' by critic Leonard Maltin. Hawks tampered with various film genres like science fiction, comedy, dramas, film noir, westerns and gangster films. During the classic Hollywood era, Hawks produced over 28 films, with some of his most acclaimed beings; Scarface (1932), Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953) and The Thing from Another World (1951).

Although he's an important figure in cinema history, Hawks has only received one Honouaray Academy Award, amongst other miscellaneous awards. 

Alfred Hitchcock (13th August 1899 - 29th April 1980)

With a career spanning over six decades, Sir Alfred Joseph Hitchcock remains one of the best movie directors in cinematic history. Many of his works are still widely enjoyed and examined to this day, as he was renowned for building fierce suspense and expressing the characters' feelings without the need for narration.

During his film career, he directed over 50 films, most notably Dial M for Murder (1954), Vertigo (1958), Psycho (1960) and The Birds (1963). Even with his prominence in cinema, Hitchcock only received one Honourary Academy Award during his career, although his films were nominated over 50 times. 

John Huston (5th August 1906 - 28th August 1987)

John Huston was an American director, actor, screenwriter and visual artist. Unlike most movie directors, Huston liked to create his films authentically whilst filming, rather than leaving aspects for editing during post-production. Huston also tended to sketch scenes out on paper before filming, enabling him to frame characters precisely. Many of his films envisioned differing groups of people working towards a shared goal when something goes drastically wrong, creating dramatic visual tension.

Huston directed over 35 films, with his most notable being: The African Queen (1951), Moby Dick (1956), Freud: the Secret Passion (1962) and Fat City (1972). Overall, Huston was nominated over 15 times for the Oscars, winning two Oscar Awards.

Peter Jackson (31st October 1961 - PRESENT)

New Zealand film producer, director and screenwriter Sir Peter Robert Jackson is well recognised for his work writing, producing and directing the famed Lords of the Ring and Hobbit Trilogy. Jackson's style was to use various angles to create drama, especially during fight scenes.

Some of his most notable works include; Lord of the Ring Trilogy (2001, 2002, 2003), The Hobbit (2012, 2013, 2014), Heavenly Creatures (1994), King Kong (2005) and Mortal Engines (2018). During his career, he received three Oscars, four BAFTA Awards and one Gloden Globe, amongst other less accredited awards.

Elia Kazan (7th September 1909 - 28th September 2003)

Described as 'one of the most honoured and influential directors in Broadway and Hollywood history' by The New York Times, Elia Kazan was an American film and theatre director, actor, producer and screenwriter. Some stand-out films include State of Grace (1990), Pinky (1949), Gone Baby Gone (2007) and SnowPiercer (2013). During his film career, Kazan received three Oscars, two Tony Awards and four Golden Globes.

Stanley Kubrick (26th July 1928 - 7th March 1999)

Stanley Kubrick was an American film producer, director, screenwriter and photographer, mostly known for his adaptations of short stories and novels. Kubrick created in various genres, including film noir, horror, historical romance, war and more, producing over 15 movies during his career.

His cinematography style curated a sense of realism and dark humour with memorable cinematography, intricate set designs and provocative use of music. During his career, he's produced over movies, with many being controversial and receiving mixed reviews initially. These films later became cult classics and received various awards, including three BAFTA Awards and one Oscar.

Some of his most memorable movies include; Lolita (1962), A Space Odyssey (1968), A Clockwork Orange (1971) and The Shining (1980).

Akira Kurosawa (23rd March 1910 - 6th September 1998)

Directing over thirty films over five decades, Japanese filmmaker Akira Kurosawa is regarded as one of the best movie directors of all time. Kurosawa was also a painter before entering the Japanese film industry in 1936. Kurosawa's cinematography style followed the traditional Hollywood style with bold and dynamic scenes whilst following a chronological and linear plotline.

Some of his most famed films include; Seven Samurai (1954), Throne of Blood (1957), Red Beard (1965) and Kagemusha (1980). During his career, he received three Oscars and one BAFTA Award.

Fritz Lang (5th December 1890 - 2nd August 1976)

Austrian-German-American film director and screenwriter 'Fritz' Lang was dubbed the "Master of Darkness" by the British Film Institute, largely owed to his use of German Expressionism. His film plots regularly followed characters working towards their destiny and dealing with fate as it comes.

