if you want to bring a stunt chase
shootout or fight to the big screen
these are the folks you call for help
welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re
counting down our picks for the top ten
action movie directors for this list
we’re looking at feature film directors
that get us on the edge of our seats and
keep us there through their masterful
action sequences and fight scenes
although there are several brilliant
directors who use action in their films
to great effect we’ve had to exclude
industry legends like Steven Spielberg
forget peace for now we have to show
them we’re strong and Quentin Tarantino
because they’re not as well known for
their action movie works as they are for
their efforts in other genres well I won
again say what again I dare ya I gotta
get your mother say what one more
goddamn time
number 10 George Miller kicking off our
list with speed Miller first caught our
attention in the late 70s when Mad Max
blasted onto the screen
two sequels later he became one of the
genres heavyweights creating some of the
most intense car chase sequences ever
put on film
in his 2015 magnum opus Mad Max fury
road we again saw brilliant car chase
sequences elevated to the point of
cinematic brilliance through stunt work
and practical effects
if 6la took place in an apocalyptic
wasteland it it looked like a George
Miller flesh
number nine Michael Bay it’s an easily
100 times cooler than Armageddon
I swear to God say what you want about
the guy he knows how to shoot action my
name is Optimus Prime
although later works were marred by the
overuse of cliches like the spinning
camera multi shot explosion coverage and
objectifying the female gender phase
body of work features some brilliant
entries that deserve a place in every
action aficionados library
with mind-blowing entries like the rock
bad boys
and Armageddon they probably would have
placed higher if you just not making
those damn Transformers movies already
oh god I can’t even tell you how much
I’m not your little bunny number eight
Paul Verhoeven can you fly Bobby Clarke
oh this dutch director hit the hollywood
mainstream in the 80s with one of the
decades defining action classics Robocop
later adding Total Recall and Starship
Troopers to his resume Verhoeven
established intensity frenetic violence
explicit sexual content and societal
send ups as his trademarks fully
automatic Morita wants to hold it
citizen rule people making a better
tomorrow while all of that may have the
ratings boards panties in a twist we say
bring it on
in a genre that caters to indulgence
nothing’s better than a director who
shows us what we want and lots of it
we’re married consider that a divorce
number seven yook Bissell to keep your
mouth up a Loutre guy can appreciate Oh
turns out France produces more than just
delicious pastries and wine
yuck Bissell is one of the pioneers of
the stylized movement cinemas ooh look
heavily used in its first action for a
La Femme Nikita
with his characteristic lush visuals in
full effect
vessel then made his mark on the jars
history with Leon the professional I
work for you in exchange you teach me
how to clean since then
he’s continued to solidify his legacy
with the Fifth Element Lilu and Lucy
some they put a bag of drugs in me I
need you to remove it it’s leaking
apparently he’s got a thing for kick-ass
women but then again who doesn’t who
number six
Kathryn Bigelow Bigelow quickly shouted
down the notion that women can’t direct
action managing to blend in as both a
mainstream heavyweight and an artist she
first blew our minds with three
back-to-back action classics blue steel
Point Break
and strange days with the latter two
being produced by her now ex-husband
James Cameron later in her career she
used action to create moments of
insurmountable tension and drama while
also getting across clear political
messages as seen with the Best Picture
and Best Director winning The Hurt
Locker and 2012 zero dark thirty yeah
anything bin laden farmer on the Afghan
border near toward war reports a
diamond-shaped pattern of the hills told
me on the center the diamond plane by
four guards consistent with UBS
movements number five Tony Scott
posthumously hailed as one of the great
action directors of all time Tony Scott
is fondly remembered for bringing some
of action cinemas most classic films to
life I feel the need
hey first be not sacrificing character
and story for action Scots works were
aggressive and exciting and punctuated
by his unmistakable shooting style
with his most notable early career work
being the decade defining top gun
Scott’s career would later be filled
with wonderful works from true romance
two men on fire
this final directing effort unstoppable
brilliantly made a runaway train the
film’s antagonist a feat only possible
by an action master number four John
McTiernan right not only abled but
dedicated to building a tense and
gripping story around his action John
McTiernan has managed to direct not one
not two but three of the all-time great
action films predator come on kill me
I’m here
die hard next time you have a chance to
kill someone don’t hesitate
thanks for the advice and The Hunt for
Red October he’s not going to change his
mind you’re willing to bet your life on
that as a pretty clear result he
cemented himself among the Great’s with
action that never feels forced
because a mother some dismisses films as
mindless blockbusters and okay sure his
movies may be a bit over the top but
