Ken Russell's films, ranked
The top 3 according to 787 votes from people: The Devils (1971) · Women in Love (1969) · Tommy (1975). (Updated Mar 23, 2023.)
Composers, scandal and rock operas: Ken Russell's films ordered from Letterboxd rankings, Film Lifestyle and Through the Clutter, with The Devils on top.
Top 14
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1
The Devils (1971)
Oliver Reed and Vanessa Redgrave in Loudun's witch hunt.
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2
Women in Love (1969)
From D. H. Lawrence; Oscar for Glenda Jackson.
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3
Tommy (1975)
The Who's rock opera.
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4
Mahler (1974)
Robert Powell as the composer on his last train journey.
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5
The Music Lovers (1971)
Richard Chamberlain as Tchaikovsky.
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6
Crimes of Passion (1984)
Kathleen Turner leads a double life.
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7
Gothic (1986)
The night Mary Shelley conceived Frankenstein.
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8
Savage Messiah (1972)
The sculptor Henri Gaudier-Brzeska.
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9
Altered States (1980)
William Hurt experiments with sensory deprivation.
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10
Lisztomania (1975)
Roger Daltrey as Franz Liszt, rock star.
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11
The Rainbow (1989)
Sammi Davis, a return to D. H. Lawrence.
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12
Valentino (1977)
Rudolf Nureyev as Rudolph Valentino.
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13
The Lair of the White Worm (1988)
Hugh Grant and Amanda Donohoe, from Bram Stoker.
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14
The Boy Friend (1971)
Twiggy in a backstage musical.
How is this ranking ordered? By people's votes: each ▲ adds a point and each ▼ takes one away. Anyone can vote and add what is missing.
Is something missing?
Comments (4)
Women in Love second is right, the wrestling scene is legendary.
Altered States should be higher, it's one of the great sci-fi films.
Tommy is a mess but a glorious one.
The Devils is still hard to see uncut, which says a lot.