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Top 10 Directorial Debuts in Film


what’s going on officer we’re looking

what’s going on officer we’re looking for an escaped convict ma’am these

for an escaped convict ma’am these

for an escaped convict ma’am these filmmakers all benefited from beginner’s

filmmakers all benefited from beginner’s

filmmakers all benefited from beginner’s luck right honey

luck right honey

luck right honey welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re

welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re

welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re counting down our picks for the top ten

counting down our picks for the top ten

counting down our picks for the top ten directorial debuts for this list we’ve

directorial debuts for this list we’ve

directorial debuts for this list we’ve picked the most ambitious and impressive

picked the most ambitious and impressive

picked the most ambitious and impressive first full-length efforts by movie

first full-length efforts by movie

first full-length efforts by movie directors which means their earlier

directors which means their earlier

directors which means their earlier short films don’t count come on sambar

short films don’t count come on sambar

short films don’t count come on sambar let’s get the kind of this jib join it

let’s get the kind of this jib join it

let’s get the kind of this jib join it with this Don Tay you cock smoker number

with this Don Tay you cock smoker number

with this Don Tay you cock smoker number 10 sam raimi the evil dead horror movies

10 sam raimi the evil dead horror movies

10 sam raimi the evil dead horror movies aren’t always taken seriously in the

aren’t always taken seriously in the

aren’t always taken seriously in the film world but mastering one is an art

film world but mastering one is an art

film world but mastering one is an art form with a budget of $90,000 22

form with a budget of $90,000 22

form with a budget of $90,000 22 year-old Raimi created one of the most

year-old Raimi created one of the most

year-old Raimi created one of the most influential horror films of all time

influential horror films of all time

influential horror films of all time there are two schools of thought I think

there are two schools of thought I think

there are two schools of thought I think for horror filmmakers one is that the

for horror filmmakers one is that the

for horror filmmakers one is that the audience can always create something

audience can always create something

audience can always create something more horrible than you can show them and

more horrible than you can show them and

more horrible than you can show them and the other school of thought is show them

the other school of thought is show them

the other school of thought is show them show them show them everything most of

show them show them everything most of

show them show them everything most of the movie was shot in the woods with a

the movie was shot in the woods with a

the movie was shot in the woods with a cast and crew made up of his friends but

cast and crew made up of his friends but

cast and crew made up of his friends but the guerilla do-it-yourself style of the

the guerilla do-it-yourself style of the

the guerilla do-it-yourself style of the movie captures a terror many high budget

movie captures a terror many high budget

movie captures a terror many high budget horror movies miss

number nine Charles Laughton the night

number nine Charles Laughton the night of the hunter left and hates a-fightin

of the hunter left and hates a-fightin

of the hunter left and hates a-fightin and it looks like love’s are gonna but

and it looks like love’s are gonna but

and it looks like love’s are gonna but wait a minute

wait a minute

wait a minute hi dog loves owning yes siree

hi dog loves owning yes siree

hi dog loves owning yes siree it’s love that one an old left hand

it’s love that one an old left hand

it’s love that one an old left hand haters down for that count

haters down for that count

haters down for that count years ahead of its time this film was

years ahead of its time this film was

years ahead of its time this film was Charles Latins first as well as his last

Charles Latins first as well as his last

Charles Latins first as well as his last official effort considered a critical

official effort considered a critical

official effort considered a critical and financial flop at the time of its

and financial flop at the time of its

and financial flop at the time of its release the film stars Robert Mitchum as

release the film stars Robert Mitchum as

release the film stars Robert Mitchum as a preacher who terrorizes a young family

a preacher who terrorizes a young family

a preacher who terrorizes a young family in order to find their hidden fortune on

