List of directorial debuts

{{Short description|First feature films by director}}

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This is a list of film directorial debuts in chronological order. The films and dates referred to are a director's first commercial cinematic release. Many filmmakers have directed works which were not commercially released, for example early works by Orson Welles such as his filming of his stage production of Twelfth Night in 1933 or his experimental short film The Hearts of Age in 1934. Often, these early works were not intended for commercial release by intent, such as film school projects or inability to find distribution.

Subsequently, many directors learned their trade in the medium of television as it became popular in the 1940s and 1950s. Notable directors who did their first directorial work in this medium include Robert Altman, Sidney Lumet, and Alfonso Cuarón. As commercial television advertising became more cinematic in the 1960s and 1970s, many directors early work was in this medium, including directors such as Alan Parker and Ridley Scott. With the success of MTV and the popularity of music videos from the early 1980s, this gave another avenue for directors to hone their skills. Notable directors whose early work was in music videos include David Fincher, Jonathan Glazer, Michel Gondry, and Spike Jonze.

The following symbols indicate where a director has worked in another medium prior to directing commercially.

Indicates where a director has created other earlier works for television

# Indicates when a director's earlier work is uncredited

Indicates when a director's earlier work has not been released in cinemas, for example film school productions, short films or music videos.

Refer to individual entries for further detail.

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1870s

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1880s

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  • Louis Le Prince – Man Walking Around a Corner{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-33198686 |title=Louis Le Prince, who shot the world's first film in Leeds |first=Ian |last=Youngs |date=June 23, 2015 |access-date=August 29, 2018 |work=BBC News |publisher=BBC}}

=1889=

1890s

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=1894=

=1896=

  • Alice Guy-Blaché – La Fée aux Choux
  • Georges Méliès – Le Manoir du diable{{cite journal |url=https://journals.openedition.org/1895/3082 |title=Un feu d'artifice improvisé ? Les effets pyrotechniques chez Méliès |first=Jacques |last=Malthête |pages=61–72 |year=2003 |language=fr |issn=1960-6176 |publisher=AFRHC |journal=1895 |issue=39 |doi=10.4000/1895.3082 |isbn=2-913758-31-2}}

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1900s

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1910s

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1920s

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1930s

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1940s

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1950s

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1960s

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1970s

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1980s

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1990s

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2000s

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2010s

{{Table TOC|2010|2011|2012|2013|2014|2015|2016|2017|2018|2019}}

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2020s

{{Table TOC|2020|2021|2022|2023|2024|2025|2026|2027}}

=2020=

=2021=

=2022=

=2023=

=2024=

=2025=

  • Aziz Ansari – Good Fortune{{Cite web|last=D'Alessandro|first=Anthony|date=April 18, 2023|title=Aziz Ansari, Keanu Reeves & Seth Rogen Have Good Fortune With Lionsgate|url=https://deadline.com/2023/04/keanu-reeves-seth-rogen-aziz-ansari-good-fortune-lionsgate-1235329550|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240702065756/https://deadline.com/2023/04/keanu-reeves-seth-rogen-aziz-ansari-good-fortune-lionsgate-1235329550|archive-date=July 2, 2024|website=Deadline Hollywood|publisher=Penske Media Corporation|access-date=December 28, 2024}}
  • Julia Stiles - Wish You Were Here
  • Pete Browngardt – The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie
  • Rob Edwards – Sneaks{{cite magazine|last=Tangcay|first=Jazz|title=Rob Edwards to Make Directorial Debut With Animated Feature 'Sneaks' (EXCLUSIVE)|date=June 3, 2021|magazine=Variety|url=https://variety.com/2021/artisans/news/rob-edwards-directorial-debut-animated-feature-sneaks-1234988139/|accessdate=December 6, 2024}}
  • Jamie Foxx♦† – All-Star Weekend{{cite web |url=https://www.joblo.com/jamie-foxx-leaks-all-star-weekend-trailer/ |title=Jamie Foxx leaks the trailer to his "unreleasable" film All-Star Weekend |website=JoBlo |last=Tangonan |first=EJ |date=August 13, 2024 |access-date=February 11, 2025}}
  • Madeline Sharafian♦† – ElioCo-directed with Domee Shi and Adrian Molina{{Cite web |last=Taylor |first=Drew |date=2024-08-10 |title=Pixar Chief Pete Docter Talks New Elio Directors, Story and Casting Changes {{!}} Exclusive |url=https://www.thewrap.com/elio-pixar-new-directors-story-cast-changes-pete-docter/ |access-date=2024-09-13 |website=TheWrap |language=en-US}}
  • Keith Gomes – Badass Ravi Kumar
  • Paul Stephen Mann – Shiver Me Timbers{{cite web|last=O'Rourke |first=Ryan |title=Popeye the Slayer Man Blows Them All Down in 'Shiver Me Timbers' Horror Movie Trailer |url=https://collider.com/shiver-me-timbers-trailer-popeye/ |website=Collider |date=February 5, 2025 |access-date=March 1, 2025}}
  • Pablo Absento – Bloat

