Brian De Palma

Directing

Brian De Palma

Born

1940-09-11 (86)

Place of birth

Newark, New Jersey, USA

Known for

Directing

Credits

80 titles

Brian Russell De Palma is an American film director and writer. In a career spanning over forty years, he is probably best known for his suspense and crime thriller films. De Palma was a leading member of the New Hollywood generation of film directors. His direction often makes use of quotations from other films or cinematic styles, and bears the influence of filmmakers such as Alfred Hitchcock, Jean-Luc Godard, and Michelangelo Antonioni. His work has been criticized for its violence and sexual content, but has also been championed by American critics such as Roger Ebert and Pauline Kael.

Known for

Mission: Impossible poster
7.0

When Ethan Hunt, the leader of a crack espionage team whose perilous operation has gone awry with no explanation, discovers that a mole has penetrated the CIA, he's surprised to learn that he's the prime suspect. To clear his name, Hunt now must ferret out the real double agent and, in the process, even the score.

Mission: Impossible

1996

Carrie poster
7.3

Withdrawn and sensitive teenager Carrie White faces bullying from her classmates and abuse from her fanatically pious mother. When she begins to suspect that she has supernatural powers, things take a dark and violent turn.

Carrie

1976

The Untouchables poster
7.8

Elliot Ness, an ambitious prohibition agent, is determined to take down Al Capone. In order to achieve this goal, he forms a group given the nickname “The Untouchables”.

The Untouchables

1987

Scarface poster
8.2

After getting a green card in exchange for assassinating a Cuban government official, Tony Montana stakes a claim on the drug trade in Miami. Viciously murdering anyone who stands in his way, Tony eventually becomes the biggest drug lord in the state, controlling nearly all the cocaine that comes through Miami. But increased pressure from the police, wars with Colombian drug cartels and his own drug-fueled paranoia serve to fuel the flames of his eventual downfall.

Scarface

1983

Kulturplatz poster
6.0

No synopsis available yet.

Kulturplatz

2004

The Black Dahlia poster
5.6

In 1940s Los Angeles, two former boxers-turned-cops must grapple with corruption, narcissism, stag films and family madness as they pursue the killer of an aspiring young actress.

The Black Dahlia

2006

Film credits

2010s · 7 titles

De Palma poster
7.0

An intimate conversation between filmmakers, chronicling De Palma’s 55-year career, his life, and his filmmaking process, with revealing anecdotes and, of course, a wealth of film clips.

De Palma

2016

Spielberg poster
7.5

A documentary on the life and career of one of the most influential film directors of all time, Steven Spielberg.

Spielberg

2017

Godard Made in USA poster
NR

Documentary by Luc Lagier exploring Godard's career as a filmmaker, the production of Breathless and his influence and his relationship with American cinema.

Godard Made in USA

2010

The 'Scarface' Phenomenon poster
7.0

This documentary presents "Scarface" as a unique phenomenon in cinema history. It explores how a film plagued by controversy leading up to its release has become a Hollywood classic, influencing a whole new generation of filmmakers and leaving a lasting imprint on popular culture.

The 'Scarface' Phenomenon

2011

No artwork available
NR

A short documentary tracing Mission: Impossible from TV series to film franchise, featuring clips and interviews with producer Paula Wagner, Tom Cruise, screenwriter Robert Towne, directors Brian De Palma, John Woo, and J.J. Abrams, and actor Jon Voight. It covers the TV show's influence on the first film, the plot and production challenges, casting and locations, the sequel's development, and beyond.

Mission: Remarkable - 40 Years of Creating the Impossible

2010

No artwork available
NR

A conversation with Director Brian De Palma and Actors Al Pacino, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Steven Bauer. From New York City's Beacon Theater, April 19th, 2018. Discussions include project origins, the film's violence and language, the picture in retrospect, the film's rating, performances and the physical demands thereof, the film's lasting legacy, Pacino's burn injury during the shoot, Oliver Stone's script, possibilities for a remake, cast takeaways from the experience, and more. (Blu-ray.com)

Scarface: 35th Anniversary Reunion

2019

No artwork available
NR

Interview with director Brian De Palma for Scream Factory's Collector's Edition Blu-ray.

Brian De Palma Backstage at the Paradise

2014

2000s · 19 titles

The Black Dahlia poster
5.6

In 1940s Los Angeles, two former boxers-turned-cops must grapple with corruption, narcissism, stag films and family madness as they pursue the killer of an aspiring young actress.

