Since make his feature - duration directorial debut in 1977’sEraserhead , David Lynch has   established himself as one of the most respected filmmakers in the entire cinema landscape painting . From the hugely popularTwin Peaksto idiosyncratic precious stone likeInland Empire , Lynch ’s employment is systematically alone , interesting , and personal to him .

Mostly stay fresh himself costless from the constraint of the traditionalHollywood system , David Lynch is a true auteur , one that accepts no via media when it comes to fetch his vision to the sieve - mean he ’s not all too concerned about the box office receipts of his movies . It ’s because of this though that Lynch has developed such a passionate fanbase , even if his movie do n’t tend to make a whole lot of money . With that in mind , here are how all of David Lynch ’s film stack up ,   ranked according to theirdomestic ( U.S. ) box berth 144 .

Inland Empire ($0.85 Million)

David Lynch ’s filmography is one that could be regard polarising at the in effect of time . With that say , none of his moving picture appear to be quite as factious as 2006’sInland conglomerate . Another trippy looking at into the phantasmagoric world of Hollywood , Inland Empireseems to partake in something of a spiritual joining with Lynch ’s old masterpieceMulholland Drive ,   though it does n’t quite capture the same thaumaturgy - which is probably why it stands as Lynch ’s lowest - grossing movie .

For many , Inland Empireleaned too heavily into the bizarre and esoteric , shedding any horse sense of approachability Lynch ’s previous motion-picture show had . On the other hand , others importune thatInland Empireis yet another chef-d’oeuvre from the auteur .

Lost Highway ($3.80 Million)

An idiosyncratic fever dream of a movie , Lost Highwaystands as one of David Lynch ’s most interesting picture show to date , despite its relatively split critical reception . focus on a troubled homo who ’s accused of slaying – amongst multiple other increasingly odd patch screw thread – lose Highwayis a twisting febricity dream of a movie shot in gorgeous neo - noir mode .

Amongst the clearest examples of Lynch ’s style as an auteur , Lost Highwayweaves together many of the managing director ’s recur musical theme and motifs , with the result being one of his most compelling and unusual mysteries thus far . regrettably , the movie lost a lot of money , only make $ 3.8 million on a budget of $ 15 million .

Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me ($4.16 Million)

WhileTwin Peaks : Fire Walk With Meshould perhaps have been one of the most accessible of all Lynch ’s flick , it alternatively ended up becoming one of his most misunderstood .

After all , the hugely popularTwin PeaksTV show wrap up just a few years in the beginning , with its iconiccliffhangerending leaving viewers despairing for another dive into Lynch ’s eccentric fictional town . Rather than a continuation of the series , however , the picture show was a prequel , focus on the last mean solar day of Laura Palmer , whose execution take form the key whodunit of the show . Despite the disappointment of fans , Twin Peaks : Fire Walk With Meis still a deep bear on and haunting business relationship of a young girl ’s traumatic final days , though it only made back less than half of its budget .

The Straight Story ($6.20 Million)

As the movie ’s title might intimate , The Straight Storyis easily David Lynch ’s most undemanding , family - friendly effort to date – something Lynch himself considered experimental by his usual standard .

free-base on the real - life story of Alvin Straight , the film conform to Straight in his endeavor to travel a whopping 240 miles from Iowa to Wisconsin on his   lawnmower – all in an attempt to reconnect with his gravely ill buddy . Despite straying from Lynch ’s normal sensibilities , The Straight Storywas a hitting with critics , with many praising the movie ’s heart and optic beauty .

Eraserhead ($7 Million)

wide seen as the movie that put David Lynch on the map , the director ’s feature - length first appearance , Eraserhead , claim a staggering five years to produce due to a deficiency of funds . Somewhere between an experimental art motion-picture show and a grotesque soundbox repugnance , Eraserheadstands as one of the most unique and iconic movies of the seventies .

Mulholland Drive ($7.22 Million)

have some of the most beautiful and spectacular imagery ever put to take , it ’s well-situated to get sweep aside by the motion-picture show ’s entrancing series of dreamy sequences . One of the most memorable nontextual matter films of the preceding few decades , Lynch even earn himself an Oscar nomination forBest Directorfor his efforts , though the movie at long last underperformed financially .

Blue Velvet ($8.55 Million)

Arguably amongst the most approachable movies in David Lynch ’s impressive filmography , Blue Velvetis a rightfully gripping and disturbing experience yet . The film follows scholarly person Jeffrey Beaumont , whose discovery of a break up ear send him on a dark journeying through the seedy underbelly of his seemingly innocent hometown .

Becoming ask with an abused singer along the room , Jeffrey draws the ire of psychotic criminal Frank Booth – brought to life by an all - time corking performance from Dennis Hopper – on a dreamlike odyssey through the town ’s criminal underworld .

Wild At Heart ($14.56 Million)

As with many of Lynch ’s motion picture , Wild at Heartcertainly has its diehard fans , though critics were somewhatlukewarmon the pic upon its release . Nevertheless , it   still assist as a memorable and fun entry in Lynch ’s filmography and do to rake in $ 14.56 million at the box billet .

The Elephant Man ($26.01 Million)

nominate for an impressive eight Academy Awards the year after its 1980 release , The Elephant Manis perhaps the most widely recognized David Lynch movie amongst those unfamiliar with his workplace , as well as the second - high - grossing .

found on the true story of John Merrick – who was cruelly brand ‘ The Elephant Man ’ by the freak show he better gratis from – The Elephant Manpaints a motion picture of a Isle of Man misunderstood by everyone around him . Despite his appearance , John ’s mental capacity go past that of the average person , a fact that ’s get word by the peculiar doctor Frederick Treves in this powerful tearjerker .

Dune ($27.4 Million)

David Lynch ’s most critically maligned crusade also happens to be his most gamy - budget , excessively give rise movie . Signed onto the adaptation of Frank Herbert’sDuneafter the movie spent more than a decade indevelopment hell , Lynch was n’t specially familiar with the source textile , to start with ,   and was also creatively throttled by the studio . Despite being   Lynch ’s highest wage earner   at the box office , Dune ’s budget of $ 45 million meant the pic was far from a commercial-grade success .

Despite all of this though , Dunestill has something of a cult following amongst fans of both sci - fi and David Lynch , even though the director has since outdistance himself from the project .

NEXT : Twin Peaks : 10 Works That The David Lynch Masterpiece Inspired

David Lynch in Twin Peaks

In a dusty landscape Finn stares out into the distance in Star Wars: The Force Awakens

A collage image of Luke Skywalker in A New Hope

David Lynch Films Ranked Featured Image

Laura Dern in Inland Empire

Lost Highway

Laura Palmer (Sheryl Lee) looking perturbed at something she’s seen in Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me

Alvin Straight riding a lawnmower in The Straight Story

Eraserhead movie

Rita and Betty holding hands at a theater covered in blue light in Mulholland Drive.

David Lynch Blue Velvet

David Lynch’s Wild at Heart

Elephant Man

Kyle MacLachlan in Dune

Movies

David Lynch