Three Oscars and an unparalleled love of monsters, as well as a proud supporter of cinema in its most frowned upon forms: horror, animation and comic books. We’re obviously talking about Guillermo del Toro. An eternal child who, despite remaining in our world, manages to look at fantastic creatures. It doesn’t matter how old he turns today, because only he can tell us grotesque tales in such a cute way.
The genre doesn’t matter, what matters is that it is art and that there is magic in it. After all, isn’t that what art is all about? A spell, a labyrinth of images and words, the result of which in this case was a magnificent filmography. Not all of his films are perfect, we will see that in this ranking, but each film has passion and enthusiasm. There is a desire to experiment with each genre to try to make it your own. So here are all of del Toro’s films in order, which you can question if you like.
12. Mimic (1997)
The director’s second film, however, is not so successful. He still hates it and has gone so far as to say that his father’s kidnapping in Mexico in 1998 was a less traumatic experience than realizing Imitate. It’s a horror movie about giant insects eating people, and that’s where the depth ends. Yes, del Toro is very good and is able to convey a disturbing look, shots and movements that only a writer like him could do. However, these qualities fall into the cauldron cliche the kind that makes it so completely anonymous.
11. Crimson Peak (2015)
Let’s remember one thing: from now on, they will all be great and wonderful films. It also features an outstanding cast: Tom Hiddelston, Mia Wasikowska and Jessica Chastain, to name just three. In the film, Edith realizes that her new husband’s house is haunted, but the truth horrifies her even more than the ghosts. This is not your average horror film, but a slippery web of heartbreaking revelations. The film’s gothic aesthetic is also striking, and del Toro is generally inspired by his seminal horror films: Intrusive AND Shine For example. A film that finds strength in its intense storytelling, which, thanks to the director’s hand, gives us incredible images, but which, despite this, fails to enter the Top 10.
10. Blade 2 (2002)
Guillermo del Toro will rise from the ashes Imitate he needed a comic book. And he certainly didn’t have the luxury of telling Spider-Man or Batmanbut Marvel’s vampire swordsman: Blades. This is also a continuation, another obstacle for our director. And yet, although the basis of the project was far from perfect, del Toro created a gem in the history of comic book movies. Tamarro is just the right amount of chaotic and pointless. Horrible monsters in his style, torn to pieces by the sword Blades. Yes, and everything was shot the way it should be in a good action movie.
9. Pacific Rim (2013)
The world is at war with the Kaiju, the giant monsters of Japanese tradition. For this reason, people are forced to use Jigers, humanoid robots piloted by two people in a mental link. Del Toro isn’t perfect here, but he shows his passion for the geek world and his love and fun are captured in every frame. Pacific Rim it became a cult of its own, as well as del Toro’s biggest financial success with a total of $411 million.
8. Kronos (1993)
An elderly antiques dealer becomes the owner of an artifact that allows him to live forever. However, the price that must be paid is a relentless thirst for blood. This is a very short summary Guillermo del Toro’s first film, presented at Cannes when he was 28 years old. With his wonderful debut, the director immediately outlined his fantastic poetics, aimed at rethinking the dictates of the genre. In fact, in this film, del Toro introduced us to another vampire suffering due to his condition. A mechanism that allows Nosferatu, where the Count’s sad eyes reveal a lot about his discomfort. Here we also begin to feel sorry for the vampire, forced to live a life he did not choose.
7. Hellboy (2004)
A demon named Hellboy, raised among humans, becomes an investigator Bureau of Paranormal Research and Defense, but the sorcerer wants him to bring about the apocalypse instead. Another movie comic, this time about a character created by Mike Mignola. Once again, del Toro’s artistic choices are driven by his heart beating in every sequence of the film. You can tell it’s crazy, weird in places, but most of all, it’s exciting. New main character, a demon with much more inside boy What hell.
6. Fair of Illusions – Nightmare Alley (2021)
This film is a gem that is slightly underrated. This is the story of a conman who, through very complex deceptions, manages to become a world famous mentalist. Director Del Toro offers you a detailed look at the world in which the story unfolds, from the circus to the beautiful ancient buildings. In this film, Del Toro proves that he is a mature auteur capable of crafting a dark and perfect exploration of greed using the noir formula. After the Oscar, of course, it was not easy for him to establish himself, but we believe that with this film he was able to stand up to his previous works. We encourage you, if you haven’t already, to head over to Disney+ and read our review here.
5. Hellboy: The Golden Army (2008)
Both of them Hellboy in the Top 10, one in the Top 5. It couldn’t be otherwise. Del Toro came from a film that inevitably changed his career: Pan’s Labyrinth. With the film’s critical success in 2006, del Toro finally entered the pantheon of great directors of our time. Continuation Hellboy in fact, it was an incredible success, in which all the shortcomings of the first one disappeared and the director was able to make a great film. Cinematography that can only be viewed creative masterpiece.
4. Shape of Water (2017)
Shape of water This is Guillermo del Toro’s love story. In the sense that this is madness, monstrosity, in favor of a love that is not only impossible, but also marginal, like what the filmmaker is truly passionate about. This is also woven into the context of the Cold War, where the presence of a secret entity in the US inevitably worsens the situation and increases the likelihood that the relationship could have a good ending. A film that won del Toro two Oscars and which, despite being underappreciated by his most hardcore fans, is perhaps his most refined work. A true work of art, touching beauty.
3. The Devil’s Backbone (2001)
In 1939, during the last year of the Spanish Civil War, a boy is abandoned in an orphanage run by the Republicans. Here he is haunted by the ghost of a boy who died shortly before his arrival. Del Toro is keen to explore childhood trauma during war. He does this in a dark and shadowy way, thus managing to influence the entire world for the first time. Horror and tenderness are perfectly balanced, and they can be observed through the eyes of a child who is not always aware of what is happening to him.
2. Pinocchio (2022)
Pinocchio is one of the most revived characters in film history, but Collodi’s story always has something new to tell us. Guillermo del Toro created this stop-motion gem with Mark Gustafson, one of the greatest experts in this remarkable technique. This time the tale takes place in the days of fascism and offers a fresh and interesting interpretation of the typical antagonists that we all already know. Pinocchio Del Toro is a hymn to freedom and life, and a great joy for the eyes, which find solace in wonderfully imperfect lines. Most mature filmand the most beautiful film ever made about an Italian puppet, which convinced the director to make only animated films.
1. Pan’s Labyrinth (2006)
We have reached the end of the journey. And while del Toro loves to transport us to fantasy worlds, he never forgets to keep his feet on the ground in the real world. Pan’s Labyrinth this is his masterpiece because we understand that the monsters, the real ones, are right in our world. On this side of the mirror, even before entering the labyrinth, we are constantly running from evil. The pale man is intimidating, but not in the same way as Ophelia’s stepfather, a Francoist officer. During the Spanish Civil War, Guillermo del Toro simply had to create a world that was as scary as reality, and let’s face it, we were all worried.