Power Rankings: Non-Linear Films

The SAW Power Rankings is our weekly ranking of a certain movie-related topic. Please feel free to comment on our rankings and provide a list of your own in the comments below.

 

Strictly defining a non-linear narrative can be tricky at times. A non-linear film can utilize a narrative to tell a story by showing flashbacks or flashforwards within a linear story. Some directors have simply taken the approach of telling the story out of chronological order to create a true non-linear film with the story jumping back and forth. Telling parallel stories that may or may not interweave is another form of non-linear storytelling and was what  D. W. Griffith employed to tell his story in 1916’s Intolerance which is considered the first of its kind.

We at SAW decided to rank some of our favorite non-linear films that utilize some or all of these storytelling devices. Quentin Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction and Christopher Nolan’s Memento were the films that appeared on the most lists at four apiece and are known for using this technique in multiple movies of theirs. Let us now below some of your favorite non-linear films and what makes them so effective!

Vincent Kane:

1. Arrival (2016)
2. The Prestige (2006)
3. Pulp Fiction (1994)
4. Jacob’s Ladder (1990)
5. The Mirror (1975)

Bob Cram Jr.:

1. Memento (2000)
2. Arrival (2016)
3. Mullholland Drive (2001)
4. Run Lola Run (1998)
5. Primer (2004)

Billy Dhalgren:

1. In the Mood for Love (2000)
2. Run Lola Run (1998)
3. Reservoir Dogs (1992)
4. Dunkirk (2017)
5. La Jetee (1962)

King Alvarez:

1. Pulp Fiction (1994)
2. Memento (2000)
3. The Usual Suspects (1995)
4. Primer (2004)
5. Pan’s Labyrinth (2006)

Sailor Monsoon:

1. Memento (2000)
2. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
3. The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014)
4. Citizen Kane (1941)
5. The Godfather: Part II (1974) 

Mark Naff:

1. The Prestige (2006)
2. Eternal Sunshine of The Spotless Mind (2004)
3. Jacob’s Ladder (1990)
4. Two for the Road (1967)
5. The Pawnbroker (1964)

Lee McCutcheon:

1. Memento (2000)
2. Pulp Fiction (1994)
3. Dunkirk (2017)
4. Irreversible (2002)
5. Hero (2002)

Soups:

1. Pulp Fiction (1994)
2. The Limey (1999)
3. Jacob’s Ladder (1990)
4. The Godfather: Part II (1974)
5. Reservoir Dogs (1992)