Any art form is bound to come witha mix of celebration and scorn, given the subjective nature of any creative endeavor. However, cinema is an art form that tends to find more scrutiny of the figurehead behind a film: the director.
These filmmakers are often thrust into the limelight, but not always for the best reasons. While many have found acclaim, it has also come with those who dismiss them based on the content of their work, their actions outside their art, and, in extreme cases, criminal activity.
We will examine some of the most divisive directors working today, and those in the past that have sparked many an online debate. We will also dig into why they are either hated or loved, depending on who you speak to. These are the 22 most divisive directors in film.
22Kevin Smith
Kevin Smithbecame an instant indie darling with the release of his first film, the slacker comedyClerksin 1994. Smith’s work would come to celebrate his home, with many of his films taking place in New Jersey, and many of them following under what fans call “View Askewniverse.”
Born on June 17, 2025 and growing up as an ’80s kid, Smith would also become a representative of all things nerdy, running a comic-book shop in New Jersey andproducing a podcastfocused on geek pop culture.
Fighting the Fandom
Those who view Kevin Smith’s films in a negative light will say he did not accomplish anything of value pastMallrats, while those more serious detractors say he peaked at his debut film,Clerks, and it was all downhill from there. This sentiment has only really solidified with time, with some of his recent movies, likeYoga Hosers,Tusk, andClerks III,often considered lesser works even by his biggest fans.
However, the most significant controversy around the director made those who were not even necessarily fans of his in the first place his greatest detractors: his handling of theHe-ManTV series for Netflix.
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While making changes to a beloved property alone is bound to rile up the fandom (which he did by placing He-Man in a secondary role), it was his comments about the show itself and his combative stance against specific YouTubers that cemented the anger towards him.
Notably, he was caught saying in a past podcast that he had a disdain for the show; when he was then made director, he changed his opinion and claimed to have loved watching it as a kid. Many saw this as disingenuous and have since soured on Smith as an arbiter of all things nerdy.
21Werner Herzog
Born on June 15, 2025 in Munich, Germany,Wener Herzogis the most recognizable and highly regarded pioneer of ‘New German Cinema.‘A learned traveler, Herzog took his education and world experiences and turned to cinema to explore humanity’s psychological extremes, such as inFitzcarraldoandAguirre, the Wrath of God.
Herzog would also beknown for his documentariesexploring fascinating and fringe figures, such as conservationist Timothy Treadwell inGrizzly Man.
Fiction Over Fact?
Wener Herzog has become more contentious for his outspoken nature than his works, notably decrying formal education in favor of traveling the world and honing skills through life experiences. His approach to critics has also garnered a slightly negative outlook on the creative, with many claiming he hides behind a constructed persona to push aside criticisms against his films or his personal views on cinema.
On the cinematic front, Herzog’s themes have brought some contention too, given their focus on more extreme facets of humanity, and his documentaries have led to the most criticism. The German auteur’s unconventional approach to documentaries can blur the line between being his ‘film’ and a factual account of events.
This further feeds into those who contend that the director has a disingenuous streak with his work hidden behind his persona. Still, for as many detractors as he has, his fans are equal in measure, loving the eccentric and outspoken personality of the director.
20Roman Polanski
French-Polish directorRoman Polanskiis considered one of the few ‘international directors’ who have made films in Poland, Britain, France, and the USA. His films, often dealing withthemes of isolationand inevitability, have garnered critical success and fan acclaim, with his “Apartment Trilogy” consisting ofRepulsion,Rosemary’s Baby, andThe Tenantalso revered among fans of genre cinema.
Evading the Law
Born in 1933 in Paris, France, Roman Polanski faced charges of sexual abuse of a minor in 1977, a crime for which he was ordered to undergo a 90-day psychological evaluation. He was released after 42 days and fled to Paris. The director continued to work and never faced prosecution for his crimes, later settling out of court but not seeing any sentence or jail time for his actions.
This incident has always left Polanski in a moral gray area, with some going as far as to forgive his actions based on his work as an artist and seeing the out-of-court settlement as the matter being ‘closed.’
