List of highest-grossing film directors

The following is a non-definitive list of the all-time highest-grossing film directors. The list is not adjusted for inflation.^[1]

As of 21 August 2018

Worldwide

Background shading indicates directors whose films are currently playing in theaters.

Highest-grossing directors worldwide^[2]
Rank	Name	Highest-grossing film	Total worldwide box office
1	Steven Spielberg	Jurassic Park	$10.120 billion
2	Peter Jackson	The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King	$6.520 billion
3	Michael Bay	Transformers: Dark of the Moon	$6.450 billion
4	James Cameron	Avatar
5	David Yates	Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2	$5.346 billion
6	Christopher Nolan	The Dark Knight Rises	$4.754 billion
7	Robert Zemeckis	Forrest Gump	$4.315 billion
8	Ron Howard	The Da Vinci Code	$4.284 billion
9	Ridley Scott	The Martian	$4.128 billion
10	Chris Columbus	Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone	$4.093 billion

Highest-grossing directors in Canada and the United States^[3]
Rank	Name	Highest-grossing film	Total domestic box office
1	Steven Spielberg	Jurassic Park	$4.670 billion
2	Michael Bay	Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen	$4.000 billion
3	Peter Jackson	The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King	$2.134 billion
4	Ron Howard	How the Grinch Stole Christmas	$2.109 billion
5	Robert Zemeckis	Forrest Gump	$2.092 billion
6	Christopher Nolan	The Dark Knight	$2.006 billion
7	James Cameron	Avatar	$1.975 billion
8	Clint Eastwood	American Sniper	$1.852 billion
9	Tim Burton	Alice in Wonderland	$1.840 billion
10	Chris Columbus	Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone	$1.750 billion