Top 10 Director-Actor Partnerships

whenever these colleagues pair up they

whenever these colleagues pair up they make cinematic magic welcome to

make cinematic magic welcome to

make cinematic magic 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 director

down our picks for the top ten director

down our picks for the top ten director actor partnerships we’ve progressed

actor partnerships we’ve progressed

actor partnerships we’ve progressed emotionally for this list we’ve chosen

emotionally for this list we’ve chosen

emotionally for this list we’ve chosen some of the most iconic long-running and

some of the most iconic long-running and

some of the most iconic long-running and fruitful pairings of directors and

fruitful pairings of directors and

fruitful pairings of directors and actors in cinema history which have

actors in cinema history which have

actors in cinema history which have produced some of our favorite films

produced some of our favorite films

produced some of our favorite films Anderson living good living number 10

Anderson living good living number 10

Anderson living good living number 10 Wes Anderson and Bill Murray John to

Wes Anderson and Bill Murray John to

Wes Anderson and Bill Murray John to carrot yeah I’ll have one of those all

carrot yeah I’ll have one of those all

carrot yeah I’ll have one of those all kinds of wacky awkwardness ensues when

kinds of wacky awkwardness ensues when

kinds of wacky awkwardness ensues when these two get together you want to play

these two get together you want to play

these two get together you want to play some word games or do some experiments

some word games or do some experiments

some word games or do some experiments on me or anything well as seen in flicks

on me or anything well as seen in flicks

on me or anything well as seen in flicks like The Royal Tenenbaums Anderson’s

like The Royal Tenenbaums Anderson’s

like The Royal Tenenbaums Anderson’s films are often familial pieces that

films are often familial pieces that

films are often familial pieces that aren’t too sure whether they’re comedies

aren’t too sure whether they’re comedies

aren’t too sure whether they’re comedies dramas or some quirky genre in between

dramas or some quirky genre in between

dramas or some quirky genre in between throw Bill Murray into the mix and

throw Bill Murray into the mix and

throw Bill Murray into the mix and you’ve got a self-sustained

you’ve got a self-sustained

you’ve got a self-sustained jar of ending piece of cinema about

jar of ending piece of cinema about

jar of ending piece of cinema about family failure and success that speaks

family failure and success that speaks

family failure and success that speaks to the uncomfortable uncertainty of our

to the uncomfortable uncertainty of our

to the uncomfortable uncertainty of our generation number 9 John Ford and John

generation number 9 John Ford and John

generation number 9 John Ford and John Wayne dad blaster watch it it’s loaded

this pair is the stuff that westerns are

this pair is the stuff that westerns are made of together they pumped out many a

made of together they pumped out many a

made of together they pumped out many a classic cowboy flick and effectively

classic cowboy flick and effectively

classic cowboy flick and effectively spawned an entire genre while also

spawned an entire genre while also

spawned an entire genre while also inspiring and informing a subsequent

inspiring and informing a subsequent

inspiring and informing a subsequent generation of spaghetti westerns with

generation of spaghetti westerns with

generation of spaghetti westerns with classics like stagecoach and The

classics like stagecoach and The

classics like stagecoach and The Searchers time to think of it I didn’t

Searchers time to think of it I didn’t

Searchers time to think of it I didn’t see you at the surrender don’t believe

see you at the surrender don’t believe

see you at the surrender don’t believe in surrenders no I still got my saber

in surrenders no I still got my saber

in surrenders no I still got my saber Reverend didn’t turn it into no

Reverend didn’t turn it into no

Reverend didn’t turn it into no plowshare neither Wayne has become

plowshare neither Wayne has become

plowshare neither Wayne has become infamous for his distinctly affected

infamous for his distinctly affected

infamous for his distinctly affected drawl and together with Ford he cemented

drawl and together with Ford he cemented

drawl and together with Ford he cemented what we now know as the heroic cowboy

what we now know as the heroic cowboy

what we now know as the heroic cowboy trophy my success says it makes you

trophy my success says it makes you

trophy my success says it makes you break it head number eight Elia Kazan

break it head number eight Elia Kazan

break it head number eight Elia Kazan and Marlon Brando lash other than

and Marlon Brando lash other than

and Marlon Brando lash other than Napoleonic Code a man has gotta take

Napoleonic Code a man has gotta take

Napoleonic Code a man has gotta take interest and his wife’s affairs Kazan

interest and his wife’s affairs Kazan

interest and his wife’s affairs Kazan was known for introducing a lot of young

was known for introducing a lot of young

was known for introducing a lot of young talent in his time and one of these

talent in his time and one of these

talent in his time and one of these notable fresh faces was Marlon Brando Oh

notable fresh faces was Marlon Brando Oh

notable fresh faces was Marlon Brando Oh Brando was notoriously difficult at the

Brando was notoriously difficult at the

Brando was notoriously difficult at the best of times but that’s what makes this

best of times but that’s what makes this

best of times but that’s what makes this pairing so legendary I could have been a

