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 .

Composite image of Claire in Jurassic World and Rey in Star Wars

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 .

Composite image of Inception, The Dark Knight, and Interstellar

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 .

Collage of characters from Thelma and Louise, Gladiator and Alien

Pick-up Guy (Quentin Tarantino) points his finger up in Desperado

Will-Smith-Aladdin-Prince-Ali

Keith Speaks with Dalton in the Bank Vault in Inside Man

Pacific Rim Movie

Matt Damon in The Martian

Samuel L. Jackson as Stephen Warren, Kerry Washington as Broomhilda “Hildi” von Shaft, and Leonardo Dicaprio as Calvin J. Candie at the dinner table in Django Unchained

Will Ferrell as Rob Burgundy sitting with a blanket around him in Anchorman 2

Ikaris is tied down in Eternals' final fight