Denis Villeneuve emerged as one of the most in-demand filmmakers today because of his work on the science fiction movie franchise Dune. Even before his stint as the director of the Timothée Chalamet-led movies, he had been helming critically acclaimed films that earned several awards.
Fans who have seen any of Villeneuve’s films certainly have an idea of his aesthetics and filmmaking style, but it’s always a good idea to check out some of his other incredible projects that took home prestigious Oscars awards to have a better grasp of just how talented and brilliant he is as a director.
Arrival (2016)
Arrival is a science fiction movie starring Amy Adams as a linguist hired by the United States Army to figure out how to talk to extraterrestrial beings who have arrived on Earth. The movie has a remarkable score of 94% on Rotten Tomatoes.
The film was a massive hit among fans and a box office success with a worldwide total of $203 million against a budget of $47 million. It has been described as introspective and philosophical, yet with a sense of terror and excitement.
At the 89th Academy Awards, it won Best Sound Editing, as well as nominations for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Film Editing, Best Production Design, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Cinematography, and Best Sound Mixing.
Blade Runner 2049 (2017)
Blade Runner 2049 is a neo-noir science fiction project led by Ryan Gosling and Harrison Ford. It follows a new blade runner for the Los Angeles Police Department who discovers a secret that could bring chaos into society. It has a striking 88% score on Rotten Tomatoes.
While the movie was a crowd favorite, it only made $267 million against a budget of 185 million. Still, many critics praised the film for its stunning visuals and satisfying storyline.
It was nominated for five awards at the 90th Academy Awards, including Best Production Design, Best Sound Editing, and Best Sound Mixing. It won Best Cinematography and Best Visual Effects.
Dune: Part One (2021)
Dune: Part One is a science fiction film featuring the ensemble cast of Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson, Oscar Isaac, Josh Brolin, Stellan Skarsgård, Dave Bautista, Jason Momoa, and Javier Bardem. Perhaps the most famous of all the works of Denis Villeneuve, it has an impressive 83% score on Rotten Tomatoes.
It made over $433 million globally against a production cost of $165 million. Critics praised it for its thrilling adaptation of Frank Herbert’s novel, as well as the production design and costumes.
The famed epic has been nominated for ten Academy Awards, winning Best Original Score, Best Sound, Best Film Editing, Best Cinematography, Best Production Design, and Best Visual Effects.
Arrival, Blade Runner 2049, and Dune: Part One are not only award-winning titles but also some of Villeneuve’s top-scoring movies on Rotten Tomatoes. These are definitely recommended for fans who love science fiction movies or those who want to explore more of the director’s filmography.
Be sure to catch Dune: Part Two in cinemas this March 1, 2024.