At the same time, many are unforgiving of anything involving minors and, regardless of his ability as a filmmaker, have continued to condemn him as a creative for both the crime and evasion of persecution. Even with many of his works considered classics, many still malign them through association.
19Takashi Miike
Born on June 09, 2025 in Osaka, Japan,Takashi Miikehas been a steady force in the Japanese film industry, directingover 100features and television shows since his debut in 1991. Though he has worked in various genres, he is known for violent filmsoften focused on the Yakuza, such asIchi The Killerand theDead AliveTrilogy.
Miike (pronounced mee-kay) received international recognition for his extreme approach when his entry into the Masters of Horror TV SeriesImprintwas the only segment banned from television.
Quantity Over Quality
While it is easy to approach the obvious — that the extreme nature of Miike’s work has made him divisive — there is a bit more to it than that. Notably, the sheer amount of films that Miike has made resulted in some less favorable movies, even among die-hard fans.
This has given some viewers the impression of him rushing work and falling short of his true potential. It is not uncommon for Miike to make up to six movies a year.
The other aspect that has made Miike a divisive director is his dive into more experimental works, with projects likeIzo,Visitor Q, andGozuspliting even his fans, compared to his gang or superhero-related projects.
Combine this with the seeming rush from movie to movie, and many even further question whether the work is profound or shoddily put together for quick turnaround, creating what appears to be an experimental approach.
18Trey Parker
Trey Parkeris an actor, animator, writer, producer, director, and musician, best known as one of the creators ofSouth Park. Born in 1969 in Conifer, Colorado, Parker attended the Berklee College of Music and the University of Colorado, where he met his best friend and future cohort Matt Stone. During college, the two began working on their first film together,Cannibal! The Musical, which was picked up by Troma Entertainment.
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Targeting Everything and Everyone
Comedy will always be subjective, and directors working in the space, from the iconic Mel Brooks to the more modern cult favorite Quentin Dupieux, will always face a divisive audience. However, Trey Parker is worthy of note as the co-creator ofSouth Park, making his projects reviled by some, even outside the popular TV Show.
Given the success ofSouth Park,Parker has only directed a handful of films—Orgazmo,Cannibal the Musical,South Park The Movie,Team America World Police— but many will scoff just knowing he is involved. This primarily comes down to Parker’s work, and its purposely confrontational nature.
While theSouth Parkduo tend to mock everyone, there is undoubtedly a disconnect from many when they have felt personally slighted by the words of South Park’s various citizens.
17Micheal Bay
Born in 1965,Michael Bayhas been a heavy hitter in Hollywood, acting as both director and producer of some of the biggest blockbusters to hit the screen. While he began his career making music videos for the likes of Donny Osmond, Tina Turner and Styx, his rise into the industry and the creation of his own production company has seen the director have an influential impact on the action and horror genres.
More Explosions Equals More Fun
Michael Bay may be your dad’s favorite director. Bay made a lot of action-heavy films featuring masculine bad-a**es and scantily clad women, which were eaten up at the box office. This included such blockbuster titles asBad BoysandArmageddon.
However, Bay would gain the most worldwide recognition with the firstTransformersfilm, which perfectly summarizes why he is a divisive figure. The treatment of actress Megan Fox and her subsequent firing from the production raised some flags, especially given the overt sexualization of her character in the series.
At the same time, the movie became synonymous with the overutilization of CGI and lack of substance, instead of trying tooffer a showcase for action and effects. Still, some are happy with just that, and while the entireTransformersfranchise has become divisive, its continued success proves a willing audience.
16Lars Von Trier
Born in Copenhagen, Denmark in 1956,Lars Von Trieris an acclaimed Danish director known for pushing boundaries with extreme and controversial subjects; he is also one of the founders of the short-lived Dogme 95 Collective. His works, characterizedby their bleak worldview, include notable works likeDancer in the Dark,Dogville,The House that Jack Built, andMelancholia.
