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Top 10 Most Difficult to Work With Movie Directors


working on a movie isn’t all glitz and

working on a movie isn’t all glitz and glamour in fact it can be downright

glamour in fact it can be downright

glamour in fact it can be downright unpleasant welcome to watchmojo.com and

unpleasant welcome to watchmojo.com and

unpleasant welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re counting down our picks for

today we’re counting down our picks for

today we’re counting down our picks for the top 10 most difficult to work with

the top 10 most difficult to work with

the top 10 most difficult to work with movie directors before we begin we

movie directors before we begin we

movie directors before we begin we publish new videos every day

publish new videos every day

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so be sure to subscribe for more great

so be sure to subscribe for more great content for this list we’re looking at

content for this list we’re looking at

content for this list we’re looking at directors who have a reputation for

directors who have a reputation for

directors who have a reputation for being demanding rude or ill-tempered or

being demanding rude or ill-tempered or

being demanding rude or ill-tempered or otherwise exhibit some type of

otherwise exhibit some type of

otherwise exhibit some type of off-putting behavior many of these

off-putting behavior many of these

off-putting behavior many of these directors are legendary and well

directors are legendary and well

directors are legendary and well respected just not particularly

respected just not particularly

respected just not particularly well-liked on set ok I’m a Nazi number

well-liked on set ok I’m a Nazi number

well-liked on set ok I’m a Nazi number 10

10

10 Verner Herzog but of course I’ve done

Verner Herzog but of course I’ve done

Verner Herzog but of course I’ve done things it normally a filmmaker wouldn’t

things it normally a filmmaker wouldn’t

things it normally a filmmaker wouldn’t do well Herzog maybe a nice enough fella

do well Herzog maybe a nice enough fella

do well Herzog maybe a nice enough fella he’s well known in the industry for

he’s well known in the industry for

he’s well known in the industry for being absolutely bonkers and a real

being absolutely bonkers and a real

being absolutely bonkers and a real stickler for authenticity and it’s this

stickler for authenticity and it’s this

stickler for authenticity and it’s this reality based directing style that gets

reality based directing style that gets

reality based directing style that gets on many people’s nerves some of his

on many people’s nerves some of his

on many people’s nerves some of his nuttier actions include willingly

nuttier actions include willingly

nuttier actions include willingly filming an active and erupting volcano

filming an active and erupting volcano

filming an active and erupting volcano making Christian Bale eat live maggots

making Christian Bale eat live maggots

making Christian Bale eat live maggots for Rescue Dawn and forcing his

for Rescue Dawn and forcing his

for Rescue Dawn and forcing his production team to halt a real 320 ton

production team to halt a real 320 ton

production team to halt a real 320 ton ship over a large hill for his film

ship over a large hill for his film

ship over a large hill for his film Fisker aldo but hey at least no one can

Fisker aldo but hey at least no one can

Fisker aldo but hey at least no one can criticize the quality of the effects

criticize the quality of the effects

criticize the quality of the effects yeah you see that nice but effective

yeah you see that nice but effective

yeah you see that nice but effective brain is good for some do not have

brain is good for some do not have

brain is good for some do not have patent number 9 Terrence Malick in this

patent number 9 Terrence Malick in this

patent number 9 Terrence Malick in this world

world

world a man himself a strictly private and

a man himself a strictly private and

a man himself a strictly private and withdrawn man Malik is reported to be

withdrawn man Malik is reported to be

withdrawn man Malik is reported to be both kind and inviting offsets but

both kind and inviting offsets but

both kind and inviting offsets but peculiar and troublesome when behind the

peculiar and troublesome when behind the

peculiar and troublesome when behind the camera making for stressful productions

camera making for stressful productions

camera making for stressful productions numerous crew members have quit on him

numerous crew members have quit on him

numerous crew members have quit on him over the years due to his exome

over the years due to his exome

over the years due to his exome direction and his work has been called

direction and his work has been called

direction and his work has been called quote pretentious by Christopher Plummer

quote pretentious by Christopher Plummer

quote pretentious by Christopher Plummer due to his habit of over writing because

due to his habit of over writing because

due to his habit of over writing because he insists on doing everything as we all

