19 David Lean Movies, Ranked Best to Worst

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. 

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.

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. 

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.

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.   

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.  

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.