Although he hasn't made a movie since 2021's Last Night in Soho, Edgar Wright is still consistently in the news, especially since he's slated to direct the remake of Stephen King's The Running Man starring Glen Powell. The excitement over the project is mostly due to the strong body of work Wright has made over the years. His career was first launched with the British cult sitcom Spaced, which also began Wright's collaborative partnership with Simon Pegg, leading to the beloved Cornetto Trilogy.
Beyond the three movies that put him on the Hollywood map, Wright has gradually been expanding his directorial efforts with some exciting new projects that take the comedic style and unique directing voice only to deliver something that fans of his previous work might not expect. While there are still plenty of fans who are mourning the Edgar Wright Ant-Man movie that fans never got to see, this collection of movies thus far is more than impressive.
8 A Fistful Of Fingers (1995)
Wright's Western Paraody Debut
A Fistful of Fingers
- Release Date
- November 24, 1995
- Runtime
- 78 minutes
- Director
- Edgar Wright
- Producers
- Daniel Figuero
Cast
Graham LowWalter Marshall-
Oli van der VijverThe Squint
-
Nicola StapletonThe Pint Sized Hussy
-
Martin CurtisRunning Sore
A Fistful of Fingers is a comedic western directed by Edgar Wright, following the adventures of the stoic protagonist No Name and his sidekick Running Sore. Together, they embark on a quest to confront the villainous Squint in a parody-filled landscape.
From the very beginning of his career, Edgar Wright was willing to poke fun at certain movie genres while also showing deep respect and iration for them. 1995's A Fistful of Fingers is Wright's playful homage to Westerns and a little-seen British comedy about a cowboy who goes after a wanted man following the death of his horse. The movie was only released in the United States 20 years after its British release, when Wright was an established star.
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As usual, Wright both wrote and directed the picture and though the response was solid, he wouldn't make another feature film until nearly a decade later. Most critics felt that Wright showed a lot of potential and made the most of a small budget, setting the tone for the rest of his career. As the title suggests, the film is a clever and geeky ode to Western movies that shows a style more impressive than seen in most low-budget projects even if the limits of the production are very noticeable.
7 Last Night In Soho (2021)
A Time-Tripping Supernatural Thriller
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Last Night in Soho
- Release Date
- October 29, 2021
- Runtime
- 116 minutes
- Director
- Edgar Wright
Cast
-
Lisa McGrillis
WHERE TO WATCH
In the acclaimed director Edgar Wright’s psychological thriller, Last Night in Soho, Eloise, an aspiring fashion designer, is mysteriously able to enter the 1960s, where she encounters a dazzling wannabe singer, Sandie. However, the glamour is not all it appears to be, and the dreams of the past start to crack and splinter into something far darker.
The most recent entry into Wright's filmography is also in the conversation for his most ambitious. Last Night in Soho is another completely original story from the filmmaker that stars Thomasin McKenzie as a young fashion design student who finds herself transported back to the '60s through dreams. She begins to live vicariously through a young aspiring singer living in the era (played by Anya Taylor-Joy) only to get wrapped up in the mystery of what happened to her.
It is a fun throwback psychological thriller and a look at Wright's growth as a filmmaker.
Filled with stunning visuals, great music, and more, Last Night in Soho shined, especially thanks to the standout performances by Taylor-Joy and Thomasin McKenzie. It is far less comedic than Wright's other movies while expanding the scale of his movie-making. 's ending left some fans disappointed, damaging the overall movie. However, it is a fun throwback psychological thriller and a look at Wright's growth as a filmmaker.
6 The Sparks Brothers (2021)
Wright's Music Documentary
Director Edgar Wright takes the audience on a musical odyssey through five decades with Ron Mael and Russell Mael, celebrating the legacy of the band Sparks.
