Killer Film’s Top 10 Overrated Directors
A list like this can reek of fanboys just going off on directors they don’t like, and we hope that doesn’t happen. In fact, Donny and Jon don’t label themselves as fanboys, even though there’s a lot of films and directors they like and dislike, we think you can appreciate our earnest attempt at such a list like this.
Again, a list like this is a tough sell, yet here are Donny Broussard’s and Jon Peters’ attempt and shifting through everything and telling you who’s not as good as everyone thinks. Before you get out the hate mail, let’s see what they say first in Killer Film’s Top 10 Overrated Directors.
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Jon says: Jim Jarmusch - While Jarmusch was a key figure in the American independent film movement, and an arthouse darling, his use of minimalism and having an unfocused narrative is a tough pill to swallow. These aren’t bad things to explore, but I never found his style interesting. A Jarmusch film to me, is like watching a great painter finish a piece, leave, and have you watch it dry. It’s a dull experience, and a reason why he’s here on my list. Case in point? The Limits of Control.
Donny says: Oliver Stone – Besides U Turn and Platoon I’ve never really be a fan of Stone’s work. Don’t get me wrong, I know the man has skill, his flicks just don’t hold my interest. He’s the type of director that makes flicks I enjoy watching on television, but don’t care to see in the theater.
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Jon says: Robert Zemeckis – I know, I know, I love Back to the Future too, as well as a few more of his films, but where would he be, without mimicking Steven Spielberg? He’s Spielberg Jr., and that’s fine, there’s a lot of copy cats out there from other directors, but the better ones take a style and make it their own. Think of Sergio Leone and how he’s like Akira Kurosawa. Zemeckis has this new idea of eliminating actors to use all digital ones, and it’s not working out. He’s a sound director, but he lacks focus. Case in point? The Polar Express.
Donny says: Marcus Nispel - The new go-to guy for remakes, I just can’t seem to get into his flicks. His remake of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre wasn’t all bad (Jessica Biel is stupid hot), and Friday the 13th was more of the same (hot girls and nudity), but they seem to be missing something. That spark that the old cheap cheesy slasher pictures used to have is nowhere to be found in these re-imaginings. Â I’m still holding out hope that Nispel will pull himself out of the overrated category and into the awesome category, because I enjoy his style, I just can’t stand the flicks he’s been making.
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Jon says: Lucio Fulci – We tend to give him a free pass because of Zombi and City of the Living Dead, since those films are a gore hounds wet dream. I love gore, I freely admit that, heck if I didn’t, would I claim to have once owned Fulci’s Conquest on DVD just for the wishbone tear of a female body? It’s also my point here. We give him too much credit for the gore, yet his films are quite unfocused, silly, and sometimes outright bad. He’s no Argento, or Bava. Case in point? House by the Cemetery.
Donny says: Michael Moore – I think he’s the best propaganda broker in America, but as a director he’s totally overrated.
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Jon says: Frank Darabont – Who doesn’t love The Shawshank Redemption? Okay, maybe not me, but it is a good film. He hasn’t directed much, yet he’s considered to be good. Why? Just because he’s Stephen King’s pal? We tend to give directors too much credit at times, and Darabont is one of them. I personally think he’s a better writer than director. Maybe he needs to go back to that. Case in point? The Green Mile.
Donny says: Wes Anderson – I’m really tired of quirky movies, and Wes is the king of quirky. I just don’t understand the appeal of his films. I did enjoy The Life Aquatic, although I have to be in the mood to watch it.
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Jon says: Michel Gondry/Spike Jonze – Some music video directors are so good at being a visual artist, like David Fincher, yet the reason he still succeeds is because he knows how to use those elements to help tell a story. Gondry’s visuals were splendid in one of my personal favorite films, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, mostly because he had a superb script in his hands by Charlie Kaufman. Outside of that, Gondry has been limping along, unimpressed everyone. His upcoming Green Hornet should be his death nail. Jonze is similar to Gondry, hence my two-for-one pick here. Again, Jonze would be nothing without a Charlie Kaufman script. Case in point? Be Kind Rewind (Gondry); Where the Wild Things Are (Jonze).
Donny says: M. Night Shyamalan – Grass is not scary! A guy with one big arm is just stupid! I’m bored! I dug Unbreakable but I wouldn’t call myself a fan….I see over rated directors.
