9 Darren Aronofsky Movies You Should Watch Without Wasting Time

Darren Aronofsky is a film director and screenwriter born February 12, 1969 in New York City. He directed many plays, especially Cabaret Musical at Harvard University, where he went to become a professional filmmaker. His dissertation, as well as his second short film Supermarket Sweep, were bought by MTV and released in 1992 that same year. Aronofsky founded the production company Protozoa Pictures in 1994 along with fellow directors Scott Franklin and Ari Handel. He has also directed several films, including such Darren Aronofsky masterpieces as Pi and Requiem for a Dream.

Aronofsky’s first major film as a director was Requiem for a Dream, a drama starring Jared Leto, Jennifer Connolly and Ellen Burstyn based on the Hubert Selby Jr. novel of the same name. The film received awards at many film festivals, including the French National Film Award, the César Award and the National Society of Film Critics Award. In addition, the production received four Oscar nominations, including Best Picture.

Directing style of Darren Aronofsky

Darren Aronofki; He is known for his surreal, disturbing and psychologically influential films. He is also known for making cinematically complex films such as Pi and Requiem for a Dream. Often referred to as one of Hollywood’s most daring directors, the films of the director seem to be quite dark and intense, and they have a special message that he wants to convey.

Some of his films, especially his first films; He remained in the background in his filmography and was negatively received by both the audience and critics. Darren Aronofsky, who has been a very talented director since his youth, is a director who has developed himself in his film career.

Darren Aronofsky reflects his own personality in his films, but interestingly, there is often no thematic connection between his films. He deliberately avoids using the same narrative device and the same type of dialogue in his films. He also lacks consistent use of technique in his films, beyond his admiration for unconventional camera angles. For this reason, he continues his directing experience in an experimental way, and the fact that he recently took on the directing of two completely different films, dedicated to completely different events and situations, may come as a big surprise to viewers.

Darren Aronofsky’s work differs from the work of other contemporary directors in that it presents a clear vision and has a consistent theme. Aronofsky, who strongly polarizes his audience and chooses themes open to original interpretations, places great importance on presenting subtexts to viewers in his films.

Today we present to you a total of 9 works by this famous director with brief introductions. This is Darren Aronofsky’s filmography, which includes works in many genres from drama to action, from psychological thriller to horror…

Enjoy reading…

You can also view this article: 2023 Oscar Nominees Announced: “Everything, Everywhere, All At Once” Nominated for 11 Oscars

1. Fortune Cookie (1991) – IMDB: 5.2

Jody Theora is the producer of this short film, which is Darren Aronofsky’s first film. Working with acclaimed cinematographer Mustache Stoll, Aronofsky’s film, shot with an analog camera, greatly influenced the style of filmmaking in later years.

A salesman addicted to fortune-telling realizes that he can’t complete his sales if he doesn’t get lucky with the fortune cookie and that he owes all his success to the fortune cookie.

2. Noah – Noah: The Great Flood (2014) – IMDB: 5.8

Another production directed by Darren Aronofsky, Noah is a 2014 action and drama. Russell Crowe takes center stage in the Saturn and Golden Globe nominated film. Among the supporting actors of the film are such well-known actors as Jennifer Connelly and Anthony Hopkins. Despite a budget of $160 million, the production, which grossed around $360 million, was not shown in some countries because it was contrary to Islamic teachings.

God assigned Noah to save the Earth’s innocent animals as the rising waters of the flood ravage the planet. The transmission of the sins of Adam and Eve through their sons, Cain and Abel, through the generations led to great destruction. However, through the bloodline of Set, another brother, humanity was able to find leaders who would purify it. Noah is one of them. Having witnessed the approaching apocalypse through prophecy, Noah tries to find his grandfather Methuselah to make sense of what he saw. The fate of mankind and all living things is in the hands of Noah.

3. Protozoa (1993) – IMDB: 6.3.

The Simplest, one of Aronofsky’s major works that influenced his cinematic style, is a short drama film. This film, which is an important part of his directing life, also bears the name of the first production company created by Darren Aronofsky and his partners. Aronofsky has captured the core theme of Protozoa in most of his films, including his latest film, The Whale, which was released in 2022.

This short film is the story of three friends suffering from various addictions. Dave, who is addicted to weed and TV, and two of his friends every weekday; They start dating to watch a group of mentally handicapped students board a bus to return home.

