Danny Boyle Movies

Danny Boyle Movies

Danny Boyle is perhaps the most diverse director working today. He rarely covers the same ground twice, preferring instead to constantly push the boundaries of his abilities. While the British filmmaker’s big-screen career started off with a dark comedy, he’s since branched out to work on dramas, romantic comedies, science fiction, and horror. In the process, he’s picked up an Academy Award for Best Director, as well as numerous other accolades from the entertainment industry.

In the list below, I’ve included every Danny Boyle film currently available. Just keep in mind that watching one of his movies won’t sum up his career, as it’s constantly growing and evolving. A decade from now, I’m guessing that a list of Danny Boyle movies will look much different and include a number of award-winning titles not listed here.

Thanks to Netflix, you can enjoy all these movies from the comfort of your home. Whether you’re watching them on DVD, Blu-ray, or taking advantage of their streaming option, Netflix has you covered. Click on this link to become a Netflix member and see what all the fuss is about.

Shallow Grave (1994) – After working in television and the theatre, Boyle made his directorial debut on the big screen with this dark tale about three Edinburgh flatmates (Ewan McGregor, Kerry Fox, and Christopher Eccleston) who take in a new tenant. But when their mysterious roomie turns up dead from a drug overdose, they find he left behind a suitcase filled with cash. Resolving to keep it and dispose of the body, the pals are soon overtaken by greed and paranoia. A harrowing and often hilarious look at trust–or the lack thereof–Shallow Grave is boosted by the performances of the three then-unknown leads, as well as Boyle’s efficient direction.

Trainspotting (1996) – Boyle and Ewan McGregor join forces again, this time taking a look at the drug culture in the grimier parts of Edinburgh. McGregor stars as Mark Renton, a twenty-something heroin addict who spends his days getting high or thinking about getting high. His circle of friends–mostly addicts themselves–are portrayed by Johnny Lee Miller, Robert Carlyle, Ewen Bremner and Kevin McKidd. Based on the novel by Irvine Welsh, Trainspotting depicts drug addiction as a hellish existence filled with one debasement after another. Boyle adequately captures this sentiment thanks to a number of nightmarish sequences, including a zombie baby crawling across a ceiling, and the world’s filthiest–and surprisingly deep–toilet.

A Life Less Ordinary (1997) – Boyle mixes black comedy with the rom-com genre in this bizarre tale of two angels (Holly Hunter and Delroy Lindo) who practice rather unorthodox methods in making a couple fall in love. Their targets: a lowly janitor who dreams of being a novelist (Ewan McGregor) and the spoiled daughter (Cameron Diaz) of a wealthy businessman (Ian Holm). Filled with kidnappings, karaoke, and divine intervention, A Life Less Ordinary delivers a love story that’s far from ordinary. Co-starring Dan Hedaya, Maury Chaykin, Stanley Tucci, and Tony Shalhoub.

The Beach (2000) – Based on the novel by Alex Garland, The Beach stars Leonardo DiCaprio as Richard, a tourist who journeys to Thailand and hears the legends of a secret island paradise. Obtaining a map from a madman named Daffy (Robert Carlyle), Richard heads to the island and finds romance, betrayal, murder, and insane amounts of marijuana. Boyle lends his unpredictable visual style to the proceedings, even throwing in hallucinatory sequences which mimic a video game. While the performances and plot are uneven in spots (DiCaprio receive a Razzie nomination), the beautiful island locale and Darius Khondji cinematography somewhat evens things out.

28 Days Later (2002) – Along with Zach Snyder’s Dawn of the Dead remake, this Danny Boyle movie was instrumental in helping the zombie genre make a major comeback. Technically, the mindless killers aren’t really zombies at all, but rather victims of a powerful virus which elevates rage to psychotic levels. With London overrun and no help in sight, a group of four survivors (including Cillian Murphy, Naomie Harris, and Brendan Gleeson) head off searching for the source of an Army broadcast promising shelter and a solution to the problem. John Murphy’s score–especially “In the House – In a Heartbeat”–ratchets the tension through the roof, and Boyle manages to make us care about the survivors as they’re hounded by the rabid and fleet-footed infected. Boyle also produced a sequel, 28 Weeks Later, and another follow-up is being planned.

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Millions (2004) – Boyle helms this charming modern-day English fable about two brothers who find a bag of money and set about spending it. But while Anthony (Lewis McGibbon) uses the cash to improve his own life, kind-hearted Damian (Alex Etel) helps the church, the poor, and anyone else in need. The film puts forth a strong message for kids, and adults will find the many twists and turns equally enjoyable.

Sunshine (2007) – Boyle once again demonstrates his diversity by turning to the sci-fi genre and telling the story of a spaceship crew and their desperate mission to reignite the Sun. Featuring an international cast and plenty of peril, Sunshine melds science and religion into a thought-provoking concoction. Starring Cillian Murphy, Chris Evans, Rose Byrne, Michelle Yeoh, Cliff Curtis, and Mark Strong.

Slumdog Millionaire (2008) – The most critically-acclaimed of all Danny Boyle movies, Slumdog Millionaire follows poor Mumbai resident Jamal Malik (Dev Patel) as he struggles to win back his true love (Freida Pinto) by competing on the Indian version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?. But when he proves remarkably successful, he’s taken in by the cops, tortured, and accused of cheating. The bulk of the film examines Jamal’s heartbreaking life and shows how he knew the answers to all the questions. There’s even a spirited dance number to close out the film and delight Bollywood fans. Nominated for ten Academy Awards, Slumdog won more than any other film in 2008 (including Best Picture and Best Director).

127 Hours (2010) – Following up his Oscar-winning directorial effort, Boyle helmed the harrowing and inspirational tale of real-life mountain climber Aron Ralston (James Franco). With his arm trapped by a boulder in a Utah canyon, he’s forced to make the kind of decision most people only deal with in nightmares. Definitely not for the squeamish, but viewers with a strong stomach will find it a most rewarding motion picture.

Whether you’re looking for a tale of zombie-like psychopaths or plucky game show contestants, Danny Boyle movies are a good place to start. And like most films, you can find them at Netflix and their library of over 100,000 movies and TV shows. We do receive a small commission when you sign up via our site, but it adds nothing to your final cost and helps keep us in business.

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