We asked Popoptiq writers to submit their list of what they consider to be the best films directed by women. Here it is.
Justine Smith
- Bright Star, Jane Campion
- Orlando, Sally Potter
- Trouble Every Day, Claire Denis
- Cleo 5 a 7, Agnes Varda
- A New Leaf, Elaine May
- The Night Porter, Liliana Cavani
- American Psycho, Mary Harron
- Anatomy of Hell, Catherine Breillat
- Point Break, Kathryn Bigelow
- Everyone Else, Maren Ade
Ricky D
- Connection, Shirley Clarke
- Wuthering Heights, Andrea Arnold
- 35 Shots of Rhum, Claire Denis
- Meshes of the Afternoon, Maya Derin
- Seven Beauties, Lina Wertmuller
- The Hitch-Hiker, Ida Lupino
- Lina Wertmuller- Swept Away
- Meek’s Cutoff, Kelly Reichardt
- Headless Woman, Lucrecia Martel
- XXY, Lucía Puenzo
Special mention:
- Skyscraper – Shirley Clarke
- Wasp – Andrea Arnold
- On Dangerous Ground – Ida Lupino (uncredited)
- Wanda
Chris Clemente
- Little Miss Sunshine, Valerie Faris
- American Psycho, Mary Harron
- Lost in Translation, Sofia Coppola
- We Need to Talk About Kevin, Lynne Ramsay
- Fish Tank, Andrea Arnold
- Monster, Patty Jenkins
- A League of Their Own, Penny Marshall
- Wayne’s World, Penelope Spheeris
- Clueless, Amy Heckerling
- Point Break, Kathryn Bigelow
Joshau Youngerman
- The Hurt Locker, Kathryn Bigelow
- Cleo 5 a 7, Agnes Varda
- An Education, Lone Scherfig
- Near Dark, Kathryn Bigelow
- Wendy and Lucy, Kelly Reichardt
- Fast Times at Ridgemont High, Amy Heckerling
- Me and You and Everyone We Know, Miranda July
- We Need To Talk About Kevin, Lynne Ramsay
- Triumph of the Will, Leni Riefenstahl
- Fish Tank, Andrea Arnold
Bill Arceneaux
- The Woodsman – Nicole Kassell
- The Hurt Locker – Kathryn Bigelow
- Real Genius – Martha Coolidge
- Lost in Yonkers – Martha Coolidge
- Monster – Patty Jenkins
- The Decline of Western Civilization – Penelope Spheeris
- Wayne’s World – Penelope Spheeris
- Me and You and Everyone We Know – Miranda July
- American Psycho – Mary Harron
- She-Devil – Susan Seidelman
Zornitsa Staneva
- The Piano, Jane Campion
- Night Porter, Liliana Cavalli
- Red Road, Andrea Arnold
- Romance, Catherine Breillat
- Or, Keren Yedaya
- To Take a Wife, Ronit Elkabetz
- Salt White, Ketevan Machavariani
- Women Without Men, Shirin Neshat
- Caramel, Nadine Labaki
- In Darkness, Agnieszka Holland
Laura Holtebrinck
- Ratcatcher – Lynne Ramsay
- Fast Times at Ridgemont High – Amy Heckerling
- Europa, Europa – Agnieszka Holland
- The Virgin Suicides – Sofia Coppola
- Beyond Silence – Caroline Link
- My Life WIthout Me – Isabel Coixet
- An Education – Lone Scherfig
- American Psycho – Mary Harron
- Away From Her – Sarah Polley
- Nowhere in Africa – Caroline Link
Robert Simpson
- Lynne Ramsay, Rat Catcher
- Bigelow, The Hurt Locker
- Debra Granik, Winter’s Bone
- Lone Scherfig, Italian for Beginners
- Agnieszka Holland, Europa-Europa
- Andrea Arnold, Fish Tank
- Marjane Satrapi, Persepolis
- Sofia Coppola, Lost in Translation
- Anne Hui, A Simple Life
- Leni Riefenstahl, Triumph of the Will
Ody Constantinou
- Werckmeister Harmonies, Agnes Hranitzky/Bela Tarr (co-director)
- The Turin Horse, Agnes Hranitzky/Bela Tarr (co-director)
- Mickey and Nicky, Elaine May
- The Heartbreak Kid, Elaine May
- Me and You and Everyone We Know, Miranda July
- Monster, Patty Jenkins
- Microcosmos, Claude Nuridsany/Marie Pérennou
Scott Patterson
- Lost in Translation – Sofia Coppola
