The Worst Directors Ever

1. Jamie Babbit

Jamie Babbit was born on November 16, 1970 in Shaker Heights, Ohio, USA. She is a director and producer, known for But I'm a Cheerleader (1999), Silicon Valley (2014) and Girls (2012). She was previously married to Karey Dornetto.

Made In Cleveland, The Quiet, The Stand-In.

2. Timur Bekmambetov

Director | Nochnoy dozor

Timur Bekmambetov is a Kazakh-Russian film director known for vampire franchise Night Watch (2004) and Day Watch (2006).

He was born Timur Nuruakhitovich Bekmambetov on June 25, 1961, in Guryev, Soviet Union (now Atyrau, Kazakhstan). His father, Nuruakhit Bekmambetov, is a manager at Guryev Energy ...

Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, Ben-Hur (2016), Day Watch, Night Watch, Wanted.

3. Shari Springer Berman

Director | American Splendor

Shari Springer Berman was born on July 13, 1963 in New York City, New York, USA. She is a director and writer, known for American Splendor (2003), Things Heard & Seen (2021) and The Nanny Diaries (2007). She has been married to Robert Pulcini since 1994.

10,000 Saints, American Splendor, The Extra Man, Girl Most Likely, The Nanny Diaries, Things Heard & Seen.

4. Uwe Boll

Producer | Postal

As a youth, he produced a number of short films on Super 8 and video. After short stints as guest auditor at Filmacademy Vienna and Filmhochschule Munich, Boll studied literature and economics in Cologne and Siegen. He graduated from university in 1995 with a doctorate in literature. From 1995-2000...

Alone in the Dark, Assault on Wall Street, BloodRayne, House of the Dead, In the Name of the King, Postal.

5. Benny Boom

Director | Next Day Air

Benny Boom is known for Next Day Air (2009), The Equalizer (2021) and Chicago P.D. (2014).

All Eyez on Me, Next Day Air, S.W.A.T.: Firefight.

6. Terence Davies

Writer | Distant Voices, Still Lives

Terence Davies was born on November 10, 1945 in Liverpool, England, UK. He was a writer and director, known for Distant Voices, Still Lives (1988), The House of Mirth (2000) and Benediction (2021). He died on October 7, 2023 in Mistley, Essex, England, UK.

A Quiet Passion, The Deep Blue Sea, The House of Mirth.

7. Ben Falcone

Actor | Tammy

Benjamin Scott Falcone is an American actor, comedian and filmmaker. He is married to actress Melissa McCarthy, with whom he has two children and co-starred in What to Expect When You're Expecting, Enough Said, and God's Favorite Idiot. He has also had cameos in Bridesmaids, Identity Thief, The ...

The Boss, Tammy, Thunder Force.

8. Jason Friedberg

Writer | Disaster Movie

Jason Friedberg was born on January 16, 1970 in Newark, New Jersey, USA. He is a writer and director, known for Disaster Movie (2008), Epic Movie (2007) and Meet the Spartans (2008).

Disaster Movie, Epic Movie, Meet the Spartans, The Starving Games, Vampires Suck.

9. Robert Ben Garant

Producer | Reno 911!

Robert Ben Garant was born on September 14, 1970 in Cookeville, Tennessee, USA. He is a producer and writer, known for Reno 911! (2003), Reno 911!: Miami (2007) and Baywatch (2017). He has been married to Cathy Shim since August 1, 2011. They have two children. He was previously married to Jennifer.

Balls of Fury, Hell Baby, Reno 911!: Miami.

10. Raja Gosnell

Director | Big Momma's House

Raja Gosnell started his film career as an assistant editor in the late 1970s. His first credit as a film's main editor was the romantic comedy "The Lonely Guy" (1984), for director Arthur Hiller. During the 1980s, Gosnell served as editor in films directed by Tom Laughlin, David Worth, Bob Dahlin,...

