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David Fincher is responsible for many of the most memorable and acclaimed crime, thriller, and drama genre films of the past three decades. His work will keep you guessing and on the edge of your seat throughout. Over the years, his films have also won seven Academy Awards out of a possible 30 nominations. Find out his very best films here in this gallery!
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David Fincher was born on August 28, 1962, in Denver, Colorado. The now 57-year-old filmmaker got his start in the 1980s as an assistant on several George Lucas and Steven Spielberg films. He then founded Propaganda Films, which produced commercials for major brands and music videos for artists including Michael Jackson and Madonna. His debut feature was Alien 3 in 1992. It received mixed reviews, but it launched his career as a feature film director. His newest film, Mank, comes out in 2020. In addition to his movie work, Fincher has also produced and directed episodes of Netflix's House of Cards and Mindhunter.
RELATED: 'Mindhunter' Put on "Indefinite Hold" After Season 2
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Seven (also stylized as Se7en) truly put Fincher on the map in 1995. It was his follow-up to Alien 3 from a few years earlier, but it was better received than his debut feature film. Seven is a chilling crime thriller that stars Brad Pitt and Morgan Freeman as detectives. They attempt to track down a serial killer who commits gruesome murders based around the seven deadly sins. The neo-noir movie is remembered for its dark themes and iconic climax sequence.
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The Game is Fincher's follow-up to his breakthrough movie, Seven. It stars Michael Douglas as a wealthy banker who receives a mysterious gift from his brother, played by Sean Penn. The gift turns out to be a real-life game which leads Douglas's character down a path of disturbing occurrences - which leave him uncertain about what in his life is "real." This mystery thriller keeps viewers guessing throughout.
RELATED: Michael Douglas Releases Statement After Kirk Douglas's Death at 103
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Fight Club is perhaps Fincher's best-known film. It stars his frequent collaborator, Brad Pitt, and Edward Norton. Norton plays the unnamed narrator who befriends Pitt's "Tyler Durden," a soap salesman. The two form a "fight club," which evolves into a worldwide movement. The movie adapted the Chuck Palahniuk novel of the same name. It's now regarded as a cult film and a pop culture touchstone of the late 90s and early 2000s.
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Fincher returned with another well-received crime thriller in 2002. Panic Room stars Jodie Foster and Kristen Stewart as a mother-daughter pair who retreat to their home's panic room during a home invasion. This tense movie with strong lead performances is sometimes overshadowed within Fincher's filmography. It was compared to the films of Alfred Hitchcock upon its release.
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Fincher and co. investigated the identity of "The Zodiac Killer" in 2007's Zodiac. Jake Gyllenhaal, Mark Ruffalo, and Robert Downey, Jr. star in the film which portrays the true story of the serial killer who taunted police and the city of San Francisco in the 1960s and 70s. The mystery thriller was very well-received and ranks highly on top film lists of the 21st century.
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Brad Pitt and David Fincher reunited in 2008 for the fantasy drama The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. This film was another huge box office and critical success for Fincher. It grossed over $300 million and received 13 Academy Award nominations. Pitt stars in the popular movie which tells the life story of "Benjamin Button," a man who ages in reverse. Cate Blanchett portrays the love interest of "Button" in the film.
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Fincher's impressive run of successful films continued with the Facebook drama film, The Social Network, in 2010. It portrays the life of Mark Zuckerberg throughout his creation of Facebook and a legal battle that ensued with the website's co-founder, Eduardo Saverin. Jesse Eisenberg received acclaim for his role as Zuckerberg, while Andrew Garfield portrayed Saverin. The Social Network won three Academy Awards in 2011.
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The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo marked a return to the crime thriller genre for Fincher after several years of dramas. The film was an adaptation of the popular Millenium novel trilogy, which had earlier been adapted in its native Swedish language. Daniel Craig and Rooney Mara landed the main roles as "Mikael Blomqvist" and "Lisbeth Salander," though the remainder of the trilogy wasn't completed. The pair team up to investigate the unsolved disappearance of a woman. Despite it's graphic and brutal content, the film earned praise for its direction, strong lead performances, and compelling mystery.
David Fincher is the filmmaker behind some of the most acclaimed crime, thriller, and drama movies of the past three decades. The American director also worked in music videos and in more recent years has produced and directed episodes of several popular streaming series. Find out his best films here!
Enjoy the gallery!