Jim Jarmusch Movies Ranked Worst To Best

Jim Jarmusch's best movies prove he has always been a risk-taker of a director, even if those risks are necessarily pronounced or brash compared to other filmmakers. Over more than 30 years in the business, Jarmusch has dominated the indie scene as a director concerned with the quotidian, the existential, the unusual, the confrontational, the bland, and everything in between. A typical Jarmusch plot presents as a logical, mild-mannered affair no matter how extraordinary the circumstances, choosing to focus on how the characters populating the film operate within the established rules of the world.

As such, Jarmusch has emerged as a director who has been able to go from genre to genre, be it a crime thriller, comedy, or supernatural drama, infusing it with his unique sensibilities. With 13 feature films and two documentaries to his name (not to mention the large handful of short films), Jarmusch has crafted an astounding body of work since his first movie, Permanent Vacation, arrived on the scene at the beginning of the 1980s.

15 Permanent Vacation (1980)

A Young Hipster Wanders Manhattan Seeking The Meaning Of Life

Your Rating close 10 stars 9 stars 8 stars 7 stars 6 star 5 stars 4 stars 3 stars 2 stars 1 star 0/10 Leave a Review Your changes have been saved My List My Favorite Movies My Watchlist Success! Permanent Vacation Permanent Vacation is Jim Jarmusch's directorial debut, depicting a young man navigating downtown Manhattan. The protagonist, disconnected from his absent father and institutionalized mother, embarks on a journey of self-discovery while encountering various urban characters, with an affinity for jazz musician Charlie Parker. Where to Watch stream

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buy Not available Not available Not available *Availability in US Release Date March 6, 1981 Runtime 75 minutes Cast Leila Gastil , Chris Parker , John Lurie , Richard Boes , Sara Driver , Charlie Spademan , Jane Fire , Ruth Bolton , Evelyn Smith , Maria Duval , Lisa Rosen , Frankie Faison , Suzanne Fletcher , Felice Rosser , Eric Mitchell Expand

It's not that Jarmusch's first film, 1980s Permanent Vacation, is bad. It's just that Permanent Vacation is the result of a director with a vision attempting to navigate the demands of shooting a feature-length film for the first time. Made on a shoestring budget of $12,000, it is 75 minutes long, shot on 16mm, and stars an unknown actor, Chris Parker. Permanent Vacation is an indie film in every sense of the word.

It has an aimless plot — a young man wandering around New York City searching for answers about the meaning of life — that doesn't work. There's no value in the pondering or listless pace, but it actively believes it's achieving its goals. However, where Permanent Vacation fails aesthetically and thematically, Jarmusch returned to these bases in future films to unpack it further and achieve a higher degree of success.

14 Year of the Horse (1997)

A Documentary About Neil Young And Crazy Horse

Your Rating close 10 stars 9 stars 8 stars 7 stars 6 star 5 stars 4 stars 3 stars 2 stars 1 star 0/10 Leave a Review Your changes have been saved My List My Favorite Movies My Watchlist Success! Year of the Horse Year of the Horse, directed by Jim Jarmusch, is a rockumentary that chronicles Neil Young and his band Crazy Horse. The film employs archival footage from 1976 and 1986, providing both concert performances and behind-the-scenes glimpses of the band during breaks between shows. Release Date October 8, 1997 Runtime 106 minutes Cast Neil Young , Ralph Molina , Frank Sampedro , Billy Talbot , Elliot Roberts , Larry Cragg , Danny Whitten , David Briggs , Jim Jarmusch Director Jim Jarmusch

An early documentary venture for Jarmusch was 1997's Year of the Horse. Jarmusch's documentation of Neil Young and Crazy Horse's 1996 tour comes complete with archival footage from the 1970s and 1980s, plus in-depth interviews with the band members. But where Jarmusch's attention to and appreciation for Young's music is felt in the attention to the depiction of its subject, Year of the Horse still feels like a rote, by-the-numbers documentary.

A separate live album with the same name was also released, but the track listing differs. Critics were not as impressed, giving the documentary a 48% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Most critics said it is only necessary viewing for hardcore fans of Neil Young or Jim Jarmusch. For mainstream music fans or those Jarmusch fans not as interested in Neil Young, critics claimed it might "test the patience' of viewers.

