We ranked the movies of Guillermo del Toro, the legendary director gifted with the ability to charm, frighten, and provoke.
“Since childhood I’ve been faithful to monsters. I have been saved and absolved by them, because monsters, I believe, are patron saints of our blissful imperfection, and they allow and embody the possibility of failing and living.” – Guillermo del Toro, 2018
To reflect on the work of Guillermo del Toro is to dive into the cinematic equivalents of Brothers Grimm fairytales. His films are often grotesque, sometimes frightening, yet always centered in a certain whimsicality. His characters shine as complex examples of sympathy, individuality, and resistance. With the release of his take on Frankenstein — not to mention a body of work that feels incredibly needed in our world right now — it felt like the perfect time to rank every Guillermo del Toro film. Read our list of all the movies of Guillermo del Toro, ranked from worst to best!
13. Pacific Rim (2013)
A great cinematic tragedy occurs when a great director makes a film that lacks any of the craft or personality that make his other movies so distinct. That’s exactly what happened with Pacific Rim. The movie is profoundly uninspiring, a significant criticism for a filmmaker whose inspiration and passion are usually on full display.
Following a group of soldiers commanding giant mechas to fight monsters, the film features all of the destruction of a Godzilla movie, but none of the thematic depth. Despite inspiration from classic works of art and a competent cast, the film flounders by falling back on generic action sequences and dialogue. All this would be less offensive if someone without del Toro’s usual distinct vision weren’t behind the camera. In a career teeming with life, Pacific Rim is del Toro’s one dead spot.
12. Mimic (1997)
In Mimic, del Toro takes what is essentially a B-movie premise and plot and elevates them through his direction. A rather bland genre exercise, this movie escapes from the depths that Pacific Rim inhabits simply because the viewer feels some of the del Toro-isms at work in this early work from the iconic director.
Genetically altered insects begin attacking humans in this cut-and-dry sci-fi horror picture. In a slim 106 minutes, del Toro infuses just enough gross creature design and thrills to keep audiences invested. Would this film be remembered at all if not for del Toro? Probably not, but as is, Mimic is a fun enough ride, especially for del Toro fans who wish to track the director’s voice from the beginning.
11. Hellboy (2004)
Hellboy and its 2008 sequel give del Toro fans some of the most memorable creature designs viewers have come to expect from the filmmaker. From Ron Perlman’s titular underworldly antihero to Doug Jones (a name you will see quite often on this list) as amphibious Abe, the makeup and costuming are things to behold.
Tonally, the first Hellboy isn’t quite sure what it’s trying to accomplish, a usual strength for del Toro and one he would correct with the sequel. But, like Mimic, fans of del Toro will appreciate his storytelling methods and attention to detail here.
10. Blade II (2002)
Though I still prefer the original Blade, I find the sequel fascinating, thanks in part to the change in director. Del Toro takes a popular comic book character (just as he does with Hellboy) and an established world and infuses his own idiosyncrasies into the bloodstream, resulting in an electrifying monstrosity (complimentary).
The importance of Blade II for del Toro fans cannot be overstated. With this film, del Toro began working with several members of the effects and makeup teams that he would continue working with for several of his acclaimed later projects. Mix in themes of embracing the role of being an outsider, gothic visuals, and, of course, Wesley Snipes, and you get a truly unique superhero film from a truly unique visionary.
9. Hellboy II: The Golden Army (2008)
Despite only being a couple spots apart on this list, I find Hellboy II: The Golden Army to be leaps and bounds better than the first film. One drawback of the original is its failure to lean into the inherent goofiness of the character and world. Hellboy II takes that goofiness and drunkenly sings Barry Manilow with it (as Perlman’s Hellboy and Jones’ Abe Sapien do in a memorably chucklesome scene).
That’s not to say the movie doesn’t have anything to say. It carries just as much thematic weight as any del Toro outing, but slightly shields it over a blanket of color and whimsical mythmaking. Its colors are brighter, sets more extravagant, and scope more encapsulating, all thanks to del Toro’s continued growth as a filmmaker.
8. Cronos (1992)
The sign of a great first feature is immediately setting its creator apart as a gifted artist. Del Toro achieves this with his debut, Cronos. His magic touch began quite early, clearly. The 1992 endeavor hints at his most impactful trademark, one that would one day make its director a household name: examining humanity as the real monsters. Federico Luppi’s Jesús, an elderly man gifted with a device that seemingly makes him immortal, serves as an early template for del Toro. Who do we treat as the monsters in our midst, and how does that reflect our own tendencies towards monstrosity?
