Top-Rated Movies Directed by Actors

Denzel Washington’s third directorial film is an adaptation of a Pulitzer Prize-winning play by August Wilson, who also wrote the script. It takes place in the 1950s, and is centered around the struggles of a bitter working-class father (Washington). Co-star Viola Davis won an Oscar for her supporting role as family matriarch Rose Maxson.

Angelina Jolie explores sociopolitical themes with this historical drama based on the memoir of Cambodian child soldier Loung Ung. The film depicts Ung’s harrowing experiences under a ruthless communist regime.

Tom Hanks’ directorial debut follows the journey of a small town band enjoying the success of a hit single. Hanks plays the role of their manager, guiding them through the pre-Beatles pop landscape.

Emilio Estevez, once a major film actor, transitioned into directing in the latter part of his career. For this touching dramedy, he cast real-life father Martin Sheen, in a role tailor-made for him. The film follows a man (Sheen) on a pilgrimage, retracing the steps that led to his son’s (played by Estevez) tragic death.

Tommy Lee Jones brings his distinctive touch to the neo-Western genre in this border-crossing adventure drama. Directing and starring as rancher Pete Perkins, he sets out on a dangerous quest to bury his dead friend in Mexico. The film won Best Actor and Best Screenplay at the 2005 Cannes Film Festival.

This compelling drama follows the journey of a Pentecostal preacher escaping a tragic event, seeking refuge in a small-town Louisiana. Duvall wrote, directed, and starred, supported by a talented ensemble cast. After years of trying to get the film off the ground, Duvall finally funded it himself.

This acclaimed biopic delves into the establishment of Wiley College’s inaugural debate team in the 1930s. Overcoming significant odds, four African-American debaters advance to the national championship. Director Denzel Washington plays team coach Melvin B. Tolson.

In his directorial debut, Tim Robbins plays fictional folk singer turned politician Bob Roberts. Presented as a mockumentary, the film tracks Roberts political campaign for a U.S. Senate seat. Entertainment Weekly critic Owen Gleiberman wrote, “This nose-thumbing mock documentary is so prescient, so astonishingly up-to-the-minute, it creates the eerie effect of having been ripped from tomorrow’s headlines.”

In this classic from Albert Brooks classics, a married Los Angeles couple from Los Angeles, played by Brooks and Julie Hagerty, sell all their possessions and set out on a cross-country adventure in a Winnebago. They quickly learn that the idea of American freedom isn’t quite as great as they thought it would be.

Warren Beatty took on multiple roles in this historical drama where he directs, produces, co-writes, and stars as the radical journalist John Reed. The film was over three hours long, it chronicled Reed’s efforts to introduce Russian-style communism to American. It won three Academy Awards, including Best Director.

Bradley Cooper’s directorial debut is the fourth adaptation of this timeless tale about the price of fame. Cooper stars as seasoned musician Jackson Maine, who mentors a budding talent played by Lady Gaga. The film grossed over $436 million globally and won an Oscar for Best Original Song.

Actor Richard Powell starred in hit musicals and iconic film noirs, he transitioned into directing with this WWII drama based on a novel. Robert Mitchum stars as a newly assigned warship captain navigating high-stakes encounters at sea with a German opponent.

In one of his numerous Shakespeare adaptations, Kenneth Branagh directs this romantic comedy with a talented ensemble cast. Kate Beckinsale and Robert Sean Leonard play engaged lovers, who devise a matchmaking plan a week before their wedding. Denzel Washington, Keanu Reeves, Emma Thompson, and Branagh himself also star.

Mel Gibson directs and stars as Scottish knight Sir William Wallace in this historical saga. When the love of his life is executed, Wallace leads a revolt against a brutal British tyranny. The film received five Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director.

This biographical comedy-drama chronicles the making of “The Room,” a cult classic that became known as one of history’s worst movies. James Franco directs and stars as the eccentric filmmaker Tommy Wiseau, who fumbles his way into the annals of cult cinema. Wiseau himself makes a cameo appearance as a character named Henry in a post-credits scene.

