Exposing all the weird, expensive, political, ego-driven stuff that happens behind the scenes before and after films and TV series hit the screens.

That's Showbiz, Baby

Behind The Scenes

Most artists <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/adventure-movies-based-on-real-myths/jim-rowley">draw inspiration from real life</a>, but some creations are more directly inspired by specific experiences than others. Many filmmakers have adapted their lives to the screen, including Steven Spielberg with&nbsp;The Fabelmans, Greta Gerwig with&nbsp;Lady Bird, and François Truffaut with&nbsp;The 400 Blows, but not all autobiographical filmmaking depicts events from the distant past. In some cases, filmmakers are <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/movies-altered-after-real-events/jacob-shelton">responding to events in real time</a>. This often leads to disguised storytelling. Edgar Wright and Simon Pegg’s alien apocalypse movie&nbsp;The World’s End, for instance, isn’t an obvious depiction of the star’s struggles with alcoholism, but Pegg later revealed that it was a creative response to a painful time in his life. Similarly, few fans would suspect that&nbsp;Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom&nbsp;is a glorified <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/movies-about-getting-dumped/anncasano?ref=browse_list">breakup movie</a>, but its notorious darkness helped George Lucas and Steven Spielberg purge their feelings after their respective breakups.&nbsp;Some filmmakers intentionally use their artistic medium as a form of therapy, while others are surprised by the emotional impact of making art out of their own struggles. In some cases, they choose not to discuss the real-life parallels until years after the film’s release. Whatever the case, these movies are windows into the personal hardships of their creators, and while they are not always easy to watch, they do demonstrate the power of filmmaking to depict real-world experiences in innovative and surprising ways.

14 Movies That Were Surprisingly Inspired By Creators' Personal Hardships

Film

Movies You Didn't Realize Were Low-Key Autobiographical

Lily McElveen

Pop Culture

They say that every actor secretly wants to direct. Many of them have tried over the years. A few have found massive success. Kevin Costner, Mel Gibson, and Clint Eastwood have all won Oscars in the best director category. Barbra Streisand, Greta Gerwig, and Jon Favreau are others who have famously worked on both sides of the camera.&nbsp;Other actors have tried, yet failed to get the same kind of recognition. These famous names, which are among the biggest in Hollywood, only did it once or twice, tops. In fact, many of their fans may not even realize they directed a movie. That's how unfamiliar these films are to the general public. Some of their efforts are good, others not so much. Regardless of outcome, their directorial debuts are definitely on the obscure side. Vote up the most surprising movies you didn't know were directed by famous actors.

19 Actors You Didn't Realize Directed Movies

Actor

Actors You Didn't Realize Directed Movies

Mike McGranaghan

Lists for fans addicted to horror films (and shows) and all the jump-scarin', blood-splatterin', "b*tch, get out the house!" adrenaline that goes with them.

Do You Like Scary Movies?

Graveyard Shift

Since the 1920s, the <a href="https://www.oscars.org/academy-story" target="_blank">Oscars</a>&nbsp;have been&nbsp;one of the most prestigious and recognized awards ceremonies on the globe. With different categories for acting, directing, and other aspects of filmmaking, winning an Oscar&nbsp;is a lifelong goal for some. However, some of directors&#39; best works never receive an&nbsp;award.

Beyond the glittering art that earned many of the directors on this list their star status, many have ventured into the world of the gory, psychological, and uncanny. <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/redeemable-bad-horror-movies/jacob-shelton" target="_blank">Not all of these films</a> are award-worthy, but they showcase the horrific creations that can come from the least expected sources.

Horror Movies Made By Oscar-Winning Directors

Oscar-Winning Directors Who Also Directed Horror Movies

Aolani Robinson

Lists of fun facts and differing opinions about Hollywood's biggest, most self-congratulatory night. 

