Directors are often considered as the main person behind a film. The film transforms from the sheets of paper to the silver screen, only and only through the vision and imagination of a director.
Here is a list of directors who changed the way films were made with their style and technique.
1. Martin Scorsese
His genius lies in tackling complex subjects with ease and flair. From historical biopic to black comedy, there isn’t a genre he hasn’t tackled.
Scorsese has a distinct style of approaching the subjects. He brought a kind of unique sophistication to whatever film he made. He is also a master when it comes to making open-ended films.
He brought a kind of unique sophistication to whatever film he made. He is also a master when it comes to making open-ended films.
Some of his films that you should watch are Goodfellas, Hugo, Shutter Island, Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, The Departed, Gangs of New York and Aviator.
2. Quentin Tarantino
Tarantino defined filmmaking with his brilliant use of flashbacks and non-linear narrative as a cinematic technique.
Nobody has brought so much style and class into violence like Quentin Tarantino. Â He has this amazing talent of present one of the most violent scenes in a way that you don’t feel it but it you yet feel it. Â He made noir popular once again.
He has this amazing talent of present one of the most violent scenes in a way that you don’t feel it but it yet you feel it.
He made noir popular once again.
Some of his films that you should watch are Inglorious Basterds, Django Unchained, Pulp Fiction, Kill Bill Vol. 1 & 2 and Reservoir Dogs.
3. Woody Allen
His films stand out because of his extensive research and minute detailing. There is hardly any director who has used the concept of existentialism the way he has.
His films are like a slice of real life. He rarely takes the so-called cinematic liberty and tries to present things the way they are. Another interesting aspect of his filmmaking is that he often tries to educate his audience while also entertaining them.
Another interesting aspect of his filmmaking is that he often tries to educate his audience while also entertaining them.
His use of language and wit is also quite amazing.
Some of his films that you should watch are The Purple Rose of Cairo, Annie Hall, Manhattan, Hannah and Her Sisters, Midnight In Paris and Vicky, Christina and Barcelona.
4. Satyajit Ray
He is known for his humanist approach to cinema and the minute detailing of each and every scene.
Ray is often considered as the finest director to ever come out India. He was a perfectionist who would go to any length to get the best shot.
No one has painted the harsh realities of a commoner like Ray.
Pather Panchali, Charulata, Aparajito, Jalsaghar, Nayak, Hirak Rajar Deshe, Goopy Gyne Bagha Byne, Sonar Kella, Joy Baba Felunath and Apur Sansar are some of his films that you should watch.
5. Mani Ratnam
He redefined Tamil cinema and his films often deal with contemporary issues.
His strength lies in the way he handles relationships in his films.
His portrayal of strong women characters is also quite praiseworthy.
Mouna Ragam, Nayakan, Thalapathi, Roja, Bombay, Iruvar, Alaipayuthey and Guru are some of his films you should definitely watch.
6. Ritwik Ghatak
He viewed cinema as a weapon for change and revolution.
The story of Ritwik Ghatak is unique. Unlike most of the people, he was not actually obsessed with cinema. He came from a theater background.
His main motive behind film-making was to educate the masses and not just to educate them.
Ajantrik, Nagarik, Bari Theke Paliye, Titash Ekti Nadir Naam, Subarnarekha, Komal Gandhar, Jukti, Takko Aar Gappo and Meghe Dhaka Tara are some of his films that you should not miss.
7. Mrinal Sen
He is best known for making movies that dealt with socio-political issues.
He is a director who is known for his realistic presentation of life.
He is one of the few directors who made parallel cinema popular. His films showed the essence of living despite difficulties in life.
Bhuvan Shome, Kharij, Neel Akasher Neechey, Mrigaya, Baishey Shravana and Raat Bhore are some of his films you must watch.Â
8. Anurag Kashyap
His films often contain unexpected twists and surprises.
Anurag Kashyap is one of the few contemporary directors who is known for his innovate style of filmmaking. His handling of contemporary issues is also praiseworthy.
He is one of the gutsiest filmmakers around.
Some of his films that you should watch are Gangs Of Wasseypur Part-1 and Part-2, Dev D, Black Friday, Ugly, The Girl In Yellow Boots and Gulaal.
9. Akira Kurosawa
Though he made films in Japan and about Japan yet the message of his films were often universal.
Did you know that George Lucas’s Star Wars was actually inspired by Kurosawa’s Hidden Fortress?
He is one of the most respected and inspiring filmmakers ever. He films generally had one of the most unique and innovative concepts.
He is considered one of the pillars of world cinema.
