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 Michael Apted Movies: Ranked Best To Worst

1. 21 Up (1977)
12
2
21 Up
12
2
Starring:
Bruce Balden, Jacqueline Bassett, Symon Basterfield, Andrew Brackfield, John Brisby
Directed By:
Michael Apted
2. Coal Miner's Daughter (1980)
12
2
Coal Miner's Daughter
PG
12
2

Loretta Webb is the daughter of a poor coal miner who gets married at the age of fifteen. When her husband recognizes her musical talent, he encourages her to become a musician and over time, she rises to become a star.

Starring:
Sissy Spacek, Tommy Lee Jones, Levon Helm, Phyllis Boyens-Liptak, Bill Anderson Jr.
Directed By:
Michael Apted
3. The Triple Echo (1972)
11
2
The Triple Echo
R
11
2

During World War II, in England, a man named Barton deserts the army and finds refuge on the farm of Alice. With Alice’s help, Barton hides under the disguise of a woman named Cathy. When a local sergeant takes interest in Cathy and invites her to a party, tragedy is waiting just around the corner. 

Starring:
Glenda Jackson, Oliver Reed, Brian Deacon, Anthony May, Gavin Richards
Directed By:
Michael Apted
4. Dracula (1992)
11
2
Dracula
R
11
2

In the 15th century, Vlad Dracula returns from a war to find that his wife has committed suicide. In the 19th century, he returns as the client of solicitor Jonathan Harker, whose fiancé Mina, he believes is the reincarnation of his wife. Dracula captures Jonathan and wreaks havoc, especially on Mina’s friend Lucy. Now Lucy’s friends and a vampire killer, Van Helsing, decide to end his terror.

Directed By:
5. Amazing Grace (2006)
11
2
Amazing Grace
PG
11
2

Amazing Grace is a biographical drama film which takes us to 18th century England. The film revolves around William Wilberforce and William Pitt, two politicians who begin a battle to abolish the slave trade in Great Britain.

Starring:
Benedict Cumberbatch, Albert Finney, Romola Garai, Ioan Gruffudd, Michael Gambon
Directed By:
Michael Apted
6. Gorky Park (1983)
11
2
Gorky Park
R
11
2

Gorky Park is a mystery thriller film which revolves around Detective Renko, who is assigned to solve a triple murder that occurs in Gorky Park in Moscow. He soon suspects that there is a big political conspiracy behind the murder, and that the Russian government might be involved.

Starring:
Lee Marvin, Brian Dennehy, Ian McDiarmid, Alexei Sayle, William Hurt, Ian Bannen, Joanna Pacula
Directed By:
Michael Apted
7. Stardust (1974)
11
2
Stardust
R
11
2

The film, which is a sequel to That’ll be the Day, shows how rock-star, Jim MacLaine, rapidly climbs the ladder of success while he loses almost everything on personal front. Jim’s supposed best friend and manager Mike is largely the root cause, though he pretends to do everything for Jim’s good. Ultimately, the star ends up with drug addiction and other issues. 

Directed By:
Michael Apted
8. Chasing Mavericks (2012)
10
2
Chasing Mavericks
PG
10
2

Chasing Mavericks is a sports drama film, which tells the story of Jay Moriarty, a young surfer, whose goal is to ride the Mavericks, one of the world’s biggest tidal waves. In order to help him reach his goal, he takes the help of a local surfing legend.

Starring:
Directed By:
Michael Apted, Curtis Hanson
9. The Squeeze (1977)
10
2
The Squeeze
R
10
2
Starring:
Stephen Boyd, Carol White, David Hemmings, Stacy Keach, Edward Fox
Directed By:
Michael Apted
10. Gorillas in the Mist (1988)
10
2
Gorillas in the Mist
PG-13
10
2

Gorillas in the Mist is a biographical drama film based on the life of wildlife expert Dian Fossey. She leaves the US for Rwanda and Uganda where she studies the gorillas.  She soon starts developing a bond with the animals, and feels worried as they may go extinct due to the ongoing poaching. She puts her own life at risk in order to try and protect the animals.  