The Oscars

poll

The life of a movie director can be quite exciting, extremely stressful, and completely unrewarding at times. Since the first Oscars were awarded at a small, private ceremony in 1929, directors in the Western world and beyond have sought validation through those heavy, gold statuettes. However, because only a handful of directors are nominated each year, some of history&rsquo;s greatest film directors have never been properly acknowledged for their efforts, even though they made movies that we all know and love and deserved to be <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/every-oscar-winning-film-ever/drake-bird">Academy Award winning movies</a>.

What <a href="http://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-most-oscar-worthy-directors-of-all-time?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">great directors</a> have never been nominated for a Best Director Oscar?&nbsp;When we think about our favorite movies, we focus on the actors, the set, and the stories. Rarely do we think about people <a href="http://www.ranker.com/tags/behind-the-scenes?ref=internalCrossLinking_tag">behind the scenes</a>. This list includes some of the <a href="http://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-most-oscar-worthy-directors-of-all-time">best directors of all time</a>,&nbsp;from new favorites like&nbsp;Ben Affleck to long-gone classic auteurs like Charlie Chaplin and Fritz Lang - none of whom were ever nominated for the Academy Award for Best Director. Though a few of the people on this list won Oscars in other categories - such as Best Screenplay or even Best Picture - they have never received an &quot;Oscar nod&quot; for Best Directing.

Vote up these most underrated directors who were snubbed by the Academy and who deserve recognition for their work by this distinguished award.

Bryan Singer

The Best Directors Never Nominated for Oscars

Person in Film

Ranker Film

Lists about the people behind the cameras of your favorite (and least favorite) movies.

And... Action!

Entertainment

Believe it or not, some of the greatest films of all time&nbsp;were also some of the greatest directorial debuts to date. It's not too often a director's first go at overseeing an entire production ends up on a <a href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-best-movies-of-all-time" target="_blank">list of the best movies</a>, but it does happen. Considering this, we've probably all seen an awesome movie and thought, &quot;What a great job by the director&quot; without even realizing it was the director's first movie. Regardless of what thoughts you might have had, below you'll find a list of who are now&nbsp;famous directors' first movies. Just consider that next time you watch one of these top flicks of the past.From <a href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-funniest-movies-of-all-time" target="_blank">hilarious comedies</a> to full-on thrillers, these debut films from <a href="http://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-most-oscar-worthy-directors-of-all-time" target="_blank">top directors</a> would be impressive even if they weren't the directors first. Just take a look at some of the great movies on the list. Does the classic Reservoir Dogs ring a bell? Yep, that was Quentin Tarantino's directorial debut. How about the 2018 hit Get Out? Sure enough, Jordan Peele of Key &amp; Peele nailed it on his first crack at directing.&nbsp;And that's only the start of a long list of incredible debuts.&nbsp;While you may find many of them surprising, check out the list of directorial debuts below and vote up the films&nbsp;you find most impressive.&nbsp;

The Greatest Directorial Debuts Of All Time

The 50+ Best Directorial Debuts Of All Time, Ranked By Fans

Many successful film&nbsp;directors&#39;&nbsp;names are widely known, but many of their faces are not recognizable by the general public. However, many viewers have actually seen many of these big-name filmmakers in some of their favorite films&nbsp;without even realizing it.

Whether it&#39;s a classic like Taxi Driver or a big-budget blockbuster like Casino Royale, these films&#39;&nbsp;directors&nbsp;all make brief cameos at some point in the movie. Check out which filmmakers do a cameo in the films below, and don&#39;t forget to vote!

13 Times Directors Snuck A Cameo Into Their Own Movies

General

13 Times Directors Had A Cameo In Their Own Movies

Jon Mendelsohn

Directors are regularly replaced during the preproduction process, with &ldquo;creative differences&rdquo; often cited as the reason for the change. Less common are instances in which a <a href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-greatest-living-directors" target="_blank">director</a> is fired during filming, and even more rare are the times the movie still manages to turn out okay despite the troubled production. Whether the success is due to efforts made by the first director prior to being fired or the production is saved by the replacement director, the end results are praiseworthy. A majority of audience members may be unaware of the switch when the film comes together in the end.

