DISQUS

DMuff · 9 months ago

Well I do agree with the majority of who is on the list, not necessarily the order and yeah Wes Anderson near the bottom, what is that about; how many movies has Jon Favreau even done? I don't even think Michael Moore should be on this at all. I'm sure everyone has their own opinion and would love to critique the hell out of this list as I could also but I'm too lazy today.

eat my nuts · 9 months ago

Peter Jackson 2? This list eats my nuts.

MrDeath · 9 months ago

Ya know, I love Peter Jackson, but isn't spot 2 a little extreme? Over Scorsese? No sir. And no way is Michael Mann better than Darren Aronofsky. And I'd argue that Brad Bird deserves a spot in the top 10 and no way is Sophie Coppola better than Andrew Stanton. But that's just me.

Mathieu Lalonde · 9 months ago

Being a great director doesn't just mean "to direct big movies"... It means that you are great at the art of directing itself. Some of these people are, others just happened to work on great flicks by accident...

The names on this list make sense for the most part but the order seems completely wrong...

And what about Lars Von Trier? C'mon, there's got to be a dozen art-house/cult/indie directors who are better directors than say, Judd Apatow or Mel Gibson... !

790 · 9 months ago

Lol, at least Mcg isn't up there.
I would have put Aronofski in the Top 10 and what's Apatow doing up ahead of him.

Damn you EW !!!!

AndyIII · 9 months ago

Jon Favreau? Really? No...really? 'Made', 'Elf', 'Zathura', and the astoundingly overrated 'Iron Man'? Really?

Like he said above, the orders of these things are always annoying.

Hey, as long as Kevin Smith isn't on this list I'm happy. I'm sure it's a fun guy, and is very cool, but my god.

Chille · 9 months ago

That was my reaction to. WTF?

Antony · 9 months ago

Mel. Gibson.

The list was void for me after I saw that.

Chris · 9 months ago

Sofia Coppola is at 29 Rob

JMoney · 9 months ago

Peter Jackson at #2 is what pissed me off the most, but this list is just garbage overall

blckmanjew · 9 months ago

Mel Gibson? f*ck that. Passion of the Christ was a ball slap to the movie industry.

blckmanjew · 9 months ago

agreed.

JMoney · 9 months ago

You are confusing his acting/horrible behaviour with his directing.

I'm not saying he'd be one of my picks, but compared to who else is on the list, he deserves a spot, the guy directed Braveheart and Passion of the Christ.

blckmanjew · 9 months ago

Kevin Smith deserves to be on the list...

Schofizzy · 9 months ago

I love Kevin Smith, but he has definately fallen from favor. He is not in high demand at all anymore (hence why no one is funding Red State) and since Dogma he has struggled to make a solid film. I love him and consider myself a huge fan of him, but dude is wavering big time and needs a real hit again.

Rob_Hunter · 9 months ago

You are correct! I had Nora Ephron there at some point, not sure when I changed it... but it's fixed now. Thanks!

Antony · 9 months ago

That's the thing though. Braveheart? Great. Passion of the Christ? Controversial, but I certainly appreciated the directing (though if we're criticising Zack Snyder for excessive use of slo-mo...). But that's sort of it. Mentioned after the article above are plenty of directors who should occupy a spot in the list over him.

If the list is about active directors, then the stuff they're actively doing now should be good I reckon. I don't see M. Night Shalyman on there for The Sixth Sense.

Not that I want to start a debate over the merits of the Sixth Sense of course; it's merely an example.

JMoney · 9 months ago

Oh, the list is crap, but i'm saying if they are going to have other directors who don't deserve to be on there, then I think Mel deserves a spot, he's better than a few of the directors on this list. So while he wouldnt be in my TOP 25, he deserves to be on this list.

I know that doesnt make much sense, but do you kinda get my point. i gues sim saying there are worse selections/rankings on this list

JMoney · 9 months ago

Oh, the list is crap, but i'm saying if they are going to have other directors who don't deserve to be on there, then I think Mel deserves a spot, he's better than a few of the directors on this list. So while he wouldnt be in my TOP 25, he deserves to be on this list.