Starring:
Sigourney Weaver, Julie Harris, Iain Cuthbertson, Bryan Brown, John Omirah Miluwi
Directed By:
Michael Apted
11. The River Rat (1984)
10
2
The River Rat
PG
10
2

Billy returns home after serving 13 years for a crime he didn’t commit, and meets his teenage daughter Jonsy for the first time. Their relationship is somewhat strained at first, but as he draws her into a boat restoration task, the two bond together. Threats from his corrupt parole officer turn things difficult for him, but Jonsy stands by Billy in support. 

Starring:
Tommy Lee Jones, Brian Dennehy, Martha Plimpton, Shawn Smith, Nancy Lea Owen
Directed By:
Thomas Rickman
12. Thunderheart (1992)
11
2
Thunderheart
R
11
2

An FBI agent of mixed blood is sent to a reservation for an investigation of a homicide. He is partnered with a veteran named Agent Frank who thinks that the culprit might be Maggie Bear, a Native American political activist.

Starring:
Val Edward Kilmer, Sam Shepard, Val Kilmer, Graham Greene, Fred Ward, Fred Dalton Thompson
Directed By:
Michael Apted
13. Agatha (1979)
10
2
Agatha
PG
10
2
Starring:
Timothy Dalton, Vanessa Redgrave, Dustin Hoffman, Helen Morse, Celia Gregory
Directed By:
Michael Apted
14. Firstborn (1984)
9
2
Firstborn
PG-13
9
2
Starring:
Teri Garr, Robert Downey Jr., Corey Haim, Sarah Jessica Parker, Peter Weller
Directed By:
Michael Apted
15. Continental Divide (1981)
10
2
Continental Divide
PG
10
2

Ernie is a tough Chicago reporter, who is assaulted by two cops, after he gets too close to the mob. His editor decides to send him to Colorado on another case, which involves investigating an eagle researcher.

Starring:
John Belushi, Blair Brown, Allen Garfield, Carlin Glynn, Tony Ganios
Directed By:
Michael Apted
16. Nell (1994)
9
2
Nell
PG-13
9
2

Raised in a remote mountain cabin of North Carolina, young Nell’s entire world is her mother and twin sister, Mae, with whom she communicates in a mangled language. Country doctor Jerome Lovell, who finds her after her mother’s death, is fascinated by her. Psychology student Paula Olsen also wants to observe Nell. They both try to introduce Nell to the outer world. 

Starring:
Jodie Foster, Liam Neeson, Natasha Richardson, Nick Searcy, Richard Libertini
Directed By:
Michael Apted
17. The World Is Not Enough (1999)
9
2
The World Is Not Enough
PG-13
9
2

Following the assassination of a British oil tycoon, Bond is assigned to protect his daughter Elektra King from Renard, a KGB agent-turned-terrorist who cannot feel pain because of a bullet lodged in his brain. He begins to question the motives of his charge as he attempts to save Europe from Renard's nuclear plot with physicist Dr. Christmas Jones.

Starring:
Pierce Brosnan, Sophie Marceau, Denise Richards, John Cleese, Judi Dench, Desmond Llewelyn, Robert Carlyle
Directed By:
Michael Apted
18. Enigma (2001)
9
2
Enigma
R
9
2

Enigma is a war thriller romance film which takes us to the time of the Second World War. The British authorities enlist the help of Tom Jericho, a young genius, to help them break an important code of the Nazis. Meanwhile, he needs to solve another mystery behind a woman whom he is in love with.    

Starring:
Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Corin Redgrave, Kate Winslet, Dougray Scott, Saffron Burrows, Jeremy Northam
Directed By:
Michael Apted
19. Class Action (1991)
9
2
Class Action
R
9
2
Starring:
Gene Hackman, Laurence Fishburne, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, Colin Friels, Joanna Merlin
Directed By:
Michael Apted
20. The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (2010)
9
2
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader
PG
9
2

Lucy and Edmund Pevensie, with their cousin Eustace, are swept to the ocean of Narnia where King Caspian and his royal ship ‘The Dawn Treader’ rescue them. As they join Caspian in his mission to find the mystical swords of the seven lost lords of Telmar, they face dragons, merfolks, dwarves and lost warriors while traveling to the edge of the world.  

