7. Francis Ford Coppola for The Godfather
The Godfather continues to comfortably reside in the conversations about the best films ever made. Many of the film’s scenes are incredibly iconic and continue to receive homages in modern media. The film won Best Picture, Best Screenplay, and Best Actor. Somehow, Francis Ford Coppola was passed over in favor of Bob Fosse who directed Cabaret. It’s almost unheard of for films to win the “big three” awards and not take home Best Director as well, and it’s particularly hard to fathom with such a beautifully directed film.