10 Movies Made by Famous Screenwriters But Not Written By Them

While some aspire to be great directors, there is a distinct difference between a director and a screenwriter. This can be seen back in film school, where stereotypes prevail that the arrogant visionary and the neurotic screenwriter are diametrically opposed.

However, sometimes boundaries can blur in the movie business. Showcasing their range of talent, some writers choose to step behind the camera for certain projects. However, in an attempt to prove themselves or because they fall in love with another’s work, it’s not always about their own scripts.

10 “The Next Day” (1983)

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Considered one of the best and most moving TV films of the 1980s. day after is a nuclear apocalyptic nightmare reflecting the anxieties of New Cold War contemporaries such as streams And Will. Written Edward Humefilm director Nicholas Meyerwho up to that point had mostly been considered a novelist and screenwriter.

An acclaimed screenwriter of the 70s, Meyer received an Academy Award nomination for Seven Percent Solutionwhich he will follow with his stunning directorial debut, science fiction Every now and again. While his previous work emphasized his exuberant creativity, day afterwhere he was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Best Director, showcases Meyer’s prowess behind the camera.

9 Street Kings (2008)

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If viewers had not been informed otherwise, they would be forgiven for thinking that street kings was another hardcore crime film produced by David Eyre. While they would be right when it comes to visual style, street kings was actually conceptualized in the late 1990s by the famed crime novelist James Ellroy.

Brains of Police Movies training day And Dark blue, street kings was right in the wheelhouse of Ayer. Unfortunately, despite its success at the box office, it flopped among critics. Since then, Ayer has gone on to a successful career as a writer and director, gaining notoriety for his action films. end of duty and DC Comics franchise film Suicide Squad.

8 “Human Spot” (2003)

Painfully underrated Robert Benton is one of the most prominent and oft-forgotten faces that have defined New Hollywood. Originally a screenwriter, Benton received credit for writing this landmark. Bonnie and Clydeas well as co-authorship What’s up, doc? In the 1970s, Benton wrote and directed a number of excellent films, including Bad Company, late showand Oscar-winning Kramer vs. Kramer.

Benton’s career waned in the 1980s, and later in his career he made many film adaptations of novels, including one by Philip Roth. human stain. One of Roth’s seminal works, the 2003 film, was written by the aforementioned Nicholas Meyer. This film, plagued by tragic errors and lingering melodrama, will be Benton’s penultimate film.

7 ‘Gold’ (2016)

One of the best films in Steven Soderbergh famous filmography, Traffic excels with its inspirational direction, top-notch acting, and complex screenplay courtesy of Stephen Gagan. Surrounding the illegal drug business with an ambitious multiplot, Geagan won an Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay for his work.

Gagan would later lay claim to a similarly structured and star-studded Syriana in 2005, which he also directed. Geagan then took an 11-year hiatus before becoming a director. Goldfrom script Patrick Massett And John Zinman. Alas, the film was a commercial and critical failure.

6 “Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps” (2010)

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In front of an Oscar-winning director Oliver Stone mastered the skills of a screenwriter, writing a sensational prison drama midnight express and cult crime epic Face with a scar. One of the best directors of the 1980s, Stone’s films often reflected the time they were released, and perhaps no film was more representative of its time than the 1987 film. Wall Street.

Written and directed by Stone Wall Street was a portrait of 1980s Reaganism and the financial excesses that dominated the decade. However, its 2010 sequel, Wall Street: money never sleeps, Stone was not involved in the script, who was not even originally going to direct the project. The film takes place after the financial crisis. Michael Douglas reprized his famous role as Gordon Gekko and received mixed reviews.

5 “Heartbroken Kid” (1972)

Ranked #91 on the AFI 100 Years…100 Laughs list, A child with a broken heart was just another successful comedy for its author, Neil Simonbut was a foundational job for its director, Elaine May. Known for her important comedy pairing with Mike NicholsMay became one of the most famous directors of the 1970s thanks to films new leaf And Mikey and Nicky.

However, after the studio interfered with her films, May took a break from directing. Instead, she continued to work primarily as an eminent screenwriter and playwright. Celebrating her only strictly stewardship venture, A child with a broken heart draws attention to Mei’s talent behind the camera.

4 ‘Conspiracy’ (2001)

Television writer at the beginning of his career, Frank Pearson later achieved huge success in film, first co-writing the groundbreaking anti-authoritarian prison drama Cool Hand Luke. Pearson will then receive an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay. dog afternoonwidely regarded as one of the best films of the 1970s.

Later in his career, Pearson would focus on his directing efforts, becoming one of the leading directors of television films. Mostly biopics and docudramas, Pearson’s best-known works Citizen Cohn, TrumanAnd CONSPIRACY, about a group of Nazi officers discussing the implementation of the last phase of the Holocaust. Written Loring Mandelthe film received critical acclaim, winning 2 Emmys and a Golden Globe.

3 “Rain Man” (1988)

It’s funny that although he started out as a screenwriter, most of Barry Levinson directing effort came from other people’s scripts. For the most part, his writing-directing efforts have been his semi-autobiographical Baltimore tetralogy. However, Levinson’s purely directing efforts have produced some classics, including Rain Man.

The film won 4 Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Director (Levinson), and Best Original Screenplay. Ronald Bass And Barry Morrow. In addition to Rain Mansome of Levinson’s most famous films such as Natural And Good morning, Vietnamwere written by other people. While it’s a shame that a brilliant writer like Levinson doesn’t score many of his films, it has led to some undeniable triumphs.

2 “What Women Want” (2000)

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She is widely known for her work in the romantic comedy genre. Nancy Meyers rose to prominence in the 1980s and 90s by co-writing films such as baby boom And Father of the brideboth in lead roles Diane Keaton. After her directorial debut Parent trapevery film Meyers directed has grossed at least $100 million at the box office, with her most financially prolific being What do women desire.

Surprisingly, What do women desire is the only film in Meyers’ career written by someone other than herself. A film written by three Josh Goldsmith, Cathy YuspaAnd Diane Drake, follows the same thematic plan as the rest of Meyers’ filmography. Incorporating a fantasy element not seen in other Meyers films, the film was remade in 2019 under the title What do men want.

1 ‘Autofocus’ (2002)

“Poet of male sexual pathology”, Paul Schroeder a work about repressed people opposing a liberated world made him one of the most respected screenwriters of his era. Schrader is perhaps best known for his Man in the Room films, as well as his collaborations with Martin Scorseseessay in the first place Taxi driver. A phenomenal director in his own right, many of Schroeder’s best films such as light sleep And First reformerpassionate explorations of desire with the soul of a Bressonian tragedy.

Although he did not write it, autofocus, a biography of TV star Bob Crane’s life, is one of Schroeder’s finest writings. Exploring Crane’s double life as a family man, Hogan’s Heroes star by day, and a sex addict by night, the film reveals the low-key obscenity that pervades many of Schroeder’s paintings. Exceptionally delivered with glossy finish, autofocus it is a marvelous study of mucous facades.