Ranking every John Cassavetes movie from worst to best
After establishing himself as an actor during the early 1950s, Greek-American star John Cassavetes decided to turn his hand to directing, and it was one of the best decisions he ever made.
Over the course of his lifetime, Cassavetes worked for big studios and financed films out of his own pocket. He frequently butted heads with the men in suits, arguing for smaller, more character-focused stories that many backers would allow. He ended up revolutionising how independent movies were made, with many of his techniques still in use today.
One thing you should know about Cassavetes’ movies is that they are never simple. The director liked to employ a technique called ‘cinéma vérité’, which gave his stories a more natural, less structured feel. Contemporary critics either loved his films or thought they were the worst things ever. It’s only been in recent years that his work has been reevaluated.
Considering he never shied away from hard topics and was literally in a film called The Dirty Dozen, it is incredibly appropriate that Cassavetes’ own twelve feature films be examined here. Chances are you’ll probably find something you like in all of them, but for our money, this is how they stack up.
John Cassavetes’ movies ranked from worst to best:
12. Too Late Blues (1961)
Cassavetes’ second film, Too Late Blues, was his first to be backed by a major studio. It follows the life of jazz singer John “Ghost” Wakefield (Bobby Darin) as he undergoes various trials and tribulations in both his professional and personal life.
The director struggled to implement his full vision under the studio system, and as a result, the finished product is thoroughly underwhelming. The plot is incredibly basic, and Darin, better known as a singer, fails to hold up as a leading man. Some people really like Too Late Blues, but for various reasons – some beyond his control – it must be considered Cassavetes’ weakest offering.
11. Husbands (1970)
Following the death of their friend, three men – played by Peter Falk, Ben Gazzara, and Cassavetes himself – embark on a quest to regain their youth in the 1970 comedy-drama Husbands.
The film split critics right down the middle upon its release. Some called it genius; others labelled the humour infantile and in poor taste. It didn’t help that the three main actors turned up drunk when promoting the film on The Dick Cavett Show. Again, as with all Cassavetes movies, Husbands has its defenders, but when one of the main criticisms of a comedy is that it isn’t very funny, you know there’s an issue.
10. Big Trouble (1986)
The final movie Cassavetes directed before his death in 1989, Big Trouble is about a poor insurance salesman (Alan Arkin) and the wife of a millionaire (Beverly D’Angelo) who concoct a scheme to get their hands on her husband’s fortune.
Cassavetes himself wasn’t much of a fan of this film or the studio’s interference. The script was poor and the plot drew way too many comparisons to the classic noir movie Double Indemnity, none of them particularly positive. It’s a shame that such an acclaimed director went out on such a bum note, but Big Trouble’s existence did inadvertently lead to the creation of Back to the Future. That’s a story for another time.
9. A Child Is Waiting (1963)
Based on a TV play of the same name, A Child is Waiting brings together two powerhouses of the era: Burt Lancaster and Judy Garland. Lancaster plays the director of an institution for those with mental health needs, while Garland appears as a new teacher with some ideas about how to run things.
Production issues and the conflicting personalities of Cassavetes and producer Stanley Kramer plagued the movie. The end result might be incredibly messy, but you can clearly see the potential that this script, these actors, and an unrestrained director had. Not one of Cassavetes’ best, but easily one of his most intriguing.
8. Minnie and Moskowitz (1971)
Instead of a Soviet rip-off of Disney’s famous mouse couple, Minnie and Moskowitz is a romantic comedy starring Seymour Cassel and Cassavetes’ wife and regular collaborator, Gena Rowlands. Minnie is an ageing starlet. Moskowitz is the hapless nobody who falls for her hard. What could possibly go wrong?
A sweet romance with two strong performances from the leads, Minnie and Moskowitz is a competent, if somewhat straightforward film. Is that what people look for in a Cassavetes film? Not really, but if you’re looking to indoctrinate your more discerning friends, then this would be an excellent place to start.
7. The Killing of a Chinese Bookie (1976)
Perhaps the strangest title of a Cassavetes picture belongs to The Killing of a Chinese Bookie. Ben Gazzara plays a nightclub owner with a gambling problem that gets him into serious trouble. The mafia offers him a solution – kill a troublesome bookie, and his debt will disappear.
This film has definitely benefited from the passage of time, as it has gathered considerably more support in the decades since its release. Still, it’s far from perfect, a bit meandering in places, and with a plot that doesn’t stretch far enough to cover its 135-minute runtime.
6. Shadows (1958)
John Cassavetes’ first movie is fascinating. Shadows is about three African-American siblings living in the time of segregation. However, two of them have skin light enough to pass as Caucasian, which leads to some shocking and heartbreaking scenarios.
Though you wouldn’t go about it in the same way – two of the ‘Black’ characters are played by White actors – Shadows is a movie you could 100% make today. Its themes of racial identity are just as pertinent now as they were over half a century ago, and whilst the outcome is somewhat flawed, the idea behind it is endlessly interesting.
5. Opening Night (1977)
Another husband and wife affair, Opening Night stars Rowlands as Myrtle Gordon, a fading actor whose life is brought crumbling down when a young fan is killed trying to get her autograph. Gordon attempts to move on with her life, but her conscience proves too much to bear.
Critics savaged Opening Night upon its initial release, but has since become a firm favourite. Its themes of age, guilt, and fame are handled really well, and Rowlands gives an absolutely dynamite performance as a woman on the edge. Just don’t become too obsessed with this film – you know what will happen if you do.
4. Gloria (1980)
Gena Rowlands is back, and this time, she’s the title character: Gloria Swenson, a former mob girlfriend who finds herself thrust back into that world when she becomes responsible for a boy with information the mafia wants.
One of the many neo-noir films flooding Hollywood at the time, Gloria works so well because of Rowlands in the lead role. She balances panic and perseverance perfectly, coming across as sympathetic without ever looking foolish. Cassavetes’ stylish directing style ties everything up in a nice little bow – a fantastic gangster romp.
3. Faces (1968)
Cassavetes is known as a member of the New Hollywood movement, and this film is a perfect example of why. Faces is a fly-on-the-wall style depiction of a failing marriage, as husband Richard (John Marley) and wife Maria (Lynn Carlin) battle to come to terms with their feelings.
Faces is bold, a daring depiction of ‘real’ people exhibiting real emotions. At a time when divorce was not commonplace, it tackled the subject with a real weight, presenting several conflicting arguments with equal respect. Plenty of famous directors have singled this out as their favourite Cassavetes, and it’s not hard to see why.
2. Love Streams (1984)
You can forget Big Trouble if you like—this is the final film John Cassavetes made his own way. Love Streams stars the director and his wife as brother and sister (weird, but OK) who become unhealthily entangled in each other’s lives.
Love Streams is not an easy watch. It’s tough, raw, and extremely powerful, as compellingly bleak as any of the best slasher flicks. The director shows why he was also a successful actor, and as for Rowlands, well, she’s just fantastic. It’s not one for a cosy Sunday evening, but it’s definitely a must-see.
1. A Woman Under the Influence (1974)
When Gena Rowlands passed away in 2024 at the age of 94, one movie came up time and time again in her obituaries. A Woman Under the Influence puts the star right in the spotlight as housewife Mabel, who comes into conflict with her husband Nick (Peter Falk) when she starts displaying erratic behaviour.
A masterful character piece, a gripping plot, and an intoxicating performance from Rowlands, this is Cassavetes at his gritty, unflinching best. This husband and wife duo always got the best out of each other, and A Woman Under the Influence is a shining example of creative collaboration at its finest.
