24 Certified Fresh Debuts By Actors Turned Directors
A race-swinging horror movie directed by a guy known for his sketch comedy…and it’s getting rave reviews? Get out! No, really, it’s Get Out, the directorial debut of Jordan Peele, one-half of comedy duo Key & Peele. It’s no secret many stars harbor dreams of one day directing. Few get to do it, fewer are any good at it. In this week’s gallery, here’s 24 Certified Fresh movies directed by actors on their first try!
Critics Consensus: Don Jon proves to be an amiable directing debut for Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and a vivacious showcase for his co-star, Scarlett Johansson.
A grand, sweeping epic with inarguably noble intentions and arresting cinematography, but one whose center, arguably, is not as weighty as it should be.
A funny, well-written screwball satire for film buffs, In a World… proves an auspicious beginning for writer, director, and star Lake Bell.
A light, sweet, and thoroughly entertaining debut for director Tom Hanks, That Thing You Do! makes up in charm what it lacks in complexity.
Creepy and disturbing, Frailty is well-crafted, low-key horror.
Smartly directed, brilliantly acted, and packed with endlessly quotable moments, This Is Spinal Tap is an all-time comedy classic.
Delivering a quirky spin on familiar twentysomething tropes — with a cannily-placed soundtrack — Garden State has enough charm to mark a winning debut for first-time director Zach Braff.
While made from overly familiar ingredients, Drew Barrymore’s directorial debut has enough charm, energy, and good-natured humor to transcend its many cliches.
Ben Affleck proves his directing credentials in this gripping dramatic thriller, drawing strong performances from the excellent cast and bringing working-class Boston to the screen.
With Higher Ground, star and debuting director Vera Farmiga takes viewers on a challenging spiritual journey whose missteps are easily overcome by its many rich rewards.
Though shot through with bitterness and sorrow, Robert Redford’s directorial debut is absorbing and well-acted.
Edgy and seminal, Easy Rider encapsulates the dreams, hopes, and hopelessness of 1960s counterculture.
Delpy proves not only to be an adept actress, but makes her mark as a writer and director in this thought-provoking comedy that breaks the romantic comedy mold.
You will see what’s coming, but the masterful performances, especially Thornton’s, will leave you riveted.
Washington’s directing debut is a solidly crafted, emotionally touching work.
An accomplished directorial debut by Sarah Polley, Away From Her is a touching exploration of the effects of Alzheimer’s.
Rockwell is spot-on as Barris, and Clooney directs with entertaining style and flair.
Orson Welles’s epic tale of a publishing tycoon’s rise and fall is entertaining, poignant, and inventive in its storytelling, earning its reputation as a landmark achievement in film.
Funny, stylish, and ringing with adolescent truth, Submarine marks Richard Ayoade as a talent to watch.
Featuring Robert Mitchum’s formidable performance as a child-hunting preacher, The Night of the Hunter is a disturbing look at good and evil.
Tommy Lee Jones’ directorial debut is both a potent western and a powerful morality tale.
Timely, solidly acted, and unabashedly earnest, Rosewater serves as an impressive calling card for first-time director Jon Stewart.
It’s sweet, gentle, and predictable to a fault, but Dustin Hoffman’s affectionate direction and the talented cast’s amiable charm make Quartet too difficult to resist.
Though Pollock does not really allow audiences a glimpse of the painter as a person, it does powerfully depict the creative process. Harris throws himself into the role and turns in a compelling performance.
