Top 10 David Lynch Movies

prepare to enter the world of the

prepare to enter the world of the surreal and the bizarre we’ve met before

surreal and the bizarre we’ve met before

surreal and the bizarre we’ve met before haven’t we

welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re

welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re counting down our picks for the top 10

counting down our picks for the top 10

counting down our picks for the top 10 David Lynch movies Mary usually does the

David Lynch movies Mary usually does the

David Lynch movies Mary usually does the carving but maybe tonight you’ll do it

carving but maybe tonight you’ll do it

carving but maybe tonight you’ll do it Henry although his artistic contribution

Henry although his artistic contribution

Henry although his artistic contribution is vast for this list we’re focusing on

is vast for this list we’re focusing on

is vast for this list we’re focusing on David Lynch’s feature-length celluloid

David Lynch’s feature-length celluloid

David Lynch’s feature-length celluloid nightmares and since he’s only directed

nightmares and since he’s only directed

nightmares and since he’s only directed ten feature-length films to this point

ten feature-length films to this point

ten feature-length films to this point this list won’t feature any honorable

this list won’t feature any honorable

this list won’t feature any honorable mentions

mentions

mentions number 10 dune the planet doom also

number 10 dune the planet doom also

number 10 dune the planet doom also known as eraqus

known as eraqus

known as eraqus starting at the bottom of our list is

starting at the bottom of our list is

starting at the bottom of our list is the David Lynch film based on the

the David Lynch film based on the

the David Lynch film based on the classic Frank Herbert’s sci-fi novel it

classic Frank Herbert’s sci-fi novel it

classic Frank Herbert’s sci-fi novel it is by will alone I set my mind in motion

is by will alone I set my mind in motion

is by will alone I set my mind in motion it is by the juice of Sapho that

it is by the juice of Sapho that

it is by the juice of Sapho that thoughts acquire speed the lips acquire

thoughts acquire speed the lips acquire

thoughts acquire speed the lips acquire stains stains become a warning it is by

stains stains become a warning it is by

stains stains become a warning it is by will alone I set my mind in motion this

will alone I set my mind in motion this

will alone I set my mind in motion this epic saga about a man prophecy to be a

epic saga about a man prophecy to be a

epic saga about a man prophecy to be a Supreme Being that’ll save the people of

Supreme Being that’ll save the people of

Supreme Being that’ll save the people of dune was meant to be the directors big

dune was meant to be the directors big

dune was meant to be the directors big break in Hollywood with a brilliant

break in Hollywood with a brilliant

break in Hollywood with a brilliant international cast stunning visuals and

international cast stunning visuals and

international cast stunning visuals and a very 80 soundtrack by toto

a very 80 soundtrack by toto

a very 80 soundtrack by toto dune has since gained a respectable cult

dune has since gained a respectable cult

dune has since gained a respectable cult following but it initially bombed at the

following but it initially bombed at the

following but it initially bombed at the box office but fire we can’t leave all

box office but fire we can’t leave all

box office but fire we can’t leave all the spice spice although it’s gone

the spice spice although it’s gone

the spice spice although it’s gone through several cuts the action flick is

through several cuts the action flick is

through several cuts the action flick is still praised for its special-effects

still praised for its special-effects

still praised for its special-effects costume and sound design some thoughts

costume and sound design some thoughts

costume and sound design some thoughts have a certain sound that being the

have a certain sound that being the

have a certain sound that being the equivalent to a forum number 9 Twin

equivalent to a forum number 9 Twin

equivalent to a forum number 9 Twin Peaks fire walk with me

following the immense success of his TV

following the immense success of his TV show Twin Peaks a murder mystery that

show Twin Peaks a murder mystery that

show Twin Peaks a murder mystery that left too many questions unanswered

left too many questions unanswered

left too many questions unanswered Lynch decided to revisit the creepy

Lynch decided to revisit the creepy

Lynch decided to revisit the creepy fictional town for this prequel slash

fictional town for this prequel slash

fictional town for this prequel slash sequel much of the original TV cast

sequel much of the original TV cast

sequel much of the original TV cast returned as well as a couple of new

returned as well as a couple of new

returned as well as a couple of new faces to try to explain what happened to

faces to try to explain what happened to

faces to try to explain what happened to Laura Palmer before her murder

Laura Palmer before her murder

Laura Palmer before her murder he says he wants to be me without the

he says he wants to be me without the

he says he wants to be me without the restrictions of the small screen Lynch

restrictions of the small screen Lynch

restrictions of the small screen Lynch was able to turn up the insanity and

was able to turn up the insanity and

was able to turn up the insanity and violence to 11

[Music]

