Although he hasn’t made a movie since 2021’s Last Night in Soho, Edgar Wright is still consistently in the news, especially since he’s slated to direct the upcoming remake of Stephen King’s The Running Man starring Glen Powell. The excitement over the project is mostly due to the strong body of work Wright has made over the years. His career was first launched with the British cult sitcom Spaced, which also began Wright’s collaborative partnership with Simon Pegg, leading to the beloved Cornetto Trilogy.

Beyond the three movies that put him on the Hollywood map, Wright has gradually been expanding his directorial efforts with some exciting new projects that take the comedic style and unique directing voice only to deliver something that fans of his previous work might not expect. While there are still plenty of fans who are mourning the Edgar Wright Ant-Man movie that fans never got to see, this collection of movies thus far is more than impressive.

8

A Fistful Of Fingers (1995)

Wright’s Western Paraody Debut

From the very beginning of his career, Edgar Wright was willing to poke fun at certain movie genres while also showing deep respect and admiration for them. 1995’s A Fistful of Fingers is Wright’s playful homage to Westerns and a little-seen British comedy about a cowboy who goes after a wanted man following the death of his horse. The movie was only released in the United States 20 years after its British release, when Wright was an established star.

As usual, Wright both wrote and directed the picture and though the response was solid, he wouldn’t make another feature film until nearly a decade later. Most critics felt that Wright showed a lot of potential and made the most of a small budget, setting the tone for the rest of his career. As the тιтle suggests, the film is a clever and geeky ode to Western movies that shows a style more impressive than seen in most low-budget projects even if the limits of the production are very noticeable.

7

Last Night In Soho (2021)

A Time-Tripping Supernatural Thriller

The most recent entry into Wright’s filmography is also in the conversation for his most ambitious. Last Night in Soho is another completely original story from the filmmaker that stars Thomasin McKenzie as a young fashion design student who finds herself transported back to the ’60s through dreams. She begins to live vicariously through a young aspiring singer living in the era (played by Anya Taylor-Joy) only to get wrapped up in the mystery of what happened to her.

Filled with stunning visuals, great music, and more, Last Night in Soho shined, especially thanks to the standout performances by Taylor-Joy and Thomasin McKenzie. It is far less comedic than Wright’s other movies while expanding the scale of his movie-making. Last Night in Soho‘s ending left some fans disappointed, damaging the overall movie. However, it is a fun throwback psychological thriller and a look at Wright’s growth as a filmmaker.

6

The Sparks Brothers (2021)

Wright’s Music Documentary

Music has always been a big part of Edgar Wright’s movies, with him often incorporating his own distinct musical preferences into his soundtracks. As a result, it seemed like only a matter of time before Wright tackled a music documentary. That came in 2021 with The Sparks Brothers, which looks at the lives of Russell and Ron Mael, better known as the rock duo Sparks. The movie features in-depth conversations with the musicians as they talk about their lives and careers while also using interviews with famous fans and former collaborators.

Wright is able to take a musical act that was a cult favorite and find something to appeal to a wider audience. It was interesting to see this director attached here because a documentary format doesn’t allow for many of Wright’s signature trademarks. Regardless, the film does manage to include some elements where Wright’s voice really comes through, including some animated sequences detailing anecdotes by the Sparks brothers.

5

The World’s End (2013)

The Final Movie In The Cornetto Trilogy

The thing that Edgar Wright is most famous for is his work on the Three Flavours Cornetto trilogy, which all come from his brilliant mind. After two stellar films to start the series, Wright culminated things with The World’s End, which is a parody of the sci-fi genre. The story sees a group of friends return to their hometown for a pub crawl that just happens to take place during an alien invasion. More than slightly inebriated, the friends have to contend with the otherworldly threat while also confronting their complicated shared history.

With such high standards set by the previous entries, this final entry was bound to disappoint some. Indeed, the comedy is not quite as sharp and laugh-out-loud funny as the previous entries. However, it is a more mature story with real emotion and one of Simon Pegg’s best performances. It even took home Best British Film at the Empire Awards and feels like a solid ending to the series.

4

Baby Driver (2017)

Wright’s Music-Infused Heist Movie

According to Wright himself, Baby Driver is a movie he wanted to make since he was just starting as a filmmaker. He even had the entire opening scene laid out for nearly as long, which is likely why it came off so well and is viewed as one of the best chase sequences in cinema history. Baby Driver follows a getaway driver who relies on music to help him in stressful moments. As he finds a new love in his life, he realizes he has to escape the criminal underworld that he’s been trapped in for so long.

What made this movie special was the use of music as action scenes were edited and choreographed to the songs the protagonist listens. It makes for some hugely entertaining action sequences that highlight Wright’s skills as a filmmaker. It also features a fantastic supporting cast, including Jon Hamm, Lily James, and a scene-stealing Jamie Foxx. Along with being a commercial hit, the film was up for three Academy Awards.

3

Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World (2010)

Wright’s Cult Comic Book Adaptation

Movies based on comic books and video games are littered throughout Hollywood’s recent history, but very rarely has a film actually felt like one of those other mediums. Scott Pilgrim vs. The World manages to pull it off thanks to the frantic energy imbued by Edgar Wright. The story deals with a slacker named Scott (Michael Cera) who meets his dream girl Romona (Mary Elizabeth Winstead), only to discover he must face his new girlfriend’s seven evil exes in order to date her.

From snap cuts to uses of panels to zany action, everything about Scott Pilgrim vs. The World feels unique. The movie also features a cast of future stars, including Brie Larson, Chris Evans, Anna Kendrick, and Aubrey Plaza, all of whom returned as voice actors in Scott Pilgrim Takes Off, showing the impact of the movie. While it was a bomb at the box office, the film has a pᴀssionate following among fans while expanding the scope of what Wright could deliver.

2

Shaun Of The ᴅᴇᴀᴅ (2004)

The First Movie In The Cornetto Trilogy

It’s the film that made Edgar Wright famous and is often regarded as one of the funniest horror comedy movies of all time. Nine years after his debut release, Wright wrote and directed Shaun of the ᴅᴇᴀᴅ, which is a parody of the zombie genre. In the process, he happened to make one of the best films to ever be part of that genre. Simon Pegg, who co-wrote the movie, stars as Shaun, an aimless young man who seeks to win his girlfriend back and turn his life around only to find himself in the midst of a zombie outbreak.

This was where Wright really got the chance to strut his stuff, debuting some of his famous editing techniques and showcasing his genius use of music to set a scene. As the first installment in the Cornetto Trilogy, it established that Wright was a filmmaker on the rise. It is a hilarious movie with brilliant foreshadowing and quick gags that make it a joy to rewatch. However, it is also a touching story of friendship with co-star Nick Frost also cementing himself as a key part of the trilogy.

1

H๏τ Fuzz (2007)

The Second Movie In The Cornetto Trilogy

Shaun of the ᴅᴇᴀᴅ set a high bar for the Cornetto Trilogy, yet Wright managed to live up to them with his follow-up. Where the original parodied zombie flicks and the third entry covered sci-fi, H๏τ Fuzz poked fun at the action genre. Again starring Simon Pegg and Nick Frost, this film sees them as two police officers in a small village who investigate a series of murders and find some unexpected corruption behind it all.

The action movie satire is terrific, with the film suddenly becoming hilariously over-the-top in the final act. However, it also works as a mystery movie with slight horror elements thrown into the mix. It is also the funniest of the Cornetto Trilogy movies with endless one-liners, gags, and cameos to catch. H๏τ Fuzz was both a critical and commercial success that many still hold up as the director’s greatest work.