Directors
by MaeveDonley | created - 07 Aug 2017 | updated - 19 Dec 2020 | Public1. Christopher Nolan
Writer | Tenet
Best known for his cerebral, often nonlinear, storytelling, acclaimed writer-director Christopher Nolan was born on July 30, 1970, in London, England. Over the course of 15 years of filmmaking, Nolan has gone from low-budget independent films to working on some of the biggest blockbusters ever made.
...
Memento) Batman Begins) The Prestige) The Dark Knight) Inception) The Dark Knight Rises) Interstellar) Dunkirk
2. Brad Bird
Writer | The Incredibles
Phillip Bradley "Brad" Bird is an American director, screenwriter, animator, producer and occasional voice actor, known for both animated and live-action films. Bird was born in Kalispell, Montana, the youngest of four children of Marjorie A. (née Cross) and Philip Cullen Bird. His father worked in...
The Iron Giant) The Incredibles) Ratatouille) Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol) Incredibles 2
3. J.J. Abrams
Producer | Lost
Jeffrey Jacob Abrams was born in New York City and raised in Los Angeles, the son of TV producer parents. At 15, he wrote the music for Don Dohler's Nightbeast (1982). In his senior year of college, he and Jill Mazursky teamed up to write a feature film, which became Taking Care of Business (1990)....
Lost (TV Series, 2 episodes) Mission: Impossible III) Star Trek) Super 8) Star Trek: Into Darkness) Star Wars: The Force Awakens
4. Joss Whedon
Producer | Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Joss Whedon is the middle of five brothers - his younger brothers are Jed Whedon and Zack Whedon. Both his father, Tom Whedon and his grandfather, John Whedon were successful television writers. Joss' mother, Lee Stearns, was a history teacher and she also wrote novels as Lee Whedon. Whedon was ...
Firefly (TV Series, 3 episodes) Serenity) The Avengers) Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (TV Series, 1 episode) Avengers: Age of Ultron
5. Andrew Stanton
Writer | WALL·E
Andrew Stanton has been a major creative force at Pixar Animation Studios since 1990, when he became the second animator and ninth employee to join the company's elite group of computer animation pioneers. As Vice President, Creative he currently oversees all shorts and feature projects at the ...
A Bug's Life (co-director) Finding Nemo) WALL·E) Stranger Things (TV Series, 2 episodes)
6. Steven Spielberg
Producer | Schindler's List
One of the most influential personalities in the history of cinema, Steven Spielberg is Hollywood's best known director and one of the wealthiest filmmakers in the world. He has an extraordinary number of commercially successful and critically acclaimed credits to his name, either as a director, ...
Raiders of the Lost Ark) Twilight Zone: The Movie (segment "Kick the Can") Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom) Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade) Minority Report) Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull) The Adventures of Tintin) War Horse
7. Kenneth Branagh
Actor | Henry V
Kenneth Charles Branagh was born on December 10, 1960, in Belfast, Northern Ireland, to parents William Branagh, a plumber and carpenter, and Frances (Harper), both born in 1930. He has two siblings, William Branagh, Jr. (born 1955) and Joyce Branagh (born 1970). When he was nine, his family ...
Hamlet) Thor) Cinderella) Murder on the Orient Express
8. Pete Docter
Writer | Up
Pete Docter is the Oscar®-winning director of "Monsters, Inc.," "Up," and "Inside Out," and Chief Creative Officer at Pixar Animation Studios. He is currently directing Pixar's feature film "Soul" with producer Dana Murray, which is set to release June 19, 2020.
Starting at Pixar in 1990 as the ...
Monsters, Inc.) Mike's New Car (Video short) Up
9. Tom Hooper
Director | Cats
Tom Hooper was educated at one of England's most prestigious schools, Westminster. His first film, Runaway Dog, was made when he was 13 years old and shot on a Clockwork 16mm Bolex camera, using 100 feet of film. At age 18, he wrote, directed and produced the short film Painted Faces (1992), which ...
John Adams (TV Mini-Series, 7 episodes) The King's Speech) Les Misérables
10. Jon Favreau
Producer | Chef
Initially an indie film favorite, actor Jon Favreau has progressed to strong mainstream visibility into the millennium and, after nearly two decades in the business, is still enjoying character stardom as well as earning notice as a writer/producer/director.
The amiable, husky-framed actor with the ...
Elf) Zathura: A Space Adventure) Iron Man) Iron Man 2
11. Chris Noonan
Writer | Babe
Chris Noonan was born on November 14, 1952 in Sydney, Australia. He is a writer and director, known for Babe (1995), Stepping Out (1980) and Miss Potter (2006).
