Stanley Kubrick Movies-Best to Worst-With Box Office Results with Inflation.
87Stanley Kubrick, legendary director.
From 1953 to 1999 Stanley Kubrick only directed thirteen movies. This is a case of quality over quantity, as some of those thirteen movies are classic movies. Kubrick's first two films were produced by friends and family. Both films,1953's Fear and Desire and 1955's Killer's Kiss, failed at the box office, costing his friends and family most of the money they invested. His next two movies 1956's The Killers and 1957's Paths of Glory, also failed at the box office but gained Kubrick notice as a director who could produce a quality movie on a limited budget. In 1960, Kirk Douglass picked him to direct the big budget movie Spartacus. Spartacus would be Kubrick's second biggest hit of his career and establish him as a great director.
From 1962 to 1999, he would only direct eight more movies. But during this time frame he directed the classic movies Dr. Strangelove, 2001: A Space Odyssey, A Clockwork Orange, The Shining and Full Metal Jacket. In 1999, four days after screening a final cut of Eyes Wide Shut, Kubrick died of a heart attack in his sleep at the age of 70. It should be noted all the people that lost money on Kubrick's first two films were paid back when Kubrick became successful.
On the table below, Stanley Kubrick's movies will be ranked by Movie Score. Movie Score takes box office, critical reception and award recognition and comes up with a number for each movie. The higher the score the better....perfect score is 100.
Stanley Kubrick's 13 movies ranked by Movie Score. Information can be sorted by any category heading.
Rank
| Movie Year
| 2011 Inflated Box Office (Millions)
| Tickets (Millions)
| Movie Score
| Critics Audience Score
| Oscar Nom / Oscar Win
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1st
| 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
| 341.10
| 42.90
| 86.26
| 90%
| 04 / 01
|
2nd
| A Clockwork Orange (1971)
| 180.50
| 22.70
| 80.80
| 88%
| 04 / 00
|
3rd
| Spartacus (1960)
| 281.40
| 35.40
| 75.80
| 88%
| 06 / 04
|
4th
| Barry Lyndon (1975)
| 78.70
| 9.89
| 62.95
| 88%
| 07 / 04
|
5th
| Dr. Strangelove (1964)
| 93.00
| 11.69
| 62.38
| 92%
| 04 / 00
|
6th
| The Shining (1980)
| 134.40
| 16.89
| 57.33
| 87%
| 00 / 00
|
7th
| Lolita (1962)
| 104.90
| 13.19
| 54.08
| 88%
| 01 / 00
|
Rank
| Movie Year
| 2011 Inflated Box Office (Millions)
| Tickets (Millions)
| Movie Score
| Critics Audience Score
| Oscar Nom / Oscar Win
|
8th
| Full Metal Jacket (1987)
| 94.60
| 11.89
| 51.02
| 90%
| 01 / 00
|
9th
| Eyes Wide Shut (1999)
| 87.40
| 11.00
| 45.02
| 75%
| 00 / 00
|
10th
| Paths of Glory (1957)
| 37.40
| 4.69
| 38.79
| 90%
| 00 / 00
|
11th
| The Killings (1956)
| 10.30
| 1.29
| 33.20
| 89%
| 00 / 00
|
12th
| Killer's Kiss (1955)
| 0.83
| 0.11
| 26.23
| 75%
| 00 / 00
|
13th
| Fear and Desire (1953)
| 0.80
| 0.10
| 26.12
| 64%
| 00 / 00
|
#1 2001: A Space Odyssey.
The Best of Stanley Kubrick:
#1 2001: A Space Odyssey(Movie Score 83.90)
Easily Kubrick's biggest blockbuster with over 341 million in 2011 dollars at the box office. Kubrick would receive his 2nd of four Oscar nominations for Best Director for this movie. Sight and Sound's 2002 poll of critics ranked A Space Odyssey as one of the top ten movies of all-time. It was also ranked the number one movie of all-time in the 2010 Movie Arts Film Journal's poll. It's groundbreaking special effects won an Academy Award. For a much more detailed hub on this movie check out Boomer Flick's 2001: A Space Odyssey hub.
Alex and his droogs in Kubrick's #2 movie A Clockwork Orange
The Best of Stanley Kubrick:
#2 A Clockwork Orange(Movie Score 80.80)
Kubrick's 3rd biggest blockbuster hit of his career with over 180 million in 2011 box office dollars. Kubrick would receive his 3rd Oscar nomination for Best Director for this movie. The movie follows the ruthless Alex go from street thug to guinea pig in this futuristic science fiction movie based on a novel by Anthony Burgess. Malcom McDowell gives a great and very memorable performance as Alex. An awesome 40 year anniversary Blu-Ray is now available, it is highly recommend. Fellow hubber Big Sean R has a great retro review on A Clockwork Orange....check it out here.
Kirk Douglas in the #3 Stanley Kubrick movie Spartacus.
The Best of Stanley Kubrick:
#3 Spartacus(Movie Score 75.80)
After veteran director Anthony Mann was fired after the first week of filming by producer Kirk Douglas. Douglas turned to Kubrick to take over the film. Douglas had appeared in Kubrick's 4th film, Paths of Glory, and felt that Kubrick could handle the 12 million dollar budget with a cast of 10,500. Also starring in this movie with Douglass, were Sir Laurence Olivier, Tony Curtis, Charles Laughton, Peter Ustinov(won Oscar for his role), and Jean Simmons. The movie turned into Kubrick's second biggest hit of his career with over 281 million in 2011 box office dollars. Spartacus would also earn six Oscar nominations, winning four Oscars. For a more detailed review on Spartacus check out this hub by Thekreal.
