Generating Preview ...
Generating Preview ...
Josh Trank, the director behind a handful of visually striking and often divisive films, has sparked considerable discussion among moviegoers. From superhero misfires to gritty crime dramas, his directorial choices have proven bold, if sometimes uneven. This poll invites you to revisit Trank's filmography and reflect on his impact on modern cinema, assessing his strengths and weaknesses as a storyteller and filmmaker. Which of his works resonated most strongly with you? Now it's your turn to weigh in! Cast your vote below to determine which Josh Trank movie stands above the rest. Consider the performances, direction, narrative complexity, and overall impact of each film when making your selections. Your responses will help us crown the ultimate favorite from this director's intriguing and often controversial body of work.
The 2015 *Fantastic Four* film attempts a dramatically darker, more grounded reimagining of Marvel's First Family. Starring Miles Teller as Reed Richards, Michael B. Jordan as Johnny Storm, Kate Mara as Sue Storm, and Jamie Bell as Ben Grimm, the movie follows their origin in a style leaning into sci-fi body horror. It posits that **four young outsiders teleport to a dangerous universe, which alters their physical form in shocking ways. Their lives irrevocably upended, the team must learn to harness their daunting new abilities and work together to save Earth from a former friend turned enemy.** This narrative focuses on the initial, traumatic acquisition of their powers and the subsequent struggle to control them, setting the stage for a confrontation with a familiar foe. While *Fantastic Four (2015)* faced significant critical and commercial challenges, it holds a controversial but undeniable place on a list of Josh Trank's most notable movies. Following his critically acclaimed found-footage film *Chronicle*, Trank aimed to bring a similar raw, grounded, and character-driven sensibility to a major superhero franchise, envisioning a darker, body-horror-infused take on the material. Despite the heavily publicized production issues and the final cut diverging significantly from his original vision, *Fantastic Four (2015)* represents a bold, albeit ultimately compromised, attempt by an auteur to reinvent a beloved property. It stands as a pivotal (and illustrative) work in his filmography, showcasing his distinctive ambition and the complex challenges of creative control within the studio system, making it a key film for understanding the trajectory and defining moments of his directorial career.
Vote items to sort list. Click to browse.
Directed by Josh Trank, *Chronicle* (2012) offers a compelling and gritty take on the superhero origin story, told through a "found footage" lens. The narrative centers on three high school students who make an incredible discovery, leading to their developing uncanny powers beyond their understanding. As they learn to control their abilities and use them to their advantage, their lives start to spin out of control, and their darker sides begin to take over. This unique format immerses viewers directly into the escalating chaos, transforming a seemingly lighthearted coming-of-age tale into a potent exploration of power's corrupting influence and the fragility of friendship. For the list "Best Josh Trank Movies," *Chronicle* isn't just appropriate; it's essential, arguably representing the pinnacle of his directorial output. As Trank's feature film debut, it showcased an audacious vision, blending the raw intimacy of found footage with the epic scale of a superhero saga. He masterfully grounded fantastical abilities in a relatable, human context, exploring themes of social alienation, the allure of power, and the terrifying ease with which it can corrupt. *Chronicle*'s critical acclaim and impressive box office success cemented Trank as a bold new voice in genre filmmaking, demonstrating his unique ability to craft compelling, character-driven sci-fi thrillers that resonated deeply with audiences and critics alike, earning its place as his defining and most celebrated work.
Emerging after a tumultuous period following *Fantastic Four*, Josh Trank's *Capone (2020)* represents a defiant return to the uncompromising, character-driven filmmaking that first garnered him acclaim. This bold biopic eschews traditional gangster narratives, instead presenting a raw, unflinching look at Al Capone's final, mentally deteriorating years, brilliantly anchored by Tom Hardy's transformative performance. The film delves deep into the psychological decay of a legend, showcasing Trank's unique ability to craft unsettling, intimate character studies within ambitious, genre-bending frameworks. What makes *Capone* undeniably belong on a "Best Josh Trank Movies" list is its pure, unadulterated Trankian vision. Free from studio interference, Trank delivers a deeply unsettling psychological drama, exploring themes of isolation, regret, and the decaying legacy of a monster, much like the dark, introspective tone that defined his breakthrough, *Chronicle*. While divisive, the film's gritty realism, audacious style, and commitment to an unconventional narrative solidify it as a powerful, authentic statement from a filmmaker determined to tell stories his way, proving his distinctive voice remains a vital force in cinema.
The 2015 *Fantastic Four* film attempts a dramatically darker, more grounded reimagining of Marvel's First Family. Starring Miles Teller as Reed Richards, Michael B. Jordan as Johnny Storm, Kate Mara as Sue Storm, and Jamie Bell as Ben Grimm, the movie follows their origin in a style leaning into sci-fi body horror. It posits that **four young outsiders teleport to a dangerous universe, which alters their physical form in shocking ways. Their lives irrevocably upended, the team must learn to harness their daunting new abilities and work together to save Earth from a former friend turned enemy.** This narrative focuses on the initial, traumatic acquisition of their powers and the subsequent struggle to control them, setting the stage for a confrontation with a familiar foe. While *Fantastic Four (2015)* faced significant critical and commercial challenges, it holds a controversial but undeniable place on a list of Josh Trank's most notable movies. Following his critically acclaimed found-footage film *Chronicle*, Trank aimed to bring a similar raw, grounded, and character-driven sensibility to a major superhero franchise, envisioning a darker, body-horror-infused take on the material. Despite the heavily publicized production issues and the final cut diverging significantly from his original vision, *Fantastic Four (2015)* represents a bold, albeit ultimately compromised, attempt by an auteur to reinvent a beloved property. It stands as a pivotal (and illustrative) work in his filmography, showcasing his distinctive ambition and the complex challenges of creative control within the studio system, making it a key film for understanding the trajectory and defining moments of his directorial career.
Josh Trank's found-footage psychological horror, *Send a Scare*, perfectly embodies the director's unique vision, earning its spot among his best works. Centering on a group of friends who invent a viral online challenge to prank unsuspecting strangers, the film masterfully chronicles the unsettling unraveling of its protagonists as they confront the real-world consequences of their virtual actions. Much like *Chronicle*'s exploration of power's corrupting influence and *Capone*'s descent into madness, Trank's signature gritty realism and unflinching camera work immerse the audience in a rapidly spiraling nightmare, blurring the lines between elaborate prank and genuine, escalating terror. What elevates *Send a Scare* to a top spot in Trank's filmography is its chilling social commentary, examining the dark underbelly of online culture and the human impulse for voyeurism and control. Through its raw, handheld perspective, Trank crafts an atmosphere of pervasive dread, focusing less on jump scares and more on the psychological toll of fear itself and the moral decay that accompanies unchecked digital power. It’s a stark, uncomfortable, and deeply thought-provoking piece that solidifies Trank's reputation for delivering grounded, character-driven genre subversions, making it an essential entry for any fan of his distinct, unsettling cinematic voice.
Submit to make your vote count.