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List of Louis Malle Movies: Ranked Best To Worst

1. La Vie de Bohème (1992)
24
8
La Vie de Bohème
24
8
Starring:
Kari Väänänen, André Wilms, Matti Pellonpää, Christine Murillo
Directed By:
Aki Kaurismäki
2. The Thief of Paris (1967)
12
5
The Thief of Paris
12
5
Starring:
Jean-Paul Belmondo, Marie Dubois, Geneviève Bujold, Julien Guiomar
Directed By:
Louis Malle
3. Vie privée (1962)
6
5
Vie privée
6
5

The semi-biographical drama, based on Brigitte Bardot’s life, also known as A Very Private Affair, depicts the story of young actress Jill. After she becomes a famous movie star and has an affair with her divorced friend Fabio, the press and fans intrude in her personal life leading to unexpected complications. 

Starring:
Brigitte Bardot, Marcello Mastroianni, Nicolas Bataille, Dirk Sanders, Jacqueline Doyen
Directed By:
Louis Malle
4. God's Country (1985)
10
3
God's Country
10
3
Role:
Narrator (voice)
Directed By:
Louis Malle
5. ...And the Pursuit of Happiness (1986)
8
3
...And the Pursuit of Happiness
8
3
Role:
Himself - Narrator
Starring:
Derek Walcott, Franklin Chang-Diaz, Anastasio Samosa Portocarrero
Directed By:
Louis Malle
6. Calcutta (1969)
9
3
Calcutta
9
3
Role:
Narrator (voice)
Directed By:
Louis Malle
7. Place de la République (1974)
8
3
Place de la République
8
3
Role:
Himself
Directed By:
Louis Malle
8. A Very Curious Girl (1969)
8
4
A Very Curious Girl
R
8
4
Starring:
Bernadette Lafont, Georges Géret, Julien Guiomar, Claire Maurier
Directed By:
Nelly Kaplan

Director

Au Revoir les Enfants (1987)
32
7
Au Revoir les Enfants
PG
32
7

Julien is a student studying at a boarding school that is run by priests. He dislikes his new roommate Jean, but eventually they begin to develop a bond. They share secrets with one another, but eventually, Julien learns that Jean is a Jew, who has been hiding from the Nazis.

Starring:
Francine Racette, Philippe Morier-Genoud, Gaspard Manesse, Raphael Fejtö, Stanislas Carré de Malberg
Directed By:
Louis Malle
Awards:
BAFTA Award for Best Direction
Elevator to the Gallows (1958)
26
6
Elevator to the Gallows
26
6

Florence is married to Simon, a wealthy arms dealer, but she is having an affair with Julien, an employee working for her husband.  When Julien murders Simon, it leads to an unfortunate chain of events.

Starring:
Jeanne Moreau, Maurice Ronet, Georges Poujouly, Yori Bertin, Jean Wall
Directed By:
Louis Malle
The Fire Within (1963)
16
4
The Fire Within
16
4

Alain Leroy is an alcoholic who is working towards recovery at a rehabilitation clinic. Even though his doctors believe that he is now ready to resume his regular life, he wishes to remain at the clinic, since he finds no reason to live. Even though he feels suicidal, he decides to visit his friends for a last time, hoping that he can find a reason to continue living.    

Starring:
Jeanne Moreau, Maurice Ronet, Yvonne Clech, Hubert Deschamps, Jean-Paul Moulinot
Directed By:
Louis Malle
My Dinner with Andre (1981)
22
8
My Dinner with Andre
PG
22
8
Starring:
Wallace Shawn, Andre Gregory, Jean Lenauer, Roy Butler
Directed By:
Louis Malle
Murmur of the Heart (1971)
16
4
Murmur of the Heart
R
16
4

Murmur of the Heart is a comedy drama film which tells the story of an adolescent boy who finds himself torn between the rebellious urge to discover love after reaching sexual maturity, and the dominating affection of his mother.     

Starring:
Michael Lonsdale, Daniel Gélin, Ave Ninchi, Lea Massari, Benoît Ferreux
Directed By:
Louis Malle
Lacombe, Lucien (1974)
12
6
Lacombe, Lucien
R
12
6

An eighteen year old boy living in a small town in France begins to collaborate with the Nazis, during the time of the Second World War. He soon meets and falls for a girl, who happens to be the daughter of a Jewish tailor.

