List of highest-grossing film directors

List of highest-grossing film directors

The following is a non-definitive list of the film directors with the highest career film grosses as of February 2026. The list is not adjusted for inflation.

Worldwide

List of highest-grossing film directors

<table><thead><tr><th>Rank</th><th>Name</th><th>Worldwide box office</th><th>Highest-grossing film</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>1</td><td>Steven Spielberg</td><td>$10,722,123,483</td><td>$1,037,535,230 (Jurassic Park)</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>James Cameron</td><td>$10,205,396,738</td><td>$2,923,710,708 (Avatar)</td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td>Anthony Russo Joe Russo</td><td>$6,763,018,339</td><td>$2,799,439,100 (Avengers: Endgame)</td></tr><tr><td>4</td><td>Peter Jackson</td><td>$6,553,022,508</td><td>$1,156,598,523 (The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King)</td></tr><tr><td>5</td><td>Michael Bay</td><td>$6,495,849,210</td><td>$1,123,794,079 (Transformers: Dark of the Moon)</td></tr><tr><td>6</td><td>David Yates</td><td>$6,354,627,148</td><td>$1,356,962,211 (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2)</td></tr><tr><td>7</td><td>Christopher Nolan</td><td>$6,046,672,096</td><td>$1,114,975,066 (The Dark Knight Rises)</td></tr><tr><td>8</td><td>Ridley Scott</td><td>$5,043,593,396</td><td>$653,609,107 (The Martian)</td></tr><tr><td>9</td><td>Tim Burton</td><td>$4,876,242,675</td><td>$1,025,491,110 (Alice in Wonderland)</td></tr><tr><td>10</td><td>J. J. Abrams</td><td>$4,637,580,337</td><td>$2,071,310,218 (Star Wars: The Force Awakens)</td></tr><tr><td>11</td><td>Robert Zemeckis</td><td>$4,396,123,401</td><td>$679,835,137 (Forrest Gump)</td></tr><tr><td>12</td><td>Jon Favreau</td><td>$4,336,018,074</td><td>$1,663,079,059 (The Lion King)</td></tr><tr><td>13</td><td>Ron Howard</td><td>$4,310,835,830</td><td>$767,820,459 (The Da Vinci Code)</td></tr><tr><td>14</td><td>Sam Raimi</td><td>$4,266,568,715</td><td>$955,755,804 (Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness)</td></tr><tr><td>15</td><td>Chris Renaud</td><td>$4,176,449,267</td><td>$972,964,428 (Despicable Me 4)</td></tr><tr><td>16</td><td>James Wan</td><td>$4,174,708,796</td><td>$1,515,342,457 (Furious 7)</td></tr><tr><td>17</td><td>Chris Columbus</td><td>$4,092,285,485</td><td>$1,024,465,951 (Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone)</td></tr><tr><td>18</td><td>Shawn Levy</td><td>$4,050,867,277</td><td>$1,338,071,348 (Deadpool & Wolverine)</td></tr><tr><td>19</td><td>Roland Emmerich</td><td>$4,015,708,066</td><td>$817,400,891 (Independence Day)</td></tr><tr><td>20</td><td>Jon Watts</td><td>$3,934,883,628</td><td>$1,921,847,111 (Spider-Man: No Way Home)</td></tr><tr><td>21</td><td>Byron Howard</td><td>$3,838,760,177</td><td>$1,834,140,777 (Zootopia 2)</td></tr><tr><td>22</td><td>Francis Lawrence</td><td>$3,758,130,588</td><td>$865,011,746 (The Hunger Games: Catching Fire)</td></tr><tr><td>23</td><td>Pierre Coffin</td><td>$3,710,005,544</td><td>$1,159,457,503 (Minions)</td></tr><tr><td>24</td><td>Bryan Singer</td><td>$3,708,723,733</td><td>$910,813,521 (Bohemian Rhapsody)</td></tr><tr><td>25</td><td>Gore Verbinski</td><td>$3,679,473,328</td><td>$1,066,179,747 (Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest)</td></tr><tr><td>26</td><td>George Lucas</td><td>$3,522,061,896</td><td>$1,027,083,462 (Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace)</td></tr><tr><td>27</td><td>Brad Bird</td><td>$3,433,846,498</td><td>$1,243,225,667 (Incredibles 2)</td></tr><tr><td>28</td><td>Todd Phillips</td><td>$3,393,161,492</td><td>$1,078,958,629 (Joker)</td></tr><tr><td>29</td><td>Clint Eastwood</td><td>$3,370,612,544</td><td>$547,659,020 (American Sniper)</td></tr><tr><td>30</td><td>James Gunn</td><td>$3,315,717,048</td><td>$863,756,903 (Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2)</td></tr></tbody></table>