David Fincher's Films: Ranked

Fincher is one of Hollywood's go-to guys when it comes to thrillers, however, he has also proven to that he can be great when he steps outside of that. Before he returns to the director's chair for his next film, a biopic about the screenwriter behind Citizen Kane which will star Gary Oldman, let's take a look back at his films.

"I hope you fall in love with this camera, because we're going to use it ALL...DAY...LONG..."

10. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2)

The only film of his that I consider...well...boring. Anyways, I find the film as just a lesser version of Forrest Gump. Pitts' really just in the film, the special effects are quite distracting, and...that's about it. I'll admit I haven't seen this since the early 2010s, but I've never found a good reason to revisit the film. Blanchetts' pretty good though.

9. Panic Room (3.5)

A "b-movie" of sorts from Fincher, I found this thriller to be entertaining enough, but never anything quite special. Jodie Foster is good as Meg Altman, as we see her and her character's daughter (a pre-Twilight Kristen Stewart) fend off a group of thieves who try to steal millions of dollars in a safe that she and her daughter had recently moved into. The thieves are also more memorable than I expected them to be, with the fastidious Junior (Jared Leto), the conflicted Burnham (Forest Whitaker) and the cool-as-cucumber Raoul (Dwight Yoakam). Nothing too notable, but there are worse ways to kill a couple of hours.

8. The Game (3.5)

Interchangeable with Panic Room, but I didn't mind watching this thriller. Michael Douglas stars as investment banker Nicholas Van Orton, who hardly pays attention to his family and friends. His brother Conrad (Sean Penn) then presents him with an unusual gift- a "game" offered by a mysterious company.

There's some entertainment to be had here, as it can be fun to guess what's real and what isn't in the film. The film is full of twists and turns, and Michael Douglas is very good as Nicholas, as we see him pull off a Gekko-esque banker in the beginning of the film, whilst he anchors the plots' revelations as he loses a grip on what's real and what isn't. Nothing all that special, but it works enough as a showcase for Douglas.

7. Alien 3 (4)

A film that I thought was better than expected, although Fincher would strongly disagree. Sigourney Weaver reprises her most iconic role in the third film of the Alien franchise. The film has a lot of good things to offer: Weaver taking Ripley to new places in the colony where the film is set, a palatable atmosphere that you can sense from Fincher even if you can somewhat notice the studio interference, and also, a great supporting cast.

I think the film also takes an interesting approach in regards to Weavers' character, as we see her placed against a setting that forces her to take the concept of mortality in the end. With that said, I think Fincher could've delivered something truly special if he had been left to his own devices, and maybe he might've been if this had been his 2nd or 3rd film. Nevertheless, it is still a solid horror film.

(I'm referring to the Assembly Cut btw).

6. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (4)

A solid mystery thriller that is very admirably anchored by Rooney Mara in her breakthrough role as Lisbeth Salamander, where she manages to make her mark on a character that was previously portrayed by Noomi Rapace. Daniel Craig proves that he is an effective leading man after becoming best known for James Bond, and Stellan Skarsgaard, Robin Wright & Christopher Plummer are also good in supporting roles...maybe a little too good in Skarsgaards' case. The film is sharply edited and many of the scenes can be described as memorable. Again, a solid thriller that I'd consider better than the ones above, but not much more than that.

5. Fight Club (4)

Ahh Fight Club...what do I make of you? I'll start off by saying that I'm not a huge fan of the film, however, I do find it to be an intriguing one. The film has a lot of things to say about society in general, with the main topic being masculinity. This being illustrated through the dynamic of The Narrator (Edward Norton), Marla (Helena Bonham Carter), and the iconic Tyler Durden (you-know-who). The film shows that the titular fight club is really just a foolish endeavor for men to try to prove their masculinity, along with the other acts of rebellion, or should I say, Project Mayhem. I also find the film quite humorous, and it helps in trying to get the satire of the film across.

Edward Norton is great as The Narrator, and Bonham Carter is memorable, but sometimes I struggle between thinking if Pitt is either just good or great as Tyler Durden. Nevertheless, it is a film that I do like, and I do want to get that across before anyone's head explodes from me not loving it.

4. Gone Girl (4)

Again, this one is more-or-less interchangeable with Fight Club, however, I do quite like this psychological, Hitchcockian thriller from David Fincher. Ben Affleck is very good as Nick Dunne, as he tries to prove his innocence after being blamed for the disappearance of his wife Amy (Rosamund Pike in one of her best performances). The film also has several...*ahem*...memorable scenes and overall I found it to be effective. Plus, Tyler Perry, of all people, is a hoot as a Saul-Goodmanesque lawyer that tries to defend Nick (yes, I know what types of films he usually makes, but it's quite amusing to see him in this one).

