Box Office Report - Best Director Award Winners




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Best Director Award Winners


A chart of various yearly Best Director award winners going back to 1975.

Best Picture

Best Actor

Best Actress

Best Director

Best Screenplay

Best Cinematography

Best Editing

Best Animated Feature

Year
Academy Award
Golden Globe
DGA
BAFTA
NYFCC
LAFCA
NBR
Critics' Choice
2021
Jane Campion
The Power of the Dog
Jane Campion
The Power of the Dog
Jane Campion
The Power of the Dog
Jane Campion
The Power of the Dog
Jane Campion
The Power of the Dog
Jane Campion
The Power of the Dog
Paul Thomas Anderson
Licorice Pizza
Jane Campion
The Power of the Dog
2020
Chloé Zhao
Nomadland
Chloé Zhao
Nomadland
Chloé Zhao
Nomadland
Chloé Zhao
Nomadland
Chloé Zhao
Nomadland
Chloé Zhao
Nomadland
Spike Lee
Da 5 Bloods
Chloé Zhao
Nomadland
2019
Bong Joon Ho
Parasite
Sam Mendes
1917
Sam Mendes
1917
Sam Mendes
1917
Benny Safdie /
Josh Safdie
Uncut Gems
Bong Joon Ho
Parasite
Quentin Tarantino
Once Upon a Time…
in Hollywood
Bong Joon Ho
Parasite
/
Sam Mendes
1917
2018
Alfonso Cuarón
Roma
Alfonso Cuarón
Roma
Alfonso Cuarón
Roma
Alfonso Cuarón
Roma
Alfonso Cuarón
Roma
Debra Granik
Leave No Trace
Bradley Cooper
A Star is Born
Alfonso Cuarón
Roma
2017
Guillermo del Toro
The Shape of Water
Guillermo del Toro
The Shape of Water
Guillermo del Toro
The Shape of Water
Guillermo del Toro
The Shape of Water
Sean Baker
The Florida Project
Guillermo del Toro
The Shape of Water
/
Luca Guadagnino
Call Me By Your Name
Greta Gerwig
Lady Bird
Guillermo del Toro
The Shape of Water
2016
Damien Chazelle
La La Land
Damien Chazelle
La La Land
Damien Chazelle
La La Land
Damien Chazelle
La La Land
Barry Jenkins
Moonlight
Barry Jenkins
Moonlight
Barry Jenkins
Moonlight
Damien Chazelle
La La Land
2015
Alejandro G. Iñárritu
The Revenant
Alejandro G. Iñárritu
The Revenant
Alejandro G. Iñárritu
The Revenant
Alejandro G. Iñárritu
The Revenant
Todd Haynes
Carol
George Miller
Mad Max: Fury Road
Ridley Scott
The Martian
George Miller
Mad Max: Fury Road
2014
Alejandro G. Iñárritu
Birdman
Richard Linklater
Boyhood
Alejandro G. Iñárritu
Birdman
Richard Linklater
Boyhood
Richard Linklater
Boyhood
Richard Linklater
Boyhood
Clint Eastwood
American Sniper
Richard Linklater
Boyhood
2013
Alfonso Cuarón
Gravity
Alfonso Cuarón
Gravity
Alfonso Cuarón
Gravity
Alfonso Cuarón
Gravity
Steve McQueen
12 Years a Slave
Alfonso Cuarón
Gravity
Spike Jonze
Her
Alfonso Cuarón
Gravity
2012
Ang Lee
Life of Pi
Ben Affleck
Argo
Ben Affleck
Argo
Ben Affleck
Argo
Kathryn Bigelow
Zero Dark Thirty
Paul Thomas Anderson
The Master
Kathryn Bigelow
Zero Dark Thirty
Ben Affleck
Argo
2011
Michel Hazanavicius
The Artist
Martin Scorsese
Hugo
Michel Hazanavicius
The Artist
Michel Hazanavicius
The Artist
Michel Hazanavicius
The Artist
Terrence Malick
The Tree of Life
Martin Scorsese
Hugo
Michel Hazanavicius
The Artist
