History CreatorThumbprint / LiveActionFilms

* Creator/JordanPeele has AnimalMotifs, which often overlaps into RuleOfSymbolism. All of his films thus far have a significant animal theme--this ranges from [[Film/GetOut deer]] to [[Film/{{Us}} rabbits]] to [[Film/{{Nope}} horses]].

* Creator/WesAnderson has a style so specific to him and him alone that ''WebVideo/HonestTrailers'' joked that he was essentially "his own genre." Hallmarks of a Wes Anderson film include, but are not limited to: Perfectly symmetrical shots where the camera is at a right angle to the action (facing it straight-on or in profile), a muted pastel color palette, a BittersweetEnding, and whip pans.

* Creator/MatthewBright uses lurid violence, {{Serial Killer}}s, strong profanity, and hard-edged satire seen in his films ''Film/{{Freeway}}'' and ''Film/{{Bundy}}''.

** It's not one of his movies until at least two parents meet [[WesternAnimation/{{Tarzan}} horrible]], ''[[WesternAnimation/SurfsUp horrible]]'' [[WesternAnimation/Frozen2013 deaths]].

* On that note, {{Gorn}}. This is seen a plentiful in ''The Passion Of The Christ'' and ''Apocalypto''.

** His favourite film is Film/KingKong1933, and he works references to it in his other movies.

* Creator/DuncanJones is apparently a big fan of the song "The One and Only" by Music/ChesneyHawkes.

* Creator/SpikeLee loves his [[InCameraEffects Dolly Shots.]] His very first use of it was in ''Film/{{School Daze|1988}}'' but it wasn't until ''Film/MoBetterBlues'' that we see the one that he is more renowned for.

* Creator/ChristopherNolan's films

** Every one of them is about a guilt-ridden male character's attempts to [[DarkAndTroubledPast atone for a past mistake or failing]], usually involving a woman who came to -- or ends up coming to -- a tragic end.

** Creator/ZackSnyder:

* Stephen Sommers ''loves'' scenes with people getting swallowed up by quicksand and the ilk (see ''Film/{{The Jungle Book|1994}}'', ''Film/{{The Mummy|1999}}'', ''Film/TheMummyReturns'' and the Sommers-produced ''Film/TheScorpionKing'').

* UsefulNotes/NewZealand film director Creator/TaikaWaititi incorporates an offbeat sense of humor (usually of the BlackComedy variety) and indigenous Māori themes in his films. That included [[Film/ThorRagnarok his first major Hollywood feature]], where [[CreatorCameo his portrayal]] of the Kronan rock alien Korg was based on Polynesian bouncers he'd once met.

** He has a history of [[CreatorCameo hiding himself as an extra, often times someone who dies]].
** Tarantino has a TrunkShot in each of his films.
** He also loves shots of women's feet - he gives long closeups of the feet of [[Film.KillBill Beatrix Kiddo]], [[Film.PulpFiction Mia Wallace]], and [[Film.OnceUponATimeInHollywood Sharon Tate]].

* UsefulNotes/NewZealand film director Creator/TaikaWaititi incorporates indigenous Māori themes and an offbeat sense of humour in his films. That includes his first major Hollywood feature, ''Film/ThorRagnarok'', where [[CreatorCameo his portrayal]] of the Kronan rock alien Korg was based on Polynesian bouncers he'd once met.

** He is also fond of {{Disturbed Dove}}s for its [[RuleOfSymbolism symbolism]], and since ''Film/{{The Killer|1989}}'', they've shown up in all his work.

* All of the feature films from WebVideo/RedLetterMedia production company feature a VHS copy of ''Death List'' in a shot. These include ''Film/GorillaInterrupted'', ''Film/TheRecovered'' and ''Film/FeedingFrenzy''. In ''Feeding Frenzy'', it's on a table while the characters are literally making a list of people who might die.

* Creator/JohnWoo is fond of the [[DisturbedDoves doves]], and since ''Film/{{The Killer|1989}}'', they've shown up in all his work.
* Stephen Sommers ''loves'' scenes with people getting swallowed up by quicksand and the ilk (see ''Film/{{The Jungle Book|1994}}'', ''Film/{{The Mummy|1999}}'', ''Film/TheMummyReturns'' and the Sommers-produced ''Film/TheScorpionKing'').

* Creator/JuddApatow's films feature a lot of {{Improv}}, Manchild {{Unsympathetic Comedy Protagonist}}s, VulgarHumor, and pop culture references.

** TheBadGuysAreCops or PoliceAreUseless for his depictions of law enforcement in his movies.

** Mel Gibson's attachment to a film, as star or director, does tend to suggest the presence of torture and suffering. ''Film/MadMax'' and the hacksaw, ''Film/LethalWeapon'' and the electric sponges in the shower, lots of ''Film/ConspiracyTheory'', ''Film/{{Payback}}'', the end of ''Film/{{Braveheart}}''. On the other side of the lens, there's some in ''Film/{{Apocalypto}}'', and there's ''Film/ThePassionOfTheChrist''.

* Creator/SamRaimi's car during college, a 1973 yellow Oldsmobile Delta 88, dubbed "The Classic", is in many of his films. For example, it was Uncle Ben's car in ''Film/SpiderMan1'' and Ash's car throughout the ''Franchise/EvilDead'' franchise. He even managed to sneak it into the western movie ''Film/TheQuickAndTheDead'' as the undercarriage of a hay wagon.
* Creator/MartinScorsese's films often feature Catholic imagery, guilt-ridden protagonists, and the MadonnaWhoreComplex in regards to love interests.

* Creator/StanleyKubrick
** He liked filming [[http://kubrickfilms.tripod.com/id35.html bathroom scenes]], often in connection with character death.
** CRM-114 shows up a bunch.
** Kubrick was also fond of doing TheOner in most of his films.
** So many Kubrick films contain the "head down, eyes up" pose, that he's the TropeNamer for KubrickStare.
* Most films directed by Creator/JohnLandis (with the notable exception of ''Film/AnimalHouse'') feature the phrase "See You Next Wednesday." Even the Music/MichaelJackson "Music/{{Thriller}}" video incorporates it in background dialogue.
* Creator/SpikeLee loves his [[InCameraEffects Dolly Shots.]] His very first use of it was in ''Film/{{School Daze|1988}}'' but it wasn't until ''Film/MoBetterBlues'' that we see the one that he is more renowned for.
* Creator/StanLee appears in every movie based on one of his {{Super Hero}}es. This carries over to cartoons and video games like ''VideoGame/SpiderManPS4'' where he appears running a restaurant MJ and Peter eat at. Sadly, after his death in 2018, he only had a handful of pre-recorded cameos left before this trend stopped completely.
* It seems that the neo-noir nightclub-like lighting of ''Film/JohnWick'' was producer (and uncredited co-director) Creator/DavidLeitch's idea, as the man's directorial efforts to date have an abundance of scenes being lit by neon lights.
* Creator/GeorgeLucas
** Every movie he creates features the number 1138 at some point, as homage to his first film, ''Film/THX1138''.
** Most have at least one scene with a speeding vehicle (''Film/THX1138'', ''Film/AmericanGraffiti'', ''Franchise/StarWars'' movies, ''Franchise/IndianaJones'', etc.). Though this may have less to do with AuthorAppeal and more to do with the majority of his films being action films, where speeding vehicles can be expected.
** The number 327 is also frequently encountered, although it's not clear why. One theory is that Lucas' first car was a Chevy 327.
* Creator/DavidLynch
** He seems to really enjoy scenes of women singing. There's the Lady in the Radiator from ''Film/{{Eraserhead}}'', Dorothy Vallens in ''Film/BlueVelvet'', the biker bar chick in ''Series/TwinPeaks'' and the whole Club Silencio scene in ''Film/MulhollandDrive'', though all these instances are probably done for atmosphere more than anything else.
** He also likes facial injuries/deformity, shots of the road taken while driving, blinking/strobing lights, red curtains, and fixed shots of the elderly moving slowly. Oh, and terrifying imagery in abundance.
** That's besides his whole "dark underbelly of suburbia" thing, the dominant theme in much of his work.
** From the '90s onward, coffee, especially in ''Series/TwinPeaks'' and ''Film/WhatDidJackDo''.

* Creator/PeterJackson likes to leave a distinct mark on his projects.
** The [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morris_Minor Morris Minor]] or one of its variants appears in most of the director's early films.
** He has a penchant for shooting close-ups with very wide-angle lenses.
** {{Gorn}} played for [[BloodyHilarious laughs]] as much as [[BloodyHorror drama]].
** His productions base the creature design of creepy-crawlies and monsters on the native wildlife of his home country, New Zealand.
** Transparent Green Ghosts that look like half-mummified corpses.
** His favourite film is Film/KingKong1933, and he works references to it in his other movies.
** It wouldn't be a Jackson film without a Main/CreatorCameo from the director himself, his children, and frequent recurring actor, Jed Brophy.
* Creator/DuncanJones is apparently a big fan of the song "The One and Only" by Music/ChesneyHawkes.
** In ''Film/{{Moon}}'' Sam's alarm clock plays it.
** In ''Film/SourceCode'' it's Christina's ringtone.
** A DeletedScene in ''Film/{{Warcraft}}'' had Hawkes himself as a minstrel, playing a medieval-fantasy version.
** In ''Film/Mute2018'' it's used as videogame music.
* Creator/JosephKosinski, director of ''Film/TronLegacy'', ''Film/TopGunMaverick'' and ''Film/{{Oblivion| 2013}}'', is a graduate and adjunct professor in architecture; this can be observed in the designs of the buildings and other materials in the worlds of those films which are all very carefully thought out.
* Both of Creator/AliceWu's feature films and the short film "The Note" (which she directed) focus on the experiences of gay Chinese-Americans.

* In the days of silent films, studios used to hide their names in the set to guard against other studios stealing the scenes for their own films (and to defend against false accusations of doing it themselves).
* Creator/AlfredHitchcock would [[CreatorCameo appear]] as a bystander in all of his films. When he found out that people would watch the films for his cameo and get distracted from the story, he started making his appearance in the first few minutes. There's other stuff, too, like [[DisneyVillainDeath villains dying from falling from great heights]], tall 'cool' blondes, and the MacGuffin.
* Similarly, Creator/StanLee appears in every movie based on one of his {{Super Hero}}es. This carries over to cartoons and video games like ''VideoGame/SpiderManPS4'' where he appears running a restaurant MJ and Peter eat at. Sadly, after his death in 2018, he only had a handful of pre-recorded cameos left before this trend stopped completely.
* Creator/SamRaimi's car during college, a 1973 yellow Oldsmobile Delta 88, dubbed "The Classic", is in many of his films. For example, it was Uncle Ben's car in ''Film/SpiderMan1'' and Ash's car throughout the ''Franchise/EvilDead'' franchise. He even managed to sneak it into the western movie ''Film/TheQuickAndTheDead'' as the undercarriage of a hay wagon.

** The Dark Knight Saga and Inception even have their own credits FONT.
* Creator/SamMendes' entire filmography contains:
** [[BigScrewedUpFamily families (real or surrogate) that are screwed to oblivion]]
** [[CueTheRain scenes taking place in heavy rain]]
** [[ParentsasPeople flawed parental figure(s)]]
** Actresses [[Creator/JenniferJasonLeigh who are married]] [[Creator/MayaRudolph to directors]] (especially [[Creator/KateWinslet his own wife]])
** and [[spoiler: [[AnyoneCanDie crucial characters getting killed by the end of the film]]]].
** The only time where ANY of these tropes didn't happen was in ''Film/{{Jarhead}}''.

* Creator/MelBrooks puts plenty of [[GagPenis penis jokes]] in his movies: ''Film/YoungFrankenstein'', ''Film/BlazingSaddles'', ''{{Film/Spaceballs}}'', and ''especially'' the musical remake of ''Film/TheProducers'' (which, admittedly, he didn't actually direct). Also, his use of Nazis as walking punching bags (he ''is'' Jewish, after all).
* Creator/TimBurton has a few:
** His films contain strange hands -- severed hands, mutilated hands, [[ArtificialLimbs prosthetic hands]], gloved hands, and artistic representations of hands -- in far greater proportion than is common. The only remotely sexual connotation attaches to the leather-glove fetishism in ''Batman'' (both Jack Napier and Max Shreck favor dapper black gloves, and both exhibit sexual and/or sadistic attitudes toward the film's heroine). ''WesternAnimation/TheNightmareBeforeChristmas'' uses the lyric "bony fingers" three times.
** Burton also likes German Expressionist cinema (Johnny Depp LooksLikeCesare in over half of Burton's films), which is a visible influence of his work. Sometimes he admits this, like how Christopher Walken's character in ''Film/BatmanReturns'' is named "[[Film/{{Nosferatu}} Max Schreck]]". This also feeds into his lower-level fixation with [[GothSpirals spirals]]. Spiral hair, spiral feathers, spiral coattails, spiral plants, spiral embroidery... maybe he eats a lot of curly fries or something. And stripes. Especially on snakes.
** [[MonsterClown Scary clowns]], dark woods, [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking tile floors]]...
** Burton seems to have a thing for dogs, as there are some dropped into every one of his movies at some point. ''WesternAnimation/{{Frankenweenie}}'' (both versions) even has a dog as the main character!
** A theme that comes up in almost all his films is that of parents separated in some way from their children. This is either because a family gets split up due to mass chaos (''Film/MarsAttacks''), the main character is an orphan (both ''Franchise/{{Batman}}'' films), the character really ''should'' have parents but doesn't (''Film/PeeWeesBigAdventure'', ''Film/EdwardScissorhands'')... but most commonly because the character has major Parental Issues (''Film/{{Beetlejuice}}'', ''Film/BatmanReturns'', ''[[Film/SleepyHollow1999 Sleepy Hollow]]'', ''Film/CharlieAndTheChocolateFactory'', and to a lesser extent ''Film/MarsAttacks''). Interestingly, ''Film/BigFish'' outright has this as the movie's theme, and it's arguably Burton's attempt to come to terms with it and for once depict a normal and loving (if troubled) family, possibly in the wake of his father's death from cancer.

* As a boy, Creator/WesCraven was bullied by a kid named [[Franchise/ANightmareOnElmStreet Fred Krueger]]. Before this name became attached to Craven's most iconic baddie, his earlier film ''Film/TheLastHouseOnTheLeft'' contains a villainous rapist named Krug.
* Screenwriter/director Richard Curtis seems to have a thing for Americans. Aside from the ''Literature/BridgetJones'' films, which were adapted from another medium and were a collaboration with several other writers, every theatrically released film he's ever written has been a British comedy featuring at least one American character, though that may be due to the UK cinematic convention of having an inexplicable American in the cast to coax the US market. Ironically in ''Film/LoveActually'' he has the British prime minister played by Hugh Grant gives an epic TheReasonYouSuckSpeech to the American President played by Billy Bob Thornton.
* The films of Creator/GuillermoDelToro always include slime, aspects of ClockPunk (or at least, clocks), things in jars (often PeopleJars), and references to Roman Catholicism. The supernatural and monsters of any sort are extremely common, and he's also greatly interested in the UsefulNotes/SpanishCivilWar.
* Creator/MatthewBright uses lurid violence, {{Serial Killer}}s, strong profanity, and hard-edged satire seen in his films ''Film/{{Freeway}}'' and ''Film/{{Bundy}}''.
* Creator/RobertZemeckis
** He likes {{Historical In Joke}}s as well as putting real people in his films, either by getting the real person or by combining [[FakeShemp editing tricks]] with StockFootage.
** In a documentary made for the 2002 ''Franchise/BackToTheFuture'' [=DVD=], Zemeckis said he always felt the best TimeTravel stories were ''Literature/TheTimeMachine'' and ''Literature/AChristmasCarol''. Seven years later, he came out with his own version of the latter.
** Which brings us to MotionCapture.
** Casting actors, often the lead, [[ActingForTwo in multiple parts]] (Michael J. Fox in ''Film/BackToTheFuturePartII'', Tom Hanks in ''WesternAnimation/ThePolarExpress'', Jim Carrey and Gary Oldman in ''A Christmas Carol'') and having them interact with each other.
* Creator/DarioArgento
** His films usually have protagonists who are involved in the arts or some creative profession and are foreigners.
** Creator/JessicaHarper in ''Film/Suspiria1977'' and Creator/JenniferConnelly in ''Film/{{Phenomena}}'' are based on Disney's Snow White.

* Creator/TheCoenBrothers
** They seem obsessed with hair, or at any rate like to portray characters who are, and/or characters with bizarre or terrible haircuts. Also, every film will feature at least a few of the following: someone vomiting, a bellowing fat man (usually played by Creator/JohnGoodman), and an ImplacableMan who seems to be the AnthropomorphicPersonification of pure evil.
** They are also fond of: regional accents, scenes with dogs, failed kidnappings, a BriefcaseFullOfMoney, powerful men behind desks, and shots of walking feet.
** Less obvious but nonetheless notable, at least seven of their films feature a car wreck where one of the main characters is the driver or did something to cause the wreck.
** Almost all of their films are set in the past...even if it's the ''very'' recent past, and the time period has no impact on the plot. Though several of their films are straightforward period pieces (''Film/OBrotherWhereArtThou'' is set during TheGreatDepression, ''Film/BartonFink'' is set in 1941, ''Film/HailCaesar'' is set in 1951, ''Film/TheHudsuckerProxy'' is set in 1958, etc.), others are a bit stranger. ''Film/TheBigLebowski'' came out in 1998, but takes place during UsefulNotes/{{the Gulf War}} in 1991; ''Film/{{Fargo}}'' came out in 1996, but takes place in 1987; and ''Film/NoCountryForOldMen'' came out in 2007, but takes place in 1980.
** They ''really'' love to {{homage}} [[TheWestern Westerns]] and FilmNoir (sometimes both at once, as in ''Film/TheBigLebowski'' and ''Film/HailCaesar''). Between films like ''Film/NoCountryForOldMen'', ''Film/TrueGrit'' and ''Film/TheBalladOfBusterScruggs'', they've done almost every flavor of Western imaginable, and they've covered nearly every corner of the SlidingScaleOfSeriousnessVersusSilliness. Ditto for films like ''Film/MillersCrossing'', ''Film/BloodSimple'' and ''Film/{{Fargo}}'', which do the same for noir.
* Creator/MelGibson:
** If he is starring in a film, chances are his character will like dogs.
** Mel Gibson's attachment to a film, as star or director, does tend to suggest the presence of torture and suffering. ''Film/MadMax'' and the hacksaw, ''Film/LethalWeapon'' and the electric sponges in the shower, lots of ''Film/ConspiracyTheory'', ''Film/{{Payback}}'', the end of ''Film/{{Braveheart}}''. On the other side of the lens, there's some in ''Film/{{Apocalypto}}'', and there's ''Film/ThePassionOfTheChrist''.
* Creator/GeorgeLucas
** Every movie he creates features the number 1138 at some point, as homage to his first film, ''Film/THX1138''.
** Most have at least one scene with a speeding vehicle (''Film/THX1138'', ''Film/AmericanGraffiti'', ''Franchise/StarWars'' movies, ''Franchise/IndianaJones'', etc.). Though this may have less to do with AuthorAppeal and more to do with the majority of his films being action films, where speeding vehicles can be expected.
** The number 327 is also frequently encountered, although it's not clear why. One theory is that Lucas' first car was a Chevy 327.

* Creator/StevenSpielberg's first film, ''Film/{{Duel}}'', used a dinosaur roar sound effect as the tanker truck goes over the cliff, which he has incorporated into the climax of every film he's made ever since.
* Creator/StanleyKubrick
** He liked filming [[http://kubrickfilms.tripod.com/id35.html bathroom scenes]], often in connection with character death.
** CRM-114 shows up a bunch.
** Kubrick was also fond of doing TheOner in most of his films.
** So many Kubrick films contain the "head down, eyes up" pose, that he's the TropeNamer for KubrickStare.
* Creator/QuentinTarantino
** When he heard it was being discontinued, he saved one last box of Fruit Brute cereal and tries to have a character eating it in every film he makes. He also has his own fictional brands, including Red Apple Cigarettes and Big Kahuna Burger. He also likes having stylized and often [[NauseaFuel nauseatingly]] gory action scenes (though hilariously, he still found [[Film/MontyPythonsTheMeaningOfLife Mr. Creosote]] to be a bit too much to stomach).
** He has a history of [[CreatorCameo hiding himself as an extra, often times someone who dies]].
** Tarantino has a TrunkShot in each of his films.
** He also loves shots of women's feet - he gives long closeups of the feet of [[Film.KillBill Beatrix Kiddo]], [[Film.PulpFiction Mia Wallace]], and [[Film.OnceUponATimeInHollywood Sharon Tate]].
* ''Franchise/StarWars'' sound tech Creator/BenBurtt is the driving force of the resurgent popularity of the WilhelmScream.
* Most films directed by Creator/JohnLandis (with the notable exception of ''Film/AnimalHouse'') feature the phrase "See You Next Wednesday." Even the Music/MichaelJackson "Music/{{Thriller}}" video incorporates it in background dialogue.
* All of Creator/JohnGlen's ''Film/JamesBond'' movies feature DisturbedDoves and a BatScare.

* Creator/JamesCameron has his distinctive shots of feet, [[ActionGirl female protagonists]] and the presence or imminent threat of nuclear weapons (except ''Film/{{Titanic 1997}}'', for obvious reasons) in his films. He's also got a huge interest for the ocean; while this is less apparent in his fiction work (though this one ''does'' include ''Titanic'', again for obvious reasons), his documentary work heavily revolves around this subject.
* Creator/LucBesson
** [[InvincibleHero Nigh-invincible]] [[ActionHero action heroes]].
** Strong, kickass [[ActionGirl Action Girls]] dressed in [[{{Stripperific}} skimpy clothing]].
** TheBadGuysAreCops or PoliceAreUseless for his depictions of law enforcement in his movies.
* Creator/ColemanFrancis
** [[TrademarkFavoriteFood Coffee?]] [[Film/TheSkydivers He loves coffee!]]
** Light aircraft and vigilantism.
* Chris Buck
** It's not one of his movies until at least two parents meet [[WesternAnimation/{{Tarzan}} horrible]], ''[[WesternAnimation/SurfsUp horrible]]'' [[WesternAnimation/Frozen2013 deaths]].
** He also seems to enjoy PluckyComicRelief characters who are [[BlackComedy blissfully unaware of the things that could kill them]], such as [[WesternAnimation/SurfsUp Chicken Joe]] and [[WesternAnimation/Frozen2013 Olaf]].
* Creator/SpikeLee loves his [[InCameraEffects Dolly Shots.]] His very first use of it was in ''Film/{{School Daze|1988}}'' but it wasn't until ''Film/MoBetterBlues'' that we see the one that he is more renowned for.

