Cold, calculative, closefisted, and ultimately, utterly compelling. The four C’s best describe David Fincher’s body of work. Considered one of the finest American filmmakers of the modern era, his exceptional career has defined generations, often capturing the zeitgeist at large. Most often diving into the psychological thriller subgenre, his no-nonsense, straight-to-the-point style of filmmaking lends itself to frequently addictive programming (his directed episodes set the tone for House of Cards and Mindhunter). Fight Club and The Social Network both captured the spirits of their generations, whether it be angry young men or social media consumers, respectively. His approach to filmmaking is akin to Stanley Kubrick, with every scene shot in his film ranging from 25 to 65 takes, with particular instances where he goes to 100. He expects those around him to work as hard as he does, for better or worse. The soundtrack and score choices suit the chilling themes our razor-sharp perfectionist chooses to explore. We’ve precisely picked his seven best movies and the memorable songs that came with them. Seven feels like the most fitting number, as Fincher has owned that digit since 1995.
Se7en
The renowned music video director made his feature debut with Alien 3, which received mixed reviews and was later disowned by Fincher, claiming it unfaithful to his vision due to studio interference. He’d face further issues with the studio with the next project, Se7en, agreeing to do it if the original ending from Andrew Kevin Walker’s script remained intact. Not only did his wish come true, the film was a sleeper hit, putting his career back on track and establishing Brad Pitt as a serious, dramatic actor; also starring Morgan Freeman, Gwyneth Paltrow, Richard Roundtree, R. Lee Ermey, and Kevin Spacey as John Doe, an unforgettable cameo that no one at the time saw coming (Spacey’s name wasn’t promoted on the poster or the trailers).
83%
65
8.6
Morgan Freeman
Brad Pitt
Gwyneth Paltrow
Daniel Zacapa
John Cassini
Bob Mack
Peter Crombie
Reg E. Cathey
R. Lee Ermey
George Christy
Endre Hules
A rather eclectic mix of songs populate the soundtrack, artists ranging from Marvin Gaye, David Bowie, Charlie Parker, Billie Holiday, and the film’s composer Howard Shore. What really sticks is the wickedly remixed Nine Inch Nails song “Closer (Precursor)” that takes control of our ears as soon as the creepy opening credits roll. This would mark the start of a fruitful creative partnership written by Atticus Ross, as Ross would team up with Trent Reznor to compose the score for many of Fincher’s later films.
Check out the full Se7en soundtrack here.
The Game
A successful investment broker receives a mysterious birthday gift from his brother- to be part of a game embedded into his everyday life. A scent of conspiracy circles through the air as it becomes unclear what is real and what is just part of this supposedly fun game. Simply reading this synopsis puts you on the edge of your seat, and who better than to put this fast-paced thriller onto the screen? Starring Michael Douglas, Sean Penn, Deborah Kara Unger, and James Rebhorn, this unpredictable and flat-out absurd movie refuses to let you take your eyes off it.
Michael Douglas
Sean Penn
Deborah Kara Unger
James Rebhorn
Peter Donat
Carroll Baker
Anna Katarina
Armin Mueller-Stahl
Charles Martinet
Scott Hunter McGuire
Florentine Mocanu
Elizabeth Dennehy
Howard Shore is back on the score, heightening the intensity of every increasingly bizarre situation that happens to the 80s sex icon (see Wall Street and Fatal Attraction). Jefferson Airplane’s “White Rabbit” echoes as Douglas finds his home vandalized; the fierce vocals are meant to annoy our protagonist as he has no choice but to obsess over how twisted this game is. The quiet, contemplative “Happy Birthday, Nicholas” accompanies the opening sequence of family home videos. Acclaimed HBO drama Succession pays homage to it during its opening credits, highlighting how effective it is to show the power and, at times, limitations that come with being in a wealthy family. You’re the heir to the throne. That is your life. That’s it.
Check out the full The Game soundtrack here.
Fight Club
The cult movie to end all cult movies. It is one of the most influential movies ever, not just in cinema but in American culture at large. The frustrated young men of the 90s saw a role model in Tyler Durden. Disillusioned by Kurt Cobain’s death, the Rodney King riots, the OJ Simpson trial, Bill Clinton’s affairs, and everything that was happening in the Middle East at the time, that generation saw a way to channel their anger through the concept of a fight club. The 1999 box office flop starred Brad Pitt, Edward Norton, Helena Bonham Carter, Meatloaf, and Jared Leto.
Edward Norton
Brad Pitt
Helena Bonham Carter
Meat Loaf
Jared Leto
Zach Grenier
Holt McCallany
Eion Bailey
Richmond Arquette
David Andrews
George Maguire
Eugenie Bondurant
The eccentric sound of The Dust Brothers permeates throughout the film’s soundtrack, filled with testosterone rage and the sensibilities of an animal let loose. We emphasize how wonderful a perfect closing tune can be to a movie, and it’s hard to come up with a better answer for the most memorable of the 90s than “Where Is My Mind?” by Pixies. This legendary 80s band was the precursor to Nirvana and the grunge era, which makes it oddly fitting that they would close one of the most iconic movies of 1999, the final year of the decade and century. The realest pieces of art will always resonate, no matter its age.
“You met me at a very strange time in my life.”
Check out the full Fight Club soundtrack here.
