The Top 10 Directors Under 35
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Written by: Ryan McNally
Who are the best young directors in the movie business today? Innovators, risk takers, formula-busters -- directors whose skills far exceed their age, and who will likely direct the most important films in the decades to come. Possessing prodigious talent at a young age doesn't necessarily guarantee long-term success, but these 10 directors have shown great promise so far. Here are Film Frat's selections for the Top 10 Directors Under 35 (defined here as directors who have not yet celebrated their 36th birthday as of October 21, 2002). |
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| 1. |
Paul Thomas Anderson (born June 26, 1970)
After a promising debut with 1996's Hard Eight, Anderson scored his first Oscar nomination (Best Screenplay) for his hilarious, thought-provoking exploration of the porn industry, Boogie Nights (1997). His follow-up, Magnolia, was also critically acclaimed, and his newest release Punch-Drunk Love has already scored him the Best Director prize at the Cannes Film Festival. |
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| 2. |
Wes Andserson (1970)
Bottle Rocket, Anderson's quirky first collaboration with writing partner and actor Owen Wilson, won him a cult following. He's since built on that with two poignant and hilarious films, 1999's Rushmore (Best Director, Independent Spirit Awards) and 2001's The Royal Tenenbaums (Oscar nominee, Best Screenplay). |
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| 3. |
Darren Aronofsky (February 12, 1969)
Aronofsky's ultra-low-budget 1998 mathematical thriller Pi won him an Independent Spirit Award (ISA) for Best Screenplay. His 2000 follow-up, Requiem For A Dream, is a disturbing tale of drug abuse that scored Ellen Burstyn a Best Actress Oscar nomination and Aronofsky a Best Director ISA nomination. |
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| 4. |
Albert & Allen Hughes (April 1, 1972)
They burst onto the scene in 1993 with the powerful gangsta drama Menace II Society. Since, they've delivered a compelling Vietnam drama (Dead Presidents), a Sundance Film Festival nominee for Best Documentary (American Pimp), and a top-notch thriller about Jack the Ripper (From Hell). |
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| 5. |
Spike Jonze (1969)
After directing a bevy of memorable music videos, including the Beastie Boys' "Sabotage" and Weezer's "Buddy Holly," Jonze scored a Best Director Oscar nomination for his thoroughly original 1999 comedy Being John Malkovich. And buzz is hot for his upcoming Adaptation, starring Nicholas Cage. |
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| 6. |
Doug Liman (1967)
With a shoestring budget of $250,000, Liman directed the hilarious Swingers, arguably the best comedy of the '90s. He followed it up with another damn funny film, 1999's time-bending rave flick Go, which earned him an ISA Best Director nomination. This year, he graduated to Hollywood with good results, delivering the top-notch thriller The Bourne Identity. |
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| 7. |
Christopher Nolan (July 30, 1970)
Nolan's mind-bending, twist-turning thriller Memento is one of the most original and beloved films of the past decade, winning him ISA awards for Best Director and Screenwriter. Nolan delivered again with this year's excellent Insomnia, and his black-and-white debut, 1998's Following, has also developed a cult following. | |
| 8. |
Kimberly Peirce (Sept. 8, 1967)
Peirce's 1999 directorial debut Boys Don't Cry is both a touching love story and a devastating social commentary. For her impressive efforts, Peirce collected ISA nominations for Best First Screenplay and Best First Film. Unfortunately, this talented female hasn't been heard from since. Please Kimberly, make another film -- as quickly as possible. |
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| 9. |
M. Night Shyamalan (August 6, 1970)
His second film, The Sixth Sense, is a smart supernatural thriller that packs a wallop of a final twist and scored M. Night an Oscar nomination for Best Director. His subsequent efforts, Unbreakable and Signs, are both above-average flicks (each has staunch admirers) that will keep you on the edge of your seat. |
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| 10. |
Kevin Smith (August 2, 1970)
Smith's landmark New Jersey trilogy -- Clerks, Mallrats and Chasing Amy -- is comedy at its best. He's not afraid to push the envelope, whether discussing oral sex, lesbianism or the Catholic religion. Though his most recent outings, Dogma and Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, have polarized audiences, Smith hasn't lost the maverick mindset that propelled him to success.Others to keep your eye on: Miguel Arteta (The Good Girl), Chris Eyre (Smoke Signals), Matthieu Kassovitz (La Haine), Harmony Korine (Julien Donkey-Boy), Richard Kelly (Donnie Darko), Guy Ritchie (Snatch), Robert Rodriguez (El Mariachi), John Singleton (Boyz In The Hood), Ben Younger (Boiler Room) Check out our related lists of the Top 10 Actors Under 25 and the Top 10 Actresses Under 25... Did we overlook your favorite young director? Drop us a line and tell us which selections you agreed with, and which young directors you think we missed. For buying info on any of the Top 10's "Essential Films" (see below), click on the director head shots above or on the movie names below: 1) Paul Thomas Anderson: Boogie Nights. 2) Wes Anderson: The Royal Tenenbaums. 3) Darren Aronofsky: Requiem For A Dream. 4) Albert & Allen Hughes: Menace To Society. 5) Spike Jonze: Being John Malkovich. 6) Doug Liman: Swingers. 7) Christopher Nolan: Memento. 8) Kimberly Peirce: Boys Don't Cry. 9) M. Night Shyamalan: The Sixth Sense. 10) Kevin Smith: Clerks. All director head shots are courtesy of the Internet Movie Database, where you can read director bios and filmographies. |
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