25 Musicians Who Became Film Directors

Films directed:
50 Magical Mystery Tour (1967)

After they were cinematic subjects for the likes of Richard Lester in A Hard Days Night and Help!, The Beatles took matters into their own hands with 1967’s Magical Mystery Tour, with all four Beatles (John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr) directing the film in a collaborative effort as part of the band's psychedelic-era desire to control their own visual narrative.

Moving away from the structured wit of the earlier Beatles films, the surreal, loosely-scripted romp through the English countryside initially baffled television audiences and critics alike, but has since become a fascinating cult artifact. Magical Mystery Tour captures the Fab Four at their most experimental, showing a collective of brilliant musicians attempting to translate the kaleidoscopic, non-linear energy of their music into a DIY film format. The film inspired Death Cab for Cutie’s band name and gave us the “I Am the Walrus” video.

Films directed:
93 Homecoming: A Film by Beyoncé (2019)
86 Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé (2023)
84 Black Is King (2020) [co-directed]

Beyoncé Knowles-Carter has redefined the concept of the "visual album," moving far beyond the scope of traditional music videos to helm expansive, feature-length projects. With Homecoming: A Film by Beyoncé, she delivered a meticulously edited documentary of her historic 2018 Coachella performance, earning high praise for her technical precision and narrative structure.

She followed that film with Black Is King, a visually stunning companion to the Disney soundtrack album, The Lion King: The Gift, which she co-directed to explore themes of Black ancestry and royalty. Her most recent directorial effort, Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé, further solidified her status as a director who views film as an essential extension of her sonic architecture. Across these works, her directorial voice is characterized by a grand sense of scale and a deep commitment to cultural iconography.

Films directed:
67 True Stories (1986)

As the quirky, intellectual leader of Talking Heads, David Byrne was always interested in the intersection of performance art and pop culture. In 1986, he made his feature directorial debut with True Stories, a satirical and affectionate look at small-town life in Texas. Byrne also stars as a Stetson-wearing narrator who guides viewers through a series of vignettes inspired by tabloid headlines. The film is a visual extension of Byrne's rhythmic, observational, and slightly off-kilter musical view of our “Wild Wild Life”. While he is often celebrated for his involvement in Jonathan Demme’s legendary Talking Heads concert film Stop Making Sense, True Stories remains a unique testament to his ability to translate his "art-rock" philosophy into a whimsical, narrative-driven cinematic world that feels entirely his own.

Films directed:
90 Once (2007)
79 Sing Street (2016)
76 Flora and Son (2023)
67 Power Ballad (2026)
62 Begin Again (2013)

Before becoming a celebrated director of musical dramas, John Carney played bass for the Irish rock band The Frames, and this background in the gritty, soulful Dublin music scene is evident in almost every frame of his work. Carney achieved international acclaim with Once, a low-budget, highly emotional film starring his former bandmate Glen Hansard along with Marketa Irglova as a couple telling their story through love songs.

That movie’s success paved the way for a career built on similarly grounded, authentic-feeling musical movies, including Sing Street and Flora and Son. Carney’s films are rarely traditional musicals, where characters burst into song to further the plot or explain a character; instead, they are movies about musicians, often focusing on the collaborative process of songwriting, as in recent release Power Ballad starring Paul Rudd and Nick Jonas. Carney’s deep understanding of band dynamics and the struggle of independent artists gives his filmography a resonant, soulful quality.

Films directed:
76 Incredible But True (2022)
74 Daaaaaalí! (2024)
74 Mandibles (2020)
74 Smoking Causes Coughing (2022)
73 Yannick (2023)
68 Deerskin (2019)
64 Keep an Eye Out (2018)
60 Full Phil (2026)
59 Rubber (2010)
58 Wrong (2012)
57 The Second Act (2024)
55 Reality (2014)
25 Wrong Cops (2013)

Known in the electronic music world as Mr. Oizo, Quentin Dupieux gained global fame with the 1999 hit "Flat Beat." Since then, he has become one of the most prolific and surreal directors in modern French cinema. Dupieux's films, such as the killer-tire saga Rubber and the jacket-obsessed Deerskin, mirror the repetitive, glitchy, and absurdist nature of his music. He often handles his own cinematography and editing, maintaining a high level of control over his idiosyncratic visions. His work is characterized by deadpan humor and a rejection of traditional narrative logic, creating a cinematic language that feels entirely self-contained. With recent hits like Yannick and The Second Act, Dupieux has successfully transitioned from a dance-floor innovator to a premier voice in absurdist filmmaking.

