they didn’t need no education welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re counting
watchmojo.com and today we’re counting
watchmojo.com and today we’re counting down our picks for the top ten Hollywood
down our picks for the top ten Hollywood
down our picks for the top ten Hollywood directors that never went to film school
directors that never went to film school
directors that never went to film school before we begin we publish new videos
before we begin we publish new videos
before we begin we publish new videos every day so be sure to subscribe for
every day so be sure to subscribe for
every day so be sure to subscribe for more great content for this list we’re
more great content for this list we’re
more great content for this list we’re looking at film directors who works
looking at film directors who works
looking at film directors who works primarily in Hollywood after the 1960s
primarily in Hollywood after the 1960s
primarily in Hollywood after the 1960s boom that saw film schools cropping up
boom that saw film schools cropping up
boom that saw film schools cropping up everywhere that means you won’t be
everywhere that means you won’t be
everywhere that means you won’t be hearing names like Hitchcock or Kubrick
hearing names like Hitchcock or Kubrick
hearing names like Hitchcock or Kubrick since they came up before film schools
since they came up before film schools
since they came up before film schools became more commonplace
became more commonplace
became more commonplace [Music]
[Music]
[Music] we’re also excluding film school
we’re also excluding film school
we’re also excluding film school dropouts like Paul Thomas Anderson
dropouts like Paul Thomas Anderson
dropouts like Paul Thomas Anderson number 10 Guy Ritchie catch fire in me
number 10 Guy Ritchie catch fire in me
number 10 Guy Ritchie catch fire in me sometimes it helps to know the right
sometimes it helps to know the right
sometimes it helps to know the right people
people
people this english director started his career
this english director started his career
this english director started his career after leaving high school with bottom
after leaving high school with bottom
after leaving high school with bottom rung jobs in the film industry
rung jobs in the film industry
rung jobs in the film industry eventually working his way up to
eventually working his way up to
eventually working his way up to directing TV commercials in 1995 he
directing TV commercials in 1995 he
directing TV commercials in 1995 he directed a 20 minute short film that he
directed a 20 minute short film that he
directed a 20 minute short film that he later used to entice investors for what
later used to entice investors for what
later used to entice investors for what he hoped would be his first
he hoped would be his first
he hoped would be his first feature-length picture Lock Stock and
feature-length picture Lock Stock and
feature-length picture Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels when you dance with
Two Smoking Barrels when you dance with
Two Smoking Barrels when you dance with the devil you labor this homeless tub by
the devil you labor this homeless tub by
the devil you labor this homeless tub by 1998 Ritchie had the kind of luck any
1998 Ritchie had the kind of luck any
1998 Ritchie had the kind of luck any young artist could only dream of
young artist could only dream of
young artist could only dream of long story short a family friend called
long story short a family friend called
long story short a family friend called his nephew you producer / director
his nephew you producer / director
his nephew you producer / director Matthew Vaughn who not only agreed to
Matthew Vaughn who not only agreed to
Matthew Vaughn who not only agreed to produce but also lined up investors and
produce but also lined up investors and
produce but also lined up investors and bam Lock Stock and one smoking career as
bam Lock Stock and one smoking career as
bam Lock Stock and one smoking career as a Metro professor integrity number nine
a Metro professor integrity number nine
a Metro professor integrity number nine Wes Craven please stop this
Wes Craven please stop this
Wes Craven please stop this is God considering he was forbidden from
is God considering he was forbidden from
is God considering he was forbidden from watching most films growing up he’s sure
watching most films growing up he’s sure
watching most films growing up he’s sure left a mark on cinema this grandfather
left a mark on cinema this grandfather
left a mark on cinema this grandfather of the modern slasher pecks started off
of the modern slasher pecks started off
of the modern slasher pecks started off in academia studying English and
in academia studying English and
in academia studying English and psychology and later mastering in
psychology and later mastering in
psychology and later mastering in philosophy and writing it wasn’t until
philosophy and writing it wasn’t until
philosophy and writing it wasn’t until he snuck out of graduate school for a
he snuck out of graduate school for a
he snuck out of graduate school for a day to see To Kill a Mockingbird that he
day to see To Kill a Mockingbird that he
day to see To Kill a Mockingbird that he was hooked
was hooked
was hooked Anika’s I met one day to school anymore
Anika’s I met one day to school anymore
Anika’s I met one day to school anymore after a brief teaching stint Kraven
after a brief teaching stint Kraven
after a brief teaching stint Kraven entered the film industry first as a
entered the film industry first as a
