One Million Club Directors

1. Christopher Nolan

Writer | The Prestige

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.

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2. 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 ...

3. Quentin Tarantino

Writer | Reservoir Dogs

Quentin Jerome Tarantino was born in Knoxville, Tennessee. His father, Tony Tarantino, is an Italian-American actor and musician from New York, and his mother, Connie (McHugh), is a nurse from Tennessee. Quentin moved with his mother to Torrance, California, when he was four years old.

In January of...

4. James Cameron

Writer | Avatar

James Francis Cameron was born on August 16, 1954 in Kapuskasing, Ontario, Canada. He moved to the United States in 1971. The son of an engineer, he majored in physics at California State University before switching to English, and eventually dropping out. He then drove a truck to support his ...

5. Peter Jackson

Producer | The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring

Peter Jackson was born as an only child in a small coast-side town in New Zealand in 1961. When a friend of his parents bought him a super 8 movie camera (because she saw how much he enjoyed taking photos), the then eight-year-old Peter instantly grabbed the thing to start recording his own movies,...

6. Francis Ford Coppola

Producer | Apocalypse Now

Francis Ford Coppola was born in 1939 in Detroit, Michigan, but grew up in a New York suburb in a creative, supportive Italian-American family. His father, Carmine Coppola, was a composer and musician. His mother, Italia Coppola (née Pennino), had been an actress. Francis Ford Coppola graduated ...

7. 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 ...

8. 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, ...

9. Frank Darabont

Writer | The Green Mile

Three-time Oscar nominee Frank Darabont was born in a refugee camp in 1959 in Montbeliard, France, the son of Hungarian parents who had fled Budapest during the failed 1956 Hungarian revolution. Brought to America as an infant, he settled with his family in Los Angeles and attended Hollywood High ...

10. David Fincher

Director | Se7en

David Fincher was born in 1962 in Denver, Colorado, and was raised in Marin County, California. When he was 18 years old he went to work for John Korty at Korty Films in Mill Valley. He subsequently worked at ILM (Industrial Light and Magic) from 1981-1983. Fincher left ILM to direct TV commercials...

11. Michelle MacLaren

Producer | Breaking Bad

Michelle MacLaren was born in 1965 in Canada. She is a producer and director, known for Breaking Bad (2008), The Walking Dead (2010) and Game of Thrones (2011).

12. Michael Slovis

Cinematographer | Breaking Bad

Michael Slovis was born in New York City, New York, USA. He is a cinematographer and producer, known for Breaking Bad (2008), New Amsterdam (2018) and CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (2000).

13. 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 ...

14. 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...

15. Jonathan Demme

Director | The Silence of the Lambs

Jonathan Demme was born on February 22, 1944 in Baldwin, Long Island, New York, USA as Robert Jonathan Demme. He was a director and producer, known for The Silence of the Lambs (1991), Rachel Getting Married (2008) and Philadelphia (1993). He was married to Joanne Howard and Evelyn Purcell. He died...

16. Luc Besson

Writer | The Fifth Element

Luc Besson spent the first years of his life following his parents, scuba diving instructors, around the world. His early life was entirely aquatic. He already showed amazing creativity as a youth, writing early drafts of The Big Blue (1988) and The Fifth Element (1997), as an adolescent bored in ...

17. Tony Kaye

Director | Detachment

Tony Kaye was born in London, United Kingdom. He has made several well-known music videos, including the video for "Runaway Train" by Soul Asylum, which won a Grammy Award, "Dani California" by Red Hot Chili Peppers, "What God Wants" by Roger Waters, and "Help Me" and "God's Gonna Cut You Down" by ...

18. 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 ...

19. Lilly Wachowski

Writer | The Matrix

Director, writer, and producer Lilly Wachowski was born in 1967 in Chicago as Andrew Wachowski, the son 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 ...

20. Sam Mendes

Producer | 1917

Samuel Alexander Mendes was born on August 1, 1965 in Reading, England, UK to parents James Peter Mendes, a retired university lecturer, and Valerie Helene Mendes, an author who writes children's books. Their marriage didn't last long, James divorced Sam's mother in 1970 when Sam was just 5-...

21. Ridley Scott

Producer | The Martian

Described by film producer Michael Deeley as "the very best eye in the business", director Ridley Scott was born on November 30, 1937 in South Shields, Tyne and Wear (then County Durham). His father was an officer in the Royal Engineers and the family followed him as his career posted him ...

22. 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 ...

23. James McTeigue

Director | V for Vendetta

James McTeigue is a director and assistant director, known for V for Vendetta (2005), The Raven (2012) and Ninja Assassin (2009).

24. Vince Gilligan

Producer | The X Files

George Vincent Gilligan Jr. (born February 10, 1967) is an American writer, producer, and director. He is known for his television work, specifically as creator, head writer, executive producer, and director of Breaking Bad and its spin-off Better Call Saul. He was a writer and producer for The ...

