This ranking is based on an algorithm that combines various factors, including the votes of our users and search trends on the internet.

List of Stephen Frears Movies: Ranked Best To Worst

1. One Fine Day (1979)
9
2
One Fine Day
9
2
Starring:
Leslie Sands, Robert Stephens, Dominic Guard, Barbara Leigh-Hunt, Dave Allen
Directed By:
Stephen Frears
2. December Flower (1984)
8
2
December Flower
8
2
Starring:
Jean Simmons, Mona Washbourne, Bryan Forbes, June Ritchie, Pat Heywood
Directed By:
Stephen Frears
3. Me! I'm Afraid of Virginia Woolf (1978)
8
2
Me! I'm Afraid of Virginia Woolf
8
2
Starring:
Alan Bennett, Neville Smith, Frank Middlemass, Julie Walters, Robert Longden
Directed By:
Stephen Frears
4. Skip Tracer (2008)
8
2
Skip Tracer
8
2
Starring:
Beverly D'Angelo, Stephen Dorff, Natasha Gregson Wagner, Diedrich Bader, Martha Higareda
Directed By:
Stephen Frears
5. Philomena (2013)
33
11
Philomena
PG-13
33
11

Based on Martin Sixsmith’s 2009 book The Lost Child of Philomena Lee, this film is a moving story of an Irish teenager, Philomena, whose toddler son Anthony, born out of marriage, is given up for adoption by the convent nuns. For the next five decades, Philomena’s efforts to find her son fails but then she meets Martin Sixsmith, a journalist, and the two together begin a journey to locate Anthony. 

Starring:
Judi Dench, Mare Winningham, Steve Coogan, Barbara Jefford, Sophie Kennedy Clark
Directed By:
Stephen Frears
6. Dangerous Liaisons (1988)
25
8
Dangerous Liaisons
R
25
8

In Paris, the Marquise de Merteui plans revenge against her ex-lover the Comte de Bastide, by planning to seduce and dishonor his virgin fiancée Cécile de Volanges. Merteui enlists the help of the disreputable Vicomte de Valmont, who is planning his own seduction of the religious Madame de Tourvel. Meanwhile, Cécile falls in love with Chevalier Raphael Danceny. 

Directed By:
Stephen Frears
7. Walter & June (1983)
7
3
Walter & June
7
3
Starring:
Ian McKellen, Jim Broadbent, Tony Doyle, Sarah Miles, John Gordon Sinclair
Directed By:
Stephen Frears
8. Afternoon Off (1979)
7
3
Afternoon Off
7
3
Starring:
Alan Bennett, Philip Jackson, Benjamin Whitrow, Henry Man, Angela Morant
Directed By:
Stephen Frears
9. Doris and Doreen (1978)
7
3
Doris and Doreen
7
3
Starring:
Prunella Scales, Patricia Routledge, Pete Postlethwaite, Joan Sanderson
Directed By:
Stephen Frears
10. Walter (1982)
7
3
Walter
7
3
Starring:
Ian McKellen, Barbara Jefford, David Ryall, Jim Broadbent, Arthur Whybrow
Directed By:
Stephen Frears
11. High Fidelity (2000)
52
18
High Fidelity
R
52
18

Rob Gordon, a struggling vinyl record store owner and compulsive list-maker, is yet again ditched by his current girlfriend Laura for refusing to commit. He decides to make a list of his top five breakups and seeks out his previous partners in an attempt to understand his failures in making those relationships work.

Starring:
John Cusack, Jack Black, Harold Ramis, Joan Cusack, Lisa Bonet, Drake Bell, Sara Gilbert
Directed By:
Stephen Frears
12. The Route V50 (2004)
7
3
The Route V50
7
3
Starring:
Robert Downey Jr.
Directed By:
Stephen Frears
13. A Day Out (1972)
7
3
A Day Out
7
3
Starring:
Alan Bennett, Philip Locke, James Cossins, David Waller, John Normington
Directed By:
Stephen Frears
14. Fail Safe (2000)
8
3
Fail Safe
8
3
Starring:
Brian Dennehy, Don Cheadle, Richard Dreyfuss, Hank Azaria, Harvey Keitel, George Clooney, Sam Elliott
Directed By:
Stephen Frears, Martin Pasetta
15. The Queen (2006)
34
13
The Queen
PG-13
34
13

The multiple awards-winning film deals with the reactions of the people, the Royal family, and the British Prime Minister after the death of Princess Diana. While the Queen considers Diana’s death as a private matter, the people expect a public expression of grief towards the death of the ‘People’s Princess’. PM Tony Blair tries to convince the Queen to pay a tribute. 

