Actresses turned directors

    A new wave of women is reshaping cinema—both in front of and behind the camera. This list highlights actresses who became directors, showing how stars like Greta Gerwig, Scarlett Johansson, Angelina Jolie, and others are redefining authorship and creative control in filmmaking. These actress-directors bring personal, political, and poetic perspectives to the screen, expanding the narratives we see and who gets to tell them. Discover their journeys and explore where to stream their most powerful films.

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    Two to One

    Two to One

    6.1/10
    1h56min
    NR
    2024
    Comedy

    Best known for her haunting performance in Christiane F., Natja Brunckhorst has reinvented herself as a sharp and sensitive filmmaker. In Two for One (Zwei zu eins, 2024), she crafts a dramedy about three former GDR workers plotting to rob an abandoned mine in post-reunification . With wit, warmth, and political nuance, Brunckhorst captures the absurdities of a shifting nation. It’s her second feature after Alles in bester Ordnung (2021), showcasing her strong voice in German cinema.

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    The Chronology of Water

    The Chronology of Water

    --/10
    1h30min
    NR
    2025
    Drama

    From Twilight rebel to indie icon in films like Spencer and Seberg, Kristen Stewart makes her directorial feature debut with The Chronology of Water, based on Lidia Yuknavitch’s memoir. Selected for Un Certain Regard at Cannes 2025, the film stars Imogen Poots and delves into sexuality, trauma, and artistic expression with raw lyricism. Stewart, who has previously directed short films and music videos, brings a bold, queer, and deeply personal vision to the screen.

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    Eleanor the Great

    Eleanor the Great

    --/10
    1h38min
    NR
    2025
    Drama
    Soon in theaters

    Scarlett began acting as a child in The Horse Whisperer and gained acclaim in Lost in Translation, Her, and as Black Widow in the MCU. In 2025, she debuts as a director with Eleanor the Great, a coming-of-age dramedy starring June Squibb. Premiering at Cannes (Un Certain Regard), the film signals Johansson’s long-standing ambition to shape stories creatively behind the camera.

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    The Innocents

    The Innocents

    7.3/10
    1h55min
    PG-13
    2016
    Drama
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    Apple TV (iTunes)

    Fontaine began as a dancer and actress before turning to writing and directing. Her films explore femininity, spirituality, and morality. In The Innocents, she portrays Polish nuns after WWII with striking humanity and historical depth.

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    Unicorn Store

    Unicorn Store

    5.6/10
    1h31min
    NR
    2019
    Comedy
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    Netflix

    Oscar winner for Room, Larson directs and stars in Unicorn Store (Netflix), a quirky tale about creativity and adulthood. Known for championing diversity in film, Larson’s directorial debut is whimsical yet personal.

     

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