he insists on doing everything as we all

he insists on doing everything as we all know and he insists on writing and

know and he insists on writing and

know and he insists on writing and overriding and overriding until it

overriding and overriding until it

overriding and overriding until it sounds terribly pretentious Malik also

sounds terribly pretentious Malik also

sounds terribly pretentious Malik also has a knack for upsetting actors like

has a knack for upsetting actors like

has a knack for upsetting actors like Adrien Brody by significantly reducing

Adrien Brody by significantly reducing

Adrien Brody by significantly reducing or entirely eliminating their roles in

or entirely eliminating their roles in

or entirely eliminating their roles in editing editing which can sometimes take

editing editing which can sometimes take

editing editing which can sometimes take up to two years as was the case on his

up to two years as was the case on his

up to two years as was the case on his film days of heaven nobody’s perfect

film days of heaven nobody’s perfect

film days of heaven nobody’s perfect number eight David Fincher second rule

number eight David Fincher second rule

number eight David Fincher second rule of Fight Club is you do not talk about

of Fight Club is you do not talk about

of Fight Club is you do not talk about Fight Club Fincher has directed five

Fight Club Fincher has directed five

Fight Club Fincher has directed five actors to Oscar nominations so it’s

actors to Oscar nominations so it’s

actors to Oscar nominations so it’s clear he knows what he’s doing

clear he knows what he’s doing

clear he knows what he’s doing unfortunately for the actors themselves

unfortunately for the actors themselves

unfortunately for the actors themselves this comes at a cost

this comes at a cost

this comes at a cost including extremely long hours and not

including extremely long hours and not

including extremely long hours and not being able to pee yep on the set of

being able to pee yep on the set of

being able to pee yep on the set of zodiac actors reportedly worked overtime

zodiac actors reportedly worked overtime

zodiac actors reportedly worked overtime with few breaks and as a form of protest

with few breaks and as a form of protest

with few breaks and as a form of protest Robert Downey jr. left mason jars full

Robert Downey jr. left mason jars full

Robert Downey jr. left mason jars full of urine scattered around the set just

of urine scattered around the set just

of urine scattered around the set just like over in the corner and stuff just

like over in the corner and stuff just

like over in the corner and stuff just he would go off and European they’d

he would go off and European they’d

he would go off and European they’d bring back and it was like form of

bring back and it was like form of

bring back and it was like form of protest ventures notorious perfectionism

protest ventures notorious perfectionism

protest ventures notorious perfectionism reportedly brought down his co-star Jake

reportedly brought down his co-star Jake

reportedly brought down his co-star Jake Gyllenhaal to tears when while

Gyllenhaal to tears when while

Gyllenhaal to tears when while demonstrating the virtues of shooting

demonstrating the virtues of shooting

demonstrating the virtues of shooting digitally he erased imperfect takes

digitally he erased imperfect takes

digitally he erased imperfect takes right in front of the frustrated and

right in front of the frustrated and

right in front of the frustrated and tired actor I just want to help number

tired actor I just want to help number

tired actor I just want to help number seven Michael Bay this has to be all

seven Michael Bay this has to be all

seven Michael Bay this has to be all grips on hand with their days not to

grips on hand with their days not to

grips on hand with their days not to move on to the tale you understand me

move on to the tale you understand me

move on to the tale you understand me yeah all right am I very clear

yeah all right am I very clear

yeah all right am I very clear good say what you will about Michael Bay

good say what you will about Michael Bay

good say what you will about Michael Bay and his movies but don’t say it to his

and his movies but don’t say it to his

and his movies but don’t say it to his face a is known for being extremely

face a is known for being extremely

face a is known for being extremely hot-tempered and emotional on its s

hot-tempered and emotional on its s

hot-tempered and emotional on its s often bossing the crew around and

often bossing the crew around and

often bossing the crew around and becoming agitated over confrontations he

becoming agitated over confrontations he

becoming agitated over confrontations he allegedly once unplugged music that Shia

