Now retired, was one of the most distinctive directors of the 1970s and '80s, blazing a trail with his flashy, provocative thrillers. Emerging from the New Hollywood movement, he quickly established himself as a director with a unique vision, drawing inspiration from while injecting his own brand of paranoia, voyeurism, and visual storytelling into his films.

A master of suspense, . His ability to blend artful direction with pulpy storytelling earned him a cult following and inspired countless filmmakers that followed. The director's formidable body of work is thus very much worth exploring, and these are the ten essential movies to start with.

"There is a man, an extraordinary man, who can help you." One of De Palma's lesser-known gems, tells a -esque story about Peter Sandza (), a former intelligence agent whose son Robin () has powerful telekinetic abilities. When Peter's trusted colleague, Ben Childress (), betrays him and kidnaps Robin to harness his powers for nefarious government purposes, Peter embarks on a relentless mission to rescue his son.

boasting immersive imagery and a fantastic score by . The Fury has its problems, including a bloated runtime, one or two sluggish scenes, and a few under-developed characters, but the visual flair makes up for a lot. Few horrors look this good or conjured up such a striking aesthetic, replete with slow-motion sequences, eerie visions, and a few incredibly gory set pieces. Despite some ludicrous plot developments, De Palma's skill ensures that this is still a very entertaining flick.

"What the devil hath joined together, let no man cut asunder." was De Palma's first thriller, laying the groundwork for his signature blend of voyeurism, suspense, and shocking violence. Story-wise, it centers on Danielle Breton (), a beautiful young woman with a dark secret. After a brutal murder occurs in her apartment, investigative journalist Grace Collier () discovers that Danielle was once conjoined with her psychotic twin sister, Dominique (also played by Kidder).

Again, the plot is occasionally quite ridiculous, butthe execution is stellar, with De Palma deploying split-screen, long tracking shots, and eerie music to great effect. He very much channelshere, borrowing some of the director's trademarks like alternating points of view and major characters being killed off unexpectedly. Yet, despite these influences, and makes for a striking first foray into the genre that would become his wheelhouse.

"Doctor, I am not paranoid." This slick erotic thriller begins with Kate Miller (Angie Dickinson), a lonely housewife who, after a brief sexual encounter, is gruesomely murdered by a mysterious blonde woman. Witnessing the crime is Liz Blake (Nancy Allen), a high-end call girl who soon finds herself the killer's next target. Liz's search for answers brings her to psychiatrist Dr. Robert Elliott () and the mysterious figure of Bobbi, a vengeful patient.

Here, De Palma riffs heavily on , telling a pulpy and provocative story that remains controversial today. While certainly has its detractors, it's also a cult favorite, and for good reason., particularly in memorable scenes like the elevator murder and the museum seduction, which are orchestrated with meticulous editing and sinister music. The movie is devilish, creepy, and sexually charged in its own weird way, making it essential viewing for slasher fans. De Palma is a master of the erotic film, and though and are very much worth your time, Dressed to Kill is perhaps the most essential of these.

"Your mission, should you choose to accept it..." With the first movie, De Palma took on the challenge of rebooting the classic television series for the big screen, resulting in by far his biggest commercial success. stars as IMF agent Ethan Hunt, who finds himself framed for the deaths of his entire team during a mission gone wrong. As a result, the movie has its own identity apart from the TV show.

Admittedly, the plot is pretty convoluted, and style occasionally threatens to overwhelm substance, but the flashiness is impressive, and there are more than enough nerve-shredding sequences to hold the viewer's attention. A case in point is the iconic and endlessly imitated CIA break-in scene, where Cruise dangles from the ceiling in complete silence. It demonstrates De Palma's ability to build suspense with minimal dialogue.

"Winslow, what a foolish thing to attempt... to pay him back for trying to destroy me." follows Winslow Leach (), a composer whose music is stolen by Machiavellian record producer Swan (). After being falsely imprisoned and left disfigured in an accident, Winslow reinvents himself as the Phantom, haunting Swan's newly opened rock venue and seeking revenge for his stolen work. At the same time, he falls for aspiring singer Phoenix ().