Beverly Hills Chihuahua, Big Momma's House, Home Alone 3, Scooby-Doo, Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed, The Smurfs, The Smurfs 2, Yours, Mine and Ours.

11. David Hackl

Director | Saw V

David Hackl is known for Saw V (2008), Into the Grizzly Maze (2015) and Life on the Line (2015).

Dangerous, Daughter of the Wolf, Saw V.

12. Jared Hess

Director | Napoleon Dynamite

Jared Lawrence Hess and Jerusha Elizabeth Hess (née Demke; born May 12, 1980) are husband-and-wife American filmmakers best known for their work on Napoleon Dynamite (2004), Nacho Libre (2006) and Gentlemen Broncos (2009), all of which they co-wrote and which were directed by Jared (Nacho Libre was...

Gentlemen Broncos, Nacho Libre, Napoleon Dynamite

13. Peter Hyams

Director | 2010

Peter Hyams was born in New York on July 26, 1943, and attended Hunter College Elementary School. He studied art and music at the Art Students League and the High School of Music and Art as well as at Syracuse University, where he majored in music and art. Before he became a CBS News news anchor in...

2010: The Year We Make Contact, Beyond a Reasonable Doubt, The Musketeer, A Sound of Thunder, Sudden Death.

14. Jesse V. Johnson

Director | Avengement

Jesse V. Johnson was born on November 29, 1971 in Winchester, England, UK. He is a director and writer, known for Avengement (2019), Hell Hath No Fury (2021) and Debt Collectors (2020). He was previously married to Jamie Johnson.

The 5th Commandment, Accident Man, The Last Sentinel, The Package, Triple Threat.

15. Terry Jones

Writer | The Meaning of Life

Terry Jones was born in Colwyn Bay, North Wales, the son of Dilys Louisa (Newnes), a homemaker, and Alick George Parry Jones, a bank clerk. His older brother is production designer Nigel Jones. His grandparents were involved in the entertainment business, having managed the local Amateur Operatic ...

Absolutely Anything, Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Monty Python’s The Life of Brian, Monty Python’s The Meaning Of Life.

16. Henry Joost

Director | Paranormal Activity 3

Ariel "Rel" Schulman and Henry Joost are a directing team, best buds, and founders of the New York City production company Supermarché.

Their first feature documentary, Catfish, premiered at the Sundance film festival in 2010. It spawned a new word in Webster's dictionary, and a show on MTV, of ...

Nerve, Paranormal Activity 3, Paranormal Activity 4.

17. Steven Knight

Writer | Locke

Steven Knight is a British screenwriter and film director. He is best known for screenplays he wrote for the films Dirty Pretty Things (2002) and Eastern Promises (2007), and also directed as well as written the film Locke (2013).

Knight is also one of three creators of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire...

Locke, Redemption, Serenity.

18. Mary Lambert

Director | Pet Sematary

Mary Lambert was born in 1951 in Helena, Arkansas, USA. She is a director and writer, known for Pet Sematary (1989), Madonna: Like a Prayer (1989) and The in Crowd (2000). She has been married to Jerome Gary since September 28, 1991. They have one child.

A Castle for Christmas, The In Crowd, Siesta.

19. John R. Leonetti

Director | Annabelle

John R. Leonetti was born on July 4, 1956 in California, USA. He is a cinematographer and director, known for Annabelle (2014), The Conjuring (2013) and Insidious: Chapter 2 (2013).

Annabelle, Mortal Kombat: Annihilation, The Silence, Wish Upon.

20. Sam Levinson

Writer | Euphoria

Sam Levinson was born on January 8, 1985 in the USA. He is a writer and producer, known for Euphoria (2019), The Idol (2023) and Malcolm & Marie (2021).

Another Happy Day, Assassination Nation, Malcolm & Marie.

21. David Lynch

Writer | Twin Peaks

Born in precisely the kind of small-town American setting so familiar from his films, David Lynch spent his childhood being shunted from one state to another as his research scientist father kept getting relocated. He attended various art schools, married Peggy Lynch and then fathered future ...

