David Fincher

David Andrew Leo Fincher{{Cite news|title=The Membership > Obituaries: Howard Kely "Jack" Fincher|publisher=Wolfensberger: Newsletter of the Wolfensberger Family Association|date=May 2003|volume=9|issue=2|page=3|url=http://www.wolfensberger.org/pages/NL_BKUP/WFA_NL/2003May.pdf|access-date=November 4, 2010|archive-date=November 18, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161118205924/http://www.wolfensberger.org/pages/NL_BKUP/WFA_NL/2003May.pdf|url-status=live|quote=He is survived by ... and David Andrew Leo Fincher. David Fincher is a Hollywood motion picture director...}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/boxingandmma/3918373/Forrest-Griffin-to-show-his-police-brutality.html |website=The Daily Telegraph |location=London |title=Forrest Griffin to show his police brutality |first=Gareth A |last=Davies |date=December 23, 2008 |access-date=May 1, 2010|archive-date=September 11, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150911133804/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/boxing/3918373/Forrest-Griffin-to-show-his-police-brutality.html|url-status=dead|quote=...David Leo Fincher, the American film director and music video director...}} was born in Denver on August 28, 1962.{{Cite web|url=https://www.biography.com/people/david-fincher-411094|title=David Fincher: Director (1962–)|publisher=Biography.com (FYI / A&E Networks)|access-date=August 25, 2017|archive-date=September 16, 2014|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140916082034/http://www.biography.com/people/david-fincher-411094|url-status=dead}} His mother, Claire Mae (née Boettcher), was a mental health nurse from South Dakota who worked in drug addiction programs. His father, Howard Kelly "Jack" Fincher (1930–2003), was an author from Oklahoma who worked as a reporter and bureau chief for Life magazine.{{Cite magazine |url=http://www.ew.com/article/1997/09/19/david-fincher-gets-back-game |title=David Fincher gets back in 'The Game' |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |date=September 19, 1997 |first=David |last=Hochman |access-date=October 11, 2014 |archive-date=April 21, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090421162703/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0%2C%2C289517%2C00.html |url-status=live}} (Archived article on two pages headlined "Game Boy"){{Cite web |url=http://www.playboy.com/articles/playboy-interview-david-fincher |title=Playboy Interview: David Fincher |website=Playboy |date=September 16, 2014 |first=Stephen |last=Rebello |access-date=October 14, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150829153003/http://www.playboy.com/articles/playboy-interview-david-fincher |archive-date=August 29, 2015 |url-status=dead}}{{Cite book|last=Swallow |first=James |title=Dark Eye: The Films of David Fincher |chapter=Dark and Light |year=2003 |publisher=Reynolds & Hearn |isbn=978-1-903111-52-9 |page=11}} When Fincher was two years old, the family moved to San Anselmo, California, where he counted filmmaker George Lucas among his neighbors. He became fascinated with filmmaking at the age of eight and began making films on an 8mm camera. In a 2012 interview, he said:

{{cquote|I was eight years old and I saw a documentary on the making of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. It had never occurred to me that movies didn't take place in real time. I knew that they were fake, I knew that the people were acting, but it had never occurred to me that it could take [...] four months to make a movie! It showed the entire company with all these rental horses and moving trailers to shoot a scene on top of a train. They would hire somebody who looked like Robert Redford to jump onto the train. It never occurred to me that there were hours between each of these shots. The actual circus of it was invisible, as it should be, but in seeing that I became obsessed with the idea of "How?" It was the ultimate magic trick. The notion that 24 still photographs are shown in such quick succession that movement is imparted from it{{emdash}}wow! And I thought that there would never be anything that would be as interesting as that to do with the rest of my life.}}

As a teenager, Fincher moved to Ashland, Oregon, where he attended Ashland High School. He directed plays and designed sets and lighting after school, was a non-union projectionist at Varsity Theatre, and worked as a production assistant at the KOBI news station in Medford. He supported himself by working as a busboy, dishwasher, and fry cook.{{Cite web |url=http://guru.bafta.org/david-fincher-a-life-in-pictures |title=David Fincher: A Life in Pictures |publisher=BAFTA |date=September 19, 2014 |access-date=August 17, 2015 |archive-date=August 13, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170813010645/http://guru.bafta.org/david-fincher-a-life-in-pictures |url-status=dead}}

While establishing himself in the film industry, Fincher was employed at John Korty's studio as a production head. Gaining further experience, he became a visual effects producer, working on the animated Twice Upon a Time (1983) with George Lucas.{{Cite web|title=George Lucas-Exec Produced Twice Upon a Time Coming to DVD – IGN|date=March 2, 2015|url=https://uk.ign.com/articles/2015/03/02/george-lucas-exec-produced-twice-upon-a-time-coming-to-dvd|language=en|access-date=January 10, 2020|archive-date=November 14, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201114150234/https://www.ign.com/articles/2015/03/02/george-lucas-exec-produced-twice-upon-a-time-coming-to-dvd|url-status=live}} He was hired by Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) in 1983 as an assistant cameraman and matte photographer and worked on Return of the Jedi (1983) and Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984).{{Cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/features/david-fincher-awards-are-just-icing-on-the-cake-1520062.html |title=David Fincher: "Awards are just icing on the cake" |newspaper=The Independent |date=February 1, 2009 |first=James |last=Mottram |access-date=October 11, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141028131323/http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/features/david-fincher-awards-are-just-icing-on-the-cake-1520062.html |archive-date=October 28, 2014 |url-status=live}} In 1984, he left ILM to direct a television commercial for the American Cancer Society that depicted a fetus smoking a cigarette.

This quickly brought Fincher to the attention of producers in Los Angeles, and he was soon given the opportunity to direct Rick Springfield's 1985 documentary, To The Beat of the Live Drum.{{Cite web|last1=Goldberg|first1=Matt|title=The Work of David Fincher: Introduction, Commercials, Music Videos, and 'The Beat of the Live Drum'|url=https://collider.com/david-fincher-music-videos/|website=Collider|access-date=August 27, 2016|date=September 21, 2014|archive-date=August 18, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170818133837/http://collider.com/david-fincher-music-videos/|url-status=live}} Set on a directing career, Fincher co-founded production company Propaganda Films and started directing commercials and music videos. Other directors such as Michael Bay, Antoine Fuqua, Michel Gondry, Spike Jonze, Alex Proyas, Paul Rachman, Mark Romanek, Zack Snyder and Gore Verbinski also honed their skills at Propaganda Films before moving on to feature films.{{Cite web|last1=Hyman|first1=Nick|title=Ranked: Music Video Directors Turned Film Directors|url=https://www.metacritic.com/feature/music-video-directors-turned-film-directors|publisher=Metacritic|access-date=August 27, 2016|date=August 31, 2010|archive-date=January 12, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170112191651/http://www.metacritic.com/feature/music-video-directors-turned-film-directors|url-status=live}}

Fincher directed TV commercials for many companies including Levi's, Converse, Nike, Pepsi, Revlon, Sony, Coca-Cola and Chanel, although he loathed doing them.{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.wired.com/2011/11/ff_fincher/|title=Director David Fincher Takes On The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo|last=Raftery|first=Brian|date=November 22, 2011|magazine=Wired|access-date=January 16, 2020|issue=12|volume=19|language=en-US|issn=1059-1028|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170316161303/https://www.wired.com/2011/11/ff_fincher/|archive-date=March 16, 2017|url-status=live}} Starting in 1984, Fincher began his foray into music videos. He directed videos for various artists including singer-songwriters Rick Springfield, Don Henley, Martha Davis, Paula Abdul, rock band the Outfield, and R&B singer Jermaine Stewart. Fincher's 1990 music video for "Freedom! '90" was one of the most successful for George Michael.{{Cite web|url=https://www.allure.com/story/25th-anniversary-george-michael-freedom-video|title=After George Michael's Death, a Look Back at His Most Iconic Moment|last=Rogers|first=Patrick|website=Allure|date=July 25, 2015|language=en|access-date=March 27, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200302222721/https://www.allure.com/story/25th-anniversary-george-michael-freedom-video|archive-date=March 2, 2020|url-status=live}}

He directed Michael Jackson's "Who Is It", Aerosmith's "Janie's Got A Gun" and Billy Idol's "Cradle of Love". For Madonna, he directed the videos for "Express Yourself", "Oh Father", "Bad Girl" and "Vogue". The black-and-white video for "Vogue" took inspiration from the films of the 1920s and 1930s and has been frequently cited as one of the best videos of all time.{{Cite magazine |author1=Rolling Stone staff |title=The 100 Greatest Music Videos |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/best-music-videos-1194411/beyonce-formation-5-1195750/ |magazine=Rolling Stone |access-date=September 8, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230828033657/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/best-music-videos-1194411/ |archive-date=August 28, 2023 |date=July 30, 2021 |url-status=live}} Between 1984 and 1993, Fincher was credited as a director for 53 music videos.{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiewire.com/2014/09/best-to-worst-david-finchers-complete-music-videography-ranked-271812/|title=Best To Worst: David Fincher's Complete Music Videography Ranked|last=Kiang|first=Jessica|date=September 29, 2014|website=IndieWire|language=en|access-date=January 6, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190410124539/https://www.indiewire.com/2014/09/best-to-worst-david-finchers-complete-music-videography-ranked-271812/|archive-date=April 10, 2019|url-status=live}} He referred to the production of music videos as his own "film school", in which he learned how to work efficiently within a small budget and time frame.{{Cite journal |last1=Sarreiter |first1=Benedikt |title=Kein Schnitt zu viel |journal=Du |date=February 2019 |language=de |issue=889 |page=14}}{{Cite book |last1=Knapp |first1=Laurence F. |title=David Fincher: Interviews |date=2014 |publisher=University Press of Mississippi |location=Jackson, Mississippi |isbn=9781626741928 |page=95 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=of0aBwAAQBAJ |access-date=February 6, 2019 |language=en |archive-date=November 14, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201114150110/https://books.google.com/books?id=of0aBwAAQBAJ |url-status=live}}

In 1990, 20th Century Fox hired Fincher to replace Vincent Ward as the director for the science-fiction horror Alien 3 (1992), his film directorial debut.{{Cite magazine |last=Pearce |first=Garth |date=1991 |title=Alien3: Set Visit To A Troubled Sequel |magazine=Empire |url=https://www.empireonline.com/interviews/interview.asp?IID=1102 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150703222946/http://www.empireonline.com/interviews/interview.asp?IID=1102 |archive-date=July 3, 2015 |url-status=dead}} It was the third installment in the Alien franchise starring Sigourney Weaver. The film was released in May 1992 to a mixed reception from critics and was considered weaker than the preceding films.{{Cite web|title=Alien3 (1992)|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/alien3/|publisher=Rotten Tomatoes|date=May 22, 1992 |access-date=August 27, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161011050729/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/alien3/|archive-date=October 11, 2016|url-status=live}} From the beginning, Alien 3 was hampered by studio intervention and several abandoned scripts.{{Cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/joshweiss/2019/06/03/alien-3-crew-member-compares-david-finchers-original-vision-to-edgar-allen-poe/|title='Alien 3' Crew Member Compares David Fincher's Original Vision To Edgar Allan Poe|last=Weiss|first=Josh|website=Forbes|language=en|access-date=March 27, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200327155136/https://www.forbes.com/sites/joshweiss/2019/06/03/alien-3-crew-member-compares-david-finchers-original-vision-to-edgar-allen-poe/|archive-date=March 27, 2020|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|date=November 18, 2014|title=What Went Wrong With Alien 3, According To Tywin Lannister|url=https://www.cinemablend.com/new/What-Went-Wrong-With-Alien-3-According-Tywin-Lannister-68286.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200327155134/https://www.cinemablend.com/new/What-Went-Wrong-With-Alien-3-According-Tywin-Lannister-68286.html|archive-date=March 27, 2020|access-date=March 27, 2020|website=Cinemablend}} Peter Travers of the Rolling Stone called the film "bold and haunting", despite the "struggle of nine writers" and "studio interference".{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/movie-reviews/alien-3-103327/|title=Alien 3|last=Travers|first=Peter|date=September 9, 1992|magazine=Rolling Stone|language=en-US|access-date=January 6, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190506194541/https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/movie-reviews/alien-3-103327/|archive-date=May 6, 2019|url-status=live}}

