Explore the world of films by Yorgos Lanthimos.

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We’ve collated a list of films by Yorgos Lanthimos – from Dogtooth (2009) to his latest release, Kinds of Kindness (2024), which stars a few familiar faces from last year’s Poor Things (2023).

Alongside the age rating, don’t forget our content advice provides helpful insight into what you can expect to see in each film. Have a read before you watch, so you can pick what’s right for you.

The Lobster

strong language, sex, sex references, bloody images

THE LOBSTER is a comedy drama about a newly-widowed man who is given forty-five days to find another compatible mate or be turned into a wild animal.

language

There are five uses of strong language ('f**k'), all of which are used in a sexual context.

sex

There is a sex scene which features thrusting as a couple have sex in a variety of positions, though there is no nudity. There are also scenes in which female characters are seen moving on top of a man's crotch in order to sexually arouse him, though again there is no nudity or strong detail. There are strong verbal sex references to oral and anal sex, as well as masturbation and erections.

injury detail

There is brief sight of a dead animal lying in a large pool of blood; its stomach has been ripped open and its entrails are briefly visible.

There is a scene in which a donkey is killed. The scene is achieved with special effects rather than any actual animal cruelty.

Alps

strong sex, threat and a scene of attempted hanging

threat and horror

There are two sequences in which women are verbally threatened by men. In one instance the threat develops into physical violence, although this is only briefly shown.

sex

In one scene, a man performs oral sex on a woman.

suicide and self-harm

At one point a young woman is discovered attempting to hang herself. However, there is no instructional detail and the woman is rescued.

There is infrequent use of strong language ('f*k').

The Killing Of A Sacred Deer

strong violence, sex, nudity

THE KILLING OF A SACRED DEER is a drama in which the lives of a surgeon and his family come under the influence of a troubled young man.

violence

There is strong violence in scenes that include shootings, beatings and an act of deliberate self-injury, all of which have bloody consequences.

sex

There is a scene in which a woman masturbates a man in a car. Although there is no strong detail, the scene is prolonged. There are also strong verbal references to masturbation.

nudity

There is sexualised nudity with sight of breasts and pubic hair.

There is also infrequent strong language ('f**k').

The Favourite

very strong language, strong sex

THE FAVOURITE is a period drama in which a servant and a courtier vie for the affections of their monarch, Queen Anne.

language

There is very strong language ('c**t'), as well as strong language ('f**k') and milder terms such as 'bitch'.

sex

There are a number of sex scenes, and some accompanying sexualised breast and buttock nudity. In one scene, a woman masturbates a man to climax and wipes her hand on a sheet.

There are some moments of mild violence, including face slaps and a man shoving a woman into a ditch. A woman injures herself by hitting herself in the face with a heavy book. In another scene, a woman briefly pins a rabbit to the floor with her foot before releasing it, unharmed. There are also scenes in which birds are shot and killed.


Dogtooth

incest theme and infrequent real sex

Three teenagers live isolated, without leaving their house, because their over-protective parents say they can only leave when their dogtooth falls out.

sex

There is a scene of real sex in which a pornographic video is watched on a television screen. Brief shots of fellatio are seen. In a subsequent scene, two young adults engage in sexual foreplay, during which there is brief sight of masturbation. The brief real sex establishes the unusual and dysfunctional lifestyle that results from the isolation orchestrated by the dictatorial father, including incest. The film also includes strong sex scenes without explicit detail.

There are also some scenes of violence perpetrated by the father. In one scene, he beats a woman who displeases him, and also beats one of his own daughters. These beatings do not dwell on the infliction of pain or injury. The films also includes a sequence in which a cat is attacked with a pair of garden shears. There is an initial pounce as the cat is caught, followed by an aftermath shot of the dead animal. In order to satisfy our obligations under the Cinematograph Films (Animals) Act 1937, detailed assurances were sought from the film makers. These revealed that rubber shears were employed and that no animals were harmed.

