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Added by Stehako on 27 Feb 2010 07:09
1879 Views 4 Comments
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Top Future Directing Greats (2010 Edition)

Sort by: Showing 50 items
Rating: List Type:
Average listal rating (104 ratings) 5.8 IMDB Rating 0
2009 Rank: -- Debut

a. Sleepless in Seattle (1993)
b. You've Got Mail (1998)
c. Julie & Julia (2009)


She's new to the list, with the addition of her film from last year. I like that she is creating a distinctive style with her films, by showing two worlds throughout the film (which she does in the three films above). I just wish it didn't take 16 years to really make that distinction over three films.
Stehako's rating:
Average listal rating (55 ratings) 5.6 IMDB Rating 0
2009 Rank: #9

a. American Pie (1999)
b. About a Boy (2002)
c. In Good Company (2004)
d. Meet the Little Fockers (2010)
e. Another Bullshit Night in Suck City (2012)


Weitz was farther up the list, but then I recently saw the trailer for 'Little Fockers' and either it's a terrible trailer or his only addition to the trilogy looks rather weak.
Stehako's rating:
2009 Rank: #21

a. Clerks (1994)
b. Mallrats (1995)
c. Chasing Amy (1997)
d. Dogma (1999)
e. Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back (2001)
f. Zack and Miri Make a Porno (2008)
g. Cop Out (2010)
h. Red State (2011)
i. Hit Somebody (2012)


Since I am listing future greats, Smith is lower because he seems to be slowing down in creativity and his films never hooked me enough to be considered for the 'Most Accomplished Active Directors' list.
Stehako's rating:
Average listal rating (39 ratings) 6.1 IMDB Rating 0
2009 Rank: #46

a. Napoleon Dynamite (2004)
b. Nacho Libre (2006)
c. Gentlemen Broncos (2009)


All three are very odd films, with the latest being the oddest. It was so out there that I couldn't help but love it. I hope that even with his low numbers he'll still be able to make these brilliant oddities. With nothing on the horizon, I am a little bit worried.
Stehako's rating:
Average listal rating (226 ratings) 7.6 IMDB Rating 0
2009 Rank: #10

a. The Iron Giant (1999)
b. The Incredibles (2004)
c. Ratatouille (2007)
d. 1906 (2012)


Giants, superheroes, rats and now earthquakes. He's creating quite an interesting filmography.
Stehako's rating:
2009 Rank: #8

a. Hellboy I & II (2004, 2008)
b. Pan’s Labyrinth (2006)
c. Frankenstein (2012)
d. Saturn and the End of Days (2013)
e. Hellboy III (2013)
f. At the Mountains of Madness (2014)


Del Toro is a big name, but he hasn't truly proven himself yet. I was really excited to see his version of 'The Hobbit'; but now that he's out of that, we only have a few distant possibilities to look forward to.
Stehako's rating:
2009 Rank: #32

a. Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)
b. Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby (2006)
c. Step Brothers (2008)
d. The Other Guys (2010)*
e. Channel 3 Billion (2012)


I'm not sure we would even know who this guy is if it weren't for Will Ferrell. He's not a great filmmaker but he still manages to put together slap-stick in an entertaining (with much help from Ferrell)
Stehako's rating:
Average listal rating (34 ratings) 5.8 IMDB Rating 0
2009 Rank: #28

a. Clay Pigeons (1998)
b. Shanghai Knights (2003)
c. Wedding Crashers (2005)
d. Friends with Benefits (2011)
e. Helium (2013)


'Crashers' is one of my favorite comedies of the decade and his other attempts are decent, but no classics here.
Stehako's rating:
Average listal rating (76 ratings) 7.8 IMDB Rating 0
2009 Rank: #35

a. Secrets & Lies (1996)
b. Topsy-Turvy (1999)
c. Vera Drake (2004)
d. Happy-Go-Lucky (2008)
e. Another Year (2010)


They're all British, but that's about the only constant in his wide range of strange work.
Stehako's rating:
2009 Rank: #45

a. Billy Elliot (2000)
b. The Hours (2002)
c. The Reader (2008)
d. Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close (2011)


His next title is the opposite of what defines Daldry. His still is very quiet and I feel like I'm far away from any of the lives portrayed in his very well-made films.
Stehako's rating:
Average listal rating (129 ratings) 6.7 IMDB Rating 0
2009 Rank: #33

a. Into the West (1992)
b. Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994)
c. Donnie Brasco (1997)
d. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005)
e. The Prince of Persia (2010)
f. Box of Delights (2012)