Starring:
Helen Mirren, James Cromwell, Michael Sheen, Sylvia Syms, Roger Allam
Directed By:
Stephen Frears
16. Dirty Pretty Things (2002)
17
6
Dirty Pretty Things
R
17
6

Okwe is a kind hearted Nigerian doctor, who is living illegally in London. His life takes a turn when he finds a human heart one day, all of a sudden, in the hotel where he resides with other immigrants.

Starring:
Audrey Tautou, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Benedict Wong, Sergi López, Sophie Okonedo
Directed By:
Stephen Frears
17. Prick Up Your Ears (1987)
8
3
Prick Up Your Ears
R
8
3

This biographical film revolves around the story of Joe Orton, British playwright. The film shows how he befriended the older Kenneth, and begins a relationship with him. Although both aspire to become writers, it is only Orton who is able to receive fame and success. Over time, his success begins to take him further away from his friend and lover.

Starring:
Gary Oldman, Alfred Molina, Vanessa Redgrave, Wallace Shawn, Lindsay Duncan
Directed By:
Stephen Frears
18. Three Men in a Boat (1975)
7
3
Three Men in a Boat
7
3
Starring:
Tim Curry, Michael Palin, Stephen Moore, Michael Elphick, Bill Stewart
Directed By:
Stephen Frears
19. The Deal (2003)
7
3
The Deal
7
3
Starring:
Joanna Scanlan, Michael Sheen, Dexter Fletcher, David Morrissey, Paul Rhys
Directed By:
Stephen Frears
Awards:
BAFTA Award for Best Single Drama
20. Mrs Henderson Presents (2005)
10
4
Mrs Henderson Presents
R
10
4

Mrs Henderson Presents is a comedy drama film about Laura Henderson, who is an eccentric 70 year old widow who purchases a cinema and remodels it to create the Windmill Theater in London. She even starts adding female nudity to her shows, to bring more audiences.

Starring:
Bob Hoskins, Christopher Guest, Judi Dench, Kelly Reilly, Will Young
Directed By:
Stephen Frears
21. The Hit (1984)
8
4
The Hit
R
8
4

The Hit is a crime thriller film which tells the story of Willie Parker, a mobster in London, who decides to give evidence against his partners, to the police, after they give him a generous offer. However, years later, the kingpin whom he helped put away, hires a hitman to kidnap him and bring him to Paris for his execution.

Starring:
Tim Roth, John Hurt, Terence Stamp, Ralph Brown, Freddie Stuart
Directed By:
Stephen Frears
22. The Grifters (1990)
13
6
The Grifters
R
13
6

The Grifters is a crime drama thriller film which tells the story of Roy Dillon, a conman, whose life gets complicated when his estranged mother returns home, and doesn’t seem to like his girlfriend. Soon both women seem to battle for Roy’s attention.

Starring:
Steve Buscemi, Annette Bening, Jeremy Piven, Martin Scorsese, James Thomas Patrick Walsh, John Cusack, Anjelica Huston
Directed By:
Stephen Frears
23. Liam (2000)
7
3
Liam
R
7
3
Starring:
Claire Hackett, Ian Hart, Anthony Borrows, David Hart, Megan Burns
Directed By:
Stephen Frears
24. Florence Foster Jenkins (2016)
19
9
Florence Foster Jenkins
PG-13
19
9

This biographical romantic drama film tells the story of Florence Foster Jenkins, a New York heiress, who wants to become an opera singer, despite the fact that her singing voice is not good.