allegedly once unplugged music that Shia

allegedly once unplugged music that Shia LaBeouf was playing to prepare for a

LaBeouf was playing to prepare for a

LaBeouf was playing to prepare for a scene and replaced it with his own only

scene and replaced it with his own only

scene and replaced it with his own only to storm off in anger when the buff

to storm off in anger when the buff

to storm off in anger when the buff confronted him about it you did you got

confronted him about it you did you got

confronted him about it you did you got roof actress Megan Fox has also said of

roof actress Megan Fox has also said of

roof actress Megan Fox has also said of Bay quote he wants to create this insane

Bay quote he wants to create this insane

Bay quote he wants to create this insane infamous madman reputation and compared

infamous madman reputation and compared

infamous madman reputation and compared him at the expense of her job to Hitler

him at the expense of her job to Hitler

him at the expense of her job to Hitler and I’m your worst nightmare

and I’m your worst nightmare

and I’m your worst nightmare number six lars von trier what can I say

number six lars von trier what can I say

number six lars von trier what can I say I understand Hitler this technical

I understand Hitler this technical

I understand Hitler this technical master may have both a Palme d’Or and

master may have both a Palme d’Or and

master may have both a Palme d’Or and Groff free from the Cannes Film Festival

Groff free from the Cannes Film Festival

Groff free from the Cannes Film Festival to his credit but he’s also a quote

to his credit but he’s also a quote

to his credit but he’s also a quote self-proclaimed control freak he

self-proclaimed control freak he

self-proclaimed control freak he reportedly has a penchant for yelling at

reportedly has a penchant for yelling at

reportedly has a penchant for yelling at and disrespecting his actors

and disrespecting his actors

and disrespecting his actors particularly women some of whom have

particularly women some of whom have

particularly women some of whom have accused von trier of displaying

accused von trier of displaying

accused von trier of displaying misogynistic tendencies Icelandic singer

misogynistic tendencies Icelandic singer

misogynistic tendencies Icelandic singer Bjork’s experience working with the

Bjork’s experience working with the

Bjork’s experience working with the director was seemingly so unpleasant

director was seemingly so unpleasant

director was seemingly so unpleasant that she claimed she would never work on

that she claimed she would never work on

that she claimed she would never work on a film again I had to trade my outfit a

a film again I had to trade my outfit a

a film again I had to trade my outfit a nice coat a nice coat nothing dreadful

nice coat a nice coat nothing dreadful

nice coat a nice coat nothing dreadful ever happened Nicole Kidman actually

ever happened Nicole Kidman actually

ever happened Nicole Kidman actually confronted him about making too many

confronted him about making too many

confronted him about making too many sexual jokes on the set of Dogville

sexual jokes on the set of Dogville

sexual jokes on the set of Dogville while kirsten dunst after working with

while kirsten dunst after working with

while kirsten dunst after working with him on melancholia acknowledged that his

him on melancholia acknowledged that his

him on melancholia acknowledged that his sense of humor took some time to adjust

sense of humor took some time to adjust

sense of humor took some time to adjust to I notice – earth is he number 5 David

to I notice – earth is he number 5 David

to I notice – earth is he number 5 David O’Russell while David O’Russell has

O’Russell while David O’Russell has

O’Russell while David O’Russell has produced some acclaimed film his onset

produced some acclaimed film his onset

produced some acclaimed film his onset personality leaves much to be desired

personality leaves much to be desired

personality leaves much to be desired case in point the videos of Russell’s

case in point the videos of Russell’s

case in point the videos of Russell’s tearing into actress Lily Tomlin then

tearing into actress Lily Tomlin then

tearing into actress Lily Tomlin then there was the drama while shooting three

there was the drama while shooting three

there was the drama while shooting three kings

kings

kings when Russell reportedly threw an extra

when Russell reportedly threw an extra

when Russell reportedly threw an extra to the ground prompting George Clooney

