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Saturn Award for Best Director

Annual US film award


Annual US film award

FieldValue
nameSaturn Award for Best Director
imageDenis Villeneuve by Gage Skidmore.jpg
captionThe 2024 recipient: Denis Villeneuve
awarded_forBest directing of the year for a genre film
presenterAcademy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films
countryUnited States
year1974/1975
holderDenis Villeneuve for Dune: Part Two (2023/2024)
website

The Saturn Award for Best Director (or Saturn Award for Best Direction) is one of the annual awards given by the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films. The Saturn Awards, which are the oldest film-specialized awards to reward genre fiction achievements, in particular for science fiction, fantasy, and horror (the Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation is the oldest award for science fiction and fantasy films), included the Best Director category for the first time at the 3rd Saturn Awards, for the 1974/1975 film years.

History

The award is also the oldest to honor film directors in science fiction, fantasy and horror. It has been given 36 times, including a tie for the 1977 film year.

James Cameron holds the record of the most wins with six (for seven nominations), while Steven Spielberg is the most nominated director with fourteen nominations (for four wins). Only three other directors have won the award more than once: Peter Jackson (three times), Bryan Singer and Ridley Scott (two times). As of 2024, Cameron is the only director to have won the award two years in a row (having won at both the 17th and 18th ceremonies for The Abyss and Terminator 2: Judgment Day, respectively). At the 22nd Saturn Awards, Kathryn Bigelow became the first woman to win the award, and is one of three female directors to win the award (the others being Lana and Lily Wachowski). Roland Emmerich became the first of four LGBTQ person to win the award at the 23rd ceremony (the others being the Wachowskis and Singer), while John Woo became the first person of Asian descent to win the award at the 24th ceremony and Ryan Coogler became the first African-American to win the award at the 44th ceremony.

Winners and nominees

1970s

YearDirectorFilm
1974/1975
(3rd)Mel Brooks*Young Frankenstein*
1976
(4th)Dan Curtis*Burnt Offerings*
1977
(5th)George Lucas*Star Wars*
Steven Spielberg*Close Encounters of the Third Kind*
Nicolas GessnerThe Little Girl Who Lives Down the Lane
Carl ReinerOh, God!
Don TaylorThe Island of Dr. Moreau
1978
(6th)Philip Kaufman*Invasion of the Body Snatchers*
Warren Beatty and Buck HenryHeaven Can Wait
Richard DonnerSuperman
Robin HardyThe Wicker Man
Franklin J. SchaffnerThe Boys from Brazil
1979
(7th)Ridley Scott*Alien*
John BadhamDracula
Nicholas MeyerTime After Time
Peter WeirThe Last Wave
Robert WiseStar Trek: The Motion Picture

1980s

YearDirectorFilm
1980
(8th)Irvin Kershner*The Empire Strikes Back*
Brian De PalmaDressed to Kill
Stanley KubrickThe Shining
Ken RussellAltered States
Vernon ZimmermanFade to Black
1981
(9th)Steven Spielberg*Raiders of the Lost Ark*
John BoormanExcalibur
John CarpenterEscape from New York
Terry GilliamTime Bandits
Michael WadleighWolfen
1982
(10th)Nicholas Meyer*Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan*
Tobe HooperPoltergeist
George MillerMad Max 2
Ridley ScottBlade Runner
Steven SpielbergE.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
1983
(11th)John Badham*WarGames*
Woody AllenZelig
David CronenbergThe Dead Zone
Richard MarquandReturn of the Jedi
Douglas TrumbullBrainstorm
1984
(12th)Joe Dante*Gremlins*
James CameronThe Terminator
Ron HowardSplash
Leonard NimoyStar Trek III: The Search for Spock
Steven SpielbergIndiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
1985
(13th)Ron Howard*Cocoon*
Woody AllenThe Purple Rose of Cairo
Tom HollandFright Night
George MillerMad Max Beyond Thunderdome
Dan O'BannonThe Return of the Living Dead
Robert ZemeckisBack to the Future
1986
(14th)James Cameron*Aliens*
John BadhamShort Circuit
David CronenbergThe Fly
Randal KleiserFlight of the Navigator
Leonard NimoyStar Trek IV: The Voyage Home
1987
(15th)Paul Verhoeven*RoboCop*
Kathryn BigelowNear Dark
Joe DanteInnerspace
William DearHarry and the Hendersons
Jack SholderThe Hidden
Stan WinstonPumpkinhead
1988
(16th)Robert Zemeckis*Who Framed Roger Rabbit*
Tim BurtonBeetlejuice
Renny HarlinA Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master
Anthony HickoxWaxwork
Penny MarshallBig
Charles MatthauDoin' Time on Planet Earth
1989/90
(17th)James Cameron*The Abyss*
Clive BarkerNightbreed
Joe DanteGremlins 2: The New Batch
Alejandro JodorowskySanta Sangre
Frank MarshallArachnophobia
Sam RaimiDarkman
Paul VerhoevenTotal Recall
Robert ZemeckisBack to the Future Part III
Jerry ZuckerGhost

1990s

YearDirectorFilm
1991
(18th)James Cameron*Terminator 2: Judgment Day*
Roger CormanFrankenstein Unbound
William DearIf Looks Could Kill
Jonathan DemmeThe Silence of the Lambs
Terry GilliamThe Fisher King
Eric RedBody Parts
1992
(19th)Francis Ford Coppola*Bram Stoker's Dracula*
Tim BurtonBatman Returns
David FincherAlien 3
William FriedkinRampage
Randal KleiserHoney, I Blew Up the Kid
Paul VerhoevenBasic Instinct
Robert ZemeckisDeath Becomes Her
1993
(20th)Steven Spielberg*Jurassic Park*
John McTiernanLast Action Hero
Harold RamisGroundhog Day
George A. RomeroThe Dark Half
Henry SelickThe Nightmare Before Christmas
Ron UnderwoodHeart and Souls
John WooHard Target
1994
(21st)James Cameron*True Lies*
William DearAngels in the Outfield
Jan de BontSpeed
Neil JordanInterview with the Vampire
Alex ProyasThe Crow
Robert ZemeckisForrest Gump
1995
(22nd)Kathryn Bigelow*Strange Days*
David FincherSeven
Terry Gilliam12 Monkeys
Joe JohnstonJumanji
Frank MarshallCongo
Robert RodriguezFrom Dusk till Dawn
Bryan SingerThe Usual Suspects
1996
(23rd)Roland Emmerich*Independence Day*
Tim BurtonMars Attacks!
Joel CoenFargo
Wes CravenScream
Jonathan FrakesStar Trek: First Contact
Peter JacksonThe Frighteners
1997
(24th)John Woo*Face/Off*
Jean-Pierre JeunetAlien: Resurrection
Barry SonnenfeldMen in Black
Steven SpielbergThe Lost World: Jurassic Park
Paul VerhoevenStarship Troopers
Robert ZemeckisContact
1998
(25th)Michael Bay*Armageddon*
Rob BowmanThe X-Files
Roland EmmerichGodzilla
Alex ProyasDark City
Bryan SingerApt Pupil
Peter WeirThe Truman Show
1999
(26th)The Wachowskis*The Matrix*
Tim BurtonSleepy Hollow
Frank DarabontThe Green Mile
George LucasStar Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace
Dean ParisotGalaxy Quest
Stephen SommersThe Mummy

