Top 9 movies produced by the late American movie producer, Jon Landau

In the movie industry, producers are often overshadowed or ignored because the directors get more credit. However, we must never forget that if not for the producers, making movies may never have been possible, as they are the ones who prepare everything for the directors.

Recently, Academy Award-winning producer Jon Landau passed away from Cancer on July 5, 2024, at the age of 63. Hollywood lost a prominent figure on that day.

Landau was well-known for collaborating with James Cameron and was an essential figure behind some of the most iconic movies ever made. With that, he has left an indelible mark on the industry.

As an act of remembrance, we have ranked the top 9 movies produced by Jon Landau from worst to best based on audience reaction.

Disclaimer: The following list in entirely based on the author’s perspective, and we understand that individual choices and preferences may vary.

9. Campus Man (1987)

Among the movies produced by Jon Landau, Campus Man is undoubtedly the least favorite among the viewers.

In contrast to his other projects, this is a low-budget film with slightly underdeveloped plot points, which turns out to be unintentionally funny.

The movie follows a college business student who plans to make the first-ever all-male sports calendar to make enough money to stay in college.

The film has become a cult classic for the audiences of its time, given its cheesy charm and over-the-top characters.

With mixed reviews from critics, the movie made only $989K at the box office and has a rating of 40% on Rotten Tomatoes.

8. Dick Tracy (1990)

A movie starring Warren Beatty, Al Pacino, Madonna, and Dustin Hoffman was bound to create waves, as Dick Tracy did at the time of its release.

Despite the eye-catching visuals, the movie failed to charm its audience due to its weak writing.

The film adaptation of the comic book revolves around detective Dick Tracy, who takes on Big Boy Caprice’s mob with the help of Breathless Mahoney.

In spite of the lukewarm response from the viewers, it won two Academy Awards for Best Production Design and Best Makeup and Hairstyling.

The Warren Beatty-directed movie went on to earn $163 million at the box office and has 61% Rotten Tomatoes ratings.

7. Beyond Glory (2015)

Stephen Lang presented a theatrical adaptation of Larry Smith’s book Beyond Glory: Medal of Honor Heroes in Their Own Words, highlighting Medal of Honor recipients.

With Jon Landau as one of the executive producers, director Larry Brand follows Stephen Lang as he tracks the 10-year journey of his one-man-play.

Among the movies produced by Jon Landau, this one is different as it might be the first documentary he produced.

This documentary displays the narratives of eight veterans from World War II, Vietnam, and Korea who received America’s highest military award.

Stephen Lang performs the stories of these heroes while exploring their sacrifices and bravery, shedding light on the human cost of war.

Lang’s captivating performance elevates this sincere adaptation, creating a perfect blend of theatre and cinema.

With a Rotten Tomatoes rating of 100%, this documentary is praised for its emphasis on the psychological toll of war, making it a powerful and thought-provoking watch.

6. Solaris (2002)

Often compared to Metropolis & 2001: A Space Odyssey, Solaris is one of the underrated science-fiction movies out there.

The movie offers an interesting plot based on the 1961 novel of the same name by Polish writer Stanislaw Lem.

At its heart, the movie is a psychological drama with some amazing performances, as it has a Rotten Tomatoes rating of 66%.

That being said, Solaris had a budget of $47 million, but it only managed to collect $30 million at the box office.

Regardless, the movie has garnered love from the audience throughout the years and continues to amaze its viewers even after two decades of its release.

5. Honey, I Shrunk the Kids (1989)

In 1989, the superhit Disney movie Honey, I Shrunk the Kids was released, and it went on to become a franchise in the years to come.

The movie presents a scientist, Wayne, who invents a shrinking machine and accidentally shrinks his kids to the size of insects.

Given the inventive premise, it piqued many people’s interest, and the movie earned a whopping $222 million at the box office on a production budget of $18 million.

The movie is light-hearted, ridiculous, adventurous, and fun, aided by good visual effects and an engaging second half.

This family comedy has a 76% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and the nostalgic factor of the movie keeps drawing the audience toward it.

4. Alita: Battle Angel (2019)

Set in a cyberpunk future, Alita: Battle Angel is a sci-fi action film that follows Alita, a cyborg who sets out to uncover her past and identity.

This movie saw the collaboration of James Cameron and Jon Landau again, but as producers this time.

This manga adaptation presents a fresh story with amazing action sequences. The enchanting visuals were the main highlight of the movie.

However, the visually stunning movie has some of its characters underdeveloped, with no depth in the story.

It exceeded the audience’s expectations when it was released and received a rating of 62% on Rotten Tomatoes.

Made on a budget of $170 million, it grossed $405 million worldwide and became Robert Rodriguez’s highest-grossing film.

3. Titanic (1997)

Among the movies made by Jon Landau, Titanic might be arguably the most iconic movie in mankind’s history. It is a powerful story of love, loss, and social class that continues to resonate with audiences today.

This romantic drama fictionalizes the sinking of the RMS Titanic in 1912, featuring two characters, Jack and Rose, whose names have become synonymous with love in the past few decades.

Often referred to as the masterpiece of James Cameron, Titanic is a visually stunning film with excellent performances by Leonardo Dicaprio and Kate Winslet.

Featuring outstanding visual effects, the movie had a budget of $200 million and grossed more than $2.26 billion.

The movie was a huge commercial success, winning eleven Academy Awards and becoming the highest-grossing film of all time for over a decade.

However, the film is criticized for historical inaccuracies and melodrama. Despite the flaws, many have crowned Titanic as the best romantic movie with a rating of 88% on Rotten Tomatoes.

2. Avatar: The Way of Water (2022)

After 13 years since the release of Avatar, James Cameron returned with its predecessor. With one of the best visual effects to date, Avatar: The Way of Water instantly sucked the audience into the world of Pandora and paved the way for more sequels.

Set in the waters of Pandora, the film provides an extraordinary viewing experience with more focus on the characters.

This latest movie by Jon Landau release now sits in third place among the highest-grossing movies of all time, overtaking another movie by the same director-producer duo, Titanic.

The $2.3 billion grossing movie had a budget of $350-460 million, making it one of the most expensive movies ever.

Despite the average writing, the movie is a visual spectacle, which has led to a Rotten Tomatoes rating of 76%.

1. Avatar (2008)

After the monumental success of Titanic, James Cameron came back 11 years later with the movie Avatar.

Among the movies produced by Jon Landau, this movie presented never-before-seen characters and a new world with amazing visuals.

The story revolves around a marine tasked with inhabiting Avatars to interact with the Na’vi on the moon Pandora.

Moreover, the movie’s environmental message helped to connect with the audience on a minute level rather than just providing an amazing visual experience.

It is the highest-grossing movie of all time, with a box office collection of $2.9 billion, making it one of the most iconic movies ever made.

The legacy of Avatar has only increased with time, inspiring comic books, theme parks, and video games.

Many regard the movie as the best collaboration between Jon Landau and James Cameron, along with Titanic.

The Academy Award-winning movie has an 81% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, accounting for more than 338 reviews.