A ranking of all movies by Alex Garland.

      Alex Garland’s Hollywood career spans 23 years, beginning as the screenwriter for 28 Days Later, a zombie film that revitalized the genre. Since then, he has made his mark as both a writer and director in the film industry. Later this year, Garland will return to his original franchise with the release of 28 Years Later, the first installment in a new trilogy of sequels.

      This month, Garland’s newest film, Warfare, premiered in theaters, offering a brutally honest portrayal of modern warfare. To honor Garland’s prolific work, we are reviewing and ranking all his films from least to most successful. We are not including 28 Months Later in this list, as Garland was only involved in uncredited rewrites for that sequel, which wouldn’t provide a fair evaluation of his talents.

      9. Men (2022)

      Image used with permission by copyright holder

      Men could be considered the Midsommar of Alex Garland’s films, and not necessarily in a positive sense. The plot is somewhat convoluted as it follows widower Harper Marlowe (Jessie Buckley) during her visit to a secluded English village. Harper’s deceased husband, James (Paapa Essiedu), allegedly took his own life following an argument with her.

      One of the initial figures Harper encounters is Geoffrey (Rory Kinnear), the landlord of the house she is renting. Harper can’t help but notice that every man she encounters in the village closely resembles Geoffrey, including a mysterious naked man who stalks her and the various apparitions that haunt her. While the premise is intriguing, the resolution never fully delivers.

      Rent or buy Men on Prime Video.

      8. Never Let Me Go (2010)

      Searchlight Pictures

      Never Let Me Go features a unique love triangle involving childhood friends Tommy (Andrew Garfield), Ruth (Keira Knightley), and Kathy (Carey Mulligan). However, the world they inhabit, as depicted in Garland’s screenplay, is not our own. It is heavily suggested that their identities are not truly theirs either.

      The film does not delve deeply into the existence of a world where humans can live for nearly a century. Instead, it illustrates the strain on their relationships, especially when only one of the young women becomes romantically involved with Tommy, leaving the other without love. The only genuine aspect of their lives is their relationships, and revealing more would spoil the experience. It’s clear their lives are fated to be short.

      Rent or buy Never Let Me Go on Prime Video.

      7. Sunshine (2007)

      Searchlight Pictures

      Sunshine features a premise that is quite far-fetched, even for a science fiction film. In Garland’s second script for director Danny Boyle, a dying sun sends the crew of the Icarus II on a desperate mission to reignite the star with a specialized bomb. Cassie (Rose Byrne) captains the Icarus II, but their mission takes a turn when they discover the Icarus I abandoned in space after an unsuccessful mission.

      Revealing more about the story would involve disclosing the fates of certain characters. Cillian Murphy, who starred in 28 Days Later, is cast as Robert Capa, alongside a strong ensemble including Chris Evans as James Mace, Cliff Curtis as Searle, Troy Garity as Harvey, Benedict Wong as Trey, and Hiroyuki Sanada from Shogun as Kaneda. This impressive cast makes it challenging to predict who will survive.

      Rent or buy Sunshine on Prime Video.

      6. Civil War (2024)

      A24

      If a true civil war were to occur in the United States, it would likely not be a coalition of California and Texas against the federal government, revealing Garland’s background as an English filmmaker. Nevertheless, Civil War offers a perspective on the rapid descent into chaos on the battlefield amidst widespread atrocities.

      As the war nears its end, journalists Lee Smith (Kirsten Dunst), Joel (Wagner Moura), Jessie Collin (Cailee Spaeny), and Sammy (Stephen McKinley Henderson) embark on a perilous journey through the conflict-affected area, hoping to interview the President of the United States before the war concludes. This forces them to confront the brutal reality surrounding them, with no assurance of survival.

      Watch Civil War on Max.

      5. Annihilation (2019)

      Paramount Pictures

      Pay close attention while watching Annihilation, as Garland provides minimal exposition, making it easy to feel lost. In brief, an unknown force has created the Shimmer, a section of the Earth undergoing alien transformation. Both animals and plants are changing, and a soldier named Kane (Oscar Isaac) is one of the few who survived the area.

      Kane’s wife, Lena (Natalie Portman), along with a female-led scientific team including Dr. Ventress (Jennifer Jason Leigh), Anya Thorensen (Gina Rodriguez), Josie Radek (Tessa Thompson),