Kevin Smith is one of those filmmakers that you either love or hate his body of work. To some he’s a voice of a generation while to others he’s just a guy who has made several films with the same schtick. Since the release of Clerks in 1994, Smith has had an interesting run of films, some good and some bad. In this ranking i’m going to be covering everything from Clerks to his most recent Clerks 3. There’s a movie that he made that I will not be including in this list called “Killroy Was Here” primarily on the fact that he sold it as an NFT, so no one has actually seen it. Here is how I see his filmography from Clerks to his most recent Clerks 3.
14 - Cop Out
Cop Out is Kevin Smith’s worst film. I wouldn’t really even call it a Kevin Smith film because it contains no earmarks that tie back to his filmography. This was his play to be a big studio action comedy filmmaker, and it didn’t really work out in his favour. My view of his films are pretty simple, the least “Kevin Smith” a project is (along with the film’s quality) the lower it is on my list. If I were to watch Cop Out without knowing that Kevin Smith directed it, I couldn’t guess that he was behind it. It feels like a run of the mill action comedy that would have come out at that time period. I don’t even know if that’s something I can blame Smith for because I have a feeling that this film was muddied down by studio interference. I don’t know much about the production of this film, but it seems similar to other films that were dramatically affected by studios stepping in and taking control. The movie itself isn’t really fun or funny and the casting is odd at best. Bruce Willis and Tracy Morgan are a weird pairing and it throws off the vibe of the film. Both seem like they would work on their own well but together doesn’t click. That in a way is similar to the movie itself. The film doesn’t really know if it’s a Kevin Smith Comedy or a Bruce Willis action flick. The biggest problem about this film as I stated previously is that it’s not really a Kevin Smith film and it lacks the things that make his film so strong. Cop Out was definitely an experiment to see if Kevin Smith could direct these types of films and it seems like Smith isn’t the best choice for this type of film.
13 - Red State
Red State is an interesting situation because I like the motivation behind it and I get what Kevin is trying to do, but it feels too unrestrained. I’m not knocking off the wall films as some of my favourite films are bonkers like the works of Takeshi Miike or Julia Ducournau, but Red State is not that. Kevin has stated in the past that this film was fuelled by the hate he felt towards overly conservative churches at the time it was released as he grew up in religion and is not the biggest fan of it. Growing up as a trans girl in the North American church system, I completely get it, but the film still doesn’t work for me. The film isn’t wild yet complex like a TITANE or an Oldboy, it’s just shocking. There’s a few scenes that are unrelenting in this film, but much of the rest of the film is borderline ridiculous. The film is not funny enough to be a Kevin Smith movie and it’s not shocking enough to be an extremist classic. I would have loved this film more if it chose a side. If it was a comedic mockery of the system like Dogma did in some ways, it would have worked. It would have worked even better if it was a nightmare. If Kevin Smith made something truly disturbing and unrelenting but with rich subtext and commentary about how people on the right treat people in an almost depraved humanistic and also animalistic fashion, I would have totally been down for that. Similar in some ways to how I feel about Cop Out, the concept at hand isn’t really the problem, Kevin Smith just isn’t the best choice for the project at hand. Red State might have been a much more compelling deconstruction of the depravity that develops in the deep recesses of american conservatism and modern christianity if it wasn’t directed by Smith.
12 - Zack and Miri Make a Porno
Following the trend of the last two is Zack and Miri Make a Porno. The film isn’t godawful, but similarly to the last two, it’s not really a Kevin Smith film. The inclusion of Seth Rogen is probably the reason I feel this way about the film. I don’t hate Seth Rogen in any way and many of his films I found enjoyment from, but like Cop Out, If I watched this film I probably couldn’t tell you that Smith directed it. At the base of this film, it’s a Seth Rogen comedy. It’s raunchy in the way that many of his other films are which isn’t a problem, but it doesn’t really gel well with the filmmaking of Kevin Smith. At his best, Kevin Smith’s films are raw yet introspective. Seth Rogen comedies are not really introspective and because of that, the raw honesty and heart is missing from this film. This was Kevin Smith’s play to be the big studio comedy director and similar to Cop Out, the vibes present in those types of films don’t seem to mold well with Kevin’s sensibilities. There’s a funny story that i’m not sure is entirely true that states that Seth Rogen is the reason that Kevin’s career is where it is now. A lot of people state that Kevin’s career went through a shift when he started smoking weed, some people would even argue that it got worse. Many speculate that Seth turned Kevin onto weed. It’s a wild theory, but it would make sense if it had some weight to it seeing the trajectory of his career after this film. Zack and Miri Make a Porno is simply not a Kevin Smith Comedy.
