Whatever allegations leveled against him, Woody Allen’s talent and genius are undeniable. One of the few cinematic geniuses to have a 360-degree approach to filmmaking, Allen is known as an actor, filmmaker, writer, comedian, and novelist. He mostly wrote, directed, and acted in his films, creating an overall creative ecosystem. Throughout his career, the auteur has won four Academy Awards, along with 24 nominations. Surprisingly, Woody Allen only attended one of the award ceremonies, stating, “The whole concept of awards is silly. I cannot abide by the judgment of other people, because if you accept it when they say you deserve an award, then you have to accept it when they say you don’t.” Here are some of his best movies, ranked.
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8 Hannah and Her Sisters (1986)
Orion Pictures
Hannah and Her Sisters is an Academy Award-winning film, written, acted and directed by Woody Allen. The story revolves around sisters Hannah, Holly, and Lee, who reunite for a thanksgiving party. When Hannah discovers her husband’s secret affair with Lee, dark secrets and darker humor rise to the surface. Known as one of Allen’s major works, Hannah and Her Sisters explores themes of individuality mixed with interpersonal relationships. The characters are funny and relatable, making them all the more endearing.
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
7 Husbands and Wives (1992)
TriStar Pictures
Operating on Allen’s trademark narrative style, Husbands and Wives investigates the various themes and elements of individuals and their interpersonal relationships. The film depicts Woody Allen as Gabe, with Mia Farrow playing his on-screen girlfriend, Judy Roth. In Husband and Wives, Allen delves deep into the ripple effect social relationships can have on one’s relationships. What starts as a breakup of a close friend, has more dire consequences than one initially perceives.
6 The Purple Rose of Cairo (1985)
The Purple Rose of Cairo is Woody Allen’s love letter to cinema and the magic it’s capable of. Allen metaphorically depicts the screen as a portal that’s capable of transporting the viewer to their world of imagination. In the film, an unhappy woman named Cecilia (Mia Farrow) is the sole breadwinner of the family while her husband is a degenerate gambler. To escape the harsh realities of life, Cecilia goes to the movies and on one such occasion is transfixed with a movie and transported into its world.
5 Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008)
Warner Bors Pictures
Drawing from the same well of real-life, slice-of-life films that he’s known for, Vicky Cristina Barcelona is a whirlpool of raw emotions. What seemingly starts as a euro trip for two friends ends up in an intense episode of life truths and soul-searching. With a stellar cast of Scarlett Johansson, Javier Bardem, and Penelope Cruz, Vicky Cristina Barcelona is a must-watch for all Woody Allen fans.
4 Midnight in Paris (2011)
Sony Pictures Classics
A tribute to all things art and literature, Midnight in Paris, is so much more than a film; it’s a world, an emotion. The story’s simple, yet it’s the details and little anecdotes that make the film special. When Gil, a novelist arrives in Paris for a holiday with his fiancé, his love for his craft grows while coincidentally so does the gap between him and his fiancé. Allen beautifully creates Paris at its creative peak, with writers and artists like Hemingway and Dali being portrayed on the screen.
3 Crimes and Misdemeanors (1989)
Jack Rollins & Charles H. Joffe Productions
With Crimes and Misdemeanors, Allen stayed true to his stylistic coverage of the lives of modern-day individuals along with their trials and tribulations; only this time the theme was darker, leaning towards existentialism. The plot revolves around an ophthalmologist who murders his lover not out of passion but out of convenience, and the shift he experiences from guilt to acceptance. With stellar performances by Martin Landau, Allen and Mia Farrow, Crimes and Misdemeanors is one of Allen’s most essential films.
2 Annie Hall (1977)
Rollins-Joffe Production
As humans, we’re bound to experience love and the loss of it. Exploring this feeling, in Annie Hall, Allen plays the part of Ally Singer, a Jewish comedian, reflecting on life and times with his ex-lover Annie Hall. The film analyzes the various stages of a relationship that Ally and Annie go through, on good days and bad. The film portrays Allen as a nerdy, neurotic intellectual, contrary to the image of a leading man in Hollywood. Whereas, Annie Hall, is smart and quirky, creating an initial attraction between the two. Annie Hall is one of the few films that are relatable to most viewers since we’ve all experienced love and the loss of it at some point in life.
1 Manhattan (1979)
United Artists
There is no Woody Allen without New York and there is no New York without Woody Allen. In arguably one of his most critically acclaimed works, Manhattan can be viewed as Woody Allen’s tribute to one of his favorite places on earth. The film was controversial due to its portrayal of Allen’s character dating a 17-year-old high school student, but if we can look past this, the film has way more to offer. From themes like intellectual stimulation to the changing landscape of life in a metro, if you like Woody Allen, you can’t miss Manhattan.
