Every Denis Villeneuve movie ranked

Denis Villeneuve has firmly established himself as one of the greatest modern filmmakers, with a run of success to rival the best directors of all time. It’s not easy to separate each of his films, but I decided to rank all the Denis Villeneuve movies anyway. And, upon doing so, realized I can’t bring myself to watch his best ever again.

The world is starting to pay attention to Denis Villeneuve right now, thanks to his phenomenal work in bringing the world of Dune to the big screen.

His latest venture into the deserts of Arrakis with Dune 2 has been hailed as one of the best movies of 2024, and it’s making a killing at the box office, too.

But, I’m here to look at all 11 Denis Villeneuve movies. From his more modest beginnings in the Quebec indie scene, to the ethereal blockbusters of today, here’s what I discovered.

11. August 32nd on Earth (1998)

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As with most feature debuts, Denis Villeneuve’s first big screen effort is a little rough around the edges. August 32nd on Earth is the story of Simone, a young woman who, after surviving a car crash, decides she wants to have a baby with her best friend.

It’s an odd tale, but peculiar does not always equate to interesting. Sadly, August 32nd does find itself guilty of being a little bit slow and stilted at times. But, this was over 15 years ago, and Denis has improved a great deal since.

Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video

10. Maelstrom (2000)

Alliance Atlantis

Denis Villeneuve movies have never, and probably will never, be as weird as Maelstrom. Put simply, this film is told from the perspective of a magical, talking fish who bore witness to a hit-and-run and wants to share the story before he is gutted alive. Yeah, told you it was strange!

The culprit of the hit-and-run, Bibiane, inadvertently befriends Evian, the son of her victim and the pair become romantically involved as the former supports the latter through his grief, without revealing her role in the death. It’s an interesting story of fate, life, and death, but it’s just a little too bizarre and abstract for even the most eclectic of tastes.

Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video

9. Enemy (2013)

Entertainment One

What’s better than one Jake Gyllenhaal? That’s right, TWO! Villeneuve’s first English language effort is a mesmerizing and ambiguous dissection of identity, patriarchy, and deception. The story allows Gyllenhaal to thrive in the dual roles of Adam and Anthony, two men who lead two very different lives and become tangled up in each other’s webs.

Enemy is a film that requires repeat viewings, as there’s so much to take on board, particularly with the movie’s shocking and cerebral ending. If you like twists and teases, you’ll love Enemy. If you prefer films to give you clearer answers, you may find it a little frustrating.

Where to watch: Max

8. Polytechnique (2009)

Alliance Films

Villeneuve has never been one for the lighthearted approach, but Polytechnique is one of his darkest movies to date. Tackling the topic of school shootings and radicalized anti-feminism, this movie is still painfully relevant to this day.

Shot entirely in black and white, with claustrophobic framing and brutal sound design, Polytechnique feels more akin to a horror movie. It’s not for the faint of heart, but if you can stomach it, it’s likely to leave a profound impact.

Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video

7. Dune (2021)

Warner Bros.

Somehow, Denis succeeded where David Lynch failed, and allowed modern audiences to experience Arrakis like never before. Frank Herbert’s novels are incredibly dense, so Villeneuve decided to split things up and tell just the first half of the story here, but that breathing space works wonders.

The only downside is that Dune feels rather incomplete on its own, and the ending is less of a cliffhanger and more of a stepping stone, with no real climactic conclusion. Still, on a technical level, this is a genuine marvel.

Where to watch: Max

6. Dune 2 (2024)

Warner Bros.

Villeneuve’s new movie is even bigger and bolder than its predecessor. In our Dune 2 review, Cameron Frew describes the film as an “overwhelmingly immersive, ginormous experience that cannot be missed.” From the incredible cast firing on all cylinders, to the stunning visuals, and meticulous attention to detail, Dune 2 is truly a cinematic triumph.

But, there still remains the little niggles that the first film was guilty of. While the story is fascinating, it’s difficult to connect with the characters as they can often be lost amid the huge scope of Arrakis and the complex strands of the Atreides and Harkonnen families.