The Black Dahlia

2006

Acting 'Carrie' poster
7.5

In this documentary, director Brian De Palma and the stars from his film "Carrie" (such as Sissy Spacek, Amy Irving, Piper Laurie, William Katt, Nancy Allen and others) share stories about the making of the classic horror film 25 years after its release.

Acting 'Carrie'

2001

Visualizing 'Carrie' poster
6.5

The making of "Carrie" (1976) is presented on the film's 25th anniversary with interviews with director Brian De Palma, editor Paul Hirsch, art director Jack Fisk and writer Laurence D. Cohen. The special talks about the book transition to film and the editorial process during filming.

Visualizing 'Carrie'

2001

The Making of 'Carlito's Way' poster
6.0

A behind-the-scenes documentary on the making of Brian De Palma’s "Carlito’s Way," featuring interviews with the filmmakers and key creative figures behind the 1993 crime drama.

The Making of 'Carlito's Way'

2003

The Autopsy poster
10.0

A documentary about the making of Brian De Palma's 1973 film "Sisters" including interviews with the cast and crew.

The Autopsy

2004

The Untouchables: Production Stories poster
7.3

Cast and crew from "The Untouchables" share production stories.

The Untouchables: Production Stories

2004

Black Dahlia Confidential poster
8.0

The murder of a young Hollywood actress Elizabeth Short in 1947 is the oldest unsolved murder case in Los Angeles. New information and clues may help solve this case. "48 Hours Mystery" correspondent Erin Moriarty reports.

Black Dahlia Confidential

2004

Gangland: Bullets over Hollywood poster
7.4

"Bullets Over Hollywood" delves into America's fascination with gangsters and features historical perspective, analysis, behind-the-scenes anecdotes, and details about the connection between real-life hoods and their cinematic alter egos. The documentary chronicles films such as the _American Mutoscope & Biograph [us]_ film _Musketeers of Pig Alley, The (1912)_ (the 1912 film directed by D.W. Griffith that began it all), 1930's and '40s classics including "Little Caesar," "The Public Enemy," "The Roaring Twenties," "The Petrified Forest" and "High Sierra," to such modern tales as "The Godfather," "Scarface," "Goodfellas," "Donnie Brasco," "Casino," "A Bronx Tale," "Carlito's Way," "Once Upon a Time in America" and many more. The special takes a look at television with shows such as "The Sopranos" and "Growing Up Gotti," all part of America's parallel fascination with fictional and real-life gangsters.

Gangland: Bullets over Hollywood

2005

The Untouchables: The Script, the Cast poster
7.3

Brian DePalma and Art Linson discuss how the 1987 film "The Untouchables" came together.

The Untouchables: The Script, the Cast

2004

Slashing 'Dressed to Kill' poster
6.7

Exploring the edits to receive an R rating from the MPAA.

Slashing 'Dressed to Kill'

2001

The Untouchables: Re-Inventing the Genre poster
7.5

Cast and crew members from The Untouchables recall the production.

The Untouchables: Re-Inventing the Genre

2004

Femme Fatale: Dream Within a Dream poster
8.7

A documentary about Brian de Palma's "Femme Fatale."

Femme Fatale: Dream Within a Dream

2003

The Making of 'Casualties of War' poster
7.0

Documentary made for the film's 2001 DVD release.

The Making of 'Casualties of War'

2001

The Making of 'Dressed to Kill' poster
7.0

Produced as part of the DVD release for 'Dressed to Kill', this documentary gives fans a behind-the-scenes look at the making of this thrilling murder mystery. Includes interviews with director Brian De Palma and star Angie Dickenson, as well as other members of the cast and crew, who relate their experiences of working on the film.

The Making of 'Dressed to Kill'

2001

Brian De Palma : Les Années 60 poster
NR

Documentary about Brian De Palma's films in the 60's.

Brian De Palma : Les Années 60

2002

The Untouchables: The Classic poster
6.5

Brian DePalma, Art Linson, Charles Martin Smith discussing "The Untouchables."

The Untouchables: The Classic

2004

'Obsession' Revisited poster
7.2

A documentary about the making of 1976's "Obsession" featuring interviews with director Brian De Palma, stars Cliff Robertson and Genevieve Bujold and more.

