The Definitive Top 10 Best Actor/Director Pairings Of All Time

[Cena's Little Helper]

Yes, this is THE definitive list, no ifs, ands, or buts about it. I'm going to give you the list in this post followed by posts on each pair. I'll do one at a time in subsequent posts and it will all depend on whom I'm in the mood to discuss. Feel free to agree or disagree with the rankings or any perceived omissions (I especially look forward to jmt trying to argue that Scorsese/DiCaprio belongs on this list). Without further ado:

10) Michael Fassbender/Steve McQueen
9) Johnny Depp/Tim Burton
8) Molly Ringwald/John Hughes
7) Arnold Schwarzenegger/James Cameron
6) Bruce Campbell/Sam Raimi
5) Klaus Kinski/Werner Herzog
4) Marcello Mastroianni/Federico Fellini
3) Robert De Niro/Martin Scorsese
2) Kurt Russell/John Carpenter
1) Toshiro Mifune/Akira Kurosawa​

 

[Cena's Little Helper]

#5 Klaus Kinski and Werner Herzog

Films Done Together: Aguirre: The Wrath of God, Woyzeck, Nosferatu the Vampyre, Fitzcarraldo, Cobra Verde

Significance: Who would have ever thought that two certifiably insane, bat-shit crazy men would make one of the greatest films of all time when they collaborated for the first time on Aguirre: The Wrath of God? Obviously, the behind the scenes relationship between these men is just as appealing as what they created on screen. It is alleged that Kinski, after reading the script for Aguirre, called Herzog sometime between 3 and 4 in the morning to scream at him that he had thought it brilliant and was very interested in playing the titular role. It is further alleged that, once in South America, Herzog held Kinski at gunpoint when he threatened to leave in the midst of the film's physically and emotionally draining shoot. Regardless of whether or not these stories are true, these men created some of the most riveting films to ever hit the big screen, and all cinephiles should be eternally grateful for such a pairing.

 

[Dowdsy McDowds]

I've got a lot of love for the number 1 pairing on your list and I don't think anyone would doubt that those combinations are without doubt very impressive and have yielded some great films.

One pairing I think deserves a mention is Eastwood and Leone.

Whatever you call it, Dollars or No Name trilogy, both the actor and director benefitted immensely from their short run of films together. The irony that this partnership started off mirroring a film the number 1 pairing had made some years before (Yojimbo/Fistful of Dollars) isn't lost on me either, with the original source material apparently being written in Italy. Sorry, dissertation flashback.

Without Eastwood, it's arguable that Leone would ever have become as big an influence as he has been to some of New Hollywoods directors and Leone gave Eastwood his first big film break after years of television.

 

[Da Solo]

No Sam Jackson/Quentin Tarantino mention? Granted, I know it'd be a real dark horse choice and I feel like I'm definitely reaching, but it deserves a mention, no?

Jules in Pulp Fiction (arguably the best cast role in the history of movies) was supposedly created with Sam Jackson in mind since he got snubbed from Reservoir Dogs
Then there was Jackie Brown and the awesomeness that came with that
The cameo in Kill Bill, while not legendary by any means, was a nice little Easter Egg
And off course there's the recent Django Unchained where Sam damn near wrestled the main antagonist position from Leo.

Otherwise I have no qualms with this list at all.

 

[jmt225]

I love the inclusion of Molly Ringwald/John Hughes, Tdigs. That's brilliant and not many people would have thought to include them, but it rings true... they made some of the greatest teenaged films ever together.

However, I don't like the inclusion of John Carpenter/Kurt Russell, let alone at #2. And I love Escape from New York, but that's about it from them. Escape from LA was atrocious. Big Trouble in Little China is fun but nothing special. I've never seen the Elvis biopic. And The Thing is all about the gruesome special effects, not the acting or story.

I really like both John Carpenter and Kurt Russell (more so Carpenter than Russell), but they've never stood out for me as this super awesome director/actor tandem.

Bruce Campbell/Sam Raimi is another silly pick in my opinion. And I love them both, but the Evil Dead series, as awesome as it is, doesn't warrant these two to be considered one of the greatest actor/director tandems of all time.

And yes, I find it criminal you didn't include Leo/Scorsese, lol. They've EASILY been the best director/actor tandem since 2000. Gangs of New York, The Aviator, The Departed, Shutter Island, and The Wolf of Wall Street. Now, Shutter Island wasn't all that, and The Wolf of Wall Street hasn't been released yet, but from the looks of things, TWOWS is going to be an instant classic that lives up to their other work. The Gangs of New York is terrific, The Aviator is terrific, and The Departed is fucking awesome and let's not forget that The Departed is Martin's only Oscar victory.