pairing so legendary I could have been a

pairing so legendary I could have been a contender I could have been somebody

contender I could have been somebody

contender I could have been somebody Kazan was one of a few directors who

Kazan was one of a few directors who

Kazan was one of a few directors who could adjust to the actors moods in

could adjust to the actors moods in

could adjust to the actors moods in order to extract some of the best

order to extract some of the best

order to extract some of the best performances of his life in films like

performances of his life in films like

performances of his life in films like on the waterfront and a streetcar named

on the waterfront and a streetcar named

on the waterfront and a streetcar named desire

desire

desire hey number 7 burner Hertzog and Klaus

hey number 7 burner Hertzog and Klaus

hey number 7 burner Hertzog and Klaus Kinski he been dead some ghattas

liaisons this make me even more

liaisons this make me even more difficult to work with than Brando was

difficult to work with than Brando was

difficult to work with than Brando was Klaus Kinski in fact he was such a

Klaus Kinski in fact he was such a

Klaus Kinski in fact he was such a hothead he allegedly pulled a gun on

hothead he allegedly pulled a gun on

hothead he allegedly pulled a gun on Hertzog while filming a giddy finish I

Hertzog while filming a giddy finish I

Hertzog while filming a giddy finish I gave her the dusty Foubert old phony

gave her the dusty Foubert old phony

gave her the dusty Foubert old phony environment fire and finally figured

environment fire and finally figured

environment fire and finally figured toward funny environment I wonder but

toward funny environment I wonder but

toward funny environment I wonder but thankfully it didn’t go further than

thankfully it didn’t go further than

thankfully it didn’t go further than that intense obsessive and at times

that intense obsessive and at times

that intense obsessive and at times bordering on the psychotic

bordering on the psychotic

bordering on the psychotic Kinski was the perfect block of clay

Kinski was the perfect block of clay

Kinski was the perfect block of clay from which Hertzog could sculpt

from which Hertzog could sculpt

from which Hertzog could sculpt performances of perfectly calculated

performances of perfectly calculated

performances of perfectly calculated passion in movies like Fitzcarraldo hey

passion in movies like Fitzcarraldo hey

passion in movies like Fitzcarraldo hey watch my opera heart I

number six Mel Brooks and Gene Wilder

number six Mel Brooks and Gene Wilder where is that a happy but nothing that’s

where is that a happy but nothing that’s

where is that a happy but nothing that’s nothing

nothing

nothing no nothing like a nice my blanket my new

no nothing like a nice my blanket my new

no nothing like a nice my blanket my new blanket give me Mary all right while

blanket give me Mary all right while

blanket give me Mary all right while both of these comedic legends are

both of these comedic legends are

both of these comedic legends are rumoured to be difficult working

rumoured to be difficult working

rumoured to be difficult working partners they struck gold together with

partners they struck gold together with

partners they struck gold together with their hilarious comedy classics like

their hilarious comedy classics like

their hilarious comedy classics like Blazing Saddles and Young Frankenstein

Blazing Saddles and Young Frankenstein

Blazing Saddles and Young Frankenstein that’s frank enstein infamously the pair

that’s frank enstein infamously the pair

that’s frank enstein infamously the pair engaged in screaming matches only to

engaged in screaming matches only to

engaged in screaming matches only to reconcile minutes later and come to a

reconcile minutes later and come to a

reconcile minutes later and come to a mutual understanding what makes this

mutual understanding what makes this

mutual understanding what makes this matchup so legendary is their ability to

matchup so legendary is their ability to

matchup so legendary is their ability to come together to create truly funny

come together to create truly funny

come together to create truly funny movies that everyone can understand and

movies that everyone can understand and

movies that everyone can understand and enjoy class is dismissed

enjoy class is dismissed

enjoy class is dismissed number five Akira Kurosawa and Toshiro

number five Akira Kurosawa and Toshiro

number five Akira Kurosawa and Toshiro Mifune journey although it up we can oh

Mifune journey although it up we can oh

Mifune journey although it up we can oh no no Cole renowned as the fathers of

no no Cole renowned as the fathers of

no no Cole renowned as the fathers of samurais cinema this partnership indoors

samurais cinema this partnership indoors

samurais cinema this partnership indoors thanks to classics like Yojimbo and

thanks to classics like Yojimbo and

thanks to classics like Yojimbo and Seven Samurai

Seven Samurai

Seven Samurai though both worked independently

