DGA Preview – Wide Open Race, No Clear Favorite – Awardsdaily
Fun facts. 1. If Alejandro G. Iñárritu wins Best Director at the DGA, he will make history not only by becoming the first Mexican-born director to win two DGA awards, but also the first director ever to win two DGA awards in consecutive years. And with Alfonso Cuaron winning the previous year, it would be the third straight year a…
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Fun facts.

1. If Alejandro G. Iñárritu wins Best Director at the DGA, he will make history not only by becoming the first Mexican-born director to win two DGA awards, but also the first director ever to win two DGA awards in consecutive years. And with Alfonso Cuaron winning the previous year, it would be the third straight year a Mexican-born director has taken the DGA.

2. If either Adam McKay or Tom McCarthy win the DGA, it will be only the third time an American-born director has won since 2009 (the others are Kathryn Bigelow and Ben Affleck). If either wins the Oscar for directing, he’ll be the first American director to win since 2009, breaking a five-year streak — the longest in Oscar history — that no American-born director has won. Technically, Ang Lee is Taiwanese-born but according to most sources he is a naturalized American citizen.

This is the strangest Oscar race I’ve seen a while, maybe since 2000. Usually there are two movies pushing through to the top of the heap, sometimes three. This year, we have four. The major wins thus far have been split up all over the place. Stats can’t tell us what’s going to happen. They can only tell us what has happened in the past. How rare are splits? Pretty rare. Do winners sometimes pop up out of the blue? Sometimes. Let’s take a look at where we are so far in terms of precedents.

First, the stats that count as we know them (focusing only on industry awards):

Going back to 2012, no film has won Best Picture or Best Director without at least a BAFTA nomination in Picture or Director.

You have to go back to 2004 to find a film that won without either, though they changed their voting in 2012 so really we can only look at recent history, which is too small of a sample to be reliable.

George Miller and Mad Max: Fury Road are missing both Picture and Director nominations at BAFTA.

Since 2012, the Best Director winner at either the DGA or Oscar also had BAFTA/DGA/Oscar nominations — even in 2013, when Ang Lee held the distinction of being nominated for Best Director across the board, Ang Lee ended up winning the Oscar. This year, only Alejandro G. Iñárritu and Adam McKay have that honor.

Going all the way back to 1989, when Driving Miss Daisy won, no film has won Best Picture without getting an ACE Eddie nomination. Spotlight is missing the ACE Eddie nomination, and is also missing the BAFTA nomination for Best Director.

Going back to 2006, no film has won Best Picture without first winning the Producers Guild Award. Additionally, ever since the PGA switched to the preferential ballot, no film has won Best Picture without winning at the Producers Guild first. The Big Short has won this year’s Producer Guild Award.

In all of SAG/PGA/DGA/Oscar history, no film has ever lost the Producers Guild, won the SAG Awards Ensemble, then won DGA or the Oscar for Director. Both films that won with just a SAG Ensemble win — Shakespeare in Love and Crash — were surprise Best Pic winners with ACE Eddie nominations and a strong Best Director frontrunner/film to compete with. Steven Spielberg won everything for Saving Private Ryan, Ang Lee won everything for Brokeback Mountain. You could even add in Oliver Stone for Born on the Fourth of July, which kept winning Best Director while Driving Miss Daisy won Best Picture without a Best Director nomination. Spotlight is in a much better position to win Best Picture than it is Best Director.

All films that have won the PGA and the ACE Eddie only have gone on to Best Picture. The Big Short is the film that has ticked the first two boxes this year.

The DGA often determines the final tilt toward Best Picture or Best Director. It’s rare that a Best Director will win the DGA but then his film doesn’t win either Best Picture or Best Director at the Oscars. It happened in 2000 (Ang Lee again, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon), in 1995 (Ron Howard, Apollo 13), and in 1985 (Steven Spielberg for the Color Purple).

Whomever you pick for DGA, it should be someone you’re also predicting for Best Director Oscar or Best Picture Oscar.

Let’s look at how many times since 2009 PGA and DGA matched:

2009-The Hurt Locker PGA/DGA/ACE/WGA

2010-The King’s Speech PGA/SAG/DGA

2011-The Artist PGA/DGA/ACE

2012-Argo PGA/SAG/DGA/ACE/WGA

2013-Gravity PGA/DGA, 12 Years a Slave PGA

2014-Birdman PGA/DGA/SAG

Only once since 2009 did the PGA and DGA not match, and that was with Gravity in 2013, where there was an historic tie between 12 Years a Slave and Gravity. Why was there a tie? There was clear support and motivation to push 12 Years a Slave to the top of the ballot, just as voters did at the Oscars.

Now, you have to look seriously at The Big Short and ask yourself why you think Adam McKay can’t win the DGA. Here are some reasons you might be thinking:

1) There are more virtuoso directors with popular movies next to him. True, but we’ve seen years where relative unknowns beat respected virtuoso directors, like Tom Hooper beating David Fincher, Michel Hazanvicious beating Martin Scorsese, and Ben Affleck beating both Ang Lee and Steven Spielberg.

