The most memorable directing duos

The Coens are a classic credits case, as oftentimes Joel got the directing credit, while Ethan was credited as a producer. However, everybody in the know was well aware that the Coens directed together, from “Fargo” to “The Big Lebowski” to Best Picture winner “No Country for Old Men.” However, Ethan has seemingly retired from filmmaking, leaving Joel as the sole standing Coen brother in the world of film.

Laugh at “Jupiter Ascending” if you like. Be weirded out by “Cloud Atlas” – which they directed alongside Tom Twkyer, because yeah, there are some absolutely wild cross-racial performances in that film. In the end, you can’t take away the fact that the Wachowskis gave us “The Matrix,” a seismic event in the world of movies. As with the Coens, Lilly has seemingly left the world of film behind, but Lana picked up the torch for “The Matrix Resurrections.”

Somehow, someway, the Russo brothers have become as important as any filmmakers in the 21st century. The fact of the matter is they directed four Marvel movies, including the last two Avengers films. They have racked up a James Cameron-esque box office resume. Not bad for a couple guys who started directing sitcoms like “Arrested Development” and “Community.”

The kings of the “movie equivalent of a panic attack” world. A lot of people were introduced to them via the Adam Sandler film “Uncut Gems,” the kind of people say they can’t watch not because of gore but because it’s just too tense and stressful. If that’s the only Safdies movie you’ve seen, check out what they did with Robert Pattinson in “Good Time.”

They call themselves “Daniels” professionally, which we find a little obnoxious. However, “a little obnoxious” is basically their brand. It hasn’t stood in the way of making cult hits like “Swiss Army Man” and the breakout indie flick of 2022, “Everything Everywhere All at Once.” Even when they rankle you, you have to acknowledge the deft skill the two put on display in their films as well.

Boden and Fleck wrote “Half Nelson” together, with Fleck only directing. Since then, the two direct together as well as write. Their biggest film to date is certainly “Captain Marvel,” an unexpected follow up to “Mississippi Grind.”

After directing music videos galore, this duo decided they should try their hand at a film. They debuted with “Little Miss Sunshine,” which became an indie darling. Since then, Dayton and Faris have kind of been under the radar, directing “Ruby Sparks” and “Battle of the Sexes.”

Sure, they got the boot from “Solo,” but Lord and Miller can cry all the way to the bank about that. They directed “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs,” “21 Jump Street” and its sequel, and a little film called “The Lego Movie.” Now their cult cartoon “Clone High” is coming back, because that’s what happens when you have cache.

Want subtlety? Want nuance? Want non-problematic filmmaking? Neveldine and Taylor will tell you to take those wants and choke on them. These are the dudes who did “Crank” and its sequel. Violence and nudity don’t need justification. They just need to be put on screen.

And now, for a complete 180 from “Crank.” Powell and Pressburger are prestigious British filmmakers. They made movies like “Black Narcissus” and “The Red Shoes.” Also known as “The Archers,” Powell and Pressburger were at the forefront of British film for decades.

Speck and Gordon have mostly risen to the level of “adequate comedy,” but they have had success as a directing duo in film. Beginning with “Blades of Glory,” they followed with “The Switch,” and then “Office Christmas Party.” Their latest effort is an adaptation of the children’s book “Lyle, Lyle Crocodile.”

Friedberg and Seltzer have the distinction of being the most critically reviled directing duo of all time. In fact, they are among the most despised filmmakers ever, which is saying something. They are the guys behind some truly atrocious parody movies. We’re talking “Epic Movie,” “Meet the Spartans,” and “The Starving Games,” among others.

Stahelski and Leitch only directed one film together, and Leitch got the producing credit due to DGA rules. However, it was the debut for both men, and it started off both their careers on a high note. The film in question? “John Wick.” Stahelski stuck around for the sequels. Leitch went off to direct “Atomic Blonde,” “Deadpool 2,” and 2022's "Bullet Train."

This animation-directing duo have gone their separate ways, with Cervone taking on  “Scoob!” and its sequel, and Brandt directing the animation in “Space Jam: A New Legacy.” Before that, though, they extensively directed together. Granted, it was almost entirely direct-to-video “Tom & Jerry” and “Scooby-Doo” movies, but they are still films.

Frank and Panama, among other films, worked on two of the Bob Hope and Bing Crosby “Road to” movies. They also did “White Christmas” and the Cary Grant comedy “Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House.”