1. DAVID FINCHER (1962–present).
Known for his dark, stylish, psychological thrillers, Fincher has an incredible ability to blend harsh reality and beautiful colour on the big screen.
Notable films: Seven; Fight Club; The Game; Zodiac; The Social Network.
2. ALFRED HITCHCOCK (1899–1980).
Billed as England’s greatest film director, Hitchcock is the undisputed master of suspense.
Notable films: Rear Window; Vertigo; Psycho; Dial M For Murder; North By Northwest.
3. PAUL THOMAS ANDERSON (1970–present).
Ranked by The Guardian as the number one film director in the world in 2012, Anderson is highly regarded as being a true cineaste – a master of his craft.
Notable films: Boogie Nights; Magnolia; There Will Be Blood; The Master.
4. CHAN-WOOK PARK (1963–present).
Known as one of the most highly acclaimed directors in Asia, Park is known for his immense framing and often brutally relentless subject matter.
Notable films: Oldboy; Lady Vengeance; Joint Security Area; Thirst; I’m A Cyborg.
5. MICHAEL HANEKE (1942–present).
Best known for his bleak, disturbing style, his films often document failures and problems in society.
Notable films: Hidden; Funny Games; The White Ribbon; The Piano Teacher.
6. JEE-WOON KIM (1964–present).
Kim has a successful history of tackling a wide range of film genres, whereby gathering a cult following among Asian film fans worldwide.
Notable films: A Bittersweet Life; I Saw The Devil; A Tale Of Two Sisters; The Quiet Family.
7. TAKASHI MIIKE (1960–present).
His films range from strange and violent to family-friendly and dramatic – he is truly diverse.
Notable films: Audition; Ichi The Killer; Dead Or Alive; 13 Assassins; MPD Psycho.
8. MARTIN SCORSESE (1942–present).
Scorsese’s filmography addresses such themes as Italian-American identity, Roman Catholic concepts of redemption and guilt, modern crime, machismo, and violence. Scorsese is hailed as one of the most influential and significant filmmakers of all time.
Notable films: The Color Of Money; The King Of Comedy; Taxi Driver; Goodfellas; Casino.
9. QUENTIN TARANTINO (1963–present).
His movies are generally characterised by stylistic influences from kung fu, grindhouse, and spaghetti western films. Tarantino is also well known to regularly reference pop culture in his films.
Notable films: Reservoir Dogs; Pulp Fiction; Inglourious Basterds; True Romance (screenplay).
10. ROMAN POLANSKI (1933–present).
Having made films in Britain, Poland, France, and the US, he is considered one of the few “truly international filmmakers”. As well as Hitchcock, nobody captures a suspenseful atmosphere quite like Polanski.
Notable films: Rosemary’s Baby; The Tenant; The Pianist; Chinatown; Repulsion.
Written by Conley Low
Greatest Films 