Where to watch: In cinemas now

5. Blade Runner 2049 (2017)

YouTube: Warner Bros. Pictures

Before he tackled Frank Herbert’s immense sci-fi world, Villeneuve added his unique touch to another iconic universe by creating a wonderful sequel to Blade Runner. The first movie is revered the world over, but Blade Runner 2049 does the unthinkable: it makes the original even better.

Ryan Gosling stars as K, a replicant who has been trained to hunt older models of his own species. However, when he uncovers a mystery that will change the world forever, he must choose between his duty and his conscience. Blade Runner 2049 is thematically rich, absolutely beautiful to look at, and incredibly entertaining.

Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video

4. Prisoners (2013)

Warner Bros.

You only have to look at the cast list here—which boasts the talents of Jake Gyllenhaal, Hugh Jackman, and Paul Dano—to know that Prisoners is going to be pretty damn good. In contrast to Villeneuve’s more recent fascination with the bright lights of science fiction, this detective thriller is gritty and grungy—more in-keeping with his earlier, foreign language work.

Gyllenhaal stars as Detective Loki, tasked with tracking down Keller Dover’s (Jackman) daughter after she is kidnapped. Full of shocking twists and disturbing moments, Prisoners is among that special breed of film where—even when you know the answers—the mystery remains riveting on each and every watch.

Where to watch: Netflix, Amazon Prime Video

3. Sicario (2015)

Lionsgate

Sicario came two years after Prisoners, but bears many of the same hallmarks: a stellar cast, a tense narrative, the sumptuous cinematography of Sir Roger Deakins, and the electrifying musical score of the late, great, Jóhann Jóhannsson.

Emily Blunt leads as Kate Macer, a special agent recruited to a new task force to track down and eliminate threats South of the border. What unfolds is a web of deception, corruption, and a lot of death—seriously, a lot.

Fun fact: this is actually a Taylor Sheridan movie, too. The Yellowstone king writing the script for this epic cartel thriller.

Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video

2. Arrival (2016)

Sony Pictures

Sandwiched between the bleak and bizarre, and Villeneuve’s more recent bombastic blockbusters, is Arrival. In adapting the novella, Story of Your Life, Villeneuve crafted the most poignant and emotional films of the last decade. Who would have thought an alien movie could make you cry? And yet, the tears most definitely will flow with this one.

Amy Adams stars as Louise Banks, a linguist tasked with communicating with extraterrestrials who land on Earth and finding out what they want from the human race. What she discovers pretty much amounts to an explanation on the meaning of life and the key to true happiness.

Arrival is not just a thought-provoking sci-fi drama, it also delivers brilliant alien and spaceship designs and a performance from Adams that was absolutely robbed by the Academy. Put simply, Arrival is perfection.

Where to watch: Paramount Plus

1. Incendies (2010)

Entertainment One

Here we are then: the best Denis Villeneuve movie. And, also, a movie I don’t think I could ever bring myself to endure ever again. One viewing is all it takes to realize you are witnessing something special, though.

It’s hard to explain the effect of Incendies without giving away the jaw-dropping twists in the narrative. Just know that when I watched it for the first (and only) time, I physically couldn’t move by the time the credits rolled. It’s a slow burn epic, a trail of breadcrumbs you are terrified to follow, and when you do, you find something far more shocking and bleak than you ever feared to imagine.

Incendies follows Jeanne and Simon, as they untangle the life of their deceased mother, Nawal, and learn more about the promise she failed to keep. The twins are asked to track down their father, and their long-lost, secret brother, to deliver a letter to both. When they find them, their worlds are irreparably shattered.

Incendies really should have won the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film in 2011. To this day, it really should be talked about more, too. Although, I quite like the idea that Denis Villeneuve’s dark and dirty secret is something people discover in their own time.

Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video

There you have it, all of the Denis Villeneuve movies ranked. Plus, a discussion on why Incendies is a film you’ll watch once and then never want to see again. If you want more from Villeneuve’s creations, check out our guides on the Dune 2 filming locations, what we know about Dune 3, and a rundown of the Dune gaming crossovers.

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