25. Adam Bernstein

Director | Fargo

Adam Bernstein began his career as an animator, and at age 26 produced the first original programming for the Nickelodeon Network. He went on to direct over seventy music videos, including "Love Shack" for the B-52's, "Hey Ladies" for the Beastie Boys and "Baby's Got Back" for Sir Mix a Lot. In ...

26. Colin Bucksey

Director | Fargo

Colin Bucksey was born in 1946 in Camberwell, London, England as Colin M. Bucksey. He is a director and producer, known for Fargo (2014), Breaking Bad (2008) and Person of Interest (2011). He has been married to Sally Bucksey since January 9, 1988. They have two children. He was previously married ...

27. Sam Catlin

Producer | Breaking Bad

Sam Catlin is a producer and writer, known for Breaking Bad (2008), Preacher (2016) and White Oleander (2002). He is married to Julie Dretzin.

28. Thomas Schnauz

Producer | Breaking Bad

Thomas Schnauz is a producer and writer, known for Breaking Bad (2008), Better Call Saul (2015) and Reaper (2007).

29. George Mastras

Producer | Breaking Bad

George Mastras is a producer and writer, known for Breaking Bad (2008), Vinyl (2016) and The Boys (2019).

30. Félix Enríquez Alcalá

Director | Third Watch

Félix Enríquez Alcalá was born on March 7, 1951 in Bakersfield, California, USA. He is a director and cinematographer, known for Third Watch (1999), Battlestar Galactica (2004) and Dollhouse (2009).

31. John Shiban

Producer | The X Files

John Shiban began his career with The X Files as a staff writer in its third season. After receiving a B.A. in English Literature from the University of California, Los Angeles Mr. Shiban earned his M.F.A. in Screenwriting from the American Film Institute. While at AFI, Shiban was chosen as the ...

32. David Slade

Director | Hard Candy

David Slade was born on September 26, 1969 in the UK. He is a producer and director, known for Hard Candy (2005), The Twilight Saga: Eclipse (2010) and 30 Days of Night (2007).

33. Charles Haid

Actor | Altered States

Charles Haid was born on June 2, 1943 in San Francisco, California, USA as Charles Maurice Haid III. He is an actor and director, known for Altered States (1980), ER (1994) and Third Watch (1999). He was previously married to Elisabeth Harmon-Haid, Deborah Richter and Penelope Windust.

34. Peter Medak

Director | The Changeling

Peter Medak is a Hungarian-born British film director. Born in Budapest, Hungary, then part of the Warsaw Bloc, Medak fled to England at the age of 18 during the bloody uprising against the Soviet regime. He began his career with associated British Picture Corporation in Borehamwood. He studied and...

35. Tim Hunter

Director | The Failures

Tim Hunter was born on June 15, 1947 in Los Angeles, California, USA. He is a director and producer, known for The Failures (2003), River's Edge (1986) and The Saint of Fort Washington (1993).

36. Bryan Cranston

Actor | Breaking Bad

Bryan Lee Cranston was born on March 7, 1956 in Hollywood, California, to Audrey Peggy Sell, a radio actress, and Joe Cranston, an actor and former amateur boxer. His maternal grandparents were German, and his father was of Irish, German, and Austrian-Jewish ancestry. He was raised in the Canoga ...

37. Phil Abraham

Director | Ozark

Phil Abraham is a director and cinematographer, known for Ozark (2017), Daredevil (2015) and The Long Road Home (2017).

38. John Dahl

Director | Kill Me Again

John Dahl was born in 1956 in Billings, Montana, USA. He is known for his work on Kill Me Again (1989), The Last Seduction (1994) and Rounders (1998). He is married to Beth Jana Friedberg. They have four children.

39. Terry McDonough

Director | The Expanse

40. Jim McKay

Director | Girls Town

41. Johan Renck

Director | Chernobyl

Johan Renck is one of the most respected and sought after directors of commercials and music videos today, so much so that the French magazine CB News dubbed him "the number one director of commercials and music videos in the world".

His directing career started in 1992 when he joined the production...

42. Rian Johnson

Director | Knives Out

Rian Johnson was born in Maryland and at a young age his family moved to San Clemente, California, where he was raised. After graduating from high school, he went on to attend the University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts. His first feature film, Brick (2005), was released in 2005 ...

43. Bronwen Hughes

Director | The Journey Is the Destination

Bronwen Hughes is a director and producer, known for The Journey Is the Destination (2016), Breaking Bad (2008) and Better Call Saul (2015).

44. Scott Winant

Producer | Thirtysomething

Two time Emmy Award winning Director/Producer, Scott Winant began his career in partnership with Ed Zwick and Marshall Herskovitz on the critically acclaimed series "thirtysomething." He produced all five seasons and was responsible for establishing the show's unique cinematic style of story ...