Blue Velvet, Inland Empire, Lost Highway.

22. Seth MacFarlane

Writer | Family Guy

Seth Woodbury MacFarlane was born in the small New England town of Kent, Connecticut, where he lived with his mother, Ann Perry (Sager), an admissions office worker, his father, Ronald Milton MacFarlane, a prep school teacher, and his sister, Rachael MacFarlane, now a voice actress and singer. He ...

A Millions Ways To Die In the West, Ted, Ted 2.

23. Dan Mazer

Writer | I Give It a Year

Dan Mazer was born in Hillingdon, London, England, UK. He is a writer and producer, known for I Give It a Year (2013), Da Ali G Show (2000) and Borat Subsequent Moviefilm (2020). He has been married to Daisy Donovan since 2005.

Dirty Grandpa, Home Sweet Home Alone, I Give It a Year.

24. Olivier Megaton

Director | Transporter 3

Olivier Megaton was born on August 6, 1965 in Versailles, Seine-et-Oise [now Yvelines], France. He is a director and writer, known for Transporter 3 (2008), Taken 3 (2014) and Colombiana (2011).

Colombiana, Taken 2, Taken 3, Transporter 3.

25. Brian A. Miller

Director | Vice

Brian A. Miller is a Los Angeles based feature film writer and director known for Reprisal (2018), Backtrace, Vice (2015), The Prince (2014), and Officer Down (2015) and the upcoming "Price of Valor". He's worked with such name actors as Sylvester Stallone, Bruce Willis, John Cusack, Jason Patric, ...

Backtrace, Officer Down, Reprisal.

26. Steven C. Miller

Director | Margaux

Steven C. Miller was born in Decatur, Ga. His love for film began early when his father bought him a VHS video camera. Miller started off small with multiple music videos and short films. In 2005 Miller attended and graduated Full Sail University.

In 2005, immediately after graduating film school at...

The Aggression Scale, First Kill, Line of Duty, Marauders, Scream of the Banshee.

27. Kevin Munroe

Director | Dylan Dog: Dead of Night

Kevin Munroe is a Canadian film director, storyboard artist and concept artist from Bathurst, New Brunswick known for directing TMNT, Freaky Flyers, Dylan Dog: Dead of Night and Ratchet & Clank. He provided concept art for The Ant Bully and co-produced Strange Magic. He had four children from his ...

Dylan Dog: Dead of Night, Ratchet & Clank, TMNT.

28. Ryan Murphy

Producer | Glee

Born November 9, 1965 in Indianapolis, Indiana, US as Ryan Patrick Murphy, he is an American writer, director, and producer, responsible for creating such hits as Nip/Tuck (2003), Glee (2009) and American Horror Story (2011). His mother, J. Andy Murphy, was a writer and communications worker and ...

Eat Pray Love, The Normal Heart, The Prom, Running with Scissors.

29. Mark Neveldine

Director | Gamer

Mark Neveldine was born in Watertown, New York, USA. He is a writer and director, known for Gamer (2009), Crank (2006) and Crank: High Voltage (2009). He has been married to Alison Lohman since August 19, 2009. They have three children.

Crank, Crank 2: High Voltage, Gamer, Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance, The Vatican Tapes.

30. Cyrus Nowrasteh

Writer | The Stoning of Soraya M.

Of Iranian descent, he was born in Boulder, Colorado, and grew up in Madison, Wisconsin. He graduated from Madison West High School and was a city boys high school tennis champion. Nowrasteh attended New Mexico State University on an athletic scholarship and later transferred to the University of ...

Infidel, The Stoning of Soraya M., The Young Messiah.

31. Tyler Perry

Writer | Diary of a Mad Black Woman

Perry was born and raised in New Orleans, to Willie Maxine (Campbell) and Emmitt Perry, Sr. His mother was a church-goer and took Perry along with her once a week. His father was a carpenter and they had a very strained and abusive relationship, which led Perry to suffer from depression as a ...

