From historically accurate black-and-white biopics to plot twist-heavy psychological thrillers, here are some of our absolute favorite David Fincher movies to date.
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Updated 4 months ago,January 7, 2025
David Fincher may not be the first name people think of when they reflect on the contemporary film industry, but theres little doubt he remains one of the most talented directors working in Hollywood today.
Like his creative idols in Alfred Hitchcock, Stanley Kubrick, and Orson Welles, Fincher has continuously cranked out some of the visually and narratively arresting movies of the past 30 years, rightfully leading him to obtain such well-deserved career honors as a Golden Globe, a BAFTA, and three Academy Award nominations for Best Director.
Se7en / New Line Cinema
From historically accurate black-and-white biopics to plot twist-heavy psychological thrillers, here are some of our absolute favorite David Fincher movies to date, ranked in order from worst to best.
7.
Mank (2020)
A long-time passion project of Finchers,Manks lengthy production history accurately displays the directors intense attachment to the project.
Written by Finchers father prior to his death in 2003, the younger Fincher thankfully gotMankoff the ground in the late 2010s, overcoming nearly 20 years of significant creative setbacks.
A rip-roaring biopic centered aroundCitizen Kanescreenwriter Herman Mankiewicz,Mankexpertly shows off the darker side of the Golden Age of Hollywood, as well as how such unique tweaks formed the impetus for Mankiewiczs single greatest achievement as a screenwriter.
6.
Netflix
Gone Girl (2014)
Based on Gillian Flynns 2013 breakout novel of the same name,Gone Girlencapsulates everything that makes a traditional David Fincher film so remarkable in the first place.
An increasingly claustrophobic study of a toxic marriage pushed to its most dangerous limits,Gone Girldelivers unexpected twists around every corner, continuously upending viewers half-formed opinions on where the plot might be going.
Punctuated by Rosamund Pikes electric performance and Trent Reznors chilling score, its among the most unforgettable psychological thrillers of the past decade, bar none.
20th Century Fox
5.
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011)
Just asGone Girlserved as a fittingly nauseating book for Fincher to expand upon, the filmmaker found a healthy source of inspiration with Stieg Larssons brooding psychological thriller,The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.Retaining the tantalizing atmosphere of Larrsons original book,The Girl with the Dragon Tattoosucceeds as a first-rate mystery thriller worthy of Hitchcock or De Palma.
Dark, disturbing, and characteristically downbeat in its setting, characters, and narrative premise, its a more than fitting addition to Finchers increasingly stylish body of work.
Sony Pictures
4.
Zodiac (2007)
A creative precursor to Finchers later work on the Netflix seriesMindhunter, Zodiacprovides a haunting look at the infamous Zodiac murders of the late 1960s and early 1970s.
Remaining true to many of the cases most strange and unusual details, Fincher meticulously recreates the profound paranoia that swept through contemporary America amidst the Zodiacs killing spree.
Warner Bros.
Incorporating a talented ensemble cast and a sleek visual style, every moment ofZodiacs runtime leaves viewers perplexed, uncomfortable, and more than a little terrified by its ambiguous tone.
3.
Seven (1995)
After a shaky start with his less-than-well-receivedAlien 3,Fincher came into his own with his breakthrough 1995 police procedural drama,Seven.
New Line Cinema
A landmark entry in the neo-noir genre,Sevenestablished many of the foremost characteristics that came to be associated with Finchers name, from the muted color palette and nihilistic tone to the infamous twist ending and hard-boiled plot points.
A thematic predecessor to Finchers work onZodiac, Mindhunter, Gone Girl,andThe Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Sevens downbeat and depressing atmosphere leaves an indelible impression on first-time viewers, haunting their imaginations for years to come.
2.
Sony Pictures
The Social online grid (2010)
Every once in a while, a films production seems to align so perfectly, youd swear it was a cinematic miracle.
Such is the case with 2010sThe Social web connection, a riveting biographical drama with almost no discernible flaws to speak of.
Relying on a massive ensemble cast and an intelligent script from Aaron Sorkin, Fincher accurately explores the earliest days of Facebooks foundation, as well as Mark Zuckerbergs rapid rise from gawky Harvard outcast to controversial billionaire tech mogul.
The 21st centurys answer toCitizen Kane,its a thought-provoking study of Zuckerbergs ultimately hollow career victories, juxtaposing his immense wealth and notoriety with the various friendships and creative partnerships he destroyed along the way.
1.
Fight Club (1999)
For all intents and purposes, its fair to describeFight Clubas Finchers most popular film.
Earning as much praise as it did controversy in 1999,Fight Clubalso helped launch Fincher and his principal cast members to newfound levels of fame in the film industry.
More than anything, though,Fight Clubsucceeds as a thought-provoking exploration of contemporary society, from its brutal takedown of consumerism to its nuanced portrayal of nihilism, anarchism, and modern masculinity.
To this day, the film has become a rallying cry for the disenfranchised and discontent in all blocks of life, with Brad Pitts ultra cool Tyler Durden a personification of the cynical angst we occasionally slip into whenever were frustrated with everyday life.
