Over the years there have been many famous and iconic film directors that have delivered outstanding films for audiences. From Scorsese to Spielberg, there has been a variety of dramas, action films, horrors, and romance films that have graced the big screen. Some popular films have also inspired many video games, movie themed slot games, and film merchandise too. Over time, there might be a director whose work that you just can’t miss out on! Sometimes it’s great to learn more about the work your favourite directors have done and find out more about their film careers.
There are many great film directors that have come from the United Kingdom, The United States of America, Canada, and many other exciting countries. Here are just some great Canadian film directors in the film industry that have all made a huge impact in the cinema world:
James Cameron
Kapuskasing, Ontario
One of the most famous directors that many film fans will have definitely heard of is James Cameron. He is known for many great films such as Avatar (2009) and The Terminator (2009) but one of his most notable works is Titanic (1997). This film won an incredible eleven Oscars in the 1998 Academy Awards including Best Director and Best Picture. Before it was overtaken by Avatar and later Avengers: Endgame, Titanic was the first film ever to reach the billion dollar mark! James Cameron has had a fantastic career with many well-known films that has drawn in film fans from around the world.
Notable Films:
Titanic (1997), Avatar (2009), The Terminator (1984), Aliens (1986), The Abyss (1986), Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991), True Lies (1994)
Denis Villeneuve
Bécancour, Québec
One great film director who was born in Canada is Denis Villaneuve who is also a film producer and screenwriter too. Born in Bécancour, he studied cinema at the Université du Québec à Montréal. He is a popular French-Canadian director that has quite a following all over the world for his exceptional ability at creating interesting films. One of his most recent films, Arrival (2016) also marked his first Academy Award nomination for Best Achievement in Directing. Another one of his most recent films has been Blade Runner 2049 (2017), sequel to Blade Runner (1982), that grossed over $260m at the box office.
Notable Films:
Maelström (2001), Poltechnique (2009), Incendies (2011), Enemy (2014), Prisoners (2013), Sicario (2015), Arrival (2016), Blade Runner 2049 (2017)
David Cronenberg
Toronto, Ontario
David Cronenberg is another Canadian film director who was born in Toronto, Ontario. In his early life Cronenberg studied at the University of Toronto. One of the greatest films that he is best known for is the classic horror film The Fly (1986). The film starred Jeff Goldblum as a scientist who began to transform into a man/fly hybrid when one of his experiments goes wrong. This Cronenberg film ended up winning an Oscar for Best Makeup in 1987. During his film career he has directed many films, short films, and even starred as an actor in a few roles too.
Notable Films:
Crash (1996), A Dangerous Method (2011), Maps To The Stars (2014), The Fly (1986), Cosmopolis (2012)
Ivan Reitman
Komárno, Czechoslovakia
Although he wasn’t born in Canada, Ivan Reitman has become a well-known Czechoslovak-Canadian film producer and director. In 1950, Reitman and his family came to reside in Canada where he would later start his directing career. Throughout his career Ivan Reitman has directed many well-known films such as Kindergarten Cop (1990) and Ghostbusters (1984). Reitman would also later receive an Academy Award nomination for Best Director for his film Up in the Air (2009) starring George Clooney and Vera Farmiga.
Notable Films:
Up In The Air (2009), Meatballs (1979), Twins (1988), Stripes (1981), Ghostbusters (1984), Kindergarten Cop (1990), Dave (1993), Junior (1994)