This is a list of film directorial debuts in chronological order. The films and dates referred to are a director's first commercial cinematic release. Many filmmakers have directed works which were not commercially released, for example early works by Orson Welles such as his filming of his stage production of Twelfth Night in 1933 or his experimental short film The Hearts of Age in 1934. Often these early works were not intended for commercial release either by intent, such as film school projects or inability to find distribution.
Subsequently, many directors learned their trade in the medium of television as it became popular in the 1940s and 1950s. Notable directors who did their first directorial work in this medium include Robert Altman, Sidney Lumet, and Alfonso Cuarón. As commercial television advertising became more cinematic in the 1960s and 1970s, many directors early work was in this medium, including directors such as Alan Parker and Ridley Scott. With the success of MTV and the popularity of music videos from the early 1980s, this gave another avenue for directors to hone their skills. Notable directors whose early work was in music videos include David Fincher, Jonathan Glazer, Michel Gondry, and Spike Jonze.
The following symbols indicate where a director has worked in another medium prior to directing commercially.
♦ Indicates where a director has created other earlier works for television
# Indicates when a director's earlier work is uncredited
† Indicates when a director's earlier work has not been released in cinemas, for example film school productions, short films or music videos.
Refer to individual entries for further detail.
1880s
edit1887
edit1890s
edit1896
edit1898
edit1900s
edit1901
edit1907
edit- Sidney Olcott – The Wooing of Miles Standish
1908
edit- Louis Feuillade – L'Homme aimanté
- D. W. Griffith – The Adventures of Dollie
1909
edit1910s
edit1920s
edit1930s
edit1940s
edit1950s
edit1960s
edit1970s
edit1980s
edit1990s
edit2000s
edit2010s
edit2020s
editUpcoming
edit- Michael Cera† – TBA[31]
- Emily Dean – Tao[32]
- John D. Eraklis and Tara Nicole Whitaker – Pierre the Pigeon-Hawk[33]
- Mark Fischbach†♦ – Iron Lung[34]
- Keith Jardine† – Killer Kafé[35]
- Scarlett Johansson† – Eleanor the Great[36]
- Jonathan Krisel – untitled Sesame Street film[37] or untitled Detective Pikachu sequel film[38]
- Minkyu Lee† – The Witch Boy[39]
- Kristen Stewart† – The Chronology of Water[40]
- Taylor Swift† – TBA[41]
See also
editNotes
edit- ^ Co-directed with Robert N. Bradbury
- ^ As Detlef Sierck
- ^ Co-directed with Anthony Hankey
- ^ Co-directed with Hamilton Luske, Ben Sharpsteen and David D. Hand
- ^ Co-directed with Gunther von Fritsch
- ^ Co-directed with Brian Desmond Hurst
- ^ Co-directed with Robert Jordan Hill
- ^ Co-directed with Yakov Bazelyan
- ^ Directed segment Interlude in the Marshland
- ^ Co-directed with Abe Levitow
- ^ Co-directed with Bradley R. Swirnoff
- ^ Co-directed with Wolfgang Reitherman
- ^ Co-directed with Bill Melendez
- ^ Co-directed with John Lounsbery
- ^ Co-directed with Rintaro
- ^ Co-directed with Kenneth Tsang
- ^ Co-directed with Art Stevens
- ^ Co-directed with Don Bluth
- ^ Co-directed with Jesse Wells
- ^ Co-directed with Frank Lustig
- ^ Co-directed with Phil Nibbelink and Simon Wells
- ^ Co-directed with Joe Johnston
- ^ Co-directed with Mike Gabriel
- ^ Co-directed with David Van Taylor
- ^ Co-directed with Peter Farrelly
- ^ Co-directed with Quentin Lee
- ^ Co-directed with Simon Wells
- ^ Co-directed with Jim Wynorski
- ^ Co-directed with Kevin Lima
- ^ Co-directed with Eric Goldberg, Pixote Hunt, James Algar and Hendel Butoy
- ^ Co-directed with Ralph Zondag
- ^ Co-directed with Richard Rich
- ^ Co-directed with Richard Rich
- ^ Co-directed with David Daniel
- ^ Co-directed with Corey Yuen
- ^ Co-directed with Norton Virgien
- ^ Co-directed with Tim Johnson
- ^ Co-directed with Efram Potelle
- ^ Co-directed with Vicky Jenson and Bibo Bergeron
- ^ Co-directed with Andrew Adamson and Kelly Asbury
- ^ Co-directed with Ryan Fleck
- ^ Co-directed with Nick Park
- ^ Co-directed with Tim Burton
- ^ Co-directed with Eric Darnell