Babe) Miss Potter
12. Phil Lord
Writer | The Lego Movie
Philip A. Lord is an American filmmaker, producer and writer who collaborates with Christopher Miller. They both worked on Clone High, a cult classic animated sci-fi teen comedy show, The Lego Movie, 21 Jump Street, 22 Jump Street and Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. Into the Spider-Verse is ...
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs) The Lego Movie
13. Christopher Miller
Writer | The Lego Movie
Christopher Miller is an American filmmaker, producer and writer who collaborates with Philip A. Lord. They both worked on Clone High, a cult classic animated sci-fi teen comedy show, The Lego Movie, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, 21 Jump Street, 22 Jump Street and Spider-Man: Into the ...
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs) The Lego Movie
14. Sam Raimi
Director | Spider-Man
Highly inventive U.S. film director/producer/writer/actor Sam Raimi first came to the attention of film fans with the savage, yet darkly humorous, low-budget horror film, The Evil Dead (1981). From his childhood, Raimi was a fan of the cinema and, before he was ten-years-old, he was out making ...
Spider-Man) Spider-Man 2) Spider-Man 3) Oz the Great and Powerful
15. Irvin Kershner
Director | Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back
Irvin Kershner was born on April 29, 1923 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. A graduate of the University of Southern California film school, Kershner began his career in 1950, producing documentaries for the United States Information Service in the Middle East. He later turned to television, directing...
Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back) Never Say Never Again
16. George Lucas
Writer | Star Wars
George Walton Lucas, Jr. was raised on a walnut ranch in Modesto, California. His father was a stationery store owner and he had three siblings. During his late teen years, he went to Thomas Downey High School and was very much interested in drag racing. He planned to become a professional racecar ...
Look at Life (Short) Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope) Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace) Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones) Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith
17. Francis Lawrence
Director | The Hunger Games: Catching Fire
Francis Lawrence is an American filmmaker. He started directing over sixty music videos before he directed the cult classic Keanu Reeves film Constantine, I Am Legend and Water for Elephants. He also directed The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Parts 1 and 2, and Red ...
I Am Legend) The Hunger Games: Catching Fire) The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1) The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2
18. John Lounsbery
Animation_department | Lady and the Tramp
John Lounsbery was an American animator and animation director from Cincinnati, Ohio. He eventually became one of "Disney's Nine Old Men", a group of senior animators who were in charge of the Walt Disney Animation Studios from c. 1945 to 1977. Lounsbery died in 1976, with his death leading to the ...
Winnie the Pooh and Tigger Too (Short) The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh) The Rescuers
19. Wolfgang Reitherman
Director | The AristoCats
Wolfgang Reitherman was a German-born American animator who was one of Disney's Nine Old Men.
He began working for Disney in 1933, along with future Disney legends Ward Kimball and Milt Kahl. The three worked together on a number of classic Disney shorts.
Reitherman directed several Disney animated ...
One Hundred and One Dalmatians) The Sword in the Stone) Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree (Short) The Jungle Book) Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day (Short) The Aristocats) The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh) The Rescuers) The Fox and the Hound (earlier film clips, uncredited)
20. Peter Weir
Director | Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World
Peter Weir was born on August 21, 1944 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. He is a director and writer, known for Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (2003), The Way Back (2010) and Witness (1985). He has been married to Wendy Stites since 1966. They have two children.
Witness) The Truman Show) Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World
21. Robert Zemeckis
Writer | Back to the Future
A whiz-kid with special effects, Robert is from the Spielberg camp of film-making (Steven Spielberg produced many of his films). Usually working with writing partner Bob Gale, Robert's earlier films show he has a talent for zany comedy (Romancing the Stone (1984), 1941 (1979)) and special effect ...
Back to the Future) Back to the Future Part II) Back to the Future Part III) The Polar Express
22. Bryan Singer
Director | X-Men
Bryan Singer is an American film director and producer who got his start by directing The Usual Suspects. He was hired by 20th Century Fox to direct X-Men, which kick-started the superhero renaissance. He later directed three sequels. He went to direct Superman Returns, a revival of the Superman ...
X-Men) X2: X-Men United) Superman Returns) X-Men: Days of Future Past) X-Men: Apocalypse
23. Nick Park
Writer | The Curse of the Were-Rabbit
Nick Park was born on December 6, 1958 in Preston, Lancashire, England, UK. He is a writer and producer, known for Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit (2005), Chicken Run (2000) and Wallace & Gromit: A Grand Day Out (1989).
A Grand Day Out (Short) The Wrong Trousers (Short) A Close Shave (Short) Chicken Run) The Curse of the Were-Rabbit
24. John Lasseter
Writer | Toy Story 2
Although born in Hollywood, John and his twin sister Johanna were raised in Whittier near Los Angeles. His parents were Jewell Mae (Risley), an art teacher, and Paul Eual Lasseter, a parts manager at a Chevrolet dealership. His mother's profession contributed to his interest in animation and ...