Music has always been a big part of Edgar Wright's movies, with him often incorporating his own distinct musical preferences into his soundtracks. As a result, it seemed like only a matter of time before Wright tackled a music documentary. That came in 2021 with The Sparks Brothers, which looks at the lives of Russell and Ron Mael, better known as the rock duo Sparks. The movie features in-depth conversations with the musicians as they talk about their lives and careers while also using interviews with famous fans and former collaborators.
The Sparks Brothers has a 95% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Wright is able to take a musical act that was a cult favorite and find something to appeal to a wider audience. It was interesting to see this director attached here because a documentary format doesn't allow for many of Wright's signature trademarks. Regardless, the film does manage to include some elements where Wright's voice really comes through, including some animated sequences detailing anecdotes by the Sparks brothers.
5 The World's End (2013)
The Final Movie In The Cornetto Trilogy
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The World's End
- Release Date
- August 23, 2013
- Runtime
- 109 Minutes
- Director
- Edgar Wright
Cast
Gary King
Nick FrostAndrew Knightley
WHERE TO WATCH
The World's End follows five friends reuniting to attempt a legendary pub crawl from their youth. As they journey, they inadvertently become humanity's last hope against an otherworldly threat.
The thing that Edgar Wright is most famous for is his work on the Three Flavours Cornetto trilogy, which all come from his brilliant mind. After two stellar films to start the series, Wright culminated things with The World's End, which is a parody of the sci-fi genre. The story sees a group of friends return to their hometown for a pub crawl that just happens to take place during an alien invasion. More than slightly inebriated, the friends have to contend with the otherworldly threat while also confronting their complicated shared history.
With such high standards set by the previous entries, this final entry was bound to disappoint some. Indeed, the comedy is not quite as sharp and laugh-out-loud funny as the previous entries. However, it is a more mature story with real emotion and one of Simon Pegg's best performances. It even took home Best British Film at the Empire Awards and feels like a solid ending to the series.
4 Baby Driver (2017)
Wright's Music-Infused Heist Movie
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Baby Driver
- Release Date
- June 28, 2017
- Runtime
- 113 minutes
- Director
- Edgar Wright
Cast
WHERE TO WATCH
After being coerced into working for a crime boss, getaway driver Baby is determined to escape his life of thievery and violence to make a life with his girlfriend Debora, However, when he finds himself taking part in a heist doomed to fail, things start looking desperate.
According to Wright himself, Baby Driver is a movie he wanted to make since he was just starting as a filmmaker. He even best chase sequences in cinema history. Baby Driver follows a getaway driver who relies on music to help him in stressful moments. As he finds a new love in his life, he realizes he has to escape the criminal underworld that he's been trapped in for so long.
DID YOU KNOW: Baby Driver was nominated for three Academy Awards: Best Film Editing, Best Sound Editing, and Best Sound Mixing.
What made this movie special was the use of music as action scenes were edited and choreographed to the songs the protagonist listens. It makes for some hugely entertaining action sequences that highlight Wright's skills as a filmmaker. It also features a fantastic ing cast, including Jon Hamm, Lily James, and a scene-stealing Jamie Foxx. Along with being a commercial hit, the film was up for three Academy Awards.
3 Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World (2010)
Wright's Cult Comic Book Adaptation
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Scott Pilgrim vs. the World
- Release Date
- August 12, 2010
- Runtime
- 113 minutes
- Director
- Edgar Wright
Cast
Michael Cera
WHERE TO WATCH
Based on Lee O'Malley's Scott Pilgrim series of graphic novels, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World follows the titular slacker musician (Michael Cera) as he strives to earn a record deal by winning the Battle of the Bands organized by music mogul Gideon Graves (Jason Schwartzman). After meeting and falling in love with Ramona Flowers (Mary Elizabeth Winstead), Scott learns that he must also defeat her seven evil exes. Chris Evans, Aubrey Plaza, Brandon Routh, Kieran Culkin, Anna Kendrick, and Brie Larson round out the film's star-studded and quirky ensemble.
