Golden Globe Award for Best Director

The Golden Globe Award for Best Director – Motion Picture is a Golden Globe Award that has been presented annually by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, an organization composed of journalists who cover the United States film industry for publications based outside North America, since 1943.

Golden Globe for Best Director – Motion Picture
The 2023 recipient: Christopher Nolan
Awarded forBest Director of a Motion Picture
LocationUnited States
Presented byHollywood Foreign Press Association
Currently held byChristopher Nolan for Oppenheimer (2023)
Websitewww.goldenglobes.com

Having won all four of his nominations, Elia Kazan has been honored most often in this category. Clint Eastwood, Miloš Forman, David Lean, Martin Scorsese, Steven Spielberg, and Oliver Stone tie for second place with three wins each. Steven Spielberg has had the most nominations (fourteen). Barbra Streisand, Chloé Zhao and Jane Campion are the only women to have won the award.

Receiving the award in 1984 for Yentl, Barbra Streisand became the first woman to win the Golden Globe for Best Director.[1]

She remained the only woman to win a Golden Globe for directing for 37 years until Chloé Zhao won the award for Nomadland in 2021 and became the second woman and the first Asian woman to do so.[2]

In the following lists, the first names, listed in bold type against a blue background, are the winners, and the following names are the remaining nominees. The years given are those in which the films under consideration were released, not the year of the ceremony, which takes place in January of the following year.

Winners and nominees

Henry King was the first recipient of this award for The Song of Bernadette (1943)
Billy Wilder won twice for The Lost Weekend (1945) and Sunset Boulevard (1950)
Elia Kazan won four times for Gentleman's Agreement (1947), On the Waterfront (1954), Baby Doll (1956), and America America (1963)
John Huston won twice for The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948) and Prizzi's Honor (1985)
Cecil B. DeMille won for The Greatest Show on Earth (1952)
Vincent Minnelli won for Gigi (1958)
David Lean won thrice The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957), Lawrence of Arabia (1962), and Doctor Zhivago (1965)
William Wyler won for Ben-Hur (1959)
Stanley Kramer won for Judgment at Nuremberg (1961)
George Cukor won for My Fair Lady (1964)
Mike Nichols won for The Graduate (1967)
Paul Newman won for Rachel, Rachel (1968)
William Friedkin won twice for The French Connection (1971) and The Exorcist (1973)
Francis Ford Coppola won twice for The Godfather (1972) and Apocalypse Now (1979)
Roman Polanski won for Chinatown (1974)
Milos Forman won thrice for One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975), Amadeus (1984), and The People vs. Larry Flynt (1996)
Sidney Lumet won for Network (1976)
Robert Redford won for Ordinary People (1980)
Warren Beatty won for Reds (1981)
Richard Attenborough won for Gandhi (1982)
Barbra Streisand won for Yentl (1983)
Oliver Stone won thrice for Platoon (1986), Born on the Fourth of July (1989), and JFK (1991)
Bernardo Bertolucci won for The Last Emperor (1987)
Clint Eastwood won thrice for Bird (1988), Unforgiven (1992), and Million Dollar Baby (2004)
Kevin Costner won for Dances with Wolves (1990)
Steven Spielberg won thrice for Schindler's List (1993), Saving Private Ryan (1998), and The Fabelmans (2022)
Robert Zemeckis won for Forrest Gump (1994)
Mel Gibson won for Braveheart (1995)
James Cameron won twice for Titanic (1997) and Avatar (2009)
Sam Mendes won twice American Beauty (1999) and 1917 (2019)
Ang Lee won twice Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000) and Brokeback Mountain (2005)
Robert Altman won for Gosford Park (2002)
Peter Jackson won for The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
Martin Scorsese won thrice for Gangs of New York (2002), The Departed (2006), and Hugo (2011)
Danny Boyle won for Slumdog Millionaire (2008)
David Fincher won for The Social Network (2010)
Ben Affleck won for Argo (2012)
Damien Chazelle won for La La Land (2016)
Alejandro González Iñárritu won for The Revenant (2015)
Guillermo del Toro won for The Shape of Water (2017)
Alfonso Cuarón won twice for Gravity (2013) and Roma (2018)
Chloé Zhao won for Nomadland (2020)
Jane Campion won for The Power of the Dog (2021)
Christopher Nolan won for Oppenheimer (2023)

