"Director's Trademarks" Featurettes
"Director's Trademarks" is a show created by IMDb to showcase the signature trademarks of the filmmakers.
Which of these director's trademarks do you think is the most unique?
Discuss the poll here
Which of these director's trademarks do you think is the most unique?
Discuss the poll here
List activity
39 views
• 0 this weekCreate a new list
List your movie, TV & celebrity picks.
25 titles
- From his breathtaking visuals to his comic-book influences, take a closer look at the trademarks of Luc Besson's directorial style.Breathtaking visuals, Strong female characters, Amoral but honest male characters (often played by Jean Reno), Oppressive societies, Underground worlds, Above shot of a character jumping down from height, Guns and lots of guns, Comic-book influences.
- From fierce female characters to groundbreaking visual FX, take a closer look at the trademarks of James Cameron's directorial style.Fierce female characters, Squad goals, Monitors and lots of monitors, The color blue, Aerial awe, Underwater worlds, Record-breaking budgets, Vanguard VFX, Superior firepower.
- IMDb takes a closer look at the trademarks of Steven Spielberg's directorial style, including shooting stars, striking silhouettes, reflective perspectives, tracking shots, and more.Shooting stars, Striking silhouettes, Foreboding pianos, Reflective perspectives and Rearview mirrors, The setting sun, Circles and lots of circles, Masterful child performances, Absent fathers, The Spielberg close-up, Tracking shots, Glowing lights, Historical realism and Grounded fantasy and often both.
- IMDb takes a closer look at the trademarks of Wes Anderson's directorial style, including tracking shots, hand-placed objects, distinct color palettes, and more.Novel storytelling, Overhead shots, Hand-placed objects, well-dressed iconoclasts, Pastel pallets, Often center-framed, Tracking shots, The whip pan, Maps and lots of maps, Slow-motion endings.
- The Cannes Film Festival will celebrate the 50th anniversary of Stanley Kubrick's '2001: A Space Odyssey' with a world premiere of an unrestored 70mm print. In honor of this landmark, IMDb takes a closer look at the trademarks of Kubrick's directorial style.Emotionally distant characters who are often dehumanized, Dangerous worlds with controversial social themes, Startling symmetry, Bold and simple colors, Fluid camera movements with steadicam mastery, The Kubrick stare, The end cards.
- What do 'The Dark Knight,' 'Inception,' and 'Memento' have in common? IMDb dives into the distinct trademarks of Christopher Nolan's directorial style, including IMAX cinematography, mind-bending visuals, and practical special effects.Gothic worlds with manipulated time, Conflicted men in suits (often in aquatic peril), Contrasting psychological themes, Order vs. Chaos, Dreams vs. Reality, Identity vs. Self-deception, Large format & IMAX cinematography with mind-bending visuals, Practical special effects, The arc shot, A steady hand.
- Here's a plot twist: M. Night Shyamalan has a unique visual style threaded through his disparate supernatural, thriller, and genre films that goes much deeper than his surprise endings. From 'The Sixth Sense' to 'Unbreakable' to 'Glass,' IMDb dives into the trademarks of writer, director, producer, and actor M. Night Shyamalan.Supernatural realities found in Philadelphia, Quite characters and young outcasts, Religious themes, Use of God's eye angle, Revealing reflections with first person POV, Foreground doorways framing background depth, Foreboding footsteps, Use of the color red, Cameos by the director himself, A surprising twist.
- From 'The Rundown' to 'Lone Survivor' to 'Mile 22,' IMDb dives into the trademarks of writer, director, producer, and actor Peter Berg.Directing and Acting in Films based on true events, Grounded everyman characters (often played by Mark Whalberg), Gritty action sequences, Rapid editing, Chaotic fight scenes with slow-motion moments, Hand-held camera work, Aerial shots.
- Wake up. Wanna know how to 'Do the Right Thing'? From 'She's Gotta Have It' to 'BlacKkKlansman,' IMDb dives deep into films of Spike Lee.Films set in Brooklyn (often starring Spike Lee), Fearless approach to social themes, Strong female characters, Saturated colors and grainy high-contrast shots, Actors talking to the camera, Double dolly shot, Evocative end credits, A wake-up call.
