10 Most Successful Film Directors In History

7. Francis Ford Coppola

Steven Spielberg E T
Paramount Pictures

Francis Ford Coppola began working in 1962 as a screenwriter before moving into the role of producer and director. He has worked on some of the most important films ever made including Patton, The Godfather, and Apocalypse Now.

Coppola has been repeatedly honored for his work and made him the second director, after Billy Wilder, to three Academy Awards for a single film. He was recognized with Best Adapted Screen play, Best Director, and the Best Picture win for The Godfather Part II, which is widely recognized as one of the best movies ever made.

Coppola's work in film has long been the subject of film schools around the world and his work is easily recognized for his incredibly lengthy and meticulous depictions of the detailed minutia of his subjects.

While other filmmakers might lose an audience with so much detail, Coppola's work only serves to encapsulate his audience within his narrative for as long as he feels necessary. His work stands as a testament to his professionalism and ability to tell a story in innovative and alluring ways.

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Jonathan is a graphic artist, illustrator, writer, and game designer. Jonathan retired from the U.S. Army in 2017 and enjoys researching and writing about history, science, theology, and many other subjects. He writes for ScreenRant, CBR, NerdBastards, Listverse, Ranker, WhatCulture, and many other sites online. You can check out his latest on Twitter: @TalkingBull or on his blog: jonathanhkantor.com