Film, as it is often said, is a director’s medium and it’s true.  Directors have more influence over the quality of a film than any other person involved in the process.  I picked my top five directors based on a few criteria.  They have to be still working.  They have to have directed at least three feature films.  They have to be still capable of directing a great film (in my opinion of course).  For example, Frances Ford Coppola is still alive, still occasionally working, but I don’t think he has a great film left in him.  So with those rules in mind, here are my top 5 and those just off the list.

1. Chris Nolan (Memento, The Dark Knight Trilogy, Inception)

2. David Fincher (Fight Club, Zodiac, The Social Network)

3. Rian Johnson (Brick, The Brothers Bloom, Looper)

4. Brad Bird (Iron Giant, The Incredibles, Mission Impossible IV)

5. Peter Jackson (Lord of the Rings Trilogy & The Hobbit Trilogy)

Honorable Mention: JJ Abrams, James Cameron, Alfonso Cuaron,  Guillermo del Toro, and Joss Whedon