Top 10 John Carpenter Movies

he’s got a gifted eye for the dark and

he’s got a gifted eye for the dark and the twisted it’s weird and pissed off

the twisted it’s weird and pissed off

the twisted it’s weird and pissed off whatever it is welcome to watchmojo.com

whatever it is welcome to watchmojo.com

whatever it is welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re counting down our picks

and today we’re counting down our picks

and today we’re counting down our picks for the top 10 John Carpenter movies for

for the top 10 John Carpenter movies for

for the top 10 John Carpenter movies for this list we’re looking at those films

this list we’re looking at those films

this list we’re looking at those films made by this prolific director that left

made by this prolific director that left

made by this prolific director that left an indelible mark on our young

an indelible mark on our young

an indelible mark on our young impressionable minds while Carpenter has

impressionable minds while Carpenter has

impressionable minds while Carpenter has been in the moviemaking business longer

been in the moviemaking business longer

been in the moviemaking business longer than most of us have been alive his cult

than most of us have been alive his cult

than most of us have been alive his cult classics can stand up to some of the

classics can stand up to some of the

classics can stand up to some of the most CGI Layton flicks that graced the

most CGI Layton flicks that graced the

most CGI Layton flicks that graced the big screens today his filmography has

big screens today his filmography has

big screens today his filmography has given us some of the best chills and cam

given us some of the best chills and cam

given us some of the best chills and cam piest fun film moments do you want some

piest fun film moments do you want some

piest fun film moments do you want some too buddy

too buddy

too buddy number 10 vampires much obliged sure

number 10 vampires much obliged sure

number 10 vampires much obliged sure there have been a ton of vampire movies

there have been a ton of vampire movies

there have been a ton of vampire movies throughout the years including vampires

throughout the years including vampires

throughout the years including vampires of the sparkly lovelorn variety but our

of the sparkly lovelorn variety but our

of the sparkly lovelorn variety but our favorites have always been the

favorites have always been the

favorites have always been the bloodthirsty ruthless breed you want to

bloodthirsty ruthless breed you want to

bloodthirsty ruthless breed you want to kill one you drive a wooden stake right

kill one you drive a wooden stake right

kill one you drive a wooden stake right to it party in this film Carpenter gives

to it party in this film Carpenter gives

to it party in this film Carpenter gives us James Woods as an antihero vampire

us James Woods as an antihero vampire

us James Woods as an antihero vampire hunter who must stop a centuries-old

hunter who must stop a centuries-old

hunter who must stop a centuries-old master vampire before he can get his

master vampire before he can get his

master vampire before he can get his hands on an ancient cross what will

hands on an ancient cross what will

hands on an ancient cross what will silence you there’s lots of blood and

silence you there’s lots of blood and

silence you there’s lots of blood and bytes and even a Baldwin I’m sorry

bytes and even a Baldwin I’m sorry

bytes and even a Baldwin I’m sorry it’s gonna be alright and all the

it’s gonna be alright and all the

it’s gonna be alright and all the signature gore and nasty humor you’d

signature gore and nasty humor you’d

signature gore and nasty humor you’d expect from a John Carpenter joint

expect from a John Carpenter joint

expect from a John Carpenter joint number nine Dark Star commander Paul

number nine Dark Star commander Paul

number nine Dark Star commander Paul this is do do something serious has come

this is do do something serious has come

this is do do something serious has come up I have to ask you a question as

up I have to ask you a question as

up I have to ask you a question as carpenters earliest major directorial

carpenters earliest major directorial

carpenters earliest major directorial effort this film wasn’t a smash success

but it did put him on the map in the

but it did put him on the map in the industry proper target practice

industry proper target practice

industry proper target practice that’s emergencies only the film centers

that’s emergencies only the film centers

