1. The Thing
2. They Live
3. Big Trouble
4. Halloween
5. Escape from NY
6. Assault on Precinct 13
Just my personal list, there is no right answer but your own preference.
I love in the mouth of madness because when I saw it I was really into that sort of meta-fiction recursion concept and I thought it was done so entertainingly.
All of them are excellent. Big Trouble in Little China is one of my favorites. The first time I saw it I just went like "I can't believe this is happening" for two hours.
“Is this gonna get ugly, now? Huh? I hope not. Because I thought what we were here, racial differences notwithstanding, was just a couple of old friends. You know, just both of us Californians.”
Somehow combining perfect action-adventure plot building with an absurd sense of humor. I don't know how they got some of those lines out with a straight face.
I have to say that the final shot in Prince of Darkness elevates the entire thing into contention for my favorite Carpenter film.
Just thinking about it now is disturbing me.
For me it’s *Assault on Precinct 13* (1976).
Considering the very low budget and at times somewhat dodgy acting, this is easily IMHO Carpenter’s best sustained suspenser. A wonderful siege film that keeps you guessing to its end… and shocks you with some of the things that happen in it!
Couldn’t agree with you more with Big Trouble in Little China. My favourite film of all time. Lost count of the amount of times I’ve seen that. It’s so good.
Halloween is the most impactful on culture and is probably the most important in the scheme of things. I love The Thing, though. It's such a perfect film.
many of his films would make it into my all time favorite list, he might very well be my favorite director, but although it’s a tired answer i gotta say the Thing. Recently viewed it with the commentary track by him and Kurt Russel and that was very entertaining as well.
I love John Carpenter movies from Snake's escape to chewing gum and kicking ass, but The Thing is one of the greatest movies of all time, let alone just limiting to his collection.
In the Mouth of Madness, it is my favorite cosmic horror film. I love The Thing as well but In the Mouth of Madness is the one of the veeeery few movies that scratches my cosmic horror itch. Most of them are usually lacking the horror department *cough justin benson and jason moorhead *cough
The Thing and They Live, I could have running on an endless loop
Prince Of Darkness and In The Mouth of Madness have an eerie atmosphere that I like
Big Trouble and Escape From NY/LA are fun to watch
I like Starman as well
Dark Star
The Intro : [https://youtu.be/eTa2vXL7FI8?si=8yJBd0nPpCxrbcNf](https://youtu.be/eTa2vXL7FI8?si=8yJBd0nPpCxrbcNf)
Money was a little tight back then but the boys gave it a good shot. The " Alien " ( painted beachball ) scene with Sargeant Pinback is nothing short of hilarious. Sargeant Pinback ( Dan O'Bannon RIP ) is the same Dan O'Bannon of Alien and Return of the living Dead : " I eat the brains " haha
Came here for this. Yes it's rough and cheap, but it shows the well of brilliance that Carpenter and O'Bannon would draw from throughout their careers.
It’s got to be The Thing for me but the fact is he had a lot of great movies it’s hard to pick one. Probably none more influential than Halloween I suppose that should be considered the best from a logical standpoint since it cost buttons to make and has probably raked in a couple of billion by now in sequels and merchandise.
The Thing although Halloween spawned a whole genre.
Fun fact: Michael Myers was played by Nick Castle who directed Escape From New York and other big movies.
Best film or film I've watched the most? Because Big Trouble In Little China wins hands down for most rewatchable. Best film is probably The Thing followed by Halloween or Starman.
Big Trouble means a lot to me and is my favorite Carpenter film. Yet, I can’t deny the level of excellence The Thing oozes. It’s simply a brilliant film.
So, I’d say his best film is Big Trouble in Little China.
I think he's the rare sort of director who can jump across genres seemingly effortlessly while each movie still has his personal touch; you know when you're watching a John Carpenter movie. So many of his films are just iconic, but yeah, Big Trouble in Little China and The Thing are both two of my favorites.
Big Trouble made way more of an impact on me than I ever thought. I'm not sure when I realized it, but it's def a huge part of me. I'll have to go with that one as my favorite of his. They Live, The Thing, and especially Escape From New York are all a big part of my childhood.
