Sam Raimi
Before achieving widespread success as a director with the Spider-Man trilogy released in 2002, 2004, and 2007, as well as Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness in 2022, Sam Raimi was already well-known for his work in the horror genre and for his unique style that blends suspense with dark humor.
Raimi’s notable contributions to this genre include: The Evil Dead (1981) and its sequel (1987), and Blade (1998). Additionally, he produced several other well-known horror films, such as Don’t Breathe (2016), Crawl (2019), and The Grudge (2020).
Tim Burton
The name Tim Burton evokes memories of quirky, gothic horror films such as Sleepy Hollow (1999), Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007), and Dark Shadows (2012).
Burton is also known for creating the iconic Batman film starring Michael Keaton in the two acclaimed films Batman (1989) and Batman Returns (1992). The first film reimagines the origin story of Bruce Wayne, tracing his journey from childhood trauma to his emergence as the Dark Knight. The sequel, Batman Returns, delves into the complex relationship between Batman and Catwoman.
Zack Snyder
Zack Snyder is synonymous with the DC Extended Universe (DCEU), known for his superhero films such as Man of Steel (2013), Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016), and Zack Snyder’s Justice League (2021).
However, Snyder’s roots lie in the horror genre, having directed the zombie film Dawn of the Dead (2004). In 2021, he also gained attention for collaborating with Netflix to produce the zombie heist film Army of the Dead.
James Wan
James Wan is often referred to as the king of horror, known as the “father” of jump-scare horror films. His filmography includes acclaimed horror works such as Saw (2004), Dead Silence (2007), and the Insidious series (2007), as well as the first two installments of The Conjuring franchise.
Transitioning to the superhero genre, James Wan directed Aquaman: The Lost Kingdom, which is part of the DC Extended Universe. The sequel, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, is set to be released in late 2023, with Wan returning as director.
David Sandberg
David Sandberg is a Swedish filmmaker known for his work in the horror genre, having directed four notable films in his career. Two of these are horror films: Lights Out (2016) and Annabelle: Creation (2017). The other two are superhero films: Shazam! (2019) and Shazam! Fury of the Gods (2021), both of which received positive reception and audience appreciation.
Andy Muschietti
Andy Muschietti is an Argentine filmmaker noted for his impressive career in the film industry. His talent earned him accolades in the horror genre, particularly after the release of the short film Mama, which was later adapted into a feature film in 2013. Muschietti gained widespread recognition for directing It (2017), based on Stephen King’s novel, which became one of the highest-grossing horror films of all time.
Shifting towards the superhero genre, Muschietti is set to direct The Flash, which will be released to audiences on June 16, 2023.