Following his unconventional “Confessions of a Dangerous Mind,” George Clooney changed lanes with this understated historical drama. Shot in black and white, the film goes behind the scenes at CBS News during the era of Senator Joseph McCarthy and the Red Scare.

In this Albert Brooks comedy, a recently deceased man (Brooks) finds himself navigating a bureaucratic afterlife, where he’s asked to justify his life choices. When a love interest (Meryl Streep) comes into the picture, it leads to an unexpected romance and more dilemmas.

While Mel Brooks is best known as a director, he’s also quite an actor. In this Oscar-winning comedy, he directs a tale about two Broadway producers (Zero Mostel and Gene Wilder) who set out to make history’s biggest flop. The story later inspired a stage musical, which then inspired another film adaptation.

Kevin Costner was at the height of his fame when he made his directorial debut with this historical drama. It famously beat out Scorsese’s “Goodfellas” at the Academy Awards, winning Best Picture and six other Oscars. Set against the backdrop of the Civil War, the film looks at the relationship between a Union Army officer (Costner) and Native American tribe.

Orson Welles, known more for his directorial work than his acting, frequently starred in his own films. In this noirish thriller, he plays a shadowy Nazi fugitive. Slant Magazine critic Fernando F. Croce called it “as distinctively Wellesian as “Citizen Kane.””

By the time she directed this personal and quirky coming-of-age story, Greta Gerwig had already made a name for herself in the Indie film scene. The story follows the adventures  of an unconventional teenager (Saoirse Ronan) during her eventful senior year at a Catholic high school. It set a Rotten Tomatoes record with the most consecutive positive reviews.

Following his gripping thriller “Gone Baby Gone,” Ben Affleck returns with another crime drama set in the gritty neighborhoods of Boston. In the story, a bank robber (Affleck) falls in love with one of his hostages (Rebecca Hall), causing a rift between himself and his fellow thieves.

Richard Benjamin had a diverse acting career before making this directorial feature debut. Peter O’Toole plays a retired matinee idol struggling with his stage fright and alcoholism, jeopardizing a live variety show.

John Krasinski, known for “The Office,”proved himself a blockbuster director with this unexpected horror hit. The film follows a family navigating a world invaded by creatures with acute hearing, forcing them to live in complete silence to survive. Krasinski later directed a successful sequel to the film.

Based on Jon Krakauer’s bestselling book, Sean Penn directs this acclaimed drama, about Christopher McCandless, played by Emile Hirsch. McCandless gives away all his possessions and heads into the Alaskan wilderness, in a quest for meaning.

Robert Redford won his first and only Academy Award for directing with this poignant domestic drama. Set after a devastating tragedy, the film depicts an upper-class family in a state of turmoil. Mary Tyler Moore delivers a compelling performance as a narcissistic mother who can’t move past her son’s death.

Tim Robbins adapted this acclaimed drama from a 1993 non-fiction book, casting then-partner Susan Sarandon in the lead role. Sarandon plays Sister Helen Prejean, a nun whose compassion extends to a convicted killer (Sean Penn) as well as the victim’s family. Her outstanding performance earned the film its only Academy Award.

Ben Affleck impressed audiences with his confident directorial debut in this gritty drama set in a rough Boston neighborhood. The film follows two private detectives, played by Casey Affleck and Michelle Monaghan, through a complex kidnapping investigation. The stellar cast also includes Morgan Freeman, Ed Harris, and Amy Ryan.

Director Mel Brooks takes aim at Hollywood Westerns and the American West in this blockbuster satire. With biting humor that takes racism head-on, the film puts a Black sheriff (Cleavon Little) in charge of a small town in 1874. Adjusted for inflation, it ranks among the highest-grossing original films ever made.

In this WWII drama based on a true story, Andrew Garfield plays a pacifist soldier thrust into the brutality of war. The film shows that heroism isn’t always about firing a weapon. Director Mel Gibson once again explores themes of noble characters who aren’t afraid to sacrifice their life for the greater good.