'Obsession' Revisited

2001

Paradise Regained: Brian de Palma's 'Phantom of the Paradise' poster
5.5

A 50-minute documentary on the making of the film featuring director Brian De Palma, producer Edward R. Pressman, the late star William Finley, star and composer Paul Williams, co-stars Jessica Harper and Gerrit Graham and more!

Paradise Regained: Brian de Palma's 'Phantom of the Paradise'

2006

No artwork available
NR

Behind the scenes of the classic film Scarface, produced by Spike TV.

Unseen + Untold: Scarface

2003

1990s · 6 titles

The Scorsese Machine poster
8.0

Amazing documentary shows rarely seen side of a master director. 1990 was a very good year for Martin Scorsese. After making a diverse group of films in the 80s, he reunited with Robert DeNiro for "Goodfellas" and later that year shot a segment for "New York Stories", an anthology film of three shorts by Scorsese, Woody Allen, and Francis Ford Coppola. During the editing, the French documentary series "Cinéma, de notre temps" filmed a documentary on the director, and it's a fascinating glimpse into his life, personality, and working habits as he edits his short with long-time collaborator Thelma Schoonmaker.

The Scorsese Machine

1990

Quentin Tarantino: Hollywood's Boy Wonder poster
6.0

A documentary profile on Quentin Tarantino broadcast by the BBC's "Omnibus" strand in 1994 to coincide with "Pulp Fiction" hitting UK cinemas.

Quentin Tarantino: Hollywood's Boy Wonder

1994

Hitchcock: Shadow of a Genius poster
8.5

This documentary is a fascinating look at the cinematic genius of Alfred Hitchcock. Briefly covering much of his early British works, the film primarily focuses on his American classics, such as "Shadow of a Doubt", "Notorious", "Rear Window", "Vertigo", "Psycho" and "The Birds". The movie also covers his television years and neatly examines the Hitchcock signature touches, from his inevitable brief cameo to his famous MacGuffin.

Hitchcock: Shadow of a Genius

1999

Ennio Morricone poster
6.8

From his quirky compositions for the spaghetti Westerns of Sergio Leone to his sublime musical contributions to director Roland Joffé's acclaimed 1986 drama The Mission, film composer Ennio Morricone has crafted more than 500 scores over the course of his enduring career in film. Now fans can take a look back at the life and career of one of cinema's most prolific composers through interviews with both the composer himself and many of his longtime collaborators. From his Italian efforts to his work in America, this documentary covers every aspect of Morricone's career as few have, offering insight into his childhood, his longtime association with Leone, and his ultimate disenchantment with the American studio system.

Ennio Morricone

1995

No artwork available
5.0

Business tycoon Rotwang has been murdered. In a series of intertwined, loosely connected flashbacks, the film recounts the ludicrous events leading up to the bloody deed, while also pursuing some bizarre side plots. There are many possible perpetrators because everyone agreed on one thing: Rotwang had to go! Whether it was his wife Clarissa, the former RAF terrorist and current fashion guru Arthur Eigenrauch, or the rustic snack bar owner Udo Ringeltaub—they all had a personal or professional reason to eliminate Rotwang.

Rotwang Must Go!

1994

The Making of 'Scarface' poster
8.0

A 52-minute documentary on "Scarface," both the making of the film and its reception.

The Making of 'Scarface'

1998

1980s · 1 titles

Series credits

Behind the camera

Mission: Impossible poster
7.0

When Ethan Hunt, the leader of a crack espionage team whose perilous operation has gone awry with no explanation, discovers that a mole has penetrated the CIA, he's surprised to learn that he's the prime suspect. To clear his name, Hunt now must ferret out the real double agent and, in the process, even the score.

Mission: Impossible

1996

Carrie poster
7.3

Withdrawn and sensitive teenager Carrie White faces bullying from her classmates and abuse from her fanatically pious mother. When she begins to suspect that she has supernatural powers, things take a dark and violent turn.

Carrie

1976

The Untouchables poster
7.8

Elliot Ness, an ambitious prohibition agent, is determined to take down Al Capone. In order to achieve this goal, he forms a group given the nickname “The Untouchables”.

The Untouchables

1987

Scarface poster
8.2

After getting a green card in exchange for assassinating a Cuban government official, Tony Montana stakes a claim on the drug trade in Miami. Viciously murdering anyone who stands in his way, Tony eventually becomes the biggest drug lord in the state, controlling nearly all the cocaine that comes through Miami. But increased pressure from the police, wars with Colombian drug cartels and his own drug-fueled paranoia serve to fuel the flames of his eventual downfall.

