TopTenREVIEWS best Drama movie director of all time is Martin Scorsese.

Top Drama Directors

Click on an director for details and movie rankings

Directors are ranked according to overall movie critic score

1	Martin Scorsese	3.2276	31	1950s - 1 1960s - 1 1970s - 8 1980s - 5 1990s - 8 2000s - 8	1. Taxi Driver (1976) 2. Goodfellas (1990) 3. Raging Bull (1980) 4. Departed, The (2006) See all Martin Scorsese movie rankings
2	Francis Ford Coppola	3.2045	16	1960s - 2 1970s - 4 1980s - 4 1990s - 4 2000s - 2	1. Godfather, The (1972) 2. Godfather: Part II, The (1974) 3. Conversation, The (1974) 4. Apocalypse Now (1979) See all Francis Ford Coppola movie rankings
3	Stanley Kubrick	3.1585	14	1950s - 6 1960s - 4 1970s - 1 1980s - 2 1990s - 1	1. Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964) 2. Paths of Glory (1958) 3. Spartacus (1960) 4. Clockwork Orange, A (1971) See all Stanley Kubrick movie rankings
4	Peter Jackson	3.1525	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) See all Peter Jackson movie rankings
5	Steven Spielberg	3.1364	31	1950s - 1 1960s - 3 1970s - 3 1980s - 7 1990s - 6 2000s - 9	1. E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982) 2. Saving Private Ryan (1998) 3. Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977) 4. Catch Me If You Can (2002) See all Steven Spielberg movie rankings
6	William Wyler	3.1319	61	1920s - 30 1930s - 13 1940s - 7 1950s - 7 1960s - 3 1970s - 1	1. Ben-Hur (1959) 2. Best Years of Our Lives, The (1946) 3. Funny Girl (1968) 4. Roman Holiday (1953) See all William Wyler movie rankings
7	Paul Thomas Anderson	3.1290	5	1990s - 3 2000s - 2	1. There Will Be Blood (2007) 2. Boogie Nights (1997) 3. Magnolia (1999) 4. Punch-Drunk Love (2002) See all Paul Thomas Anderson movie rankings
8	Alfred Hitchcock	3.1290	57	1920s - 10 1930s - 15 1940s - 14 1950s - 11 1960s - 5 1970s - 2	1. Vertigo (1958) 2. Rebecca (1940) 3. Notorious (1946) 4. Strangers on a Train (1951) See all Alfred Hitchcock movie rankings
9	Roman Polanski	3.1018	24	1950s - 7 1960s - 6 1970s - 5 1980s - 2 1990s - 2 2000s - 2	1. Chinatown (1974) 2. Repulsion (1965) 3. Pianist, The (2002) 4. Cul-de-sac (1966) See all Roman Polanski movie rankings
10	James Whale	3.0687	21	1930s - 17 1940s - 3 1960s - 1	1. Bride of Frankenstein (1935) 2. Frankenstein (1931) 3. Show Boat (1936) 4. Invisible Man, The (1933) See all James Whale movie rankings
11	Paul Greengrass	3.0646	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) See all Paul Greengrass movie rankings
12	Stephen Frears	3.0332	6	1980s - 1 1990s - 1 2000s - 4	1. Queen, The (2006) 2. Dirty Pretty Things (2003) 3. Dangerous Liaisons (1988) 4. Grifters, The (1990) See all Stephen Frears movie rankings
13	Michael Mann	3.0121	15	1970s - 2 1980s - 3 1990s - 3 2000s - 7	1. Manhunter (1986) 2. Collateral (2004) 3. Insider, The (1999) 4. Heat (1995) See all Michael Mann movie rankings
14	Clint Eastwood	3.0071	29	1970s - 7 1980s - 7 1990s - 8 2000s - 7	1. Million Dollar Baby (2004) 2. Unforgiven (1992) 3. Letters From Iwo Jima (2006) 4. Mystic River (2003) See all Clint Eastwood movie rankings
15	Cameron Crowe	3.0031	6	1980s - 1 1990s - 2 2000s - 3	1. Almost Famous (2000) 2. Say Anything... (1989) 3. Jerry Maguire (1996) 4. Singles (1992) See all Cameron Crowe movie rankings
16	Billy Wilder	3.0030	25	1940s - 7 1950s - 8 1960s - 5 1970s - 4 1980s - 1	1. Double Indemnity (1944) 2. Sunset Blvd. (1950) 3. Witness for the Prosecution (1957) 4. Stalag 17 (1953) See all Billy Wilder movie rankings
