Direction: Ken Russell

The best movies, series, and documentaries directed by Ken Russell. Explore exceptional titles that showcase a unique filmmaking vision.


The Devils

1971 · Movie · 103 min. · United Kingdom

Direction Ken Russell

Cast Vanessa Redgrave · Oliver Reed · Dudley Sutton · Max Adrian

Synopsis The Devils (1971) delves into the unsettling narrative of a powerful priest in the French city of Loudon during the 17th century. Cardinal Richelieu and his ambitious associates aim to dominate France but face an obstacle in Father Grandier, who...

6.8

1K votes

6.8

1K votes

Women in Love

1969 · Movie · 129 min. · United Kingdom

Direction Ken Russell

Cast Glenda Jackson · Alan Bates · Oliver Reed · Jennie Linden

Synopsis Women in Love (1969) delves into the complex dynamics of gender roles and relationships within the affluent circles of Britain's industrial Midlands during the 1920s. The narrative revolves around two close friends, Gerald Crich and Rupert Birkin, who both become...

6.5

742 votes

6.5

742 votes

Tommy

1975 · Movie · 111 min. · United Kingdom

Direction Ken Russell

Cast Roger Daltrey · Ann-Margret · Oliver Reed · Paul Nicholas

Synopsis Tommy (1975) follows the life of a young boy named Tommy, whose world is turned upside down when his mother, Nora, marries Frank Hobbs shortly after his father, Captain Walker, is presumed dead during World War II. The story takes...

6.5

2K votes

6.5

2K votes

Salome's Last Dance

1988 · Movie · 89 min. · United Kingdom

Direction Ken Russell

Cast Glenda Jackson · Imogen Millais-Scott · Stratford Johns · Denis Lill

Synopsis Salome's Last Dance (1988) unfolds on the eve of Guy Fawkes Day in 1892, as Oscar Wilde finds himself at an upscale brothel, where an unexpected performance of his play "Salome" is about to commence. The roles are taken on...

6.2

100 votes

6.2

100 votes

The Rainbow

1989 · Movie · 113 min. · United Kingdom

Direction Ken Russell

Cast Sammi Davis · Paul McGann · Amanda Donohoe · Christopher Gable

Synopsis The Rainbow (1989) follows the journey of a young woman navigating the complexities of adolescence and early adulthood in the early 20th century in England. The film delves into her personal struggles and triumphs as she grapples with the societal...

6.2

53 votes

6.2

53 votes

6.2

41 votes

Altered States

1980 · Movie · 102 min. · United States

Direction Ken Russell

Cast William Hurt · Blair Brown · Bob Balaban · Charles Haid

Synopsis Altered States (1980) follows the journey of Eddie Jessup, a graduate student in the late 1960s, who is known for his unconventional brilliance and a touch of madness. He begins conducting experiments on himself using an isolation chamber, leading to...

6.2

3K votes

6.2

3K votes

The Boy Friend

1971 · Movie · 110 min. · United Kingdom

Direction Ken Russell

Cast Twiggy · Christopher Gable · Max Adrian · Tommy Tune

Synopsis The Boy Friend (1971) follows Polly Browne, the dedicated assistant stage manager of a modest theatrical troupe. When the leading lady, Rita, is unable to perform, Polly steps in to save the day during a crucial matinée. The stakes are...

6.0

106 votes

6.0

106 votes

Savage Messiah

1972 · Movie · 103 min. · United Kingdom

Direction Ken Russell

Cast Dorothy Tutin · Scott Antony · Helen Mirren · Lindsay Kemp

Synopsis Savage Messiah (1972) is a captivating biographical drama directed by Ken Russell, inspired by the book of the same name by H.S. Ede. The film delves into the life of Henri Gaudier, a prodigious yet impulsive sculptor from Paris, portrayed...

6.0

112 votes

6.0

112 votes

Mahler

1974 · Movie · 115 min. · United Kingdom

Direction Ken Russell

Cast Robert Powell · Georgina Hale · Lee Montague · Miriam Karlin

Synopsis Mahler (1974) is a cinematic journey through the life of the renowned composer, Gustav Mahler, weaving together a tapestry of memories and impressions from his extraordinary existence, all set against the backdrop of his profound and stirring musical compositions. The...