The plot and title very much wink to , though De Palma adds in touches of Hitchcock and alongside a hearty helping of his own madcap perspective. , which is why public reaction to it was mixed on release. However, in the decades since, Phantom of the Paradise has been reappraised, with many critics and fans praising its runaway creativity.

"They pull a knife, you pull a gun." Perhaps De Palma's most ambitious project, is an operatic crime saga about chronicling the legendary battle between lawman () and Chicago gangster (). Set during Prohibition, the film follows Ness as he assembles an elite squad—including the seasoned, streetwise cop Malone () and the sharpshooter George Stone ()—to take down Capone’s criminal empire.

The Untouchables may fall a little short of its potential, but, balancing gripping action with deep character dynamics. De Palma shoots 's script well, crafting some of his most intricate scenes ever, like the Union Station shootout. He's helped by the incredibly talented performers; Connery, especially, shines and went on to win an Oscar for his efforts (even if his Scottish accent was still a little noticeable). The final ingredient is the epic score by Western legend, which ties it all together.

"You think you're big time? You're gonna die big time!" is a more melancholy, introspective crime drama, with as Carlito Brigante, a Puerto Rican gangster who, after serving time in prison, attempts to go straight and leave his criminal past behind. Unlike De Palma's other, more bombastic gangster movies, .

, with Pacino's emotional performance grounding the drama. This is some of his very best work, nuanced and moving. is also entertainingly slimy as Carlito's reckless lawyer, David Kleinfeld. That said, the focus on emotion doesn't mean that the movie isn't stylish. Aesthetically, De Palma charms with a propulsive soundtrack and more than a few nail-biting scenes. All told, the film divided audiences when it came out but has developed a cult following and is generally recognized as one of the stronger crime movies of the 1990s.

"It’s a good scream. It’s a good scream."delivers one of his best performances in this neo-noir thriller as Jack Terry, a sound technician who accidentally records what he believes to be an assassination. While working on a low-budget horror film, Jack captures audio of a car crash involving a prominent politician, but upon closer examination, he realizes there was a gunshot before the crash.

is De Palma's take on 's , though he changes the protagonist's field from photography to audio recording. This allows the director to get meta, commenting on his own medium and inviting viewers to examine the mechanics of cinema itself. Themes aside, , replacing Antonioni's artful thoughtfulness with Hitchcock-inspired suspense. The film was a box office bomb, but its critical standing has only increased as the years have gone by. Its most notable admirer is , who has ranked it among his all-time favorite movies.

"They’re all gonna laugh at you!" Stephen King's debut novel was punchy, economical, and spooky, establishing him as a horror talent, but De Palma's movie version elevates the story to classic status. steals the show in it as Carrie White, a shy teenager who is relentlessly bullied at school and oppressed by her fanatically religious mother, Margaret (). When Carrie discovers she has telekinetic powers, she struggles to control them—until a cruel prom night prank pushes her over the edge.

is masterful from the first frame, with exceptional editing, haunting performances, and unsettling sound design. But it's in the third act that De Palma cranks everything up to 11. The climax is one of the most intense in movie history; fiery, bloody, and unforgettable, single-handedly earning the film a spot among the best horrors of the 1970s. There have been multiple attempts to replicate the dark magic of De Palma's Carrie, but none have succeeded.

"Say hello to my little friend!" Easily De Palma's most iconic work, Scarface is a grandiose, over-the-top saga of excess, ambition, and self-destruction, fueled by a powerhouse Pacino performance. He is Tony Montana, a Cuban immigrant who rises from small-time thug to the most powerful drug kingpin in Miami. As Tony builds his empire through sheer ruthlessness, paranoia and greed consume him, leading to a violent and unforgettable downfall.

The movie is a three-hour descent into blood-soaked, coked-up chaos, in the best way. The extreme violence and relentless profanity were controversial at the time, but they are key parts of what makes Scarface work. The movie quickly seared itself into the public consciousness, with its climactic scene of Tony with his grenade launcher-equipped M16 being endlessly quoted and parodied. One of the best gangster movies of all time, Scarface proved hugely influential, inspiring everything from hip-hop to video games.

NEXT: The 10 Most Essential Movies of 2004, Ranked