Outside of lead actors, directors are one of the first names you notice when a new movie comes out. People are more likely to see an action movie made by Stephen Spielberg than John Smith, or a romance by Nora Ephron rather than Jane Johnson. Some directors are instantly recognizable by their style, like Tim Burton or Guillermo del Torro, while others add signature effects to their work like David Fincher or Darren Aronofsky.
Directors that can shape the way we think and feel about our world hold special places in our hearts. But how much do you know about these iconic filmmakers? These movie giants have shaped and influenced the cultural landscape as we know it – and they’ve got the stories to prove it. If you think you know these directors and all their fun facts, check out our director trivia questions and answers.
Want more movie trivia? Try our wide variety of movie trivia like movie quotes and our Quentin Tarantino. Ready, set, and…action!
Which Eric Clapton song is used in Martin Scorsese’s movie ‘Goodfellas’ (1990)?
Cocaine’
Wonderful Tonight’
White Room’
Sunshine of Your Love’
Which was Woody Allen’s first film as director?
Take The Money And Run
What’s Up, Tiger Lily?
Bananas
What’s New, Pussycat?
For which movie did Joel Coen win an Academy Award for Best picture?
O Brother, Where Art Thou?’ (2000)
True Grit’ (2010)
Fargo’ (1996)
No Country for Old Men’ (2007)
Which Italian is the first director to be nominated for the Academy Award for Best director?
Pietro Germi
Michelangelo Antonioni
Federico Fellini
Gillo Pontecorvo
How is the actress Ingrid Bergman related to the director Ingmar Bergman?
his wife
not related
his niece
his daughter
For which movie did John Ford win his last Academy Award for Best director?
How Green Was My Valley’ (1941)
The Informer’ (1935)
Gideon of Scotland Yard’ (1958)
The Quiet Man’ (1952)
For which movie did Danny Boyle win The Academy Award, the Golden Globe, Director’s Guild and BAFTA for Best director?
127 Hours’ (2010)
Slumdog Millionaire’ (2008)
Sunshine’ (2007)
The Beach’ (2000)
Who was the director of A Beautiful Mind?
Peter Jackson
Ridley Scott
Ron Howard
David Lynch
Which of these won the Best Director Oscar EARLIER than the others?
Woody Allen
Milos Foreman
Warren Beatty
Oliver Stone
Who was the director of ‘The Hunger Games’?
Gore Verbinski
Steven Spielberg
George Lucas
Gary Ross
Who was the director of Life of Pi?
Ang Lee
Tom Hooper
Danny Boyle
Kathryn Bigelow
Which director famously directed the 1984 Macintosh ad?
Jonathan Ive
James Cameron
Ridley Scott
Steven Spielberg
What is Steven Spielberg’s middle name?
Allan
Mills
George
Bob
Who was the director of Milk?
Gus Van Sant
Steven Spielberg
Quentin Tarantino
David O. Russell
For which of these movies did Quentin Tarantino win an Academy Award for Best writing, original screenplay?
Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood’ (2019)
True Romance’ (1993)
Django Unchained’ (2012)
Inglourious Basterds’ (2009)
Who directed the film ‘Unforgiven’?
Steven Spielberg
Clint Eastwood
Johnathan Demme
Martin Scorsese
Who was the director of ‘Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest’?
Christopher Nolan
Gore Verbinski
Steven Spielberg
George Lucas
Which was the last of these Woody Allen movies to be released?
Annie Hall
Hannah and Her Sisters
Sleeper
Bullets Over Broadway
In which of these Peter Jackson’s movies was Cate Blanchett not part of the cast?
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug’ (2013)
Hot Fuzz’ (2007)
The Lovely Bones’ (2009)
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring’ (2001)
In which of these Sidney Lumet movies was Sean Connery not part of the cast?
The Hill’ (1965)
The Appointment’ (1969)
The Anderson Tapes’ (1971)
Murder on the Orient Express’ (1974)
In which of these George Cukor’s movies was Katharine Hepburn not part of the cast?