I know that doesnt make much sense, but do you kinda get my point. i guess im saying there are worse selections/rankings than Mel Gison on this list

Antony · 9 months ago

Hahahah, that's true I guess. And in a world where that list exists, it makes perfect sense.

"If you're going to allow THAT mediocre director to make the top 50, then why not THIS one?"

SidMute · 5 months ago

Lumet should be way higher; he was somewhat hit and miss, but wasn't afraid to take chances. He's still making quality flicks at...what, 85 now?

ERoBB · 9 months ago

Awful list. Even more awful comments. Anyone who's seen the films knows that pound for pound Mel Gibson is a great director.

Triety · 9 months ago

One name I know is missing is Frank Darabont. His work is great no matter what he does. In case we forgot The Shawshank Redemption, The Green Mile and a personal fav The Mist. It could easily be above Sophia Coppola and Jon Favreau.

TheParanoidAndroid · 9 months ago

Where the hell is Werner Herzog? The man has made absolutely outstanding films in recent years, not to mention his career in the golden age of German cinema. Terence Malick is another snub. Also: where is Errol Morris? And Jim Jarmusch? Gus van Sant, Lars von Trier, Harmony Korine,

Rob_Hunter · 9 months ago

I was with you until you said Werner Herzog.

TheParanoidAndroid · 9 months ago

Why the hate of Herzog? Sure, Rescue Dawn wasn't amazing, but Grizzly Man and Encounters at the End of the World where remarkable and solid documentaries.

Do you honestly believe that Jon Favreau is a 'greater' than Herzog?

Arou101 · 9 months ago

Are you honestly trying to tell me 'Elf' wasn't amazing? Plus, he is "in demand" right now, which fits the criteria of the list.

Rob_Hunter · 9 months ago

Oh god no... Favreau is the first name I'd pull off the list. And I have really liked Herzog's documentaries, but I have yet to really get into any of his actual movies. And the fact that Aguirre: The Wrath of God was forced upon on me at an early age didn't help Herzog's chances with me either...

AndyIII · 9 months ago

Yup, I am definitely saying 'Elf' is not amazing. Everyone behind him on this list has made what I would call an amazing movie...some of them multiples. John Favreau has not.

That's why I cry 'BS!' on this one.

The Peter Jackson thing is weird too. Don't get me wrong, the LOTR trilogy was an amazing accomplishment, but since then, a poorly received 'King Kong' remake, and nothing.

You know, it's goddamned Entertainment Weekly putting these things out just to screw with everyone. People will send this list around, bitch about EW, pick up the edition with this article, ching! They think they're so clever.

AndyIII · 9 months ago

Yup, I am definitely saying 'Elf' is not amazing. Everyone behind him on this list has made what I would call an amazing movie...some of them multiples. John Favreau has not. (except for Wong Kar-Wai, I don't know who that is)

That's why I cry 'BS!' on this one.

The Peter Jackson thing is weird too. Don't get me wrong, the LOTR trilogy was an amazing accomplishment, but since then, a poorly received 'King Kong' remake, and nothing.

You know, it's goddamned Entertainment Weekly putting these things out just to screw with everyone. People will send this list around, bitch about EW, pick up the edition with this article, ching! They think they're so clever.

Schofizzy · 9 months ago

I second AndyIII, Elf is lame! It was merely watchable the first time through and I can't bear to sit through it anymore. It is one Christmas movie I skip every year along with Vaughn's Fred Claus!

TheParanoidAndroid · 9 months ago

I understand your 'fear' of Herzog: Aguirre isn't exactly his most accessible film.

Though, I recommend you try Stroszek. It may wash out the bad taste that Aguirre left.

