On a film set, it is never easy to handle multiple roles. It takes talent, experience, and determination to act as both the director and actor on set. With that said, we do see actors take on the challenge frequently such as Ben Affleck and Woody Allen. It allows a lot of creative control and, in many cases, it can result in a very effective film. We see this happened with many passion projects that are reflections of the filmmaker’s life. Sometimes, actors, such as Affleck, gain so much experience on set that directing comes naturally. Filmmakers like Quentin Tarantino like to direct films that were only written by themselves. Regardless, it takes a great talent to juggle multiple positions.

An actor requires direction regardless of their talent. This raises another great challenge on the film set. Sometimes, filmmakers will have a guest director pop in for the scenes in which they have to act. No matter what, it takes sheer precision to carry out all of these roles. Sometimes, actors turned filmmakers direct their own scripts, and it plays out quite nice. When Billy Bob Thornton wrote, directed, and starred in Sling Blade, it skyrocketed his career and he was even nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor. Let’s dive into the best films written, directed, and starring the same person.

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8 Buffalo ‘66

     Cinépix Film Properties

Although Vincent Gallo is quite a controversial figure in Hollywood, he absolutely delivered the goods with his feature film Buffalo ‘66. He also gave a fantastic performance as Billy Brown and had great on-screen chemistry with his co-star Christina Ricci. It is a very artistic film and an interesting take on a love story. Gallo was also involved in the soundtrack. The film features great supporting performances from Mickey Rourke, Rosanna Arguette, Anjelica Huston and more.

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7 The Town

     Warner Bros.

Ben Affleck proved with The Town that he can absolutely make a terrific film. The Boston heist movie is filled with action, interesting characters, and a great story. At the same time, you see Affleck’s deep ties to his hometown of Boston. Affleck also gives a very solid performance as a bank robber with a heart. Affleck is powerhouse filmmaker, and The Town was undoubtedly a terrific heist film.

6 Garden State

     Camelot Pictures

Garden State was Zach Braff’s directorial debut, and it still holds up to this day. He had a unique vision, and he made a solid love story to his home state of New Jersey. The movie follows his personal journey back home while he falls in love with a very quirky girl, played by Natalie Portman. It was a solid directorial debut with an absolutely fantastic soundtrack.

5 Made

     Artisan Entertainment

Jon Favreau is one of the most prominent filmmakers in Hollywood. His directorial debut was Made, which he also wrote and starred in. The story follows friends in the world of boxing who get roped into organized crime. It was no surprise that Favreau’s long-time friend and collaborator, Vince Vaughn, also starred in the film. The movie is a great blend of comedy and drama, and it proved Favreau’s capabilities as a filmmaker.

4 Life is Beautiful

     Melampo Cinematografica

Roberto Benigni’s passion project Life is Beautiful tells a story of a father who shields his son from the dread of a concentration camp by convincing him that it is a fun game. It is a controversial premise, but the film, as a whole, is brilliant. Benigni is an unstoppable force from beginning to end, and he took home the Oscar for Best Actor. The film also won the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film.

3 Sling Blade

     Miramax Films

Billy Bob Thornton adapted Sling Blade from his short film, and it launched him into superstar status. Thornton is completely unrecognizable as a Karl Childers, a mentally handicapped man who is released into society after spending 20 years in a mental hospital for a murder. Thornton gives possibly the greatest performance of his career, and the script is brilliant and full of heart. Sling Blade won the Oscar for Best Writing.

2 Annie Hall

     Rollins-Joffe Production

Woody Allen’s Annie Hall is a classic film that is considered one of the best of all time. The film follows a stand-up comedian who reflects on his life and relationships with the titular Annie Hall (Diane Keaton). The chemistry between the two is some of the best to ever hit the screen. Allen gave it his all with this film, and the screenplay was absolutely brilliant.

1 Easy Rider

     Columbia Pictures

Dennis Hopper’s Easy Rider was a highly innovative film that took cinema to new boundaries. Hopper and Peter Fonda play two motorcycle riders on a quest to freedom, leaving the constraints of society behind them. There is great dialogue, interesting editing, and fantastic music throughout. It is a classic film that is still talked about today, and it also features a stellar performance from Jack Nicholson.