Alex Garland is a British novelist, screenwriter, and filmmaker born in 1970 to psychologist Caroline Medawar and political cartoonist Nicholas Garland. The elder Garland would later collaborate with his son on his 2004 novel The Coma. Garland came of age in the UK, studying at the University of Manchester, and graduating with a degree in Art History. He became a household name in 1996 upon the release of his first novel The Beach. His first effort as a novelist was lauded with critical and commercial success, winning the Betty Trask Prize in 1997, and earning him the reputation as the voice of “Generation X”. The Beach was also adapted into a major motion picture starring Leonardo DiCaprio just fours years after its release. The tremendous success of The Beach was unexpected, and according to The Guardian, something Garland never quite got used to.
Garland would go on to produce several other successful projects throughout his career, many within the science fiction genre. His 2014 directorial debut Ex Machina earned him an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay, as well as several other high-profile awards. His next project, the folk-horror movie Men is slated for theatrical release on May 20, 2022. If you are a fan of this talented writer/director you are not alone, we have curated a list of the best projects Garland has been involved with, in one capacity or another. Here are the best Alex Garland movies, ranked.
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7 The Beach
Figment Films
The Beach is an adventure thriller based on Alex Garland’s 1996 novel of the same name. Unlike its literary counterpart, however, the film was not well-received by critics despite performing satisfactorily at the box office. Furthermore, the film received criticism for its departures from the source material. For instance, the movie did not accurately represent the sentiment of the book, which portrays a negative attitude towards Western travelers’ sense of entitlement to own a piece of paradise. It was also critiqued for the ending of the movie being sanitized for mainstream consumption as compared to the book.
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6 Dredd
DNA Films
Dredd is a post-apocalyptic science fiction film based on the comic strip Judge Dredd created by John Wagner and Carlos Ezquerra. The movie is set in a dystopian future where law enforcement is given total authority as they battle against a local drug lord who deals in reality-altering drugs. The film has become a cult classic amongst legions of fans of the source material. Star Olivia Thirlby has stated her interest in reprising the role for a potential sequel if it ever got the green light.
5 Never Let me Go
Keeping with the dystopian theme, Never Let Me Go is a screenplay adaptation by Alex Garland and Mark Romanek of Kazuo Ishiguro’s 2005 novel of the same name. The dystopian tragedy stars Carey Mulligan, Keira Knightley, and Andrew Garfield as three childhood friends. The film follows the threesome as they transition into adulthood. Once confronted with a dark secret, they become ensnared in a dangerous love triangle that threatens to tear the trio apart. The film received mixed reviews from critics on the success of the screenplay adaptation, however, was honored with several nominations and awards for the performances of the cast.
4 Sunshine
Searchlight Pictures
Alex Garland wrote the screenplay for the 2007 film Sunshine which is about a futuristic world where the sun is dying and, along with it, the earth. A team of eight astronauts (featuring Cillian Murphy, Rose Byrne, Michelle Yeoh, and Chris Evans, among others) must attempt a dangerous mission to revive the dying star with a nuclear bomb. The mission, however, is fraught with disaster while the future of all mankind delicately hangs in the balance. Sunshine reunites director Danny Boyle and Alex Garland, who also collaborated on The Beach, and 28 Days Later.
3 Annihilation
Paramount Pictures
Annihilation is a science fiction-horror film based on the source novel by Jeff Vandermeer. The film is written and directed by Alex Garland and stars Natalie Portman, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Tessa Thompson, and Oscar Isaac. It recounts the tale of a group of scientists who volunteer to investigate an environmental disaster. The crew eventually enters a restricted zone where they find plant and animal life fused together due to an alien-like presence. The film was praised by critics for its marvel of visual wonders. Richard Roeper of the Chicago Sun-Times praised the film for its risk-taking, saying “Kudos to Garland and the cast, but bravo to Scott Rudin as well. Apparently, you knew a masterpiece when you saw it, and you made sure we were able to see it as well.”
2 28 Days Later
While there has been a long-standing debate by zombie fans abound on whether 28 Days Later actually constitutes a zombie film, Alex Garland states it is a zombie film telling, Empire: “I’m aware for years and years there’s been debates about that. Over whether or not it’s a zombie movie. It’s a zombie movie. Whatever technical discrepancies may or may not exist, they’re pretty much zombies.” The movie chronicles a group of militant animal rights activists who unwittingly release a rage virus on the human population. It is told through the eyes of four survivors in the aftermath of the outbreak as they come to terms with the collapse of society. The film spawned the sequel 28 Weeks Later. Star Cillian Murphy has stated he would return for the potential 3rd installment of the franchise.
1 Ex Machina
Ex Machina marks Alex Garland’s critically acclaimed directorial debut. The science fiction film is about a computer programmer who wins an elite contest wherein the prize is testing the competencies and consciousness of Ava a highly intelligent A.I. robot. Ava, however, is not to be underestimated and soon proves that she is a force to be reckoned with. Ex Machina was well-received by critics, praising Garland’s smart and stylish take on the Artificial Intelligence thriller.