Starring:
Holger Löwenadler, Aurore Clément, Therese Giehse, Pierre Blaise, Stéphane Bouy
Directed By:
Louis Malle
God's Country (1985)
8
5
God's Country
8
5
Directed By:
Louis Malle
Vanya on 42nd Street (1994)
12
3
Vanya on 42nd Street
PG
12
3
Starring:
Madhur Jaffrey, Julianne Moore, Phoebe Brand, Lynn Cohen, George Gaynes, Jerry Mayer
Directed By:
Louis Malle
Atlantic City, USA (1980)
21
6
Atlantic City, USA
R
21
6

Sally Matthews leaves her home in Canada and relocates to Atlantic City. She wishes to pursue a career in gambling but her criminal husband is still on her trail. She soon finds an unlikely savior in a small-time mobster.

Starring:
Burt Lancaster, Susan Sarandon, Kate Reid, Michel Piccoli, Hollis McLaren
Directed By:
Louis Malle
Awards:
BAFTA Award for Best Direction
...And the Pursuit of Happiness (1986)
7
4
...And the Pursuit of Happiness
7
4
Starring:
Derek Walcott, Franklin Chang-Diaz, Anastasio Samosa Portocarrero
Directed By:
Louis Malle
May Fools (1990)
10
3
May Fools
R
10
3
Starring:
Paulette Dubost, Michel Piccoli, Michel Duchaussoy, Miou-Miou, Bruno Carette
Directed By:
Louis Malle
Calcutta (1969)
7
5
Calcutta
7
5
Directed By:
Louis Malle
The Lovers (1958)
15
4
The Lovers
15
4

The Lovers is a romantic drama film which tells the story of Jeanne, a married woman, whose husband is quite busy with his work, and has little time for her. Therefore she spends a lot of time with her lover Raoul and her friend Maggie. However, after accepting a lift from another younger man named Bernard, she finds herself attracted to him.

Starring:
Jeanne Moreau, Gaston Modot, Jean-Marc Bory, José Luis de Vilallonga, Judith Magre
Directed By:
Louis Malle
Place de la République (1974)
7
5
Place de la République
7
5
Directed By:
Louis Malle
The Silent World (1956)
8
3
The Silent World
8
3
Starring:
Albert Falco, Frédéric Dumas, Jacques-Yves Cousteau, François Saout, André Bourne-Chastel
Directed By:
Louis Malle, Jacques-Yves Cousteau
Zazie dans le Métro (1960)
11
4
Zazie dans le Métro
11
4

This comedy film revolves around a ten year old girl named Zazie, who is sent to stay for a couple of days with her relatives in Paris, since her mother is away for the weekend to spend some time with her lover. Things get complicated when Zazie escapes from her uncle’s custody, and sets out on an adventure to explore the city by herself.   

Starring:
Philippe Noiret, Carla Marlier, Claude Berri, Hubert Deschamps, Catherine Demongeot
Directed By:
Louis Malle
The Thief of Paris (1967)
7
3
The Thief of Paris
7
3
Starring:
Jean-Paul Belmondo, Marie Dubois, Geneviève Bujold, Julien Guiomar
Directed By:
Louis Malle
Damage (1992)
15
10
Damage
R
15
10

Damage is a romantic psychological thriller film which tells the story of British politician Stephen who is in a dull but stable marriage. When he meets the fiancee of his son, he becomes quite attracted to her, and begins an intense affair. As the situation worsens, Stephen finds himself struggling to avoid destroying himself and his family.

Starring:
Jeremy Irons, Juliette Binoche, Peter Stormare, Miranda Richardson, Leslie Caron, Rupert Graves, Ian Bannen
Directed By:
Louis Malle
Pretty Baby (1978)
11
7
Pretty Baby
R
11
7

Hattie is young prostitute in New Orleans who meets a photographer named Bellocq after he pays a visit to her brothel. He also befriend Hattie’s daughter, Violet, but soon Violet is made a working girl by the brothel’s madam. Violet’s life turns worse after her mother gets married to a wealthy client and moves to Saint Louis. Therefore, Violet decides to get married to Bellocq.