17	Hal Ashby	2.9961	9	1970s - 7 1980s - 2	1. Harold and Maude (1971) 2. Being There (1979) 3. Last Detail, The (1973) 4. Coming Home (1978) See all Hal Ashby movie rankings
18	Woody Allen	2.9948	39	1960s - 1 1970s - 7 1980s - 9 1990s - 10 2000s - 12	1. Manhattan (1979) 2. Hannah and Her Sisters (1986) 3. Radio Days (1987) 4. Crimes and Misdemeanors (1989) See all Woody Allen movie rankings
19	David Lynch	2.9911	17	1960s - 2 1970s - 3 1980s - 3 1990s - 4 2000s - 5	1. Eraserhead (1977) 2. Straight Story, The (1999) 3. Mulholland Drive (2001) 4. Blue Velvet (1986) See all David Lynch movie rankings
20	Ang Lee	2.9771	12	1990s - 7 2000s - 5	1. Sense and Sensibility (1995) 2. Brokeback Mountain (2005) 3. Ice Storm, The (1997) 4. Lust, Caution (2007) See all Ang Lee movie rankings
21	Spike Lee	2.9696	25	1970s - 1 1980s - 4 1990s - 10 2000s - 10	1. Do The Right Thing (1989) 2. Malcolm X (1992) 3. Inside Man (2006) 4. 25th Hour (2002) See all Spike Lee movie rankings
22	David Cronenberg	2.9542	23	1960s - 3 1970s - 5 1980s - 5 1990s - 4 2000s - 6	1. Fly, The (1986) 2. History of Violence, A (2005) 3. Dead Zone, The (1983) 4. Eastern Promises (2007) See all David Cronenberg movie rankings
23	Richard Linklater	2.9542	10	1990s - 4 2000s - 6	1. Before Sunset (2004) 2. Before Sunrise (1995) 3. Dazed and Confused (1993) 4. Waking Life (2001) See all Richard Linklater movie rankings
24	John Ford	2.9519	77	1910s - 4 1920s - 12 1930s - 24 1940s - 15 1950s - 15 1960s - 5 1970s - 2	1. Searchers, The (1956) 2. Grapes of Wrath, The (1940) 3. Quiet Man, The (1952) 4. 3 Godfathers (1948) See all John Ford movie rankings
25	Orson Welles	2.9478	20	1930s - 2 1940s - 5 1950s - 3 1960s - 4 1970s - 4 1980s - 1 1990s - 1	1. Citizen Kane (1941) 2. Magnificent Ambersons, The (1942) 3. Lady from Shanghai, The (1947) 4. Mr. Arkadin (1955) See all Orson Welles movie rankings
26	Yimou Zhang	2.9363	6	2000s - 6	1. House of Flying Daggers (2004) 2. Hero (2004) 3. Not One Less (2000) 4. Riding Alone for Thousands of Miles (2006) See all Yimou Zhang movie rankings
27	Ron Howard	2.9196	24	1960s - 3 1970s - 1 1980s - 6 1990s - 6 2000s - 8	1. Apollo 13 (1995) 2. Beautiful Mind, A (2001) 3. Cinderella Man (2005) 4. Ransom (1996) See all Ron Howard movie rankings
28	Peter Weir	2.9169	16	1970s - 4 1980s - 5 1990s - 3 2000s - 4	1. Truman Show, The (1998) 2. Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (2003) 3. Dead Poets Society (1989) 4. Witness (1985) See all Peter Weir movie rankings
29	David Mamet	2.9166	13	1980s - 2 1990s - 5 2000s - 6	1. Spanish Prisoner, The (1997) 2. Winslow Boy, The (1999) 3. State and Main (2000) 4. Heist (2001) See all David Mamet movie rankings
30	Michael Curtiz	2.9053	109	1910s - 4 1920s - 19 1930s - 42 1940s - 21 1950s - 19 1960s - 4	1. Casablanca (1942) 2. Angels with Dirty Faces (1938) 3. Mildred Pierce (1945) 4. Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942) See all Michael Curtiz movie rankings
31	Frank Capra	2.9022	34	1920s - 9 1930s - 7 1940s - 14 1950s - 3 1960s - 1	1. It's a Wonderful Life (1946) 2. Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939) 3. Meet John Doe (1941) 4. State of the Union (1948) See all Frank Capra movie rankings
32	Mike Nichols	2.8940	20	1960s - 2 1970s - 4 1980s - 5 1990s - 5 2000s - 4	1. Graduate, The (1967) 2. Primary Colors (1998) 3. Working Girl (1988) 4. Closer (2004) See all Mike Nichols movie rankings
33	Steven Soderbergh	2.8734	18	1980s - 2 1990s - 6 2000s - 10	1. Traffic (2000) 2. Out of Sight (1998) 3. sex, lies, and videotape (1989) 4. Erin Brockovich (2000) See all Steven Soderbergh movie rankings
