The 15 top-earning movie directors of all time at the US box office

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1. Steven Spielberg — Total gross: $4.445 billion

1. Steven Spielberg — Total gross: $4.445 billion

Number of movies: 31

Average gross: $143.4 million

Highest-grossing film: "E.T." ($435.1 million)

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2. Michael Bay — Total gross: $2.325 billion

2. Michael Bay — Total gross: $2.325 billion

Number of movies: 12

Average gross: $177.9 million

Highest-grossing film: "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" ($402.1 million)

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3. Peter Jackson — Total gross: $2.134 billion

3. Peter Jackson — Total gross: $2.134 billion

Number of movies: 12

Average gross: $177.9 million

Highest-grossing film: "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King" ($377.8 million)

4. Robert Zemeckis — Total gross: $2.091 billion

4. Robert Zemeckis — Total gross: $2.091 billion

Number of movies: 18

Average gross: $116.2 million

Highest-grossing film: "Forrest Gump" ($423.3 million)

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5. James Cameron — Total gross: $1.974 billion

5. James Cameron — Total gross: $1.974 billion

Number of movies: 9

Average gross: $219.4 million

Highest-grossing film: "Avatar" ($760.5 million)

6. Christopher Nolan — Total gross: $1.955 billion

6. Christopher Nolan — Total gross: $1.955 billion

Number of movies: 11

Average gross: $177.7 million

Highest-grossing film: "The Dark Knight" ($534.9 million)

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7. Ron Howard — Total gross: $1.896 billion

7. Ron Howard — Total gross: $1.896 billion

Number of movies: 24

Average gross: $79 million

Highest-grossing film: "The Grinch" ($260 million)

8. Tim Burton — Total gross: $1.840 billion

8. Tim Burton — Total gross: $1.840 billion

Number of movies: 18

Average gross: $102.2 million

Highest-grossing film: "Alice in Wonderland" ($334.2 million)

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9. Clint Eastwood — Total gross: $1.816 billion

9. Clint Eastwood — Total gross: $1.816 billion

Number of movies: 34

Average gross: $53.4 million

Highest-grossing film: "American Sniper" ($350.1 million)

10. Chris Columbus — Total gross: $1.750 billion

10. Chris Columbus — Total gross: $1.750 billion

Number of movies: 15

Average gross: $116.7 million

Highest-grossing film: "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" ($317.6 million)

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11. George Lucas — Total gross: $1.743 billion

11. George Lucas — Total gross: $1.743 billion

Number of movies: 6

Average gross: $290.7 million

Highest-grossing film: "Star Wars: The Phantom Menace" ($423.3 million)

12. J.J. Abrams — Total gross: $1.684 billion

12. J.J. Abrams — Total gross: $1.684 billion

Number of movies: 5

Average gross: $336.8 million

Highest-grossing film: "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" ($936.7 million)

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13. Ridley Scott — Total gross: $1.635 billion

13. Ridley Scott — Total gross: $1.635 billion

Number of movies: 23

Average gross: $152.9 million

Highest-grossing film: "The Martian" ($423.3 million)

14. David Yates — Total gross: $1.631 billion

14. David Yates — Total gross: $1.631 billion

Number of movies: 6

Average gross: $271.9 million

Highest-grossing film: "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows: Part 2" ($381 million)

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15. Gore Verbinski — Total gross: $1.529 billion

15. Gore Verbinski — Total gross: $1.529 billion

Number of movies: 10

Average gross: $152.9 million

Highest-grossing film: "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest" ($423.3 million)