11 - Jersey Girl
The best of Kevin’s attempts to make something more mainstream was Jersey Girl. A film that for some reason gets a lot of hate like it’s one of the worst films ever when in actuality it’s the only one that contains a piece of storytelling that Kevin has used since then. That element being how he writes his drama and his more downtempo scenes. This is the most Kevin Smith of the “Not Really Kevin Smith” films that he’s made in his career as it showcases how he does have a talent for both the comedic and the dramatic. At the end of the day it ends up being similar to the family dramedies that were coming out at that time period, but it definitely still has some of those sensibilities that tie back to Kevin’s unique style and vibe. It’s clear that every film that he makes ties back to where he is mentally at that period in time and this being a film about him beginning his road as a father makes it much more endearing and worth while than anything lower on this list. Jersey Girl is a decent film that is a high point when it comes to the period of time when Kevin was trying to branch out and make some more mainstream films.
10 - Yoga Hosers
Yoga Hosers is probably the most misunderstood of Kevin’s filmography. Many state that this is his worst film, but it’s more indicative of Kevin Smith’s style and sensibilities as a filmmaker. It’s over the top in some ways, but it still feels like something Kevin would make. It’s an interesting vision of Canada from a filmmaker who seems to be mocking and satirizing the way that the united states looks at Canada as a whole. This is the second film in his trilogy of Canadian films which started with Tusk. From face value, it seems that Kevin thinks that Canada is one wild place. Many would state that this film is Kevin Smith trying to make a so bad its good film and that would automatically make it bad, but that’s not necessarily the case. I got more out of this film than I did from most of the films lower on the list. It feels like an oddball canadian indie film and I appreciate that about it. The story is wild and very in line with the films that Kevin Smith have made in the past. It has that low budget vibe that his best films also have. I’m not invalidating some of the criticisms that it has gotten as it’s not a perfect film or even a great film, but people seem to be really harsh about it. It’s not an amazing film, but compared to some of the other things that he’s made, Yoga Hosers isn’t really that bad.
9 - Dogma
Similar to the last film, this placement is probably gonna get me in trouble. Dogma in some ways is a wild film, but as a whole it’s kinda just okay. I like the idea of a film that uses satire or over the top content to lay down a commentary on religion and the ridiculous nature of some of these topics, but similar to how I felt about Red State, it would have probably been much better in the hands of a different director. That’s not to say that I didn’t enjoy some moments in this film. I really like the scene of them in the board room killing the execs and the scene with Alanis Morrisette as god is pretty great, but as a whole film it’s kinda inconsistent. The last time I watched it, I had to go back and watch a portion of the film because I fell asleep. I fell asleep, missed about 45 minutes and woke up when Alanis came down as god in the end. This is the only film on this list that I fell asleep watching which might be indicative of how engaging the film is. I’m not saying that this film is terrible because some elements of it work in certain scenes, i’m just saying that it baffles me that this film is in the top three of his filmography for so many people. As said before, i’m down for a scathing commentary on the state of religion but it just doesn’t seem like it fits in the ball park of Kevin Smith.