13 Gimme Danger (2016)

A Documentary About The Rise & Fall Of The Stooges

Gimme Danger focuses on the rise and fall of the 1960s punk band The Stooges. Jim Jarmusch has always been a director interested in music, either incorporating musicians into his films, leaving his imprint on a soundtrack, or, in the case of Gimme Danger, taking a break from fictional storytelling to explore the truth of something that happened.

The subject matter of Gimme Danger may be interesting and intriguing to shine a light on in the present day, but there's barely a whiff of Jarmusch's touches on this documentary, as if he's taking the standard route towards crafting a documentary without any of the auteur touches he's become known for by 2016. However, when Amazon released Gimme Danger on Prime Video, critics loved it, awarding the film a 95% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The main point of interest was that Jarmusch smartly focused on Iggy Pop and his art and wasn't as interested in the band's antics.

12 The Limits of Control (2013)

An Assassin Wanders Spain Awaiting His Instructions

Your Rating close 10 stars 9 stars 8 stars 7 stars 6 star 5 stars 4 stars 3 stars 2 stars 1 star 0/10 Leave a Review Your changes have been saved My List My Favorite Movies My Watchlist Success! The Limits of Control The Limits of Control is a film directed by Jim Jarmusch, focusing on a mysterious stranger navigating both Spain and his own consciousness. The protagonist works outside the law, maintaining secrecy and a paradoxical demeanor, combining focus and a dreamlike presence throughout his enigmatic journey. Release Date May 1, 2009 Runtime 116 minutes Cast Alex Descas , Isaach De Bankolé , Jean-François Stévenin , Oscar Jaenada , Luis Tosar , Paz de la Huerta , Tilda Swinton , Youki Kudoh , John Hurt , Gael García Bernal , Hiam Abbass , Bill Murray , Héctor Colomé , María Isasi , Norma Yessenia Paladines , Miguel Alcíbar , José Corbacho , Richard Diment Director Jim Jarmusch Expand

Jarmusch is well into his 30-year career when he brings 2013's The Limits of Control to the masses. In the film, a solitary gun-for-hire waits in Madrid for further instructions on a job. The film is opaque in the most alienating way, switching from the man's time spent in cafes, drinking espresso, and toying with matchboxes to moving about the city and surrounding countryside on a job.

The Limits of Control tries to meld populist plot devices (a quieter side of the criminal underworld with pulp coming out of its ears) and characters with more interior and contemplative actions (criminals with hearts of gold, looking for connection and meaning in their work). Critics were unimpressed, rating the movie at a low 42%, calling its pace slow and its dialogue inaccessible. This also wastes an otherwise stellar lineup of actors — including Issach de Bankole, Tilda Swinton, Bill Murray, John Hurt, Gael García Bernal, and Paz de la Huer — all immersed in their roles.

11 Night On Earth (1991)

International Cab Drivers Connect With Their Fares

Your Rating close 10 stars 9 stars 8 stars 7 stars 6 star 5 stars 4 stars 3 stars 2 stars 1 star 0/10 Leave a Review Your changes have been saved My List My Favorite Movies My Watchlist Success! Night on Earth Night on Earth (1991) is a global anthology film that presents five taxi rides occurring simultaneously in different cities around the world, each revealing a unique slice of life through narratives driven by diverse passengers and drivers. Directed by Jim Jarmusch, the film captures the subtle intricacies of human interactions and the varying cultural atmospheres in Los Angeles, New York, Paris, Rome, and Helsinki. Where to Watch stream

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buy Not available Not available Not available *Availability in US Release Date May 2, 1992 Runtime 128 Minutes Main Genre Comedy Cast Winona Ryder , Gena Rowlands , Giancarlo Esposito , Armin Mueller-Stahl , Rosie Perez , Isaach De Bankole , Béatrice Dalle , Roberto Benigni , Paolo Bonacelli , Matti Pellonpää , Kari Väänänen , Sakari Kuosmanen , Tomi Salmela , Lisanne Falk , Alan Randolph Scott , Anthony Portillo , Richard Boes , Pascal N'Zonzi , Emile Abossolo M'bo , Noel Kaufmann , Stéphane Boucher , Gianni Schettini , Antonio Ragusa , Nicola Facondo Director Jim Jarmusch Expand

Throughout Jarmusch's career, he's long been a fan of the vignette structure, and he's created a handful of films with this structure, allowing for big casts to come together in a variety of stories all bound by a common thread. 1991's Night on Earth brings together Winona Ryder, Gena Rowlands, Giancarlo Esposito, Rosie Perez, and Roberto Benigni (one of Jarmusch's most frequent collaborators) to play a series of international cab drivers and their fares, all connecting throughout their short time together.

