Alex Garland‘s most influential screenplays and films ranked present a portrait of a creative force whose work has shaped genres and inspired audiences since his cinematic debut. From novel adaptations to original ideas, Garland’s films have set a standard for modern storytelling, traversing horror, science fiction, and social commentary since the early 2000s.
Garland began his journey in the creative world as the author of The Beach in 1996, earning recognition as a pivotal voice among his peers. When he transitioned into screenwriting in 2002, he quickly established a reputation for redefining trends across the industry, and, over the next two decades, left an indelible mark both as a writer and director. With a career approaching a major milestone and continued collaborations with industry leaders like Danny Boyle and studios such as A24, Garland’s contributions span a range of influential works, each shaping the landscape of their genres in distinct ways.
Evaluating Garland’s Career Through His Filmography
As Garland’s screenwriting and directing career crosses the 23-year mark, reflection is warranted, especially given his stated plan to refocus on writing after a successful run in the director’s chair. With additional sequels for 28 Years Later reportedly in the pipeline, this is an apt moment to rank and revisit the major milestones in his body of work — considering both critical reaction and the significant cultural footprints they’ve left behind. From psychological horror to boundary-pushing science fiction, each project showcases an evolution in Garland’s approach and the diverse impact he has had.
9. Men (2022): Exploring the Flaws of Toxicity
Alex Garland returned to the director’s seat in 2022 for Men, a horror film that seeks to tackle themes of masculinity and generational toxicity. Jessie Buckley anchors the narrative with a strong performance, delivering emotional weight to a story centered on the cyclical nature of male hostility. The film’s atmospheric visuals enhance its tone, as does the haunting English countryside backdrop, which becomes integral to the unravelling psychological mystery.
Despite a compelling setup and bold imagery, the film’s thematic ambitions are met with divisiveness. While it attempts to critique predatory behaviors and inherited trauma through surreal and disturbing sequences, including the memorable, unsettling imagery involving Rory Kinnear, Men has received criticism for prioritizing concept over character development. Ultimately, for some viewers, its exploration of difficult topics felt underbaked, and the film’s symbolism overshadowed a more coherent narrative drive.
8. Dredd (2012): Revisiting a Cult Comic Figure
In 2012, Garland wrote the screenplay for Dredd, a high-octane adaptation of the British comic strip character Judge Dredd. Launched into a year crowded with superhero films, Dredd set itself apart by eschewing the typical glossy tone in favor of a gritty, color-saturated, and R-rated depiction of a dystopian society governed by draconian justice. Karl Urban led the cast with a stoic performance in the titular role, embodying the relentless, uncompromising enforcer at the story’s center.
The film’s troubled production — which saw Garland stepping in for directorial duties alongside credited director Pete Travis — resulted in a frenetic pace and occasionally unfocused narrative. Though Dredd features strong visual flair and intense action, inconsistent world-building and a lack of narrative cohesion held back what could have been a definitive adaptation. Nonetheless, it remains distinguished from its contemporaries, providing a bloody alternative to Hollywood’s prevailing superhero formula at the time.
7. Warfare (2025): Portraying Combat and Its Consequences
Garland’s collaboration with U.S. Navy SEAL veteran Ray Mendoza resulted in Warfare, a film slated for release in 2025. The project saw Garland return to co-directing and co-writing, pushing beyond his prior intentions to step away from directing. Using a tight, real-time format, Warfare immerses viewers in the experience of a group of soldiers trapped during the Iraq War, its narrative unfolded in just 90 minutes.
The film’s authenticity is boosted by a cast comprising real-life veterans, and its tense execution is widely noted. However, Warfare struggles to balance its critique of U.S. military interventions with a respectful memorial to those who served, leading to mixed interpretations of its message. While the picture offers a visceral, unfiltered look at conflict, questions linger on what the film ultimately communicates about the nature of warfare — whether violence is simply inevitable, fleeting, or inextricably human.
6. Never Let Me Go (2010): A Tragic Dystopian Reflection
Garland adapted Kazuo Ishiguro’s acclaimed novel Never Let Me Go into a film in 2010, with Mark Romanek as director. The movie stars Carey Mulligan, Keira Knightley, and Andrew Garfield, encapsulating the sorrow and intimacy of young lives predetermined for tragedy. The supporting cast, including Domhnall Gleeson, Sally Hawkins, and Andrea Riseborough, brings further depth to the emotionally charged narrative.
The film meditates on mortality and loss within a dystopian setting, charting the destinies of individuals born to provide organ donations for others. While the central performances are widely praised — particularly Garfield’s nuanced portrayal — the adaptation has been critiqued for its subtle approach, sometimes glossing over the characters’ emotional reckoning with their fates. Nevertheless, the film’s understated storytelling and emotional climax leave an enduring effect on its audience, fulfilling its potential as a stirring, melancholic work of science fiction and drama.
5. Civil War (2024): Documenting a Nation in Turmoil
Civil War, directed by Garland and released in 2024, delves into a fractured United States through the eyes of journalists navigating a war-torn landscape. Despite its chaotic tone and ambiguous political stance — with geography-defying alliances and thinly drawn political factions — Civil War finds strength in its depiction of chaos and confusion amid conflict.
