Every movie buff certainly has their favorite director, and they probably also have actors that they like to see bring their favorite flicks to life on the big screen. Of course, sometimes these go hand in hand - and many of the best directors out there are guilty of recycling some pretty famous actors and actresses.
For those that want to get a good binge of a similar cast and some great directing work, it might be a good idea to take a look at these movie geniuses that stick with what works. If it's not broken, don't fix it, and these cast members clearly work well with their director - over and over again.
Christopher Nolan
Christopher Nolan is one of the most complex action directors, and fans will never forget watching Inception, Interstellar, or Tenet on the big screen. There's not really a good flick of his without at least a Michael Caine cameo.
Other than Caine, Tom Hardy and Cillian Murphy owe Nolan for three movie credits, closely followed by Batman himself (Christian Bale), Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Marion Cotillard, and Anne Hathaway.
Martin Scorsese
One of the best directors of all time, Martin Scorsese is definitely no novice to directing memorable and brilliant films. While he's known for twists, drama, and intensity, he's also pretty well-known for creating iconic characters - acted by some of the best actors in the industry.
He's cast Robert De Niro in over ten movies (including classics like Taxi Driver and Raging Bull), and Leonardo DiCaprio in half a dozen (with some Oscar wins with The Wolf of Wall Street and The Departed). Fans will also recognize Vera Farmiga, Harvey Keitel, and Joe Pesci as recurring cast members.
David O. Russell
David O. Russell has some Oscar nominations under his belt, and his projects have definitely helped some of the best stars in the business receive their own golden statues. He certainly knows it works to use some of the most talented and versatile actors more than once.
With Amy Adams and Christian Bale (The Fighter, American Hustle) and Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence (Silver Linings Playbook, Joy, American Hustle), he also definitely knows how to use some power duos in some pretty brilliant ways.
The Coen Brothers
Joel and Ethan Coen have a wide range of flicks, from slap-stick comedies to Westerns to crime dramas. However, each leaves a unique mark in Hollywood, and despite being wildly versatile, they have a pretty regular cast that have become iconic movie characters.
Frances McDormand's fame began in Blood Simple, and she's appeared in seven more since! Steve Buscemi has definitely blown everyone away in their flicks, along with John Goodman, John Turturro, Holly Hunter, and Jon Polito.
Francis Ford Coppola
Francis Ford Coppola is the mastermind behind The Godfather and Apocalypse Now, both fundamentally crucial flicks to Hollywood. Most movie buffs will immediately know that the iconic Marlon Brando appears in both of these.
Coppola also often uses Tom Waits (The Outsiders and Dracula), Robert Duvall (The Conversation and Apocalypse Now), and Laurence Fishburne (Apocalypse Now and Rumble Fish).
Judd Apatow
There are a lot of talented directors on this list, and Apatow has made that kind of name for himself in the comedy genre. From This Is 40 to The 40-Year-Old Virgin to Funny People, he has some pretty great comedy actors in his mix.
With Seth Rogen, Leslie Mann, Paul Rudd, and Jonah Hill, there's no wonder he's made some pretty classic, hilarious flicks - and continues to use these popular faces.
Quentin Tarantino
Quentin Tarantino is also regarded as one of the most popular and influential directors of all time, and it doesn't take much thought to think of a few familiar faces that appear more than once at this man's directing.
From Brad Pitt to Leonardo DiCaprio to Uma Thurman to Christoph Waltz to Samuel L. Jackson (he's in six of nine!), some of the best names in the business continue to shine alongside Tarantino.
Greta Gerwig
Greta Gerwig first burst onto the big screen as an actress, but she's quickly made a name for herself as a unique and brilliant filmmaker - paving the way for female directors everywhere. She's new to directing, but she's already established some patterns.
Her dramas are raw, funny, and often totally romantic, and she's able to create memorable stories - with help from some actors. Saoirse Ronan has definitely burst into even more fame with Lady Bird and Little Women, and most can also recognize Timothée Chalamet.
Wes Anderson
Wes Anderson is the king of fantastical, unique, and totally wholesome and hilarious films. He also might be the most guilty of recycling his most famous cast members.
With Frances McDormand, Willem Dafoe, Adrien Brody, Bill Murray, Edward Norton, and Owen Wilson, this director has used most of these names upwards of three times! Fans can catch nearly all of them in Moonrise Kingdom or The Grand Budapest Hotel.
Tim Burton
Tim Burton's cast is something almost famous, and anyone who considers themselves a movie lover definitely already knows who this spooky director always casts. It's not a Tim Burton flick without the iconic Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter.
Depp has featured in eight of Burton films, while Carter (his real-life wife) has made it into seven! Christopher Lee has also appeared in five with Tim Burton.