Strange, unsettling, and unexpectedly funny. That is how Yorgos Lanthimos grabs viewers in seconds. If the goal is to jump straight to his essential films, start with “The Favourite”, “Poor Things”, “The Lobster”, “Dogtooth”, then “The Killing of a Sacred Deer”. These titles shaped a singular path from indie Greek wave to global awards.
Why these films and in that order. Because they show the full range of Lanthimos, from court intrigue to body-hopping fable to razor-edged romance. The stories sting, the images linger, and the performances, led by Olivia Colman and Emma Stone, reset expectations for what a character study can do.
Best Yorgos Lanthimos films ranked, fast
For those choosing the next watch tonight, here is a swift, definitve lineup that balances accessibility and impact.
- The Favourite (2018) : a barbed royal triangle and the most playful entry point
- Poor Things (2023) : a fearless coming-into-self odyssey with ferocious humor
- The Lobster (2015) : dystopian dating rules and deadpan heartbreak
- Dogtooth (2009) : claustrophobic family fable that launched the Lanthimos voice
- The Killing of a Sacred Deer (2017) : icy moral calculus that cuts to the bone
- Alps (2011) : identity-for-hire ritual that whispers before it shocks
Awards and milestones that back up the ranking
“The Favourite” arrived as a full-on phenomenon. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences listed 10 nominations at the 91st Academy Awards in 2019, with Olivia Colman winning Best Actress. The British Academy of Film and Television Arts also recognized the film widely that season.
“Poor Things” surged from Venice to the Oscars. La Biennale di Venezia awarded it the Golden Lion in 2023, then the Academy counted 11 nominations at the 96th Academy Awards in 2024 and four wins including Best Actress for Emma Stone, plus Production Design, Costume Design, and Makeup and Hairstyling.
“The Lobster” cemented the crossover. The Cannes Film Festival jury gave it the Jury Prize in 2015, and the Academy later nominated it for Best Original Screenplay at the 89th Academy Awards in 2017.
“Dogtooth” ignited international attention. Cannes screened it in Un Certain Regard in 2009, and the Academy nominated it for Best Foreign Language Film at the 83rd Academy Awards in 2011.
“The Killing of a Sacred Deer” carried a chilling precision. The Cannes Film Festival reported a Best Screenplay award in 2017, shared that year in the official competition.
“Alps” built the bridge between early austerity and later audacity. La Biennale di Venezia recognized it with the award for Best Screenplay in 2011.
What makes these films stick: themes, tone, performances
Lanthimos turns social contracts into games with shifting rules. In one film love must be proven within a time limit. In another, language inside a family gets rewired. The power is in watching characters try to belong while the system quietly tilts against them.
The tone is famously straight-faced. Jokes land without a wink, then a single gesture shatters the calm. That rhythm lets actors push into wild territory. Olivia Colman switches from wounded to ruthless in a blink. Emma Stone plays hunger for agency as curiosity and then force. Colin Farrell leans into awkward pauses that ache.
Visually, the camera glides then snaps. Wide lenses distort palaces into emotional traps. Cool light and precise framing make bodies look like evidence. Costumes and production design do heavy storytelling, especially when class or control sit at the center.
How to pick the right Lanthimos film tonight
Want a high-energy entry with laughter and bite. Go with “The Favourite”. Prefer a bolder, wilder journey. Choose “Poor Things”. If the mood is romantic yet thorny, “The Lobster” carries the weight without losing the joke.
For those exploring his Greek period, begin with “Dogtooth” before moving to “Alps”. The ideas echo across both films, yet the shift in scale between them makes the progression feel clear and rewarding.
Craving tension that tightens scene by scene. “The Killing of a Sacred Deer” is the surgical option. Watch it when silence feels loud and morality looks like a trap.
One last tip. Swap order based on actor preferences. Fans of Olivia Colman or Emma Stone will find their defining turns in “The Favourite” and “Poor Things”, and that path makes the later films feel even sharper once you circle back.