45. Peter Gould

Producer | Breaking Bad

Writer/Director Peter Gould was born and raised in the Chelsea neighborhood of Lower Manhattan where he was expelled from a number of tony, non-conformist private schools. After graduating with a B.A. in English from Sarah Lawrence College, Peter became a fixture on the New York Indie scene, ...

46. Tricia Brock

Director | Killer Diller

Tricia Brock is a director and producer, known for Killer Diller (2004), The Walking Dead (2010) and 30 Rock (2006).

47. David Nutter

Director | Game of Thrones

David Nutter was born in 1960 in the USA. He is a director and producer, known for Game of Thrones (2011), The Pacific (2010) and Space: Above and Beyond (1995). He was previously married to Birgit Nutter.

48. Neil Marshall

Director | Dog Soldiers

Neil Marshall was born on May 25, 1970 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. He is a producer and director, known for Dog Soldiers (2002), The Descent (2005) and The Reckoning (2020). He was previously married to Axelle Carolyn.

49. Brian Kirk

Director | 21 Bridges

Brian Kirk was born in 1968 in Armagh, Ireland. He is a director and producer, known for 21 Bridges (2019), Game of Thrones (2011) and Luther (2010).

50. Timothy Van Patten

Director | Boardwalk Empire

Timothy Van Patten was born on June 10, 1959 in Brooklyn, New York, USA as Christopher Van Patten. He is a director and actor, known for Boardwalk Empire (2010), The Sopranos (1999) and The Pacific (2010). He has been married to Wendy Susan Rossmeyer since May 23, 1996. They have three children.

51. Matt Shakman

Director | WandaVision

Matt Shakman was born on August 8, 1975. He is a director and producer, known for WandaVision (2021), Game of Thrones (2011) and The Great (2020). He has been married to Maggie Malone since October 8, 2012. They have one child.

52. Daniel Sackheim

Producer | True Detective

Daniel Sackheim is a producer and director, known for True Detective (2014), House (2004) and The X Files (1998).

53. Alan Taylor

Director | Game of Thrones

Alan Taylor was born in 1965 as Alan Jamieson Taylor. He is a director and producer, known for Game of Thrones (2011), Thor: The Dark World (2013) and The Emperor's New Clothes (2001). He has been married to Nicki Ledermann since 2004. They have three children.

54. David Petrarca

Director | Game of Thrones

David Petrarca is a director and producer, known for Game of Thrones (2011), Big Love (2006) and Warrior (2019).

55. Jack Bender

Producer | Lost

Jack Bender was born on September 25, 1949 in the USA. He is a producer and director, known for Lost (2004), Alias (2001) and Child's Play 3 (1991). He is married to Laura Owens. They have two children.

56. David Benioff

Producer | Game of Thrones

David Benioff was born on September 25, 1970 in New York City, New York, USA as David Friedman. He is a producer and writer, known for Game of Thrones (2011), The Kite Runner (2007) and 25th Hour (2002). He has been married to Amanda Peet since September 30, 2006. They have three children.

57. D.B. Weiss

Producer | Game of Thrones

D.B. Weiss was born on April 23, 1971 in Chicago, Illinois, USA as Daniel Brett Weiss. He is a producer and writer, known for Game of Thrones (2011), Dirty White Boys and Untitled Lovecraft Project. He is married to Andrea Troyer.

58. Alex Graves

Producer | The West Wing

Alex Graves is a producer and director, known for The West Wing (1999), Game of Thrones (2011) and The Crude Oasis (1993).

59. Miguel Sapochnik

Director | Game of Thrones

Miguel Sapochnik was born in July 1974 in Hammersmith, London, England as Miguel Vicente Rosenberg-Sapochnik. He is a director and producer, known for Game of Thrones (2011), Repo Men (2010) and Trainspotting (1996). He has been married to Alexis Raben since 2006.

60. Mark Mylod

Director | Succession

Mark Mylod is a director and producer, known for Succession (2018), Game of Thrones (2011) and Shameless (2011). He is married to Amy Westcott. They have four children.

61. Jeremy Podeswa

Director | Game of Thrones

Jeremy Podeswa was born in 1962 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. He is a director, known for Game of Thrones (2011), Boardwalk Empire (2010) and Fugitive Pieces (2007).

62. Daniel Minahan

Director | Series 7: The Contenders

Daniel Minahan is a director and producer, known for Series 7: The Contenders (2001), Game of Thrones (2011) and American Crime Story (2016).

63. Alik Sakharov

Cinematographer | Game of Thrones

Alik Sakharov was born on May 17, 1959 in Tashkent, USSR. He is a cinematographer and director, known for Game of Thrones (2011), Ozark (2017) and House of Cards (2013).

64. Joss Whedon

Writer | 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 ...

65. 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 ...

66. 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 ...