Every Robert Eggers Movie Ranked Worst to Best (Including Nosferatu)

Robert Eggers' last film Nosferatus It has won over critics and audiences alike and is further proof of how the American auteur has firmly established himself as one of the industry's leading filmmakers. Each of Eggers' four films demonstrates his singular ability to create stunning visuals and tell unique stories, often through a folk horror lens, all with meticulous attention to period accuracy and detail. As with his other films, Nosferatus combines Eggers' vision with powerful performances from the entire cast to create a unique cinematic experience.

With four feature films under his belt, it's natural to wonder where Nosferatus compares to Eggers' other films, each of which has received critical acclaim. NosferatusRotten Tomatoes scores indicate that audiences are almost as receptive as critics, which marks a change from Eggers' first three films, in which audience scores are typically much lower than critic scores. The vampire film seems to have lived up to the standard Eggers set for himself as a visionary filmmaker with a distinctive style, making it difficult to classify it among his films.

4

The Witch (2015)

Eggers' folk horror nightmare set in colonial New England

Set in 1600, Eggers' debut is a dark tale that focuses on a Puritan family who was banished from his New England town. When they establish a new isolated life near a mysterious forest, strange things begin to happen as William (Ralph Ineson) and his relatives find their faith firmly tested. Given the time in which the A24-produced horror is set, William's family naturally suspects that his eldest daughter, Thomasin, is a witch who is in cahoots with the Devil.

However, despite a series of harrowing scenes, The Witch It's not a horror that relies on scares. Instead, Eggers' slow-paced film combines an eerie soundtrack with religious imagery to build an uneasy atmosphere. That doesn't mean there aren't scares. The Witch, however, with Thomasin's father falling for Black Phillip and the naked, cackling witch, both terrifying moments. Thomasin's decision to turn her back on her religion and join the witch coven after witnessing the death of her God-loving family cements the sense of dread that permeates the entire world. The Witch.

The Witch was easily one of the best horrors of the 2010s, So to describe it as Eggers’ “worst” film is more than a little harsh. Ralph Ineson, Kate Dickie and newcomer Anya Taylor-Joy give authentic, believable performances, and the story has time to build a sense of dread that is satisfyingly rewarded. That being said, Eggers' later films show a clear improvement in his skill as a cinematographer.

3

The Lighthouse (2019)

Eggers' black-and-white thriller that defies conventional categorization

The Lighthouse is a mind-bending thriller that mixes genres and explores depravity and loneliness in equal measure. Eggers' character-driven film, set in the 1890s, focuses on two lighthouse keepers whose sanity vanishes after a storm leaves them stranded on a remote island. The excellent duo Robert Pattinson and Willem Dafoe are the only faces on screen for almost the entire film, which from the The Lighthouse an intensely insular feeling. However, where The Lighthouse What differs from Eggers' other projects is that it has moments of comedy that break up the bleakness of the film without diminishing the increasing dread of the situation.

Very similar The Witchhowever, Mythology plays a major role in Eggers' second filmbut he takes it one step further The Lighthouse. The plot is strongly influenced by the Greek story of Prometheus, the superstitions of sailors and the sirens of The Odyssey. These fantastical elements, like the haunting mermaid in the ivory, emphasize the blurred lines between reality and fantasy that highlight the lighthouse keepers' descent into darkness.

In a way, Eggers' production and aesthetics The Lighthouse are better than any other Eggers film to date. Both Nosferatus and The Northman are visually spectacular, but The LighthouseThe film's monochromatic palette and almost square aspect ratio set it apart from other films. The film appears to have been produced in the century in which it is set, and its unique look contributes to the claustrophobic and desperate situation in which the two commissioners find themselves, causing Eggers The Lighthouse a decidedly unique spectacle in modern cinema.

2

The Northman (2022)

Eggers' violent revenge story with a Norse mythological setting

The NorthmanThe director's larger budget allows the director to use his talents on a much larger scale than in his earlier outings, and Eggers handles the transition well, using the extra funds to put on an impressive spectacle supported by a strong plot. The Northman is based on the Scandinavian legend of Amleth that inspired names like Villagewhich means that many parts of Eggers' bold story feel surprisingly familiar, despite The Northman being an original production. The NorthmanThe bittersweet and brutal conclusion of is particularly captivating and showcases a strong narrative.

A familiar criticism faced by Eggers is that It's hard to tell which scenes are real and which are fantasy; in The Northmanvisions of the Valkyries in particular can seem disconcerting. However, this is clearly intentional on Eggers' part and has evolved into a staple of his overarching artistic vision. The Northman is where Eggers really began to drive home this point, and it's part of the reason the film's images are so memorable. The Norseman is just as visually spectacular as the other films on this list and is bolstered by incredible performances from its cast.

1

Nosferatus (2024)

Eggers' gothic horror fever dream that breathes new life into a classic monster

Robert Eggers' latest film is also his bestas we see him bring all of his considerable strengths to a singular horror masterpiece. A revival of the 1922 German Expressionist silent film Nosferatu: a symphony of horrorEggers' Nosferatus tells the same basic plot, which is itself an adaptation of Bram Stoker's original gothic horror novel Dracula.

The pure atmosphere that Eggers is able to evoke Nosferatus It's a triumphbe it the dread that emanates from the rotting and dilapidated walls of Orlok Castle or the despair and fear that invades the German seaside town of Wisborg when the nefarious count washes ashore. Eggers' spectacular ability to recreate a distant time period in vivid color is on full display and elevates every frame of the story. Eggers' films became the gold standard for period cinema, and Nosferatus both meets and exceeds the bar that has been established in this regard.

What really defines Nosferatus Above Eggers' other films is the strength of his cast, each of whom deliver incredible performances in their roles. Bill Skarsgård's revolting Count Orlok and Lily-Rose Depp's intoxicating Ellen Hutter are potent reflections of each other, and they are at the center of what we do Nosferatus such a strong film. The actors and actresses are a perfect match for Eggers' dreamlike filmmaking style, which almost feels like it was always intended for the story of Nosferatus. It's Robert Eggers at the height of his powers, and it hints at an exciting future for the young director.