He did the best 'Potter' film, helped make Hugh Grant a star, and may just make Jake Gyllenhaal an... action star?
Stehako's rating:
Average listal rating (415 ratings) 7.6 IMDB Rating 0
2009 Rank: #26

a. Sense and Sensibility (1995)
b. The Ice Storm (1997)
c. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)
d. Brokeback Mountain (2005)
e. Taking Woodstock (2009)
f. Life of Pi (2012)


'Woodstock' didn't seem to be a fan favorite but I thought it was a great take on the famous festival. He's managed to have array of different styles, but also a range of quality in films.
Stehako's rating:
2009 Rank: #40

a. An Officer and a Gentleman (1982)
b. The Devil’s Advocate (1997)
c. Proof of Life (2000)
d. Ray (2004)
e. Love Ranch (2010)*
f. The Merchant of Shanghai (2012)


He still has yet to meet his debut, through the many years he has come up with some decent films that last over time. I can't wait for Joe Pesci's return in "Love Ranch"!
Stehako's rating:
Average listal rating (40 ratings) 7.3 IMDB Rating 0
2009 Rank: #47

a. Monsoon Wedding (2001)
b. The Namesake (2007)
c. Amelia (2009)
d. Shantaram (2010)


Her last film was a great American biopic and the previous had good dialogue on man's origins, while the one before that was like an Indian version of a Robert Altman film.
Stehako's rating:
2009 Rank: #49

a. GoldenEye (1995)
b. The Mask/Legend of Zorro (1998, 2005)
c. Beyond Borders (2003)
d. Casino Royale (2006)
e. Edge of Darkness (2010)
f. The Green Lantern (2011)
g. 36 (2013)
h. Nagasaki Deadline (2014)


Another director taking the reigns for a superhero movie. I think he's made one of the best action films of the last decade (Casino Royale) so he should do well.
Stehako's rating:
2009 Rank: #19

a. City of God (2002)
b. The Constant Gardner (2005)
c. Janis Joplin Biopic (2011)
d. Love's Labours Lost (2012)


He's the one director who doesn't quite fit the requirements for this list, but I he's too good for the "Up and Coming" list. Let's hope he's worth the break in the rules with this next few films.
Stehako's rating:
2009 Rank: #42

a. Election (1999)
b. About Schmidt (2002)
c. Sideways (2004)
d. The Descendants (2011)
e.Fork in the Road (2012)


Quirky, wacky and smart. His films will have you grimacing, laughing, and thinking. Let's hope he keeps this trend going.
Stehako's rating:
Average listal rating (215 ratings) 8.5 IMDB Rating 0
2009 Rank: #50

a. Chungking Express (1994)
b. In the Mood for Love (2000)
c. 2046 (2004)
d. The Lady From Shanghai (2010)
e. The Grand Master (2011)
f. Two Knives (2011)


He's doing his Korean thing every few years. I don't really get his films the first time through, but over time they become brilliant.
Stehako's rating:
2009 Rank: #20

a. Toy Story 1 & 2 (1995, 1999)
b. A Bug’s Life (1998)
c. Cars (2006)
d. Cars 2: World Grand Prix (2011) - Co-Directing*


He is the big gun at Pixar, and has been involved in every film at some degree. But the above are his directing credits.
Stehako's rating:
2009 Rank: #27

a. Made (2001)
b. Elf (2003)
c. Iron Man (2008)
d. Iron Man 2 (2010)
e. Cowboys and Aliens (2011)
f. Neanderthals (2012)
g. Iron Man 3 (2013)


He started with a wordy, hipster film, moved onto family fair, and then brilliantly took on the comic-book genre. And hell, he's succeeded in every area. His film after 'Iron Man 2' looks like a slap-stick comedy, so yet another genre.
Stehako's rating:
Average listal rating (444 ratings) 7.7 IMDB Rating 0
2009 Rank: #24

a. To Die For (1995)
b. Good Will Hunting (1997)
c. Finding Forrester (2000)
d. Elephant (2003)
e. Milk (2008)
f. Restless (2011)
g. The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test (2013)


This director has a mix of two different types of film, too; but his a really good films mixed with horrifically bad films not listed above ('Gerry' or 'Last Days'). I hope his two upcoming films fall under the former category.
Stehako's rating:
2009 Rank: #48

a. My Best Friend (1999)
b. Grizzly Man (2005)
c. The Wild Blue Yonder (2006)
d. Rescue Dawn (2007)
e. Encounters at the End of the World (2007)
f. My Son, My Son, What Ye Done? (2010)*
g. The Cave (2011)


