French-Canadian director Denis Villeneuve is known for his important works in the sci-fi and thriller genres. From the chaotic US-Mexico border to the treacherous deserts of Arrakis, the acclaimed director, producer, and screenwriter has taken audiences through a variety of gripping worlds throughout the years.
With the recent release of Villeneuve’s latest movie, Dune, it’s the perfect time to look back at some of his works to see how they stack against the epic sci-fi film. The fans from Letterboxd have weighed in and rated the director’s works, judging each of Villeneuve’s feature films from a scale of one to five.
Maelström (2000) - 3.2
Maelström follows the story of a troubled part-time model who kills someone in a hit-and-run. A series of strange events bring her and the victim’s son together and the two become romantically involved. The most peculiar part of the psychological drama is that the entire story is narrated by a fish waiting for its turn on the butcher’s block.
While most viewers gave Maelström 3 stars (30%), it’s only a small difference from those who rated it higher at 4 stars (27%). The film has been criticized for its brisk pace and for some, the fantasy and comedic elements just don’t work. Fans who did enjoy it highlight its thoughtful portrayal of grief and guilt, praising Villeneuve for his ability to capture human emotionality on the big screen.
August 32nd On Earth (1998) - 3.2
A car accident causes the photo model Simone to reconsider her priorities in August 32nd on Earth. She believes that having a baby will give her life meaning, so she asks her closest friend Philippe to get her pregnant. The pair go on a road trip to find the best spot to conceive Simone’s future child and discover more about each other in the process.
The majority of fans gave the film a 3-star rating (35%), with some pointing out that since the movie is Villeneuve’s directorial debut, it isn’t as polished as his later works. The pacing is incredibly slow and the plot is nothing too special. That said, it still has some entertaining moments and visually stunning shots that eventually become characteristic of the director’s more iconic movies.
Enemy (2013) - 3.7
Enemy revolves around the puzzling story of Adam Bell, a college professor whose life is turned upside down when he discovers he has a doppelganger. The two look exactly alike, but that’s where the similarities end. Things escalate quickly and culminate in one of Villeneuve’s best cinematic moments when the look-alikes finally confront each other.
Most Letterboxd users give Enemy a high rating of 4 stars (33%), in large part due to the psychological thriller's unexpected and somewhat confusing plot. The fact that it veers away from what's typically seen in movies of that genre is a source of contention among fans, with some praising the film for its ambiguity and others criticizing it for its lack of clarity.
Polytechnique (2009) - 3.7
Polytechnique is a drama film based on the tragic Montreal Massacre that happened back in 1989. The movie features two student protagonists who watch in horror as a gunman murders fourteen women.
Most fans give the film 4 stars (34%) and praise Villeneuve for being able to show the senseless violence behind the heartbreaking event. While some may criticize its lack of a clear lesson, it’s important to note that the central message could be the students’ experience itself as they struggle to navigate the absurd events around them.
Sicario (2015) - 3.9
Sicario is a Denis Villeneuve crime movie fans can watch over and over again without it losing its hard-hitting effect on fans. It tells the story of an FBI agent who finds herself in the middle of one of the most violent aspects of the war on drugs that leads her to question everything she knows.
Most viewers give it a high rating of 4 stars (37%), thanks to its suspenseful and raw portrayal of the drug war. The protagonist’s transformation from an idealistic agent determined to contribute to her country into a jaded worker who has faced traumatic experiences in the field is painful to watch. It’s a moving and unique representation of the horrors people see every day on the frontlines not too far from their homes.
Arrival (2016) - 4.1
The film Arrival follows the linguist Louise Banks as she becomes among the first to discover how to communicate with extraterrestrial life. Tensions are high and Louise is under pressure to figure out what the aliens want before countries decide to wage war on the mysterious beings.
The film has an original take on aliens that are far too often represented on the big screen as malevolent creatures. It received mostly positive ratings on Letterboxd, with the majority of fans giving it 4 stars (31%) and some rating it with a perfect score (25%). Arrival has been applauded for its gorgeous visuals and exploration of themes like memory and connection. It’s a haunting sci-fi film that focuses more on being thought-provoking rather than providing shock value.
Blade Runner 2049 (2017) - 4.1
Officer K finds himself in the unfortunate position of uncovering a secret that could destroy society in Blade Runner 2049. This prompts him to go on a quest to search for the long-lost blade runner, Rick Deckard, who was once an esteemed officer of the LAPD.
Blade Runner 2049 is a gorgeous sci-fi movie that has been applauded for its striking visuals and thrilling plot. Letterboxd users are divided between giving it a 4 or 5-star rating, with both scores at 27% at the time of publishing. The film improves upon the original in many ways, expanding the dystopian world and delving deeper into the stories of the replicants. It’s a sequel that lives up to the impossibly high standards set by the 1982 cult classic, Blade Runner.
Dune (2021) - 4.1
Based on Frank Herbert’s 1965 novel of the same name, Villeneuve's Dune thrusts audiences into a whole new world seen through the young royal heir, Paul Atreides’ eyes. Everyone is on guard as a crucial transition of power takes place in the Imperium, with Paul’s family right in the center of the political turmoil.
Dune has beautiful shots, unforgettable characters, and a compelling plot, which is why it has predictably earned high ratings across different sites. Most fans on Letterboxd have given it a score of 4 stars (29%), with some opting for 4.5 (25%), and others awarding it a perfect rating of 5 (20%). These scores may still change considering how the film only debuted in September of this year. That said, any adjustment will likely trend towards more positive ratings, as the epic sci-fi movie continues to receive wide acclaim for its groundbreaking adaptation of the popular book series.
Prisoners (2013) - 4.2
When two young girls are abducted from their Pennsylvania home in Prisoners, their father Keller Dover is enraged by the police’s actions. He gets tired of watching from the sidelines as law enforcement detain and release suspects, opting to take matters into his own hands.
The thriller movie is Villeneuve’s first foray into directing English-language feature films. It receives mostly high ratings from fans, with most viewers giving it a score of 4 stars (34%). Audiences laud its dreary and bleak tone that works perfectly with its intense plot, keeping viewers on the edge of their seats from start to finish.
Incendies (2010) - 4.3
Incendies revolves around the story of two grieving twins, Jeanne and Simon, who discover more about their deceased mother’s complex history by traveling to her home in a Middle Eastern country. Things become even more complicated along the way, as the protagonists experience firsthand what it’s like to live in a country torn apart by a violent civil war.
The haunting and raw depiction of the brutal effects of war contrasted with the purity of a mother’s love is jarring, to say the least. Villeneuve’s top-rated film on Letterboxd receives high scores, with some fans giving it 4 stars (28%), others awarding it 4.5 stars (27%), and a sizeable portion rating it as a perfect movie (28%). Incendies is perhaps the director’s most powerful work that doesn’t shy away from highlighting the harsh realities of war and hatred. It’s an unforgettable film that sends an impactful message that stays with fans long after they’ve left the movie theaters.