The film received an Academy Award nomination for Best Visual Effects.{{Cite web|title=The 65th Academy Awards (1993) Nominees and Winners|date=October 4, 2014 |url=http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1993|publisher=Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS)|access-date=August 27, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402004418/http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1993|archive-date=April 2, 2015|url-status=live}} Years later, Fincher publicly expressed his dismay and subsequently disowned the film. In the book Director's Cut: Picturing Hollywood in the 21st Century, Fincher blames the producers for their lack of trust in him.{{Cite book |first=Stephan |last=Littger |title=Director's Cut: Picturing Hollywood in the 21st Century |publisher=Bloomsbury Academic |location=London, England |isbn=978-0826419026 |date=2006 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/directorscutpict0000unse}} In an interview with The Guardian in 2009, he stated, "No one hated it more than me; to this day, no one hates it more than me."{{Cite web|last1=Salisbury|first1=Mark|last2=Fincher|first2=David|title=Transcript of the Guardian interview with David Fincher at BFI Southbank|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2009/feb/03/david-fincher-interview-transcript|website=The Guardian|access-date=August 27, 2016|date=January 18, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160922204519/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2009/feb/03/david-fincher-interview-transcript|archive-date=September 22, 2016|url-status=live}}

After this critical disappointment, Fincher eschewed reading film scripts or directing another project.{{Cite news |last=Taubin |first=Amy |title=The Allure of Decay |website=Sight and Sound |page=24 |date=January 1996}} He briefly retreated to directing commercials and music videos, including the video for the song "Love Is Strong" by the Rolling Stones in 1994, which won the Grammy Award for Best Music Video.{{Cite web|last=Trenholm|first=Richard|title=David Fincher returns to his Vogue-ing video days in new comedy|url=https://www.cnet.com/uk/news/david-fincher-returns-to-his-vogue-ing-video-days-in-new-comedy/|publisher=CNET|access-date=August 27, 2016|date=May 5, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160920125425/http://www.cnet.com/uk/news/david-fincher-returns-to-his-vogue-ing-video-days-in-new-comedy/|archive-date=September 20, 2016|url-status=live}} Shortly, Fincher decided to make a foray back into film. He read Andrew Kevin Walker's original screenplay for Seven (1995), which had been revised by Jeremiah Chechik, the director attached to the project at one point. Fincher expressed no interest in directing the revised version, so New Line Cinema agreed to keep the original ending.{{Cite web|last1=Couch|first1=Aaron|title='Seven' Screenwriter on How a Mix-Up With David Fincher Led to Its Gutsy Ending|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/se7en-screenwriter-how-a-mixup-david-fincher-led-gutsy-ending-963957|website=The Hollywood Reporter|access-date=March 23, 2018|date=January 13, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180324041244/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/se7en-screenwriter-how-a-mixup-david-fincher-led-gutsy-ending-963957|archive-date=March 24, 2018|url-status=live}} Starring Brad Pitt, Morgan Freeman, Gwyneth Paltrow, R. Lee Ermey, and Kevin Spacey, it tells the story of two detectives who attempt to identify a serial killer who bases his murders on the Christian seven deadly sins.{{Cite web|last1=Turan|first1=Kenneth|title='Seven' Offers a Punishing Look at Some Deadly Sins|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-09-22-ca-48658-story.html|website=Los Angeles Times|access-date=March 23, 2018|date=September 22, 1995|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171208014027/http://articles.latimes.com/1995-09-22/entertainment/ca-48658_1_deadly-sins|archive-date=December 8, 2017|url-status=live}} Seven was positively received by film critics and was one of the highest-earning films of 1995, grossing more than $320 million worldwide.{{Cite web|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=seven.htm|title=Seven|date=1995|website=Box Office Mojo|access-date=September 14, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150830115239/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=seven.htm|archive-date=August 30, 2015|url-status=live}} Writing for Sight and Sound, John Wrathall said it "stands as the most complex and disturbing entry in the serial killer genre since Manhunter" and Roger Ebert opined that Seven is "one of the darkest and most merciless films ever made in the Hollywood mainstream."{{Cite news |last=Wrathall |first=John |title=Seven |website=Sight and Sound |page=50 |date=January 1996}}{{Cite web|last1=Ebert|first1=Roger|author-link1=Roger Ebert|title=Seven (1995)|url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/great-movie-seven-1995|website=Chicago Sun-Times|access-date=March 12, 2018|date=July 18, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180313093538/https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/great-movie-seven-1995|archive-date=March 13, 2018|url-status=live}}

Following Seven, Fincher directed a music video for "6th Avenue Heartache" by the Wallflowers{{Cite web|last1=Puchko|first1=Kristy|title=28 David Fincher Music Videos, Ranked|url=https://www.vulture.com/2014/10/david-fincher-music-videos-ranked.html|website=Vulture|access-date=March 25, 2018|date=October 6, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180325232125/http://www.vulture.com/2014/10/david-fincher-music-videos-ranked.html|archive-date=March 25, 2018|url-status=live}} and went on to direct his third feature film, the mystery thriller The Game (1997), written by the duo John Brancato and Michael Ferris.{{Cite web|last1=McCarthy|first1=Todd|author-link1=Todd McCarthy|title=The Game|url=https://variety.com/1997/film/reviews/the-game-3-1117341147/|website=Variety|access-date=March 25, 2018|date=September 5, 1997|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180325171257/http://variety.com/1997/film/reviews/the-game-3-1117341147/|archive-date=March 25, 2018|url-status=live}} Fincher also hired Seven screenwriter Andrew Kevin Walker to contribute and polish the script.{{Cite web|last1=Salisbury|first1=Mark|title=Butcher my script and I'm outta here|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/1999/apr/09/features|website=The Guardian|access-date=March 23, 2018|date=April 9, 1999|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180324041149/https://www.theguardian.com/film/1999/apr/09/features|archive-date=March 24, 2018|url-status=live}} Filmed on location in San Francisco, the story follows an investment banker, played by Michael Douglas, who receives an unusual gift from his younger brother (Sean Penn), where he becomes involved in a "game" that integrates with his everyday life, making him unable to differentiate between game and reality. Almar Haflidason of the BBC was critical of the ending, but praised the visuals—"Fincher does a marvelous job of turning ordinary city locations into frightening backdrops, where every corner turned is another step into the unknown".{{Cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/films/2001/03/02/the_game_1997_review.shtml|title=BBC – Films – review – The Game|website=www.bbc.co.uk|access-date=April 14, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200213031334/http://www.bbc.co.uk/films/2001/03/02/the_game_1997_review.shtml|archive-date=February 13, 2020|url-status=live}} Upon The Game{{'}}s release in September 1997, the film received generally favorable reviews but performed moderately at the box office.{{Cite web|title=The Game Reviews|url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/the-game|publisher=Metacritic|access-date=March 23, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180509113454/http://www.metacritic.com/movie/the-game|archive-date=May 9, 2018|url-status=live}} The Game was later included in the Criterion Collection.{{Cite web|url=https://www.criterion.com/films/28058-the-game|title=The Game|publisher=The Criterion Collection|language=en|access-date=January 10, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191119060255/https://www.criterion.com/films/28058-the-game|archive-date=November 19, 2019|url-status=live}}

In August 1997, Fincher agreed to direct Fight Club, based on the 1996 novel of the same name by Chuck Palahniuk. It was his second film with 20th Century Fox after the troubled production of Alien 3.{{Cite magazine|first=Michael |last=Fleming |url=https://variety.com/1997/voices/columns/thornton-holds-reins-of-horses-1116678264/ |title=Thornton holds reins of 'Horses' |magazine=Variety |date=August 19, 1997 |access-date=March 23, 2007 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011203539/http://variety.com/article/VR1116678264.html?categoryid=3&cs=1 |archive-date=October 11, 2007}} Starring Brad Pitt, Edward Norton and Helena Bonham Carter, the film is about a nameless office worker suffering from insomnia, who meets a salesman, and together form an underground fighting club as a form of therapy. Fox struggled with the marketing of the film, and were concerned that it would have a limited audience.{{Cite book|title=Rebels on the backlot : six maverick directors and how they conquered the Hollywood studio system|last=Waxman, Sharon|date=2005|publisher=HarperEntertainment|isbn=0-06-054017-6|edition=1st|location=New York|pages=[https://archive.org/details/rebelsonbacklots00waxm/page/253 253–273]|oclc=56617315|url=https://archive.org/details/rebelsonbacklots00waxm/page/253}} Fight Club premiered on October 15, 1999, in the United States to a polarized response and modest box office success; the film grossed $100.9 million against a budget of $63 million.{{Cite web|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt0137523/?ref_=bo_se_r_1|title=Fight Club|website=Box Office Mojo|access-date=January 10, 2020|archive-date=November 14, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201114150200/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt0137523/?ref_=bo_se_r_1|url-status=live}} Initially, many critics thought the film was "a violent and dangerous express train of masochism and aggression."{{Cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/films/2000/11/14/fight_club_1999_review.shtml|title=BBC – Films – review – Fight Club|website=www.bbc.co.uk|access-date=January 7, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190324041025/http://www.bbc.co.uk/films/2000/11/14/fight_club_1999_review.shtml|archive-date=March 24, 2019|url-status=live}} However, in following years, Fight Club became a cult favorite and gained acknowledgement for its multilayered themes; the film has been the source of critical analysis from academics and film critics.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bfi.org.uk/news-opinion/news-bfi/features/fight-club-david-fincher-edward-norton-brad-pitt|title=The American dream unravelled: 20 years of Fight Club|website=British Film Institute|language=en|access-date=January 10, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191016145111/https://www.bfi.org.uk/news-opinion/news-bfi/features/fight-club-david-fincher-edward-norton-brad-pitt|archive-date=October 16, 2019|url-status=dead}}{{Cite web|last=Murray|first=Brian|date=March 1, 2019|title=Fight Club: A Cult Movie at 20|url=https://www.lawliberty.org/2019/03/01/fight-club-a-cult-movie-at-20/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190326090645/https://www.lawliberty.org/2019/03/01/fight-club-a-cult-movie-at-20/|archive-date=March 26, 2019|access-date=January 10, 2020|website=Law & Liberty|language=en-US}}

File:Jesse Eisenberg - David Fincher - The Social Network - 2010 New York Film Festival - 01.jpg and Fincher at the 2010 New York Film Festival]]

