Top 10 Best Female Directors

Despite of the strong dominance of men in all things, women have proven that they can equally share the same yoke, passion, work ethics, creativity, and love towards work. In fact, women have shared more than the usual limits of equality and fairness when it comes to achievements and success in the field that they have chosen to pursue. In lieu with this, there are noted women born with talents in directing. They have made the greatest contributions not just in honing acting skills, but also in producing quality movies and shows on television. Get to know who they are, where they started, and how they got themselves involved in this industry.

10. Mary Harron

She was known as a former punk-rock reporter before she decided to make a huge transition in producing off beat films, which became a trademark given to her. While directing, she also writes story lines for films that she directs. Two of the best movies that she did were The Notorious Betty Page and American Psycho. She is known for her strongest advocacy and belief about the contribution that women can give more to the society.

9. Sophia Coppola

Despite of the popularity of the Coppola clan to her career as a director, it did not influence her to reach her own fame. She begun directing and writing in 1998 with her Lick the Star that were followed by The Virgin Suicides. Her name truly shone because of Lost in Translation movie that gave her an Academy Award in the category of screenwriting. Another film that she did was Marie Antoinette that grossed $60 million.

8. Catherine Hardwicke

She did not start as a director but her career began as a production designer. Later on, she had her directorial debut with the movie entitled Thirteen, which was shown in 2003. In fact, she personally wrote the story line of this movie for the period of 6 days with the assistance of Nikki Reed who was 14 years old during that time. She also directed The Nativity Story and Lords of Dogtown and the popular vampire flick “Twilight” that actually earned $191 million.

7. Nancy Meyers

She is known with her biggest movie hits during the 80s and the 90s. She is directing and writing at the same time. Most of the motion pictures that she directed focused on women and they were box office hits. Some of the movies that she popularized are Father of the Bride, The Parent Trap, Private Benjamin, It’s Complicated, The Holiday, Something’s Gotta Give and What Women Want. She still holds the title of the highest grossing female director of all time while still producing family oriented movies.

6. Nora Ephron

Her expertise in directing can be attributed with her writing skills as a novelist and an essayist. She is known for popular movies like When Harry Met Sally, Sleepless in Seattle, Michael, Julie and Julia, and You’ve Got Mail. Hence, her first directorial debut happened with This is My Life in 1992. Her biggest accomplishment took place when Sleepless in Seattle earned $227 million wherein the movie got two nominations including best screenplay.

5. Jane Campion

She is known for her film “The Piano” wherein she received a nomination for the Best Director Award. Along with it, the movie got three nominations in best female actor, best supporting female actor, and best screenplay. Other valuable movies that she did were Portrait of a Lady in 1996, and Holy Smoke.

4. Julie Taymor

The movies that she mostly directed focused on historical figures and tales, which she has adapted a couple of times such as The Tempest, Titus, Frida, and the movie which served as a tribute to the Beatles entitled Across the Universe.

3. Amy Heckerling

You hardly see female directors who are in line of creating comedy films, since it is a part of the forte and expertise of men in general. Hence, one of the movies that she handled and directed is “Fast Times at Ridgemont High”, which has been one of the most quotable movies of all time because of the wacky and funny lines dropped by the characters evolved in the film. Some of the movies that she did are Fast Times, Clueless, and I Could Never Be Your Woman.

2. Penny Marshall

She started acting as a female actor in the comedy film Laverne and Shirley. She then jumped at the back part of the acting scene through directing where some of the films she handled are Awakenings, Big, and A League of Their Own.

1. Kathryn Bigelow

Everyone says that she is the best female director of all time broke every record in history. According to records, among the 82 director awards that have been given in Oscars, four female directors had been included and nominated. Nonetheless, with her movie The Hurt Locker, she did not just bag the best director award but even grabbed six other awards out of nine nominations where it was cited.