Denis Villeneuve has gradually emerged as one of the most exciting big-budget directors of the past fifteen years. Few directors of the past generation have so successfully translated a rising reputation and budget into proportionally impressive cinematic scope, especially as the industry shifts towards TV and smaller screens.
Villeneuve’s career began in the Quebecois film industry with a series of self-penned, idiosyncratic movies where he built his chops. In Hollywood, the sophistication of the scripts he’s picked have often failed to match the grandeur and force of his direction. But he brings a sweep to his films that’s hard to pin down and replicate, an admirable ambition to every story he tells.
Rankings
Chronological
- August 32nd on Earth (1998) (Good)
- Maelstrom (2000) (Good)
- Polytechnique (2009) (Not Very Good)
- Incendies (2010) (Very Good)
- Prisoners (2013) (Good)
- Enemy (2013) (Nearly Good)
- Sicario (2015) (Good)
- Arrival (2016) (Very Good)
- Blade Runner 2049 (2017) (Exceptionally Good)
- Dune (2021) (Good)
- Dune: Part Two (2024) (Very Good)
By Rating
Exceptionally Good (7/8)
Very Good (6/8)
Good (5/8)
Nearly Good (4/8)
Not Very Good (3/8)
Last Updated
- 9/27/24
Review Index
| Title | Date | Film Year | Director | Is It Good | Tags |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dune: Part Two (2024) | 05/14/2024 | 2024 | Villeneuve, Denis | 6 | New Release, Denis Villeneuve, 2024 |
| Dune (2021) | 05/08/2024 | 2021 | Villeneuve, Denis | 5 | Denis Villeneuve |
| Blade Runner 2049 (2017) | 04/25/2024 | 2017 | Villeneuve, Denis | 7 | Denis Villeneuve |
| Arrival (2016) | 04/08/2024 | 2016 | Villeneuve, Denis | 6 | Denis Villeneuve |
| Sicario (2015) | 04/05/2024 | 2015 | Villeneuve, Denis | 5 | Denis Villeneuve |
| Enemy (2013) | 04/03/2024 | 2013 | Villeneuve, Denis | 4 | Denis Villeneuve |
| Prisoners (2013) | 03/25/2024 | 2013 | Villeneuve, Denis | 5 | Denis Villeneuve |
| Incendies (2010) | 03/21/2024 | 2010 | Villeneuve, Denis | 6 | Denis Villeneuve |
| Polytechnique (2009) | 03/18/2024 | 2009 | Villeneuve, Denis | 3 | Denis Villeneuve |
| Maelstrom (2000) | 03/17/2024 | 2000 | Villeneuve, Denis | 5 | Denis Villeneuve |
| August 32nd on Earth (1998) | 03/15/2024 | 1998 | Villeneuve, Denis | 5 | Denis Villeneuve |
Dan is the founder and head critic of The Goods. Follow Dan on Letterboxd. Join the Discord for updates and discussion.