2) He’s not well-known enough (see Number 1)

3) Many people apparently had trouble understanding The Big Short’s plot at first. Well, that may be. The film has made $60 million at the box office, which isn’t too shabby for a movie that some say is confusing. It also has an A- CinemaScore, which polls your average moviegoer as they leave the theater. Five minutes after the credits roll, if they had not understood or enjoyed The Big Short, we would expect to see it have a lower score. In contrast, both Mad Max: Fury Road and The Revenant have B+ Cinemascores, which is low for a Best Picture winner. The Martian has a solid A. Spotlight probably would have an A if it had been tested.

Let’s table the Oscars for the moment and look just at the DGA. If you’re predicting a unification of Picture/Director at DGA and Oscar, your best options are:

Adam McKay, The Big Short – It won the PGA. That ups its chances considerably. It also won the ACE Eddie (Comedy). Pairing PGA and ACE has resulted in a DGA win 12/14 times in PGA history [please note: for many years, the ACE announced well after PGA and DGA, thus the results are a tad suspect if we’re trying use them to predict the DGA], even if that film doesn’t eventually go on to win Best Picture (Saving Private Ryan). The ACE Eddie is such a big deal, in fact, that Braveheart and Crash all won the Eddie before winning Best Picture in an upset. While Shakespeare in Love didn’t win the Eddie, it did have a nomination there. This is probably your best bet for DGA right now.

Alejandro G. Iñárritu, The Revenant – Since 2009, all of the films that won the DGA won the PGA as well. Before 2009, Martin Scorsese for The Departed (won ACE) and Clint Eastwood for Million Dollar Baby were the two most recent DGA winners whose films didn’t win the PGA. Iñárritu could make history by becoming not just the first Mexican-born director to win two DGA awards, but the first in all of their history to win two in back-to-back years.

George Miller for Mad Max: Fury Road – The thing that keeps him atop the list is that Mad Max won the ACE Eddie (Drama), but also so many pundits are predicting him. Anne Thompson was one of the few to call Ang Lee for Life of Pi early on. She has sort of done the same thing for Miller and Mad Max.

Tom McCarthy, Spotlight – This won the SAG Awards Ensemble, which means it finally won a (plurality) consensus vote with a large group. No film has ever lost the PGA, won the SAG, and then won the DGA. This year might be the first time ever.

Ridley Scott, The Martian – Although it’s probably the most popular film with mass appeal in the lineup and Scott is a popular director who has never won before, The Martian lost momentum when it didn’t get an Oscar nod for Best Director. ]

Statswise, The Big Short is poised to take the whole race because it has won the Producers Guild Award and ACE Eddie. But Spotlight may have gained some fresh momentum from its SAG-AFTRA win. The ballots haven’t even gone out yet, which gives the Spotlight team plenty of time to rally voters. I could be wrong but I think both The Revenant and Mad Max: Fury Road will likely split the voters inclined to epics at the DGA, leaving the race between the two Irish brothers from another mother, McKay and McCarthy.

We here at AwardsDaily mostly stick to stats and history. We’re not big on making blind guesses based on hunches with nothing to back them up — but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t. The Gold Derby gang, right now, are almost uniformly predicting George Miller for Fury Road to take the DGA — and I think that’s a good prediction. My only snag is that it didn’t get either a Best Picture or Best Director nomination at BAFTA. It’s just extremely rare for that to happen — one or the other might have shown up. It only got tech nominations in the UK. Gravity, in contrast, had acting, writing, directing in addition to tech nominations at BAFTA. Iñárritu is in, we think, a slightly better position to be the lone director in a split, although he would also be making history as well, winning Best Director in back-to-back years.

The only people I know who are predicting the The Big Short to win the DGA would be Kris Tapley, our own Statsgasm’s Marshall Flores, and a few users over at Gold Derby. We’re predicting it because it has the best odds to win based on stats, reviews, popularity of director, popularity of film (box office) and most of all, that it won the PGA, which we feel significantly improves its chances. Winning the PGA nowadays is like winning Ohio if you’re running for President — it’s a reliable bellweather. The DGA is more like the Iowa caucuses — it’s good and all, and it’s better to win it than lose it, but it’s not as rigid a stat.

One more time:

But a hunch is a hunch is a hunch, and there is a first time for everything. Anything can happen on Saturday and turn the race in a different direction.

Despite the lack of a BAFTA nods for Mad Max, the pundits are very strong on George Miller — and they turn out to be a right a lot of the time. Just saying.

The DGA Awards

won DGA | won Oscar

*film nominated/+ won Best Picture at the Oscars

2014

Alejandro G. Inarritu, The Revenant Alejandro G. Inarritu, The Revenant Adam McKay, The Big Short Adam McKay, The Big Short George Miller, Mad Max: Fury Road George Miller, Mad Max: Fury Road Tom McCarthy, Spotlight Tom McCarthy, Spotlight Ridley Scott, The Martian Lenny Abrahamson, Room

2014

Richard Linklater, Boyhood Richard Linklater, Boyhood Alejandro G. Inarritu, Birdman Alejandro G. Inarritu, Birdman Wes Anderson, Grand Budapest Hotel Wes Anderson, Grand Budapest Hotel Morten Tyldum, Imitation Game Morten Tyldum, Imitation Game Clint Eastwood, American Sniper Bennett Miller, Foxcatcher

