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Andy Warhol’s Films: Top 10 Films Made by the Pioneer of Pop Art

Isabella de Souza
written by Isabella de Souza,
Last updated16 Jan 2024
A black and white image of a poster advertising several Andy Warhol films from the factory.Image © Creative Commons via Flickr / Flyer for Andy Warhol: Films from the Factory
Jess Bromovsky

Jess Bromovsky, Sales Directorjess@myartbroker.com

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Andy Warhol

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As a pioneering figure in the 1960s Pop Art movement, Andy Warhol was renowned for his vivid interpretations of celebrity culture and mass consumerism. Born in Pittsburgh to Eastern European immigrant parents, Warhol started his career in New York as a commercial illustrator, transitioning later to iconic works like the Campbell's Soup Cans series and celebrity portraits, including that of Marilyn Monroe. Warhol's artistic endeavours extended beyond static visuals, delving into cinema. His cinematic projects, mirroring his broader artistic ethos, offered a refreshing look at the ordinary, highlighting the beauty of the mundane and the repetitive nature of modern life.

Youtube © Yale Press / The Films of Andy Warhol Catalogue Raisonné: 1963-1965. Edited by John G. Hanhardt

The Importance of Film in Andy Warhol’s Oeuvre

Warhol’s films mirror his broader artistic ethos, offering a refreshing look at the ordinary and everyday life, highlighting the beauty of the mundane and emphasising the significance of seemingly insignificant acts and moments. His movies became a vital chronicle of the 1960s and 1970s, capturing the era’s socio-cultural essence through the revolving door of personalities at The Factory. By documenting both the famous and the obscure, Warhol offered a unique lens into celebrity, identity and the self. Between 1963 and 1968, Warhol created almost 650 films, encompassing numerous feature-length productions, short films and hundreds of screen tests in a variety of distinct styles.

“The films are every bit as significant and revolutionary as Warhol's paintings.”
Patrick Moore, Deputy Director of the Warhol Museum

Warhol’s Approach to Filmmaking

Warhol’s approach to filmmaking was quintessentially “Warholian” and groundbreaking: he was more interested in capturing raw, unedited, and unscripted moments. This presented audiences with an unparalleled cinematic experience that straddled between mainstream Hollywood and avant-garde art. Warhol often placed the camera in a static position, allowing events to unfold in real-time, capturing the authenticity and banality of life. Furthermore, his screen tests, which included personalities from The Factory and visiting celebrities, were minimalist but intimate portraits, capturing subjects in their most vulnerable or mundane states.

His films, with their raw, unrehearsed and honest portrayal of subjects, underscored his belief in the universal artistry of the everyday, making them an indispensable element of his comprehensive artistic oeuvre.

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    The Impact of Warhol's Films on the Art World

    Warhol’s films presented a challenge to the art world and the traditional cinematic arena alike. They blurred the boundaries between art and cinema, questioning the nature of both mediums, and were initially perplexing to many. His works introduced a kind of anti-cinema, emphasising monotony and the passage of time, and forced viewers to confront their own perceptions and patience. By filming everyday events and non-events, Warhol underscored the idea that art could be found in the mundane. This democratisation of subject matter had a ripple effect in the art world, pushing other artists to explore similarly unconventional topics and mediums.

    Warhol sadly removed his films from circulation in 1970, and for many years scholars had to piece them together from primary and secondary accounts. In 1980 John G. Hanhardt, then Curator and Head of Film and Video at the Whitney Museum of American Art, proposed a uniquely collaborative initiative: The Andy Warhol Film Project. This project saw the Whitney and the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) join forces to conserve, restore, showcase, distribute and catalogue Warhol's entire cinematic oeuvre. By 1984, with Warhol's support, his original film materials were entrusted to MoMA. In 2010, his films were the subject of an exhibition at MoMA. By 2014, his films began to be digitised by the museum and made widely available.

    Since then, these have been widely appreciated by art lovers for their rebelliousness and insight into Warhol’s creative mind.

    “Scripts bore me. It's much more exciting not to know what's going to happen. I don't think that plot is important.”
    - Andy Warhol
    Internet Archive © Sleep © Andy Warhol 1963
    1.

    Sleep (1963)

    Sleep (1963) is one of Warhol's most iconic and experimental films. Eschewing traditional narrative and cinematic conventions, the film offers a seemingly simple premise: a continuous, unbroken five-hour and twenty-one-minute shot of John Giorno, Warhol's close friend and occasional lover, sleeping. Through its extended duration and emphasis on the mundane, Sleep challenges the viewer's patience and redefines the concept of cinematic spectacle. Instead of a dynamic plot or changing scenes, the audience is invited to meditate on the subtle movements and rhythms of a sleeping human body. The film exemplifies Warhol's avant-garde approach to cinema, pushing boundaries and provoking discussions about the nature of film, time and art.

    Youtube / Empire © Andy Warhol 1964
    2.

