William Friedkin’s Best Movies and Where to Stream Them

Christian Zilko
·2 min read
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When William Friedkin died at the age of 87 on August 7, the film world lost a singular director who continued taking risks until his final days — and a vital link between the New Hollywood innovators of the 1970s and the blockbuster era that followed. 

After cutting his teeth on conventional Hollywood fare like the 1967 musical “Good Times,” Friedkin wasted no time seeking out riskier projects. He embraced provocative subject matter when he directed “The Boys in the Band” in 1970, which went down in history as one of the first films to treat gay men as nuanced characters. But despite proving a knack for intimate theatrical adaptations, Friedkin quickly pivoted to large-scale blockbusters. 

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Films like “The French Connection” and “Sorcerer” demonstrated Friedkin’s eye for spectacle, treating audiences to dazzling action set pieces that Hollywood has never been able to top. But Friedkin infused both films with serious character development and elements of cinema verite, proving that popcorn blockbusters could be marketed to adults and still be hits. 

Friedkin’s greatest impact on the film industry may well be the enduring legacy of “The Exorcist.” In addition to horrifying moviegoers for 50 years, the demonic possession thriller legitimized the horror genre in the eyes of audiences and studio executives alike. The film proved that horror projects, which at the time were generally considered lowbrow afterthoughts for studios, could compete for major box office dollars and prestige when given the same resources as other genres. 

Friedkin was never one to rest on his laurels, and he continued to make provocative films in a variety of genres up until his death. (His final film, “The Caine Mutiny Court-Marshall,” is set to premiere at the Venice Film Festival this year.) His filmography is both a living document of the past 50 years of Hollywood history and a distinct body of work with an aesthetic that can stand on its own. While some of his best films are tragically unavailable online (looking at you, “To Live and Die in L.A.”), many of his masterpieces are available to stream.

Keep reading for a roundup of Friedkin’s best works — and where you can watch them.

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