The journey unfolds as a series of potent vignettes: high-tension encounters, including a chilling standoff with Jesse Plemons, and a climactic siege on the White House showcase Garland’s strongest directorial work to date. A standout moment captures the randomness and loss of ideology in battle, as characters are swept between skirmishes with little sense of allegiance or purpose. While the narrative sometimes falters in coherence, the film’s episodic structure and intense atmosphere underline the confusion present in modern conflicts and media’s complex relationship to truth and story.
4. Sunshine (2007): Saving Earth Against Impossible Odds
Teaming with Danny Boyle in 2007, Garland penned Sunshine, a science fiction adventure with a unique premise: scientists must reignite the sun to prevent Earth’s demise. The film seamlessly blends the suspense of slasher horror with space exploration, unfolding aboard two spaceships caught in a desperate mission.
The cast features Cillian Murphy, Chris Evans, Michelle Yeoh, Rose Byrne, Benedict Wong, and Mark Strong, each delivering compelling performances. Sunshine’s production and costume design stand out, providing a tactile richness and aesthetic ambition that bolster the film’s atmosphere. From intense jump scares to stunning visual compositions, the project captures a rare sense of discovery. Though divisive for its genre blending, Sunshine is widely valued among science fiction enthusiasts, admired for its bold vision and engaging execution.
3. Ex Machina (2014): Deconstructing Control and Consciousness
Garland’s directorial debut, Ex Machina, arrived in 2014 and was immediately acknowledged as a masterful entry into the sci-fi canon. The film narrows its focus to the psychological interplay between a reclusive tech billionaire, a young programmer, and a sentient android, all confined within a remote complex. Domhnall Gleeson, Oscar Isaac, and Alicia Vikander deliver standout performances, with Vikander especially lauded for her portrayal of artificial intelligence grappling with manipulation and autonomy.
Ex Machina interrogates the ideas of control, gender, and the ethical void in tech innovation, using minimalism and sharp dialogue to intensify its themes. Each scene is meticulously structured, where every glance and word carries narrative significance. Garland’s approach results in a layered exploration of power dynamics, consciousness, and human nature, cementing the film as a benchmark for philosophical science fiction.
2. 28 Days Later (2002): Redefining the Modern Zombie Genre
28 Days Later, directed by Danny Boyle and written by Garland, helped usher in a new era of horror when it was released in 2002. The film’s opening captures an abandoned London in haunting realism, leveraging low-budget digital cinematography to amplify the sense of isolation and dread. Cillian Murphy’s breakout performance is complemented by Naomie Harris, Christopher Eccleston, and Brendan Gleeson, all of whom deliver compelling turns.
Revitalizing the zombie genre with its fast-moving, rage-infected antagonists, 28 Days Later offers both relentless suspense and pointed social allegory. Garland’s debut screenplay unearthed a potent mix of survival horror and psychological depth, engaging viewers on multiple levels. Whether seen as allegorical drama or pure thrill ride, the film’s confidence and invention have earned it a lasting legacy among Britain’s most important cinematic contributions of the century.
1. Annihilation (2018): Confronting Transformation and Trauma
Annihilation stands as Alex Garland’s most ambitious and acclaimed film, emerging in 2018 as a loose adaptation of Jeff VanderMeer’s novel. Garland reimagines the story as a hallucinatory journey, following Natalie Portman’s biology professor as she ventures into “The Shimmer” to locate her transformed husband, played by Oscar Isaac. This mysterious, mutating zone distorts reality, leading to unforgettable sequences of horror and beauty — the mutated bear, carrying the last echoes of a woman’s scream, became one of cinema’s most chilling moments.
The film moves beyond standard science fiction, evolving into a meditation on trauma and identity. Each character undergoes unique changes, physically and psychologically, as the environment around them refracts memories and pain into new forms. Some accept transformation, others resist, but all are fundamentally altered. Garland allows the narrative to remain open-ended, trusting viewers to interpret the metamorphoses and ask if trauma creates wholly new selves or simply reshapes what already exists. Annihilation’s mixture of ambiguity and emotional depth elevates it to a modern classic, with repeated viewings unveiling further layers and meaning for each audience member.
Looking Ahead: Legacy and Ongoing Influence
As Garland shifts his focus back to writing, his legacy across cinema is reflected in the diversity of his projects and their ability to challenge, unsettle, and inspire audiences. Through collaborations with notable figures such as Danny Boyle, Naomie Harris, Oscar Isaac, Cillian Murphy, and many others, Garland’s filmography continues to spark cultural discussion and artistic innovation.
His approach to genre storytelling — blending horror, science fiction, and social commentary — sets him apart as a key architect of contemporary cinema. The anticipation for his future written works, including sequels to 28 Years Later, speaks to the enduring relevance and impact of his creative vision. Alex Garland’s most influential screenplays and films, ranked here, represent not just milestones in his personal career but also significant moments in modern film history.
