The latest film from Alexander Payne, The Holdovers, releases in theaters tomorrow. In honor of the release, I’m looking back at the seven previous feature films from Payne. Below is my ranking of his films. The films appear in ascending order.

No. 7: Election (1999)
About: This one is based on the novel from Tom Perrotta and centers on a teacher (Matthew Broderick) and a student (Reese Witherspoon) locked in an epic battle. It’s a dark comedy that works well for some people, but it isn’t my favorite of his films.

No. 6: Citizen Ruth (1996)
About: This was Payne’s first feature-length film and it’s buoyed by a strong performance from Laura Dern. This one has a strong political bent that makes it even more interesting to watch in the current climate.

No. 5: Downsizing (2017)
About: This was the most recent of Payne’s films, releasing six years ago. It’s a strange concept, for sure. But I enjoy Matt Damon and Hong Chau in this film. There are some interesting moments here.

No. 4: Sideways (2004)
About: This might be one of Payne’s most famous films. Based on the novel from Rex Pickett this is about a pair of friends (Paul Giamatti and Thomas Haden Church), wine and relationships. There are some crazy and hilarious moments, but this is more uneven than the films I have higher on this list.

No. 3: Nebraska (2013)
About: A father-son tale, this is a feature that Payne directed but didn’t write. I love the lead performance from Bruce Dern and the back-and-forth with Will Forte. This is a charming and engaging film that was an Academy Award contender.

No. 2: The Descendants (2011)
About: Set in Hawaii, this is a beautifully shot film. Based on the novel from Kaui Hart Hemmings, this features a beautiful performance from George Clooney and Shailene Woodley. I love the mixture of drama and humor.

No. 1: About Schmidt (2002)
About: This isn’t just my favorite film from Payne, it’s one of my all-time favorite films. Jack Nicholson is great here. So, too is Kathy Bates. This is a beautifully emotional film that has one of my favorite endings of all time.

Matthew Fox is a graduate of the Radio, Television and Film program at Biola University, and a giant nerd. He spends his free time watching movies, TV, and obsessing about football. He is a member of the FSWA. You can find him @knighthawk7734 on Twitter and as co-host of the Fantasy Football Roundtable Podcast.