William Friedkin

For sheer cinematic punch, it’s hard to equal the films of William Friedkin. In 1971, The French Connection was released to critical acclaim and won five Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director. Friedkin followed up with 1973’s The Exorcist, which was nominated for 10 Academy Awards including Best Picture and Best Director. Other films include Sorcerer (1977), To Live and Die in L.A. (1985), Rules of Engagement (2000), The Hunted (2003), Bug (2006), and Killer Joe (2011).