There are a number of reasons a director could be fired during filming, though details are commonly kept from the public until after the film&rsquo;s release. Disagreements with movie stars, failure to keep up with the shooting schedule, and being absent from the set are some common reasons producers may make the controversial decision to fire a director. Some fired directors still manage to retain credit for their work, while others are given an alternative title on the production, depending on the decisions made by the Directors Guild of America. Regardless of who received credit as director, these films all turned out well. Some are even great.&nbsp;

Which films turned out the best, despite mid-production changes behind the camera? Vote up your favorites below!

14 Times A Director Got Fired During Filming, But The Movie Still Turned Out Okay

Ryan Izay

The Best of 2022

With so many good 2022 movies directed by women it is tough to determine the best. The films on this list are incredibly diverse.&nbsp;The Pink Cloud&nbsp;is a sci-fi drama thriller that is eerily similar to real-world events while&nbsp;The Fallout&nbsp;seems like it could have been ripped right from newspaper headlines. You also have comedies like Hulu&#39;s&nbsp;Sex Appeal&nbsp;which is a teenage rom-com. Horror fans will want to keep an eye out for&nbsp;Hatching&nbsp;which is a finnish language body horror movie directed by a woman in 2022. 2021 was a successfull year for female directors and this year should see that momentum continue.

Vote up your favorite movies that were directed by women in 2022, vote down the ones you think fans should skip, and check back throughout the year as new and upcoming women directed films are added to the list once they are released.

The Best Women Directed Movies Of 2022

The Best Movies Directed By Women Of 2022, Ranked

Jason Bancroft

Lists that rank the best, most hilarious films that will make you laugh so hard, you'll wake up the whole neighborhood.

Very Funny Movies

Comedy

These titans of comedy are the best comedy directors to ever make side-splitting movies. This list includes film directors that specialize in hilarious slapstick, comedy-dramas, directing their own work, or those who&nbsp;just know how to capture perfect comedic timing. Of all of these gems, who are the top comedy directors in the entire world of film?

This list includes frequent Hollywood collaborators like the Farrelly Brothers (known for Dumb &amp; Dumber and There&#39;s Something About Mary, among others) and David Zucker, Jim Abrahams, and Jerry Zucker, responsible for Airplane!, one of the <a href="http://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-funniest-movies-of-all-time" target="_blank">funniest movies of all time</a>. This list of the funniest directors spans the history of the big screen, starting with Charlie Chaplin, who made his first silent movie in 1921.

Vote up the directors with the most successful comedies under their belts or who just make you laugh the most! Then check back in to see if your favorite comedy directors topped the list!&nbsp;You might also enjoy this <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-romantic-comedy-directors-in-film-history/ranker-film" target="_blank">list of rom-com directors</a>.

Harold Ramis

The Best Comedy Directors in Film History

The 100+ Best Comedy Directors, Ranked by Fans

When filmmakers first release their movies to theaters, it&rsquo;s not always in the form they would prefer. Studio mandates, public taste, and rights issues can transform an <a href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-best-movies-of-all-time" target="_blank">all-time classic film</a>&nbsp;into something mediocre by the time it&rsquo;s reedited. Fortunately, the rise of video streaming has allowed many of the better director&#39;s&nbsp;cuts to come to light.

