10 Movies Recommended by David Lynch

The entertainment industry has been blessed with a number of visionary directors who are unafraid to push the boundaries of storytelling and deliver the most mesmerizing masterpieces. Among them, David Lynch stands as a true champion. He’s a towering figure in cinema and his impact on the art form has been nothing if not exceptional. From the surreal visuals of Eraserhead to the mind-bending complexity of Mullholland Drive, Lynch’s movies have made cinema what it is today.

Lynch’s journey of becoming one of the most influential directors of our time was marked by his deep fascination with the human condition and a relentless pursuit of the unconventional. His first feature-length film was Eraserhead, which established him as a director who is willing to take a nosedive into the subconscious and confront the darkness that lies within humanity. In the years that followed, Lynch made masterpieces like The Elephant Man and Blue Velvet. He was also the mastermind behind the groundbreaking series Twin Peaks.

David Lynch’s works, in films and television, captivate because of their haunting imagery, complex narratives, jarring use of sound, and the most unexpected endings. Sadly, the world lost this remarkable director on January 15, 2025, but his legacy lives on and continues to inspire the new generation. Ever a cinephile, Lynch always made sure to let audiences in on his favorite films by screening them at festivals and recommending them in interviews. Here are 10 films that David Lynch himself loved and championed.

10

‘Stroszek’ (1977)

Stroszek is a West German tragicomedy that follows Bruno Stroszek, a busker who is recently released from prison and warned not to get drunk again. But he heads straight to the bar, where he meets Eva, a sex worker who’s in trouble with thugs. The two hit it off and decide to leave their grim lives in Germany behind and head to Wisconsin with Stroszek’s neighbor, Scheitz. But life in America is all about mounting debts, broken dreams, customs, and culture shocks.

A Story of Escape and Disillusionment

America is often regarded as the land of opportunities, hence the idea of the “American Dream.” Directed by Werner Herzog, the movie shatters the illusion by creating a sharp contrast between the expectations of the protagonists and the harsh realities they face. Lynch admires the film’s authenticity and Herzog’s minimalist direction. In a 2014 Q&A at the Bryn Mawr Film Institute, when asked what his favorite Herzog film was, Lynch named Stroszek.

9

‘Mon Oncle’ (1958)

Monsieur Hulot, played brilliantly by Jacques Tati (who also directed the movie), is a charming and bumbling uncle who is trying to adjust into a world obsessed with modernity and efficiency. Living in postwar France with his sister’s family, where the architecture is new and gadgets have eased into routine, Hulot ends up disrupting his nephew Gérard’s household with his simplicity.

Satire on Modern Life

Mon Oncle is a movie that uses visual gags to mine laughter. It’s one of Tati’s first movies in color, and he relies heavily on the use of lighting and color to amplify the comedy, which itself is quite extraordinary. Lynch calls the movie one of his favorite of all times, and he even picked it to screen during the opening week of Club Silencio. The film’s genius storytelling approach and precision makes it a true cinematic gem.

8

‘8 ½’ (1963)

Directed by Federico Fellini, 8 ½ is a dazzling masterpiece that takes a deep dive into the mind of Guido Anselmi, a renowned Italian filmmaker struggling with creative block. He simply wants to get out of the slump, and with no way in sight, he retreats to a luxurious spa. He finds inspiration for his next sci-fi movie through a series of surreal encounters with friends, strangers, lovers, and critics.

Explores a Director’s Creative Process

Lynch has been a lifelong admirer of Fellini’s work. From the director’s artistic flair to his seamless blend of fantasy and genre, what’s not to admire? Lynch mentions 8 ½ in his 2006 book, Catching the Big Fish, writing that if he had to choose “films that represent, for me, examples of perfect film making” he would “narrow it down to four.”

“The first would be 8 ½, for the way Fellini manages to accomplish with film what mostly abstract painters do — namely, to communicate an emotion without ever saying or showing anything in a direct manner, without ever explaining anything, just by a sort of sheer magic.”

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7

‘Lolita’ (1962)

Lolita

Release Date

June 13, 1962

Runtime

153 minutes

Cast

James Mason
, Shelley Winters
, Sue Lyon
, Gary Cockrell

Based on Vladimir Nabokov’s controversial novel of the same name, Lolita is directed with a deft hand by Stanley Kubrick. There are few that haven’t heard the story: Humbert Humbert is a middle-aged professor who finds himself intensely drawn towards Dolores Haze, the teenage daughter of his landlady. When his infatuation reaches a fever pitch, Humbert resorts to manipulative and twisted actions to stay close to Lolita.

Kubrick’s Controversial Screen Adaptation

Kubrick has directed some of the most legendary films, and they’ve cemented their place in the history of cinema as highly influential. Lolita is a darkly comedic and boldly captivating tale of how one man’s fixation spirals into something truly destructive. For Lynch, Kubrick is a favorite. He’s openly discussed his admiration for the director’s unapologetic approach towards storytelling, and in 2014, he chose Lolita to screen for a programming series with the International House Philadelphia.

6

‘The Apartment’ (1960)

The Apartment

Release Date

June 15, 1960

Runtime

125 minutes

The Apartment is a classic romantic comedy directed by Billy Wilder and one of the movies that David Lynch recommended everybody to watch. It follows C.C. Baxter, a lonely office worker in Manhattan, who often lends his Upper West Side apartment to company executives for their extramarital flings, hoping it would get him in their good books. But the arrangement backfires when Baxter falls for Fran Kubelik, an elevator operator in his office who also happens to be one of the women the company’s director is having an affair with.