Poor Things

strong sex, nudity, very strong language

An unusual woman goes on a journey of self-discovery and sexual enlightenment in this coming-of-age sci-fi comedy drama. Although she comes face to face with cruelty and abuse, the tone never darkens for long.

violence

There is moderate comic violence when a woman shoots a man's foot. It is implied that a man breaks a gull's neck.

language

There is use of very strong language ('c**t'), as well as strong language ('f**k'), and other terms such as 'whore' and 'bitch'. There is a use of the discriminatory term, 'retard'.

sex

There is a scene of BDSM sex involving restraints and a gag. There are regular strong sex scenes which feature nudity and multiple positions. There are multiple strong references to sex, masturbation, ejaculation and oral sex.

drugs

There are fleeting references to amphetamines, heroin and cocaine, all three of which a cancer patient claims to be high on.

sexual violence and sexual threat

Men exploit a vulnerable woman and take sexual advantage of her. A naive young woman grabs another woman's genitals. A man threatens to mutilate a woman's genitals.

injury detail

A woman stabs the eyes of a corpse repeatedly. In a surgical procedure, a corpse's brain is pulled out the back of its head, in close up detail. There are images of dead babies. There are other strong images of brain matter, anatomy lessons, close up surgery and bloodshed. A woman squashes a frog.

nudity

There is regular full male and female nudity, often in a sexual context.

theme

Men treat a woman abusively in a domestic context, depriving her of society, controlling her and threatening to drown her. She continually gets the better of them. A man tells of domestic abuse at the hands of his father.

suicide and self-harm

A woman takes her own life by drowning.

Kinds Of Kindness

sexual violence, brief strong sex

A series of darkly comic and disturbing tales explore the lengths people will go to for each other. Various forms of abusive and controlling behaviour feature, including in some distressing and violent scenes.

violence

Scenes of violence include a man being run over repeatedly, and a shooting resulting in some bloody detail. Sequences feature controlling and abusive behaviour.

threat and horror

Scenes include gun threat, disturbing and sinister behaviour, and people being locked into a sauna as part of a cult ritual.

language

There is use of strong language ('f**k') and milder terms including 'pussy', 'cock', 'bitch', 'shit' and 'crap'.

sex

There are scenes of strong sex, including a brief sequence showing two couples engaging in group sex involving different sex acts and positions. There are occasional sex references.

drugs

It is implied a man has been drugging his partner in order to instigate miscarriages. Another man drugs a woman to render her unconscious.

sexual violence and sexual threat

A sequence of sexual violence includes nudity and a build-up of sexual threat, in which a woman's former partner drugs and rapes her. She is then blamed for allowing the attack to happen. In another story, it is revealed a man is in thrawl to another man who dictates when the former can have sex. The subjected man has also been causing his wife to miscarry without her knowledge.

injury detail

There are occasional gory and bloody images, including of a severed thumb and a woman's liver after she has cut it from her body. Bloody detail is also seen in the aftermath of a car crash, and in a scene of implied cannibalism.

nudity

Scenes include full frontal male and female nudity, including in sexualised contexts.

disturbing images

A woman cuts a dog's leg, but no actual animal cruelty appears to have occured. In a montage of dogs behaving like humans, a dead dog is seen hanging from the neck. There are also disturbing scenes of implied cannibalism, bloodied water in the aftermath of a miscarriage, and people harming themselves and others as an act of loyalty to a controlling personality. After a man is shot, another man attempts to lick blood from the wound.

flashing/flickering lights

This work contains flashing images which may affect viewers who are susceptible to photosensitive epilepsy.

suicide and self-harm

People hurt themselves and others out of loyalty to a controlling personality. A woman cuts off her own thumb, and later cuts out her liver, during a disturbing display of loyalty to her partner. A woman takes her own life within a fantastical context. A dog is seen hanging from the neck as an allusion to suicide during a fantasy scene.