He's got a great mix of docs and features. I get kind of tired of his voice by the end of his docs, but films like 'My Son' coming out this year, well make up for that. His next one could be his best yet.
Stehako's rating:
2009 Rank: #41

a. My Life as a Dog (1987)
b. What’s Eating Gilbert Grape? (1993)
c. The Cider House Rules (1999)
d. Chocolat (2000)
e. Casanova (2005)
f. The Hoax (2007)
g. The Danish Girl (2011)
h. Salmon Fishing in Yemen (2013)
i. Rain in Spain (2014)


He's got an eye for grown-up family films and a brilliant eye for character development. I thought he was in his later years of filmmaking, but he doesn't seem to be slowing down, so perhaps soon he will move up to the next list.
Stehako's rating:
Average listal rating (67 ratings) 6.7 IMDB Rating 0
2009 Rank: -- Debut from Up&Coming List at #9

a. Chicago (2002)
b. Memoires of a Geisha (2005)
c. Nine (2009)
d. Pirates of the Caribbean (2011)


After seeing the brilliant spectacle, 'Nine', Marshall has been bumped up to this list and now that he's taking on the fourth 'Pirates' film, I might actually get really excited for that film.
Stehako's rating:
Average listal rating (171 ratings) 7.2 IMDB Rating 0
2009 Rank: #5

a. The 40-Year-Old Virgin (2005)
b. Knocked Up (2007)
c. Funny People (2009)


He didn't have much luck with his brilliant television work ('Freaks and Geeks', 'Undeclared') but clearly he's gained a lot more positive reception with his films. While he's still a producer his three films have all been full of entertainment.
Stehako's rating:
2009 Rank: #25

a. Y Tu Mama Tambien (2001)
b. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004)
c. Children of Men (2006)
d. Gravity (2011)
e. The Memory of Running (2013)


He is heavy on quality but a bit lower on script. I respect the variety of films he's chosen in his relatively short career.
Stehako's rating:
2009 Rank: -- Debut

a. The Parent Trap (1998)
b. Something's Gotta Give (2003)
c. The Holiday (2006)
d. It's Complicated (2009)
e. Private Benjamin (2012)


She's got a knack for creating chick flicks that are tolerable for guys, too. Her casting directors should be heralded, too. The remake for 'Benjamin' might star the original lead's daughter, Kate Hudson.
Stehako's rating:
Average listal rating (142 ratings) 6.8 IMDB Rating 0
2009 Rank: #36

a. Finding Neverland (2004)
b. Stranger Than Fiction (2006)
c. The Kite Runner (2007)
d. Quantum of Solace (2008)
e. Machine Gun Preacher (2011)
f. The Chancellor Manuscript (2012)*
g. World War Z (2012)


He seems to take a film that is meant to be one thing and completely changes it around to something that isn't perfect but quite respectable.
Stehako's rating:
Average listal rating (175 ratings) 6.6 IMDB Rating 0
2009 Rank: #22

a. Romeo + Juliet (1996)
b. Moulin Rouge! (2001)
c. Australia (2008)
d. The Great Gatsby (2012)*


Each a visual spectacle filled with unique cinematography and dazzling choreography with rambunctious music (ok, not so much in 'Australia'). I can't wait to see what he does with adapting 'Gatsby'!
Stehako's rating:
2009 Rank: #38

a. Cop Land (1997)
b. Girl, Interrupted (1999)
c. Identity (2003)
d. Walk the Line (2005)
e. 3:10 to Yuma (2007)
f. Knight and Day (2010)
g. Namath (2012)
h. Three Little Words (2013)
i. Dusty Springfield Biopic (2013)


His biggest film looks to be coming up this year, which makes sense since his films seem to be getting bigger and better with each project.
Stehako's rating:
2009 Rank: #43

a. The Virgin Suicides (1999)
b. Lost in Translation (2003)
c. Marie Antionette (2006)
d. Somewhere (2010)


I like her filming style, use of music, and unique writing ability, but I've never enjoyed her films immensely, like many seem to.
Stehako's rating:
Average listal rating (1673 ratings) 7.1 IMDB Rating 0
2009 Rank: #15

a. The Man Without a Face (1993)
b. Braveheart (1995)
c. The Passion of the Christ (2004)
d. Apocalypto (2006)
e. The Drowner (2011)