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Jon says: Uwe Boll – Yeah, I know he’s bad, a horrible hack director, yet everyone has deemed it necessary to christen him the next Ed Wood, Jr. It pains me, because why Ed Wood was bad, he had the earnest intentions of crafting a good movie. He just never had the cast or money, especially that. With those, Wood would have been a fun B-movie director. Uwe Boll has clout and the ability to get who’s who in Hollywood to appear in his films, like Sir Ben Kinsley, Michael Madsen, Jason Stratham, Stephen Dorff, and more. Who Wood have? A few stage actors and a former pro wrestler. Please, people: Uwe Boll isn’t the next Ed Wood. Boll is just plain bad. Case in point? In the Name of the King: A Dungeon Siege Tale.
Donny says: Robert Zemeckis – Back to the Future kicks major ass, but the rest of his flicks just don’t pack the same punch. Also, I can’t stand 3D characters in a live action movie! If your gonna hire an actor, use their voice, and capture their motions, then just make a live action movie.
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Jon says: Sam Riami – Before you throw tomatoes at me, hear me out. I love, love, love, the Evil Dead trilogy, Drag Me to Hell, and Spider-Man 2, but he’s a one-trick pony. It’s a style, yes, but seriously, Bruce Campbell aside, those Evil Dead films are not well directed. Fun, yes. All he essentially is, is one lucky B-movie director that’s actually a studio-for-hire director, that gets a free pass by fanboys. I know it sort of pains me to say this, but he’s overrated. Case in point? Spider-Man 3.
Donny says: Roland Emmerich – The man really knows how to destroy the world, and while that can be fun, for the most part it’s just expensive cheese. Overrated lists were created for directors like this.
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Jon says: Ron Howard – Hollywood’s golden boy is just that. While I won’t rag on him for his charmed childhood, it has affected his films. All his films have this gloss to them, and not by the look, but in terms of characters and action. He has never known a bad thing in his life, therefore, it effects his ability to tell a story in where characters are struggling or in pain. Imagine if Sarah Palin made a movie about life sucking…see what I’m mean. And this guy has Oscars! Case in point? Cinderella Man.
Donny says: Tim Burton – I know lots of people love his flicks, but besides Beetle Juice I don’t ever need to see another of his pictures. His style of directing takes me out of the movie. Instead of enjoying the story I spend the whole flick picking out stuff that bugs me. I’ve never been a fan, and I don’t see that changing anytime in the near future.
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Jon says: Peter Jackson -Â Lord of the Rings was a phenomenal undertaking and a success. Get over it. I remembered once when he was about to win Best Director for Return of the King, someone said there’s no way the Academy will give him an Oscar since his next film is a remake of King Kong. I don’t deny the epic that was those films, but he crafts long, boring films. His zombie films are nothing with the other overrated director on this list, Sam Raimi, and they’re not that fun to watch anyway. His King Kong was a gross miscalculation: it took him over 3 hours to do what in 1933 they did in 75 minutes? Why? Oh, it’s because it was a love movie between Anne and the Ape. What the f-? I don’t recall that in the original classic. He’s on this list for one scene: when Kong is ice skating with Anne. Psh. Case in point? King Kong.
Donny says: George Lucas – With Star Wars the Bearded One sparked my interest in science fiction. The man created the greatest trilogy ever made. He’s an uber-talented writer and producer that can’t be matched when it comes to quality and production value. Only, I don’t care for his other movies (Episodes I, II, and III included). Think about it for a while, other than the trilogy he really hasn’t directed anything amazing, and that makes him overrated.
And Killer Film’s number one overrated director is…
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Jon says: Judd Apatow - If comedy is your game, Apatow rules over all now. He’s essentially a rated R John Hughes, but Hughes knew how to package jokes and characterizations together, neatly. Apatow doesn’t, making his films ungodly long at over 2 hours, sometimes nearly 2 and a half hours. He falls in love with the secondary characters, making them over-stay their welcome. I find the talent he’s discovered better, funnier than him. Maybe he should stick to screenplays. Hughes did it better, and with few cuss words. Case in point? Funny People.
Donny says: Peter Jackson – I agree with most of what Jon said about Mr. Jackson. I don’t care for any of his films, and I’m completely turned off by all the darn 3D.
There you have it. Now, we welcome any and all criticisms. Did we hit something right on the head? Is your fanboy blood boiling? Spit venom or agree with us below, in our comment section!
Frank Darabont is a great director–The Green Mile, The Mist, and The Shawshank Redemption speak for themselves.
