MTV Video Music Awards / Best Direction

The MTV Video Music Award for Best Direction is one of the technical categories. It is one of the few awards that have been given continuously since 1984. From 1984 to 2006 he was called Best Direction in a Video and in 2007 Best Director .

As with all technical categories, in this case too the artist, the artist's manager and the actual performer, in this case the director of the video, are recognized.

The record is held by the directors David Fincher and Spike Jonze , who have each received the award three times. Fincher has been nominated seven times in three years, which is a record.

Madonna won the artist award three times. Eminem was nominated seven times.

Four artists who won the award were also directors of the videos, namely George Michael (for Father Figure ), Beck (for The New Pollution ), Erykah Badu (for Honey ) and Adam Yauch ( Beastie Boys , for Make Some Noise ) . Other artists nominated as both artists and directors include Busta Rhymes , Missy Elliott , Christina Aguilera , Jared Leto , Ryan Lewis and Bruno Mars .

Overview

Award	year	Award winners	for the video	Nominations
1.	1984	Tim Newman	ZZ Top - Sharp Dressed Man	The Bongos - Numbers with Wings (Director: Juliano Waldman) Ian Hunter - All of the Good Ones Are Taken (Director: Martin Kahan) Billy Idol - Dancing with Myself (Director: Tobe Hooper ) Cyndi Lauper - Time After Time (Director: Edd Griles ) Huey Lewis and the News - I Want a New Drug (Director: David Rathod) The Police - Every Breath You Take (Director: Godley & Creme ) ZZ Top - Gimme All Your Lovin ' (Director: Tim Newman)
2.	1985	Jean-Baptiste Mondino	Don Henley - The Boys of Summer	Bryan Adams - Run to You (Director: Steven Barron ) Duran Duran - The Wild Boys (Director: Russell Mulcahy ) Chris Isaak - Dancin (Director: Mary Lambert ) Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers - Don't Come Around Here No More (Director: Jeff Stein) Simple Minds - Don't You (Forget About Me) (Director: Daniel Kleinman ) Toto - Stranger in Town (Director: Steven Barron )
3.	1986	Steve Barron	a-ha - Take On Me	Pat Benatar - Sex as a Weapon (Director: Daniel Kleinman ) Dire Straits - Money for Nothing (Director: Steven Barron ) X - Burning House of Love (Director: Daniel Kleinman ) ZZ Top - Rough Boy (Director: Steven Barron )
4th	1987	Stephen R. Johnson	Peter Gabriel - Sledgehammer	Crowded House - Don't Dream It's Over (Director: Alex Proyas ) Genesis - Land of Confusion (Directors: Jim Yukich and John Lloyd ) U2 - With or Without You (Direction: Meiert Avis ) Steve Winwood - Higher Love (Directors: Peter Kagan and Paula Greif)
5.	1988	Andy Morahan and George Michael	George Michael - Father Figure	Eurythmics - You Have Placed a Chill in My Heart (Director: Sophie Muller ) Pink Floyd - Learning to Fly (Direction: Storm Thorgerson ) REM - The One I Love (Director: Robert Longo ) XTC - Dear God (Director: Nicholas Brandt )
6th	1989	David Fincher	Madonna - Express Yourself	DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince - Parents Just Don't Understand (Director: Scott Kalvert) Van Halen - Finish What Ya Started (Director: Andy Morahan ) Jody Watley - Real Love (Direction: David Fincher ) Steve Winwood - Roll with It (Direction: David Fincher)
7th	1990	David Fincher	Madonna - Vogue	Paula Abdul - Opposites Attract (Directors: Michael Patterson and Candace Reckinger ) Aerosmith - Janie's Got a Gun (Director: David Fincher ) Don Henley - The End of the Innocence (Direction: David Fincher )
8th.	1991	Tarsem	REM - Losing My Religion	Chris Isaak - Wicked Game (Concept) (Director: Herb Ritts ) George Michael - Freedom! '90 (Director: David Fincher ) Queensrÿche - Silent Lucidity ( Matt Mahurin )
9.	1992	Mark Fenske	Van Halen - Right Now	En Vogue - My Lovin '(You're Never Gonna Get It) (Director: Matthew Rolston ) Red Hot Chili Peppers - Give It Away (Direction: Stéphane Sednaoui ) Sir Mix-a-Lot - Baby Got Back (Director: Adam Bernstein )
10.	1993	Mark Pellington	Pearl Jam - Jeremy	En Vogue - Free Your Mind (Director: Mark Romanek ) Los Lobos - Kiko and the Lavender Moon (Director: Ondrej Rudavsky ) REM - Man on the Moon (Director: Peter Care )
