When it comes down to who the best directors in cinematic history are, film lovers and cinephiles everywhere tend to debate who is superior. As a result, numerous names get thrown around. There are classic directors like Alfred Hitchcock and Stanley Kubrick who changed the game for different genres. Meanwhile, icons like James Cameron and Steven Spielberg have made many memorable pieces of pop culture.

Additionally, modern visionaries like Christopher Nolan and Denis Villeneuve have pushed the boundaries of visual storytelling. Plus, names like Greta Gerwig and Jordan Peele have become the latest hotshots in filmmaking. However, for consideration, one needs to analyze multiple elements of a director's career to determine if they are the very best. Between their popularity, filmmaking style, critical praise, box office success, and several influential hits, these directors more than qualify to be the best of all time.

10 Wes Anderson's Quirky Style Earned Him a Devoted Following

• Notable movies: The Grand Budapest Hotel, Fantastic Mr. Fox, The Royal Tenenbaums

If someone is watching a quirky, attentively framed, and colorful movie, they are very likely watching a Wes Anderson film. Anderson has gained a reputation for making films with such a unique style that it has become synonymous with his name. He started with smaller projects like in the late 1990s with movies like Bottle Rocket and Rushmore. However, The Royal Tenenbaums, which got him his first Oscar nomination, is where his career started to take off.

From there, the rest of Anderson's filmography consists of motion pictures full of incredible scenery and symmetry, deadpan humor, and large ensemble casts featuring well-known actors. His trademarks have earned him plenty of recognition from critics and viewers. His most critically loved films include Moonrise Kingdom and The Grand Budapest Hotel, while his stop-motion animated efforts like Fantastic Mr. Fox and Isle of Dogs are also worth commending. He is still going strong in the 2020s with films like The French Dispatch, Asteroid City, and The Wonderful World of Henry Sugar - which finally earned him his first Oscar.

9 Paul Thomas Anderson Always Creates Critical Winners

• Notable movies: There Will Be Blood, Magnolia, Boogie Nights

Paul Thomas Anderson is a director who is careful and considerate with every film he puts out, resulting in lots of award buzz. He started his career in the 1990s with the overlooked film Hard Eight and became more recognized for his follow-up, Boogie Nights, an exploration into the adult film industry. He then crafted the ambitious and astonishing Magnolia, a 3-hour epic where multiple characters' lives cross paths with one another.

By the time the 2000s rolled around, Anderson was a director to look out for, beginning the 21st century with the Adam Sandler-starring Punch Drunk Love. However, arguably his greatest achievement was directing 2007's There Will Be Blood, a period piece about a greedy oil prospector played by the incredible Daniel Day-Lewis. The film became one of the 2000s' best and marked another turning point for Anderson. Furthermore, with films like The Master and Phantom Thread, Anderson's work can help several performers get award consideration.

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