Zodiac
Another commercial flop that turned into a cult classic. Ahead of its time? Not really; it’s in the vein of Hollywood film noir greats such as Touch of Evil, Chinatown, and LA Confidential, so the time had unfortunately passed for a mainstream audience to have the patience to sit through it. The movie depicts the manhunt for the Zodiac killer who wreaked havoc in the San Francisco Bay Area during the late 60s and early 70s, trolling the police with letters and ciphers after each murder. It is a remarkable masterwork of filmmaking, with the intricacies of a small-time detective diving into a case far behind his or most people’s comprehension. Such a detailed, disturbing set of crimes is bound to make anyone appear naive, as this level of sick thinking from a serial killer needs a director unafraid to explore the darker parts of the human psyche. Of course, Fincher would be up for the challenge, and some consider his work here to be his best. Starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Mark Ruffalo, Robert Downey Jr., Anthony Edwards, Brian Cox, Elias Koteas, and John Carroll Lynch (Finch said no to women for this casting selection), this once underrated gem has since cemented itself as one of the very best of the 2000s.
90%797.7
Jake Gyllenhaal
Mark Ruffalo
Anthony Edwards
Robert Downey Jr.
Brian Cox
Charles Fleischer
Zach Grenier
Philip Baker Hall
Elias Koteas
James Le Gros
Donal Logue
John Carroll Lynch
We’re dealing with the 60s and 70s here, so there must be some rock and soul classics. Finch’s got you supplied with Marvin Gaye, Santana, Steely Dan, and various others. The standout, however, is Donovan’s “Hurdy Gurdy Man,” which plays in both the opening and closing scenes. Donovan wrote the song in India while studying Transcendental Meditation with The Beatles. This psychedelic folk rock banger is now an iconic villain number.
Check out the full Zodiac soundtrack here.
The Social Network
Another generation-defining picture. As someone who saw it in theaters in 2010 at age 11, it left an undeniable impression that made me forever love the art form. Fincher’s relentless direction, sprinkled with Aaron Sorkin’s riveting screenplay about the founding of Facebook, makes for a damn tasty cinematic meal. Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield, Justin Timberlake, Armie Hammer, Max Minghella, Brenda Song, Rashida Jones, Joseph Mazzello, and Rooney Mara all perform arguably their finest.
Jesse Eisenberg
Andrew Garfield
Armie Hammer
Justin Timberlake
Max Minghella
Josh Pence
Brenda Song
Rashida Jones
John Getz
David Selby
Denise Grayson
Reznor & Ross are back together for their magnum opus with this Academy Award-winning soundtrack. “In Motion” successfully captures the thrill of Zuckerberg hacking into Harvard’s system, the energy of ignorant frat culture, and it also makes you want to stop procrastinating. You had to close this dialogue-heavy movie with a soothing tune, and it’s hard to beat The Beatles’ “Baby, You’re a Rich Man,” a lesser-known classic of theirs.
“How does it feel to be one of the beautiful people?”
Check out the full The Social Network soundtrack here.
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Based on the 2005 novel of the same name, the story revolves around a journalist and computer hacker who team up to discover what happened to a girl from a wealthy family who disappeared 40 years prior. Who will adapt this with class? Never fear, Dave Fincher and Academy Award-winning screenwriter Steve Zallian are here. It stars Daniel Craig, Rooney Mara, Christopher Plummer, Stellan Skarsgård, and Robin Wright.
86%717.8
Daniel Craig
Rooney Mara
Christopher Plummer
Stellan Skarsgård
Robin Wright
Yorick van Wageningen
Steven Berkoff
Joely Richardson
Geraldine James
Goran Visnjic
Donald Sumpter
Ulf Friberg
The soundtrack is longer than the movie. That’s right. It is nearly three hours long, including a cover of Led Zeppelin’s “Immigrant Song” sung by Karen O, which roars during the opening title sequence. Christ, does Finch ever miss with his openings? He announces he’s here with authority.
Check out the full The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo soundtrack here.
Gone Girl
Continuing with novel adaptations, this time based on Gillian Flynn’s 2012 work. It is a postmodern mystery that has become one of the finest depictions of a female villain. It is also the highest-grossing movie of Fincher’s career. A man becomes a prime suspect following the disappearance of his wife. He had an affair before this occurrence, and it becomes quite clear that adultery will not go unpunished in this story. Ben Affleck, Rosamund Pike, Neil Patrick Harris, Tyler Perry, and Carrie Coon are all perfectly cast, especially Affleck. Jennifer Lopez would agree.
88%798.1
Ben Affleck
Rosamund Pike
Neil Patrick Harris
Tyler Perry
Carrie Coon
Kim Dickens
Patrick Fugit
David Clennon
Lisa Banes
Missi Pyle
Influenced by the intense sounds of David Lynch’s movies, Reznor and Ross would craft staccato electronic noises to mix with calmer sounds for the film’s score. “Technically, Missing” accompanies that most memorable scene, the riveting Cool Girl monologue that encapsulates what makes this story unique. She may be a psycho, but she’s speaking to every single woman trapped in a man’s world.
“You think I’d let him destroy me and end up happier than ever? No fucking way. He doesn’t get to win.”
Check out the full Gone Girl soundtrack here.
“I think people are perverts. I’ve maintained that. That’s the foundation of my career,” revealed David Fincher on a DVD bonus featurette for The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. After the lukewarm reception of his latest efforts, Mank and The Killer (both have niche, passionate fan bases), it’s unclear where Fincher plans to go next in this stage of his career. He’s proven to be unafraid to take on a big-budget studio picture featuring bonafide movie stars such as Panic Room and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button or a personal passion project with Mank, so it’s clear that he’s comfortably content at this point in his career. He may never reach the heights of Zodiac or The Social Network again, but one thing’s for sure: at least one song in his movie will capture your perverted attention and make you bop your head.