- American Psycho – Mary Hannon
- Monster – Patty Jenkins
- The Hurt Locker – Kathryn Bigelow
- Big – Penny Marshall
- The Piano – Jane Campion
- Winter’s Bone – Debra Granik
- An Eductation – Lone Sherfig
- Boys Don’t Cry – Kimberly Pierce
- Strange Days – Kathyrn Bigelow
Michael Ryan
- Nina Paley, Sita Sings the Blues
- Kathryn Bigelow, The Hurt Locker
- Penelope Spheeris, The Decline of Western Civilization Part II: The Metal Years
- Jennifer Lynch, Chained
- Patti Jenkis, Monster
- Lisa Cholodenka, The Kids are Alright
- Deepa Mehta, Bollywood, Hollywood
- Amy Heckerling, Clueless
- Penny Marshall, A League of Their Own
- Shari Springer Berman, American Splendor
- Honourable Mention:
- Caroline Leaf, The Street
Tressa Eckermann
- The Hurt Locker, Kathryn Bigelow
- Somethings Gotta Give, Nancy Meyers
- Near Dark, Kathryn Bigelow
- Lords of Dogtown, Catherine Hardwike
- Winter’s Bone, Debra Granik
- Wayne’s World, Penelope Spheeris
- Fish Tank, Andrea Arnold
- Me, You, and Everyone we know, Miranda July
- 2 Days in Paris, Julie Delpy
- The Virgin Suicides, Sofia Coppola
Katie Wong
- Thirteen – Catherine Hardwicke
- Lost in Translation – Sofia Coppola
- Virgin Suicides – Sofia Coppola
- Clueless – Amy Heckerling
- The Piano – Jane Campion
- The Hurt Locker – Kathryn Bigelow
- Point Break – Kathryn Bigelow
- Monsoon Wedding – Mira Nair
- Bend it like Beckham – Gurinder Chadha
- Waitress – Adrienne Shelly
Edgar Chaput
- Je, tu, il, Elle, Chantal Akerman
- La pointe courte, Agnes varda
- Beau travail, Claire Denis
- American Psycho, Mary Harron
- The Hitch Hiker, Ida Lupino
- Winter’s Bone, Debra Granik
- Chained, Jennifer Lynch
- Wendy and Lucy, Kelly Reichardt
Dan Heaton
- Lost in Translation – Sofia Coppola
- The Hurt Locker – Kathryn Bigelow
- After the Wedding – Susanne Bier
- Wendy and Lucy – Kelly Reichardt
- Cleo from 5 to 7 – Agnes Varda
- Big – Penny Marshall
- American Psycho – Mary Harron
- Lovely and Amazing – Nicole Holofcener
- Harlan County, USA – Barbara Kopple
- Triumph of the Will – Leni Riefenstahl
Josh Slater-Williams
- Bright Star, Jane Campion
- Can Go Through Skin, Esther Rots
- Lost in Translation, Sofia Coppola
- Near Dark, Kathryn Bigelow
- One Two One, Mania Akbari
- Somersault, Cate Shortland
- Vendredi soir, Claire Denis
- The Virgin Suicides, Sofia Coppola
- We Need to Talk About Kevin, Lynne Ramsay
- White Material, Claire Denis
Erik Bondurant
- Bend It Like Beckham, Gurinder Chadha
- Fish Tank, Andrea Arnold
- The Hurt Locker, Kathryn Bigelow
- Innocence, Lucile Hadzihalilovic
- The Night Porter, Liliana Cavani
- A Time For Burning, Barbara Connell & Bill Jersey
- Where Are My Children?, Lois Weber
- Winter’s Bone, Debra Granik
- The Woodsman, Nicole Kassell
- XXY, Lucia Puenzo
John McEntee
- Near Dark – Kathtyn Bigelow
- Oscar & Wendy – Kelly Richardt
- The Hitch Hiker- Ida Lupino
- Bright Star – Jane Campion
- The Heart Is Deceitful Above All Things – Asia Argento
- Red Road – Andrea Arnold
- On Dangerous Ground – Ida Lupino
- Lost In Translation – Sofia Coppola
- Morvan Callar – Lynne Ramsay
- Pet Semetary – Mary Lambert
Shayne Ramirez
- The Piano, Jane Campion
- Point Break, Kathryn Bigalow
- Lost in Translation, Sofia Coppola
- Ravenous, Antonia Bird
- Beau Travail, Claire Denis
- Titus, Julie Taymor
- Harlan County, USA, Barbara Kopple
- We Need to Talk about Kevin, Lynne Ramsey
