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Summary
Many with child directors do n’t see their dear movies reflect in their loge function statistic . How much money a picture makes is seldom a in effect index of its quality , because there are many different factors which influence box role returns . Films in big franchise have an consultation wait for them , as do democratic actors . director rarely have the same variety of pull , so they are often reliant on these other factors to drive up the fiscal electric potential of their picture show . A film ’s reviews will only touch on its box office proceeds to a certain extent .
Although the well director have plenty of comparable picture show , only one can arrogate the top spot as their highest - grossing movie ever . This lead to some odd trivia when the highest - gross moving-picture show do n’t line up with the good or most influential . Directors who connect a big franchise for one or two movies are much more potential to make more profitable pic with pre - existent role , even if these blockbuster do n’t always shine their best piece of work . Great movies and profitable movies are often two totally unlike thing , and it ’s interesting to see a director ’s filmography through a fiscal lens .
Although quality correlate with box office success most of the sentence , some beloved enfranchisement have some unexpected movies take top spot .

10Christopher Nolan
The Dark Knight Rise ($1.08 billion)
Oppenheimerwas a box spot victory , but it fell just shortly of Christopher Nolan ’s highest - grossing moving picture so far , The Dark Knight Rises . Oppenheimeris an other Oscar favorite , but it is n’t the only one of Nolan ’s movies which surpassesThe Dark Knight Rises . The second movie in Nolan’sBatmantrilogy , The Dark Knight , is one of the most influential and electrifying superhero pic of all time , andThe Dark Knight Riseslives in its shadow . Dunkirk , Inception , InterstellarandMementoare all arguably better thanThe Dark Knight Risestoo .
Christopher Nolan has realise a report for high - concept action blockbusters , and he has influenced other film producer and the total movie industriousness .
9Guy Ritchie
Aladdin ($1.05 billion)
Guy Ritchie is best known for activeness thriller , particularly his idiosyncratic British mobster movies . Snatch , The Gentlemen , andLock , Stock and Two Smoking Barrelsare much more in line with his public ikon thanAladdin . The box office collection of Will Smith and the exercise of beloved Disney characters were enough to tug the springy - action remake over $ 1 billion , butAladdinstill divided critics . AfterAladdin , Ritchie get going back to the action genre , and hisupcoming war movie , The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare , further proves thatAladdinwas an strange departure .
8Spike Lee
Inside Man ($184.4 million)
It ’s a fun and tortuous heist movie , but it does n’t compare to Spike Lee ’s seminal lowly - budget work .
Spike Lee and Denzel Washingtonhave worked together on four dissimilar movies . Malcolm Xis probably the expert of the bunch , but Spike Lee ’s highest - gross motion picture is the 2006 heist thrillerInside Man . Washington plays a detective who comes typeface - to - expression with an intelligent coin bank robber , and he tries to figure out the piece ’s mysterious plan . It ’s a fun and tortuous heist movie , but it does n’t liken to Spike Lee ’s seminal modest - budget work , with movies such asDo the Right ThingandShe ’s Got ta Have Itdoing a lot with perceptive dialogue and creative storytelling .
7Stanley Kubrick
Eyes Wide Shut ($104.2 million)
Stanley Kubrick is one of the most radical directors of all time , shaking up a variety of unlike musical genre , butEyes Wide Shutis not usually considered alongside his best film . The psychological play starring Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman remains just as dissentious over two X afterwards , while classics such asThe Shining , Full Metal Jacket , and 2001 : A Space Odysseyare revered . Kubrick ’s legacy was never about box post succeeder . If he had made more movies , he would have attain more telling statistics , butEyes Wide Shutwas his first task for 12 years .
6Martin Scorsese
The Wolf of Wall Street ($389.8 million)
The Wolf of Wall Streethas memorable quotes , great strong-arm comedy , and lavish party . For many other managing director it would interpret the pinnacle of their careers , but it ’s a testament to Martin Scorsese ’s remarkable filmography that it scarce enters the conversation of his best picture . The manager ofTaxi Driver , GoodfellasandRaging Bullhas no shortage of classics to select from , butThe Wolf of Wall Streetis a sport motion picture with democratic thespian , so it is n’t much of a surprise to see it at the top of Scorsese ’s corner office statistics .
5Guillermo Del Toro
Pacific Rim ($411 million)
Pacific Rimis a big - budget sci - fi blockbuster , quick - made for boxful role succeeder , but Guillermo del Toro has many ranking flick . If awards - time of year succeeder is anything to go by , thenThe Shape of Watershould be considered del Toro ’s best , having win the Academy Award for Best Picture and Best Director . Pan ’s Labyrinthis another decisive triumph , using fable and revulsion to allegorize General Franco ’s unrelenting fascistic regimen in Spain . More recently , del Toro directedPinocchio , a brilliant stop - motion animation showcasing his versatility . Pacific Rimis an exciting popcorn - flick , but it miss the artistic discreetness of del Toro ’s more personal works .
4Ridley Scott
The Martian ($653.6 million)
The debate over his all - time dependable normally boils down to Alien and Blade Runner .
Matt Damon puts on a superb one - Isle of Man show inThe Martian . He is n’t the only character reference , but he is trapped alone on Mars , millions of miles from the nearest human being . It ’s an exciting sci - fi premise with a great good sense of humor , earning Ridley Scott his biggest loge authority success . With a vocation spanning almost 50 years , there are mass of brilliant Ridley Scott movies to cull from , but the debate over his all - time good usually boil down toAlienandBlade Runner , althoughGladiatorandThelma and Louiseshow the manager ’s impressive range .
Ridley Scott is one of Hollywood ’s most influential sci - fi directors ; from Exodus to Alien , here ’s every one of his movies ranked from worst to best .

3Quentin Tarantino
Django Unchained ($449.8 million)
Quentin Tarantino has been remarkably reproducible in terms of quality , butPulp Fictionis usually consider his greatest movie . Pulp Fictionpaid homage to the American cinematic tradition , while concurrently prefigure the next two decades of filmmaking . Tarantino ’s stylized dialogue and round game line have been imitated often , but never outmatch . Tarantino ’s approaching filmThe Movie Criticwill be his last , if he sticks to his Holy Scripture , but it could struggle to outperformDjango Unchainedat the box office . The Western combines bankable stars and riotous action with a gumption of fun , making it a sensory great - screen experience .
2Adam McKay
Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues ($172.2 million)
Adam McKay first build a reputation as a slap-up comedy director , working with Will Ferrell and other hilarious heavyweights on movies such asTalladega Nights : The Ballad of Ricky BobbyandThe Other guy rope . Later in his calling he became just as well - honour in a wholly different writing style , withThe Big ShortandViceunravelling tangible - human beings scandals with seize with teeth wit . His highest - gross film isAnchorman 2,which is neither as critically - acclaimed asThe Big Shortor as suspicious as the firstAnchorman . BothAnchormanmovies have hilarious instant , but the original eclipse its sequel .
1Chloé Zhao
Eternals ($401.7 million)
Moving from belittled - budget movies straight to the MCU , Chloé Zhao ’s box office numbers were bound to shoot into the stratosphere . Despite a star - studded ensemble mold , Eternalsonly delivered humble take by the high-pitched standards of the MCU . Still , a box office take of over $ 400 million dwarfs Zhao ’s previous good , the $ 38 million whichNomadlandmade . Nomadlandwon the Academy Award for Best Picture and Best Director , and it also clear Frances McDormand a Best Actress prize . By contrast , Eternalsreceived mixed reviews , and fell far below the first moment of the MCU .