Ryan O'Neal stars in Stanley Kubrick's #4 movie Barry Lyndon.
The Best of Stanley Kubrick:
#4 Barry Lyndon (Movie Score 62.86)
When people mention their favorite Kubrick movie, not too many people offer up 1975's Barry Lyndon. Despite the movies lackluster box office(9th of his 13 movies), it earned seven Oscar nominations(the most of any Kubrick film) and won four Oscars(tied for most with Spartacus). The movie follows Ryan O'Neal's character Barry Lyndon from the 1750s to 1789. In Sight and Sound's 2002 critic poll, Barry Lyndon was ranked #27 of all-time. For a closer look at Barry Lyndon check out mandawg9's review.
Peter Sellers in one of his three roles in Kubrick's #5 movie Dr. Strangelove.
The Best of Stanley Kubrick:
#5 Dr. Strangelove or How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Love The Bomb(Movie Score 62.02)
Dr. Strangelove was a 1964 black comedy movie that satirized the nuclear scare. The American Film Institute's 100 years.....100 laughs poll ranks Dr. Strangelove as the 3rd funniest movie in American cinema history. Kubrick earned his first ever Oscar nomination for Best Director for this movie. For a more detailed look at this movie, check out Boomer Flick's Dr. Strangelove hub
Jack Nicholson in my favorite Kubrick movie #6 The Shining.
The Best of Stanley Kubrick:
#6 The Shining (Movie Score 57.15)
Easily my favorite Stanley Kubrick movie. No matter how many times I see this movie, it still can creep me out. Nicholson is fantastic, the sets are awesome, Shelly Duvall is memorable, and Danny Lloyd(his only film) as the son gives a great child performance. The Shining was Kubrick's 4th biggest hit with 134.40 million in 2011 box office dollars. For some unknown reason to me, it received no love from the Oscar or Golden Globe people, not a single nomination. One of the best movies based on a Steven King book to be filmed. For a much closer look, check out this hub by MasterNinja 3000.
Peter Sellers and James Mason fighting over #7 Lolita
The Best of Stanley Kubrick:
#7 Lolita (Movie Score 54.08)
Lolita is a 1962 comedy-drama based on the novel by Vladimir Nabokov. James Mason plays Humbert Humbert, a 40-something British professor of French literature who falls in love with a fourteen-year old girl named Lolita. Murder, mayhem and a very funny Peter Sellers(he was Oscar nominated for his role) take place in the movie. This was Kubrick's 5th biggest box office hit. Jeremy Irons took over the James Mason role in the 1997 remake.
Private Joker and Gunnery Sgt. Hartman in #8 Full Metal Jacket.
The Best of Stanley Kubrick:
#8 Full Metal Jacket (Movie Score 51.02)
Considered by some to be the best Vietnam movie ever made. For my money I think Platoon is easily the winner of that argument. Full Metal Jacket follows some infantry riflemen from basic training at Paris Island to the Tet Offensive in 1968. It took Kubrick almost seven years to make this film. Vincent D'Onofrio and R. Lee Ermey are outstanding in the first half of the movie, neither makes it to the second half. IMDB has Full Metal Jacket ranked 86 on their Top 250 list.
Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman in Kubrick's last movie #9 Eyes Wide Shut.
The Best of Stanley Kubrick:
#9 Eyes Wide Shut (Movie Score 45.02)
The last film to be directed, produced and co-written by Stanley Kubrick. The film was based on Arthur Schnitzler's 1926 Traumnovelle(Dream Story). This is one of my least favorite Kubrick movies. I have only seen it one time and that was enough for me. The movie earned over 87 million in 2011 box office dollars. It's 75% critic audience score is the second lowest of all the Kubrick movies. Kubrick died four days after showing the final cut to the stars Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman.
.
Kirk Douglas in one of my favorite Kubrick movies #10 Paths of Glory.
The Best of Stanley Kubrick:
#10 Paths of Glory (Movie Score 38.79)
Stanley Kubrick's first great film. Paths of Glory is a 1957 anti-war film based on the novel by Humphrey Cobb. Set during World War I, stars Douglas as the commanding officer of French soldiers who refused to continue a suicidal attack. This movie shows the insanity of trench warfare, Douglas is awesome in his role. In 1992, the film was deemed "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant" by the Library of Congress and selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry.
Stanley Kubrick's 3rd film #11 The Killing.
The Rest of Stanley Kubrick:
#11 The Killing (Movie Score 33.20)
For the first time Kubrick got to make a movie that was not by being banked by his friends and families. With a budget of 320,000 dollars, Kubrick and Jim Thompson(of The Grifters fame) wrote the screenplay based on the novel Clean Break by Lionel White. The drama features Sterling Hayden(who would later play Jack D. Ripper in Dr. Strangelove) and Elisha Cook, Jr. Movie did not make its money back but established Kubrick's reputation as a budding genius among critics and studio executives.
#12 1955's Killer's Kiss.....40,000 dollar budget only earned half its money back.
The Rest of Stanley Kubrick:
#12 Killer's Kiss (Movie Score 26.23)
After his first movie, Fear and Desire(family and friend financed) , failed to make a dent at the box, Kubrick raised the money for his second movie, Killer's Kiss, by going to different friends and different family members. Killer's Kiss had a budget of $40,000 but only returned about $21,000 to its producers.
The movie which is about a boxer, a gangster and a dance hall girl received mixed reviews....Kubrick not only did he co-produce but he directed, photographed and edited the venture from his own screenplay and original story...a true low budget film. One of the better reviews came from the New York Times....they said it looked Kubrick has some promise.
