Todd Phillips

Todd Phillips holds a unique place in modern cinema for successfully bridging the gap between broad studio comedies and prestige dramas. His direction of Joker made history as the first R-rated film to cross the $1 billion mark at the global box office. He is one of the few directors to helm a franchise that grossed nearly $1 billion total with The Hangover trilogy before pivoting to win the top prize at the Venice Film Festival. His ability to extract award-winning performances from his casts, particularly Joaquin Phoenix, highlights his skill as a director of actors.