No other actor/director tandem gets as much hype and praise as Leonardo DiCaprio and Martin Scorsese does in this day and age. Their films are all highly lauded, do very well at the box office, and each time they get together it's anticipated like no other. They have to be included by now, my man.

 

[Cena's Little Helper]

#1 Toshiro Mifune and Akira Kurosawa

Films Done Together: Drunken Angel, The Quiet Duel, Stray Dog, Scandal, Rashomon, The Idiot, Seven Samurai, I Live In Fear, Throne of Blood, The Lower Depths, The Hidden Fortress, The Bad Sleep Well, Yojimbo, Sanjuro, High and Low, Red Beard

Significance: This is it, folks, the undisputed greatest actor/director pair in the cinema of history. Akira Kurosawa is one of only seven people that can rationally be considered the greatest director of all time (the other six being Federico Fellini, Andrei Tarkovsky, Stanley Kubrick, and, UGGGGH!!!, Ingmar Bergman, Alfred Hitchcock, and Orson Welles). Toshiro Mifune's legacy is largely lost on the cinephiles of today, but he is without a doubt one of world cinema's greatest stars.

The films these men did together speak for themselves. Both Rashomon and Seven Samurai are perenially considered by dilettantes, films critics, and directors alike to be two of the greatest films ever made. Hidden Fortress, a film that I am not particularly fond of but still appreciate, inspired George Lucas to make the most lucrative and significant film franchise of all time. You will not find anything less that a great film within this collaborative list, and I sincerely doubt any other duo will rival it within our lifetimes.

 

[Cena's Little Helper]

I love the inclusion of Molly Ringwald/John Hughes, Tdigs. That's brilliant and not many people would have thought to include them, but it rings true... they made some of the greatest teenaged films ever together.

However, I don't like the inclusion of John Carpenter/Kurt Russell, let alone at #2. And I love Escape from New York, but that's about it from them. Escape from LA was atrocious. Big Trouble in Little China is fun but nothing special. I've never seen the Elvis biopic. And The Thing is all about the gruesome special effects, not the acting or story.

I really like both John Carpenter and Kurt Russell (more so Carpenter than Russell), but they've never stood out for me as this super awesome director/actor tandem.

Bruce Campbell/Sam Raimi is another silly pick in my opinion. And I love them both, but the Evil Dead series, as awesome as it is, doesn't warrant these two to be considered one of the greatest actor/director tandems of all time.

And yes, I find it criminal you didn't include Leo/Scorsese, lol. They've EASILY been the best director/actor tandem since 2000. Gangs of New York, The Aviator, The Departed, Shutter Island, and The Wolf of Wall Street. Now, Shutter Island wasn't all that, and The Wolf of Wall Street hasn't been released yet, but from the looks of things, TWOWS is going to be an instant classic that lives up to their other work. The Gangs of New York is terrific, The Aviator is terrific, and The Departed is fucking awesome and let's not forget that The Departed is Martin's only Oscar victory.

No other actor/director tandem gets as much hype and praise as Leonardo DiCaprio and Martin Scorsese does in this day and age. Their films are all highly lauded, do very well at the box office, and each time they get together it's anticipated like no other. They have to be included by now, my man.

Homey, I've never seen you as delusional as this. Scorsese gets bankrolled based off of his reputation as an auteur, but he is also one of the quickest ways to ensure a box-office failure. Of the films you listed, only Shutter Island and The Departed turned a profit. As far as The Wolf of Wall Street goes, it's up in the air right now as to whether or not this film will do well critically and financially. It may a decent film, but let's not go overboard by calling it an instant classic. If the movie gets consideration from the National Board of Review today, then you might be somewhat justified in the rose-colored glasses you wear for these two.

 

[Blade]

And yes, I find it criminal you didn't include Leo/Scorsese, lol. They've EASILY been the best director/actor tandem since 2000. Gangs of New York, The Aviator, The Departed, Shutter Island, and The Wolf of Wall Street. Now, Shutter Island wasn't all that, and The Wolf of Wall Street hasn't been released yet, but from the looks of things, TWOWS is going to be an instant classic that lives up to their other work. The Gangs of New York is terrific, The Aviator is terrific, and The Departed is fucking awesome and let's not forget that The Departed is Martin's only Oscar victory.

No other actor/director tandem gets as much hype and praise as Leonardo DiCaprio and Martin Scorsese does in this day and age. Their films are all highly lauded, do very well at the box office, and each time they get together it's anticipated like no other. They have to be included by now, my man.

Yep, this.

They are simply the best combo of the 21st century. The greatest director of his generation and the greatest actor of his generation making movies together. DiCaprio was the man chosen by Scorsese to replace DeNiro as his go to guy. These guys have never made a bad movie together.

