Peter Jacksonhas a wide range of films under his belt. From the successful blockbusters ofThe Lord of the Ringsseries to lesser-known comedy/horror films that occupy a space betweenstrange and absurd.Many of Jackson’s films are written in part by his wife, Fran Walsh, who began with the 1989 filmMeet the Feebles.The director has created thirteen narrative feature-length films starting withBad Tastein 1987 — here is every one, ranked.
13Meet the Feebles (1989)
This fever dream of a film was released in 1989 as a comedy musical. It is written by Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh, Stephen Sinclair, and Danny Mulheron. The film stars Danny Mulheron, Donna Akersten, and Stuart Devenie. The film’s subject is a group of animals and insects involved in show business, all of whom are depicted onscreen as puppets. The film is engrossed in a vulgar, offbeat, and disgusting tone with many depictions of violence, drug use, and sex throughout the film. The movie first premiered in New Zealand and was a box office failure. However, the unique premise helped todevelop a cult followingfor the film and has since received some critical praise.
12The Lovely Bones (2009)
The Lovely Boneswas Jackson’s last film released before theHobbitTrilogy. The film tells the story of a young girl who is murdered and while in purgatory must help her family find her killer. The story is based on a novel by Alice Sebold that shares the same name. Starring in the film are Rachel Weisz, Mark Wahlberg, Saoirse Ronan, Susan Sarandon, and Michael Imperioli. The film has a wonderful cast but received mixed reviews in regards to its clashing tones and balance between thrill and emotionality.
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11The Frighteners (1996)
This lighthearted fantasy/horror film debuted in 1996 and follows Frank Bannister as he learns to communicate with the dead. He first uses his ability to scam people with an expensive exorcism service, but later is forced to confront a mass murdering ghost who can kill both the living and the dead. The film is written by Jackson and Fran Walsh and stars Michael J. Fox, Trini Alvarado, and Peter Dobson. The visual effects produced by Jackson’s Weta Digital may not hold up perfectly well compared to contemporary films, but for the time the effects were seen as impressive.
This low-budget comedy/sci-fifilm was produced in 1987 and tells the story of a small town invaded by human-eating aliens. The film was shot over the course of four years in Jackson’s hometown using a 16mm Bolex film camera. The gory film has great props and costume design given its budget. The acting may be a little rough, and the shaky handheld cinematography is a bit much at times, but the film has character and is worth the watch if you are a fan of Peter Jackson.
9The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies (2014)
This is the last film inThe Hobbittrilogy based on the single original novel by J.R.R. Tolkien. The film concludes the story of Bilbo and the Dwarfs as they defend their riches beneath the Lonley Mountain. The film is cinematic and action-packed, criticisms of this film surround its long battle sequence and length when compared to the source material. The film was nominated for one Oscar in regard to its sound editing.
Related:The Hobbit Movies: Peter Jackson’s Biggest Changes from the Books
8King Kong (2005)
This blockbuster stars Naomi Watts, Jack Black, and Adrien Brody. The 2005 Jackson film follows a naive filmmaker as they make their way to the mysterious Skull Island in an attempt to document the native population that lives there. The film was nominated for one Oscar in Art Direction and won three for its sound mixing, sound editing, and visual effects.
7The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (2013)
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaugis the second installment ofThe Hobbittrilogy and follows Bilbo and company as they reach the Lonley Mountain and confront the dragon, Smaug, voiced by Benedict Cumberbatch. The film received three Oscar nominations for its sound mixing, sound editing, and visual effects.
6Heavenly Creatures (1994)
Heavenly Creaturesis a 1994 film that stars Melanie Lynskey and Kate Winslet in their first feature-length film roles. The screenplay is written by Jackson and Fran Walsh and is based on a 1954 New Zealandmurder casein which a woman was murdered by her teenage daughter and her friend. The film was nominated for an Academy Award in Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen, and received positive critical acclaim following its release.
5The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012)
This is the first film inThe Hobbittrilogy and is a solid follow-up to the originalThe Lord of the Ringstrilogy. Starring Martin Freeman, Ian McKellen, and Richard Armitage, the film follows hobbit Bilbo Baggins and a company of dwarves as they embark on reclaiming the Lonely Mountain. The action-packed adventure was nominated for three Oscars and is the most well-received film inThe Hobbittrilogy.
Dead Aliveis a 1992 blood-filled comedy horror movie. The film, like many other Jackson projects, has developed a bit of a cult following and is to many an introduction to his distinct campy horror subgenre. This film follows a zombie-like infection of a small town after a woman is bitten by a Sumatran rat-monkey. The effects shown in this film are grotesque to an otherworldly degree; the film is often considered to be one of thegoriest made of all time.
