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Best Up and Coming Directors (2020 Edition)

Person list created by Stehako Avatar

Welcome to the 11th Edition of this annual list!

Defining the somewhat young careers of very good directors who have potential to be a formidable director among the greats of the industry...
(Created by and in the opinion of Stephen H Koontz)

This list includes directors who...
-- Have at least one successful film finished and/or at least one promising film/show on the way
-- Have directed quality (rated 7/10) full-length features, that I've seen, for less than 11 years.

The more promising films the director has on deck, the higher their rank.
But of course the quality in films they've completed is more important.


Where did some directors move to?


Those who MOVED UP to the "Accomplished Actors" list:
PUALO SORRENTINO
CARY FUKUNAGA
ASGHAR FARHADI
SCOTT COOPER



Those who were KNOCKED OUT from the List and did NOT move up to the 'Accomplished' list.
MORTEN TYLDUM
ARMANDO IANNUCCI
PHIL LORD and CHRIS MILLER
LONE SCHERFIG
DUNCAN JONES


CLOSE CALLS:Those who were strongly considered but could not make the cut this year:
Baltasar Kormákur: 2 Guns, Everest, Adrift (2018)
Jon S. Baird: Stan & Ollie (2018)
Hirokazu Koreeda: Shoplifters (2018)
Leigh Whannell: Upgrade (2018)
Joel Edgerton: The Gift, Boy Erased (2018)
Travis Knight: Kubo and the Two Strings, Bumblebee (2018)
Bo Burnham: Eighth Grade (2018)
Boots Riley: Sorry to Bother You (2018)
Panos Cosmatos: Beyond the Black Rainbow, Mandy (2018)


©Silhouette
...


Sort by: Showing 50 items
Rating: List Type:




The Peanut Butter Falcon (2019)


No Upcoming:



2019 Rank: #49
2018 Rank: #49
2017 Rank: #54
2016 Rank: #54


The Kings of Summer (2013)

You're the Worst (TV: 2014, 2019)

Kong: Skull Island (2017)


No Upcoming:




2019 Rank: #48
2018 Rank: #50


Ain't Them Bodies Saints (2013)

Pete's Dragon (2016)

A Ghost Story (2017)

Old Man and the Gun (2018)



Upcoming:

The Green Knight (2020)
Peter Pan (2021)





It Follows (2014)

Under the Silver Lake (2019)

No Upcoming:





Booksmart (2019)


No Upcoming:


2019 Rank: #43
2018 Rank: #43



Hello, My Name is Doris (2016)

Love (TV: 2016, 2018)

The Big Sick (2017)



Upcoming:

The Lovebirds (2020)
The Eyes of Tammy Faye (2020)


2019 Rank: #45



The Cabin in the Woods (2011)

The Good Place (2016 - 2019)

Bad Times at the El Royale (2018)


No Upcoming:





The Farewell (2019)


No Upcoming:


2019 Rank: #50



Winter's Bone (2010)

Leave No Trace (2018)


No Upcoming:


2019 Rank: #46
2018 Rank: #42
2018 Rank: #45



I Am Love (2010)

A Bigger Splash (2016)

Call Me By Your Name (2017)

Suspiria (2018)



Upcoming:

Blood on the Tracks (2021)





Honey Boy (2019)


No Upcoming:


2019 Rank: #42



The Imposter (2012)

American Animals (2018)


No Upcoming:


2019 Rank: #41
2018 Rank: #48



Moonlight (2016)

If Beale Street Could Talk (2018)



Upcoming:

The Underground Railroad (TV: 2020)





Toy Story 4 (2019)


No Upcoming:


2019 Rank: #40



Jack Reacher (2012)

Rogue Nation (2015)

Fallout (2018)


Upcoming:

Mission: Impossible 7 (2021)

Mission: Impossible 8 (2024)


2019 Rank: #47



Selma (2014)

The 13th (2016)

When They See Us (TV: 2019)


Upcoming:

DMZ (2020)





The Witch (2016)

The Lighthouse (2019)


Upcoming:

The Northman (2021)

2019 Rank: #39
2018 Rank: #42
2017 Rank: #51
2016 Rank: #52


Tron: Legacy (2010)

Oblivion (2013)

Only the Brave: Granite Mountain Hot Shots (2017)


Upcoming:

Top Gun: Maverick (2020)

with brother, Josh




Good Time (2017)

Uncut Gems (2019)


No Upcoming:


2019 Rank: #36
2018 Rank: #39



30 for 30: June 17th, 1994 (2010)

Cobain: Montage of Heck (2015)

Jane (2017)


Upcoming:

When the Street Lights Go Out (2020)


2019 Rank: #31
2018 Rank: #29
2017 Rank: #41
2016 Rank: #44


Frank (2014)

Room (2015)

Chance (TV: 2016)


Upcoming:

Normal People (TV: 2020)

2019 Rank: #38
2018 Rank: #41



Get Out (2017)

Us (2019)


No Upcoming:





Tomboy (2011)

Girlhood (2014)

Portrait of a Lady on Fire (2019)


No Upcoming:


2019 Rank: #34



A Star is Born (2018)


Upcoming:

Bernstein (2021)

2019 Rank: #37
2018 Rank: #44



Starlet (2012)

Tangerine (2015)

The Florida Project (2017)


No Upcoming:



2019 Rank: #33



Meru (2015)

Free Solo (2018)


No Upcoming:



2019 Rank: #32
2018 Rank: #34
2017 Rank: #43
2016 Rank: #43
2015 Rank: #47

Rubber (2010)

Wrong (2013)

Wrong Cops (2013)