8 - Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back
There was a strange movement during the time period that this film was released where everyone wanted to make a film satirizing the hollywood system. I would assume that’s primarily based on the fact that the 90s and the very early 2000s were very much a wild west when it came to filmmaking. A wide swath of things were being made that would have never seen the light of day previously. Some of these satires were good and some were not so good. Strike Back fits right in the middle of that spectrum. The film isn’t bad in anyway, but it’s also missing some key elements to make it a great satire on the Hollywood system like Robert Altman’s The Player for example. Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back is very much a stoner comedy that makes fun of itself in a multitude of ways. The problem with some of these films is that the way they go about this type of commentary isn’t that smart. Just because you make fun of something you’re doing wrong doesn’t mean that it suddenly vindicates your film. The film does a lot of nods to itself and how “lazy and corporate” it is while proceeding to do the same thing. This was supposedly the end of Kevin Smith’s shared universe before he changed his mind when Jersey Girl bombed. In that lens, it seems like he was trying to go out with a bang, but I wouldn’t consider this type of self commentary as a climax. This film lacks the nuance that films like Clerks and Chasing Amy has and that’s the biggest issue. If he wrote this film like he did those, it could have maybe been a raw discussion about the Hollywood studio system but that’s not what we got.
7 - Mallrats
This is another placement that will not be adored by some fans of Kevin’s, but it has to be said. Mallrats is not one of his top tier films and there’s good reasons why. The biggest component of this criticism from me is how immature it is. The best Smith films balance pop culture references with a real and raw human drama. The problem with Mallrats is that it finds itself stuck in the lane of 90s gross out comedy that is anything but endearing. While I admire some of the steps up that he made as a filmmaker based on how he was given more money to make this, that doesn’t take away from the fact that this is a weaker film to Clerks in so many ways. It feels like a film that was made for tween boys to laugh at and possibly reminisce about as adults without revisiting. The film even has a very cartoonish villain that feels like they were picked right out of a cheesy 90s film. I’m not saying that i’m against films having fun as surrealism is something that I adore, but this film has no weight. It’s very much a wild for wild’s sake type film. Mallrats is a product of its time, but even with that metric, there’s so many other “90s” type films that you could seek out instead.
6 - Jay and Silent Bob Reboot
I’m not sure what I can say about this film that is different than what I said about Strikes Back because they are the same movie, even Smith acknowledges that. This film has the same issues with trying to make fun of the world of studio films at that period of time while also stepping into the same bear traps. The film tries to front itself as a smart commentary on the state of films, but it also seems to be an excuse to get away with those same problems. Just because you make fun of it doesn’t make it any less annoying or stupid in your movie. The one thing that has me liking this one more than Strike Back is the father storyline. Like some of Kevin’s best work, Reboot contains a very human story about fathers and their children that in some scenes breaks through the stupid humour and shines. The best films from Smith balance the pop culture comedy with human drama that really pierces your soul and Reboot does that. That’s the one reason that I prefer Reboot over Strikes Back. I wish Kevin leaned more into the raw human drama more because he writes those with such honesty. Reboot isn’t a terrible film, but it fits in the middle road with some of the other films on this list.
5 - Clerks II
This is the part of the list where I get to the films from Smith that I appreciate for many reasons. The Clerks films have been the only part of Kevin’s filmography that have been continuously consistent. Clerks II is a simple film about the Dante and Randall from the previous film who are now in a new phase of their life and battling the idea of aging. Dante wants to move on with his life while Randall doesn’t want to really move into the next phase of his life. The Clerks films feel like three films from different parts of the human experience. This one is a look into the struggles of approaching your 40s. Like the other two films in this trilogy, Clerks II balances a commentary on pop culture with a deep and human look into being in your 30s. It tackles ideas like family, relationships and the phase of life we all get to where we want to maybe settle down and change the trajectory of our future. It’s the weakest of the Clerks films based on the comedy not always working, but the careful combination of humour and drama is still there in the final product. Clerks II showcases the best Kevin Smith could offer at the delicate time in his career that was the 2000s.