Films directed:
52 The Longshots (2008)
50 The Education of Charlie Banks (2009)
18 The Fanatic (2019)

As the frontman for Limp Bizkit, Fred Durst was the face of the nű-metal explosion in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Seeking to distance himself from his "red cap" persona, Durst turned to directing, making his debut with the surprisingly sensitive coming-of-age drama The Education of Charlie Banks. He followed this with the family sports film The Longshots, starring Ice Cube.

While those early directorial efforts showed a penchant for grounded, earnest storytelling, his 2019 film The Fanatic, starring John Travolta, took a turn into the dark and campy world of psychological thrillers. Despite the vastly different tones of his films, Durst has remained dedicated to his second career behind the camera, often bringing a raw, outsider energy to his directorial projects that mirrors his disruptive musical roots.

Films directed:
41 Renaldo and Clara (1978)

Bob Dylan has never been an artist easy to categorize, and his foray into feature filmmaking was no exception. In 1978, he released Renaldo and Clara, a sprawling, four-hour experimental film shot during his Rolling Thunder Revue tour. Mixing concert footage, documentary-style interviews, and improvised fictional vignettes, the film is as dense and metaphorical as some of his mid-’60s lyrics. Dylan directed and starred in the project, which featured appearances by Joan Baez and Allen Ginsberg. Though it was widely panned by critics upon its initial release and remains difficult to find due to music rights issues, the film is a fascinating look at an artist attempting to dismantle his own mythos. It stands as a monumental, if chaotic, example of a musician using the medium of film to explore identity and performance.

Films directed:
63 Ash (2025)
51 Kuso (2017)

Steven Ellison, better known as Flying Lotus, has always infused his electronic productions with a cinematic quality, so his move into filmmaking felt inevitable. His debut feature, Kuso, became infamous after its Sundance premiere for its grotesque, body-horror imagery and hallucinatory narrative. It was a polarizing, avant-garde experience that mirrored the dense, layered textures of his music.

However, with his 2025 follow-up, the sci-fi thriller Ash, Ellison has moved toward a more structured and visually arresting form of storytelling. Drawing on his background as a producer and founder of the Brainfeeder label, he often scores his own work, ensuring a seamless marriage between sound and image. He remains one of the most daring musicians to transition into film, consistently pushing the boundaries of taste and genre.

Films directed:
57 Jane by Charlotte (2021)

The daughter of French musical icon Serge Gainsbourg and actress Jane Birkin (Death on the Nile), Charlotte Gainsbourg has long been a celebrated figure in both music and film. After decades in front of the lens for directors like Lars von Trier, Agnès Varda, and Gainsbourg’s partner Yvan Attal, in addition to releasing critically acclaimed albums like Rest and IRM, she stepped behind the camera for the intimate documentary Jane by Charlotte.

The film is a tender, observational portrait of her mother, exploring their relationship through a series of candid conversations. Gainsbourg brings a melancholic, lyrical sensibility to her directorial debut. The film avoids the trappings of a standard celebrity biopic, opting instead for a grainy, tactile aesthetic that feels deeply personal, proving that her artistic voice is just as compelling in the director's chair as it is at the microphone.

Films directed:
76 Sound City (2013)
tbd What Drives Us (2021)

In addition to drumming for Nirvana and fronting Foo Fighters for over 30 years, Grohl has also become one of rock’s most dedicated historians. His directorial debut, Sound City, is a love letter to the legendary Van Nuys recording studio where Nirvana recorded Nevermind and Fleetwood Mac recorded Rumours. The film showcases Grohl’s ability to weave together interviews with rock royalty like Stevie Knicks, Paul McCartney, and Trent Reznor into a compelling narrative about the importance of the human element in analog recording. He followed this with the documentary What Drives Us, which explores the grueling but formative experience of band life in a van.

Grohl’s directorial style is much like his drumming: highly energetic and grounded in tradition. His films serve as essential documents of rock culture, told from the unique perspective of someone who lived it and still loves it. 

Films directed:
37 W.E. (2011)
26 Filth and Wisdom (2008)

Madonna’s career has always been defined by her absolute control over her visual image, making her transition to directing a logical evolution. She made her debut in 2008 with the low-budget indie Filth and Wisdom, a London-set comedy that explored the lives of struggling artists. She then moved toward a more ambitious, lavish production with W.E., which intertwined the historical romance of Wallis Simpson and King Edward VIII with a modern-day storyline.