A Bill of Divorcement’ (1932)
Pat and Mike’ (1952)
A Star Is Born’ (1954)
The Philadelphia Story’ (1940)
Which of these actors won an Academy Award for his performance in an Elia Kazan’s movie?
Gregory Peck
Rod Steiger
Lee J. Cobb
Marlon Brando
Which of these movies by Martin Scorsese was released Earliest?
Goodfellas
Gangs of New York
Casino
Cape Fear
Which director has won the most Academy Awards for Best director?
Howard Hawks
William Wyler
John Ford
Frank Capra
Which director has been nominated a record 12 times for the Academy Award for best director?
John Ford
William Wyler
Stanley Kubrick
Alfred Hitchcock
Which actress has been married to film directors David Lynch and Martin Scorsese?
Barbara Windsor
Vanessa Redgrave
Isabella Rossellini
Julie Goodyear
Who was the director of The Pianist?
Roman Polanski
Sofia Coppola
George Clooney
Peter Weir
In which of these Ridley Scott movies was Russell Crowe not part of the cast?
Black Hawk Down’ (2001)
A Good Year’ (2006)
American Gangster’ (2007)
Gladiator’ (2000)
Martin Scorsese: Which of these Scorsese movies was released first?
Cape Fear
The Color of Money
Goodfellas
Casino
The action of which Martin Scorsese’s movie is not about the mob?
Goodfellas’ (1990)
Casino’ (1995)
Mean Streets’ (1973)
Raging Bull’ (1980)
Which actor/director was behind the films ‘Annie Hall’ and ‘Manhattan’?
Quentin Tarantino
Clint Eastwood
Woody Allen
Kenneth Brannagh
Who was the director of Mulholland Drive?
David Lynch
Pedro Almodóvar
Ridley Scott
Peter Jackson
Classic TV series Columbo helped launch the career of which of these celebrated directors?
Francis Ford Coppola
Robert Redford
Martin Scorsese
Steven Spielberg
Which movie director has made the video for Madonna’s song ‘Vogue’?
David Fincher
Tony Scott
Danny Boyle
Martin Scorsese
For which movie did Michael Curtiz win an Academy Award for Best director?
Angels with Dirty Faces’ (1938)
Casablanca’ (1942)
Four Daughters’ (1938)
Yankee Doodle Dandy’ (1942)
The 2002 film, ‘The Pianist’, won ‘Best Director’, but who directed it?
David Lynch
Rob Marshall
Roman Polanski
Ang Lee
Where was Ang Lee born?
Japan
Taiwan
China
South Korea
The term ‘paparazzi’ comes from a character named Paparazzo from which Federico Fellini’s movie?
Fellini’s Casanova’ (1976)
Nights of Cabiria’ (1957)
Juliet of the Spirits’ (1965)
La Dolce Vita’ (1960)
Who was the director of Lincoln?
Steven Spielberg
Kathryn Bigelow
Ang Lee
Tom Hooper
Who was the director of the first Spider-Man trilogy?
Shane Black
Alan Taylor
Sam Raimi
J. J. Abrams
What was the name of the character played by Quentin Tarantino in his movie ‘Pulp Fiction’ (1994)?
Jules Winnfield
Jimmie Dimmick
Vincent Vega
Marsellus Wallace
For which movie did Roman Polanski win the Academy Award for Best director?
The Pianist’ (2002)
Chinatown’ (1974)
Tess’ (1979)
Rosemary’s Baby’ (1968)
Which of these won the Best Director Oscar EARLIER than the others?
Ron Howard
Peter Jackson
Sam Mendes
Ang Lee
For which movie was Howard Hawks nominated for the Academy Awards for best director?
Red Line 7000′ (1965)
Sergeant York’ (1941)
Rio Bravo’ (1959)
Red River’ (1948)
Which film director is nicknamed the ‘Godfather of Zombies’?
John Landis
George A. Romero
John Carpenter
David Cronenberg
Which film won the Academy Award for Best Director in 1965?
Stanley Donen
William Wyler
Jerome Robbins
Robert Wise
Where was Roman Polanski born?
