| Directors are ranked according to overall movie critic score |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| 1 |  | Peter Jackson |  3.2794
| 11 |
- 1970s - 1
- 1980s - 2
- 1990s - 3
- 2000s - 5
|
- 1. Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The (2001)
- 2. Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, The (2003)
- 3. Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, The (2002)
- 4. King Kong (2005)
|
| 2 |  | Clint Eastwood |  3.1660
| 29 |
- 1970s - 7
- 1980s - 7
- 1990s - 8
- 2000s - 7
|
- 1. Million Dollar Baby (2004)
- 2. Letters From Iwo Jima (2006)
- 3. Mystic River (2003)
- 4. Flags of our Fathers (2006)
|
| 3 |  | Martin Scorsese |  3.1511
| 31 |
- 1950s - 1
- 1960s - 1
- 1970s - 8
- 1980s - 5
- 1990s - 8
- 2000s - 8
|
- 1. Departed, The (2006)
- 2. My Voyage to Italy (2001)
- 3. Shine a Light (2008)
- 4. Aviator, The (2004)
|
| 4 |  | Steven Spielberg |  3.0269
| 31 |
- 1950s - 1
- 1960s - 3
- 1970s - 3
- 1980s - 7
- 1990s - 6
- 2000s - 9
|
- 1. Catch Me If You Can (2002)
- 2. Minority Report (2002)
- 3. Munich (2005)
- 4. Artificial Intelligence: AI (2001)
|
| 5 |  | Christopher Nolan |  3.0039
| 7 |
|
- 1. Dark Knight, The (2008)
- 2. Memento (2000)
- 3. Insomnia (2002)
- 4. Prestige, The (2006)
|
| 6 |  | Tim Burton |  2.9882
| 19 |
- 1970s - 2
- 1980s - 5
- 1990s - 5
- 2000s - 7
|
- 1. Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007)
- 2. Big Fish (2003)
- 3. Corpse Bride (2005)
- 4. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005)
|
| 7 |  | Paul Greengrass |  2.9650
| 7 |
- 1980s - 1
- 1990s - 1
- 2000s - 5
|
- 1. United 93 (2006)
- 2. Bourne Ultimatum, The (2007)
- 3. Bloody Sunday (2002)
- 4. Bourne Supremacy, The (2004)
|
| 8 |  | Yimou Zhang |  2.9613
| 6 |
|
- 1. House of Flying Daggers (2004)
- 2. Hero (2004)
- 3. Not One Less (2000)
- 4. Riding Alone for Thousands of Miles (2006)
|
| 9 |  | Richard Linklater |  2.9486
| 10 |
|
- 1. Before Sunset (2004)
- 2. Waking Life (2001)
- 3. Tape (2001)
- 4. Scanner Darkly, A (2006)
|
| 10 |  | Ridley Scott |  2.9118
| 22 |
- 1960s - 1
- 1970s - 2
- 1980s - 4
- 1990s - 4
- 2000s - 11
|
- 1. Gladiator (2000)
- 2. Black Hawk Down (2001)
- 3. American Gangster (2007)
- 4. Matchstick Men (2003)
|
| 11 |  | Gore Verbinski |  2.8882
| 8 |
|
- 1. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)
- 2. Ring, The (2002)
- 3. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (2006)
- 4. Mexican, The (2001)
|
| 12 |  | Ron Howard |  2.8709
| 24 |
- 1960s - 3
- 1970s - 1
- 1980s - 6
- 1990s - 6
- 2000s - 8
|
- 1. Beautiful Mind, A (2001)
- 2. Cinderella Man (2005)
- 3. How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)
- 4. Da Vinci Code, The (2006)
|
| 13 |  | Jonathan Demme |  2.8619
| 25 |
- 1970s - 5
- 1980s - 7
- 1990s - 8
- 2000s - 5
|
- 1. Neil Young: Heart of Gold (2006)
- 2. Manchurian Candidate, The (2004)
- 3. Agronomist, The (2003)
- 4. Truth About Charlie, The (2002)
|
| 14 |  | Robert Rodriguez |  2.8593
| 9 |
|
- 1. Sin City (2005)
- 2. Grindhouse (2007)
- 3. Spy Kids (2001)
- 4. Spy Kids 2: Island of Lost Dreams (2002)
|
| 15 |  | Michael Winterbottom |  2.8495
| 23 |
|
