Rian Johnson’s four Criterion recommendations, ranked

Collider reports that filmmaker Rian Johnson stepped into the Criterion Closet to pick several favorite films and ranked four of them from the collection. At No. 4 he placed Howard Hughes’ Hell's Angels (1930), noted in the piece for its ambitious aviation sequences, lengthy three‑year production after being converted to a talkie, dangerous stunts (Hughes reportedly crashed and needed facial surgery while three pilots and a mechanic died), and Jean Harlow’s sole full‑color film footage.

At No. 3 is Karyn Kusama’s Girlfight (2000), Kusama’s acclaimed debut that launched Michelle Rodriguez, won top prizes at Sundance, and follows a Brooklyn teen who channels her aggression into boxing. No. 2 is Gina Prince‑Bythewood’s Love & Basketball (2000), a hybrid sports‑romance credited with cultural staying power, preservation in the U.S.

National Film Registry, Spike Lee as a producer, and the careers of Sanaa Lathan and Omar Epps; the film is structured like a basketball game and spans nearly two decades, touching on the WNBA’s formation in 1996. Ranked No. 1 is Mike Leigh’s Topsy‑Turvy (1999), a richly detailed Victorian‑era drama about Gilbert and Sullivan that earned strong critical acclaim (90% on Rotten Tomatoes in the article), Academy Awards for Best Costume Design and Best Makeup, nominations for writing and art direction, and is listed with a December 15, 1999 release date and a 160‑minute runtime.

Key Topics

Culture, Rian Johnson, Criterion Collection, Topsy-turvy, Love & Basketball, Girlfight