34	Oliver Stone	2.8732	22	1970s - 3 1980s - 6 1990s - 7 2000s - 6	1. JFK (1991) 2. Platoon (1986) 3. Wall Street (1987) 4. Born on the Fourth of July (1989) See all Oliver Stone movie rankings
35	David Lean	2.8590	14	1940s - 7 1950s - 4 1960s - 2 1980s - 1	1. Lawrence of Arabia (1962) 2. Bridge on the River Kwai, The (1957) 3. Great Expectations (1946) 4. Brief Encounter (1945) See all David Lean movie rankings
36	Ingmar Bergman	2.8584	38	1940s - 7 1950s - 12 1960s - 10 1970s - 4 1980s - 4 2000s - 1	1. Seventh Seal, The (1957) 2. Fanny and Alexander (1982) 3. Virgin Spring, The (1960) 4. Saraband (2005) See all Ingmar Bergman movie rankings
37	Nicholas Hytner	2.8520	5	1990s - 3 2000s - 2	1. Madness of King George, The (1994) 2. Crucible, The (1996) 3. History Boys, The (2006) 4. Object of My Affection, The (1998) See all Nicholas Hytner movie rankings
38	George A. Romero	2.8516	12	1960s - 1 1970s - 4 1980s - 4 1990s - 1 2000s - 2	1. Dawn of the Dead (1978) 2. Martin (1977) 3. Day of the Dead (1985) 4. Crazies, The (1973) See all George A. Romero movie rankings
39	Anthony Minghella	2.8481	8	1990s - 4 2000s - 4	1. Talented Mr. Ripley, The (1999) 2. English Patient, The (1996) 3. Cold Mountain (2003) 4. Truly Madly Deeply (1991) See all Anthony Minghella movie rankings
40	Gus Van Sant	2.8467	18	1980s - 5 1990s - 8 2000s - 5	1. Good Will Hunting (1997) 2. To Die For (1995) 3. My Own Private Idaho (1991) 4. Elephant (2003) See all Gus Van Sant movie rankings
41	Mike Leigh	2.8444	9	1970s - 1 1980s - 1 1990s - 5 2000s - 2	1. Secrets & Lies (1996) 2. Vera Drake (2004) 3. Topsy-Turvy (1999) 4. Career Girls (1997) See all Mike Leigh movie rankings
42	Charles Chaplin	2.8444	63	1910s - 46 1920s - 6 1930s - 5 1940s - 2 1950s - 3 1960s - 1	1. Modern Times (1936) 2. City Lights (1931) 3. Kid, The (1921) 4. Great Dictator, The (1940) See all Charles Chaplin movie rankings
43	Todd Haynes	2.8433	7	1980s - 2 1990s - 3 2000s - 2	1. Far from Heaven (2002) 2. Safe (1995) 3. I'm Not There (2007) 4. Velvet Goldmine (1998) See all Todd Haynes movie rankings
44	James Ivory	2.8319	7	1980s - 1 1990s - 3 2000s - 3	1. Remains of the Day, The (1993) 2. Howards End (1992) 3. Golden Bowl, The (2001) 4. White Countess, The (2005) See all James Ivory movie rankings
45	Ridley Scott	2.8308	22	1960s - 1 1970s - 2 1980s - 4 1990s - 4 2000s - 11	1. Gladiator (2000) 2. Thelma & Louise (1991) 3. Blade Runner (1982) 4. Black Hawk Down (2001) See all Ridley Scott movie rankings
46	Lawrence Kasdan	2.8273	11	1980s - 4 1990s - 5 2000s - 2	1. Body Heat (1981) 2. Accidental Tourist, The (1988) 3. Big Chill, The (1983) 4. Mumford (1999) See all Lawrence Kasdan movie rankings
47	Wolfgang Petersen	2.8238	14	1960s - 2 1970s - 2 1980s - 3 1990s - 4 2000s - 3	1. Das Boot (1982) 2. In the Line of Fire (1993) 3. Air Force One (1997) 4. Perfect Storm, The (2000) See all Wolfgang Petersen movie rankings
48	Sam Wood	2.8222	63	1920s - 27 1930s - 21 1940s - 15	1. Goodbye, Mr. Chips (1939) 2. Kings Row (1942) 3. Pride of the Yankees, The (1942) 4. Beyond the Rocks (1922) See all Sam Wood movie rankings
49	William A. Wellman	2.8210	62	1920s - 13 1930s - 26 1940s - 12 1950s - 11	1. Public Enemy, The (1931) 2. Ox-Bow Incident, The (1943) 3. Wings (1927) 4. Island in the Sky (1953) See all William A. Wellman movie rankings
50	Howard Hawks	2.8080	40	1920s - 7 1930s - 14 1940s - 10 1950s - 5 1960s - 3 1970s - 1	1. Scarface (1932) 2. His Girl Friday (1940) 3. Sergeant York (1941) 4. Only Angels Have Wings (1939) See all Howard Hawks movie rankings

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