2013

Alfonso Cuaron, Gravity Alfonso Cuaron, Gravity Steve McQueen, 12 Years a Slave Steve McQueen, 12 Years a Slave Paul Greengrass, Captain Phillips Alexander Payne, Nebraska David O. Russell, American Hustle David O. Russell, American Hustle Martin Scorsese, The Wolf of Wall Street Martin Scorsese, The Wolf of Wall Street

2012

Steven Spielberg, Lincoln Steven Spielberg, Lincoln Ang Lee, Life of Pi Ang Lee, Life of Pi Ben Affleck, Argo David O. Russell, Silver Linings Kathryn Bigelow, Zero Dark Thirty Michael Haneke Amour Tom Hooper, Les Miserables Benh Zeitlin, Beasts of the Southern Wild

2011

Michel Hazanavicius, The Artist Michel Hazanavicius, The Artist+ Martin Scorsese, Hugo Martin Scorsese, Hugo* Alexander Payne, The Descendants Alexander Payne, The Descendants* Woody Allen, Midnight in Paris Woody Allen, Midnight in Paris* David Fincher, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo Terrence Malick, Tree of Life*

2010

Tom Hooper The King’s Speech Tom Hooper the King’s Speech+ David Fincher, Social Network David Fincher, Social Network* Darren Aronofsky, Black Swan Darren Aronofsky, Black Swan* David O’Russell, The Fighter David O’Russell, The Fighter* Christopher Nolan, Inception* The Coens, True Grit*

2009

Kathryn Bigelow, The Hurt Locker Bigelow, Hurt Locker+ Lee Daniels, Precious Lee Daniels, Precious* Jason Reitman, Up in the Air Jason Reitman, Up in the Air* Quentin Tarantino, Inglourious Basterds Tarantino, Inglourious Basterds* Jim Cameron, Avatar Jim Cameron, Avatar*

2008

Danny Boyle, Slumdog Danny Boyle, Slumdog+ Ron Howard, Frost/Nixon Ron Howard, Frost/Nixon* Gus Van Sant, Milk Gus Van Sant, Milk* David Fincher, Benjamin Button David Fincher, Benjamin Button* Christopher Nolan, The Dark Knight Stephen Daldry, The Reader*

2007

Joel and Ethan Coen, No Country Joel and Ethan Coen, No Country+ Sean Penn, Into the Wild Jason Reitman, Juno* Julian Schnabel, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly Julian Schnabel, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly Tony Gilroy, Michael Clayton Tony Gilroy, Michael Clayton* Paul Thomas Anderson, There Will Be Blood Paul Thomas Anderson, There Will Be Blood*

2006

Stephen Frears, The Queen Stephen Frears, The Queen* Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, Babel Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, Babel* Bill Condon, Dreamgirls Clint Eastwood, Letters from Iwo Jima* Faris and Dayton, Little Miss Sunshine* Paul Greengrass, United 93 Martin Scorsese, The Departed Martin Scorsese, The Departed+

2005

Ang Lee, Brokeback Mountain Ang Lee, Brokeback Mountain * George Clooney, Good Night, and Good Luck George Clooney, Good Night, and Good Luck* Paul Haggis, Crash Paul Haggis, Crash+ Bennett Miller, Capote Bennett Miller, Capote* Steven Spielberg, Munich Steven Spielberg, Munich *

2004

Alexander Payne for Sideways Alexander Payne for Sideways* Martin Scorsese for The Aviator Martin Scorsese for The Aviator* Taylor Hackford for Ray Taylor Hackford for Ray* Marc Forster for Finding Neverland* Mike Leigh for Vera Drake Clint Eastwood for Million Dollar Baby Clint Eastwood for Million Dollar Baby+

2003

Sofia Coppola, Lost in Translation Sofia Coppola, Lost in Translation* Clint Eastwood, Mystic River Clint Eastwood, Mystic River* Peter Jackson, ROTK Peter Jackson, ROTK+ Peter Weir, Master and Commander Peter Weir, Master and Commander* Gary Ross, Seabiscuit* Fernando Merielles, City of God

2002

Martin Scorsese, Gangs of New York Martin Scorsese* Peter Jackson, Lord of the Rings* Pedro Almodovar Roman Polanski, The Pianist Roman Polanski* Rob Marshall, Chicago Rob Marshall+ Steven Daldry, The Hours Steven Daldry*

2001

Ron Howard, A Beautiful Mind Ron Howard, A Beautiful Mind+ Peter Jackson, Lord of the Rings Peter Jackson, LOTR* Christopher Nolan, Memento Robert Altman, Gosford Park* Ridley Scott, Black Hawk Down Ridley Scott, Black Hawk Down Baz Luhrmann, Moulin Rouge* David Lynch, Mulholland Drive

2000

Cameron Crowe, Almost Famous Stephen Daldry, Billy Elliot* Ang Lee, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon Ang Lee, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon* Ridley Scott, Gladiator Ridley Scott, Gladiator+ Steven Soderbergh, Erin Brockovich Steven Soderbergh, Erin Brockovich * Steven Soderbergh, Traffic Steven Soderbergh, Traffic*