2010
Tom Hooper
The King's Speech
David Fincher
The Social Network
Tom Hooper
The King's Speech
David Fincher
The Social Network
David Fincher
The Social Network
Olivier Assayas
Carlos /
David Fincher
The Social Network
David Fincher
The Social Network
David Fincher
The Social Network
2009
Kathryn Bigelow
The Hurt Locker
James Cameron
Avatar
Kathryn Bigelow
The Hurt Locker
Kathryn Bigelow
The Hurt Locker
Kathryn Bigelow
The Hurt Locker
Kathryn Bigelow
The Hurt Locker
Clint Eastwood
Invictus
Kathryn Bigelow
The Hurt Locker
2008
Danny Boyle
Slumdog Millionaire
Danny Boyle
Slumdog Millionaire
Danny Boyle
Slumdog Millionaire
Danny Boyle
Slumdog Millionaire
Mike Leigh
Happy-Go-Lucky
Danny Boyle
Slumdog Millionaire
David Fincher
The Curious Case of
Benjamin Button
Danny Boyle
Slumdog Millionaire
2007
Joel Coen / Ethan Coen
No Country for Old Men
Julian Schnabel
The Diving Bell and
the Butterfly
Joel Coen / Ethan Coen
No Country for Old Men
Joel Coen / Ethan Coen
No Country for Old Men
Joel Coen / Ethan Coen
No Country for Old Men
Paul Thomas Anderson
There Will Be Blood
Tim Burton
Sweeney Todd
Joel Coen / Ethan Coen
No Country for Old Men
2006
Martin Scorsese
The Departed
Martin Scorsese
The Departed
Martin Scorsese
The Departed
Paul Greengrass
United 93
Martin Scorsese
The Departed
Paul Greengrass
United 93
Martin Scorsese
The Departed
Martin Scorsese
The Departed
2005
Ang Lee
Brokeback Mountain
Ang Lee
Brokeback Mountain
Ang Lee
Brokeback Mountain
Ang Lee
Brokeback Mountain
Ang Lee
Brokeback Mountain
Ang Lee
Brokeback Mountain
Ang Lee
Brokeback Mountain
Ang Lee
Brokeback Mountain
2004
Clint Eastwood
Million Dollar Baby
Clint Eastwood
Million Dollar Baby
Clint Eastwood
Million Dollar Baby
Mike Leigh
Vera Drake
Clint Eastwood
Million Dollar Baby
Alexander Payne
Sideways
Michael Mann
Collateral
Martin Scorsese
The Aviator
2003
Peter Jackson
The Return of the King
Peter Jackson
The Return of the King
Peter Jackson
The Return of the King
Peter Weir
Master and Commander
Sofia Coppola
Lost in Translation
Peter Jackson
The Return of the King
Edward Zwick
The Last Samurai
Peter Jackson
The Return of the King
2002
Roman Polanski
The Pianist
Martin Scorsese
Gangs of New York
Rob Marshall
Chicago
Roman Polanski
The Pianist
Todd Haynes
Far from Heaven
Pedro Almodóvar
Talk to Her
Phillip Noyce
The Quiet American /
Rabbit-Proof Fence
Steven Spielberg
Catch Me If You Can /
Minority Report
2001
Ron Howard
A Beautiful Mind
Robert Altman
Gosford Park
Ron Howard
A Beautiful Mind
Peter Jackson
The Fellowship of the
Ring
Robert Altman
Gosford Park
David Lynch
Mulholland Drive
Todd Field
In the Bedroom
Ron Howard
A Beautiful Mind
/
Baz Luhrmann
Moulin Rouge!
2000
Steven Soderbergh
Traffic
Ang Lee
Crouching Tiger,
Hidden Dragon
Ang Lee
Crouching Tiger,
Hidden Dragon
Ang Lee
Crouching Tiger,
Hidden Dragon
Steven Soderbergh
Erin Brockovich /
Traffic
Steven Soderbergh
Erin Brockovich /