to the ground prompting George Clooney

to the ground prompting George Clooney to confront him as the story goes Russel

to confront him as the story goes Russel

to confront him as the story goes Russel began banging his head against Clooney

began banging his head against Clooney

began banging his head against Clooney goading the actor to punch him

goading the actor to punch him

goading the actor to punch him only to have clooney strangle him

only to have clooney strangle him

only to have clooney strangle him instead I think you know of course I

instead I think you know of course I

instead I think you know of course I went to him you know and of course I you

went to him you know and of course I you

went to him you know and of course I you know you try everything you can to try

know you try everything you can to try

know you try everything you can to try to make it as good as it can of course

to make it as good as it can of course

to make it as good as it can of course we couldn’t leave out the time he

we couldn’t leave out the time he

we couldn’t leave out the time he allegedly put Christopher Nolan in a

allegedly put Christopher Nolan in a

allegedly put Christopher Nolan in a headlock to get the director to release

headlock to get the director to release

headlock to get the director to release Jude Law from his contract so Russell

Jude Law from his contract so Russell

Jude Law from his contract so Russell could keep him in a role so yeah

could keep him in a role so yeah

could keep him in a role so yeah difficult hey man how’s it going

difficult hey man how’s it going

difficult hey man how’s it going you’re an asshole number four Francis

you’re an asshole number four Francis

you’re an asshole number four Francis Ford Coppola I want to make an offer

Ford Coppola I want to make an offer

Ford Coppola I want to make an offer again review the man behind the camera

again review the man behind the camera

again review the man behind the camera of some of the greatest movies ever made

of some of the greatest movies ever made

of some of the greatest movies ever made is known for being extremely assertive

is known for being extremely assertive

is known for being extremely assertive often clashing with production crews and

often clashing with production crews and

often clashing with production crews and Studios his problematic for Sona was

Studios his problematic for Sona was

Studios his problematic for Sona was perhaps most evident during the filming

perhaps most evident during the filming

perhaps most evident during the filming of Apocalypse Now which saw Coppola

of Apocalypse Now which saw Coppola

of Apocalypse Now which saw Coppola essentially making up the movie as he

essentially making up the movie as he

essentially making up the movie as he went to the understandable annoyance of

went to the understandable annoyance of

went to the understandable annoyance of everyone else involved they had to tread

everyone else involved they had to tread

everyone else involved they had to tread lightly however as he was quick to fire

lightly however as he was quick to fire

lightly however as he was quick to fire naysayers he also blamed himself for

naysayers he also blamed himself for

naysayers he also blamed himself for leading Martin Sheen to an early aged

leading Martin Sheen to an early aged

leading Martin Sheen to an early aged heart attack although the heat in booze

heart attack although the heat in booze

heart attack although the heat in booze certainly didn’t help with Sheen later

certainly didn’t help with Sheen later

certainly didn’t help with Sheen later saying quote I don’t know if I’m going

saying quote I don’t know if I’m going

saying quote I don’t know if I’m going to live through this it was a real

to live through this it was a real

to live through this it was a real choice mission and what was our I never

choice mission and what was our I never

choice mission and what was our I never won another number three Stanley Kubrick

Kubrick is infamous for his

Kubrick is infamous for his perfectionism and unfortunately for

perfectionism and unfortunately for

perfectionism and unfortunately for those under his command this often meant

those under his command this often meant

those under his command this often meant long days

long days

long days countless takes and lots of stress for

countless takes and lots of stress for

countless takes and lots of stress for example he demanded so much from Shelley

example he demanded so much from Shelley

example he demanded so much from Shelley Duvall and treated her so harshly on the