1999

Frank Darabont, The Green Mile* Lasse Hallstrom, Cider House Rules* Spike Jonze, Being John Malkovich Spike Jonze, Being John Malkovich Michael Mann, The Insider Michael Mann, The Insider* Sam Mendes, American Beauty Sam Mendes, American Beauty+ M. Night Shyamalan, The Sixth Sense M. Night Shyamalan, The Sixth Sense*

1998

Peter Weir, Truman Show Peter Weir, Truman Show Terrence Malick, Thin Red Line Terrence Malick, Thin Red Line John Madden, Shakes in Love John Madden, Shakes in Love* Steven Spielberg, SPR Steven Spielberg, SPR Roberto Benigni, Life is Beautiful Roberto Benigni, Life is Beautiful

1997

James L. Brooks As Good As It Gets* Peter Cattaneo, The Full Monty* Steven Spielberg Amistad Atom Egoyan, The Sweet Hereafter Gus Van Sant, Good Will Hunting Gus Van Sant, Good Will Hunting* James Cameron, Titanic James Cameron, Titanic+ Curtis Hanson, L.A. Confidential Curtis Hanson, L.A. Confidential*

1996

Cameron Crowe, Jerry Maguire* Milos Forman for The People vs. Larry Flynt Joel Coen, Fargo Joel Coen, Fargo* Mike Leigh, Secrets & Lies Mike Leigh, Secrets & Lies * Anthony Minghella, The English Patient Anthony Minghella, The English Patient+ Scott Hicks, Shine Scott Hicks, Shine*

1995

Mike Figgis for Leaving Las Vegas Mike Figgis for Leaving Las Vegas Mel Gibson for Braveheart Mel Gibson for Braveheart+ Ron Howard for Apollo 13* Chris Noonan for Babe* Ang Lee for Sense and Sensibility* Tim Robbins for Dead Man Walking Michael Radford for Il Postino Michael Radford for Il Postino*

1994

Mike Newell for Four Weddings and a Funeral* Woody Allen for Bullets Over Broadway Frank Darabont for The Shawshank Redemption* Krzysztof Kieslowski for Red Robert Redford for Quiz Show Robert Redford for Quiz Show* Quentin Tarantino for Pulp Fiction Quentin Tarantino for Pulp Fiction* Robert Zemeckis for Forrest Gump Robert Zemeckis for Forrest Gump+

1993

Andrew Davis for The Fugitive* Robert Altman for Short Cuts Jane Campion for The Piano Jane Campion for The Piano* James Ivory for The Remains Of the Day James Ivory for The Remains Of the Day* Martin Scorsese for The Age Of Innocence Jim Sheridan for In the Name Of the Father* Steven Spielberg for Schindler’s List Steven Spielberg for Schindler’s List+

1992

Robert Altman for The Player Robert Altman for The Player Rob Reiner for A Few Good Men* Martin Brest for Scent Of a Woman* Clint Eastwood for Unforgiven Clint Eastwood for Unforgiven+ James Ivory for Howards End James Ivory for Howards End* Neil Jordan for The Crying Game Neil Jordan for The Crying Game*

1991

Barbra Streisand for The Prince Of Tides* John Singleton for Boyz N the Hood Oliver Stone for JFK Oliver Stone for JFK* Ridley Scott for Thelma & Louise Ridley Scott for Thelma & Louise Barry Levinson for Bugsy Barry Levinson for Bugsy* Jonathan Demme for The Silence Of the Lambs Jonathan Demme for The Silence Of the Lambs+

1990

Francis Ford Coppola for The Godfather Part III Francis Ford Coppola for The Godfather Part III* Kevin Costner for Dances With Wolves Kevin Costner for Dances With Wolves+ Barry Levinson for Avalon Stephen Frears for The Grifters Martin Scorsese for GoodFellas Martin Scorsese for GoodFellas* Giuseppe Tornatore for Cinema Paradiso Barbet Schroeder for Reversal Of Fortune

1989

Driving Miss Daisy won Best Picture

Born on the Fourth of July: Oliver Stone Born on the Fourth of July: Oliver Stone Field of Dreams: Phil Alden Robinson Henry V: Kenneth Branagh Crimes and Misdemeanors: Woody Allen Crimes and Misdemeanors: Woody Allen Dead Poets Society: Peter Weir Dead Poets Society: Peter Weir When Harry Met Sally…: Rob Reiner My Left Foot: Jim Sheridan

1988

Rain Man: Barry Levinson Rain Man: Barry Levinson+ A Fish Called Wanda: Charles Crichton A Fish Called Wanda: Charles Crichton Working Girl: Mike Nichols Working Girl: Mike Nichols Mississippi Burning: Alan Parker Mississippi Burning: Alan Parker Who Framed Roger Rabbit: Robert Zemeckis The Last Temptation of Christ: Martin Scorsese

1987

The Last Emperor: Bernardo Bertolucci The Last Emperor: Bernardo Bertolucci+ Broadcast News: James L. Brooks Hope and Glory: John Boorman My Life as a Dog: Lasse Hallström My Life as a Dog: Lasse Hallström Empire of the Sun: Steven Spielberg Moonstruck: Norman Jewison Fatal Attraction: Adrian Lyne Fatal Attraction: Adrian Lyne

