Joe Johnston

A former effects artist on Star Wars and Raiders of the Lost Ark who moved into directing with a practical-magic instinct intact — The Rocketeer treats its 1938 jetpack with the same tactile confidence he brought to Indiana Jones's props. He won an Academy Award for his visual-effects work before transitioning into directing, giving him an unusually hands-on understanding of practical effects filmmaking. He later directed Jumanji and Captain America: The First Avenger, continuing his affinity for retro-tinged adventure storytelling.