that’s why we love them okay mother
as a matter of fact we need more
over-the-top action in this day and age
this is the choppa number three Michael
Mann yeah this is Jimmy I got explosions
are cool but they’re only as good as the
stories they’re founded because I spend
all my time chasing guys like you around
the block that’s my life no one knows
this better than Michael men whose
expertly crafted and precise sequences
come organically from the film’s plots
this is seen time and again in classics
like The Last of the Mohicans heat and
collateral
in his films man repeats themes and
motifs with his blend of emotion style
violence and intriguing plot elements
benefiting as a result represent what’s
going what’s my work his ability to
bring deep and dynamic characters to
life is unparalleled and causes tension
that mounts to a point of ignition oh
she got huh what we’re left with is a
gritty and raw action experience
number two John Woo I’d like to take his
his face Oh making a big name for
himself in Hong Kong before bringing his
work to North America Hollywood couldn’t
wait to get their hands on this stylized
master of the genre
his resume from his days in Asia is
impressive enough with films like
hard-boiled and a better tomorrow making
their mark but most of us know him for
Broken Arrow damn what a rush
face-off it’s like looking at a mirror
only not admission impossible to
even if you don’t know his name you
almost certainly know his work as no one
does slow motion dual wielding gunfights
like him
also dubs lots of dubs
before our top pick yells action here
are a few honorable mentions
Oh dodge this number one James Cameron
I’ll be back
he’s the man behind some of the
highest-grossing and most exciting films
ever
with a storied career that includes
masterpieces like The Terminator
get out true lies you’ve ever killed
anyone yeah but they were all bad aliens
and Terminator 2 hasta la vista baby
Cameron’s legacy is undeniable as a
director he utilizes the excitement of
action to make us laugh scare us or
sweep us off our feet get away from her
you bitch whether he’s warning against
corporate greed proving that humans and
machines don’t always get along or
introducing yet another kick-ass female
protagonist broke my arm
there are 215 bones in the human body
that’s one no Cameron is an
oscar-winning director who never fails
to hit the mark no matter how much work
or money it takes you’re fired
his action is the reason we find movies
magical and for that he’s earned the top
spot on our list come with me if you
want to live do you agree with our list
this is some Sexton what action movie
directors did we miss
for more top 10s on your favorite and
explosion heavy films published every
day be sure to subscribe to
watchmojo.com
shootout or fight to the big screen
these are the folks you call for help
welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re
counting down our picks for the top ten
action movie directors for this list
we’re looking at feature film directors
that get us on the edge of our seats and
keep us there through their masterful
action sequences and fight scenes
although there are several brilliant
directors who use action in their films
to great effect we’ve had to exclude
industry legends like Steven Spielberg
forget peace for now we have to show
them we’re strong and Quentin Tarantino
because they’re not as well known for
their action movie works as they are for
their efforts in other genres well I won
again say what again I dare ya I gotta
get your mother say what one more
goddamn time
number 10 George Miller kicking off our
list with speed Miller first caught our
attention in the late 70s when Mad Max
blasted onto the screen
two sequels later he became one of the
genres heavyweights creating some of the
most intense car chase sequences ever
put on film
in his 2015 magnum opus Mad Max fury
road we again saw brilliant car chase
sequences elevated to the point of
cinematic brilliance through stunt work
and practical effects
if 6la took place in an apocalyptic
wasteland it it looked like a George
Miller flesh
number nine Michael Bay it’s an easily
100 times cooler than Armageddon
I swear to God say what you want about
the guy he knows how to shoot action my
name is Optimus Prime
although later works were marred by the
overuse of cliches like the spinning
camera multi shot explosion coverage and
objectifying the female gender phase
body of work features some brilliant
entries that deserve a place in every
action aficionados library
with mind-blowing entries like the rock
bad boys
and Armageddon they probably would have
placed higher if you just not making
those damn Transformers movies already
oh god I can’t even tell you how much
I’m not your little bunny number eight
Paul Verhoeven can you fly Bobby Clarke
oh this dutch director hit the hollywood
mainstream in the 80s with one of the
decades defining action classics Robocop
later adding Total Recall and Starship
Troopers to his resume Verhoeven
established intensity frenetic violence
explicit sexual content and societal
send ups as his trademarks fully
automatic Morita wants to hold it
citizen rule people making a better
tomorrow while all of that may have the
ratings boards panties in a twist we say
bring it on
in a genre that caters to indulgence
nothing’s better than a director who
shows us what we want and lots of it
we’re married consider that a divorce
number seven yook Bissell to keep your
mouth up a Loutre guy can appreciate Oh
