# John Cassavetes's films, ranked

The father of American independent film, from Shadows to Love Streams: Cassavetes's twelve features ordered from Gold Derby and MovieWeb, with A Woman Under the Influence on top.

- 41 votes · 12 items
- Dec 6, 2023 · amy_matinee
- https://even.best/en/l/3304/john-cassavetes-s-films-ranked

## Top 12

1. **A Woman Under the Influence (1974)** (10 · ▲10 ▼0) — Gena Rowlands as a mother coming apart; Oscar nominations for her and for Cassavetes.
2. **Husbands (1970)** (4 · ▲4 ▼0) — Ben Gazzara, Peter Falk and Cassavetes after a friend's funeral.
3. **Love Streams (1984)** (3 · ▲3 ▼0) — Cassavetes and Rowlands as siblings; Golden Bear in Berlin.
4. **The Killing of a Chinese Bookie (1976)** (3 · ▲3 ▼0) — Ben Gazzara as a strip-club owner in debt to the mob.
5. **Opening Night (1977)** (2 · ▲3 ▼1) — Gena Rowlands as a stage star haunted before a premiere.
6. **Faces (1968)** (2 · ▲3 ▼1) — A marriage falling apart over one night; three Oscar nominations.
7. **Shadows (1959)** (2 · ▲2 ▼0) — His improvised debut, a landmark of independent film.
8. **Big Trouble (1986)** (1 · ▲2 ▼1) — Alan Arkin and Peter Falk in an insurance-scam comedy; his last film.
9. **A Child Is Waiting (1963)** (0 · ▲1 ▼1) — Burt Lancaster and Judy Garland at a school for children with disabilities.
10. **Too Late Blues (1961)** (-1 · ▲1 ▼2) — Bobby Darin as a jazz musician; his first studio film.
11. **Minnie and Moskowitz (1971)** (-1 · ▲0 ▼1) — His take on romantic comedy, with Gena Rowlands and Seymour Cassel.
12. **Gloria (1980)** (-2 · ▲0 ▼2) — Gena Rowlands protects a boy from the mob; Golden Lion in Venice.

How is this ranking ordered? By people's votes: each ▲ adds a point and each ▼ takes one away. Anyone can vote and add what is missing.