Hollywood's Best Film Directors

Watch Hollywood's Best Film Directors

  • 1969
  • 1 Season
  • 6.7  (129)

Hollywood's Best Film Directors is a documentary TV show that premiered in 2009 and ran until 2018. The series focuses on some of the most iconic film directors of our time and delves into their creative processes, styles, and inspirations. The show features interviews with the directors themselves, as well as film critics, industry professionals and fellow directors.

The show is hosted by Hollywood veteran, John Lithgow, who guides viewers through each episode, offering insightful commentary and interesting trivia about each director.

Over the course of the show's run, audiences were treated to interviews with some of the greatest minds in the industry, including Francis Ford Coppola, George Lucas, and William Friedkin, who are some of the most celebrated directors in Hollywood history.

Francis Ford Coppola, who is perhaps best known for his epic gangster movie, The Godfather, speaks candidly about his creative processes while providing fascinating insights into his filmmaking techniques. He also discusses the challenges and rewards of collaborating with actors and crew members to bring his visions to life.

George Lucas, the man behind the Star Wars franchise, talks about his experience creating an entirely new universe and the creative freedom he had to explore complex themes through the use of advanced technologies. The interview also features Lucas speaking about how he has dealt with criticism of his work and how he continues to push the boundaries of filmmaking.

William Friedkin, who directed classics like The French Connection and The Exorcist, discusses the difficult choices he has to make as a director when interpreting and adapting source material. He also offers insights into his approach to casting and how he manages to elicit powerful performances from his actors.

The show features interviews with other greats as well, such as Martin Scorsese, Steven Spielberg, and Alfred Hitchcock, among others. Each episode offers an in-depth look at the work and personality of the featured director, with insights into their creative processes and unique approaches to filming.

The show is visually stunning, with each episode featuring clips from the directors' most iconic films, as well as behind-the-scenes footage and exclusive interviews. The editing is crisp and the narration is engaging, making it a highly entertaining series that holds a wide appeal for both cinephiles and casual viewers.

Overall, Hollywood's Best Film Directors is a must-watch for anyone interested in the art and craft of filmmaking. It offers fascinating insights into the minds of some of the greatest directors of all time, while also providing a deeply satisfying viewing experience. Whether you're a film buff or just curious about the creative processes behind some of your favorite movies, this show is definitely worth checking out.

Hollywood's Best Film Directors
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Seasons
Farrelly Brothers
20. Farrelly Brothers
 
Bobby and Peter Farrelly reveal how they stumbled into a megahit with "Dumb and Dumber" and talk about casting funnyman Jim Carrey.
Luke Besson
19. Luke Besson
 
Learn how a bored young man from a remote French village built a movie empire from scratch. The director reflects on "Leon," "Lucy" and other hits.
Jon Favreau
18. Jon Favreau
 
Jon Favreau reveals how he made the transition from stockbroker to one of Hollywood's top directors and shares anecdotes about "Elf" and "Iron Man."
Mel Gibson
17. Mel Gibson
 
Mel Gibson shares stories from his acting days and his work as the director of "Braveheart," "The Passion of the Christ" and "Apocalypto."
Ridley Scott
16. Ridley Scott
 
Prolific director Ridley Scott discusses his work on "Gladiator," "Blade Runner," "Alien," "Thelma & Louise" and other groundbreaking films.
Martin Campbell
15. Martin Campbell
 
Director Martin Campbell discusses career highlights, including "The Mask of Zorro" with Antonio Banderas and "Casino Royale" with Daniel Craig.
Paul Greengrass
14. Paul Greengrass
 
Paul Greengrass shares fascinating stories from his throughout his career, including his collaboration with Matt Damon on "The Bourne Ultimatum."
James L Brooks
13. James L Brooks
 
Oscar-winning director and producer James L. Brooks recounts some of the funniest moments from his long and illustrious career.
Ron Howard
12. Ron Howard
 
Meet the humble director behind some of the most successful films in history, including "Apollo 13," "The Da Vinci Code" and "A Beautiful Mind."
John Singleton
11. John Singleton
 
John Singleton welcomes viewers to his L.A. offices and reflects on his film career, which includes "Boyz n the Hood," "2 Fast 2 Furious" and "Shaft."
Milos Forman
10. Milos Forman
 
The Oscar-winning director of "Amadeus," "One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest" and "The People vs. Larry Flynt" welcomes viewers into his New York home.
Bryan Singer
9. Bryan Singer
 
"The Usual Suspects" director Bryan Singer discusses his collaboration with Tom Cruise on "Valkyrie" and reveals details about "Superman Returns."
Michael Mann
8. Michael Mann
 
Director Michael Mann talks about pairing up Al Pacino and Robert De Niro in "Heat" and collaborating with Will Smith on "Ali."
John McTiernan
7. John McTiernan
 
Brett Ratner reveals how he convinced Anthony Hopkins to do "Red Dragon" and how Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker ended up starring in "Rush Hour."
Brett Retner
6. Brett Retner
 
Brett Ratner reveals how he convinced Anthony Hopkins to do "Red Dragon" and how Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker ended up starring in "Rush Hour."
George Lucas
5. George Lucas
 
George Lucas welcomes viewers to his office in San Francisco and speaks openly about his career, including his work on the "Star Wars" saga.
Rob Reiner
4. Rob Reiner
 
Rob Reiner shares funny anecdotes from classics like "Stand by Me" and "When Harry Met Sally," and dishes on "A Few Good Men" star Jack Nicholson.
Berry Levinson
3. Berry Levinson
 
Oscar winner Barry Levinson discusses his work on the iconic films "Rain Man," "Wag the Dog," "Good Morning, Vietnam" and more.
Francis Ford Coppola
2. Francis Ford Coppola
 
Francis Ford Coppola speaks frankly about his illustrious career and shares stories about working with Marlon Brando on "The Godfather."
Ivan Reitman
1. Ivan Reitman
 
Learn how this immigrant from Czechoslovakia became a king of the comedy genre with films like "Ghostbusters" and "Kindergarten Cop."
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  • IMDB Rating
    6.7  (129)