Television media has evolved greatly in the past decade or two, so much so that it can now compete with Hollywood blockbusters not only in terms of budget but production quality and star power, as well. As the lines between the two industries get thinner, it’s no wonder many people whose careers exclusively revolved around films in the past have now taken an interest in TV.
It’s common for Hollywood directors to be associated with various TV shows, either as producers or working behind the scenes to coordinate and look over everything. But in some cases, they are involved in a much more hands-on manner, as directors, writers, and even creators, and this list takes a look at some of the more famous ones.
Spike Lee – She’s Gotta Have It (2017)
Older fans of Spike Lee’s work (or fans of his older work) might recognize that She’s Gotta Have It isn’t just the name of a TV show, but it’s also the name of Spike Lee’s directorial debut film from 1986.
The comedy-drama series is based on the movie and was created by Spike Lee for Netflix. It received moderately positive ratings from critics, joining the ever-growing list of canceled Netflix shows after running for two seasons.
Steven Soderbergh – The Knick (2014) & Mosaic (2018)
Creator of the genre-defining heist film series Ocean’s, Steven Soderbergh’s career started with 1989’s romance-drama Sex, Lies, and Videotape, which helped him earn the title of the youngest person in history to win the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival. His first full-length work on a TV series was in the fairly obscure HBO political-satire K Street, followed by the medical period drama The Knick.
In 2018, he and Men in Black writer Ed Solomon worked on a murder-mystery titled Mosaic, which was initially released as a movie in the form of an interactive mobile application.
David Fincher – Mindhunter (2017) & House Of Cards (2013)
House of Cards was Netflix’s first original show, and its immense success undoubtedly contributed to making Netflix the streaming giant it is today. While David Fincher’s association with the show was mostly limited to the role of an executive producer, he did direct the first two episodes, which was enough to land him an Emmy for “Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series”.
He’d partner up with Netflix again in the future, this time directing seven whole episodes of the psychological thriller Mindhunter.
J.J. Abrams – Fringe (2008) & Lost (2004)
As if having directed a Mission: Impossible movie, two Star Wars, and two Star Trek films wasn’t amazing enough, director J.J. Abrams has also worked on a multitude of TV series throughout his career. 1998’s Felicity was his first major work as a director, after which came the survival-drama Lost, and was followed by the sci-fi series Fringe.
And despite having his hands full with directing and writing all these movies and shows, he somehow managed to direct an episode of The Office, too.
Woody Allen – Crisis In Six Scenes (2016)
Despite being one of the most prolific directors of all time, Woody Allen’s name is probably unfamiliar to many casual moviegoers, mostly due to the fact that his films don’t tend to be the type that draws in hordes of people. He works in a particular niche of the industry and has done so for the past 40 years.
Amazon Prime saw pop singer Miley Cirus and Woody Allen come together for an original series, and the result was one of their biggest flops. It’s also one of their most expensive productions to date, costing upwards of $100 million for six episodes.
Guillermo Del Toro – The Strain (2014)
Best known for his fantasy-inspired horror films with religious and occult themes, Guillermo del Toro has directed Oscar winners such as Pan’s Labyrinth and Shape of Water.
2014’s The Strain saw him once again working on a horror-esque story, this time in the form of a vampire drama for the small screens based on his own book trilogy of the same name. He has also created several animated shows for Netflix by the name of Tales of Arcadia, which are also based on books he himself wrote.
Alfonso Cuaron – Believe (2014)
Although he has been in the movie business since the late 1990s and has directed critical hits like Children of Men, Alfonso Cuaron’s 2013 film Gravity is what permanently put him on the map. The film won seven Oscars and was followed by Roma, which won him his second Best Director award. He created the supernatural drama Believe, which aired on NBC for a single season before being canceled.
But his earliest work on a TV show can be traced back to a 1986 Mexican horror mystery Hora Marcada, which he directed and wrote.
Edgar Wright – Spaced (1999)
Edgar Wright is known for his quirky and fast-paced signature editing style that can be found in all of his films, and his “Cornetto Trilogy” is an all-time comedy classic in the form of a zombie, sci-fi, and cop drama.
Like many others in his profession, he formed the basis of his career by directing several TV shows, the most popular of which is 1999’s Spaced, which was created by and starred Mission Impossible actor Simon Pegg. He and Edgar Wright, along with his best friend Nick Frost, would later go on to collaborate on the famous Cornetto Trilogy.
Rian Johnson – Breaking Bad (2008)
Out of all the names on this list, Rian Johnson is the least involved with the TV industry as a whole, but what little work he did do snagged him a Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directing in a Drama Series.
The Knives Out and Star Wars: The Last Jedi director/screenwriter helmed three episodes of the critically acclaimed series Breaking Bad. One of the episodes he directed was Ozymandias, one of the highest-rated episodes in television history, with a solid 10/10 rating on IMDb.
Martin Scorsese – Vinyl (2016) & Boardwalk Empire (2010)
One of the most influential directors of all time, Martin Scorsese has dominated Hollywood with his masterpieces ranging from 1990’s Goodfellas to 2013’s Wolf of Wall Street and the more recent The Irishman. He directed the pilot episode of HBO’s Boardwalk Empire, one of their most expensive and highly rated shows in recent years, and was extensively involved in its production.
Six years later he would join together with HBO again to create the period-drama Vinyl. Although he only directed the pilot episode, Scorcese later called the show’s cancellation a “tragic” event and expressed regret in not having directed more episodes.
