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Jeff Nichols - All His Films Ranked and Rated

Jeff Nichols, film director
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:
5
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
Midnight Special (2016) by Jeff Nichols
5 – Midnight Special (2016)
IMDb:
6.6
RT Users:
6.7
Letterboxd:
6.64
Star icon
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.
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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
Loving (2016) by Jeff Nichols
4 – Loving (2016)
IMDb:
7.0
RT Users:
7.6
Letterboxd:
6.94
Star icon
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.
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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
Shotgun Stories (2007) by Jeff Nichols
3 – Shotgun Stories (2007)
IMDb:
7.1
RT Users:
8.0
Letterboxd:
7.32
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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.
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WORLDWIDE BOX OFFICE GROSS:
$ 185,699
PRODUCTION BUDGET:
$ 250,000
PROFIT OR (LOSS):
$ [-64,301]
RETURN ON EVERY $1 SPENT:
$ 0.74
Mud (2012) by Jeff Nichols
2 – Mud (2012)
IMDb:
7.4
RT Users:
8.0
Letterboxd:
7.26
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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.
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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
Take Shelter (2011) by Jeff Nichols
1 – Take Shelter (2011)
IMDb:
7.3
RT Users:
8.1
Letterboxd:
7.58
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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.
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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