Duvall and treated her so harshly on the

Duvall and treated her so harshly on the set of The Shining that she became sick

set of The Shining that she became sick

set of The Shining that she became sick and began to lose hair from the stress

and began to lose hair from the stress

and began to lose hair from the stress oh come on what do you mean wrong video

oh come on what do you mean wrong video

oh come on what do you mean wrong video well killing ourselves out here his

well killing ourselves out here his

well killing ourselves out here his penchant for endless takes annoyed many

penchant for endless takes annoyed many

penchant for endless takes annoyed many but his iron fists and strong

but his iron fists and strong

but his iron fists and strong personality usually dominated them in

personality usually dominated them in

personality usually dominated them in the end Tom Cruise didn’t even tell

the end Tom Cruise didn’t even tell

the end Tom Cruise didn’t even tell Kubrick that he had an ulcer during Eyes

Kubrick that he had an ulcer during Eyes

Kubrick that he had an ulcer during Eyes Wide Shut because he feared how Kubrick

Wide Shut because he feared how Kubrick

Wide Shut because he feared how Kubrick would react talk about a strong

would react talk about a strong

would react talk about a strong personality a little oversimplified

personality a little oversimplified

personality a little oversimplified Alice but yes something like that

Alice but yes something like that

Alice but yes something like that number 2 James Cameron James Cameron is

number 2 James Cameron James Cameron is

number 2 James Cameron James Cameron is one of the most visionary and

one of the most visionary and

one of the most visionary and game-changing directors in history but

game-changing directors in history but

game-changing directors in history but revolutionary titles mean revolutionary

revolutionary titles mean revolutionary

revolutionary titles mean revolutionary work and apparently lots of flying spit

work and apparently lots of flying spit

work and apparently lots of flying spit Cameron is never one to say no and once

Cameron is never one to say no and once

Cameron is never one to say no and once he gets an idea in his head it will come

he gets an idea in his head it will come

he gets an idea in his head it will come to fruition

to fruition

to fruition no matter the physical hardships

no matter the physical hardships

no matter the physical hardships financial detriment dangers or emotional

financial detriment dangers or emotional

financial detriment dangers or emotional costs to himself cast or crew I think

costs to himself cast or crew I think

costs to himself cast or crew I think that Jim has a special reverence for

that Jim has a special reverence for

that Jim has a special reverence for actors because it may be the one job

actors because it may be the one job

actors because it may be the one job aside from catering on a film set that

aside from catering on a film set that

aside from catering on a film set that he doesn’t think he can do he is

he doesn’t think he can do he is

he doesn’t think he can do he is notorious for his long work days he’s

notorious for his long work days he’s

notorious for his long work days he’s extremely short temper and his

extremely short temper and his

extremely short temper and his subsequent explosive tantrums and as

subsequent explosive tantrums and as

subsequent explosive tantrums and as legend has it at least for punishing

legend has it at least for punishing

legend has it at least for punishing distracting Crowe members by nailing

distracting Crowe members by nailing

distracting Crowe members by nailing their cell phones to the wall my world

their cell phones to the wall my world

their cell phones to the wall my world you all would just live in it before we

you all would just live in it before we

you all would just live in it before we scare you with our top pick here are

scare you with our top pick here are

scare you with our top pick here are some honorable mentions I can take

some honorable mentions I can take

some honorable mentions I can take confrontation it’s over and it’s

confrontation it’s over and it’s

confrontation it’s over and it’s forgotten in eight minutes and if you

forgotten in eight minutes and if you

forgotten in eight minutes and if you can’t forget it then you leave this

can’t forget it then you leave this

can’t forget it then you leave this terrible bruise that can go on right

terrible bruise that can go on right

terrible bruise that can go on right throughout the whole movie so give the

throughout the whole movie so give the

throughout the whole movie so give the dangerous to be for this

dangerous to be for this

dangerous to be for this did what happened today is just the

did what happened today is just the

did what happened today is just the beginning we’re going to lose this war

beginning we’re going to lose this war

beginning we’re going to lose this war number one Alfred Hitchcock while

number one Alfred Hitchcock while

number one Alfred Hitchcock while Hitchcock was notoriously hard on actors

Hitchcock was notoriously hard on actors

Hitchcock was notoriously hard on actors he’s our number one pick for one reason

he’s our number one pick for one reason

he’s our number one pick for one reason his treatment of actress Tippi Hedren it

his treatment of actress Tippi Hedren it

his treatment of actress Tippi Hedren it started during filming of the birds when

started during filming of the birds when

started during filming of the birds when Hitchcock used live birds to attack

Hitchcock used live birds to attack

Hitchcock used live birds to attack Hedren despite having previously assured

Hedren despite having previously assured

Hedren despite having previously assured her that they would be mechanical Hedren

her that they would be mechanical Hedren

her that they would be mechanical Hedren also claims that Hitchcock began making

also claims that Hitchcock began making

also claims that Hitchcock began making repeated sexual advances on her during

repeated sexual advances on her during

repeated sexual advances on her during filming of Marni the allegedly outright

filming of Marni the allegedly outright

filming of Marni the allegedly outright told her to be sexually available to him

told her to be sexually available to him

told her to be sexually available to him often isolating her from the crew when

often isolating her from the crew when

often isolating her from the crew when she refused him he used his power as her

she refused him he used his power as her

she refused him he used his power as her contract owner to deny her future roles

contract owner to deny her future roles

contract owner to deny her future roles effectively ruining her acting career I

effectively ruining her acting career I

effectively ruining her acting career I said do what you have to do and out the

said do what you have to do and out the

said do what you have to do and out the door I went and did he ruin your career

door I went and did he ruin your career

door I went and did he ruin your career yes he did do you agree with our picks

yes he did do you agree with our picks

yes he did do you agree with our picks check out these other great clips from

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