Danny Elfman's Directors

1. Richard Elfman

Richard grew up in the Crenshaw district of Los Angeles (Boyz n the Hood), was a semi-professional boxer, food and wine critic and successful stage director. He is also a noted Afro-Latin percussionist and with his brother, Danny Elfman, founded the band Oingo-Boingo.

Richard's theatrical career ...

1 project 1980 - Forbidden Zone

2. 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 ...

17 projects 1985 - Pee-wee's Big Adventure 1986 - "Alfred Hitchcock Presents" The Jar 1988 - Beetlejuice 1989 - Batman 1990 - Edward Scissorhands 1992 - Batman Returns 1996 - Mars Attacks! 1999 - Sleepy Hollow 2001 - Planet of the Apes 2003 - Big Fish 2005 - Charlie and the Chocolate Factory 2005 - Corpse Bride 2010 - Alice in Wonderland 2012 - Dark Shadows 2012 - Frankenweenie 2014 - Big Eyes 2019 - Dumbo

3. William Dear

Director | Harry and the Hendersons

William Dear was born on November 30, 1944 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. He is a director and writer, known for Harry and the Hendersons (1987), The Rocketeer (1991) and Timerider: The Adventure of Lyle Swann (1982).

1 project 1985 - "Amazing Stories" Mummy Daddy

4. Alan Metter

Director | Back to School

Metter grew up in the Boston area, lived in the Hollywood Hills for most of his adult life, and moved to South Florida in 2009.

Alan began his creative life at Doyle Dane Bernbach (DDB), the legendary advertising agency. In the late 1970s, Metter leaped at the opportunity to direct some of the first...

1 project 1986 - Back to School

5. Stephen R. Johnson

Director | Peter Gabriel: Steam

Stephen R. Johnson was born on July 12, 1952 in Paola, Kansas, USA. He was a director and editor, known for Peter Gabriel: Steam (1992), Peter Gabriel: Sledgehammer (1986) and Pee-wee's Playhouse (1986). He died on January 26, 2015 in Fort Scott, Kansas, USA.

2 projects 1986 - "Pee-wee's Playhouse" Monster in the Playhouse 1986 - "Pee-wee's Playhouse" The Cowboy and the Cowntess

6. Emilio Estevez

Actor | The Way

Emilio Estevez was born on May 12, 1962, in New York City. He is the eldest son of actor Martin Sheen, who at the time was just breaking into the business. His mother, Janet Sheen (née Templeton), was a former New York art student who had met Emilio's father right after he had moved to Manhattan. ...

1 project 1986 - Wisdom

7. 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...

1 project 1987 - "Amazing Stories" Family Dog

8. Carl Reiner

Writer | The Dick Van Dyke Show

Carl Reiner is a legend of American comedy, who achieved great success as a comic actor, a director, producer and recording artist. He won nine Emmy Awards, three as an actor, four as a writer and two as a producer. He also won a Grammy Award for his album "The 2,000 Year Old Man", based on his ...

1 project 1987 - Summer School

9. Martin Brest

Director | Scent of a Woman

Martin Brest was born on August 8, 1951 in The Bronx, New York City, New York, USA. He is a director and writer, known for Scent of a Woman (1992), Midnight Run (1988) and Beverly Hills Cop (1984).

1 project 1988 - Midnight Run

10. Randal Kleiser

Director | Grease

Randal Kleiser has been an internationally known film director since the release of his first feature, Grease (1978). Other features include The Blue Lagoon (1980) with Brooke Shields, Summer Lovers (1982) starring Peter Gallagher and Daryl Hannah, Grandview, U.S.A. (1984) with Jamie Lee Curtis, ...

1 project 1988 - Big Top Pee-wee

11. Michael Dinner

Producer | The Wonder Years

Michael Dinner is known for The Wonder Years (1988), Justified (2010) and Chicago Hope (1994).

1 project 1988 - Hot to Trot

12. Sally Cruikshank

Animation_department | Mannequin

Sally Cruikshank was born in Chatham, New Jersey, USA. She is known for Mannequin (1987), Top Secret! (1984) and Ruthless People (1986). She is married to Jon Davison.