4. mother! – Mother! (2017) – IMDB: 6.6

One of Darren Aronofsky’s latest feature films, Mom! is a 2017 drama and horror film. Nominated for a Saturn Award for Best Horror Film, the film grossed approximately $45 million against its $30 million budget. The film premiered at the Venice Film Festival, where it competed for the Golden Lion Award, in Mama! an impressive cast including Jennifer Lawrence, Javier Bardem, Ed Harris and Michelle Pfeiffer.

On a plain in an idyllic lush forest stands a secluded mansion, recently burned to the ground but faithfully restored. The couple decides to retire to this mansion. A middle-aged wife, once a famous poet, is now creating her own masterpiece. However, unexpectedly; Late at night, there is a knock on the door of their mansion and they are greeted by a mysterious guest. The presence of this guest will stir up the stagnant imagination of the poet.

5. Fountain – Source (2006) – IMDB: 7.2

The 2006 romantic drama/mystery The Fountain, one of Darren Aronosky’s rare films that didn’t win at the box office, grossed only $16 million despite its $35 million budget. The film, which earned praise for its cast and story, which starred Hugh Jackman, Rachel Weisz and Ellen Burstyn, competed for the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival where it premiered and was nominated for Saturn and Golden Globe Awards. The film also featured music produced by Clint Mansell, the composer of the soundtracks for Requiem for a Dream and P.I.

The film consists of three stories from the past, present and future about men who chase eternity for the sake of their love. A conqueror in Mayan land is looking for the tree of life to save his captive queen. Working with various trees, a medical researcher is looking for a cure to save his dying wife. Traveling with an old tree protected by a bubble, a space traveler heads for a dying star shrouded in nebula. As long as these three stories intersect in the film, there will only be one question in the mind. Will they succeed?

6. Pi (1998) – IMDB: 7.3.

Pi is a 1998 horror, mystery and drama film that won the Darren Aronofsky Director’s Award at the Sundance Film Festival and was nominated for the Grand Jury Prize. Sean Goulette takes the lead in this work, which is the director’s first feature film. Despite a small budget of less than $150,000, with a total of more than $3 million, Pi makes many references to religious and mathematical references.

Max is a genius mathematician who builds a supercomputer in his home that can be seen as the key to understanding everything about existence. But when members of both a fringe religious cult and a powerful Wall Street firm discover Max’s secret, they go after him.

7. Keith – Keith (2022) – IMDB: 7.8.

The Whale is Darren Aronofsky’s latest feature-length drama, nominated for 3 Oscars and 4 BAFTAs in 2022. Despite a small $3 million budget, the film, which grossed over $30 million, is still playing in theaters today. Brendan Fraser, Sadie Sink, Hong Chau, Ty Simpkins and Samantha Morton star in this award-winning production at the Venice Film Festival.

A morbidly obese educator with a stable life tries to reconnect with his daughter, whom he has not seen for a long time and who has mental problems.

8. Wrestler – Champion (2008) – IMDB: 7.9

The Wrestler is a 2008 psychological drama film directed by Darren Aronofsky. The film, which premiered at the Venice International Film Festival and won the Golden Lion Award at that festival, was nominated for two Academy Awards and also won the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song. The Wrestler, which includes over 25 professional wrestlers, has made a name for itself with box office grosses of around $45 million.

Robin Ramzinski, whose stage name is Baran, is a wrestler who rose to prominence in the 80s. Years later, Robin finds financial relief after agreeing to a 20-year rematch with one of her most famous rivals. However, things don’t go as expected. As she struggles to adjust to her new life, will Robin be able to handle retirement, or will she risk everything and go back to doing what she does best?

9. Black Swan – Black Swan (2010) – IMDB: 8.0

Black Swan is a 2010 psychological thriller directed by Darren Aronofsky and starring Natalie Portman. The film, which brought Natalie Portman her first Oscar for Best Actress, was nominated for 5 Oscars. In addition, the film, which won four Golden Globe awards, earned around $330 million despite its $13 million budget.

Nina Sayers is a dancer with a ballet company in New York. He is devoted to his artistry, but not confident in himself. She also lives with her overbearing mother, who was a ballerina in her youth and quit dancing when she became pregnant and is subjected to various pressures. Nina stunned with her audition for artistic director Thomas Leroy’s new ballet Swan Lake, stealing the show from everyone except Lily. This deep rivalry will force Nina to take on a persona she is not in order to succeed.