Stanley Kubrick's first film #13 1953's Fear and Desire.
The Rest of Stanley Kubrick:
#13 Fear and Desire (Movie Score 26.12)
From Wikipedia..... Fear and Desire (1953) is a military action/adventure film by Stanley Kubrick. It is Kubrick’s first feature film and is also one of his least-seen productions. Kubrick served as the film's director, producer, cinematographer and editor. Kubrick would later tried and purchase all known prints of the movie, in the hopes it would never be seen in public again. When prints of the movie started to show up in the mid 1990s.....Kubrick issued a statement that severely downplayed the film’s value, and he called Fear and Desire "a bumbling amateur film exercise."
Barry Lyndon Movie ScoreCard.
Dr. Strangelove Movie Score Card.
The Shining Movie Score Card.
Stanley Kubrick is the first director to get his own hub, but I did do a Spielberg vs Cameron hub that I thought was pretty cool....check it out....Blockbuster Kings: Spielberg vs Cameron
vote upvote downshareprintflag
- Useful (12)
- Funny (5)
- Awesome (9)
- Beautiful (5)
- Interesting
CommentsLoading...
Space Odyssey was an all time favorite.I think Clockwork Orange,a great movie,is great lesson on misspent youth.Strangelove made an awesome statement of the futility of the cold war.;)
Hey JGoul...thanks for the comments. I agree with you 100%, I saw this movie in the theater and loved the first half, did not really like the Vietnam part or the second half. His chaos of war seemed too staged, versus Platoon. Thanks for stopping by.
Hey Mentalist acer....all three of the movies you mention are classics....I actually saw A Clockwork Orange at a midnight show in the mid 80s.....I was not aware that it even existed.....and then it blew me away that night....thanks for the comments
Great director! He really knew how to pick and choose his projects well. It's a shame he ended his career on "Eyes Wide Shut" which I feel was his worst film. He made so many great movies, it's hard to pick a favorite but I'd say it was probably "Dr. Strangelove".
Rob
Hey Robwrite...as always thanks for reading and commenting....I remember when I first saw Eyes Wide Shut, I did not like it.....I thought "maybe it will age well and be much better in time"....I think 12 years later ....it still seems like a huge disappointment.....maybe another 12 years and people will say it is a classic....Roger Ebert's favorite Kubrick is Dr. Strangelove as well....my top two are The Shining and Paths of Glory....thanks for stopping by.
Grat article on Kubrick. What a man, paid back those that lost money with him when he gained fame and fortune, that I admire in any one. Voted up.
Very well done, I liked this hub even though almost all of his movies were made before I was even born. I have seen Clockwork Orange, and it is a very strange movie. Thanks for posting.
Moving onto directors now? I think you have many more actors to do, Gene Hackman for one. Where is the Gene Hackman hub. You are a slacker, brother. LMAO. Nice list, I did not realize that he had only made 13 movies in his entire career. No wonder he wanted so many takes, he was not in any hurry. Nicely done, voted up, but we want Hackman.
A great start on your director's series. However, I have a slight quibble with your ranking system. Looking at your numbers, I don't quite see how 'Dr. Strangelove' and 'The Shining' rank below 'Barry Lyndon' given the continued popularity of the first two vs. that of the last.
And while I agree that 'Eyes Wide Shut' is a tough nut to crack, it's subtext of the depravity of the ruling class will make it's stock continue to rise over time along with most of the rest of Kubrick's work. Carry on!
Hey Multiman....I agree I am glad he paid back those people that supported him in the beginning, I am sure after some time passed they would admit it turned out to be a great investment after all. Thanks for stopping by the hub.
Hey AlabamaGirl86, well it sounds like you might be way younger than me......but Kubrick has a few movies that every movie fan should at least checkout....2001: A Space Odyssey seems to bore younger people to death, but realize when this movie came out, people had not seen anything like it all. I would recommend The Shining and Paths of Glory as being a good starting point. Thanks for your comments.
hey hinton1966, Gene Hackman is in line waiting for his hub, it will come in time, ....yep Kubrick only made 13 movies.....and when you realize he made 5 of those from 1953 to 1960.....that means he made the 8 movies in almost 40 years.....one per every 5 years....James Cameron thinks Kibrick was a fast worker...lol....thanks for comments...I think.
Hey Boomer Flicks....first all, sorry I forget to e-mail to make sure it was ok to use two of your hubs in my hub....as for Eyes Wide Shut....I don't know....12 years later and I do not seeing it gaining any traction towards greatness. And finally the short answer to the Barry Lyndon ranking is.....award recognition...Barry Lyndon was well received better by the Oscar and Golden Globe voters....The Shining got completely shut out, while Dr Strangelove...did not win any Oscars....I will attach the three movie scorecards in a little bit with a better explaination.....I think The Shining is right up there with Clockwork and 2001.....will post that information shortly.
Alright BoomerFlicks. First of all....sorry this is somewhat confusing.... I attached the three movies in question. Three main parts of the system are box office grosses, critical reception, and award recognition. So after the first two parts...here was the ranking...(1st)Shining 57.33, (2nd)Dr. Strangelove 50.98, (3rd)Barry Lyndon 46.45. ....ok so The Shining earned 0 points due to no Oscar nominations or Golden Globe nominations(I can not believe Nicholson got nothing for his role).....Dr. Strangelove earned 2.40 points for its 4 Oscar nominations 2.25 for the Best Picture nomination and finally 6.75 for Kubrick's nom for Best Director....for a total of 11.40 award points giving the Doctor 62.38 total points....notice Golden Globes shut them out.....Barry Lyndon earned 3.0 points for its 7 nominations....2.0 points for its 4 Oscar wins.....2.88 for its Best Picture Nomination Oscar and Golden Globe Best Picture Nomination....and finally Kubrick earned 8.62 points for his Best Director Oscar and Golden Globe nomination....so Barry Lyndon earned 16.50 awards points for a total of 62.95 points.
