Whether a friend, partner, or just a great working relationship, having someone that can understand the vision behind a project without question can be the foundation for a dynamic duo. Writers and directors need a go-to in order to bring their stories and characters to life, and these filmmakers have proven that returning to the same actors can lead to success.

Related: 10 Films for Fans of Wes Anderson

Creative collaboration takes a certain finessing that only the right personalities can accomplish successfully to make movie magic. Team-ups like Bong Joon Ho and Song Kang-Ho have granted us some of the best films ever to grace the silver screen, but they're not alone in the world of epic collaborations. Past, present, and future, these teams have given audiences a wide range of cinematic treasures to enjoy.

Tim Burton & Johnny Depp

Johnny Depp as Barnabus Collins in Dark Shadows

With nine collaborations under their belts, it’s difficult to imagine a Tim Burton film without thinking of Johnny Depp, and vice-versa. Edward Scissorhands (1990) was the first time the pair stepped onto the set together. The reason these two professionals mesh so well is Depp’s ability to match Burton’s dark yet whimsical style, as in collaborations like the macabre Alice in Wonderland (2010) or the delightfully morbid Dark Shadows (2012) reboot, which Depp particularly enjoyed shooting.

One of Depp’s three Oscar nominations comes from his portrayal of Sweeney Todd, directed by none other than Burton. From musicals to animation, to literature adaptations, fans expect a certain aesthetic from Burton matched by a deep dive into the character’s transformation from Depp.

Mike Flanagan & Kate Siegel

Kate Siegel as Erin Greene in Midnight Mass

The TV horror genre has been given a needed cinematic facelift with limited series. After recent Netflix successes, fans have noticed Mike Flanagan’s go-to actors. A fair share of cast members from The Haunting of Hill House returned for The Haunting of Bly Manor and Midnight Mass. One of those actresses is Kate Siegel, who also happens to be Flanagan’s wife.

Related: Kate Siegel's Best Performances, Queen of Netflix Horror

Working first on Oculus (2013), the pair have eight collaborations together, most of which are from the horror genre. Whether a small or large role, audiences have come to expect an appearance from Siegel in the high-quality adaptations Flanagan continues to churn out.

Bong Joon Ho & Kang-ho Song

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Image via NEON

With the global success of 2019’s Best Picture winner Parasite, Korean film and television have grown increasingly popular among audiences. Writer/director Bong Joon Ho’s work is now being discovered by American audiences. As they begin to recognize his filmography, fans will also see the familiar face of the Korean powerhouse, Kang-ho Song.

Song appears in four of the Oscar winner’s films. The first, Memories of Murder (2003), was re-released in theaters and through streaming platforms in the aftermath of Parasite. Fans will recognize this team’s other collaborations with The Host (2006) and Snowpiercer (2013).

Wes Anderson & Bill Murray

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Image via Touchstone Pictures

Wes Anderson is a storybook-style director known for reusing numerous actors and actresses for his films. No matter how little or a large amount of screen time he may get, Bill Murray is a staple in anything this unique director creates.

Having worked together nine times beginning with Rushmore (1998), five of their films have received Oscar nominations (pending any for 2021’s The French Dispatch). Whether animated or not, fans expect the name Murray when they sit down to enjoy an Anderson film.

Noah Baumbach & Greta Gerwig

Greta Gerwig in Francis Ha

Albeit with a somewhat smaller resume compared to other industry pros and romantic partners, Noah Baumbach and Greta Gerwig are notable collaborators. The two have worked together on multiple projects throughout their careers, starting with Frances Ha (2012). Gerwig not only starred in the film but also helped pen the script alongside director Baumbach.

The two more recently teamed up on White Noises, set to release sometime in 2022 with Baumbach once again directing and Gerwig in an acting role. The two have an additional project coming up where the roles will be shaken up a bit, with Gerwig not only writing but directing Barbie and Baumbach pitching in on scripting duties.

Martin Scorsese & Robert De Niro

Martin Scorsese & Robert De Niro on the set of Taxi Driver

Whenever these titans of industry are mentioned in the same sentence, audiences come to expect a high-quality film. Starting first in Mean Streets (1973), Martin Scorsese and Robert De Niro have stepped on set together no less than nine times over the decades.

Tough, gritty characters are where Scorsese to De Niro to bring them off the page. This iconic cinematic duo will grace the screen again in 2022 with Killers of the Flower Moon.

Guillermo del Toro & Doug Jones

Pan's Labyrinth
Image via Warner Bros. Pictures

It takes a special type of movie magic to imagine and create characters that require large amounts of makeup and prosthetics. Guillermo del Toro and Doug Jones are two legends that can make it happen. With multiple collaborations throughout the decades, this pair has brought forth iconic characters like Fauno and Pale Man from Pan’s Labyrinth (2006) and the Amphibian Man from The Shape of Water (2017).

Related: Guillermo del Toro Explains his Top Film Noir Inspirations for 'Nightmare Alley'

Not always the first thought when it comes to cinematic duos, del Toro and Jones have been collaborating since Mimic (1997). With horror genre writer/director and monster man actor, these two are a match made in cinematic heaven.

Coen Brothers & Frances McDormand

Francis McDormand in Fargo

As if being brothers in the industry weren’t a strong enough collaboration, Joel and Ethan Coen call upon Frances McDormand as a go-to. The first of eight projects worked on by the trio was Blood Simple (1984) and there have been many hits since then.

More notably, their top-rated film, Fargo (1996), earned them all an Oscar. This marked McDormand’s first for Best Actress in a Leading Role and the Coen’s first win for Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen. McDormand has also become a go-to for Wes Anderson as well.

Quentin Tarantino & Samuel L. Jackson

Quentin Tarantino, Harvey Keitel, Samuel L Jackson and John Travolta Pulp Fiction

These A-listers may not need much of an introduction as they have worked together on six projects across their careers. Quentin Tarantino and Samuel L. Jackson are Hollywood royalty with their distinct filmmaking and acting styles. Jackson’s tough and direct delivery of Tarantino’s characters has fans waiting for the next project these two work on.

It all began with Pulp Fiction (1994), which earned Jackson an Oscar nomination for Best Actor in a Supporting Role and a Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen win for Tarantino.

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