Over the years, many movie stars have decided to step behind the camera and experiment with their cinematic visions. Some of them perfected their craft so much that today they are praised for their directorial abilities as well as their acting. Others decided to direct and act in their own movies from the start.
This list presents to you the best movies directed by movie stars. Whether these movies were exceptions in their acting career, like Marlon Brando’s One-Eyed Jacks and Ryan Gosling’s Lost River, or one of the many directed, like Clint Eastwood’s Unforgiven and Takeshi Kitano’s Hana-Bi, they won’t disappoint you.
30 Hoffa
Hoffa was written by David Mamet and directed by Danny DeVito, who also stars in the movie in the secondary role of Bobby Ciaro, an associate of Jimmy Hoffa. It’s Jack Nicholson who plays the leading role of the union leader of the Teamsters, while Armand Assante portrays the Italian mobster Carl “Dally” D’Allesandro.
Hoffa is dominated by an impressive and ultra-detailed performance by Nicholson, who is confident and charismatic enough to step into the shoes of the famous American union leader. At the same time, the movie benefits from the epic screenplay by Mamet.
29 Lost River
Written, co-produced, and directed by Ryan Gosling, Lost River is a solid and esthetically beautiful directorial debut for the Canadian actor. The movie will bring the audience on a journey between the real and magic. It stars Christina Hendricks, Saoirse Ronan, Iain De Caestecker, Barbara Steele, and Eva Mendes.
Lost River benefits from incredible neon-lit cinematography by Benoît Debie that perfectly conveys the movie’s mood. At the same time, even if slightly derivative, the plot and development keep the audience engaged and glued to the screen. The cast is impeccable.
28 The Two Jakes
Written by Robert Towne and directed by Jack Nicholson, who is also starring in the movie, The Two Jackes is the sequel of the neo-noir masterpiece Chinatown. Nicholson comes back in his iconic role of private investigator Jake Gittes, this time tasked by wealthy businessman Julius Berman (Harvey Keitel) with investigating his wife infidelity.
The Two Jakes is not on the same level as its predecessor, but it still has its own strength, despite its troubled production history. Nicholson is great at constructing the movie’s atmosphere, while Vilmos Zsigmond is always flawless.
27 2 Days in Paris
2 Days in Paris was edited, co-produced, written, and directed by Julie Delpy, who also starred and composed the music for the movie. The movie revolves around a New York couple consisting of the photographer Marion (Delpy) and the interior designer Jack (Adam Goldberg), who travels to Paris after a negative vacation in Venice.
2 Days in Paris is a witty, funny, and deep movie that shows the unparalleled creativity ad versatility of Julie Delpy. At the same time, Adam Goldberg perfectly balances out Marion with his rendition of Jack.
26 Yentl
Yentl was co-written, co-produced, and directed by Barbra Streisand, who also stars in the role of Yentl Mendel, a woman living in Pechev, a small town in Poland in 1904. Her father, Rebbe Mendel (Nehemiah Persoff), teaches her Talmud, despite the community prohibiting teaching it to women. Yentl won an Oscar for Best Original Song at the 56th Academy Awards.
Yentl is extremely powerful and engaging, thanks to its great screenplay and well-crafted songs that elevates this musical. At the same time, Barbra Streisand gives us a convincing performance and solid directing.
25 Wildlife
Co-written, co-produced, and directed by Paul Dano, Wildlife is based on the homonymous 1990 novel by Richard Ford. It sees Jake Gyllenhaal and Carey Mulligan interpreting, respectively, the professional golfer Jerry and the housewife Jeanette; everything changes when Jerry is fired from his job. The movie’s cast includes Ed Oxenbould and Bill Camp. It is also the debut of Dano as a director.
Wildlife is an amazing debut for the American actor: every shot is perfectly designed and executed. At the same time, the emotionally charged screenplay allows Gyllenhaal, and especially Mulligan, to give their best.
24 Lady Bird
Written and directed by Greta Gerwig, Lady Bird is a well-crafted coming-of-age movie that focuses on the relationship between a high school senior named Christine (Saoirse Ronan) and her mum Marion (Laurie Metcalf). The movie’s large cast also includes Timothée Chalamet, Tracy Letts, and Lucas Hedges.
Lady Bird shines for the impressive performances of all cast, with Metcalf delivering maybe the strongest one. At the same time, Gerwig writes an incredible screenplay that mixes in an engaging way drama and comedy. If this wasn’t enough, Lady Bird is also exceptionally shot and beautifully photographed.
23 The Town
Co-written by Peter Craig, Aaron Stockard, and Ben Affleck, who also directed and starred in the movie, The Town is an amazing crime story. Based on the novel Prince of Thieves by Chuck Hogan, this film sees Doug MacRay (Affleck) and his crew of robbers planning and executing hits, until something changes their trajectory forever.
The Town is characterized by solid directing by Affleck, who calibrates every shot perfectly in order to enhance the story. At the same time, the performances by the ensemble cast are noteworthy. An incredible heist movie.
22 One-Eyed Jacks
One-Eyed Jacks was directed by Marlon Brando, who also stars in the role of Rio, a bank robber in 1880. After stealing gold from a bank in Sonora, Mexico, Rio’s accomplice and mentor, Dad Longworth (Karl Malden), betrays him. Rio ends up in prison, planning revenge. One-Eyed Jacks is Brando’s first and last movie as a director.
This one-of-a-kind western is characterized by impeccable cinematography by the hand of Charles Lang, which captures the natural landscapes perfectly while providing deep colors in the most detailed shots. Brando gives a strong performance behind and in front of the camera.