Jarmusch does what he often does best: bring together a set of eclectic characters and train the camera on them as the personalities collide. However, the claustrophobic nature of setting most of each vignette within a cab and filling it with combustible encounters creates an intriguing watch. The locations spread out between Los Angeles, New York, Paris, Rome, and Helsinki also present a nice variety of personalities.

10 Mystery Train (1989)

Several Strangers Show Up In Memphis To Honor Elvis Presley

Your Rating close 10 stars 9 stars 8 stars 7 stars 6 star 5 stars 4 stars 3 stars 2 stars 1 star 0/10 Leave a Review Your changes have been saved My List My Favorite Movies My Watchlist Success! Mystery Train Mystery Train, released in 1989, is a film set in Memphis, Tennessee, where the adventures of a young Japanese couple, an Italian widow, and three inept thieves intersect at the Arcade Hotel, overseen by a peculiar night clerk and an inexperienced bellboy, over the course of a single night. Where to Watch stream

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buy Not available Not available Not available *Availability in US Release Date September 6, 1989 Runtime 106 minutes Cast Masatoshi Nagase , Youki Kudoh , Screamin' Jay Hawkins , Cinqué Lee , Nicoletta Braschi , Elizabeth Bracco , Joe Strummer , Rick Aviles , Steve Buscemi , Tom Noonan , Rufus Thomas , Tom Waits , Jodie Markell , William Hoch , Pat Hoch , Joshua Elvis Hoch , Reginald Freeman , Beverly Prye , Sy Richardson , Stephen Jones , Lowell Roberts , Sara Driver , Richard Boes , Darryl Daniel , Calvin Brown Expand

Mystery Train begins Jarmusch's appreciation of the vignette-as-anthology format, which has popped up throughout his career. However, where future installments in this format become sprawling, Jarmusch is laser-focused in Mystery Train, bringing together three stories set in Memphis with characters bound by their tenancy in the same hotel and love of Elvis Presley.

One story follows two Japanese teenagers who love Elvis and wander around the city hoping to retrace his steps; another follows an Italian widow who makes an unexpected friend and encounters Presley's ghost. The final story follows an Englishman hiding out in Memphis' dive bars as he waits out the trouble from a robbery gone bad. Jarmusch makes the disparate and divided feel connected and coherent, filtering his love of Americana and mid-century nostalgia through three sets of international eyes, all to a curiously stirring effect.

9 Coffee And Cigarettes (2003)

Your Rating close 10 stars 9 stars 8 stars 7 stars 6 star 5 stars 4 stars 3 stars 2 stars 1 star 0/10 Leave a Review Your changes have been saved My List My Favorite Movies My Watchlist Success! Coffee and Cigarettes Coffee and Cigarettes is a 2003 film by director Jim Jarmusch, consisting of eleven vignette-style shorts. Featuring a star-studded ensemble cast, the film explores various conversations centered around the rituals of drinking coffee and smoking cigarettes. Where to Watch stream

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buy Not available Not available Not available *Availability in US Release Date September 5, 2003 Runtime 96 minutes Cast Roberto Benigni , Steven Wright , Joie Lee , Cinqué Lee , Steve Buscemi , Iggy Pop , Tom Waits , Joseph Rigano , Vinny Vella , Vinny Vella, Jr. , Renee French , E.J. Rodriguez , Alex Descas , Isaach De Bankolé , Cate Blanchett , Michael Hogan , Jack White , Meg White , Alfred Molina , Steve Coogan , Katy Hansz , The GZA , RZA , Bill Murray , William Rice Expand

The most accessible of Jarmusch's vignette films is Coffee and Cigarettes, bringing together in glorious black and white Alfred Molina, Steve Coogan, Cate Blanchett, Iggy Pop, rappers GZA and RZA, and frequent Jarmusch collaborators Tom Waits, Roberto Benigni and Bill Murray. Jarmusch turns three previous short films — 1986's Coffee and Cigarettes, 1989's Coffee and Cigarettes II, and 1993's Coffee and Cigarettes III — into a feature-length film focusing on pairings or groups of characters all communing over a cup of coffee and a cigarette.

