People sleep on how Prisoners might very well be the best performance of Hugh Jackman's life. Motherfucker should've won an Oscar for that 100%.

Arrival still feels criminally underrated

This is a criminally underrated video. As a 16 year old French Canadian aspiring Filmmaker, Denis Villeneuve is the kind of director I’m striving to become. Thanks for making this!

Prisoners being his first Hollywood Film always amaze me cause it is so superior to other experienced Directors even on their most developed films

He's such a master at work it's not even funny, I've loved every single thing he's done 8. Enemy 7. Dune 6. Blade Runner 2049 5. Prisoners 4. Sicario 3. Dune: Part 2 2. Incendies 1. Arrival

The best director working today. He just doesn't miss, all his movies are, at worst, great or, at best, life changing masterpieces.

Personally Enemy is my 3rd favourite of his films. He is the best director working at this moment in my humble opinion.

Man, I am so glad you ranked Prisoners this high. Most of the time, people tend to place it in the lower spots on their lists. It is my favourite movie of all time. Although not pleasant watch, every scene builds and builds the tention, and the last hour honestly is just nerve vrecking panick attack. It allways gets me so emotional, the subtle touching score, the perfect cinematography and Hugh Jackmans and Jake Gyllenhall's greatest performences. (Altho for Jake, it could be arguably Nightcrawler). I am not a father yet, but I can only imagine, what it will be like watching this heart breaking story wit my own kids in mind. Btw Denis Villenueve is also my favourite director of all time, I am glad people are catching up to him, after Dune 2 and Rian Gosling's literally me.

Incendies was the first film that I saw of Villeneuve, and then Arrival was the second one. I was flabbergasted, and he became my favorite too. It's always fun to see a longform video like this about him. This video is great :)

Not much of what he has done is truly ground breaking. But his ability to translate sub-text purely through images is amazing. He is so good at translating writer's original intentions into story boards, and make the cinematographer understand the job. If I was a writer, Denis would be the first person I would want to work with. He respects the Writer's vision and intentions so well. A good example of this would be Arrival, Incendies, Dune.

While I haven’t seen all of Denis’s films yet Incendies is my number one of his as well, fantastic video!

In my opinion Sicario is clearly his best, the cinematography, the tension, the characters and the way he tackles such a realistic theme that is still relevant today, everything in it is just perfection for me. I’ve never experienced such tension in a movie before and I do also think it’s his darkest movie when it comes to imagery. I still haven’t seen Incendies but I need to watch it asap

Dune pt 2 is the best theater experience I’ve had in a decade

I watched Bladerunner 2049 twice, back to back, on a plane.... with no sound! I can't remember why I had no sound (I guess my seat's system was busted) but I was mesmerized by the visuals. Denis is an outstanding film maker. A few still to see, but highly recommend Incendie and Sicario as well.

Incendies was incredible. Finally watched it last month and it just stands above everything else. It is so gut wrenching and so well done. A must see.

I had no clue about this filmmaker. But i ended up watching a lot of his films such Blade Runner, Arrival, Dune 2 ( not the first one, i missed it 😅😢). It was Sicario that blew my mind. Till this day I listen to the background score.

Great video. Placing Incendies at the top of the list makes so much sense to me as it is a pivotal movie in his career. My personal favorite is Sicario.

Denis Villeneuve is undoubtedly one of the greatest directors of all time. Brilliant video, hoping you'll do one for Christopher Nolan soon! ✨

also the intro to Blade Runner 2049 with Dave Bautista was brilliant. it locks you into your seat.

Denis is also my favourite director working today. I could talk for hours about each of his movies and how they have impacted me. From Incendies heartwrecking plot reveal. Sicario's palpaple tension. Prisoners' perfect ending. To Arrival's emotional themes and even how it impacted my personal life and influenced decisions that I've made. He truly is an amazing filmmaker. And although I'm enjoying his high budget sci-fi streak a lot, I am hoping he comes back to some more personal stories eventually.

Blade runner may be a sci-fi film but I view it primarily as a drama. One of the best dramas I've ever watched

I absolutely love Blade Runner 2049. I am a sucker for neon lights, and the futuristic looks of things, but the reason I love this one is because of how lonely it feels, and how we feel when we’re alone. I love Blade Runner

The Dune movies, particularly the second one, changed me. I absolutely LOVE them. I’ve seen part 2 an embarrassing amount of times since its release and regard it as one of my favorite movies ever. I’ve read the first 4 books now and fell in love with the universe.

The opening of Incendies blew me away.

