- 2009: Nominated for the 2008 Academy Award for Best Achievement in Directing (“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”)
- 2008: Nominated for the 2008 Golden Globe Award for Best Director - Motion Picture (“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”)
- 2008: Re-teamed with Brad Pitt to direct him in "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," an adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald's short story
- 2008: Nominated for the 2008 Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Feature Film (“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”)
- 2007: Helmed an adaptation of Robert Graysmith's books about the hunt for the Zodiac Killer, titled "Zodiac"
- 2005: Executive Produced "Lords of Dogtown," a feature film based on the Documentary "Dogtown and Z-Boys" about 1970s skateboarders
- 2002: Directed the thriller, "Panic Room" starring Jodie Foster
- 2001: Executive produced a series of short film advertisements for BMW shown over the Internet at bmwfilms.com
- 1999: Helmed "Fight Club," a screen adaptation of Chuck Palahniuk's novel of the same name starring Brad Pitt and Edward Norton
- 1997: Helmed third feature, "The Game" with Michael Douglas; produced by Steve Golin
- 1995: Had surprise box office success with the psychological thriller, "Seven" featuring Morgan Freeman and Brad Pitt
- 1994: Earned a Grammy for helming the Rolling Stones' music video "Love Is Strong"
- 1992: Feature directorial debut, "Alien3"; became involved with several disputes with FOX, which led Fincher to disassociate himself with the production
- 1986: Co-founded Propaganda Films with Steve Golin
- 1985: First commercial was a spot for the American Cancer Society which showed a fetus smoking
- 1984: Left ILM to begin making commercials
- Directed music videos for Madonna, Michael Jackson, Rolling Stones and Nine Inch Nails
- Entered the film industry by getting a job with an animation company loading cameras
- Worked at Industrial Light and Magic (ILM), George Lucas' special effects production company