Luxo Jr. (Short) Red's Dream (Short) Tin Toy (Short) Knick Knack (Short) Toy Story) A Bug's Life) Toy Story 2) Cars) Mater and the Ghostlight (Video short) Pixar Short Films Collection 1 (Video) Mater's Tall Tales (TV Mini-Series, 7 episodes) Cars 2
25. Norman Ferguson
Director | Dumbo
Norman Ferguson was born on September 2, 1902 in Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA. He was a director and production manager, known for Dumbo (1941), Pinocchio (1940) and Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937). He was married to Gladys F.. He died on November 4, 1957 in Los Angeles, ...
Pinocchio (sequence director) Fantasia (: in most releases - segment "Dance of the Hours", as Norm Ferguson, uncredited) Dumbo (sequence director)
26. T. Hee
Director | Pinocchio
T. Hee was born on March 26, 1911 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA. He was a writer, known for Pinocchio (1940), Variety Girl (1947) and The Parent Trap (1961). He was married to Patti Price. He died on October 30, 1988 in Carbon County, Montana, USA.
Pinocchio (sequence director) Fantasia (: in most releases - segment "Dance of the Hours", uncredited)
27. Stephen J. Anderson
Director | Meet the Robinsons
Stephen J. Anderson was born on June 5, 1970 in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. He is a director, known for Meet the Robinsons (2007), Winnie the Pooh (2011) and The Emperor's New Groove (2000). He has been married to Heather Anderson since March 27, 1993. They have one child.
Meet the Robinsons) Winnie the Pooh
28. Gavin Hood
Director | Tsotsi
Gavin Hood was born on May 12, 1963 in Johannesburg, South Africa. He is an actor and director, known for Tsotsi (2005), Official Secrets (2019) and Eye in the Sky (2015). He was previously married to Janine Eser.
X-Men Origins: Wolverine) Ender's Game
29. Jun Falkenstein
Art_department | Stillwater
Jun Falkenstein is an award-winning, experienced animation director, writer, story artist and musician, and one of the rare working female animation directors in Hollywood. Her career has been extremely varied and extensive, encompassing theatrical, television and internet media.
She grew up in ...
A Winnie the Pooh Thanksgiving (Video short) Winnie the Pooh: Seasons of Giving (Video, segment "A Winnie the Pooh Thanksgiving") The Tigger Movie
30. Tim Burton
Producer | Edward Scissorhands
Timothy Walter Burton was born in Burbank, California, to Jean Rae (Erickson), who owned a cat-themed gift shop, and William Reed Burton, who worked for the Burbank Park and Recreation Department. He spent most of his childhood as a recluse, drawing cartoons, and watching old movies (he was ...
Edward Scissorhands) Big Fish) Charlie and the Chocolate Factory) Alice in Wonderland
31. Buster Keaton
Actor | The General
Joseph Frank Keaton was born on October 4, 1895 in Piqua, Kansas, to Joe Keaton and Myra Keaton. Joe and Myra were Vaudevillian comedians with a popular, ever-changing variety act, giving Keaton an eclectic and interesting upbringing. In the earliest days on stage, they traveled with a medicine ...
One Week (Short) Convict 13 (Short) Hard Luck (Short) The Play House (Short) Cops (Short) The Blacksmith (Short) The Electric House (Short) Daydreams (Short) The Balloonatic (Short) The Love Nest (Short) Our Hospitality) Sherlock Jr.) The Navigator) The General) College (uncredited) Steamboat Bill, Jr. (uncredited) The Cameraman (uncredited)
32. Doug Liman
Producer | Live Die Repeat: Edge of Tomorrow
Douglas Eric Liman is a Jewish-American filmmaker and producer who directed Swingers, The Bourne Identity, Chaos Walking, Jumper, Go, Mr. & Mrs. Smith, Fair Game, Locked Down, Edge of Tomorrow, The Wall and American Made. He executive produced the Bourne sequels except The Bourne Legacy, The ...
The Bourne Identity) Jumper) Edge of Tomorrow
33. Martin Scorsese
Director | Taxi Driver
Martin Charles Scorsese was born on November 17, 1942 in Queens, New York City, to Catherine Scorsese (née Cappa) and Charles Scorsese, who both worked in Manhattan's garment district, and whose families both came from Palermo, Sicily. He was raised in the neighborhood of Little Italy, which later ...
Raging Bull) Shutter Island) Hugo
34. Wes Anderson
Director | Fantastic Mr. Fox
Wesley Wales Anderson was born in Houston, Texas. His mother, Texas Ann (Burroughs), is an archaeologist turned real estate agent, and his father, Melver Leonard Anderson, worked in advertising and PR. He has two brothers, Eric and Mel. Anderson's parents divorced when he was a young child, an ...