Great list and video essay. For me (from the films I’ve seen) it is: 8. Enemy 7. Dune Pt 1 6. Arrival 5. Dune Pt 2 4. Incendies 3. Sicario 2. Prisoners 1. Blade Runner 2049

Has become my favourite director, I was soooo afraid when it was published the second part for Blade runner, my favourite Sci FI movie of all time, but when I heard was Villeneuve making it I was more relaxed and of course, what a movie!!! Again for Dune and again, what a masterpiece.

Finally a list where the author has watched and included his Canadian films!

Great video. The dudes a true artist, great thing to see nowadays

I love how his inner child is so present. That’s rare.

I've only watched Arrival, Blade Runner 2049, Dune, Dune: Part Two, Prisoners, and Sicario. They were all so goddamn good... I can't pick one over the other. 😶

Incendies too here. You describe it perfectly. What a beautiful movie.

My favorite Villeneuve movie changes from day to day. He's amazing, and he always chooses to work with *the best* actors/actresses, and, importantly, he lets his actors/actresses ACT. Many directors want to direct their actors into something that they are not and won't let them do what they are best at - act. But, that's where Villeneuve shines *extra* bright. He loves actors/actresses, and he lets them try different things. I think that's at least a pretty decent part of what makes his movies so incredibly great - the rest is his raw talent and his love for cinema. He is fantastic! And, this was a really good video about one of the greatest filmmakers alive. I'm so friggin' happy that I found your channel! Gonna follow you on Letterboxd next. I only created my Letterboxd account in October last year, so I haven't logged even half of all the films I've seen, but I'm working on it. Have an awesome day!

I'm a fan of Denis Villeneuve and I appreciated your video, really well done.

Thanks for the video. BR2049 was my first Denis film in cinema(i think i watched Arrival at home a day or so earlier) and its till my favorite cinema experience ever, also watched Dune 2(and 1) in cinemas which was incredible but at that point i had a idea of what the movie was going to be like which i did not with BR2049 since i hadnt watched the first before. Jesus what a experience that was. But i have to say that my favorite film that Denis had done so far is Arrival, i usually have a hard time crying/shedding tears from movies(even sad ones) but something just clicked towards the end of that movie and yeah tears started falling. He is by far my favorite director working today and i cant be more excited as to what he does next. And just as a bonus point for him but the highway shootout in Sicario is in my top 5 scenes of any movie.

Good on Villeneuve wearing his UQAM jacket during interviews. Love his movies and there’s a few here I need to see. In terms of sci-fi, Arrival was a great hard-sci-fi movie and thought provoking, I think I like it more than Dune.

My personal top 5: 1) Arrival. 2) Blade Runner 2049. 3) Prisoners. 4) Enemy. 5) Incendies. I've loved every Villeneuve movie I've seen. The man is a visionary.

Incendies very deserved of the number 1 spot. By far my favourite Villeneuve film, I remember the shock I felt watching it. Nawal's letter to the son is beautiful and the letter to the father is heartbreaking. Few films stick with you like Incendies.

A huge part of Villeneuve's achievement with Dune is the recreation of the written universe on the screen. In an alternate timeline where you'd read the source material you ranked it much higher.

Great video! I’ve seen everything except his first two and appreciate you covering them. I would rate Polytechnique a bit higher but all the films I’ve seen are really excellent.

you are severely underrated. I really do hope you get the attention you deserve. keep these videos up

This is exceptional. A massively impressive analysis with a deep and emotionally resonant reflection of DV's work.

Denis is my favorite director. I remember watching Sicario for the first time and being completely drawn in. Then I watched Arrival (my #1 movie). After making the connection I haven’t stopped watching everything he’s made.

Great video, I was going to hit subscribe, but I’m already subbed 😂

As someone who also has Denis as their favorite director, I loved your dissection and opinions on his filmography. Lots of good insights, but we have extremely different rankings when it comes to his biggest 6 movies. Kinda cool to see two people with the same top director but a completely different preference of the filmography. I think you're really "sleeping" on both Dunes lol.

A great Canadian filmmaker.🍁 I've seen 'The Arrival', 'Blade Runner 2049', 'Enemy', and 'Dune Part I & II'.

