Film Directors from France

The following people are considered by Pantheon to be the top 10 most legendary French Film Directors of all time. This list of famous French Film Directors is sorted by HPI (Historical Popularity Index), a metric that aggregates information on a biography's online popularity. Visit the rankings page to view the entire list of French Film Directors.

1. #1

   

   Roman Polanski

   b. 1933

   HPI 79.8192 languages

   Roman Polanski is a Polish-French film director, producer, writer, and actor. He is most famous for directing the films Chinatown, Rosemary's Baby, and The Pianist.

2. #2

   

   François Truffaut

   1932 - 1984

   HPI 77.5680 languages

   François Truffaut is most famous for his contribution to the French New Wave movement. He is also known for being the first person to write a book on Alfred Hitchcock.

3. #3

   

   Jean-Luc Godard

   1930 - 2022

   HPI 77.0275 languages

   Jean-Luc Godard is most famous for his innovative and influential filmmaking style, which includes the use of jump cuts, hand-held cameras, and natural lighting.

4. #4

   

   Georges Méliès

   1861 - 1938

   HPI 76.8374 languages

   Georges Méliès is most famous for being the first person to use special effects in movies, like stop motion and time-lapse photography.

5. #5

   

   Roger Vadim

   1928 - 2000

   HPI 73.9649 languages

   Roger Vadim is most famous for his work as a film director. He is also known for his relationship with Brigitte Bardot.

6. #6

   

   Jean-Jacques Annaud

   b. 1943

   HPI 73.1453 languages

   Jean-Jacques Annaud is a French film director, screenwriter and producer. He is best known for directing films such as The Bear, The Name of the Rose, Enemy at the Gates, Seven Years in Tibet, and The Lover.

7. #7

   

   Éric Rohmer

   1920 - 2010

   HPI 72.8152 languages

   Éric Rohmer is a French filmmaker who is most famous for his series of romantic comedies.

8. #8

   

   William Wyler

   1902 - 1981

   HPI 72.6168 languages

   William Wyler is most famous for directing and producing the film "Ben-Hur" in 1959. He also directed "Mrs. Miniver" in 1942, which won him the Academy Award for Best Director.

9. #9

   

   Claude Chabrol

   1930 - 2010

   HPI 72.5755 languages

   Claude Chabrol is most famous for his films such as "The Wages of Fear" and "Le Beau Serge."

10. #10

    

    Luc Besson

    b. 1959

    HPI 72.4167 languages

    Luc Besson is a French film director, screenwriter, and producer. He is most famous for directing the films "The Fifth Element" and "Leon: The Professional."