=2026=

  • Tyree Dillihay♦† – Goat{{cite web |last1=D'Alessandro |first1=Anthony |title=Goat: Sony Pictures Animation Sets Release Tied To 2026 NBA All-Star Weekend From Director Tyree Dillihay; Stephen Curry & Erick Peyton's Unanimous Media |url=https://deadline.com/2024/05/sony-pictures-animation-goat-stephen-curry-nba-all-star-weekend-1235944973/ |website=Deadline |access-date=13 September 2024 |date=30 May 2024}}{{cite web |last1=Gajewski |first1=Ryan |title=Sony Sets Animated Sports Comedy GOAT From Stephen Curry for 2026 Release |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/sony-animated-sports-movie-goat-stephen-curry-1235911955/ |website=The Hollywood Reporter |access-date=13 September 2024 |date=30 May 2024}}
  • Erica Rivinoja – The Cat in the HatCo-directed with Alessandro Carloni{{Cite press release |title=Warner Animation Group Dr. Seuss Enterprises Expand World Dr. Seuss Feature Films |date=1 October 2020 |publisher=Warner Bros. |url=https://www.warnerbros.com/news/press-releases/warner-animation-group-dr-seuss-enterprises-expand-world-dr-seuss-feature-films |access-date=13 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201125003155/https://www.warnerbros.com/news/press-releases/warner-animation-group-dr-seuss-enterprises-expand-world-dr-seuss-feature-films |archive-date=November 25, 2020}}
  • Daniel Chong♦† – Hoppers{{Cite web |last=D'Alessandro |first=Anthony |date=August 10, 2024 |title=Pixar Unveils New Film At D23: Hoppers With Jon Hamm & Bobby Moynihan |url=https://deadline.com/2024/08/hoppers-pixar-new-movie-jon-hamm-bobby-moynihan-1236036385/ |access-date=September 13, 2024 |website=Deadline Hollywood|language=en-US}}

=2027=

  • John Rice – The Angry Birds Movie 3{{cite web |last=D'Alessasndro |first=Anthony |title='Angry Birds Movie 3' Is Happening With Jason Sudeikis & Josh Gad Returning |url=https://deadline.com/2024/06/angry-birds-movie-3-jason-sudeikis-josh-gad-1235960545/ |website=Deadline Hollywood |date=June 6, 2024 |access-date=January 3, 2025}}