Will Schiffelbein · 9 months ago

Rescue Dawn was fantastic. I've yet to meet a person who has actually watched the film who didn't like it.

curt · 9 months ago

nice to meet you. now you have

adrian · 9 months ago

its a goddamn long list. but that's only my opinion. and there are some old farts, who lived their lives, made their money, from whom I don't expect much in the future.

Cole_Abaius · 9 months ago

I am nowhere on this list at all. This is an outrage.

adrian · 9 months ago

I concur. but I also think that no movie freak can make an objective top50. it's too much. I prefer an subjective top10.

jack2jack · 9 months ago

Eastwood, Howard and Lee deserve much higher placement on this list. And how do you justify Jackson before Scorsese, what wacky punch are they drinking?

Kristina_Lustig · 9 months ago

This list is missing Kevin Smith, Takashi Miike, and...
I mean, props for Soderbergh being recognized as awesome, and Cronenberg should be higher... so should Alfonso Cuaron. (yeah, he hasn't made many movies lately, but damn are they good.) Amoldóvar should also be much, MUCH higher. Lists are pretty stupid. But I like them.

Nevernude · 9 months ago

I'd place Chris Nolan higher than Peter Jackson. At this moment in time, Nolan is much more in demand than Jackson in my humble opinion. Jackson's notable movie to date is LOTR. Nolan's filmography speaks for itself; memento, insomnia, batman begins, the prestige, TDK...all great movies.

Also Jon Favreau? wtf? how is he in demand?...dude has to prove himself with other stuff first

Aleric · 9 months ago

Wow, get out my red paint and a big brush.

Speilberg needs to be around the middle, sorry but ET and the other schlock he produced in the 80's will always keep me from regarding him as anythng but a mass market toy commerical director. Dont even get me started on Spike Lee. Oliver Stone needs to be rolled off, but the BIGGEST disgrace on that list is the POS Michael Moore. That pile of scum doesn't deserve to even be in the same room with most of these directors.

Eastwood seriously needs to be moved up the list.

Teddy · 9 months ago

I largely agree with the names on the list but not the placement. Here are my biggest gripes

Cameron hasn't directed a feature since Titanic - over 10 years ago. He should be on the list but not top 10.

Apatow that high is a joke - his couple movies he has directed are good but I wouldn't consider him a great director. He's really made his mark as a producer.

Snyder's way too high.

JJ Abrams - I love his stuff but see the criticism of Apatow.

Shocked that Eastwood wasn't in the top-5, let alone the top-10.

Diamante · 9 months ago

The same reason why I don't read Rolling Stone. They know absolutely nothing.

Donny_Broussard · 9 months ago

I think the EW list blows goats. I'm just saying.

Schofizzy · 9 months ago

Agree the order is piss poor! Jackson's achievements on Lord of the Rings were astounding but definately do not warrant a #2 spot. Favreau nailed Iron Man, but Zathura, Elf scoff scoff, he deserves a spot and he is definately in high demand but not #25 and especially not ahead of Allen, Cuaron, Coppola, Mendes, Wong Kai-War and most of all Wes Anderson.

Schofizzy · 9 months ago

The punch that made them think Lord of the Rings was better than The Departed, Raging Bull, Mean Streets, Good Fellas, Cape Fear, Casino, Taxi Driver, Boxcar Bertha and The Color of Money.

The only thing that I can say in regards to Jackson is even though we haven't seen much from him he does have his hands in alot of projects. But in no way shape or form does that mean he deserves #2.

karatscience · 9 months ago

I agree about Apatow. When I hear his name I think producer not director.

David G · 9 months ago

Greatest ACTIVE directors, ok. Peter Jackson was good with LOTR. But I still say he left out too much. There were plenty of scenes they could have sacrificed to add more important parts of the books. Plus King Kong was lame. I fell asleep watching that movie (midday and no partying the night before!). Eastwood should be higher on the list, especially above Mann and the Coen Bros. But then again.. it is EW's listing. What the frick do they know! Capp sippers and cologen lippers!