Credit: MarvelAcclaimed director Chloe Zhao recently revealed her ten favorite movies in a list compiled by IndieWire, and there were plenty of surprises, including a polarizing film from Zack Snyder.
Although she has only directed four feature films, director Chloe Zhao has become one of the most acclaimed filmmakers of the 21st Century. Zhao started out making short films but garnered critical attention with Songs My Brother Taught Me (2015) and The Rider (2017).
However, nothing stood out more than Nomadland (2020). Starring Frances McDormand, the film earned Zhao a Golden Globe, Directors Guild Award, and Academy Award for Best Director as well as the Oscar for Best Picture. This success led to Zhao directing and writing the Marvel Studios feature Eternals (2021).
Recently, IndieWire compiled a list of Chloe Zhao’s favorite movies based on interviews she has done throughout her career. And while there were some surprises, nothing was more surprising than her love for Man of Steel (2013).
‘Man of Steel’ Left a “Strong Impression” on Chloe Zhao
While Zack Snyder’s DC films have proved divisive amongst fans, Chloe Zhao is firmly on the positive side of the Snyderverse coin. In fact, she lists Man of Steel as one of her favorite movies ever. Not only did she compare the style of the movie to her favorite director Terrence Malick, but she also said that Henry Cavill’s version of Superman inspired her take on Richard Madden’s Ikaris.
According to Zhao, “[Zack Snyder] approached this myth in an authentic and very real way. I remember thinking it was ‘Superman’ by Terrence Malick when I saw the trailer. This film left a strong impression on me.”
Chloe Zhao’s Other Favorite Movies
However, the article wasn’t just about Zhao’s love for the Snyderverse. She also shared eight other movies and a TV show that have stuck with her. Here’s the li,st along with her thoughts on each film.
‘Blade Runner 2049’ (2017)
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“Every detail, structure, colors, how is this character interacting with the location. All of that says so much about that character.”
‘Interstellar’ (2014)
“I didn’t cry the first time I watched it. But between when that film first came out and where we are in the world, as a human being on this planet, I sobbed by the end, this time. I think in another ten years when you watch Interstellar, it’s going to take a whole different meaning about our relationship with the planet, our planet’s relationship with the cosmos, and what’s the destiny of humanity.”
‘The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers’ (2002)
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“The landscapes, the epic battles, it makes you fall in love with these characters and root for them in their struggles.”
‘Wuthering Heights’ (2011)
“[Director Andrea Arnold] has a very strong sense of place. When you watch ‘Wuthering Heights,’ you know this filmmaker isn’t just staring at her actor. She’s constantly looking. ‘What else around us can we capture?’ And the way the characters are interacting with this place says so much of their innocence and love for each other.”
‘The New World’ (2005)
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“I left home and I came to a country where I didn’t speak the language. So much of my youth is watching people without understanding what they’re saying. There’s one moment in the film that has such a huge impact on me as a filmmaker, the way that he contrasted [Pocahontas] ‘s imminent passing with the joyous expression she’s giving. He’s captured an essence about mortality and where we belong.”
‘Into the Abyss’ (2011)
“The film is a heavy subject, but that’s not what the film is about. That’s what the genius of Werner Herzog is, it’s always about more. It shows you how much life can shock you, and how magnificent it is to be alive in the most bittersweet way.”
‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’ (1997-2003)
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“It was everything for me, for a few years in college. Vampires, witchcraft, teen romance, I mean, what else do you want?”
‘Happy Together’ (1997)
In an interview with USA Today, Chloe Zhao credits the Chinese romance Happy Together as “the movie that made me want to make movies.”
‘The Terminator’ (1984)
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James Cameron’s The Terminator was the first American film Chloe Zhao had ever seen, soon followed by Sister Act (1992) and Ghost (1990). “I was like, ‘Holy (expletive), that looks crazy.”
Which of these movies surprised you the most? Let Inside the Magic know in the comments down below!