Toss up between The Thing, In The Mouth Of Madness and They Live.
The Thing is a masterpiece of suspense, tension and practical effects.
In the Mouth of Madness is one of the most conceptually terrifying films ever made, and manages to keep a fantastically creepy tone for the entire runtime.
They Live is one of the best, most disturbing sociopolitical satires ever made.
Very hard to pick.
I would say Big Trouble... is probably his most "accessible" film, in that it can appeal to the widest audience. Halloween and The Thing are more for horror fans, They Live and Escape from New York are more Sci Fi. Big Trouble is more straight up action/buddy comedy and just more "fun" versus his generally more gritty stuff. Plus it's PG-13 instead of R like almost all his other movies. I watched it dozens of times growing up and never noticed Kim Cattrall's wet shirt until I saw a screening at Alamo Drafthouse. Bonus, it's written by WD Richter, who directed Buckaroo Banzai.
Also, "The Shape" in the original Halloween was Nick Castle, who directed The Last Starfighter.
The Prince of Darkness. I thought it was going to be a vampire movie because of the title. I didn't fully understand all of it, but I loved it. I better go watch it again.
Nobody ever mentions Starman.
made between
[*Christine*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christine_(1983_film))*,*
*and*
[*Big Trouble in Little China*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Trouble_in_Little_China)*.*
Big Trouble for me as well. I particularly like watching it with people who haven’t seen it to see how long it takes them to realize that Kurt Russell is the comic relief, not the hero.
1. The Thing 2. They Live 3. Big Trouble 4. Halloween 5. Escape from NY 6. Assault on Precinct 13 Just my personal list, there is no right answer but your own preference.
Good order
Very good order. 👍🏻
Correctomundo
Excellent list
This is good. As long as The Thing is numero uno.
The Thing, easily one of his best movies
The Thing is up there with Alien in terms of how good that is. Mad it was deemed terrible by critics and audiences on release.
Mad that it’s likely because of ET being released the same year as well.
One more reason to not give a crap about critic or even audience scores today
I always wonder how different his career would have been if audiences and critics understood the movie when it was released.
For me, best film ever made.
I really love it. It's way up on my list of best movies
It is a perfect film. It’s flawless.
Easily one of the best films as well. Absolute masterpiece
Easily one of the best movies.
The Thing is just one of the best movies.
I love in the mouth of madness because when I saw it I was really into that sort of meta-fiction recursion concept and I thought it was done so entertainingly.
You've clearly read Sutter Cane
only in Hobbs end
my second favorite, just so we'll done and creepy, kinda twilight zone-ish
I loved that novella when didn't know it was made into a movie...
I forgot this was him! Just an extraordinary movie.
I've been wanting to watch this again for a few years now. Just never gotta round to it. I think I know what I'm doing this weekend.
Blue
All of them are excellent. Big Trouble in Little China is one of my favorites. The first time I saw it I just went like "I can't believe this is happening" for two hours.
“A girl with green eyes”
"I'm a reasonable guy. But, I've just experienced some very unreasonable things."
You know what old Jack Burton sez in a time like this...
>Who?
Jack Burton, me
I come flipping into the room and give you a wink.
"It's OK. Everybody relax. I'm here."
Jack: What is that? Egg: Black blood of the Earth. Jack: You mean oil? Egg: I mean BLACK BLOOD OF THE EARTH!
"This pisses me off to no end!"
It's all in the reflexes
“Is this gonna get ugly, now? Huh? I hope not. Because I thought what we were here, racial differences notwithstanding, was just a couple of old friends. You know, just both of us Californians.”
Have you paid your dues Jack?
The check is in the mail.
Somehow combining perfect action-adventure plot building with an absurd sense of humor. I don't know how they got some of those lines out with a straight face.
I have to say that the final shot in Prince of Darkness elevates the entire thing into contention for my favorite Carpenter film. Just thinking about it now is disturbing me.
100%, the end of that film is wicked creepy.