It’s so funny how Dario Argento(whom I love)ends up on your Top 25 list and poor old Lucio Fulci get shelved to the 10 Most Overrated.
Aside from his two Masters of Horror episodes, Argento hasn’t done anything great since Opera–back in 1987 for Christ’s sake.You have to realize he has made as many bad films as good ones.
Lucio Fulci’s own Giallo work is amazing–A Lizard in a Woman’s Skin, The Psychic, and Don’t Torture a Duckling can go toe-to-toe with Argento’s animal-themed thrillers anyday.At least Lucio was able to mix things up and dabble in different genres, whereas Dario has been making the same damn film for 30 years!
How can anyone forget Fulci’s THE BEYOND? Such a great movie. I might not agree with your lists, but I respect your opinions.
I an a huge M. Night fanboy. I have enjoyed everything he has done. They aren’t great movies, but I love ‘em. Remember there is a difference between something you like and something that is good. That’s what I’ve always been taught, and that’s how I can enjoy M. Night so much.
I highly, highly agree with Tim Burton, and thank you for having his on the list. His early stuff was very good. I loved how dark he was with stuff like BATMAN, but now he makes cartoons. Talk about a one trick pony.
Uwe Boll I love. POSTAL is one of the funniest movies I have ever seen. His stuff outside of the video game-to-movie adaptations are usually pretty darn good. I also don’t know if you can call him overrated since he is usually put at the bottom of most people’s lists. That’s like say the Cleveland Browns are an overrated football team, even though they are horrible and one likes them. The people that happen to like them, will stick by him, but no one calls him a great director.
That being said, great work.
Jon Reply:
December 18th, 2009 at 11:06 am
Look at what I said. People love to chat him up as a next Ed Wood or even love his stuff. Ask yourself why? Is it because he’s Boll and all of the heat? Because his films are boring, and prime examples of how not to make a film.
Bad is bad; stop touting him as some sort of cult hero.
My opinion of course. Thanks for the comments! haha
One more quick thing about M. Night, I think people seem to mix togoether his ability as a writer and a director. In my opinion, he is a very good director. He has a great eye, and his visuals are usually stunning. It’s his writing that gets in his way. He needs to step back and let someone else do his writing for him, and jjust worry about directing. From what I am led to believe, he’s actually starting to do that now, which can only be a good thing. And also, he needs to stop acting in his own movies. A cameo for like 1 or 2 minutes like being the doctor in THE SIXTH SENSE is ok, but you can’t make yourself a key role like LADY IN THE WATER, especially if you aren’t a good actor.
I don’t hate M. Night, actually I don’t hate any of the directors on my list, I just find them overrated. I actually love Marcus Nispel, and M. Nights’ style.
I do however completely disagree with Jon about Judd Apatow. If you didn’t find “40 Year Old Virgin” funny you must have lost your funny bone. Blasphemy!
Jon Reply:
December 18th, 2009 at 11:01 am
I hate M. Night.
Oh, I didn’t forget about The Beyond, Zombie, Gates of Hell, and House by the Cemetery–I adore all of those. The Black Cat is well done too.
Jon Reply:
December 18th, 2009 at 11:03 am
Outside of a few, I own some of those, Fulci isn’t that good. House by the Cemetry isn’t a good film in any stretch of the imagination.
We need to stop adoring a director for one great film, when his filmography isn’t that great, sans that one.
For Apatow, I’ve highly enjoyed 2 or his 3 films that he directed. FUNNY PEOPLE was his one miss so far. I think he has a great eye for talent and produces some great stuff, though.
Jon, believe it or not, I’ve actually never heard the “next Ed Wood” talk ab out Boll. Most of the stuff I hear is people bashing him, that’s the only reason I questioned that one. The only person I have heard that loves his stuff, ourside of the video game movies he does, is Jason. I will say that I have enjoyed the movies I have seen from him, POSTAL and more of TUNNEL RATS.
Jon Reply:
December 18th, 2009 at 3:00 pm
“40 Year Old Virgin” and “Knocked Up” have been the least funniest popular comedies in the last few years. I enjoy Seth and the things he’s done away from Apatow.
Dude Peter Jackson is the Shit! And King Kong was Pretty good….
Melissa Molina Reply:
December 18th, 2009 at 12:25 pm
Your only one of two people who actually like King Kong. Waste of CGI.
Matt Keith Reply:
December 18th, 2009 at 1:41 pm
I loved “King Kong” sure it was way too long, but it was fun as well.