- ^ Co-directed with Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino
- ^ Co-directed with James Cameron
- ^ Co-directed with Roger Allers
- ^ Co-directed with Tim Johnson
- ^ Co-directed with John Lasseter
- ^ Co-directed with Chris Buck
- ^ Co-directed with Brad Bird
- ^ Co-directed with Vincent Paronnaud
- ^ Co-directed with Steve Hickner
- ^ Co-directed with Brian Hooks
- ^ Co-directed with Ryan Fleck
- ^ Co-directed with Sam Fell
- ^ Co-directed with Mark Osborne
- ^ Co-directed with Matthew Robinson
- ^ a b Co-directed with Pete Docter
- ^ Co-directed with Byron Howard
- ^ Co-directed with Lionel Steketee and Thomas N'Gijol
- ^ Co-directed with Stephen Anderson
- ^ Co-directed with John Lasseter
- ^ Co-directed with Alastair Fothergill
- ^ Co-directed with Barry Cook
- ^ Co-directed with Brenda Chapman
- ^ Co-directed with Chris Renaud
- ^ Co-directed with Sam Fell
- ^ Co-directed with Peter Lord
- ^ Co-directed with Steve Martino
- ^ Co-directed with Mike McCoy
- ^ Co-directed with Chris Buck
- ^ Co-directed with Guy Jenkin
- ^ Co-directed with Jocelyn Towne
- ^ Co-directed with Jennifer Yuh Nelson
- ^ Co-directed with Chris Renaud
- ^ Co-directed with Michael Thurmeier
- ^ Co-directed with Mike Mitchell
- ^ As Declan Dale
- ^ Co-directed with Garth Jennings
- ^ Co-directed with Andrew Stanton
- ^ Co-directed with Nicholas Stoller
- ^ Co-directed with Conrad Vernon
- ^ Co-directed with Pierre Coffin and Kyle Balda
- ^ Co-directed with Lee Unkrich
- ^ Co-directed with Rich Moore
- ^ Co-directed with Yarrow Cheney
- ^ Co-directed with Peter Ramsey
- ^ Co-directed with Peter Chelsom, Fernando Eimbcke, Dennis Gansel, Dani Levy, Josef Rusnak, Til Schweiger, Massy Tadjedin
- ^ Co-directed with Chris Renaud
- ^ co-directed with Jim Cummings
- ^ Co-directed with Sarah Smith
- ^ Co-directed with Aaron Horvath
- ^ Co-directed with Chris Buck
- ^ Co-directed with Chris Renaud
References
edit- ^ Youngs, Ian (June 23, 2015). "Louis Le Prince, who shot the world's first film in Leeds". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved August 29, 2018.
- ^ Malthête, Jacques (2003). "Un feu d'artifice improvisé ? Les effets pyrotechniques chez Méliès". 1895 (in French) (39). AFRHC: 61–72. doi:10.4000/1895.3082. ISBN 2-913758-31-2. ISSN 1960-6176.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "The 50 greatest debut movies: part three". Time Out. Retrieved September 2, 2011.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r "Eric's Top 10 Directorial Debuts". scene-stealers.com. Retrieved August 20, 2009.
- ^ a b c d e f g "The 50 greatest debut movies: part five". Time Out. Retrieved September 2, 2011.
- ^ "15 Facts About Orson Welles' CITIZEN KANE: America's Greatest Film Turns 75". AFI.com. Retrieved January 14, 2018.
- ^ Lloyd, Ann; Robinson, David (1987). The Illustrated History of Cinema. Macmillan. p. 162. ISBN 978-0-02-919241-2.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "The 50 greatest debut movies: part two". Time Out. Retrieved September 2, 2011.
- ^ "The 50 greatest debut movies: part six". Time Out. Retrieved September 2, 2011.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "The 50 greatest debut movies: part four". Time Out. Retrieved September 2, 2011.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s Jarecki, Nicholas (2001). Breaking In — How 20 Film Directors Got Their Start. Broadway Books. ISBN 0-7679-0674-8.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Lowenstein, Stephen (2000). My First Movie. Pantheon Books. ISBN 0-375-42081-9.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Time Out's 50 greatest directorial debuts of all time". Time Out. Retrieved September 2, 2011.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "The Top Grossing Directorial Debuts of All-time". Indiewire.com. 5 August 2011. Retrieved September 3, 2011.
- ^ a b c d e f g "J.D.'s Top 10 Directorial Debuts". scene-stealers.com. Retrieved August 20, 2009.
- ^ Albert, Antonio (May 12, 1993). "Imanol Arias debuta como director de cine con 'Un asunto privado'". El País (in Spanish). Madrid: Prisa. Retrieved September 3, 2018.
