TOP LIST – David Lynch has passed away, but his dreams live on forever. Few American filmmakers have transformed the world of cinema and television like this Midwestern-born artist, who became an unparalleled poet of the Los Angeles dream factory. Lynch’s work has profoundly shaped how we perceive this vast country. His greatness was recognized by none other than Steven Spielberg, who recently cast him to portray another great American director, John Ford, in The Fabelmans.
Six years after Twin Peaks: The Return redefined every other 21st-century TV revival, it stands as his final artistic statement. To honor Lynch’s extraordinary body of work, here is a ranking of the director’s best feature films and full-length TV shows (excluding his short films, commercials, and short-lived TV projects like Hotel Room and On the Air, which remain difficult to access even in the streaming era).
12. The Straight Story (1999)
The only David Lynch film available on Disney+, The Straight Story stands apart in the director’s oeuvre. It has no demons, dimensional portals, or explorations of sexual abuse. Instead, it tells the real-life story of Alvin Straight (Richard Farnsworth) and his tractor journey across state lines to visit his dying brother. Filled with deep emotions, Alvin’s painful memories, Angelo Badalamenti’s stirring score, and Freddie Francis’s cinematography of Midwestern farmland create a poignant elegy for an America that no longer exists. Its message of forgiveness and resilience feels like an embodiment of the White Lodge.
11. The Elephant Man (1980)
Although The Elephant Man is one of the few Lynch films he didn’t write, it serves as a perfect follow-up to Eraserhead. While the earlier film explores the fears of a parent facing the birth of an unwanted child, The Elephant Man examines the perspective of a lonely, outcast child growing up in a harsh, uncaring world. The acting is extraordinary, with John Hurt delivering an unforgettable performance in the title role and Anthony Hopkins achieving an early career highlight. The makeup effects were so groundbreaking that they led to the creation of the Academy Award for Best Makeup and Hairstyling. Now that’s a legacy!
10. Inland Empire (2006)
Depending on how Twin Peaks: The Return is categorized, Inland Empire remains David Lynch’s most recent feature film. Sixteen years might seem like a long time, but the film is so intricate that we are still unpacking its mysteries. Its whimsical storytelling—filled with detours and rabbit holes, both literal and metaphorical—stands as one of the most forward-looking depictions of life in the internet era. The raw, unpolished look of digital video aligns perfectly with Lynch’s exploration of human darkness. This is the performance for which Laura Dern truly deserved an Oscar.
9. Eraserhead (1977)
Parenthood has never been more terrifying. Lynch’s 1977 debut feature is a cornerstone of surrealist cinema, infamous for its impenetrability and morbid visuals. Despite its reputation as complex and enigmatic, the plot is surprisingly straightforward: Henry Spencer (Jack Nance, sporting his signature electrified hairstyle) lives in a bleak industrial city where his girlfriend (Charlotte Stewart) gives birth to a monstrous creature. After she leaves, Henry is left to care for the child, navigating dreamlike sequences and eerie visions: women singing in radiators, heads popping off.
With stark black-and-white cinematography and minimal dialogue, Eraserhead feels like a nightmarish silent film brought to life with unnerving sound design. While it may not be Lynch’s best work, it is undoubtedly unforgettable—a dream that lingers long after you’ve woken up.
8. Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me (1992)
Lynch often employs circular storytelling, leaving key moments off-screen for viewers to fill in. Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me—a prequel to the prematurely canceled series—is a rare exception, compelling audiences to confront the heart of darkness directly. It’s a lot to take in, which may explain the harsh criticism it received upon release. Over time, however (and with the show’s revival), the film has gained appreciation for its dark surrealism and its unflinching treatment of challenging themes. Sheryl Lee, as Laura Palmer, delivers a raw, soul-baring performance that stands unmatched.
7. Dune (1984)
David Lynch’s most overtly sci-fi film contains plenty to admire. The director aligns perfectly with the psychedelic elements of Dune, so much so that its influence can be felt in his later films, albeit subtly. (“The sleeper must awaken!” could just as easily apply to the protagonists of Blue Velvet and Mulholland Drive.) The stunning opening sequence, featuring the Guild Navigator suspended in a massive tank, remains unmatched compared to Denis Villeneuve’s more recent adaptation. However, attempting to condense the sprawling narrative into 2.5 hours was undoubtedly a mistake.
6. Wild at Heart (1990)
Like many of Lynch’s films, this crime drama was polarizing upon its release. At its Cannes premiere, it drew boos and walkouts—but it also won the Palme d’Or. Over time, other Lynch projects have found their audience, but Wild at Heart has remained divisive—a trippy fantasy that’s part road movie, part unhinged romance, and part homage to The Wizard of Oz.
