Since his earliest student projects, Ari Aster has built a reputation for blending psychological terror, dark comedy, and human dysfunction. From shocking shorts to modern horror masterpieces, his films continue to spark debate and leave lasting impressions. Here’s a ranking of every Ari Aster film, from early shorts to his latest feature.
1. Hereditary (2018)
Aster’s feature debut remains his masterpiece. Premiering at the Sundance Film Festival, Hereditary shocked audiences with its terrifying midpoint twist and unrelenting dread. Starring Toni Collette, the film explores grief, trauma, and family dysfunction while redefining the supernatural horror genre. The New York Times hailed it as “visually ambitious and ruthlessly disturbing.”
2. Midsommar (2019)
A daylight horror film set in a Swedish commune, Midsommar combines pagan rituals with a devastating breakup story. Florence Pugh’s breakout performance as Dani anchors the unsettling atmosphere. Unlike typical horror, the fear here is tied deeply to characters and their emotional journeys.
3. Beau Is Afraid (2023)
A three-hour surreal odyssey, this film stars Joaquin Phoenix as a man on a bizarre journey to visit his mother. Equal parts psychological horror and dark comedy, it polarizes viewers with its escalating absurdity. For some, it’s a brilliant study of anxiety; for others, it’s overwhelming.
4. Eddington (2024)
A pandemic-era Western satire, Eddington stars Joaquin Phoenix as a sheriff clashing with Pedro Pascal’s mayor over COVID restrictions. With a 70% Rotten Tomatoes score, critics are divided: some praise its ambition to satirize polarization, while others find it cynical. Regardless, it proves Aster’s commitment to provocative storytelling.
5. The Strange Thing About the Johnsons (2011)
A disturbing AFI thesis short, this 29-minute film explores taboo abuse within a family. With the tension of a psychological thriller, it placed Aster on the map as a filmmaker unafraid of confronting the darkest human experiences.
6. Basically (2014)
Starring Rachel Brosnahan, this 15-minute short presents a monologue-style performance about an unfulfilled life. It shows Aster’s growing confidence in storytelling and character-driven narratives with minimal resources.
7. C’est La Vie (2016)
An eight-minute short following an unhoused man ranting to camera about societal failures. More expansive than Basically, it highlights Aster’s evolving social commentary style.
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8. Beau (2011)
The early short version of Beau Is Afraid, this 11-minute student film captures the essence of paranoia later expanded into the feature. Actor Billy Mayo brings a different but compelling interpretation of Beau’s crippling anxiety.
9. The Turtle’s Head (2014)
A satirical noir parody, this short combines absurd anatomical humor with a misogynist detective’s bizarre case. Though silly and NSFW, its commitment to parody makes it memorable.
10. Herman’s Cure-All Tonic (2008)
Aster’s 12-minute debut short, following Harold, a timid pharmacy worker, already introduces the archetype of the nervous, bullied protagonist that recurs throughout his work.
11. TDF Really Works (2011)
A crude, three-minute mock infomercial for “Tino’s Dick Fart.” While juvenile and deliberately shocking, it demonstrates Aster’s early willingness to push boundaries.
From disturbing shorts like The Strange Thing About the Johnsons to genre-defining horror such as Hereditary and Midsommar, Ari Aster has proven himself one of the most daring filmmakers of his generation. His films may polarize, but they always spark conversation — and in cinema, that’s the hallmark of lasting impact.
