Ranked: Matt Reeves’ Best Movies

Source: Pixabay

American film director and screenwriter Matt Reeves has been in the news lately. Though that’s not surprising, considering the New York native has just directed the latest Batman movie starring Robert Pattinson. While Reeves might seem like an upcoming director to some movie buffs, we've actually seen his work for years. Reeves started gaining international recognition in the late 1990s for his work on the WB drama series Felicity before going mainstream in 2008 for his film Cloverfield. Reeves has since made several other hit movies, though viewers might not have realized he directed them. Today, we’re going to look at some of Matt Reeves’ best movies, including The Batman (2022).

1) The Batman (2022)

Even though there were questions over whether we needed another Batman movie, the film, released in early March, has already grossed a worldwide total of around $460 million. In part, this is because Batman has some of the greatest heroes and villains of all time, including Penguin, Riddler, and Catwoman. These characters all have different disguises depending on the time of day, adding to their mystique, and all three appear in the latest film.

The Batman’s popularity is also down to Reeves’ directorial style. Critics have praised its first-rate cinematography and Reeves' decision to take an iconic DC hero and put him in a gripping and dark world that plays out more like a chilling and twisted psychological crime thriller than a superhero movie. Not every director can pull that off, especially knowing the passion of DC fans. However, Reeves did, and that's why The Batman is one of his best films to date. 

Vengeance equals justice for both the Bat and the Cat. Watch the new trailer for The Batman now. Only in theaters March 4. #TheBatman pic.twitter.com/2WOHg74jbP

— The Batman (@TheBatman) December 27, 2021

2) Cloverfield (2008)

As mentioned, Cloverfield is one of the first movies that put Reeves on the international map. Dubbed a crossover between Godzilla and The Blair Witch Project, Cloverfield grossed around $170 million worldwide. This made Cloverfield the first film in 2008 to gross over $100 million. Critics praised the grade A monster movie for its whip-smart script and chillingly effective directorial style that tells the story of a unique creature through the lens of its characters. While there was some criticism over some of the film's plot points, Empire magazine still ranked Cloverfield as the fifth best film of 2008.

3) War for the Planet of the Apes (2017)

Reeves directed both Dawn of the Planet of the Apes and War for the Planet of the Apes. However, it’s regarded that War for the Planet of the Apes is the better of the two. War for the Planet of the Apes grossed more than $490 million, and the film was nominated for four Saturn Awards, including Best Actor for Andy Serkis and Best Director for Reeves. Many praised Reeves’ ability to take a movie full of talking animals and explosive fight scenes and still make it have a greater narrative agenda. Despite the praise, Reeves has reportedly been replaced by Wes Ball as director for the film’s sequel. 

When it comes to Hollywood filmmakers, there are the obvious names like Quentin Tarantino, Martin Scorsese, and Steven Spielberg. Not only do we know their names, but we can give a play-by-play of their most famous movies. Matt Reeves is a director that deserves a similar reputation, as many of his films have become commercial successes, and with the recent popularity of The Batman, we suspect no one will forget Reeves’ name now.