1 project 1988 - Face Like a Frog (short)

13. Richard Donner

Director | Superman

Richard Donner was born on April 24, 1930 in The Bronx, New York City, New York, USA. He was a director and producer, known for Superman (1978), Ladyhawke (1985) and Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut (1980). He was married to Lauren Shuler Donner. He died on July 5, 2021 in Los Angeles, ...

1 project 1988 - Scrooged

14. Clive Barker

Writer | Nightbreed

Born in Liverpool, England, UK, Clive Barker is an English writer, director, and visual artist, best known for his works in the genres of horror and dark fantasy. His mother Joan Ruby (née Revill) was a painter and school welfare officer and his father Leonard Barker was a personnel director for an...

1 project 1990 - Nightbreed

15. Warren Beatty

Actor | Heaven Can Wait

Since starring in his first film, Splendor in the Grass (1961), Warren Beatty has been said to have demonstrated a greater longevity in movies than any actor of his generation. Few people have taken so many responsibilities for all phases of the production of films as producer, director, writer, ...

1 project 1990 - Dick Tracy

16. 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 ...

5 projects 1990 - Darkman 1998 - A Simple Plan 2002 - Spider-Man 2004 - Spider-Man 2 2013 - Oz the Great and Powerful

17. Howard Deutch

Director | Pretty in Pink

Howard Deutch was born on September 14, 1950 in New York City, New York, USA. He is a director and producer, known for Pretty in Pink (1986), Some Kind of Wonderful (1987) and The Great Outdoors (1988). He has been married to Lea Thompson since July 23, 1989. They have two children.

1 project 1992 - Article 99

18. Jon Amiel

Director | Copycat

After studies in English literature, Jon Amiel graduated from Cambridge University and ran the Oxford and Cambridge Shakespeare Company, which often toured the USA. He became the Hampstead Theatre Company's literary manager and began directing there, relocating to the Royal Shakespeare Company.

...

1 project 1993 - Sommersby

19. Henry Selick

Director | Coraline

Henry Selick is a film director, specializing in films with stop-motion animation. He has formal training as an animator.

Selick was born in Glen Ridge, New Jersey, son of Charles H. Selick and Melanie Molan. He was mostly raised in Rumson, New Jersey. As a child, Selick took up drawing as a hobby. ...

1 project 1993 - The Nightmare Before Christmas

20. Caroline Thompson

Writer | Edward Scissorhands

Caroline Thompson was born on April 23, 1956 in Washington, District of Columbia, USA. She is a writer and producer, known for Edward Scissorhands (1990), The Addams Family (1991) and The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993). She is married to Steve Nicolaides. She was previously married to Henry ...

1 project 1994 - Black Beauty

21. Taylor Hackford

Producer | Ray

In addition to helming the iconic feature hits An Officer and a Gentleman (1982), Against All Odds (1984), Ray (2004), and the cult thriller The Devil's Advocate (1997), Taylor Hackford has directed the films Dolores Claiborne (1995), Everybody's All-American (1988), and Proof of Life (2000). ...

2 projects 1995 - Dolores Claiborne 2000 - Proof of Life

22. Gus Van Sant

Director | Elephant

Gus Green Van Sant Jr. is an American filmmaker, painter, screenwriter, photographer and musician from Louisville, Kentucky who is known for directing films such as Good Will Hunting, the 1998 remake of Psycho, Gerry, Elephant, My Own Private Idaho, To Die For, Milk, Last Days, Finding Forrester, ...

8 projects 1995 - To Die For 1997 - Good Will Hunting 1998 - Psycho 2008 - Milk 2011 - Restless 2012 - Promised Land 2017 - "When We Rise" Part I 2018 - Don't Worry, He Won't Get Far on Foot

23. Albert Hughes

Director | The Book of Eli

Albert and Allen Hughes began making movies at age 12, but their formal film education began their freshman year of high school when Allen took a TV production class. They soon made a short film entitled How To Be A Burglar and people began to take notice. Their next work, Uncensored videos, was ...

1 project 1995 - Dead Presidents

24. Allen Hughes

Director | The Book of Eli

Albert and Allen Hughes began making movies at age 12, but their formal film education began their freshman year of high school when Allen took a TV production class. They soon made a short film entitled How To Be A Burglar and people began to take notice. Their next work, Uncensored videos, was ...

