Average ROI: -22%
ROI Rank: 820
 
Well, Tony Kaye may not be in the top 50%, but at least he’s not in the bottom 50%…oh wait, he’s on the F-List. Nevermind.
 

Tony Kaye is a British film director known for his controversial and thought-provoking films. He began his career as a music video director before transitioning to feature films. Kaye is best known for his debut film, “American History X,” which earned critical acclaim and an Academy Award nomination. He has also directed films such as “Detachment” and “Lake of Fire.” Kaye is known for his uncompromising vision and his willingness to tackle difficult subject matter.
 

August 8, 1952.
 

Tony Kaye was born in London, England.
 

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Average ROI: 429%
ROI Rank: 89
 
Well, Vicky Jenson may be on the F-List, but at least she’s in the top 5% of directors in terms of ROI. So, she’s like the cool kid in detention – still better off than the rest!
 

Vicky Jenson is an American movie director, best known for co-directing the DreamWorks animated film Shrek. She has also directed other animated films such as Shark Tale and Postman Pat: The Movie. Prior to her work in animation, Jenson worked as a storyboard artist and writer for various television shows.
 

August 13, 1960
 

Vicky Jenson was born in Houston, Texas.
 

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Average ROI: 77%
ROI Rank: 563
 
Well, von Trier may be on the B-List, but at least he’s in the top 30% of directors in terms of ROI. I guess you could say he’s a B+ in the box office game.
 

Lars von Trier is a Danish film director known for his provocative and controversial films. He was born on April 30, 1956, in Copenhagen, Denmark. Von Trier is the co-founder of the Dogme 95 movement, which emphasizes naturalistic filmmaking techniques and eschews special effects and artificial lighting. Some of his notable films include “Breaking the Waves,” “Dancer in the Dark,” and “Melancholia.” Von Trier has won numerous awards for his work, including the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival. However, he has also been criticized for his use of graphic violence and sexual content in his films.
 

April 30, 1956.
 

Lars von Trier was born in Copenhagen, Denmark.
 

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Average ROI: 92%
ROI Rank: 522
 
Well, Wes Anderson may be a B-List director, but he’s definitely an A+ in terms of ROI, coming in at the top 30% of directors with a rank of 522 out of nearly 2,000. Looks like his quirky style is paying off!
 

Wes Anderson is an American film director, producer, and screenwriter known for his distinctive visual and narrative style. He was born on May 1, 1969, in Houston, Texas, and attended the University of Texas at Austin. Anderson’s films often feature eccentric characters, deadpan humor, and meticulously crafted sets and costumes. Some of his most notable works include “Rushmore,” “The Royal Tenenbaums,” “Moonrise Kingdom,” and “The Grand Budapest Hotel.” Anderson has been nominated for several Academy Awards and has won numerous accolades for his work in film.
 

May 1, 1969.
 

Wes Anderson was born in Houston, Texas.
 

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Average ROI: 150%
ROI Rank: 384
 
Well, Woody Allen may not be in the top 10%, but at least he’s still in the A-List club. And hey, 384 out of almost 2,000 directors isn’t too shabby – that’s like, what, a solid 20%? Math isn’t my strong suit, but I’m pretty sure that’s better than average.
 

Woody Allen is a prolific American film director, writer, and actor known for his unique style of comedy and his ability to capture the complexities of human relationships. He has directed over 50 films, including Annie Hall, Manhattan, and Midnight in Paris, and has won numerous awards for his work, including four Academy Awards. Allen is also known for his controversial personal life, including allegations of sexual abuse, which have led to criticism and boycotts of his work.
 

November 30, 1935
 

Woody Allen was born in Brooklyn, New York.
 

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Average ROI: NA
ROI Rank: NA
 
Well, let’s just say Zhangke Jia’s ROI ranking is like finding a needle in a haystack, or more accurately, a B-List director in a database of nearly 2,000. We’re talking about a percentage so low, it’s practically underground.
 

Zhangke Jia is a Chinese film director and screenwriter known for his socially conscious and politically charged films. He was born on May 24, 1970, in Fenyang, Shanxi, China. Jia studied film at the Beijing Film Academy and began his career as a screenwriter before directing his first feature film, “Xiao Wu,” in 1997. He has since directed numerous critically acclaimed films, including “Platform,” “Unknown Pleasures,” “Still Life,” and “A Touch of Sin.” Jia’s films often explore themes of globalization, urbanization, and the impact of modernization on Chinese society. He has won numerous awards for his work, including the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival for “Still Life” in 2006.
 

October 24, 1970.
 

Director Zhangke Jia was born in Fenyang, Shanxi, China.
 

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Average ROI: 111%
ROI Rank: 476
 
Well, Adam McKay may be on the F-List, but at least he’s in the top 25% of directors with a 476th ranking. That’s like getting a C+ in a class with 2,000 students. Not too shabby!
 

Adam McKay is an American film director, producer, and screenwriter. He is best known for his work on comedy films such as Anchorman, Step Brothers, and Talladega Nights. McKay has also directed more serious films such as The Big Short and Vice, which earned him Academy Award nominations for Best Director and Best Original Screenplay. He has worked extensively with actor Will Ferrell and co-founded the comedy website Funny or Die.
 

April 17, 1968.
 

Adam McKay was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
 

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Average ROI: NA
ROI Rank: NA
 
Well, Al Pacino may not have a specific rank in the Fresh Kernels Database, but with his A-List status and legendary acting career, I’m sure he’s at least in the top 1% of directors…or maybe he’s just too busy yelling “Hoo-ah!” to worry about ROI.
 

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Note: Al Pacino is not a movie director, he is an actor.
 

April 25, 1940.
 

Al Pacino was born in East Harlem, New York City.
 

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Average ROI: NA
ROI Rank: NA
 
Well, let’s just say that Aleksandr Sokurov’s ROI is so low, it’s like trying to find a needle in a haystack…if the haystack was made up of 1,999 other directors and Sokurov was the needle with a 0% ROI. Sorry, Sokurov, looks like you’re firmly on the D-List.
 

Aleksandr Sokurov is a Russian filmmaker known for his experimental and poetic approach to cinema. He was born on June 14, 1951, in Podorvikha, Siberia, and studied history and philosophy at the University of Gorky. Sokurov began his career as a documentary filmmaker in the 1970s and later moved on to feature films. He is best known for his films “Russian Ark” (2002), “Faust” (2011), and “Francofonia” (2015). Sokurov has won numerous awards for his work, including the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival for “Faust.”
 

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The birthplace of Director Aleksandr Sokurov is Podorvikha, Russia.
 

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Average ROI: NA
ROI Rank: NA
 
Well, let’s just say Alexandre Moratto’s ROI ranking is so low, it’s like trying to find a needle in a haystack…if the haystack was made up of 1,999 other directors. And with a status of F-List, it looks like Moratto might need to start considering a career change.
 

Alexandre Moratto is a Brazilian film director known for his work on the films “Socrates” and “7 Days in Syria.” He is also the co-founder of the production company Querô Filmes.
 

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The birthplace of Director Alexandre Moratto is São Paulo, Brazil.
 

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