Starring:
Brooke Shields, Susan Sarandon, Keith Carradine, Antonio Fargas, Frances Faye
Directed By:
Louis Malle
Spirits of the Dead (1968)
10
5
Spirits of the Dead
R
10
5

Based on works of Edgar Allan Poe, this anthology horror film tells us three different stories. The first story is about Countess Frédérique, who lives a promiscuous life. She finds herself attracted to Baron Wilhelm, who is her cousin and neighbor, whom she had never before met due to a family feud. However, he rejects her due to her wicked ways, after which she plans revenge. The second story is about an army officer named William Wilson, who decides to confess his crimes to a priest. The last story is about a Shakespearean actor whose career is declining due to his alcoholism.

Starring:
Alain Delon, Peter Fonda, Vincent Price, Jane Fonda, Brigitte Bardot, Terence Stamp, James Robertson Justice
Humain, trop humain (1974)
6
4
Humain, trop humain
6
4
Directed By:
Louis Malle, René Vautier
Viva Maria! (1965)
8
4
Viva Maria!
8
4
Starring:
Brigitte Bardot, Jeanne Moreau, George Hamilton, Paulette Dubost, Gregor von Rezzori
Directed By:
Louis Malle
Black Moon (1975)
9
5
Black Moon
R
9
5

Black Moon is a fantasy horror film which tells the story of a woman named Lily, who tries to find safety in a world where a war has erupted between the genders, and men and women are killing one another.

Starring:
Alexandra Stewart, Joe Dallesandro, Cathryn Harrison, Therese Giehse
Directed By:
Louis Malle
Alamo Bay (1985)
5
3
Alamo Bay
R
5
3
Starring:
Donald Moffat, Ed Harris, Amy Madigan, Ho Nguyen, Truyen V. Tran
Directed By:
Louis Malle
Vie privée (1962)
5
5
Vie privée
5
5

The semi-biographical drama, based on Brigitte Bardot’s life, also known as A Very Private Affair, depicts the story of young actress Jill. After she becomes a famous movie star and has an affair with her divorced friend Fabio, the press and fans intrude in her personal life leading to unexpected complications. 

Starring:
Brigitte Bardot, Marcello Mastroianni, Nicolas Bataille, Dirk Sanders, Jacqueline Doyen
Directed By:
Louis Malle
Crackers (1984)
4
4
Crackers
PG
4
4

A low-paying pawn shop employee, Weslake joins in on a plan by an amateur musician Dillard, an illegal immigrant Ramon, a pimp named Broadwalk, and a homeless man named Turtle to break into the large safe in the pawn shop. But the rewards might not be what they expected. 

Starring:
Donald Sutherland, Christine Baranski, Sean Penn, Wallace Shawn, Jack Warden, Larry Riley
Directed By:
Louis Malle

Narrator/Dubbing

...And the Pursuit of Happiness (1986)
10
4
...And the Pursuit of Happiness
10
4
Role:
Self - Narrator
Starring:
Derek Walcott, Franklin Chang-Diaz, Anastasio Samosa Portocarrero
Directed By:
Louis Malle
Calcutta (1969)
12
5
Calcutta
12
5
Role:
Narrator (voice)
Directed By:
Louis Malle

Special Appearance/Cameo

The Thief of Paris (1967)
12
5
The Thief of Paris
12
5
Role:
Un figurant (uncredited)
Starring:
Jean-Paul Belmondo, Marie Dubois, Geneviève Bujold, Julien Guiomar
Directed By:
Louis Malle
Vie privée (1962)
7
5
Vie privée
7
5

The semi-biographical drama, based on Brigitte Bardot’s life, also known as A Very Private Affair, depicts the story of young actress Jill. After she becomes a famous movie star and has an affair with her divorced friend Fabio, the press and fans intrude in her personal life leading to unexpected complications. 

Role:
Le journaliste (uncredited)
Starring:
Brigitte Bardot, Marcello Mastroianni, Nicolas Bataille, Dirk Sanders, Jacqueline Doyen
Directed By:
Louis Malle

Louis Malle Awards

BAFTA Awards
Au revoir les enfants Best Direction 1989
Atlantic City Best Direction 1982