With recent releases like Jurassic World: Dominion, the 90s may be making a cinematic comeback, and many of the decade's most successful and prolific directors are still household names today thanks to their classic and iconic contributions to cinema. To celebrate this unique decade, Ranker has put together a list of the most popular directors of the 1990s.
Several of these directors released their debut features in the '90s, but there are also plenty of veteran directors whose careers began long before then. Whether new to the industry or not, the 1990s were a time when plenty of original and risky projects were able to find a home and bring their directors to success.
Note: Ranker lists are live and continue to accrue votes, so some rankings may have changed after this publishing.
Ridley Scott
Despite Scott making most of his greatest and most beloved films in the '70s and '80s, he still found time to direct four films throughout the 1990s, including one of his most popular - Thelma and Louise. Like many of his films, this one in particular has stood the test of time and become somewhat of a modern classic.
Scott has one of the most extensive and impressive filmographies of any working director, releasing his first film in 1977 and still making popular movies today. He's had one of Hollywood's longest and most profitable careers, which is no easy feat.
Tim Burton
Tim Burton is undoubtedly one of the most uniquely stylish directors out there, with every single one of his movies having a distinctive atmosphere that makes them stand out from the crowd. The 1990s saw Burton direct some of his best films of all time, including Edward Scissorhands and Sleepy Hollow.
Tim Burton's films are often filled with smart and memorable quotes that cement the film's place in pop culture, since there are very few films written in the same style. There's a reason he's one of the most popular directors of all time, and that's his willingness to think outside of the box when necessary.
Chris Columbus
Although his name might not be as well-known as some of the other directors on this list, Chris Columbus' movies certainly are. Throughout the '90s, he was responsible for both Home Alone and Mrs. Doubtfire, which are now considered two of the best family movies ever made.
Chris Columbus is a name that should definitely be involved in the discussion when talking about some of the '90s most prolific directors, even if he might not be the first person you think of. His influence on the cinematic climate at the time was immeasurable, and there are plenty of films today that wouldn't exist without his work.
Frank Darabont
The Shawshank Redemption is considered by many to be the best movie of the '90s, if not all time. It's undoubtedly one of the most important and influential movies ever made, telling the story of two prisoners who learn from each other about the purpose of life and morality.
The '90s also saw Darabont direct his second masterpiece, The Green Mile, which is based on a Stephen King story about a prison warden who develops an unusual relationship with a supernaturally gifted inmate. His movies were both critical and commercial successes, making him one of the decade's best directors.
Joel & Ethan Coen
The Coen Brothers have also been extremely successful throughout the '80s and the 2000s, but the '90s probably represent the highlight of their fame and success as a directing duo. The decade saw the pair create two of their best films to date, Fargo and The Big Lebowski.
There are no other directors who have ever captured the exact same style of comedy as the Coens, which is what makes their particular writing so genius and enjoyable. The Coen Brothers also wrote several movies that they didn't direct, which were also huge successes throughout the decade.
James Cameron
James Cameron is widely considered to be one of the fathers of the modern blockbuster, with his revolutionary drama Titanic often being cited as one of the best examples of how to make a film both extremely engaging and technically proficient.
The '90s also saw Cameron direct the much-acclaimed sequel Terminator 2: Judgment Day, which many believe to be even better than the original. There's no denying that he's an extremely talented and capable director, but he's also one of the industry's most revolutionary and progressive voices.
Quentin Tarantino
At least among mainstream audiences, Quentin Tarantino is undeniably one of the biggest names in the entire history of moviemaking. His 1994 masterpiece Pulp Fiction completely changed the way that most people thought about cinema, with its innovative screenplay and hilarious performances.
Tarantino also released his debut feature, Reservoir Dogs, in 1992. The film mostly takes place in one location, relying on the strength of its actors and the sharpness of Tarantino's screenplay to carry the audience through the intense journey.
Steven Spielberg
Even today, Steven Spielberg is one of the most popular directors of all time - but his stretch of films throughout the 1990s was arguably his best work ever. He released two completely different but equally timeless stories, Jurassic Park and Schindler's List, in the same year - which is one of the most impressive directorial outputs ever.
There's a reason that Spielberg is considered one of the best filmmakers of all time, and it's because of how inventive and innovative all of his films are. He never concedes to the easiest and most predictable way of telling his stories, but rather pushes boundaries and breaks records with every new narrative.
Martin Scorsese
Scorsese kicked off the 1990s with Goodfellas, his thrilling gangster epic starring Ray Liotta, Robert De Niro, and Al Pacino. The film is still considered one of his best, due to its engaging screenplay and outstanding performances. It's also one of Scorsese's most rewatchable movies, thanks to how action-packed and fast-paced it is.
But Goodfellas was far from Scorsese's only output in the '90s - he also directed Cape Fear, Casino, and The Age of Innocence, among several others. It was one of the director's strongest decades to date, which is saying something when his filmography is so dense with incredible projects.
Robert Zemeckis
Although Robert Zemeckis might not be the first name that comes to mind when you think of directors from the '90s, he still directed plenty of movies in the decade that have gone down since then as modern classics. Whether that's the third Back to the Future movie or the Best Picture-winning Forrest Gump, there's something there for all audiences.
the 1990s also saw Zemeckis direct this comedy classic Death Becomes Her and the sci-fi drama Contact, so it's really no surprise to see that Ranker's fanbase decided to place his name at the top of this list. He produced plenty of iconic contributions to cinema during the 1990s, which shouldn't be forgotten.