4. David Fincher
Notable Films: Fight Club, Se7en, The Social Network, Zodiac Fight Club is just an extraordinary movie (and yes, better than the book) and put Fincher on my radar for life. His directing style is so distinct, even his Justin Timberlake music video has Fincher written all over it. His body of work is so eclectic, there's really a film for everybody. Aside from Alien 3 (which he's disowned) Fincher has yet to disappoint. Fincher's trademark of low-key lighting creates a mood and atmosphere that is almost foreboding. His choice of lens and filters (blue, green) shuffle us into a world that is familiar, yet there is something different that taps us on the shoulder and presents itself as the movie unfolds. He also loves to use a fluid tracking shot that any film nerd will point out "Fincher! It's so Fincher." Fincher created a lot of buzz with the TV show House of Cards for Netflix, and it paid off in a big way. Fincher established through the first two episodes of the show that same haunting atmosphere that like his films, create a dreading that something just isn't right.