A Madea Christmas, A Madea Family Funeral, A Madea Homecoming, Acrimony, Boo! A Madea Halloween, Boo 2! A Madea Halloween, Daddy's Little Girls, The Family That Preys, For Colored Girls, Good Deeds, I Can Do Bad All by Myself, Madea Goes to Jail, Madea's Big Happy Family, Madea's Family Reunion, Madea's Witness Protection, Meet the Browns, The Single Moms Club, Temptation, Why Did I Get Married?, Why Did I Get Married Too?.

32. Sally Potter

Director | The Tango Lesson

Sally Potter made her first 8mm film aged fourteen. She has since written and directed seven feature films, as well as many short films (including THRILLER and PLAY) and a television series, and has directed opera (Carmen for the ENO in 2007) and other live work. Her background is in choreography, ...

Ginger & Rosa, The Party, Yes.

33. Robert Pulcini

Director | American Splendor

Robert Pulcini was born on August 24, 1964 in New York City, New York, USA. He is a director and writer, known for American Splendor (2003), Cinema Verite (2011) and Fleishman Is in Trouble (2022). He has been married to Shari Springer Berman since 1994.

10,000 Saints, American Splendor, The Extra Man, Girl Most Likely, The Nanny Diaries, Things Heard & Seen.

34. George A. Romero

Writer | Land of the Dead

George A. Romero never set out to become a Hollywood figure; by all indications, though, he was very successful. The director of the groundbreaking "Living Dead" films was born February 4, 1940 ,in New York City to Ann (Dvorsky) and Jorge Romero. His father was born in Spain and raised in Cuba, and...

Diary of the Dead, Land of the Dead, Night of the Living Dead, Survival of the Dead.

35. Rick Rosenthal

Director | Bad Boys

Rick Rosenthal was born on June 15, 1949 in New York City, New York, USA. He is a director and producer, known for Bad Boys (1983), Transparent (2014) and Halloween II (1981). He is married to Nancy Stephens.

American Dreamer, Halloween II, Halloween: Resurrection.

36. Eli Roth

Producer | Thanksgiving

Eli Raphael Roth was born in Newton, Massachusetts, to Cora (Bialis), a painter, and Sheldon H. Roth, a psychoanalyst, psychiatrist, and clinical professor. His family is Jewish (from Austria, Hungary, Russia, and Poland). He began shooting Super 8 films at the age of eight; after watching Ridley ...

Cabin Fever, Death Wish (2018), The Green Inferno, Hostel, Hostel: Part II, Thanksgiving.

37. Geoffrey Sax

Director | Alex Rider: Operation Stormbreaker

Geoffrey Sax was born on October 17, 1949 in Barnet, Middlesex, England, UK. He is a director and actor, known for Stormbreaker (2006), Tipping the Velvet (2002) and White Noise (2005). He has been married to Karina Brewin since 1995. They have two children. He was previously married to Caroline Sax...

Alex Rider: Operation Stormbreaker, Frankie & Alice, White Noise.

38. Ariel Schulman

Director | Paranormal Activity 3

Ariel "Rel" Schulman and Henry Joost are a directing team, best buds, and founders of the New York City production company Supermarché.

Their first feature documentary, Catfish, premiered at the Sundance film festival in 2010. It spawned a new word in Webster's dictionary, and a show on MTV, of ...

Nerve, Paranormal Activity 3, Paranormal Activity 4.

39. Aaron Seltzer

Writer | Disaster Movie

Aaron Seltzer was born on January 12, 1974 in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. He is a writer and director, known for Disaster Movie (2008), Date Movie (2006) and Epic Movie (2007).

Date Movie, Disaster Movie, Epic Movie, Meet the Spartans, The Starving Games, Vampires Suck.

40. Sebastián Silva

Writer | Tyrel

Sebastián Silva was born on April 9, 1979 in Santiago, Metropolitan Region, Chile. He is a writer and director, known for Tyrel (2018), The Maid (2009) and Crystal Fairy & the Magical Cactus (2013).