Starring:
Will Poulter, Simon Pegg, Tilda Swinton, Liam Neeson, Ben Barnes, Georgie Henley
Directed By:
Michael Apted
21. Unlocked (2017)
9
2
Unlocked
R
9
2

Unlocked is a mystery action thriller film which tells the story of a CIA Agent Alice Racine, who is assigned to investigate an intelligence alert about a biological attack in London.

Starring:
Toni Collette, Orlando Bloom, John Malkovich, Michael Douglas, Noomi Rapace
Directed By:
Michael Apted
22. Blink (1993)
9
2
Blink
TV-14
9
2

Emma is a beautiful girl in her 20s who has been blind for two decades. Eventually, her eyesight is restored by a new type of revolutionary surgery, but the problem is that sometimes she is unable to remember what she sees. When Emma becomes a witness to a murder, she joins up with the police to track down a serial killer.

Starring:
Aidan Quinn, Laurie Metcalf, Madeleine Stowe, James Remar, Bruce A. Young
Directed By:
Michael Apted
23. Extreme Measures (1996)
9
2
Extreme Measures
R
9
2

Based on the novel of the same name, Extreme Measures is a crime thriller film which tells the story of a young doctor who confronts one of his colleagues after he comes across unethical medical sacrifices being conducted in his hospital.  

Starring:
Hugh Grant, David Cronenberg, Gene Hackman, Sarah Jessica Parker, David Morse, Bill Nunn
Directed By:
Michael Apted
24. Enough (2002)
8
2
Enough
PG-13
8
2

Enough is a suspense crime drama film, which tells the story of Slim, a former waitress, who is married to a wealthy contractor named Mitch. However, when Mitch becomes abusive, Slim has no other option but to empower herself to battle him. 

Starring:
Jennifer Lopez, Juliette Lewis, Billy Campbell, Tessa Allen, Dan Futterman
Directed By:
Michael Apted
25. Critical Condition (1987)
8
1
Critical Condition
R
8
1
Starring:
Richard Pryor, Wesley Snipes, Joe Mantegna, Rubén Blades, Rachel Ticotin
Directed By:
Michael Apted
26. CinemAbility (2012)
12
2
CinemAbility
PG-13
12
2
Role:
Himself
Starring:
Ben Affleck, Adam Arkin, Peter Bogdanovich, Paris Barclay
Directed By:
Jenni Gold
27. 21 Up America (2006)
11
2
21 Up America
11
2
Starring:
Alexis, Ashtyn, Douglas, Eric Nicolaides, Julio
Directed By:
Christopher Dillon Quinn
28. Incident at Oglala (1992)
12
2
Incident at Oglala
PG
12
2
Starring:
Norman Zigrossi, Robert Sikma, Darelle 'Dino' Butler, Bob Robideau, Norman Brown
Directed By:
Michael Apted
29. Moving the Mountain (1994)
11
2
Moving the Mountain
11
2
Starring:
Jinming Zhang, Yiming Huang, Yi-fen Kan, Ke-Hsi Hsiang, Tsung-cheng Hou
Directed By:
Michael Apted
30. Eddie (2013)
11
2
Eddie
11
2
Starring:
Ioan Gruffudd, Channon Roe, Peter Katona, Brian Johnson
Directed By:
Cort Kristensen
31. Bring on the Night (1985)
10
2
Bring on the Night
PG-13
10
2
Starring:
Gil Friesen, Miles A. Copeland III, Darryl Jones, Vic Garbarini, Omar Hakim
Directed By:
Michael Apted
Awards:
Grammy Award for Best Music Video, Long Form
32. The Loneliest Time (2016)
10
2
The Loneliest Time
10
2
Starring:
Dan Poole, Alice Henley, Louise Dylan, Nala Kibbey, Daisy Curtis
Directed By:
Cort Kristensen
33. The Power of the Game (2007)
10
2
The Power of the Game
10
2
Directed By:
Michael Apted
34. Inspirations (1997)
10
2
Inspirations
10
2
Starring:
David Bowie, Tadao Andô, Dale Chihuly, Louise LeCavalier, Roy Lichtenstein
Directed By:
Michael Apted
35. Bending the Light (2014)
10
2
Bending the Light
10
2
Role:
(voice)
Directed By:
Michael Apted
36. It's a Shame About Ray (2000)
10
2
It's a Shame About Ray
10
2
Starring:
Peter Krause, Eric Stoltz, Emily Deschanel, Garry Marshall, Robert Forster
Directed By:
Ajay Sahgal
37. Me & Isaac Newton (1999)
9
2
Me & Isaac Newton
9
2
Starring:
Paul G. Allen, Michio Kaku, Gertrude Elion, Ashok Gadgil, Maja Mataric
Directed By:
Michael Apted
38. Lipstick (2002)
9
2
Lipstick
9
2
Starring:
Lisa Ackerman, Kristina Bartlett, Margaret Emery
Directed By:
Michael Apted

