#20. Scoop By Woody Allen
What can we say about Woody Allen’s trajectory? He’s considered one of the best directors of all time. Allen has been directed and starred more than 40 films. Still these days, his movies are considered classics. It’s known that Allen has some muses during the time he’s filming, for example, Diane Keaton fit very well in movies like Annie Hall, Manhattan and Manhattan Murder Mystery. Allen’s style is unique and in his films, you can see the mix of a dark comedy and the disconsolate personal dramas of his characters.
Allen’s fans were surprised at the time Scoop was released in 2006 starred Scarlet Johansson, Hugh Jackman and Ian McShane. At that time, the young actress was Allen’s new muse as they previously worked in Match Point with the director. The reviews were not very good and everyone expected a better movie. Nowadays, it’s considered one of the weakest movies of Allen.
#19. The Bonfire of the Vanities By Brian De Palma
Another great director from our list has to be Brian De Palma as he has a career of more than 50 years. His most memorable films are Carrie, Dressed To Kill, Mission Impossible and The Untouchables. De Palma has directed some of the favorites cult movies of the industry like Sisters and Carlito’s Way. As we can see from his trajectory, De Palma often works with suspense, psychological and thriller topics making his films something you have to see.
In 1990, De Palma reunited actors Tom Hanks, Bruce Willis and Melanie Griffith for the black comedy The Bonfire Of The Vanities. The film was an adaptation of Tom Wolfe’s novel and it was a best-seller at that time, so producers thought it was going to be a piece of cake. Well, they were wrong and the film was a box office bomb and only earned $15 million. According to some reviewers, the film couldn’t transmit the complexity of the character’s mind and the plot was simple and boring.
#18. 1941 By Steven Spielberg
Steven Spielberg has a long trajectory in Hollywood and nowadays it’s considered one of the founding pioneers of the New Hollywood era. Spielberg’s movies are characterized by sci-fi and adventure plots mix with magical creatures. His most memorable films are Jaws, Close Encounters Of The Third Kind,Raiders Of The Lost Ark, E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial and Jurassic Park. We can say that Spielberg has been part of many childhoods and nowadays his movies are considered classics.
In 1979, he directed the war action-comedy 1941. The film reunited many stars like Dan Akroyd, Tim Matheson, Nancy Allen, Ned Beatty, Christopher Lee and John Candy. It went around panic in Los Angeles after the events of Pearl Harbor. The movie didn’t have good reviews but it became popular after it was televised by ABC and expanded by home videos reissues. Nowadays, it’s considered a cult movie for some people but probably Spielberg will never mention it again.
#17. Ghosts of Mars By John Carpenter
If you are a horror and sci-fi film fan, you must know the great director John Carpenter. He probably joined you in scary nights on Halloween when you were watching movies like Halloween, Escape From New York and The Thing. Carpenter’s recent work includes the Halloween franchise which he worked as executive producer.
Ghost Of Mars was released in 2001 was a box office bomb and earned only $14 million over the $28 million production budget. Starred Ice Cube, Natasha Henstridge, Jason Statham and Pam Grier, the film went around the story of Martian police in 2176 that have to go to a remote location to catch a dangerous criminal. Critics said that Ice Cube's performance was the worst part of all because it was overacting and didn’t go with the film.
#16. Hereafter By Clint Eastwood
Clint Eastwood is considered one of the best actors of all time but also a very good filmmaker. He started his career in Western TV but he has been part of many action, drama and thriller films too. Some films that are considered classics in his career are Unforgiven and the Academy Award winner Million Dollar Baby, which he directed and starred. We can say that Eastwood knows where to act and what to direct but in 2010 he made a false step in his career.
When Hereafter was released starring Matt Damon and Cécile De France, everyone was very expectant about that. Also, the film was produced by the talented Steven Spielberg, nothing could go wrong from this movie but its plot about three parallel stories of people facing death didn’t catch the audience. Not even Damon’s performance as a clairvoyant! Hereafter was supposed to be a film which philosophized about life after death but it couldn’t make it.
