John Carpenter Reveals the Two Films That Shaped His Vision

With the rise of Letterboxd, everyone seems to have a favorite film at the ready. The app’s popularity has made it almost a ritual for celebrities to share their top movie picks on the red carpet. As Kristen Stewart once put it,

You can tell a lot about a person from seeing them in Letterboxd.

While most of us enjoy comparing lists with friends, it’s a different story when a true industry icon weighs in on the subject.

John Carpenter, the acclaimed writer, director, and composer, may not be on Letterboxd, but he’s never been shy about his cinematic inspirations. He’s singled out two films that stand above the rest in his eyes, both of which have left a lasting mark on his own work.

The Enduring Power of 'The Third Man'

Back in 1949, Carol Reed’s The Third Man hit theaters, and it’s a film Carpenter holds in the highest regard. Writing for Criterion, he declared,

Oh, come on! You can’t get better than this movie.

This international crime thriller, with its noir undertones, captivated Carpenter with its seemingly straightforward plot:

There’s an accident, a man is killed, and the third man turns out to be the bad guy, played by Orson Welles.

The film’s postwar gloom and shadowy visuals resonated deeply with Carpenter, who’s known for his own dark, atmospheric style. He especially admires the film’s iconic chase scenes through Vienna’s sewers and the masterful use of light and shadow, calling it

just an incredible movie.

Howard Hawks and the Spirit of Adventure

A decade before The Third Man, Howard Hawks released Only Angels Have Wings, a romantic adventure set at a South American airmail outpost. For Carpenter, this film is the pinnacle of Hawks’ career. He once wrote,

Howard Hawks has always been a big influence on me and my work, and Only Angels Have Wings is my favorite movie of all time.

What draws him in isn’t just one element, but the entire package: the dynamic between men and women, the sense of adventure, the underlying mystery, and the sheer enjoyment of the story.

Carpenter sees Only Angels Have Wings as unique among Hawks’ films. While some of Hawks’ movies focus on daring exploits and others lean into comedy, this one blends both. The story follows pilots who risk their lives with every flight, surrounded by danger and darkness. Carpenter notes,

They have their own codes and their own ideas of bravery.

The film’s immersive world-building and authentic sense of camaraderie have clearly influenced Carpenter’s own approach to storytelling.