Movies based on comic books and video games are littered throughout Hollywood's recent history, but very rarely has a film actually felt like one of those other mediums. Scott Pilgrim vs. The World manages to pull it off thanks to the frantic energy imbued by Edgar Wright. The story deals with a slacker named Scott (Michael Cera) who meets his dream girl Romona (Mary Elizabeth Winstead), only to discover he must face his new girlfriend's seven evil exes in order to date her.
From snap cuts to uses of s to zany action, everything about Scott Pilgrim vs. The World feels unique. The movie also features a cast of future stars, including Brie Larson, Chris Evans, Anna Kendrick, and Aubrey Plaza, all of whom returned as voice actors in Scott Pilgrim Takes Off, showing the impact of the movie. While it was a bomb at the box office, the film has a ionate following among fans while expanding the scope of what Wright could deliver.
2 Shaun Of The Dead (2004)
The First Movie In The Cornetto Trilogy
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Shaun of the Dead
- Release Date
- September 24, 2004
- Runtime
- 99 minutes
- Director
- Edgar Wright
Cast
Kate Ashfield-
Nick Frost
WHERE TO WATCH
From director Edgar Wright, Shaun of the Dead stars Simon Pegg as Shaun, an ambitionless slacker who one day finds his world overrun by zombies. From a script by Wright and Pegg, Shaun of the Dead injects comedy into a typically horror-focused subgenre as Shaun and his lazy friend Ed (Nick Frost) attempt to rescue Shaun's estranged girlfriend and make it through the apocalypse unscathed.
It's the film that made Edgar Wright famous and is often regarded as one of the funniest horror comedy movies of all time. Nine years after his debut release, Wright wrote and directed Shaun of the Dead, which is a parody of the zombie genre. In the process, he happened to make one of the best films to ever be part of that genre. Simon Pegg, who co-wrote the movie, stars as Shaun, an aimless young man who seeks to win his girlfriend back and turn his life around only to find himself in the midst of a zombie outbreak.
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This was where Wright really got the chance to strut his stuff, debuting some of his famous editing techniques and showcasing his genius use of music to set a scene. As the first installment in the Cornetto Trilogy, it established that Wright was a filmmaker on the rise. It is a hilarious movie with brilliant foreshadowing and quick gags that make it a joy to rewatch. However, it is also a touching story of friendship with co-star Nick Frost also cementing himself as a key part of the trilogy.
1 Hot Fuzz (2007)
The Second Movie In The Cornetto Trilogy
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Hot Fuzz
- Release Date
- February 14, 2007
- Runtime
- 121 minutes
- Director
- Edgar Wright
WHERE TO WATCH
The second film in Edgar Wright's Three Flavours Cornetto trilogy, Hot Fuzz stars Simon Pegg and Nick Frost as two policemen who investigate a seemingly idyllic community in the English countryside. After London hotshot policeman Nicholas Angel is transferred to the sleepy town of Sandford, he finds himself partnered with bumbling local officer Danny Butterman (Nick Frost). However, the pair soon discover that Sandford is not all it appears to be, uncovering shocking secrets that will shake the town to its very core.
Shaun of the Dead set a high bar for the Cornetto Trilogy, yet Wright managed to live up to them with his follow-up. Where the original parodied zombie flicks and the third entry covered sci-fi, Hot Fuzz poked fun at the action genre. Again starring Simon Pegg and Nick Frost, this film sees them as two police officers in a small village who investigate a series of murders and find some unexpected corruption behind it all.
Hot Fuzz was both a critical and commercial success that many still hold up as the director's greatest work.
The action movie satire is terrific, with the film suddenly becoming hilariously over-the-top in the final act. However, it also works as a mystery movie with slight horror elements thrown into the mix. It is also the funniest of the Cornetto Trilogy movies with endless one-liners, gags, and cameos to catch. Hot Fuzz was both a critical and commercial success that many still hold up as the director's greatest work.
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