- 1. Tristram Shandy: A Cock and Bull Story (2006)
- 2. 24 Hour Party People (2002)
- 3. Mighty Heart, A (2007)
- 4. Cock and Bull Story, A (2005)
|
| 16 |  | Steven Soderbergh |  2.8132
| 18 |
- 1980s - 2
- 1990s - 6
- 2000s - 10
|
- 1. Traffic (2000)
- 2. Erin Brockovich (2000)
- 3. Solaris (2002)
- 4. Ocean's Thirteen (2007)
|
| 17 |  | Ang Lee |  2.8013
| 12 |
|
- 1. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)
- 2. Brokeback Mountain (2005)
- 3. Hulk (2003)
- 4. Lust, Caution (2007)
|
| 18 |  | Gus Van Sant |  2.7995
| 18 |
- 1980s - 5
- 1990s - 8
- 2000s - 5
|
- 1. Elephant (2003)
- 2. Finding Forrester (2000)
- 3. Gerry (2002)
- 4. Last Days (2005)
|
| 19 |  | Patrice Leconte |  2.7726
| 5 |
|
- 1. Man on the Train (2003)
- 2. Girl on the Bridge (2000)
- 3. Widow of Saint-Pierre, The (2001)
- 4. Intimate Strangers (2004)
|
| 20 |  | Stephen Frears |  2.7664
| 6 |
- 1980s - 1
- 1990s - 1
- 2000s - 4
|
- 1. Queen, The (2006)
- 2. Dirty Pretty Things (2003)
- 3. Liam (2001)
- 4. Mrs. Henderson Presents (2005)
|
| 21 |  | Thomas Riedelsheimer |  2.7650
| 4 |
|
- 1. Rivers and Tides (2001)
- 2. Rivers and Tides: Andy Goldsworthy Working with Time (2002)
- 3. Touch the Sound (2004)
- 4. Touch the Sound (2005)
|
| 22 |  | Michael Haneke |  2.7638
| 5 |
|
- 1. Cache (Hidden) (2005)
- 2. Piano Teacher, The (2002)
- 3. Code Unknown (2001)
- 4. Time of the Wolf, The (2004)
|
| 23 |  | Antoine Fuqua |  2.7552
| 11 |
|
- 1. Training Day (2001)
- 2. Lightning in a Bottle (2004)
- 3. King Arthur (2004)
- 4. Shooter (2007)
|
| 24 |  | Sam Raimi |  2.7412
| 15 |
- 1970s - 2
- 1980s - 3
- 1990s - 5
- 2000s - 5
|
- 1. Spider-Man 2 (2004)
- 2. Spider-Man (2002)
- 3. Spider-Man 3 (2007)
- 4. Gift, The (2000)
|
| 25 |  | Andrew Adamson |  2.7375
| 4 |
|
- 1. Shrek (2001)
- 2. Shrek 2 (2004)
- 3. Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, The (2005)
- 4. Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian, The (2008)
|
| 26 |  | Marc Forster |  2.7295
| 7 |
|
- 1. Finding Neverland (2004)
- 2. Stranger Than Fiction (2006)
- 3. Kite Runner, The (2007)
- 4. Everything Put Together (2000)
|
| 27 |  | Pedro Almodóvar |  2.7182
| 3 |
|
- 1. Talk to Her (2002)
- 2. Volver (2006)
- 3. Bad Education (2004)
|
| 28 |  | Jon Favreau |  2.7100
| 5 |
|
- 1. Iron Man (2008)
- 2. Elf (2003)
- 3. Made (2001)
- 4. Zathura: A Space Adventure (2005)
|
| 29 |  | Joel Coen |  2.7047
| 12 |
- 1980s - 2
- 1990s - 4
- 2000s - 6
|
- 1. No Country for Old Men (2007)
- 2. O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000)
- 3. Intolerable Cruelty (2003)
- 4. Ladykillers, The (2004)
|
| 30 |  | Woody Allen |  2.7022
| 39 |
- 1960s - 1
- 1970s - 7
- 1980s - 9
- 1990s - 10
- 2000s - 12
|
- 1. Match Point (2005)
- 2. Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008)
- 3. Small Time Crooks (2000)
- 4. Melinda and Melinda (2004)
|
| 31 |  | M. Night Shyamalan |  2.6737
| 8 |
|
- 1. Signs (2002)
- 2. Unbreakable (2000)
- 3. Village, The (2004)
- 4. Lady in the Water (2006)
|
| 32 |  | David Gordon Green |  2.6672
| 9 |
|
- 1. All the Real Girls (2003)
- 2. George Washington (2000)
- 3. Pineapple Express (2008)
- 4. Undertow (2004)
|