11.	1994	Jake Scott	REM - Everybody Hurts	Aerosmith - Amazing (Director: Marty Callner ) Beastie Boys - Sabotage (Director: Spike Jonze ) Deep Forest - Sweet Lullaby (Director: Tarsem )
12.	1995	Spike Jonze	Weezer - Buddy Holly	Green Day - Basket Case (Director: Mark Kohr) Michael Jackson and Janet Jackson - Scream (Director: Mark Romanek ) TLC - Waterfalls (Director: F. Gary Gray )
13.	1996	Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris	The Smashing Pumpkins - Tonight, Tonight	Björk - It's Oh So Quiet (Direction: Spike Jonze ) Foo Fighters - Big Me (Director: Jesse Peretz ) Alanis Morissette - Ironic (Director: Stéphane Sednaoui )
14th	1997	Beck	Beck - The New Pollution	Missy Misdemeanor Elliott - The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly) (Director: Hype Williams ) Jamiroquai - Virtual Insanity (Director: Jonathan Glazer ) Nine Inch Nails - The Perfect Drug (Director: Mark Romanek ) The Smashing Pumpkins - The End Is the Beginning Is the End (Directors: Joel Schumacher , Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris )
15th	1998	Jonas Åkerlund	Madonna - Ray of Light	Garbage - Push It (Director: Andrea Giacobbe) Wyclef Jean - Gone Till November (Direction: Francis Lawrence ) The Prodigy - Smack My Bitch Up (Director: Jonas Åkerlund ) Radiohead - Karma Police (Director: Jonathan Glazer )
16.	1999	Torrance Community Dance Group	Fatboy Slim - Praise You	Busta Rhymes (feat. Janet Jackson ) - What's It Gonna Be ?! (Director: Hype Williams & Busta Rhymes) Eminem - My Name Is (Directed by Dr. Dre & Phillip Atwell) Korn - Freak on a Leash (Directors: Todd McFarlane , Graham Morris, Jonathan Dayton & Valerie Faris ) TLC - No Scrubs (Director: Hype Williams )
17th	2000	Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris	Red Hot Chili Peppers - Californication	D'Angelo - Untitled (How Does It Feel) (Direction: Paul Hunter and Dominique Trenier) Eminem - The Real Slim Shady (Directors: Dr. Dre and Phillip Atwell) Foo Fighters - Learn to Fly (Director: Jesse Peretz) Lauryn Hill - Everything Is Everything (Director: Sanji)
18th	2001	Spike Jonze	Fatboy Slim - Weapon of Choice	Eminem (featuring Dido ) - Stan (Directors: Dr. Dre and Phillip Atwell) Linkin Park - Crawling (Director: Brothers Strause) OutKast - Ms. Jackson (Director: F. Gary Gray ) REM - Imitation of Life (Direction: Garth Jennings )
19th	2002	Joseph Kahn	Eminem - Without Me	Missy Misdemeanor Elliott (featuring Ludacris and Trina ) - One Minute Man (Director: Dave Meyers ) Elton John - This Train Don't Stop There Anymore (Direction: David LaChapelle ) POD - Alive (Director: Francis Lawrence ) Red Hot Chili Peppers - By the Way (Directors: Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris )
20th	2003	Jamie Thraves	Coldplay - The Scientist	Johnny Cash - Hurt (Director: Mark Romanek ) Missy Elliott - Work It (Directors: Dave Meyers and Missy Elliott) Sum 41 - The Hell Song (Direction: Marc Klasfeld) Justin Timberlake - Cry Me a River (Director: Francis Lawrence )
21st	2004	Mark Romanek	Jay-Z - 99 Problems	No Doubt - It's My Life (Direction: David LaChapelle ) OutKast - Hey Ya! (Director: Bryan Barber) Steriogram - Walkie Talkie Man (Director: Michel Gondry ) The White Stripes - The Hardest Button to Button (Direction: Michel Gondry )
22nd	2005	Samuel Bayer	Green Day - Boulevard of Broken Dreams	Missy Elliott ( feat.Ciara & Fatman Scoop ) - Lose Control (Direction: Dave Meyers and Missy Elliott) Jennifer Lopez - Get Right (Direction: Francis Lawrence and Diane Martel) U2 - Vertigo (Director: Alex and Martin) The White Stripes - Blue Orchid (Director: Floria Sigismondi )
23.	2006	Robert Hales	Gnarls Barkley - Crazy	10 Years - Wasteland (Director: Kevin Kerslake ) AFI - Miss Murder (Director: Marc Webb ) Common - Testify (Direction: Anthony Mandler ) Red Hot Chili Peppers - Dani California (Director: Tony Kaye )
24.	2007	Samuel Bayer	Justin Timberlake - What Goes Around ... Comes Around	Beyoncé featuring Shakira - Beautiful Liar (Director: Jake Nava) Christina Aguilera - Candyman (Directors: Matthew Rolston and Christina Aguilera) Kanye West - Stronger (Director: Hype Williams) Linkin Park - What I've Done (Director: Joseph Hahn) Rihanna featuring Jay-Z - Umbrella (Director: Chris Applebaum)
