13 John Carpenter movies ranked from worst to best

4. Escape From New York (1981)

One of the most iconic and memorable roles brought to life by legendary actor Kurt Russell would be that of Snake Plissken in the equally iconic movie Escape From New York. In this film, you can see the traces of the popular film genre of Westerns with Kurt Russell channeling the likes of John Wayne, and the use of 80s-style music and action gives this film a stylish flair and is such a blast to watch.

Escape from New York is an instant classic in cinema history. With such a powerful leading man in Russell and assisted by an equally impressive supporting cast in Adrienne Barbeau, Donald Pleasance, Ernest Borgnine, Lee Van Cleef, Isaac Hayes, and Harry Dean Stanton.

It’s well shot, a great story full of thrills and action, and showcases some of the best of what 80s cinema had to offer. Carpenter proved he was a force in directing after the success of his 1978 hit Halloween.

3. Big Trouble In Little China (1986)

When one thinks of blockbusters, Big Trouble in Little China would most likely be in that conversation.

Once again John Carpenter teams up with Kurt Russell to bring one of the most genre-bending fantasy adventures to cinema. It stars Kurt Russell as Jack Burton a wise-cracking delivery driver who finds himself in an ages-long battle between the forces of good and evil in Chinatown, San Francisco. Leading lady Kim Cattrall plays Gracie Law, a lawyer and love interest to Jack.

Big Trouble In Little China is a film that made many fall in love with the art. It’s an escape from reality and it combines multiple genres in such a brilliant way. Carpenter really mixes comedy, action, thriller, and fantasy elements in this tale and proves that a great story and movie can have more than one genre. It’s not an easy feat but this is a great example of how it should be done. Russell and Cattrall had great chemistry and made the film whole and a blast to experience.