12. Terrence Malick
Philosopher, poet, recluse, legend, pretentious, boring, confusing, Terrence Malick has been called many things in his directorial career but even as one of the most divisive and controversial of all modern directors, he has made an undeniable impact on the cinematic form as his visual style has been endlessly emulated by aspiring directors. Pretty much everyone agrees that Malick's films are visually spectacular with many of them placing highly among the most gorgeous ever made. What people can't seem to agree on are his merits as a storyteller and whether or not his films are profound or simply pretentious. Whichever said you take in the argument, the fact is that Malick has had more impact on the modern art-house scene than all but a few directors. His emphasis on visually expressed narratives has frequently been adopted, his extensive use of voiceovers is often copied as well, and his ability to make extremely personal films with complete artistic freedom has been inspiring to many people in the industry. Malick is perhaps most important in that he is one of the last true artists working in film, someone who is more focused on creating or capturing something beautiful and meaningful than on winning awards or destroying the box office. Whether you love him or hate him, Malick has definitely been enormously influential in the film industry, has a rabidly loyal fanbase, is a favorite with many critics and directors, and is one of the last giants of cinema still working in America.