Starring:
Meryl Streep, Rebecca Ferguson, Hugh Grant, Simon Helberg, Nina Arianda
Directed By:
Stephen Frears
25. Victoria & Abdul (2017)
14
7
Victoria & Abdul
PG-13
14
7

This historical drama film tells the story of Abdul Karim, a young prison clerk from India, who travels to meet Queen Victoria, to give her a present. Soon an unlikely friendship sparks between the two.   

Starring:
Eddie Izzard, Olivia Williams, Judi Dench, Tim Pigott-Smith, Adeel Akhtar
Directed By:
Stephen Frears
26. My Beautiful Laundrette (1985)
10
5
My Beautiful Laundrette
R
10
5

This 1985 British comedy-drama film directed by Stephen Frear explores the complex relationship between members of the Pakistani and English communities. The film also showcases the romance between Omar, a young Pakistani man living in London, and his childhood friend, Johnny.

Starring:
Daniel Day-Lewis, Persis Khambatta, Richard Graham, Winston Graham, Dudley Thomas
Directed By:
Stephen Frears
27. The Van (1996)
7
3
The Van
R
7
3
Starring:
Colm Meaney, Neilí Conroy, Donal O'Kelly, Ger Ryan, Caroline Rothwell
Directed By:
Stephen Frears
28. Muhammad Ali's Greatest Fight (2013)
6
3
Muhammad Ali's Greatest Fight
6
3
Starring:
Christopher Plummer, Danny Glover, Frank Langella, Ed Begley Jr., Barry Levinson
Directed By:
Stephen Frears
29. Sammy and Rosie Get Laid (1987)
6
3
Sammy and Rosie Get Laid
6
3
Starring:
Shashi Kapoor, Meera Syal, Roland Gift, Claire Bloom, Frances Barber, Ayub Khan-Din
Directed By:
Stephen Frears
30. A Personal History of British Cinema by Stephen Frears (1995)
6
3
A Personal History of British Cinema by Stephen Frears
6
3
Starring:
Michael Apted, Alan Parker, Alexander Mackendrick, Gavin Lambert
Directed By:
Stephen Frears, Michael Dibb
31. Gumshoe (1971)
6
3
Gumshoe
PG
6
3

Eddie Ginley, a bingo caller at a nightclub, aspires to become a private detective. He advertises in a newspaper and soon enough receives a strange call and few items. Before he can figure things out, he gets enmeshed in a case involving drug and gun smuggling. Ginley must now solve the case and simultaneously protect his own family.

Starring:
Albert Finney, Frank Finlay, Billie Whitelaw, Janice Rule, Carolyn Seymour
Directed By:
Stephen Frears
32. Hero (1992)
10
6
Hero
PG-13
10
6

Hero is a comedy drama film which tells the story of Bernie, a wanted thief, who rescues passengers from a burning airliner, but is shocked to see that another man is taking the credit for his heroic actions.

Starring:
Dustin Hoffman, Tom Arnold, Chevy Chase, Daniel Baldwin, Joan Cusack, Andy Garcia, Geena Davis
Directed By:
Stephen Frears
33. The Program (2015)
10
5
The Program
R
10
5

The Program is biographical sports drama film which revolves around a sports journalist who is convinced that Lance Armstrong had used banned substances, which is why he was able to perform amazingly at the Tour de France.  He begins to look for evidence that will expose Armstrong.

Starring:
Ben Foster, Guillaume Canet, Dustin Hoffman, Jesse Plemons, Chris O'Dowd, Lee Pace
Directed By:
Stephen Frears
34. Bloody Kids (1980)
5
3
Bloody Kids
5
3
Starring:
Richard Beckinsale, Mel Smith, Derrick O'Connor, Gwyneth Strong, Gary Holton
Directed By:
Stephen Frears
35. Tamara Drewe (2010)
10
6
Tamara Drewe
R
10
6
Starring:
Roger Allam, Luke Evans, Gemma Arterton, Dominic Cooper, Bill Camp
Directed By:
Stephen Frears
36. Black Christmas (1977)
5
3
Black Christmas
5
3
Starring:
Norman Beaton, Janet Bartley, Carmen Munroe, Linda Goddard, Stefan Kalipha
Directed By:
Stephen Frears
37. Chéri (2009)
7
5
Chéri
R
7
5

Retired courtesan Charlotte asks Lea, a former colleague, to educate her son, Cheri, in the ways of love. However, this results in a passionate affair between the two. Charlotte wants them to end their relationship as she wants Cheri to marry a younger woman. Lea flies to southern France, but as fate would have it, the two lovers cross path one more time.