In 2001, Fincher served as an executive producer for the first season of The Hire, a series of short films to promote BMW automobiles. The films were released on the internet in 2001.{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiewire.com/2016/09/clive-owen-the-driver-bmw-films-neill-blomkamp-short-film-the-escape-1201728682/|title=Clive Owen Returns as 'The Driver' in Neill Blomkamp's Short Film 'The Escape' – Watch Trailer|last=Calvario|first=Liz|date=September 20, 2016|website=IndieWire|language=en|access-date=January 9, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190411160407/https://www.indiewire.com/2016/09/clive-owen-the-driver-bmw-films-neill-blomkamp-short-film-the-escape-1201728682/|archive-date=April 11, 2019|url-status=live}} Next in 2002, Fincher returned to another feature film, a thriller titled Panic Room. The story follows a single mother and her daughter who hide in a safe room of their new home, during a home invasion by a trio. Starring Jodie Foster (who replaced Nicole Kidman), Forest Whitaker, Kristen Stewart, Dwight Yoakam, and Jared Leto,{{Cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/story?id=110382&page=1|title=Kidman Injury Jars Panic Shoot|website=ABC News|language=en|access-date=March 27, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180923162800/https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/story?id=110382&page=1|archive-date=September 23, 2018|url-status=live}} it was theatrically released on March 29, 2002, after a month delay, to critical acclaim and commercial success.{{Cite web|title=Panic Room (2002)|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/panic_room|publisher=Rotten Tomatoes|date=March 29, 2002 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171127045610/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/panic_room/|language=en|access-date=January 10, 2020|archive-date=November 27, 2017|url-status=live}}

In North America, the film earned $96.4 million. In other countries, it grossed $100 million for a worldwide $196.4 million.{{Cite web|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt0258000/?ref_=bo_se_r_1|title=Panic Room|website=Box Office Mojo|access-date=January 10, 2020|archive-date=November 14, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201114150129/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt0258000/?ref_=bo_se_r_1|url-status=live}} Mick LaSalle of the San Francisco Chronicle praised the filmmakers for their "fair degree of ingenuity ... for 88 minutes of excitement" and the convincing performance given by Foster.{{Cite web|url=https://www.sfgate.com/movies/article/Panic-attack-Foster-at-her-best-in-mindless-2860032.php|title='Panic' attack / Foster at her best in mindless, exciting thriller|last=LaSalle|first=Mick|date=March 29, 2002|website=SFGate|access-date=January 10, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180817120850/https://www.sfgate.com/movies/article/Panic-attack-Foster-at-her-best-in-mindless-2860032.php|archive-date=August 17, 2018|url-status=live}} Fincher acknowledged Panic Room for being more mainstream, describing the film, "It's supposed to be a popcorn movie—there are no great, overriding implications. It's just about survival."{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/movie-reviews/panic-room-255632/|title=Panic Room|last=Travers|first=Peter|date=March 29, 2002|magazine=Rolling Stone|language=en-US|access-date=January 10, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180813175445/https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/movie-reviews/panic-room-255632/|archive-date=August 13, 2018|url-status=live}}

Five years after Panic Room, Fincher returned on March 2, 2007, with Zodiac, a thriller based on Robert Graysmith's books about the search for the Zodiac, a real life serial murderer who terrorized communities between the late 1960s and early 1970s.{{Cite news |last=Johnson |first=G. Allen |title=CHASING ZODIAC / Film crew has San Francisco time-traveling to '70s |url=https://www.sfgate.com/entertainment/article/CHASING-ZODIAC-Film-crew-has-San-Francisco-2603686.php |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181216030855/https://www.sfgate.com/entertainment/article/CHASING-ZODIAC-Film-crew-has-San-Francisco-2603686.php |archive-date=December 16, 2018 |access-date=2024-03-06 |website=SFGATE |language=en}} Fincher first learned of the project after being approached by producer Brad Fischer; he was intrigued by the story due to his childhood personal experience. "The highway patrol had been following our school buses", he recalled. His father told him, "There's a serial killer who has killed four or five people ... who's threatened to ... shoot the children as they come off the bus."{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/18/movies/18halb.html|title=David Fincher – Zodiac – Movies|last=Halbfinger|first=David M.|date=February 18, 2007|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=January 10, 2020|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190611122441/https://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/18/movies/18halb.html|archive-date=June 11, 2019|url-status=live}}

After extensive research on the case with fellow producers, Fincher formed a principal cast of Jake Gyllenhaal, Mark Ruffalo, Robert Downey Jr., Anthony Edwards and Brian Cox. It was the first of Fincher's films to be shot in digital, with a Thomson Viper FilmStream HD camera. However, high-speed film cameras were used for particular murder scenes.Zodiac Director's Cut DVD, 2nd Disc, Visual Effects featurette. Zodiac was well received, appearing in more than two hundred top ten lists (only No Country for Old Men and There Will Be Blood appeared in more).{{Cite web|url=https://criticstop10.com/best-of-2007/|title=Best of 2007|website=CriticsTop10|date=May 2009 |language=en-US|access-date=January 8, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180826064034/https://criticstop10.com/best-of-2007/|archive-date=August 26, 2018|url-status=live}} However, the film struggled at the United States box office, earning $33 million, but did better overseas with a gross of $51.7 million.{{Cite web|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt0443706/?ref_=bo_se_r_1|title=Zodiac|website=Box Office Mojo|access-date=January 10, 2020|archive-date=November 14, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201114150138/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt0443706/?ref_=bo_se_r_1|url-status=live}} Worldwide, Zodiac was a moderate success.{{Cite web |url=http://www.boxofficereport.com/ybon/2007gross.shtml |title=2007 Box Office |website=Box Office Report |date=January 6, 2009 |access-date=September 23, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090831100554/http://www.boxofficereport.com/ybon/2007gross.shtml |archive-date=August 31, 2009 |url-status=dead}} Despite a campaign by Paramount Pictures, the film did not receive any major award nominations.{{Cite web|last=Horn|first=John|date=January 5, 2008|title=A new sign of the 'Zodiac'|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2008-jan-05-et-zodiac5-story.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200610170349/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2008-jan-05-et-zodiac5-story.html|archive-date=June 10, 2020|access-date=July 8, 2020|website=Los Angeles Times|language=en-US}}

In 2008, Fincher was attached to a film adaptation of the science-fiction novel, Rendezvous with Rama by Arthur C. Clarke, however, Fincher said the film is unlikely to go ahead due to problems with the script.{{Cite web|url=https://www.firstshowing.net/2008/david-finchers-rendezvous-with-rama-officially-dead/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181216031124/https://www.firstshowing.net/2008/david-finchers-rendezvous-with-rama-officially-dead/|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 16, 2018|title=David Fincher's Rendezvous with Rama Officially Dead {{!}} FirstShowing.net|date=December 16, 2018|access-date=January 8, 2020}} His next project was The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008), an adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald's eponymous 1923 short story, about a man who is born as a seventy-year-old baby and ages in reverse. The romantic-drama marked Fincher's third collaboration with Brad Pitt, who stars opposite Cate Blanchett. The budget for the film was estimated to be $167 million, with very expensive visual effects utilized for Pitt's character.{{Cite web|url=https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/14593/ed-ulbrich-behind-the-extraordinary-visual-effects-of-benjamin-button|title=Ed Ulbrich: Behind the extraordinary visual effects of Benjamin Button|website=Den of Geek|date=July 7, 2009|language=en|access-date=January 10, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190912145655/https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/14593/ed-ulbrich-behind-the-extraordinary-visual-effects-of-benjamin-button|archive-date=September 12, 2019|url-status=live}}

Filming started in November 2006 in New Orleans, taking advantage of Louisiana's film incentive.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/12/us/12incentives.html|title=States' Film Production Incentives Cause Jitters|last=Cieply|first=Michael|date=October 11, 2008|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=January 10, 2020|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191109151558/https://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/12/us/12incentives.html|archive-date=November 9, 2019|url-status=live}} The film was theatrically released on December 25, 2008, in the United States to a commercial success and warm reception.{{Cite web|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt0421715/?ref_=bo_se_r_1|title=The Curious Case of Benjamin Button|website=Box Office Mojo|access-date=January 10, 2020|archive-date=November 14, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201114150134/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt0421715/?ref_=bo_se_r_1|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|title=The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008)|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/curious_case_of_benjamin_button|publisher=Rotten Tomatoes|date=December 25, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191227124755/https://rottentomatoes.com/m/curious_case_of_benjamin_button|language=en|access-date=January 10, 2020|archive-date=December 27, 2019|url-status=live}} Writing for the USA Today, Claudia Puig praises the "graceful and poignant" tale despite it being "overlong and not as emotionally involving as it could be".{{Cite web|url=https://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/movies/reviews/2008-12-23-benjamin-button_N.htm|title=See 'Benjamin Button,' just don't try to guess his age – USATODAY.com|website=usatoday30.usatoday.com|access-date=January 8, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140829161128/http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/movies/reviews/2008-12-23-benjamin-button_N.htm|archive-date=August 29, 2014|url-status=live}} The film received thirteen Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture, Best Director for Fincher, Best Actor for Pitt, and Best Supporting Actress for Taraji P. Henson, and won three, for Best Art Direction, Best Makeup, and Best Visual Effects.{{Cite web|url=https://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/2009|title=The 81st Academy Awards {{!}} 2009|publisher=Oscars.org {{!}} Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences|date=October 7, 2014 |language=en|access-date=March 27, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161102115358/https://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/2009|archive-date=November 2, 2016|url-status=live}}

Fincher directed the 2010 film The Social Network, a biographical drama about Facebook founder, Mark Zuckerberg and his legal battles. The screenplay was written by Aaron Sorkin, who adapted it from the book The Accidental Billionaires.{{Cite web|url=https://www.slashfilm.com/confirmed-eisenberg-timberlake-and-garfield-cast-in-david-finchers-the-social-network/|title=Confirmed: Eisenberg, Timberlake and Garfield Cast in David Fincher's The Social Network|date=September 22, 2009|website=SlashFilm|language=en-US|access-date=March 27, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200327155136/https://www.slashfilm.com/confirmed-eisenberg-timberlake-and-garfield-cast-in-david-finchers-the-social-network/|archive-date=March 27, 2020|url-status=live}} It stars Jesse Eisenberg as Zuckerberg, with a supporting cast of Andrew Garfield, Justin Timberlake, Armie Hammer and Max Minghella. Principal photography started in October 2009 in Cambridge, Massachusetts and the film was released one year later.{{Cite web|url=https://www.slashfilm.com/confirmed-eisenberg-timberlake-and-garfield-cast-in-david-finchers-the-social-network/|title=Casting Notes: Selena Gomez in Teen Rom Com; The Social Network Gets New Kids; The Whistleblower Gets Proven Talent|last=Fischer|first=Russ|date=October 20, 2009|website=SlashFilm|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091023031549/http://www.slashfilm.com/2009/10/20/casting-notes-selena-gomez-in-teen-rom-com-the-social-network-gets-new-kids-the-whistleblower-gets-proven-talent/|archive-date=October 23, 2009|access-date=March 27, 2020}} The Social Network was also a commercial success, earning $224.9 million worldwide.{{Cite web|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt1285016/?ref_=bo_se_r_1|title=The Social Network|website=Box Office Mojo|access-date=January 10, 2020|archive-date=November 14, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201114150139/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt1285016/?ref_=bo_se_r_1|url-status=live}} At the 83rd Academy Awards, the film received eight nominations and won three awards; soundtrack composers Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross won for Best Original Score, and the other two awards were for Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Film Editing.{{Cite web|url=http://www.oscars.org/awards/academyawards/legacy/ceremony/83rd-winners.html|title=83rd Academy Awards Winners|date=February 27, 2011|website=Oscars|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131224034121/http://www.oscars.org/awards/academyawards/legacy/ceremony/83rd-winners.html|archive-date=December 24, 2013}} The film received awards for Best Motion Picture – Drama, Best Director, Best Screenplay, and Best Original Score at the 68th Golden Globe Awards.{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2011/jan/17/golden-globes-ricky-gervais-colin-firth-social-network|title=Golden Globes: Colin Firth crowned while The Social Network wins lion's share|last=Brooks|first=Xan|date=January 17, 2011|website=The Guardian|access-date=January 10, 2020|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160426155046/http://www.theguardian.com/film/2011/jan/17/golden-globes-ricky-gervais-colin-firth-social-network|archive-date=April 26, 2016|url-status=live}} Critics including Roger Ebert, complimented the writing, describing the film as having "spellbinding dialogue. It makes an untellable story clear and fascinating".{{Cite web|url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-social-network-2010|title=The Social Network movie review (2010) {{!}} Roger Ebert|last=Ebert|first=Roger|website=www.rogerebert.com|language=en|access-date=January 8, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191031195822/https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-social-network-2010|archive-date=October 31, 2019|url-status=live}}