21 Braveheart
Co-produced, starred and directed by Mel Gibson, Braveheart is the loose film adaptation of the life of William Wallace, the Scottish knight and rebel who fought against the English crown for the independence of Scotland. Mel Gibson stars as the revolutionary, while Catherine McCormack plays his wife Murron. We also find Sophie Marceau, Patrick McGoohan, and Brian Cox.
Braveheart is directed exceptionally well by Mel Gibson, who gives the deserved epicness to the story, especially in the battle scenes. At the same time, Scotland’s beautiful landscapes and environment are beautifully captured by the cinematography of John Toll.
20 Ordinary People
Written by Alvin Sargent and directed by Robert Redford, Ordinary People is based on the homonymous novel by Judith Guest. The movie revolves around an upper-class family from suburban Chicago who has to deal with the premature departure of one of their son and the attempted suicide of the other. The cast includes Donald Sutherland, Mary Tyler Moore, and Timothy Hutton.
Ordinary People features terrific performances by the cast, especially by Hutton, who also won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor. At the same time, the movie is characterized by flawless directing by Redford, at his debut.
19 Dead Man Walking
Written and directed by Tim Robbins, Dead Man Walking is an emotionally deep and socially conscious 1990s gem based on the homonymous book by Helen Prejean, played here by Susan Sarandon. Helen is a Catholic sister who is corresponding with death row inmate Matthew Poncelet (Sean Penn). She will meet him in prison when Matthew asks her to assist him with his final appeal.
Dead Man Walking mixes form and substance greatly, delivering esthetically pleasing images and strong performances, while at the same time analyzing the death penalty and its non-ethical nature. Essential.
18 First They Killed My Father
Jolie Pas
Co-written between Angelina Jolie and Loung Ung, who wrote the homonymous memoir on which the movie is based, First They Killed My Father narrates the experience of seven years old Ung during Khmer Rouge dictatorship. Jolie also co-produced and directed the movie. Ung is played by Sreymoch Sareum.
First They Killed My Father is an emotionally charged movie that is able to express the cruel and harsh reality of 1970s Cambodia, while at the same time showing the story through an impeccable aesthetic. Angelia Jolie is more and more comfortable behind the camera.
17 A Quiet Place
Co-written, directed and co-starred by John Krasinski, A Quiet Place is a well-crafted post-apocalyptic film that features an original and highly engaging screenplay. On an isolated farm in Upper New York, a family composed of parents Evelyn (Emily Blunt) and Lee (Krasinski), and children Marcus (Noah Jupe), Regan (Millicent Simmonds), and Beau (Cade Woodward) fight to survive against blind aliens with an extraordinary hearing.
A Quiet Place is intelligent in its use of silence, as a minimalist but effective touch to the premise of the story and as a great tension builder.
16 Dances With Wolves
Co-produced, directed and starred by Kevin Costner, Dances With Wolves is based on the homonymous novel by Michael Blake. John J. Dunbar (Costner) is a Union Army Lieutenant who gets awarded after an act of bravery. As part of his compensation, he chooses to be transferred to the western frontier. Here, he encounters and gets friendly with Sioux locals, among which we find Kicking Bird (Graham Greene).
Dances With Wolves is one of the most famous movies of the 1990s, with its esthetically pleasing shots of natural landscapes and engaging screenplay.
15 Good Night, and Good Luck
Co-written, directed and featuring George Clooney, Good Night, and Good Luck is a well-crafted drama that shows the skillful directorial abilities of the American actor, here at his second movie. This movie is set during McCarthyism, and it sees David Strathairn portraying Edward R. Murrow, a CBS host who criticized the witch hunt of the American Senator.
Good Night, and Good Luck shines for incredible cinematography by the master Robert Elswit, with its rich black-and-white colors. At the same time, the movie is superbly directed by Clooney. The screenplay is phenomenal.
14 Frailty
Directed by Bill Paxton, who also has a part in the movie, Frailty is an early 2000s underrated gem and the film that marks the debut behind the camera for the late American actor. This is his only movie as a director. The plot revolves around two brothers, called Adam (Matthew McConaughey) and Fenton (Levi Kreis), and their father (Bill Paxton); they all hold a dark secret.
Frailty shines thanks to its tense and well-written screenplay and the actors that interpreted it, with a special mention for Matthew McConaughey’s performance. Frailty needs to be seen more.
13 Sling Blade
Sling Blade was written and directed by Billy Bob Thornton and is based on the short movie Some Folks Call It a Sling Blade by Thornton himself. The film tells the story of Karl Childers (Thornton), a neurodivergent man who resides in a mental hospital. Sling Blade has become a cult over the years and completely solidified Thornton’s career.
Sling Blade features an extremely well-written screenplay that won an Oscar at the 69th Academy Awards ceremony, and incredible acting by Thornton, impressive and emotionally resonating in his portrayal of Karl.
12 Into The Wild
Written, co-produced, and directed by Sean Penn, Into The Wild features Emile Hirsch in the role of Chris McCandless, a real-life college graduate who decided to hitchhike to Alaska in order to live life fully. The movie also stars Kristen Stewart, Vince Vaughn, William Hurt, and Zach Galifianakis.
Into The Wild has become, through the years, a cult and a fan favorite, thanks to the poetic and socially charged story of McCandless. Hirsch is phenomenal in the role, while Penn brilliantly constructs scene after scene, with detailed attention to the story as well as the esthetics.
11 A Bronx Tale
A Bronx Tale is a joint venture between gangster movie icons Chazz Palminteri and Robert De Niro. Palminteri wrote the screenplay and the homonymous play on which the movie is based, while De Niro directed and co-produced it. Needless to say, the actors also starred, with De Niro playing the hardworking and honest Lorenzo and Palmintieri the gangster Sonny.
A Bronx Tale is an amazing coming-of-age movie that delves into the reality of the NYC borough of the Bronx, the life of the Italian-American community and the racial tension with the African-American one.