- From 'Y Tu Mamá También' to 'Children of Men,' 'Gravity' and his latest, 'Roma,' IMDb dives into the trademark stylings of writer, director, producer, and editor Alfonso Cuarón.Determined characters in worlds gone wrong, Mesmerizing interiors displaying famous art, Impossibly long takes and a constantly moving camera, Voyeuristic viewpoints and wide-angle vistas, Soft and natural light (often from cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki), Aquatic endings.
- Through detailed close-ups, single-take dialogues, and powerhouse performances, Oscar-winning filmmaker Steve McQueen has shown audiences his unflinching perspectives on real-world drama.Stories set in the real world (often starring Michael Fassbander), Unflinching approach to heavy subjects with documentary realism, Detailed close-ups and single-take dialogues, Warm colors in nature and cool-toned cityscapes, Stunning stillness and characters on the run, Emotional performances and cathartic finales.
- From 'Reservoir Dogs' to 'The Hateful Eight,' and his latest, 'Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,' IMDb dives into the trademarks of actor, writer, and director, Quentin Tarantino.Nonlinear narratives about plans gone wrong, Honor among thieves, Resurrected acting careers and iconic appearances by Samuel L. Jackson, Long, vulgar exchanges and bursts of violence, Pop-culture references and cinematic pastiches, Big kahuna burgers and Red Apple cigarettes, Kinetic tracking shots and iconic dance scenes, Close-ups of feet and inside-the-trunk shots, Comedian cameos and the director himself.
- Through 'Bad Taste' and ' The Frighteners', two 'Lord of the Rings' trilogies and 'King Kong', IMDb explores the unique trademarks of the Oscar-winning writer and director Peter Jackson.Vast New Zealand landscapes as epic fantasy worlds, Unlikely heroes and the dead alive, CGI characters (often played by Andy Serkis), DIY special effects and CGI mastery, Wide-angle close-ups of faces, Axes and lots of axes, Dark and twisted slapstick down to the bloody end.
- With his breakthrough hit 'Whiplash,' his Oscar-winning follow-up 'La La Land,' and his latest outing, 'First Man,' writer and director Damien Chazelle has shown audiences his fierce love for music and cinema through his vibrant and definitive dedication to filmmaking craft.Characters with remarkable talent defined by their own ambition, Domestic realities with a musical pulse, Impromptu songs and elaborate dance numbers, Complex tracking shots and rapid-fire edits, Whip pans and Iris wipes, Couples destined to meet but not to stay together.
- DirectorMatt DetischStarsLuca GuadagninoFrom the dazzling locations of 'I Am Love' and emotionally truthful characters of the Oscar-nominated 'Call Me by Your Name,' to his taste for horror in 'Suspiria,' director Luca Guadagnino sat down with IMDb to discuss his cinematic trademarks.A voyeur's eye, Filming on real location, Characters with emotional truth, Often featuring Tilda Swinton, Spontaneity vs. Control, A taste of horror in Suspiria.
- From the stunning landscapes of 'Fargo' and 'No Country for Old Men' to the peculiar characters of 'The Big Lebowski' and 'Raising Arizona,' Academy Award winners Joel and Ethan Coen have dazzled audiences with their offbeat cinematic stylings for more than 30 years.Wide-open country with small-time crooks, Half-baked heroes caught in hard-boiled blackmail, Psychos for hire with unusual hair, Recurring stars (Frances McDormand, Steve Buscemi, John Goodman, Jon Polito, George Clooney, John Turturro), Dramatic eyes (often shot by Roger Deakins), Repeated phrases with plots that echo, Ringing phones and (lots of) hotel rooms, Surreal dream sequences and shocking crescendos.
- What's in the box? IMDb has the answers! From 'Se7en' and 'Fight Club' to 'Gone Girl' and 'Mank,' we explore the cinematic trademarks of director David Fincher.Innovative title sequences, Social outcasts in dark, urban settings, Dimly lit rooms with green and blue tints, Distorted points of view and compartment angles, Impossible shots and time-lapse sequences, Anamorphic lens flares and piercing flashlights, Faces of evil and shocking reveals.
