25 Best Film Directors of the 21st Century (So Far)
Which directors have received the best reviews from professional critics since 2000? Find out below, where we rank this century's top filmmakers by their average Metascores.
To be included, a director must have four or more eligible films. Such films have seven or more reviews from professional critics and were first released (in any country) on or after January 1, 2000, and must have been released (including as a straight-to-Netflix streaming release) at some point in the USA. Multi-director anthology films are excluded, as are theatrical re-releases of older films. Averages were calculated using Metascores from July 12, 2017, and include films released through July 7, 2017.
#1
Alfonso Cuarón
The century's most critically acclaimed filmmaker is certainly not among the most prolific directors, though the Mexico City native does stay busy as a producer. His next project, the 2018 period family drama Roma, is a departure from his recent genre fare.
| Films directed, 2000-2017 | ||
|---|---|---|
| ▣ | Gravity | 2013 |
| ▣ | Y Tu Mamá También | 2001 |
| ▣ | Children of Men | 2006 |
| ▣ | Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban | 2004 |