File:Rooney Mara, Daniel Craig and David Fincher (2012).jpg, Daniel Craig, and Fincher at the premiere of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo in 2011]]

In 2011, Fincher followed the success of The Social Network with The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, a psychological thriller based on the novel by Swedish writer Stieg Larsson. Screenwriter Steven Zaillian spent three months analyzing the novel, writing notes and deleting elements to achieve a suitable running time.{{Cite web|last=Weintraub|first=Steve 'Frosty'|date=December 26, 2011|title=Screenwriter Steven Zaillian Talks 'The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo', Sequels, and How He Might Direct the Remake of 'TimeCrimes'|url=https://collider.com/steven-zaillian-girl-with-the-dragon-tattoo-timecrimes-interview/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200127034706/https://collider.com/steven-zaillian-girl-with-the-dragon-tattoo-timecrimes-interview/|archive-date=January 27, 2020|access-date=March 27, 2020|website=Collider|language=en-US}} Featuring Daniel Craig as journalist Mikael Blomkvist and Rooney Mara as Lisbeth Salander, it follows Blomkvist's investigation to solve what happened to a woman from a wealthy family who disappeared four decades ago. To maintain the novel's setting, the film was primarily shot in Sweden.{{Cite book|url=https://www.visualhollywood.com/movies_2011/girl_with_dragon/notes.pdf|title='The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo': Production Notes|publisher=Visual Hollywood|year=2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121002202741/https://www.visualhollywood.com/movies_2011/girl_with_dragon/notes.pdf|archive-date=October 2, 2012|url-status=dead}}

The soundtrack, composed by collaborators Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, was described by A. O. Scott of The New York Times as "unnerving and powerful".{{Cite web|url=https://www.slashfilm.com/trent-reznor-scoring-david-finchers-version-the-girl-dragon-tattoo/|title=Trent Reznor Scoring David Fincher's Version of 'The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo'|last=Fischer|first=Russ|date=January 7, 2011|website=SlashFilm|access-date=March 24, 2011|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120914113709/https://www.slashfilm.com/trent-reznor-scoring-david-finchers-version-the-girl-dragon-tattoo/|archive-date=September 14, 2012|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/20/movies/the-girl-with-dragon-tattoo-movie-review.html|title='The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo' – Review|last=Scott|first=A. O.|author-link=A. O. Scott|date=December 19, 2011|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=January 8, 2020|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191001024809/https://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/20/movies/the-girl-with-dragon-tattoo-movie-review.html|archive-date=October 1, 2019|url-status=live}} Upon the film's release in December, reviews were generally favorable, according to review aggregator Metacritic.{{Cite web|title=The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo|url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/the-girl-with-the-dragon-tattoo-2011|publisher=Metacritic|access-date=March 27, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200721071944/https://www.metacritic.com/movie/the-girl-with-the-dragon-tattoo-2011|archive-date=July 21, 2020|url-status=live}} Scott adds, "Mr. Fincher creates a persuasive ambience of political menace and moral despair". Philip French of The Guardian praised the "authentic, quirky detail" and faithful adaptation.{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2010/mar/14/girl-with-dragon-tattoo-film-review|title='The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo' {{!}} Film review|last=French|first=Philip|date=March 14, 2010|newspaper=The Guardian|access-date=January 10, 2020|language=en-GB|issn=0029-7712|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171223125931/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2010/mar/14/girl-with-dragon-tattoo-film-review|archive-date=December 23, 2017|url-status=live}} The film received five Academy Award nominations, including Best Actress for Mara, and won the award for Best Film Editing.{{Cite web|url=https://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/2012|title=The 84th Academy Awards {{!}} 2012|publisher=Oscars.org {{!}} Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences|date=October 7, 2014 |language=en-US|access-date=January 10, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180417095424/https://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/2012|archive-date=April 17, 2018|url-status=live}} In 2012, Fincher signed a first look deal with Regency Enterprises.{{Cite web|last=Abrams|first=Rachel|date=2012-11-16|title=David Fincher eyes New Regency deal|url=https://variety.com/2012/film/news/david-fincher-eyes-new-regency-deal-1118062336/|access-date=2021-05-24|website=Variety|language=en-US}}

In 2013, Fincher served as an executive producer for the Netflix television series House of Cards, a political thriller about a Congressman's quest for revenge, of which he also directed the first two episodes.{{Cite web |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/house-of-cards-premiere-date-netflix-kevin-spacey-david-fincher-376355/ |website=The Hollywood Reporter |title=Netflix Launching Entire Run of David Fincher's 'House of Cards' in One Day |first=Michael |last=O'Connell |date=April 10, 2012 |access-date=February 2, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121120125707/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/house-of-cards-premiere-date-netflix-kevin-spacey-david-fincher-376355/ |archive-date=November 20, 2012 |url-status=live}} The series received positive reviews, earning nine Primetime Emmy Award nominations, including Outstanding Drama Series; Fincher won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series for the first episode.{{Cite web |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/emmys-14-nominations-netflix-earns-634244/ |title=Emmys: After 14 Nominations, Netflix Earns One Primetime Prize |first=Marisa |last=Guthrie |website=The Hollywood Reporter |date=September 22, 2013 |access-date=April 3, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220407175335/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/emmys-14-nominations-netflix-earns-634244/ |archive-date=April 7, 2022 |url-status=live}} He also directed a music video for the first time since 2005, "Suit & Tie" by Justin Timberlake and Jay-Z, which won the Grammy Award for Best Music Video.{{Cite web|url=https://www.grammy.com/grammys/awards/56th-annual-grammy-awards-2013|title=56th Annual Grammy Awards|date=November 28, 2017|publisher=Grammy Awards|language=en-US|access-date=January 17, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191213032037/https://www.grammy.com/grammys/awards/56th-annual-grammy-awards-2013|archive-date=December 13, 2019|url-status=live}}

In 2014, Fincher signed a deal with HBO for three television series—Utopia (an adaptation of the British series, to be written by Gillian Flynn), Shakedown, and Videosyncrazy. In August 2015, budget disputes between him and the network halted production.{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiewire.com/2015/08/david-finchers-utopia-with-rooney-mara-is-dead-at-hbo-videosyncrazy-might-be-doa-too-261018/|title=David Fincher's 'Utopia' with Rooney Mara is Dead at HBO, 'Videosyncrazy' Might Be DOA Too|first=Rodrigo|last=Perez|date=May 22, 2016|website=IndieWire|access-date=November 7, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160829201731/https://www.indiewire.com/2015/08/david-finchers-utopia-with-rooney-mara-is-dead-at-hbo-videosyncrazy-might-be-doa-too-261018/|archive-date=August 29, 2016|url-status=live}} However, in 2018, Utopia was picked up by Amazon MGM Studios, with Flynn as creator.{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2018/tv/news/utopia-dennis-kelly-gillian-flynn-amazon-1202757761/|title='Utopia' Lands Series Order at Amazon, Creator Gillian Flynn Inks Overall Deal at Studio|last=Otterson|first=Joe|date=April 19, 2018|website=Variety|language=en-US|access-date=January 25, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190126060840/https://variety.com/2018/tv/news/utopia-dennis-kelly-gillian-flynn-amazon-1202757761/|archive-date=January 26, 2019|url-status=live}}

Fincher directed Gone Girl (2014), an adaptation of Gillian Flynn's novel of the same name, starring Ben Affleck and Rosamund Pike.{{Cite web |url=https://variety.com/2013/film/news/david-fincher-may-have-found-next-girl-1118064952/ |title=David Fincher may have found next 'Girl' |last=Kroll |first=Justin |date=January 22, 2013 |website=Variety |access-date=December 20, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170930170418/https://variety.com/2013/film/news/david-fincher-may-have-found-next-girl-1118064952/ |archive-date=September 30, 2017 |url-status=live}}{{Cite web|last=Fleming |first=Mike Jr.|date=July 11, 2013|title=Ben Affleck to Star in David Fincher's 'Gone Girl' for Fox/New Regency Before Directing Warner Bros' 'Live by Night'|url=https://deadline.com/2013/07/ben-affleck-gone-girl-movie-david-fincher-539011/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131018034719/https://www.deadline.com/2013/07/ben-affleck-gone-girl-movie-david-fincher/|archive-date=October 18, 2013|access-date=October 18, 2013|website=Deadline Hollywood}} He even met with Flynn to discuss his interest in the project before a director was selected.{{Cite news|url=https://www.kansascity.com/entertainment/movies-news-reviews/article2244292.html|title=Author Gillian Flynn says filming 'Gone Girl' went much better than expected|last=Butler|first=Robert|date=September 27, 2017|newspaper=The Kansas City Star|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190626224040/https://www.kansascity.com/entertainment/movies-news-reviews/article2244292.html|archive-date=June 26, 2019|access-date=January 10, 2020}} Set in Missouri, the story begins as a mystery that follows the events surrounding Nick Dunne (Affleck), who becomes the prime suspect in the sudden disappearance of his wife Amy (Pike). A critical and commercial success, the film earned $369 million worldwide against a $61 million budget, making it Fincher's highest-grossing work to date.{{Cite web|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt2267998/?ref_=bo_se_r_1|title=Gone Girl|website=Box Office Mojo|access-date=January 10, 2020|archive-date=November 14, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201114150116/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt2267998/?ref_=bo_se_r_1|url-status=live}} Writing for Salon.com, Andrew O'Hehir praised the "tremendous ensemble cast who mesh marvelously", adding, "All the technical command of image, sound and production design for which Fincher is justly famous is here as well."{{Cite web|url=https://www.salon.com/2014/09/29/gone_girl_a_dark_marriage_drama_becomes_a_battle_of_the_sexes_debate/|title='Gone Girl': A dark marriage drama becomes a 'battle-of-the-sexes' debate|last=O'Hehir|first=Andrew|date=September 29, 2014|website=Salon|language=en-US|access-date=January 8, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191214210945/https://www.salon.com/2014/09/29/gone_girl_a_dark_marriage_drama_becomes_a_battle_of_the_sexes_debate/|archive-date=December 14, 2019|url-status=live}} Gone Girl garnered awards and nominations in a various categories; Pike earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress and Fincher received his third Golden Globe Award nomination for Best Director.{{Cite news|date=January 11, 2015|title=2015 Golden Globes: full list of nominations|language=en-GB|newspaper=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2015/jan/11/2015-golden-globes-full-list-nominations|url-status=live|access-date=January 18, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150422230453/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2015/jan/11/2015-golden-globes-full-list-nominations|archive-date=April 22, 2015|issn=0261-3077}}

File:Gone Girl Premiere at the 52nd New York Film Festival P1070639 (15370774845).jpg at the 2014 New York Film Festival]]