4 - Clerks III
While Clerks II focuses on the idea of approaching your 40s, Clerks III gets way deeper with the human drama and discusses the ideas of death and the legacy that we leave behind. Similar to Clerks II, the comedy sometimes doesn’t work, but in other times works really well. This is more of an exercise in Kevin’s way of writing drama that in the right circumstances works super well. It’s a simple story of two guys who are close to death wanting to leave something that would be their legacy. The film sees Dante and Randall making a film about their life in hopes of possibly leaving it behind for others to discover. There’s a real introspective hook to this film when it comes to how Kevin views his filmography. This is very much a film about Kevin looking back at his career and hoping that when he leaves the earth, it will be a good legacy for the life that he’s lived. While it isn’t as strong in some aspects when compared to the original Clerks, I feel this one is the most introspective of the trilogy and it has the most emotional weight attached to it. That is the very reason why it’s at this place when looking back at his filmography.
3 - Chasing Amy
This is a film that works on many levels, but also has its slew of problems. The biggest of those problems being how it’s the story of a lesbian told from the point of view of a man who wants to have sex with her. The film would be much higher of a regard for me if it was told in a different way. I’m not saying that Kevin is in anyway against the idea of the LGBTQ+ as he’s a strong advocate, but the narrative of this film is muddied by the perspective of the lead being that of someone who is hoping for an unachievable sexual connection. This film does have some great elements as it’s one of Kevin’s best scripts and the performances are great across the board. It’s probably Kevin’s strongest film in a traditional sense and was even great enough to be recognized by the Criterion Collection. Chasing Amy isn’t a terrible film by any stretch, but a couple elements keep it from being anything higher than a mere enjoyable film the few times that i’ve gone back to watch it. Chasing Amy isn’t amazing, but it’s definitely one of the best from Kevin Smith’s filmography.
2 - Tusk
Tusk is not for everyone but I sure as hell appreciate it. I’m not sure if it’s because A24 was behind this, but I feel like that’s a factor. This feels like Kevin Smith at his most surreal. A kafkaesque morality tale that stays with you way past your viewing. Tusk is a deep look at the ugly that people can have inside them and how that could physically manifest itself in a visual manner. The film is funny when it needs to be and its scary when it needs to be. Everyone knows how they felt during the reveal scene in this film. The film is not heavily based in the jumpscare type of horror but instead decides to play around with the psychological. This is found through the great performances and the killer script. This is one of those films that I feel people quickly disregarded based on how wacky the premise was and didn’t look deeper than the surface. If you take a deep dive into the subtext and the commentary present in this film, it’s clear that it’s picking at the idea of mockery especially in the world of social media. The idea of people being turned into freaks by those who watch them. It’s also a fuck you in a way to those who use their platform to abuse and malign others and shows those who do so what could happen to them as a result of their actions. It’s a very butterfly effect type story in that way. What goes around comes around in that regard. Tusk also has great ending that emulates the feeling of those who you care about leaving you based on the terrible ways you decide to present yourself. The ending is quite bleak yet effective. Tusk is a great piece of body horror that also contains a great commentary about how the internet emboldens those who’s sole intention is to hurt others. I wish Tusk got more love because it truly deserves it.
1 - Clerks
This one probably isn’t a surprise as this is Kevin Smith at his most Kevin Smith. A low budget film that was a building block in the indie movement present in the 90s. The cheapness of the project helps elevate it as the lower budget makes the world and the characters feel more real. The writing and performances in this film also help it feel natural like you’re getting a window into the day in the life of a human being. The film has the Kevin Smith pop culture schtick but it also feels super real and raw based on the film’s technical elements and the content at the heart of the film’s story and dialogue. The use of the black and white and the handheld camera also gives an extra level of realism to the project. This is the film that showcased Kevin Smith to the world. While his career hasn’t been the best and he’s had his ups and downs when it’s come to his career, this is the defining moment that showed off what Kevin had inside him. A film that was simply just about the wild and the mundane shit that happens in his life shot at his place of employment. This film is a true example of the indie filmmaker dream and it will forever be cherished by many for that same reason. The fact that Smith made this film is inspiring to many and no one can take that away from them. This is Kevin at his most human, at his most sincere and at his most Kevin and that’s why it will always be his best film.