The release of the new film The Hunt was met with widespread criticism due in no small part to the controversial nature of its plot, which involves human hunting. Though it was directed by Craig Zobel, it was co-written by Damon Lindelof, who also served as a producer.
Lindelof has actually had quite a successful career in Hollywood as both a writer and a producer, bringing several high-profile films and television to the screen. From the new Star Trek films to hit television series such as The Leftovers and Watchmen, here are the ten best ranked according to Rotten Tomatoes.
Cowboys & Aliens (2011) 45%
Despite the fact that this film starred big names such as Daniel Craig and Harrison Ford, it struggled to perform at the box office due in part to the fact that it received mostly negative reviews from critics. The plot is a little on the strange side, as the title suggests. That being said, the film does have some truly stunning visuals, the CGI is a major draw, and both Craig and Ford have a great deal of on-screen chemistry, their buff masculine personae working with rather than competing with one another.
Tomorrowland (2015) 50%
This ambitious science fiction film was co-written with Brad Bird, known for such films such as The Iron Giant, and is about an inventor who enters into a different dimension. As with so many big-budget projects, it features some truly stellar acting talent, including both Hugh Laurie and George Clooney, as well as breathtaking CGI. Unfortunately, it struggled at the box office both domestically and internationally, managing to make just over $200 million on a $180 million budget. It also received middling reviews from critics, who faulted the storytelling while praising the visuals.
The Hunt (2020) 54%
This most recent offering from Lindelof is about a group of people who are kidnapped and hunted by other humans. The film ignited criticism because of its political overtones—those being hunted are called “deplorabes”—and this caused its initial release date to be postponed. Perhaps unsurprisingly, it did not make a profit, earning less than half of its initial budget of $14 million. Part of this was no doubt due to the tremendous controversy surrounding it, but it also no doubt stemmed from the lukewarm critics, who criticized its heavy attempts at satire.
World War Z (2013) 66%
This film is based on the very successful book by Max Brooks, son of the famous director Mel Brooks. However, it made some substantial changes to the novel. Rather than a wide cross-section of viewpoints as part of an oral history of events, the film focuses mostly on a single character, Brad Pitt’s Gerry Lane, who struggles to find a cure to the zombie virus.
Though it was not overwhelmingly approved by critics, it still managed to perform fairly well at the box office, earning about $540 million on a budget of at least $190 million.
Prometheus (2012) 73%
Prometheus, directed by Ridley Scott and co-written by Lindelof, with Jon Spaihts, is something of a prequel to Scott’s widely successful Alien franchise. In it, a group of humans explores the outer reaches of space in an attempt to discover the origins of humanity. It’s a strange and interesting film, with some scenes that are definitely horrifying. It was a modest success among both critics and audiences, earning a little over $400 million on a budget of $120 million. It also produced a sequel a few years later, entitled Alien: Covenant.
Star Trek Into Darkness (2013) 84%
Though the new Star Trek films are more firmly associated with the director J.J. Abrams, Lindelof actually had a role to play in their creation as both a writer and a producer. Star Trek Into Darkness continues on the story begun in Star Trek, though this time introducing a new audience to the sinister character of Khan (played by the inimitable Benedict Cumberbatch). Though the film divided the fans, it was well-received by critics. It was mostly successful at the box office, earning $437 million on a budget of $190 million.
Lost (2004-2010) 85%
In the annals of television, there are few shows that can be compared to Lost. To this day, fans of the series continue to debate the series. The series ultimately ran for six seasons, with 121 episodes. Lindelof was one of the creators of the series along with J.J. Abrams and Jeffrey Lieber. He and Lieber also served as showrunners throughout the series’ run. The series was enormously popular—pulling in several millions of viewers for its entire run—and was also well-regarded by critics, who still regard as a landmark of television.
The Leftovers (2014-2017) 91%
The Leftovers, airing on HBO, tells the story of those left behind after 2% of the world’s population mysteriously disappears. It is based on the novel of the same name by Tom Perrotta, and Lindelof wrote the first episode. It was definitely one of the bleaker shows on television during its run, a reminder of the dark side of modern life, as well as how tenuous the bonds are that bind us all together. It was well-received by critics, and HBO would ultimately give the series three total seasons.
Star Trek (2009) 94%
Star Trek is one of the most venerable and popular franchises in popular culture. It has produced numerous television series, films, and books, including this attempt to reboot the franchise. Lindelof was one of the producers of the new film, which features the characters of the original series, but with a new cast, including Chris Pine as Captain Kirk and Zachary Quinto as Spock. Though it was well-received by critics, it was divisive for the fans of the franchise, and it was only moderately successful at the box office, earning $385 million on a $150 million.
Watchmen (2019) 95%
This series on HBO was created by Lindelof and is based on the popular series of comics produced by DC. Among others, it stars the truly phenomenal Regina King, who is always a highlight to watch, in both this series and others. Though it takes place in the same universe as the original comic book series, it depicts events that take place after it. The audience was acclaimed by critics and was a significant success for HBO. Though there were plans to continue, following Lindelof’s announcement that he had completed his story, it was rebranded as a limited series.