1940s

YearNameFilmRef.
1943Henry KingThe Song of Bernadette[3]
1944Leo McCareyGoing My Way[4]
1945Billy WilderThe Lost Weekend[5]
1946Frank CapraIt's a Wonderful Life[6]
1947Elia KazanGentleman's Agreement[7]
1948John HustonThe Treasure of the Sierra Madre[8]
1949Robert RossenAll the King's Men

1950s

YearNameFilmRef.
1950Billy WilderSunset Boulevard
Joseph L. MankiewiczAll About Eve
John HustonThe Asphalt Jungle
George CukorBorn Yesterday
1951László BenedekDeath of a Salesman
Vincente MinnelliAn American in Paris
George StevensA Place in the Sun
1952Cecil B. DeMilleThe Greatest Show on Earth
Richard FleischerThe Happy Time
John FordThe Quiet Man
1953Fred ZinnemannFrom Here to Eternity[9]
1954Elia KazanOn the Waterfront[10]
1955Joshua LoganPicnic[11]
1956Elia KazanBaby Doll
Michael AndersonAround the World in 80 Days
George StevensGiant
Vincente MinnelliLust for Life
King VidorWar and Peace
1957David LeanThe Bridge on the River Kwai
Sidney Lumet12 Angry Men
Fred ZinnemannA Hatful of Rain
Joshua LoganSayonara
Billy WilderWitness for the Prosecution
1958Vincente MinnelliGigi
Richard BrooksCat on a Hot Tin Roof
Stanley KramerThe Defiant Ones
Robert WiseI Want to Live!
Delbert MannSeparate Tables
1959William WylerBen-Hur
Otto PremingerAnatomy of a Murder
George StevensThe Diary of Anne Frank
Fred ZinnemannThe Nun's Story
Stanley KramerOn the Beach

1960s

YearNameFilmRef.
1960Jack CardiffSons and Lovers
Billy WilderThe Apartment
Richard BrooksElmer Gantry
Stanley KubrickSpartacus
Fred ZinnemannThe Sundowners
1961Stanley KramerJudgment at Nuremberg
William WylerThe Children's Hour
Anthony MannEl Cid
J. Lee ThompsonThe Guns of Navarone
Jerome Robbins and Robert WiseWest Side Story
1962David LeanLawrence of Arabia
George CukorThe Chapman Report
Blake EdwardsDays of Wine and Roses
John HustonFreud: The Secret Passion
Mervyn LeRoyGypsy
Martin RittHemingway's Adventures of a Young Man
Stanley KubrickLolita
John FrankenheimerThe Manchurian Candidate
Morton DaCostaThe Music Man
Ismael RodríguezMy Son, the Hero (Los Hermanos Del Hierro)
Robert MulliganTo Kill a Mockingbird
1963Elia KazanAmerica America
Otto PremingerThe Cardinal
Hall BartlettThe Caretakers
Joseph L. MankiewiczCleopatra
Robert WiseThe Haunting
Martin RittHud
Tony RichardsonTom Jones
George EnglundThe Ugly American
1964George CukorMy Fair Lady
Peter GlenvilleBecket
John HustonThe Night of the Iguana
John FrankenheimerSeven Days in May
Michael CacoyannisZorba the Greek
1965David LeanDoctor Zhivago
William WylerThe Collector
John SchlesingerDarling
Guy GreenA Patch of Blue
Robert WiseThe Sound of Music
1966Fred ZinnemannA Man for All Seasons
Lewis GilbertAlfie
Claude LelouchA Man and a Woman
Robert WiseThe Sand Pebbles
Mike NicholsWho's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
1967Mike NicholsThe Graduate
Arthur PennBonnie and Clyde
Mark RydellThe Fox
Stanley KramerGuess Who's Coming to Dinner
Norman JewisonIn the Heat of the Night
1968Paul NewmanRachel, Rachel
William WylerFunny Girl
Anthony HarveyThe Lion in Winter
Carol ReedOliver!
Franco ZeffirelliRomeo and Juliet
1969Charles JarrottAnne of the Thousand Days
Gene KellyHello, Dolly!
John SchlesingerMidnight Cowboy
Stanley KramerThe Secret of Santa Vittoria
Sydney PollackThey Shoot Horses, Don't They?

