It’s no secret, so I’m simply going to get straight to it…Kevin Smith is one of my favourite filmmakers. As far again as after I was first moving into movie, Smith was somebody I gravitated in direction of instantly. Certain, often it results in some smirking at an Oscar prognosticator loving a storyteller removed from the awards race, however we love who we love. It’s no secret my affection for the person, however not everybody is aware of how I really feel about all of his flicks. I’ve performed this piece twice earlier than and stand by my decisions, to make sure. Nonetheless, with Dogma getting an anniversary re-launch in theaters tomorrow, it looks like the right time to rank his movies as soon as once more.
I’ve written about Smith a lot in my profession, and simply up to now yr or two, I acquired lots in. Hell, I even had an essay on a Smith title revealed here in a e book! For instance, I reviewed the documentary Clerk right here, interviewing director Malcolm Ingram in regards to the Smith doc right here. There’s additionally my interview with Clerks III actors Jeff Anderson, Jason Mewes, and Brian O’Halloran right here. Talking of Clerks III, I raved about it right here, as nicely as, you recognize, an interview right here with the person himself. Plus, there’s my 4 half Sunday Scaries sequence, simply on his horror outings, consisting of a preview right here, Crimson State right here, Tusk right here, and even Yoga Hosers right here. So, I’ve my bonafides. They had been solely added to after I posted a evaluate right here of The 4:30 Film as nicely as welcomed Smith again right here for a second interview most lately.
Beneath, you may see how I rank the filmography of Smith in the present day. One notable exclusion right here goes to be Killroy Was Right here, because it’s nonetheless at the moment solely obtainable as an NFT and I’ve turn out to be an outdated man at 35 and barely perceive what which means. So, it might probably’t be included right here, however each different function Smith’s made is represented. Particular quotation to his phase within the anthology fright flick Holidays. His effort is fairly stable, if much less memorable than his finest work. What constitutes his finest? Effectively, you may see subsequent…
Right here now’s my up to date Kevin Smith film rating. Behold:
15. Yoga Hosers
Among the many least admired Kevin Smith works, Yoga Hosers is one of his oddest, for positive. I discovered sufficient to understand, although I acknowledge that I’m within the minority. A Sunday Scaries piece on the odd duck contains this bit right here:
This movie might not be significantly scary, but it surely’s trippy and weird in a manner that I believe is slept on a bit. That is nearer to Smith making an attempt to meld his model of stoner humor together with his dabbling in horror. Crimson State was fairly near fully severe, whereas Tusk performed it straight whereas slyly winking at you. That is far more Smith giving teenage women their calmly horrific journey, and I respect that. His coronary heart, as nicely as his ambitions, are actually in the best place.
Yoga Hosers is a film that hardcore Kevin Smith followers respect greater than most, however when you like bizarre shit, this horror comedy has one thing there.
14. Cop Out
The opposite pretty maligned Smith work, Cop Out is the one actual studio effort for the filmmaker. It’s additionally, as of now, his solely director for rent job. It appears to be like superb and a few of the forged is a hoot, but it surely’s positively essentially the most forgettable of Smith’s flicks. There’s the least motive to ever revisit it, although on an preliminary watch it’s good for a few laughs.
13. Jay and Silent Bob Reboot
Following Smith’s coronary heart assault, he needed to play together with his outdated toys once more, discovering a meta solution to do one other Jay and Silent Bob journey. Right here, in Jay and Silent Bob Reboot, they nearly remake the prior installment, whereas commenting on reboots. It’s as foolish as Smith has ever been, but it surely additionally contains a heartfelt Chasing Amy reunion. There are excessive highs, however some decrease lows too.
12. Mallrats
Our first bit of controversy is that I don’t have this one ranked greater. That speaks extra to the standard of what’s to come back than to this film. Mallrats could have been a field workplace disappointment, but it surely proved that Smith’s voice was no fluke. Clerks set the stage, however this flick confirmed that, even when it wouldn’t be instantly appreciated, that Smith had endurance.