5.7

180 votes

5.7

180 votes

Lisztomania

1975 · Movie · 103 min. · United Kingdom

Direction Ken Russell

Cast Roger Daltrey · Sara Kestelman · Paul Nicholas · Ringo Starr

Synopsis Lisztomania (1975) presents a satirical take on the scandalous life of Franz Liszt, the renowned Romantic composer and piano virtuoso. The film is filled with explicit imagery and focuses significantly on Liszt's complex relationship with fellow composer Richard Wagner. The...

5.6

160 votes

5.6

160 votes

Valentino

1977 · Movie · 127 min. · United Kingdom

Direction Ken Russell

Cast Rudolf Nureyev · Michelle Phillips · Leslie Caron · Carol Kane

Synopsis Valentino (1977) delves into the life of Rudolph Valentino, a charismatic ballroom dancer who leveraged his striking good looks and captivating grace to launch a successful Hollywood career. Set in 1926, the film explores the tragic and premature death of...

5.6

217 votes

5.6

217 votes

Direction Ken Russell

Cast Richard Dreyfuss · Oliver Reed · Peter Firth · Jeremy Kemp

Synopsis Prisoner of Honor (TV) (1991) chronicles the French Dreyfus Affair, a scandalous event from the late 19th century that resulted in the imprisonment of a French Captain on Devil's Island for alleged espionage. Richard Dreyfuss portrays Colonel Picquart, who is...

5.6

175 votes

5.6

175 votes

Aria

1987 · Movie · 90 min. · United Kingdom

Direction Robert Altman · Bruce Beresford · Jean-Luc Godard · Derek Jarman

Cast Theresa Russell · Jacques Neuville · Buck Henry · Elizabeth Hurley

Synopsis Aria (1987) is a unique cinematic experience comprising ten distinct short films, each helmed by a different renowned director. The lineup includes notable figures such as Ken Russell, Jean-Luc Godard, Robert Altman, Bruce Beresford, and Nicolas Roeg. Each segment is...

5.6

132 votes

5.6

132 votes

Billion Dollar Brain

1967 · Movie · 111 min. · United Kingdom

Direction Ken Russell

Cast Michael Caine · Karl Malden · Ed Begley · Oskar Homolka

Synopsis Billion Dollar Brain (1967) follows the story of Harry Palmer, who has bid farewell to his role in the British Secret Service and now operates as a private investigator. His initial task in this new venture involves transporting a seemingly...

5.4

555 votes

5.4

555 votes

Crimes of Passion

1984 · Movie · 107 min. · United States

Direction Ken Russell

Cast Kathleen Turner · Anthony Perkins · John Laughlin · Annie Potts

Synopsis Crimes of Passion (1984) follows the story of Bobby Grady, a dedicated 30-year-old man, who is married to the emotionally distant Amy Grady and has two children. Their marriage is on the rocks, and Bobby seeks to improve their situation...

5.4

1K votes

5.4

1K votes

Direction Ken Russell

Cast Joely Richardson · Sean Bean · James Wilby · Shirley Anne Field

Synopsis Lady Chatterley (TV Miniseries) (1993) is a captivating adaptation of D.H. Lawrence's interconnected novels, directed by Ken Russell. The story revolves around Lady Connie Chatterley and her husband's gamekeeper, Oliver Mellors. Connie, feeling isolated due to her husband's disability, finds...

5.3

119 votes

5.3

119 votes

Gothic

1986 · Movie · 87 min. · United Kingdom

Direction Ken Russell

Cast Gabriel Byrne · Julian Sands · Natasha Richardson · Myriam Cyr

Synopsis Gothic (1986) unfolds the tale of a stormy night when Mary Shelley conceived the iconic horror masterpiece "Frankenstein." At the eccentric Lord Byron's secluded country manor, a group engages in unsettling, drug-fueled activities and shares chilling ghost stories. The evening...

5.1

672 votes

5.1

672 votes