Gladly Filling the Role of Persona Non Grata
With films that push boundaries, there will always be some detractors, especially when the films themselves take on a life separate from the director. A prime example of this is Von Trier’s recentThe House that Jack Built, which saw Matt Dillon killing women and children without remorse.
This caused a stir and multiple walkouts at screenings (not an uncommon occurrence in Trier’s career). Lars is a provocateur in real life, too, with the director’s antics toward other filmmakers and industry professionals also creating divisive opinions about him.
This included him becoming ‘persona non grata’ at Cannes in 2011, after making comments that he sympathized with Hitler (likely intentional shock as opposed to his actual sentiments) and his continued beef with Nicholas Winding Refn. Trier has even called Refn “an opportunist in an unpleasant way.”
15Julia Ducournau
Born in Paris, France in 1983,Julia Ducournauattended La Fémis in her home city, where she studied screenwriting. Her first short filmJuniorwon the Petit Rail d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival, pushing her into the spotlight as an upcoming filmmaker.
Her debut feature filmRawreceived the FIPRESCI prize at the Cannes Film Festival in 2016, with her follow up,Titane,winning the Palme d’Or in 2021.
Extreme Content Offending Certain Groups
Julia Ducournau is one of the up-and-comers of boundary-pushing cinema, and is sure to become more of a figurehead as she challenges cinema with each subsequent project. WhileRawdid strike some audiences as too extreme in itsportrayal of cannibalism, Ducournau would see more backlash from some media with her follow-up,Titane.
Titanecame under the scrutiny of some critics, with former Indie Wire writerJude Dry’s reviewsparking much of the controversy as they called the work a “deeply misogynist movie with a healthy side of transphobia.” Docournau has replied to the backlash, saying that the audience reaction says more about the viewers than it does the film.
14Harmony Korine
Harmony Korineis a filmmaker, actor, photographer, artist, and author, whose notoriety started at a young age when he wrote the screenplay for Larry Clark’sKidsat the age of 19.
Born in Bolinas, California in 1973, Korine’s films have been described as transgressive, obsessed with celebrity and the American underbelly. Notable works by Harmony Korine includeGummo,Spring Breakers, andTheBeach Bum.
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An Unorthodox Approach to Cinema
Beyond Korine’s involvement inKids, his work as a director has been less controversial. That is not to say that his movies don’t contain content that has earned him detractors, withGummoincluding the implication of animal cruelty and amoral prostitution. Still, the divisive nature of his work comes more down to style and approach.
Korine is a one-of-a-kind talent, and his dark sense of humor combined with his focus on people that many would otherwise deem outcasts or misfits has made him an exciting route to explore the more gritty side of Americana.
His obsession with peculiar personas, matched with his often surreal and abstract approach to storytelling, has made his films divisive among viewers. Looking at what is likely his most ‘indulgent’ project, thebizarre found-footage comedyTrash Humpers, there exists a pretty sharp divide between those who love it and those who hate it.
13Wes Anderson
Born on June 18, 2025, in Houston, Texas,Wes Andersonhas found renown for his unique visual and narrative approach to cinema. His work is often marked by themes of grief, loss of innocence, and dysfunctional families, contrasted by combining ensemble casts and interjecting his own quirky sense of humor into the tragic scenarios presented.
Notable films by Anderson includeThe Royal Tenenbaums, Fantastic Mr. Fox,The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou,and the recentAsteroid City.
Needing Substance With All That Style
Every film fan likely knows someoneobsessed with the works of Wes Andersonor finds themselves enamored by his unique approach to storytelling and wit. He is, essentially, a director without controversy hanging over his head, yet there is a huge divide in the audience’s reception of his work.
A ‘love or hate’ director, those detractors of his work point to elements like repetition and lack of growth as the main negative aspects of Anderson as a creative. His whimsical approach to complex subjects has also seen some scrutiny for undermining the seriousness of specific issues and presenting a somewhat glamorized version of heavy themes.
To the more extreme level of criticism, his work and fandom have been called pretentious,favoring style over substance, further widening that divide between fan and foe.