=Upcoming=

  • Michael Cera† – {{abbr|TBA|To be announced}}{{Cite web |title=Michael Cera Interview: Scott Pilgrim, Barbie, The Adults |url=https://decider.com/2023/08/14/michael-cera-interview-the-adults-scott-pilgrim-barbie/ |access-date=2023-08-16 |language=en-US}}
  • Emily Dean – Tao{{cite web|url=https://www.animationmagazine.net/features/emily-dean-making-feature-directorial-debut-with-sonys-tao/|title=Emily Dean Making Feature Directorial Debut with Sony's 'Tao'|work=Animation Magazine|first=Ramin|last=Zahed|date=June 20, 2019|access-date=October 14, 2020}}
  • John D. Eraklis and Tara Nicole Whitaker – Pierre the Pigeon-Hawk{{Cite web |url=https://womenandhollywood.com/tara-nicole-whitaker-making-feature-directorial-debut-with-animated-pic-pierre-the-pigeon-hawk/|title=Tara Nicole Whitaker Making Feature Directorial Debut with Animated Pic "Pierre the Pigeon-Hawk"|date=August 17, 2021|access-date=October 16, 2023 }}
  • Mark Fischbach†♦ – Iron Lung{{cite web |last=Grobar |first=Matt |date=April 21, 2023 |title=Markiplier To Star In & Direct Horror Film Iron Lung From His Own Script; Self-Financed Feature Adapts David Szymanski Video Game |url=https://deadline.com/2023/04/markiplier-to-star-in-direct-horror-film-iron-lung-from-his-own-script-1235333152/ |accessdate=May 1, 2023 |work=Deadline Hollywood |archive-date=April 21, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230421164813/https://deadline.com/2023/04/markiplier-to-star-in-direct-horror-film-iron-lung-from-his-own-script-1235333152/ |url-status=live }}
  • Joséphine Japy – The Wonderers{{Cite web |first=Melanie |last=Goodfellow |date=4 September 2024 |title=Pulsar Content Boards Joséphine Japy's 'The Wonderers' With Mélanie Laurent, Pierre-Yves Cardinal & Angelina Woreth |url=https://deadline.com/2024/09/pulsar-content-boards-josephine-japy-the-wonderers-melanie-laurent-pierre-yves-cardinal-angelina-woreth-1236077420/ |website=Deadline Hollywood}}
  • Keith Jardine† – Killer Kafé{{cite web |url=https://www.koat.com/article/first-movie-begins-filming-new-mexico-sag-aftra-strike/46123353 |title=First movie begins filming in New Mexico since SAG AFTRA strike |website=KOAT |first=John |last=Cardinale |date=December 13, 2023 |access-date=December 16, 2023}}
  • Scarlett Johansson† – Eleanor the Great{{cite web|title=Scarlett Johansson's Directorial Debut 'Eleanor the Great' Sets Cast: June Squibb, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Jessica Hecht (EXCLUSIVE) |url=https://variety.com/2024/film/news/scarlett-johansson-eleanor-the-great-june-squibb-chiwetel-ejiofor-1235920682/ |website=Variety |first=Rebecca |last=Rubin |date=February 23, 2024 |accessdate=February 23, 2024}}
  • Jonathan Krisel – untitled Sesame Street film{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2018/film/news/sesame-street-movie-director-jonathan-krisel-portlandia-1202961279/|title='Sesame Street' Movie Taps 'Portlandia' Co-Creator Jonathan Krisel as Director (EXCLUSIVE)|work=Variety|first=Justin|last=Kroll|date=September 30, 2018|accessdate=September 30, 2018|archive-date=September 29, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180929194834/https://variety.com/2018/film/news/sesame-street-movie-director-jonathan-krisel-portlandia-1202961279/|url-status=live}}
  • Minkyu Lee† – The Witch Boy{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2021/01/the-witch-boy-netflix-oscar-nominated-minkyu-lee-animated-musical-1234682006/|title='The Witch Boy': Netflix To Release Animated Musical From Oscar-Nominated Director Minkyu Lee|work=Deadline Hollywood|first=Alexandra Del|last=Rosario|date=January 28, 2021|accessdate=December 20, 2022|archive-date=February 4, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210204114412/https://deadline.com/2021/01/the-witch-boy-netflix-oscar-nominated-minkyu-lee-animated-musical-1234682006/|url-status=live}}
  • Jeremy Slater – Thread: An Insidious Tale
  • Rob Sorrenti† – Angels in the Asylum{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2025/01/aurora-perrineau-joins-angels-in-the-asylum-rob-sorrenti-1236271629/|website=Deadline Hollywood|access-date=27 March 2025|title= Aurora Perrineau Joins Katherine Waterston, Simon Pegg & Minnie Driver In Drama 'Angels In The Asylum'|first=Matt|last=Grobar|date=January 29, 2025}}
  • Kristen Stewart† – The Chronology of Water{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2022/11/kristen-stewart-scott-free-the-chronology-of-water-imogen-poots-1235173334/|title=Kristen Stewart To Direct Scott Free's Adaptation Of 'The Chronology Of Water' Starring Imogen Poots|work=Deadline Hollywood|first=Justin|last=Kroll|date=November 16, 2022|access-date=November 16, 2022}}

See also

Notes

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References

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Directorial debuts}}

Debut