Laura Dern and Nicolas Cage share a chaotic, “us against the world” chemistry as Lula Fortune and Sailor Ripley, crisscrossing the country to escape Lula’s overbearing mother (played by Dern’s real-life mom, Diane Ladd). The entire film is an unsettling odyssey of sex, gore, and violence. While these themes often appear in Lynch’s work, there’s usually a method to the madness; here, the darkness threatens to derail the film entirely. Still, Dern is unforgettable as Lula (“hotter than Georgia asphalt!”), and Cage knows exactly how to rock a snakeskin jacket.
5. Mulholland Drive (2001)
This iconic drama famously started as a failed TV pilot before Lynch reimagined it for the big screen. Today, it’s hard to envision Mulholland Drive as anything but a film—a twisted, enigmatic tale that plunges deep into Hollywood’s dreamlike underworld.
The story begins simply, following Naomi Watts as a wide-eyed actress pursuing stardom in Los Angeles, only to cross paths with an amnesiac woman (Laura Harring). But it soon morphs into a broader portrait of Hollywood, from its glitzy heights to its seedy underbelly (the scene behind Winkie’s diner remains one of the most terrifying moments in cinema).
Every aspect of Mulholland Drive radiates an unsettling, ethereal quality, amplified by Angelo Badalamenti’s haunting score. Los Angeles has never felt more like a dream—or a nightmare.
4. Twin Peaks: The Return (2017)
Is it a TV series or a film? Cinephiles will likely debate this distinction for years to come. What’s most significant, however, is how Twin Peaks: The Return once again upended expectations of what a television revival could mean. Where the original series helped spark the kind of passionate pop culture discourse we know and love today, Twin Peaks: The Return redefined the revival format, showing how television could transcend its own boundaries.
The show plays like a summation of Lynch’s entire career: nearly all of his previous films are referenced in some way—literally, visually, or metaphorically—yet it still manages to introduce entirely new, mind-bending questions that continue to perplex viewers. The cryptic final scene, in which Cooper asks, “What year is this?” encapsulates Lynch’s provocative, enigmatic approach to storytelling. Far from providing closure, it opens up an entirely new realm of interpretation, leaving audiences to grapple with the surreal uncertainty that defines Lynch’s work.
3. Twin Peaks (1990–1991)
Countless TV shows have tried to replicate its formula over the past three decades—but there will never be another Twin Peaks. Co-created by David Lynch and Mark Frost, the groundbreaking series is a murder mystery that doubles as a vivid portrait of a small, Pacific Northwest town and its quirky inhabitants.
The show defies categorization—part soap opera parody, part crime thriller, part surreal meditation on the nature of evil. When it premiered on ABC in 1990, millions of viewers were captivated by FBI agent Dale Cooper (played to perfection by Kyle MacLachlan) and his investigation into the murder of Laura Palmer (Sheryl Lee).
Lynch and Frost proved to be an ideal creative duo, blending eccentric small-town drama with supernatural horror. Not every episode was a success—Lynch distanced himself from much of the second season, which became infamous for its weaker back half. But the series’ high points far outweigh its lows, and decades later, Twin Peaks still stands as one of the greatest television shows of all time.
2. Lost Highway (1997)
This noir-tinged thriller marks Lynch’s first cinematic ode to Los Angeles, setting the stage for later projects like Inland Empire and Mulholland Drive. Its intricate plot follows Fred Madison (Bill Pullman), a saxophonist sentenced to death for the apparent murder of his wife, Renée (Patricia Arquette). However, the man incarcerated in Fred’s cell transforms into an entirely different individual: Pete Dayton (Balthazar Getty), an auto mechanic who embarks on an affair with a woman identical to Renée (also played by Arquette).
Lost Highway explores many of Lynch’s favorite themes, such as doppelgängers and dream sequences. Its narrative is a chaotic murder mystery, but Lynch has always prioritized atmosphere over plot. Here, he masterfully combines ’90s paranoia with ’40s noir aesthetics to create a timeless effect. The film also features one of Lynch’s most unsettling scenes: Robert Blake, his face painted ghostly white, whispering, “We’ve met before, haven’t we?”
1. Blue Velvet (1986)
Starring Kyle MacLachlan and Isabella Rossellini, Blue Velvet is Lynch’s magnum opus—a disturbing examination of the hidden darkness lurking beneath suburban tranquility. The film encapsulates Lynch’s artistic vision, symbolizing both the loss of innocence and the darker aspects of American society.
Jeffrey Beaumont (MacLachlan) discovers a severed ear, which leads him to nightclub singer Dorothy Vallens (Rossellini) and pulls him into a sadistic underworld. At the same time, Jeffrey embarks on a pure romance with his neighbor, Sandy (Laura Dern). Even amidst the film’s brutal violence, there is a glimmer of hope—a belief in the possibility of light triumphing over darkness.
Blue Velvet remains a timeless exploration of America’s obsession with sex and violence, cementing its place as one of the most significant films in cinematic history.
-Gergely Herpai (BadSector)-
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