The ending of Prisoners is the best thing ever

1) Part 2 2) Sicario 3) Blade Runner 4) Prisoners 5) Part 1

Thanks you for putting Incendies at number one. It contains the greatest plot twist ever in my opinion

I think he has the potential to go down in cinema history as an all time great. A few of his movies I know will last forever. My Ranking 11. August 32nd (6/10) 10. Maelstrom (6/10) 9. Polytechnique (8/10) 8. Sicario (9/10) 7. Prisoners (9/10) 6. Enemy (9.5/10) 5. Arrival (9.5/10) 4. Dune (9.8/10) 3. Blade Runner 2049 (10/10) 2. Incendies (10/10) 1. Dune: Part Two (10/10)

If I may add, as a Québécois, I think what videos on Villeneuve don't show enough - understandably so - is the extent to which his cinematic art is highly influenced by the Québec film tradition of the 60s and 70s, often referred to as "cinéma direct". This documentary style of filmmaking is quite sociological by letting the camera roll to see what people have to say or do, without intervening or trying to fill the void/silence/dialogue. Villeneuve himself said that working in the Canadian North with Michel Brault, a prominent Québécois filmmaker of that tradition, taught him the sense of pacing and immersion by paying attention to behavioural and elemental details surrounding him. I do believe his genius is the combination of a documentary style of filmmaking and a wild imagination.

Denis made my favorite film of all time. He made my 11th favorite film of all time, and he is without a doubt an absolute legend, and even if he makes a 4 hour film about a guy running through his town, I'd watch it! Absolute king!

Very good video man. Your bias is similar to mine, so this was very fun to watch. Dennis has become my favorite Director very quickly. Thanks for teaching me more about him :)

In my opinion Villeneuve is the best movie director today. He always makes masterpieces (though I don't like Hans Zimmer). Your number one film is well chosen.

I love Denis and as soon as I heard your disclaimer before 6 I shook my head because I knew what was coming. Love that movie and it's so rewatchable, but I understand.

My favorite Denis Villeneuve film is _Blade Runner 2049._ I believe it's his best, and it is one of my absolute favorite films of all time. Bleak, yet hopeful. Grimy, yet beautiful. I cannot say enough about it. It is, if I could dare say it, perfect.

Dennis is also my favorite filmmaker today and my rankings like up closely with yours. Though, for me, Arrival and Sicario are in my top two. I feel like the philosophies presented in these films are the most thought-provoking of his work and can be directly attributed to today’s societal and political landscapes. Yes, Incendies is a masterpiece of a story with an overarching theme that forgiveness is the key to end the cycle of suffering (among others). Though, I don’t think the film’s idealogies and symbolism dive nearly as deep as Arrival and Sicario. by the way, you create top-tier content and I very much appreciate it.

Even thought I am a science fiction fan, your number one choice is mine too. Life changing movie with an unmatched twist.

Loved this video! We got to be in Dennis shoes for a little bit, thank you!

Sicario is one of my favorite movies

I think I just joined the "I had no idea many of my favorite films were all directed by the same guy" Club. Prisoners has been in my top 5 list forever. Arrival and Bladerunner joined it. The first Sicario is a masterpiece. Dune: Part 2 is my favorite movie, ever. I had no idea all of these films were directed by the same guy. But he now has one more superfan. Cannot fucking wait for Dune: Messiah. Denis couldn't make a bad movie if he tried.

He's everything you said and showed here, but I also think the casting on his films are perfect. Every actor is so well casted for their role. I couldn't imagine Arrival without Amy Adams, or Prisoners without Hugh Jackman

Prisoners is my favorite movie, such great acting and directing, and i love the score; a candlelight vigil is so good

Arrival is still my favorite by Denis... Such an intimate and deeply emotional film!! Movie broke me in pieces and stitched me back together.

He never misses

incendies is a movie that will live with me for the rest of my life

Everyone rightfully points out the skillful acting of a swathe of those who've worked with Villeneuve, and there are so many. Two I feel are sometimes overlooked are Paul Dano and David Dastmalchian. I first saw Dano's work in 12 Years a Slave and he has impressed me ever since; in Prisoners he was terrific. Ditto, Dastmalchian has been sublime; in his short role in Blade Runner I was impressed, by the time I saw Prisoners I was hooked.

For me, he is one of the few directors who has never made a bad movie. Whatever movie of Villeneuve you pick and call bad, it will be miles better than most of the movies released these days. They just have so much to speak to the audience.

he is also my favorite director, and my favorite of his is Arrival, ive watched it the most times of these.

Me too. Enemy sure is the odd one out. But I love them all

Impressive portfolio. Contains several of my favourite films. Enemy was probably the first I watched that stuck with me. Sicario, Blade Runner 2049 and... actually Arrival I think are my top 3. If Dune had been like the first half of the first film, that'd be on this list. Still good though. He mixes depth, accessibility and even cheese well. Pretty sure layers in a film like Sicario went right over a lot of viewers heads, but that's fine because it also works as a straight forward film. In a way, he hides intense intellectual and philosophical subject matter right under an entertainment surface, which is a sign of greatness. It's not a requirement though, directors like Tarantino comes to mind.

