Best Directoral Debut Ever?

Sidney Lumet 12 Angry Men (1957)

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You have to think like a hero merely to behave like a decent human being.

I won't call it the "best ever", but Rian Johnson's Brick was a pretty stellar way to kick off a career.

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For Me : Breathless, Jean-Luc Godard

Nightcrawler by Dan Gilroy

Full Length Film? Antiviral ~ Brandon Cronenberg.

Donnie Darko was particularly good. I was surprised at how much I liked it, as I usually don't even understand such movies.

I'm the first to say Blomkamp, so that's cool. Gilroy and Mendes are also great picks.

Tekkonkinkreet is my 2nd favourite movie and its Michael Arias' only film.

John Michael McDonagh - The Guard

You mean Memento? It was not a directorial debut! Nolan started with Following!

Yes.. "Following" was Nolan's University flick.. and its released on Criterion DVD

One of my other favorites is "Cronos"... del Torro's University film

"THX1138" which was Lucas'.

Reservoir Dogs
12 Angry Men
American History X
Citizen Kane
Pi
The 400 Blows
Lock, Stock and 2 Smoking Barrels
Amores Perros
Airplane

More recently, Whiplash.

It sucks Jake Gyllenhaaldidnt get nominated for an Oscar with that movie.

Me. Directing my sister's cat not to claw at people.

Mary & Max

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"Gentlemen, you can't fight in here. This is the war room."

What did Mary and Max direct?

They directed this little film called "Adam Elliot".