This question, along with questions about life, death, and storytelling itself, are all present in Cronos. The movie, despite being a smaller budget feature, showed magical, promising signs for its director.
7. Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio (2022)
Del Toro’s only animated feature, Pinocchio is both dark and delightful. Incorporating a fascistic angle into the well-known story, del Toro’s take is every bit as spellbinding as previous iterations. Utilizing a stop-motion technique with puppets and handmade sets, del Toro crafted one of his most concentrated and colorful worlds. Given even more weight thanks to its stellar voice cast (Ewan McGregor is especially noteworthy as Sebastian J. Cricket), I can easily see Pinocchio becoming one of del Toro’s most endearing, everlasting accomplishments.
6. Crimson Peak (2015)
One of del Toro’s many strengths is elevating genre tropes through his unique sense of production, costuming, and lighting. All are on display in Crimson Peak. The Gothic production design and visuals are stunning. Following an author (Mia Wasikowska) into the heart of a dreary Gothic mansion, Crimson Peak features maybe del Toro’s most impressive set pieces and uses of lighting.
I could write an entire essay on how much I loved unhinged Jessica Chastain in this film. Her work alongside Wasikowska and Tom Hiddleston may also make this the del Toro film with the greatest performances. These elements, plus all the normal, beautiful elements we’ve come to expect from del Toro, earn Crimson Peak a high spot on this list.
5. The Devil’s Backbone (2001)
Not the only film on this list to prominently feature the Spanish Civil War. The Devil’s Backbone takes place in the heat of that conflict. The grotesque nature of war gives del Toro the opportunity to examine humanity and its worst, something he does frequently. In The Devil’s Backbone, we see how war affects the lives of young people in an orphanage.
A haunting ghost story, Backbone lacks some of the glamour of later del Toro films, but sharply focuses on many themes the director explores with great care. A ghost story about war, innocence, and corruption, it’s a film that may not immediately stand out in his filmography, but one that should be given its due respect.
4. Frankenstein (2025)
Del Toro’s take on the classic Mary Shelley tale is exactly what we needed in 2025. In an age where our technological capabilities exceed our grasp, we need to see what it looks like to unleash an uncontrollable force into the rest of the world.
Jacob Elordi’s staggering performance of “The Creature” gives us what may be del Toro’s most sympathetic monster, albeit one who still has the capacity for terrifying destruction. More Gothic realism is on display (plus a really incredible Mia Goth), and a sense of awe and wonder carry us through this epic story. It’s a tale told anew, a good reminder of how timeless these stories can truly be.
3. The Shape of Water (2017)
Del Toro’s Best Picture winner has an odd reputation. Despite its critical acclaim, you may find some people who have it out for this movie for one reason or another. I am clearly not one of those people. The Shape of Water is del Toro’s most touching romance, with game-changing performances from Doug Jones and Sally Hawkins. Michael Shannon also gives a memorable villainous turn.
Many del Toro protagonists are outcasts, and this is certainly true of Hawkins’ Elisa, who is mute and begins to form a bond with Jones’ humanoid amphibian. The film’s pure sense of magic allows for ideas of compassion to shine brightly, another reason the director’s filmography feels needed in the year 2025.
2. Nightmare Alley (2021)
Del Toro’s take on Nightmare Alley may not be as narratively tight as the 1947 original, but it is more evocative, and therefore more effective. When a charismatic, yet morally corrupt carnival worker (Bradley Cooper) begins his rise as a con man, the audience begin to see (gasp) how monstrous mankind can be.
Choosing grounded noir over whimsical fairytale, del Toro uses Nightmare Alley to reveal how his timeless themes can stretch across genres. Even with a more realistic approach, the film still includes some of the most magical, memorable moments in del Toro’s work. A tragic tale with a gut-punch ending, it’s a film that, despite its poor box office, deserves a reexamination as one of del Toro’s defining achievements.
1. Pan’s Labyrinth (2006)
Every idea del Toro has wrestled with over the course of his career is present in Pan’s Labyrinth. From fascism to fairytales and fawns, Labyrinth darkly conveys the consequences of living in a fallen world through the eyes of a child.
To reduce the film to merely a dark fairy tale with spectacular design work would be short selling del Toro’s brilliance. He considers the film a parable, one that is filled to the brim with meaning. Can one still make the morally right choice even when the world is stacked against them? Del Toro offers his answer here, and throughout much of his work. Love, compassion, and empathy can triumph in a world of hate, intolerance, and evil.
