Many of the most iconic names in film are no longer around today. However, new movie directors are popping up who are equally skilled behind the camera. Today’s directors may have drawn influence from directors such as Hitchcock and Kubrick, but many of them are more artistically sound than yesteryear’s movie directors.

Today’s directors do have other advantages. It’s a lot easier to get into the film industry today than ever before. Professional level cameras are affordable, and there are more outlets for directors to showcase their work to an audience. Here are the best directors in modern film.

Wes Anderson

Wes Anderson received some negative criticism for Moonrise Kingdom; however, critics had nothing but praise for his earlier works, such as The Royal Tenenbaums and Rushmore. Wes Anderson’s work has a common theme: his movies are all about people working on their relationships. Even his most recent film, Isle of Dogs, which is a cartoon, is all about a dog and a human building their relationship and strengthening their bond.

Ryan Coogler

Ryan Coogler isn’t your average film director. Fruitvale Station, his first film, was about the shooting of Oscar Grand by Bay Area police. He didn’t win any awards from the Academy, but he did garner praise from nearly every critic who saw the film.

Guillermo del Toro

Guillermo del Toro is one of the most imaginative directors in film right now. He is known for creating his own tales and monsters. Guillermo del Toro is also the most seasoned director on the list, breaking into the film industry in the 90s. However, he only gained fame after the films Pacific Rim and Crimson Peak were released.

Denis Villeneuve

Villeneuve was relatively unknown less than a decade ago; however, now he is a go-to director for sci-fi. His 2016 blockbuster Arrival set him up for success. Villeneuve’s biggest film to date is Blade Runner 2049, which released in October of 2017.

Paul Thomas Anderson

Phantom Thread, Punch-Drunk Love, and There Will Be Blood are just a few of the films directed by Paul Thomas Anderson. Unlike most directors, Anderson is well-rounded in all genres. He can go from working with Adam Sandler to working with Daniel Day-Lewis, bringing the best out of anyone he works with.

Though many of the names on this list may differ depending on certain opinions, these are some of the best directors of modern times. It’s going to be especially exciting to see what each of these directors decides to do next.