With a long history of incredible films, it’s no surprise that there have been some amazing directors throughout the years. From the productions of silent films to the modern masterpieces of today, let’s explore some of the greatest directors of all time and examine their impact on the world of film and screenwriting.

What makes a great director?

As a screenwriter, you know that a great director can be the difference between an average project and turning your perfectly polished and formatted script into something truly special. But what exactly defines a “great” director?

A great director is more than just a skilled filmmaker. They possess the ability to bring a script to life on the screen with their unique vision. They possess a deep understanding of the complexities of filmmaking, from the technical to the emotional. They have the ability to effectively collaborate with the cast and crew to produce something memorable.

The great director is also an artist. They have a strong aesthetic sensibility, a talent for composition and color, and the creativity to come up with unique visuals. They are able to bring the story to life through imaginative cinematography and editing.

Finally, a great director is able to bring out the best in their actors. They can make them feel comfortable and help them perform at their best. They understand that it’s not just about getting the lines right, it’s also about creating real emotional moments on screen.

At the end of the day, a great director is a special blend of artist, technician, and collaborator. Being a successful director takes a unique combination of skills, talent, and vision. As a screenwriter, you can have confidence that if you find the right director for your project, then you’re in for something truly special.

Top greatest directors of all time

Let's dive into some of the greatest directors of the last century.

Steven Spielberg

Steven Spielberg is one of the world's most recognizable and influential directorsd. His career began in the 1970s and he has gone on to win multiple Academy Awards for his work, including Best Director for Schindler’s List and Saving Private Ryan. He is known for his ability to combine technical mastery with emotion and suspense, creating some of the most iconic films of all time.

The masterpiece that made his career was Jaws, an unforgettable film that made a generation of teenagers frightened to ever enter the ocean again. It also created the idea of a summer blockbuster that school children on vacation could look forward to.

Alfred Hitchcock

Alfred Hitchcock is known as the master of suspense and could be considered the first auteur director. This is a director whose style is so influential in the making of the film they are considered the ‘author’ of the work.

Hitchcock is one of the most renowned directors in history and his unique style of filmmaking has been imitated countless times. His career spanned five decades and his iconic films, such as Psycho, Rear Window, and The Birds, are still beloved by audiences today.

Most of Hitchcock's earliest films were in black and white as his career began in the 1920s when the film was still in its infancy Hitchcock would be instrumental in pushing the boundaries of technology and filmmaking with the infamous shower scene in Psycho one of the most shocking and controversial sequences at the time. By the time of his death in 1980 the world was an unrecognizable place both socially, technologically, and culturally.

Martin Scorsese

Martin Scorsese is a legendary director who has been making films since the 1970s. He is known for his intense and gritty style, often combining powerful visuals with intense performances. He has won multiple Academy Awards, including Best Director for The Departed.

Scorsese's principal themes often centre around masculinity and the world of organized crime. He explores the dark side to the glitz and glamour of the 1970s Las Vegas mafia in Casino. And in The Wolf of Wall Street he examines the excesses and greed of Wall Street in the 90s with wit and humor.

Stanley Kubrick

Stanley Kubrick is one of the most accomplished directors in history. He was renowned for his technical mastery and his ability to create beautiful visuals. His films, such as 2001: A Space Odyssey, The Shining, and A Clockwork Orange, are considered some of the greatest films ever made. They combine horror with science fiction.

Francis Ford Coppola

Francis Ford Coppola is one of the most influential directors of all time. His films span multiple genres, from crime dramas to war epics. He is best known for his iconic Godfather trilogy, which is widely regarded as one of the greatest series of films ever made.

Wes Anderson

Wes Anderson is a modern-day master of cinematic style. His films are known for their unique visuals, witty dialogue, and offbeat characters. He has been nominated for multiple Academy Awards and his films, such as The Grand Budapest Hotel, has become instant classics.

Quentin Tarantino

Quentin Tarantino is one of the most influential filmmakers in the world. His films are known for their offbeat dialogue, exaggerated violence, and unique style. He has won multiple Academy Awards and his films, such as Pulp Fiction and Django Unchained, have become iconic.

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood combined real-life characters with fictional actors and brilliantly captured a moment in time as the sun set on the golden era of Hollywood and the cultural and political revolution of the late 60s reached its climax.

Christopher Nolan

Christopher Nolan is a master of both suspense and science fiction. His films, such as The Dark Knight, Inception, and Interstellar, are known for their complex storylines and innovative visuals.

He has won multiple Academy Awards and is one of the most popular directors in the world.

The Dark Knight reinvented the superhero film with its gritty and dark retelling of childhood classics, for our time. The portrayal of The Joker as a nihilistic and psychotic supervillain who just wanted to 'watch the world burn' could be read as a critique of the capitalist system in the wake of the 2008 financial crash.

Hayao Miyazaki

So far our list has only included Western directors. But Hayao Miyazaki is a legendary animator and director from Japan more than worthy of an entry here. His films are renowned for their beautiful animation and complex themes. He is best known for his Studio Ghibli films, such as My Neighbor Totoro, Spirited Away, and Princess Mononoke.

Honourable mentions

An honorable mention must go to Alfonso Cuarón most known for his bildungsroman masterpiece Y Tu Mama Tambien or 'And Your Mother Too'. He also directed the third installment in the Harry Potter series, the Prisoner of Azkaban.

Cuarón gave the third Potter film a unique timbre and a darker feel signaling the series' transition from fun childhood adventures to deeper gritter films about the pains of adolescence and themes more about a matter of life and death.

Why screenwriters should study the greatest directors of all time

Screenwriters should study these great directors because they are masters of creating compelling stories and characters. They are also great visual storytellers and understand how to create an emotional connection with their audience

In addition, they utilize innovative techniques to bring their stories to life and make them unique.

They understand the power of dialogue, the importance of setting, and how to use the camera to tell a story. Even though you are a writer who won't be on set: you must understand how the camera works so that a director has great material to work with.

Each of these filmmakers has a distinct style that makes their films stand out. By studying their work, screenwriters can learn how to create their own unique voices as a writer. As a screenwriter, you should always be building on the work of others.

Furthermore, studying the work of these directors can help screenwriters understand how to create compelling stories and characters that will have a lasting impact on their audience.

To learn more about the great craft of screenwriting and more lessons from the greatest directors of all time be sure to keep an eye on our blog. In the meantime download our free software