Scarface

1983

The Black Dahlia poster
5.6

In 1940s Los Angeles, two former boxers-turned-cops must grapple with corruption, narcissism, stag films and family madness as they pursue the killer of an aspiring young actress.

The Black Dahlia

2006

Carlito's Way poster
7.8

Free after years in prison, Carlito Brigante 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.

Carlito's Way

1993

Dressed to Kill poster
6.9

After witnessing a mysterious woman brutally slay a homemaker, prostitute Liz Blake finds herself trapped in a dangerous situation. While the police thinks she is the murderer, the real killer is intent on silencing her only witness.

Dressed to Kill

1980

Dressed to Kill poster
6.9

After witnessing a mysterious woman brutally slay a homemaker, prostitute Liz Blake finds herself trapped in a dangerous situation. While the police thinks she is the murderer, the real killer is intent on silencing her only witness.

Dressed to Kill

1980

Mission to Mars poster
6.0

When the first manned mission to Mars meets with a catastrophic and mysterious disaster after reporting an unidentified structure, a rescue mission is launched to investigate the tragedy and bring back any survivors.

Mission to Mars

2000

Casualties of War poster
7.2

During the Vietnam War, a soldier finds himself the outsider of his own squad when they unnecessarily kidnap a female villager.

Casualties of War

1989

The Bonfire of the Vanities poster
5.6

After his mistress runs over a black teen, a Wall Street hotshot sees his life unravel in the spotlight; A down-and-out reporter breaks the story and opportunists clamber to use it to their advantage.

The Bonfire of the Vanities

1990

The Bonfire of the Vanities poster
5.6

After his mistress runs over a black teen, a Wall Street hotshot sees his life unravel in the spotlight; A down-and-out reporter breaks the story and opportunists clamber to use it to their advantage.

The Bonfire of the Vanities

1990

Body Double poster
6.7

After losing an acting role and his girlfriend, Jake Scully finally catches a break: he gets offered a gig house-sitting in the Hollywood Hills. While peering through the beautiful home's telescope one night, he spies a gorgeous woman dancing in her window. But when he witnesses the girl's murder, it leads Scully through the netherworld of the adult entertainment industry on a search for answers—with porn actress Holly Body as his guide.

Body Double

1984

Body Double poster
6.7

After losing an acting role and his girlfriend, Jake Scully finally catches a break: he gets offered a gig house-sitting in the Hollywood Hills. While peering through the beautiful home's telescope one night, he spies a gorgeous woman dancing in her window. But when he witnesses the girl's murder, it leads Scully through the netherworld of the adult entertainment industry on a search for answers—with porn actress Holly Body as his guide.

Body Double

1984

Body Double poster
6.7

After losing an acting role and his girlfriend, Jake Scully finally catches a break: he gets offered a gig house-sitting in the Hollywood Hills. While peering through the beautiful home's telescope one night, he spies a gorgeous woman dancing in her window. But when he witnesses the girl's murder, it leads Scully through the netherworld of the adult entertainment industry on a search for answers—with porn actress Holly Body as his guide.

Body Double

1984

Snake Eyes poster
6.2

All bets are off when shady homicide cop Rick Santoro witnesses a murder during a boxing match. Determined to solve the crime, he quickly learns that his search for answers will only uncover yet more questions in an ever-widening web of conspiracy, intrigue, and danger.

Snake Eyes

1998

Snake Eyes poster
6.2

All bets are off when shady homicide cop Rick Santoro witnesses a murder during a boxing match. Determined to solve the crime, he quickly learns that his search for answers will only uncover yet more questions in an ever-widening web of conspiracy, intrigue, and danger.

Snake Eyes

1998

Blow Out poster
7.3

While recording sound effects for a slasher flick, Jack Terry 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 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.

Blow Out

1981

Blow Out poster
7.3

While recording sound effects for a slasher flick, Jack Terry 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 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.

Blow Out

1981

Femme Fatale poster
6.2

A $10-million diamond rip-off, a stolen identity, a new life married to a diplomat. Laure Ash has risked big, won big. But then a tabloid shutterbug snaps her picture in Paris, and suddenly, enemies from Laure's secret past know who and where she is. And they all want their share of the diamond heist. Or her life. Or both.

Femme Fatale

2002

Femme Fatale poster
6.2

A $10-million diamond rip-off, a stolen identity, a new life married to a diplomat. Laure Ash has risked big, won big. But then a tabloid shutterbug snaps her picture in Paris, and suddenly, enemies from Laure's secret past know who and where she is. And they all want their share of the diamond heist. Or her life. Or both.

