10 Most Successful Film Directors In History

10. Peter Jackson

When it comes to pinpointing a director who is able to weave a narrative over a long series of films, there's no need to look any further than Peter Jackson. The New Zealand director got his start in the late '70s working on low-budget splatter comedies, but soon became a household name thanks to a book he adapted into a major film franchise.

Jackson is probably best known for his work on the Lord of the Rings trilogy and The Hobbit, but he has contributed his vision to cinematic history with a number of big-budget, high-octane, special effects-laden films that opened up new worlds to viewers.

Movies like King Kong and Heavenly Creatures quickly showed Jackson's ability to create immersive worlds within worlds, which may be why he is one of the world's greatest fantasy film directors.

Following The Hobbit trilogy, Jackson restored century-old film reels from the Great War for preservation in a documentary titled, They Shall Not Grow Old. His upcoming project, Mortal Engines, based on the book of the same name and set for release in late 2018, will likely open a new franchise opportunity for the director as he sets his sights on expanding into new worlds and new ideas.