Between 2016 and 2019, Fincher directed, produced and served as showrunner for another series, Mindhunter, starring Holt McCallany and Jonathan Groff. The series, based on the book Mindhunter: Inside the FBI's Elite Serial Crime Unit, debuted on Netflix worldwide on October 13, 2017.{{Cite web|url=https://collider.com/mindhunter-release-date-netflix/#david-fincher|title='Mindhunter' Release Date Reveals Exactly When You Can Watch David Fincher's New Netflix Series|date=June 13, 2017|website=Collider|first=Adam|last=Chitwood|access-date=June 14, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170616202940/https://collider.com/mindhunter-release-date-netflix#david-fincher|archive-date=June 16, 2017|url-status=live}}{{Cite magazine|last=Nolfi|first=Joel|title='Mindhunter' trailer: David Fincher returns to Netflix with new drama|url=https://ew.com/tv/2017/03/01/netflix-mindhunter-trailer/|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|access-date=September 12, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171018173714/https://ew.com/tv/2017/03/01/netflix-mindhunter-trailer/|archive-date=October 18, 2017|url-status=live}} He has expressed interest in eventually making a third season of Mindhunter, which was put on indefinite hold in 2020.{{Cite web |last=Chitwood |first=Adam |date=2020-11-19 |title=David Fincher Offers Hope for 'Mindhunter' Season 3: 'At Some Point I'd Love to Revisit It' |url=https://collider.com/mindhunter-season-3-david-fincher-netflix/ |access-date=2021-02-26 |website=Collider |language=en-US}} In 2023, Fincher confirmed that Netflix will not be making a third season of Mindhunter, saying "I'm very proud of the first two seasons. But it's a very expensive show and, in the eyes of Netflix, we didn't attract enough of an audience to justify such an investment [for Season 3]."{{Cite web |last=Zee |first=Michaela |date=2023-02-21 |title=David Fincher Confirms 'Why Mindhunter' Season 3 is Not Happening at Netflix |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/david-fincher-mindhunter-season-3-not-happening-netflix |access-date=2023-02-27 |website=IGN |language=en-US}}

In June 2017, Jim Gianopulos of Paramount Pictures announced that a sequel to World War Z was "in advanced development" with Fincher and Brad Pitt.{{Cite web|first=Pamela|last=McClintock|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/features/paramounts-jim-gianopulos-starting-his-fox-exit-reviving-a-struggling-studio-1015023/|title=Paramount's Jim Gianopulos on Starting Over, His Fox Exit and Reviving a Struggling Studio|date=June 21, 2017|website=The Hollywood Reporter|access-date=September 12, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170918002426/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/features/paramounts-jim-gianopulos-starting-his-fox-exit-reviving-a-struggling-studio-1015023/|archive-date=September 18, 2017|url-status=live}} Producers Dede Gardner and Jeremy Kleiner said that Fincher would begin directing it in June 2019.{{Cite web|first=Zack|last=Sharf|url=https://collider.com/world-war-z-2-filming-date/|title='World War Z 2' Filming Date Revealed; David Fincher Still Directing|date=October 9, 2018|website=Collider|access-date=October 10, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181010213618/https://collider.com/world-war-z-2-filming-date/|archive-date=October 10, 2018|url-status=live}} However, in February 2019, Paramount cancelled the project.{{Cite web|last=Perez|first=Rodrigo|date=February 6, 2019|title=Paramount Pulls the Plug on David Fincher's 'World War Z' Sequel [Exclusive]|url=https://theplaylist.net/paramount-david-fincher-world-war-z-exclusive-20190206/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190208205703/https://theplaylist.net/paramount-david-fincher-world-war-z-exclusive-20190206/|archive-date=February 8, 2019|access-date=July 18, 2020|website=The Playlist}} As of 2019, Fincher serves as an executive producer for Love, Death & Robots, an animated science-fiction web series for Netflix.{{Cite web|last=Katz|first=Brandon|date=March 11, 2019|title=Exclusive: How David Fincher and Tim Miller's 'Love, Death & Robots' Made the Leap to Netflix|url=https://observer.com/2019/03/david-fincher-tim-miller-love-death-robots-netflix-interview-sxsw-2/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190322034754/https://observer.com/2019/03/david-fincher-tim-miller-love-death-robots-netflix-interview-sxsw-2/|archive-date=March 22, 2019|access-date=January 10, 2020|website=The Observer|language=en-US}}

In July 2019, Fincher signed on to direct Mank, a biopic about Citizen Kane screenwriter Herman J. Mankiewicz, based on a screenplay written by his late father, Jack, with Gary Oldman portraying Mankiewicz. Mank received a limited theatrical release on November 13, 2020, and was made available on Netflix on December 4.{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2019/film/news/david-fincher-gary-oldman-herman-makiewicz-biopic-netflix-1203263923/|title=David Fincher, Gary Oldman Team for Netflix Biopic on 'Citizen Kane' Screenwriter|last=Kroll|first=Justin|date=July 10, 2019|website=Variety|language=en-US|access-date=July 11, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190829175532/https://variety.com/2019/film/news/david-fincher-gary-oldman-herman-makiewicz-biopic-netflix-1203263923/|archive-date=August 29, 2019|url-status=live}}{{Cite magazine|last=Collins|first=K. Austin|date=2020-11-12|title=David Fincher's 'Mank' Brings Old Hollywood Thrills – and Eerie Political Chills|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/movie-reviews/mank-david-fincher-netflix-review-1087631/|access-date=2020-11-15|magazine=Rolling Stone|language=en-US|archive-date=November 13, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201113064120/https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/movie-reviews/mank-david-fincher-netflix-review-1087631/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2020/film/news/david-fincher-mank-netflix-citizen-kane-1234834134/|title=Magnificent Obsession: David Fincher on His Three-Decade Quest to Bring 'Mank' to Life|last=Lang|first=Brett|date=October 30, 2020|website=Variety|language=en-US|access-date=April 3, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201118234347/https://variety.com/2020/film/news/david-fincher-mank-netflix-citizen-kane-1234834134/|archive-date=November 18, 2020|url-status=live}} The film received ten Academy Award nominations, winning two: Best Cinematography and Best Production Design.{{Cite web|title=The 93rd Academy Awards {{!}} 2021|url=https://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/2021|access-date=2022-01-16|publisher=Oscars.org {{!}} Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences|language=en-US}}{{Cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/awards/oscars/mank-more-oscars-citizen-kane/|title='Mank' has won more Oscars than 'Citizen Kane'|last=Lee Lenker|first=Maureen|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|date=April 25, 2021|access-date=April 5, 2025|archive-date=April 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210426030818/https://ew.com/awards/oscars/mank-more-oscars-citizen-kane/|url-status=live}}

Fincher served as an executive producer on a series titled Voir (2021) for Netflix.{{Cite web|title=Netflix Unveils New David Fincher Docuseries 'Voir'|url=https://deadline.com/2021/10/david-fincher-netflix-mystery-series-unveiled-voir-1234855361/|website=Deadline Hollywood|date=October 13, 2021|first=Anthony|last=D'Alessandro|access-date=October 13, 2021}} In 2022, Fincher made his first foray in animation directing an episode for the third season of Love, Death & Robots. The episode, "Bad Travelling", was written by Seven screenwriter Andrew Kevin Walker.{{Cite web|last=Weintraub|first=Steve|date=2022-05-09|title=David Fincher is Directing an Episode of 'Love, Death and Robots' Volume 3|url=https://collider.com/david-fincher-love-death-robots-volume-3-bad-travelling-andrew-kevin-walker/|access-date=2022-05-09|website=Collider|language=en-US}} In February 2021, it was reported that Fincher would direct an adaptation of the graphic novel The Killer for Netflix, with Walker writing the screenplay and Michael Fassbender attached to star.{{Cite web |last=Kroll |first=Justin |date=2021-02-24 |title=David Fincher Reunites with His 'Seven' Screenwriter for Feature Adaptation of 'The Killer' at Netflix; Michael Fassbender Circling Lead Role |url=https://deadline.com/2021/02/david-fincher-seven-screenwriter-the-killer-netflix-michael-fassbender-1234699668/ |access-date=2021-02-26 |website=Deadline Hollywood |language=en-US}} It premiered at the 80th Venice International Film Festival on September 3, 2023,{{Cite web |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/david-finchers-the-killer-standing-ovation-venice-1235581013/ |title=David Fincher's Noir Thriller 'The Killer' Gets Rousing Standing Ovation in Venice |first=Patrick |last=Brzeski |website=The Hollywood Reporter |date=September 3, 2023 |access-date=April 3, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230903201303/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/david-finchers-the-killer-standing-ovation-venice-1235581013/ |archive-date=September 3, 2023 |url-status=live}} began a limited theatrical release on October 27, and was released on Netflix on November 10.{{Cite web |last=Grobar |first=Matt |date=August 30, 2023 |title=Netflix Sets Fall Movie Release Dates for 'The Killer', 'Pain Hustlers', 'Sly', Wes Anderson's 'The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar' & More |url=https://deadline.com/2023/08/netflix-movie-release-dates-fall-2023-1235530889/ |access-date=April 3, 2025 |website=Deadline Hollywood |archive-date=August 30, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230830150931/https://deadline.com/2023/08/netflix-movie-release-dates-2023-1235530889/ |url-status=live}} The film received generally positive reviews from critics.{{Cite news |last=Bradshaw |first=Peter |date=2023-09-03 |title=The Killer review – terrific David Fincher thriller about a philosophising hitman |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2023/sep/03/the-killer-review-terrific-david-fincher-thriller-about-a-philosophising-hitman |access-date=2025-04-09 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}{{Cite web |last=Zacharek |first=Stephanie |date=2023-09-03 |title=Less Is More in David Fincher's Thriller 'The Killer' |url=https://time.com/6310455/the-killer-review-david-fincher/ |access-date=2025-04-09 |website=TIME |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Lattanzio |first=Ryan |date=2023-09-03 |title='The Killer' Review: David Fincher Executes a Sleek If Small Michael Fassbender Thriller Armed with Existential Futility |url=https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/movies/the-killer-review-david-fincher-michael-fassbender-1234901969/ |access-date=2025-04-09 |website=IndieWire |language=en-US}}

In 2024, it was reported that Fincher was interested in working on an American adaptation of the popular Korean series Squid Game and was developing it alongside a Chinatown (1974) prequel miniseries that he co-wrote with the late Robert Towne. It was confirmed in October 2024 that he would develop and work on the Squid Game adaptation for 2025.{{Cite web |last=Kroll |first=Justin |date=2024-10-28 |title=David Fincher Eyeing New 'Squid Game' Series as Next Project at Netflix – The Dish |url=https://deadline.com/2024/10/squid-game-david-fincher-tv-series-1236159538/ |access-date=2024-10-28 |website=Deadline Hollywood |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |url=https://variety.com/2024/film/features/chinatown-50th-anniversary-robert-towne-prequel-david-fincher-1236043979/ |website=Variety |title=As 'Chinatown' Turns 50, Robert Towne Reflects on His Netflix Prequel Plans with David Fincher and Writing Jack Nicholson's Most Iconic Role |last=Murphy |first=J. Kim |date=June 22, 2024 |access-date=June 24, 2024}} In April 2025, it was announced that Fincher would direct a sequel to Quentin Tarantino's Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019), with Tarantino writing the script and Pitt attached to star.{{Cite web |last=Perez |first=Rodrigo |date=April 1, 2025 |title=David Fincher to Direct Brad Pitt in 'Once Upon a Time in Hollywood' Sequel Written by Quentin Tarantino [Exclusive] |url=https://theplaylist.net/david-fincher-to-direct-brad-pitt-in-once-upon-a-time-in-hollywood-sequel-written-by-quentin-tarantino-exclusive-20250401/ |access-date=April 3, 2025 |website=The Playlist |language=en-US}}