11. Jay and Silent Bob Strike Again
The closest Smith ever acquired to a true stoner comedy is that this Looney Tunes-esque street journey romp. Jay and Silent Bob Strike Again ups the zany issue from the already typically manic Mallrats. He’s simply letting all of it hang around, given some extra sources than regular, too. The outcomes are admittedly foolish, however very enjoyable.
10. Dogma
One of Smith’s largest swings, Dogma was controversial on the time, which just about appears quaint. He tackles faith head on, whereas additionally bringing in a single of his largest and most numerous casts. It doesn’t fairly land as totally as it does for others, however I like watching Smith stretch himself out in fascinating methods.
9. Tusk
Bobbing up from a podcast, Tusk is Smith doing Hammer Horror. If that appears like an odd match, it really works manner higher than you’d suppose. I element some of the very the reason why right here in a Sunday Scaries piece:
What stands out a lot for me right here is Smith’s dedication to the premise. He by no means winks on the viewers. As a substitute, he leans in, treating a walrus physique horror idea fully severely. By permitting you to seek out the humor, it’s even funnier. Plus, it permits the unsettling nature of all of it to sink in, letting the movie work as horror. For such a ridiculous thought, it comes off as earnest and nearly even-handed, in a manner.
Tusk notably sprung up from a podcast episode. Together with Scott Mosier, Smith and Mosier went over an advert (later confirmed to be a prank) asking for a very open-minded roommate. It’s nicely price listening to, as not solely do you get to listen to the 2 of them actually get a lot of humor out of the oddness, however you may really be within the room as a screenplay thought comes collectively. It’s really type of magical.
Not solely is the premise creepy as all hell, each Justin Lengthy and Michael Parks actually promote all of it. Plus, the final word destiny of Wallace, as nicely as the creature design, actually hammers residence how bonkers all of it is, in a manner that you would be able to’t look away from. Revisiting it final evening, the stress of all of it, as nicely as the lingering impression of the ending, nonetheless hit residence in a massive manner. It’s definitely not for everybody, but it surely ought to have been greater than a blip on the cinematic radar.
8. The 4:30 Film
Probably the most nostalgic that Smith has ever been ends in one of the person’s sweetest movies. It’s no shock that critiques had been principally stable, contemplating how likable and genuine the film felt. My very own evaluate right here of The 4:30 Film included the next start line:
A Kevin Smith movie is a heat embrace to me from an outdated pal. Whereas there are those that have lengthy dismissed the auteur as unserious, I persistently discover his work to be compelling, emotional, and a real reflection of his artistic spirit. Greater than that, Smith has a tendency that flies beneath the radar to defy expectations. Who would have guessed that Clerks III would inform the story it in the end advised? So, whereas a teen romantic comedy would appear like a chance for Smith to be as crude as ever, The 4:30 Film is definitely one of his sweetest flicks ever. I’m a straightforward mark for him, however regardless of that, I smiled and had a nice time for about 90 minutes.
The 4:30 Film is a love letter to the multiplex. It’s additionally a tribute to younger love and summer time romance. Smith doesn’t fully keep away from going blue or working in raunch, however in some ways, it’s as pure and expertise as we’ve seen from him since Jersey Woman. Even a raunchy effort like Zack and Miri Make a Porno was nonetheless overlaying up a enormous mushy coronary heart from the filmmaker, so right here, he’s simply letting it beat much more out within the open. He loves love, to make sure, however he additionally loves film theaters.
7. Clerks III
Kevin Smith will get meta on this new Clerks sequel. I beloved it, clearly, however you may see this bit from my rave evaluate for why it deserves close to prime 5 placement in his oeuvre:
Kevin Smith at all times goes again to the Fast-Cease. Nonetheless, simply because he’s now returned for a third Clerks outing, that doesn’t imply he’s doing the identical factor once more. Very like how Clerks II was about rising older and friendship, Clerks III builds upon that, whereas additionally reflecting on the profession that Smith managed to construct. In doing so, Clerks III has a weight that many of his comedies don’t. Actually, it wouldn’t be past the pale to name this one a dramedy. In going meta right here, Smith is trying inward, however he’s additionally utilizing each instrument in his toolbox not simply to make you giggle, but in addition to make you cry. Admittedly, that is a movie that’s roughly made particularly for me, however I discovered it to be extremely efficient.