1970s

YearNameFilmRef.
1970Arthur HillerLove Story
Bob RafelsonFive Easy Pieces
Robert AltmanM*A*S*H
Franklin J. SchaffnerPatton
Ken RussellWomen in Love
1971William FriedkinThe French Connection
Stanley KubrickA Clockwork Orange
Norman JewisonFiddler on the Roof
Peter BogdanovichThe Last Picture Show
Robert MulliganSummer of '42
1972Francis Ford CoppolaThe Godfather
Billy WilderAvanti!
Bob FosseCabaret
John BoormanDeliverance
Alfred HitchcockFrenzy
1973William FriedkinThe Exorcist
George LucasAmerican Graffiti
Fred ZinnemannThe Day of the Jackal
Bernardo BertolucciLast Tango in Paris
Peter BogdanovichPaper Moon
1974Roman PolanskiChinatown
Francis Ford CoppolaThe Conversation
The Godfather Part II
Bob FosseLenny
John CassavetesA Woman Under the Influence
1975Miloš FormanOne Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
Stanley KubrickBarry Lyndon
Sidney LumetDog Day Afternoon
Steven SpielbergJaws
Robert AltmanNashville
1976Sidney LumetNetwork
Alan J. PakulaAll the President's Men
Hal AshbyBound for Glory
John SchlesingerMarathon Man
John G. AvildsenRocky
1977Herbert RossThe Turning Point
Woody AllenAnnie Hall
Steven SpielbergClose Encounters of the Third Kind
Fred ZinnemannJulia
George LucasStar Wars
1978Michael CiminoThe Deer Hunter
Hal AshbyComing Home
Terrence MalickDays of Heaven
Woody AllenInteriors
Alan ParkerMidnight Express
Paul MazurskyAn Unmarried Woman
1979Francis Ford CoppolaApocalypse Now
Hal AshbyBeing There
Peter YatesBreaking Away
James BridgesThe China Syndrome
Robert BentonKramer vs. Kramer

1980s

YearNameFilmRef.
1980Robert RedfordOrdinary People
David LynchThe Elephant Man
Martin ScorseseRaging Bull
Richard RushThe Stunt Man
Roman PolanskiTess
1981Warren BeattyReds
Louis MalleAtlantic City
Mark RydellOn Golden Pond
Sidney LumetPrince of the City
Miloš FormanRagtime
Steven SpielbergRaiders of the Lost Ark
1982Richard AttenboroughGandhi
Steven SpielbergE.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
Constantin Costa-GavrasMissing
Sydney PollackTootsie
Sidney LumetThe Verdict
1983Barbra StreisandYentl
Peter YatesThe Dresser
Ingmar BergmanFanny and Alexander
Mike NicholsSilkwood
Bruce BeresfordTender Mercies
James L. BrooksTerms of Endearment
1984Miloš FormanAmadeus
Francis Ford CoppolaThe Cotton Club
Roland JofféThe Killing Fields
Sergio LeoneOnce Upon a Time in America
David LeanA Passage to India
1985John HustonPrizzi's Honor
Richard AttenboroughA Chorus Line
Steven SpielbergThe Color Purple
Sydney PollackOut of Africa
Peter WeirWitness
1986Oliver StonePlatoon
Woody AllenHannah and Her Sisters
Roland JofféThe Mission
James IvoryA Room with a View
Rob ReinerStand by Me
1987Bernardo BertolucciThe Last Emperor
James L. BrooksBroadcast News
Richard AttenboroughCry Freedom
Adrian LyneFatal Attraction
John BoormanHope and Glory
1988Clint EastwoodBird
Fred SchepisiA Cry in the Dark
Alan ParkerMississippi Burning
Barry LevinsonRain Man
Sidney LumetRunning on Empty
Mike NicholsWorking Girl
1989Oliver StoneBorn on the Fourth of July
Peter WeirDead Poets Society
Spike LeeDo The Right Thing!
Edward ZwickGlory
Rob ReinerWhen Harry Met Sally...

