Though he began as special effects and concept artist for films by the likes of George Lucas and Steven Spielberg, Joe Johnston went on to direct movies himself, utilizing his keen eye for visuals. Through over thirty years of his career, Joe Johnston has created a wide variety of films with different styles and genres.

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From action-packed adventures to Victorian-era horror to even superhero films, Joe Johnston has proven to be a rather diverse filmmaker. The question is, which films directed by Joe Johnston are his best? This means going beyond the movies written or produced by him, along with Star Wars where he did visual effects.

The Wolfman (2010) - 5.8

Lawrence Talbot in mid-transformation in The Wolfman (2010)

Joe Johnston put his stamp on this classic Universal monster by faithfully recreating the gothic horror setting of the original movie while updating the story with modern special effects, both digital and practical. It tells a similar tale of a man transforming into a werewolf but with much more R-rated gore added as well as some twists and turns.

Critics and audiences were initially not fond of this reboot of the classic monster but The Wolfman has earned a cult following and has been deemed underrated by fans with praise for the R-rated violence, Benicio Del Toro's performance as the Wolfman, and its loyalty to the classic Universal style. Sadly, The Wolfman was a box office flop due to an over-inflated budget.

Not Safe For Work (2014) - 5.8

Tom hiding from the Killer in Not Safe For Work

Dialing back from his blockbuster movies, Joe Johnston made a smaller film with a simple concept: a worker is stuck in a building with a killer on the loose. Soon the killer begins picking off late-night workers one by one as the audience follows the main character as he tries to avoid and stop the killer.

Not Safe For Work was given mixed reviews due to its unoriginal concept that mixed Die Hard with a slasher film. However, other critics praised the tension as well as the performances of the actors, resulting in an average-rated thriller.

Jurassic Park III (2001) - 5.9

Dr. Alan Grant surrounded by the Raptor Pack in Jurassic Park III

The third chapter of the Jurassic Park/World franchise has become somewhat infamous for its troubled production with the script constantly changing even while it was being filmed. While there are aspects praised such as the villainous Spinosaurus and a still strong performance by Sam Neill as Alan Grant, Jurassic Park III generally disappointed audiences.

Fans and critics alike disapproved of the film's minimal runtime, lack of any human villains, and clear lack of consistency in the script. Many things were going to be different in Jurassic Park III and while Joe Johnston competently directed it, he needed a better script.

The Pagemaster (1994) - 6.1

Richard Tyler with Fantasy, Adventure, and Horror in The Pagemaster

Joe Johnston co-directed alongside Pixote Hunt to bring The Pagemaster to life. The story is about a boy who goes on an adventure through different fictional worlds of famous books to gain courage, withJoe Johnston was in charge of directing the live-action portions of the story.

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Though it is considered a cult gem for kids that grew up in the 1990s, The Pagemaster was critiqued for being a typical children's adventure film. However, the movie does feature wholesome morals, teaching kids that facing fears is important in life. Plus it does have strong voice performances by Macauley Culkin, Christopher Lloyd, Patrick Stewart, Whoopi Goldberg, and Frank Welker.

Honey, I Shrunk The Kids (1989) - 6.4

Nick, Amy, Russ, and Ron holding hands in Honey, I Shrunk The Kids

Joe Johnston's directorial debut, Disney's Honey, I Shrunk The Kids was inspired by classic sci-fi films about a hero being shrunk and going on an adventure. The twist here is that four kids are the ones shrunk down and are forced to trek through their backyard which is now like a jungle to them.

Mixing comedy, adventure, sci-fi, and horror, Honey, I Shrunk The Kids was given average reviews from critics but audiences enjoyed it enough to warrant two sequels, a spin-off TV series, and a new upcoming follow-up directed by Joe Johnston.

The Rocketeer (1991) - 6.5

The Rocketeer flying across the sky in The Rocketeer

Homaging the superhero comics and serials of the 1940s, The Rocketeer is about a man who wears an experimental jetpack and armor to become the superhero known as The Rocketeer. Add in Nazis, evil actors, and plenty of action scenes and the result is a zany period piece.

In many ways, The Rocketeer acts as a precursor to Joe Johnston's Captain America movie 20 years later. It replicates the era almost perfectly, feeling akin to serials seen at the time, with bits of Indiana Jones for added effect to make a solid film that both audiences and critics enjoyed.

Hidalgo (2004) - 6.7

Frank with Hidalgo in Hidalgo

Continuing with period pieces, Joe Johnston made Hidalgo which is based on a true story. The plot sees an expert horserider enters a cross-country race in the Middle East that risks both his life and reputation and he brings his trusty American mustang, Hidalgo, to be his steed for the race.

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Viggo Mortensen stars as the hero, Frank, and as usual, he was praised for his strong performance. Audiences enjoyed the film more than critics, praising the cinematography and thrilling race sequences while critics were not so kind, calling the film to be boring and formulaic.

Captain America: The First Avenger (2011) - 6.9

Steve Rogers in his suit in Captain America the First Avenger

Joe Johnston was put in charge of delivering Captain America's origin story in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, where Steve Rogers becomes a successful super-soldier in order to fight the evil group known as HYDRA.

Much like with The Rocketeer, viewers praised the World War II setting's recreation, which embraced the patriotic propaganda film style seen during the time. Captain America: The First Avenger proved to audiences that Chris Evans was a perfect choice for Cap while providing a fun superhero adventure that the whole family could enjoy.

Jumanji (1995) - 7.0

Alan Parrish finding the Jumanji board game in a chest in Jumanji (1995)

Probably Joe Johnston's most famous film, Jumanji tells the story of a magical board game that sends four people on a dark adventure in a small town. The game brings the jungle, monsters, and villains from the board game's lore into the real world thus creating havoc until the game is won.

Jumanji is often praised for its unique concept alone but with a beloved performance by Robin Williams and each new threat making the film more thrilling, Jumanji became a fan-favorite fantasy film. So much so that it would gain two sequels and a space-themed spin-off with Zathura.

October Sky (1999) - 7.8

Homer Hickam arguing with his father in October Sky

This period piece tells the true coming-of-age story of Homer Hickam, who is inspired by the launch of Sputnik to become more than a coal miner. Played by Jake Gyllenhaal, Homer becomes obsessed with rocket sciences at the disapproval of his father.

October Sky was a homerun for critics and audiences alike, with Gyllenhaal's performance as Homer Hickam being praised in particular as well as the drama between the main character and his father. It managed to tug on the heartstrings of audiences with a story that teaches kids to pursue their dreams and teaches parents to not dictate the future of their children for them.

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