in order to find their hidden fortune on

in order to find their hidden fortune on like other Hollywood films at the time

like other Hollywood films at the time

like other Hollywood films at the time Lawtons movie contained expressionist

Lawtons movie contained expressionist

Lawtons movie contained expressionist and lyrical elements and over the years

and lyrical elements and over the years

and lyrical elements and over the years it’s earned the recognition it

it’s earned the recognition it

it’s earned the recognition it rightfully deserves I just tell me

rightfully deserves I just tell me

rightfully deserves I just tell me where’s the money here but that’s why I

where’s the money here but that’s why I

where’s the money here but that’s why I promised I wouldn’t tell doesn’t matter

promised I wouldn’t tell doesn’t matter

promised I wouldn’t tell doesn’t matter can I get that through your head you

can I get that through your head you

can I get that through your head you poor silly disgusting little wretch

poor silly disgusting little wretch

poor silly disgusting little wretch number 8 Clint Eastwood play misty for

number 8 Clint Eastwood play misty for

number 8 Clint Eastwood play misty for me this is the second time we’ve

me this is the second time we’ve

me this is the second time we’ve interviewed this number one box office

interviewed this number one box office

interviewed this number one box office attraction in the world who produces

attraction in the world who produces

attraction in the world who produces directs stars in and owns most of his

directs stars in and owns most of his

directs stars in and owns most of his own films not many actors with a career

own films not many actors with a career

own films not many actors with a career as expansive as Eastwood’s would take a

as expansive as Eastwood’s would take a

as expansive as Eastwood’s would take a chance as a movie director but he did

chance as a movie director but he did

chance as a movie director but he did just that when he directed this creepy

just that when he directed this creepy

just that when he directed this creepy gem about a DJ who has a sexual

gem about a DJ who has a sexual

gem about a DJ who has a sexual encounter with an obsessed fan

don’t go don’t let me go Eastwood’s

don’t go don’t let me go Eastwood’s filmmaking is like his acting economical

filmmaking is like his acting economical

filmmaking is like his acting economical to the point and honest kudos to him for

to the point and honest kudos to him for

to the point and honest kudos to him for both directing and acting in this

both directing and acting in this

both directing and acting in this exciting thriller are you drunk

exciting thriller are you drunk

exciting thriller are you drunk no but that’s not a bad idea why David

no but that’s not a bad idea why David

no but that’s not a bad idea why David why what drunk number seven George a

why what drunk number seven George a

why what drunk number seven George a Romero’s Night of the Living Dead

Romero was already successful directing

Romero was already successful directing commercials when he decided to make this

commercials when he decided to make this

commercials when he decided to make this independent feature about a zombie

independent feature about a zombie

independent feature about a zombie attack in small-town Pennsylvania at the

attack in small-town Pennsylvania at the

attack in small-town Pennsylvania at the time of its release the film was

time of its release the film was

time of its release the film was criticized for its violent and gory

criticized for its violent and gory

criticized for its violent and gory images but audiences still came out in

images but audiences still came out in

images but audiences still came out in droves to see it even though it was

droves to see it even though it was

droves to see it even though it was meant to be a joke there’s not a lot of

meant to be a joke there’s not a lot of

meant to be a joke there’s not a lot of fun making in the process of making any

fun making in the process of making any

fun making in the process of making any film now it’s one of the

film now it’s one of the

film now it’s one of the highest-grossing and most highly

highest-grossing and most highly

highest-grossing and most highly regarded independent horror films ever

number six

number six Harold Ramis Caddyshack so let’s dance

this film bends the rules of sports

this film bends the rules of sports movies to make one of the funniest

movies to make one of the funniest

movies to make one of the funniest flicks of all time in any genre it looks

flicks of all time in any genre it looks

flicks of all time in any genre it looks like I’m a wreck you know set on the

like I’m a wreck you know set on the

like I’m a wreck you know set on the green and telling the story of a young

green and telling the story of a young

green and telling the story of a young caddy and his interactions with the many

caddy and his interactions with the many

caddy and his interactions with the many eccentric rich golfers he meets at the

eccentric rich golfers he meets at the

eccentric rich golfers he meets at the course Caddyshack became an instant

course Caddyshack became an instant

course Caddyshack became an instant classic upon its release thanks thanks a

classic upon its release thanks thanks a

classic upon its release thanks thanks a lot but not only that it was also one of

lot but not only that it was also one of

lot but not only that it was also one of the highest-grossing films that year and