2000s

YearDirectorFilm
2000
(27th)Bryan Singer*X-Men*
Clint EastwoodSpace Cowboys
Ron HowardHow the Grinch Stole Christmas
Ang LeeCrouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
Ridley ScottGladiator
Robert ZemeckisWhat Lies Beneath
2001
(28th)Peter Jackson*The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring*
Alejandro AmenábarThe Others
Chris ColumbusHarry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
Christophe GansBrotherhood of the Wolf
David LynchMulholland Drive
Steven SpielbergA.I. Artificial Intelligence
2002
(29th)Steven Spielberg*Minority Report*
Chris ColumbusHarry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Peter JacksonThe Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
George LucasStar Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones
Bill PaxtonFrailty
Sam RaimiSpider-Man
2003
(30th)Peter Jackson*The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King*
Danny Boyle28 Days Later
Bryan SingerX2
Quentin TarantinoKill Bill: Volume 1
Gore VerbinskiPirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
Edward ZwickThe Last Samurai
2004
(31st)Sam Raimi*Spider-Man 2*
Alfonso CuarónHarry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Michel GondryEternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Michael MannCollateral
Quentin TarantinoKill Bill: Volume 2
Zhang YimouHouse of Flying Daggers
2005
(32nd)Peter Jackson*King Kong*
Andrew AdamsonThe Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
George LucasStar Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith
Mike NewellHarry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Christopher NolanBatman Begins
Steven SpielbergWar of the Worlds
2006
(33rd)Bryan Singer*Superman Returns*
J. J. AbramsMission: Impossible III
Alfonso CuarónChildren of Men
Guillermo del ToroPan's Labyrinth
Mel GibsonApocalypto
Tom TykwerPerfume: The Story of a Murderer
2007
(34th)Zack Snyder*300*
Tim BurtonSweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Frank DarabontThe Mist
Paul GreengrassThe Bourne Ultimatum
Sam RaimiSpider-Man 3
David YatesHarry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
2008
(35th)Jon Favreau*Iron Man*
Clint EastwoodChangeling
David FincherThe Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Christopher NolanThe Dark Knight
Bryan SingerValkyrie
Steven SpielbergIndiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
Andrew StantonWALL-E
2009
(36th)James Cameron*Avatar*
J. J. AbramsStar Trek
Kathryn BigelowThe Hurt Locker
Neill BlomkampDistrict 9
Guy RitchieSherlock Holmes
Zack SnyderWatchmen
Quentin TarantinoInglourious Basterds

2010s

YearDirectorFilm
2010
(37th)Christopher Nolan*Inception*
Darren AronofskyBlack Swan
Clint EastwoodHereafter
Matt ReevesLet Me In
Martin ScorseseShutter Island
David YatesHarry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1
2011
(38th)J. J. Abrams*Super 8*
Brad BirdMission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol
Martin ScorseseHugo
Steven SpielbergThe Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn
Rupert WyattRise of the Planet of the Apes
David YatesHarry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2
2012
(39th)Joss Whedon*The Avengers*
William FriedkinKiller Joe
Peter JacksonThe Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
Rian JohnsonLooper
Ang LeeLife of Pi
Christopher NolanThe Dark Knight Rises
2013
(40th)Alfonso Cuarón*Gravity*
J. J. AbramsStar Trek Into Darkness
Peter BergLone Survivor
Guillermo del ToroPacific Rim
Peter JacksonThe Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
Francis LawrenceThe Hunger Games: Catching Fire
2014
(41st)James Gunn*Guardians of the Galaxy*
Alejandro G. IñárrituBirdman
Doug LimanEdge of Tomorrow
Christopher NolanInterstellar
Matt ReevesDawn of the Planet of the Apes
Anthony and Joe RussoCaptain America: The Winter Soldier
Bryan SingerX-Men: Days of Future Past
2015
(42nd)Ridley Scott*The Martian*
J. J. AbramsStar Wars: The Force Awakens
Guillermo del ToroCrimson Peak
Alex GarlandEx Machina
George MillerMad Max: Fury Road
Peyton ReedAnt-Man
Colin TrevorrowJurassic World
2016
(43rd)Gareth Edwards*Rogue One: A Star Wars Story*
Scott DerricksonDoctor Strange
Jon FavreauThe Jungle Book
Anthony and Joe RussoCaptain America: Civil War
Bryan SingerX-Men: Apocalypse
Steven SpielbergThe BFG
Denis VilleneuveArrival
2017
(44th)Ryan Coogler*Black Panther*
Guillermo del ToroThe Shape of Water
Patty JenkinsWonder Woman
Rian JohnsonStar Wars: The Last Jedi
Jordan PeeleGet Out
Matt ReevesWar for the Planet of the Apes
Denis VilleneuveBlade Runner 2049
2018
(45th)Jordan Peele*Us*
Anna Boden and Ryan FleckCaptain Marvel
Karyn KusamaDestroyer
Guy RitchieAladdin
Anthony and Joe RussoAvengers: Endgame
Steven SpielbergReady Player One
James WanAquaman
Zhang YimouShadow
2019/2020
(46th)J. J. Abrams*Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker*
Niki CaroMulan
Mike FlanaganDoctor Sleep
Christopher NolanTenet
Gina Prince-BythewoodThe Old Guard
Quentin TarantinoOnce Upon a Time in Hollywood
Leigh WhannellThe Invisible Man