that’s emergencies only the film centers on a skeleton crew of planet destroyers

on a skeleton crew of planet destroyers

on a skeleton crew of planet destroyers who’ve been in space for longer than

who’ve been in space for longer than

who’ve been in space for longer than they’d like i mean think of it this way

they’d like i mean think of it this way

they’d like i mean think of it this way we’ve been in space for twenty years

we’ve been in space for twenty years

we’ve been in space for twenty years alright along with that story come

alright along with that story come

alright along with that story come elements of dark comedy as well as

elements of dark comedy as well as

elements of dark comedy as well as science fiction but what was probably

science fiction but what was probably

science fiction but what was probably most impressive was its quality in spite

most impressive was its quality in spite

most impressive was its quality in spite of its shoestring budget which is

of its shoestring budget which is

of its shoestring budget which is another of carpenters trademark skills

another of carpenters trademark skills

another of carpenters trademark skills glow glow with all the colors of the

glow glow with all the colors of the

glow glow with all the colors of the rainbow nobody knows why they just glows

rainbow nobody knows why they just glows

rainbow nobody knows why they just glows they drift around the universe phoenix

they drift around the universe phoenix

they drift around the universe phoenix asteroid number eight the fog well my

asteroid number eight the fog well my

asteroid number eight the fog well my gauges must be wrong

gauges must be wrong

gauges must be wrong i’ve got a wind blowing due east and

i’ve got a wind blowing due east and

i’ve got a wind blowing due east and what kind of a fog goes against the wind

what kind of a fog goes against the wind

what kind of a fog goes against the wind while fog may usually only be a major

while fog may usually only be a major

while fog may usually only be a major concern for motorists and sailors

concern for motorists and sailors

concern for motorists and sailors carpenter through some murderous ghosts

carpenter through some murderous ghosts

carpenter through some murderous ghosts into the mist to up the ante at the same

into the mist to up the ante at the same

into the mist to up the ante at the same time that fog was moving in this whole

time that fog was moving in this whole

time that fog was moving in this whole town went

town went

town went unglued set in a fishing town on the

unglued set in a fishing town on the

unglued set in a fishing town on the coast of california this movie deals

coast of california this movie deals

coast of california this movie deals with a menacing glowing fog packed to

with a menacing glowing fog packed to

with a menacing glowing fog packed to the gills with the ghosts of vengeful

the gills with the ghosts of vengeful

the gills with the ghosts of vengeful sailors looking to kill anyone caught in

sailors looking to kill anyone caught in

sailors looking to kill anyone caught in the haze ahoy mateys

the haze ahoy mateys

the haze ahoy mateys it’s a stevie way in your night light

it’s a stevie way in your night light

it’s a stevie way in your night light with scream queens adrienne barbeau

with scream queens adrienne barbeau

with scream queens adrienne barbeau stay away from the fog Jamie Lee Curtis

stay away from the fog Jamie Lee Curtis

stay away from the fog Jamie Lee Curtis and her mother Janet Lee acting in the

and her mother Janet Lee acting in the

and her mother Janet Lee acting in the film thank you

film thank you

film thank you the fog became a minor horror classic

number seven assault on precinct 13

number seven assault on precinct 13 preceded precinct 9 division 13 and take

preceded precinct 9 division 13 and take

preceded precinct 9 division 13 and take over from captain Gordon carpenters

over from captain Gordon carpenters

over from captain Gordon carpenters second major film was a deviation from

second major film was a deviation from

second major film was a deviation from the science fiction and fantasy classics

the science fiction and fantasy classics

the science fiction and fantasy classics we associate him with apparently assault

we associate him with apparently assault

we associate him with apparently assault on precinct 13 follows a police

on precinct 13 follows a police

on precinct 13 follows a police lieutenant a convicted felon and a small

lieutenant a convicted felon and a small

lieutenant a convicted felon and a small group as they struggle to stay alive and