Some of his most notable films include; Dr Mabue the Gambler (1922), Metropolis (1927), The Woman in the Window (1944), Scarlet Street (1945), You Only Live Once (1937) and The Big Heat (1953). Lang received no major awards during his film career; some suggest this is due to his tyrant behaviour on set.

David Lean (25th March 1908 - 16th April 1991)

Sir David Lean was an English producer, director, screenwriter, and editor best known for his great epic movies. Lean was a fan of pictorial photography and creative editing methods, with many agreeing Lean pioneered a new sense of romance in his epics. During his run as a movie, director Lean directed over 15 films and received two Academy Awards, six BAFTA Awards and three Golden Globe Awards.

Some of his most well-recognised works include; Great Expctations (1946), Oliver Twist (1948), Madeleine (1950) and A Passage to India (1984).

Spike Lee (20th March 1957 - PRESENT)

Born 'Shelton Jackson', Spike Lee is an American film producer, director, actor and screenwriter producing over 50 films. Many of which deal with current controversial political and social issues, as seen with Malcom X (1992), or more recent BlacKkKlansman (2018) and Da 5 Bloods (2020). Moreover, he's been responsible for some famous music videos from Prince, Micheal Jackson and Eminem. During his career, he has gained one Oscar.

Sergio Leone (3rd January 1929 - 30th April 1989)

Internationally famed for devising the culturally interesting 'Spaghetti Western' genre, Sergio Leone is an Italian film producer, director and screenwriter that has worked on over 20 movies. Spaghetti Westerns refer to Western movies generally made by Italian directors during the late 1960s. His filming style used extreme close-ups and extra-long shots.

Some of his most well-known works include the 'Dollars Trilogy' starring famed western actor Clint Eastwood. Although nominated for BAFTA and Golen Globe, Leone received no major awards for his films.

Ernst Lubitsch (29th January 1892 - 30th November 1947)

German-born Ernst Lubitsch was an American film producer, director, actor and writer. Lubitsch often used elegant humour with a sophisticated flair, gaining him a reputation of prestige and mastery. Some of his most famed works include; Trouble in Paradise (1932), The Great McGinty (1940) and To Be or Not to Be (1942). During his career, he received no major awards, apart from a Special Academy Award for his "25-year contribution to motion pictures". 

George Lucas (14th May 1944 - PRESENT)

American film producer, director, screenwriter and entrepreneur George Lucas is a household name owed to his creation of the Star Wars (1977 - 2019) and Indiana Jones (1981 - 2008) franchises. Many agree his push for filmmaking to become an entrepreneurial model made drastic changes to the way films are designed, marketed and distributed, owed to his successful franchises becoming cash cows and creating several income streams from the movies.

George Lucas has received one honourary Oscar, one BAFTA, and two Emmys and is considered one of the greatest movie directors of all time. 

David Lynch (20 January 1946 - PRESENT)

American filmmaker, visual artist, painter, actor, writer and musician David Keith Lynch is best known for being 'the first populist surrealist'. Many of his movies are surrealist and use dream imagery and particular sound design techniques. Notable movies completed by Lynch include; Lost Highway (1997), The Elephant Man (1980), Dune (1984) and Mulholland Drive (2001).

Lynch hasn't received any major awards during his career but has been nominated various times and won other miscellaneous awards.

Terrence Malick (30 November 1943 - PRESENT)

Beginning his career in the New Hollywood phase, film director, producer, and screenwriter Terrence Malick has produced over 10 films during his career. His filmography style often allowed the viewer to feel like a 'fly on the wall' as the camera distractingly followed intricate movements that may not seem like the obvious action to pay attention to.

Some of his greatest films completed include; Days of Heaven (1978), The Thin Red Line (1998), The New World (2005) and Song to Song (2017). Malick has received no major awards yet acquired various nominations and miscellaneous awards. 

Joseph L. Mankiewicz (11th February 1909 - 5th February 1993)

Joseph Mankiewicz had a long Hollywood film career working as a film producer, director and screenwriter. During this time, he completed over 20 movies, including; The Philadelphia Story (1940), A Letter to Three Wives (1949), All About Eve (1950), and The Honey Pot (1967). Mankiewicz was described as a 'literary director', using witty banter and inherent intelligence. During his career, he received four Oscars and one Golden Globe.

Vincente Minnelli  (28th February 1903 - 25th July 1986)

American film and stage director Vincente Minnelli was known for directing the classic movie musicals Meet Me in St. Louis (1944), The Band Wagon (1953) and Gigi (1958). Minnelli was fond of the words 'magic' and 'beauty', with many of his films having moments that encase these ideologies. He has received one Golden Globe and one Oscar.