Crystal Fairy & the Magical Cactus, Nasty Baby, Tyrel

41. Courtney Solomon

Producer | After

Courtney Solomon is an accomplished writer, director, producer and entrepreneur who is responsible for the creation of several franchises and has been involved with the production, marketing and distribution of over 80 films creating a significant film library.

Solomon grew up in Toronto, Canada ...

An American Haunting, Dungeons & Dragons, Getaway.

42. Scott Speer

Director | Midnight Sun

Scott began his career as a director of music videos creating acclaimed work for Will.I.am, Jordin Sparks, and Jason Derulo, winning an MVPA Award for Directorial Debut of the Year, two GMA Awards, and an MTV Video Music Award for Video of the Year. National campaigns followed with commercials for ...

I Still See You, Midnight Sun, Step Up: Revolution.

43. Tyler Spindel

Producer | Love and Germophobia

After graduating from Harvard University, Tyler Spindel moved to Los Angeles to pursue his childhood dream of performing stand up comedy. Touring the country and hosting a weekly show at Hollywood's Laugh Factory nurtured a deeper understanding of comedy as an art form, eventually leading Tyler to ...

Father of the Year, The Out-Laws, The Wrong Missy.

44. Scott Stewart

Producer | Dark Skies

Scott Stewart is a writer, director, and producer of both film and television. He most recently directed and executive produced the pilot episode of the young-adult supernatural drama series "Siren" which premiered in March, 2018 on Freeform to critical and ratings success and was renewed for an ...

Dark Skies, Legion, Priest.

45. Peter Sullivan

Producer | Secret Obsession

Sullivan was diagnosed with a severe hearing loss as a child. With the assistance of hearing aids, he speaks and read lips fluently. He often expresses his personal challenges and journey in his work. Speaking to CineMovie about his movie "Cucuy," Sullivan explained:

"Amelia is hearing impaired and ...

Fatal Affair, Game Over, Secret Obsession.

46. Genndy Tartakovsky

Producer | Samurai Jack

Genndy Tartakovsky was born and raised in Moscow, USSR. He and his family moved to Chicago, IL when he was 7 years old, after his father defected to the US. His interest in comic books and animation led him to study animation at CalArts in Los Angeles. While he was there he produced two student ...

Hotel Transylvania, 2, 3: Summer Vacation.

47. Brian Taylor

Writer | Crank

Brian Taylor grew up in the suburban wastelands of Southern California. After a gloriously well-spent youth traveling around the world in punk bands he took an abrupt change of direction in the early naughts, enrolling in a ten-month film program to study camera. Brian wrote, shot and edited what ...

Crank, Crank 2: High Voltage, Gamer, Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance, Mom and Dad.

48. Deon Taylor

Director | Black and Blue

A prolific writer, filmmaker, director and idea generator, Deon Taylor is a self-taught, creative genius. His work is innovative, his writing is cutting edge and his vision is iconic. He is forever creating and is a force to be reckoned with in the conglomerate world of entertainment.

He is always ...

Meet the Blacks, Chain Letter, Fatale, The Intruder, Traffik.

49. Michael Tiddes

Director | Half Baked: Totally High

Michael Tiddes stands out in the film industry as an accomplished filmmaker, renowned for his innovative and versatile contributions across directing, screenwriting, editing, and producing. With a keen eye for both comedy and action, Michael's creative vision consistently breaks new ground in ...

A Haunted House, A Haunted House 2, Fifty Shades of Black, Naked, Sextuplets.

50. Greg Tiernan

Director | Sausage Party

Greg Tiernan was born on June 19, 1965 in Ireland. He is a director, known for Sausage Party (2016), An American Tail (1986) and All Dogs Go to Heaven (1989). He is married to Nicole Stinn.

The Addams Family, The Addams Family 2, Sausage Party.

