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MTV Video Music Award for Best Direction

Annual music video award

Annual music video award

FieldValue
nameMTV Video Music Award
for Best Direction
awarded_forDirection
imagesize100px
captionThe "moonman" trophy presented to the award winners
presenterMTV
countryUnited States
year1984
most_winsTaylor Swift (4)
most_nominationsEminem (8); David Fincher & Dave Meyers (8)
holderLady Gaga, Bethany Vargas and Parris Goebel – "Abracadabra" by Lady Gaga (2025)
websiteVMA website

for Best Direction The MTV Video Music Award for Best Direction is an award given to the artist, the artist's manager, and the director of the music video. From 1984 to 2006, the full name of the award was Best Direction in a Video, and in 2007, it was briefly renamed Best Director. The category acquired its current name with the 2008 awards.

American artist Taylor Swift is the biggest winner in this category with four wins from six nominations.

The most nominated directors are David Fincher and Dave Meyers with eight nominations. Remarkably, seven of Fincher's nominations were achieved in a three-year span (1989–1991), as he was nominated a record three times in both 1989 and 1990. Fincher's recent nomination (and win) occurred over twenty years later in 2013 for his work on Justin Timberlake's "Suit & Tie." Closely following him are Taylor Swift and Francis Lawrence with six. Hype Williams is the director with the most nominations and no wins at five.

The performers whose videos have won the most awards are Madonna and Taylor Swift, whose videos have garnered three direction moonmen respectively. However, Eminem's videos have received the most nominations with seven. Swift is also the only performer to have won four moonmen in this category for her work directing.

Five other performers have won a moonman in this category for their work directing/co-directing their videos: George Michael, Beck, Erykah Badu, Adam Yauch of the Beastie Boys, Kendrick Lamar and Lil Nas X. An additional nine performers have been nominated for their work co-directing/directing videos: Busta Rhymes, Missy Elliott, Christina Aguilera, Jared Leto (as Bartholomew Cubbins), Ryan Lewis, Bruno Mars, Billie Eilish, Tyler, the Creator (as Wolf Haley) and Travis Scott.

Recipients

1980s

YearWinner(s)WorkNomineesRef.
Tim Newman"Sharp Dressed Man" (performed by ZZ Top){{smalldiv
Jean-Baptiste Mondino"The Boys of Summer" (performed by Don Henley){{smalldiv
Steven Barron"Take On Me" (performed by a-ha){{smalldiv
Stephen R. Johnson"Sledgehammer" (performed by Peter Gabriel){{smalldiv
Andy Morahan and George Michael"Father Figure" (performed by George Michael){{smalldiv
David Fincher"Express Yourself" (performed by Madonna){{smalldiv

1990s

YearWinner(s)WorkNomineesRef.
David Fincher"Vogue" (performed by Madonna){{smalldiv
Tarsem"Losing My Religion" (performed by R.E.M.){{smalldiv
Mark Fenske"Right Now" (performed by Van Halen){{smalldiv
Mark Pellington"Jeremy" (performed by Pearl Jam){{smalldiv
Jake Scott"Everybody Hurts" (performed by R.E.M.){{smalldiv
Spike Jonze"Buddy Holly" (performed by Weezer){{smalldiv
Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris"Tonight, Tonight" (performed by The Smashing Pumpkins){{smalldiv
Beck"The New Pollution" (performed by Beck){{smalldiv
Jonas Åkerlund"Ray of Light" (performed by Madonna){{smalldiv
Torrance Community Dance Group"Praise You" (performed by Fatboy Slim){{smalldiv

2000s

YearWinner(s)WorkNomineesRef.
Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris"Californication" (performed by Red Hot Chili Peppers){{smalldiv
Spike Jonze"Weapon of Choice" (performed by Fatboy Slim){{smalldiv
Joseph Kahn"Without Me" (performed by Eminem){{smalldiv
Jamie Thraves"The Scientist" (performed by Coldplay){{smalldiv
Mark Romanek"99 Problems" (performed by Jay-Z){{smalldiv
Samuel Bayer"Boulevard of Broken Dreams" (performed by Green Day){{smalldiv
Robert Hales"Crazy" (performed by Gnarls Barkley){{smalldiv
Samuel Bayer"What Goes Around... Comes Around" (performed by Justin Timberlake){{smalldiv
Erykah Badu and Mr. Roboto"Honey" (performed by Erykah Badu){{smalldiv
Marc Webb"21 Guns" (performed by Green Day){{smalldiv