Rushmore) The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou) Fantastic Mr. Fox) Moonrise Kingdom
35. Joel Coen
Producer | The Ballad of Buster Scruggs
Joel Daniel Coen is an American filmmaker who regularly collaborates with his younger brother Ethan. They made Raising Arizona, Barton Fink, Fargo, The Big Lebowski, True Grit, O Brother Where Art Thou?, Burn After Reading, A Serious Man, Inside Llewyn Davis, Hail Caesar and other projects. Joel ...
Raising Arizona) Barton Fink
36. Ethan Coen
Producer | The Ballad of Buster Scruggs
The younger brother of Joel, Ethan Coen is an Academy Award and Golden Globe winning writer, producer and director coming from small independent films to big profile Hollywood films. He was born on September 21, 1957 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. In some films of the brothers- Ethan & Joel wrote, Joel...
Raising Arizona (uncredited) Barton Fink (uncredited)
37. Jonathan Frakes
Actor | Star Trek: First Contact
Jonathan Scott Frakes was born on August 19, 1952 in Bellefonte, in central Pennsylvania. He is the son of Doris J. (Yingling) and Dr. James R. Frakes, a professor. His parents moved with Jonathan and his younger brother Daniel to Bethlehem in eastern Pennsylvania. There, his father taught English ...
Star Trek: The Next Generation (TV Series, 8 episodes) Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (TV Series, 3 episodes) Star Trek: Voyager (TV Series, 3 episodes) Star Trek: First Contact) Star Trek: Insurrection) Castle (TV Series, 3 episodes) Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (TV Series, 1 episode)
38. Ron Clements
Writer | Hercules
Ron Clements is an American animated film director who collaborates with John Musker. They directed various Disney animated films including The Great Mouse Detective, The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, Hercules, Treasure Planet, The Princess and the Frog and Moana. The Little Mermaid and Aladdin are ...
The Little Mermaid) Aladdin) Hercules) The Princess and the Frog) Moana
39. John Musker
Writer | Hercules
John Musker is an American animated film director who collaborates with Ron Clements. They directed various Disney animated films including The Great Mouse Detective, The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, Hercules, Treasure Planet, The Princess and the Frog and Moana. The Little Mermaid and Aladdin are ...
The Little Mermaid) Aladdin) Hercules) The Princess and the Frog) Moana
40. Rob Minkoff
Director | The Lion King
Rob Minkoff was born on August 11, 1962 in Palo Alto, California, USA. He is a producer and director, known for The Lion King (1994), Stuart Little 2 (2002) and The Forbidden Kingdom (2008). He has been married to Crystal Kung Minkoff since September 29, 2007. They have two children.
The Lion King) Stuart Little
41. James Algar
Director | The African Lion
James Algar studied at Stanford where he developed his skills as a cartoonist by drawing for the university's satirical magazine, The Chaparral. He joined the Disney Organisation in 1934, initially as animator. He directed the classic "Sorcerer's Apprentice" segment of Fantasia (1940), as well as ...
Fantasia (: in most releases - segment "The Sorcerer's Apprentice" uncredited) Bambi (sequence director) The Jungle Book (earlier film clips, uncredited)
42. Samuel Armstrong
Director | Dumbo
Samuel Armstrong was born on February 5, 1893 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA. He was a director and writer, known for Dumbo (1941), Bambi (1942) and Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937). He died on September 29, 1976 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.
Fantasia (: in most releases - segments "Toccata and Fugue in D Minor" "The Nutcracker Suite" uncredited) Dumbo (sequence director) Bambi (sequence director)
43. David Carson
Director | Star Trek: Generations
David Carson was born in England. He is known for Star Trek: Generations (1994), From the Earth to the Moon (1998) and Blood Wedding. He is married to Kim Braden. They have two children.
Star Trek: The Next Generation (TV Series, 4 episodes) Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (TV Series, 4 episodes) Star Trek: Generations) One Tree Hill (TV Series, 3 episodes) Unstoppable
44. Matthew Vaughn
Producer | Kick-Ass
Matthew Vaughn is an English film producer and director. He is known for producing such films as Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998) and Snatch (2000) and for directing the crime thriller, Layer Cake (2004), the fantasy epic, Stardust (2007), the superhero comedy, Kick-Ass (2010), and the ...
Stardust) X-Men: First Class
45. John G. Blystone
Director | Men on Call
John G. Blystone was born on December 2, 1892 in Rice Lake, Wisconsin, USA. He was a director and producer, known for Men on Call (1930), Our Hospitality (1923) and Ankles Preferred (1927). He was married to Gwendolyn Davis. He died on August 6, 1938 in Beverly Hills, California, USA.