Cairo
Beirut
Paris
Warsaw
Who was the director of Talk to Her?
M. Night Shyamalan
John Madden
Pedro Almodóvar
Terrence Malick
Who won the Oscar for Best Director BEFORE the others?
Warren Beatty
Clint Eastwood
Barry Levinson
Oliver Stone
What was the last movie Woody Allen won an Academy Award for?
Blue Jasmine’ (2013)
Deconstructing Harry’ (1997)
Match Point’ (2005)
Midnight in Paris’ (2011)
Which actor produced the 2007 movie ‘Juno’ ?
John Malkovich
John Cusack
Edward Norton
Gabriel Byrne
In which Martin Scorsese movie did David Bowie makes an appearance?
The King of Comedy’ (1982)
The Last Temptation of Christ’ (1988)
The Color of Money’ (1986)
New York, New York’ (1977)
What was Charles Chaplin’s middle name?
Charlie
Spencer
William
Haywood
Which famous actress is Francis Ford Coppola’s sister?
Raquel Welch
Holland Taylor
Charmian Carr
Talia Shire
Who was the director of the 1951 movie The Day the Earth Stood Still?
Robert Wise
Richard Fleischer
Bryon Haskin
Henry Levin
Which 2004 film, directed by Mike Nicholls concerns two obsessive couples whose intimacy pushes them further apart?
The Breakfast Club
Closer
Carnal Knowledge
Stranger Than Fiction
Who was the director of Michael Clayton?
Clint Eastwood
Martin Scorsese
Tony Gilroy
Joel and Ethan Coen
Who was the director of ‘Inglourious Basterds’?
David O. Russell
Quentin Tarantino
Steven Spielberg
Ang Lee
Who was the director of ‘Black Hawk Down’?
Peter Jackson
Ridley Scott
John Madden
Pedro Almodóvar
Who directed the film ‘JFK’?
James Cameron
David Lynch
Kevin Costner
Oliver Stone
Who was the director of The Hurt Locker?
Kathryn Bigelow
David Fincher
Paul Thomas Anderson
Danny Boyle
Who was the director of ‘Million Dollar Baby’?
Rob Marshall
Martin Scorsese
Clint Eastwood
Joel and Ethan Coen
For which of his movies did Oliver Stone win the Academy Award, the Golden Globe, Director’s Guild and BAFTA?
Platoon’ (1986)
Nixon’ (1995)
Born on the Fourth of July’ (1989)
JFK’ (1991)
In 2010, which airline removed film director Kevin Smith from a plane because he was too obese to fly?
Delta
AirTran
Continental
Southwest
Which actor plays a role in six consecutive Christopher Nolan’s movies?
Michael Caine
John Lithgow
Liam Neeson
Matthew McConaughey
Who was the director of Chicago?
Peter Weir
Sofia Coppola
Rob Marshall
Roman Polanski
For which of these movies was Ridley Scott not nominated for an Academy Award for Best director?
The Martian’ (2015)
Thelma & Louise’ (1991)
Black Hawk Down’ (2001)
Gladiator’ (2000)
Who directed the Oscar winning film ‘A Beautiful Mind’?
Mel Gibson
Peter Jackson
Clint Eastwood
Ron Howard
In which of these Francis Ford Coppola’s movies was Diane Lane not part of the cast?
Jack’ (1996)
The Outsiders’ (1983)
Gardens of Stone’ (1987)
Rumble Fish’ (1983)
What is the middle name of the director James Cameron?
David
William
Stephen
Francis
Martin Scorsese won his first Golden Globe award for Best director for which movie?
Gangs of New York’ (2002)
Raging Bull’ (1980)
Casino’ (1995)
Goodfellas’ (1990)
Oliver Stone was not nominated for an Academy Award for Best director for which of these movies?
Midnight Express’ (1978)
JFK’ (1991)
Born on the Fourth of July’ (1989)
Platoon’ (1986)
Who was the director of ‘Titanic’?
Rob Marshall
John Lasseter
Jon Favreau
James Cameron
Which of these actors have won an Academy Award for his performance in a William Wyler movie?
