8 'Next Big Thing' Movie Directors Who Didn't Live Up To The Hype

They promised so much and delivered so little.

by Josh Brown
District 9
Getty Images

One of the most exciting aspects of the film industry is that it can make stars out of anyone pretty much overnight. In the past year alone audiences have been treated to a bevy of directors who've shot to superstardom - with the likes of Jordan Peele and Ryan Coogler heralded as the "next big thing" - with all eyes being on their next projects.

However, for as quickly as the film industry can launch individuals to Hollywood heights, it can just as quickly send them right back to square one. Countless times over the years we've seen filmmakers being lauded as being the next Hitchcock, the next Kubrick or the next Godard, only for them to never live up to that potential.

Whether it's because audiences and critics expected too much from them after they enjoyed a bit of a hot streak or whether the directors did only create a smash hit by pure luck, it's resulted in plenty of careers that started in a blaze of glory, only to peter out following one disappointment after another.

Advertisement
Contributor

Josh has over 11 years of experience as a published writer, having worked nine of those years as a full-time content producer at WhatCulture. In that period he has created hundreds of articles, videos and podcast episodes for multiple WhatCulture channels, specialising in gaming, horror and film & TV. He now primarily works as a senior content producer and presenter on WhatCulture Gaming where he co-hosts the WhatCulture Gaming Podcast, a top 3 UK most listened to gaming podcast that he co-created in 2018. Over the years he has reviewed several high-profile gaming releases, covered industry events with on-site reporting, opined on breaking news, and even kicked off his interviewing career by chatting to childhood hero, Tommy Wiseau.