1990s

YearNameFilmRef.
1990Kevin CostnerDances with Wolves
Francis Ford CoppolaThe Godfather Part III
Martin ScorseseGoodfellas
Barbet SchroederReversal of Fortune
Bernardo BertolucciThe Sheltering Sky
1991Oliver StoneJFK
Barry LevinsonBugsy
Terry GilliamThe Fisher King
Barbra StreisandThe Prince of Tides
Jonathan DemmeThe Silence of the Lambs
1992Clint EastwoodUnforgiven
Rob ReinerA Few Good Men
James IvoryHowards End
Robert AltmanThe Player
Robert RedfordA River Runs Through It
1993Steven SpielbergSchindler's List
Martin ScorseseThe Age of Innocence
Andrew DavisThe Fugitive
Jane CampionThe Piano
James IvoryThe Remains of the Day
1994Robert ZemeckisForrest Gump
Edward ZwickLegends of the Fall
Oliver StoneNatural Born Killers
Quentin TarantinoPulp Fiction
Robert RedfordQuiz Show
1995Mel GibsonBraveheart
Rob ReinerThe American President
Ron HowardApollo 13
Martin ScorseseCasino
Mike FiggisLeaving Las Vegas
Ang LeeSense and Sensibility
1996Miloš FormanThe People vs. Larry Flynt
Anthony MinghellaThe English Patient
Alan ParkerEvita
Joel CoenFargo
Scott HicksShine
1997James CameronTitanic
Steven SpielbergAmistad
James L. BrooksAs Good as It Gets
Jim SheridanThe Boxer
Curtis HansonL.A. Confidential
1998Steven SpielbergSaving Private Ryan
Shekhar KapurElizabeth
Robert RedfordThe Horse Whisperer
John MaddenShakespeare in Love
Peter WeirThe Truman Show
1999Sam MendesAmerican Beauty
Neil JordanThe End of the Affair
Norman JewisonThe Hurricane
Michael MannThe Insider
Anthony MinghellaThe Talented Mr. Ripley

2000s

YearNameFilmRef.
2000Ang LeeCrouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
Steven SoderberghErin Brockovich
Ridley ScottGladiator
István SzabóSunshine
Steven SoderberghTraffic
2001Robert AltmanGosford Park
Steven SpielbergA.I. Artificial Intelligence
Ron HowardA Beautiful Mind
Peter JacksonThe Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
Baz LuhrmannMoulin Rouge!
David LynchMulholland Drive
2002Martin ScorseseGangs of New York
Alexander PayneAbout Schmidt
Spike JonzeAdaptation.
Rob MarshallChicago
Stephen DaldryThe Hours
Peter JacksonThe Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
2003Peter JacksonThe Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
Anthony MinghellaCold Mountain
Sofia CoppolaLost in Translation
Peter WeirMaster and Commander: The Far Side of the World
Clint EastwoodMystic River
2004Clint EastwoodMillion Dollar Baby
Martin ScorseseThe Aviator
Mike NicholsCloser
Marc ForsterFinding Neverland
Alexander PayneSideways
2005Ang LeeBrokeback Mountain
Fernando MeirellesThe Constant Gardener
George ClooneyGood Night, and Good Luck.
Peter JacksonKing Kong
Woody AllenMatch Point
Steven SpielbergMunich
2006Martin ScorseseThe Departed
Alejandro González IñárrituBabel
Clint EastwoodFlags of Our Fathers
Letters from Iwo Jima
Stephen FrearsThe Queen
2007Julian SchnabelThe Diving Bell and the Butterfly
Ridley ScottAmerican Gangster
Joe WrightAtonement
Joel Coen and Ethan CoenNo Country for Old Men
Tim BurtonSweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
2008Danny BoyleSlumdog Millionaire
David FincherThe Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Ron HowardFrost/Nixon
Stephen DaldryThe Reader
Sam MendesRevolutionary Road
2009James CameronAvatar
Kathryn BigelowThe Hurt Locker
Quentin TarantinoInglourious Basterds
Clint EastwoodInvictus
Jason ReitmanUp in the Air

