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.
#24
Edgar Wright
Much like Quentin Tarantino (whose 21st century average is 74, by the way), British director Edgar Wright's love of cinema—and music—comes through in every film he writes and directs. Previously best known for his "Three Flavours Cornetto trilogy" of genre spoofs, Wright just scored his biggest critical and commercial hit to date with the action-musical-thriller Baby Driver.
Wright has also had success in television, directing the two-season cult UK hit comedy Spaced, which pairs the director with his frequent collaborator Simon Pegg.
| Films directed, 2000-2017 | ||
|---|---|---|
| ▣ | Baby Driver | 2017 |
| ▣ | Hot Fuzz | 2007 |
| ▣ | The World's End | 2013 |
| ▣ | Shaun of the Dead | 2004 |
| ▣ | Scott Pilgrim vs. the World | 2010 |