Balloonatics (Short) Our Hospitality
46. John Ford
Director | The Quiet Man
John Ford came to Hollywood following one of his brothers, an actor. Asked what brought him to Hollywood, he replied "The train". He became one of the most respected directors in the business, in spite of being known for his westerns, which were not considered "serious" film. He won six Oscars, ...
The Quiet Man) The Searchers
47. Joe Johnston
Director | Captain America: The First Avenger
Joseph Eggleston Johnston II is an American film director from Texas who is known for directing the cult classic film The Rocketeer, Jumanji, Honey, I Shrunk the Kids, The Wolfman, October Sky, The Pagemaster, Jurassic Park III and Captain America: The First Avenger. He was an art director for ...
Honey, I Shrunk the Kids) October Sky) Captain America: The First Avenger
48. Charles Nichols
Animation_department | Alice in Wonderland
Charles August "Nick" Nichols was an American animator and film director. He was born in Milford, Utah, a small ranching town.
Nichols started his career at the Dsney studio. His first film credit was for the film "Pinocchio" (1940), where he animated the villainous Coachman. He served as a film ...
Charlotte's Web) The New Tom & Jerry Show (TV Series) The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (TV Series, 1 episode)
49. Lee Unkrich
Editor | Coco
Lee Unkrich is an Academy Award-winning director at Pixar Animation Studios. He most recently directed Disney.Pixar's critically-acclaimed "Coco", which received the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature and Best Song.
As the director of Disney.Pixar's "Toy Story 3," Lee was also awarded an ...
Toy Story 2 (co-director) Monsters, Inc. (co-director) Finding Nemo (co-director) Toy Story 3
50. Michael Apted
Director | Amazing Grace
Michael Apted was born on February 10, 1941 in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, England, UK. He was a director and producer, known for Amazing Grace (2006), Gorillas in the Mist (1988) and Rome (2005). He was married to Paige Simpson, Dana Stevens and Jo Apted. He died on January 7, 2021 in Los Angeles,...
The World Is Not Enough) Amazing Grace) The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader
51. Scott Derrickson
Producer | The Black Phone
Scott Derrickson is an American filmmaker who is known for directing horror films such as Deliver Us from Evil, Hellraiser: Inferno, Sinister and The Exorcism of Emily Rose. He also directed the superhero film Doctor Strange starring Benedict Cumberbatch. He decided not to direct Doctor Strange in ...
The Day the Earth Stood Still) Doctor Strange
52. Jon Turteltaub
Director | Cool Runnings
Jon Turteltaub was born on August 8, 1963 in New York City, New York, USA. He is a producer and director, known for Cool Runnings (1993), While You Were Sleeping (1995) and Phenomenon (1996). He has been married to Amy Eldon since July 6, 2006. They have three children.
Think Big) While You Were Sleeping) National Treasure) Jericho (TV Series, 2 episodes)
53. Duncan Jones
Director | Moon
Duncan Jones was born on May 30, 1971 in Bromley, Kent, England, UK. He is a director and writer, known for Moon (2009), Source Code (2011) and Mute (2018). He has been married to Rodene Ronquillo since November 6, 2012. They have two children.
Moon) Source Code
54. Alfonso Cuarón
Producer | Gravity
Alfonso Cuarón Orozco was born on November 28th 1961 in Mexico City, Mexico. From an early age, he yearned to be either a film director or an astronaut. However, he did not want to enter the army, so he settled for directing. He didn't receive his first camera until his twelfth birthday, and then ...
A Little Princess) Children of Men
55. Chris Columbus
Producer | Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
Born in Pennsylvania and raised in Ohio, Chris Columbus was first inspired to make movies after seeing "The Godfather" at age 15. After enrolling at NYU film school, he sold his first screenplay (never produced) while a sophomore there. After graduation Columbus tried to sell his fourth script, "...
Home Alone) Rent
56. Rob Marshall
Director | Mary Poppins Returns
Rob Marshall was born on October 17, 1960 in Madison, Wisconsin, USA. He is a director and producer, known for Mary Poppins Returns (2018), Chicago (2002) and Into the Woods (2014).
Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides) Into the Woods
57. Brian De Palma
Director | Body Double
Brian De Palma is one of the well-known directors who spear-headed the new movement in Hollywood during the 1970s. He is known for his many films that go from violent pictures, to Hitchcock-like thrillers. Born on September 11, 1940, De Palma was born in Newark, New Jersey in an Italian-American ...
Mission: Impossible) Mission to Mars
58. Mark Dindal
Writer | Chicken Little
Mark Dindal is an American animation film director, writer and voice actor from Columbus, Ohio who is known for directing the comedy classic Disney film The Emperor's New Groove. He is also known for directing Warner Brothers' musical Cats Don't Dance and Disney's Chicken Little. He provided ...