[Music] bood at its premiere at can fire walk

bood at its premiere at can fire walk

bood at its premiere at can fire walk with me is today considered an important

with me is today considered an important

with me is today considered an important part of the Twin Peaks fandom lately

part of the Twin Peaks fandom lately

part of the Twin Peaks fandom lately I’ve been filled with the knowledge that

I’ve been filled with the knowledge that

I’ve been filled with the knowledge that the killer will strike again but because

the killer will strike again but because

the killer will strike again but because it is just a feeling I am powerless to

it is just a feeling I am powerless to

it is just a feeling I am powerless to stop it

stop it

stop it number eight Inland Empire

now things get extra weird he’s dead

now things get extra weird he’s dead laughter you’re in this mystery flick

laughter you’re in this mystery flick

laughter you’re in this mystery flick laura dern plays an actress who joins a

laura dern plays an actress who joins a

laura dern plays an actress who joins a new movie cast anthropomorphic rabbits

new movie cast anthropomorphic rabbits

new movie cast anthropomorphic rabbits unexplainable jump cuts and flashing

unexplainable jump cuts and flashing

unexplainable jump cuts and flashing lights abound as well as sequences

lights abound as well as sequences

lights abound as well as sequences pulled straight from your nightmares the

pulled straight from your nightmares the

pulled straight from your nightmares the most surreal trick he’s ever pulled out

most surreal trick he’s ever pulled out

most surreal trick he’s ever pulled out of his hat Lynch is 3-hour magnum opus

of his hat Lynch is 3-hour magnum opus

of his hat Lynch is 3-hour magnum opus bombards our senses with images you

bombards our senses with images you

bombards our senses with images you won’t soon forget

won’t soon forget

won’t soon forget dynamos their nature how they think with

dynamos their nature how they think with

dynamos their nature how they think with an impressive cast and immensely

an impressive cast and immensely

an impressive cast and immensely positive reviews this postmodernist gem

positive reviews this postmodernist gem

positive reviews this postmodernist gem left most audiences scratching their

left most audiences scratching their

left most audiences scratching their heads but still satiated fans after the

heads but still satiated fans after the

heads but still satiated fans after the directors five-year absence from

directors five-year absence from

directors five-year absence from filmmaking

filmmaking

filmmaking [Music]

[Music]

[Music] number seven Lost Highway Lynch’s

number seven Lost Highway Lynch’s

number seven Lost Highway Lynch’s attempt at a psychological thriller

attempt at a psychological thriller

attempt at a psychological thriller became one of his biggest cult

became one of his biggest cult

became one of his biggest cult sensations are you sure of course a

sensations are you sure of course a

sensations are you sure of course a favorite among fans who enjoyed

favorite among fans who enjoyed

favorite among fans who enjoyed dissecting its plot and philosophizing

dissecting its plot and philosophizing

dissecting its plot and philosophizing over what it all means

over what it all means

over what it all means this neo-noir ish narrative follows a

this neo-noir ish narrative follows a

this neo-noir ish narrative follows a jazz musician as he tries to make sense

jazz musician as he tries to make sense

jazz musician as he tries to make sense of his own world this includes figuring

of his own world this includes figuring

of his own world this includes figuring out if he killed his wife or not and

out if he killed his wife or not and

out if he killed his wife or not and that’s just the tip of the iceberg

mobsters underground pornography more

mobsters underground pornography more flashing lights and a cringe-worthy

flashing lights and a cringe-worthy

flashing lights and a cringe-worthy final performance by Robert Blake as a

final performance by Robert Blake as a

final performance by Robert Blake as a ghostly peeping tom make Lost Highway

ghostly peeping tom make Lost Highway

ghostly peeping tom make Lost Highway the opposite of family-friendly viewing

the opposite of family-friendly viewing

the opposite of family-friendly viewing but one of Lynch’s most fully surreal

but one of Lynch’s most fully surreal

but one of Lynch’s most fully surreal productions number six wild at heart who

productions number six wild at heart who

productions number six wild at heart who is this silly although still overflowing

is this silly although still overflowing

is this silly although still overflowing with surreal imagery this Lynch Ian Road

with surreal imagery this Lynch Ian Road

with surreal imagery this Lynch Ian Road movie has a more straightforward

movie has a more straightforward

movie has a more straightforward narrative than as other flicks

yeah

yeah based on the novel by Barry Gifford the

based on the novel by Barry Gifford the

based on the novel by Barry Gifford the story follows lovers sailor and Loula

story follows lovers sailor and Loula

story follows lovers sailor and Loula played by Nicholas Cage and laura dern

played by Nicholas Cage and laura dern

played by Nicholas Cage and laura dern as they go on the run from Lula’s

as they go on the run from Lula’s

as they go on the run from Lula’s overbearing mother who gets gangsters

overbearing mother who gets gangsters

overbearing mother who gets gangsters and detectives to chase them down with

and detectives to chase them down with

and detectives to chase them down with another all-star supporting cast this

another all-star supporting cast this

another all-star supporting cast this romantic thrill ride which earned Diane

romantic thrill ride which earned Diane

romantic thrill ride which earned Diane Ladd an Oscar nomination you think that

Ladd an Oscar nomination you think that

Ladd an Oscar nomination you think that I would was one of Lynch’s rare box

I would was one of Lynch’s rare box

I would was one of Lynch’s rare box office successes and nabbed the esteemed

office successes and nabbed the esteemed

office successes and nabbed the esteemed Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival

number five the straight story what do

number five the straight story what do you do when the film world has linked

you do when the film world has linked

you do when the film world has linked visions of dark surreal twisted

visions of dark surreal twisted

visions of dark surreal twisted nightmares to your name

nightmares to your name

nightmares to your name you give them the straight story story

you give them the straight story story

you give them the straight story story as old as the Bible a brilliant and

as old as the Bible a brilliant and

as old as the Bible a brilliant and sentimental drama produced by Disney

sentimental drama produced by Disney

sentimental drama produced by Disney which follows an old man driving from

which follows an old man driving from

which follows an old man driving from one state to the next on his lawnmower

one state to the next on his lawnmower

one state to the next on his lawnmower to patch things up with his dying

to patch things up with his dying

to patch things up with his dying brother I want to make peace I want to

brother I want to make peace I want to

brother I want to make peace I want to sit with him look up at the stars like

sit with him look up at the stars like

sit with him look up at the stars like we used to do as the real life Alvin

we used to do as the real life Alvin

we used to do as the real life Alvin Street Richard Farnsworth who was

Street Richard Farnsworth who was

Street Richard Farnsworth who was terminally ill at the time turned in a

terminally ill at the time turned in a

terminally ill at the time turned in a career-defining final performance rose

career-defining final performance rose

career-defining final performance rose yeah I’ve got to go see Lyle and I I’ve

yeah I’ve got to go see Lyle and I I’ve

yeah I’ve got to go see Lyle and I I’ve got to make this trip on my own

got to make this trip on my own

got to make this trip on my own meanwhile the uncharacteristic drama

meanwhile the uncharacteristic drama

meanwhile the uncharacteristic drama also became one of the biggest critical

also became one of the biggest critical

also became one of the biggest critical successes in Lynch’s career and this

successes in Lynch’s career and this

successes in Lynch’s career and this trip is a hard swallow my pride I just

trip is a hard swallow my pride I just

trip is a hard swallow my pride I just hope I’m not too late

hope I’m not too late

hope I’m not too late number four the elephant man

this biopic follows the story of John

this biopic follows the story of John Merrick a man living in the 19th century

Merrick a man living in the 19th century

Merrick a man living in the 19th century that suffered from extreme deformities

played by an unrecognizable John Hurt

played by an unrecognizable John Hurt Merrick goes through his life just

Merrick goes through his life just

Merrick goes through his life just trying to be accepted as a human being

trying to be accepted as a human being

trying to be accepted as a human being [Applause]

the impressive cast which also includes

the impressive cast which also includes Anthony Hopkins and Anne Bancroft takes

Anthony Hopkins and Anne Bancroft takes

Anthony Hopkins and Anne Bancroft takes what aesthetically looks like an oldies

what aesthetically looks like an oldies

what aesthetically looks like an oldies monster movie and turns it into an

monster movie and turns it into an

monster movie and turns it into an emotional rollercoaster of compassion

emotional rollercoaster of compassion

emotional rollercoaster of compassion and acceptance kind decision shot in

and acceptance kind decision shot in

and acceptance kind decision shot in stark black and white this shocking

stark black and white this shocking

stark black and white this shocking drama was Lynch’s first big-budget

drama was Lynch’s first big-budget

drama was Lynch’s first big-budget studio film and remains his most

studio film and remains his most

studio film and remains his most critically lauded with eight Oscar

critically lauded with eight Oscar

critically lauded with eight Oscar nominations something did

nominations something did

nominations something did I’ve been meaning to ask you for some

I’ve been meaning to ask you for some

I’ve been meaning to ask you for some time now

[Music]

[Music] I’m not cure number three you raised her

I’m not cure number three you raised her

I’m not cure number three you raised her head thank you very much this is the

head thank you very much this is the

head thank you very much this is the film that started it all

film that started it all

film that started it all tries to cut them up like regular

tries to cut them up like regular

tries to cut them up like regular chickens sure just come up like regular

chickens sure just come up like regular

chickens sure just come up like regular chickens in this bizarre experimental

chickens in this bizarre experimental

chickens in this bizarre experimental masterpiece

masterpiece

masterpiece we follow Henry in what seems to be an

we follow Henry in what seems to be an

we follow Henry in what seems to be an industrialized otherworldly dystopia as

industrialized otherworldly dystopia as

industrialized otherworldly dystopia as he tries to take care of his mutant

he tries to take care of his mutant

he tries to take care of his mutant newborn baby after his wife abandons

newborn baby after his wife abandons

newborn baby after his wife abandons them

them

them [Music]

