Ranking the Films of Yorgos Lanthimos

You know a Yorgos Lanthimos film when you see it. When I interviewed the man here (alongside Emma Stone), you could just tell that this is a man who looks at the world in a very specific way. That he can translate it into cinema that’s actually as entertaining as it is offbeat is quite the accomplishment. With his latest flick, Kinds of Kindness, now in theaters, it seemed like a fun time to go ahead and rank his films. So, I did!

In my review of Poor Things (here) last year, I said the following:

Director Yorgos Lanthimos and writer Tony McNamara make an excellent team. Working again with cinematographer Robbie Ryan, Lanthimos and McNamara take the genius of The Favourite and one up it at all turns. Visually, this is one of the most unique looking films of the year, beautiful and singular. Lanthimos directs the hell out of it, almost always seemingly with a smile on his face. McNamara’s script is brilliant, getting the humor to always hit, the feminism to click, and the sexual exploration to never feel like exploitation. Lanthimos and company walk a tightrope for two hours and twenty minutes, but they never fall. It’s a daring achievement, to be sure.

Just days ago, I raved (here) about his latest, Kinds of Kindness, writing:

Filmmaker Yorgos Lanthimos is indulging in all of his favorite whims, but instead of it feeling like a kid getting to eat too much ice cream, it’s the audience who feels like they’re getting treats. Co-writing with Efthimis Filippou again, Lanthimos is having a blast. His direction allows the actors to really dine out on the strange characters, while he allows the audience to be puzzled, yet never confused. It’s vintage Yorgos. Now, at 164 minutes, it’s a bit of an ask, and the first of the three segments is the best, but you’re consistently compelled. The biggest compliment I can give him is that each of the three could have been their own films. Usually with a work like this, one might be a highlight, but there’s segments that just feel too thin. Here, I’d have seen any of them as his latest feature. That’s a real feather in this movie’s hat.

Below, you can see how I rank Lanthimos’ filmography so far. I’m only including his solo directing career, but that still makes up the vast majority of his resume. For me, I’m partial to when he works with a Tony McNamara script, but I’ve yet to dislike one of his movies. Where does Kinds of Kindness fall? You’re about to find out…

Here now is how I would rank Lanthimos’ work to date:

8. Kinetta – The solo directorial debut for Lanthimos, it reminds me of Following with Christopher Nolan. A lot of what we’d come to know about the filmmaker is there and on display, but not with the precision yet that we’ll eventually get. So, Kinetta is an incomplete experience, but still one that’s rewarding to look back on.

7. Alps – The closest thing in his career to a letdown, coming off of Dogtooth it’s almost restrained by comparison. Is it anything resembling a bad film? No, of course not. It’s simply smaller and less shocking than any of his other works. So, your mileage may vary with Alps. I don’t love it, but it’s still well-done.

6. The Lobster – This movie is where Lanthimos really broke out as a worldwide talent. The Lobster is a lot of folks’ favorite of his, so its middle of the road placement here should really speak to his abilities. Not only that, but how different people can latch on to different elements of his work.

5. The Killing of a Sacred Deer – One of the man’s most divisive works, The Killing of a Sacred Deer inspired confusion, delight, and even frustration when it debuted. Those who love it, however, really love it. Again, I’m splitting the difference, but I do enjoy it a bit more than most.

4. Kinds of Kindness – My review above and here again says it all but it’s worth noticing that even when the artist has been given free reign to go nuts, he still manages to entertain. Is Kinds of Kindness darker than almost any other comedy you’ll see this year? Yes, of course. Is it also funnier? Very much so. I’ve given myself over to him and can’t wait to see what he does next.

3. Dogtooth – The film that put Lanthimos on the map is a real vivid metaphor, but also still very entrancing. Dogtooth is a bit shaggier than his more recent works, but there’s a scrappiness to it that also sets it apart. If you’ve never given the movie a shot, especially if you like Lanthimos, you owe it to yourself to experiment.

2. The Favourite – What a surprise The Favourite turned out to be. Working from a McNamara screenplay, Lanthimos got classy while still being very much himself, which is crazy to think about. The Academy probably didn’t expect to like it as much as they did, but it also set him off on his recent favorite son status with Oscar. The path towards an eventual win really did begin here.

1. Poor Things – For my money, this is his most complete work. My rave review above and here from Telluride went wild over the flick, which showed him completely in control of his powers. Lanthimos managed to make something completely nuts, but also feel prestige at the same time. Poor Things is a joy from start to finish. For me, it just might be his masterpiece.

What is your favorite Yorgos Lanthimos film? Let us know!