Robert Zemeckis is one of the premier blockbuster directors of the 1980s and 1990s and, to a lesser extent, the 21st century. His success can be measured on almost every measure: box office dollars, awards, artistic accomplishment, and technical innovation. After some glorious and innovative work in the late 20th century, he spent much of the aughts on awkward motion capture work, before returning to a more conventional yet introspective form in the 2010s.
Rankings
Chronological
- I Wanna Hold Your Hand (1978) (Good)
- Used Cars (1980) (Good) – (podcast)
- Romancing the Stone (1984) (Good)
- Back to the Future (1985) (Masterpiece: Tour De Good)
- Who Framed Roger Rabbit? (1988) (Exceptionally Good)
- Back to the Future Part II (1989) (Very Good)
- Back to the Future Part III (1990) (Very Good)
- Death Becomes Her (1992) (Very Good)
- Forrest Gump (1994) (Good)
- Contact (1997) (Exceptionally Good)
- What Lies Beneath (2000) (Very Good)
- Cast Away (2000) (Exceptionally Good)
- The Polar Express (2004) (Not Good)
- Beowulf (2007) (Not Good)
- A Christmas Carol (2009) (Nearly Good) – (podcast)
- Flight (2012) (Good)
- The Walk (2015) (Very Good)
- Allied (2016) (Very Good)
- Welcome to Marwen (2018) (Good)
- The Witches (2020) (Not Very Good)
- Pinocchio (2022) (Very Not Good)
- Here (2024) (Very Good)
By Rating
Masterpiece: Tour De Good (8/8)
Exceptionally Good (7/8)
Very Good (6/8)
- Back to the Future Part II (1989)
- Back to the Future Part III (1990)
- Death Becomes Her (1992)
- What Lies Beneath (2000)
- The Walk (2015)
- Allied (2016)
- Here (2024)
Good (5/8)
- I Wanna Hold Your Hand (1978)
- Used Cars (1980) – (podcast)
- Romancing the Stone (1984)
- Forrest Gump (1994)
- Flight (2012)
- Welcome to Marwen (2018)
Nearly Good (4/8)
Not Very Good (3/8)
Not Good (2/8)
Very Not Good (1/8)
Not Seen / Not Rated
- n/a
Last Updated
- 1/1/2025
Review Index
- Review Series: Robert Zemeckis
Dan is the founder and head critic of The Goods. Follow Dan on Letterboxd. Join the Discord for updates and discussion.