1986

Platoon: Oliver Stone Platoon: Oliver Stone+ Hannah and Her Sisters: Woody Allen Hannah and Her Sisters: Woody Allen Children of a Lesser God: Randa Haines The Mission: Roland Joffé A Room with a View: James Ivory A Room with a View: James Ivory Stand by Me: Rob Reiner Blue Velvet: David Lynch

1985

Out of Africa: Sydney Pollack Out of Africa: Sydney Pollack+ The Color Purple: Steven Spielberg Kiss of the Spider Woman: Hector Babenco Prizzi’s Honor: John Huston Prizzi’s Honor: John Huston Cocoon: Ron Howard Ran: Akira Kurosawa Witness: Peter Weir Witness: Peter Weir

1984

Amadeus: Milos Forman Amadeus: Milos Forman+ Places in the Heart: Robert Benton Broadway Danny Rose: Woody Allen A Soldier’s Story: Norman Jewison Places in the Heart: Robert Benton The Killing Fields: Roland Joffé The Killing Fields: Roland Joffé A Passage to India: David Lean A Passage to India: David Lean

1983

Terms of Endearment: James L. Brooks Terms of Endearment: James L. Brooks+ Tender Mercies: Bruce Beresford Tender Mercies: Bruce Beresford Fanny and Alexander: Ingmar Bergman Fanny and Alexander: Ingmar Bergman The Big Chill: Lawrence Kasdan Silkwood: Mike Nichols The Right Stuff: Philip Kaufman The Dresser: Peter Yates

1982

Gandhi: Richard Attenborough Gandhi: Richard Attenborough+ An Officer and a Gentleman: Taylor Hackford The Verdict: Sidney Lumet Das Boot: Wolfgang Petersen Das Boot: Wolfgang Petersen Tootsie: Sydney Pollack Tootsie: Sydney Pollack E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial: Steven Spielberg E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial: Steven Spielberg

1981

Reds: Warren Beatty Reds: Warren Beatty Chariots of Fire: Hugh Hudson Chariots of Fire: Hugh Hudson+ Atlantic City: Louis Malle Atlantic City: Louis Malle On Golden Pond: Mark Rydell On Golden Pond: Mark Rydell Raiders of the Lost Ark: Steven Spielberg Raiders of the Lost Ark: Steven Spielberg

1980

Ordinary People: Robert Redford Ordinary People: Robert Redford+ The Elephant Man: David Lynch The Elephant Man: David Lynch Coal Miner’s Daughter: Michael Apted Tess: Roman Polanski The Stunt Man: Richard Rush The Stunt Man: Richard Rush Raging Bull: Martin Scorsese Raging Bull: Martin Scorsese

1979

Kramer vs. Kramer: Robert Benton Kramer vs. Kramer: Robert Benton+ Manhattan: Woody Allen La cage aux folles: Edouard Molinaro The China Syndrome: James Bridges All That Jazz: Bob Fosse Apocalypse Now: Francis Ford Coppola Apocalypse Now: Francis Ford Coppola Breaking Away: Peter Yates Breaking Away: Peter Yates

1978

The Deer Hunter: Michael Cimino The Deer Hunter: Michael Cimino+ An Unmarried Woman: Paul Mazursky Interiors: Woody Allen Coming Home: Hal Ashby Coming Home: Hal Ashby Heaven Can Wait: Warren Beatty, Buck Henry Heaven Can Wait: Warren Beatty, Buck Henry

Midnight Express: Alan Parker Midnight Express: Alan Parker

1977

Annie Hall: Woody Allen Annie Hall: Woody Allen+ Star Wars: George Lucas Star Wars: George Lucas The Turning Point: Herbert Ross The Turning Point: Herbert Ross Julia: Fred Zinnemann Julia: Fred Zinnemann Close Encounters of the Third Kind: Steven Spielberg Close Encounters of the Third Kind: Steven Spielberg

1976

Rocky: John G. Avildsen Rocky: John G. Avildsen+ Taxi Driver: Martin Scorsese Face to Face: Ingmar Bergman Network: Sidney Lumet Network: Sidney Lumet All the President’s Men: Alan J. Pakula All the President’s Men: Alan J. Pakula Seven Beauties: Lina Wertmüller Seven Beauties: Lina Wertmüller

1975

One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest: Milos Forman One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest: Milos Forman+ Nashville: Robert Altman

Nashville: Robert Altman Jaws: Steven Spielberg Amarcord: Federico Fellini Barry Lyndon: Stanley Kubrick Barry Lyndon: Stanley Kubrick Dog Day Afternoon: Sidney Lumet Dog Day Afternoon: Sidney Lumet

1974

The Godfather: Part II: Francis Ford Coppola The Godfather: Part II: Francis Ford Coppola+ The Conversation: Francis Ford Coppola A Woman Under the Influence: John Cassavetes Lenny: Bob Fosse Lenny: Bob Fosse Chinatown: Roman Polanski Chinatown: Roman Polanski Murder on the Orient Express: Sidney Lumet Day for Night: François Truffaut

1973

The Sting: George Roy Hill The Sting: George Roy Hill+ Last Tango in Paris: Bernardo Bertolucci Last Tango in Paris: Bernardo Bertolucci The Exorcist: William Friedkin The Exorcist: William Friedkin American Graffiti: George Lucas American Graffiti: George Lucas Serpico: Sidney Lumet Cries & Whispers: Ingmar Bergman