The most lighthearted of the anthology films and the easiest to unpack, each vignette offers small character studies and big existential questions — the preferred territories of Jarmusch. It remains an esoteric work but one of the most accessible, making it a perfect Jarmusch work for newcomers to his world. The movie received mixed reviews, but even the detractors praised the quirky and engaging dialogue.

8 Dead Man (1995)

A Murderer Is Sent On A Spiritual Journey In The Great Plains

Your Rating close 10 stars 9 stars 8 stars 7 stars 6 star 5 stars 4 stars 3 stars 2 stars 1 star 0/10 Leave a Review Your changes have been saved My List My Favorite Movies My Watchlist Success! Dead Man Dead Man is a 1995 film directed by Jim Jarmusch, featuring Johnny Depp as William Blake, an accountant who embarks on a transformative journey through the American frontier after a series of violent events. Set in the 19th century, the film explores themes of identity and existentialism, with a supporting cast including Gary Farmer, Robert Mitchum, and Iggy Pop. The film's atmospheric black-and-white cinematography and score by Neil Young contribute to its contemplative tone. Where to Watch stream

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buy Not available Not available Not available *Availability in US Release Date May 26, 1995 Runtime 121 Minutes Cast Johnny Depp , Gary Farmer , Crispin Glover , Lance Henriksen , Michael Wincott , Eugene Byrd , John Hurt , Robert Mitchum , Iggy Pop , Gabriel Byrne , Jared Harris , Mili Avital , Billy Bob Thornton , Alfred Molina Director Jim Jarmusch Distributor(s) Miramax Films

Dead Man is a notable moment in Jarmusch's career, serving as the first of many roles in a young Johnny Depp's career where he tries to break the mold of late '80s teen heartthrob and plant himself inside odd, goth, contemplative characters. Dead Man follows Depp's William Blake, a mild-mannered accountant sent across the American Great Plains on a vision quest after murdering a man. Depp's performance is memorable, establishing him as the '90s and '00s character he is poised to become at the time of this film.

Jarmusch utilizes Depp's atypical instincts in performance well, setting them against the spiritual, mystical elements of a story in which a man is compelled to complete a quest by a Native American spirit. Sure, Jarmusch toes the line of problematically deploying tired tropes around magical minorities, only appearing to serve white characters. Still, he manages to thread his narrative needle while not diving too far into that touchy territory.

7 Stranger Than Paradise (1984)

Two Cousins With Different Cultural Upbringings Attempt To Connect

Your Rating close 10 stars 9 stars 8 stars 7 stars 6 star 5 stars 4 stars 3 stars 2 stars 1 star 0/10 Leave a Review Your changes have been saved My List My Favorite Movies My Watchlist Success! Stranger Than Paradise Stranger Than Paradise follows a Hungarian immigrant, Willie, his friend Eddie, and his cousin Eva as they embark on an unpredictable journey across America. Released in 1984, the film presents a minimalist and observational narrative exploring themes of displacement and cultural disconnection. Where to Watch stream

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buy Not available Not available Not available *Availability in US Release Date October 1, 1984 Runtime 89 minutes Cast Eszter Balint , John Lurie , Richard Edson , Cecillia Stark , Danny Rosen , Rammellzee , Tom DiCillo , Richard Boes , Rockets Redglare , Harvey Perr , Brian J. Burchill , Sara Driver , Paul Sloane

Jarmusch's second film, 1984's Stranger Than Paradise, contains the seeds of what would become a familiar narrative ground for the director: examining the cultural clashes of the international with the American through potentially uncomfortable but often amusing circumstances. In Stranger Than Paradise, a New York hipster is unexpectedly visited by his cousin from Budapest. The two are wary, if not somewhat hostile, towards one another during their initial moments together but eventually find common ground as they are taken across the city, encountering unusual folks along the way.

Related 10 Great "Plotless" Movies About People Hanging Out Reddit discusses their favorite "plotless" movies including Napoleon Dynamite, American Graffiti, and more.

The film was a thesis statement for Jarmusch, confirming that he was a director interested in trying to translate the interior to the exterior. It melded the more philosophical aspects of life with characters who were just as caught between the world and their own minds and picked through the small absurdities and mysteries of their daily lives.

