Richard Donner’s 10 Best Movies, Ranked According To IMDb

Richard Donner left behind a legacy that few other filmmakers could ever come close to. The director essentially began the superhero genre, and he made some of the most entertaining and sentimental adventure movies that could easily be mistaken for being Steven Spielberg-directed releases.

And unlike many directors, Donner was adept in almost every genre, releasing tentpole movies in the adventure, comedy, and horror genres. Few filmmakers can brag about making one of the funniest Bill Murray comedies and one of the most terrifying 70s horrors.

10 Radio Flyer (1992) – 7.0

In the 1980s and 1990s, Donner was one of the best filmmakers at directing compelling movies with children as the lead characters, and of the lot, Radio Flyer is by far the schmaltziest. The movie follows a boy who attempts to convert a toy wagon into an airplane and fly over a deadly cliff called The Wishing Spot.

Unfortunately, the film is one of Donner’s few box office failures, as it failed to even make back one-seventh of its budget. The film had a production cost of $35 million and brought in less than $5 million worldwide. On top of that, it was hated by critics for its strange tone that mixes whimsy and grittiness, but it was still well-liked enough by audiences.

9 Scrooged (1988) – 7.0

Of all the adaptations of A Christmas Carol, Scrooged is by far the most entertaining, and of all the depictions of Ebenezer Scrooge, Bill Murray’s irreverent portrayal is the most hilarious. But while the movie could mistakenly be thrown on for children to watch over the Holiday season, it’s in no way aimed at kids.

The film is full of vulgar language, violence, and it has a general, all-around nihilistic tone, but that’s also what’s so appealing about it and why Scrooged has aged so well. On top of that, the movie still has the same message as every other adaptation of the classic Charles Dickens novel, even if it is buried under mountains of dark comedy.

8 Ladyhawke (1985) – 7.0

It goes without saying that Donner is one of the most prolific directors to have ever worked in Hollywood, but it was his output in 1985 that cemented him as a movie-making machine. Along with 1985’s The Goonies, Donner directed Ladyhawke, and together, they’re two of the most ambitious family adventure movies of the 80s.

Though one of the movies was clearly way more successful than the other, Ladyhawke is just as interesting and theatrical, and there’s an added fantastical element too. The film follows a thief who reluctantly joins forces with a warrior, who has had a curse put on him by an evil bishop.

7 Inside Moves (1980) – 7.1

Inside Moves was a passion project for Donner. The filmmaker explained on the audio commentary for Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut that he took the directing job to take his mind off getting fired from Superman II. However, it’s a strange job for a director to take on to lift their spirits, as the movie is one of the most emotionally exhausting films of the 1980s.

The movie follows a man who becomes a disabled alcoholic after a failed suicide attempt. However, after his physical and mental rehabilitation, it becomes surprisingly uplifting, and audiences warmed to it. Diana Scarwid was even nominated for Best Supporting Actress for her role of Louise.

6 Lethal Weapon 2 (1989) – 7.2

It’s rare when a follow-up to an action movie gives fans more of what they love while expanding the world and being even more exciting. However, Lethal Weapon 2 achieves that in spades. The 1989 release is one of the best action sequels, especially because it introduces one of the most interesting 80s villains, the South African diplomat Arjen Rudd.

While the Lethal Weapon series is the brainchild of celebrated writer Shane Black, it was Donner who raised the series into what it is today, as he directed all four of the movies. And though the third and fourth movies in the franchise don’t capture the magic of the original, Lethal Weapon 2 is almost as good as its predecessor.

5 Superman (1978) – 7.3

The current cinematic landscape wouldn’t exist without Superman. The movie was so ahead of its time for so many reasons, whether it was the practical effects or taking comic book source material seriously. And it features one of John Williams’ most iconic scores too.

It’s well documented that Richard Donner clashed with Superman’s producers throughout the course of production, and he was even fired midway through shooting Superman II. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the producers wanted a slapstick comedy, and it was Donner who fought for the tone of the film that’s found in the final cut.

4 The Omen (1976) – 7.5

The Omen was Donner’s first success, and it was a huge success at that, as it made over $60 million. That might not seem like a lot of money by today’s standard, but the movie had a budget of just $3 million, meaning the film made an astounding 20 times its production cost. On top of that, adjusted for inflation, that $60 million would be over $300 million today.

The film is a landmark horror movie and the first major film to be based on the idea of the antichrist, as it follows a child, Damien, who replaces a husband and wife’s biological child when it died after birth. The movie might not be all that scary compared to newer horror movies, but it has such an ominous and unsettling tone that’s still hair-raising today.

3 Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut (2006) – 7.6

Interestingly, Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut was the final Donner-directed movie released before his retirement, but it was actually shot more than 26 years beforehand. The Richard Donner Cut is the original “Snyder Cut,” as Donner was replaced by another director midway through production.

And just as was the case with Justice League, the replacement director for Superman II, Richard Lester, drastically changed the style and tone of the sequel. However, the Donner cut restores his original footage and, unsurprisingly, it’s much better than what was originally theatrically released.

2 Lethal Weapon (1987) – 7.6

It seems as if Donner has a thing for Holiday-themed films with a dark tone. Just as is the case with Scrooged, Lethal Weapon is another great non-family-friendly Christmas movie. The first movie in the long-running series is one of Donner’s best movies, but screenwriter Shane Black deserves just as much credit, as the film established his trademark style.

The movie literally ends with a topless brawl on a lawn in the pouring down rain with soft rock music playing, which is a vibe that influenced so many pale imitations, but only Lethal Weapon nailed it. With its over-the-top theatricality and cheesy soundtrack, Lethal Weapon is one of the most iconic buddy-cop movies ever.

1 The Goonies (1985) – 7.8

The Goonies is an action-adventure classic, and while Donner has made other children-led adventure movies, nothing comes close to the treasure hunting film. The movie follows the eponymous crew of kids who use a treasure map to hunt for the fortune of the legendary pirate One-Eyed Willy.

As Steven Spielberg is the gold standard of filmmakers, which was especially the case in the 1980s, everybody was trying to replicate his sentimental but entertaining style, including Donner. The 1985 film wears its influences on its sleeve, as it’s clearly inspired by the likes of E.T. and the Indiana Jones series. But that isn’t necessarily a bad thing, as The Goonies is the best Spielberg movie not directed by Spielberg.