Ari Aster has quickly become one of the most distinctive voices in modern cinema, known for blending psychological terror, dark humor, and surreal storytelling. From his unsettling debut with Hereditary to his genre-bending pandemic western Eddington, Aster’s films aren’t just horror—they’re emotional gut-punches wrapped in beautiful, bizarre packaging. Here’s a ranked look at his best work so far, from cult classics to psychological nightmares.
5. Ari Aster Movies: Eddington
Eddington (2025) is Ari Aster’s pandemic-era western satire, set in a tense New Mexico town. Joaquin Phoenix plays a sheriff clashing with Pedro Pascal’s mayor as local tensions erupt. With Emma Stone, Austin Butler, and more in the cast, it’s a darkly humorous take on social unrest.
4. Strange Thing About the Johnsons
Released in 2011, The Strange Thing About the Johnsons is now more resonant than ever. Beneath its shocking surface, Ari Aster crafts a chilling portrait of abuse, complicity, and suburban façades—revealing the rot hidden under pristine appearances, with a touch of Tim Burton-esque contrast.
3. Beau is Afraid
Beau Is Afraid (2023) trades horror for surreal anxiety, following Joaquin Phoenix as a paranoid man on a bizarre quest to reach his mother’s home. Ari Aster’s third A24 film is a wild, existential trip with a bold performance at its core.
2. Midsommar
Midsommar is Ari Aster’s haunting second feature, following a grieving woman who joins friends on a trip to a remote Swedish festival—only to encounter a disturbing cult. Blending grief, breakups, and hallucinatory horror, it’s a chilling exploration of trauma and human fragility that lingers long after the credits roll.
1. Ari Aster Movies: Hereditary
A24’s Hereditary is a modern horror standout and Ari Aster’s chilling directorial debut, following a grieving family unraveling dark, inherited secrets. With haunting imagery, psychological terror, and a powerhouse performance from Toni Collette, it’s an unforgettable, deeply unsettling experience—still painful to recall her Oscar snub.
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