1972

Cabaret: Bob Fosse Cabaret: Bob Fosse Deliverance: John Boorman Deliverance: John Boorman The Godfather: Francis Ford Coppola The Godfather: Francis Ford Coppola+ Sounder: Martin Ritt Sleuth: Joseph L. Mankiewicz Slaughterhouse-Five: George Roy Hill The Emigrants: Jan Troell

1971

The French Connection: William Friedkin The French Connection: William Friedkin+ The Last Picture Show: Peter Bogdanovich The Last Picture Show: Peter Bogdanovich Summer of ’42: Robert Mulligan Fiddler on the Roof: Norman Jewison A Clockwork Orange: Stanley Kubrick A Clockwork Orange: Stanley Kubrick Sunday Bloody Sunday: John Schlesinger Sunday Bloody Sunday: John Schlesinger

1970

Patton: Franklin J. Schaffner Patton: Franklin J. Schaffner MASH: Robert Altman MASH: Robert Altman Love Story: Arthur Hiller Love Story: Arthur Hiller Ryan’s Daughter: David Lean Fellini Satyricon: Federico Fellini Five Easy Pieces: Bob Rafelson Women in Love: Ken Russell

1969

Midnight Cowboy: John Schlesinger Midnight Cowboy: John Schlesinger Z: Costa-Gavras Z: Costa-Gavras Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid: George Roy Hill Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid: George Roy Hill Easy Rider: Dennis Hopper Arthur Penn, Alice’s Restaurant They Shoot Horses, Don’t They?: Sydney Pollack They Shoot Horses, Don’t They?: Sydney Pollack Oh! What a Lovely War: Richard Attenborough Hello, Dolly!: Gene Kelly The Wild Bunch: Sam Peckinpah Goodbye, Columbus: Larry Peerce Medium Cool: Haskell Wexler

1968

Oliver!: Carol Reed Oliver!: Carol Reed 2001: A Space Odyssey: Stanley Kubrick 2001: A Space Odyssey: Stanley Kubrick Rachel, Rachel: Paul Newman The Lion in Winter: Anthony Harvey Funny Girl: William Wyler The Battle of Algiers: Gillo Pontecorvo Isabel: Paul Almond Closely Watched Trains: Jirí Menzel Hello, Dolly!: Gene Kelly Rosemary’s Baby: Roman Polanski The Odd Couple: Gene Saks Romeo and Juliet: Franco Zeffirelli Romeo and Juliet: Franco Zeffirelli

1967

The Graduate: Mike Nichols The Graduate: Mike Nichols In Cold Blood: Richard Brooks In Cold Blood: Richard Brooks In the Heat of the Night: Norman Jewison In the Heat of the Night: Norman Jewison+ Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner: Stanley Kramer Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner: Stanley Kramer Bonnie and Clyde: Arthur Penn Bonnie and Clyde: Arthur Penn The Dirty Dozen: Robert Aldrich To Sir, with Love: James Clavell Two for the Road: Stanley Donen Cool Hand Luke: Stuart Rosenberg Ulysses: Joseph Strick

1966

A Man for All Seasons: Fred Zinnemann A Man for All Seasons: Fred Zinnemann+ Grand Prix: John Frankenheimer Blow-Up: Michelangelo Antonioni The Professionals: Richard Brooks The Professionals: Richard Brooks Alfie: Lewis Gilbert* Born Free: James Hill The Russians Are Coming the Russians Are Coming: Norman Jewison* A Man and a Woman: Claude Lelouch A Man and a Woman: Claude Lelouch Georgy Girl: Silvio Narizzano Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?: Mike Nichols Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?: Mike Nichols* The Sand Pebbles: Robert Wise*

1965

The Sound of Music: Robert Wise+ The Sound of Music: Robert Wise+ The Ipcress File: Sidney J. Furie Doctor Zhivago: David Lean The Pawnbroker: Sidney Lumet Woman in the Dunes: Hiroshi Teshigahara Darling: John Schlesinger Darling: John Schlesinger Cat Ballou: Elliot Silverstein The Collector: William Wyler

1964

My Fair Lady: George Cukor My Fair Lady: George Cukor+ The Night of the Iguana: John Huston Zorba the Greek: Mihalis Kakogiannis Becket: Peter Glenville Becket: Peter Glenville Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb: Stanley Kubrick Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb: Stanley Kubrick Mary Poppins: Robert Stevenson Mary Poppins: Robert Stevenson

1963

Tom Jones: Tony Richardson Tom Jones: Tony Richardson 8½: Federico Fellini 8½: Federico Fellini America, America: Elia Kazan America, America: Elia Kazan Lilies of the Field: Ralph Nelsonk The Cardinal: Otto Preminger Hud: Martin Ritt Hud: Martin Ritt

1962

Lawrence of Arabia: David Lean Lawrence of Arabia: David Lean+ Divorce Italian Style: Pietro Germi Divorce Italian Style: Pietro Germi To Kill a Mockingbird: Robert Mulligan To Kill a Mockingbird: Robert Mulligan The Miracle Worker: Arthur Penn The Miracle Worker: Arthur Penn Birdman of Alcatraz: John Frankenheimer David and Lisa: Frank Perry The Manchurian Candidate: John Frankenheimer The Longest Day: Ken Annakin, Andrew Marton, Bernhard Wicki Freud: John Huston Lolita: Stanley Kubrick Long Day’s Journey Into Night: Sidney Lumet Billy Budd: Peter Ustinov What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?: Robert Aldrich The Music Man: Morton DaCosta Mutiny on the Bounty: Lewis Milestone Requiem for a Heavyweight: Ralph Nelson A Taste of Honey: Tony Richardson

