The Killer releases this week. It is based on the French graphic novel of the same name. It stars Michael Fassbender and Tilda Swinton.

It is a big deal — because it has been directed by David Fincher.

A Fincher movie is always a big deal.

Hands-down, one of the most important filmmakers working today. His films are dark, psychologically complex, and visually stunning.

In a world that is obsessed with positivity and self-help portrayed on celluloid, his movies are a breath of fresh air. They don’t offer easy answers or solutions. Instead, they force us to confront our own demons and our own mortality.

Fincher’s films are important because they are honest and authentic. He doesn’t shy away from the difficult and uncomfortable aspects of life. Instead, he embraces them head-on. He is also a master of creating suspense and tension.

He also might just be my favourite filmmaker.

If you’re a fan of Fincher’s work, or if you’re just looking for some great movies to watch, here are my top 5 favorite David Fincher films:

1. The Social Network (2010): Coined by Quentin Tarantino as the movie of the decade, The Social Network might just be his best movie. It tells the story of how Mark Zuckerberg created the social media giant, and how he screwed over his friends and enemies along the way. The movie is fast-paced, witty, and full of brilliant performances, especially by Jesse Eisenberg as Zuckerberg and Andrew Garfield as his former partner Eduardo Saverin. The movie also has a killer soundtrack by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross.

2. Zodiac (2007): Despite not doing that well at the box office, the story of how a group of journalists and detectives tried to catch the Zodiac killer, who terrorized the San Francisco Bay Area in the late 1960s and early 1970s has you at the edge of your seat from the first moment. The movie is a masterclass in suspense, detail, and obsession, as it follows the clues and the dead ends of the investigation. The movie also has an amazing cast, including Jake Gyllenhaal, Robert Downey Jr., and Mark Ruffalo.

3. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011): Adapted from the popular 2005 novel by Steig Larsson and the subsequent remake of the Scandinavian version, the movie never hit the heights of its Swedish counterpart but it’s still one hell of a ride. It tells the story of how a disgraced journalist and a hacker with a troubled past team up to solve a decades-old mystery involving a wealthy family, a missing girl, and a serial killer. A breakout performance by Rooney Mara as Salander.

4. Seven (1995): The hunt for a serial killer who uses the seven deadly sins as his modus operandi. A masterfully crafted film. Fincher’s direction is dark and atmospheric, and the film’s ending is one of the most shocking and unforgettable in cinema history. The movie also has the legendary duo of Brad Pitt and Morgan Freeman, as the detectives.

5. Fight Club (1999): Another adaptation of a popular novel by Chuck Palahniuk, a bored and depressed office worker meets a charismatic soap salesman, and together they start an underground fight club that evolves into a violent revolution. Famously booed at Cannes and failing at the box office, the movie has achieved cult status through the years, with a smart and subversive commentary on consumerism, masculinity, and anarchy. The movie also has a mind-blowing twist, and a stellar performance by Ed Norton and Brad Pitt.

If you haven’t seen them yet, do yourself a favour and watch them. You won’t regret it.