6 Down By Law (1986)

Three Men Break Out Of Jail In The Lousiana Bayou

Your Rating close 10 stars 9 stars 8 stars 7 stars 6 star 5 stars 4 stars 3 stars 2 stars 1 star 0/10 Leave a Review Your changes have been saved My List My Favorite Movies My Watchlist Success! Down By Law Down By Law is a 1986 black-and-white film directed by Jim Jarmusch. Starring Tom Waits, John Lurie, and Roberto Benigni, the story follows three men who find themselves in a New Orleans prison and their subsequent journey after a jailbreak. Known for its minimalist storytelling and striking cinematography, Down By Law combines elements of comedy, drama, and noir to explore themes of friendship and freedom. Where to Watch stream

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buy Not available Not available Not available *Availability in US Release Date September 20, 1986 Runtime 106 Minutes Main Genre Crime Cast Tom Waits , John Lurie , Roberto Benigni , Nicoletta Braschi , Ellen Barkin Director Jim Jarmusch

Starring Benigni, Waits, and John Lurie, Down By Law is another ode to Elvis Presley while also using Presley's film Jailhouse Rock as a kind of foundation for this jailbreak movie. Benigni, Waits, and Lurie's characters are three criminals who manage to escape from the confines of their jail cells, going on the lam and trying their hardest not to get caught. Jarmusch's affection for character studies over action-driven narrative comes in big time here, looking at how these three characters' personalities attract and repel one another in the high-stakes nature of a jailbreak.

The film is notable for its intense, slow-moving camerawork by cinematographer Robby Mueller. This meticulous filmmaking allows the Louisiana Bayou to almost become a character in the film. Critics praised the movie for its humor and original story, with the three characters' performances leading what was deemed to be a poetic fable in the world of film noir.

5 Ghost Dog: Way of the Samurai (1999)

A Mafia Hitman Lives By The Samurai Code Of Honor

Your Rating close 10 stars 9 stars 8 stars 7 stars 6 star 5 stars 4 stars 3 stars 2 stars 1 star 0/10 Leave a Review Your changes have been saved My List My Favorite Movies My Watchlist Success! Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai An African-American Mafia hit man who models himself after the samurai of ancient Japan finds himself targeted for death by the mob. Where to Watch stream

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buy Not available Not available Not available *Availability in US Release Date June 2, 1999 Runtime 116 minutes Main Genre Action Cast Forest Whitaker , John Tormey , Cliff Gorman , Dennis Liu , Frank Minucci , Richard Portnow Director Jim Jarmusch

Jarmusch admittedly treads back into the touchy territory of co-opting another non-white culture for a story not focused on that culture. But Ghost Dog: Way of the Samurai's depiction of a mafia hitman, Ghost Dog (Forest Whitaker), who lives (and expects to die) by the ancient codes of samurai warriors neatly juxtaposes the existential questions posed by the moral code of a samurai with Ghost Dog's own lifestyle choices and ensuing predicament of being targeted by mafia members.

Related Forest Whitaker: 10 Most Groundbreaking Movie Performances Forest Whitaker is a fantastic actor, and over the years he has appeared in some truly iconic roles in a number of different films.

Jarmusch is arguably at his most populist with Ghost Dog, refusing to get lost too deeply in the contemplative weeds with his plot while still remaining true to his roots. For any entry-level Jarmusch fans out there, consider Ghost Dog as the next stepping stone to a new level in the director's body of work.

4 Broken Flowers (2005)

A Man Sets Out To Find The Son He Never Knew Existed

Your Rating close 10 stars 9 stars 8 stars 7 stars 6 star 5 stars 4 stars 3 stars 2 stars 1 star 0/10 Leave a Review Broken Flowers Devoutly single Don Johnston learns he may have a son after receiving an anonymous letter following a breakup. Where to Watch stream

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buy Not available Not available Not available *Availability in US Release Date August 5, 2005 Runtime 106 minutes Main Genre Comedy Cast Bill Murray , Julie Delpy , Heather Simms , Brea Frazier , Jarry Fall , Korka Fall Director Jim Jarmusch

Part of the most commercial corner of Jarmusch's body of work is 2005's Broken Flowers. He joins forces with Hollywood veteran and godfather of sardonic comedic actor Bill Murray to tell the story of a withdrawn man, Don Johnston (Murray). When one lover leaves him, he receives a letter from a former lover informing him they had a son together. Don's journey to meet his now-grown son comes with many awkward run-ins and reunions as Don's path takes him on a tour of his past loves.