While her films have faced a tough reception from critics and have seldom been viewed by audiences (though W.E. was nominated for a Best Costume Design Oscar), they showcase a director interested in the themes of fame, sacrifice, and female agency, subjects that admirers of her day job will recognize. Madonna brings a high-fashion aesthetic and a perfectionist’s eye to the screen, treating each frame with the same level of curation as her legendary world tours.

Films directed:
69 Falling From Grace (1992)

In 1992, at the height of his radio-worn "Heartland Rock" fame, John Mellencamp stepped behind the camera to direct Falling From Grace. Working from a screenplay by Larry McMurtry (Lonesome Dove), Mellencamp also starred in the semi-autobigographical story as a famous singer returning to his small Indiana hometown. The film was praised for its quiet, unpretentious tone and its authentic depiction of Midwestern life, themes that have been the cornerstone of Mellencamp’s songwriting since the 1970s. Rather than a flashy vanity project, the film is a grounded character study that avoids melodrama in favor of small, resonant human moments. Though Mellencamp hasn't directed a feature since, Falling From Grace remains a respected entry in the musician-turned-director canon, capturing the same salt-of-the-earth spirit found in his most iconic songs.

Films directed:
58 God Help the Girl (2014)

Stuart Murdoch, the lead singer and songwriter for the Scottish indie-pop band Belle and Sebastian, has always written songs that feel like short films. In 2014, he finally realized his cinematic ambitions with God Help the Girl, a musical set in Glasgow. The project actually began as a concept album even before Murdoch spent years developing the film version. Starring Emily Browning (Sucker Punch), the movie captures the twee, literate, and melancholic charm that has made Belle and Sebastian a cult favorite for decades. Murdoch’s directorial voice is similarly whimsical and gentle, focusing on the healing power of pop music and the awkwardness of young adulthood. It is a film that feels entirely on-brand for Murdoch, translating his signature songwriting style into a pastel-colored, charmingly indie cinematic experience.

Films directed:
72 Sign ‘o’ the Times (1987)
36 Graffiti Bridge (1990)
36 Under the Cherry Moon (1986)

Produced, arranged, composed, performed, AND directed by Prince. After the massive success of Purple Rain, which was directed by Albert Magnoli, Prince took full creative control of his film career, starring in and making his directorial debut with the black-and-white romantic comedy Under the Cherry Moon. Set on the French Riviera, and featuring the debut of future dame Kristin Scott Thomas, the screwball film was a bold departure from the gritty energy of his previous outing, showcasing Prince’s love for classic Hollywood glamour and camp. Panned or misunderstood by critics and audiences alike, the film has since earned a cult following. (At least we got the soundtrack album Parade out of it!)

Prince continued his directorial career with the concert film Sign ‘o’ the Times, widely considered one of the greatest concert movies ever made for its vibrant staging and singular performance. His final directorial effort, Graffiti Bridge, tried (and failed) to reach Purple Rain heights, and it would be his last major directorial credit. Prince’s films were—for better or worse—unapologetically bold, visually lush, and always centered on his singular musical genius and flamboyant, boundary-pushing style.

Films directed:
96 Summer of Soul (...Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised) (2021)
94 Earth, Wind & Fire (To Be Celestial VS That’s the Weight of the World) (2026)
77 Sly Lives! (aka the Burden of Black Genius) (2025)
Ladies & Gentlemen... 50 Years of SNL Music (2025) *

Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson, the polymath drummer for The Roots, made one of the more impressive directorial debuts in recent history with Summer of Soul (...Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised). The documentary, released as a balm during the COVID pandemic, unearthed lost footage of the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival and won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature. Questlove utilized his encyclopedic knowledge of music history and his drummer’s sense of rhythm to edit the film with a propulsive, soulful energy. (Those supreme editing skills were also put to good use on a Peacock documentary about the history of Saturday Night Live musical performances that features an incredible opening montage.)

He followed that success with a documentary on Sly Stone, titled Sly Lives!, and the just-released Earth, Wind & Fire (To Be Celestial VS That’s the Weight of the World), another massively praised portrait of a groundbreaking 1970s band. Questlove has quickly become a premier voice in music documentary filmmaking, using the medium to preserve and celebrate Black musical excellence with a scholar’s eye and an artist’s heart.

* not available on Metacritic

Films directed:
78 Sorry to Bother You (2018)
70 I Love Boosters (2026)

As the founder and frontman of the political hip-hop group The Coup, Boots Riley spent years crafting songs filled with radical politics and dark humor. He brought that same energy to his directorial debut, Sorry to Bother You, a surrealist satire of capitalism and telemarketing that became a breakout hit in 2018. The film’s wild visual swings and biting social commentary were perfectly aligned with the anti-establishment themes of Riley’s music.

His transition to film allowed him to expand his storytelling into increasingly bizarre and imaginative territories, including the recently released surrealist shoplifting fable I Love Boosters, starring Keke Palmer and Demi Moore, which followed an equally surreal Prime Video series, I'm a Virgo. Riley’s work as a director is distinguished by its fearlessness and its commitment to using high-concept genre tropes to explore real-world systemic issues, making him a truly unique voice in modern cinema.

Films directed:
67 Cut Throat City (2020)
54 Love Beats Rhymes (2017)
51 The Man With the Iron Fists (2012)
38 One Spoon of Chocolate (2026)

As the mastermind behind the Wu-Tang Clan’s sonic landscape, RZA’s music was always heavily influenced by 1970s kung fu cinema. It was only natural that he would eventually move behind the camera. He made his directorial debut with the stylized martial arts epic The Man with the Iron Fists, a project he co-wrote with Eli Roth and also starred in. RZA has since expanded his directorial range with the heist drama Cut Throat City, the musical drama Love Beats Rhymes, and recently released racially-fueled action-thriller One Spoon of Chocolate.

His films often feature the same gritty, atmospheric textures and cinematic sampling that defined the Wu-Tang sound. By merging his love for hip-hop culture with his obsession with classic genre filmmaking, RZA has carved out a distinct niche as a director who prioritizes style, rhythm, and cultural homage.

Films directed:
23 Music (2021)

Known for her powerhouse vocals and her increasing desire to remain visually anonymous, Sia Furler moved into big-screen filmmaking with the 2021 musical drama Music. Sia co-wrote, directed, and produced the film, which stars Kate Hudson as a newly sober former drug dealer who becomes sole guardian of her non-verbal, autistic half-sister, played by frequent Sia collaborator Maddie Ziegler.

The movie is structured around a series of highly stylized, colorful musical sequences that represent the internal world of Ziegler’s character. While the film was met with significant controversy regarding its depiction of autism and its casting choices (certainly more complex since Sia’s own subsequent ASD diagnosis), it remains a clear extension of Sia’s visual brand, filled with vibrant choreography and high-concept pop art.

Films directed:
49 None but the Brave (1965)

While Frank Sinatra is primarily remembered as one of the definitive voices of the American songbook and an Academy Award-winning actor, he also took a turn in the director’s chair for the 1965 war film None but the Brave. A co-production between the U.S. and Japan, the film tells the story of American and Japanese soldiers who are stranded on a Pacific island and who must form a temporary truce to survive.

Sinatra directed and starred in the film, which was notable for its anti-war stance and its attempt to give equal weight to both sides of the conflict. Though he didn't direct again, the film showed a more thoughtful, socially conscious side of Ol' Blue Eyes, proving that his legendary command of the stage could translate into a competent and serious presence behind the camera.

Films directed:
68 Yentl (1983)
65 The Prince of Tides (1991)
50 The Mirror Has Two Faces (1996)

When singer and actor Barbra Streisand added directing to her repertoire; she also became a powerhouse filmmaker who broke Hollywood glass ceilings. With 1983’s Yentl, she became the first woman to write, produce, direct, and star in a major studio film; the musical was a massive success, earning her a Golden Globe for Best Director. She followed Yentl with the acclaimed drama The Prince of Tides, which earned seven Oscar nominations, and then the romantic comedy The Mirror Has Two Faces.

Streisand’s directorial style is marked by its emotional grandiosity and meticulous attention to detail, often focusing on themes of identity and self-actualization; she also stars in all her movies. Her transition from the top of the music charts to the top of the director’s chair remains one of the most successful and influential in the history of entertainment.