entered the film industry first as a sound editor then a film editor and
sound editor then a film editor and
sound editor then a film editor and later writing for adult films finally in
later writing for adult films finally in
later writing for adult films finally in 1972 in collaboration with his friend
1972 in collaboration with his friend
1972 in collaboration with his friend Sean s Cunningham Craven made it to the
Sean s Cunningham Craven made it to the
Sean s Cunningham Craven made it to the director’s chair with his shocking debut
director’s chair with his shocking debut
director’s chair with his shocking debut The Last House on the Left
number 8 Nora Ephron you gotta learn
number 8 Nora Ephron you gotta learn alas the ways of true love she was a
alas the ways of true love she was a
alas the ways of true love she was a blogger producer writer and journalist
blogger producer writer and journalist
blogger producer writer and journalist but it’s her work as a director that
but it’s her work as a director that
but it’s her work as a director that lands are here
lands are here
lands are here born to playwrights and screenwriters
born to playwrights and screenwriters
born to playwrights and screenwriters the new arc City born Nora Ephron went
the new arc City born Nora Ephron went
the new arc City born Nora Ephron went on to be nominated for an Oscar three
on to be nominated for an Oscar three
on to be nominated for an Oscar three times in her career now known for her
times in her career now known for her
times in her career now known for her romantic comedies she graduated from
romantic comedies she graduated from
romantic comedies she graduated from Wellesley College in the early 60s and
Wellesley College in the early 60s and
Wellesley College in the early 60s and initially made a name for herself as an
initially made a name for herself as an
initially made a name for herself as an essayist and journalist until she tried
essayist and journalist until she tried
essayist and journalist until she tried her hand at screenwriting she finally
her hand at screenwriting she finally
her hand at screenwriting she finally gave directing a try after several
gave directing a try after several
gave directing a try after several decades as a screenwriter don’t I ever
decades as a screenwriter don’t I ever
decades as a screenwriter don’t I ever get a turn there’s a net camera made for
get a turn there’s a net camera made for
get a turn there’s a net camera made for me to have a wife though 1992 this is my
me to have a wife though 1992 this is my
me to have a wife though 1992 this is my life didn’t exactly make ways audiences
life didn’t exactly make ways audiences
life didn’t exactly make ways audiences would soon warm up to Efron thanks to
would soon warm up to Efron thanks to
would soon warm up to Efron thanks to the classic rom-com Sleepless in Seattle
the classic rom-com Sleepless in Seattle
the classic rom-com Sleepless in Seattle the next year I survived it
number seven terry gilliam catalyst it’s
number seven terry gilliam catalyst it’s only a model this american-born British
only a model this american-born British
only a model this american-born British actor director and animator has quite a
actor director and animator has quite a
actor director and animator has quite a repertoire from artistry to acting to
repertoire from artistry to acting to
repertoire from artistry to acting to writing to producing and of course
writing to producing and of course
writing to producing and of course directing one of the founding members of
directing one of the founding members of
directing one of the founding members of the hugely successful and influential
the hugely successful and influential
the hugely successful and influential Monty Python comedy troupe his
Monty Python comedy troupe his
Monty Python comedy troupe his off-kilter style and wit shine through
off-kilter style and wit shine through
off-kilter style and wit shine through in his own films starting off as a strip
in his own films starting off as a strip
in his own films starting off as a strip animator Gilliam has always had a vision
animator Gilliam has always had a vision
animator Gilliam has always had a vision that all his own and the sort of
that all his own and the sort of
that all his own and the sort of imagination that certainly could never
imagination that certainly could never
imagination that certainly could never be taught in any school including his
be taught in any school including his
be taught in any school including his preference for extremely wide-angle
preference for extremely wide-angle
preference for extremely wide-angle lenses his visual aesthetic and comedic
lenses his visual aesthetic and comedic
lenses his visual aesthetic and comedic timing are perhaps all the more
timing are perhaps all the more
timing are perhaps all the more surprising when you realize that Gilliam
surprising when you realize that Gilliam
surprising when you realize that Gilliam grew up without a TV and little access
grew up without a TV and little access
grew up without a TV and little access to film my whole visual sense came from
to film my whole visual sense came from
to film my whole visual sense came from having to invent the faces the costumes
having to invent the faces the costumes
having to invent the faces the costumes the locations of sets number six Spike
the locations of sets number six Spike
the locations of sets number six Spike Jonze what is it about people that you
Jonze what is it about people that you
Jonze what is it about people that you like because some people don’t like