Fincher did not attend film school. He has listed filmmakers George Roy Hill, Alfred Hitchcock, Stanley Kubrick, Alan J. Pakula, Ridley Scott, and Martin Scorsese as his major influences.{{Cite web|url=http://www.musicolog.com/fincher_interview.asp|title=David Fincher – musicolog.com|website=www.musicolog.com|access-date=January 12, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200112123044/http://www.musicolog.com/fincher_interview.asp|archive-date=January 12, 2020|url-status=live}} His personal favorite films include Rear Window (1954), Lawrence of Arabia (1962), The Graduate (1967), Paper Moon (1973), American Graffiti (1973), Jaws (1975), All the President's Men (1976), Taxi Driver (1976), Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977), and Zelig (1983).{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiewire.com/2017/06/david-fincher-favorite-movies-list-1201840009/|title=David Fincher's 26 Favorite Movies: See His Top Picks|last1=Righetti|first1=Jamie|date=June 20, 2017|website=IndieWire|language=en|access-date=January 12, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200112123026/https://www.indiewire.com/2017/06/david-fincher-favorite-movies-list-1201840009/|archive-date=January 12, 2020|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://lwlies.com/interviews/david-fincher-mindhunter-netflix-true-crime-series/|title=David Fincher: 'Moviemaking is a rat f*ck, every day is a skirmish'|website=Little White Lies|access-date=January 18, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191103125550/https://lwlies.com/interviews/david-fincher-mindhunter-netflix-true-crime-series/|archive-date=November 3, 2019|url-status=live}} He suggested that his film Panic Room is a combination of Rear Window and Straw Dogs (1971).{{Cite web|url=http://www.bbcamerica.com/anglophenia/2016/10/10-modern-movies-influenced-by-hitchcock|title=10 Modern Movies Influenced by Hitchcock|last=Sommers|first=Kat|publisher=BBC America|language=en-US|access-date=January 12, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190715043350/http://www.bbcamerica.com/anglophenia/2016/10/10-modern-movies-influenced-by-hitchcock|archive-date=July 15, 2019|url-status=live}}

For Seven, Fincher and cinematographer Darius Khondji were inspired by films The French Connection (1971) and Klute (1971), as well as the work of photographer Robert Frank.{{Cite web|url=https://ascmag.com/articles/flashback-seven-1995|title=Seven: Sins of a Serial Killer – The American Society of Cinematographers|website=ascmag.com|access-date=January 12, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200112162646/https://ascmag.com/articles/flashback-seven-1995|archive-date=January 12, 2020|url-status=live}} He has cited graphic designer Saul Bass as an inspiration for his films' title sequences; Bass designed many such sequences for prominent directors, including Hitchcock and Kubrick.{{Cite web|url=https://www.artofthetitle.com/feature/david-fincher-a-film-title-retrospective/|title=David Fincher: A Film Title Retrospective|last1=Perkins|first1=Will|last2=Albinson|first2=Ian|website=www.artofthetitle.com|language=en|access-date=January 12, 2020|last3=Perkins|editor=Ian Albinson Lola Landekic Will|date=August 27, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200109144547/https://www.artofthetitle.com/feature/david-fincher-a-film-title-retrospective/|archive-date=January 9, 2020|url-status=live}}

{{quote box

| align = right

| width = 260px

| quote = Those are the moments where moviemaking is not like writing, and it's not like the theater, and it's not like performance art, and it's not like sculpting. It's truly its own discipline. There's nothing else like it in those moments where you go, wow, here's an intent that was probably never even thought of by the guy who wrote the book. And yet this person who may or may not have even read the source material has found this thing. That, for me, after the previsualization, is the most exciting part of the whole.

| source = —Fincher on serendipity during filmmaking.

}}

Fincher's filmmaking process always begins with extensive research and preparation, although he has said the process is different every time: "I enjoy reading a script that you can see in your head, and then I enjoy the casting and I enjoy the rehearsal, and I enjoy all the meetings about what it should be, what it could be, what it might be." He has admitted to having autocratic tendencies and prefers to micromanage every aspect of a film's production.{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2002/apr/24/artsfeatures2|title=Film: Interview with David Fincher|last=Brooks|first=Xan|date=April 24, 2002|website=The Guardian|access-date=January 15, 2020|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200115142240/https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2002/apr/24/artsfeatures2|archive-date=January 15, 2020|url-status=live}} Icelandic film producer Sigurjón Sighvatsson, with whom Fincher has collaborated for decades, has said that "[Fincher] was always a rebel ... always challenging the status quo".

Known for his perfectionism and meticulous eye for detail, Fincher performs thorough research when casting actors to ensure their suitability for the part. His colleague Max Daly said, "He's really good at finding the one detail that was missed. He knows more than anybody."{{Cite web|url=https://www.esquire.com/features/ESQ0307fincher|title=The Curious Case of David Fincher|last=Mockenhaupt|first=Brian|date=March 1, 2007|website=Esquire|language=en-US|access-date=January 16, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141103063604/http://www.esquire.com/features/ESQ0307fincher|archive-date=November 3, 2014|url-status=live}} Producer Laura Ziskin said of him, "He's just scary smart, sort of smarter than everyone else in the room." He approaches editing like "intricate mathematical problems". Long-time collaborator Angus Wall said that editing Zodiac was like "putting together a Swiss watch ... all the pieces are so beautifully machined". He elaborated, "[Fincher] is incredibly specific. He never settles. And there's a purity that shows in his work."

When working with actors, Fincher is known to demand a grueling series of takes to capture a scene perfectly. For instance, the Zodiac cast members were required to do upwards of 70 takes for certain scenes, much to the displeasure of Jake Gyllenhaal. Rooney Mara had to endure 99 takes for a scene in The Social Network and said that Fincher enjoys challenging people.{{Cite web|url=http://movieline.com/2010/04/30/rooney-mara-david-fincher-made-me-do-99-takes-of-a-single-social-network-scene/|title=Rooney Mara: David Fincher Made Me Do 99 Takes of a Single Social Network Scene|date=April 30, 2010|website=Movieline|language=en-US|access-date=January 16, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190619234356/http://movieline.com/2010/04/30/rooney-mara-david-fincher-made-me-do-99-takes-of-a-single-social-network-scene/|archive-date=June 19, 2019|url-status=live}} Gone Girl averaged 50 takes per scene. In one of the episodes for Mindhunter, it was reported that a nine-minute scene took 11 hours to shoot.{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/mindhunter-david-fincher-cast-filming-season-2-netflix-jonathan-groff-a8382251.html|title=David Fincher made Mindhunter cast shoot one nine-minute scene for 11 hours|date=June 4, 2018|website=The Independent|language=en|access-date=January 12, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200112124859/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/mindhunter-david-fincher-cast-filming-season-2-netflix-jonathan-groff-a8382251.html|archive-date=January 12, 2020|url-status=live}} When asked about this method, Fincher said, "I hate earnestness in performance ... usually by take 17 the earnestness is gone." He added that he wants a scene to be as natural and authentic as possible. Some actors appreciate this approach, arguing that the subtle adjustments have a big difference in the way a scene is carried. Others have been critical, with R. Lee Ermey stating, "[Fincher] wants puppets. He doesn't want actors that are creative."{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiewire.com/2013/10/producer-says-david-fincher-is-averaging-50-takes-per-scene-shooting-gone-girl-248969/|title=Producer Says David Fincher Is Averaging 50 Takes Per Scene Shooting 'Gone Girl'|last1=Jagernauth|first1=Kevin|date=October 24, 2013|website=IndieWire|language=en|access-date=January 16, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191112165238/https://www.indiewire.com/2013/10/producer-says-david-fincher-is-averaging-50-takes-per-scene-shooting-gone-girl-248969/|archive-date=November 12, 2019|url-status=live}}

Fincher prefers shooting with Red digital cameras, under natural or pre-existing light conditions rather than using elaborate lighting setups.{{Cite web|url=https://theasc.com/magazine/nov99/anarchy/pg1.htm|title=Anarchy in the USA – page 1|website=theasc.com|access-date=January 16, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130523000538/http://www.theasc.com/magazine/nov99/anarchy/pg1.htm|archive-date=May 23, 2013|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.diyphotography.net/cinematography-jeff-cronenweth/|title=The Cinematography of Jeff Cronenweth|date=April 11, 2014|website=DIY Photography|language=en-US|access-date=January 16, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190630171103/https://www.diyphotography.net/cinematography-jeff-cronenweth/|archive-date=June 30, 2019|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.engadget.com/2016/02/15/films-cinema-comeback-is-driven-by-nostalgia-not-logic/|title=Film's cinema comeback is driven by nostalgia, not logic|website=Engadget|date=July 19, 2019 |language=en|access-date=January 16, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190808115712/http://www.engadget.com/2016/02/15/films-cinema-comeback-is-driven-by-nostalgia-not-logic/|archive-date=August 8, 2019|url-status=live}} Fincher is known to use computer-generated imagery, which is mostly unnoticeable to the viewer.{{Cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/2017/5/26/15701750/david-fincher-cgi-filmmaking-kaptain-kristian-watch|title=There's a surprising amount of CGI in David Fincher's films|last=Liptak|first=Andrew|date=May 26, 2017|website=The Verge|language=en|access-date=January 17, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201040354/https://www.theverge.com/2017/5/26/15701750/david-fincher-cgi-filmmaking-kaptain-kristian-watch|archive-date=December 1, 2017|url-status=live}} He does not normally use hand-held cameras during filming, instead preferring cameras on a tripod. He said, "Handheld has a powerful psychological stranglehold. It means something specific and I don't want to cloud what's going on with too much meaning." He has experimented with the disembodied camera movement, notably in Panic Room, where the camera glides around the house to give the impression of surveillance by an unseen observer.

One element of Fincher's visual style is the specific way in which he uses tilt, pan, and track in the camera movements. When a character is in motion or expressing emotions, the camera moves at the exact same speed and direction as their body. The movements are choreographed precisely between the actors and camera operators. The resulting effect helps the audience connect with the character to understand their feelings.{{Cite web|url=https://www.polygon.com/2017/11/10/16634700/david-fincher-camera-movement|title=How the director of The Social Network makes his movies look like games|last=Kuchera|first=Ben|date=November 10, 2017|website=Polygon|language=en|access-date=January 16, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180813210322/https://www.polygon.com/2017/11/10/16634700/david-fincher-camera-movement|archive-date=August 13, 2018|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://collider.com/david-fincher-movies-video-essay/|title=Watch: Video Essay Breaks Down How David Fincher's Camera Work Connects You to His Characters|last=Foutch|first=Haleigh|date=October 20, 2017|website=Collider|language=en-US|access-date=January 16, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200108142430/https://collider.com/david-fincher-movies-video-essay/|archive-date=January 8, 2020|url-status=live}} Similarly, in his music videos, Fincher appreciated that the visuals should enhance the listening experience. He would cut around the vocals, and let the choreography finish before cutting the shot. Camera movements are synchronized to the beat of the music.{{Cite web|url=https://nofilmschool.com/2017/02/watch-david-fincher-and-craft-music-videos|title=Watch: What Makes David Fincher One of the Best Music Video Directors of All Time|date=February 17, 2017|website=No Film School|language=en|access-date=January 17, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171103143450/http://nofilmschool.com/2017/02/watch-david-fincher-and-craft-music-videos|archive-date=November 3, 2017|url-status=live}}