Jon Reply:
December 18th, 2009 at 2:57 pm
You all would have been on my side, if you were lucky enough to ever see the 1933 King Kong at the theater. Jackson’s Kong is all about this love affair between Kong and Anne. WTF? What a grave misinterpretation of the original. The CG was good on Kong and the T-rexes, all other looked unfinished.
Jon Reply:
December 18th, 2009 at 3:02 pm
True fans of cinema and imagination should poop on PJ’s King Kong remake. My uncle who’s one of the biggest fans of the ’33 original, hates with a passion the ’76 remake. When he saw the PJ version, he said: “I think I preferred the shitty ’76 remake over this.”
Make it three, it’s too long but it’s still a damn good film.
Jon Reply:
December 18th, 2009 at 2:59 pm
My ex-fiancee summed it all up midway through: “I never thought I’d say this, but I hope Kong falls off of the building soon.” LOL
Brad Reiter Reply:
December 18th, 2009 at 4:54 pm
During the ice skating love scene, I was hoping that Kong was going to fall through the ice. There were a few cool visuals, but Jack Black was miscast, and I felt the pacing was off. I was bored silly. And this is coming from someone that sat through all 3 LOTR extended movies back-to-back-to-back (12 hours).
Melissa Molina Reply:
December 19th, 2009 at 11:11 pm
I almost burst into laughter when Jack Black first got on the screen and started pitching his story. I was waiting for him to go Ten D on the studio execs.
IMO, Nolan is the most overrated director. “Batman Begins” and “The Dark Knight” were both amazing, but his other films were just boring.
As for Uwe Boll, I love his films. To me they are soo bad they are good.
M. Night: Well, I enjoyed “Sixth Sense”, “Unbreakable”, and “Signs”, but ever since I saw the village I call him “The Sham-hammer”.
P.Jackson: Only films of his that I can even remember were “The Lord of the Rings” and “King Kong”.
T.Burton. Well, I hate every single one of his film, especially his Batman films.
King Kong was not a waste of CGI…
Tarantino should be on this list
I don’t know if Tarantino can be on the list since every movie he has directed has not only be great, but they’ve been critically praised and the fans love it. Add that to the fact that he has not lost money on his movies (with the exception being GRINDHOUSE, but I don’t blame him for that.), and I don’t know if you can call him overrated. He gets the right amount of praise for being one of the best directors around today.
I think Tarantino is a better writer than director, but after Pulp Fiction, Jackie Brown, and Inglourious Basterds, he deserves to be left alone off of this list. But he is widely copied.
This list is the equivalent of the teenage fat girl who cuts herself. I’ve never see a bigger cry for attention.
Jon Reply:
December 20th, 2009 at 11:14 pm
There’s far better directors than these fanboy/girl loves. See our Top 25 Directors list. Why are these picks so wrong in your opinion?
Thanks James_FOTD, we are extremely excited that you took the time to read our list, and yes, we love the attention. Teenage fat girls need love too, don’t hate.
Peter Jackson deserves to be here. Good call on that one.
I’m a little perplexed about Wes Anderson. Even if you dont appreciate the whimsical dialogue and the taffy like colors of his films, you must admit that he has a good directorial eye for where to put his camera and when. I’m never bored by his movies. As for quirky – that moniker is for the birds. I’d say “Juno” is quintessentially more “quirky” than any of Anderson’s films.
I’d plug Rob Zombie or Michael Bay in there as overrated before Anderson.
I think some of the picks focus on bad vs. overrated – some of the cult selections. The best measure would be to look how highly they are rated and deduct from that where you think they should be rated, and the largest differential should be the “winner.” That said, Ron Howard to me is the clear winner. I write this having just turned off A Beautiful Mind. What a great movie that could have been with a director who wove the form with the substance of mathematics. But nothing mathematical is played in the film.
Oliver Stone would be another one. Hammer the message home with a meat cleaver. I liked Platoon, that’s it.
M. Night – yes, though his recent movies have been so poorly reviewed I’m not sure he’s very highly rated to begin with. Ditto your cult picks.
Apatow I think is great. Just saw Dewey Cox.
I think Spielberg is highly overrated. He’s overall quite good, especially visually. He’s didactic, though, and overdoes things. Given the god-like reverence given to him, though good, I think he’s way overrated.
Nice site, guys. Saludos from Mexico.
Jon Reply:
July 24th, 2010 at 9:26 pm
Thanks for your comment and insights!