#15. Alexander By Oliver Stone
Some epic movies are considered classic nowadays and they were incredible but this was not the case of Alexander directed by Oliver Stone in 2004. Stone is well-known for movies like Midnight Express, Scarface, Platoon and Natural Born Killers. Most of his films are thrillers and dramas but he decided to take a chance in the world of epic movies.
The epic film is based on the story of Alexander The Great, the Macedonian Greek leader and his adventures. Starred Colin Farrell, Angelina Jolie, Val Kilmer and Jared Leto, the film was a complete disaster. First, Jolie was in the role of Farrell’s mother and she is way younger than him. Also, the film was extremely long, almost three hours movie and the performance of Farrell was not at the level of a Greek conqueror.
#14. The Greatest Show on Earth By Cecil B. DeMille
Cecil B. DeMille worked in more than 70 films during his career from 1914 to 1958 as director and actor. He also was part of the silent films too. DeMille directed films like The King Of Kings, The Sign Of The Cross, Cleopatra and Samson And Delilah. Nowadays, he’s considered as a film icon in the industry. We can’t imagine how such a great professional direct a movie like The Greatest Shown On Earth in 1952.
Starred Betty Hutton, Cornel Wilde, Charlton Heston, James Stewart, Dorothy Lamour, Gloria Grahame and Lyle Bettger the film didn’t have a consistent story and it was the show in a circus of many artists at the same time. Believe it or not, the film won the Academy Award for Best Picture and Best Story
#13. She Hate Me By Spike Lee
Spike Lee made his debut as a filmmaker in She’s Gotta Have It in 1983 and since then, he has been part of more than 30 films. His most memorable films are Do The Right Thing, Jungle Fever, Malcolm X and Inside Man. Lee’s movies always generate controversy and different opinions as he often mixes drama with black comedy and politics. Things like that were expected by the time She Hate Me was released in 2004.
The film reunited stars like Anthony Mackie, Ellen Barkin, Monica Bellucci, Jim Brown and Kerry Washington. But neither the plot nor the performances could make this film worked. Critics said the story had too many subplots that couldn’t get to the point at the end of the film. Luckily, Lee’s trajectory was not his last movie and he continued working in new and better films.
#12. The Lady Killers By Joel and Ethan Coen
If we have to think in directors that are the leaders in cult movies, the Cohen brothers won that place. Joel and Ethan Cohen often work with ironic and parody plots, mixing drama, comedy and violence. Some of their films are Miller’s Crossing, Barton Fink, Fargo and The Big Lebowski. Their most recent film is The Ballad Of Buster Scruggs.
There’s no doubt that their films will be released with controversy but The Ladykillers was considered as a very bad movie. The film stars were Tom Hanks, Irma P. Hall, Marlon Wayans and J.K. Simmons but their performances couldn’t save the movie. It went around the story of a gang of criminals that pretended to be musicians and they rented a root cellar from Mrs. Munson, a widow. Their real intentions were to dig a tunnel and get to a casino vault. The film is full of unnecessary violence and an inconsistent plot for a black comedy.
#11. A Good Year By Ridley Scott
Probably you know Ridley Scott of movies like Alien, Blade Runner, Thelma&Louise and Gladiator. Scott often works in sci-fi and drama film projects and he’s considered one of the best directors in that area. Maybe he wanted to explore something different when he decided to direct the romantic comedy A Good Year in 2006.
Scott called actor Russell Crowe, as he did it in Gladiator, for the principal role. The film stars were also Marion Cotillard, Didier Bourdon, Abbie Cornish and Tom Hollander. The plot was based on Peter Mayle’s novel of the same name. It went around a successful but arrogant and workaholic man that one day he inherited a vineyard in Provence, France, from his uncle. After that, the man started to enjoy the little and simple things of life by slowing down his life. It doesn’t seem like a film that Scott was used to.
