I only count feature films. Most directors make short films early in their careers but they don’t really count as their debut to me.

Also I didn’t rank the films only on how much I like them but on how impressive of a feat it is in my opinion to have a movie that is that well crafted in all regards and that has such universal appeal to be your first movie. (so some movies that are a more acquired taste are ranked lower even though I love them the most)

It is crazy to me that all of these movies were someone’s first try at making feature films. The first 10 are obvious 10/10s to me.

1. Past Lives (Celine Song, 2023)
2. Get Out (Jordan Peele, 2017)
3. American Beauty (Sam Mendes, 1999)
4. The Virgin Suicides (Sofia Coppola, 1999)
5. Aftersun (Charlotte Wells, 2022)
6. Whiplash (Damien Chazelle, 2014)
7. Blood Simple (Coen Brothers, 1984)
8. Pride and Prejudice (Joe Wright, 2005)
9. Me and You and Everyone We Know (Miranda July, 2005)
10. Go Fish (Rose Troche, 1994)
    

Honorable Mentions:

Hard Eight (Paul Thomas Anderson, 1996)
Garden State (Zach Braff, 2004)
Brick (Rian Johnson, 2005)
Sorry to bother you (Boots Riley, 2018)
Lady Bird (Greta Gerwig, 2017)
Shiva Baby (Emma Seligman, 2020)
Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure (Tim Burton, 1985)