51. Jeff Tremaine

Writer | Bad Grandpa

Jeff Tremaine was born a military brat and hustled from state to state until finally settling in Rockville, Maryland. There, he quickly gravitated towards the alternative world of skateboarding, BMX, reggae music, and art... pursuits that would shape a career to come.

After attending Washington ...

Bad Grandpa, The Dirt, Jackass: The Movie, Jackass: Number Two, Jackass 3.

52. Lars von Trier

Writer | Dancer in the Dark

Probably the most ambitious and visually distinctive filmmaker to emerge from Denmark since Carl Theodor Dreyer over 60 years earlier, Lars von Trier studied film at the Danish Film School and attracted international attention with his very first feature, The Element of Crime (1984). A highly ...

Antichrist, Dogville, Manderlay, Melancholia, Nymphomaniac: Volume I, Nymphomaniac: Volume II.

53. Jeff Wadlow

Producer | Truth or Dare

DGA award nominee Jeff Wadlow's forthcoming theatrical film, Imaginary, marks his third collaboration with Jason Blum under a first look deal that launched Jeff's own production company, Tower of Babble Entertainment. Last year, he was the director and executive producer of The Curse of Bridge ...

Cry Wolf, The Curse of Bridge Hollow, Fantasy Island, Kick-Ass 2, Never Back Down, True Memoirs of an International Assassin, Truth or Dare.

54. John Whitesell

Director | The Guiding Light

John Whitesell was born on December 2, 1953 in Iowa Falls, Iowa, USA. He is a director and producer, known for Guiding Light (1952), Holidate (2020) and Deck the Halls (2006). He has been married to Jolie Barnett since July 1999. They have two children. He was previously married to Emily Whitesell.

Big Momma's House 2, Big Mommas: Like Father, Like Son, Deck the Halls, Holidate, Malibu's Most Wanted, Thunderstruck.

55. Woo-Ping Yuen

Stunts | Wo hu cang long

Woo-Ping Yuen was born on January 1, 1945 in Guangzhou, China. He is a director and actor, known for Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000), Fearless (2006) and The Grandmaster (2013).

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny, Drunken Master, Iron Monkey, True Legend.

56. Kar-Wai Wong

Director | Yi dai zong shi

Wong Kar-wai (born 17 July 1956) is a Hong Kong Second Wave filmmaker, internationally renowned as an auteur for his visually unique, highly stylised, emotionally resonant work, including Ah fei zing zyun (1990), Dung che sai duk (1994), Chung Hing sam lam (1994), Do lok tin si (1995), Chun gwong ...

2046, Euros, In the Mood for Love.

57. Aaron Woodley

Director | Spark: A Space Tail

Born and raised in Toronto, Canada, Aaron began making films at an early age, studying the techniques of animation at the Art Gallery of Ontario. After graduating from York University's Film Production Department, he worked in the industry as a television writer, stop-motion animator and editor, ...

Arctic Dogs, Spark: A Space Tail, Tennessee.

58. Bille Woodruff

Director | Yellowjackets

Bille Woodruff has worked with some of the biggest names in entertainment. Raised in Virginia, Bille attended University of Maryland, College Park, as a National Merit Scholar on a full academic scholarship with plans of becoming an anthropologist. Things took an unexpected twist once he began an ...

Addicted, Beauty Shop, Honey, The Perfect Match.

59. Boaz Yakin

Writer | Fresh

Boaz Yakin was born on June 15, 1965. He is a writer and producer, known for Fresh (1994), Remember the Titans (2000) and Aviva (2020).

Death in Love, Max, Safe.

60. Rob Zombie

Writer | Grindhouse

Robert Bartleh Cummings, more famously known as Rob Zombie, was born in Haverhill, Massachusetts on January 12, 1965. He is the oldest son of Louise and Robert Cummings, and has a younger brother, Michael David (aka Spider One; b. 1968), who is the lead singer of Powerman 5000. Growing up, Zombie ...

31, The Devil’s Rejects, Halloween, Halloween II, House of 1,000 Corpses, The Lords of Salem.