Ranking the Films of Darren Aronofsky

Darren Aronofsky is a master filmmaker in my eyes. Not only has he never made a bad film yet, to me at least, they’re among the titles that I’ve thought about the most over the years. An Aronofsky flick is a cinematic feast, which is why he’s one of a handful of my favorite directors.With Caught Stealing now in theaters, it feels like time to pay tribute to his work so far and rank his movies. So, that’s exactly what I’m doing.

In my review of Caught Stealing (here), I said the following about Aronofsky’s direction:

Director Darren Aronofsky is relishing the New York of it all here, which papers over how thin some of the script by Charlie Huston (adapting his own novel of the same name) is. That’s the main drawback here, in that Huston’s story is both silly and serious, without quite meshing as well as it should. One can argue that it should either be even lighter and have a few less upsetting deaths, or lean into the bleakness of it all a bit more. I loved the funnier elements, so I don’t necessarily want it to get darker, but it does feel like tonal whiplash at times. The thrill here is watching Aronofsky folic in NYC, armed with cinematography from frequent collaborator Matthew Libatique and a score once again from Rob Simonsen.

Previously, when I reviewed The Whale (here) at the Toronto International Film Festival, I had this to say about his work:

Director Darren Aronofsky purposefully keeps the adaptation of Samuel D. Hunter‘s play (which Hunter adapted himself) as stagey as possible. Aronofsky’s testament to empathy and redemption shatters you, before putting you back together. To do so, you need to be in tight with Charlie and his small circle. Cinematographer Matthew Libatique is up close on Fraser’s face, taking in how he takes his abuse. The home it all takes place in is dark, and kept dark, until light finally is able to shine through. The score by Rob Simonsen is also very much on point, knowing exactly when to come in strong for maximum emotional effectiveness. Aronofsky is a master, so his gambit easily pays off, even if it’s a bit jarring at the start.

Below, you can see my Aronofsky ranking. I’m in the minority here, I realize, but I think The Fountain is his masterpiece, and not only his best film, but a movie I rank among my all-time favorites. Next in line for me would be The Wrestler and Requiem for a Dream, followed by Black Swan. Bringing up the rear is Noah, and even that flick I find fascinating. Where does Caught Stealing rank? Find out next…

Here now is my ranking of the films of Darren Aronofsky. Behold:

9. Noah

8. Pi

7. Caught Stealing

6. mother!

5. The Whale

4. Black Swan

3. Requiem for a Dream

2. The Wrestler

1. The Fountain

What is your favorite film from Darren Aronofsky? Let us know!