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List of David Lean Movies: Ranked Best To Worst

1. Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
26
2
Lawrence of Arabia
PG
26
2

The movie is based on the life of T.E. Lawrence who was sent to Arabia to aide Prince Faisal. He becomes a liaison between the British and the Arabs who are fighting the Turks. His daring victories against the Turks makes Lawrence the hero, but his own exploits weigh heavily on his soul. 

Directed By:
David Lean
Awards:
Academy Award for Best Director, Golden Globe Award for Best Director
2. The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)
23
3
The Bridge on the River Kwai
23
3

After Japanese commandant Colonel Saito orders British POWs to build a railway bridge over the River Kwai, senior British officer Colonel Nicholson initially opposes illegal use of prisoners but later convinces fellow soldiers against delay-tactics in order to prove British superiority. Meanwhile, escaped US commander Shears is forced to join a four-man commando mission to destroy the bridge.

Starring:
William Holden, Sessue Hayakawa, Alec Guinness, Jack Hawkins, James Donald
Directed By:
David Lean
Awards:
Golden Globe Award for Best Director, Academy Award for Best Director
3. Doctor Zhivago (1965)
22
3
Doctor Zhivago
PG-13
22
3

The age-old tale of romance is set against the backdrop of World War I, the 1917 Russian revolution, and the Russian Civil War. Yuri Zhivago is in love with Lara, who ends up marrying Pasha Antipov. Zhivago marries Tonya. Years later, fate brings Yuri and Lara back together again only to cruelly tear them apart. 

Directed By:
David Lean
Awards:
Golden Globe Award for Best Director
4. Brief Encounter (1945)
18
2
Brief Encounter
18
2

Brief Encounter is an American romantic drama film, which tells the story of a bored suburban housewife Laura Jesson, who, while returning from a shopping trip from a nearby town, gets acquainted with a virtuous doctor Alec Harvey. She eventually finds herself attracted to him, and is tempted to cheat on her husband.

Starring:
Trevor Howard, Noël Coward, Stanley Holloway, Celia Johnson, Joyce Carey
Directed By:
David Lean
5. Great Expectations (1946)
13
2
Great Expectations
13
2

Philip is an orphan who lives with his older sister and her husband who is a blacksmith. He falls for Estella, a beautiful and cruel teenage girl. However, after some time, he is unable to meet her anymore as she leaves for France, and Philip begins his apprenticeship as a blacksmith. His life takes an interesting turn when a mysterious benefactor offers to transform him into a gentleman.   

Starring:
Sir John Mills, Jean Simmons, Alec Guinness, John Mills, Tony Wager, Valerie Hobson
Directed By:
David Lean
6. Oliver Twist (1948)
15
2
Oliver Twist
15
2

Based on the popular novel by Charles Dickens, Oliver Twist is a drama film which tells the story of an orphaned boy, and his involvement with various criminals in his search of a true home.

Starring:
Anthony Newley, Alec Guinness, John Howard Davies, Robert Newton, Kay Walsh, Francis L. Sullivan
Directed By:
David Lean
7. Hobson's Choice (1954)
15
3
Hobson's Choice
15
3

Henry Hobson is a widower and a father to three daughters named Maggie, Alice and Vickie. He is quite miserly and tyrannical, and all three of his daughters want to get married and leave him. However, this becomes difficult because he is unwilling to provide any dowry.

Starring:
Charles Laughton, Sir John Mills, John Mills, Brenda de Banzie, Daphne Anderson, Prunella Scales
Directed By:
David Lean
8. The Passionate Friends (1949)
13
2
The Passionate Friends
13
2
Starring:
Trevor Howard, Ann Todd, Claude Rains, Betty Ann Davies, Isabel Dean
Directed By:
David Lean
9. A Passage to India (1984)
17
2
A Passage to India
PG
17
2

A Passage to India is an adventure drama film which takes us to the 20th century when India was still under British rule. The film revolves around Adela Quested who is sailing from England to India, with Mrs Moore, the mother of her intended bridegroom. She soon gets acquainted with Dr Aziz, whom she later accuses of attempting to rape her.

Starring:
Alec Guinness, Judy Davis, Victor Banerjee, Peggy Ashcroft, James Fox
Directed By:
David Lean
10. Ryan's Daughter (1970)
16
3
Ryan's Daughter
GP
16
3

Ryan’s Daughter is a romantic comedy film which revolves around Rosy Ryan, a young married woman living in a small village in Ireland, during the time just before the World War I. She finds herself attracted to a young British officer who is a customer in her father’s pub.

Starring:
Robert Mitchum, Sir John Mills, Trevor Howard, John Mills, Christopher Jones, Leo McKern
Directed By:
David Lean
11. Summertime (1955)
11
2
Summertime
11
2

Jane Hudson is an unmarried middle-aged woman who is on a vacation of her dreams in Venice, after saving money for it for several years. However, she feels quite lonely, being all by herself. Things take a turn when she meets a handsome Italian man, although he is married.  

Starring:
Katharine Hepburn, Isa Miranda, Darren McGavin, Rossano Brazzi, Mari Aldon
Directed By:
David Lean
12. In Which We Serve (1942)
12
2
In Which We Serve
12
2
Starring:
Richard Attenborough, Sir John Mills, Celia Johnson, John Mills, Kay Walsh, Bernard Miles
Directed By:
Noël Coward, David Lean
13. Blithe Spirit (1945)
14
3
Blithe Spirit
14
3
Starring:
Rex Harrison, Noël Coward, Constance Cummings, Kay Hammond, Hugh Wakefield
Directed By:
David Lean
14. This Happy Breed (1944)
11
2
This Happy Breed
11
2
Starring:
Laurence Olivier, Sir John Mills, Celia Johnson, John Mills, Robert Newton, Stanley Holloway
Directed By:
David Lean
15. Major Barbara (1941)
9
2
Major Barbara
9
2
Starring:
Deborah Kerr, Rex Harrison, Sybil Thorndike, Robert Newton, Robert Morley
Directed By:
Gabriel Pascal, Harold French, David Lean
16. The Sound Barrier (1952)
11
2
The Sound Barrier
11
2
Starring:
Ann Todd, Ralph Richardson, Dinah Sheridan, Nigel Patrick, John Justin
Directed By:
David Lean
17. Madeleine (1950)
10
3
Madeleine
10
3
Starring:
Anthony Newley, Ann Todd, Leslie Banks, Norman Wooland, Ivan Desny
Directed By:
David Lean
18. The Greatest Story Ever Told (1965)
12
2
The Greatest Story Ever Told
12
2

The Greatest Story Ever Told is a historical drama film which revolves around the life and the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth, presented in two parts.  

Starring:
Charlton Heston, Donald Pleasence, Sidney Poitier, Telly Savalas, David McCallum, Pat Boone, Martin Landau
Directed By:
Jean Negulesco, George Stevens, David Lean
19. Money for Speed (1933)
0
0
Money for Speed
0
0
Role:
Reporter (uncredited)
Starring:
Marie Ault, John Loder, Moore Marriott, Ida Lupino,
Directed By:
Bernard Vorhaus

David Lean Awards

Academy Awards
Lawrence of Arabia Best Director 1963
The Bridge on the River Kwai Best Director 1958
Golden Globe Awards
Doctor Zhivago Best Director 1966
Lawrence of Arabia Best Director 1963
The Bridge on the River Kwai Best Director 1958