Outline:
There are very few filmmakers currently working who possess such distinctiveness asYorgos LanthimosA man who appreciates creative freedom along with the power to provoke his audience on moral and emotional levels, each of his films is unlike anything a moviegoer has encountered before or since, whether it’s in the constructed language ofDogtoothor via the numerous brilliant performances offrequent collaborator Emma Stone.
Despite being nominated for five Oscars, he hasn’t won any yet, a situation that probably won’t change at this year’s event. Nevertheless, at the Cannes Film Festival, Lanthimos is a frequent winner, having won five awards out of eight total nominations. But what about the ratings of his films according to critics on review site Rotten Tomatoes? Without delay, here’s a look atevery Yorgos Lanthimos film directed solo, ranked by Rotten Tomatoes.
‘Kinetta’ (2005)
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 17%
By quite some distance, KinettaIs Lanthimos’ least acclaimed film on Rotten Tomatoes. Set during the quiet period of a Greek coastal resort, the film centers on three individuals from varied backgrounds who unite to reenact murders. With intense realism, the group performs these violent deaths, but how much will they go to test their own limits?
Lanthimos shines when pushing the boundaries of his characters and his viewers. However, inKinetta, it appears that the renowned director has not provided a clear statement, resulting in the film’s storyline feeling hollow. Visually captivating and hinting at future developments,Kinetta is the most forgettable in Lanthimos’ filmography.
‘Kinds of Kindness’ (2024)
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 71%
Split into three portions, Kinds of Kindnessis a varied collection of works from Lanthimos, as an exceptional cast alternates between some of the director’s finest achievements and some of his more forgettable efforts. The movie starts with a man searching for liberation, then transitions to a police officer doubting reality after his wife appears to come back from the dead, and finally ends with a woman looking for a predicted spiritual mentor.
As many collection stories are,Kinds of Kindnessis inconsistent. The acting, as one would expect from someone like Stone,Jesse Plemons, and Willem Dafoe, are usually mysterious, but even they can’t rescue the weakest of this series of tales from feeling empty and painfully awkward.
‘Alps’ (2011)
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 75%
Maybe the least appreciated film in Lanthimos’ body of work,AlpsThe director continues his exploration of death by depicting the beginning of a company that offers services to impersonate the recently departed in order to assist family members in dealing with their sorrow. However, when an employee develops excessive emotional involvement with a client, chaos ensues.
A captivating idea presented via a remarkably insightful story,Alpsis a gradual build-up that steadily spirals into remarkable insanity. The recipient of the Golden Osella for Best Screenplay at the 68th Venice International Film Festival, it is a movie that many have yet to view, but one that should definitely be included on their must-see lists.
“The Slaughter of a Holy Deer” (2017)
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 79%
Some time prior to his infiltration of the affluent residence of fellow University of Oxford student Felix inSaltburn, Barry Keoghanwas secretly entering another family in Lanthimos’The Slaying of a Sacred DeerThe movie centers on the Irish actor Martin, a 16-year-old who develops an unusual connection with the esteemed cardiothoracic surgeon Dr. Steven Murphy (Colin Farrell).
A mix of horror, suspense, and skillfully dark humor,The Slaughter of a Sacred Deershowcases the finest elements of Lanthimos’ work. It is less visually jarring compared to some of his other films, yet includes an extremely disturbing moment where Keoghan consumes spaghetti,The Slaying of a Sacred Deerthrives on its psychological depth and will remain in your mind for many weeks afterward.
‘The Lobster’ (2015)
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 87%
The aforementioned The Slaughter of a Sacred Deerwas not the initial partnership between Lanthimos and Farrell. InThe Lobster, a movie that also represented Lanthimos’ debut in the English language, Farrell portrays David, a man who is sent to a location called The Hotel, where he needs to find a romantic partner within 45 days or face the possibility of being transformed into a beast.
A remarkable dystopian concept, inspired by a screenplay written by Lanthimos andEfthimis Filippou, is presented with thoroughness and accuracy as Lanthimos showcases his distinctive approach and insightful, abstract themes are effortlessly conveyed in the English language. The film was nominated for Best Original Screenplay at the 2017 Academy Awards, losing toManchester by the Sea.
‘Bugonia’ (2025)
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 88%
Lanthimos’ newest film is certainly poised to secure him additional Oscar nominations. The remarkably twistedBugoniafollows Emma Stone’s successful business executive as she is taken by Teddy (Jesse Plemons) and Don (a new actor)Aidan Delbis), with the couple thinking she was an alien sent to annihilate the planet.
“Bugoniacaptures the essence of living in 2025 and how incredibly frustrating that reality can be,” wrote Live Streaming Movie Film Online’sRoss Bonaimein his review, with the movie making bold storytelling choices that end with a stunning impact. A remake ofJang Joon-hwanthe 2003 South Korean comedySave the Green Planet!, Bugoniais Lanthimos back to his peak performance afterKinds of Kindness.
‘Poor Things’ (2023)
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 92%
The last three films in Lanthimos’ career could all be regarded as his finest, withPoor Thingsundoubtedly his most daring project. Featuring Emma Stone once more in a role that could potentially become the defining performance of her career, the movie centers on Bella Baxter (Stone), a young woman who is resurrected by an unconventional scientist and must now develop as a child within an adult’s body.
Funny, bold, and deeply touching,Poor Thingsspares no detail in the fast-paced story of this unexpected life. One of the most remarkable character developments of the 2020s, the transformation of Bella Baxter offers an ideal stage for Stone to deliver a brilliant performance — one that secured her a second Academy Award for Best Actress. The movie also marks Lanthimos’ most successful film at the worldwide box office.
‘Dogtooth’ (2009)
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 93%
The most unsettling of all Lanthimos’ films, Dogtoothserves as an ideal complementary work toPoor Things, as a controlling father confines his three grown children — two sisters and one brother — maintaining them in a constant state of immaturity.
A humorous critique that highlights its main ideas through unexpected bursts of violence,DogtoothIt was the film that brought Lanthimos into the spotlight. Winning the Un Certain Regard Prize at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival and earning an Academy Award nomination for Best Foreign Language Film, few movies from this period are as bold, challenging, and memorable.
‘The Favourite’ (2018)
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 93%
The aptly titled The Favouriteis frequently regarded as Lanthimos’ finest work, and it may be his most well-known film. Set in early 18th-century England, the movie centers on Queen Anne (Olivia Colman), a monarch with delicate health and emotional instability, as her focus is contested by her loyal advisor Sarah Churchill (Rachel Weisz) and the formerly affluent Abigail Hill (Emma Stone).
A movie that secured Colman one of the most unexpected Best Actress Oscar victories this century,The Favouriteis widely recognized as a masterpiece. Merging dark, twisted humor with compelling drama, the movie is probably Lanthimos’s most approachable work, which undoubtedly contributed to its Rotten Tomatoes score.