2010s

YearWinner(s)WorkNomineesRef.
Francis Lawrence"Bad Romance" (performed by Lady Gaga){{smalldiv
Adam Yauch"Make Some Noise" (performed by Beastie Boys){{smalldiv
Romain Gavras"Bad Girls" (performed by M.I.A.){{smalldiv
David Fincher"Suit & Tie" (performed by Justin Timberlake featuring Jay-Z){{smalldiv
DANIELS"Turn Down for What" (performed by DJ Snake and Lil Jon){{smalldiv
Colin Tilley and the Little Homies"Alright" (performed by Kendrick Lamar){{smalldiv
Melina Matsoukas"Formation" (performed by Beyoncé){{smalldiv
Dave Meyers and The Little Homies"HUMBLE." (performed by Kendrick Lamar){{smalldiv
Hiro Murai"This is America" (performed by Childish Gambino){{smalldiv
Calmatic"Old Town Road (Remix)" (performed by Lil Nas X featuring Billy Ray Cyrus){{smalldiv

2020s

YearWinner(s)WorkNomineesRef.
Taylor Swift"The Man" (performed by Taylor Swift){{smalldiv
Lil Nas X and Tanu Muino"Montero (Call Me by Your Name)" (performed by Lil Nas X){{smalldiv
Taylor SwiftAll Too Well: The Short Film (performed by Taylor Swift){{smalldiv
Taylor Swift"Anti-Hero" (performed by Taylor Swift){{smalldiv
Taylor Swift"Fortnight" (performed by Taylor Swift featuring Post Malone){{smalldiv
Lady Gaga, Bethany Vargas and Parris Goebel"Abracadabra" (performed by Lady Gaga){{smalldiv

Director statistics

Multiple wins

;4 wins

  • Taylor Swift

;3 wins

  • David Fincher

;2 wins

  • Samuel Bayer
  • Spike Jonze
  • Jonathan Dayton
  • The Little Homies
  • Valerie Faris

Multiple nominations

;8 nominations

  • David Fincher
  • Dave Meyers

;6 nominations

  • Francis Lawrence
  • Taylor Swift

;5 nominations

  • Steven Barron
  • Mark Romanek
  • Spike Jonze
  • Jonathan Dayton
  • Valerie Faris
  • Hype Williams

;4 nominations

  • Christian Breslauer
  • Joseph Kahn

; 3 nominations

  • Daniel Kleinman
  • Dr. Dre
  • Phillip Atwell
  • Billie Eilish
  • Jonas Åkerlund
  • Bruno Mars
  • Director X
  • Dave Free
  • Rich Lee
  • Anthony Mandler
  • Tanu Muino
  • Floria Sigismondi

; 2 nominations

  • Tim Newman
  • Andy Morahan
  • Tarsem
  • Stéphane Sednaoui
  • Matthew Rolston
  • F. Gary Gray
  • Jesse Peretz
  • Jonathan Glazer
  • David LaChapelle
  • Joe Hahn
  • Jake Nava
  • Bartholomew Cubbins
  • Kendrick Lamar
  • Vania Heymann
  • Gal Muggia
  • Samuel Bayer
  • Hannah Lux Davis
  • Cameron Duddy
  • Nabil Elderkin
  • Missy Elliott
  • Michel Gondry
  • Jason Koenig
  • The Little Homies
  • Melina Matsoukas
  • Hiro Murai
  • Colin Tilley
  • Marc Webb

Artist statistics

Multiple wins

;4 wins

  • Taylor Swift

;3 wins

  • Madonna

;2 wins

  • Fatboy Slim
  • Green Day
  • Jay-Z
  • Justin Timberlake
  • Kendrick Lamar
  • Lady Gaga
  • Lil Nas X
  • R.E.M.