I've always liked Mel, I don't think he deserves the backlash he received from Hollywood, but anyway you look at it, he's created some quality films.
Stehako's rating:
2009 Rank: #37

a. Desperado (1995)
b. Once Upon a Time in Mexico (2003)
c. Sin City (2005)
d. Machete (2010)
e. Sin City 2 (2012)
f. The Jetsons (2013)
g. Sin City 3 (2013)


I'm not sure if the 'Sin City' sequels will ever be completed but I really like his ability to create bad-ass action films in between warm-hearted action-packed kid films.
Stehako's rating:
Average listal rating (152 ratings) 7.8 IMDB Rating 0
2009 Rank: #11

a. Hero (2004)
b. House of Flying Daggers (2005)
c. Curse of the Golden Flower (2007)
d. A Simple Noodle Story (2010)
e. The Love of the Hawthorn Tree (2011)
e. The 13 Women of Nanjing (2013)


Films so beautiful and action-packed it doesn't matter that I have no idea what they're talking about. Plus the visuals have more meaning than just looking good, they tell the story too.
Stehako's rating:
2009 Rank: #4

a. A Bug’s Life (1998)
b. Finding Nemo (2003)
c. Wall-E (2008)
d. John Carter of Mars (2012)*


He'll be trying something new with 'Carter' but there's no doubt he knows what he's doing at the helm with his brilliant animated films.
Stehako's rating:
Average listal rating (1892 ratings) 6.8 IMDB Rating 0
2009 Rank: #12

a. Reality Bites (1994)
b. The Cable Guy (1996)
c. Zoolander (2001)
d. Tropic Thunder (2008)
e. Help Me Spread Goodness (2011)
f. Untitled Les Grossman Project (2011)
g. The Trial of the Chicago 7 (2012)


Clearly he's known more for his acting, but he can throw a good flick together, which adds just another layer of respect for one of my favorite entertainers.
Stehako's rating:
Average listal rating (687 ratings) 7.4 IMDB Rating 0
2009 Rank: #16

a. The Evil Dead II (1987)
b. Army of Darkness (1993)
c. The Quick and the Dead (1995)
d. A Simple Plan (1998)
e. For Love of the Game (1999)
f. Spider-Man Trilogy (2002, 2004, 2007)
g. Drag Me to Hell (2009)
h. Monster Zoo (2012)
i. Warcraft (2013)


Slasher films, outrageous films, a western, a baseball movie, then a stint at comic book action, now back to the gruesomeness!
Stehako's rating:
Average listal rating (265 ratings) 7.3 IMDB Rating 0
2009 Rank: #39

a. Face/Off (1997)
b. Mission: Impossible II (2000)
c. Windtalkers (2002)
d. Paycheck (2003)
e. Red Cliff I & II (2008, 2009)
f. Reign of Assassins (2010)
g. Rainbow Six (2012)
h. The Sicilian Clan (2013)


I haven't seen a lot of his older stuff, but his American ventures have been quite entertaining; but what I've enjoyed most was his last epic, 'Red Cliff'.
Stehako's rating:
2009 Rank: #2

a. The Bourne Supremacy and Ultimatum (2004, 2007)
b. United 93 (2006)
c. Green Zone (2010)*
d. Treasure Island (2012)
e. They Marched Into Sunlight (2013)
f. Untitled Jimi Hendrix Biopic (2014)


I like Matt Damon, but I'd like to see what other kind of work Greengrass can do. I feel like he's got a lot of talent, like with what he did for '93'. However it may look, I'm still quite excited for his next film.
Stehako's rating:
Average listal rating (296 ratings) 7.7 IMDB Rating 0
2009 Rank: #14

a. Being John Malkovich (1999)
b. Adaptation. (2002)
c. Where the Wild Things Are (2009)
d. Light Boxes (2013)


His style is hip and intoxicating, no matter the odd subject matter.
Stehako's rating:
2009 Rank: #44

a. Badlands (1973)
b. Days of Heaven (1978)
c. The Thin Red Line (1998)
d. The New World (2005)
e. The Tree of Life (2010)*
f. Javier Bardem/Christian Bale Starrer (2012)


He enjoys spacing them out quite a bit, but when his films do come out, they are usually worth the wait.
Stehako's rating:
2009 Rank: #3

a. Amores Perros (2000)
b.. 21 Grams (2003)
c. Babel (2006)
d. Biutiful (2010)*
e. Saturn and the End of Days (2013)