Femme Fatale

2002

Passion poster
5.2

The rivalry between the manipulative boss of an advertising agency and her talented protégée escalates from stealing credit to public humiliation to murder.

Passion

2013

Passion poster
5.2

The rivalry between the manipulative boss of an advertising agency and her talented protégée escalates from stealing credit to public humiliation to murder.

Passion

2013

Domino poster
4.6

Seeking justice for his partner’s murder by an ISIS member, a Copenhagen police officer finds himself caught in a cat and mouse game with a duplicitous CIA agent who is using the killer as a pawn to trap other ISIS members.

Domino

2019

Raising Cain poster
6.0

Child psychologist Carter Nix is a loving and caring family man, but under this appearance lies a dark and troubled past. Grappling with the consequences of this past on his own psyche and the influence of his returning father and violent brother Cain, Carter becomes involved in a series of murders and kidnappings. Meanwhile, his wife Jenny rekindles an old love affair, placing herself in the crosshairs of her increasingly unstable husband.

Raising Cain

1992

Raising Cain poster
6.0

Child psychologist Carter Nix is a loving and caring family man, but under this appearance lies a dark and troubled past. Grappling with the consequences of this past on his own psyche and the influence of his returning father and violent brother Cain, Carter becomes involved in a series of murders and kidnappings. Meanwhile, his wife Jenny rekindles an old love affair, placing herself in the crosshairs of her increasingly unstable husband.

Raising Cain

1992

Phantom of the Paradise poster
7.5

Singer-songwriter Winslow Leach seeks revenge on the nefarious music producer Swan, who steals both Winslow's music and his favorite singer for the grand opening of Swan's new rock palace, the Paradise.

Phantom of the Paradise

1974

Phantom of the Paradise poster
7.5

Singer-songwriter Winslow Leach seeks revenge on the nefarious music producer Swan, who steals both Winslow's music and his favorite singer for the grand opening of Swan's new rock palace, the Paradise.

Phantom of the Paradise

1974

Sisters poster
6.7

Inquisitive journalist Grace Collier is horrified when she witnesses her neighbor, fashion model Danielle Breton, violently murder a man. Panicking, she calls the police. But when the detective arrives at the scene and finds nothing amiss, Grace is forced to take matters into her own hands. Her first move is to recruit private investigator Joseph Larch, who helps her to uncover a secret about Danielle's past that has them both seeing double.

Sisters

1973

Sisters poster
6.7

Inquisitive journalist Grace Collier is horrified when she witnesses her neighbor, fashion model Danielle Breton, violently murder a man. Panicking, she calls the police. But when the detective arrives at the scene and finds nothing amiss, Grace is forced to take matters into her own hands. Her first move is to recruit private investigator Joseph Larch, who helps her to uncover a secret about Danielle's past that has them both seeing double.

Sisters

1973

Obsession poster
6.7

A wealthy New Orleans businessman becomes obsessed with a young woman who resembles his late wife.

Obsession

1976

The Fury poster
6.3

When a devious plot separates CIA agent Peter Sandza from his son, Robin, the distraught father manages to see through the ruse. Taken because of his psychic abilities, Robin is being held by Ben Childress, who is studying people with supernatural powers in hopes of developing their talents as weapons. Soon Peter pairs up with Gillian, a teen who has telekinesis, to find and rescue Robin.

The Fury

1978

Redacted poster
5.9

A fictional documentary discusses the effects the Iraq war has had on soldiers and local people through interviews with members of an American military unit, the media, and local Iraqis.

Redacted

2007

Redacted poster
5.9

A fictional documentary discusses the effects the Iraq war has had on soldiers and local people through interviews with members of an American military unit, the media, and local Iraqis.

Redacted

2007

Wise Guys poster
5.4

Harry Valentini and Moe Dickstein are both errand boys for the Mob. When they lose $250,000, they are set up to kill each other. But they run off to Atlantic City and comedy follows.

Wise Guys

1986

Greetings poster
5.5

Three friends in New York City discuss how to dodge the draft and Vietnam, JFK's assassination, voyeurism, computer dating, and everything else.

Greetings

1968

Hi, Mom! poster
6.2

Vietnam vet Jon Rubin returns to New York and rents a rundown flat in Greenwich Village. It is in this flat that he begins to film, 'