Francis Ford Coppola

Francis Ford Coppola directed three of the most acclaimed films in American cinema: The Godfather, its sequel, and Apocalypse Now. The Godfather Part II became the first sequel to win Best Picture, while Apocalypse Now’s 238-minute cut remains a benchmark of war film ambition. Coppola’s achievement is faster than the average rival, with two Palme d’Ors and five Oscars in just seven years. He is 30% more awarded than #7, yet also risked $31 million of his own money to complete Apocalypse Now. No director on this list has sustained such critical dominance in a single decade.