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Quiz: Can You Identify the David Lynch Movie From One Character?

In time for ‘Blue Velvet’s 40th anniversary on September 19, test your knowledge of David Lynch films.
ByAlexandria Ingham
Naomi Watts, Laura Harring, and David Lynch behind the scenes of ‘Mulholland Drive’
Naomi Watts, Laura Harring, and David Lynch behind the scenes of ‘Mulholland Drive’ | Melissa Moseley/American Broadcasting Companies via Getty Images

There have been many outstanding directors over the years, and David Lynch was without a doubt one of them. He helped to revolutionize American cinema with his avant-garde filmmaking. If you’re a fan of his movies, how well can you identify his works? Can you do it based on the name of just one character—and not necessarily the main one? We’ve got a quiz to see how you do.

Did you get 8/8 on this one? We want you on our quiz team if you did! Don’t forget to share this with your friends to see how they do, and then why not arrange a movie night to marathon some of his movies?



The Best David Lynch Movies

Lynch is known for his range of genres and stories. He has done neo-noirs, surrealist romances, and even a sci-fi epic. As with any director, there are some movies that stand out more than others.

One of Lynch’s greatest works everyone has to watch at least once is The Elephant Man, the 1980 film loosely based on true events. This is an empathetic and beautifully told drama inspired by John Merrick, a man with a hurtful nickname due to the way he looked because of his health condition.

If you need something darker and more surreal, then you’ll need to turn to Blue Velvet. This 1986 film begins with a man finding a severed ear in a suburban field and turns into a twisted mystery.

Lynch’s movies have specific textures and visual elements, and Eraserhead helped to cement that. The 1977 debut feature is packed with haunting monochrome visuals and disturbing sounds, and the hardest part about the watch is the parenthood anxiety it depicts.

Finally, there’s no way to skip over Mulholland Drive, which is a tragic thriller. The 2001 release is considered by many to be Lynch’s crowning achievement, touching on important topics in Hollywood at the time depicted like a fever dream.

We love to put your movie knowledge to the test. If you love to challenge yourself, make sure you bookmark the Mental Floss quiz page to keep coming back.