Reality (2015)

Keep an Eye Out (Au Poste!) (2018)



Upcoming:

Deerskin (2020)


2019 Rank: #26
2018 Rank: #30
2017 Rank: #39
2016 Rank: #41
2015 Rank: #42



Waste Land (2010)

The Crash Reel (2013)

Buena Vista Social Club: Adios (2017)


No Upcoming:



2019 Rank: #28
2018 Rank: #32
2017 Rank: #42


Perfect Sense (2011)

Starred Up (2014)

Hell or High Water (2016)

Outlaw King (2018)


Upcoming:

Gemstone (TV: 2020)

2019 Rank: #25
2018 Rank: #31



The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012)

Wonder (2017)


Upcoming:

Dear Evan Hansen (2021)


2019 Rank: #30
2018 Rank: #36
2017 Rank: #46
2016 Rank: #45


Un prophète (2010)

Rust and Bone (2012)

Dheepan (2016)

The Sisters' Brothers (2018)


No Upcoming:


2019 Rank: #35
2018 Rank: #37



Lady Bird (2017)

Little Women (2019)


Upcoming:

Barbie (2021)


2019 Rank: #21
2018 Rank: #28



John Wick (Co-Director) (2014)

Atomic Blonde (2017)

Deadpool 2 (2018)

Hobbs & Shaw (2019)


Upcoming:

The Division (2021)





The Diary of a Teenage Girl (2015)

Can You Ever Forgive Me? (2018)

A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood (2019)


No Upcoming:


2019 Rank: #29
2018 Rank: #35
2017 Rank: #49
2016 Rank: #51


Bad Words (2014)

The Family Fang (2016)

Ozark (TV: 2017 - 2020)


Upcoming:

The Outsider (TV: 2020)
Shut In (2021)


2019 Rank: #23
2018 Rank: #38
2017 Rank: #45
2016 Rank: #44


The Misfortunates (2010)


The Broken Circle Breakdown (2013)


Beautiful Boy (2018)



No Upcoming:


2019 Rank: #20
2018 Rank: #23



Molly's Game (2017)


Upcoming:

The Trial of the Chicago 7 (2020)


2018 Rank: #26



Wind River (2017)


Yellowstone (TV: 2018)



Upcoming:

Those Who Wish Me Dead (2020)



2019 Rank: #16
2018 Rank: #19
2017 Rank: #34


28 Hotel Rooms (2012)


Captain Fantastic (2016)


Silicon Valley (TV: 2018, 2019)



Upcoming:

Tomorrow and Tomorrow (2021)


2019 Rank: #22
2018 Rank: #33
2017 Rank: #44


We Need to Talk About Kevin (2011)


You Were Never Really Here (2018)



No Upcoming:


2019 Rank: #19
2018 Rank: #22
2017 Rank: #36
2016 Rank: #33


Senna (2011)


Amy (2015)


Ali & Nino (2017)


Mindhunter (TV: 2017)


Diego Maradona (2019)



No Upcoming:



2019 Rank: #13
2018 Rank: #20
2017 Rank: #37
2016 Rank: #34


Fruitvale Station (2013)


Creed (2015)


Black Panther (2018)




Upcoming:

Wrong Answer (2021)
Black Panther II (2022)



2019 Rank: #18
2018 Rank: #27
2017 Rank: #40


No (2013)


The Club (2015)


Neruda (2016)


Jackie (2016)



Upcoming:

Ema (2020)
The True American (2021)

2019 Rank: #10
2018 Rank: #10
2017 Rank: #17
2016 Rank: #22
2015 Rank: #44
2014 Rank: #49


Smashed (2012)


The Spectacular Now (2013)


The End of the Tour (2015)


Sorry for Your Loss (TV: 2018 - 2019)



Upcoming:

Wild City (2021)

2019 Rank: #14
2018 Rank: #14
2017 Rank: #22
2016 Rank: #24
2015 Rank: #25
2014 Rank: #37


Animal Kingdom (2010)


The Rover (2014)


Flesh and Bone (TV: 2015)


War Machine (2017)


The King (2019)



No Upcoming:


2019 Rank: #24



Troubadours (2011)


20 Feet from Stardom (2013)


Best of Enemies (2015)


The Music of Strangers (2015)


Keith Richards: Under the Influence (2015)


Abstract: The Art of Design (2017, 2019)


Won't You Be My Neighbor (2018)


They'll Love Me When I'm Dead (2018)



No Upcoming:


2019 Rank: #9
2018 Rank: #24
2017 Rank: #38
2016 Rank: #53


Dogtooth (2010)


Alps (2012)


The Lobster (2016)


The Killing of a Sacred Deer (2017)


The Favourite (2018)



No Upcoming:


2019 Rank: #6
2018 Rank: #4
2017 Rank: #5
2016 Rank: #11
2015 Rank: #31
2014 Rank: #44


Margin Call (2011)


All is Lost (2013)


A Most Violent Year (2014)


Triple Frontier (2019)



Upcoming:

The Connection (TV: 2021)

2018 Rank: #3
2018 Rank: #18
2017 Rank: #32
2016 Rank: #40


Ex-Machina (2015)


Annihilation (2018)



Upcoming:

Devs (TV: 2020)

2019 Rank: #1
2018 Rank: #9
2017 Rank: #13
2016 Rank: #37


Whiplash (2014)


La La Land (2016)


First Man (2018)



Upcoming:

The Eddy (TV: 2020)
Babylon (2021)


Added to

4 votes
Yearly Best Active Directors List Collection (36 lists)
list by Stehako
Published 4 years, 8 months ago 1 comment



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