The Movies of Dario Argento (From best to worst)
by Jimmy_Quinn | created - 12 Jan 2014 | updated - 15 Jul 2018 | Public- Instant Watch Options
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1. Suspiria (1977)
R | 92 min | Horror
An American newcomer to a prestigious German ballet academy comes to realize that the school is a front for something sinister amid a series of grisly murders.
Director: Dario Argento | Stars: Jessica Harper, Stefania Casini, Flavio Bucci, Miguel Bosé
Votes: 105,377
Often terrifying film is gorgeously shot with eerie music score by rock group goblin. Several terrific set pieces, including the opening double murder make this a must see for horror fans.
2. Deep Red (1975)
R | 127 min | Horror, Mystery, Thriller
A jazz pianist and a wisecracking journalist are pulled into a complex web of mystery after the former witnesses the brutal murder of a psychic.
Director: Dario Argento | Stars: David Hemmings, Daria Nicolodi, Gabriele Lavia, Macha Méril
Votes: 42,619
Stylish horror movie has the usual gory death scenes and a genuinely surprising reveal of the murderer. First teaming of Argento and Goblin as well as actress Daria Nicolodi, who would go onto feature in numerious Argento films and help write 'Suspiria.'
3. Tenebrae (1982)
R | 101 min | Horror, Mystery, Thriller
An American novelist visiting Rome to promote his latest book is stalked and harassed by an obsessed fan who is committing a string of murders that appear to be tributes to his work.
Director: Dario Argento | Stars: Anthony Franciosa, Giuliano Gemma, John Saxon, Daria Nicolodi
Votes: 27,409
Multiple twists and an outrageously violent climax make this a classic. Good performance by Anthony Franciosa.
4. Opera (1987)
R | 107 min | Crime, Horror, Mystery
A young opera singer is stalked by a deranged fan bent on killing the people associated with her to claim her for himself.
Director: Dario Argento | Stars: Cristina Marsillach, Ian Charleson, Urbano Barberini, Daria Nicolodi
Votes: 19,477
Argento's last masterpiece is all style as he creates numerous classic set pieces, my favourite the bullet through the peep hole which has to be seen to be believed.
5. The Bird with the Crystal Plumage (1970)
GP | 96 min | Horror, Mystery, Thriller
An American expatriate in Rome attempts to unmask a serial killer he witnessed in the act of an attempted murder - and is now hunting him and his girlfriend.
Director: Dario Argento | Stars: Tony Musante, Suzy Kendall, Enrico Maria Salerno, Eva Renzi
Votes: 24,080 | Gross: $0.42M
Argento's first film is a carefully constructed thriller, even though Eva Renzi's OTT performance threatens to derail the film.
6. Phenomena (1985)
R | 116 min | Crime, Horror, Mystery
A young girl who has an amazing ability to communicate with insects is transferred to an exclusive Swiss boarding school, where her unusual capability might help solve a string of murders.
Director: Dario Argento | Stars: Jennifer Connelly, Donald Pleasence, Daria Nicolodi, Dalila Di Lazzaro
Votes: 30,033
Often slow moving Argento film is filled with beautiful and stylish images. The gory and disgusting climax picks up the pace and sends the film out on a high. Notable for an early leading role from a young Jennifer Connelly.
7. Inferno (1980)
R | 106 min | Horror
An American student investigates the disappearance of his sister and the death of a friend, both connected from New York to Rome by an old alchemy book.
Director: Dario Argento | Stars: Leigh McCloskey, Irene Miracle, Eleonora Giorgi, Daria Nicolodi
Votes: 24,005
Second In the three mothers trilogy, while not as good as 'Suspiria' it still features plenty of gory deaths and stylish set pieces. Highlight: a character swimming in a submerged ballroom.
8. The Cat o' Nine Tails (1971)
GP | 112 min | Horror, Mystery, Thriller
Two journalists try to solve a series of murders connected to a pharmaceutical company's secret experiments, becoming targets of the killer themselves.
Director: Dario Argento | Stars: James Franciscus, Karl Malden, Catherine Spaak, Pier Paolo Capponi
Votes: 13,024
Film features a nifty car chase and a couple of good set pieces but has an un-involving mystery.
9. The Stendhal Syndrome (1996)
Not Rated | 113 min | Horror, Mystery, Thriller
A young policewoman slowly goes insane while tracking down an elusive serial rapist/killer through Italy when she herself becomes a victim of the brutal man's obsession.
Director: Dario Argento | Stars: Asia Argento, Thomas Kretschmann, Marco Leonardi, Luigi Diberti
Votes: 9,202
Terrific performance by Thomas Kretschmann as a sadistic killer elevate this mixed bag thriller.
10. Four Flies on Grey Velvet (1971)
PG | 104 min | Crime, Mystery, Thriller
A musician is stalked by an unknown homicidal maniac, who blackmails him for the accidental killing of another stalker.
Director: Dario Argento | Stars: Michael Brandon, Mimsy Farmer, Jean-Pierre Marielle, Aldo Bufi Landi
Votes: 9,870
Decent early effort from Argento is watchable but forgettable. Bland performances don't help.