Drunken Angel, Rashomon, Ikiru, Seven Samurai, Throne of Blood, The Hidden Fortress, High and Low, Ran, Dersu Uzala and Red Beard are some of his films you should definitely not miss.
10. Ingmar Bergman
He brought the raw emotion of the stage to film, enchanting audiences around the globe and very few people can paint pain and pathos on the screen like he did.
He was a master when it came to handling emotions. He had the power to turn the raw emotions of a person into a powerful film.
Though his subject was local yet his message was global.
Some of his films that you should not miss are The Seventh Seal, Wild Strawberries, Through A Glass Darkly, Winter Light, The Silence, Persona, Summer With Monika and Sawdust and Tinsel.
11. Jean Lau Godard
He did not let the constraints of society affect the treatment of his subject that is what makes him such a great director.
He was one of the most celebrated french directors of his time. His style of films has inspired the likes of Woody Allen. He was very independent and revolutionary when it came to films.
Breathless, Bande a part, Alphaville, Contempt, The Little Soldier and The Carabineers are some of his most celebrated works.
12. Alfred Hitchcock
Till date, there is hardly anyone who can make thrillers like him.
He in a redefined film-making by reinventing a genre and making it so popular. Even after so many years, people still love his films.
Psycho, Marnie, Shadow of a Doubt, Vertigo, The Wrong Man, Strangers on a Train, The Birds, Frenzy and Dail M for Murder are some of his works you should not miss.
13. D.W. Griffith
He is someone who respected because of his technique more than his stories.
It is because of his innovative style and approach he is often considered as the father of modern film-making.
The Birth Of A Nation, Way Down East, A Corner In Wheat, The Musketeers of Pig Alley, True Heart Susie and Broken Blossoms or The Yellow Man and The Girl are some of his films you should watch.
14. Stanley Kubrick
The use of emotions and aesthetics is something that defined his style of filmmaking.
For the audience, his films were more than just a film it was more of an experience and adventure.
Some of his films that you should definitely watch are 2001: A Space Odessey, The Shining, A Clockwork Orange, Dr. Strangelove, Eyes Wide Shut, Lolita, Full Metal Jacket, Paths Of Glory and The Killing.
15. Charlie Chaplin
His ability to express an extensive range of emotions without saying a word is something that makes him such a great filmmaker.
Although he made comedies yet he succeeded in making movies with meaning.
Chaplin was one of the few filmmakers who actually mastered the art of silent cinema.
Some of his most celebrated works are Modern Times, The Great Dictator, The Kid, City Lights, The Circus, The Gold Rush and Limelight.
16. Federico Fellini
His power lied in creating a dream-like atmosphere in his films. Everything in his cinema is big and exaggerated that is exactly what makes his films different.
Fellini is one of Italy’s most celebrated directors. He was one of the few directors who could create a surreal effect with his films.
Later, many prominent directors have also tried to copy his style but a few really succeeded.
La Strada, Nights of Cabiria, La Dolce Vita, 8½ , Amarcord and I Vitelloni are some of his films you should watch.
17. Steven Spielberg
His strength as a filmmaker lies in making films on subjects which many people won’t even dare to touch.
Steven Spielberg is a name almost everyone is aware with. Right now he is one of the biggest names in Hollywood.
He is one of the few directors who has not been limited to a particle genre of cinema.
Spielberg has touched almost every important genre of film and filmmaking. He is one of the few directors who can fuse art and entertainment seamlessly.
Some of his films that you should not miss are E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, Jaws, Saving Private Ryan, Schindler’s List, Munich, War Horse, The Color Purple, Jurassic Park and Raiders of the Lost Ark.
18. Billy Wilder
His wit and observance of the American life is something that makes him stand out.
Billy wilder’s films won our hearts with its simplicity.
His dedication to his profession is also equally praiseworthy, it is said that until he passed away he used to go to his office daily. No wonder he is one of America’s most loved filmmakers.
Some Like It Hot, The Apartment, Sabrina, Sunset Boulevard, Double Indemnity, The Lost Weekend and Witness for the Prosecution are some of his most celebrated works.
19. John Ford
Nobody before Ford had painted the American life the way he had.
He was a filmmaker who influenced directors like Satyajit Ray and Martin Scorcese. He was a pioneering filmmaker in any aspects.
He was also one of the few who was successful both in the silent era and in the age of talkies.
The Grapes of Wrath, How Green Was My Valley, She Wore a Yellow Ribbon, The Searchers, Young Mr. Lincoln, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, My Darling Clementine, Stagecoach and The Quiet Man are some of his films that you should watch.Â
If seriously want to learn the art of filmmaking then learn it from these masters. These directors would teach you more than any film school.