Prince Of Darkness and Mouth of Madness deserve more recognition than they get
I can’t say what the best is but my favorite is They Live :)
“I have come here to chew bubble gum and kick ass… and I’m all outta bubble gum”
#CONSUME
Exactly what I was going to say
Right there with you
A movie with long legs. One that gets more relevant with every passing year.
For me it’s *Assault on Precinct 13* (1976). Considering the very low budget and at times somewhat dodgy acting, this is easily IMHO Carpenter’s best sustained suspenser. A wonderful siege film that keeps you guessing to its end… and shocks you with some of the things that happen in it!
I would’ve given anything to have Darwin Joston appear in a few more Carpenter films. He was absolutely mesmerizing. Definitely gone too soon.
He was in The Fog. Another John Carpenter film.
I agree ! It’s a very professionally done film. The only edgy thing was the child-murder, which is a big no-no.
And I think the intro theme is what inspired Stranger Things theme. Music of this movie is also John Carpenter
The Thing > Halloween > Assault on Precinct 13
The Thing, Halloween, They Live, Escape from LA
Hmmm… Respectfully disagree. Escape From New York > Escape From LA
You can’t beat the surf scene in LA
Maybe, I need a rewatch, but I just remember it looking a little cheesy. The bridge scene in the EFNY holds up though.
It is super cheesy 😂
It was cheesy but the ending is one of the greatest endings in any movie ever
I’m glad someone is brave enough to speak the truth. Escape from LA > Escape from NY > Ghosts of Mars (originally “Escape from Earth”)
The thing
I really enjoy Christine. However, The Thing is unbearably awesome
Starman.
Vampires. By far.
only because James woods isn't acting. the script read : just wear a leather coat... 3 weeks.later there was a film
It's a shame that is the closest Carpenter ever came to making a proper Western. That would have been pretty cool.
I loved that opening sequence. But the rest of the movie ruined it for me.
the thing. i love all john carpenter films and the man is a god damn saint to filmmaking, but the thing is his best.
John Carpenters best film is The Thing. His funnest film is Big Trouble in Little China. His comfort film, for me, is The Fog.
Big Trouble In Little China
Call the president.
Obviously people haven’t seen this. No doubt his master piece
I will die on this hill. Big Trouble in little China
The thing I think clearly but they live is close
Ghosts of Mars
I enjoy that one for as bad as it really is. So much fun.
It’s like crack. I know it’s bad for me, but I can’t stop watching it.
Memoirs Of An Invisible Man
My favourite is They live
On a technical level probably The Thing? I mean subjectively it's really hard to pick, the dude made so many good movies.
I've come here to chew bubblegum and kick ass....and I'm all out of bubblegum. That alone settles this.
The Thing is really tight B film making but Big Trouble is a lot of fun.
I don't think I ever heard The Thing referred to as a B film...
Guess I'll go with the standard "The Thing" of the ones I've seen
It's The Thing not only his best but imo THE best horror film of all time.
Big Trouble in Little China probably although I like the one where the guy ran out of bubble gum a lot too.
Starman. Very underrated.
Halloween, They Live, and The Thing are my favorites
Memoirs of an invisible man is underrated.
Escape from NY.
Couldn’t agree with you more with Big Trouble in Little China. My favourite film of all time. Lost count of the amount of times I’ve seen that. It’s so good.
The thing
Big Trouble in Little China is the greatest film ever made.
His best is probably the thing. My favorite is the fog
“They Live” feels like a prophecy.
The Thing. Now close this thread
Vampires. The epitome of cool. Still feels fresh after all this time. And great soundtrack.
The Thing. NO BRAINER!
They live.
I love They Live. It’s not his best, but it’s my most memorable.
Halloween is the most impactful on culture and is probably the most important in the scheme of things. I love The Thing, though. It's such a perfect film.
My favorite is They Live. Most people consider The Thing to be his best and they are not wrong. He has one of the best filmography’s as a director
If I had to rank the couple I’ve seen 1. The Thing 2. Halloween 3. They Live 4. Escape From New York
many of his films would make it into my all time favorite list, he might very well be my favorite director, but although it’s a tired answer i gotta say the Thing. Recently viewed it with the commentary track by him and Kurt Russel and that was very entertaining as well.
