5 Best Edgar Wright Movies That Are Definitely Better Than 'The Running Man'
These projects demonstrate why Wright is regarded as one of the most innovative modern filmmakers.
Edgar Wright's new movie, The Running Man, hit streaming services on December 16. It is the second film adaptation of Stephen King's novel of the same name.
The new movie turned out to be a box office flop and received mediocre reviews. In reality, The Running Man isn't all that bad – it simply pales in comparison to Wright's more interesting work.
1. 'Scott Pilgrim vs. the World', 2010
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 83%
Although Scott Pilgrim vs. the World isn't Wright's best work, it's one of the greatest comic book movies ever made.
Wright adeptly translates the nuances of the graphic medium into cinematic language, incorporating anime-like motion lines and exaggerated emotions that feel like natural elements of the film.
Furthermore, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World is undoubtedly Wright's most stylish film. It's no wonder it has become ingrained in the culture of several generations.
2. 'Hot Fuzz', 2007
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 91%
Police Officer Nicholas Angel is transferred from London to a rundown British province as punishment for being too good at his job, thereby ruining the department's statistics.
The village he arrives in has won the award for being the most peaceful small town in England for years, so it shouldn't have any crime. But things aren't quite that simple.
On the one hand, it's a hilarious comedy with plenty of jokes that poke fun at buddy movies. On the other hand, it's a fairly tense thriller with brutal murder scenes and a truly unexpected twist at the end.
3. 'Baby Driver', 2017
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 92%
Baby Driver is a dynamic flick with familiar directorial quirks and inventive visuals. It's also a fine example of a high-concept crime dramedy that effectively exploits the technique of montaging action scenes with music.
This technique serves a purpose: to tell the story of a traumatized young man with tinnitus for whom music has become a second reality.
The young man, nicknamed Baby, loves stylish music, fast driving, and adrenaline – he works as a getaway driver for criminals. One day, he falls in love and decides to quit, but first he must complete one last mission.
4. 'The World's End', 2013
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 89%
The final movie of the Cornetto trilogy tells the story of four friends who decide to finish a long-standing quest: completing the so-called Golden Mile of bars in their hometown – something they failed to do on graduation night.
Wright has previously experimented with mixing genres, but in The World's End, he achieves his most successful transition yet. Halfway through the film, the kidult comedy suddenly transforms into a sci-fi action about an alien race taking over Earth.
5. 'Shaun of the Dead', 2004
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 92%
Things haven't been going well for Shaun lately. His girlfriend dumped him, his coworkers ignore him, and now zombies are overrunning the entire city.
Suddenly, Shaun's dormant second nature resurfaces. With his best friend, Ed, and a bat in hand, he sets out to save his loved ones.
Wright takes a simple story and places it in a highly unusual setting: a localized zombie apocalypse. He is comfortable in both sweet rom-com and bloody horror comedy, even where these two genres collide.