TV Movie(s)

1. 28 Up (1984)
12
2
28 Up
12
2
Starring:
Bruce Balden, Jacqueline Bassett, Symon Basterfield, Andrew Brackfield, John Brisby
Directed By:
Michael Apted
Awards:
BAFTA Award for
2. 7 Plus Seven (1970)
12
2
7 Plus Seven
12
2
Starring:
Bruce Balden, Jacqueline Bassett, Symon Basterfield, Andrew Brackfield, John Brisby
Directed By:
Michael Apted
3. 42 Up (1998)
12
2
42 Up
12
2
Starring:
Bruce Balden, Jacqueline Bassett, Symon Basterfield, Andrew Brackfield, John Brisby
Directed By:
Michael Apted
4. 35 Up (1991)
12
2
35 Up
12
2
Starring:
Bruce Balden, Jacqueline Bassett, Symon Basterfield, Andrew Brackfield, John Brisby
Directed By:
Michael Apted
Awards:
BAFTA Award for
5. 49 Up (2005)
11
2
49 Up
11
2
Starring:
Bruce Balden, Jacqueline Bassett, Symon Basterfield, Andrew Brackfield, John Brisby
Directed By:
Paul Almond, Michael Apted
6. 56 Up (2012)
11
2
56 Up
11
2
Role:
Himself - Narrator / Interviewer (voice)
Starring:
Bruce Balden, Jacqueline Bassett, Symon Basterfield, Andrew Brackfield
Directed By:
Paul Almond, Michael Apted
7. P'tang, Yang, Kipperbang (1982)
11
2
P'tang, Yang, Kipperbang
PG
11
2
Starring:
Alison Steadman, Abigail Cruttenden, John Albasiny, Maurice Dee, Mark Brailsford
Directed By:
Michael Apted
8. Always Outnumbered (1998)
10
2
Always Outnumbered
R
10
2
Starring:
Cicely Tyson, Laurence Fishburne, Laurie Metcalf, Daniel Williams, Bill Cobbs, Natalie Cole
Directed By:
Michael Apted
9. Haunted: Poor Girl (1974)
9
2
Haunted: Poor Girl
9
2
Starring:
Stuart Wilson, Angela Thorne, John Boxer, Lynne Miller, Matthew Pollock
Directed By:
Michael Apted
10. Hallelujah (2011)
12
2
Hallelujah
12
2
Starring:
Donal Logue, Zoey Deutch, Arielle Kebbel, Della Reese, Robbie Amell, Frances O'Connor, Brett Cullen
Directed By:
Michael Apted
11. 14 Up in America (1998)
11
2
14 Up in America
11
2
Starring:
Phil Joanou, Kate Greathead, Lucy, Alexis, Luis
Directed By:
Phil Joanou
12. Married in America (2003)
11
2
Married in America
11
2
Directed By:
Michael Apted
13. Age 7 in America (1991)
10
2
Age 7 in America
10
2
Starring:
Alexis, Ashtyn, Brandon, Douglas, Edie
Directed By:
Phil Joanou
14. Married in America 2 (2006)
10
2
Married in America 2
10
2
Role:
Himself - Narrator (voice)
Directed By:
Michael Apted
15. A Personal History of British Cinema by Stephen Frears (1995)
10
2
A Personal History of British Cinema by Stephen Frears
10
2
Role:
Himself
Starring:
Alan Parker, Stephen Frears, Alexander Mackendrick, Gavin Lambert, Stephen Frears
Directed By:
Stephen Frears, Michael Dibb
16. Criminal Justice (1990)
9
2
Criminal Justice
R
9
2
Starring:
Rosie Perez, Jennifer Grey, Forest Whitaker, Anthony LaPaglia, Tony Todd
Directed By:
Andy Wolk
17. Nathan Dixon (1999)
9
2
Nathan Dixon
9
2
Starring:
John Hawkes, Michael Gaston, Michael Harding, Christopher Jones, Christopher Fennell
Directed By:
Michael Apted
18. The Long Way Home (1989)
9
2
The Long Way Home
9
2
Starring:
Boris Grebenshchikov
Directed By:
Michael Apted
19. Murder Without Motive: The Edmund Perry Story (1992)
8
2
Murder Without Motive: The Edmund Perry Story
M
8
2
Starring:
Carla Gugino, Cuba Gooding Jr., Anna Maria Horsford, Christopher Daniel Barnes, Taurean Blacque
Directed By:
Kevin Hooks

