Director, Direct Thy Self
Some actors become directors—and very good ones at that. Usually though, the men and women behind the camera stay behind the camera. But sometimes they don't. These are some of the best times a director has decided to, for a quick moment, step in front of the camera in their own movie and call "action" and "cut" on themselves. How many did you notice? (And yes, there are a lot more than just Alfred Hitchcock).
Alfred Hitchcock (Strangers On A Train)
We mentioned him in the intro so we might as well start with the OG of director-cameos-in-their-own-films...Alfred Hitchcock. The great director appeared for a moment in 40 of his films—and the one we decided to mention here was 1951's Strangers on a Train. And we chose this one because Hitchcock actually shows up twice.
The first time we see him is on the cover of the book Farley Granger is reading. And about eight minutes later in the movie, Hitchcock can be seen with a double bass, boarding a train as Granger disembarks in his hometown.
Warner Bros., Strangers on a Train (1951)
John Hughes (The Breakfast Club)
Hughes plays Brian's ("The Brain") dad—who picks up his son in the car at the end of detention.
Universal, The Breakfast Club (1985)
John Hughes (Ferris Bueller's Day Off)
Hughes was a "Man running between cabs" in that one.
Paramount, Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986)
Zack Snyder (Justice League)
Turns out Zack Snyder's director's cut of his Justice League movie isn't just all Snyder did behind the scenes. The director can also be seen—albeit briefly—on camera as a customer sitting by the window in a coffee shop.
Warner Bros., Justice League (2017)
Steven Spielberg (Jaws)
Spielberg can be heard in Jaws as the Amity Point lifestation worker who calls Quint's boat.
Steven Spielberg (Indiana Jones And The Temple Of Doom)
Look out for Spielberg as a "Tourist at Airport" in this one.
Lucasfilm, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984)
Steven Spielberg (The Lost World: Jurassic Park)
In his Jurassic Park sequel, Spielberg is credited as "Man Eating Popcorn".
Universal, The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997)
Emerald Fennell (Promising Young Woman)
Promising young director Emerald Fennell played a Video Tutorial Host giving makeup tips in her directorial debut, Promising Young Woman.
Focus Features, Promising Young Woman (2020)
George Lucas (Star Wars: Episode III — Revenge Of The Sith)
Don't be surprised if you missed this one. Lucas was in a lot of makeup as a Pantoran man named Baron Notluwiski Papanoida standing outside the opera.
Lucasfilm, Star Wars: Episode III — Revenge of the Sith (2005)
Tim Burton (Pee-wee’s Big Adventure)
Burton plays a thug in an alley in his feature film directorial debut.
Warner Bros., Pee-wee’s Big Adventure (1985)
Peter Jackson (The Lord Of The Rings: The Fellowship Of The Ring)
Jackson showed up in all three of his LoTR movies, Starting with "Albert Dreary eating carrot" in The Fellowship of the Ring.
New Line Cinema, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
Peter Jackson (The Lord Of The Rings: The Two Towers)
In the second film, Jackson was a "Rohan warrior throwing spear at the gate of Helms Deep".
New Line Cinema, The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)
Peter Jackson (The Lord Of The Rings: The Return Of The King)
And in The Return of the King, Jackson was credited as "Pirate being shot by Legolas at Umbar".
New Line Cinema, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
Jon Favreau (Elf)
Favreau shows up twice in Elf: once giving Buddy a paternity test as Dr Ben and also as the voice of Mr Narwhal.
Taika Waititi (Thor: Ragnarok)
Waititi got all CGI'd to play Korg in Thor: Ragnarok.
Martin Scorsese (Who's That Knocking At My Door)
In his feature film directorial debut, Scorsese cast himself as "Thug #2".
Trimod Films, Who's That Knocking at My Door (1967)
Martin Scorsese (Boxcar Bertha)
In his next film, Boxcar Bertha, Scorsese has an uncredited cameo as a "Brothel Customer".
American International Pictures (AIP), Boxcar Bertha (1972)
Martin Scorsese (The Color Of Money)
Scorsese makes cameo appearances in many of his films, but the last one we will mention here is The Color of Money—in which he has three uncredited cameos: "Opening Narrator", "Man Playing Pool", and "Man Walking Dog".
Touchstone, The Color of Money (1986)
Richard Curtis (Love Actually)
You know the guys playing the trombone in the opening wedding scene in Love Actually? Well, one of those guys is Richard Curtis.
Universal, Love Actually (2003)
Jennifer Lee (Frozen)
Lee wrote and co-directed the animated blockbuster. She was also the voice of Anna and Elsa's mother, Queen Iduna.
Quentin Tarantino (Jackie Brown)
Quentin Tarantino is unquestionably one of the greatest directors of all time. But he is also one of the worst actors. Although that hasn't stopped him from casting himself in a bunch of his movies. Many of which, although small roles, are bigger than what could be called a "cameo".
But in Jackie Brown, he limited his screen time to just his voice on an answering machine.
Quentin Tarantino (Kill Bill: Volume 1)
Tarantino was a member of The Crazy 88.
Quentin Tarantino (Inglourious Basterds)
Tarantino gets scalped in Inglourious Basterds.
Universal, Inglourious Basterds (2009)
Chris Columbus (Home Alone 2: Lost In New York)
Columbus has an uncredited role as "Man in Toy Store" in his Home Alone sequel.
Twentieth Century, Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992)
M Night Shyamalan (The Sixth Sense)
Often when we talk about an M Night Shyamalan movie, we have to preface it with "spoiler alert"—but not this time. We can tell you, without giving anything away, that Shyamalan plays Dr Hill in The Sixth Sense.
Hollywood Pictures, The Sixth Sense (1999)
David Lynch (Dune)
Lynch was seen briefly as a spice worker in the film.
Dino De Laurentiis Company, Dune (1984)
Francis Ford Coppola (Apocalypse Now)
Coppola played the director of a television crew in Apocalypse Now.
Zoetrope Studios, Apocalypse Now (1979)
Michael Bay (Armageddon)
Bay was a "NASA extra" in Armageddon.
Michael Bay (Bad Boys II)
We don't know if Bay is a good driver in real life, but in his Bad Boys sequel, he played a "Crappy Car Driver".
Wes Craven (Scream)
Craven had uncredited cameos in all four of the Scream films he directed—starting with "Fred The Janitor" in the first one.
Dimension Films, Scream (1996)
Wes Craven (Scream 2)
He was a "Doctor" in the second film.
Dimension Films, Scream 2 (1997)
Wes Craven (Scream 3)
Remember the "Man with Video Camera on Studio Tour" in the third film? That was Craven.
Dimension Films, Scream 3 (2000)
Wes Craven (Scream 4)
If you don't remember seeing Craven in Scream 4, that could be because his cameo as "Coroner" can only be found in a deleted scene.
Dimension Films, Scream 4 (2011)
David Zucker And Jerry Zucker (Airplane!)
David Zucker And Jerry Zucker (two of the three Airplane! co-directors) appear as airport ground crew at the beginning of the movie.
James Cameron (Titanic)
It has been reported that Cameron makes upwards of 12 very brief cameo appearances in his epic film—including a scene in which he shouts, "All ahead full" and with a gray beard at the below decks party.
It is also Cameron's hands we see—not Leonardo DiCaprio's—during the scene in which Jack is drawing Rose.
