Directing duos whose ideas mesh together well can provide some highly entertaining, thought-provoking, and even awe-inspiring films, some with a scope that's too big for any single person to handle. Furthermore, each director in the duo can bring a unique perspective to a project, allowing for a bit of extra diversity in a film's range.
From independent filmmakers to documentarians, to blockbuster specialists, directing duos can be found in all corners of the film space. Some from the list below have shaped the course of cinematic history, while others are just starting to make their mark on Hollywood in a big way.
10 The Duplass Brothers - Jeff, Who Lives at Home (2011)
The Duplass brothers, Jay and Mark, had already begun making a name for themselves on the indie circuit as writers, directors, and producers, with 3 quirky films prior to releasing their standout feature, Jeff, Who Lives at Home. The film stars Jason Segel as Jeff, a 30-year old slacker who lives at home, trying to find a purpose for his life. Jeff suspects his brother's wife is being unfaithful and begins to track her movements as a type of cathartic exercise to re-discover himself.
Jeff, Who Lives at Home is a charming film with relatable characters that features an offbeat storyline. The same can be said for nearly all of the Duplass brothers' films, including the many they've produced but haven't directed. The duo have carved out their own niche in the industry, which has been met with high regard.
9 Joe Berlinger & Bruce Sinofsky - Metallica: Some Kind of Monster (2004)
Joe Berlinger and the late Bruce Sinofsky began their careers directing enthralling true crime documentaries, most notable of which was 1996's Paradise Lost: The Child Murders at Robin Hood Hills. The pair then decided to cover the biggest heavy metal band in the world, Metallica, who were in the middle of a career crisis.
Some Kind of Monster released in 2004 and was highly lauded by critics and loved by fans due to its raw, emotionally powerful look at a band who'd reached the pinnacle of the music industry and had nowhere to go but down. The success of the film can be credited to Berlinger's and Sinofsky's ability to evoke a sincerity from the band members, exposing them as normal people.
8 The Safdie Brothers - Uncut Gems (2019)
Benny and Josh Safdie were relatively unknown until they were able to secure Adam Sandler to star in their latest film, Uncut Gems. In it, Sandler plays Howard Ratner, a scheming New York jeweler who's up to his neck in gambling debt. The film follows Ratner's wheeling-and-dealing ways as he tries to recover the funds to pay back money owed to some gangsters.
Uncut Gems put the Safdie brothers into the spotlight with their nailbiting directing style, keeping audiences on the edge of their seat while showing that Adam Sandler can do more than just comedy. The film, and Sandler, were famously snubbed at the 2020 Oscars, adding that little bit of extra notoriety to the young directing duo and their amazing film.
7 Ryan Fleck & Anna Boden - Captain Marvel (2019)
Ryan Fleck and Anna Boden began their career with the critically acclaimed Ryan Gosling drama Half Nelson in 2006, with Fleck co-writing and directing and Boden co-writing and producing. Following that, the pair teamed up as directors on 3 films before landing the gig of a lifetime, being called on by Marvel to helm their first female-led superhero film, Captain Marvel.
Brie Larson took on the coveted lead role as Captain Marvel - one of the MCU's most powerful, intergalactic superheroes. The film was a huge success for the powerhouse studio and its relatively unknown directing team, and while they're not scheduled to return for the sequel, the success of Captain Marvel has put them on Hollywood's radar.
6 The Hughes Brothers - Menace II Society (1993)
While it takes some directing duos a few films before breaking out with a hit, Albert and Allen Hughes did it with their debut film, 1993's crime-drama, Menace II Society. The film is set in a Californian project district and follows the life of one of its young residents, as he tries to escape the violence and crime-riddled culture he's been raised in.
The film is an unflinching look at life in a suburban ghetto that doesn't hold back in its depiction of crime and violence. It went on to become a cult classic, one whose raw portrayal of this particular subculture has yet to be matched.
5 Phil Lord & Chris Miller - The Lego Movie (2014)
Phil Lord and Chris Miller broke out on the scene with 2009's highly entertaining animated film Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs. They followed that up with the cinematic reboot of the cult TV classic, 21 Jump Street in 2012, though it wouldn't be until the smash-hit success of 2014's The Lego Movie that would cement their status as a directing duo to look out for.
This talented pair earned the chance to direct the Solo origin film for Disney in 2018 but pulled out due to creative differences. This didn't hurt their reputation, however, as they've written and produced a couple of hits since then, with more directing work scheduled for their near futures.
4 The Farrelly Brothers - There's Something About Mary (1998)
Peter and Bobby Farrelly are commonly known for directing hilarious comedy films, with 1998's There's Something About Mary putting them on the map. This cheeky comedy film saw Ben Stiller and Matt Dillon fighting for the affection of Cameron Diaz's Mary, in a role that made her famous.
The duo continued writing and directing popular, yet somewhat divisive comedy films like Me, Myself & Irene, Shallow Hal, and Hall Pass, and they even directed a sequel to their cult classic comedy film Dumb and Dumber in 2014 with Dumb and Dumber To. With over 25 years of directing experience, the Farrelly brothers can always be relied on to provide audiences with plenty of entertainment value from their films.
3 The Russo Brothers - Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)
The Russo brothers are the hottest ticket in town in 2020, coming off the success of Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame, with the latter becoming the highest-grossing movie of all time. After an 8 year hiatus from directing following 2006's You, Me and Dupree, the pair came back in a big way with Captain America: The Winter Soldier for Marvel.
The Russo's brought a mini reinvention to the MCU with their film The Winter Soldier, showcasing to fans that Marvel properties can work extremely well in a self-contained format with a tight script, under tight direction. Their style impressed everyone that saw the film, securing their future with Marvel where they would go on to make movie history.
2 The Wachowskis - The Matrix (1999)
Lana and Lilly Wachowski changed the science-fiction movie landscape forever with their thought-provoking hit film The Matrix. The film stars Keanu Reeves as a computer hacker who discovers that he, alongside the rest of humanity are living their lives plugged into a computer simulation. This revelation takes him down an action-filled path to discover the truth behind what is known as, The Matrix.
The film was not only loved for its epic, inventive action sequences but also for its philosophical themes. Since its release in 1999, the themes of The Matrix have been deconstructed countless times, with each new deconstruction adding an extra layer of depth to the mythology behind the film.
1 The Coen Brothers - No Country for Old Men (2007)
With films like Fargo and The Big Lebowski to their name, the Coen brothers have several films that are considered to have made them famous. While the above-mentioned films are bonafide classics, it wasn't until 2007's No Country for Old Men which gave the Coen brothers an extra level of credibility amongst their peers and in the industry.
No Country for Old Men is a true cinematic masterpiece that won the brothers an Oscar for best directing. It's arguably the Coens' greatest film from a list of already-remarkable films. The Coens have been making movies for over 30 years, and whether they're directing, writing, producing, or all of the above, their work always sets the example of what a directing duo is capable of.
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