Every Guillermo Del Toro Movie Ranked Worst To Best
Charting the highs and lows of cinema's macabre, magical maestro.
The joy of watching Guillermo del Toro's films stems from just how palpably happy he is to be working. What del Toro is, as both a filmmaker and a man, is a passionate artist with the heart of a child and the mind of a consummate painter, able to bring his vision to life in a way most directors can only dream of.
Known for his adoration of Gothic horror, surreal imagery, mythology, and monsters, del Toro's films ache with a gorgeous humanism and deep-rooted, deeply personal themes of unconditional love, freedom, childhood dreams, mortality and longing. He also has a knack for crafting the odd blockbuster, with varied but unique results.
With a filmography that varies between indie fare and fantasy epic, del Toro has spent some twenty years standing tall as one of our greatest and most endearing filmmakers, who never compromises who he is regardless of whether he's making a one-of-a-kind quiet drama or a dumb-fun action flick about robots.
On that note, to celebrate his astounding career and the release of his recent rendition of Pinocchio, here are all 12 Guillermo del Toro film ranked worst to best.
12. Mimic (1997)
Over the years, del Toro has made it abundantly clear that Mimic didn't turn out the way he wanted, his vision derailed by an uncertain studio that wanted the final cut. This interference is definitely felt; of all del Toro productions, Mimic is the only one that feels reigned-in, missing that extra spark.
But it's still far from bad, despite what the maestro himself will have you believe. A grotesque and bizarre sci-fi horror about a killer plague and deadly bugs, it has just enough del Toro traits -- lively, unsettling visuals, some brutal political undertones -- to emerge a cut above the average 90s studio horror yarn.
Unfortunately, at least as a Guillermo del Toro film, it also feels quite safe. Only his second film (and his first English-language feature), Mimic is noticeably lacking what would set his later movies apart, and his 2011 director's cut only slightly improves upon it.