TV Shows and Videos

Rome (2005)
Rome
TV-MA
Starring:
Indira Varma, Polly Walker, Ray Stevenson, Kevin McKidd, Ian McNeice, James Purefoy
Directed By:
Timothy Van Patten, Steve Shill, Allen Coulter, Alan Poul, Alan Taylor
Follyfoot (1971)
Follyfoot
Starring:
Desmond Llewelyn, Arthur English, Christian Rodska, Gillian Blake, Steve Hodson
Directed By:
Stephen Frears, Michael Apted
Born in the USSR (1991)
Born in the USSR
Starring:
James McAvoy, Seva Novgorodtsev, Almaz, Andrei, Anton
Shades of Greene (1975)
Shades of Greene
Starring:
John Hurt, Donald Pleasence, John Gielgud, Elaine Stritch, Paul Scofield, Denholm Elliott, Shane Briant
Directed By:
Alan Cooke, Philip Saville, Graham Evans, Alastair Reid, Peter Hammond
Ray Donovan (2013)
Ray Donovan
TV-MA
Starring:
Jon Voight, James Woods, Katie Holmes, Alisha Boe, Lisa Bonet, Hank Azaria, Susan Sarandon
Directed By:
Liev Schreiber, Allen Coulter, Phil Abraham, Michael Uppendahl, Lesli Linka Glatter
Great Performances (1971)
Great Performances
Starring:
Jason Robards, Paul Sorvino, Kevin Kline, Nathan Lane, Hugo Weaving, Christopher Plummer, Ed Asner
Directed By:
Brian Large, David Horn, Kirk Browning, Gary Halvorson, Matthew Diamond
Black and Blue (1973)
Black and Blue
Starring:
Warren Mitchell, Clifford Rose, David Collings, Julian Holloway, Tony Robinson
Directed By:
Michael Apted
Thirty-Minute Theatre (1965)
Thirty-Minute Theatre
Starring:
Phil Collins, Tom Conti, Joss Ackland, Peter Edward Cook, Jack Wild, Diane Cilento, Miriam Margolyes
Directed By:
Michael Hart, Geoffrey Nethercott, Rodney Bennett, Piers Haggard, Tristan Cole de Vere
Bloodline (2015)
Bloodline
TV-MA
Starring:
Kyle Chandler, John Leguizamo, Ben Mendelsohn, Jacinda Barrett, Sissy Spacek, Sam Shepard, Linda Cardellini
Directed By:
Jean de Segonzac, Mario Van Peebles, Mikael Håfström, Michael Morris, Ed Bianchi
Play for Today (1970)
Play for Today
Starring:
Billy Connolly, Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, Tim Curry, Connie Booth, Bob Hoskins, Michael Crawford
Directed By:
Barry Davis, Alan Clarke, John Mackenzie, Philip Saville, Claude Whatham
Awards:
BAFTA Award for Best Single Play
Big Breadwinner Hog (1969)
Big Breadwinner Hog
Starring:
William Simons, Donald Burton, Timothy West, Peter Egan, Rosemary McHale
Directed By:
Michael Apted
Masters of Sex (2013)
Masters of Sex
TV-MA
Starring:
Lizzy Caplan, Sarah Silverman, Keke Palmer, Allison Janney, Michael Sheen, Maggie Grace, Judy Greer
Directed By:
Michael Dinner, Jennifer Getzinger, Michael Apted, Colin Bucksey, Adam Arkin
P.O.V. (1988)
P.O.V.
Starring:
Peter Dinklage, Angela Davis, Deann Borshay
Directed By:
Mike Rauch, Tim Rauch, Marshall Curry, Natalia Almada, Katie Galloway
My Life and Times (1991)
My Life and Times
Starring:
Helen Hunt, Megan Mullally, Harriet Medin, Tom Irwin, Matt McGrath
Directed By:
Michael Apted
The Lovers (1970)
The Lovers
Starring:
Richard Beckinsale, Robin Nedwell, Paula Wilcox, Joan Scott, Alison King
Directed By:
Michael Apted
ITV Playhouse (1967)
ITV Playhouse
Starring:
Chris Langham, Brian Blessed, Ian Holm, Derek Jacobi, John Ratzenberger, Maggie Smith, Helen Mirren
Directed By:
Mike Newell, Dennis Vance, Moira Armstrong, Barry Davis, Mike Vardy
What About Brian (2006)
What About Brian
Starring:
Tiffani Thiessen, Daryl Sabara, Jon Hamm, Meredith Baxter, William Devane, Raoul Bova, Barry Watson
Directed By:
Dan Lerner, Bethany Rooney, Allison Anders, Jonathan Pontell, Anthony Russo
Reckless (2014)
Reckless
Starring:
David Keith, Gregory Harrison, Kim Wayans, Henry Simmons, Cam Gigandet
Directed By:
Michael Apted
World in Action (1963)
World in Action
Starring:
Chris Kelly, Andrew Brittain, Mike Walsh, Derek Cooper, Wilfrid Thomas
Directed By:
Michael Apted, Paul Greengrass
ITV Saturday Night Theatre (1969)
ITV Saturday Night Theatre
Starring:
Sean Connery, Trevor Howard, Laurence Harvey, Alan Bennett, Martin Sheen, Alec Guinness, Michael Caine
Directed By:
John Jacobs, Marc Miller, Valerie Hanson, Barry Davis, John Sichel
The Fifa 2006 World Cup Film: The Grand Finale (2006)
The Fifa 2006 World Cup Film: The Grand Finale
Starring:
Pierce Brosnan, Fabio Cannavaro, Shakira
Directed By:
Michael Apted
Plays for Britain (1976)
Plays for Britain
Starring:
Miriam Margolyes, Ian Charleson, Kevin McNally, Deborah Norton, Sheila Gish
Directed By:
Michael Apted
Intruders (1992)
Intruders
Starring:
Ben Vereen, Mare Winningham, Alan Autry, Richard Crenna, Susan Blakely
Blind Justice (2005)
Blind Justice
Starring:
Jane Lynch, Frank Grillo, Page Kennedy, Ron Eldard, Marisol Nichols, Michael Gaston
Directed By:
Gary Fleder, John Badham, Bobby Roth
Crossroads (1992)
Crossroads
Starring:
Jonathan Brandis, Marley Shelton, Robert Urich, Elizabeth Berkley, Lois Chiles, Kathleen Wilhoite
Directed By:
Michael Apted
Coronation Street (1960)
Coronation Street
TV-PG
Starring:
Ben Kingsley, Joanna Lumley, Michelle Keegan, Bradley Walsh, Kym Marsh, Peter Kay, Patrick Stewart
Directed By:
Mike Newell, John Llewellyn Moxey, Tony Wharmby, Michael Darlow, Barry Davis
Parkin's Patch (1969)
Parkin's Patch
Starring:
Robert Urquhart, Gareth Thomas, John Flanagan, Heather Page, Malcolm Rogers
Directed By:
Stephen Frears, Michael Apted
New York News (1995)
New York News
Starring:
Cynthia Nixon, George C. Scott, Aida Turturro, Paul Giamatti, Kim Dickens, Mary Tyler Moore, Gregory Harrison
Directed By:
Karen Arthur, James Quinn, Matthew Penn, Jack Bender, Randal Kleiser

Michael Apted Awards

BAFTA Awards
Play for Today Best Single Play 1974
Grammy Awards
Bring on the Night Best Music Video, Long Form 1987