Lots of director&rsquo;s cuts are undeniably better than their theatrical versions. Extra scenes and added&nbsp;creative freedom can truly improve a film, regardless of how good it was in the first place. Plus, since the public has already reacted to the theatrical version, it&#39;s possible for creators to respond to criticism by fixing plot holes the second time around.&nbsp;

When it&rsquo;s&nbsp;director&rsquo;s cut vs. theatrical version, which comes out on top? Which director&rsquo;s cuts are better than the versions first seen by the public? While the answers to all of these questions are up for debate, a few director&#39;s cuts stand tall above the rest by keeping the best parts of their theatrical cuts while including&nbsp;much-appreciated bonus material.&nbsp;

Director's Cuts That Are Better Than The Theatrical Movies

Ryan Sargent

An auteur is a filmmaker or director whose personal, individual production style and creative flare gives his or her films a distinctive, unique feel. A director who falls in this category usually has complete control over the creative elements of producing a film. Since their influence on their films is so great, they are considered the author of the film, regardless of whether or not they actually wrote the script. If you&rsquo;ve ever asked the question, &ldquo;Who are the greatest auteurs in film history?&rdquo; before, then you&rsquo;ve definitely landed on the right page!

If you&rsquo;re a movie buff, you&rsquo;ve probably been a fan of at least a few of history&rsquo;s greatest auteurs, such as Alfred Hitchcock or Federico Fellini. There are also modern auteurs, like David Lynch and Wes Anderson.&nbsp;Some of film&rsquo;s famous auteur directors have produced history&rsquo;s greatest movies,&nbsp;such as&nbsp;Fight Club, Pulp Fiction, Lost in Translation, and Moonrise Kingdom.

This list features history&rsquo;s best auteurs, including&nbsp;Wes Craven, Peter Jackson, Quentin Tarantino, and Charlie Kaufman. Vote for your favorite auteur film directors below, and then check back to see if they topped the list!&nbsp;

Sergio Leone

The Greatest Auteurs in Film History

The Best Auteur Directors in Film History, Ranked By Fans

Firsthand Accounts

Negative criticism is hard to take, especially from the entire general public. Few know what it's like for <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/scathing-funny-movie-reviews/lauren-glen">millions of people to hate something you made.</a> Movie directors are among those few, and although some can remain equanimous (or at least feign equanimity) under an onslaught of horrible reviews, many lash out in a variety of ways. Here's how some directors reacted to bad feedback.

How Directors Reacted To Bad Reviews Of Their Films

Person

How Directors Actually Reacted To Bad Reviews Of Their Films

Shane Fraser

In today&#39;s film industry, it&#39;s not uncommon to see mega-famous movie stars stepping behind the camera to direct. Clint Eastwood is almost as famous for works he&#39;s directed as he is for his acting. Bradley Cooper and Ben Affleck have also done stints helming <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/every-oscar-winning-film-ever/drake-bird?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">movies that have won Oscars</a>. Some might not even remember that Jordan Peele was an accomplished comedic actor before he became a household name for directing Get Out and Us.&nbsp;

But not every actor who goes on to a successful directing career is A-list famous. In fact, some of them might even be people you didn&#39;t realize were directors at all. They stood out in recognizable roles in memorable movies, but never quite made it to the next level.&nbsp;This is a list of classic movie &quot;That Guy&quot; and &quot;That Girl&quot; actors who went on to greater success as directors. Vote up&nbsp;the actors you think went on to have the best directing careers.

Character Actors Who Became Successful Movie Directors

Dave Schilling

Interviews

The recent reunion, <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/harry-potter-actors-talk-about-their-kiss-scenes/charlie-boyle" target="_blank">Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return To Hogwarts</a>, has left fans joyous over the heartwarming interviews between beloved cast members and the newly revealed details about the filming process.&nbsp;

Some of the best details came from the <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/funniest-moments-from-_harry-potter-20th-anniversary-return-to-hogwarts_/charlie-boyle" target="_blank">Harry Potter</a> directors, who shared insights into the famous story that we&#39;ve never heard before (and were shocked by). Vote up your favorite details!

* *

For context - Chris Colombus directed The Sorcerer&rsquo;s Stone and The Chamber of Secrets, Alfonso Cuaron directed The Prisoner of Azkaban, Mike Newell directed The Goblet of Fire, and David Yates directed The Order of the Phoenix, The Half-Blood Prince, and The Deathly Hallows Part 1 &amp;&nbsp;2.&nbsp;

Behind The Scenes Details We Learned About The Making/Filming Of 'Harry Potter'

Charlie Boyle

Ranking the best of everything of the last 10 years.

