The most iconic film directors: 10 names and the film to start with
The most iconic film directors in history, from Hitchcock and Kurosawa to Spielberg and Tarantino, with the film to start with and a full guide to each one's life and work.
Ten directors changed what cinema can be. This list gathers the most iconic names, from Alfred Hitchcock to Quentin Tarantino, with the film to start with for each and a link to a full guide to their life and work. It is a starting point, not a ranking.
How we chose
We chose directors by influence on other filmmakers, awards and lasting cultural footprint, and we ordered them by birth year. Each entry names one film as a place to start, and links to the full guide to the director.
Alfred Hitchcock
The master of suspense, who taught cinema to build fear from what the audience knows. Start with Psycho.
Full guide: Alfred Hitchcock
Akira Kurosawa
The Japanese master whose samurai epics shaped action and adventure films around the world. Start with Seven Samurai.
Full guide: Akira Kurosawa
Federico Fellini
The Italian dreamer who mixed memory, circus and fantasy. Start with 8½.
Full guide: Federico Fellini
Stanley Kubrick
The perfectionist who reinvented a different genre with each film. Start with 2001: A Space Odyssey.
Full guide: Stanley Kubrick
Francis Ford Coppola
The author of the Corleone saga and Apocalypse Now, with Oscars as a director and a writer. Start with The Godfather.
Full guide: Francis Ford Coppola
Martin Scorsese
The chronicler of faith, guilt and crime in New York. Start with Goodfellas.
Full guide: Martin Scorsese
Steven Spielberg
The director who invented the summer blockbuster and also made serious dramas. Start with Jaws.
Full guide: Steven Spielberg
Tim Burton
The gothic fairy-tale maker whose look is called Burtonesque. Start with Edward Scissorhands.
Full guide: Tim Burton
Wong Kar-wai
The poet of longing and missed connections in Hong Kong. Start with In the Mood for Love.
Full guide: Wong Kar-wai
Quentin Tarantino
The self-taught filmmaker whose dialogue and structure were imitated worldwide. Start with Pulp Fiction.
Full guide: Quentin Tarantino
Frequently asked questions
Who are the most iconic film directors?
This list names ten: Hitchcock, Kurosawa, Fellini, Kubrick, Coppola, Scorsese, Spielberg, Burton, Wong Kar-wai and Tarantino, chosen for influence, awards and cultural footprint. It is a starting point, not a ranking.
Which director should I start with?
For classics start with Hitchcock or Spielberg, for world cinema with Kurosawa or Fellini, for modern crime with Scorsese or Tarantino and for fairy tales with Burton.
Who is the greatest film director of all time?
There is no agreed answer. Critics and fans often name Hitchcock, Kubrick, Kurosawa or Scorsese, so rate their films on Rankiew and build your own ranking.
Rate these movies
Which one is your favorite? On Rankiew you can rate every film, write reviews and build your own lists.
Sources: official studio releases, filmographies and public records.
