A powerhouse filmmaker whose impact on the changing cinema landscape of the 1970s is still felt today, William Friedkin has amassed a body of work that delved into the dark complexities of man with intense and often confrontational filmmaking that has seared the minds of generations of movie lovers.
While his influence on horror is monumental in the form of The Exorcist, so to is his influence on action cinema, with car chase scenes in The French Connection and To Live and Die in L.A. perhaps the best of its kind.
Friedkin’s exploits behind the camera were equally notorious, with his volatile and provocative behaviour towards his cast a thing of legend, and often drawing out brilliant performances from his actors, including career best turns from the likes of Gene Hackman, Ellen Burstyn, Roy Scheider, and William Peterson.
Although he seldom directs anymore, Friedkin’s career of masterpieces, cult classics, and even the misfires, are impressive in their stature and significance. Here are the Top Ten William Friedkin Movies!