The Emperor's New Groove) Chicken Little
59. Mark Andrews
Director | Brave
Mark Andrews was born on September 12, 1968 in Los Angeles County, California, USA. He is a director and writer, known for Brave (2012), John Carter (2012) and Circle of Stone (2020).
One Man Band (Short) Brave
60. Robert Wise
Director | West Side Story
Robert Earl Wise was born on September 10, 1914 in Winchester, Indiana, the youngest of three sons of Olive R. (Longenecker) and Earl Waldo Wise, a meat packer. His parents were both of Pennsylvania Dutch (German) descent. At age nineteen, the avid moviegoer came into the film business through an ...
The Sound of Music) Star Trek: The Motion Picture
61. Chuck Jones
Actor | Gremlins
Starting as a cel washer, Chuck Jones worked his way up to animator and then director at the animation division of Warner Bros. He is famous for creating such beloved cartoon characters as Wile E. Coyote, Henery Hawk, Pepé Le Pew, Marvin the Martian, Ralph Wolf, Road Runner, Sam Sheepdog, Sniffles,...
62. Phil Monroe
Animation_department | The Bugs Bunny/Road Runner Movie
Phil Monroe was born on October 31, 1916 in Long Beach, California, USA. She was a director and writer, known for The Bugs Bunny/Road-Runner Movie (1979), Daffy Duck's Movie: Fantastic Island (1983) and Daffy Duck's Quackbusters (1988). She was married to Beverly Lynn Rogers. She died on July 13, ...
63. Clyde Geronimi
Director | Cinderella
Clyde Geronimi was born on June 12, 1901 in Chiavenna, Lombardy, Italy. He was a director, known for Cinderella (1950), Alice in Wonderland (1951) and Peter Pan (1953). He died on April 24, 1989 in Newport Beach, California, USA.
64. Wilfred Jackson
Director | Cinderella
Wilfred Jackson was born on January 24, 1906 in Chicago, Illinois, USA. He was a director, known for Cinderella (1950), Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937) and Alice in Wonderland (1951). He died on August 7, 1988 in Balboa Island, Newport Beach, California, USA.
65. Joseph Barbera
Producer | ABC Afterschool Specials
Joseph Roland Barbera was an American animator, film director, and television producer. He was the co-founder of the company Hanna-Barbera, with his longtime partner William Hanna.
Barbera was born in an Italian-American family. His parents were barbershop-owner Vincent Barbera (1889-1965) and ...
66. Walt Disney
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
Walter Elias Disney was born on December 5, 1901 in Chicago, Illinois, the son of Flora Disney (née Call) and Elias Disney, a Canadian-born farmer and businessperson. He had Irish, German, and English ancestry. Walt moved with his parents to Kansas City at age seven, where he spent the majority of ...
67. Friz Freleng
Director | The Bugs Bunny Show
Friz Freleng was born Isadore Freleng on August 21, 1906 in Kansas City, Missouri. With no formal training in drawing, his first job as an animator was with United Film Advancement Services in 1924 at the age of 17. The first work Friz is credited with was for Disney Studios where he worked as an ...
68. Andrew Adamson
Director | Shrek 2
Andrew Adamson was born on December 1, 1966 in Auckland, New Zealand. He is a producer and director, known for Shrek 2 (2004), Shrek (2001) and The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005). He has been married to Michelle Jonas since 2018. He was previously married to ...
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe) The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian
69. Guy Ritchie
Director | Sherlock Holmes
Guy Ritchie was born in Hatfield, Hertfordshire, UK on September 10, 1968. After watching Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969) as a child, Guy realized that what he wanted to do was make films. He never attended film school, saying that the work of film school graduates was boring and ...
Sherlock Holmes) Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows
70. Peter Jackson
Producer | The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
Sir Peter Jackson made history with The Lord of the Rings trilogy, becoming the first person to direct three major feature films simultaneously. The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers and The Return of the King were nominated for and collected a slew of awards from around the globe, with The ...
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring) The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers) The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King) The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey) The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
71. Gore Verbinski
Director | Rango
Gore Verbinski, one of American cinema's most inventive directors who was a punk-rock guitarist as a teenager and had to sell his guitar to buy his first camera, is now the director of Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (2006) which made the industry record for highest opening weekend of ...
Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl) Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest) Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End
72. James Gunn
Writer | Guardians of the Galaxy
James Gunn was born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri, to Leota and James Francis Gunn. He is from a large Catholic family, with Irish and Czech ancestry. His father and his uncles were all lawyers. He has been writing and performing as long as he can remember. He began making 8mm films at the age ...
