* * * * (Out of * * * *)
1. Videodrome (1983)
2. A History of Violence (2005)
3. Crash (1996)
(No relation to Paul Haggis 2005 film)
4. Cosmopolis (2012)
5. Dead Ringers (1988)
6. Spider (2002)
7. The Fly (1986)
8. Eastern Promises (2007)
9. The Brood (1979)
10. Naked Lunch (1991)
11. Maps to the Stars (2014)
12. A Dangerous Method (2011)
13. eXistenZ (1999)
14. M. Butterfly (1993)
15. The Dead Zone (1983)
16. Scanners (1981)
17. Rabid (1977)
18. Shivers (1975)
(a.k.a. “They Came from Within”)
19. Fast Company (1979)
20. Friday the 13th: The Series – Season 1 (1988)
20a. Episode: “Faith Healer”
(Television)
21. Crimes of the Future (1970)
22. Stereo (1969)
cinematiccoffee 
I too like Croenberg, a lot. I tend to favor his more mainstream works like Eastern Promises and A History of Violence. I also have an affinity for The Fly (I like the original too.) The special effects are awesome as is the psychological descent and decay. I think he is exploring how eccentricities can evolve (or devolve) into dangerous obsessions. Like David Lynch there is a layered psychological depth to his movies, especially his signature films like Crash. Since you revere Lynch and really like Refn it is logical that you would be a big Croenberg fan. I bet you like Polanski too.
Regardless of the type of film he is directing, his pet themes remain intact even in his more psychological dramas. A History of Violence is more that just a masterful crime thriller; it is also a thought-provoking look at how a violent past can still shape that individual in the present. Although I am sure it has been said or implied lots of times before, Crash (the 1996 film) is a daring work of art that still challenges viewers (and I mean that as a compliment) to this day. For me, that is the crowning achievement that tops all of his other crowning achievements. Aside from being a huge Cronenberg fan, I am not only a huge fan of Winding Refn and Roman Polanski, but I am also a huge fan of director Brian De Palma as well. I have a blog entry on him too, If you are interested in reading that. Anyway, thanks for dropping by 🙂
I like De Palma a lot. Blow Out is my favorite. I like so many of his…Dressed to Kill, Carrie,,,I’m a little embarrassed to admit this one, because I know it’s not a good film, it has so many errors and the ending is ridiculous, absurd minus absurdism, but I even like Snake Eyes. The one I don’t like that everybody else does is Scarface. Well, I’m going over to your De Palma post now.
Blow Out is most certainly my number one favorite of his 1980’s work and yeah, I love Dressed to Kill and Carrie as well. Do not be embarrassed about your love of Snake Eyes because I love that one too. Speaking of which, I just left a reply on my De Palma blog entry regarding that amazing 20 something minute or so steadicam sequence featuring Nicolas Cage’s character entering the arena to sit down. I do love Scarface, but I will admit that I think (as with The Untouchables), that it seems to be his most accessible or semi-accessible film compared to his more personal work. Anyway, thanks for dropping by and I adore your replies 🙂
I am very impressed by this list, especially by Crash at number one because I know many do not get Crash at all because of taboo messages and the topic. This will be more or less my ranking too re other films. My all time favourites of his are A History of Violence, Spider and Dead Ringers. Eastern Promises was undercooked, especially the ending, but it is still compelling enough.
Why thank you for the kind words 🙂 Crash may be a difficult film to get into for some, but for me it comes off as something truly daring. I mean the way each character emotes to a situation or each other is not something you find in your typical everyday drama or lack thereof. So far, I truly believe that it is the best of the three (at least based on my knowledge) film adaptations of a J.G. Ballard novel. Your rankings are interesting too and speaking of Spider, that was quite an unpredictable film. Eastern Promises is great, but that was more of a genre film. It comes off as the type of gangster film that Cronenberg would like to watch If he was a member of the audience. Anyway, thanks for dropping by and keep those comments coming 🙂
Spider is one of my favourite films and not merely because of Cronenberg but also because of Fiennes, Byrne and Richardson. I am next to read McGrath’s novel the film is based on, and I cannot wait to compare it to the film.
I agree with the top four. That would be my list too.’Crash’ is a film you either ‘get’, or turn off. I got it.
Best wishes, Pete.
Thank you for the kind words 🙂 I read somewhere that the immediate reception to J.G. Ballard’s novel was similar to what Cronenberg’s 1996 adaptation received at Cannes when it premiered there. Anyway, thanks for dropping by 🙂