Kathryn Bigelow is one of the most big female directors of the modern genesis . Having her vocation start in 1978 , she develop her opportunities in brusque picture show and indie projects until she receive attention with the action filmPoint Break . From there , she stay put tangled in heavy projects .

Her most successful beingThe Hurt Locker , which advance her the Academy Award for Best Director , the first for a female , and Best Picture . look back on her filmography , Bigelow demonstrated sizeable skill in every punishing genre . To tally it all , here are her ten directorial feat , ranked by Rotten Tomatoes rating .

The Weight of Water (34%)

The Weight of Wateris an unmarked slice from Kathryn Bigelow that crosses multiple plot of land strand that unlocks an intriguing mystery under its pelt . Catherine McCormack plays Jean Janes as a paper lensman who investigates the murders of two immigrant cleaning woman in her New Hampshire position .

Sean Penn play her vulnerable hubby who gets entangled with the closed book of the investigating . The plastic film is based on a 1997 Anita Shreve novel loosely about the Smuttynose Island murders . While it could be of Bigelow ’s pilothouse , the film is overly addle .

K-19: The Widowmaker (61%)

Bigelow showed electric potential on impart life to war - theme celluloid withK-19 : The Widowmaker . This thriller that starredHarrison FordandLiam Neesonis centered on the Soviet submarine K-19 submarine , which suffered from technical fatalities on its initial voyage .

Ford play the Ahab - tending Captain Alexei Vostrikov who commanded the vessel through obstacle and Neeson recreate his subordinate Captain Misha Polenin who tried to keep his moral compass . Even with its tight runtime , Bigelow hold on the tension running in her ownDas Booteffort . Though , this end up as a flop .

Strange Days (62%)

On her first foray into sci - fi , Bigelow brought to life a story write by then - husband James Cameron about a former pig who cut into into uncovering the mystery of a murder by recalling coveted memories and physical sensations . Director Bigelow employ a cinema noir style to make an absorbing experience of the criminal offence ’s scale .

Yet , it was capable to harness unlike issues like corruption , favoritism , and surveillance in an eery but move manner . The film , starringRalph Fiennes , Angela Bassett , and Juliette Lewis , was a flop but became a rage classic .

Point Break (69%)

Who would know that Kathryn Bigelow was behind the cult sensationPoint Break ? Yet , she pulled it off effortlessly . To the unfamiliar , the plot revolve on FBI agent Johnny Utah ( Keanu Reeves ) go underground to pass through a group of cant robbers , result by the charismatic Bodhi ( Patrick Swayze ) .

In pulling off the vivid action scenes and the surfing sequences , Bigelow evidence that she is able and impeccable . Both Reeves and Swayze are memorable in their parts , and their resonance is glowing in every scene . Plus , Gary Busey ’s baddie is gratifying .

Blue Steel (71%)

But beforePoint Break , Kathryn Bigelow took on aJamie Lee Curtisvehicle that expanded her range . TheHalloweenstar work greenhorn fuzz Megan Turner who is entangle in a wild goose chase from a psychopath who takes an unhealthy compulsion with her . While Curtis is good as ever as Turner , Ron Silver as the principal antagonist get chills of this time .

Bigelow showed confidence in pull of action scenes in minimalist fashion . And even though the plot is really aHalloweenscenario in a police force procedural , it is thrilling .

The Loveless (80%)

The Lovelessmarks not only the first appearance of Bigelow on feature - length films but also the acting debut ofWillem Dafoeas the lead protagonist . Dafoe is a biker named Vance who gets mire in peril from a bike mob who intends to rush along to Daytona .

This film is an overlooked part of Dafoe ’s filmography , and for his unveiling , he demonstrated grit and gravitas that allowed him to play complex roles . As for Bigelow ’s direction , she started strong in minimalist chassis . The shots are thornily executed and the action is silklike .

Detroit (84%)

Kathryn Bigelow ’s latest photographic film is a reprehensively underrated 2017 film . This time , she tackle the 1967 Detroit riots , particularly on the Algiers Motel incident . Bigelow never shied off from the gravid payoff that the incident encompassed . And since it is based on several straight accounts , she meticulously staged sequences from the chaotic situation the streets to the claustrophobic tension in the motel .

Everyone is in their A - game , withJohn Boyegaas key officeholder Melvin Dismukes , Algee Smith as torn subsister Larry Reed and Will Poulter as cruel officer David Senak .

Near Dark (88%)

Kathryn Bigelowis a passkey of her slyness , with her perfect ability to blend to any genre . For her 2nd directorial effort , she blends the Western , thehorrorand the family drama genres into one story of a young Midwestern boy name Caleb who run into a family of traveling lamia .

His misadventures tolerate Bigelow to bring her chops on the seedy Western subgenre . The final result is a satiny craze classic in the making . The moving-picture show features thespian Bill Paxton , Lance Henriksen and Jenette Goldstein , collaborators in other James Cameron movies .

Zero Dark Thirty (91%)

It seems that Bigelow want a hand on exceedingly crucial issues that utter of the socio - political wounds that cripple the nation . The second foray to that isZero Dark Thirty , a heavy dramatization of the operational manhunt to take down Osama bin Laden . This 2012 motion picture never shies away from tackling the CIA ’s unethical way of torment interrogation .

Rather than throw luminousness to this , Bigelow sternly showed the moral consequence that came to the figures behind the operation . Jessica ChastainasCIA intelligence analyst Mayagives an empathetic operation as the character with the skinny moral compass but complicated philosophy .

The Hurt Locker (97%)

Bigelow ’s best effort , thus far , is her Academy Award - gain thriller about a triad of Iraqi War dud garbage disposal officers who deal with the psychological impact that the war took a cost on them both on American soil and the Iraq insurgence . Screenwriter Mark Boal derived inspiration from his meter as a journalist covering the American scout group and bomb squads .

And he precisely draw the military aspect and the personal aspect of the subject . Bigelow get reward of the easy - burning scope of warfare by create a gentle yet centre - opening portrayal of those who gave their lives . For that , she deserves her first Oscar ever won by a distaff director in chronicle .

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Kathryn Bigelow Featured Image

The Weight of Water

K-19_Widowmaker

Strange Days

Johnny Utah and Bodhi talking on the beach in Point Break

Jamie Lee Curtis in Blue Steel

The Loveless

Detroit

Near Dark

Zero Dark Thirty

Movies