The Best Movies Directed by Brian De Palma

Reference
Updated August 11, 2023 1.4K votes 205 voters
Over 200 Ranker voters have come together to rank this list of The Best Movies Directed by Brian De Palma

List of all movies directed by Brian De Palma ranked from best to worst with photos. Films directed by Brian De Palma are listed here and include movie posters and Brian De Palma movie trailers whenever possible. This is a collection of the best movies directed by Brian De Palma as voted on by film buffs. If you think the greatest Brian De Palma movie isn't as high as it should be on this list, then make sure to vote so that your opinion of what the top Brian De Palma film is can be factored into this list.

From Brian De Palma's studio films to Brian De Palma's independent films, this Brian De Palma filmography keeps tabs on all Brian De Palma movies, and lets the cream of the crop rise to the top.

Scarface and The Untouchables are only the beginning of the movies on this list.

If you’re wondering “what movies did Brian De Palma direct?” or “who is Brian De Palma?” then this list will explain how most people know this director. This list also answers questions like “what are the all-time best movies directed by Brian De Palma?” and “what's a good selection of good Brian De Palma movies?”

If you're wanting to get into Brian De Palma films, then this list is a great starting point for at least starting with the most decent Brian De Palma works.

All Brian De Palma director credits are included. This list of every movie that Brian De Palma has directed can be sorted for specific information such as what genre the Brian De Palma movie is and which actors starred in the Brian De Palma film.

Make sure to re-rank this list so you can share it with your friends and measure how your social network would rank these movies. {#nodes}

Brian De Palma has had the pleasure of working with tremendous talent, including Scarlett Johansson and Al Pacino. We have lists of the best movies directed by Oliver Stone and Francis Ford Coppola too, which you might like if you're a fan of Brian De Palma.

Ranked by
  • Blow Out
    1

    Blow Out

    John Travolta, Nancy Allen, John Lithgow
    65 votes
    • Released: 1981
    • Directed by: Brian De Palma
    While recording sound effects for a slasher flick, Jack Terri (John Travolta) stumbles upon a real-life horror: a car careening off a bridge and into a river. Jack jumps into the water and fishes out Sally (Nancy Allen) from the car, but the other passenger is already dead -- a governor intending to run for president. As Jack does some investigating of his tapes, and starts a perilous romance with Sally, he enters a tangled web of conspiracy that might leave him dead.

    Available On:

  • Scarface
    2

    Scarface

    Al Pacino, Michelle Pfeiffer, Steven Bauer
    77 votes
    • Released: 1983
    • Directed by: Brian De Palma
    In the classic crime drama, Scarface, Tony Montana (Al Pacino) emerges as a Cuban immigrant in 1980s Miami. With nothing but ambition, he becomes involved in the lucrative cocaine trade. His rise to power is swift, but so too is his moral decline. Tony's mistress Elvira Hancock (Michelle Pfeiffer) and right-hand man Manny Ribera (Steven Bauer) feature prominently in this tale of excess and downfall. Directed by Brian De Palma and written by Oliver Stone, Scarface won a Golden Globe for Al Pacino's performance, eventually cementing its place in film history.

    Available On:

    subscription

    free

  • The Untouchables
    3

    The Untouchables

    Kevin Costner, Sean Connery, Robert De Niro
    62 votes
    • Released: 1987
    • Directed by: Brian De Palma
    In the gripping crime-drama, The Untouchables, Eliot Ness (Kevin Costner) is a determined federal agent in 1930s Chicago. He assembles an eclectic team of lawmen, including the seasoned officer Jim Malone (Sean Connery), to bring down the notorious gangster Al Capone (Robert De Niro). The film, steeped in suspense and action, presents a gritty portrayal of the Prohibition era. Directed by Brian De Palma, it won Sean Connery an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. A compelling narrative with standout performances, The Untouchables showcases the relentless pursuit of justice against all odds.

    Available On:

    subscription

  • Carrie
    4

    Carrie

    Sissy Spacek, Piper Laurie, William Katt
    64 votes
    • Released: 1976
    • Directed by: Brian De Palma
    In the chilling horror flick Carrie, a high school girl named Carrie White (Sissy Spacek) grapples with her emerging telekinetic powers, under the oppressive reign of her fanatically religious mother, Margaret (Piper Laurie). A pariah at school, she's tormented by her peers and misunderstood at home. When a cruel prank at the prom triggers her abilities, the night descends into terror. Directed by Brian De Palma, this film is based on Stephen King's novel of the same name. Nominated for two Academy Awards, it remains a classic in the horror genre.

    Available On:

    subscription

  • Dressed to Kill
    5

    Dressed to Kill

    Michael Caine, Angie Dickinson, Nancy Allen
    65 votes
    • Released: 1980
    • Directed by: Brian De Palma
    When Liz Blake (Nancy Allen), a prostitute, sees a mysterious woman brutally slay homemaker Kate Miller (Angie Dickinson), she finds herself trapped in a dangerous situation. While the police think Liz is the murderer, the real killer wants to silence the crime's only witness. Only Kate's inventor son, Peter (Keith Gordon), believes Liz. Peter and Liz team up to find the real culprit, who has an unexpected means of hiding her identity and an even more surprising motivation to kill.

    Available On:

    subscription

    free

  • Carlito's Way
    6

    Carlito's Way

    Al Pacino, Sean Penn, Penelope Ann Miller
    62 votes
    • Released: 1993
    • Directed by: Brian De Palma
    A free man after years in prison, Carlito Brigante (Al Pacino) intends to give up his criminal ways, but it's not long before the ex-con is sucked back into the New York City underworld. Reconnecting with his dancer girlfriend, Gail (Penelope Ann Miller), Carlito gets entangled in the shady dealings of his friend Dave Kleinfeld (Sean Penn), who also serves as his lawyer. When Carlito and Kleinfeld run afoul of shifty gangster Benny Blanco (John Alberto Leguizamo), it sets them on a dangerous path.

    Available On:

    subscription