I did not really like Barry Lyndon....it has some good parts...but 3 plus hours of Ryan O'Neal can be a bit overwhelming.....but you have to admit it got serious kudos back in 1975.
"I(t)should be noted all the people that lost money on Kubrick's first two films were paid back when Kubrick became successful."
That says volumes about the man.
"Dave.. stop... my mind is going..." If you think Stan the Man made too few movies what about Terence Malick? He directed 5 films in 38 years and his new film Tree of Life starring Brad Pitt has won top prize at Cannes.
Interesting hub on Kubrick, Conanson. I'm happy and not really surprised 2001 is numero uno on your score sheet it's my favourite of his films and my favourite science fiction film, it's a masterpiece though not everyone's cup of tea, my Sandra always sleeps through it.
Clockwork Orange, The Shining and Dr. Strangelove are top favourites too.
Spartacus is one of the greatest historical epics, though not quite the best IMO. I watched Paths of Glory again recently, excellent film.
I've always preferred Oliver Stone's Platoon to Kubrick's Full Metal Jacket I think they both came out the same year? Both great films but Apocalypse Now trounces them both as my favourite and the best Vietnam war movie ever made.
Not much of a Barry Lyndon fan but it sure looks pretty. :)
Voted up and useful.
Great compilation, Cogerson. I think I've seen every one of these movies. Yet, many I did not know were directed by Kubrick. I learn something every time I read one of your hubs.
up/useful
I agree Will Starr, I was equally impressed when I read that comment. It is a great example of early failure + determination = great success. Thanks for reading...and catching my misspelling...it has been corrected.
I agree Terrance Malick makes movies at a slower pace, but even when his movies get released the general public does not respond to Malick's movies.....where Kubrick made classics...I finally saw Barry Lyndon about a year ago....it was ok....but not in the same class as his classics.....I felt like I was having the same conversation with Boomer Flicks as I did with you a couple months ago(see comments above)about Movie Scores. Platoon came out in 1986, Full Metal Jacket 1987...so does England consider Kubrick a hometown success or an invader from the states? Thanks for your comments.
Thanks for stopping by Fay, he was a great director, but a pretty quite director....he pretty much hung out at his mansion somewhere in England....did not do interviews....only came out about once every 5 years to make a movie....there is actually a movie starring John Malkovich where he plays a guy pretending to be Kubrick in Kubrick's hometown and everybody accepts him as Kubrick because nobody had ever seen him in person....thanks for reading as always.
Really good article. Gave me some info I didn't know about Kubrick, such as his first couple failing films, which I'm sure are in the two biographical Kubrick books I own that I have yet to really read.
I'd say A Clockwork Orange, Full Metal Jacket, and Barry Lyndon are my favorite films of his. The one thing I love about Kubrick's style is that in his films characters often face horror with a passive face or even exhilaration (the violence in Clockwork Orange, the duels in Barry Lyndon, war and death in Full Metal, among others). He was a great director who made great commentary on society.
Extremely informative article!!! I had no idea who this director was so I learned a LOT!!! When watching an intense movie or reading a thriller I always try to place myself in their head to try to figure out how they tick....still haven't figured it out. Up/Awesome/
Great hub on a great director, not only are his movies classics, but they have influenced the great directors of today, Spielbrg , Lucas. I wish he would have produced more movies. Voted up and useful.
Kurick was a genius, I took a class at college and his movies were the centerpiece of the class, I thought Barry Lyndon was horrible until I got a detailed explaination as to what was going on, I would rank at as his 2nd best movie behind Dr. Strangelove, another classic. Voted up and useful.
Clockwork Orange is one the greatest movies ever made, way better than 2001. I did not like a single movie he made after Clockwork.
Thanks for the comments Ben Graves, agree that Kubrick was a great director...I also agree about the way he filmed the violence in his movies.....the scene that comes to my mind is The Singing in the Rain scene in Clockwork...thanks for stopping by.
Thanks for stoppping by Sunshine625, my wife does the same think about placing herself in the place of the characters in the story....she says it makes her the perfect audience for Hollywood....the bad side is she gets so emotional when something bad happens to someone in the movie that she identified with....so we can not much really intense movies right before bed...thanks for the comments
Thanks for the comments Yankees Rule....you are 100% correct he has influenced lots of current directors....Spielberg did A.I. to honor Kubrick.....A.I. was supposed to be Kubrick's next movie after Eyes Wide Shut.
Hey KellyE...that sounds like a cool class....so are you a movie major? either way that sounds like a class that I would have loved to have the chance to be in...thanks for the comments
Hey hotandhumid.....I agree A Clockwork Orange is a classic...hard to believe that it has been 40 years since it came out....but then again the 40th anniversary blu-ray is currently available.
I can so relate to your wife! I can't read or watch any intense scenes before sleep! I need time to clear my head! :)
Hey Sunshine....it took me awhile to realize that if I made her watch an intense movie before bed...that we were going to have a very long no sleep night....complete with really bad dreams....after the second or third time I made that mistake....I realize we should watch in the early afternoon.....so she could have hours trying to forget the movie...thanks for sharing.
While he made one movie every five years Roger Corman made one movie every other week! Corman should be your next hub, or maybe Hickox. My favorite kubrick movies are Spartacus, Paths of Glory and 2001,Space Odyseey. I generally like a straight forward tale.
I disliked The Shining but to be fair I disliked the book too.
Hey ruffridyer...I greatly appreciate the comments...I am glad to see Paths of Glory ranks high for you.....I finally saw the movie about a year ago.....and it blew me away.....the insanity of war....I would put it with....Platoon and Saving Private Ryan as why we do not to fight wars like that ever again.....I guess I need a Korean War movie to finish that quartet....thanks for reading my hub......one final note....Steven King hates what Kubrick did with his novel as well.
Nicely done, but I do not think you give him all the respect he deserves. Yes he only made 13 movies but they were game changing movies.
Wow you put a lot of work into this and your other hubs. Nice job. My husband went through Marine Corps boot camp back in the late 80's and he loves Full Metal Jacket because, back then, boot camp was exactly like that. It has since changed a lot and there isn't as much abuse, from what I've heard, but he tells me his experience was what Gunny portrays. To me that makes a great movie and so Full Metal Jacket has to be our favorite of Kubrick's.
Thanks for stopping by Kubrick.....I agree most of movies were excellent.....I think the fact that he has the first director to get a hub.....says I think alot about his directing skills....I appreciate the comments
Thanks for the great compliment KK Trainor. Full Metal Jacket is a great film....one of the best Vietnam movies ever made....I really loved the boot camp part of the movie..my brother also went through Paris Island in 1979 and also says the movie shows an accurate picture of boot camp back then.....the Tet Offensive part was good but not great.....but lots of memorable scenes in Full Metal Jacket....I appreciate your comments and for reading my hub.
Though Kubrick was one excellent film maker, I hate The Shining. He just missed it. Did you ever see the movie Color Me Kubrick? Staring John Malkovik as a man who impersonates Stanly Kubrick, a strange and appealing tale based on a true story.
Hey Dolores....I do not think there is a middle ground for The Shining....the people that like it love it.....and the people who do not like it...really hate it. Steven King is still mad about what Kubrick did to his novel. The thing I did not like was how quickly he got rid of the Scatman Crothers part....in the book he was the hero at the end...in the movie he was just another chopping block. I thought Color Me Kubrick was a pretty good movie....I love Malkovich playing a phony Kubrick....thanks for reading and commenting.
I love Kubrick! Thanks for the info. about more of his films I need to see. My two favorites that I watch over and over again are "The Shining" and "Eyes Wide Shut" - the former is strangely comforting (maybe 'cause it was filmed at the tail end of the 1970s) and the latter one just blew my mind with it's occult and black ops references. I'd like to see more of his films, but I'm not sure where to start. Oh, I did see Lolita, too - but it's kind of disturbing.
Hey AngelaKaelin.....I think most people would tell you to start with 2001: A Space Odyssey...or Dr. Strangelove.....I however recommend A Clockwork Orange(it stills plays at midnight movies in my area...40 years after its release) or Paths of Glory.....which shows the insanity of war more than any other movie I have ever seen...since writing this hub....I have been thinking more about watching Eyes Wide Shut again.....maybe I missed something the first time....as always thanks for reading my hub.
Re: Eyes Wide Shut's occultism. What is fascinating is you can see this movie as just a movie or you can take an illuminated point of view. It blew my mind because I'm familiar with different types of rituals. And, I understand what they are trying to accomplish, which they never tell you in this film, of course, but if you know - you know. Also, I've read a lot of work by people like Fritz Springmeier (A master deprogrammer) and Cathy O'Brien who broke her MK-Ultra programming. If you have a background in any of that, you won't believe your eyes when you see this movie! And, shortly after the film was completed Kubrick died in a way that would be suspicious to people who know about these things, but which most other people would just think of as heart disease.
Here's a nice breakdown on the occult symbolism in the film from Redice Radio posted at Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4BsFGQHR1RQ
Also, from the MKUltra/Ritualistic Abuse side of it here is another site: http://www.konformist.com/flicks/eyeswideshut.htm - this article gets to the point about the purpose of it a little more than the other guy. The symbolism is used by the MKUltra programmers. The Wizard of Oz programming - that's what it's called - is all throughout. The most obvious thing is the multiple references to the rainbow - this programming was used in the formation of child sex slaves, a practice begun under the Nazis and developed here in the U.S. Watching this film with your eyes wide open will open them even further - why are there so many unsolved crimes? ...So many dead women and children? This movie was either done to blow the lid off of this kind of thing and expose it or it is a tool of the programmers... Hard to say. I tend to think it is more of an expose. I know a lot of people who are like the good doctor. They think they're important and in the know. But, they're just powerless, clueless chumps. The Dr. character is an analogy to the non-illuminated middle class.
Hey Angela....I just listened to the first one.....couple of interesting points....but the one that got me...was when he said most people who watch the movie do not realize what they are looking at.....I am in the boat...of being one of those people....but I like to educated myself...so I am on to the second link you suggested.
Very interesting....ok I am now convinced I need to watch this movie again....my favorite line in the second article was....."The choice of Cruise and Kidman in these roles is, to say the least, curious. Their emotional depth as actors--throughout their respective careers--has always appeared lacking, in my opinion. I sincerely doubt that either of them were actually perceptive enough to grasp what Kubrick was getting at with this film".....I agree with that 100%. I will be doing some more research on this movie....that I had dismissed many years ago.....all the information you have suggested is greatly appreciated.
Good! Glad you're enjoying it. I'm listening to that Youtube series I linked to right now, too. I often listen to Redice radio, they're like Art Bell's Coast to Coast a little, but out of Sweden.