- American Psycho, Mary Harron
- Half Nelson, Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck
- Honorable Mentions:
- Me and You and Everyone We Know, Miranda July
- Meek’s Cutoff, Kelly Reichardt
- After the Wedding, Susanne Bier
- Wayne’s World, Penelope Spheeris
Ryan Clagg
- Fast Times at Ridgemont High – Amy Heckerling
- Sita Sings The Blues – Nina Paley
- Half Nelson – Anna Boden (co-director)
- Meshes of the Afternoon – Maya Deren
- Winter’s Bone – Debra Granik
- Persepolis – Marjane Satrapi (co-director)
- Mad Hot Ballroom – Marilyn Agrelo
- American Psycho – Marry Harron
- The Virgin Suicides – Sofia Coppola
- Waitress – Adrienne Shelly
Justin Li
- Friday Night (Vendredi Soir) – Claire Denis
- Marie Antoinette – Sofia Coppola
- Morvern Callar – Lynne Ramsay
- Hearts of Darkness – Eleanor Coppola
- Father of My Children – Mia Hansen-Love
- Old Joy – Kelly Reichardt
- Fat Girl – Catherine Breillat
- Fish Tank – Andrea Arnold
- A Simple Life – Ann Hui
- Scarlet Diva – Asia Argento
Neal Dhand
- The Headless Woman, Lucrecia Martel
- Meshes of the Afternoon, Maya Deren
- Cleo from 5 to 7, Agnès Varda
- Friday Night, Claire Denis,
- Point Break, Kathyrn Bigelow
- Beau Travail, Claire Denis
- Fat Girl, Catherine Breillat
- Jeanne Dielman 23 quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles, Chantal Akerman
- The Night Porter, Liliana Cavani
- Ratcatcher, Lynne Ramsay
Seema
- Vendredi Soir, Claire Denis
- The Asthenic Syndrome, Kira Muratova
- Morvern Callar, Lynne Ramsay
- Innocence, Lucile Hadzihalilovic
- Cleo From 5 to 7, Agnes Varda
- Everyone Else, Maren Ade
- Daisies, Vera Chytilova
- Sweetie, Jane Campion
- A New Leaf, Elaine May
- Dave Robson
- Triumph of the Will – Leni Riefenstahl
- Lost in Translation – Sofia Coppola
- Bright Star – Jane Campion
- Wuthering Heights – Andrea Arnold
- Titus – Julie Taymor
- Sita Sings the Blues – Nina Paley
- Winter’s Bone – Debra Granik
- Boys Don’t Cry – Kimberly Peirce
- Water – Deepa Meta
- Monsoon Wedding – Mira Nair
Bill
- Red Road, Andrea Arnold
- Headless Woman, Lucrecia Martel
- A New Leaf, Elaine May
- Swept Away, Lina Wertmuller
- Meek’s Cutoff, Kelly Reichardt
- 35 Shots of Rum, Claire Denis
- Wuthering Heights, Andrea Arnold
- XXY, Lucía Puenzo
- Jeanne Dielman, 23 Quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles, Chantal Ackerman
- Sita Sing The Blues, Nina Paley
Temitope
- Lost in Translation, Sofia Coppola
- Beau Travail, Claire Denis
- Jeanne Dielman, 23 Quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles , Chantal Akerman
- Meek’s Cutoff, Kelly Reichardt
- Swept Away, Lina Wertmüller
- Triumph of the Will, Leni Riefenstahl
- The Hitch-Hiker, Ida Lupino
- Sans toit ni loi/Vagabond, Agnès Varda
- Seven Beauties, Lina Wertmüller
- La Cienaga, Lucrecia Martel
- Honourable Mentions:
- Le Bonheur, Agnès Varda
- Meshes of the Afternoon, Maya Deren
- Fat Girl, Catherine Breillat
- Fish Tank, Andrea Arnold
- Ratcatcher, Lynne Ramsay
Simon Howell
- Point Break, Kathryn Bigelow
- Trouble Every Day, Claire Denis
- The Virgin Suicides, Sophia Copolla
- Meshes of the Afternoon, Maya Deren
- Wendy and Lucy, Kelly Reichardt
- Seven Beauties, Lina Wertmüller
- We Need to Talk About Kevin, Lynne Ramsay
- The Decline of Western Civilization, Penelope Spheeris
- Elegy, Isabel Coixet
- Persepolis, Vincent Paronnaud and Marjane Satrapi