- From the low-budget chills of 'Saw' and 'The Conjuring' to the big-budget thrills of 'Furious 7' and 'Aquaman,' director James Wan continues to expand his cinematic style and push boundaries to keep audiences on the edge of their seats.Haunted Heroes in suburban nightmares, Small, contained chills to massive action thrills, Old troupes reinvented (Creepy puppets, Half-seen ghosts, Self-moving objects), Bluish tones and shades of red, Frequent collaborators (Patrick Wilson, Leigh Whannell, Joseph Bishara), Extreme horrors with a wicked sense of humor.
- DirectorMatt DetischStarsKevin SmithSnoochie Boochies! Welcome to the Askweniverse. From the crass dialogue of 'Clerks,' 'Mallrats,' and 'Dogma,' to the pop culture references of 'Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back' and 'Tusk,' writer, director and actor Kevin Smith sat down with IMDb to discuss his filmmaking trademarks.The askewniverse, Films set in New Jersey, Endearing everymen and women, Frank/crass dialogue, Often edited by himself, Pop-culture references, Jay and silent Bob.
- From the teenage outcasts of 'Thirteen' and 'Twilight' to the fearless female leads of 'Miss You Already,' and 'Miss Bala,' IMDb showcases visionary director Catherine Hardwicke's cinematic trademarks.Teenage outcasts struggling with identity, Empowered female leads, Collaborations with Nikki Reed, The power of friendship through life-changing moments, Sweeping camera movements with Saturated color pallets, Fast editing and documentary realism, Blurred camera shots and extreme close-ups, Water scenes and innovative credits sequences.
- Awkward adults, dark humor and absurd circumstances: welcome to the mind of Yorgos Lanthimos. From 'Dogtooth' to 'The Favourite,' we break down the auteur director's cinematic trademarks.Awkward adults in surreal, sterile environments, Childlike characters dealing with loss and longing, Dark humor and absurd circumstances, Odd behavior and blindfolds, Behind-the-head angles and hand-held tracking shots, Slow-motion and heads cut out of the frame, Sudden bursts of violence and ambiguous endings.
- Make it! Make it! Don't fake it! From his directorial debut 'Gummo,' to his latest outing, 'The Beach Bum,' writer and director Harmony Korine has plunged audiences into his unique, decadent worlds and out-of-control characters.Young protagonists fighting boredom, Non-linear journeys through American decay, Non-professional actors and Recurring stars (Chloe Sevigny, Werner Herzog, Rachel Korine), Documentary realism and camcorder video, Slow-motion sequences and still-image photography, Haunting masks and neon colors, Out-of-control parties and disturbing endings.
- It's showtime! From his wacky debut 'Pee-wee's Big Adventure' to his latest outing, 'Dumbo,' we welcome you to the gothic, fairy-tale worlds of macabre master filmmaker, Tim Burton.Custom studio logos and fly-through opening sequences, Misunderstood outcasts and rebellious youths, Recurring stars (Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Christopher Lee), Blonde love interests, Horrifying faces, Generic suburbs and Gothic fairytale worlds, Striking use of Red and shades of Green, Rube Goldberg machines and miniature models, Caged birds and floating people, Macabre humor, Moonlit nights,
- Through films like 'Psycho,' 'Vertigo,' and 'The Birds,' legendary director Alfred Hitchcock has horrified audiences and inspired generations of filmmakers with his taste for the macabre and innovative cinematic techniques.Murder plots with blonde victims, Characters on the run often falsely accused, Foreboding shadows and ominous staircases, Doppelgangers and suave villains, Voyeuristic perspectives and deep-focus composition, Ticking clocks and conversations on trains, Iconic wardrobe by Edith Head and director cameos, Newspaper headlines and handwritten notes, Gripping climaxes often at famous landmarks.
- Guy Ritche has been known for his larger-than-life characters who talk fast and fight hard through films like 'Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels,' 'Snatch,' and 'RocknRolla.' More recently, the versatile director has expanded his craft with Hollywood blockbusters like 'Sherlock Holmes,' 'The Man from U.N.C.L.E.' and Disney's 'Aladdin.'Innovative title sequences, Larger-than-life characters, Fast-talking dialogues, Robberies gone sideways, Chess and card games, Gangsters with nicknames, Musicians as actors, Foot chase scenes, Bare-knuckle brawls, Slow-motion speed ramps, Split screens, Quick cuts.