Top 10 Highest Grossing Female Directors

We released an article back in September of 2017 listing the top 10 highest-grossing female directors. Since moving our website I figured now was a good a time as any to check whether that list had changed at all. Turns out it had! When we wrote that 2017 article there was not a single woman in the top 50 highest-grossing directors. That has shifted now but there are still only three women in the top 100 so overall there is still a massive gender disparity in the top-grossing films. Now the gross takes into account all the films a director has made and how much they took in at the global box office, this isn’t how much money they got to put into their own pocket. There is a bigger discussion to be had about the fact that none of the women on my list today are women of colour and in fact none of the women directors who appear in the top 500 highest grossing directors are black women.

But this shouldn’t be a post entirely full of doom and gloom. Let’s celebrate the amazing achievement of these talented directors!
These ranks were taken from The Numbers - Top Grossing Director at the Worldwide Box Office

10. Nora Ephron (RANK 224)

Probably better known as a screenwriter Ephron’s directing credits have also become classics in their own right. In a significantly lower position on the list than she was back in 2017 Nora Ephron is still probably one of the most recognised names in filmmmaking. Other credits include: SLEEPLESS IN SEATTLE, JULIE & JULIA, LUCKY NUMBERS, YOU’VE GOT MAIL, & BEWITCHED

9. Betty Thomas (RANK 194)

Betty Thomas is a highly experienced director who has been working in the industry for at least 30 years. With 31 Film and TV credits listed on IMDB including: JOHN TUCKER MUST DIE, THE BRADY BUNCH MOVIE, 28 DAYS, DR DOLITTLE, AND GRACE & FRANKIE.

8. Patty Jenkins (RANK 184)

Making her way onto the list with the success of Wonder Woman despite the sexist backlash from many, many, MANY male critics, this film really took a step in the right direction for female filmmakers everywhere and also for female representation on film. Unfortunately the sequel was met with less critical acclaim from most audiences but it still took in quite a bit at the box office. Other credits include: MONSTER, I AM THE NIGHT, THE KILLING, ENTOURAGE

7. Anna boden (RANK 171)

With a couple of TV directing credits under her belt Anna Boden then stepped onto the scene as Co-director of Captain Marvel making her the first female director included in the MCU. Since then she’s directed a handful of episodes for TV including MASTER OF THE AIR & MRS AMERICA.

6. Jennifer Yuh Nelson (RANK 157)

Specialising in animation Jennifer Yuh Nelson helmed the second installment of the Kung Fu Panda franchise in 2011 which did so well she returned to direct number 3 as well. She also directed live action sci-fi film THE DARKEST MINDS in 2018 and was supervising director on LOVE, DEATH, & ROBOTS.

5. Nancy Meyers (RANK 129)

Nancy Meyers is a well known name when it comes to the romantic comedy specialising in often heartwarming stories with a splash of hollywood fantasy. Meyers has only directed 8 films but each are recognised as classics. These include: THE HOLIDAY, THE INTERN, THE PARENT TRAP, WHAT WOMEN WANT, ITS COMPLICATED, & SOMETHINGS GOTTA GIVE.

4. Lana Wachowski (RANK 120)

As a co-creator of one of the most groundbreaking and recognisable franchises of all time theres no wonder that Lana has found herself on this list. Collaborating with twin sister Lilly through most of their career on films including JUPITER ASCENDING and their original Netflix Series SENSE8. Lana most recently revived the Matrix series with it’s 4 installment releasing in 2021; THE MATRIX: RESSURECTIONS.

3. GRETA GERWIG (RANK 94)

The success of Barbie worldwide cemented Greta as a high grossing director with a few weeks. Receiving multiple award nominations and plenty of critical and audience praise for her films of which there are only 3 Greta Gerwig exploded onto the scene as a Director after a fairly successful career as an actress previously. Other credits include: LITTLE WOMEN, LADYBIRD, & NIGHTS AND WEEKENDS.

2. LILY Wachowski (RANK 73)

Like her sister Lily Wachowski was involved in all the Matrix films excluding the 4th continuation of the story in 2021. Lily has been on a bit of a directing hiatus with the only credits after SENSE8 a few episode of TV Series WORK IN PROGRESS. Yet despite the hiatus and most of their projects being collaborative Lily takes out the number two spot here on our list.

1. Jennifer Lee (RANK 40)

I can't think of a more iconic female-led animation that's been released in the last few years than Frozen and it certainly made an impact with young and old audiences. It also became one of the most successful disney animations led by a woman which resulted in Lee’s return to helm the sequel a few years later and has cemented her as the top grossing female director of all time.