Like jmt said, Shutter Island isn't great but it's certainly not a bad movie. But Gangs of New York, the Aviator and especially the Departed are all wonderful movies. The Departed is easily one of the best movies of the last ten years.

And you obviously can't tell how good the Wolf of Wall Street is going to be. But the trailers look awesome. DiCaprio is at his best, and Scorsese has managed to get what could very well be award winning performances from Matthew McConaughey and Jonah Hill. I'd be my right testicle that it's going to get a Best Picture nod.

Assuming the Wolf does geta nom, that means four out of five of their films getting a Best Picture nomination, including Scorsese's first win? That puts it in the top five easily.

Yes, I know. The Oscars don't mean shit. But it still sounds like an impressive feat.

 

[Cena's Little Helper]

#2 Kurt Russell and John Carpenter

Films Done Together: Elvis (TV Movie), Escape From New York, The Thing, Big Trouble In Little China, Escape From LA

Significance: After reading what jmt had to say about this pairing, I have to admit that I would probably rank this duo around five if I had to do this list all over again (I'd put Kinski/Herzog, Mastroianni/Fellini, and De Niro/Scorsese in ahead of them). But, I have deemed this the definitive list and no other duo here had a greater impact on me during childhood and adolescence. Regardless of whether you think Carpenter is a dinosaur that Hollywood technology passed by or an old-school maverick who is criminally shunned by the establishment due to a refusal to adapt, it's undeniable that the man's story is a tragic one: a visionary who got his big shot at a time when audiences were unreceptive to genre mash-ups and cheesy eccentricity. What would have happened had Carpenter instead faced a decade-plus-long struggle to get studio financing like Sam Raimi or Peter Jackson? This is an interesting but hard question to ponder since The Thing and Big Trouble in Little China would have been bona fide box office smashes had they only come out seven to ten years later. On a more positive note, we at least have the fruits of Carpenter's efforts with Russell, the leading, versatile man that so easily translated Carpenter's best visions into celluloid gold.

 

[Dr.King]

I have never made it a secret that aside from perhaps Stanley Kubrick, I consider Martin Scorsese to be the greatest American director to ever live. Perhaps Lynch is a possible candidate however I feel his work just isn't to the same standard. I feel Scorsese's body of work is head and shoulders above many other living directors, and this is in turn due to his partnership with actors; in particular Robert De Niro.

Beginning with Mean Streets (1972) , Scorsese harbored the talents of the young actor, with De Niro giving a very vibrant performance as Johnny Boy. It was five years later however with Taxi Driver, that Scorsese established himself as one of the best working directors, and this was no doubt due to the excellence of the performance that De Niro exults. I feel to this day it is one of the greatest male performances ever captured on screen, and is duly recognized as such. It simply is conveyed solely through this:

[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQkpes3dgzg"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQkpes3dgzg[/YOUTUBE]

Once again only a few years later, they would collaborate on Raging Bull (1980), a black and white boxing movie now considered by various critics to be a masterpiece of cinema. Sight and Sound often list it as one of the ten greatest movies ever made. Again, in a genius way, De Niro portrays another troubled character; a trademark of his work with Scorsese. It was this performance that picked De Niro up his second Academy Award and his only one for his work with Scorsese. Finally, Goodfellas (1990) is potentially (thus far) the last of the so called "classics" made by these two artists, and once again the movie displays a certain understanding between director and actor that very rarely takes place in modern cinema. Not only this, but the screen chemistry with actor Joe Pesci only amplifys the outstanding nature of the De Niro performance.

It is worth mentioning on the subject of Scorsese that like many posters , I too find the work of Scorsese and Di Caprio compelling, as I do his work with Harvey Kietel. Coming from the UK, we don't get The Wolf of Wall Street till mid January, but I am intently awaiting.

I was actually surprised by the lack of people who thought of Samuel L Jackson and Quentin Tarantino. Although I don't rate their partnership as high as others, and Tarantino is arguably overrated (he is still a massive guilty pleasure) ,it cannot be argued how important they have been to contemporary cinema. It was Jackson's performance in Tarantino's Pulp Fiction (1994) after all that catapulted the actor into stardom, and the same could be said for the director himself. They then completed the massively under rated and overlooked Jackie Brown (1997) , once again demonstrating Jackson's versatility in acting and Tarantino's competence, stopping the comparisons with Ed Wood once and for all. Most recently, Jackson was critically acclaimed for his role as Stephen in Django Unchained (2012) , another huge box office draw which once again showcased both individuals at the peak of their powers.

Honorable Mentions

Michael Fassbender/Steve McQueen
Christoph Waltz/Quentin Tarantino (again, thus far)
Sergio Leone/Clint Eastwood
David Lean/Alec Guinness
Alfred Hitchcock/James Stewart