Probably Kidman and Cruise didn't think about it. After all, they're programmed, too. Scientology is another type of programming, just like Mormonism (I'm an ex-Mormon. I deprogrammed myself, that's how I got into this stuff years ago.) and the JWs, etc. I hope that doesn't offend, anyone, but if anyone is reading this and involved with one of those organizations, you'd better start realizing you're in a mind cage. So, maybe that IS the reason they were selected. Plus, they're a big box office draw for a really off-beat film. A friend of mind once told me she just thought this was a soft porn film... something for men to enjoy alone. But, when you look at it again from the right perspective you see something really deep - layers deep! It's like looking at one of those Magic Eye pictures - you look at it one way and it's just a bunch of tiny seemingly unrelated images, but when you blink and look at it again another way, you see a three-dimensional picture.
You have sold me Angela....I will be checking out again....after doing some more research so I can look for things the second time around....I like movies like that....another movie like that is another Tom Cruise movie called Magnolia....the first time you do not notice all the references to Exodus 8:2......and frogs....on a second viewing you notice the director put them everywhere...I am actually looking forward to watching it again...thank you.
I am sorry but I have never understood the Kubrick fascination. 2001 A Space Odyssey is a great movie to watch if you are having trouble sleeping, The Shining, butchers a great novel, Full Metal Jacket fizzles in the second half, and Eyes Wide Shut is a confusing mess, and after reading some of the comments, I am not sure I want to know Kubrick was thinking. So I have tried 4 Kubrick movies and have not liked any of them. But I enjoyed your hub. voted up
Then I am even more impressed that you stopped by to comment on my hub. You are not the first person to say that 2001 is a bore fest. Thanks for stopping by ShaunBroncoMan.
As always very good writing and lots of info. My two favorite are Full Metal Jacket and A Clockwork Orange. I have to say 2001:A Space Odyessy still confusing, keep the hubs coming.
Thank you Bryan. A Clockwork Orange is a classic....as for A Space Odyssey.....simple put....it is a movie about the creation of a new species......kind of like Unbreakable with Bruce Willis....when you find out at the end the movie was really a movie about a superhero origin. Thanks for reading.
Great piece on one of the greatest directors ever. My favorite would easily be 2001 A space odysesey,
Nice information, I can not believe how many tickets 2001 and Spartacus sold way back when, my favorite Kubrick film is Dr. Strangelove, Peter Sellers is awesome in that movie.
Hey Dave....thanks for the compliment....2001 is a great classic.
Hey WOW....yep they were both huge hits....I agree Peter Sellers is indeed awesome in that movie...thanks for the comments
Kubrick was a master, other than his first two films, I believe all the of his movies were masterpieces. I notice some of the comments talk about lots of hidden stuff in Eyes Wide Shut, I think if you really pay attention you will see lots of his movies that have the same stuff.
Well thank you Richard Moody, I am sure you are 100% correct, Kubrick has always included lots of things that at first you might not notice.....thanks for stopping by and commenting on my hub
Very nicely done, I like that you even included his first two movies, I will probably never see them but I am glad I know a little bit more about them.
Still waiting on Hackman, where is the Hackman? Nice to see your hub so highly rated, I do not think I have seen one of your hubs so high, 92 as I write this comment. Just think how high a Gene Hackman could be?
Hi! This week the Bilderbergers are meeting in Switzerland. This is another organization I believe Kubrick was referring to in Eyes Wide Shut - they're the top of the pyramid, anyway. I think he set the story in NYC (it was filmed elsewhere, London, I think) because Rockefeller and the U.N. are there. Rockefeller is a major member of the organization and he purchased the land for the U.N. building in NYC.
I was watching the movie again and I realized something I didn't before - they are all wearing a particular kind of mask called "Venetian masks." According to an author named, Estulin Bilderberg is the new name for the old Venetian Black Nobility. I just happened to catch a video of him talking about this on Russia Today.
You know, I think I'm going to have to do an Eyes Wide Shut hub - unless you beat me to it.
A previous commenter is correct - a lot of the same general occult symbolism is in most of Kubrick's movies. I don't remember seeing anything in Lolita, but it's been a while. I'm not sure why there is a focus on the sun so much. If you get deep into things, there are a couple of different things this could mean - one is the sun within the earth or the black sun, which has to do with Nazi occultism. And, also, the feminine nature of the sun - which is contrary to much of most of modern western occultism, with the exception of the German, of course.
I do remember that I saw A Clockwork Orange some 20 or more years ago... I can't remember. I was very young and had not yet been subjected to all the terrible violence that is familiar to me, now. I was shocked by that movie and had to take a second run at it after I recovered my senses. I'd have to see it again to point out all of the correlations, but I believe it is also related to MK-Ultra-like programming, but it seems to me that he's talking more about the Tavistock Institute. Tavistock is a powerful organization founded in England. It is about mind control and mass mind control and conditioning - which was the theme of that movie as much as I can remember it. I had a lot of trouble with the rape scene near the beginning - or maybe it was an attempt. I have images from that film I can't get out of my head that go along with other horrible real life images. It's possible that this film is also intentionally contains triggering mechanisms.
You are very welcome Wyoming Man....I have interest in seeing the first two Kubrick movies but I do not think they are very easy to find...thanks for reading my hub.
Hey hinton1966.....thanks for the compliment....I wished it being rated a 92....but it is still at 91....and Gene Hackman will be the next hub I do...thanks for reading my Kubrick hub.