Traffic
Steven Soderbergh
Erin Brockovich /
Traffic
Steven Soderbergh
Erin Brockovich /
Traffic
1999
Sam Mendes
American Beauty
Sam Mendes
American Beauty
Sam Mendes
American Beauty
Pedro Almodóvar
All About My Mother
Mike Leigh
Topsy-Turvy
Sam Mendes
American Beauty
Anthony Minghella
The Talented Mr. Ripley
Sam Mendes
American Beauty
1998
Steven Spielberg
Saving Private Ryan
Steven Spielberg
Saving Private Ryan
Steven Spielberg
Saving Private Ryan
Peter Weir
The Truman Show
Terrence Malick
The Thin Red Line
Steven Spielberg
Saving Private Ryan
Shekhar Kapur
Elizabeth
Steven Spielberg
Saving Private Ryan
1997
James Cameron
Titanic
James Cameron
Titanic
James Cameron
Titanic
Baz Luhrmann
Romeo + Juliet *
Curtis Hanson
L.A. Confidential
Curtis Hanson
L.A. Confidential
Curtis Hanson
L.A. Confidential
James Cameron
Titanic
1996
Anthony Minghella
The English Patient
Milos Forman
The People vs.
Larry Flynt
Anthony Minghella
The English Patient
Joel Coen
Fargo
Lars von Trier
Breaking the Waves
Mike Leigh
Secrets & Lies
Joel Coen
Fargo
Anthony Minghella
The English Patient
1995
Mel Gibson
Braveheart
Mel Gibson
Braveheart
Ron Howard
Apollo 13
Michael Radford
Il Postino
Ang Lee
Sense and Sensibility
Mike Figgis
Leaving Las Vegas
Ang Lee
Sense and Sensibility
Mel Gibson
Braveheart
1994
Robert Zemeckis
Forrest Gump
Robert Zemeckis
Forrest Gump
Robert Zemeckis
Forrest Gump
Mike Newell
Four Weddings and
a Funeral
Quentin Tarantino
Pulp Fiction
Quentin Tarantino
Pulp Fiction
Quentin Tarantino
Pulp Fiction
1993
Steven Spielberg
Schindler's List
Steven Spielberg
Schindler's List
Steven Spielberg
Schindler's List
Steven Spielberg
Schindler's List
Jane Campion
The Piano
Jane Campion
The Piano
Martin Scorsese
The Age of Innocence
1992
Clint Eastwood
Unforgiven
Clint Eastwood
Unforgiven
Clint Eastwood
Unforgiven
Robert Altman
The Player
Robert Altman
The Player
Clint Eastwood
Unforgiven
James Ivory
Howards End
1991
Jonathan Demme
The Silence of the
Lambs
Oliver Stone
JFK
Jonathan Demme
The Silence of the
Lambs
Alan Parker
The Commitments
Jonathan Demme
The Silence of the
Lambs
Barry Levinson
Bugsy
Jonathan Demme
The Silence of the
Lambs
1990
Kevin Costner
Dances with Wolves
Kevin Costner
Dances with Wolves
Kevin Costner
Dances with Wolves
Martin Scorsese
Goodfellas
Martin Scorsese
Goodfellas
Martin Scorsese
Goodfellas
Kevin Costner
Dances with Wolves
1989
Oliver Stone
Born on the Fourth
of July
Oliver Stone
Born on the Fourth
of July
Oliver Stone
Born on the Fourth
of July
Kenneth Branagh
Henry V
Paul Mazursky
Enemies, A Love Story
Spike Lee
Do the Right Thing
Kenneth Branagh
Henry V
1988
Barry Levinson
Rain Man
Clint Eastwood
Bird
Barry Levinson
Rain Man
Louis Malle
Au Revoir les Enfants *
Chris Menges
A World Apart
David Cronenberg
Dead Ringers
Alan Parker
Mississippi Burning
1987
Bernardo Bertolucci
The Last Emperor
Bernardo Bertolucci
The Last Emperor
Bernardo Bertolucci
