Buzz
Edgar Wright, the director of Shaun of the Dead, recently revealed his personal list of 1000 all-time favorite films. While the majority of his picks align with what you'd expect from a passionate cinephile and filmmaker—movies that are groundbreaking (Buster Keaton’s The General), iconic (the revolutionary Citizen Kane), and masterfully crafted (Alfred Hitchcock’s Vertigo)—some of his selections are genuinely surprising, as seen with the nine films listed below.
1. BATMAN: THE MOVIE (1966)
In 1966, Batman: The Movie was created to drum up worldwide interest in the TV series it was based on. Released just two months after the first season ended, the film helped bridge the gap between seasons one and two. It's a campy, lighthearted take on the Dark Knight, and it's fun to see that it made its way onto Wright’s list of favorites.
2. DARK STAR (1974)
Dark Star marks John Carpenter’s directorial debut, co-written with Dan O’Bannon during their time as film students at USC in the early '70s. With an incredibly tight budget, the film still manages to deliver a unique take on the genre, centering on a crew of space truckers. O’Bannon went on to contribute to Star Wars and penned the original Alien script, while Carpenter’s future works include genre-defining films like
3. STREETS OF FIRE (1984)
Streets of Fire kicks off with the tagline, “A Rock & Roll Fable in Another Time, Another Place,” setting the stage for a gritty tale of rival biker gangs and street thugs clashing over the fate of Ellen Aim, the lead singer of The Attackers (played by Diane Lane). Though it’s a fun, pulpy movie, it’s still a bit surprising to find a film like Streets of Fire on anyone’s list of top films. It also went on to inspire numerous “Beat 'em Up” video games in the 1980s, including Double Dragon.
4. THROW MOMMA FROM THE TRAIN (1987)
Danny DeVito not only directed but also starred alongside Billy Crystal and the late Anne Ramsey, who portrayed the infamous Momma, in Throw Momma From The Train. This film draws inspiration from Alfred Hitchcock’s Strangers on a Train, which also made its way onto Edgar Wright’s list of favorite films.
5. RIKI-OH: THE STORY OF RICKY (1991)
Riki-Oh: The Story of Ricky is arguably the most over-the-top film on Wright’s list. This outrageously violent martial arts thriller from Hong Kong boasts some of the most hilariously ridiculous fight scenes and death sequences in cinema. Be warned: It’s definitely not for the faint of heart.
6. STARSHIP TROOPERS (1997)
Starship Troopers is one of Paul Verhoeven’s most underappreciated works. Often lumped into the “so bad, it’s good” or “guilty pleasure” categories, it’s arguably a misunderstood satire that critiques war, fascism, and nationalism.
7. HOT ROD (2007)
When Hot Rod hit theaters in the summer of 2007, it received a mix of negative and lukewarm reviews from both critics and audiences. However, over time, it has gained a dedicated cult following, thanks in large part to the rising popularity of The Lonely Island. Wright, it seems, was ahead of the curve on this one.
8. CRANK: HIGH VOLTAGE (2009)
Crank: High Voltage also received its share of mixed reviews upon its 2009 release. While the sequel brought more of the same wild antics for its lead character to survive, it didn’t quite match the thrill of the original. Nevertheless, it remains a wildly entertaining ride with Chev Chelios (Jason Statham).
9. THE COUNSELOR (2013)
In 2013, Ridley Scott directed a film adapted from Cormac McCarthy’s screenplay. The Counselor boasted an impressive cast, including Michael Fassbender, Penélope Cruz, Cameron Diaz, Javier Bardem, and Brad Pitt. Despite this, it found itself on numerous 'worst movies of the year' lists, including TIME Magazine’s. Perhaps Wright sees something in The Counselor that critics missed.