like because some people don’t like
like because some people don’t like people
people
people I guess I’m just curious
I guess I’m just curious
I guess I’m just curious this versatile director really likes to
this versatile director really likes to
this versatile director really likes to get into his audiences and sometimes his
get into his audiences and sometimes his
get into his audiences and sometimes his subjects heads rather than hit the books
subjects heads rather than hit the books
subjects heads rather than hit the books Joan has learned his way around a camera
Joan has learned his way around a camera
Joan has learned his way around a camera by getting behind the lens as a
by getting behind the lens as a
by getting behind the lens as a photographer working for freestylin
photographer working for freestylin
photographer working for freestylin magazine in the 1980s when several bands
magazine in the 1980s when several bands
magazine in the 1980s when several bands noticed his photos he was prompted to
noticed his photos he was prompted to
noticed his photos he was prompted to start directing music videos
in 1999 he made his major motion picture
in 1999 he made his major motion picture debut with a surreal comedy Being John
debut with a surreal comedy Being John
debut with a surreal comedy Being John Malkovich can I be anybody they don’t
Malkovich can I be anybody they don’t
Malkovich can I be anybody they don’t want to be well you actually it can be
want to be well you actually it can be
want to be well you actually it can be John Malkovich Jones has cited an
John Malkovich Jones has cited an
John Malkovich Jones has cited an interest in people and personal stories
interest in people and personal stories
interest in people and personal stories as the drive that allows him to so
as the drive that allows him to so
as the drive that allows him to so seamlessly move from one project to the
seamlessly move from one project to the
seamlessly move from one project to the next with multiple Oscar nods it’s clear
next with multiple Oscar nods it’s clear
next with multiple Oscar nods it’s clear he’s got a good head for his business
he’s got a good head for his business
he’s got a good head for his business the past is just a story we tell
the past is just a story we tell
the past is just a story we tell ourselves number 5 Ridley Scott
ourselves number 5 Ridley Scott
ourselves number 5 Ridley Scott [Music]
[Music]
[Music] most famous for his striking visuals and
most famous for his striking visuals and
most famous for his striking visuals and larger-than-life characters this
larger-than-life characters this
larger-than-life characters this hard-working English director started
hard-working English director started
hard-working English director started life in a small UK town while studying
life in a small UK town while studying
life in a small UK town while studying photography and graphic design at the
photography and graphic design at the
photography and graphic design at the Royal College of Art in London Scott
Royal College of Art in London Scott
Royal College of Art in London Scott made his first short film that helped
made his first short film that helped
made his first short film that helped the RCA develop its own film department
the RCA develop its own film department
the RCA develop its own film department after graduation he landed himself a job
after graduation he landed himself a job
after graduation he landed himself a job at the BBC as a trainee set designer
at the BBC as a trainee set designer
at the BBC as a trainee set designer gradually working his way up he began
gradually working his way up he began
gradually working his way up he began directing for TV in 1965 while his
directing for TV in 1965 while his
directing for TV in 1965 while his featured AP was the 1997 historical
featured AP was the 1997 historical
featured AP was the 1997 historical drama the dualist it was his terrifying
drama the dualist it was his terrifying
drama the dualist it was his terrifying and groundbreaking sci-fi horror flick
and groundbreaking sci-fi horror flick
and groundbreaking sci-fi horror flick alien that rocketed him into
alien that rocketed him into
alien that rocketed him into international fame he has earned three
international fame he has earned three
international fame he has earned three director Oscar nomination sins and
director Oscar nomination sins and
director Oscar nomination sins and several for Best Picture why are you not
several for Best Picture why are you not
several for Best Picture why are you not a detain are you not today then why you
a detain are you not today then why you
a detain are you not today then why you here number four
here number four
here number four Quentin Tarantino there’s nothing that
Quentin Tarantino there’s nothing that
Quentin Tarantino there’s nothing that you’re going to say that’s going to make
you’re going to say that’s going to make
you’re going to say that’s going to make me forget that I love my wife is there
me forget that I love my wife is there
me forget that I love my wife is there it makes sense that his stories are
it makes sense that his stories are
it makes sense that his stories are often categorized by their nonlinear
often categorized by their nonlinear
often categorized by their nonlinear plot because his lead up to success was
plot because his lead up to success was
plot because his lead up to success was certainly a typical after dropping out
certainly a typical after dropping out
