I'm trying to decide who is the better one, both kind of peaked around the same time (1960s) and are the defacto masters of that era. Each basically achieved cinematic apex with GBU and 2001 respectively... and ... well are viciously comparable in this regard. Sure one stayed within 1 genre while the other went with all genres i still think that at these two peaks they can be compared.

Stanley Kubrick

I also look intently at them as humans... one obviously grew up in 1950s Italy from cinematic family, would be partying and womanizing at night ("meet one at 10, meet another at 11, meet another at 12) to where he'd be sleeping on set as AD. He lived "life".

One started as freelance photographer in New York, marrying early before remarrying... and i'm not quite sure how he became such a force.

A better poll would have been Sergio Leone vs Sam Peckinpah. Kubrick will run away with this.

Well for now i would pick Leone, because i believe 2001 is not better than GBU.

Kubrick.

I love Leone, but this is no contest.

What an odd poll....

Yes odd. I love them both both it is like comparing apples and oranges to me.

Lol at this ridiculous poll

There aren't many directors who I'd instantly declare to be better than Sergio Leone without even thinking about it, but Kubrick is one of them.

In a boxing match? Probably Leone.

Why does one have to be better? Just enjoy their movies without having to make everything a contest.

Where is your vote? Its 15-0 in favor of Kubrick right now

A better poll would be Kubrick vs ???

What is one director that would win a poll like this against Kubrick?

Kurosawa.

Next up: Charlie Chaplin vs. Charlton Heston

I voted for Kubrcik

I actually like "Once Upon A Time In The West" better than any Kubrick movie, but overall, I have to give it to Stanley, like, by a pretty wide fucking margin. That dude was just working on a whole other level.

Next up: John Woo vs. John Huston

Ok, I went ahead and voted but I have to say, this is a rather ridiculous question.

a lot of greatness here, but I had to vote for Kubrick.

I'm voting Kubrick, but it's not that ridiculous of a question to me. Sergio Leone is certainly one of the best directors of all time, with a near perfect filmography (haven't seen The Colossus of Rhodes to say one way or another). I think he's easily the best director of the western genre. Kubrick has two movies I'd put in my top 15 of all time, and he was able to make multiple great films in different genres over five decades. I adore both of those guys work.

Leone developed his own film language. Kubrick developed his own film culture. Not even close.