There is no doubt that directing your first film is incredibly challenging—it marks the beginning of your journey as a filmmaker, where you finally get to showcase your style and expertise to new audiences. Seeking to captivate thousands with your vision successfully is quite a demanding task, especially when you’re trying to make a name for yourself in a vast industry.
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These are some of the filmmakers that surprised everyone (including plenty of dedicated Reddit users) with their directorial debuts. FromAlex Garland’smind-blowing sci-fi thrillerEx MachinastarringAlicia Vikander, toOrson Welles’timeless classicCitizen Kane, many films almost feel too good to be the first motion picture these directors ever executed. A number ofRedditthreads have asked thisquestion, and while everyone has a different answer for their face, the same movies do tend to keep popping up.
Ex Machina(Alex Garland, 2014)
Starting with the smart and innovativeEx Machina,which earnedGarlandthree Oscar nominations including Best Writing and Original Screenplay, there is hardly any doubt that the unconventional film is one of the best of its genre. It tells the enthralling story of a young programmer who is selected to participate in a ground-breaking experiment in artificial intelligence, managing to keep viewers immersed from the beginning. According to Reddit userMrQualtrough, it is “the only movie ever where I hated the ending but I knew it was the right one.”
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The concept of how an AI would be, look like and interact is genially explored throughout the movie, as well as the satirical element of misogynistic attitudes towards women—yes, even if they are humanoid robots. The brilliant storytelling and thought-provoking scenes make it hard to believe thatEx Machinais, in fact, a debut feature.
Reservoir Dogs(Quentin Tarantino, 1992)
Quentin Tarantinohascertainly made it to the topin a short period of time. AlthoughPulp Fictionwas the first movie that acquired the director’s widespread fame,Reservoir Dogsis the flick that launched the filmmaker into the film industry. Following the story of six criminals, who reunite to plan a jewelry heist only for it to end up going completely wrong (spoiler alert: one of them is a police informant), this picture introduces audiences toTarantino’scharacteristic approach to dialogue.
While it is not an excellent film, it is a pretty solid debut feature that charmed viewers into watching more of the director’s work, which ultimately resulted in him becoming one of the most successful filmmakers to this day. Even now,Redditremains enthralled.
The VVitch(Robert Eggers, 2015)
The NorthmanandThe LighthousedirectorRobert Eggers’first film centers around a family in the 1630s New England who is torn apart by sinister forces. The director’s folkloric horror debut is as chilling as it is haunting. It is scary in its singular and balanced way; no traditional jump-scares are needed to agitate viewers, plus it gives them a perfect preview of whatEggers’work looks like.
Also counting amazing performances by everyone involved (namelyAnya Taylor-Joywho made her film debut as the lead in this) and top-notch cinematography, much like the rest of the filmmaker’s features,The VVitchis a must-watch for horror genre fans. Even in the early days of the film’s release,Redditwas obsessed.
Donnie Darko(Richard Kelly, 2001)
Donnie Darkoexplores the troubling life of a teenager who is manipulated to commit terrible crimes after escaping a bizarre accident. Adding up this movie’s captivating story toJake Gyllenhaal’soutstanding performance as the main character who clearly goes through a lot, this motion picture is well worth the watch.
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Touching on several themes and putting viewers' brains to test,Donnie Darkois not only arguablyRichard Kelly’sbest piece of cinema, but it also is his extremely impressive directorial debut. A now-deletedReddituser referred to Donnie as “Time-traveling Jesus,” which might explain the character’s lasting appeal.
The Shawshank Redemption(Frank Darabont, 1994)
Voted the greatest movie of all time with a solid 9.3IMDbscore, viewers may get shocked when they learn thatFrank Darabont’sfilm was actually a debut feature.The Shawshank Redemptiontells the admirablestory of two prisonerswho, over several years, bond and find solace in each other during hopeless times.
Other than the undeniable chemistry betweenMorgan FreemanandTim Robbin’scharacters (who are very easy to empathize with), this film, which almost feels like a warm hug and a soft pat on the back, delivers an inspiring storyline that fascinates the audience and keeps viewers intrigued to watch it until the end.
Get Out(Jordan Peele, 2017)
ManyReddit users agreethat there are very few films likeGet Out.Long story short, Chris (Daniel Kaluuya) and his girlfriend (Allison Williams), an interracial couple, go visit the girl’s overly-accommodative parents for the weekend. While everything seems fine at the beginning, things start to escalate and the character finds himself trapped in disturbing discoveries.
Intelligent, political, scary, and filled with twists and turns,Jordan Peele’sfirst film successfully managed to create an extremely unsettling atmosphere while also sending a very important message to the audience. There is no doubt that this is a movie that should be very meticulously and attentively watched by everyone, especially given thegreat emphasis on its themeand depiction of an alarming reality that we, too, live in.
The Virgin Suicides(Sofia Coppola, 1999)
Sofia Coppoladebuted her first movie in 1999,starring Kirsten Dunstas one of the main protagonists. This charming and extremely well-crafted drama that marked the beginning of the filmmaker’s journey tells the mysterious story of five different sisters who are sheltered by their parents in the mid-70s.
Through beautiful cinematography (especially the perfect usage of color) and an amazing soundtrack,The Virgin Suicides,which feels like a haunting, ethereal dream at times, surely enchanted plenty of viewers. For user_w00k_, the films stands out because of “Giovanni Ribisis’deadpan narration, knowing the feeling the boys felt pining over the girls, the seafoam green haze that reminds you of lost summer evenings…”
American Beauty(Sam Mendes, 1999)
Another good example of a debut feature from the same year isAmerican Beauty. Though somewhat flawed, many agree thatSam Mendes’first movie is a brilliant piece of cinema and consider it a must-watch for everyone who truly enjoys movies. It tells the story of a depressed suburban father who decides that it is a good idea to start developing a crush on his daughter’s best friend during a midlife crisis.
Other than a great snapshot of America during the nineties, the compelling movie gathers a very nice script and a few unexpected twists. Checking in with Reddit,many userscite this as one of the greatest first features from a director ever.
Hereditary(Ari Aster, 2018)
Haunting and soul-stirring in every sense of the words,Ari Aster’sdirectorial debut is incredible beyond comparison. Very much like the previously mentioned filmThe Witch,Hereditaryshowcases how great horror genre films are when intelligently made, even (and especially) if they don’t resort to the same shocking effects overused in several movies of the genre; for instance, the trick of jump-scares.
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This supernatural psychological horror thriller follows the story of a family after its matriarch passes away. Throughout the course of the movie, several terrifying secrets about their ancestry begin to unravel in the most sinister ways. For usercncamusic, “There’s something about that final scene that just disturbed the Hell out of me.”
Citizen Kane(Orson Welles, 1941)
Fellow Reddit users likely agree thatCitizen Kanejusthadto be here. WhileOrson Welles’film has been considered the best of all time by some people, some may be let down by it and find it boring or unappealing. However, there is no denying that it is an incredible first feature overall, especially given the time it premiered.
The plot centers on the rise and fall of publishing industrialist Charles Foster Kane (brought to life byWelleshimself) through a series of flashbacks. After his death, reporters seek to uncover the meaning of his final word: “Rosebud.” According to Reddit userdogger6, “To come out of nowhere and write, direct, and star in what is still considered the greatest film of all time? It’s beyond impressive, it’s absolutely bonkers.”
