After reviewing authoritative industry sources like the 2012 Sight & Sound poll of directors and multiple expert rankings, here’s a carefully curated, accurate countdown of the top ten greatest film directors in history.

10. Orson Welles

A cinematic innovator, Welles revolutionized storytelling with layered narratives, deep focus, and striking lighting. Named the greatest director of all time in several director and critic polls. Wikipedia

9. Akira Kurosawa

A legendary Japanese auteur whose films like Seven Samurai and Rashomon redefined global cinema. Ranked 9th in the Sight & Sound poll and consistently celebrated across the industry. BFIMovieWebStudioBinderWikipedia

8. Alfred Hitchcock

The undisputed “Master of Suspense,” known for Psycho, Rear Window, and Vertigo. His mastery of tension, visual language, and psychological storytelling remain iconic. ParadeVanity Fair

7. Martin Scorsese

A master of character-driven drama, Scorsese’s films—Taxi Driver, Goodfellas, The Departed—explore human complexity with gritty realism and emotional depth. initial focus media

6. Jean-Luc Godard

A French New Wave pioneer, Godard’s radical narrative techniques in films like Breathless forever changed modern filmmaking. BFITIME

5. Andrei Tarkovsky

A visionary of poetic, immersive cinema, renowned for meditative masterpieces such as Stalker and Andrei Rublev. His impact spans decades of philosophical artistry. BFI

4. Francis Ford Coppola

A foundational figure in New Hollywood, Coppola redefined the gangster film genre with The Godfather trilogy and Apocalypse Now. Winner of multiple Oscars and critical acclaim. BFIWikipediaReuters

3. Ingmar Bergman

A master of psychological drama, Bergman’s profound explorations of existential themes in films like Persona and The Seventh Seal place him among cinema’s most influential artists. BFIthebest100.ai

2. Stanley Kubrick

Renowned for his meticulous craftsmanship, intellectual rigor, and visual precision, Kubrick’s legacy—from 2001: A Space Odyssey to The Shining—is monumental. Wikipedia

1. Federico Fellini

Celebrated as the greatest director in the Sight & Sound poll (“directors’ poll” ranked him #1), Fellini’s ornate, surreal storytelling (8½, La Dolce Vita) made him a cinematic legend.