Auteur Theory refers to a concept from film criticism developed in the 1950s that argues that the director of a film is the primary author. (Auteur is French for “author).
The theory suggests that the personal vision, style, and thematic concerns of the director are evident across the whole body of work (i.e., the movie). Although there are many people who are contributing to the creation of a movie, like writers, editors, actors, cinematographers, camera operators, etc., the director’s creative control, the theory suggests, and their influence are so significant that the film reflects their unique voice.