though both worked independently

though both worked independently Kurosawa and Mifune were at their best

Kurosawa and Mifune were at their best

Kurosawa and Mifune were at their best as a pair Horace aawaz meticulously

as a pair Horace aawaz meticulously

as a pair Horace aawaz meticulously created films are known for their

created films are known for their

created films are known for their complex she experienced storylines

complex she experienced storylines

complex she experienced storylines with some samurai swashbuckling thrown

with some samurai swashbuckling thrown

with some samurai swashbuckling thrown in for good measure

third – Shira Monet’s exaggerated facial

third – Shira Monet’s exaggerated facial and vocal performances into the mix and

and vocal performances into the mix and

and vocal performances into the mix and you have yourself three hours worth of

you have yourself three hours worth of

you have yourself three hours worth of period epicness

number four Alfred Hitchcock and Jimmy

number four Alfred Hitchcock and Jimmy Stewart when the British master of

Stewart when the British master of

Stewart when the British master of suspense meets a mainstay of American

suspense meets a mainstay of American

suspense meets a mainstay of American cinema the result is highly strung and

cinema the result is highly strung and

cinema the result is highly strung and emotionally involving character pieces

emotionally involving character pieces

emotionally involving character pieces that revived both men’s careers thank

that revived both men’s careers thank

that revived both men’s careers thank you thank you

you thank you

you thank you Hitchcock films are always grounds for

Hitchcock films are always grounds for

Hitchcock films are always grounds for some tenseness or a good scare but when

some tenseness or a good scare but when

some tenseness or a good scare but when you add Stewart to the equation you get

you add Stewart to the equation you get

you add Stewart to the equation you get a movie about a man at the mercy of

a movie about a man at the mercy of

a movie about a man at the mercy of events unsure what will come next

events unsure what will come next

events unsure what will come next but eager to take charge what are you

but eager to take charge what are you

but eager to take charge what are you going to do I don’t want to but I’m

going to do I don’t want to but I’m

going to do I don’t want to but I’m gonna look inside that chest are you

gonna look inside that chest are you

gonna look inside that chest are you crazy

crazy

crazy I hope so with all my heart I hope I’m

I hope so with all my heart I hope I’m

I hope so with all my heart I hope I’m crazy

crazy

crazy number three Quentin Tarantino and

number three Quentin Tarantino and

number three Quentin Tarantino and samuel l.jackson we got into this thing

samuel l.jackson we got into this thing

samuel l.jackson we got into this thing with the best intentions really I never

with the best intentions really I never

with the best intentions really I never oh I’m sorry did I break your

oh I’m sorry did I break your

oh I’m sorry did I break your concentration Tarantino has many

concentration Tarantino has many

concentration Tarantino has many fruitful partnerships with luma Thurman

fruitful partnerships with luma Thurman

fruitful partnerships with luma Thurman acting as one of his most frequent muses

acting as one of his most frequent muses

acting as one of his most frequent muses but you’d be hard-pressed to find an

but you’d be hard-pressed to find an

but you’d be hard-pressed to find an endeavor in which Tarantino hasn’t cast

endeavor in which Tarantino hasn’t cast

endeavor in which Tarantino hasn’t cast the baddest mofo in Hollywood a Kaif

the baddest mofo in Hollywood a Kaif

the baddest mofo in Hollywood a Kaif artists sell the very best day is when

artists sell the very best day is when

artists sell the very best day is when you absolutely positively got to kill

you absolutely positively got to kill

you absolutely positively got to kill every mother in the room accept no

every mother in the room accept no

every mother in the room accept no substitutes

substitutes

substitutes whether it’s a tiny cameo or uncredited

whether it’s a tiny cameo or uncredited

whether it’s a tiny cameo or uncredited narration Sam Jackson is often lurking

narration Sam Jackson is often lurking

narration Sam Jackson is often lurking in the background

in the background

in the background y’all got a song about Love Me Tender

y’all got a song about Love Me Tender

y’all got a song about Love Me Tender I’d play that the actors obvious

I’d play that the actors obvious

I’d play that the actors obvious on-screen charisma coupled with

on-screen charisma coupled with

on-screen charisma coupled with Tarantino skill at creating complex

Tarantino skill at creating complex

Tarantino skill at creating complex characters makes for ultra violent ultra

characters makes for ultra violent ultra

characters makes for ultra violent ultra entertaining films like Pulp Fiction and

