Darren Aronofsky's Films Ranked from Least to Most Acclaimed

      Casey Chong ranks the filmography of filmmaker Darren Aronofsky…

      The concept of “playing it safe” is not part of Darren Aronofsky’s filmmaking approach, particularly regarding his body of work. His films are frequently thought-provoking, often polarizing and sometimes controversial, which adds to their intrigue and makes them worth exploring. Aronofsky’s recurring motifs of life, death, obsession, and faith appear throughout his impressive black-and-white debut, Pi, his breakthrough film Requiem for a Dream, and the high-budget Noah. With the release of his much-anticipated latest film, Caught Stealing [read our review here], here is a ranked list of Darren Aronofsky's first eight films from least to most favorable...

      Noah (2014)

      Paramount took a risk with Darren Aronofsky, providing the unconventional director with a substantial budget of $125 million to create the biblical epic, Noah. However, instead of strictly adhering to the well-known Noah’s Ark narrative, Aronofsky, who co-wrote the screenplay, exercised significant creative freedom in restructuring the story, blending mainstream epic style with indie film elements. This is particularly evident in the reflective second half of the film, which leans more towards character-driven drama, highlighting the conflicted Noah, portrayed somberly by Russell Crowe, as he grapples with his conscience regarding God’s mission and the lives of Shem’s (Douglas Booth) wife’s (Emma Watson) newborns.

      Aronofsky’s attempt to create a personal connection in this film suffers from a heavy-handed melodramatic tone and uneven pacing. The first half of Noah is especially strong, featuring the introduction of stone giants known as the Watchers, resembling characters from The Lord of the Rings, combined with an impressive large-scale battle scene, stunning visuals, and significant stakes leading to the ark's journey during the Great Flood. Noah ultimately became Aronofsky’s most financially successful film to date, earning nearly $360 million worldwide.

      The Whale (2022)

      Brendan Fraser's award-winning transformation, aided by 300 pounds of prosthetics and heavy makeup to portray an extremely overweight English professor in The Whale, earned him a well-deserved Oscar for Best Actor. His empathetic portrayal anchors the film, which unfolds mainly in and around Charlie’s (Fraser) home. His severe obesity stems from an eating disorder following his partner's death, and he is on the brink of death. However, he seems indifferent to his own salvation, despite the persistent New Life missionary played by Ty Simpkins. Charlie suffers from heart disease, and the last thing he wishes to do is reestablish contact with his estranged teenage daughter, Ellie (Sadie Sink). The Whale is melodramatic, yet it’s hard not to root for Fraser’s nuanced lead performance, with strong support from Hong Chau as Charlie’s nurse and friend, alongside Sink and Simpkins.

      The Fountain (2006)

      Aronofsky’s $35 million sci-fi romance features an ambitious narrative intertwining three parallel stories set in 16th-century Spain and Central America, 21st-century United States, and 26th-century outer space, all anchored by Hugh Jackman in three distinct roles. He portrays the bearded Spanish conquistador Tomas, the eager scientist Dr. Tommy Creo, and space traveler Tom, culminating in subtle and poignant results. He shares a dynamic on-screen chemistry with Rachel Weisz, and their connection lends weight to this otherwise uneven tale of eternal love and mortality.

      The Fountain could have benefited from a longer duration since its theatrical 93-minute runtime restricts Aronofsky’s grand vision of a story that spans centuries. Warner Bros. hesitated to give him the initial $70 million budget, leading Aronofsky to work with only half of that amount. Still, he created a visually stunning film, thanks to outstanding special effects and technical achievements evident in Clint Mansell’s atmospheric score, Renée April’s rich costume design, and James Chinlund’s captivating production design.

      Mother! (2017)

      This film divides viewers into those who love it and those who hate it, as the rebellious filmmaker Darren Aronofsky takes his allegorical storytelling to a frustrating yet undeniably ambitious and unique cinematic level. In Mother!, he immerses viewers in the psyche of the titular mother, played by Jennifer Lawrence, who often appears as confused as the audience. The film primarily unfolds in a remote house, with Matthew Libatique’s fluid cinematography tracking the protagonist as she tries to make sense of the events around her.

      As more characters are introduced, notably "Man" and "Woman," played by Ed Harris and Michelle Pfeiffer, the movie evolves into a deliberate psychological horror, delving into themes such as religion and climate change. Mother! is best appreciated through repeated viewings, despite its polarizing nature that initially split critics and audiences.

      Pi (1998)

      Aronofsky began his career with the low-budget