group as they struggle to stay alive and

group as they struggle to stay alive and a police precinct undergoing a full-on

a police precinct undergoing a full-on

a police precinct undergoing a full-on gang attack why would anybody shoot at a

gang attack why would anybody shoot at a

gang attack why would anybody shoot at a police station while the film wasn’t

police station while the film wasn’t

police station while the film wasn’t initially a success in the United States

initially a success in the United States

initially a success in the United States I think we’ve just been marked for

I think we’ve just been marked for

I think we’ve just been marked for something it blew up overseas prompting

something it blew up overseas prompting

something it blew up overseas prompting a critical reassessment in later years

a critical reassessment in later years

a critical reassessment in later years what does that mean it’s seen as one of

what does that mean it’s seen as one of

what does that mean it’s seen as one of the finest action flicks of its time and

the finest action flicks of its time and

the finest action flicks of its time and one of carpenter’s best number six star

one of carpenter’s best number six star

one of carpenter’s best number six star men take it easy

up yours this film is a softer take on

up yours this film is a softer take on the sci-fi genre starring Jeff Bridges

the sci-fi genre starring Jeff Bridges

the sci-fi genre starring Jeff Bridges as an alien who falls in love with a

as an alien who falls in love with a

as an alien who falls in love with a human woman as he tries to make it home

human woman as he tries to make it home

human woman as he tries to make it home if I’m low after the alien spacecraft is

if I’m low after the alien spacecraft is

if I’m low after the alien spacecraft is shot out of the air he takes on the

shot out of the air he takes on the

shot out of the air he takes on the appearance of a Widow’s deceased husband

appearance of a Widow’s deceased husband

appearance of a Widow’s deceased husband and the two journey to reconnect him

and the two journey to reconnect him

and the two journey to reconnect him with his alien recon crew what do you

with his alien recon crew what do you

with his alien recon crew what do you want with me where are you taking me why

want with me where are you taking me why

want with me where are you taking me why do you look so much like Scott it’s kind

do you look so much like Scott it’s kind

do you look so much like Scott it’s kind of like et but with grownups and

of like et but with grownups and

of like et but with grownups and baby-making it’s the only John Carpenter

baby-making it’s the only John Carpenter

baby-making it’s the only John Carpenter film to ever receive an Oscar nomination