Guardians of the Galaxy) Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2
73. Marc Webb
Director | (500) Days of Summer
Marc Webb is an American film and music video director. He directed over 100 music videos before he made his film directorial debut with 500 Days of Summer, a romantic comedy. He later directed The Amazing Spider-Man and its 2014 sequel starring Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone. He also directed ...
The Amazing Spider-Man) The Amazing Spider-Man 2
74. Wes Ball
Director | Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials
Wes Ball was born on October 28, 1980 in the USA. He is a director, known for Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials (2015), The Maze Runner (2014) and Maze Runner: The Death Cure (2018).
The Maze Runner) Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials
75. Raymond Jafelice
Art_department | Babar: King of the Elephants
Raymond Jafelice was born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. He is known for Babar: King of the Elephants (1999), Stella and Sam (2011) and Little Bear (1995).
Little Bear: Meet Little Bear (Video) Little Bear (TV Series, 13 episodes) The Little Bear Movie
76. Anthony Russo
Producer | Everything Everywhere All at Once
Anthony J. Russo is an American filmmaker and producer who works alongside his brother Joseph Russo. They have directed You, Me and Dupree, Cherry and the Marvel films Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Captain America: Civil War, Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame. Endgame is one of ...
Captain America: The Winter Soldier) Captain America: Civil War) Avengers: Infinity War) Avengers: Endgame
77. Joe Russo
Director | Avengers: Endgame
Joseph Vincent Russo is an American filmmaker and producer who works alongside his brother Anthony Russo. They have directed You, Me and Dupree, Cherry and the Marvel films Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Captain America: Civil War, Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame. Endgame is one ...
Captain America: The Winter Soldier) Captain America: Civil War) Avengers: Infinity War) Avengers: Endgame
78. Richard Lester
Director | A Hard Day's Night
Richard Lester was one of the most influential directors of the 1960s, and continued his career into the 1970s and early '80s. He is best remembered for the two films he helmed starring The Beatles: A Hard Day's Night (1964) and Help! (1965), the frenetic cutting style of which was seen by many as ...
A Hard Day's Night) Help!
79. Paul Greengrass
Director | United 93
Paul Greengrass started his filmmaking career with a super 8 camera he found in his art room in secondary school. Those short movies were animation horror films he made using old dolls, artist dummies, and the general art room clutter.
After studying in Cambridge University he got into Granada ...
The Bourne Supremacy) The Bourne Ultimatum
80. Guy Hamilton
Director | Live and Let Die
Typically British stiff-upper-lip war dramas and action adventure laced with moments of sophisticated comedy were Guy Hamilton's trademark. The son of a British diplomat, he spent most of his youth with his family in France, seemingly destined to be groomed for a career in the diplomatic service. ...
Goldfinger) Diamonds Are Forever) Live and Let Die) The Man with the Golden Gun
81. John Glen
Director | The Living Daylights
He started on the Shepperton Studios cutting rooms in 1948 working on such as 'The Wooden Horse' and 'The Third Man' before moving to Nettlefold Studios where his stay was interrupted by two years National Service after which he joined Group 3 at Beaconsfield . His next move was becoming sound ...
For Your Eyes Only) Octopussy) A View to a Kill) The Living Daylights) Licence to Kill
82. Martin Campbell
Director | Casino Royale
Martin Campbell knows how to entertain an audience when he steps behind the camera. When he directed The Mask of Zorro (1998), the movie earned Academy Award and Golden Globe nominations and launched the international careers of Antonio Banderas and Catherine Zeta-Jones. Next, when he helmed ...
GoldenEye) The Mask of Zorro) Casino Royale
83. Peyton Reed
Director | Ant-Man
Peyton Reed is an American film director, screenwriter and producer who is known for directing Bring It On, Ant-Man, Ant-Man and the Wasp and Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. He also directed Yes Man, Down with Love and The Break-Up. He directed episodes of The Mandalorian and Back to the Future.
Ant-Man) Ant-Man and the Wasp
84. Harold Ramis
Writer | Ghostbusters
Born on November 21, 1944 in Chicago, Illinois, Harold Allen Ramis got his start in comedy as Playboy magazine's joke editor and reviewer. In 1969, he joined Chicago's Second City's Improvisational Theatre Troupe before moving to New York to help write and perform in "The National Lampoon Show" ...
Groundhog Day
85. Agnieszka Holland
Director | Pokot
Having graduated from FAMU in Prague film (1971), Agnieszka Holland returned to Poland and began her film career working with Krzysztof Zanussi as assistant director, and Andrzej Wajda as her mentor. Her first feature film was PROVINCIAL ACTORS (1978), one of the flagship pictures of the "cinema of...