Creative and dynamic in storytelling and technical performance, I am quite looking forward to his next 'Biutiful' film.
Stehako's rating:
2009 Rank: #6

a. Pi (1998)
b. Requiem for a Dream (2000)
c. The Fountain (2006)
d. The Wrestler (2008)
e. Black Swan (2010)
f. The Tiger (2011)*
g. RoboCop (2012)
h. The Hunt (2014)


Now that the endless project that was "The Fountain" is over, this very talented director looks like he'll be directing a project every few years, and that makes me happy.
Stehako's rating:
2009 Rank: #30

a. Thank You For Smoking (2005)
b. Juno (2007)
c. Up in the Air (2009)
d. Whispers in Bedlam (2011)*
e. Labor Day (2012)


He's boasting a stellar three-for-three record, with his latest being his best. His attention to detail in dialogue is wonderful and he's got a great team working for him in the cinematography, editing, and music areas.
Stehako's rating:
2009 Rank: -- Debut

a. Terms of Endearment (1983)
b. Broadcast News (1987)
c. As Good as it Gets (1997)
d. Spanglish (2004)
e. Everything You've Got (2010)*


With no film since 2004, Brooks wasn't on the list last year, but he's got an upcoming project that may be released this year, boasting an excellent cast (Nicholson, Rudd, Owen Wilson, and Witherspoon)
Stehako's rating:
Average listal rating (194 ratings) 5.5 IMDB Rating 0
2009 Rank: #13

a. Austin Powers Trilogy (1997, 1999, 2002)
b. Mystery, Alaska (1999)
c. Meet the Parents/Fockers (2000, 2004)
d. Dinner for Schmucks (2010)*
e. Renaissance Men (2011)
f. The Complete History of My Sexual Failures (2012)
g. Austin Powers in For Your Thighs Only (2013)


He created the funniest trilogy ever and two-thirds of a soon-to-bee trilogy, and now I can't wait for 'Schmucks' coming out this year.
Stehako's rating:
2009 Rank: #34

a. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
b. The Science of Sleep (2006)
c. Dave Chapelle’s Block Party (2006)
d. Be Kind, Rewind (2008)
e. The Thorn in the Heart (2010)
f. The Green Hornet (2011)
g. The Wee and I (2012)
h. Megalomania (2013)*


His films are filled with delightful images and profound messages, so why the hell is he doing a superhero movie? Maybe he'll bring an all-new spin on the genre.
Stehako's rating:
2009 Rank: #18

a. Road Trip (2000)
b. Old School (2003)
c. Starsky & Hutch (2004)
d. The Hangover (2009)
e. Due Date (2010)*
f. The Hangover 2 (2011)
g. The Chadster (2011)
h. Murray at Large (2012)
i. Man-Witch (2013)


Combining collegiate antics with music and a touch of sentimental confidence, he's perhaps my favorite comedic director, at the moment.
Stehako's rating:
2009 Rank: #23

a. Delicatessen (1992)
b. The City of Lost Children (1995)
c. Alien: Resurrection (1997)
d. Amelie (2001)
e. A Very Long Engagement (2004)
f. Micmacs a tire-Larigot (2010)


French master of the weird and beautiful. Micmacs looks like the quintessential Jeunet film.
Stehako's rating:
Average listal rating (350 ratings) 7.7 IMDB Rating 0
2009 Rank: #7

a. American Beauty (1999)
b. Road to Perdition (2002)
c. Revolutionary Road (2008)
d. Away We Go (2009)
e. James Bond Film #23 (2011)*
f. Middlemarch (2012)
g. Lost in Austin (2013)


Mendes is unique, in that he has directed films that are all above average and completely different from each other.
Stehako's rating:

Voters of this person list - View all
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The Second Annual series of these lists continues...


This list includes directors who...
-- Have at least three successful films finished and/or at least one promising film on the way
-- Have directed full-length features for at least five years.

The more completed films combined with promising films the director has on deck, the higher their rank.
But of course the quality in films they've completed is just as important, if not more.

Italicized title indicates unreleased film

Bold title indicates favorite film

* - Indicates a highly anticipated film


The previous list is Best Up-and-Coming Directors

The Next List is Most Accomplished ACTIVE Directors


Where did some directors move to?


Those who MOVED UP to Most Accomplished ACTIVE Directors:
Guy Ritchie

Those who were KNOCKED OUT from the 2009 List:

David O. Russell
Mike Judge


Enjoy!

Added to

4 votes
Yearly Best Active Directors List Collection (36 lists)
list by Stehako
Published 4 years, 2 months ago 1 comment



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