2010s: A Decade in Review

Lists that rank the best, worst, and most underrated movies, actors, and filmmakers of the 2010s. Get votin' to make your opinion heard.

2010s:  A Decade at the Movies

The 2010s have been nothing if not an interesting decade at the movies. From the dominance of franchise IP to the merging of major studios and the ascent of streaming services, the landscape has gone through a fitful evolution. And yet, it remains the case that filmmakers, through their successes and their failures, sit at privileged central positions amid all the industry machinations. It&rsquo;s their work that continues to drive conversation, permeate the culture, and shape what comes next.

Some work in comedy, others specialize in horror, while still others do what they can to pitch down the middle only to have their work touch off maelstroms both productive and not. Fortunately, driving us forward are filmmakers from ever-diversifying backgrounds, serving ever-diversifying films. These are some of the most influential filmmakers of the decade.

The Most Influential Filmmakers Of The 2010s

The Most Influential Filmmakers Of The 2010s, Ranked

Skyler Hanrath

Ranking Movies of the 1970s

1970s

List of the top directors of the '70s. The 1970s were filled with absurd styles and monumental <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/movies-that-were-changed-at-the-last-minute/anncasano?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">changes in movies</a>, as some of the world's greatest directors began experimenting like never before. Fellini, Bergman, and Truffaut, for instance, inspired Americans like John Cassavetes and Hal Ashby to make some of their most unique and cherished films of the decade. The top directors of the 1970s made some defining works of art during the period. For instance, Roman Polanski struck gold with Chinatown while Stanley Kubrick did the same with A Clockwork Orange. The same can be said for Robert Altman and Francis Ford Coppola, whose 1970s filmographies seem unparalleled and as if they could do no wrong. Not only was this decade the time of the two&nbsp;Godfather movies, but the seventies is also when director Sidney Lumet came out with his two Al Pacino spectaculars: the unforgettable '70s hits of Serpico and Dog Day Afternoon.Which 70's directors are your favorites? Vote up the directors who made the best 1970s movies and vote down any seventies movies makers you don't really like.

Stanley Kubrick

The Greatest Directors of the 1970s

Best 70s Directors | List of Top 1970s Film Directors 

Film Directors lists at Ranker - the ultimate source for top 10, best of, funny, or factual lists of any kind - see how everything ranks

Film director lists on Ranker

Top Movie Directors: Top Tens and Lists of Film Directors

Film director

Directors

2001: A Space Odyssey

The Shining

Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb

Lists about the acclaimed and controversial director of The Shining, A Clockwork Orange, Full Metal Jacket, and so many more of the greatest movies of all time.

The World of Stanley Kubrick

Stanley Kubrick is considered one of the greatest and most influential directors of all time. And with good reason. His films are some of the most memorable and feature intelligent plot lines, exquisite camera work, special effects and other groundbreaking innovations that cemented his legacy. <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/famous-people-from-new-york-city/reference?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">Born in New York</a>, Kubrick spent most his life living and working in England. Not only did Kubrick direct, he also held titles of producer, screenwriter, cinematographer and editor, which help mold his films with his unique vision. Filmbuffs have long debated what is the best Stanley Kubrick film. With a filmography has extensive and iconic as Kubrick's, you really can't go wrong. Dr Strangelove, A Clockwork Orange, Lolita Full Metal Jacket, The Shining and 2001: A Space Odyssey are all classics that have stood the test of time. They are considered some of the best films in history. This is what makes Kubrick such an important director. His best films are in multiple genres and his stories can swing back and forth between striking black comedy and terrifying potential realities. The best Kubrick movies are thought provoking and make you dig deep as a viewer to see what the underlying message of the film is. Vote the movie you think is Stanley Kubrick's best.