1961

West Side Story: Robert Wise West Side Story: Robert Wise, Jerome Robbins+ La Dolce Vita: Federico Fellini Judgment at Nuremberg: Stanley Kramer Judgment at Nuremberg: Stanley Kramer* The Hustler: Robert Rossen The Hustler: Robert Rossen* The Guns of Navarone: J. Lee Thompson The Guns of Navarone: J. Lee Thompson* Breakfast at Tiffany’s: Blake Edwards One-Eyed Jacks: Marlon Brando Pocketful of Miracles: Frank Capra The Innocents: Jack Clayton Summer and Smoke: Peter Glenville The Misfits: John Huston Splendor in the Grass: Elia Kazan Flower Drum Song: Henry Koster A Majority of One: Mervyn LeRoy Hand in Hand: Philip Leacock Fanny: Joshua Logan El Cid: Anthony Mann The Great Impostor: Robert Mulligan A Raisin in the Sun: Daniel Petrie The AbsentMinded Professor: Robert Stevenson Romanoff and Juliet: Peter Ustinov The Children’s Hour: William Wyler

1960

The Apartment: Billy Wilder The Apartment: Billy Wilder Sons and Lovers: Jack Cardiff Sons and Lovers: Jack Cardiff Bells Are Ringing: Vincente Minnelli

Never on Sunday: Jules Dassin Psycho: Alfred Hitchcock Psycho: Alfred Hitchcock The Sundowners: Fred Zinnemann The Sundowners: Fred Zinnemann Elmer Gantry: Richard Brooks Sunrise at Campobello: Vincent J. Donehue Sink the Bismarck!: Lewis Gilbert Can-Can: Walter Lang The Dark at the Top of the Stairs: Delbert Mann Home from the Hill: Vincente Minnelli Our Man in Havana: Carol Reed Hiroshima, mon amour: Alain Resnais Please Don’t Eat the Daisies: Charles Walters

1959

Ben-Hur: William Wyler Ben-Hur: William Wyler Anatomy of a Murder: Otto Preminger Room at the Top: Jack Clayton The Diary of Anne Frank: George Stevens The Diary of Anne Frank: George Stevens Some Like It Hot: Billy Wilder Some Like It Hot: Billy Wilder The Nun’s Story: Fred Zinnemann The Nun’s Story: Fred Zinnemann The Shaggy Dog: Charles Barton A Hole in the Head: Frank Capra Compulsion: Richard Fleischer The Horse Soldiers: John Ford Rio Bravo: Howard Hawks North by Northwest: Alfred Hitchcock Rally ‘Round the Flag, Boys!: Leo McCarey Imitation of Life: Douglas Sirk

1958

Gigi: Vincente Minnelli Gigi: Vincente Minnelli Cat on a Hot Tin Roof Cat on a Hot Tin Roof: Richard Brooks The Defiant Ones: Stanley Kramer The Defiant Ones: Stanley Kramer The Inn of the Sixth Happiness: Mark Robson The Inn of the Sixth Happiness: Mark Robson I Want to Live!: Robert Wise I Want to Live!: Robert Wise Damn Yankees!: George Abbott, Stanley Donen The Brothers Karamazov: Richard Brooks Cowboy: Delmer Daves The Young Lions: Edward Dmytryk The Vikings: Richard Fleischer Vertigo: Alfred Hitchcock The Long, Hot Summer: Martin Ritt Teacher’s Pet: George Seaton The Big Country: William Wyler

1957

The Bridge on the River Kwai: David Lean The Bridge on the River Kwai: David Lean Les Girls: George Cukor Sayonara: Joshua Logan 12 Angry Men: Sidney Lumet 12 Angry Men: Sidney Lumet Peyton Place: Mark Robson Peyton Place: Mark Robson Witness for the Prosecution: Billy Wilder Witness for the Prosecution: Billy Wilder Funny Face: Stanley Donen The Great Man: José Ferrer Heaven Knows, Mr. Allison: John Huston A Face in the Crowd: Elia Kazan The Pride and the Passion: Stanley Kramer Men in War: Anthony Mann An Affair to Remember: Leo McCarey Fear Strikes Out: Robert Mulligan Gunfight at the O.K. Corral: John Sturges Love in the Afternoon: Billy Wilder A Hatful of Rain: Fred Zinnemann

1956

Giant: George Stevens Giant: George Stevens Around the World in Eighty Days: Michael Anderson Around the World in Eighty Days: Michael Anderson The King and I: Walter Lang The King and I: Walter Lang War and Peace: King Vidor War and Peace: King Vidor Friendly Persuasion: William Wyler Friendly Persuasion: William Wyler The Teahouse of the August Moon: Daniel Mann The Searchers: John Ford The Trouble with Harry: Alfred Hitchcock The Man Who Knew Too Much: Alfred Hitchcock The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit: Nunnally Johnson Carousel: Henry King Trapeze: Carol Reed Alexander the Great: Robert Rossen Meet Me in Las Vegas: Roy Rowland The Eddy Duchin Story: George Sidney Moby Dick: John Huston Bus Stop: Joshua Logan Somebody Up There Likes Me: Robert Wise

