# Ranking Every Joe Dante Movie Part 1 - re:View

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rbe_dmrlX6Y
Recap page: https://rapidrecap.app/video/rbe_dmrlX6Y
Generated: 2025-08-30T15:33:01.188+00:00

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## Quick Overview

The video ranks Joe Dante's filmography, starting with "Piranha" at number 12 and "Burying the Ex" at number 11, highlighting Dante's recurring actors like Dick Miller and themes of childhood nostalgia and visual Easter eggs, while noting that his best work occurs when he has creative freedom.

**Key Points:**
- Joe Dante's filmography is being ranked, with "Piranha" placed at number 12 and "Burying the Ex" at number 11.
- Dick Miller is a consistent presence in Joe Dante's films, appearing in "literally every Joe Dante movie," including "Piranha," "The Howling," and "Burying the Ex."
- Joe Dante often incorporates visual Easter eggs and references to 1950s monster movies and cartoons, a theme evident from his early work like "Piranha" to "Looney Tunes: Back in Action."
- The "Twilight Zone" segment directed by Joe Dante is considered one of his best works, noted for having "very little interference" and "really one of the best things he's ever done."
- "Burying the Ex" is criticized for its "lifeless" music, "sitcomy" humor, and a performance by Anton Yelchin that is tonally at odds with the film, though the leads' chemistry is praised.
- "The Howling" is noted for its strong atmosphere and cinematography by John Hora, but criticized for being "overstuffed with characters" and suffering in comparison to "An American Werewolf in London" due to its werewolf makeup and transformation sequences.
- The discussion also touches on the significance of cinematographer John Hora, who worked on many of Dante's key films and has cameos in others, and the unique way Dante uses actors like Dick Miller in small roles to make them memorable.

**Context:** This video is a film review where the hosts embark on a journey to rank the filmography of director Joe Dante, similar to a previous ranking of John Carpenter's films. They discuss Dante's directorial style, recurring actors, and the common themes found in his work, such as childhood nostalgia and visual gags. The review begins by establishing the criteria for ranking, excluding co-directed films and anthologies, while acknowledging the quality of his "Twilight Zone" segment. The discussion is spurred by Joe Dante's recent auction of personal movie props, including the "Rosebud" sled from "Citizen Kane," which he acquired for free. The hosts then delve into ranking his films, starting from the bottom.

## Detailed Analysis

The video ranks Joe Dante's films, starting with "Piranha" at number 12 and "Burying the Ex" at number 11. "Piranha," a Roger Corman production, is noted for its "Jaws" rip-off elements and the early involvement of Dante as an editor, featuring recurring actor Dick Miller as the resort promoter. Despite its low-budget charm and Pino Donaggio's score, the film is criticized for its pacing and the clear separation of creature effects. "Burying the Ex" is deemed a low point, suffering from a "sitcomy" score, poor humor, and a tonally inconsistent performance from Anton Yelchin, although the chemistry between Yelchin and Alexander D'Addario is acknowledged. The discussion highlights Dante's tendency to work with the same actors, like Dick Miller and Kevin McCarthy, and the visual signature provided by cinematographer John Hora, who also makes cameos in films he doesn't shoot. "The Howling" is praised for its atmosphere and cinematography but criticized for its narrative structure and character overstuffing, with notable performances from D. Wallace and Robert Picardo. "Looney Tunes: Back in Action" is identified as a significant flop that hindered Dante's studio career, with the hosts finding its humor and live-action/animation mix lacking compared to "Who Framed Roger Rabbit," despite some good bits and humorous cameos. "The Hole" is discussed as a poorly distributed 3D film with unengaging child actors and a meandering plot, although the final act offers some visual interest. The hosts emphasize Dante's unique blend of Spielbergian warmth with a cynical edge, his encyclopedic knowledge of film history, and his ability to imbue his films with a childlike wonder, contrasting him with the more cynical John Carpenter.

### Film Ranking

- Piranha (12th)
- Burying the Ex (11th)
- The Howling (10th)
- The Hole (9th)
- Small Soldiers (8th)
- Looney Tunes: Back in Action (7th)

### Recurring Actors and Collaborators

- Dick Miller appears in "literally every Joe Dante movie"
- Kevin McCarthy features in many films, including "Gremlins" via TV
- John Hora, cinematographer, also makes cameos

### Joe Dante's Style

- Childhood nostalgia is a core theme
- Visual Easter eggs are prevalent in his films
- "When Joe Dante is allowed to just make a Joe Dante movie. That's when you get the best results."

### Notable Films Discussed

- "Twilight Zone" segment praised as "one of the best things he's ever done"
- "Piranha" noted for "Jaws" rip-off elements and low-budget charm
- "The Howling" praised for atmosphere and cinematography, criticized for narrative
- "Burying the Ex" criticized for humor and score, "lifeless"
- "Looney Tunes: Back in Action" called a "gigantic flop" with a "terrible" Steve Martin performance

### Key Themes and Criticisms

- Films often have "troubled productions"
- Recurring theme of "little visual Easter eggs"
- "The more you can just cast a memorable actor in these tiny one one or twoline roles, the more memorable that part is."
- "Joe Dante is a man who... Never let go of his childhood."