turns out France produces more than just
delicious pastries and wine
yuck Bissell is one of the pioneers of
the stylized movement cinemas ooh look
heavily used in its first action for a
La Femme Nikita
with his characteristic lush visuals in
full effect
vessel then made his mark on the jars
history with Leon the professional I
work for you in exchange you teach me
how to clean since then
he’s continued to solidify his legacy
with the Fifth Element Lilu and Lucy
some they put a bag of drugs in me I
need you to remove it it’s leaking
apparently he’s got a thing for kick-ass
women but then again who doesn’t who
number six
Kathryn Bigelow Bigelow quickly shouted
down the notion that women can’t direct
action managing to blend in as both a
mainstream heavyweight and an artist she
first blew our minds with three
back-to-back action classics blue steel
Point Break
and strange days with the latter two
being produced by her now ex-husband
James Cameron later in her career she
used action to create moments of
insurmountable tension and drama while
also getting across clear political
messages as seen with the Best Picture
and Best Director winning The Hurt
Locker and 2012 zero dark thirty yeah
anything bin laden farmer on the Afghan
border near toward war reports a
diamond-shaped pattern of the hills told
me on the center the diamond plane by
four guards consistent with UBS
movements number five Tony Scott
posthumously hailed as one of the great
action directors of all time Tony Scott
is fondly remembered for bringing some
of action cinemas most classic films to
life I feel the need
hey first be not sacrificing character
and story for action Scots works were
aggressive and exciting and punctuated
by his unmistakable shooting style
with his most notable early career work
being the decade defining top gun
Scott’s career would later be filled
with wonderful works from true romance
two men on fire
this final directing effort unstoppable
brilliantly made a runaway train the
film’s antagonist a feat only possible
by an action master number four John
McTiernan right not only abled but
dedicated to building a tense and
gripping story around his action John
McTiernan has managed to direct not one
not two but three of the all-time great
action films predator come on kill me
I’m here
die hard next time you have a chance to
kill someone don’t hesitate
thanks for the advice and The Hunt for
Red October he’s not going to change his
mind you’re willing to bet your life on
that as a pretty clear result he
cemented himself among the Great’s with
action that never feels forced
because a mother some dismisses films as
mindless blockbusters and okay sure his
movies may be a bit over the top but
that’s why we love them okay mother
as a matter of fact we need more
over-the-top action in this day and age
this is the choppa number three Michael
Mann yeah this is Jimmy I got explosions
are cool but they’re only as good as the
stories they’re founded because I spend
all my time chasing guys like you around
the block that’s my life no one knows
this better than Michael men whose
expertly crafted and precise sequences
come organically from the film’s plots
this is seen time and again in classics
like The Last of the Mohicans heat and
collateral
in his films man repeats themes and
motifs with his blend of emotion style
violence and intriguing plot elements
benefiting as a result represent what’s
going what’s my work his ability to
bring deep and dynamic characters to
life is unparalleled and causes tension
that mounts to a point of ignition oh
she got huh what we’re left with is a
gritty and raw action experience
number two John Woo I’d like to take his
his face Oh making a big name for
himself in Hong Kong before bringing his
work to North America Hollywood couldn’t
wait to get their hands on this stylized
master of the genre
his resume from his days in Asia is
impressive enough with films like
hard-boiled and a better tomorrow making
their mark but most of us know him for
Broken Arrow damn what a rush
face-off it’s like looking at a mirror
only not admission impossible to
even if you don’t know his name you
almost certainly know his work as no one
does slow motion dual wielding gunfights
like him
also dubs lots of dubs
before our top pick yells action here
are a few honorable mentions
Oh dodge this number one James Cameron
I’ll be back
he’s the man behind some of the
highest-grossing and most exciting films
ever
with a storied career that includes
masterpieces like The Terminator
get out true lies you’ve ever killed
anyone yeah but they were all bad aliens
and Terminator 2 hasta la vista baby
Cameron’s legacy is undeniable as a
director he utilizes the excitement of
action to make us laugh scare us or
sweep us off our feet get away from her
you bitch whether he’s warning against
corporate greed proving that humans and
machines don’t always get along or
introducing yet another kick-ass female
protagonist broke my arm
there are 215 bones in the human body
that’s one no Cameron is an
oscar-winning director who never fails
to hit the mark no matter how much work
or money it takes you’re fired
his action is the reason we find movies
magical and for that he’s earned the top
spot on our list come with me if you
want to live do you agree with our list
this is some Sexton what action movie
directors did we miss
for more top 10s on your favorite and
explosion heavy films published every
day be sure to subscribe to
watchmojo.com
Please follow and like us: