5 Impressive Directorial Debut Films of the Last 20 Years

5. Reservoir Dogs (1992) Directed by Quentin Tarantino, rated R, 99 minutes

Reservoir Dogs is a bold and stylish crime-comedy about the aftermath of a jewelry heist gone wrong, and the surviving criminals who believe one of them is working for the police. The cast, including Tim Roth, Harvey Keitel, Steve Buscemi and Michael Madsen, is amazing, each of them crafting authentic and likable characters. Director Quentin Tarantino delivers his trademark hilarious dialogue, dark comedy and violent shootouts. Reservoir Dogs is a wonderfully entertaining film, with a great cast, amazing writing, perfect music and inventive direction. You'll like it if: You like crime movies, 90's cinema, Quentin Tarantino's films or The Departed.

4. El Mariachi (1992) Directed by Robert Rodriguez, rated R, 81 minutes

El Mariachi is an uncommon film made on a budget of just $7,000, originally expected to be a Mexican straight-to-video flick, this cleverly written action film is just incredible. El Mariachi is about a traveling mariachi who gets mistaken for a criminal on the run from an even worse criminal, and so our mariachi ends up on the run from a gang that wants him dead. The action scenes are fairly impressive for such a tiny budget. The storyline is very engrossing and the film boasts one of the best endings ever. El Mariachi is an original and independent film with an interesting style and story. You'll like it if: You like indie thrillers, Mexican cinema, Desperado or No Country for Old Men.

3. Pi (1998) Directed by Darren Aronofsky, rated R, 84 minutes

Pi is a deeply engrossing and visually stunning sci-fi thriller about a paranoid mathematician who searches for a mathematical pattern that is true through everything in the entire world. The film's look is simply incredible, shot in high contrast black and white, the film creates a powerful mood and frightening feel. The story is not too heavy on the math to the point you don't understand what's going on, and the main character is intriguing and relatable. Pi is an odd, thrilling and thoroughly exciting film, filled with incredible and unsettling images. You'll like it if: You like weird movies, indie thrillers, A Beautiful Mind or Requiem for a Dream.

2. The Seventh Continent (1989) Directed by Michael Haneke, not rated, 104 minutes

The Seventh Continent is a shocking and truly disturbing Austrian film about a family that realizes how boring and monotonous their life is after their daughter, in an attempt to get attention from her parents, pretends to be blind. The events that follow are incredible and repulsive. Director Michael Haneke is not the type to let the viewer off the hook, as the story becomes more grim, you're there to witness it all. The Seventh Continent can be a little hard to follow, but in the end you'll be floored at the shocking turn this family takes. You'll like it if: You like disturbing movies, foreign cinema, Happiness or In Cold Blood.

1. Clerks (1994) Directed by Kevin Smith, rated R, 92 minutes

Clerks is a ridiculously funny and brilliantly written low budget indie comedy about a day in the life of two convenience store clerks, including most of their time spent not working and the complicated love life of one. The writing is nothing short of perfect, creating likable and realistic characters, as well as some of the best dialogue around. The story is a little plotless, but the film is extremely entertaining and still manages to realistically present its theme. The direction is decidedly unstylish, but is rather impressive and beautifully minimalistic. Clerks is an extremely funny film that characterizes the 90's perfectly, and above all, will entertain you. You'll like it if: You like indie comedies, slice of life movies, Judd Apatow's films, Slacker, The Big Lebowski or Superbad.