Denis Villeneuve's Movies Ranked

Over the past decade, Denis Villeneuve has become an iconic and favorite director for many people. Everyone has their favorite movie of his, and, shockingly, there's no wrong answer to the quality each of his films delivers. His style, scope, and sense of awe he brings physically and emotionally to the big screen is unmatched. He has crossed over into several genres and massive pieces of literature or IP and pulled them off flawlessly. We are fortunate to have such a master working and given the space to create. So, in preparation for Dune Part 2, I thought giving my rankings of his films would be fitting! This is my personal list, and, at this moment, I am still waiting to see August 32nd on Earth, Maelstrom, or Polytechnique. I have not made the time these past few weeks to see them, but I plan on remedying that soon. With that said, let's begin.

7. Prisoners

"Pray for the best, but prepare for the worst." 

I love a movie that chokes me. I don't know what that says about me. Prisoners is dark, cruel, degrading, relentless, and brutal. It is the story of a father pushed to his limits to find his kidnapped daughter. Prisoners can be a tough hang of a movie at times, but the volcanic rage that Hugh Jackman brings can't be missed. Jackman's performance is coupled with Jake Gylenhall's subtle performance, but you can feel the dread pouring out of him, which fits the movie perfectly. There is a lot of yelling in this movie, performed mainly by Jackman, which I tuned out in parts. The movie's plot build-up and mood alone are things to revel in, plus an unbelievable Paul Dano performance. An unforgettable and 10/10 ending.

6. Enemy 

"Control, it's all about control. Every dictatorship has one obsession, and that's it. In ancient Rome, they gave the people bread and circuses."

Talk about atmosphere. Villeneuve directs an exhilarating Kafkaesque thriller that has all the juice. It's an entirely bleak twilight zone episode with Jake Gyllenhaal once again acting his ass off in this. He is subtle, hilarious, and utterly devious in this! Some of the disturbing scenes, which include colossal scale, still haunt me with an ending that destroys me each time. I don't want to spoil any plot for anyone who hasn't seen this one, so do yourself a favor and fire this bad boy up. Spider warning!!!

5. Arrival

"Language is the foundation of civilization. It is the glue that holds a people together. It is the first weapon drawn in a conflict."

Is there some clunky dialogue? Sure. Does it make me roll my eyes with some of its time travel plot issues and remind me of all my problems with Interstellar? Absolutely. Does this movie make me cry every time I watch it? You're goddamn right. The way this movie makes me feel everything that I'm shaking from a cathartic release is something. Villenueve's sense of scale is wild in this movie. From the first time you see the Alien ship, your chest tightens, and you can't precisely place why you're anxious. The masterful direction and movement from scene to scene, with new twists unraveling before you can fully grasp them, are stunning. Amy Adams gives a strong, emotionally intelligent performance in which her character's empathy feels almost too real. It's fantastic that people who don't usually watch Sci-fi love this movie so much, and it's a true tell of a masterful piece of filmmaking. 

4. Incendies

"I want no gravestone, nor my name engraved anywhere. No epitaph for those who don't keep their promises. To Jeanne and Simon: Childhood is a knife stuck in your throat. It can't be easily removed."

It is a brutal and important movie that has never been more relevant than it is now. The movie is a perfectly balanced tale from the direction, cinematography, editing, and emotional performances. We step into war, religion, and identity, but family legacy, in the end, really destroys you. The portrayal of the female actors in this type of story should be commended. Lubna Azabal and Melisa Desormeauz-Poulin are gut-wrenchingly excellent here. They are brave and moving at the same time. This movie is not for the faint of heart, but this is a masterpiece you should all see.

3. Dune Part 1

"Dreams make good stories, but everything important happens when we're awake. 'Cause that's when we make things happen."

This crazy son of a bitch really pulled this off. For many reasons, Dune has been called one of the most unadaptable pieces of literature, but the complex psychedelic aspects and profound lore have held this back from being done. Denis not only pulled off the vast space spectacle but on rewatch in preparation for Part 2, gave this story so much heart. In the individual conversations between the main protagonist, Paul Atreides (Timothy Chalamet), and his father, Leto (Oscar Isaac), or Duncan Idaho (Jason Momoa), you can feel real love and companionship. It's hard to talk about everyone's performances, from Stellen Skarsgard's disgustingly evil Baron Harkonnen to Rebecca Ferguson's intimidating and malevolent Lady Jessica. Everyone is pulling their weight and is led by the solid and capable Timothy Chalamet, who carries much of the movie's weight. If he's not convincing as Paul, the movie fails. Dune Part 1 is just a torn-de force from the incredible set pieces and spectacle of the CGI, Fraser's cinematography, and Zimmer's score. From the moment we land on Arrakis and the ground shakes, we are in for the groundbreaking ride. It is everything I want in my big-budget sci-fi blockbuster. 

2. Sicario

"You will not survive here. You are not a wolf. And this is the land of wolves now."

If Heat (1995) has the most juice of any movie ever, Sicario is a close second. From the crossing-the-border sequence to infiltrating the cartel tunnels, this movie rocks from start to finish with heart-pounding set pieces. Emily Blunt stars as a DEA agent determined to strike back at the cartel. She barely survives a horrific cartel attack and wants real change, but what is the cost, or how far will you go? Any movie that asks our protagonist, "How far will you go?" I am so fucking in. The movie is shot cleanly, but the plot is murky and disgusting. You are fully pulled into this dark underbelly and can’t escape it. You are just put into a stranglehold by it. I can never forget to mention Benicio del Toro may give the best performance of his career; he sits idly by as this grim reaper, ready to pounce into the action. It's the most rewatchable movie on Denis Villienueve's list for me.

1. Blade Runner 2049

"Sometimes to love someone, you got to be a stranger."

We failed as a society when we allowed this to flop at the box office. This movie should not work. It is a legacy sequel almost 40 years after the original, and it might be even better than its original masterpiece. That's just unheard of. I love Top Gun Maverick as a legacy sequel, but there's a Grand Canyon gap between those two movies. Visually, this is what I believe to be Roger Deakins's best. Every shot's complexity and fidelity are jaw-dropping. The expansion of the mythos of the world of Blade Runner and what it means to be human is incredible. Gosling gives his absolute best and most subtle performance (aside from probably Drive) and carries this movie to new heights. His journey is so full of soul that it moves me to see him try to discover what a miracle is. Everyone here is firing on all cylinders, from the supporting cast and possibly some cast members' best performances, such as Dave Bautista, whose short time on screen is unbelievably memorable. An ending that genuinely leaves me shaking every time, and I was so delighted to have seen this in a theater last year to soak in this masterpiece. Blade Runner 2049 is undoubtedly one of the best movies of the 21st century. 

Thank you all for reading, and make sure to get your Dune Part 2 tickets ASAP!!!

Written by: Kevin J. Pettit