film to ever receive an Oscar nomination

film to ever receive an Oscar nomination thanks to bridges unique performance I

thanks to bridges unique performance I

thanks to bridges unique performance I watched you very carefully

watched you very carefully

watched you very carefully red light stop green light go yellow

red light stop green light go yellow

red light stop green light go yellow light go very fast

light go very fast

light go very fast number five Big Trouble in Little China

number five Big Trouble in Little China

number five Big Trouble in Little China it’s getting hot in here is just the

it’s getting hot in here is just the

it’s getting hot in here is just the film may not have been a great

film may not have been a great

film may not have been a great commercial success wait a minute ow and

commercial success wait a minute ow and

commercial success wait a minute ow and may have been the flick that turned

may have been the flick that turned

may have been the flick that turned carpenter back towards Indy fair more

carpenter back towards Indy fair more

carpenter back towards Indy fair more exotic the better but it’s one of the

exotic the better but it’s one of the

exotic the better but it’s one of the filmmakers most celebrated cult classics

filmmakers most celebrated cult classics

filmmakers most celebrated cult classics yes sir the check is in the mail

yes sir the check is in the mail

yes sir the check is in the mail the film follows Kurt Russell as Jack

the film follows Kurt Russell as Jack

the film follows Kurt Russell as Jack Burton and his friend Wang Chi as they

Burton and his friend Wang Chi as they

Burton and his friend Wang Chi as they set out to rescue Chi’s girlfriend from

set out to rescue Chi’s girlfriend from

set out to rescue Chi’s girlfriend from the clutches of an evil sorcerer the

the clutches of an evil sorcerer the

the clutches of an evil sorcerer the darkest magic as an action-adventure

darkest magic as an action-adventure

darkest magic as an action-adventure film it’s like Mortal Kombat meets

film it’s like Mortal Kombat meets

film it’s like Mortal Kombat meets Indiana Jones but with a needlessly

Indiana Jones but with a needlessly

Indiana Jones but with a needlessly self-assured hero feel pretty good no

self-assured hero feel pretty good no

self-assured hero feel pretty good no not not scared at all I just feel kind

not not scared at all I just feel kind

not not scared at all I just feel kind of feel kind of invisible number four

of feel kind of invisible number four

of feel kind of invisible number four they live I have come here to chew

they live I have come here to chew

they live I have come here to chew bubblegum and kick ass

and I’m all out of bubble it’s a

and I’m all out of bubble it’s a conspiracy theorists fantasy complete

conspiracy theorists fantasy complete

conspiracy theorists fantasy complete with the alien overlords what’s your

with the alien overlords what’s your

with the alien overlords what’s your problem

I said what’s your problem the film

I said what’s your problem the film stars rowdy roddy piper as a

stars rowdy roddy piper as a

stars rowdy roddy piper as a construction worker who uncovers an

construction worker who uncovers an

construction worker who uncovers an alien scheme to keep humans in a

alien scheme to keep humans in a

alien scheme to keep humans in a perpetual state of obedience and

perpetual state of obedience and

perpetual state of obedience and conformity using mass media which you

conformity using mass media which you

conformity using mass media which you know probably isn’t that far-fetched

know probably isn’t that far-fetched

know probably isn’t that far-fetched everybody’s got their own hard times

everybody’s got their own hard times

everybody’s got their own hard times these days after getting into an

these days after getting into an

these days after getting into an unnecessarily long fight with Keith

unnecessarily long fight with Keith

unnecessarily long fight with Keith David’s character man I told you I

David’s character man I told you I

David’s character man I told you I didn’t want to be in a – head out to

didn’t want to be in a – head out to

didn’t want to be in a – head out to unravel the scheme and reveal the truth

unravel the scheme and reveal the truth

unravel the scheme and reveal the truth to the masses what’s wrong and the

to the masses what’s wrong and the

to the masses what’s wrong and the result is another carpenter cult classic

result is another carpenter cult classic

result is another carpenter cult classic that meshes politics and horror we are

that meshes politics and horror we are

that meshes politics and horror we are off crisis alert the situation is normal

off crisis alert the situation is normal

off crisis alert the situation is normal again with sci-fi and comedy you’re okay

again with sci-fi and comedy you’re okay

again with sci-fi and comedy you’re okay this one real lovely oh you see I take

this one real lovely oh you see I take

this one real lovely oh you see I take these glasses off she looks like a

these glasses off she looks like a

these glasses off she looks like a regular person doesn’t she huh put them

regular person doesn’t she huh put them

regular person doesn’t she huh put them back on from maldehyde face number three

back on from maldehyde face number three

back on from maldehyde face number three escape from New York in a not so distant