2020s

YearDirectorFilm
2021/2022
(50th)Matt Reeves*The Batman*
Guillermo del ToroNightmare Alley
Joseph KosinskiTop Gun: Maverick
Jordan PeeleNope
S. S. RajamouliRRR
Steven SpielbergWest Side Story
Jon WattsSpider-Man: No Way Home
2022/2023
(51st)James Cameron*Avatar: The Way of Water*
Greta GerwigBarbie
James GunnGuardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
James MangoldIndiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny
Mark MylodThe Menu
Christopher NolanOppenheimer
Danny and Michael PhilippouTalk to Me
2023/2024
(52nd)Denis Villeneuve*Dune: Part Two*
Fede ÁlvarezAlien: Romulus
Wes BallKingdom of the Planet of the Apes
Tim BurtonBeetlejuice Beetlejuice
Shawn LevyDeadpool & Wolverine
JT MollnerStrange Darling
Takashi YamazakiGodzilla: Minus One
2024/2025
(53rd)James CameronAvatar: Fire and Ash
Ryan CooglerSinners
Guillermo del ToroFrankenstein
James GunnSuperman
Christopher McQuarrieMission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning
Matt ShakmanThe Fantastic Four: First Steps
Dan TrachtenbergPredator: Badlands

Multiple nominations

;14 nominations

  • Steven Spielberg

;8 nominations

  • James Cameron
  • Bryan Singer

;7 nominations

  • Peter Jackson
  • Christopher Nolan
  • Robert Zemeckis

;6 nominations

  • J. J. Abrams
  • Tim Burton
  • Guillermo del Toro

;4 nominations

  • George Lucas
  • Sam Raimi
  • Matt Reeves
  • Ridley Scott
  • Quentin Tarantino
  • Paul Verhoeven ;3 nominations
  • John Badham
  • Kathryn Bigelow
  • Alfonso Cuarón
  • Joe Dante
  • William Dear
  • Clint Eastwood
  • David Fincher
  • Terry Gilliam
  • James Gunn
  • Ron Howard
  • George Miller
  • Jordan Peele
  • Anthony and Joe Russo
  • Denis Villeneuve
  • David Yates ;2 nominations
  • Woody Allen
  • Chris Columbus
  • Ryan Coogler
  • David Cronenberg
  • Frank Darabont
  • Roland Emmerich
  • Jon Favreau
  • William Friedkin
  • Rian Johnson
  • Randal Kleiser
  • Ang Lee
  • Frank Marshall
  • Nicholas Meyer
  • Leonard Nimoy
  • Alex Proyas
  • Guy Ritchie
  • Martin Scorsese
  • Zack Snyder
  • Peter Weir
  • John Woo
  • Zhang Yimou

Multiple wins

;6 wins

  • James Cameron

;4 wins

  • Steven Spielberg ;3 wins
  • Peter Jackson

;2 wins

  • J. J. Abrams
  • Ridley Scott
  • Bryan Singer

References

References

  1. "1975 Saturn Awards". [[The Internet Movie Database]].
  2. Black, John. "And The Saturn Award Goes to ...".
  3. (June 28, 2018). "'Black Panther' Tops 44th Saturn Awards With Five; 'Blade Runner 2049' , 'Shape Of Water', 'Get Out' Also Score".
  4. Long, Christian. (September 13, 2019). "Marvel, Disney win big at the 45th annual Saturn Awards".
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