the highest-grossing films that year and

the highest-grossing films that year and it revitalized Rodney Dangerfield’s

it revitalized Rodney Dangerfield’s

it revitalized Rodney Dangerfield’s career hey everybody we’re all gonna get

career hey everybody we’re all gonna get

career hey everybody we’re all gonna get laid number five John Huston The Maltese

laid number five John Huston The Maltese

laid number five John Huston The Maltese Falcon I held up my end you got your

Falcon I held up my end you got your

Falcon I held up my end you got your ding it it’s your hard luck that mine it

ding it it’s your hard luck that mine it

ding it it’s your hard luck that mine it wasn’t what you wanted it’s hard to

wasn’t what you wanted it’s hard to

wasn’t what you wanted it’s hard to believe that a film as perfect as this

believe that a film as perfect as this

believe that a film as perfect as this one was the effort of a first-timer the

one was the effort of a first-timer the

one was the effort of a first-timer the classic noir story follows a gumshoe

classic noir story follows a gumshoe

classic noir story follows a gumshoe detective as he helps a mysterious woman

detective as he helps a mysterious woman

detective as he helps a mysterious woman find her sister but soon he stumbles

find her sister but soon he stumbles

find her sister but soon he stumbles upon a bigger crime with a jeweled

upon a bigger crime with a jeweled

upon a bigger crime with a jeweled Maltese Falcon at the center mr. Spade

Maltese Falcon at the center mr. Spade

Maltese Falcon at the center mr. Spade have you any conception of how much

have you any conception of how much

have you any conception of how much money can be good for that black bird no

money can be good for that black bird no

money can be good for that black bird no I’m gonna say if I told you I told you

I’m gonna say if I told you I told you

I’m gonna say if I told you I told you ha call me a liar no not even if I

ha call me a liar no not even if I

ha call me a liar no not even if I thought so would you tell me what it is

thought so would you tell me what it is

thought so would you tell me what it is and I’ll figure out the profit houston’s

and I’ll figure out the profit houston’s

and I’ll figure out the profit houston’s attention to detail and use of

attention to detail and use of

attention to detail and use of supporting characters earn the film 3

supporting characters earn the film 3

supporting characters earn the film 3 Oscar nods and made for one of Humphrey

Oscar nods and made for one of Humphrey

Oscar nods and made for one of Humphrey Bogart’s best rolls yeah you shouldn’t

Bogart’s best rolls yeah you shouldn’t

Bogart’s best rolls yeah you shouldn’t let him go around with these on him he

let him go around with these on him he

let him go around with these on him he might get himself alright number four

might get himself alright number four

might get himself alright number four Guy Ritchie lock

Guy Ritchie lock

Guy Ritchie lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels that pile

Stock and Two Smoking Barrels that pile

Stock and Two Smoking Barrels that pile takes care of Harry what’s left over

takes care of Harry what’s left over

takes care of Harry what’s left over get me off a chance to count it written

get me off a chance to count it written

get me off a chance to count it written and directed by Ritchie this comedy

and directed by Ritchie this comedy

and directed by Ritchie this comedy tracks a small-time card player who’s

tracks a small-time card player who’s

tracks a small-time card player who’s forced to rob a local gang in order to

forced to rob a local gang in order to

forced to rob a local gang in order to pay his debts find them torture and kill

pay his debts find them torture and kill

pay his debts find them torture and kill him and bring back what belongs to me

him and bring back what belongs to me

him and bring back what belongs to me because if you don’t your family’s bang

because if you don’t your family’s bang

because if you don’t your family’s bang in trouble Ritchie’s sense of

in trouble Ritchie’s sense of

in trouble Ritchie’s sense of storytelling and comedic timing blend

storytelling and comedic timing blend

storytelling and comedic timing blend well to make an unforgettable crime

well to make an unforgettable crime

well to make an unforgettable crime drama and one of the most unlikely films

drama and one of the most unlikely films

drama and one of the most unlikely films ever to be nominated for a BAFTA I wish

ever to be nominated for a BAFTA I wish

ever to be nominated for a BAFTA I wish to Christ he would have let me settle

to Christ he would have let me settle