The Last Emperor
Oliver Stone
Platoon *
James L. Brooks
Broadcast News
John Boorman
Hope and Glory
Steven Spielberg
Empire of the Sun
1986
Oliver Stone
Platoon
Oliver Stone
Platoon
Oliver Stone
Platoon
Woody Allen
Hannah and Her Sisters
Woody Allen
Hannah and Her Sisters
David Lynch
Blue Velvet
Woody Allen
Hannah and Her Sisters
1985
Sydney Pollack
Out of Africa
John Huston
Prizzi's Honor
Steven Spielberg
The Color Purple
John Huston
Prizzi's Honor
Terry Gilliam
Brazil
Akira Kurosawa
Ran
1984
Milos Forman
Amadeus
Milos Forman
Amadeus
Milos Forman
Amadeus
Wim Wenders
Paris, Texas
David Lean
A Passage to India
Milos Forman
Amadeus
David Lean
A Passage to India
1983
James L. Brooks
Terms of Endearment
Barbra Streisand
Yentl
James L. Brooks
Terms of Endearment
Bill Forsyth
Local Hero
Ingmar Bergman
Fanny and Alexander
James L. Brooks
Terms of Endearment
James L. Brooks
Terms of Endearment
1982
Richard Attenborough
Gandhi
Richard Attenborough
Gandhi
Richard Attenborough
Gandhi
Richard Attenborough
Gandhi
Sydney Pollack
Tootsie
Steven Spielberg
E.T. The
Extra-Terrestrial
Sidney Lumet
The Verdict
1981
Warren Beatty
Reds
Warren Beatty
Reds
Warren Beatty
Reds
Louis Malle
Atlantic City
Sidney Lumet
Prince of the City
Warren Beatty
Reds
Warren Beatty
Reds
1980
Robert Redford
Ordinary People
Robert Redford
Ordinary People
Robert Redford
Ordinary People
Akira Kurosawa
Kagemusha
Jonathan Demme
Melvin and Howard
Roman Polanski
Tess
Warren Beatty
Reds
1979
Robert Benton
Kramer vs. Kramer
Francis Ford Coppola
Apocalypse Now
Robert Benton
Kramer vs. Kramer
Francis Ford Coppola
Apocalypse Now
Woody Allen
Manhattan
Robert Benton
Kramer vs. Kramer
John Schlesinger
Yanks
1978
Michael Cimino
The Deer Hunter
Michael Cimino
The Deer Hunter
Michael Cimino
The Deer Hunter
Alan Parker
Midnight Express
Terrence Malick
Days of Heaven
Michael Cimino
The Deer Hunter
Ingmar Bergman
Autumn Sonata
1977
Woody Allen
Annie Hall
Herbert Ross
The Turning Point
Woody Allen
Annie Hall
Woody Allen
Annie Hall
Woody Allen
Annie Hall
Herbert Ross
The Turning Point
Luis Buñuel
That Obscure Object
of Desire
1976
John G. Avildsen
Rocky
Sidney Lumet
Network
John G. Avildsen
Rocky
Milos Forman
One Flew Over the
Cuckoo's Nest *
Alan J. Pakula
All the President's Men
Sidney Lumet
Network
Alan J. Pakula
All the President's Men
1975
Milos Forman
One Flew Over the
Cuckoo's Nest
Milos Forman
One Flew Over the
Cuckoo's Nest
Milos Forman
One Flew Over the
Cuckoo's Nest
Stanley Kubrick
Barry Lyndon
Robert Altman
Nashville
Sidney Lumet
Dog Day Afternoon
Robert Altman
Nashville /
Stanley Kubrick
Barry Lyndon
Year
Academy Award
Golden Globe
DGA
BAFTA
NYFCC
LAFCA
NBR
Critics' Choice

- Academy Award winners for Best Director are listed in red.
- Films that received a BAFTA for a year different than their North America release are indicated with an *







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