escape from New York in a not so distant

escape from New York in a not so distant future or past really Manhattan has

future or past really Manhattan has

future or past really Manhattan has transformed into a maximum-security

transformed into a maximum-security

transformed into a maximum-security prison for life long prisoners why are

prison for life long prisoners why are

prison for life long prisoners why are we talking when the president’s plane

we talking when the president’s plane

we talking when the president’s plane crash lands smack dab in the middle of

crash lands smack dab in the middle of

crash lands smack dab in the middle of the island

the island

the island renegade inmate Snake Plissken with me

renegade inmate Snake Plissken with me

renegade inmate Snake Plissken with me is commissioned to save the president’s

is commissioned to save the president’s

is commissioned to save the president’s life before a lawless gang leader can

life before a lawless gang leader can

life before a lawless gang leader can execute him looking for somebody who the

execute him looking for somebody who the

execute him looking for somebody who the president not only was the film a

president not only was the film a

president not only was the film a critical and commercial success it also

critical and commercial success it also

critical and commercial success it also established Kurt Russell as a carpenter

established Kurt Russell as a carpenter

established Kurt Russell as a carpenter favorite

favorite

favorite I’ve got his pulse as he would go on to

I’ve got his pulse as he would go on to

I’ve got his pulse as he would go on to star in several of carpenters features

star in several of carpenters features

star in several of carpenters features including a return for this film sequel

including a return for this film sequel

including a return for this film sequel escape from LA

number two Halloween so what is this big

number two Halloween so what is this big big news

big news

big news while Dark Star may have put carpenter

while Dark Star may have put carpenter

while Dark Star may have put carpenter on the map this film launched him into

on the map this film launched him into

on the map this film launched him into the stratosphere although critics were

the stratosphere although critics were

the stratosphere although critics were still slow to get onboard quash TV the

still slow to get onboard quash TV the

still slow to get onboard quash TV the film follows the story of a babysitter

film follows the story of a babysitter

film follows the story of a babysitter played by Jamie Lee Curtis who Scott by

played by Jamie Lee Curtis who Scott by

played by Jamie Lee Curtis who Scott by the murderous masked madman Michael

the murderous masked madman Michael

the murderous masked madman Michael Myers on Halloween night what the cookie

Myers on Halloween night what the cookie

Myers on Halloween night what the cookie myth not only did the film go on to

myth not only did the film go on to

myth not only did the film go on to become incredibly successful

become incredibly successful

become incredibly successful commercially I’ll kill you if this is a

commercially I’ll kill you if this is a

commercially I’ll kill you if this is a joke it also set the standard for future

joke it also set the standard for future

joke it also set the standard for future slasher films that followed with its use

slasher films that followed with its use

slasher films that followed with its use of unique camera angles minimal gore and

of unique camera angles minimal gore and

of unique camera angles minimal gore and it’s primitive thrills before we unveil

it’s primitive thrills before we unveil

it’s primitive thrills before we unveil our top pick here are a few honorable

our top pick here are a few honorable

our top pick here are a few honorable mentions

mentions

mentions do you like my ending

any suggestions some kind of power

any suggestions some kind of power directed outward controlled force what’s

directed outward controlled force what’s

directed outward controlled force what’s it doing

it doing

it doing reaching out influencing changing things

it really works Oh Nick you have a face

it really works Oh Nick you have a face again right eyes and teeth be a whole

again right eyes and teeth be a whole

again right eyes and teeth be a whole head number one the thing was

however it is they burn it up in a hurry

however it is they burn it up in a hurry Kurt Russell takes the lead again this

Kurt Russell takes the lead again this

Kurt Russell takes the lead again this time playing McCready a helicopter pilot

time playing McCready a helicopter pilot

time playing McCready a helicopter pilot stuck on a remote Antarctic outpost with

stuck on a remote Antarctic outpost with

stuck on a remote Antarctic outpost with a shape-shifting alien I think it rips

a shape-shifting alien I think it rips

a shape-shifting alien I think it rips through your clothes when it takes you

through your clothes when it takes you

through your clothes when it takes you over and a crew that’s trying to stay

over and a crew that’s trying to stay

over and a crew that’s trying to stay alive I just cannot believe any of this

alive I just cannot believe any of this

alive I just cannot believe any of this voodoo bullshit the film was released to

voodoo bullshit the film was released to

voodoo bullshit the film was released to moderate financial success but was

moderate financial success but was

moderate financial success but was overshadowed by another alien themed

overshadowed by another alien themed

overshadowed by another alien themed movie released a few weeks prior that

movie released a few weeks prior that

movie released a few weeks prior that had a much more positive outlook on

had a much more positive outlook on

had a much more positive outlook on extraterrestrials t-phone decidedly dark

extraterrestrials t-phone decidedly dark

extraterrestrials t-phone decidedly dark and wonderfully creepy the thing is

and wonderfully creepy the thing is

and wonderfully creepy the thing is nevertheless now considered one of the

nevertheless now considered one of the

nevertheless now considered one of the best of its genre thanks to its

best of its genre thanks to its

best of its genre thanks to its groundbreaking special effects and

groundbreaking special effects and

groundbreaking special effects and makeup and carpenter’s characteristic

makeup and carpenter’s characteristic

makeup and carpenter’s characteristic creepiness

do you agree with our list there are so

do you agree with our list there are so many questions I’d like to ask you I

many questions I’d like to ask you I

many questions I’d like to ask you I don’t even know where to begin what are

don’t even know where to begin what are

don’t even know where to begin what are your favorite John Carpenter films well

your favorite John Carpenter films well

your favorite John Carpenter films well kiddo

kiddo

kiddo thought you outgrew superstitions for

thought you outgrew superstitions for

thought you outgrew superstitions for more entertaining top 10s published

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