certainly a typical after dropping out of high school at 15 years old he lied
of high school at 15 years old he lied
of high school at 15 years old he lied about his age and started working at a
about his age and started working at a
about his age and started working at a porno theater later enrolling in acting
porno theater later enrolling in acting
porno theater later enrolling in acting classes Tarantino’s slowly but surely
classes Tarantino’s slowly but surely
classes Tarantino’s slowly but surely climbed in the industry even appearing
climbed in the industry even appearing
climbed in the industry even appearing as an Elvis impersonator on an episode
as an Elvis impersonator on an episode
as an Elvis impersonator on an episode of The Golden Girls but he was seeking
of The Golden Girls but he was seeking
of The Golden Girls but he was seeking to make a name for himself as a
to make a name for himself as a
to make a name for himself as a screenwriter a goal he eventually
screenwriter a goal he eventually
screenwriter a goal he eventually realized with films like Reservoir Dogs
realized with films like Reservoir Dogs
realized with films like Reservoir Dogs Jodie shouldn’t mean you’ve done it
Jodie shouldn’t mean you’ve done it
Jodie shouldn’t mean you’ve done it since sitting in the director’s chair
since sitting in the director’s chair
since sitting in the director’s chair he’s earned several Oscar nods for
he’s earned several Oscar nods for
he’s earned several Oscar nods for directing and screenwriting while
directing and screenwriting while
directing and screenwriting while building a reputation as the mastermind
building a reputation as the mastermind
building a reputation as the mastermind behind some of Hollywood’s most
behind some of Hollywood’s most
behind some of Hollywood’s most gloriously brutal and violent films
gloriously brutal and violent films
gloriously brutal and violent films sorry I couldn’t resist
sorry I couldn’t resist
sorry I couldn’t resist number three Christopher Nolan I’m a
number three Christopher Nolan I’m a
number three Christopher Nolan I’m a self-taught filmmaker I never went to
self-taught filmmaker I never went to
self-taught filmmaker I never went to film school I never studied film Anki in
film school I never studied film Anki in
film school I never studied film Anki in any way from a very early age
any way from a very early age
any way from a very early age Christopher Nolan you she wanted to be a
Christopher Nolan you she wanted to be a
Christopher Nolan you she wanted to be a filmmaker
filmmaker
filmmaker using his father’s super 8 camera he
using his father’s super 8 camera he
using his father’s super 8 camera he would film dramas with his action
would film dramas with his action
would film dramas with his action figures at university he chose to study
figures at university he chose to study
figures at university he chose to study English literature rather than film but
English literature rather than film but
English literature rather than film but he did select his college based on the
he did select his college based on the
he did select his college based on the campuses superior filmmaking equipment
campuses superior filmmaking equipment
campuses superior filmmaking equipment and facilities there he taught himself
and facilities there he taught himself
and facilities there he taught himself to make short films in 1998
to make short films in 1998
to make short films in 1998 he debuted his first feature following
he debuted his first feature following
he debuted his first feature following shot over the course of a year and paid
shot over the course of a year and paid
shot over the course of a year and paid for out of pocket since then with hits
for out of pocket since then with hits
for out of pocket since then with hits like The Prestige inception interstellar
like The Prestige inception interstellar
like The Prestige inception interstellar and the Dark Knight trilogy Nolan has
and the Dark Knight trilogy Nolan has
and the Dark Knight trilogy Nolan has become one of the most successful
become one of the most successful
become one of the most successful directors of the new millennium and
directors of the new millennium and
directors of the new millennium and highest-grossing directors of all time
highest-grossing directors of all time
highest-grossing directors of all time oh no what could be Scott
oh no what could be Scott
oh no what could be Scott number two David Fincher I want you to
number two David Fincher I want you to
number two David Fincher I want you to hit me as hard as you can making films
hit me as hard as you can making films
hit me as hard as you can making films with an 8 millimeter camera at the age
with an 8 millimeter camera at the age
with an 8 millimeter camera at the age of 8 David Fincher directed plays at
of 8 David Fincher directed plays at
of 8 David Fincher directed plays at high school and worked at a movie
high school and worked at a movie
high school and worked at a movie theater in his youth in his 20s he was a
theater in his youth in his 20s he was a
theater in his youth in his 20s he was a production assistant at Corey films and
production assistant at Corey films and
production assistant at Corey films and then worked different jobs even serving
then worked different jobs even serving
then worked different jobs even serving as an assistant camera operator at
as an assistant camera operator at
as an assistant camera operator at Industrial Light and Magic around the
Industrial Light and Magic around the
Industrial Light and Magic around the same time he founded propaganda films a
