Film Directors from United Kingdom

The following people are considered by Pantheon to be the top 10 most legendary British Film Directors of all time. This list of famous British 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 British Film Directors.

1. #1

   

   Alfred Hitchcock

   1899 - 1980

   HPI 82.16145 langs

   Alfred Hitchcock is most famous for his contributions to the thriller and suspense genres. He directed and produced more than fifty feature...Read moreShow less

   Alfred Hitchcock is most famous for his contributions to the thriller and suspense genres. He directed and produced more than fifty feature films in a career spanning six decades, becoming one of the most influential directors in cinematic history.

2. #2

   

   Ridley Scott

   b. 1937

   HPI 78.6179 langs

   Ridley Scott is most famous for directing the films Alien, Blade Runner, Gladiator, Thelma and Louise, and Black Hawk Down.

3. #3

   

   Ken Loach

   b. 1936

   HPI 74.2848 langs

   Ken Loach is most famous for his films about the British working class, such as Kes, Poor Cow, and I, Daniel Blake.

4. #4

   

   Tony Scott

   1944 - 2012

   HPI 72.0951 langs

   Tony Scott is most famous for his films, Top Gun, Days of Thunder, and True Romance.

5. #5

   

   Alan Parker

   1944 - 2020

   HPI 71.9157 langs

   Alan Parker is a British film director, producer, and screenwriter. He is best known for directing the films "Midnight Express" (1978),...Read moreShow less

   Alan Parker is a British film director, producer, and screenwriter. He is best known for directing the films "Midnight Express" (1978), "Fame" (1980), "Pink Floyd: The Wall" (1982), "Birdy" (1984), "Angel Heart" (1987), "Mississippi Burning" (1988), "The Commitments" (1991), "Evita" (1996), and "Angela's Ashes" (1999).

6. #6

   

   Peter Brook

   1925 - 2022

   HPI 71.6747 langs

   Peter Brook is most famous for his work in theater, film, and opera. He has been a director, producer, and writer for many theater...Read moreShow less

   Peter Brook is most famous for his work in theater, film, and opera. He has been a director, producer, and writer for many theater productions including "The Tempest," "A Midsummer Night's Dream," and "The Mahabharata." He has also directed films such as "The Mahabharata" and "The Lord of the Flies."

7. #7

   

   Christopher Nolan

   b. 1970

   HPI 71.0894 langs

   Christopher Nolan is most famous for his work as a director, writer, and producer in the film industry. He has directed and written the...Read moreShow less

   Christopher Nolan is most famous for his work as a director, writer, and producer in the film industry. He has directed and written the films Memento, The Dark Knight, Inception, and Interstellar.

8. #8

   

   Richard Attenborough

   1923 - 2014

   HPI 71.0773 langs

   Richard Attenborough is most famous for his work as a director and actor. He is best known for his films Gandhi, Jurassic Park, and The...Read moreShow less

   Richard Attenborough is most famous for his work as a director and actor. He is best known for his films Gandhi, Jurassic Park, and The Great Escape.

9. #9

   

   David Lean

   1908 - 1991

   HPI 71.0662 langs

   David Lean is most famous for his films such as The Bridge on the River Kwai, Lawrence of Arabia, and Doctor Zhivago.

10. #10

    

    Peter Greenaway

    b. 1942

    HPI 69.1840 langs

    Peter Greenaway is most famous for his use of color, sound, and cinematography in his films.