Mike Nichols (6th November 1931 - 19th November 2014)

Noted for his work in a wide range of genres, Mike Nichols was an American film and theatre producer, director, comedian and actor. On set, Nichols was known for bringing the best out of all his actors and, during his career, directed over 20 films. 

Some of his most notable movies include; Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966), The Graduate (1967), Working Girl (1988), Closer (2004) and Charlie Wilson's War (2007). 

Sam Peckinpah (21st February 1925 - 28th December 1984)

David Samuel Peckinpah, fondly known as "Bloody Sam" owed to his use of gore and violence in movies, was an American film director and screenwriter. Peckinpah's movies focused on the battle between ideals and values whilst displaying the violence and corruption in society.

Some of his completed films include; Major Dundee (1965), The Getaway (1972), Cross of Iron (1977) and Convoy (1978). Peckinpah received no major awards during his career.

Arthur Penn (27th September 1922 - 28th September 2010)

American film, TV and theatre producer and director Arthur Hiller Penn was heavily connected to the American New Wave of cinema. It's argued his re-introduction of classic European sensibility style to American film enabled a new wave of cinema (the 60s).

Penn produced various acclaimed movies during the 1960s, including The Chase (1966), Bonnie and Clyde (1967) and western revival Little Big Man (1970). Although he never received any major awards, he was given some honorary awards and one Emmy. 

Roman Polanski (18th August 1933 - PRESENT)

One of the most infamous movie directors, Roman Polanski, was once a revered figure in the film until the late 1970s when he was found guilty in his serious sexual assault trial. Polanski illegally fled the USA and remains a fugitive, yet this didn't stop Polanski from producing films as recent as three years ago.

During his career, he completed at least 40 pictures, such as; The Fearless Vampire Killers (1967), Rosemary's Baby (1968), The Pianist (2003), Oliver Twist (2005), and An Officer and a Spy (2019). Polanski received two Golden Globe Awards, two BAFTAs and one Oscar.

Michael Powell (30th September 1905 - 19th February 1990)

Celebrated for his partnership with Emeric Pressburger and joint film company 'The Archers', Michael Powell is an English filmmaker responsible for the production of at least 15 movies during his run. Powell's film Peeping Tom (1960) was considered one of the first 'slasher' movies.

Some notable films include; A Canterbury Tale (1944), The Red Shoes (1948), and The Tales of Hoffmann (1951). During his career, he only received one Honouaray BAFTA; however, he was quoted as an inspiration for various directors, including Francis Ford Coppola and George A. Romero. 

Otto Preminger (5th December 1905 - 23rd April 1986)

Austro-Hungarian-born Otto Ludwig Preminger had a five-decade-long run as a theatre and film director, producer, and actor, during this time, he directed over 35 films. His later film style was considered boundary-pushing as it dealt with taboo subjects of that time, including drug addiction, homosexuality and rape.

Some of his completed works include; Fallen Angel (1945), Anatomy of a Murder (1959), Advise & Consent (1962) and The Human Factor (1979).

Martin Scorsese (17th November 1942 - PRESENT)

American film producer, director, and screenwriter Martin Charles Scorsese received a lot of awards during his career, including; one Oscar, three Emmys, one Grammy, four BAFTA's and three Golden Globes. In his movies, Scorsese regularly used slow motion and freeze frames to highlight the facial expressions and emotions portrayed by characters.

Scorsese has directed various box office hits, including; Taxi Driver (1976), Goodfellas (1990), The Age of Innocence (1993), Shutter Island (2010), The Wolf of Wall Street (2013) and The Irishman (2019).

Ridley Scott (30th November 1937 - PRESENT)

English movie director and producer Sir Ridley Scott is known for producing 'epics' in various genres, including science-fiction films such as; Alien (1979), Blade Runner (1982) and, more recently, The Martian (2015). In other genres, he created Thelma & Louise (1991), and the recent box office hit The House of Gucci (2021).

Questionably during his comprehensive career, Scott has received various nominations, but no wins for major awards; this can be pinned on the way the awards are decided to allow personal relationships to become factored into the voting process.

Steven Spielberg (18th December 1946 - PRESENT)

Arguably, Steven Spielberg is the most commercially successful, most awarded and greatest movie director of all time, producing over 30 movies during his run.

