11 entries, with sources
Katsuhiro Otomo·1988
West named it, alongside There Will Be Blood, as his all-time favorite film and has drawn directly on its imagery for his own video work.
West tweeted in 2018 that 'Akira and There Will Be Blood are equally my 2 favorite movies of all time,' and previously recreated its hospital/testing-room imagery with Hype Williams for the 'Stronger' video.
Paul Thomas Anderson·2007
West has said he watched the film obsessively, 30 to 40 times, and named it one of his two all-time favorite movies.
On Bret Easton Ellis' podcast in 2013, West stated he had watched the film roughly 30 to 40 times; he reaffirmed it as an all-time favorite in a 2018 tweet.
The Hughes Brothers·1993
West called it the single movie he has watched most in his life and cited it as a deep narrative influence.
In his 2013 podcast interview with Bret Easton Ellis, West stated Menace II Society was the movie he had seen most in his lifetime and described it as profoundly influential.
Steve McQueen·2013
West said he personally identified with the film's depiction of subjugation, comparing it to his own battles against gatekeepers in the fashion industry, and later hired McQueen to direct visuals for him.
On Bret Easton Ellis' podcast in 2013, West discussed the film at length, saying he identified with the protagonist's fight against systemic control; he subsequently worked with Steve McQueen on music visuals.
Guillermo del Toro·2013
After an advance screening, West publicly declared it one of his favorite movies of all time and praised del Toro by name as a master filmmaker.
West tweeted on July 4, 2013: 'I saw a pre-screening of Pacific Rim yesterday and it's easily one of my favorite movies of all time... Guillermo del Toro is a master.'
Alejandro Jodorowsky·1973
West cited Jodorowsky and this film by name on stage during the Yeezus Tour as an underappreciated visionary who influenced his own creative and stage design thinking.
During his November 19, 2013 Yeezus Tour show at Barclays Center, West cited Alejandro Jodorowsky and The Holy Mountain on stage as a visionary genius who paved the way for radical creative work.
Stanley Kubrick·1999
West drew on the film's stately pacing, color palette, and piano motif while directing 'Runaway,' and directed crews to shoot in a Kubrick-inspired style.
Reporting describes West tweeting stills from Eyes Wide Shut while directing 'Runaway,' adopting its piano-motif styling, and instructing camera crews to shoot 'like Stanley Kubrick.'
Robert Zemeckis·2015
West publicly praised the film immediately after seeing it, calling it a modern masterpiece and Zemeckis an inventive filmmaker.
West tweeted on October 12, 2015: 'I just saw The Walk and it was truly inspiring! The Walk is a modern elegant masterpiece. Robert Zemeckis is a truly inventive filmmaker.'
Vince Gilligan·2008-2013
West described binge-watching the entire series with Kim Kardashian in hotel rooms during downtime, a specific shared ritual rather than general fandom.
In 2013, West told Bret Easton Ellis that he and Kim Kardashian watched the show back-to-back in hotel rooms on their days off.
Rich Moore·2012
West said on camera that he related personally to the character's struggle of being typecast as a villain when he only wanted to be understood.
Reporting states West discussed the film on camera, describing how strongly he identified with the protagonist's plight, though no direct quote or date is given.
Steven Lisberger·1982
West is said to have referenced the film's neon-grid look for his stage and video design, though no direct statement or specific instance is documented.
Sources claim West 'consistently cited' Tron's aesthetic as a design reference for his tours, but no direct quote, date, or specific instance is provided.