Feature Directing Debuts of Actors

Directed by: Ben Affleck Acting in it? No Result: The film didn't make a big dent at the box-office but was a critical smash, received an Oscar nomination and didn't cost that much to make, so that was anough to single-handedly revive Affleck's sagging career (who chose not to star in the film, giving the lead to his brother). Affleck cemented his superstar director with his next two films, The Town and Argo, in which he also acted.

Directed by: Yvan Attal Acting in it? Yes (main character) Result: Quite well received by critics and rather successful at the box-office. Attal continues to occasionally direct here and there.

Directed by: Olivier Baroux Acting in it? No Result: Moderately ill-received by critics and moderately successful at the box-office, the romantic comedy signaled a shift in Baroux's career who now only acts very sporadically in a small appearance here and there but is a regular director of French comedies.

Directed by: Drew Barrymore Acting in it? Yes (side character) Result: Embraced by critics but not so much by audiences. Barrymore previously helmed a doc and has since directed a short, but other than that seems to concentrate on acting.

Directed by: Zach Braff Acting in it? Yes (main character) Result: Big critical and commercial hit, it nevertheless took ten years for Braff to helm another movie.

Directed by: Guillaume Canet Acting in it? Yes (main character) Result: Moderately well-received by critics and moderately successful at the box-office, it was however nominated for two Cesar Awards (French Oscars) and Canet has since established himself as a respected director, churning out a new effort every 3/4 years.

Directed by: Kevin Costner Acting in it? Yes (main character) Result: Huge success with critics, audiences and awards (over 19 times its budget and 7 Oscars!). Costner has gone on to direct again once in a while, with more or less success.

Directed by: Russell Crowe Acting in it? Yes (main character) Result: To be determined.

Directed by: Clint Eastwood Acting in it? Yes (main character) Result: Very well received by critics and a smash at the box-office, making back almost fifteen times its budget! Eastwood as gone on to direct numerous films, sometimes acting in them, sometimes not, and is just as successful and respected as a director and as an actor.

Directed by: Jodie Foster Acting in it? Yes (main character) Result: Mild success at the box-office and quite a big hit with critics. Foster has directed a couple of other films.

Directed by: Morgan Freeman Acting in it? No Result: Despite receiving generally great reviews from critics, audiences essentially ignored this mostly forgotten apartheid drama and Mr Freeman has not directed since.

Directed by: Joseph Gordon-Levitt Acting in it? Yes (main character) Result: A critical and commercial hit, earning five times its budget at the box-office. Not bad!

Directed by: Ryan Gosling Acting in it? No Result: To be determined, but early indications point to disaster

Directed by: Tom Hanks Acting in it? Yes (main character) Result: Not that big at the box-office but a critical success and nominated for an Oscar. Hanks directed some TV stuff beforehand and has continued to do so, eventually directing another film in 2011.

Directed by: Philip Seymour Hoffman Acting in it? Yes (main character) Result: Mildly well received by critics and was up for a few awards, but completely ignored by audiences.

Directed by: Angelina Jolie Acting in it? No Result: Snubbed by critics and a box-office disaster, it seems Jolie is still intent on pursuing a regular directing career.

Directed by: Aamir Khan Acting in it? Yes (main character) Result: Huge critical and commercial hit as well as a recipient of many awards. Yet remains Khan's only directorial effort to date.

Directed by: William H. Macy Acting in it? Yes (side character) Result: To be determined, but early word is very good. Macy had previously directed an averagely received TV film 26 years before.

Directed by: Kad Merad Acting in it? Yes (main character) Result: Recipient of average critical reviews and average box-office. Merad co-directed another comedy the following year but seems to be mostly concentrated on acting.

Directed by: Eddie Murphy Acting in it? Yes (main character) Result: A passion project for Eddie Murphy, then at the height of his career, the film was lambasted by critics but fared well at the box-office, tripling its budget. It was however still considered a disappointment by Paramount and Murphy has not directed since.

Directed by: Natalie Portman Acting in it? Yes (main character) Result: To be determined.

Directed by: Robert Redford Acting in it? Yes (main character) Result: HUGE hit all around, winning four Oscars. Redford has been a regular, respected director ever since.

Directed by: Dax Shepard Acting in it? Yes (main character) Result: the film was savaged by critics but successful enough to allow Shepard to continue regularly directing.

Directed by: Sylvester Stallone Acting in it? Yes (main character) Result: Critics gave the film the cold shoulder but it made a decent amount of money for the time and proved to studio executives that the young actor and screenwriter had directing chops. Stallone has since directed seven other films, though he has mostly stuck to writing and acting.

(Co-)Directed by: Stanley Tucci Acting in it? Yes (main character) Result: Mild success at the box-office and a huge hit with critics for this film which Tucci co-directed. He has since directed a handful of other films by himself, all generally well received.

Directed by: Jean-Claude Van Damme Acting in it? Yes (main character) Result: Savaged by critics but relatively successful at the box-office. Van Damme only returned to directing in 2008 for a film which, as of 2014, has yet to see the light of day.

Directed by: Jennifer Westfeldt Acting in it? Yes (main character) Result: Mild critical and mild box-office success. Remains Westfeldt's only directorial effort to date.