A Timeless Classic

Wilder’s movie is a bittersweet story about how ambition and affection can lock horns with each other. It’s also about the lives of ordinary people and how they’re intertwined with the corporate world. Jack Lemmon plays the emotionally torn character with incredible grace and Lynch has appreciated his performance on multiple occasions. In 2011, during the opening of Lynch’s Club Silencio in Paris, Lynch played his favorite movies for a week and The Apartment was the last.

5

‘Rear Window’ (1954)

Release Date

September 1, 1954

Runtime

112 minutes

Directed by Alfred Hitchcock, Rear Window is a suspenseful thriller that stars James Stewart as L.B. “Jeff” Jefferies, a photojournalist who is restricted to a wheelchair in his apartment after an accident left him injured from waist to foot. Jeff spends most of his days spying on his neighbors through his rear window, and eventually, he becomes obsessed with their lives. When Jeff believes one of them might have committed murder, he takes it upon himself to investigate.

Hitchcock’s Visionary Masterpiece

Lynch often speaks highly of Hitchcock’s ability to create tension and intrigue with minimalistic settings and Rear Window is no different. It’s the last movie he calls perfect in his book. He states how the director does not need sweeping sets; he can create an entire world within an apartment block.

“I would show Rear Window, for the brilliant way in which Alfred Hitchcock manages to create — or rather, re-create — a whole world within confined parameters. James Stewart never leaves his wheelchair during the film, and yet, through his point of view, we follow a very complex murder scheme. In the film, Hitchcock manages to take something huge and condense it into something really small. And he achieves that through a complete control of filmmaking technique.”

4

‘Monsieur Hulot’s Holiday’ (1953)

A whimsical French comedy also directed by Jacques Tati, Monsieur Hulot’s Holiday transports views to a seaside resort and tells the story of Monsieur Hulot, a well-meaning but perpetually clumsy man who’s on a vacation. As he navigates the holiday hustle on the beach, Hulot gets into several comedic situations and ends up disturbing his fellow vacationers.

Celebrates the Simplicity of Life

Hulot’s character in Tati’s movies is a refreshing one. Each of his interactions provides a unique perspective on the world around him and the hectic pace at which modern life operates. In his book, Lynch reflects on how beautifully the director can portray a world that’s familiar and fantastical at the same time.

“After that, I would show Monsieur Hulot’s Holiday for the amazing point of view that Jacques Tati casts at society through it. When you watch his films, you realise how much he know about — and loved — human nature, and it can only be an inspiration to do the same.”

3

‘Sunset Boulevard’ (1950)

Sunset Boulevard

Release Date

August 10, 1950

Runtime

110 Minutes

Cast

William Holden
, Gloria Swanson
, Erich von Stroheim
, Nancy Olson
, Fred Clark
, Lloyd Gough
, Jack Webb
, Franklyn Farnum

Sunset Boulevard is one of the greatest movies ever made, so it’s no wonder that throughout the years, David Lynch recommended it over and over again. Directed by Billy Wilder, it follows the tragic story of Norma Desmond, a faded silent film star haunted by her former glory, and Joe Gillis, a struggling screenwriter. When Norma gets the chance to revive her career through one of Joe’s scripts, the latter finds himself trapped in a web of manipulation and madness.

A Captivating Exploration of Faded Glory

Sunset Boulevard peels back the glamorous exterior of Hollywood and offers a distinct look at the darkness that lies within. The cast of fame and the insatiable desire to stay relevant, paired with the taut and atmospheric direction makes the movie hugely significant. In an interview with Dazed & Confused Magazine, Lynch described the movie by saying:

“Sunset Boulevard just has the greatest mood; you’re immersed in it like a dream. It catches a Hollywood story that connects the golden age of Hollywood with the present day. But it’s a truthful movie, and so it carries through to today. It has a lot of sadness in it, and beauty. And mystery. And dreams. Beauty, beauty, beauty and more dreams.”

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2

‘The Wizard of Oz’ (1939)

Release Date

August 25, 1939

Runtime

102 minutes

Cast

Margaret Hamilton
, Jack Haley
, Judy Garland
, Bert Lahr
, Ray Bolger

Victor Fleming’s timeless masterpiece and one of the greatest achievements in the history of cinema, The Wizard of Oz follows Dorothy Gale, a young Kansas farm girl, who, with her loyal companion Toto, is swept away from her home by a tornado and transported to the magical Land of Oz. In finding her way back home, she prances down the Yellow Brick Road and befriends the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, and the Cowardly Lion, along the way.

Beloved Classic About Self-Discovery

The Wizard of Oz has been praised endlessly for its enchanting narrative and adventurous visuals. The musical numbers, vibrant characters, and that iconic ending, all culminate in the powerful realization that there really is no place like home. For David Lynch, the movie is special because of the impact it has had on filmmaking. He drew inspiration from The Wizard of Oz and made Wild at Heart. In a 2001 New York Film Festival Q&A, Lynch said,

“There is not a day that goes by that I don’t think about The Wizard of Oz.”

1

‘It’s a Gift’ (1934)

Directed by Norman Z. McLeod, It’s a Gift is an absurd yet humorous classic starring W.C. Fields. He plays Harold Bissonette, a hapless grocer who moves to California with the dream of running an orange grove despite the constant disapproval of his wife. He faces a lot of obstacles and makes disastrous attempts to save the crumbling business, but never gives up on his pursuit of a better life.

Fields’ Effortless Charm on Full Display

W.C. Fields has a distinct ability to explore a deeper understanding of the human condition through slapstick humor. And It’s a Gift is a testament to the actor’s talent and impeccable timing. His ability to elicit laughter from the most mundane situations is unparalleled. David Lynch, while speaking in an interview about his favorite films and filmmakers, expressed his admiration for the actor and marked It’s a Gift as his favorite W.C. Fields movie.