Discuss: EW’s Ranking Of The 50 Greatest Active Directors

Posted by Rob Hunter (rob@filmschoolrejects.com) on February 19, 2009 Share

Spielberg Tops EW's Director List

What’s better than a good list? A bad list, obviously. And Entertainment Weekly is once again happy to oblige with their ranking of the “50 Greatest Active Film Directors.” The only qualification they put before the ranking is that they’re “counting down the most talented, in-demand filmmakers behind the camera today.” So with these vague and conflicting criteria in mind, here’s EW’s terribly humorous list. Enjoy.

1. Steven Spielberg
2. Peter Jackson
3. Martin Scorsese
4. Christopher Nolan
5. Steven Soderbergh
6. Ridley Scott
7. Quentin Tarantino
8. Michael Mann
9. James Cameron
10. Joel and Ethan Coen
11. Guillermo del Toro
12. David Fincher
13. Tim Burton
14. Judd Apatow
15. Sam Raimi
16. Zack Snyder
17. Darren Aronofsky
18. Danny Boyle
19. Clint Eastwood
20. Ron Howard
21. Ang Lee
22. Paul Thomas Anderson
23. Paul Greengrass
24. Pedro Almodóvar
25. Jon Favreau
26. Woody Allen
27. Brad Bird
28. David Cronenberg
29. Sofia Coppola
30. Bryan Singer
31. Sam Mendes
32. Mel Gibson
33. The Wachowski Brothers
34. J.J. Abrams
35. Alfonso Cuaron
36. Hayao Miyazaki
37. Mike Leigh
38. Oliver Stone
39. Roman Polanski
40. Spike Jonze
41. Richard Linklater
42. Spike Lee
43. David Lynch
44. Wong Kar-Wai
45. Wes Anderson
46. Mira Nair
47. Andrew Stanton
48. Michael Moore
49. Mary Harron
50. Sidney Lumet

A few questions and observations to get the rest of you started…

Someone, probably blckmanjew, is going to slam Spielberg’s placement at #1, but I think it’s the only spot EW actually got right. He’s made some pablum to be sure, but his filmography contains more blockbusters and critically acclaimed movies than anyone else on the list.

But what about Zack Snyder at #16? Higher than Clint Eastwood, Ang Lee, PT Anderson? Bullshit. And Jon Favreau at #25? Higher than David Cronenberg, Wong Kar-Wai, and Wes Anderson? Bullshit. Only three women on the list, seemingly as afterthoughts in the bottom 25? No Kathryn Bigelow, Nora Ephron, or Jane Campion? And where is Terry Gilliam? Terrence Malick? Chan-wook Park? Kevin Costner? And why the hell is JJ Abrams on this list at all?

Okay. Your turn.

What do you think of EW’s list?

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  • mercury666
    Spielberg's "escapist" flicks may be fine, but his "serious" movies are profoundly anti-intellectual. "AI", "Saving Private Ryan", "Munich", "Schindler's List", "The Color Purple", "Empire of the Sun" are hugely juvenile films which only further infatilizes the "adult genre". Take away the gritty cinematograph and both "Saving Private Ryan" (a rip off of at least 20 other war movies) and "Schindler's List" would look as cartoonish as "Hook". Don't get me started on "Munich", a film which appeals to those clueless about the Middle East, weened on kiddie flicks which has forever tainted their ability to distinguish between junk and real art in possession of depth.

    "Hook", "Terminal", "Always" and "1941" are likewise junk.
  • And this has become the first ever mock-proposal at Film School Rejects. But yeah, Wet Hot American Summer is easily one of my favorites. I'd say it is probably the best comedy of this decade. People would beat my ass for saying it, but I stick by my opinion.
  • Sweet. Wet Hot American Summer has been one of my favorites for a long time now, and while I'm not interested in marrying you I will be happy to fondle your sweaters.
  • To be honest, I'd agree with a large part of this list.... by the simple fact that I only know so many directors. I do think it concentrated a bit much on directors that have done a good movie in the past couple of years... there are directors like Jean-Pierre Jeunet and well I have an embarrassing intellectual crush on David Wain, but I'm not sure that counts... in any case, I guess we can't expect Entertainment Weekly to put out a list that caters to film nerds as opposed to the general "Let's go see Paul Blart this weekend" folks. And my favorite Kevin Smith is... well, Clerks and Dogma are tied, but Zack and Miri was pretty damn good.
  • Anything involving David Wain counts. Wet Hot American Summer is one of my favorite films of all-time.

    Yeah, not to sound like a film snob, but when Paul Blart is number one two weeks in a row, you know that intellect is being handed out in small doses these days.
  • Wet Hot American Summer? One of your favorite films of all time?

    ...marry me!
  • harold
    mary harron? isn't she the one who directed american psycho? okay, not to rain on any christian bale fans but honestly that movie was not great. it was interesting, sure. it was definitely worth a watch, but by no means was it near great or awesome. and beyond american psycho, can anyone name another movie she's made off the top of their head? probably not. there are obviously many many other issues with this list and she IS at number 49, but does that still qualify her to be considered one of the 50 greatest active directors?
  • Much like Quentin Tarantino.
  • curt
    i still cant wait for inglourious basterds
  • I am a fan of Cuaron as well. While I love Kevin Smith, I don't think he ranks as one of the greatest directors around. Does he have his own style? Somewhat. Is he a great entertainer? I think so. But I don't think he is up there with the likes of Scorsese, ya know?
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