Without directors, there would be no movies in cinemas. Over the years, some names have proven to be particularly successful, especially when it comes to box office revenue. But who is in the lead?
Movies can provide good entertainment, challenging art, or something in between. For studios and production companies, however, another aspect is very important: financial success.
Only in this way can more films be made and cinemas as a whole survive. Especially in Hollywood, since the 1980s, there has been a specialization in large blockbusters. They are supposed to attract the masses to theaters and generate a lot of money. Over the years, some directors have proven to be quite reliable when it comes to delivering one hit after another.
The following ranking is therefore based on hard numbers and is current as of August 2025. Besides the actual names and their box office results, you will also learn how many films the person has directed and which one was the most successful.
Rank 10: J.J. Abrams
- Worldwide box office revenue: 3.949 billion €
- Number of films: 6
- Most successful film: Star Wars: The Force Awakens (1.763 billion €)
J.J. Abrams has gained much experience in film, but also in television with series like Lost. For a while, he was regarded as a new Steven Spielberg because he stylistically came quite close to his idol. This is particularly evident in his film Super 8, which is a love letter to Spielberg and the cinema of the 80s.
With blockbusters like Mission Impossible 3, the reboot of Star Trek, and of course Star Wars 7 and 9, he ensured high box office results. Particularly the latter films were heavily criticized by fans, but that did not make them less successful. In addition to his work as a director, Abrams also serves as a screenwriter and producer.