| 33 |  | Andrew Stanton |  2.6627
| 3 |
|
- 1. WALL-E (2008)
- 2. Finding Nemo (2003)
|
| 34 |  | James Mangold |  2.6625
| 8 |
|
- 1. 3:10 to Yuma (2007)
- 2. Walk the Line (2005)
- 3. Identity (2003)
- 4. Kate & Leopold (2001)
|
| 35 |  | Kirby Dick |  2.6614
| 8 |
- 1980s - 2
- 1990s - 1
- 2000s - 5
|
- 1. This Film Is Not Yet Rated (2006)
- 2. Twist of Faith (2004)
- 3. Chain Camera (2001)
- 4. Derrida (2002)
|
| 36 |  | David Mamet |  2.6273
| 13 |
- 1980s - 2
- 1990s - 5
- 2000s - 6
|
- 1. State and Main (2000)
- 2. Heist (2001)
- 3. Spartan (2004)
- 4. Redbelt (2008)
|
| 37 |  | Brett Ratner |  2.6272
| 10 |
|
- 1. Red Dragon (2002)
- 2. X-Men: The Last Stand (2006)
- 3. Rush Hour 2 (2001)
- 4. Family Man, The (2000)
|
| 38 |  | Chris Hegedus |  2.6191
| 18 |
- 1970s - 2
- 1980s - 5
- 1990s - 5
- 2000s - 6
|
- 1. Startup.com (2001)
- 2. Down from the Mountain (2000)
- 3. Only the Strong Survive (2002)
- 4. Down From the Mountain (2001)
|
| 39 |  | Werner Herzog |  2.6161
| 38 |
- 1960s - 5
- 1970s - 11
- 1980s - 5
- 1990s - 7
- 2000s - 10
|
- 1. Grizzly Man (2005)
- 2. Rescue Dawn (2007)
- 3. Encounters at the End of the World (2008)
- 4. Wild Blue Yonder, The (2005)
|
| 40 |  | Ken Loach |  2.6091
| 24 |
- 1960s - 1
- 1970s - 2
- 1980s - 3
- 1990s - 8
- 2000s - 10
|
- 1. Sweet Sixteen (2002)
- 2. Sweet Sixteen (2003)
- 3. Wind That Shakes the Barley (2007)
- 4. Navigators, The (2001)
|
| 41 |  | Guy Maddin |  2.6064
| 30 |
- 1980s - 4
- 1990s - 15
- 2000s - 11
|
- 1. Saddest Music in the World, The (2003)
- 2. Saddest Music in the World, The (2004)
- 3. Cowards Bend the Knee (2003)
- 4. Cowards Bend the Knee (2004)
|
| 42 |  | Quentin Tarantino |  2.5893
| 8 |
|
- 1. Kill Bill: Volume 2 (2004)
- 2. Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003)
- 3. Grindhouse (2007)
|
| 43 |  | Lee Unkrich |  2.5853
| 3 |
|
- 1. Finding Nemo (2003)
- 2. Monsters, Inc. (2001)
|
| 44 |  | Adam Shankman |  2.5669
| 7 |
|
- 1. Hairspray (2007)
- 2. Bringing Down the House (2003)
- 3. Walk to Remember, A (2002)
- 4. Wedding Planner, The (2001)
|
| 45 |  | Curtis Hanson |  2.5659
| 12 |
- 1970s - 1
- 1980s - 2
- 1990s - 4
- 2000s - 5
|
- 1. Wonder Boys (2000)
- 2. 8 Mile (2002)
- 3. In Her Shoes (2005)
- 4. Lucky You (2007)
|
| 46 |  | Roger Michell |  2.5532
| 4 |
|
- 1. Venus (2006)
- 2. Changing Lanes (2002)
- 3. Titanic Town (2000)
- 4. Mother, The (2004)
|
| 47 |  | David Cronenberg |  2.5481
| 23 |
- 1960s - 3
- 1970s - 5
- 1980s - 5
- 1990s - 4
- 2000s - 6
|
- 1. History of Violence, A (2005)
- 2. Eastern Promises (2007)
- 3. Spider (2002)
- 4. Camera (2000)
|
| 48 |  | Todd Phillips |  2.5478
| 9 |
|
- 1. Starsky & Hutch (2004)
- 2. Road Trip (2000)
- 3. Old School (2003)
- 4. School for Scoundrels (2006)
|
| 49 |  | Michel Gondry |  2.5460
| 12 |
|
- 1. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
- 2. Block Party (2005)
- 3. Be Kind, Rewind (2008)
- 4. Science of Sleep (2006)
|
| 50 |  | Robert Altman |  2.5408
| 47 |
- 1950s - 12
- 1960s - 4
- 1970s - 12
- 1980s - 8
- 1990s - 6
- 2000s - 5
|
- 1. Gosford Park (2001)
- 2. Prairie Home Companion, A (2006)
- 3. Company, The (2003)
- 4. Dr. T and the Women (2000)
|