David Fincher is widely recognized as one of the most important directors of his generation and is known for his work on thriller genre films.
Initially, Fincher began his career by directing music videos and later made his film debut in the 1990s with the film “Alien 3” (1992). In a short time he achieved his first great success, both with critics and the public, with “Seven” (1995).
Since then, David Fincher has consolidated his position as one of the most influential directors in the American film industry, gaining recognition from the general public.
With this in mind, the has listed the 10 best films by David Fincher, evaluated by specialized critics. The order was established on the basis of the average of the scores attributed by the main film review aggregators and specialized websites.
What are David Fincher’s best films?
10 – Panic Room (Panic Room, 2002)
One of the more modest films in David Fincher’s filmography, “Panic Room”, received generally favorable reviews and performed well at the box office in theaters. The film is a thriller starring Jodie Foster, Kristen Stewart, Forest Whitaker, Dwight Yoakam and Jared Leto.
The film focuses on the tense moments of a mother and daughter who hide in a reinforced safe room when a group of bandits invades their house.
available for rental or purchase on Amazon Prime Video, Google Play Movies & TV, and Apple TV.
9 – The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008)
The adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s short story “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” received modest praise from critics. Fincher received an Oscar nomination for best director for this work. The production stars Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett and also stars Taraji P. Henson, Mahershala Ali, Julia Ormond, Jason Flemyng, Elias Koteas and Tilda Swinton.
In the story, Benjamin Button (Brad Pitt) is born with a rare disease: he begins his life as an old man and, as time passes, becomes physically younger. The work follows the extraordinary case of Benjamin and his meetings and disagreements with Daisy (Cate Blanchett).
available for Amazon Prime Video subscribers.
8 – Living at the game (The Game, 1997)
Despite receiving praise from most critics upon its release, “Vidas em Jogo” failed to match the box office success of “Seven,” the director’s previous work. However, over time, the film has acquired cult status and is considered one of the most underrated films in the director’s filmography by his fans.
Michael Douglas plays a lonely and successful banker. However, his monotonous routine changes when his brother (Sean Penn) gives him an unusual birthday present: participating in a game that strangely merges with his life. As the experience develops, the lines between what’s real and what’s part of the game become increasingly blurred.
available to Netflix and Telecine subscribers.
7 – Mank (2020)
A biographical drama that fictionalizes real events, “Mank” portrays behind the scenes of the Hollywood film industry in its classic period. The plot focuses on screenwriter Herman J. Mankiewicz and his journey in writing the screenplay for Citizen Kane, a film by Orson Welles, considered one of the best in the history of cinema.
The film features Gary Oldman as Mankiewicz and features a renowned cast, including Amanda Seyfried, Lily Collins, Arliss Howard, Tom Pelphrey, among others. David Fincher received an Oscar nomination for directing him.
available to Netflix subscribers.
6 – Millennium: The Men Who Didn’t Like Women (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, 2011)
A thriller that adapts Stieg Larsson’s famous novel, this dark and mysterious film received critical praise when it was released in theaters. Daniel Craig and Rooney Mara star in the production, which also stars Christopher Plummer, Stellan Skarsgård and Robin Wright.
The plot follows Mikael Blomkvist (Daniel Craig), an investigative journalist, and Lisbeth Salander (Rooney Mara), an exceptional hacker, as they investigate the disappearance of a young girl more than three decades ago.
available to Netflix, HBO Max, Amazon Prime Video and Paramount+ subscribers.
5 – Fight Club (Fight Club, 1999)
One of the prime examples of a cult film, “Fight Club” divided critical opinion upon its release. Additionally, the film did not live up to the studio’s expectations at the box office. However, over the years, the work was reevaluated and gained enormous prestige among most of the media in general.
Adapted from the novel by Chuck Palahniuk, the film stars Edward Norton, Brad Pitt and Helena Bonham Carter. In the plot, a depressed man disillusioned with consumer society (Edward Norton) meets Tyler Durden (Brad Pitt), a charismatic boy with a detached and impulsive attitude. Together, they form a fight club to release their emotional frustrations.
available to Netflix, HBO Max, Amazon Prime Video and Star+ subscribers.
4 – Weeks (1995)
Known for its final twist that left many viewers shocked, “Se7en” received critical acclaim and surprised at the box office when it opened in theaters. Several specialized media classify this film as one of the best thrillers of the 90s.
Morgan Freeman and Brad Pitt play two homicide detectives who investigate a series of murders committed by a serial killer. The criminal “signs” his crimes based on the seven deadly sins. The cast also includes Gwyneth Paltrow and Kevin Spacey.
available to HBO Max subscribers.
3 – Zodiaco (Zodiaco, 2007)
For many David Fincher fans, “Zodiac” is his greatest masterpiece. The work is based on the non-fiction books by Robert Graysmith, a writer and cartoonist known for his work on the Zodiac Killer case. The film focuses on the real-life investigation of murders that occurred in the San Francisco Bay Area in the 1960s and 1970s.
Jake Gyllenhaal plays Robert Graysmith and the cast also includes Mark Ruffalo and Robert Downey Jr.
available to HBO Max subscribers.
2 – Gone Girl (2014)
A success among audiences and critics, “Gone Girl” struck the general public with its unpredictable twists. The film is based on the best-selling book of the same name by Gillian Flynn and stars Ben Affleck and Rosamund Pike. She received widespread acclaim for her performance and an Oscar nomination for Best Actress. The cast also includes Neil Patrick Harris and Tyler Perry.
In the story, Amy (Rosamund Pike) mysteriously disappears on her fifth wedding anniversary. This triggers a police investigation and attracts media attention. As the investigation progresses, suspicion begins to fall on her husband (Ben Affleck). As the film progresses, elements are revealed that defy audience expectations.
available to Netflix, HBO Max, Amazon Prime Video and Star+ subscribers.
1 – The Social Network (The Social Network, 2010)
Widely praised by critics, “The Social Network” is recognized by many film experts as one of the best films of the 2010s and 21st century. The film features a screenplay written by Aaron Sorkin and portrays the creation of Facebook, highlighting the conflicts, the betrayals, legal disputes and fights that occurred in the process of developing this social network.
Jesse Eisenberg plays Mark Zuckerberg, who in the film is described as cold and ambitious. Andrew Garfield, Justin Timberlake, Armie Hammer and Max Minghella make up the cast.
available to Netflix and HBO Max subscribers.
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Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.
