When it comes to noteworthy directors, many tend to stay active for long periods of time, crafting a rich legacy of work behind them. While some filmmakers still maintain a large presence within the industry, others have drawn away from the limelight and opted for a much lower profile. Some have quietly released work while others have remained absent; regardless, their impact within the industry still withstands.
Some of our favorite filmmakers have decided to end their immense careers on a high note, while other legends have spent over a decade between films, simply waiting. Let’s take a look at some of the most notable directors who have drifted away from the spotlight before making triumphant returns, and some who haven’t returned at all.
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5 David Cronenberg
20th Century Fox
Back in the 80s and 90s, few directors had such a handle on the body horror and sci-fi department than Canadian filmmaker David Cronenberg. Cronenberg shot to fame with classics such as Videodrome, The Fly, and The Dead Zone, and even continued his success well into the 2000s with acclaimed dramas such as A History of Violence and Eastern Promises. Around 2015, he released A Map To The Stars, which featured an ensemble cast including Julianne Moore, John Cusack, and Robert Pattinson.
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Cronenberg ceased to create a follow-up feature for seven years, and has been relatively quiet, although his son recently directed his own body horror film, Posessor in 2020 which very much was influenced by his father’s work. Thankfully, Cronenberg will return to the big screen soon with his upcoming return to body horror, Crimes of The Future; regardless, his tremendous filmography remains one of the best of all time.
4 Francis Ford Coppola
Paramount Pictures
If you weren’t already aware of who Francis Ford Coppola was, you’re sure to know one of his many iconic films. In the 70s he created two of the greatest films of all time with The Godfather and The Godfather Part II and ended the decade with the classic war epic Apocalypse Now. After the ’70s however, Coppola’s career wavered, and while he had some moderate successes, none could quite match his earlier works.
In the 2000s, Coppola released a few underseen films sporadically, but has overall stepped away from directing and no longer pulls the attention that he used to. As such, he is now financing his next film Megalopolis with his own $120 million, a massive budget for an independent film which is sure to see something at least creative and interesting as a result. Despite stepping back from the world of filmmaking Coppola never lost a passion for the industry, and recently helped restore his ultimate cut for The Godfather Part III.
3 Nicolas Winding Refn
Lene Borglum
Refn has been oddly quiet, having not directed a feature film since 2016; he’s been attached to various projects throughout the years, some of which have fallen through the cracks while others may or may not be in development, such as his troubled remake of Maniac Cop. While Refn’s upcoming features are still a mystery, whenever he decides to return the results should be nothing less than fascinating especially given his filmography.
2 Terrence Malick
Fox Searchlight Pictures / Summit
Perhaps the ultimate example of the reclusive filmmaker, Terrence Malick’s activity over the years has been defined by significant comebacks and prolonged absences. Malick rose to prominence with the early films Badlands and Days of Heaven. After disappearing from the industry for more than two decades, he returned in 1998 with his artful war film The Thin Red Line.
From there, Malick has been on and off throughout the years but did release a steady stream of projects in the 2010s, finding a new wave of energy in his 70s with the films Tree of Life, To The Wonder,Knight Of Cups, and Song by Song. Malick still maintains a relatively low profile and is selective with how often he puts out projects, but remains an influential cinematic presence. His upcoming film The Way of The Wind is set to be released sometime in the future, and until then Malick’s extraordinary and elusive filmography still resonates.
1 John McTiernan
While you may or may not recognize John McTiernan’s name, you’re bound to have seen at least one of his films. He had a string of hits, including the infamous Bruce Willis vehicle Die Hard, The Hunt For Red October starring Sean Connery, and 1999’s Thomas Crown Affair starring Pierce Bronson and Rene Russo. McTiernan was on a roll until some box office flops and legal troubles sadly derailed his career. Since then, McTiernan has been inactive, which a shame given his past hits and successes. While he remains out of the spotlight, many of his films endure, retaining popularity and being re-discovered to this day.
