The 25 best directors working today (2024)

How do you put together a list of the best directors working today? It's nearly impossible. There are more directors working today than ever, with more voices, styles, and genres to choose from.Having said that, there are still filmmakers who stand out.

From old-school titans like Scorsese to up-and-comers like Gerwig, these 25 directors stand above the rest.

Colombia Pictures

We're talking about the guy who made Taxi Driver here! No one has more classics than Scorsese, including directors like James Cameron and David Fincher. His resume includes Raging Bull, Goodfellas, Mean Streets, Cape Fear, Shutter Island, and The Last Waltz. Famously, it took Scorsese a while to win an Oscar, but they eventually gave him one for The Departed.

Universal Pictures

Though his movies aren't as consistent as some other directors, Spike Lee has a handful of classics. His films are surprisingly light given the material, and there's something to be said for a director who can mix love and hate so effortlessly. Our recommendations:Crooklyn, Do The Right, andBlackkklansman.

A24

Gerwig hasn't had a long career, as she's only made two films and hasn't been nominated for any Oscars. However, her impact on cinema is undeniable.Lady Bird spawned an entire wave of coming-of-age films. Plus, Little Womenmade scarfs cool again.

Criterion Collection

Good ol' Godard. He's been directing movies since the 60s when dramas like Breathless and Contempt were taking the world by storm. Now he's directing movies like The Image Bookand Goodbye to Language. At this rate, he'll still be churning out classics at 100.

DreamWork Pictures

McKay is a lot of fun, isn't he? Who doesn't love a comedy? However, the long-time Will Ferrell-collaborator has taken a turn toward more serious work. Now he's an "important" director, with many leather-bound books. We recommend you stick to the basics: Anchorman, Step Brothers,Talladega Nights.

Sony Pictures Classics

Almodovar is cinema's hidden gem, and that includes his recent work with Penelope Cruz. While he's won multiple Oscars, he doesn't get the recognition he deserves. It's time we started putting some respect on his name.

The Weinstein Company

If you ask millennials to name their favorite director, they are probably going to say Tarantino. He is the quintessential modern director. He makes movies that are fast, cool, fun, edited like crazy, and packed with violence. Pulp Fiction remains his touchstone picture, but Reservoir Dogs and Django: Unchained are his best.

Variety

If you aren't already a fan of Claire Denis, you will be after you watchBeau Travail. If you are a fan, however, I don't need to tell you aboutBeau Travail or High Life. You already know Denis belongs on this list.

Fox Searchlight

Anderson is arguably the most unique director of his era, and by my calculations, is among the most unique directors ever. One look at his candy-colored world and you know you're in an Anderson movie. Where to start? Try Rushmore, then work your way to Moonrise Kingdom and Grand Budapest Hotel.

The Weinstein Company

More Anderson! This time we're talking about Paul Thomas Anderson, who started his career the same year as Wes. In 1996, he burst onto the scene with Hard Eight, then went on to direct every genre known to man: comedy (Boogie Nights), tragedy (There Will Be Blood), period piece (Phantom Thread), ensemble (Magnolia), rom-com (Punch Drunk Love). The guy can do it all.

Studio Ghibli

Miyazaki is a legendary director, and his films have gone on to inspire John Lasseter and Pete Docter. He announced he would be directing his final film in November. Hopefully, it's as good as My Neighbor Totoro.

Warner Bros.

Cuaron made a few indies, then shot Children of Men and became a different director. After he wrapped production, he went on to make studio blockbusters. Roma and Gravity are among the best blockbusters I've ever seen, andHarry Potter: The Prisoner of Azkabanain't half bad either.

Fox Searchlight

You know what won Best Picture in 2019, but do you know what won best film? Well, you do now. A Hidden Life is 1000 times better than Green Book. To compare the two is like comparing Lebron James to Taylon Horton Tucker. Malick also has a number of classics under his belt, including Badlands, Days of Heaven, and The Thin Red Line.

Universal Pictures

Lynch's time as a director is coming to a close. Age seems to have caught up to him, and he hasn't made a movie in 13 years. However, we're holding out hope he has one more in him--he directed a couple of shorts and music videos last year. Maybe he's been working on something all along? One can dream...

Line Cinema

For the longest time, Guillermo del Toro was one of those under-the-radar directors. Then he madePan's Labyrinth, Hellboy, and The Shape of Water. Now you can't watch a football game without seeing an ad for Nightmare Alley. His success is further proof that good work+hard work will eventually= acclaim.

Fox Searchlight

Yes, Zhao has only made two films, but those are an impressive two films. She directed The Rider, which won a Gotham, andNomadland, which won Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Adapted Screenplay. Technically she also didEternals, but we are going to pretend that never happened.

Apple TV

The Coen Brothers have done all sorts of films, which is what happens when you've been around for 40-years. They've done comedies (The Big Lebowski), thrillers (No Country For Old Men), and whatever the hell The Ballad of Buster Scruggs was. All that's left for them to do isShakespeare.

MGM

We're going old-school again with Fincher, another director who's been around for 40-years. He got his break with Se7en, but he was a director long before that. We've mentioned filmmakers with more flair than Fincher, but none with a better track record: Se7en, FightClub, Gone Girl, The Social Network. The list goes on...

Warner Bros.

Like Fincher, Nolan is a track-record director. He's 11 for 11 on feature films. Sure, he's only made a couple of great films (Dunkirk, The Dark Knight), but he's never made a movie that isn't worth watching.

Lincoln Center

This one's for you Sight & Sound readers out there. I'm sure most of you are probably thinking, "Apichatapa-who?" But for the hardcore cinephile--the cinephile who eats, breathes, reads, and studies cinema-- Apichatapong is right up there with the Scorsese's on this list.

20th Century Fox

Is anyone talking about Apichatapong? Not really. Cameron, on the other hand? He's a living legend. He's discussed more than any other director on here. Whether we're talking about Terminator 2 or The Titanic, Cameron has managed to stay relevant for as long as I've been alive. His Avatar films will keep it that way for years to come.

Canal +

Much like Apichatapong, Koreeda's talents aren't as recognized as they should be. He's put out 15 films. He's won every award there is to win. Plus, Ebert called him the next Yasujiro Ozu. It's time people started giving him a chance.

Colombia Pictures

Linklater is already one of the best directors out there, and he's bound to climb the ladder even more before he's done. He seems primed to make another five to seven pictures, though it's going to be hard to top Dazed and Confusedand The Before Trilogy.

A24

Speaking of potential, Jenkins seems primed to transcend the "Best Directors Working Today" list and join the "Best Directors Ever" list. After two films, he's already established himself as one of the biggest names in Hollywood.

Universal Studios

Pick an age, any age: Spielberg has the power to make you feel like a kid again. It doesn't matter if you're 8 or 88,ET, Indiana Jones, andJurassic Park will have you grinning from ear-to-ear. Even at 75, the man is still finding ways to make us smile.