Top 10 Best Robert Zemeckis Movies
Jessica Wilkins updates
Written by Mya Botha
A director whose career spans almost 40 years, Robert Zemeckis has some incredible film titles to his resume, and we're here to figure out which one is the all time greatest! WatchMojo presents the Top 10 Greatest Robert Zemeckis movies. But what will take the top spot? 'Forrest Gump', 'Who Framed Roger Rabbit?', or 'Back to the Future?' Watch to find out!
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For this list, we’re looking at the films that Mr. Zemeckis has directed throughout his career and are ranking them based on their critical acclaim, originality, and overall fan popularity.
#10: “Flight” (2012)
One of Robert Zemeckis’ most compelling films is also one of his most recent. This dramatic thriller centers on Denzel Washington as an airline pilot struggling with various addictions. After saving a plane full of passengers from disaster, his competence as a pilot and ability to stay sober are put to the test. Zemeckis’ first live-action film since the year 2000, “Flight” saw the director translate his own experience as a private pilot onto the screen, with his thoughtful direction bolstered by Washington’s compelling performance. Praised by both critics and audiences, the loosely-based-on-a-true-story film earned two Academy Award nominations, and proved Zemeckis was not even close to finished as a director.#9: “Used Cars” (1980)
Throughout the ‘80s, Zemeckis brought several unforgettable, light-hearted pieces of entertainment to the big screen, a highlight being this overlooked, R-rated gem that’s fortunately been finding a wider audience thanks to its newfound cult status. In this comedy, we follow a crafty, young used car salesman who tries to save the business he works for from falling into the wrong hands. Written by Zemeckis and frequent collaborator Bob Gale, “Used Cars” is filled with laughs, energetic performances and Zemeckis’ signature style. It’s a wonder it didn’t do well at the box office upon initial release.#8: “Back to the Future Part III” (1990)
Here, though it’s the first to appear on this list, we accompany Marty McFly and Doc Brown for the last time on another awesome time-travelling adventure. Merging genres like comedy, science fiction, romance and western, the audience follows Marty who, after being stranded in 1955, discovers Doc is doomed to be murdered by, who else but, a member of the Tannen family. To rescue his friend from his fate, the time-traveling teen treks back to the old west of 1885 under the alias of Clint Eastwood. Sweet, clever and thoroughly entertaining, it also provides fans a thrilling climax and a good moral to finish off Zemeckis’ magnum opus of a trilogy.advertisement
#7: “Contact” (1997)
Zemeckis scores yet another Oscar-nominated hit with this science fiction drama about a scientist, portrayed by Jodie Foster, who believes she’s made contact with alien beings. Adapted from Carl Sagan’s 1985 novel, “Contact” explores love, death, religion and – of course – extraterrestrial life. Similar to “Close Encounters of the Third Kind,” the film – with its incredible special effects – also leaves us wondering: Is there life in space that we don’t know about? Are there aliens from other planets trying to make contact? Questions everyone wants answers to, and questions that Zemeckis – with total creative control – skillfully brings to mind.#6: “Romancing the Stone” (1984)
In this action adventure rom-com, we follow Kathleen Turner, who portrays a mousy romance novelist who may have more in common with her characters than she’d like to admit. She’s tasked with delivering a treasure map to Colombian smugglers as ransom in order to save her kidnapped sister. It’s not that shocking, then, that there were comparisons between this film and a certain badass, Nazi-fighting archaeologist movie; however, the screenplay for “Romancing the Stone” was in fact written five years before “Indiana Jones.” The result was a fun, funny and spirited adventure for moviegoers, and Zemeckis’ first big hit.#5: “Back to the Future Part II” (1989)
Finally, we get to see what the year 2015 would look like – in the world of “Back to the Future,” that is. A sequel that lives up to its predecessor, we embark on another blast into the past (and future), as Marty McFly and Doc Brown accidentally create a dystopic 1985, and must once again travel back to 1955 to prevent those catastrophic changes. Despite some less-than-stellar reviews from critics, it earned an Oscar nod for Best Visual Effects. Plus, we can’t help but love the way it calls back to the first film with its intertwining storyline, setting us up perfectly for the final installment in the process.#4: “Cast Away” (2000)
Zemeckis collaborates with Tom Hanks for the second time in this adventure drama about a workaholic FedEx employee who realizes what truly matters in life when he’s stranded on a desert island alone. Faced with unique issues in the filmmaking process, like Tom Hanks’ necessary weight loss and having only one live character onscreen for most of the film, the director rose to the challenge. Credited as some of Zemeckis’ deepest and most seasoned directing work, this film was praised by both critics and audiences for its intelligent script and for its take on the indomitable human spirit.advertisement
#3: “Who Framed Roger Rabbit” (1988)
One of the ‘80s’ most risky films, this masterpiece took critics and audiences by sheer amazement with its uncanny fusion of live-action and animation, earning it four Oscars in total. In a world where humans and toons coexist, we follow the titular character who, after being framed for killing a beloved businessman, seeks help from a private detective to prove his innocence. Convincing human/toon interactions, along with hilarious goofiness and admirable characters, made this an exhilarating ride to go on, with Zemeckis as our director.#2: “Forrest Gump” (1994)
In this romantic comedy-drama, we follow Tom Hanks’ titular character, a simple-minded, but kind-hearted, young man who searches for happiness and his childhood love while also becoming involved in many American history events in the process. Here, Zemeckis uses his magic touch with special effects and archive footage to place Forrest in the middle of the action, making it look amazingly realistic when he encounters Beatles and Presidents. Met with critical acclaim, Forrest Gump won 6 Oscars and is still Zemeckis’ biggest film to date – and one of the most heartfelt.Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions:
- “What Lies Beneath” (2000)
- “The Polar Express” (2004)
- “Allied” (2016)
#1: “Back to the Future” (1985)
Really? What else could it be? With his trademark use of impressive special effects, this film also has all the eccentricity and heart critics and audiences have come to know and expect from Zemeckis. A sci-fi comedy classic about teenager Marty McFly, who – with help from his friend Doc Brown – accidentally travels from 1985 to 1955 where he meets his teenage parents and inadvertently puts his own existence in jeopardy. With love, relationships and time as its themes, “Back to the Future” is also funny, smart, light-hearted and charming, all of which help it to be Zemeckis’ most iconic film of all time.Do you agree with our list? What’s your favorite Robert Zemeckis film? For more entertaining Top 10s published daily, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.
