David Fincher is an American film director. Widely regarded as one of the preeminent directors of his generation, his films have collectively grossed over $2.1 billion worldwide and received numerous accolades, including three nominations for the Academy Award for Best Director. He has also received four Primetime Emmy Awards, two Grammy Awards, a BAFTA Award, and a Golden Globe. His films Zodiac and The Social Network are ranked in BBC's 2016 poll of the greatest motion pictures since 2000.
Fincher started his career directing music videos before transitioning his career in film becoming known for making stylish thrillers and neo-noirs. He made his feature-length directorial debut with the science fiction horror film Alien 3, the third film in the Alien film franchise, for which he was nominated for the Saturn Award for Best Director. He established himself as director of acclaimed mystery thriller neo-noirs films with Se7en (1995), The Game (1997), Fight Club (1999), Panic Room (2002), and Zodiac (2007), the later of which earned him nominations for the Chicago Film Critics Association for Best Director. The film also competed for the Palme d'Or at the 2007 Cannes Film Festival.
He earned attention for directing the romantic fantasy drama The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008) for which he was nominated for his first Academy Award for Best Director along with the British Academy Film Award, the Directors Guild of America, Critics' Choice Movie Award and Golden Globe Award for Best Director. He gained widespread critical acclaim when he directed the biographical drama The Social Network (2010) for which he won the BAFTA Award, the Golden Globe Award, and Critics' Choice Award with his second nomination for the Academy Award for Best Director. With psychological thriller The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011) he was nominated for the Directors Guild Award, and the thriller Gone Girl (2014) he was nominated for the Golden Globe Award. He earned his third Academy Award for Best Director with the Netflix drama Mank (2020).
On television, he was instrumental in the creation of Netflix political drama series House of Cards (2013âÂÂ2018). He won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series for "Chapter 1" of House of Cards at the 65th Primetime Emmy Awards. He was nominated for five Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Drama Series and two British Academy Television Awards for Best International Programme. For the Netflix animated series Love, Death & Robots (2019âÂÂ), he won three Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Short Form Animated Program.
Also known for his work on music videos, he won two Grammy Awards for Best Music Video for "Love Is Strong" (1995) by The Rolling Stones at the 37th Annual Grammy Awards and "Suit & Tie" (2014) by Justin Timberlake featuring Jay-Z at the 56th Annual Grammy Awards. He was Grammy-nominated for "Oh Father" (1991) by Madonna at the 33rd Annual Grammy Awards. He also won three MTV Video Music Awards for Best Direction for "Express Yourself" in 1989 and "Vogue" in 1991 both by Madonna as well as and "Suit & Tie" by Justin Timberlake feat. Jay Z in 2013.
Under Fincher's direction, these actors have received Academy Award nominations for their performances in the respective roles.