The familiar premise, wry comedy of Murray's performance, and a standout female cast including Julie Delpy, Frances Conroy, Jessica Lange, Tilda Swinton, and Sharon Stone firing on all cylinders makes Broken Flowers deeply enjoyable. The Cannes Film Festival nominated it for the Palme d'Or, and Rotten Tomatoes critics awarded it a high 87% fresh rating. Critics compared it to Alexander Payne's look at aging men but praised it for being more forgiving.

3 The Dead Don't Die (2019)

Zombies Attack A Small Town

Jarmusch's The Dead Don't Die is his take on the zombie genre. Much like a new cook in a well-established kitchen, Jarmusch is cooking with the familiar ingredients of the genre — set in a small town, focused on a coterie of colorful characters experiencing the outbreak in interesting ways, showing how the undead have come back to life — while arranging them into a new recipe and delivering something wholly fresh and invigorating.

Related The Dead Don't Die Ending Explained Jim Jarmusch's The Dead Don't Die sees a small town trying to deal with a zombie outbreak. We break down the ending, and what it means.

The Dead Don't Die reminds viewers of the macabre side Jarmusch had shown in previous films like Dead Man, which is obsessed with death and how it infiltrates the lives of the living. But this film also brings his sense of humor to the forefront, as dry as the Sahara desert delivered as deadpan as possible, making for a fun, inventive take on a genre recently experiencing serious fatigue.

2 Paterson (2016)

A Bus Driver Spends His Free Time Writing Poetry

Paterson is Jarmusch slowing down to a snail's pace and going as inward as possible while also telling the story of Paterson (Adam Driver), a New Jersey bus driver who spends spare moments during his shift and evenings writing poetry. Driver is the perfect avatar for Jarmusch, expressing the gentleness and sweet melancholy of past characters created by the director but channeling it into a character many people interact with but fail to connect with. The story only takes place during one week of Paterson's life.

If viewers want to dip their toes into the very deep waters of Jarmusch's psyche, Paterson is the way to do it. At the Cannes Film Festival, it competed for the Palme d'Or and won the Palme Dog Award (best performance by a dog). Critics almost universally praised the movie with a 96% Rotten Tomatoes score, with reviews calling it a beautiful and meditative work.

1 Only Lovers Left Alive (2013)

Vampire Lovers Separated By Centuries Reconnect

Your Rating close 10 stars 9 stars 8 stars 7 stars 6 star 5 stars 4 stars 3 stars 2 stars 1 star 0/10 Leave a Review Your changes have been saved My List My Favorite Movies My Watchlist Success! 10/10 Only Lovers Left Alive Only Lovers Left Alive is a romantic comedy and horror fantasy film written and directed by Jim Jarmusch. The movie stars Tilda Swinton and Tom Hiddleston, focusing on two centuries-old vampires that live in the modern age thanks to their supply of blood from various sources. Where to Watch stream

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buy Not available Not available Not available *Availability in US Release Date December 25, 2013 Runtime 123minutes Cast Tom Hiddleston , Tilda Swinton Director Jim Jarmusch Distributor(s) Sony

Only Lovers Left Alive is a triumph. It combines every part of Jarmusch's established self as a director, melding his interests in the esoteric with the existential with the macabre. Tilda Swinton and Tom Hiddleston star as a centuries-old vampire couple who come together after spending many years apart and find themselves looking for meaning in their existence as vampires.

The film wanders in the best way for a Jarmusch film, showing the couple living in a world where vampires are pop-culture fodder rather than feared creatures, and finding blood that satisfies their cravings is getting more complicated as humans pollute their bodies with strange new substances. Jarmusch's love of rock music and the shadowy, all-encompassing specters of love and death envelop Only Lovers Left Alive. Paired with stellar performances from Swinton, Hiddleston, and supporting cast members Mia Wasikowska, Anton Yelchin, John Hurt, and Jeffrey Wright, Only Lovers is Jim Jarmusch as his most essential and enjoyable.