David Cronenberg's name is synonymous with body horror. He reinvented the genre and helped popularize it. Many modern-day horror movies reference his films, notably recent hits like The Substance. Having made over a dozen movies throughout his illustrious career, Cronenberg remains a key staple in the horror genre.
His works are often provocative, bold, and grotesque, creating cringe-inducing terror and disturbing content you won't find anywhere else. He's truly a visionary. Considering how many movies Cronenberg has directed throughout the decades, we've decided to highlight the top ten of his films and rank them from worst to best, though none are bad!
Crimes of the Future (2022)
Crimes of the Future is a unique film in Cronenberg's library, as he had previously made a different movie in 1970 with the same title. However, the two films are not related. The 2022 movie was Cronenberg's return to directing after an eight-year hiatus, as his previous film before it was 2014's Maps to the Stars.
Part body horror and part sci-fi horror, Crimes of the Future has a creative concept about humans adapting to a synthetic environment. Critics mostly enjoyed the film and its intense gore, but it doesn't reach the same heights as some of Cronenberg's best films.
The Dead Zone (1983)
Adapted from Stephen King's 1979 novel, The Dead Zone stars Christopher Walken as a teacher who wakes from a coma with psychic abilities that allow him to see a person's future via touch. It's a terrifying psychological thriller that leans more into the suspense than body horror, but Walken's performance alone makes this one worth a watch.
eXistenZ (1999)
Another science fiction movie from the late 1990s, eXistenZ, is a wild ride from start to finish about what happens when biomechanical engineering usurps electricity. It features a great cast, too, including Jennifer Jason Leigh, Jude Law, Ian Holm, Willem Dafoe, and more. Some have favorably compared the movie to The Matrix, albeit a lot grosser.
Naked Lunch (1991)
This surreal film is based on William S. Burrough's 1959 of the same name. It follows a pest exterminator who enjoys getting high on his own supply, so to speak, alongside his wife. It's a weird and transformative story, a little Kafkaesque, as we see the main character indulging in drugs that start causing him to hallucinate strange insect mutations. It's a pretty strange film and can be hard to follow sometimes, so it's best to just go along and enjoy the ride.
History of Violence (2005)
A History of Violence is slightly different from Cronenberg's other works as it is more of an action thriller, leaning away from the sci-fi body horror for which Cronenberg is known. It is based on a DC graphic novel and follows a diner owner after he disrupts a robbery and then has to contend with past enemies. The movie earned star William Hurt an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor, and the Academy also nominated Josh Olson for Best Screenplay.
Scanners (1981)
Another Canadian sci-fi film, Scanners, is about people with psychic abilities that allow them to use telepathy and telekinesis. The story centers on one such individual who can hear voices in his head due to his powers, resulting in him getting captured by a private military group. But when these scanners get together, they concoct a plan that could end the world. Scanners is one of Cronenberg's most memorable films because of its wild body horror, particularly one explosive scene.
Dead Ringers (1988)
A successful gynecologist named Elliot works alongside his twin, both played by Jeremy Irons. Elliot finds himself frequently enticed by his patients and often hands the women he dates to his identical brother, unbeknownst to the women involved.
But when one woman manages to deceive Elliot's brother, it causes him to spiral into madness. Dead Ringers is a chaotic and often dark tale. A brilliant psychological thriller, it's no wonder the movie recently got a more modern take with the Prime Video series of the same name starring Rachel Weisz.
Crash (1996)
Another cult classic, Crash, has earned its place as one of Cronenberg's all-time best movies. It's one of the most shocking and bold erotic thrillers ever made, an absolute adrenaline rush from start to finish. It follows an improbable group of people who become sexually excited by car crashes, leading to an intense tale of obsession. Cronenberg loves to experiment with the impact of technology on humanity, and Crash is a prime intersection of those ideals. It is based on J.G. Ballard's 1973 novel.
Videodrome (1983)
When people think of Cronenberg, Videodrome tends to be one of the most popular movies to come to mind, apart from the number one film on this list. It is set in Canada in the 1980s, following a CEO who stumbles upon a broadcast signal, leading to the discovery of creepy snuff films.
He learns that these are just the tipping point for a sinister conspiracy. Videodrome wound up being a box office bomb, but it received a lot more reassessment over the years and is now considered a cult classic. Many consider this one of the best movies in the body horror and sci-fi genres.
The Fly (1986)
The Fly is Cronenberg's magnum opus. It is one of the best horror movies ever made and certainly one of the genre's most influential body horror films. Since its 1986 release, The Fly has been parodied and referenced countless times, inspiring an entire generation of filmmakers.
The movie has a simple premise, featuring Jeff Goldblum as a scientist who gets in over his head when one of his experiments goes sideways and causes him to start mutating into a terrifying hybrid creature. A new movie set within The Fly universe is reportedly in the works from Nikyatu Jusu.