Some regard Fincher as an auteur filmmaker, although he dislikes being associated with that term.{{Cite news |last=Rose |first=Steve |date=2023-10-27 |title='Who doesn't think they're an outsider?' David Fincher on hitmen, 'incels' and Spider-Man's 'dumb' origin story |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2023/oct/27/david-fincher-on-hitmen-incels-and-spider-mans-dumb-origin-story |access-date=2025-03-13 |website=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077 |quote=Despite being one of the most renowned and distinctive film-makers in the business, Fincher is not comfortable with being described as an "auteur", or even an artist. "There's this fallacy that film directors come in and explain exactly what it is that they want to see and then they go to their trailer," he says. "And then it's presented to them and they make a few revisions, and then it's trapped in aspic for all eternity. That's just not it. It's much more sock puppetry and daycare and plumbing – you know, pouring concrete. It's a lot more physical labour than people probably imagine.}} Much of his work is influenced by classical film noir and neo noir genres.{{Cite web|url=http://sensesofcinema.com/2003/great-directors/fincher/|title=Fincher, David|last=Lindsay|first=Sean|date=July 25, 2003|website=Senses of Cinema|language=en-US|access-date=January 12, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160922230841/http://sensesofcinema.com/2003/great-directors/fincher/|archive-date=September 22, 2016|url-status=live}} Fincher's visual style also includes using monochromatic and desaturated colors of blue, green, and yellow, representing the world that the characters are in. In The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Fincher uses heavy desaturation for certain scenes, and increases or decreases the effect based on the story or characters' emotions.{{Cite web|url=https://nashawnosborne.com/2013/02/22/achieving-david-finchers-color-palette/|title=Achieving David Fincher's Color Palette|last=Lights|first=Shawn|date=February 22, 2013|language=en|access-date=January 14, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200114211407/https://nashawnosborne.com/2013/02/22/achieving-david-finchers-color-palette/|archive-date=January 14, 2020|url-status=live}} Erik Messerschmidt, cinematographer for Mindhunter, explained the color palette: "The show has a desaturated green-yellow look ... [it] helps give the show its period feel." He states the effect is achieved through production design, costumes, and filming locations—not necessarily through lighting used on set. Fincher also favors detailed and pronounced shadows, as well as using minimal light.{{Cite web|url=https://vashivisuals.com/david-fincher-into-the-darkness-2/|title=David Fincher: Into The Darkness {{!}} VashiVisuals Blog|last1=Nedomansky|first1=Vashi|last2=ACE|language=en-US|access-date=January 14, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200114220605/https://vashivisuals.com/david-fincher-into-the-darkness-2/|archive-date=January 14, 2020|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiewire.com/2017/10/david-fincher-style-zodiac-mindhunter-cinematography-netflix-1201887819/|title=From 'Zodiac' to 'Mindhunter': 5 Visual Elements that Define David Fincher's Cinematic Universe|last=O'Falt|first=Chris|date=October 19, 2017|website=IndieWire|language=en|access-date=January 14, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200114210136/https://www.indiewire.com/2017/10/david-fincher-style-zodiac-mindhunter-cinematography-netflix-1201887819/|archive-date=January 14, 2020|url-status=live}} When asked about his use of dim lighting, he said bright lights make the color of skin appear unnatural, and that the lights and colors in his films represent "the way the world looks to [him]".{{Cite web|url=https://believermag.com/an-interview-with-david-fincher/|title=An Interview with David Fincher|date=October 1, 2010|website=Believer Magazine|language=en-US|access-date=January 15, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200115123433/https://believermag.com/an-interview-with-david-fincher/|archive-date=January 15, 2020|url-status=live}}

Fincher has explored themes of martyrdom, alienation, and dehumanization of both culture and society.{{Cite book|title=The cinema of Generation X : a critical study of films and directors|last=Hanson, Peter, 1969-|date=2002|publisher=McFarland & Company|isbn=978-0-7864-8078-4|location=Jefferson, NC|oclc=606617292}} In addition to the wider themes of good and evil, his characters are usually troubled, discontented, engrossed and flawed outsiders, outcasts, loners and misfits; they are often unable to socialize and suffer from loneliness.{{efn|1=Attributed to multiple sources.{{Cite news |last=Rose |first=Steve |date=2023-10-27 |title='Who doesn't think they're an outsider?' David Fincher on hitmen, 'incels' and Spider-Man's 'dumb' origin story |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2023/oct/27/david-fincher-on-hitmen-incels-and-spider-mans-dumb-origin-story |access-date=2025-03-13 |website=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077 |quote=But there are some recurring themes in his work, such as troubled, outsider white males. They are often violent (as in The Killer and Fight Club), or at least wilfully anti-establishment (Mank, The Social Network), and sometimes serial killers (Seven, Zodiac and the Netflix series Mindhunter). "I honestly believe that the high school quarterback who's dating the homecoming queen cheerleader – even that guy thinks he's an outsider. Who doesn't think that they're an outsider?" he says. "That's the fundamental difference between me and Tim Burton. Tim Burton believes that Edward Scissorhands is an anomaly. I just don't know anybody who doesn't think, in some kind of way, that they're Edward Scissorhands.}}{{Cite news |last=Dargis |first=Manohla |date=2021-01-01 |title=David Fincher, the Unhappiest Auteur |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/01/movies/david-fincher.html |access-date=2025-03-13 |newspaper=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}{{Cite magazine |last=Michaud |first=Jon |date=2010-09-24 |title=Fincher and Sorkin |url=https://www.newyorker.com/books/double-take/fincher-and-sorkin |access-date=2025-03-13 |magazine=The New Yorker |language=en-US |issn=0028-792X |quote=Fincher has always been obsessed with outsiders and rebels, but now, in mid-career, he has transferred that obsession into a subtler, more telling form, with both comic and tragic implications.}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/16432/revisiting-david-fincher's-seven|title=Revisiting David Fincher's Seven|website=Den of Geek|language=en|access-date=January 12, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305010434/http://www.denofgeek.com/movies/16432/revisiting-david-fincher%E2%80%99s-seven|archive-date=March 5, 2016|url-status=live}}{{Cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/gallery/14-signs-its-david-fincher-production/|title=14 Signs It's a David Fincher Production|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|language=en|access-date=January 12, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200112220030/https://ew.com/gallery/14-signs-its-david-fincher-production/|archive-date=January 12, 2020|url-status=live}}{{Cite web |date=2020-12-03 |title=David Fincher: Hollywood's most disturbing director |url=https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20201201-david-fincher-hollywoods-most-disturbing-director |access-date=2025-04-16 |website=www.bbc.com |language=en-GB}}{{Cite journal |last=Schaper |first=B. |date=2022 |title=Conquering the meatspace: the lonely nerd in David Fincher’s The Social Network (2010) and Baran bo Odar’s Who Am I (2014) |url=https://ora.ox.ac.uk/objects/uuid:2812f5ab-3574-4e69-84b7-366510a512f3 |journal=Exchanges: The Interdisciplinary Research Journal |language=English |volume=9 |issue=3}}{{Cite web |date=2010-09-21 |title=Obsessive / Compulsive: "The Social Network" (David Fincher, USA) |url=https://mubi.com/en/notebook/posts/obsessive-compulsive-the-social-network-david-fincher-usa |access-date=2025-04-16 |website=MUBI |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=O'Connell |first=Max |date=2014-09-30 |title=The Films of David Fincher, Ranked From Worst to Best |url=https://www.indiewire.com/features/general/the-films-of-david-fincher-ranked-from-worst-to-best-69562/ |access-date=2025-04-16 |website=IndieWire |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Suderman |first=Peter |date=2023-11-16 |title=David Fincher's 'The Killer' is a subtly funny movie about a loser assassin |url=https://reason.com/2023/11/16/david-finchers-the-killer-is-a-subtly-funny-movie-about-a-loser-assassin/ |access-date=2025-04-16 |website=Reason.com |language=en-US}}}} In Seven, Zodiac, and The Social Network, themes of pressure and obsession are explored, leading to the character's downfall. Quoting historian Frank Krutnik, the writer Piers McCarthy argues that "the protagonists of these films are not totally in control of their actions but are subject to darker, inner impulses".{{Cite web|url=https://thefincheranalyst.com/articles/pressure-and-obsession-in-the-films-of-david-fincher/pressure-and-obsession-in-the-films-of-david-fincher-5/|title=Pressure and Obsession in the Films of David Fincher|date=November 11, 2018|website=The Fincher Analyst|language=en|access-date=January 15, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200115230822/https://thefincheranalyst.com/articles/pressure-and-obsession-in-the-films-of-david-fincher/pressure-and-obsession-in-the-films-of-david-fincher-5/|archive-date=January 15, 2020|url-status=live}}

In a 2017 interview, Fincher explained his fascination of sinister themes: "There was always a house in any neighborhood that I ever lived in that all the kids on the street wondered, 'What are those people up to?' We sort of attach the sinister to the mundane in order to make things interesting ... I think it's also because in order for something to be evil, it almost has to cloak itself as something else."{{Cite news|url=https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/tv/a12775936/david-fincher-2017-interview-mindhunter/|title=David Fincher Is Still Fascinated By Serial Killers|date=2017-10-13|website=Esquire|access-date=2020-01-17|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200111105515/https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/tv/a12775936/david-fincher-2017-interview-mindhunter/|archive-date=January 11, 2020|url-status=live}}{{Cite news |date=2009-01-18 |title=David Fincher |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2009/feb/03/david-fincher-interview-transcript |access-date=2025-03-13 |website=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}} Fincher once stated, "I think people are perverts. I've maintained that. That's the foundation of my career."{{Cite web |url=http://grantland.com/hollywood-prospectus/david-fincher-career-arc-gone-girl-zodiac-social-network-dragon-tattoo-benjamin-button-genre/ |title=David Fincher's Misdirections: The Movies Inside His Movies |first1=Sean |last1=Fennessey |first2=Chris |last2=Ryan |date=October 3, 2014 |website=Grantland |access-date=September 25, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180926014210/http://grantland.com/hollywood-prospectus/david-fincher-career-arc-gone-girl-zodiac-social-network-dragon-tattoo-benjamin-button-genre/ |archive-date=September 26, 2018 |url-status=live}}

File:Reznor Ross G5 setup cropped tight.jpg and Atticus Ross]]

Over the course of his career, Fincher has shown loyalty to many members of his cast and crew. As a music video director, he collaborated with Paula Abdul five times, as well as Madonna and Rick Springfield four times each. Once he made the transition to feature films, he cast Brad Pitt in three of them. He said of Pitt, "On-screen and off-screen, Brad's the ultimate guy ... he has such a great ease with who he is." Bob Stephenson, Michael Massee, Christopher John Fields, John Getz, Elias Koteas, Zach Grenier, Charles Dance, Rooney Mara, Jared Leto, Arliss Howard, and Richmond Arquette have also appeared in at least two of his films.{{Cite web|url=http://thefilmexperience.net/blog/2014/10/7/familiar-faces-the-david-fincher-players.html|title=Familiar Faces: The David Fincher Players – Blog – The Film Experience|website=thefilmexperience.net|language=en|access-date=January 18, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191230220208/http://thefilmexperience.net/blog/2014/10/7/familiar-faces-the-david-fincher-players.html|archive-date=December 30, 2019|url-status=live}}

