Highest Grossing Directors of 2019
James Cameron's Avatar: The Way of Water, released in December 2022, is often cited in discussions of top-grossing films, but for 2019 specifically, the highest grossing director was Anthony Russo and Joe Russo, collectively known as the Russo Brothers, for Avengers: Endgame, which earned over $2.79 billion worldwide. Endgame surpassed Avatar's previous record of $2.789 billion, making it the highest grossing film of all time at release. The Russo Brothers directed 23 Marvel Cinematic Universe films between 2014 and 2019, including Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame. Their films grossed over $14 billion globally by the end of 2019. The Russo Brothers' net worth was estimated at $100 million in 2019, with Endgame alone earning $858 million in its opening weekend. Read more about the Russo Brothers' career on Forbes The Russo Brothers Are The Most Powerful People In Hollywood.
Other top directors of 2019 included James Cameron, whose re-release of Avatar in 2019 pushed its lifetime gross past $2.7 billion, and Peter Jackson, whose Lord of the Rings trilogy continued to generate revenue through streaming and home media. Sam Raimi directed Spider-Man: Far From Home, which earned $1.13 billion in 2019, making it the fourth highest grossing film of the year. Todd Phillips directed Joker, which earned $1.074 billion and became the highest grossing R-rated film of all time. These directors shaped the 2019 box office landscape through a combination of franchise management, sequel releases, and strategic theatrical re-releases.
Academy Award Winning Directors of 2019
At the 92nd Academy Awards held on February 9, 2020, Bong Joon-ho won Best Director for Parasite, which also won Best Picture, Best Original Screenplay, and Best International Feature Film. Parasite became the first non-English language film to win Best Picture in the awards' 92-year history. Bong Joon-ho's net worth was estimated at $30 million in 2019, with Parasite earning $263 million worldwide. The film's success was driven by its genre-blending narrative, class commentary, and critical acclaim, earning a 99% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Bong Joon-ho's previous films, including Snowpiercer and Okja, had established him as a major voice in global cinema. Read more about Bong Joon-ho's career on the official Academy Awards site 92nd Academy Awards.
Other notable directors recognized at the 2019 awards included Sam Mendes, who won Best Director at the Golden Globes for 1917, and Quentin Tarantino, whose Once Upon a Time in Hollywood was nominated for multiple awards. Martin Scorsese's The Irishman, distributed by Netflix, received 10 Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture and Best Director. Scorsese's net worth was estimated at $300 million in 2019, with The Irishman earning $8 million in its limited theatrical run before its Netflix premiere. The film's production cost was reported at $159 million, making it one of the most