entertaining films like Pulp Fiction and

entertaining films like Pulp Fiction and Django Unchained when Mitchell can to

Django Unchained when Mitchell can to

Django Unchained when Mitchell can to talk to you you asses number 2 Tim

talk to you you asses number 2 Tim

talk to you you asses number 2 Tim Burton and Johnny Depp we are dealing

Burton and Johnny Depp we are dealing

Burton and Johnny Depp we are dealing with a madman Tim Burton is very much a

with a madman Tim Burton is very much a

with a madman Tim Burton is very much a genre based director unwilling to stray

genre based director unwilling to stray

genre based director unwilling to stray too far from his creepy gothic subject

too far from his creepy gothic subject

too far from his creepy gothic subject matter

matter

matter whipped cream precisely oh but that

whipped cream precisely oh but that

whipped cream precisely oh but that reticence to bend has translated to

reticence to bend has translated to

reticence to bend has translated to success with the director using

success with the director using

success with the director using recurring themes and elements in his

recurring themes and elements in his

recurring themes and elements in his films one of these elements is the

films one of these elements is the

films one of these elements is the omnipresent Johnny Depp with whom Burton

omnipresent Johnny Depp with whom Burton

omnipresent Johnny Depp with whom Burton has produced and directed many zany

has produced and directed many zany

has produced and directed many zany movies from Edward Scissorhands onward

movies from Edward Scissorhands onward

movies from Edward Scissorhands onward they don’t have a permit run before we

they don’t have a permit run before we

they don’t have a permit run before we find out which partnership topped our

find out which partnership topped our

find out which partnership topped our list here are a few honorable mentions

list here are a few honorable mentions

list here are a few honorable mentions aliens Oh is it major Lovins sir I want

aliens Oh is it major Lovins sir I want

aliens Oh is it major Lovins sir I want you to hit me as hard as you can you you

you to hit me as hard as you can you you

you to hit me as hard as you can you you play very well oh yeah so do you

play very well oh yeah so do you

play very well oh yeah so do you you’re not gonna give me the same

you’re not gonna give me the same

you’re not gonna give me the same treatment number one Martin Scorsese and

treatment number one Martin Scorsese and

treatment number one Martin Scorsese and Robert De Niro those Scorsese may have

Robert De Niro those Scorsese may have

Robert De Niro those Scorsese may have found himself another Muse in Leo

found himself another Muse in Leo

found himself another Muse in Leo DiCaprio

DiCaprio

DiCaprio he and DeNiro were once the hottest

he and DeNiro were once the hottest

he and DeNiro were once the hottest couple in Hollywood so to speak and I

couple in Hollywood so to speak and I

couple in Hollywood so to speak and I felt when I walked in that there was

felt when I walked in that there was

felt when I walked in that there was something between us

something between us

something between us there was an impulse that we were both

there was an impulse that we were both

there was an impulse that we were both following through their shared love of

following through their shared love of

following through their shared love of ad-libbing and the psychoanalysis of

ad-libbing and the psychoanalysis of

ad-libbing and the psychoanalysis of dark characters Scorsese and De Niro

dark characters Scorsese and De Niro

dark characters Scorsese and De Niro used their more contemporary stories not

used their more contemporary stories not

used their more contemporary stories not only to redefine the gangster genre but

only to redefine the gangster genre but

only to redefine the gangster genre but also cinema itself talking to me well

also cinema itself talking to me well

also cinema itself talking to me well I’m the only one here while both had

I’m the only one here while both had

I’m the only one here while both had successful careers independently they

successful careers independently they

successful careers independently they were never as good as when they were

were never as good as when they were

were never as good as when they were together dance entertainment do you

together dance entertainment do you

together dance entertainment do you agree with our list which director actor

agree with our list which director actor

agree with our list which director actor partnerships do you think of yield at

partnerships do you think of yield at

partnerships do you think of yield at the best movies anything for more of

the best movies anything for more of

the best movies anything for more of your favorite top 10s published every

your favorite top 10s published every

your favorite top 10s published every day be sure to subscribe to

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watchmojo.com is it all over I am afraid

watchmojo.com is it all over I am afraid so Rupert oh what a pity