The box office serves as a major tool to decide the success or failure of any film. It also decides the ranking of actors, directors and studios in the film business. While Pinkvilla has already reported the highest-grossing actors of all time, here we take you to the list of numbers that reveal which film director tops the list of highest-grossing directors of all time at the worldwide box office.
The 7 highest-grossing directors of all time
-
Steven Spielberg
Steven Spielberg is one of the most popular filmmakers around the world. This Hollywood legend has been active in the film industry since the 1960s and has given audiences many memorable blockbusters. Spielberg is considered to be the most successful film director in the world. Undoubtedly, he is at the top of the highest-grossing film directors of all time.
Considering his commercial successes, Steven Spielberg’s rich filmography has generated a total box office collection of US$10.75 billion globally, a large portion of which was contributed by Jaws, the Jurassic Park franchise, and the Indiana Jones franchise.
The critically acclaimed veteran filmmaker won three Academy Awards, two Bafta Awards, four Golden Globe Awards, among many other accolades in his career spanning 60 years.
2. James Cameron
James Cameron is the second most successful film director in the world. The Hollywood veteran has won both commercial and critical acclaim for films such as Titanic, the Avatar franchise, Aliens, The Terminator and its sequels. Cameron has been active in the industry since the 1970s and has won numerous awards during his career.
Although the filmmaker has directed fewer movies than Steven Spielberg, he has still managed to garner a total box office collection of US$8.7 billion, making him the second highest-grossing director of all time.
Cameron directed the first film to gross over $1 billion (Titanic), the first two films to gross over $2 billion (Titanic and Avatar), and is the only director to have three films gross over $2 billion (Titanic, Avatar, and Avatar 2).
3. Anthony Russo
Anthony Russo is the third highest-grossing film director of all time. He works with his brother Joe Russo and together they are collectively known as the Russo Brothers. Anthony has directed nine films with his brother. The total box office collection of their brilliant films is US$6.79 billion.
The duo has directed four films in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, including Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Captain America: Civil War, Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame. Both Avengers films contributed the most to their cumulative box office collections.
4. Joe Russo
Joseph Russo (Joe Russo) has secured the fourth spot in the list of highest-grossing directors of all time. While Joe and Anthony share the same gross collection of USD 6.79 billion, the difference in ranking is due to the average business per film. Apart from directing 9 films together, Joe has directed one film alone.
For those who don’t know, the Russo Brothers are reuniting to direct the next two installments of the Marvel Cinematic Universe – Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars.
5. Peter Jackson
Peter Jackson ranks fifth among the highest-grossing directors of all time. The three-time Academy Award-winning filmmaker has earned numerous accolades in his career. Jackson is best known for directing the iconic The Lord of the Rings trilogy and The Hobbit trilogy, which cemented his place among cinema’s legends. Reportedly, his films have grossed over US$6.54 billion worldwide.
Peter Jackson’s other notable works include Heavenly Creatures, The Frighteners, and King Kong. He has also directed short films, documentaries, and acted in several projects.
6. Michael Bay
Michael Bay is the sixth-highest-grossing director of all time. The American filmmaker is best known for directing big-budget films such as Bad Boys 1 and 2, the first five films in the Transformers franchise, The Rock, and Pearl Harbor.
With a global gross of over US$6.49 billion, Michael Bay is one of the most commercially successful directors in cinema history.
7. David Yates
David Yates ranks seventh among the highest-grossing directors of all time. The acclaimed filmmaker is best known for directing several films in the iconic Harry Potter series. He directed the final four films in the Harry Potter franchise, as well as three films in its prequel series, the Fantastic Beasts franchise.
David Yates’ films have grossed over US$6.33 billion worldwide, making him one of the most successful film directors of all time.
The following is a list of the highest-grossing directors of all time:
| Rank | Director | WW Total Box Office |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Steven Spielberg | US$10.70 billion |
| 2 | James Cameron | US$8.70 billion |
| 3 | Anthony Russo | US$6.79 billion |
| 4 | Joe Russo | US$6.79 billion |
| 5 | peter jackson | US$6.54 billion |
| 6 | Michael Bay | US$6.49 billion |
| 7 | David Yates | US$6.33 billion |
In addition to the above-mentioned film directors, some other notable filmmakers whose filmographies have made a mark at the box office include Christopher Nolan, J.J. Abrams, Ridley Scott, and Tim Burton.
If you liked reading this, you can also check out the list of highest-grossing actors of all time at the global box office. Stay tuned to Pinkvilla for more updates!
Disclaimer: The box office figures are compiled from various sources and our own research. The figures may be approximate, and Pinkvilla makes no claims about the authenticity of the data. However, they are a fair indication of the box-office performance of the respective films.
Also read: 7 highest-grossing actors of all time: Samuel Jackson, Robert Downey Jr., Tom Cruise and others
