Peter Jackson has a wide range of films under his belt. From the successful blockbusters of The Lord of the Rings series to lesser-known comedy/horror films that occupy a space between strange and absurd. Many of Jackson's films are written in part by his wife, Fran Walsh, who began with the 1989 film Meet the Feebles. The director has created thirteen narrative feature-length films starting with Bad Taste in 1987 — here is every one, ranked.

13 Meet the Feebles (1989)

A puppet dies by suicide in Peter Jackson movie Meet the Feebles
South Gate Entertainment
Intervision

This fever dream of a film was released in 1989 as a comedy musical. It is written by Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh, Stephen Sinclair, and Danny Mulheron. The film stars Danny Mulheron, Donna Akersten, and Stuart Devenie. The film’s subject is a group of animals and insects involved in show business, all of whom are depicted onscreen as puppets. The film is engrossed in a vulgar, offbeat, and disgusting tone with many depictions of violence, drug use, and sex throughout the film. The movie first premiered in New Zealand and was a box office failure. However, the unique premise helped to develop a cult following for the film and has since received some critical praise.

12 The Lovely Bones (2009)

The Lovely Bones by Peter Jackson
Paramount Pictures

The Lovely Bones was Jackson’s last film released before the Hobbit Trilogy. The film tells the story of a young girl who is murdered and while in purgatory must help her family find her killer. The story is based on a novel by Alice Sebold that shares the same name. Starring in the film are Rachel Weisz, Mark Wahlberg, Saoirse Ronan, Susan Sarandon, and Michael Imperioli. The film has a wonderful cast but received mixed reviews in regards to its clashing tones and balance between thrill and emotionality.

Related: Best Mark Wahlberg Movies, Ranked

11 The Frighteners (1996)

R Lee Ermey The Frighteners
Universal Pictures 

This lighthearted fantasy/horror film debuted in 1996 and follows Frank Bannister as he learns to communicate with the dead. He first uses his ability to scam people with an expensive exorcism service, but later is forced to confront a mass murdering ghost who can kill both the living and the dead. The film is written by Jackson and Fran Walsh and stars Michael J. Fox, Trini Alvarado, and Peter Dobson. The visual effects produced by Jackson’s Weta Digital may not hold up perfectly well compared to contemporary films, but for the time the effects were seen as impressive.

10 Bad Taste (1987)

Bad Taste
Endeavor Productions

This low-budget comedy/sci-fi film was produced in 1987 and tells the story of a small town invaded by human-eating aliens. The film was shot over the course of four years in Jackson’s hometown using a 16mm Bolex film camera. The gory film has great props and costume design given its budget. The acting may be a little rough, and the shaky handheld cinematography is a bit much at times, but the film has character and is worth the watch if you are a fan of Peter Jackson.

9 The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies (2014)

People of Middle Earth look up in The Hobbit The Battle of the Five Armies
Warner Bros. Pictures

This is the last film in The Hobbit trilogy based on the single original novel by J.R.R. Tolkien. The film concludes the story of Bilbo and the Dwarfs as they defend their riches beneath the Lonley Mountain. The film is cinematic and action-packed, criticisms of this film surround its long battle sequence and length when compared to the source material. The film was nominated for one Oscar in regard to its sound editing.

Related: The Hobbit Movies: Peter Jackson’s Biggest Changes from the Books

8 King Kong (2005)

King Kong from Peter Jackson
Universal Pictures

This blockbuster stars Naomi Watts, Jack Black, and Adrien Brody. The 2005 Jackson film follows a naive filmmaker as they make their way to the mysterious Skull Island in an attempt to document the native population that lives there. The film was nominated for one Oscar in Art Direction and won three for its sound mixing, sound editing, and visual effects.

7 The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (2013)

the-hobbit-the-desolation-of-smaug
New Line Cinema

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug is the second installment of The Hobbit trilogy and follows Bilbo and company as they reach the Lonley Mountain and confront the dragon, Smaug, voiced by Benedict Cumberbatch. The film received three Oscar nominations for its sound mixing, sound editing, and visual effects.

6 Heavenly Creatures (1994)

Heavenly Creatures from Peter Jackson
Miramax Films

Heavenly Creatures is a 1994 film that stars Melanie Lynskey and Kate Winslet in their first feature-length film roles. The screenplay is written by Jackson and Fran Walsh and is based on a 1954 New Zealand murder case in which a woman was murdered by her teenage daughter and her friend. The film was nominated for an Academy Award in Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen, and received positive critical acclaim following its release.

5 The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012)

_______The Hobbit- An Unexpected Journey

This is the first film in The Hobbit trilogy and is a solid follow-up to the original The Lord of the Rings trilogy. Starring Martin Freeman, Ian McKellen, and Richard Armitage, the film follows hobbit Bilbo Baggins and a company of dwarves as they embark on reclaiming the Lonely Mountain. The action-packed adventure was nominated for three Oscars and is the most well-received film in The Hobbit trilogy.

4 Dead Alive

Dead Alive A.K.A Braindead
Trimark Pictures
 

Dead Alive is a 1992 blood-filled comedy horror movie. The film, like many other Jackson projects, has developed a bit of a cult following and is to many an introduction to his distinct campy horror subgenre. This film follows a zombie-like infection of a small town after a woman is bitten by a Sumatran rat-monkey. The effects shown in this film are grotesque to an otherworldly degree; the film is often considered to be one of the goriest made of all time.

3 The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)

The young hobbits stand in the mountains of Lord of the Rings (2001)
New Line Cinema

The adaption of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings trilogy was a monumental task, and Peter Jackson did it brilliantly. The success of these films brought in a new wave of fans to enjoy the fantasy realm originally laid out by Tolkien in 1937. The first film of the trilogy The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring stars Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Orlando Bloom, and Sean Astin. This film was nominated for nine Oscars and won four.

2 The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)

Sam, Frodo, and Gollum on the ground in The Lord of the Rings The Two Towers
New Line Cinema

The second installment of the trilogy was released one year after the first in 2002. It continues the adventure that started in the first and follows Frodo and Sam as they gain ground on Morodor in order to confront Sauron. The film maintains the feeling of adventure and wonder that was first captured in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring. This film was nominated for four Oscars and won two.

1 The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)

Frodo drops the ring into Mount Doom in The Rings: The Return of the King
New Line Cinema

Closing out our list is the last installment of The Lord of the Rings series, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King. The first two films in the series are incredibly well done and very good films, but the conclusion to this epic adventure is second to none. It has the perfect balance of action and drama and enthralls its viewer with all the best pieces of the high fantasy genre. The film won every Oscar it was nominated for and ultimately took home 11 awards. Tolkien’s story, in combination with Jackson’s directorial talent, makes for a film worthy of the utmost praise.