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In 1999, the British Film Institute compiled a list of the 100 favorite British films of the 20th century. Five by David Lean appeared in the top 30, three of them in the top five.
This is a list of film directors and television directors who were born in the United Kingdom, or lived and/or worked in the UK for a significant part of their career. Some Irish, American and European directors who have spent large portions of their career working in the UK are included on this list.
Apr 11, 2016 · Since the origins of the medium, Britain has been one of the leading forces of the film industry. Directors from the country have been greatly involved in the revolutionizing of cinema from its very beginning, starting with the silent era.
- 24 Amma Asante
- 23 Tony Richardson
- 22 Andrea Arnold
- 21 Lynne Ramsay
- 20 John Schlesinger
- 19 Ken Russell
- 18 Nicolas Roeg
- 17 Guy Ritchie
- 16 Ken Loach
- 15 Jim Sheridan
From a commercial standpoint, A United Kingdom (2016) by Amma Asante should go down as one of the more underrated filmsof the past ten years. Starring David Oyelowo and Rosamund Pike, its plot chronicles the real-life romance between Seretse Khama — the heir to the Bangwato Tribe (a chieftaincy of Botswana) — and Ruth Williams Khama, his wife. Of c...
After starting out with both television and theater, director Tony Richardson soon found himself transitioning to film and becoming one of the hottest rising filmmakers in the entire industry. He has dozens of projects under his filmmaking belt, but perhaps the most prominent is the one that garnered a win for Best Director at the Academy Awards: T...
No matter how many critical hits English director Andrea Arnold pumps out in the 21st century, projects such as Red Road (2006) consistently make splashes instead of waves at the worldwide box office. That psychological thriller remains highly underrated today, along with the majority of Arnold’s other films: Fish Tank (2009), Wuthering Heights (20...
Scottish director Lynne Ramsay made her directorial debut at the turn of the century with Ratcatcher(1999), which follows a kid as he traverses through the ever-changing landscape of his scheme in Glasgow. He’s accustomed having no water to run, having nowhere to bathe, and having nowhere to even use the restroom. And despite unanimously positive r...
The filmography of John Schlesinger truly runs the gamut of genre, from romantic comedies and period dramas to psychological thrillers and horror stints. But three of his projects perhaps stand out as his best: Darling (1955), Midnight Cowboy (1969), and Sunday Bloody Sunday(1971). And those catch the eye for garnering Schlesinger Best Director nom...
Although he may not hold the contemporary name value of many others on this list, Ken Russell was once among the most talented filmmakers the U.K. had to offer, period. After starting with a few smaller-budget projects, he burst onto the scene with Women in Love(1969), which takes place in an English mining town after the First World War and detail...
Perhaps the most prominent project throughout the oeuvre of Nicolas Roeg would be Don’t Look Now (1973), a thriller that influenced more creatives than just about any other film from a director on this list. Schindler’s List (1993), Memento (2000), Casino Royale (2006), In Bruges (2008), Hereditary(2018) — the respective directors of those films al...
The first two films by Guy Ritchie in Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998) and Snatch(2000) are both so beloved by film fans around the world that this placement might appear confounding off the bat. But aside from those, Ritchie’s oeuvre remains somewhat imbalanced. Sherlock Holmes (2009), The Man From U.N.C.L.E. (2015), The Gentleman (2019)...
Although neither his name as a director nor the popularity of his individual projects hold much value for most film fans, Ken Loach is undoubtedly a respected filmmaker for a particular corner of the film industry. And perhaps the most prominent picture of his would be The Wind That Shakes the Barley(2006), a war film with Cillian Murphy and Pádrai...
Not to take anything at all away from the skill of Jim Sheridan as a director, but it's safe to say he’s best known for his collaborations with Daniel Day-Lewis. Often cited by many fans and pundits alike as the greatest actor to ever do it, Day-Lewis gained most of his initial traction in the industry through his projects with Sheridan, particular...
- Jonah Rice
- Entertainment Reporter
We spoke to over 150 movie experts and writers to put together this definitive list of British films
One of the most distinguished (if frequently overlooked) directors ever to emerge from the British film industry, Alexander Mackendrick, was in fact born in the US (to Scottish parents), but grew up in his native Scotland, where he studied at the Glasgow School of Art.
In 1999, the British Film Institute compiled a list of the 100 favorite British films of the 20th century. Five by David Lean appeared in the top 30, three of them in the top five.