Hey Angela Kaelin....since you enlightened me about Eyes Wide Shut...I went out and bought the Eyes Wide Shut Blu-Ray.....some of the things I have noticed the second time around....Christmas Trees are in almost every scene and lots of references to rainbows....the first time I had no idea what was going on....but after reading some of the links you sent....it seems Kubrick was trying to express lots of information in his last film. As for A Clockwork Orange....Kubrick designed an entire new world and entire new language....I sure he put lots of references into that movie as well.....thanks for sharing all this information and showing another side of Kubrick...it is greatly appreciated.
Well no matter the hidden meanings of Eyes Wide Shut, I liked the movie back then and even more now. I do not think Nicole Kidman has ever looked prettier than in this movie.
Well I am glad you liked the movie VonnyWhite....just realizing that there was more meaning than I originally thought is kinda interesting....and I agree Kidman looks very pretty and sexy in Eyes Wide Shut...thanks for the comments.
What can I say? That is not only an excellent level Hub but much appreciated too. I have always regarded Stanley Kubrick as the best at cinematic direction in the west. Yet in England since it's initial release at a cinema in London; 'A Clockwork Orange'was immediately banned. The only way to actually see 'A ClockWork Orange' in England was through extremely poor video copies which were illegal. Hence even to say you had seen 'A Clockwork Orange' was to suggest that you had broken the law but only in England, the only country in the world where 'A Clockwork Orange' was an illegal film. A fascinating story from London around 1998 was a court case brought against The Scala Cinema near King's Cross for projecting 'A Clockwork Orange'. Even though it became the main reason that eventually led to the cinema being closed down, even though all witnesses denied the film had been projected. Yet around 1999 on the news that Stanley Kubrick had died something strange occurred. The ban on 'A Clockwork Orange' turned out to have been made right from the beginning of its release and only in England by of course...Stanley Kubrick. Around 2002 for the first time in England 'A Clockwork Orange' was aired on television purely because Stanley Kubrick had died and his wife allowed it to be shown on British TV. Also perhaps unknown reinterest has been surfacing regarding Stanley Kubrick's work. On the original cinematic release of 'Blade Runner', the ending 3 minutes of landscape film footage is actually used from what Stanley Kubrick would not use in the opening of 'The Shining'. When 'Full Metal Jacket' was being filmed I was working with a lady who knew the Kubrick's pretty well and had even worked on 'The Shining'. Yet 'Full Metal Jacket' was filmed entirely in an area of London called The Docklands during the second half. It has been proved to a degree that some of the reasons why Stanley Kubrick did this were, due to budget, but also because he refused to fly by aeroplane anywhere. Hence 'Full Metal Jacket' was partially not taken too seriously on its release in England. Yet personally, like all of Stanley Kubrick's work totally inspiring as a director. Yet, one other fact regarding 'The Shining', 'Dr. Strange Love', 'Lolita', and '2001 A Space Odyssey', has to be that they were all directed in England. It is pretty much common knowledge amoungst anyone who worked with Kubrick that the only way he could get some actors and actresses to do what he thought they were supposed to was let them try it their way before filming as a rehearsal, if he felt that what they did in a scene did not work and the scene did not work, Stanley would challenge them to play a game of chess with him, if they won the game then the filming would be done, but if they lost the game the scene would be filmed his way. From just about everyone who ever played chess with Stanley Kubrick no one can recall anyone ever beating him. Shelley Duvall once mentioned that even though her performance in 'The Shining' was extremely exhausting while filming, much of her performance is guided by Stanley Kubrick's direction and his genius at chess.
Thanks for the compliment Liam J. Madden....thanks for all the great information in your comment....I thought Kubrick received death threats when A Clockwork Orange first came out and that is why he decided to pull the movie from release. I saw A Clockwork Orange a midnight show in the early 1980s....I had no idea what is was about going into the movie....but I still remember the feeling of watching that world he created.
As for The Shining...there is a great feature on the DVD...and you can see how Nicholson was having a blast making the movie....while Scatman Crothers and Shelly Duvall were in their own personal hell while making the movie.....but Duvall has never been better.
Matthew Modine wrote a picture book on his experience on Full Metal Jacket....it is an awesome book. Once again thanks for the great comment.
Clockwork Orange was unbanned in the UK in the late 90's early 2000's I know because I saw it at a west end cinema (along with The Exorcist which was also unbanned about the same time).
This news report at the time Kubrick died might be of interest.
Thanks for sharing the link...it was an interesting read.....I am willing to bet the reason Kubrick put the ban on....is a combo of the death threats and the copycat violence he feared would happen....so I wonder if giant ceramic penises became the weapon of choice for London gang members?
....one of my favorite directors of all time just led to one of my favorite hubs of all time and there is only one thing left to do - because the epi-man is one big film buff ....and that is to follow you and spread the word to others .....
Hey epigramman, I appreciate the compliment you sent through e-mail....it made a tough day go a little better....I am glad to see another film buff and I am glad you are following me.....I take suggestions on hub subjects so any actors/actresses/directors you would like to see....just let me know. Thanks for finding my hub.
....just finished watching a VHS copy of Magnolia - and yes I am a big film buff - I am just scratching the surface of your fantastic hubs my friend - do you have a hub on films of Martin Scorcese, Woody Allen ....I'll bring over a list tomorrow and list some of my favorites too. I am 53 years old so VHS is still a viable way of watching movies - lol - and another great hint I give a lot of my readers and people I follow is to always check out a film title on You Tube for a preview or an excerpt and sometimes the entire film.
My dad was a historian of World War II in particular as he was a Canadian soldier in that war for 6 years and landed on Omaha beach with Tom Hanks on D-Day - lol - just kidding about that one - the Canadians, as you know, actually landed on the Juno beach. And in civilian life he enjoyed reading about all kinds of history and loved the movies. He also wrote 70 books including his first one which were memoirs of his experiences in the war - none were ever published - but it's still quite an achievement and his legacy will be that of a great father, my best friend and great husband.