#10. The Ninth Gate By Roman Polanski
Roman Polanski is well-known in the film industry and his films are considered classic in Hollywood. His personal life has been under the public eye too but he managed to escape from media attention. Polanski won status as a filmmaker with Rosemary’s Baby, Chinatown and The Pianist. What was Polanski thinking when he released The Ninth Gate in 1999?
The mystery thriller film starred by a young Johnny Depp, Lena Olin, James Russo and Frank Langella. The film didn’t produce scary or suspense but boredom to the audience. It goes around the story of a book dealer that tries to find a mystery and ancient book from a Devil and contains magical secrets. Critics were terribly bad for the movie as they compared it with Rosemary’s Baby and it only earned $58.4.
#9. Dune By David Lynch
Another filmmaker that made his space into Hollywood and in his way is David Lynch. The director is well-known for his films like Eraserhead, Blue Velvet and Mulholland Drive. Also, Lynch created the successful TV series Twin Peaks. His creations are supernatural stories mix with suspense and drama. It’s not normal to make great but darks movies, but Lynch definitely can do it.
When Dune came out in 1984, some people didn’t believe it was a film directed by Lynch. The epic sci-fi futuristic film told the story of two noble families that were fighting for the control of desert planet Arrakis, also known as Dune. It was the film debut of the actor Kyle MacLachlan but it wasn’t enough to make the audience liked the movie. Also, Lynch doesn’t want to talk again about it in any reporter!
#8. North By Rob Reiner
The talented Rob Reiner has been part of many films and TV series, producing them and as an actor. Films that he directed included films like Stand By Me, When Harry Met Sally, Misery and The Princess Bride. We can’t count the roles that he had in TV series, for example, his recent jobs include minor roles in series like New Girl, When We Rise and The Good Night.
In 1994, he directed the comedy-adventure film North starred by actors and actresses like Elijah Wood, Jon Lovitz, Dan Aykroyd, Julia Louise-Dreyfus, Bruce Willis and a 9-year-old Scarlet Johansson. The film is based on the novel The Tale Of A 9-Year-Old Boy Who Becomes Free Agent And Travels The World In Search Of The Perfect Parents. Well, more or less the plot is like the novel’s title but the audience didn’t like it and only earned $7 million over the $40 million budget.
#7. Jack By Francis Ford Coppola
If we talk about the Coppola family it’ll mean success and talent. The father of the family, Francis Ford Coppola is considered one of the best directors of all time and part of the New Hollywood era. Coppola directed The Godfather trilogy, Apocalypse Now and The Outsiders. When he directed the supposed comedy Jack with the talented comedian Robin Williams in 1996, everyone thought it was going to be a huge success.
The plot goes around a boy called Jack Powell that has an illness that makes him grow older four times faster than normal people, it’s the Werner Syndrome. The public didn’t feel happy with the film, perhaps because the principal character died at the end and he was only a boy! Not like the film The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button, the film didn’t catch the audience and the reviews were not very good.
#6. Deadly Friend By Wes Craven
Wes Craven has directed the most terrifying films that were part of our childhood, like A Nightmare On Elm Street, The Hills Have Eyes and Scream. Craven is considered a master in slasher films and we can’t think in someone better than him to make us goosebumps.
In 1986, he directed Deadly Friend based on Diana Henstell’s novel Friend. At first, the movie wasn’t going to have graphic scenes and the plot was going to be around the minds and the dark love story between the characters. But after a test audience of Warner Bros., the audience wanted more bloody scenes and gore as Craven used to make it in his previous films. The final result was not very good and the audience thought it had too much blood and gore, poor Craven!
#5. Oscar By John Landis
If we have to think in a man who could make us laugh until we cry is John Landis. He is well-known because of his comedy films like National Lampoon’s Animal House, The Blues Brothers, An American Werewolf In London, Trading Places and Coming To America. Landis also directed the music videos Thriller and Black Or White from Michael Jackson. He’s considered a genius in the theme that’s why the film Oscar is still something that critics don’t understand.