Eraserhead is especially notable for the

Eraserhead is especially notable for the violent images and dreams the

violent images and dreams the

violent images and dreams the protagonist endures while he tries to

protagonist endures while he tries to

protagonist endures while he tries to keep his screeching child quiet

an early predecessor of body horror

an early predecessor of body horror cinema this popular midnight movie and

cinema this popular midnight movie and

cinema this popular midnight movie and cult hit gave birth to Lin Chi and

cult hit gave birth to Lin Chi and

cult hit gave birth to Lin Chi and surrealist imagery

[Music]

[Music] and always remember in heaven everything

and always remember in heaven everything

and always remember in heaven everything is fine

is fine

is fine [Music]

[Music]

[Music] number two Mulholland Drive originally

number two Mulholland Drive originally

number two Mulholland Drive originally invented as an idea for a new TV show

invented as an idea for a new TV show

invented as an idea for a new TV show this psychological thriller does to

this psychological thriller does to

this psychological thriller does to Hollywood

Hollywood

Hollywood what Twin Peaks did to small towns Naomi

what Twin Peaks did to small towns Naomi

what Twin Peaks did to small towns Naomi Watts plays an aspiring actress who

Watts plays an aspiring actress who

Watts plays an aspiring actress who meets an amnesiac on the titular

meets an amnesiac on the titular

meets an amnesiac on the titular Hollywood Street following a car crash a

Hollywood Street following a car crash a

Hollywood Street following a car crash a narrative that includes stolen money

narrative that includes stolen money

narrative that includes stolen money corrupt film directors philosophical

corrupt film directors philosophical

corrupt film directors philosophical Cowboys and deadly mobsters rounds up

Cowboys and deadly mobsters rounds up

Cowboys and deadly mobsters rounds up this mystery about identity and reality

this mystery about identity and reality

this mystery about identity and reality just forget you ever saw it it’s better

just forget you ever saw it it’s better

just forget you ever saw it it’s better that way the result is a cult classic

that way the result is a cult classic

that way the result is a cult classic but fans are still trying to dissect

but fans are still trying to dissect

but fans are still trying to dissect years later which earned Lynch his third

years later which earned Lynch his third

years later which earned Lynch his third Oscar nomination

[Music]

[Music] number one blue velvet she warned

number one blue velvet she warned

number one blue velvet she warned [Music]

a neo-noir mystery a classic terrifying

a neo-noir mystery a classic terrifying villains then one of the greatest

villains then one of the greatest

villains then one of the greatest American crime thrillers ever made this

American crime thrillers ever made this

American crime thrillers ever made this Oscar nominated cult classic about a

Oscar nominated cult classic about a

Oscar nominated cult classic about a young man who finds a severed ear and

young man who finds a severed ear and

young man who finds a severed ear and gets involved with the wrong people was

gets involved with the wrong people was

gets involved with the wrong people was a rare commercial success for Lynch yes

a rare commercial success for Lynch yes

a rare commercial success for Lynch yes that’s a human ear alright dennis

that’s a human ear alright dennis

that’s a human ear alright dennis hopper’s portrayal of the insane

hopper’s portrayal of the insane

hopper’s portrayal of the insane sadomasochists frankbooth as well as

sadomasochists frankbooth as well as

sadomasochists frankbooth as well as that of his prized possession played by

that of his prized possession played by

that of his prized possession played by Isabella Rossellini present haunting

Isabella Rossellini present haunting

Isabella Rossellini present haunting images of erotic violence that creeped

images of erotic violence that creeped

images of erotic violence that creeped out film goers across the globe winner

out film goers across the globe winner

out film goers across the globe winner of multiple awards worldwide blue velvet

of multiple awards worldwide blue velvet

of multiple awards worldwide blue velvet is Lynch’s most enduring film

is Lynch’s most enduring film

is Lynch’s most enduring film [Music]

[Music]

[Music] do you agree with our list which is your

do you agree with our list which is your

do you agree with our list which is your favorite David Lynch film look like a

favorite David Lynch film look like a

favorite David Lynch film look like a clown and that’s stupid jacket snakeskin

clown and that’s stupid jacket snakeskin

clown and that’s stupid jacket snakeskin jacket for me it’s individuality for

jacket for me it’s individuality for

jacket for me it’s individuality for more exciting top 10s published every

more exciting top 10s published every

more exciting top 10s published every day be sure to subscribe to

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