David Lynch's Top 10 Films and TV Shows

About

We write the year 1967, and a young artist from Missoula, Montana, has just purchased his first 16mm camera, marking the beginning of a career that will span decades, but will leave an indelible mark for eternity on the art of filmmaking. Paintings, music, sculptures – there has been no art form to which this man did not leave his unique, dreamlike signature. His idea of an artistic life, once famously defined as "You drink coffee, you smoke cigarettes, and you paint," has sadly come to an end with his passing at the age of 78. In honor of David Lynch, we invite you to relive his extraordinary art as we showcase one of his finest works in our gallery.

10. The Straight Story

A gentle, poignant film about an elderly man who travels across America on a lawnmower to reconcile with his estranged brother. The Straight Story is a rare example of Lynch’s ability to create an emotionally grounded story without surrealism or dark elements. Its simplicity and heartfelt message about life’s quiet moments make it one of Lynch's most unexpected yet moving films. | © Walt Disney Pictures

9. Wild at Heart

A violent, surreal road movie about two lovers on the run, Wild at Heart is a fierce celebration of freedom and rebellion. With a mix of dark humor, twisted romance, and pop culture references, Lynch crafts a hyper-stylized world full of excess and danger. The film pushes the boundaries of absurdity while exploring themes of love, fate, and violence. | © PolyGram Filmed Entertainment

8. Lost Highway

Lost Highway is a noir-inspired, fragmented thriller that weaves a nightmarish narrative of identity, guilt, and violence. The story follows a man who inexplicably transforms into a different person, blurring the line between reality and psychological breakdown. Lynch’s use of unsettling imagery and unconventional storytelling creates a disorienting, yet captivating, experience that leaves an indelible mark. | © Polygram Filmed Entertainment

7. Twin Peaks: The Return

Twin Peaks: The Return takes the iconic series to new heights, blending nostalgia with Lynch's visionary filmmaking in a groundbreaking 18-episode season. It’s a complex, multilayered story that explores time, memory, and the human soul, all set in a warped, surreal version of America. The return of familiar characters and mind-bending mysteries challenges viewers while expanding on the series' themes of darkness and redemption. | © Showtime Networks

6. Eraserhead

Lynch’s debut feature is a surreal nightmare about a man’s anxieties surrounding fatherhood and his future in a desolate industrial world. Eraserhead is a visual and auditory challenge, blending grotesque imagery with existential dread. The film’s nightmarish atmosphere and ambiguous narrative make it one of the most influential works in avant-garde cinema. | © Libra Films International

5. Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me

Fire Walk with Me is a prequel that explores Laura Palmer's final days and the forces that led to her tragic demise. The film amplifies the surreal and nightmarish elements of the series, offering a more intense, darker look at the town’s secrets. It’s an emotionally charged exploration of suffering and innocence lost. | © New Line Cinema

4. The Elephant Man

This film tells the heartbreaking story of John Merrick, a severely deformed man in Victorian London. Lynch's restrained direction focuses on Merrick's humanity rather than his deformity, providing a poignant exploration of isolation and dignity. John Hurt’s standout performance makes this film an emotional journey about empathy and societal cruelty. | © Brooksfilms

3. Blue Velvet

Blue Velvet dives into the darkness lurking beneath the surface of suburban America, following a young man who uncovers a disturbing secret. The film explores desire, violence, and corruption in a mesmerizing blend of neo-noir and psychological thriller. Lynch’s impeccable control of atmosphere and symbolism elevates this unsettling tale to iconic status. | © De Laurentiis Entertainment Group

2. Twin Peaks

Twin Peaks introduces a small town where nothing is as it seems, with a murder investigation that uncovers deep, supernatural secrets. The series mixes mystery, absurdity, and horror with Lynch's signature surrealism. Its eerie, dreamlike atmosphere and iconic characters set a new standard for TV storytelling and continue to influence television today. | © ABC

1. Mulholland Drive

A haunting exploration of identity, dreams, and desire, Mulholland Drive follows an amnesiac actress caught in a disorienting narrative web. The film's twisting structure creates an emotional and psychological rollercoaster that defies clear interpretation. Because it combines every genre Lynch has tackled up to this point so flawlessly and inimitably, it's a movie we often like to revisit as it takes the number one spot on our list. | © Universal Pictures