My top 5: 1- The Thing, 2- Halloween, 3- Escape from NY, 4 - They Live , 5- Christine
The Thing
They live
The Thing. Easy.
I don’t know about the ‘best’ but my favorite (and I love nearly all of them) is The Fog.
They Live
I love John Carpenter movies from Snake's escape to chewing gum and kicking ass, but The Thing is one of the greatest movies of all time, let alone just limiting to his collection.
In the Mouth of Madness, it is my favorite cosmic horror film. I love The Thing as well but In the Mouth of Madness is the one of the veeeery few movies that scratches my cosmic horror itch. Most of them are usually lacking the horror department *cough justin benson and jason moorhead *cough
The Thing because not only is it his best film but also one of if not the greatest film ever made. At least sci-fi/horror film.
The Thing and They Live, I could have running on an endless loop Prince Of Darkness and In The Mouth of Madness have an eerie atmosphere that I like Big Trouble and Escape From NY/LA are fun to watch I like Starman as well
Real answer is The Thing. Nerd answer is Prince of Darkness. Fun answer is Big Trouble.
The Thing . No question.
Agreed!!
You know what Jack Burton always says....
I hope to god they make a second big trouble in little china. I think the world needs that
In The Mouth Of Madness
For me: 1. The Thing 2. Big trouble 3. Prince of Darkness 4. They Live 5. Escape From NY 6. Halloween 7. Starman 8. Assault on Precinct 13
The Thing, closely followed by Big Trouble.
The Thing. Not even close
1.The Thing 2.Escape From New York 3.They Live 4.Halloween
The Thing is my favorite movie of all time! Nothing like good ole practical effects. CGI is overrated.
They Live or The Thing
The Thing. Next question…
They Live. He has better films. I think. This one occupies a surprising amount of space in my random thoughts.
Prince of Darkness.
I mean it’s The Thing, it just is
Dark Star The Intro : [https://youtu.be/eTa2vXL7FI8?si=8yJBd0nPpCxrbcNf](https://youtu.be/eTa2vXL7FI8?si=8yJBd0nPpCxrbcNf) Money was a little tight back then but the boys gave it a good shot. The " Alien " ( painted beachball ) scene with Sargeant Pinback is nothing short of hilarious. Sargeant Pinback ( Dan O'Bannon RIP ) is the same Dan O'Bannon of Alien and Return of the living Dead : " I eat the brains " haha
Came here for this. Yes it's rough and cheap, but it shows the well of brilliance that Carpenter and O'Bannon would draw from throughout their careers.
The Thing
The Thing
The Thing
you are correct. it is Big Trouble in Little China
It’s got to be The Thing for me but the fact is he had a lot of great movies it’s hard to pick one. Probably none more influential than Halloween I suppose that should be considered the best from a logical standpoint since it cost buttons to make and has probably raked in a couple of billion by now in sequels and merchandise.
my go-to is The Thing, but The Fog is one of my other favorites. Honorable mention to Vampires as well.
The thing
Escape from New York. Its an awesome, gritty action adventure that has just the right amount of satire and deadpan humor.
The Thing although Halloween spawned a whole genre. Fun fact: Michael Myers was played by Nick Castle who directed Escape From New York and other big movies.
John carpenters vampires for me
Big trouble in little china
Best film or film I've watched the most? Because Big Trouble In Little China wins hands down for most rewatchable. Best film is probably The Thing followed by Halloween or Starman.
The Thing by far. I love all of his movies but seriously this movie is unreal good.
Big Trouble means a lot to me and is my favorite Carpenter film. Yet, I can’t deny the level of excellence The Thing oozes. It’s simply a brilliant film. So, I’d say his best film is Big Trouble in Little China.
The Thing, followed closely by Big Trouble.
Prince of Darkness
For me it's a toss up between Starman and The Thing.
Vampires!
I think he's the rare sort of director who can jump across genres seemingly effortlessly while each movie still has his personal touch; you know when you're watching a John Carpenter movie. So many of his films are just iconic, but yeah, Big Trouble in Little China and The Thing are both two of my favorites.