Filmed in 1991 and starred Sylvester Stallone as its principal star, it supposed it was going to be another success in Landis’ career. First, it was the remake of a 1967 French film of the same name but located in the Depression-era in New York City. The story goes around a mob boss who is trying to make things right for him and his family. The scenes are one more bizarre than the previous one and it seems that Stallone doesn’t fit for a comedy role.
#4. Illegally Yours By Peter Bogdanovich
What can we say about Peter Bogdanovich’s trajectory? The director is considered as one of the members of the New Hollywood era and his films are proof of this. Bogdanovich directed the critically acclaimed film The Last Picture but also comedies like What’s Up, Doc?, Paper Moon, They All Laughed and the drama Mask. Neither critics nor himself found the answer to what was he thinking when he filmed Illegally Yours in 1988.
Starred Rob Lowe, Colleen Camp, Kenneth Mars and Kim Mayers, the film was a complete failure. The plot a man that is called for jury duty and he finds out that the girl he was in love with in high school is accused of murder. Of course, Lowe’s character is determinate to prove her innocence. Critics said it was not a funny movie and even Bogdanovich declared he was not positive about the final result and that everyone was expecting something like Mask, which was filmed three years earlier.
#3. Deal of the Century By William Friedkin
Like many other directors from this list, Willam Friedkin is part of the 1970s movement called “New Hollywood”. He is well-known for directing the thriller The French Connection, the horror film The Exorcist and the pioneer queer drama The Boys In The Band. He’s considered one of the best directors from the movement and with the capacity of doing any type of film he wants to.
Although, when Friedkin tried to make a satiric comedy film, things didn’t work for him. In 1983, it was released Deal Of The Century starred Chevy Chase, Gregory Hines and Sigourney Weaver. The press thought the movie was going to be critical of the government but it turned out to be strange and ridiculous. It tells the story of an arms dealer who makes trades with a South American dictator.
#2. Dark Shadows By Tim Burton
Perhaps Tim Burton is the only director who can scare and make us laugh at the same time. His films are well-known for their darkness and gothic styles combining with comedy. Burton’s most memorable films are Beetlejuice, Edward Scissorhands, The Nightmare Before Christmas, Sleepy Hollow and Alice In Wonderland. Nowadays, Burton has his mark and every movie is a gem… Except for the 2012 horror comedy Dark Shadows.
Starred Johnny Depp, Michelle Pfeiffer, Helena Bonham Carter, Eva Green, Jackie Earle Haley and Christopher Lee, the film is based on a 1970s television soap opera of the same name. Back to the ‘70s, the story of a cursed vampire called Barnabus who returns to life and tries to recover what belonged to his family was a mysterious novelty. Burton’s adaptation couldn’t catch the audience’s attention and some reviews were terribly bad for the movie. We still prefer the original television show!
#1. Mimic By Guillermo Del Toro
The Mexican director Guillermo Del Toro is well-known for his magical and lovely creatures that appear in his films. Most of his works are fantasy films mix with comedy and drama, for example, the Academy Award-winning Pan’s Labyrinth, The Shape Of The Water, Hellboy and The Devil’s Backbone. Apparently, at the beginning of his career, Del Toro was experimenting with horror themes but it didn’t work well for him.
Mimic was released in 1997 starred Mira Sorvino, Jeremy Northam and Josh Brolin. The film was based on Donald Wollheim’s short story and is about a mortal epidemic that is caused by the number of cockroaches in Manhattan. The disease is called Strickler’s Disease and Sorvino, in the role of CDC entomologist, is called to find a cure. Like many B horror movies, the cockroaches eventually adapt to the situation and evolve into a stronger species that can mimic the victims as they kill. The Mexican director said he wasn’t happy with the sequels of the movie but he was pleased with the director’s cut in 2011.