1955

Marty: Delbert Mann Marty: Delbert Mann East of Eden: Elia Kazan East of Eden: Elia Kazan Mister Roberts: John Ford, Mervyn LeRoy Summertime: David Lean Picnic: Joshua Logan Picnic: Joshua Logan Bad Day at Black Rock: John Sturges Bad Day at Black Rock: John Sturges The Rose Tattoo: Daniel Mann Blackboard Jungle: Richard Brooks The Long Gray Line: John Ford A Man Called Peter: Henry Koster The Bridges at Toko-Ri: Mark Robson Love Me or Leave Me: Charles Vidor The Seven Year Itch: Billy Wilder

1954

On the Waterfront: Elia Kazan On the Waterfront: Elia Kazan Rear Window: Alfred Hitchcock Rear Window: Alfred Hitchcock The Country Girl: George Seaton The Country Girl: George Seaton The High and the Mighty: William A. Wellman The High and the Mighty: William A. Wellman Sabrina: Billy Wilder Sabrina: Billy Wilder A Star Is Born: George Cukor The Caine Mutiny: Edward Dmytryk Seven Brides for Seven Brothers: Stanley Donen Knock on Wood: Melvin Frank, Norman Panama Hell and High Water: Samuel Fuller Dial M for Murder: Alfred Hitchcock King of the Khyber Rifles: Henry King The Glenn Miller Story: Anthony Mann Three Coins in the Fountain: Jean Negulesco Riot in Cell Block 11: Don Siegel Executive Suite: Robert Wise

1953

From Here to Eternity: Fred Zinnemann From Here to Eternity: Fred Zinnemann Shane: George Stevens Shane: George Stevens Lili: Charles Walters Lili: Charles Walters Stalag 17: Billy Wilder Stalag 17: Billy Wilder Roman Holiday: William Wyler Roman Holiday: William Wyler Come Back Little Sheba: Daniel Mann Above and Beyond: Melvin Frank, Norman Panama The Robe: Henry Koster Call Me Madam: Walter Lang Julius Caesar: Joseph L. Mankiewicz Titanic: Jean Negulesco Young Bess: George Sidney

1953

The Quiet Man: John Ford The Quiet Man: John Ford The Greatest Show on Earth: Cecil B. DeMille The Greatest Show on Earth: Cecil B. DeMille+ Pat and Mike: George Cukor Moulin Rouge: John Huston 5 Fingers: Joseph L. Mankiewicz 5 Fingers: Joseph L. Mankiewicz High Noon: Fred Zinnemann High Noon: Fred Zinnemann I’ll See You in My Dreams: Michael Curtiz Singin’ in the Rain: Stanley Donen, Gene Kelly My Six Convicts: Hugo Fregonese The Big Sky: Howard Hawks Viva Zapata!: Elia Kazan The Snows of Kilimanjaro: Henry King Rashomon: Akira Kurosawa Pandora and the Flying Dutchman: Albert Lewin The Bad and the Beautiful: Vincente Minnelli Scaramouche: George Sidney Ivanhoe: Richard Thorpe Hans Christian Andersen: Charles Vidor

1952

A Place in the Sun: George Stevens A Place in the Sun: George Stevens Strangers on a Train: Alfred Hitchcock The African Queen: John Huston A Streetcar Named Desire: Elia Kazan A Streetcar Named Desire: Elia Kazan An American in Paris: Vincente Minnelli An American in Paris: Vincente Minnelli+ Detective Story: William Wyler Detective Story: William Wyler Death of a Salesman: Laslo Benedek Cyrano de Bergerac: Michael Gordon David and Bathsheba: Henry King Quo Vadis: Mervyn LeRoy Decision Before Dawn: Anatole Litvak Show Boat: George Sidney The Great Caruso: Richard Thorpe

1951

All About Eve: Joseph L. Mankiewicz All About Eve: Joseph L. Mankiewicz+ The Asphalt Jungle: John Huston Born Yesterday: George Cukor Father’s Little Dividend: Vincente Minnelli The Asphalt Jungle: John Huston The Third Man: Carol Reed Sunset Blvd.: Billy Wilder Sunset Blvd.: Billy Wilder

1950

All the King’s Men: Robert Rossen All the King’s Men: Robert Rossen+ The Third Man: Carol Reed A Letter to Three Wives: Joseph L. Mankiewicz Champion: Mark Robson The Fallen Idol: Carol Reed Lost Boundaries: Alfred L. Werker Battleground: William A. Wellman SuThe Heiress: William Wyler

1949

A Letter to Three Wives: Joseph L. Mankiewicz Hamlet: Laurence Olivier+ The Treasure of the Sierra Madre: John Huston Red River: Howard Hawks The Search: Fred Zinnemann The Snake Pit: Anatole Litvak The Snake Pit: Anatole Litvak The Search: Fred Zinnemann Johnny Belinda: Jean Negulesco

+also won Best Picture

(best picture that didn’t match director)