Thank you for your endorsement of my hub too and coming from someone like you that is quite a compliment.
Hey epigramman....Magnolia is a great movie...did you notice all the frog references and that Exodus 8:2 is alluded to over a hundred times throughout the movie....I love a movie that hides things in plain view.
You are the third person to suggest Woody and the first to suggest Marty .....both are good suggestions.
My mom is Canadian as well...which makes me 50% Canuck....lol...very cool about your father's success as a writer...I will have to check that out....thanks for your great compliments.
I just saw The Shining and it is still a great scary movie.
I agree BERN1960 it is a movie that gets better with each additional viewing.
Very impressive list of Kubrick movies, I have actually seen every single one of his movies. My favorites would be Paths of Glory and 2001. All his movies have some awesome moments in them, he truly was a genius.
Hey Kubrickfan...I agree that Paths of Glory is awesome....he impressed Kirk Douglas so much ...that Douglas used him as the director on Spatacus.....and the rest in history....thanks for your comments
Well. I haven't seen all of Kubrick's films yet. Some are too disturbing for me and I'm not sure when, or if, I'll get to them-I'm speaking, as you might have guessed, of A Clockwork Orange and Full Metal Jacket. I have no explanation of why I haven't seen Barry Lyndon. Fear and Desire I know little about. And I have no interest in Eyes Wide Shut.
Here is how I order the other eight in terms of how often I am likely to watch them/order I would watch them in-trying to make a list of best is pointless. Also, I can admire a film greatly, but not not want to watch it more than once a year.
Here they are:
Dr. Strangelove-this movie never fails to cheer me up, no matter what mood I'm in.
The Killing-a suspense film high on my list...no surprise
Paths of Glory-the perfect anti-war film. Strangelove is a satire. this is reality.
Sparticus-I'm not a big fan of epics, but this is breath taking
Lolita-I'm a James Mason fan. This movie fascinates me. The only flaw in it-and it is a big one-is Peter Sellers's character. I can't stand him.
The Shining-more of a horror film than a suspense film. To date, it is one of only two king books I've seen as movies. I'm not into horror.
Killers Kiss-I think I enjoy this a lot more than others do. I can't give you a logical reason for this feeling. But people rarely mention this one as one of their tops.
2001: A Space Odyssy-soory everyone, but this is the movie I meant when I said I admire a movie more than I enjoy it. It is excellent. But it's just not a topic that interests me.
Hey Flora....now this is a great comment...it really breaks down how you feel about the movies you listed. I actually figured The Killing would be number one for you....but second is still pretty high. I agree Peter Sellers is more than a little annoying in Lolita....I have yet to see Killers Kiss...I think you would like Barry Lyndon....I just finally saw it myself about a year ago....Ryan O'Neal does a great job carrying the film. Clockwork and Full Metal are good films but filled with violence and disturbing scenes. It is a shame that he could not get more movies made in his 46 years of making movies....as always thanks for your outstanding comments.
I gotta say, that essentially everything about Stanley Kubrick has been stated in this Hub, and it's comments. Just, what an amazing job doing this, Cogerson.
Although, I have to argue with you about the best Vietnam movie ever... Apocalypse Now was simply beautiful, and no movie can beat that in my mind.
Thanks for this Hub.
Hey GregDinskisk-thanks of the visit. This Stanley Kubrick hub is one of my most commented hubs, Ihave learned lots of information about him from the comments....I think between Full Metal Jacket, Apocalypse Now and Platoon you have the three best movies about Vietnam. Thanks for the comment and the compliment.
Well jusy watched Full Metal Jacket last night and I have to agree that Platoon is better. I also feel that it wouldnt have been much of a movie without Private Pile.
Hey BryRog57...I agree 100%....Platoon and Apocalypse Now rate higher in my book. The first part of Full Metal Jacket is awesome...but from the bathroom murder scene to the rest of the movie it seriously falls off...thanks for the comment and the visit.
Yep, yep..and I still dont get 2001: A Space Odyssey.
Hey Bryan...you are not the only one....easily it is like Bruce Willis in Unbreakable....you witness his birth as a superhero...only in 2001...you witness the birth of a new species.
Hey now, Cogerson: You're a well-informed writer, and I admire the way you respond to comments. I will bookmark you.
Joi Cardinal
{joi8steve@gmail.com}
Hey Joi A. Cardinal...thanks for visiting my Kubrick hub and for the compliment. My thinking about comments is....if you can take the time to check out my hub and comment...then the least I can do is comment back. Thanks for the bookmark.
I never even knew about Fear and Desire! How fascinating that he would try to eliminate it from public record like that. I now feel I must find it and see it :)
Nice list you have here! Adding a couple more titles to my list of films to watch.
Hey SouthernHoney....I think Kubrick thought his first two movies were so bad they would hurt his reputation ....I have seen all the others but have never seen Fear and Desire in any capacity....no VHS, no cable, no Blu-Ray, no laserdisc....so I think he has done a wonderful job of hiding his first two efforts. Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment.
Beautiful and interesting hu dear..
Thanks for stopping by and for the comment traslochimilano.
JGoul Level 2 Commenter 11 months ago
Very nice article. Kubrick's a great director, although not really my style.
Am I the only one it bothers that Full Metal Jacket is basically two completely different movies? I felt like the first half of the movie didn't need a second half. It would probably be one of my favorite war movies of all time if the last line of the movie had been "I AM in a world of sh**."