Fight Club was scored by the Dust Brothers, who at that point had never scored a film. Describing their working relationship with Fincher, they said he "was not hanging over our shoulders telling us what to do" and that the only direction he gave was to make the music sound as great as the score from The Graduate (1967).{{Cite web|url=https://www.kexp.org/read/2015/7/25/inside-pauls-boutique-interview-with-mike-simpson-of-the-dust-brothers/|title=Inside Paul's Boutique: Interview with Mike Simpson of The Dust Brothers|website=www.kexp.org|access-date=January 14, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200114144633/https://www.kexp.org/read/2015/7/25/inside-pauls-boutique-interview-with-mike-simpson-of-the-dust-brothers/|archive-date=January 14, 2020|url-status=live}} Nine Inch Nails members Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross composed the music for The Social Network, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Gone Girl, Mank, and The Killer. The musicians describe their working relationship as "collaborative, respectful, and inspiring" although quipped that it "hasn't gotten any easier".{{Cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/trent-reznor-his-collaborations-david-747095|title=Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross' Billboard/THR Film & TV Conference Keynote Q&A: Watch Highlights|website=The Hollywood Reporter|date=November 6, 2014|language=en|access-date=January 13, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200113214828/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/trent-reznor-his-collaborations-david-747095|archive-date=January 13, 2020|url-status=live}} Many years before the duo worked with Fincher, he arranged for a remix of the Nine Inch Nails song "Closer" to play over the opening credits of Seven. Howard Shore composed the scores for Seven, The Game, and Panic Room.{{Cite web|url=https://chicagoist.com/article/undefined|title=Oscar-Winning Composer Howard Shore Talks Scoring LOTR, 'Naked Lunch' And More|website=The Chicagoist|access-date=January 18, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171106193205/https://chicagoist.com/2013/12/02/the_gathering_of_the_juggalos_leavi.php|archive-date=November 6, 2017|url-status=dead}}

Darius Khondji and Jeff Cronenweth have served as cinematographers for Fincher's films. Khondji said, "Fincher deserves a lot of credit. It was his influence that pushed me to experiment and got me as far as I did." Fincher has hired sound designer Ren Klyce in all his films since 1995 and trusts him "implicitly".{{Cite web|url=https://arts.ucsc.edu/features/featured-alum/sound-designer-and-ucsc-alum-ren-klyce-makes-all-right-noises|title=Sound Designer and UCSC Alum, Ren Klyce, Makes All the Right Noises {{!}} arts.ucsc.edu|website=arts.ucsc.edu|access-date=January 13, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191213025303/https://arts.ucsc.edu/features/featured-alum/sound-designer-and-ucsc-alum-ren-klyce-makes-all-right-noises|archive-date=December 13, 2019|url-status=live}} He has worked with film editor Angus Wall since 1988. Wall has worked on seven of his films, five of which as editor.{{Cite web|url=https://www.artofthetitle.com/designer/angus-wall/|title=Angus Wall|website=www.artofthetitle.com|language=en|access-date=January 13, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190511020041/https://www.artofthetitle.com/designer/angus-wall/|archive-date=May 11, 2019|url-status=live}}

Donald Graham Burt has served as a production designer for six films{{Cite web|url=https://www.motionpictures.org/2014/09/longtime-collaborators-helped-david-fincher-find-gone-girl/|title=The Credits|last=Abrams|first=Bryan|website=www.motionpictures.org|date=September 30, 2014|access-date=January 18, 2020|archive-date=November 14, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201114150139/https://www.motionpictures.org/2014/09/longtime-collaborators-helped-david-fincher-find-gone-girl/|url-status=live}} and Bob Wagner has served as an assistant director for six.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2bb3da6608|title=Bob Wagner|website=BFI|language=en|access-date=January 28, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190419103047/http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2bb3da6608|archive-date=April 19, 2019|url-status=dead}} Casting director Laray Mayfield has worked with Fincher for over 20 years.{{Cite web|url=https://causeforentertainment.com/product/general-meeting-casting-director-laray-mayfield-2/|title=General Meeting with Casting Director Laray Mayfield|website=A Cause for Entertainment|language=en-US|access-date=January 13, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200113214829/https://causeforentertainment.com/product/general-meeting-casting-director-laray-mayfield-2/|archive-date=January 13, 2020|url-status=live}} In a 2010 interview, Fincher said, "You don't have to love all of your co-collaborators, but you do have to respect them. And when you do, when you realize that people bring stuff to the table that's not necessarily your experience, but if you allow yourself to relate to it, it can enrich the buffet that you're going to bring with you into the editing room."

Fincher married model Donya Fiorentino (sister of actress Linda Fiorentino{{Cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YF0EAAAAMBAJ&q=%22the+sister+of+actress+Linda+Fiorentino+and+ex-wife%22&pg=PA22|title=Regrets Only|magazine=Los Angeles|date=May 1997|page=22|access-date=27 January 2023|archive-date=14 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201114150134/https://books.google.com/books?id=YF0EAAAAMBAJ&q=%22the+sister+of+actress+Linda+Fiorentino+and+ex-wife%22&pg=PA22|url-status=live}}). They had one daughter together,{{Cite news|last1=Mottram|first1=James|title=The anti-social network: Why David Fincher is the perfect man for 'The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo'|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/features/the-anti-social-network-why-david-fincher-is-the-perfect-man-for-the-girl-with-the-dragon-tattoo-6277070.html|access-date=August 27, 2016|website=The Independent|date=December 18, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160913121349/http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/features/the-anti-social-network-why-david-fincher-is-the-perfect-man-for-the-girl-with-the-dragon-tattoo-6277070.html|archive-date=September 13, 2016|url-status=live}} before divorcing in 1995.{{Cite news|last1=Walker|first1=Tim|title=David Fincher: All the best connections|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/david-fincher-all-the-best-connections-2101849.html|access-date=August 27, 2016|website=The Independent|date=October 8, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160307220245/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/david-fincher-all-the-best-connections-2101849.html|archive-date=March 7, 2016|url-status=live}}{{Cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YF0EAAAAMBAJ&q=%22the+sister+of+actress+Linda+Fiorentino+and+ex-wife%22&pg=PA22|title=Regrets Only|magazine=Los Angeles|date=May 1997|page=22|access-date=January 27, 2023|archive-date=November 14, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201114150134/https://books.google.com/books?id=YF0EAAAAMBAJ&q=%22the+sister+of+actress+Linda+Fiorentino+and+ex-wife%22&pg=PA22|url-status=live}} Fincher married producer Ceán Chaffin in 1996.{{Cite web|last=Galloway|first=Stephen|date=February 2, 2011|title=David Fincher: The Complex Mind of 'Social Network's' Anti-Social Director|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/david-fincher-complex-mind-social-95704|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200718094258/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/david-fincher-complex-mind-social-95704|archive-date=July 18, 2020|access-date=July 18, 2020|website=The Hollywood Reporter|language=en}}

{{Main|David Fincher filmography}}

{{See also|David Fincher's unrealized projects}}

{{Main|List of awards and nominations received by David Fincher}}

Tim Walker of The Independent praised Fincher's work, stating "His portrayals of the modern psyche have a power and precision that few film-makers can match." In 2003, Fincher was ranked 39th in The Guardian{{'}}s 40 best directors.{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/features/page/0,11456,1082823,00.html|title=40 best directors {{!}} Features {{!}} guardian.co.uk Film|website=The Guardian|access-date=January 18, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190629200059/https://www.theguardian.com/film/features/page/0,11456,1082823,00.html|archive-date=June 29, 2019|url-status=live}} In 2012, The Guardian listed him again in their ranking of 23 best film directors in the world, applauding "his ability to sustain tone and tension".{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2012/sep/01/best-film-directors-world-2012|title=The 23 best film directors in the world today|last1=Catterall|first1=Ali|date=August 31, 2012|website=The Guardian|access-date=January 18, 2020|last2=Lyne|first2=Charlie|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077|last3=Wise|first3=Gwilym Mumford & Damon|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130827055954/http://www.theguardian.com/film/2012/sep/01/best-film-directors-world-2012|archive-date=August 27, 2013|url-status=live}} In 2016, Zodiac and The Social Network appeared in the BBC's 100 Greatest Films of the 21st Century list.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bbc.com/culture/story/20160819-the-21st-centurys-100-greatest-films|title=The 21st Century's 100 greatest films|date=August 23, 2016|publisher=BBC|access-date=January 31, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170131124228/http://www.bbc.com/culture/story/20160819-the-21st-centurys-100-greatest-films|archive-date=January 31, 2017|url-status=live}} In addition to films, Fincher has often been admired for producing some of the most creative music videos.{{Cite web|url=https://www.complex.com/pop-culture/2011/08/the-15-most-accomplished-music-video-directors/|title=The 15 Most Accomplished Music Video Directors15. Marcus Nispel|website=Complex|language=en|access-date=January 18, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190817190706/https://www.complex.com/pop-culture/2011/08/the-15-most-accomplished-music-video-directors/|archive-date=August 17, 2019|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.raindance.org/10-music-video-directors-you-should-know/|title=10 Music Video Directors You Should Know|last=Charles|first=Baptiste|date=August 7, 2015|website=Raindance|language=en-GB|access-date=January 18, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181210162409/http://www.raindance.org/10-music-video-directors-you-should-know/|archive-date=December 10, 2018|url-status=live}}

Fincher received three Academy Award for Best Director nominations for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008), The Social Network (2010), and Mank (2020). He won both the BAFTA Award for Best Direction and the Golden Globe Award for Best Director for The Social Network. He has four nominations for the DGA Award for Outstanding Directing – Feature Film for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008), The Social Network (2010), The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011) and Mank (2020) as well as a nomination for Outstanding Directing – Drama Series for House of Cards (2013). His work on the latter also earned him the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series and the Peabody Award in addition to four nominations for the PGA Award for Best Episodic Drama.

Fincher also received two Grammy Awards for Best Music Video for "Love Is Strong" (1995) by The Rolling Stones and "Suit & Tie" (2013) by Justin Timberlake and Jay-Z as well as three Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Short Form Animated Program for Love, Death & Robots.

Directed Academy Award performances

Under Fincher's direction, these actors have received Academy Award nominations for their performances in the respective roles:

{{Notelist}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{Cite book|editor1-last=Waxman|editor1-first=Sharon|editor1-link=Sharon Waxman|title=Rebels on the Backlot: Six Maverick Directors and How They Conquered the Hollywood Studio System|publisher=HarperEntertainment|year=2005}}

{{sister project links|d=Q184903|c=Category:David Fincher|n=no|b=no|v=no|voy=no|m=no|mw=no|wikt=no|s=no|species=no}}

• {{IMDb name|0000399}}

{{David Fincher|state=expanded}}

{{Navboxes

| title = Awards for David Fincher

| list =

{{BAFTA Award for Best Direction}}

{{Boston Society of Film Critics Award for Best Director}}

{{Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Director}}

{{Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Director}}

{{Dallas–Fort Worth Film Critics Association Award for Best Director}}

{{DirectorsGuildofAmericaAwardCommercials}}

{{EmmyAward DirectingDrama 2001–2025}}

{{Florida Film Critics Circle Award for Best Director}}

{{Golden Globe Award for Best Director}}

{{Honorary César}}

{{Houston Film Critics Society Award for Best Director}}

{{London Film Critics Circle Award for Director of the Year}}

{{Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Director}}

{{MTV Video Music Award for Best Direction}}

{{National Board of Review Award for Best Director}}

{{National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Director}}

{{New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Director}}

{{Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Director}}

{{San Francisco Bay Area Film Critics Circle Award for Best Director}}

{{Satellite Award Best Director}}

{{St. Louis Gateway Film Critics Association Award for Best Director}}

{{TFCA Award for Best Director}}

{{Vancouver Film Critics Circle Award for Best Director}}

{{Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Award for Best Director}}}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Fincher, David}}

Category:1962 births

Category:Living people

Category:American music video directors

Category:Grammy Award winners

Category:People from Ashland, Oregon

Category:Mass media people from Denver

Category:Best Director BAFTA Award winners

Category:Best Director Golden Globe winners

Category:American television directors

Category:Television producers from California

Category:Primetime Emmy Award winners

Category:Television commercial directors

Category:People from San Anselmo, California

Category:Film directors from California

Category:Film producers from California

Category:American horror film directors

Category:Film directors from Colorado

Category:Film directors from Oregon

Category:Film producers from Oregon

Category:MTV Video Music Award winners

Category:Industrial Light & Magic people

Category:American people of German descent

Category:Television producers from Oregon

Category:Postmodernist filmmakers