James Stephenson
Walter Pidgeon
Anthony Perkins
Walter Brennan
Who was the director of ‘American Beauty’?
David Lynch
Ron Howard
Sam Mendes
Steven Soderbergh
Which song title was also a David Lynch film?
Blue Velvet
Red Red Wine
White Rabbit
Green River
Who directed and played the title role in the 1989 adaptation of Shakespeare’s ‘Henry V’?
Greg Wise
Chris Pine
Kevin Kline
Kenneth Branagh
What is the name of Ridley Scott’s brother who is also a movie director?
Andrew
Tony
William
Rory
Who directed the 2009 adaptation of ‘Watchmen’?
Christopher Nolan
Ben Affleck
Frank Miller
Zack Snyder
For which movie did Billy Wilder win his first Academy Award for Best director?
Hold Back the Dawn’ (1941)
Ninotchka’ (1939)
The Lost Weekend’ (1945)
Double Indemnity’ (1944)
For which movie did David Lean win his first Academy Award for Best director?
Summertime’ (1955)
Lawrence of Arabia’ (1962)
Doctor Zhivago’ (1965)
The Bridge on the River Kwai’ (1957)
Who directed the cult film ‘Plan 9 From Outer Space’?
Stanley Kubrick
Ridley Scott
Ed Wood Jr.
David Cronenberg
Which director has most consecutive Academy Award nominations for Best picture?
Martin Scorsese
William Wyler
Frank Capra
Steven Spielberg
Where was Ingmar Bergman born?
Sweden
Germany
Austria
Denmark
For which of his movies did Steven Spielberg win the Academy Award, the Golden Globe, Director’s Guild and BAFTA?
Jurassic Park’ (1993)
Jaws’ (1975)
Schindler’s List’ (1993)
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial’ (1982)
Which Martin Scorsese movie is first movie to gross over $100 million in the United States?
Goodfellas’ (1990)
The Aviator’ (2004)
The Wolf of Wall Street’ (2013)
Gangs of New York’ (2002)
Which movie directed by Frank Capra is considered as most uplifting movie of all time by the American Film Institute?
Mr. Deeds Goes to Town’ (1936)
It’s a Wonderful Life’ (1946)
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington’ (1939)
Meet John Doe’ (1941)
Who was the director of No Country for Old Men?
Sofia Coppola
Roman Polanski
Rob Marshall
Joel and Ethan Coen
Where was Peter Jackson born?
United Kingdom
New Zealand
Australia
Argentina
For which movie was Federico Fellini nominated for an Academy Award for the first time?
Paisà’ (1946)
Variety Lights’ (1950)
Roma città aperta’ (1945)
The White Sheik’ (1952)
The action of which David Fincher’s movie is not centered around finding a serial killer?
Zodiac’ (2007)
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo’ (2011)
Fight Club’ (1999)
Se7en’ (1995)
How old was Charles Chaplin when his youngest son Christopher was born?
63
53
83
73
Who was the director of ‘Avatar’?
James Cameron
Gary Ross
Jon Favreau
John Lasseter
Which actress is the spouse of director Paul Thomas Anderson?
Diane Kruger
Maya Rudolph
Rachel McAdams
Katie Holmes
What was Clint Eastwood’s debut film as director?
High Plains Drifter
Play Misty for Me
Million Dollar Baby
Magnum Force
Monty Python’s Terry Gilliam directed which of the folowing films?
Finland
Brazil
Mongolia
Chile
Which actress is the mother of director Sergio Leone?
Bice Valerian
Mirra Principi
Lyda Borelli
Lydia De Roberti
Who directed the film ‘The Silence of the Lambs’?
James Cameron
Johnathan Demme
Tim Burton
David Lynch
How many Academy Awards did Ang Lee’s ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’ (2000) win?
6
3
5
4
How many Golden Globes for Best director has Martin Scorsese won?
2
3
4
1
Who won the Oscar for Best Director BEFORE the others?
Steven Spielberg
Peter Jackson
Sam Mendes
Ron Howard
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