* Creator/JosephKosinski, director of ''Film/TronLegacy'', ''Film/TopGunMaverick'' and ''Film/{{Oblivion| 2013}}'', is a graduate and adjunct professor in architecture; this can be observed in the designs of the buildings and other materials in the worlds of those films which are all very carefully thought out.
* Most of the films that Creator/DarrenAronofsky has made so far have an underlying theme to the plot of the main character (or a main character) going on a path of self-destruction because of an obsession (finding proof of his theory on ''Film/{{Pi}}'', becoming a flawless dancer on ''Film/BlackSwan'', drugs on ''Film/RequiemForADream'', returning to the ring on ''Film/TheWrestler'', etc.).
* Creator/JJAbrams will name something after his Grandpa Kelvin, such as the USS ''Kelvin'' in ''Film/StarTrek2009'' and Kelvin Ridge in ''Film/TheForceAwakens''. He also has a marked fondness for lens flare.
* UsefulNotes/NewZealand film director Creator/TaikaWaititi incorporates indigenous Māori themes and an offbeat sense of humour in his films. That includes his first major Hollywood feature, ''Film/ThorRagnarok'', where [[CreatorCameo his portrayal]] of the Kronan rock alien Korg was based on Polynesian bouncers he'd once met.
* It seems that the neo-noir nightclub-like lighting of ''Film/JohnWick'' was producer David Leitch's idea, as the man's directorial efforts to date have an abundance of scenes being lit by neon lights.
* Films by the prolific Warner Bros. director Creator/MichaelCurtiz (''Film/{{Casablanca}}'') usually included at least one shot where the characters are offscreen and seen only through their silhouettes on a wall.
* Creator/WesAnderson has a style so specific to him and him alone that ''WebVideo/HonestTrailers'' joked that he was essentially "his own genre." Hallmarks of a Wes Anderson film include, but are not limited to: Perfectly symmetrical shots where the camera is at a right angle to the action (facing it straight-on or in profile), a muted pastel color palette, a BittersweetEnding, and whip pans.
* All of the feature films from WebVideo/RedLetterMedia production company feature a VHS copy of ''Death List'' in a shot. These include ''Film/GorillaInterrupted'', ''Film/TheRecovered'' and ''Film/FeedingFrenzy''. In ''Feeding Frenzy'', it's on a table while the characters are literally making a list of people who might die.

* Creator/GarethEdwards has had monsters with tentacles appear in all of his films except for ''Film/Godzilla2014'', where the tentacles were ''planned'' for the enemy monsters but abandoned at the concept stage.

* The films of Creator/GuillermoDelToro always include slime, aspects of ClockPunk (or at least, clocks), things in jars (often PeopleJars), and references to Roman Catholicism. The supernatural is extremely common, and he's also greatly interested in the UsefulNotes/SpanishCivilWar.

* Creator/FrankCapra and that crow.

* Creator/JohnWoo is fond of the [[DisturbedDoves doves]], and since ''Film/TheKiller'', they've shown up in all his work.

** In a documentary made for the 2002 ''Film/BackToTheFuture'' [=DVD=], Zemeckis said he always felt the best TimeTravel stories were ''Literature/TheTimeMachine'' and ''Literature/AChristmasCarol''. Seven years later, he came out with his own version of the latter.

* ''Franchise/StarWars'' sound tech Ben Burtt is the driving force of the resurgent popularity of the WilhelmScream.

** Strong, kickass [[ActionGirl Action Girls]] dressed in [[MsFanservice skimpy clothing]].

* Creator/MelBrooks puts plenty of [[GagPenis penis jokes]] in his movies: ''Film/YoungFrankenstein'', ''Film/BlazingSaddles'', ''{{Film/Spaceballs}}'', and ''especially'' the musical remake of ''Film/TheProducers'' (which, admittedly, he didn't actually direct). Also, his use of Nazis as AcceptablePoliticalTargets (he ''is'' Jewish, after all).

* Creator/JamesCameron has his distinctive shots of feet, [[ActionGirl female protagonists]] and the presence or imminent threat of nuclear weapons[[note]]Except Film/{{Titanic 1997}}, for obvious reasons[[/note]] in his films.

* Joseph Kosinski, director of ''Film/TronLegacy'', ''Film/TopGunMaverick'' and ''Film/{{Oblivion| 2013}}'', is a graduate and adjunct professor in architecture; this can be observed in the designs of the buildings and other materials in the worlds of those films which are all very carefully thought out.

** In ''Film/{{Mute}}'' it's used as videogame music.

* Joseph Kosinski, director of ''Film/TronLegacy'' and ''Film/{{Oblivion| 2013}}'', is a graduate and adjunct professor in architecture; this can be observed in the designs of the buildings and other materials in the worlds of those films which are all very carefully thought out.

** The only time where ANY of these tropes didn't happen was in ''Film/AwayWeGo'' and ''Film/{{Jarhead}}''.