    Empire (1964)

    Reflecting on similar themes, Empire (1964) is a silent black-and-white film that presents an eight-hour-long static shot of the Empire State Building, from late afternoon to nearly 3 a.m. Without a narrative arc, character development or dialogue, Empire defies conventional cinematic expectations. By focusing on New York's iconic skyscraper and its slowly changing lights and ambiance against the night sky, Warhol encourages viewers to immerse themselves in the passage of time and the subtle shifts of the urban landscape. The film becomes less about the monument itself and more about the viewer's experience and endurance. In its stark simplicity, Empire epitomises Warhol's aim to challenge and redefine traditional cinematic boundaries.

    A monochrome image of a nude woman. Superimposed on her body are eight windows with open shutters, each of which has their own individual subject living within. The name "Chelsea Girls" is written underneath.Chelsea Girls © Andy Warhol 1966
    3.

    Chelsea Girls (1966)

    Chelsea Girls (1966) stands out as one of Warhol's more narrative-driven films, offering a kaleidoscopic glimpse into the lives of the residents of the famed Chelsea Hotel in New York City. The film is presented in a split-screen format, with two simultaneous 16mm film projections side by side, often with overlapping soundtracks that plunge the viewer into a cacophony of conversations and scenarios. The assorted vignettes, featuring a cast of Warhol's superstars and associates, oscillate between moments of raw reality and contrived drama, capturing a compelling mosaic of 1960s bohemian life. The diverse, often explicit scenes in Chelsea Girls dive deep into themes of sexuality, drug use and the search for identity, showcasing Warhol's daring and voyeuristic cinematic style. Through its avant-garde presentation and intimate portraits, the film offers a sociocultural snapshot of its era and a commentary on the blurred lines between reality and performance.

    An image of the DVD poster for the movie Vinyl. It shows a collage of monochrome close-up portraits of the protagonists.Image © IMDB / The DVD poster for Vinyl by Andy Warhol
    4.

    Vinyl (1965)

    Vinyl (1965) is a pivotal work that melds the director's avant-garde aesthetics with countercultural narratives of the 1960s. Loosely adapted, it was the first cinematic depiction of Anthony Burgess's dystopian novel A Clockwork Orange. The film abandons a linear storyline in favour of a more fragmented and experimental approach, set in a sparse and almost claustrophobic environment. Like the novel and the later Stanley Kubrick film, Vinyl witnesses the protagonist undergoing a series of torturous “rehabilitative” exercises. Throughout the film, Edie Sedgwick, another of Warhol's superstars, sits idly, adding to the movie's disorienting aura. Vinyl serves as a provocative commentary on conformity, rebellion, and the complexities of modern existence, and its impact on Kubrick is proof of Warhol’s ability to set a strong visual language that influences generations to come.

    An image for the poster of My Hustler. A black and white poster with pink highlights.Image © Wikimedia Commons / Poster For My Hustler © Andy Warhol 1965
    5.

    My Hustler (1965)

    My Hustler (1965) is a compelling exploration of sexuality, desire and human commodification, set against the backdrop of New York's Fire Island. The film revolves around the interactions of a male prostitute, known as the "Hustler," and his clients, highlighting the power dynamics and complexities inherent in their relationships. With its voyeuristic lens, Warhol delves into the intricate web of attraction, manipulation and transaction, juxtaposing the idyllic beach setting with the gritty realities of human interactions. While the narrative is more structured than many of Warhol's other films, My Hustler retains his signature style, capturing candid moments and emotions and challenging traditional cinematic conventions. Through its stark portrayal of human relationships in a commodified context, the film offers a profound commentary on the nature of desire and the transactional essence of human connection.

    Youtube / Blow Job © Andy Warhol 1964
    6.

    Blow Job (1964)

    Blow Job (1964) is one of Warhol's most provocative and enigmatic films, one that exemplifies his minimalist and audacious cinematic style. The film consists solely of a continuous shot of the face of its subject, actor DeVeren Bookwalter, capturing his varied expressions and reactions. Despite the explicit implications of its title, the film remains a study in restraint, as the viewer never sees the act itself, only Bookwalter's reactions. This approach places the audience in a position of intense voyeurism, forcing them to grapple with their own interpretations. Through this stripped-down presentation, Warhol challenges traditional cinematic narratives and norms, focusing instead on the potency of suggestion and the power of the viewer's imagination.

    An image from Andy Warhol's Blue Movie film. It shows a couple lying on a bed, as the woman gazes into the man's face.Image © Whitney Museum of Art / Blue Movie © Andy Warhol 1968
    7.

    Blue Movie (1968)

    Blue Movie (1969) is notable for its candid portrayal of sexual intimacy and its pioneering role in the "Golden Age of Porn" that started in the late 1960s. This film broke significant ground in challenging societal norms and censorship laws, offering an explicit depiction of a sexual relationship between its two main protagonists, Viva and Louis Waldon. Warhol's intent was not purely to shock, but rather to present sex as an everyday occurrence, stripping away the taboo surrounding its cinematic presentation. The film is equally significant for its minimalist approach, characteristic of Warhol's style, focusing on the mundane and seemingly banal moments in the lives of its characters. It was both a cultural landmark and a bellwether of the 1969 Summer of Love.

    The poser for Andy Warhol's Lonesome Cowboys. It is a black and white image of two men gazing at the viewer. Warhol's name and the movie title are shown in bright orange.Image © IMdB / Lonesome Cowboys © Andy Warhol 1968
    8.

