Jeff Nichols - All His Films Ranked and Rated

Short Biography:

Jeff Nichols (born December 7, 1978) is an American film director and screenwriter from Little Rock, Arkansas. He studied filmmaking at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts. Nichols is most known for his films Take Shelter (2011), Mud (2012), and Loving (2016), which have been critically acclaimed.
So far, all films directed by Nichols have featured the brilliant Michael Shannon, either in a leading role (Shotgun Stories, Take Shelter, Midnight Special) or supporting capacity (Mud, Loving). Here at Deathbyfilms, we are huge fans of both Jeff Nichols and Michael Shannon, and look forward to their next project.

Here is a rundown of his movies, with the score based on the average from IMDb, Rotten Tomatoes (public votes only) and Letterboxd, from lowest ranked to highest:

Number of Qualifying Films:

Career Average Rating:

7.47

Total Career Box Office:

$ 56,237,882

Total Combined Budgets:

$ 42,250,000

Total Career Profit or [Loss]:

$ 13,987,882

Average Career Return on Every $1 Spent:

$ 0.75

5 – Midnight Special (2016)

IMDb:

6.6

RT Users:

6.7

Letterboxd:

6.64

6.65

Adventure, Drama, Science Fiction

Top Billed Cast:

Michael Shannon, Jaeden Martell, Joel Edgerton, Kirsten Dunst, Adam Driver

SYNOPSIS:

The government and a group of religious extremists pursue a man (Michael Shannon) and his son (Jaeden Lieberher), a young boy who possesses special powers.

WORLDWIDE BOX OFFICE GROSS:

$ 6,740,647

PRODUCTION BUDGET:

$ 18,000,000

PROFIT OR (LOSS):

$ [-11,259,353]

RETURN ON EVERY $1 SPENT:

$ 0.37

4 – Loving (2016)

IMDb:

7.0

RT Users:

7.6

Letterboxd:

6.94

7.18

Drama, Romance

Top Billed Cast:

Joel Edgerton, Ruth Negga, Michael Shannon, Marton Csokas, Nick Kroll,

SYNOPSIS:

Interracial couple Richard and Mildred Loving fell in love and were married in 1958. They grew up in Central Point, a small town in Virginia that was more integrated than surrounding areas in the American South. Yet it was the state of Virginia, where they were making their home and starting a family, that first jailed and then banished them. Richard and Mildred relocated with their children to the inner city of Washington, D.C., but the family ultimately tries to find a way back to Virginia.

WORLDWIDE BOX OFFICE GROSS:

$ 12,957,265

PRODUCTION BUDGET:

$ 9,000,000

PROFIT OR (LOSS):

$ 3,957,265

RETURN ON EVERY $1 SPENT:

$ 1.44

3 – Shotgun Stories (2007)

IMDb:

7.1

RT Users:

8.0

Letterboxd:

7.32

7.47

Drama, Thriller

Top Billed Cast:

Michael Shannon, Douglas Ligon, Barlow Jacobs, Michael Abbott Jr., Travis Smith,

SYNOPSIS:

Backed by siblings Kid (Barlow Jacobs) and Boy (Douglas Ligon), Son Hayes (Michael Shannon) tells the attendees at his father’s funeral that he and his brothers hated the dead man, then spits on his grave. This triggers a battle with the siblings’ half brothers, which soon leaves Kid dead and Son seriously hurt. As the half brothers stockpile weapons for what they assume will be a deadly encounter, Boy visits them and suggests an end to the fighting.

WORLDWIDE BOX OFFICE GROSS:

$ 185,699

PRODUCTION BUDGET:

$ 250,000

PROFIT OR (LOSS):

$ [-64,301]

RETURN ON EVERY $1 SPENT:

$ 0.74

2 – Mud (2012)

IMDb:

7.4

RT Users:

8.0

Letterboxd:

7.26

7.55

Drama

Top Billed Cast:

Matthew McConaughey, Reese Witherspoon, Tye Sheridan, Jacob Lofland, Sam Shepard

SYNOPSIS:

While exploring a Mississippi River island, Arkansas boys Ellis (Tye Sheridan) and Neckbone (Jacob Lofland) encounter Mud (Matthew McConaughey),a fugitive who needs their help. Though Mud killed a man in Texas and has bounty hunters on his trail, he is most concerned about reuniting with Juniper (Reese Witherspoon), the love of his life. Ellis, who is suffering the pangs of his first crush, agrees to help Mud. He and Neckbone do all they can to protect Mud and help him reunite with Juniper.

WORLDWIDE BOX OFFICE GROSS:

$ 32,613,173

PRODUCTION BUDGET:

$ 10,000,000

PROFIT OR (LOSS):

$ 22,613,173

RETURN ON EVERY $1 SPENT:

$ 3.26

1 – Take Shelter (2011)

IMDb:

7.3

RT Users:

8.1

Letterboxd:

7.58

7.66

Drama, Horror, Thriller

Top Billed Cast:

Michael Shannon, Jessica Chastain, Katy Mixon, Shea Whigham, Ray McKinnon

SYNOPSIS:

Curtis LaForche (Michael Shannon) lives in a small Ohio town with his loving wife (Jessica Chastain) and hearing-impaired daughter (Tova Stewart). Though money is tight, he and his family are very happy. But then, Curtis begins having terrifying dreams about an apocalypse that threatens them all. Rather than confiding in Samantha, he begins building a storm shelter in the backyard, and his strange behavior causes tension in their marriage and the surrounding community.

WORLDWIDE BOX OFFICE GROSS:

$ 3,741,098

PRODUCTION BUDGET:

$ 5,000,000

PROFIT OR (LOSS):

$ [-1,258,902]

RETURN ON EVERY $1 SPENT:

$ 0.75