Many movies he produced were huge hits, including; Jaws (1975), E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982), Jurassic Park (1993) and The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997), along with more recent films Ready Player One (2018). Speilberg's use of CGI paved the way for new techniques, and he embraced new technology; during his career, he received personally received two Oscars, with his movies winning a high number of awards collectively. 

Oliver Stone (15th September 1946 - PRESENT)

Oliver Stone is an American film producer, director and screenwriter best known for portraying his controversial political views during the 20th Century through his films. Many accused him of spreading 'conspiracy theories' as he went against the Hollywood mindset and spoke freely, thus dubbing many of his movies 'antagonistic' by critics at the time of their release.

Some of his most tendentious and greatest films include; Wall Street (1987), JFK (1991), Natural Born Killers (1994), Nixon (1995) and World Trade Center (2006). Before his film directing career began, Stone helped write scripts for drug trade movies like Scarface and Midnight Express. Stone has been awarded three Oscars, one Emmy and one BAFTA. 

Preston Sturges (29th August 1898 - 6th August 1959)

American film director, screenwriter and playwright Preston Surges was known for his development of the screwball comedy genre in the 1930s. Surges built on this genre by writing dialogue that was well ahead of its time yet seemingly natural for the characters, even in absurd situations. Many of his movies portray whimsical love stories and battles of the sexes for relationship dominance.

Some of his greatest works include The Great McGinty (1940), The Lady Eve (1941), Sullivan's Travels (1941), and The Palm Beach Story (1942). Surges has received one Oscar and various other miscellaneous awards. 

Quentin Tarantino (27th March 1963 - PRESENT)

Another household name, Quentin Tarantino, is considered one of the greatest directors, as well as a critic, author and actor. His cinematography style encompasses pop culture and cinema history whilst employing scenes of glorified violence, dark humour, extensive profanity use and non-linear storylines.

Many of his greatest films have become cult classics, including Pulp Fiction (1994) and the Kill Bill film series (2003, 2004), whilst his recent releases Django Unchained (2012) and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019) are also receiving great praise. 

Orson Welles (6th May 1915 - 10 October 1985)

Considered one of the greatest filmmakers in cinema history, Orson Welles worked on over 65 movies. The American film director, producer, screenwriter and actor was best known for his pioneering work in radio. Welles' adaptation of H.G. Wells' novel 'The War of the Worlds' was so realistic that listeners believed the events were occurring in real-time and began to panic, gaining him a reputation as a creative genius.

Some of his greatest films include Citizen Kane (1941), The Magnificent Ambersons (1942) and Touch of Evil (1958). During his film career Welles received one Oscar and one Honourary Academy Award. 

Billy Wilder  (22nd June 1906 – 27th March 2002)

With a film career spanning five decades, Billy Wilder was considered one of the most versatile, brilliant minds of the Classic Hollywood era. Wilder's directing style aimed to maintain storyline importance by not homing in on singular scenes and producing memorable dialogue.

Some of his greatest films include; Ninotchka (1939), Indemnity (1944), The Lost Weekend (1945) and Some Like It Hot (1959). During his career, he received seven Oscars, one BAFTA and one Golden Globe. 

William Wyler (1st July 1902 - 27th July 1981)

Swiss-German-American movie director and producer William Wyler was regarded as 'second to only John Ford' as an expert craftsman of film. Wyler tended to multiple layers of action in one scene, creating a 'deep focus' style of filmmaking.

Some of his most memorable works include; The Best Years Of Our Lives (1946), The Heiress (1949), How to Steal a Million (1966) and Funny Girl (1968). Wyler has been nominated numerous times for awards, receiving three Oscars and two BAFTA's.

Robert Zemeckis (14th May 1952- PRESENT)

Famed for his direction of one of the greatest film franchises: Back to the Future Trilogies (1985, 1989, 1990), Robert Zemeckis is one of the greatest movie directors, producers and screenwriters in film history. Zemeckis' filmography style often focuses on a sense of 'selfhood' focusing on characters' internal explorations of belonging, and as CGI developed, Zemeckis, applied this to portray his artistic vision and wow viewers.

Some of his greatest works include cult -classics; Forrest Gump (1995), Polar Express (2004) and the revival of the classic movie Witches (2020). Even though Zemeckis directed and completed some of the biggest movies in cinema history, he has only received one Oscar for Forrest Gump throughout his continuing run as one of the greatest movie directors of all time.

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