Well-known for his idiosyncratic musical style that draws inspiration from a range of eclectic sources, Frank Ocean is an introspective singer, songwriter known for being one of the most influential creatives of this generation.
Though, just like the scope of artists that inspire his wide range of impressive songwriting, he has also created a comprehensive list of his very favourite films and creative minds which have helped to influence the singer across his career.
What an eclectic list it is too, listing 100 of his very favourite films ranging from the work of Andrei Tarkovsky to Wes Anderson, Martin Scorsese to Christopher Nolan. Frank Ocean’s entire range of interests is on display too, with David Lynch’s surreal debut Eraserhead alongside the Coen Brothers comedy Fargo, and the violent Japanese action thriller Battle Royale.
His influences are clearly rooted in filmmakers that have fully immersed themselves within the world of art film, including the likes of Luis Buñuel, with few contemporary mainstream directors included on the list.
It certainly speaks to the singer’s own interests in experimenting and revolutionizing his own field of expression that he cites some of cinema’s most transformative figures.
Take a look at the full list of Frank Ocean’s favourite 100 films below, listed in no particular order:
Frank Ocean’s favourite films:
- ATL (2006)
- An Andalusian Dog (1929)
- Blue Velvet (1986)
- Barry Lyndon (1975)
- Battleship Potemkin (1925)
- Eraserhead (1977)
- Chungking Express (1994)
- Raging Bull (1980)
- The Conformist (1970)
- Bicycle Thieves (1948)
- Taxi Driver (1976)
- A Clockwork Orange (1971)
- Mean Streets (1973)
- Gods of the Plague (1970)
- Persona (1966)
- Mulholland Drive (2001)
- Happy Together (1997)
- Fallen Angels (1995)
- Apocalypse Now (1979)
- The Last Laugh (1924)
- Life of Pi (2012)
- Full Metal Jacket (1987)
- No Country for Old Men (2007)
- Wild at Heart (1990)
- Momento (2013)
- Metropolis (1927)
- Rushmore (1998)
- The Royal Tenenbaums (2001)
- Miller’s Crossing (1990)
- The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie (1972)
- Blood Simple (1984)
- Rashomon (1950)
- Orpheus (1950)
- L.A. Confidential (1997)
- Reservoir Dogs (1992)
- Eastern Promises (2007)
- 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
- Battle Royale (2000)
- The Passion of Anna (1969)
- Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia (1974)
- Oldboy (2003)
- Django Unchained (2012)
- One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975)
- The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966)
- The Godfather (1972)
- M (1931)
- Scarface (1932)
- Scarface (1983)
- Blade Runner (1982)
- Citizen Kane (1941)
- On the Waterfront (1954)
- Annie Hall (1977)
- Psycho (1960)
- Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964)
- The French Connection (1971)
- The Deer Hunter (1978)
- Wild Strawberries (1957)
- Fargo (1996)
- The Sacrifice (1986)
- El Topo (1970)
- The Holy Mountain (1973)
- The Shining (1980)
- Pulp Fiction (1994)
- Fitzcarraldo (1982)
- American Beauty (1999)
- Solaris (2002)
- True Romance (1993)
- The Elephant Man (1980)
- Seven Samurai (1954)
- Woyzeck (1979)
- Jackie Brown (1997)
- Aguirre, Wrath of God (1972)
- Paris, Texas (1984)
- Devil in a Blue Dress (1995)
- The Inglorious Bastards (1978)
- Serpico (1973)
- Alien (1979)
- Ed Wood (1994)
- Hard Eight (1996)
- The Seventh Seal (1957)
- Sonatine (1993)
- Paths of Glory (1957)
- There Will Be Blood (2007)
- Spartacus (1960)
- The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (2007)
- Ford: The Man and the Machine (1987 TV Movie)
- Fight Club (1999)
- Brazil (1985)
- Throne of Blood (1957)
- Dog Day Afternoon (1975)
- Rosemary’s Baby (1968)
- Phantom of the Paradise (1974)
- The Master (2012)
- Malcolm X (1992)
- The Friends of Eddie Coyle (1973)
- The King of Comedy (1982)
- Basquiat (1996)
- Nosferatu (1922)
- Puce Moment (1949)
- Inauguration of the Pleasure Dome (1954)