My 7 Favourite Directors – and How They Changed the Movie World
Some directors don’t just make films, they redefine cinema itself. When I think about the movies that have left the biggest mark on me — and on the world — seven names always stand out: Ridley Scott, Steven Spielberg, Luc Besson, Tony Scott, George Lucas, Mel Gibson, and James Cameron.
They span genres from sci-fi to war dramas, from gritty thrillers to epic adventures, but what unites them is vision. They all dared to make something bigger than themselves — films that pushed technology, rewrote the rules, and left audiences walking out of cinemas a little different than when they walked in.
The 7 Directors Who Shaped My Movie World
Ridley Scott – The master of atmosphere and visual detail. From Alien to Blade Runner to Gladiator, Scott built worlds so convincing you felt you could step into them. I watched Alien when I was 12 years old (tut-tut, I know), but it wasn’t until Gladiator that I felt he had moved into the top tier of directors. Since then, every project with his name attached has felt like an event. His later work in Black Hawk Down, The Martian, and even the controversial Kingdom of Heaven shows his range — from gritty realism to historical epics to intelligent sci-fi.
Steven Spielberg – The man who made blockbusters an event. With Jaws, E.T., Jurassic Park, and Saving Private Ryan, Spielberg proved you could thrill the masses and still move their hearts. It’s fair to say this man had a huge impact on my life, starting with E.T. back in the day, moving on to Jaws, and then the Indiana Jones adventures. Schindler’s List showed a completely different set of directing muscles, handling a delicate and somber topic with great care. Add to that Minority Report, Catch Me If You Can, and Munich, and it’s easy to see why Spielberg remains one of the most influential filmmakers of all time.
Luc Besson – Stylish, daring, and never quite Hollywood. Léon: The Professional, The Fifth Element, and La Femme Nikita carried a European energy that broke through to global audiences. His use of sharp editing and unforgettable soundtracks creates a rhythm that pulls you along for the ride. Léon was the first of his movies I watched, but I went on to enjoy many others including Taxi, The Transporter series (which he wrote/produced), and Lucy. Besson has a knack for balancing style with raw energy, and when he’s at his best, his movies are simply exhilarating.
Tony Scott – Action, speed, and pure cinematic adrenaline. Top Gun, Crimson Tide, and Man on Fire showed his unmatched ability to blend tension with striking visuals. Unlike his brother Ridley, Tony had a very different style — faster, slicker, and often more commercial — but no less capable as a storyteller. His fingerprints are all over True Romance, Enemy of the State, and Déjà Vu, films that combined energy with real edge. It’s a great pity that he is no longer with us; the movie world lost one of its best action stylists far too soon.
George Lucas – The architect of modern franchises. Star Wars didn’t just change cinema, it changed popular culture. Lucas revolutionised effects, merchandising, and world-building. My one regret is that he didn’t stay with Star Wars and keep producing movies himself. Disney haven’t handled the films as well, but thankfully the live-action TV shows have been saved by Lucas’s “students” — Dave Filoni and Jon Favreau — who have steered the content back toward the original vision. Beyond Star Wars, his work on American Graffiti proved he could tell smaller, heartfelt stories too, and his founding of Lucasfilm, Industrial Light & Magic, and Skywalker Sound cemented his influence far beyond his own films.
Mel Gibson – Uncompromising and bold. Directing Braveheart, The Passion of the Christ, and Apocalypto, he delivered stories that sparked debate but never faded into obscurity. Gibson has become quite an accomplished director with an eye for raw emotion and gritty realism. Hacksaw Ridge was proof that he could still deliver powerful war epics, blending brutality with hope. While his career has often been controversial, the quality and intensity of his filmmaking cannot be denied.
James Cameron – The perfectionist who pushed film technology to its limits. The Terminator, Aliens, Titanic, and Avatar weren’t just hits, they redefined what was possible in visual effects and storytelling. I watched The Terminator when I was 12 (again, not supposed to see it), and it left a huge impression on me. Cameron followed it up with The Abyss and True Lies, each pushing action and technology further. He has since committed himself to the Avatar saga, once again pioneering technology while dividing audiences on the storytelling. Love him or not, Cameron is always ahead of the curve.
Ending Direction
Looking at this list of seven, it’s clear why these directors stand above the rest for me. They didn’t just make films — they made moments in cinema history. Each one took risks, pushed boundaries, and left behind a body of work that still influences what we see today. Whether it’s Ridley Scott’s worlds, Spielberg’s blockbusters, Lucas’s galaxies, Gibson’s raw power, Besson’s stylish flair, Tony Scott’s pulse-pounding thrillers, or Cameron’s groundbreaking spectacles — they all changed the movie world, and they’ve all left their mark on me.
Thanks for Reading,
David
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About the Author
I’m David Condon, a movie enthusiast from Tralee, Co. Kerry. I’ve been collecting DVDs and Blu-rays for years, and along the way my shelves have become a mix of favourites, hidden gems, and titles I occasionally decide to resell.
I’m not a professional critic — just someone who enjoys good films, well-made discs, and the odd rant about the quirks of collecting. This blog is where I share my thoughts, reviews, and experiences as a fan.
💬 Note from the Author
This blog is a hobby project where I write about DVDs, Blu-rays, and the ups and downs of being a collector. If you enjoyed this post, you might also like my other writing:
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