Something that I like about the film is the satirical elements that can be found, such as the media who tries to control the story in anyway they can, dishonesty in relationships, and superficiality, among others. All of those are interwoven naturally within the plot of the film, and work to create an entertaining thriller with a bit more on its mind.

3. Zodiac (5)

It's been a LONG time since I've seen this one, but I find Zodiac to be a truly great film, and one could argue it as Finchers' best directed. As you may know, Zodiac follows a group of reporters as they try to figure out the identity of the titular killer, as we also see a POV from the killer himself in 60s/70s California.

Fincher once again creates a terrific atmosphere, as he finds a way to make the investigation aspect of the film intriguing, as well as creating a sense of dread throughout the entire film. Not to mention that you will find one of the scariest scenes in recent memory in this film, and that's without including a supernatural element. The cast is also terrific, as it's anchored by the sardonic Paul Avery (Robert Downey Jr.), the very determined Dave Toschi (Mark Ruffalo) and the enthusiastic-turned-obsessive Robert Grayson (Jake Gyllenhaal). We get to know these gentlemen as people. Anthony Edwards, Brian Cox, Elias Koteas and especially John Carroll Lynch are all great in supporting roles.

My only slight complaint about the film is that it does feel like it goes a bit too long, however, that has more to do with me watching when I had less patience for lengthy films. A re-watch could bump this film up the list, but either way, it's a great film.

2. Seven (5)

Another great thriller from Fincher, and one that's deserved its memorable and iconic status. Se7en, to be more accurate, follows the young David Mills (Brad Pitt) and the close-to-retirement William Somerset (Morgan Freeman) as two detectives in a grimy American city who attempt to pursue the serial killer who carries out his murders in accordance to the seven sins.

Brad Pitt delivers one of his best early-career performances as the determined detective, as he makes Mills someone that the audience can relate with as he tries to solve the case along with Somerset. I don't even mind the faults of his last scene, as the pros of his performance more than make up for it. Morgan Freeman is also great and kind-of-underrated as the veteran detective who carries the emotional core of the film quite well, as many of the best reactions in the films' climax belong to him. Past that, the actor who plays John Doe is very unforgettable and manages to create a lot of complexity in his limited screen time, as well as delivering one of the memorable yells in film history: "DETECTIVE!"

Fincher once again delivers a great sense of atmosphere in the stylized, dreary American city where the film takes place. He also has a good grip on the main action scene in the film, that being the main chase of John Doe, as well as the climax, which is one of the best you'll ever see in film. Past that, Fincher also manages to find the emotional core and the required nuance to make this film something quite memorable that would elevated the film to something way more than a B-type thriller.

1. The Social Network (5)

One of the greatest accomplishments in recent film history, The Social Network follows the rise of Facebook in its early days as well as its growth. David Fincher manages to make what could've been tedious in another director's hands, and he manages to show the founding of a social media website quite fascinating.

The performances here are quite terrific, with a career-best Jesse Eisenberg as the calculating Mark Zuckerberg, a pre-Spidey Andrew Garfield as the heart of the film, a breakthrough Armie Hammer as the dignified Winklevoss twins, and Justin Timberlake former-hotshot-who-still-thinks-he-is Sean Parker. Rooney Mara is also good as Zuckerbergs' ex-girlfriend.

The film has many great scenes that go further to make the film quite dynamic in its structure. Take the framing device of the deposition between the Winklevii twins/Eduardo Suaverin and Zuckerberg. The device works in creating animosity among the different parties, as we get to see the different developments that resulted in Zuckerberg being sued with the Winklevoss claiming that the idea for Facebook was stolen from them while Suaverin suing for his shares in the company being diluted.
Take the rowing scenes, as Fincher & Hammer make the sport something quite invigorating as we get a closer look at the lives of the Winklevoss twins besides just seeing them as a plot device.

Aside from the plot and the performances, the technical elements of the film are quite remarkable, with a score that adds to the coldness of the films' relationships, while also being rather energetic in the scenes that show the rise of Facebook. The film is also sharply edited, as the aforementioned deposition works very well as a back-and-forth framing device that goes hand-in-hand with the rise of Facebook.

I haven't even mentioned the script by Aaron Sorkin, as it is a perfect fit for Finchers' style. Sorkins' writing can (and usually is) rough around the edges and quite frankly, indulgent. Here, Fincher manages to smooth over Sorkins' usual faults, and manages to make the dialogue hit harder without being blunt at the same time. It's a delicate balance that Fincher aces quite successfully.

A masterpiece of a film that only grows stronger in my mind the more I think about it.


P.S. *Glares at Tom Hooper*

P.S.S. I wonder if we'll get a sequel one of these days, because there sure is the material for one...


What is your favorite Fincher film? Your least favorite? Answer off in the comments below!