The Secret Garden
86. Gary Ross
Writer | The Hunger Games
Gary Ross is an American writer, director and actor born November 3rd, 1956 in Los Angeles, California. His father was screenwriter Arthur A. Ross (1920 - 2008). After writing for television series The Hitchhiker (1983) in 1986, Ross broke through by penning the Tom Hanks hit Big (1988), his first ...
The Hunger Games
87. Rob Reiner
Actor | All in the Family
Robert Reiner was born in New York City, to Estelle Reiner (née Lebost) and Emmy-winning actor, comedian, writer, and producer Carl Reiner.
As a child, his father was his role model, as Carl Reiner created and starred in The Dick Van Dyke Show. Estelle was also an inspiration for him to become a ...
The Princess Bride
88. Norman Jewison
Director | Jesus Christ Superstar
Norman Jewison was an award-winning, internationally acclaimed filmmaker who produced and directed some of the world's most memorable, entertaining and socially important films, exploring controversial and complicated subjects and giving them a universal accessibility. Some of his most well-known ...
Fiddler on the Roof
89. Kurt Wimmer
Writer | Equilibrium
Kurt Wimmer was born on March 9, 1964. He is a writer and producer, known for Equilibrium (2002), Total Recall (2012) and Point Break (2015).
Equilibrium
90. Lana Wachowski
Writer | The Matrix
Lana Wachowski and her sister Lilly Wachowski, also known as the Wachowskis, are the duo behind such ground-breaking movies as The Matrix (1999) and Cloud Atlas (2012). Born to mother Lynne, a nurse, and father Ron, a businessman of Polish descent, Wachowski grew up in Chicago and formed a tight ...
The Matrix
91. Lilly Wachowski
Writer | The Matrix
Director, writer, and producer Lilly Wachowski was born in 1967 in Chicago, the daughter of Lynne, a nurse and painter, and Ron, a businessman. Lilly was educated at Kellogg Elementary School in Chicago, before moving on to Whitney M. Young High School. After graduating from high school, she ...
The Matrix
92. Frank Nissen
Writer | Mulan
Frank Nissen is known for Mulan (1998), Tarzan (1999) and Treasure Planet (2002).
Pooh's Heffalump Movie
93. Nick Castle
Director | The Last Starfighter
Nick Castle was born on September 21, 1947 in Los Angeles, California, USA. He is a writer and director, known for The Last Starfighter (1984), The Boy Who Could Fly (1986) and Escape from New York (1981). He has been married to Mary Charlene Napp since December 31, 1981. They have one child.
Dennis the Menace
94. Milos Forman
Director | One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
Milos Forman was born Jan Tomas Forman in Caslav, Czechoslovakia, to Anna (Svabova), who ran a summer hotel, and Rudolf Forman, a professor. During World War II, his parents were taken away by the Nazis, after being accused of participating in the underground resistance. His father died in ...
Amadeus
95. Richard Marquand
Director | Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi
Richard Marquand was born on September 22, 1937 in Llanishen, Cardiff, Glamorgan, Wales, UK. He was a director and producer, known for Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983), Jagged Edge (1985) and NBC Special Treat (1975). He was married to Carol Bell and Josephine Marquand. He died on ...
Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi
96. Brian Percival
Director | The Book Thief
Brian Percival is known for The Book Thief (2013), Downton Abbey (2010) and About a Girl (2001).
The Book Thief
97. Stanley Kramer
Producer | Judgment at Nuremberg
Stanley Kramer was born on September 29, 1913 in Hell's Kitchen [now Clinton], Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA. He was a producer and director, known for Judgment at Nuremberg (1961), Guess Who's Coming to Dinner (1967) and Inherit the Wind (1960). He was married to Karen Sharpe, Anne P. ...
It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World
98. Denis Villeneuve
Director | Dune: Part One
Denis Villeneuve is a French Canadian film director and writer. He was born in 1967, in Trois-Rivières, Québec, Canada. He started his career as a filmmaker at the National Film Board of Canada. He is best known for his feature films Arrival (2016), Sicario (2015), Prisoners (2013), Enemy (2013), ...
Arrival
99. Ken Hughes
Writer | Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
Ken Hughes was an award-winning writer and director who flourished in the 1950s and 1960s, though he continued directing into the early 1980s. Born in Liverpool, England, on January 19, 1922, Hughes decided early in his life that he wanted to be a filmmaker. When he was 14 years old he won an ...
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
100. Nathan Greno
Actor | Tangled
Nathan Greno was born in Kenosha, Wisc., on the southwestern shores of Lake Michigan. As a child, he developed a love for drawing, which quickly evolved into a passion for visual storytelling. Influenced by comic books and newspaper comic strips, he started filling tablets of paper full of sketches...
Tangled
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