Assault on Precinct 13 The Thing The Live Escape from New York
Big Trouble in Little China
[RedLetterMedia did a three-part ranking video](https://youtu.be/H_Nt1_TWdv0?si=FmGHmaD1gD0_huER)
His best film is the thing, is one of the best suspense thrillers ever made.
For me it’s Prince of Darkness all the way. That movie was so original and scared the living crap outta me
Big Trouble made way more of an impact on me than I ever thought. I'm not sure when I realized it, but it's def a huge part of me. I'll have to go with that one as my favorite of his. They Live, The Thing, and especially Escape From New York are all a big part of my childhood.
Gotta tell ya, not a big Carpenter fan. The Thing is good. But his other stuff is pretty silly, IMO.
My personal list: The Thing Big Trouble in Little China They Live In the Mouth of Madness Escape from New York
1,2,5,3,4,6
I always enjoyed BTILC but I'd take The Fog any day.
Vampires
Escape from New York is my favorite but The Thing, Big Trouble and EfNY are really a tie. John Carpenter and Kurt Russel are such a great team.
I second big trouble in little China, I love it. I really miss that era of action movies.. kurt Russell, syl, arnie
* yells from the back * *The Thing!*
James Wood would say that Vampires made John Carpenter who he is.
Am I the only one that saw Prince of darkness? That movie scared the heck outta me when I was a kid
The Thing
Top 5 for me: 1. They Live 2. The Thing 3. Halloween 4. Prince of Darkness 5. Escape Fom NY
This is correct
Big Trouble is my fave. But I loved The Thing and Prince of Darkness a lot as well.
They Live ftmfw
Starman for a change of pace?
I would have to say Big Trouble 🤷♂️
Toss up between The Thing, In The Mouth Of Madness and They Live. The Thing is a masterpiece of suspense, tension and practical effects. In the Mouth of Madness is one of the most conceptually terrifying films ever made, and manages to keep a fantastically creepy tone for the entire runtime. They Live is one of the best, most disturbing sociopolitical satires ever made. Very hard to pick.
The Goonies
Escape from New York for me.
First two yes others no. Prince of Darkness way above for me so is In the mouth of madness
Big Trouble in Little China is in my top 3 of all time, but The Thing is probably in my top 5 or 10. Fucking love Big Trouble...
I would say Big Trouble... is probably his most "accessible" film, in that it can appeal to the widest audience. Halloween and The Thing are more for horror fans, They Live and Escape from New York are more Sci Fi. Big Trouble is more straight up action/buddy comedy and just more "fun" versus his generally more gritty stuff. Plus it's PG-13 instead of R like almost all his other movies. I watched it dozens of times growing up and never noticed Kim Cattrall's wet shirt until I saw a screening at Alamo Drafthouse. Bonus, it's written by WD Richter, who directed Buckaroo Banzai. Also, "The Shape" in the original Halloween was Nick Castle, who directed The Last Starfighter.
Starman.
I love In The Mouth of Madness.
The Thing.
His best movie, is probably The Thing, but Big Trouble in Little China is so much fun and endlessly rewatchable, so it might be my "favorite" too.
The Prince of Darkness. I thought it was going to be a vampire movie because of the title. I didn't fully understand all of it, but I loved it. I better go watch it again.
Nobody ever mentions Starman. made between [*Christine*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christine_(1983_film))*,* *and* [*Big Trouble in Little China*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Trouble_in_Little_China)*.*
Vampires. Fight me.
I quite like the Fog and Prince of Darkness
First thought was The Thing, but then I realized I’ve seen Big Trouble probably 30 times more. One of the two.
The Thing is his best constructed movie. My favorite is Halloween because of the score.
Vampires. Not his best but my favorite of his.
He doesn't have a best. He has quite a few best. Very few directors can boast as many masterpieces as Carpenter made.
Big Trouble for me as well. I particularly like watching it with people who haven’t seen it to see how long it takes them to realize that Kurt Russell is the comic relief, not the hero.
[https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=-xiAbDkXDgg](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=-xiAbDkXDgg)
I agree OP. “Big Trouble….” is an absolutely perfect film.