to Christ he would have let me settle the debt on my own we’re kidding

the debt on my own we’re kidding

the debt on my own we’re kidding stop in a bad song also we can’t forget

stop in a bad song also we can’t forget

stop in a bad song also we can’t forget this movie is responsible for the career

this movie is responsible for the career

this movie is responsible for the career of Jason Statham we’ve been a jet pilot

of Jason Statham we’ve been a jet pilot

of Jason Statham we’ve been a jet pilot number three Sam Mendes American Beauty

number three Sam Mendes American Beauty

number three Sam Mendes American Beauty so he need kidney mass very very dirty

so he need kidney mass very very dirty

so he need kidney mass very very dirty who can forget the iconic image of mena

who can forget the iconic image of mena

who can forget the iconic image of mena Suvari lying naked in a sea of bright

Suvari lying naked in a sea of bright

Suvari lying naked in a sea of bright red roses this movie tells the story of

red roses this movie tells the story of

red roses this movie tells the story of a lonely suburbanite Smid life crisis

a lonely suburbanite Smid life crisis

a lonely suburbanite Smid life crisis and its effect on everyone around him

and its effect on everyone around him

and its effect on everyone around him smile mr. smileys

would you like to try our new beef and

would you like to try our new beef and cheese pot pie on a stick just a dollar

cheese pot pie on a stick just a dollar

cheese pot pie on a stick just a dollar ninety-nine for a limited time only a

ninety-nine for a limited time only a

ninety-nine for a limited time only a simple story but Mendez’s direction and

simple story but Mendez’s direction and

simple story but Mendez’s direction and use of color and imagery elevated to a

use of color and imagery elevated to a

use of color and imagery elevated to a modern-day tale of lust longing and the

modern-day tale of lust longing and the

modern-day tale of lust longing and the need to live a life examined the film

need to live a life examined the film

need to live a life examined the film rightfully won four Oscars as a result

number two Quentin Tarantino Reservoir

number two Quentin Tarantino Reservoir Dogs to me this whole argument about

Dogs to me this whole argument about

Dogs to me this whole argument about violence in step to me violence is the

violence in step to me violence is the

violence in step to me violence is the purely aesthetic thing it has nothing

purely aesthetic thing it has nothing

purely aesthetic thing it has nothing political there’s no morality involved

political there’s no morality involved

political there’s no morality involved it’s purely aesthetic me saying that I

it’s purely aesthetic me saying that I

it’s purely aesthetic me saying that I like violence movies is like you saying

like violence movies is like you saying

like violence movies is like you saying you like musicals by the time he

you like musicals by the time he

you like musicals by the time he directed this film Tarantino

directed this film Tarantino

directed this film Tarantino was more than ready to direct a

was more than ready to direct a

was more than ready to direct a full-length feature I understand you’re

full-length feature I understand you’re

full-length feature I understand you’re out you should pissed we’re all real

out you should pissed we’re all real

out you should pissed we’re all real emotional but you’re barking up the

emotional but you’re barking up the

emotional but you’re barking up the wrong tree however he had trouble

wrong tree however he had trouble

wrong tree however he had trouble securing studio funding which caused him

securing studio funding which caused him

securing studio funding which caused him to write this film with minimal sets and

to write this film with minimal sets and

to write this film with minimal sets and a small cast it goes to show that a

a small cast it goes to show that a

a small cast it goes to show that a strong story is at the heart of any good

strong story is at the heart of any good

strong story is at the heart of any good movie and Reservoir Dogs defines

movie and Reservoir Dogs defines

movie and Reservoir Dogs defines Tarantino’s trademark stylistically

Tarantino’s trademark stylistically

Tarantino’s trademark stylistically violent slick and funny films mr. Brown

violent slick and funny films mr. Brown

violent slick and funny films mr. Brown mr. white mr. blonde mr. blue mr. orange

mr. white mr. blonde mr. blue mr. orange

mr. white mr. blonde mr. blue mr. orange mr. pink

mr. pink

mr. pink why not mr. pink because you’re a good

why not mr. pink because you’re a good

why not mr. pink because you’re a good alright be thankful you’re not mr.