- ^ Macor, Alison (February 7, 1997). "Losing Chase". The Austin Chronicle. Archived from the original on August 5, 2020.
- ^ Kevin Ouellette (July 15, 2008). "Review: Dangan Runner". Nippon Cinema. Retrieved August 16, 2012.
- ^ a b c d "Top 5 Female Directorial Debuts". Soundonsight.org. October 24, 2011.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "10 best-reviewed directorial debuts since 1990". Metacritic.com. Retrieved September 3, 2011.
- ^ a b c d e f "10 worst-reviewed directorial debuts since 1990". Metacritic.com. Retrieved September 3, 2011.
- ^ a b c d e f g "The Doom Dispatch: The Ten best Directorial Debuts of the Decade". www.geeksofdoom.com. 29 May 2009. Retrieved August 21, 2009.
- ^ Stevens, Dana (7 September 2006). "Sob Stories: The quiet beauty of Man Push Cart". Slate. Slate Magazine. Retrieved August 18, 2015.
- ^ Bradshaw, Peter (August 8, 2009). "Katalin Varga". London: Guardian.co.uk. Retrieved October 10, 2009.
- ^ "TIFF '10:Day 7". AVClub.com. 16 September 2010. Retrieved September 17, 2010.
- ^ "SXSW Review: Attack The Block Could Be The Best Action Movie of the Year". Cinemablend.com. March 17, 2011.
- ^ Kevin Ma (June 1, 2014). "Bona announces Q1 2014 results". Film Business Asia. Retrieved June 1, 2014.
- ^ Lang, Brent (2023-02-06). "Finn Wolfhard and Billy Bryk's Directorial Debut Hell of a Summer Drops First Look, Altitude Film Sales Boards Horror-Comedy (Exclusive)". Variety. Archived from the original on 2023-02-07. Retrieved 2023-02-07.
- ^ "I bambini di Gaza: ecco il trailer del film del regista italo-americano Loris Lai" [The children of Gaza: here is the trailer of the film by Italian-American director Loris Lai]. The Hollywood Reporter Roma (in Italian). 9 March 2024. Archived from the original on 13 March 2024. Retrieved 18 March 2024.
- ^ Kroll, Justin (October 28, 2022). "'Venom 3': Kelly Marcel Set to Direct Next Installment Starring Tom Hardy". Deadline. Archived from the original on October 28, 2022. Retrieved December 20, 2022.
- ^ "Michael Cera Interview: Scott Pilgrim, Barbie, The Adults". Retrieved 2023-08-16.
- ^ Zahed, Ramin (June 20, 2019). "Emily Dean Making Feature Directorial Debut with Sony's 'Tao'". Animation Magazine. Retrieved October 14, 2020.
- ^ "Tara Nicole Whitaker Making Feature Directorial Debut with Animated Pic "Pierre the Pigeon-Hawk"". August 17, 2021. Retrieved October 16, 2023.
- ^ Grobar, Matt (April 21, 2023). "Markiplier To Star In & Direct Horror Film Iron Lung From His Own Script; Self-Financed Feature Adapts David Szymanski Video Game". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on April 21, 2023. Retrieved May 1, 2023.
- ^ Cardinale, John (December 13, 2023). "First movie begins filming in New Mexico since SAG AFTRA strike". KOAT. Retrieved December 16, 2023.
- ^ Rubin, Rebecca (February 23, 2024). "Scarlett Johansson's Directorial Debut 'Eleanor the Great' Sets Cast: June Squibb, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Jessica Hecht (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
- ^ Kroll, Justin (September 30, 2018). "'Sesame Street' Movie Taps 'Portlandia' Co-Creator Jonathan Krisel as Director (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Archived from the original on September 29, 2018. Retrieved September 30, 2018.
- ^ Kroll, Justin. "Legendary Taps Jonathan Krisel To Direct 'Pokemon Detective Pikachu' Sequel". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on March 3, 2023. Retrieved March 3, 2023.
- ^ Rosario, Alexandra Del (January 28, 2021). "'The Witch Boy': Netflix To Release Animated Musical From Oscar-Nominated Director Minkyu Lee". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on February 4, 2021. Retrieved December 20, 2022.
- ^ Kroll, Justin (November 16, 2022). "Kristen Stewart To Direct Scott Free's Adaptation Of 'The Chronology Of Water' Starring Imogen Poots". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved November 16, 2022.
- ^ Lang, Brent (December 9, 2022). "Taylor Swift Making Feature Directing Debut for Searchlight Pictures". Variety. Archived from the original on December 10, 2022. Retrieved December 11, 2022.