same time he founded propaganda films a
same time he founded propaganda films a video and commercial company that gave
video and commercial company that gave
video and commercial company that gave many directors including Spike Jonze a
many directors including Spike Jonze a
many directors including Spike Jonze a start ventures filmed abused saw him
start ventures filmed abused saw him
start ventures filmed abused saw him helm the sequel to a franchise kicked
helm the sequel to a franchise kicked
helm the sequel to a franchise kicked off by Ridley Scott and James Cameron
off by Ridley Scott and James Cameron
off by Ridley Scott and James Cameron aliens 3 he since become known for his
aliens 3 he since become known for his
aliens 3 he since become known for his extreme close-ups and tense
extreme close-ups and tense
extreme close-ups and tense psychological fillers but it’s his work
psychological fillers but it’s his work
psychological fillers but it’s his work in drama that’s earned him two Oscar
in drama that’s earned him two Oscar
in drama that’s earned him two Oscar nods for Best Director
[Music]
[Music] before we lift the curtain on our top
before we lift the curtain on our top
before we lift the curtain on our top choice here are a few honorable mentions
choice here are a few honorable mentions
choice here are a few honorable mentions excuse me where’s everybody going to
excuse me where’s everybody going to
excuse me where’s everybody going to gobblers knob it’s Groundhog Day but for
gobblers knob it’s Groundhog Day but for
gobblers knob it’s Groundhog Day but for me what was really engrossing in
me what was really engrossing in
me what was really engrossing in television or the movies that were
television or the movies that were
television or the movies that were recycled on TV let me tell you why
recycled on TV let me tell you why
recycled on TV let me tell you why you’re here you’re here because you know
you’re here you’re here because you know
you’re here you’re here because you know something what you know you can’t
something what you know you can’t
something what you know you can’t explain what you feel it in general were
explain what you feel it in general were
explain what you feel it in general were children of the 20th century and that
children of the 20th century and that
children of the 20th century and that means that we’re drawn to originality
means that we’re drawn to originality
means that we’re drawn to originality yeah
yeah
yeah think I’m kind of fun in love with you
think I’m kind of fun in love with you
think I’m kind of fun in love with you Oh
Oh
Oh [Music]
first times me you know I was so touched
first times me you know I was so touched by it
by it
by it I quite a few time during the the
I quite a few time during the the
I quite a few time during the the reading of the script number one James
reading of the script number one James
reading of the script number one James Cameron get away from her you bitch in
Cameron get away from her you bitch in
Cameron get away from her you bitch in college this Canadian director studied
college this Canadian director studied
college this Canadian director studied physics switched to English then dropped
physics switched to English then dropped
physics switched to English then dropped out he then began driving a truck and
out he then began driving a truck and
out he then began driving a truck and teaching himself about special effects
teaching himself about special effects
teaching himself about special effects and projection with books from his local
and projection with books from his local
and projection with books from his local library after seeing the original Star
library after seeing the original Star
library after seeing the original Star Wars however Cameron quit cue jamming
Wars however Cameron quit cue jamming
Wars however Cameron quit cue jamming and got into showbiz the future Titanic
and got into showbiz the future Titanic
and got into showbiz the future Titanic director wore many hats in his early
director wore many hats in his early
director wore many hats in his early days including production designer model
days including production designer model
days including production designer model maker writer and eventually special
maker writer and eventually special
maker writer and eventually special effects director but Cameron’s big break
effects director but Cameron’s big break
effects director but Cameron’s big break came as the result of food poisoning
came as the result of food poisoning
came as the result of food poisoning during the making of piranhas – he had a
during the making of piranhas – he had a
during the making of piranhas – he had a fever dream about a robot assassin from
fever dream about a robot assassin from
fever dream about a robot assassin from the future a premise that would become
the future a premise that would become
the future a premise that would become the plot of his first film The
the plot of his first film The
the plot of his first film The Terminator I’ll be back and since then
Terminator I’ll be back and since then
Terminator I’ll be back and since then he’s directed some of the most beloved
he’s directed some of the most beloved
he’s directed some of the most beloved blockbusting epic and highest-grossing
blockbusting epic and highest-grossing
blockbusting epic and highest-grossing films in recent history do you agree
films in recent history do you agree
films in recent history do you agree with our picks check out these other
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