    Lonesome Cowboys (1968)

    One of Warhol's most ambitious cinematic endeavours, Lonesome Cowboys towed the lines between satire, art and social commentary. A loose retelling of Romeo and Juliet set against the arid backdrop of Arizona, the film playfully subverts the conventions of the classic American Western. Instead of traditional cowboys and frontier narratives, Warhol introduces viewers to a group of aimless, homoerotic cowboys engaged in a series of languid, often improvisational scenes that both mock and pay homage to the genre's machismo. Featuring Warhol superstars like Viva, Taylor Mead, and Joe Dallesandro, the film juxtaposes the rugged American West with campy, nonchalant interactions, creating a surreal and provocative tableau. By challenging traditional depictions of masculinity and the mythos of the cowboy, Lonesome Cowboys offers a distinct and subversive perspective on American culture and cinema, encapsulating Warhol's knack for reinterpreting and reshaping popular narratives.

    A monochrome image of a couple of men lying in bed, one of which is shirtless.Image © IMdB / Flesh © Paul Morrissey and Andy Warhol 1968
    9.

    Flesh (1968)

    Flesh (1968), directed by Paul Morrissey under Andy Warhol's production banner, is a noteworthy addition to the canon of Warhol films that delves deep into the tough underbelly of New York's urban landscape during the late 1960s. The film stars Joe Dallesandro, one of Warhol's most iconic superstars, portraying a hustler named Joe who navigates a world of transactional relationships, selling his body to both men and women against the backdrop of the city's countercultural scene.

    Distinct from mainstream cinema, Flesh offers a vérité style, capturing candid moments that blur the line between reality and fiction. The narrative meanders through Joe's encounters with a variety of characters, including a drug-addicted wife, a model and an artist, each interaction shedding light on diverse facets of human sexuality, desire and vulnerability. Warhol and Morrissey do not shy away from explicit content, using it to underscore the film's themes of commodification, exploitation and the human search for connection. Fless is emblematic of Warhol's broader cinematic philosophy, prioritising authenticity and unfiltered observation over polished narratives, while pushing the boundaries of what cinema could portray and represent.

    The poster for the movie Heat. A couple is seen hugging while shirtless, depicted in red gradients.Image © IMdB / Heat © Paul Morrissey and Andy Warhol 1972
    10.

    Heat (1972)

    Heat (1972) is a film produced by Andy Warhol and directed by Paul Morrissey, who became the primary filmmaker for the Warhol studio in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Heat is loosely based on the 1950 classic Sunset Boulevard. Dallesandro plays Joey Davis, an ex-child star trying to revive his career in Hollywood. He checks into a motel run by a former movie queen, played by Sylvia Miles. The film chronicles their tumultuous relationship, with Joey using her to make his way back into show business.

    The film satirises Hollywood and its obsession with youth, beauty and fame. As with many Warhol-Morrissey collaborations, the narrative is less structured than mainstream films, focusing instead on the candid interactions of its characters. It is a testament to the distinct style of the Warhol Factory output during this period, marked by a blend of raw realism, dark humour, and sharp critique of popular culture and societal norms. The film is an exploration of desperation and the lengths to which people will go for fame and a commentary on the superficial nature of the entertainment industry.

    The Lasting Impact of Andy Warhol's Cinematic Works:

    The mark left by Warhol on the visual arts cannot be overemphasised, and his contributions to cinema are an integral part of his legacy. Beyond the walls of galleries and museums, Warhol saw the potential of film as an extension of his artistic vision, bringing his unique sensibilities and penchant for challenging conventions to the medium.

    Warhol approached cinema with the perspective of a visual artist rather than a traditional filmmaker. His films, characterised by their extended durations, static shots and play with time, were radical departures from mainstream cinema. They were not just films to be screened but rather collectible art pieces to be displayed. In doing so, Warhol transformed the perception of film, positioning it as an object of art akin to prints and paintings. This shift paved the way for a new appreciation of cinema, not just as a form of entertainment, but as an art form deserving of critical discussion just as any other art piece.

    Warhol's cinematic works have influenced a myriad of filmmakers and artists. One of the most notable examples is the influence of Vinyl, the first filmic adaptation of A Clockwork Orange, and its avant-garde style set a precedent. Notably, when Stanley Kubrick released his own adaptation in 1971, it began with a close-up of the protagonist's face, a framing and stylistic choice that is identical to Vinyl. This choice can be seen as a nod to Warhol's influence and the broader artistic dialogue between experimental and mainstream cinema.

    Moreover, Warhol's films paved the way for various experimental film movements and inspired the independent cinema scene. His films urge viewers to engage with cinema more actively, to find meaning in the mundane and to question the very nature of representation. In a world saturated with fast-paced edits and overt narratives, Warhol's deliberate pacing and observational style offer a refreshing counterpoint, reminding us of the various ways stories can be told and experienced.

    Jess Bromovsky

    Jess Bromovsky, Sales Directorjess@myartbroker.com

    Interested in buying or selling
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    Andy Warhol

    Andy Warhol

    474 works

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