25th	2008	Erykah Badu and Mr. Roboto	Erykah Badu - Honey	Linkin Park - Shadow of the Day (Director: Joe Hahn ) Panic! at the Disco - Nine in the Afternoon (Director: Shane Drake ) Pussycat Dolls - When I Grow Up (Director: Joseph Kahn ) Rihanna - Take a Bow (Direction: Anthony Mandler )
26th	2009	Marc Webb	Green Day - 21 Guns	Beyoncé - Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It) (Director: Jake Nava ) Cobra Starship (featuring Leighton Meester ) - Good Girls Go Bad (Director: Kai Regan) Lady Gaga - Paparazzi (Director: Jonas Åkerlund ) Britney Spears - Circus (Director: Francis Lawrence )
27.	2010	Francis Lawrence	Lady Gaga - Bad Romance	30 Seconds to Mars - Kings and Queens (Director: Bartholomew Cubbins ) Eminem - Not Afraid (Director: Rich Lee) Jay-Z & Alicia Keys - Empire State of Mind (Direction: Hype Williams ) Pink - Funhouse (Director: Dave Meyers)
28.	2011	Adam Yauch	Beastie Boys - Make Some Noise	30 Seconds to Mars - Hurricane (Direction: Bartholomew Cubbins ) Adele - Rolling in the Deep (Direction: Sam Brown) Eminem (featuring Rihanna ) - Love the Way You Lie (Director: Joseph Kahn ) Katy Perry (featuring Kanye West ) - ET (Director: Floria Sigismondi )
29	2012	Romain Gavras	MIA - Bad Girls	Coldplay (featuring Rihanna ) - Princess of China (Direction: Adria Petty) Duck Sauce - Big Bad Wolf (Direction: Keith Schofield) Jay-Z and Kanye West (featuring Otis Redding ) - Otis (Director: Spike Jonze ) Frank Ocean - Swim Good (Director: Nabil Elderkin )
30th	2013	David Fincher	Justin Timberlake (featuring Jay-Z ) - Suit & Tie	Drake - Started from the Bottom (Directed by: Directed by X and Drake ) fun. - Carry On (Director: Anthony Mandler ) Macklemore & Ryan Lewis (featuring Ray Dalton) - Can't Hold Us (Directors: Ryan Lewis, Jason Koenig and Jon Jon Augustavo) Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Sacrilege (Director: Megaforce)
31.	2014	DANIELS	DJ Snake and Lil Jon - Turn Down for What	Beyoncé - Pretty Hurts (Director: Melina Matsoukas ) Miley Cyrus - Wrecking Ball (Direction: Terry Richardson ) Eminem (featuring Rihanna ) - The Monster (Direction: Rich Lee) OK Go - The Writing's on the Wall (Directors: Damian Kulash, Aaron Duffy & Bob Partington)
32.	2015	Colin Tilley and The Little Homies	Kendrick Lamar - Alright	Childish Gambino - Sober (Director: Hiro Murai ) Hozier - Take Me to Church (Directors: Brendan Canty and Conal Thomson) Mark Ronson (featuring Bruno Mars ) - Uptown Funk (Directors: Bruno Mars and Cameron Duddy) Taylor Swift (featuring Kendrick Lamar ) - Bad Blood (Director: Joseph Kahn )
33.	2016	Melina Matsoukas	Beyoncé - Formation	Adele - Hello (Direction: Xavier Dolan ) David Bowie - Lazarus (Director: Johan Renck ) Coldplay - Up & Up (Direction: Vania Heymann and Gal Muggia) Tame Impala - The Less I Know the Better (Director: Canada)
34.	2017	Dave Meyers and The Little Homies	Kendrick Lamar - Humble	Alessia Cara - Scars to Your Beautiful (Director: Aaron A) Bruno Mars - 24k Magic (Directors: Cameron Duddy, Bruno Mars) Katy Perry (featuring Skip Marley ) - Chained to the Rhythm (Direction: Matthew Cullen) The Weeknd - Reminder (Director: Glenn Michael)
35.	2018	Hiro Murai	Childish Gambino - This Is America	The Carters - Apeshit (Director: Ricky Saix) Drake - God's Plan (Direction: Karena Evans) Shawn Mendes - In My Blood (Director: Jay Martin) Ed Sheeran - Perfect (Director: Jason Koenig) Justin Timberlake (featuring Chris Stapleton ) - Say Something (Directed by Arturo Perez Jr.)
36.	2019	Calmatic	Lil Nas X (feat.Billy Ray Cyrus ) - Old Town Road (Remix)	Billie Eilish - Bad Guy (Director: Dave Meyers ) FKA Twigs - Cellophane (Director: Andrew Thomas Huang ) Ariana Grande - Thank U, Next (Director: Hannah Lux Davis ) LSD - No New Friends (Director: Dano Cerny ) Taylor Swift - You Need to Calm Down (Directors: Taylor Swift and Drew Kirsch )
37.	2020			Doja Cat - Say So (Director: Hannah Lux Davis ) Billie Eilish - xanny (Director: Billie Eilish) Dua Lipa - Don't Start Now (Director: Nabil ) Harry Styles - Adore You (Director: Dave Meyers ) Taylor Swift - The Man (Director: Taylor Swift) The Weeknd - Blinding Lights (Director: Anton Tammi )

Individual evidence

1. ↑ MTV VIDEO MUSIC AWARDS HISTORY: BEST DIRECTION. Rockonthenet.com, accessed July 31, 2019 .