15 Lesser-Known Movies From Better-Known Directors
Once a director is well known enough, people start noticing their work. They’re no longer just the person that directed something, they’re part of the selling point for a movie. This, of course, wasn’t always the case, and even when they’re already popular, some movies fly under the radar.
This is why we’re bringing you today a selection of lesser known films, directed by very well known directors. If you see a name you’re a fan of, be sure to check their films out; they might not be their best or most celebrated work, but the film is sure to have their signature style within.
Always, by Steven Spielberg
Released in 1989, this is one of Steven Spielberg’s least discussed projects. It hit theaters right in the middle of his peak creative era, but somehow managed to fade into the background compared to his massive blockbusters.
The Rain People, by Francis Ford Coppola
Before he defined American cinema with massive studio masterpieces, Francis Ford Coppola directed this 1969 film. It remains among his lesser-discussed works, showing a completely different side of the legendary filmmaker early in his career.
Killer’s Kiss, by Stanley Kubrick
Stanley Kubrick directed, edited, and photographed this 1955 independent film noir. It was his second feature film and received mixed reviews at first, but it gave him crucial exposure despite his own later criticism of the project.
The Trouble with Harry, by Alfred Hitchcock
Alfred Hitchcock directed this 1955 American black comedy. It received generally favorable reviews and even earned a re-release in 1984, but it often gets lost behind the massive, suspenseful thrillers that made him a household name.
Following, by Christopher Nolan
Christopher Nolan self-financed this 1998 British independent neo-noir. Conceived as an ultra-low budget project, it served as his feature directorial debut, hinting at the massive, complex ideas he would later bring to huge blockbuster audiences.
Piranha II: The Spawning, by James Cameron
James Cameron co-wrote and directed this 1982 monster film under a pseudonym. It was a critical failure and box office bomb that Cameron largely disowned, preferring to call The Terminator his actual feature directorial debut.
The Duellists, by Ridley Scott
Ridley Scott is a major Hollywood heavyweight today, but his 1977 feature directorial debut has been largely forgotten. It shows the very beginning of his signature visual style before he started building massive alien worlds.
Meet the Feebles, by Peter Jackson
Peter Jackson directed, co-wrote, and co-produced this combination of puppet-musical-black comedy-horror film. It is a wildly strange project that feels entirely distant from the epic fantasy trilogies he is famous for today.
The Weight of Water, by Kathryn Bigelow
Kathryn Bigelow directed this 2000 psychological thriller. It was released in the United States in 2002 but became a box-office bomb, receiving largely unfavorable reviews and quietly disappearing from her otherwise celebrated and highly intense filmography.
Girl 6, by Spike Lee
Spike Lee produced and directed this 1996 American black comedy, which screened at the 1996 Cannes Film Festival. Interestingly, it was the very first film directed by Lee that he did not also write himself.
Bottle Rocket, by Wes Anderson
This 1996 crime comedy marked the feature directorial debut for Wes Anderson. It lacked commercial success due to a limited theatrical release, but it received critical acclaim and effectively launched the careers of Anderson and the Wilson brothers.
Hard Eight, by Paul Thomas Anderson
Originally titled Sydney, this 1996 crime film was Paul Thomas Anderson’s feature directorial debut. He expanded it from his 1993 short film and premiered it at the 1996 Sundance Film Festival to kick off his acclaimed career.
The Hudsucker Proxy, by The Coen Brothers
Joel and Ethan Coen co-wrote, produced, and directed this 1994 screwball comedy. It bombed at the box office and received mixed reviews upon release, but like many of their strange early projects, it has since gained a cult following.
Cronos, by Guillermo del Toro
Guillermo del Toro wrote and directed this 1992 Mexican independent dark fantasy horror drama. It was his first feature film, received overwhelmingly positive reviews, and was selected as Mexico’s Best Foreign Language Film Oscar entry.
The Straight Story, by David Lynch
David Lynch directed this 1999 biographical road drama. In a shocking twist for a filmmaker known for unsettling surrealism, it was marketed as a mainstream family feature and remains his only movie to receive a G rating.