Rotten Tomatoes
Cancel Movies Tv shows FanStore News Showtimes

Abel Ferrara

Highest Rated: 92% The Projectionist (2019)

Lowest Rated: 0% The Blackout (1997)

Birthday: Jul 19, 1951

Birthplace: Bronx, New York, USA

A prolific independent filmmaker with a penchant for graphic sex and violence, director Abel Ferrara developed a strong following for his highly atmospheric, stylized portraits of an ultra-violent and crime-ridden New York City with gritty movies like "King of New York" (1990) and "Bad Lieutenant" (1992). Often working in collaboration with out-of-bounds actors like Harvey Keitel, Christopher Walken and Willem Dafoe, Ferrara rose above the seedy sex and violence to metaphorical and often allegorical levels by exploring good and evil, often through the use of religious iconography. Aided by screenwriting partner and childhood friend Nicholas St. John, he rose to prominence in the indie world with exploitation movies "Driller Killer" (1979) and "Ms. 45" (1980), and even had a brief brush with the mainstream by directing episodes of "Miami Vice" (NBC, 1984-89) and "Crime Story" (NBC, 1986). But it was "King of New York" and "Bad Lieutenant" that earned him a great deal of respect despite their sordid subject matter, the latter of which many considered to be Ferrara's masterpiece. After running into trouble with Madonna on "Dangerous Game" (1993) and the exquisite period gangster piece "The Funeral" (1996), he often struggled to find financing. In his later years, Ferrara continued making tough films that often depicted an essentially evil world that nonetheless contained hope for salvation.

Show Less Show More

Highest rated movies

92% The Projectionist Watchlist
86% 72% Ms. 45
Watchlist
81% 38% Tommaso Watchlist
80% 51% Daddy Longlegs
Watchlist
80% 68% The Funeral
Watchlist
79% 33% Pasolini Watchlist
78% 74% Bad Lieutenant
Watchlist
77% 42% Welcome to New York
Watchlist
74% 68% The Addiction
Watchlist
72% 77% King of New York
Watchlist

Filmography

Movies

Credit
No Score Yet No Score Yet Turn in the Wound Director - 2024
34% 38% Padre Pio Director,
Screenwriter
- 2022
54% 8% Zeros and Ones Director,
Screenwriter
- 2021
No Score Yet No Score Yet Sportin' Life Director - 2020
65% 10% Siberia Director,
Screenwriter
- 2019
92% No Score Yet The Projectionist Director - 2019
81% 38% Tommaso Director,
Screenwriter
- 2019
20% No Score Yet Alive in France Director,
Music
- 2017
No Score Yet No Score Yet Ultima chiamata Jailer (Character) - 2017
No Score Yet No Score Yet Piazza Vittorio Self,
Director
- 2017
40% 42% Black Butterfly Pat (Character) - 2017
79% 33% Pasolini Director $30.1K 2014
77% 42% Welcome to New York Director,
Screenwriter
- 2014
No Score Yet No Score Yet Invincible Force Reno Miller (Character) - 2011
48% 19% 4:44 Last Day on Earth Director,
Screenwriter
$15.7K 2011
No Score Yet No Score Yet Uncle Bob Producer - 2011
60% No Score Yet Happy Life Executive Producer - 2011
80% 51% Daddy Longlegs Robber (Character) - 2010
No Score Yet No Score Yet Mulberry St. Director - 2010
No Score Yet 43% Napoli, Napoli, Napoli Director - 2009
No Score Yet 23% Go Get Some Rosemary Robber (Character) $20.7K 2009
No Score Yet 31% Bandaged Executive Producer - 2009
71% 44% Chelsea on the Rocks Director $6.9K 2008
70% 27% Go Go Tales Director,
Writer
- 2007
59% 43% Mary Director,
Writer
- 2005
No Score Yet No Score Yet Odyssey in Rome Unknown (Character) - 2005
No Score Yet 17% White Boy Producer - 2002
62% 45% 'R Xmas Director,
Screenwriter
- 2001
24% 38% New Rose Hotel Director,
Writer
$20.4K 1998
0% 53% The Blackout Director,
Screenwriter
- 1997
No Score Yet 61% Subway Stories Director - 1997
80% 68% The Funeral Director $1.2M 1996
74% 68% The Addiction Director - 1995
31% 45% Snake Eyes Director $121.8K 1993
71% 47% Body Snatchers Director $54.8K 1993
78% 74% Bad Lieutenant Director,
Writer
$47.5K 1992
72% 77% King of New York Director $2.6M 1990
No Score Yet No Score Yet Un Príncipe de Nueva York Director - 1990
No Score Yet 14% Cat Chaser Director - 1989
No Score Yet 50% China Girl Director $918.1K 1987
No Score Yet 70% Gladiator Director - 1986
No Score Yet 89% Crime Story Director - 1986
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Gladiator Director - 1986
69% 33% Fear City Director - 1984
86% 72% Ms. 45 1st Rapist (Character),
Director
- 1981
64% 32% The Driller Killer Reno Miller (Character),
Director
- 1979
No Score Yet No Score Yet Could This Be Love Director,
Screenwriter
- 1973

TV

Credit
71% 89% Miami Vice Director 1985