1 project 1995 - Dead Presidents

25. Matthew Bright

Writer | Freeway

Matthew Bright was born on June 8, 1952. He is a writer and director, known for Freeway (1996), Ted Bundy (2002) and Forbidden Zone (1980).

1 project 1996 - Freeway

26. 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 ...

1 project 1996 - Mission: Impossible

27. 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 ...

1 project 1996 - The Frighteners

28. 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,...

1 project 1996 - Extreme Measures

29. Barry Sonnenfeld

Director | Men in Black

Barry Sonnenfeld was born and raised in New York City. He graduated from New York University Film School in 1978. He started work as director of photography on the Oscar-nominated In Our Water (1982). Then Joel Coen and Ethan Coen hired him for Blood Simple (1984). This film began his collaboration...

3 projects 1997 - Men in Black 2002 - Men in Black II 2012 - Men in Black 3

30. Les Mayfield

Director | Blue Streak

Les Mayfield was born on December 23, 1959 in Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA. He is a producer and director, known for Blue Streak (1999), The Man (2005) and Flubber (1997).

1 project 1997 - Flubber

31. Steven Zaillian

Writer | Searching for Bobby Fischer

Steven Zaillian was born on January 30, 1953 in Fresno, California, USA. He is a writer and producer, known for Searching for Bobby Fischer (1993), The Irishman (2019) and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011). He is married to Elizabeth Zaillian. They have two children.

1 project 1998 - A Civil Action

32. 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.

1 project 1999 - Instinct

33. Wayne Wang

Director | Smoke

Wayne Wang is a key figure in the development of independent filmmaking, alternating major Hollywood studio films such as »The Joy Luck Club« with smaller, independent work like »Smoke«. Continuing to work in the two different worlds, Wang directed an independent digital film, »The Center of the ...

1 project 1999 - Anywhere But Here

34. Brett Ratner

Director | Red Dragon

Brett Ratner is one of Hollywood's most successful filmmakers. His diverse films resonate with audiences worldwide and, as director, his films have grossed over $2 billion at the global box office. Brett began his career directing music videos before making his feature directorial debut at 26 years...

2 projects 2000 - The Family Man 2002 - Red Dragon

35. Robert Rodriguez

Producer | El mariachi

Robert Anthony Rodriguez was born and raised in San Antonio, Texas, USA, to Rebecca (Villegas), a nurse, and Cecilio G. Rodríguez, a salesman. His family is of Mexican descent.

Of all the people to be amazed by the images of John Carpenter's 1981 sci-fi parable, Escape from New York (1981), none ...

1 project 2001 - Spy Kids

36. Brian Hedenberg

Director | Lemures

By his early twenties, Brian Hedenberg had acquired an extensive and particularly unique resume, which includes experience as a composer, pilot, musician, stable boy, bouncer, producer, and even fashion designer. Eventually, Hedenberg tried his luck at film directing, and found a warm reception for...

1 project 2001 - Mazer World (short)

37. 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).

1 project 2002 - Chicago

38. Ang Lee

Director | Xi yan

Born in 1954 in Pingtung, Taiwan, Ang Lee has become one of today's greatest contemporary filmmakers. Ang graduated from the National Taiwan College of Arts in 1975 and then came to the U.S. to receive a B.F.A. Degree in Theatre/Theater Direction at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, ...

2 projects 2003 - Hulk 2009 - Taking Woodstock

39. Brian Reed Garvin

Actor | Centurion A.D.

Brian Reed Garvin is an Los Angeles based Actor, Director, Composer that was born in River Forest, Illinois. As a child Brian performed with his family in church and appeared in school plays and musicals. Brian went through Chicago's "Second City" training and also appeared in plays and commercials...

1 project 2005 - No Experience Needed (short)

40. Howard Hall

Cinematographer | Deep Sea

Howard Hall is known for Deep Sea (2006), Wild Window: California Skies (2023) and Wild Window: Whales (2015). He is married to Michele Hall.

1 project 2006 - Deep Sea

41. Jared Hess

Director | Napoleon Dynamite

Jared Lawrence Hess and Jerusha Elizabeth Hess (née Demke; born May 12, 1980) are husband-and-wife American filmmakers best known for their work on Napoleon Dynamite (2004), Nacho Libre (2006) and Gentlemen Broncos (2009), all of which they co-wrote and which were directed by Jared (Nacho Libre was...