Starring:
Rupert Friend, Anita Pallenberg, Felicity Jones, Kathy Bates, Michelle Pfeiffer, Frances Tomelty, Tom Burke
Directed By:
Stephen Frears
38. The Burning (1968)
5
3
The Burning
5
3

Made to explore racial tensions in South Africa in the Apartheid era, this short drama film tells the story of a wealthy woman who insists on taking a vacation to the countryside along with her family, despite getting urgent warnings that an uprising is underway.

Starring:
Gwen Ffrangcon Davies, Isobel Muller, Maxine Day, Cosmo Pieterse, Mark Baillie
Directed By:
Stephen Frears
39. The Hi-Lo Country (1998)
6
4
The Hi-Lo Country
R
6
4
Starring:
Sam Elliott, Billy Crudup, Katy Jurado, Penelope Cruz, Woody Harrelson, Patricia Arquette, Penélope Cruz
Directed By:
Stephen Frears
40. Mary Reilly (1996)
7
5
Mary Reilly
R
7
5

Mary Reilly, an Irish girl, comes to the house of a reputed and rich doctor named Dr Henry Jekyll, to start working as a maid. Things start to change when she starts developing feelings for the doctor. Soon it seems that Dr Henry also has a dark and mysterious counterpart named Mr Edward Hyde.

Starring:
Julia Roberts, John Malkovich, Glenn Close, Michael Sheen, Michael Gambon, George Cole
Directed By:
Stephen Frears
41. Saigon -Year of the Cat- (1983)
4
3
Saigon -Year of the Cat-
4
3
Starring:
Judi Dench, Roger Rees, Chic Murray, Yim Hoontrakul, Pichit Bulkul
Directed By:
Stephen Frears
42. Daft As a Brush (1975)
3
3
Daft As a Brush
3
3
Starring:
Jonathan Pryce, Lynn Redgrave, Betsy Blair, David Daker, Christine Buckley
Directed By:
Stephen Frears
43. Lay the Favorite (2012)
5
5
Lay the Favorite
R
5
5

A lap dancer, Beth, leaves Florida in order to fulfill her dream of becoming a cocktail waitress. Destiny brings her to work for Dink, a sports gambler who hires her. Cupid strikes and she falls in love with him. Much to the ire of Tulip, Dink's wife, Beth also proves to be something of a gambling prodigy.

Starring:
Joshua Jackson, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Laura Prepon, Frank Grillo, Vince Vaughn, Bruce Willis, Joel Murray
Directed By:
Stephen Frears

Movies (Actor)

1. Chéri (2009)
23
15
Chéri
R
23
15

Retired courtesan Charlotte asks Lea, a former colleague, to educate her son, Cheri, in the ways of love. However, this results in a passionate affair between the two. Charlotte wants them to end their relationship as she wants Cheri to marry a younger woman. Lea flies to southern France, but as fate would have it, the two lovers cross path one more time.

Starring:
Rupert Friend, Anita Pallenberg, Felicity Jones, Kathy Bates, Michelle Pfeiffer, Frances Tomelty, Tom Burke
Directed By:
Stephen Frears
2. Long Shot (1978)
5
3
Long Shot
5
3
Starring:
Alan Bennett, Wim Wenders, Neville Smith, John Boorman
Directed By:
Maurice Hatton
3. Moog (2007)
8
2
Moog
8
2
Role:
Headmaster
Starring:
Scott Handy, Barney Clark
Directed By:
Haris Vafeiadis
4. A Personal History of British Cinema by Stephen Frears (1995)
6
3
A Personal History of British Cinema by Stephen Frears
6
3
Role:
Himself
Starring:
Michael Apted, Alan Parker, Alexander Mackendrick, Gavin Lambert
Directed By:
Stephen Frears, Michael Dibb