11. Sleepless (2001)
R | 117 min | Horror, Mystery, Thriller
A retired police detective and a young amateur sleuth team up to find a serial killer who's resumed a killing spree in Turin, Italy after a 17-year period.
Director: Dario Argento | Stars: Max von Sydow, Stefano Dionisi, Chiara Caselli, Gabriele Lavia
Votes: 7,491
The best of Argento's newer movies can be very nasty but is extremely suspenseful (the train chase especially) and features Max Von Sydow giving the best performance in an Argento movie.
12. Trauma (1993)
R | 106 min | Horror, Mystery, Thriller
A young man tries to help a teenage girl find the serial killer who murdered her parents before the killer comes after them.
Director: Dario Argento | Stars: Christopher Rydell, Asia Argento, Piper Laurie, Frederic Forrest
Votes: 8,061
Oddly restrained first solo American movie for Argento gets lost in translation as it features little of the directors stylish flourishes. Fun supporting roles for Piper Laurie and Brad Dourif compensate. First appearance of Argento's daughter Asia in one of his films.
13.
Masters of Horror (2005–2007)
Episode:
Pelts
(2006)
TV-MA | 58 min | Horror
A sleazy, desperate fur trader haunts a local strip club and gets his hands on some priceless raccoon furs - which might be more than just priceless but cursed.
Director: Dario Argento | Stars: Meat Loaf, Link Baker, Emilio Salituro, Elise Lew
Votes: 3,473
Entertaining and gory episode of anthology TV series Masters Of Horror. Episode is a lot better than his other contribution in season 1 the lacklustre 'Jenifer.'
14. The Card Player (2003)
Not Rated | 103 min | Horror, Mystery, Thriller
A Rome policewoman teams up with a British Interpol agent to find a crafty serial killer who plays a taunting game of cat-and-mouse with the police by abducting and killing young women and showing it over an Internet web cam.
Director: Dario Argento | Stars: Stefania Rocca, Liam Cunningham, Silvio Muccino, Adalberto Maria Merli
Votes: 5,655
Nothing special and lacks Argento's usual style. The two leads give good performances.
15. Mother of Tears (2007)
R | 102 min | Drama, Horror, Thriller
An American art student in Rome accidentally triggers the return of Mater Lachrymarum - the Third Mother - and must use her latent magical powers to end the witch's reign of terror.
Director: Dario Argento | Stars: Asia Argento, Cristian Solimeno, Adam James, Moran Atias
Votes: 11,133 | Gross: $0.06M
So bad it becomes somewhat fun, terrible story, acting and dialogue but also loopy, gory and insane. Last film in the three mothers trilogy which includes Suspiria and Inferno.
16. Two Evil Eyes (1990)
R | 120 min | Horror
A duo of Edgar Allan Poe adaptations about a greedy wife's attempt to embezzle her dying husband's fortune, and a sleazy reporter's adoption of a strange black cat.
Directors: Dario Argento, George A. Romero | Stars: Adrienne Barbeau, Harvey Keitel, Ramy Zada, Bingo O'Malley
Votes: 8,135 | Gross: $0.35M
Argento and George A. Romero teamed up to direct this anthology of Edgar Allan Poe stories. Argento's segment is the better of the two.
17. Do You Like Hitchcock? (2005 TV Movie)
Unrated | 93 min | Mystery, Thriller
A college film student, obsessed with the works of Alfred Hitchcock, investigates a murder committed in the apartment building across from his and suspects that his seductive neighbor hired a girlfriend to commit the deed.
Director: Dario Argento | Stars: Elio Germano, Chiara Conti, Elisabetta Rocchetti, Cristina Brondo
Votes: 2,932
Uninteresting TV production.
18. The Phantom of the Opera (1998)
R | 99 min | Horror
Gory remake of the Gaston Leroux classic story, only this time, the phantom is not disfigured, but a man who was raised by rats deep under the Paris Opera House.
Director: Dario Argento | Stars: Julian Sands, Asia Argento, Andrea Di Stefano, Nadia Rinaldi
Votes: 5,820
Disappointing considering Argento's love of opera.
19. Giallo (2009)
R | 92 min | Crime, Horror, Mystery
In Italy, a woman fears her sister has been kidnapped; Inspector Enzo Avolfi fears it's worse. They team up to rescue her from a sadistic killer known only as Yellow.
Director: Dario Argento | Stars: Adrien Brody, Emmanuelle Seigner, Elsa Pataky, Robert Miano
Votes: 6,063
Extremely Poor, with a terrible performance from 'oscar winner' Adrian Brody.
20. Dracula 3D (2012)
Not Rated | 110 min | Drama, Horror, Romance
Asia Argento stars in horror legend Dario Argento's sexy spin on the classic tale about the sharp-toothed count who craves human blood.
Director: Dario Argento | Stars: Thomas Kretschmann, Marta Gastini, Asia Argento, Unax Ugalde
Votes: 5,312 | Gross: $0.01M
unbelievably bad with terrible CGI and cheap looking sets. No one comes out of this movie looking good.
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