Top 10 Director Cameos In Their Own Movies

Directing a movie is no easy feat, which is why some directors make cameos in their movies from time to time. A well deserved moment in the spotlight amongst the star actors and actresses is both a reward for their hard work and a bit of fun for avid movie watchers.

Directors have done this for years with some of the earliest cameos from 40s flicks like Treasure of the Sierra Madre. With that, here are Top 10 Director Cameos In Their Own Movies.

10 George Lucas, Revenge Of The Sith

Goerge Lucas is a relatively shy person whose reserved nature made the directing process of A New Hope a struggle for actors like Harrison Ford. However, he finally came out of his shell by making an appearance as Baron Papanoida in Revenge of the Sith.

Look to the bottom left of the screen as Anakin runs to the entrance of the opera house to meet Palpatine, and you’ll see him standing there alongside his date for the night.

9 Martin Scorsese, Taxi Driver

Scorsese is known for working with his favorite actors for his crime dramas, most notably Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, and Joe Pesci. In Taxi Driver, Scorsese makes a rather creepy cameo as a homicidal husband who watches his wife from the seat in Travis’s taxi.

The scene is unnerving, especially considering the already abnormal behavior from Travis, Scorsese took it up a notch with his creepy monologue revealing his innermost desires.

8 Quentin Tarantino, Pulp Fiction

Pulp Fiction is a cult classic, loved by fans of Tarantino’s style and genre of filmmaking. His cameos are even better, though, playing characters that have a prominent role in the movie. When Vincent and Jules need a place to hide a body, they call their friend Jimmy who is played by none other than the director himself, Quentin Tarantino. Needless to say, Jimmy wasn’t too happy with the body, but at least he makes a great cup of coffee.

7 Peter Jackson, Lord of the Rings

The Lord of the Rings is one of the most ambitious movie trilogies ever made, with daring CGI, stunts, and sets that still shock audiences with excitement today. The man behind it all, well the camera that is, made a quick appearance in both The Lord of the Rings trilogy and The Hobbit.

However, this list will highlight his original debut, found in Fellowship of the Rings as a drunken man with a carrot. The scene moves quickly as Frodo and co. make their way to the Prancing Pony inn, but avid fans can spot him if you look close enough.

6 Taikika Waitti, Thor: Ragnorok

The third entry of the Thor trilogy took the series in a new direction with the help of director Taika Waitti. His work was praised by fans and critics alike, with most laughing at the cameo by the director himself. The lovable character Korg is voiced by none other than Taika Waitii himself, sporting a kiwi accent for the externally rock-plated character. Waitti is an exception on this list considering we don’t see the director himself but rather only hear his voice. Nonetheless, the cameo was hilarious and a touch of fun.

5 Alfred Hitchcock. North by Northwest

The master of the horror genre, Alfred Hitchcock makes a comical appearance in his movie starring Cary Grant, North By Northwest. At the beginning of the movie, while the title credits roll, you can see Hitchcock attempting to board a bus only to have the door slammed in his face.

Blink and you’ll miss it, the scene is hilarious considering the chaotic traffic of the city and Hitchcock trying to make sure he isn’t late for work.

4 Francis Ford-Coppola, Apocalypse Now

Copolla’s cameo is rather fitting, playing a TV director of a camera crew. You can hear him shouting to Martin Sheen to not look at the camera, wanting nothing more than raw footage of the grueling Vietnam War. This is one of the most clever cameos considering Copolla is playing himself rather than a character. Though, it’s possible to argue Copolla is the embodiment of wartime propaganda, which is an underlying theme of Apocalypse Now.

3 Roman Polanski, Chinatown

Chinatown is often regarded as the best screenplay of all time, a darker take on the already dark genre, noir. Director Roman Polanski makes a quick cameo as the man with the knife who cuts Jake Gittes. Look for the man in the light-colored suit, and that’s your guy.

The scene is short but it’s still a fun cameo considering the amount of praise the movie received upon release.

2 M. Night Shyamalan, Signs

The king of plot twists often makes an appearance in his alien invasion thriller, Signs. As the frightened local Ray, he traps one of the aliens in his kitchen before apologizing once more to Graham for the death of his wife. Turns out M. Night Symalaysn is just as good as an actor as he is a director, playing an integral role and delivering a great performance.

1 Wes Craven, Scream

The director behind the classic horror genre makes one of the most hilarious cameos in cinema history. As the director of the Freddy Kreuger series, Craven makes an appearance as a janitor sporting the iconic red and green sweater in Scream.

It’s a quick scene, with Craven looking the part but hilarious all the same considering his legendary status in Hollywood.

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