Every Alex Garland Movie, Ranked

Alex Garland is a filmmaker known for his compelling work across different creative fields. He began his career as a novelist before transitioning to film and television, where he wrote screenplays for hits like 28 Days Later and the 28 Years Later series. He also wrote and directed the entire limited series Devs. This diverse experience has quickly established Garland as a highly talented and noteworthy creator.

One of the most interesting things about Alex Garland’s work is its diversity. He’s a prolific writer, but he only directs a few projects himself – just five films to date. And each one is unique. Because of this variety, ranking his films isn’t about judging their overall quality, but rather how well each one delivers its themes and brings his ambitious ideas to life.

5
‘Men’

A24

Alex Garland’s 2022 film, Men, was his most ambitious and dreamlike work yet. While his previous movies like Annihilation and Ex Machina used science fiction to explain away unusual ideas, Men leaned into folk horror, making it more difficult for viewers to understand. Despite a powerful performance from Jessie Buckley and unsettling supporting work from Rory Kinnear, the film doesn’t quite deliver on its central ideas. The striking visuals ultimately overshadow the story itself.

Men is perhaps Alex Garland’s most open-ended and symbolic film, which might frustrate viewers who prefer clear answers. While other films on this list use imagery and symbolism effectively, Men goes further, resulting in a dark story that feels a bit lacking in context and character development. Despite this, the strong performances, especially from Jessie Buckley, and the film’s unique take on folk horror make it a compelling addition to Garland’s work.

4
‘Warfare’

A24

Alex Garland, along with co-director Ray Mendoza, has created a compelling and impactful film based on Mendoza’s experiences as a Navy SEAL. The 90-minute movie is a relatively simple and direct work for Garland, likely because it’s rooted in true events. While the realistic approach works well for the story, Warfare doesn’t quite reach the same heights as Garland’s previous films, which were known for their thought-provoking ideas and complex themes. However, this doesn’t make Warfare a poor film—it simply tells a more conventional story.

I’ve been following Alex Garland for a while now, and it was interesting to see him co-direct Warfare after Civil War. He’d been talking about wanting to focus more on writing, and he even seemed to position Warfare as more of a project led by his co-director, Mendoza. That explains a lot, I think. While Warfare is a really solid and well-told story, it doesn’t quite have the same groundbreaking, thought-provoking feel as his earlier films – and now I understand why. He clearly took a step back this time.

3
‘Annihilation’

Paramount Pictures

As a critic, I have to say Alex Garland’s Annihilation really stuck with me. It’s loosely based on Jeff VanderMeer’s novel, but Garland truly makes it his own, delivering a fantastic take on cosmic horror. What elevates it beyond just scares, though, is how beautifully it explores really raw human emotions – grief, loss, that kind of thing – all within this incredibly strange science fiction setting. Yes, there are legitimately terrifying moments – I’m still haunted by that screaming bear! – but the film is ultimately anchored by Natalie Portman’s phenomenal performance. She plays Lena, a biologist and soldier, and her journey to uncover what happened to her husband inside this bizarre, otherworldly zone called ‘the shimmer’ is what truly drives the story.

While Men left viewers with questions, Annihilation succeeds because its stunning and unsettling visuals effectively tell the story leading to its ambiguous ending. Though some aspects are open to interpretation, the film clearly explores themes of damaged relationships and self-acceptance, thanks to Garland’s skillful storytelling.

2
‘Civil War’

A24

Alex Garland’s Civil War is a thought-provoking and often unsettling film about a deeply divided America, released at a particularly tense time. Departing from science fiction, Garland delivers a gripping action thriller that, like his other work, focuses on personal stories against a vast and troubling backdrop. The film presents a nightmarish, but dramatized, vision of a nation falling apart, and is considered one of his strongest achievements. Though bleak at times, Civil War ultimately offers a powerful message about the importance of unity in opposing those who abuse their power.

Civil War is not only Alex Garland’s most ambitious film, but it also features some of his most compelling characters. The movie follows two photographers and a journalist as they travel across a war-torn America towards Washington D.C. It offers a stark and realistic look at violence, presented with a detached, observational style mirroring the journalists’ perspective. While a powerful exploration of a divided nation, it ultimately ranks as the second-best film in Garland’s body of work.

1
‘Ex Machina’

A24

Alex Garland’s first film as director remains one of his best, clearly establishing his style and themes. Ex Machina is a deeply unsettling and thought-provoking movie that connects with you on both an intellectual and emotional level. Alicia Vikander delivers a chilling performance as Ava, and her scenes with Domhnall Gleeson and Oscar Isaac create a captivating dynamic. The film explores ideas about consciousness and control, and its stark, minimalist setting enhances the story, contrasting with the more visually ambitious films Garland would make later.

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Ex Machina is a remarkably well-balanced film, skillfully blending thought-provoking questions about existence with genuinely moving characters, and revitalizing the science fiction genre in the process. It was an impressive debut for director Alex Garland, establishing the ambitious themes and innovative approach that would define his future work.

Despite previously mentioning a break from directing, Alex Garland has signed on to a new project that clearly excites him. He’ll be writing and directing a live-action movie based on the popular video game Elden Ring, a collaboration between A24 and Bandai Namco. It will be fascinating to see Garland tackle the fantasy genre, and fans will be eager to see how this film compares to his already impressive body of work.

2026-03-08 21:34

5 ‘Men’

4 ‘Warfare’

3 ‘Annihilation’

2 ‘Civil War’

1 ‘Ex Machina’