#1. Steven Spielberg
There is no director as popular as Mr. Spielberg. Right from the start with Duel and Jaws, he has thrilled audiences for over 20 years. He is quite possibly the most successful director around, and I love pretty much his whole major library. Especially his flights of fancy and sci-fi adventure. My favorite Spielberg has to be Jurassic Park. When I saw it in the theatre, it filled my head with wonder, and took my breathe away.
Date of Birth: December 18, 1946
Place of Birth: Cincinnati, Ohio
#2. David Fincher
Ever since his debut with Alien3, Fincher has been one of the most sought after, revolutionary directors out there. Sure, the theatrical release of Alien3 was maligned, and even Fincher denounced the cut of that film. In 2004, with the release of the Alien movies with different cuts, we saw a rough version of the movie that Fincher wasn't allowed to make. And it was so much better. His follow-ups have been dark, disturbing examinations of human nature, and thoroughly entertaining. My favorite: Se7en.
Date of Birth: May 10, 1962
Place of Birth: Denver, Colorado
#3. Ridley Scott
No other director has impressed me with visual style like Ridley Scott. Right from the start, Scott had let his visuals tell the story, and every film of his I've seen is gold. He knows how to manipulate a viewer like no one else, a trick he no doubt picked up doing commercials in his early days. Along with his brother Tony, Scott Free Productions make some of the best movies out there. My favorite: a toss-up between Alien, BladeRunner and Legend. These are the movies that introduced me to the legend of Ridley Scott.
Date of Birth: November 30, 1937
Place of Birth: South Shields, Tyne and Wear, England
#4. Kevin Smith
There is no comedy director like Kevin Smith. His movies talk way too much, and they say very little, which I feel makes a perfect comedy. He tackles taboos and makes his audiences laugh. I'm a big fan of his work, especially his Jersey 'Trilogy', which included five films. My favorite is Dogma, which had the best cast assembled in a long time, and took on religion with a full-frontal attack.
Date of Birth: August 2, 1970
Place of Birth: Red Bank, New Jersey
#5. Sam Raimi
There are few directors that can make a low-budget horror franchise into a successful mainstream career. Raimi has gone from Evil Dead to Spider-Man over the course of his career, but he hasn't let his overall style change. Right from the start, his camera work has been kinetic, moving from different angles than other directors. He grabs you and won't let you go until the story is done. My favorite is The Gift, which made mainstream success and made Spider-Man a reality.
Date of Birth: October 23, 1959
Place of Birth: Franklin, Michigan
#6. M. Night Shyamalan
His movies are cerebral, thought-provoking, and his signature twist endings are always worth it. I didn't see the ending of The Sixth Sense coming, and when it came, I was so fulfilled. He is the most visionary new filmmakers to come along in a long time, even though the Village did not live up to expectations. My Favorite of his is Signs. He gets better everytime.
Date of Birth: August 6, 1970
Place of Birth: Pondicherry, Tamil-Nadu province, India
#7. Robert Rodriguez
Bloody, gory, and innovative. That's the best way to describe Robert Rodriguez's films. After studios noticed El Mariachi, he was allowed to do pretty much anything he wanted. He's teamed up with Quentin Tarantino on many occasions, and he's made filmmaking easier. His does his own writing, camera work, editing, music, and so many of his films are great. My favorite is The Faculty, which is his most commercial, but I had a lot of fun watching it.
Date of Birth: June 20, 1968
Place of Birth: San Antonio Texas
#8. Peter Jackson
He went from B-movie director to Academy Award winner in a few short years. Until he brought the Lord of The Rings Trilogy to life, he was best known for directing Micheal J. Fox in The Frighteners. Now, he can dictate what movies he wants to make, which looks to be another King Kong remake. My favorite is the Lord of The Rings Trilogy, which will make Jackson immortal.
Date of Birth: October 31, 1961
Place of Birth: Pukerua Bay, North Island, New Zealand
#9. James Cameron
No one does blockbusters like James Cameron. His movies have become legend, whether you talk about the Terminator, or even the horrid Titanic. His vision is so large, but he manages to make them a reality. His visuals are astounding, and the stunts involved are amazing. Despite not doing a major feature since 1997, his library speaks for itself. My favorite is his Aliens, which took the atmosphere of Alien and enlarged it ten-fold.
Date of Birth: August 16, 1954
Place of Birth: Kapuskasing, Ontario
#10. Paul W.S. Anderson
Of all the names on this list, his filmography is probably the most out-there. After gaining attention with Mortal Kombat, he has gone on to do several smaller horror/sci-fi films, and hit it really big with Resident Evil. The sequel and his vision of Aliens VS Predator are very highly anticipated. My favorite has to be Resident Evil. Very entertaining.
Date of Birth: March 4, 1965
Place of Birth: Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England, UK
Yes, as you notice, most of the directors here haven't done very many mainstream movies. With the exception of Mr. Spielberg, that is. That's what attracts me to directors, small, quirky movies that most critics don't like. And, if they're sci-fi or horror, that's even better. Check out some of these lesser known films, and you might just like them.