Multiple nominations

;8 nominations

  • Eminem

;7 nominations

  • Taylor Swift

;6 nominations

  • Jay-Z
  • Kendrick Lamar

;5 nominations

  • Beyoncé
  • Billie Eilish
  • R.E.M.
  • Rihanna

;4 nominations

  • Drake
  • Missy Elliott
  • Justin Timberlake
  • Red Hot Chili Peppers

; 3 nominations

  • Ariana Grande
  • Bruno Mars
  • Coldplay
  • Green Day
  • Kanye West
  • Lady Gaga
  • Lil Nas X
  • Linkin Park
  • Madonna
  • ZZ Top

; 2 nominations

  • Adele
  • Aerosmith
  • Beastie Boys
  • Childish Gambino
  • Chris Isaak
  • Doja Cat
  • Don Henley
  • Ed Sheeran
  • En Vogue
  • Fatboy Slim
  • Foo Fighters
  • George Michael
  • Harry Styles
  • Janet Jackson
  • Katy Perry
  • Megan Thee Stallion
  • M.I.A.
  • OutKast
  • Sabrina Carpenter
  • Steve Winwood
  • The Smashing Pumpkins
  • The Weeknd
  • The White Stripes
  • Thirty Seconds to Mars
  • TLC
  • U2
  • Van Halen

References

Notes

References

  1. "MTV Video Music Awards 1984". MTV.
  2. "MTV Video Music Awards 1985". MTV.
  3. "MTV Video Music Awards 1986". MTV.
  4. "MTV Video Music Awards 1987". MTV.
  5. "MTV Video Music Awards 1988". MTV.
  6. "MTV Video Music Awards 1989". MTV.
  7. "MTV Video Music Awards 1990". MTV.
  8. "MTV Video Music Awards 1991". MTV.
  9. "MTV Video Music Awards 1992". MTV.
  10. "MTV Video Music Awards 1993". MTV.
  11. "MTV Video Music Awards 1994". MTV.
  12. "MTV Video Music Awards 1995". MTV.
  13. "MTV Video Music Awards 1996". MTV.
  14. "MTV Video Music Awards 1997". MTV.
  15. "MTV Video Music Awards 1998". MTV.
  16. "MTV Video Music Awards 1999". MTV.
  17. "MTV Video Music Awards 2000". MTV.
  18. "MTV Video Music Awards 2001". MTV.
  19. "MTV Video Music Awards 2002". MTV.
  20. "MTV Video Music Awards 2003". MTV.
  21. "MTV Video Music Awards 2004". MTV.
  22. "MTV Video Music Awards 2005". MTV.
  23. "MTV Video Music Awards 2006". MTV.
  24. "MTV Video Music Awards 2007". MTV.
  25. "MTV Video Music Awards 2008". MTV.
  26. "MTV Video Music Awards 2009". MTV.
  27. "MTV Video Music Awards 2010". MTV.
  28. "MTV Video Music Awards 2011". MTV.
  29. "MTV Video Music Awards 2012". MTV.
  30. "MTV Video Music Awards 2013". MTV.
  31. "MTV Video Music Awards 2014". MTV.
  32. "MTV Video Music Awards 2015". MTV.
  33. "2016 VMA Nominations: See the Full List Now". MTV News.
  34. (August 27, 2017). "2017 VMA Winners and Performances". MTV.
  35. Nordyke, Kimberly. (August 20, 2018). "VMAs: Winners List". [[MRC (company).
  36. (August 26, 2019). "Here Are All the Winners From the 2019 MTV VMAs".
  37. (July 31, 2020). "Ariana Grande & Lady Gaga Lead 2020 MTV VMA Nominations: See Full List".
  38. Serrano, Athena. (August 11, 2021). "The 2021 VMA Nominations Are Here: Justin Bieber, Megan Thee Stallion, and More". [[MTV News]]. [[MTV]].
  39. Serrano, Athena. (July 26, 2022). "Your 2022 VMA Nominations Are Here: Jack Harlow, Kendrick Lamar, Lil Nas X Lead The Pack". [[MTV News]]. [[MTV]].
  40. Tinoco, Armando. (8 August 2023). "MTV VMA Nominations: Taylor Swift Leads Pack With Miley Cyrus, Nicki Minaj, Olivia Rodrigo, Sam Smith & More Close By". Deadline.
  41. Atkinson, Kaite. (September 11, 2024). "Here's the Full List of 2024 MTV VMAs Winners".
  42. Grein, Paul. (August 5, 2025). "Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars are 1-2 in Nominations for 2025 MTV VMAs (Full List)".
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