Director Sam is a term used to refer to five prominent directors in the film industry. Sam Raimi is an American director, producer, and screenwriter known for his work on the Spider-Man trilogy and the Evil Dead series. Sam Peckinpah was an American film director and screenwriter who is best known for his Western films such as The Wild Bunch and Straw Dogs. Sam Mendes is an English stage and film director best known for his Academy Award-winning film American Beauty. Spike LEE is an American film director, producer, writer, and actor known for his films Do the Right Thing and Malcolm X. Sean Penn is an American actor, director, and political activist who has directed films such as The Pledge and Into the Wild.