Clerks III is, in some methods, the film Smith was born to make. It overtly references his actual life coronary heart assault, whereas additionally persevering with the story of the characters that first acquired his profession began. The selection pays off in spades, as he’s in a position to attain emotional highs and lows in contrast to the rest prior within the Clerks franchise. There’s even a boldness to this storytelling, as he leaves his heroes in locations you’d by no means count on.
6. Jersey Woman
That is the Kevin Smith title that even my household likes. Jersey Woman is a very mainstream romantic comedy, with the occasional Smith tip of the cap. Fortunately, he additionally is aware of precisely which cliches work, making it a manipulative but very efficient expertise. Plus, bonus factors for a completely curated soundtrack as nicely.
5. Clerks II
The Clerks sequel is almost as humorous as the primary one, with a raised emotional quotient. Much more so than in Clerks, Clerks II is targeted on friendship, as nicely as development. Smith would clearly additional this dialog with one other sequel this yr, however this was the sequel that supposedly returned him to type after Jersey Woman.
4. Zack and Miri Make a Porno
If this romantic comedy had carried out otherwise, the newest act of Smith’s profession might need been massively totally different. Zack and Miri Makes a Porno was poised to be a $100 million comedy, if not for the studio deciding to launch it on Halloween. As a substitute, it turned Smith’s highest grossing movie by a smidge. Had it been a hit, Smith might need been a true A-record director, stopping him from tackling some of his newer, weirder, tasks. Take away cash from the equation and that is amongst Smith’s sweetest flicks. Beneath all of the filth, his beating coronary heart continues to be extremely full of romance.
3. Crimson State
The primary Kevin Smith horror flick, Crimson State can be his first thriller. It’s a actual change of tempo for the auteur, to place it mildly. From my Sunday Scaries piece right here:
The movie is one of Smith’s smartest, as nicely as his most nihilistic. You don’t count on the Clerks man to make one thing bleak, however he’s successfully channeling the temper of the nation on the time, even when he considerably dismissed any overt political statements. Plus, it options some of his finest directed performances. Michael Parks rightly was seen as an Oscar snub by Smith for his flip as Pastor Abin Cooper, as he’s a grasp at work. Nonetheless, John Goodman is simply as good and sadly ignored by the Academy as nicely. His ATF Agent Joseph Keenan additionally will get an unimaginable monologue on the very finish. His closing line stays with you, summarizing the film in a manner that you just wish to rise up and applaud.
Smith does a nice job of subverting expectations. The physique depend is sudden, with a number of deaths being real shocks. The plot takes a quantity of turns, as if Smith makes positive that everytime you suppose you recognize the place the movie goes, he flips it on its axis. The cleverness of the work by no means appears showy, both. It’s simply a undertaking that’s about to do a lot, each with restricted money and time, but in addition with a very tightly targeted premise.
2. Clerks
The one which began all of it, Clerks is a traditional for a motive. Smith was speaking to a whole viewers that was, till then, largely ignored on movie. One of the nice success tales of unbiased cinema, this tribute to working class malaise and a very particular time of your life nonetheless manages to retain its edge. A lot of what would make Smith nice was already nicely in proof, kicking off the View Askewniverse within the course of.
1. Chasing Amy
My second favourite movie of all-time (The Shawshank Redemption takes prime honors), Chasing Amy actually was one of the primary rom-coms I’d ever seen the place the couple doesn’t wind up collectively ultimately. as I revisited it, Smith’s themes of sexual mores and unconscious bias seeped extra to the shock. To be truthful, some of the language hasn’t aged nicely, however very a lot is of its time. That being mentioned, Smith has even acknowledged that, so it’s not just like the creator himself wouldn’t have performed issues otherwise now. Take away that from the equation and this isn’t simply Smith’s finest movie, however a rattling close to excellent one at that.
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There you will have it, of us. My Kevin Smith rating, up to date for 2025 and the Dogma re-launch. I’m positive yours is totally different, so when you’ve seen all of them, positively chime in. Or, when you simply have a prime three or a prime 5, that’s cool too. Preserve the Smith love coming…
What are your favourite Kevin Smith movies? Tell us!