1 project 2006 - Nacho Libre

42. Gary Winick

Producer | Tadpole

Gary Winick was born on March 31, 1961 in New York City, New York, USA. He was a producer and director, known for Tadpole (2002), Charlotte's Web (2006) and The Tic Code (1998). He died on February 27, 2011 in New York City, New York, USA.

1 project 2006 - Charlotte's Web

43. 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.

1 project 2007 - Meet the Robinsons

44. Peter Berg

Actor | Chicago Hope

Peter Berg is an American actor, director, writer, and producer. His first role was in the Adam Rifkin road movie Never on Tuesday (1988). He went on to star in the World War 2 film A Midnight Clear (1992). Roles in Fire in the Sky (1993) and Cop Land (1997) followed, and the Tom Cruise films ...

1 project 2007 - The Kingdom

45. Errol Morris

Director | The Fog of War: Eleven Lessons from the Life of Robert S. McNamara

His documentaries helped spur a rebirth of non-fiction film in the 80s & garnered wide critical success. But until 2003's "The Fog of War," Morris was shunned by the Academy Awards.

Morris' first two films won much acclaim (Gates of Heaven (1978) and Vernon, Florida (1981)). In the second movie, ...

2 projects 2008 - Standard Operating Procedure 2013 - The Unknown Known

46. Timur Bekmambetov

Director | Nochnoy dozor

Timur Bekmambetov is a Kazakh-Russian film director known for vampire franchise Night Watch (2004) and Day Watch (2006).

He was born Timur Nuruakhitovich Bekmambetov on June 25, 1961, in Guryev, Soviet Union (now Atyrau, Kazakhstan). His father, Nuruakhit Bekmambetov, is a manager at Guryev Energy ...

1 project 2008 - Wanted

47. Guillermo del Toro

Writer | El laberinto del fauno

Guillermo del Toro was born October 9, 1964 in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico. Raised by his Catholic grandmother, del Toro developed an interest in filmmaking in his early teens. Later, he learned about makeup and effects from the legendary Dick Smith (The Exorcist (1973)) and worked on making his ...

1 project 2008 - Hellboy II: The Golden Army

48. George Tillman Jr.

Producer | The Hate U Give

After seeing the films, COOLEY HIGH and TAXI DRIVER, Milwaukee, Wisconsin native George Tillman, Jr. became inspired to make films of his own. In 1994, George wrote and directed his first feature film, SCENES FOR THE SOUL. It was shot entirely in Chicago, using local talent and resources. The film,...

1 project 2008 - Notorious

49. McG

Director | Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle

McG was born on August 9, 1968 in Kalamazoo, Michigan, USA. He is a producer and director, known for Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle (2003), Terminator Salvation (2009) and The Babysitter: Killer Queen (2020).

1 project 2009 - Terminator Salvation

50. Susannah Neal

Cinematographer | The Dollar

Susannah Neal is known for The Dollar (2009) and Doomsday (2012).

1 project 2009 - The Dollar (short)

51. 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 ...

1 project 2010 - The Wolfman

52. Zachary Strobel

Animation_department | The Squirrel

Zachary Strobel was born on March 11, 1990 in New York City, New York, USA. He is an actor and director, known for The Squirrel (2008), The Fight for the Last Cookie (2010) and Prince Charles' Crazy Birthday Party (2009). He was previously married to Miranda Strobel.

2 projects 2010 - Ooozetoons! 2010 - The Fight for the Last Cookie (short)

53. Paul Haggis

Writer | Crash

Paul Haggis established himself over twenty years with an extensive career in television, before his big break into features arrived when he became the first screenwriter to garner two Best Film Academy Awards back-to-back for his scripts: "Million Dollar Baby" (2004) directed by Clint Eastwood, ...

1 project 2010 - The Next Three Days

54. Eric Balfour

Actor | The Offer

Eric Balfour is a true Angelino, one who embraces everything the City of Angels has to offer. As a lover of the ocean he is an avid surfer and supports many environmental causes. His charitable endeavors include Surfrider, Oceana and Sea Shepard. As a lover of fashion he's built an incredible ...