This historical drama revisits the notorious 1958 “Twenty One” quiz show scandal. Ralph Fiennes plays contestant Charles Van Doren, who’s revealed to have received answers in advance. Director Robert Redford infuses the story with taut pacing and insightful sociopolitical commentary.

In Clint Eastwood’s fifth directorial venture, he draws inspiration from the violent revisionist Westerns he’s known for. Following the brutal murder of his family, Josey Wales (Eastwood) seeks revenge before disappearing into the wilderness.

Kenneth Branagh’s 1996 adaptation of Shakespeare’s “Hamlet,” is the only film to present the entire original text. Branagh takes on the title role, who must avenge his father’s death over the course of a four-hour span. Slant critic Rob Humanick called it “a work of tremendous personal ambition equipped with a budget nearly equal in magnitude.”

Clint Eastwood was in the midst of a directorial comeback when he directed this gripping sports drama. Hilary Swank delivers a breakout performance in the role of boxer Maggie Fitzgerald, a rising boxer guided by the aging trainer played by Eastwood. The film grossed over $216 million globally and won four Academy Awards.

For his third directorial effort, Ben Affleck shifted focus from Boston to the tense backdrop of the Iran Hostage Crisis. Unbelievably, the CIA orchestrates a rescue using a fake film production as a cover. The film won three Academy Awards, including Best Picture.

Greta Gerwig takes a fresh look at Louisa May Alcott’s classic novel in this latest film adaptation. Following the four March sisters, the story deals with romance, tragedy, and triumph set against a post-Civil War backdrop.

Primarily known as a director, Woody Allen does take on acting roles, often in his own films. This black-and-white dramedy draws inspiration from Allen’s personal experiences, following a a divorced TV writer (Allen) through existential crises and romantic misadventures. Legendary cinematographer Gordon Willis brings the film’s iconic visual palette to life.

Renowned British-American actor Charles Laughton made his mark as a director with this feature film. The story follows a cunning con artist (Robert Mitchum), who targets a naive widow and $10,000 in stolen loot. Initially a box office flop, it’s now considered a noir classic.

In this black-and-white comedy, Mel Brooks puts his distinctive spin on the tale of Frankenstein. Gene Wilder stars as thegrandson of the infamous scientist, who brings the dead back to life with hilarious results. Director Quentin Tarantino recently named it as one of history’s seven ‘perfect’ movies.

Woody Allen capped off his series of screwball comedies with this comical take on classic Russian literature and cinema. In the midst of the Napoleonic Wars, a naive soldier (Allen) and his cousin (Diane Keaton) devise a hairbrained assassination plot.

This thrilling and intricate noir initially received mixed reviews but has since gained recognition as a masterpiece. Set in a Mexican border town, the film follows the investigation into a car bomb explosion that exposes local police corruption. Edited down before theatrical release, it was later restored and then presented in accordance with Orson Welles’ original vision.

Robert De Niro was no stranger to crime drama by the time he directed this period gangster piece that takes place in the 1960s Bronx. Based on a play by Chazz Palminteri, who also stars as neighborhood mob boss Sonny, the story follows a local teenager (Lillo Brancato) who must choose between two different worlds as he comes of age.

Billy Bob Thornton directed this heartfelt drama that he also wrote, and starred in as Karl Childers, a mentally disabled man trying to overcome his dark and tragic past. It was based on Thornton’s own previous one-act play, and earned an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay.

Woody Allen launched a new phase of his career with this Oscar-winning masterpiece, playing comedian Alvy Singer in a film that redefined the modern romantic comedy. Using inventive stylistic choices, it explores the quirky romance between comedian Alvy and the title character played by Diane Keaton.

Eastwood’s late-career return to the Western genre, Clint Eastwood revisits and reevaluates his once-ruthless and violent persona. Directing and starring as retired gunslinger William Munny, who gets back in the saddle for one last mission. The film won four Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director.

A masterclass in style and narrative, this iconic drama follows newspaper magnate Charles Foster Kane (Welles) from youthful optimism to complex megalomania. Drawing inspiration from media mogul William Randolph Hearst, who ignored the film in his papers. Initially a box office disappointment, it’s now hailed as one of the greatest films ever made.