Considered by many to be one of the greatest filmmakers of all time,Stanley Kubrickhas fourteen highly acclaimed films on his directorial resume. The innovative and oftentimes controversial director will forever influence current and future filmmakers like Christopher Nolan, and his films are ones that will remain in the pantheon of Hollywood classics.
He was a master of his craft, pulling from his own talents as well as inspiration from his ownpersonal favorite films. Today, we examine Kubrick’s 10 highest rated films according to Rotten Tomatoes.
10The Shining (1980) - 83%
The Shiningis one of the most recognizable horror films in cinema history. Thanks to iconic imagery and masterful acting performances, Kubrick’s take on the classic Stephen King book was deemed a chilling, often baroque journey into madness by some critics, despite deviating considerably from the source material.
Overall, the film received mixed reviews from critics upon its initial release,including from Stephen King himself. Future appraisals were much kinder to the film, which is now considered to be one of the most important films in history.
9A Clockwork Orange (1971) - 88%
One ofthe most controversialfilms of all time,A Clockwork Orangeis Kubrick at his most intensely absurd. The ultra-violent and sexually explicit subject matter in the film earned censorship and bans the world over. While the performances of leading man Malcolm McDowell were praised by critics, the subject of the film was too much for many to make full sense of, but was deemed a thought-provoking film, nonetheless.
8Barry Lyndon (1975) - 88%
Similar to some other Kubrick films,Barry Lyndonshows just how ahead of the times the filmmaker was. Another movie that received mixed reviews upon its release was re-evaluated years later to much better reviews. This complex character piece was described by Roger Ebert as “one of the most beautiful films ever made.”
7Lolita (1962) - 91%
Kubrick was never shy about pushing the boundaries of storytelling or unconventional stories themselves.Lolitais a perfect example of this. Adapted from a controversial novel of the same name, the story centers on a middle-aged man who develops a love for a young adolescent girl. Diverting enough from the source material to avoid its own controversy, the film still pushes boundaries that Kubrickwished he could have pushed even further.
6Full Metal Jacket (1987) - 91%
One of the quintessential movies on the Vietnam War,Full Metal Jacketis also one of Stanley Kubrick’s most poignant stories, and like a lot of the director’s best films, it was adapted from a source novel. Splitting its story between boot camp and time on the frontline, Kubrick communicates his themes and ideas in a rich and tightly constructed narrative; praise given by critics upon the films release. Kubrick would be nominated for best adapted screenplay at the 60th Academy Awards.
52001: A Space Odyssey (1968) - 92%
2001: A Space Odysseyis one of Kubrick’s most controversial films, but not due to conventional reasons that cause controversy. A lot of the noise surrounding the film stemmed from some people simply not understanding the story or being able to follow a narrative. The film’s depiction of the future, technology, and mankind’s interaction with it, divided many critics, with some declaring the movie a masterpiece and others lashing it with severe critiques. Despite this, it is impossible to diminish the impact the movie had on the science fiction genre moving forward.
Related:10 Movies to Watch if You Loved 2001: A Space Odyssey
4Spartacus (1960) - 94%
Stanley Kubrick’sSpartacusmay not be the highest ranked of the director’s work on Rotten Tomatoes, but it is without a doubt the most lauded movie of his career.The Gladiatorial Revolutionfilm would win four of the six Academy Awards it was nominated for; it would be the highest grossing film of 1960, and would remain Universal Studios' biggest money marker for a decade after its release.
3Paths of Glory (1957) - 96%
Described by critics as a “humane war movie”,Paths of Glorywould be praised for its impressive battle sequences and performance of its lead, Kirk Douglas. It is also another Kubrick film surrounded by controversy for its anti-military tone. The movie received condemnation in French, German, and United States military circles. Despite this, the film received great praise in the cinema community and was even inducted into the Library of Congress in 1992.
Related:The Most Iconic Moments in War Movies, Ranked
2The Killing (1956) - 96%
The Killingmarked Kubrick’s third directorial effort and is widely considered to be the film where the director “arrived”. The film shows flashes of the creativity that Kubrick would unleash on the world in his later years. Coming in at a tight 84 minutes long, the expertly crafted story remains one of the best noir films of all time.
1Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964) - 98%
Weaving togethera darkly comedicstory that remains as relevant today as it did in 1964,Dr. Strangeloveis Kubrick firing on all cylinders. Earning four Academy Award nominations, and despite sharp criticism and concern from Columbia Pictures at the time, Kubrick stayed true to his vision and, in turn, crafted a truly historical and memorable piece of cinema.