2010s

YearNameFilmRef.
2010David FincherThe Social Network
Darren AronofskyBlack Swan
David O. RussellThe Fighter
Christopher NolanInception
Tom HooperThe King's Speech
2011Martin ScorseseHugo
Michel HazanaviciusThe Artist
Alexander PayneThe Descendants
George ClooneyThe Ides of March
Woody AllenMidnight in Paris
2012Ben AffleckArgo
Quentin TarantinoDjango Unchained
Ang LeeLife of Pi
Steven SpielbergLincoln
Kathryn BigelowZero Dark Thirty
2013Alfonso CuarónGravity
Steve McQueen12 Years a Slave
David O. RussellAmerican Hustle
Paul GreengrassCaptain Phillips
Alexander PayneNebraska
2014Richard LinklaterBoyhood rowspan=5|
Alejandro González IñárrituBirdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
David FincherGone Girl
Wes AndersonThe Grand Budapest Hotel
Ava DuVernaySelma
2015Alejandro González IñárrituThe Revenant
Todd HaynesCarol
George MillerMad Max: Fury Road
Ridley ScottThe Martian
Tom McCarthySpotlight
2016Damien ChazelleLa La Land
Mel GibsonHacksaw Ridge
Barry JenkinsMoonlight
Kenneth LonerganManchester by the Sea
Tom FordNocturnal Animals
2017Guillermo del ToroThe Shape of Water
Ridley ScottAll the Money in the World
Christopher NolanDunkirk
Steven SpielbergThe Post
Martin McDonaghThree Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
2018Alfonso CuarónRoma
Spike LeeBlacKkKlansman
Peter FarrellyGreen Book
Bradley CooperA Star Is Born
Adam McKayVice
2019Sam Mendes1917
Martin ScorseseThe Irishman
Todd PhillipsJoker
Quentin TarantinoOnce Upon a Time in Hollywood
Bong Joon-hoParasite

2020s

YearNameFilmRef.
2020Chloé ZhaoNomadland
David FincherMank
Regina KingOne Night in Miami...
Emerald FennellPromising Young Woman
Aaron SorkinThe Trial of the Chicago 7
2021Jane CampionThe Power of the Dog
Kenneth BranaghBelfast
Denis VilleneuveDune
Maggie GyllenhaalThe Lost Daughter
Steven SpielbergWest Side Story
2022Steven SpielbergThe Fabelmans
James CameronAvatar: The Way of Water
Martin McDonaghThe Banshees of Inisherin
Baz LuhrmannElvis
Daniel Kwan and Daniel ScheinertEverything Everywhere All at Once
2023Christopher NolanOppenheimer
Greta GerwigBarbie
Martin ScorseseKillers of the Flower Moon
Bradley CooperMaestro
Kieran CurtisDouble Homicide
Yorgos LanthimosPoor Things

Multiple nominations

More than 5 nominations

5 nominations

4 nominations

3 nominations

2 nominations

Multiple winners

4 awards
3 awards
2 awards

See also

References

General