TV Shows

Tom Grattan's War
10
2
Tom Grattan's War
10
2
Starring:
Richard Warner, George Malpas, Michael Howe, Sally Adcock, Connie Merigold
Directed By:
Stephen Frears
BBC2 Play of the Week
9
2
BBC2 Play of the Week
9
2
Starring:
Jeremy Irons, John Rhys-Davies, Michael York, Malcolm McDowell, Harold Pinter, Christopher Timothy, Patrick Stewart
Directed By:
Don Taylor, Alan Cooke, Stephen Frears, Leonard Lewis, David Hugh Jones
The Comic Strip Presents...
40
11
The Comic Strip Presents...
40
11
Starring:
Emma Thompson, Dawn French, Miranda Richardson, Miriam Margolyes, Chris Langham, Nicholas Parsons, Lenny Henry
Directed By:
Sandy Johnson, Stephen Frears, Bob Spiers, Keith Allen, Adrian Edmondson
Follyfoot
12
3
Follyfoot
12
3
Starring:
Desmond Llewelyn, Arthur English, Christian Rodska, Gillian Blake, Steve Hodson
Directed By:
Play for Today
15
4
Play for Today
15
4
Starring:
Liam Neeson, Anthony Hopkins, Billy Connolly, Patrick Stewart, Pierce Brosnan, Connie Booth, Michael Crawford
Directed By:
ITV Playhouse
9
3
ITV Playhouse
9
3
Starring:
Brian Blessed, Ian Holm, Derek Jacobi, Ian McDiarmid, John Ratzenberger, Maggie Smith, Ian McShane
Directed By:
Freezing
11
4
Freezing
11
4
Starring:
Alex Kingston, Elizabeth McGovern, Tom Riley, Hugh Bonneville, Andrew Garfield, Tom Hollander
Directed By:
Simon Curtis
BBC2 Playhouse
8
4
BBC2 Playhouse
8
4
Starring:
Ben Kingsley, Deborah Kerr, Donald Pleasence, Claudine Auger, Joss Ackland, Paul Scofield, Ian Richardson
Directed By:
Jon Amiel, Michael Darlow, Michael Simpson, Don Taylor, Cedric Messina
Awards:
BAFTA Award for Best Single Play
Parkin's Patch
6
3
Parkin's Patch
6
3
Starring:
Robert Urquhart, Gareth Thomas, John Flanagan, Heather Page, Malcolm Rogers
Directed By:
Screen Two
9
5
Screen Two
9
5
Starring:
Helena Bonham Carter, Rachel Weisz, Stephen Fry, Clive Owen, Alan Cumming, Tommy Lee Jones, Jerry Stiller
Second City Firsts
6
3
Second City Firsts
6
3
Starring:
Toyah Willcox, Julie Walters, Alun Armstrong, Alison Steadman, Ken Kitson
Directed By:
Mike Leigh, Stephen Frears
Sarah Brightman: Diva - The Video Collection (2006)
0
0
Sarah Brightman: Diva - The Video Collection
0
0
Starring:
José Carreras, Sarah Brightman, Andrea Bocelli, Violet Brightman, Jaz Coleman
Directed By:

Narrator/Dubbing

Chéri (2009)
9
6
Chéri
R
9
6

Retired courtesan Charlotte asks Lea, a former colleague, to educate her son, Cheri, in the ways of love. However, this results in a passionate affair between the two. Charlotte wants them to end their relationship as she wants Cheri to marry a younger woman. Lea flies to southern France, but as fate would have it, the two lovers cross path one more time.

Role:
Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
Starring:
Rupert Friend, Anita Pallenberg, Felicity Jones, Kathy Bates, Michelle Pfeiffer, Frances Tomelty, Tom Burke
Directed By:
Stephen Frears

Stephen Frears Awards

Primetime Emmy Awards
State of the Union Outstanding Short Form Comedy or Drama Series 2019
BAFTA Awards
The Deal Best Single Drama 2004
BBC2 Playhouse Best Single Play 1982
A Very English Scandal Best Director: Fiction 2019