Arrival is my personal TOP 1 of all movies.

i’ve never met anyone with this much of a passion for directors and movies and i love it sm

I was like damn he's going to put incendies at freaking 4 place (my first Denis Villeneuve movie that I watched), but I am surprising we got the same ranking

Sicario and Incendie remains to be my fav movies directed by DV.

Excellent video, and Incendies is my #1 Denis film as well, and my top 3 fave film for sure. I watched it without knowing anything abt it other than that it was not that popular but was his highest-rated film at that time. I already knew Denis was good back then after watching Blade runner and prisoners but I honestly has no idea what to expect from this film since it seemed quite different from those I'd watched. Little did I know that I was in for a journey. I was quickly fully immersed and invested in the story the whole time, which I didn't expect early on since I thought it'd be a slow drama. After I finished the film, I was emotionally devastated and my heart felt so heavy. What made Denis so good imo is how he masters both the technical (especially cinematography) and emotional/human aspects of a film. There are very few directors who can master both like this, and I feel that Nolan is a good example of a director that masters the former but isn't that strong on the latter. Denis is definitely the most well-rounded director rn imo. Up until now I've watched all of his films since Incendies, and the only one I didn't fully enjoy is Enemy but it's purely bcs I didn't understand it, other than that I still think it's masterfully made.

My list…. Have not seen Enemy or his first two films, so: 1. Arrival 2. Prisoners 3. Incendies 4. Sicario 5. Polytechnique 6. Blade Runner 2049 7. Dune I and II I think they are all amazing so tough to rank, probably only one of two directors I will see their latest movie without question. The other being Nolan.

Next is Bong joong ho please? Him and Villeneuve are my fave director.

My own ranking of Denis (also my favorite contemporary filmmaker): 1. Enemy (a masterpiece of tone and metaphor and symbolism) 2. Dune 3. Sicario 4. Dune Part 2 5. Arrival 6. Prisoners 7. Blade Runner 2049 --some drop off-- 8. Polytechnique 9. Incendies 10. Maelstrom

When it's all said and done, I believe he will go down as the greatest filmmaker of his generation.

I know that may happen after 10 years or so after Dune Messiah. But I really want him to try other genres outside sci-fi. he's been stuck in that genre since Arrival, while I do love everything he did ever since I want him to get out of his comfort zone and make horror, western, biopic etc..

I think the Denis Villeneuve does what Christopher Nolan attempts to do with his films

I'm glad I watched this video. I didn't realize how much I love his movies!

Like you said all movies are great hard to put them in a list, personally 1.Blade Runner 2049, 2. Dune part 3, 3 Incendies (disturbing ending)

Elite video

I can recommend watching Villeneuves short film ˋNext Floor´ also fantastic.

1. Prisoners 2. Sicario 3. Dune Part 2 4. Blade Runner 2049 5. Incendies 6. August 32nd On Earth 7. Polytechnique 8. Mäelstrom 10. Dune 11. Arrival I haven’t seen Enemy yet

Excellent video, I just believe with multiple solid reasons that Dune 2 is simply the number one, it was beyond a movie, it was like being part of some pieces of the Bible, atmospherically speaking, it was insanely beautiful.

8. Dune 1 7. Sicario 6. Arrival 5. Dune 2 4. Enemy 3. Incendies 2. Prisoners 1. Blade runner 2049 😊

My top DV films: 8. Incendies 7. Enemy 6. Dune 1 5. Dune 2 4. Blade Runner 2049 3. Prisoners 2. Sicario 1. Arrival

My list, probably influenced by being a sci-fi-fan: Dune 2 > Blade Runner 2049 > Dune > Arrival > Sicario > Prisoners > Incendies > Enemy > The early ones that I haven's seen.

Beautiful...Thank you so much!!!

dune and arrival are so damn good

Thank you for not butchering his last name

Hard not to agree with others rankings even if your opinion is different. its how good his filmography is.

wtffff sicario and arrival are his too? I'm so stupid of course all my favourite movies are directed by the same guy. I'm a huge atmosphere guy, sometimes even if the story isn't too good if the vibes get me, it's a 10/10 for me. Dune, 2049 and Arrival are all in my top 10. I gotta see these others one for sure.

u prolly had a very good time, just popped by to say that. have a good one mate!

1. Dune 2 2. Enemy 3. Bladerunner 4. Incendies 5 Dune 1 My top 5

Incredible video essay. New sub.

Fist Sicario is #1. Second than you for making the meaning of enemy make sense. Third Amy adams is amazing in arrival, but Jeremy renner does an amazing job esp. in showing pain mixed with love and intelligence mixed with emotion. Arrival is so profound, but it comes more from the script than the visuals.

Definitely one of the goats🐐, oh and Villeneuve is awesome too.