Films directed:
75 Rango (2011)
66 Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die (2025)
63 Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)
61 The Weather Man (2005)
57 The Ring (2002)
53 Mouse Hunt (1997)
53 Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (2006)
50 Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (2007)
47 A Cure for Wellness (2016)
43 The Mexican (2001)
37 The Lone Ranger (2013)

Before he found himself directing billion-dollar blockbusters like the Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy, Gore Verbinski was a guitarist in several Los Angeles punk and rock bands, including Bulldozer and Daredevils. That background is reflected in the frantic energy and subversive streak found in much of his work.

Verbinski transitioned from directing music videos (for the likes of Bad Religion and Monster Magnet) to helming features ranging from the terrifying horror hit The Ring and the Oscar-winning animated film Rango. Even his largest studio projects are marked by a rhythmic precision and a love for the grotesque that feels informed by his musical roots. He remains one of the most commercially successful directors on this list, proving that a musician's ear can be a major asset in crafting big-screen spectacles.

Films directed:
54 CSNY/Déjà Vu (2008)
52 Greendale (2003)
41 Human Highway (1982)
tbd Mountaintop (2019)
Journey Through the Past (1973)*
Muddy Track (2015)*
Neil Young: Harvest Time (2022)*
Rust Never Sleeps (1979)*
Weld (1990)*

Using the pseudonym "Bernard Shakey," Neil Young has been directing films since the early 1970s. His directorial efforts are as diverse and idiosyncratic as his musical output, ranging from the surrealist comedy Human Highway (co-directed with Dean Stockwell and featuring many David Lynch connections) to the rock opera Greendale. Young’s films often feel like home movies on a grand scale, prioritizing raw emotion and spontaneity over polished production values. He has also directed several documentary and concert films, such as CSNY/Déjà Vu, which explores the political tensions surrounding the band's 2006 tour. Whether he is capturing the reality of life on the road or staging an ambitious environmental fable, Young’s work behind the camera is always authentically unpredictable, passionate, and fiercely independent.

* not available on Metacritic

Films directed:
79 Brawl in Cell Block 99 (2017)
72 Bone Tomahawk (2015)
60 Dragged Across Concrete (2018)

S. Craig Zahler found success as a novelist, cinematographer, and musician before becoming a cult favorite director. He is the drummer and songwriter for the heavy metal band Realmbuilder (credited as Czar) and has composed the scores for all of his own films. As a director, Zahler burst onto the scene with 2015’s notoriously brutal western Bone Tomahawk, followed by the uncompromising prison drama Brawl in Cell Block 99.

His films are famous for their deliberate pacing, sharp dialogue, and sudden, extreme violence, displaying a meticulous approach to rhythm and atmosphere that carries over from his musical background. By controlling both the sound and the image, Zahler creates a cinematic experience that is entirely immersive and distinctively grim, cementing his reputation as a modern master of genre cinema.

Films directed:
57 200 Motels (1971)

Frank Zappa was a relentless creator who saw no boundaries between musical composition, social satire, and visual art. In 1971, he co-directed 200 Motels, a surrealist musical fantasy that attempted to capture the madness of life on the road with his band, the Mothers of Invention. The film was one of the first features to be shot on videotape and then transferred to film, allowing for psychedelic visual effects that mirrored Zappa’s complex, avant-garde arrangements. It’s a non-linear, chaotic experience featuring the likes of Ringo Starr and Keith Moon, and it serves as a perfect time capsule of Zappa’s eccentric genius. Like his music, his directorial work was unapologetically weird, technically innovative, and deeply skeptical of mainstream culture, making 200 Motels a definitive piece of underground cinema.

Films directed:
57 The Lords of Salem (2012)
57 The Munsters (2022)
54 The Devil’s Rejects (2005)
50 3 From Hell (2019)
47 Halloween (2007)
35 31 (2016)
35 Halloween II (2009)
31 House 0f 1000 Corpses (2003)

Rob Zombie spent the 1990s as the king of shock-rock, first as frontman for the band White Zombie and later as a solo artist, blending heavy metal with a deep love for 1970s horror aesthetics. He translated that obsession into a successful second career as a director, starting with the grindhouse-inspired House of 1000 Corpses.

Unlike many musicians who dabble in film, Zombie became a mainstay of the horror genre, directing two gritty reimaginings of Halloween and the cult classic The Devil’s Rejects. His directorial voice is unmistakable, featuring grainy, blown-out visuals and colorfully depraved characters. Whether he’s paying homage to the classics or crafting his own nightmare visions, Zombie brings a musician’s sense of showmanship and a fan’s encyclopedic knowledge of the genre to every project he helms.