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Search 713 spoiler-free recommendations from 1916 to 2026. Filter by the night you want—not the list you’re supposed to finish.

Direct film viewShowing master rank #392 on its own—not above the ranking.
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DirectorAll directors

Most represented · 6+ films

More recurring directors · 3–5 films54
All directors · surname A–Z438
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Big Three membership
Major award winners

1 selected film

Master Rank balances Greatness, Engagement, and Ease. Sort by Greatness for the artistic-canon view.

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View Barry Lyndon film page
Original poster artwork · Great Cinema Master List

Spoiler-free premise

Irish adventurer Redmond Barry pursues status through duels, war, gambling, and marriage into the aristocratic Lyndon family.

Read expanded premiseLonger, still spoiler-free

After a duel drives young Irishman Redmond Barry from home, he moves through military service, desertion, espionage, and professional gambling in eighteenth-century Europe. Marriage to wealthy Lady Lyndon gives him rank and property but not secure belonging.

Why it belongs

Stanley Kubrick underscores social ascent as a procession of candlelit tableaux, measured zooms, period music, and ironic narration that exposes status as theater.

Read expanded why it belongsThe fuller editorial case

Natural and candle light, painterly compositions, slow zooms, card tables, uniforms, estates, and Handel's sarabande make class ritual monumental. Ryan O'Neal's blank adaptability suits a protagonist continually borrowing identity from circumstance.

Major award record

Metadata only · zero points in 40/40/20
Academy Awards4 wins1976 · official ceremony record ↗

Plus 4 additional wins

No headline-category win to name

BAFTA2 wins1976 · official BAFTA 1976 Film Awards results ↗
Best Direction1976 · Stanley Kubrickofficial BAFTA 1976 Film Awards results ↗

Plus 1 additional win

Totals include every recorded competitive win. Only Picture or top-film honors, Direction, Screenplay, and lead or supporting performances are named.

Good for
Film Club
Descriptive guidance derived from rating, genre, runtime, mood, and GCML scores.

Institutional reference ranks

Sight & Sound45IMDb Top 250182AFI 100—
Reference metadata only · not part of the 40/40/20 score

Great Cinema Master List scores

Greatness9.5
Engagement8.5
Ease7.2

English · PG
Narrative Feature
Mood: Romantic & Reflective