alright be thankful you’re not mr.

alright be thankful you’re not mr. yellow mr. brown that’s a little too

yellow mr. brown that’s a little too

yellow mr. brown that’s a little too close to mr. shit before we unveil our

close to mr. shit before we unveil our

close to mr. shit before we unveil our number one pick here are a few honorable

number one pick here are a few honorable

number one pick here are a few honorable mentions hi I’m here check the meter my

mentions hi I’m here check the meter my

mentions hi I’m here check the meter my tools are in here oh it’s Holly she’s

tools are in here oh it’s Holly she’s

tools are in here oh it’s Holly she’s from Texas later we found out she was

from Texas later we found out she was

from Texas later we found out she was deaf and we hadn’t even known it you

deaf and we hadn’t even known it you

deaf and we hadn’t even known it you gotta take a sign if you beat a child

gotta take a sign if you beat a child

gotta take a sign if you beat a child you’re not on my side if you’re see me

you’re not on my side if you’re see me

you’re not on my side if you’re see me coming you better run because I’m

coming you better run because I’m

coming you better run because I’m Allegra Donna my guidance counselor well

Allegra Donna my guidance counselor well

Allegra Donna my guidance counselor well if your job was as meaningless as theirs

if your job was as meaningless as theirs

if your job was as meaningless as theirs wouldn’t you go crazy to think of it my

wouldn’t you go crazy to think of it my

wouldn’t you go crazy to think of it my guidance counselor was kind of worthless

guidance counselor was kind of worthless

guidance counselor was kind of worthless say it’s important to have a job that

say it’s important to have a job that

say it’s important to have a job that makes a difference boys that’s why I

makes a difference boys that’s why I

makes a difference boys that’s why I manually masturbate caged animals for

manually masturbate caged animals for

manually masturbate caged animals for artificial insemination

Linnea colleagues find a way to harness

Linnea colleagues find a way to harness this vast volcanic energy now just sit

this vast volcanic energy now just sit

this vast volcanic energy now just sit back and watch these shit keep this

back and watch these shit keep this

back and watch these shit keep this GoPro howdy stranger race sorry about

GoPro howdy stranger race sorry about

GoPro howdy stranger race sorry about last night

last night

last night no sweat wasn’t too busy lucious you

no sweat wasn’t too busy lucious you

no sweat wasn’t too busy lucious you killed overview top of T she’s estrella

killed overview top of T she’s estrella

killed overview top of T she’s estrella something awesome alone number one Orson

something awesome alone number one Orson

something awesome alone number one Orson Welles Citizen Kane hailed as one of the

Welles Citizen Kane hailed as one of the

Welles Citizen Kane hailed as one of the greatest if not the greatest film of all

greatest if not the greatest film of all

greatest if not the greatest film of all time Citizen Kane is known for its

time Citizen Kane is known for its

time Citizen Kane is known for its structure cinematography and use of

structure cinematography and use of

structure cinematography and use of music the film wasn’t initially

music the film wasn’t initially

music the film wasn’t initially considered a success since its box

considered a success since its box

considered a success since its box office earnings did not surpass its cost

office earnings did not surpass its cost

office earnings did not surpass its cost he just said Rosalind then he dropped

he just said Rosalind then he dropped

he just said Rosalind then he dropped the glass ball and it broke on the floor

the glass ball and it broke on the floor

the glass ball and it broke on the floor he didn’t say anything after that and I

he didn’t say anything after that and I

he didn’t say anything after that and I knew he was dead but as the years passed

knew he was dead but as the years passed

knew he was dead but as the years passed more and more critics began to praise

more and more critics began to praise

more and more critics began to praise the film creating a resurgence in its

the film creating a resurgence in its

the film creating a resurgence in its popularity and leading many to consider

popularity and leading many to consider

popularity and leading many to consider it a well-made classic

do you agree with our list what’s the

do you agree with our list what’s the best flick you’ve seen from a newcomer

best flick you’ve seen from a newcomer

best flick you’ve seen from a newcomer for more groundbreaking top 10s

for more groundbreaking top 10s

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