1. Michael Bay. Known for Transformers, Pearl Harbor, Bad Boys.

One of the most commercially successful filmmakers in history, but also the most criticized. Bay has stated that he makes movies for “little teens.”

Notorious for making visually stunning movies with sloppy storytelling characterized by fast-cutting and explosive action sequences, Bay’s films are not intended to convey a higher message. Instead, your goal is simply to entertain.

The epic depiction of property destruction in his films has become his defining theme. So much so that moviegoers have coined the term “Bayhem.”

He has been considered a pioneer of the sophistication of American cinema technology, choosing to employ wacky special effects in his films that are tied to big explosions and fast-action sequences.

In his films, Bay often tries to portray the blockbuster cinematic experience in his cinematic roots; unfiltered action, pure and entertaining. But this often comes at the expense of a credible story that lacks substance or a compelling character development.

His signature is visible on all his films, making it impossible for fans to mistake his work for someone else’s. Although, the way he repeatedly neglects dialogue has led many to conclude that Bay is incapable of balancing action and imagery. This has led critics to compare Zack Snyder’s work to their own. But one might notice the level of emotional ambiguity that Snyder’s characters portray and the lack of Bay.

2. Tim Burton. Known for Batman, Alice in Wonderland, Dark Shadows.

Known as the “gothic” director, Burton makes films centered on dark fantasy folklore. Its 1992 sequel to Batman was deemed too dark and “unsafe” for children, prompting Warner Bros. to replace it with Joel Schumacher in the third installment.

His films often feature main characters who are freaks, weirdos, and loners, which he carefully intertwines to develop a compelling story.

He is also very fond of costumes, especially costumes, regardless of the Victorian era, the time period in which the film is set. Help give the storytelling a gothic appeal.

Burton’s visual style has successfully incorporated Gothic into art and made it mainstream. Gothic architectural designs, as seen in Batman and Dark Shadows, haunted castles, ghosts, and vampires are part of his unique storytelling style and sets him apart from other directors.

3. Quentin Tarantino. Known for Pulp Fiction, Kill Bill, Django Unchained

Tarantino’s films are filled with extended scenes of dialogue and non-linear narrative techniques that rival Christopher Nolan. While his films are always meant to be entertaining, Tarantino generally employs a satirical theme intended to convey a message or criticize an already established institution.

He uses a variety of cinematographic techniques in his films, constantly making references to popular culture and making use of “soundtracks containing songs and scores from the 1960s and 1980s.”

Tarantino draws inspiration from traditional Hong Kong and Japanese films, as well as the spaghetti westerns that is evident in Kill Bill. Even with his critically acclaimed achievements, he has been criticized for the excessive use of blood and the absurd use of violence in his films.

Also a prolific writer, Tarantino has almost created a new genre for his films and has inspired modern filmmakers. We all look forward to his version of Star Trek.

4. Christopher Nolan. Known for The Dark Knight Trilogy, Inception, Interstellar

Among the most critically acclaimed filmmakers in modern cinema, Nolan uses a non-linear storytelling that is deeply rooted in themes that present human morality, his ambiguity, and personal identity. He’s also a huge fan of practical special effects.

One of the most recurring themes is Nolan’s work is memory. Its reliability and unreliability. How it is just an entity that ultimately shapes what we consider to be reality or present. His fascination with memories is reflected in “Moment” and “Inception.

Like Snyder’s, Nolan’s works also attempt to reflect philosophical concepts and create questions that serve no other purpose than to create new questions.

The construction and manipulation of time are also among his subjects, as noted in Inception, Interstellar and Moment. Almost all of his films at some point are rooted in the transcendence of time, mocking that it could be an illusion while at the same time not revealing the “truth.”

Nolan uses various writing styles such as; moving the point of view, using unreliable narrators, Flashbacks and Flashfowards and anticlimactic scenes. He has set himself apart from other filmmakers of the modern era with his distinctive directing style, writing skills, and preference for practical effects. “Dunkerque”, his most recent film, is an excellent example of this. It has been reported that more than 80% of the film’s effects were practical, making it another potential masterpiece with an Oscar nomination.

5. Zack Snyder

Known for 300, Batman v Superman, Watchmen.

A misunderstood genius, a master of visual storytelling and the pioneer of comic book movies that appeal to human behavior or a pirate who uses excessive symbolism in films that lack character development and tries to make up for it with overused CGI. This is the last Snyder debate.

His films provoke discussions on a philosophical level that cause even the most dedicated fans to initially question his motives.

Genius or not, Snyder’s has a distinctive way of telling a story. He has become one of the most influential directors of the 21st century. Constantly compared to Michael Bay, critics have stated that Snyder sacrifices a good story for visual awe while glorifying violence at a level that seems almost offensive.

It employs the use of sad color palettes and visual effects straight out of a comic. His signature includes the use of slow motion between action scenes, which has set him apart from other filmmakers.

For better or for worse, Snyder has changed people’s perceptions of action movies. Even James Cameron claimed that Snyder makes movies ahead of time. Batman v Superman went a long way toward cementing his position as one of the most controversial filmmakers in the modern world.

Snyder’s directing style, especially his influence in DC’s extended universe, has earned him a dedicated and dedicated fan base. The recent release of Justice League proved it. His fans are convinced that the version that is shown in theaters is not his original vision, which causes them to initiate a petition for the release of the “Snyder cut”.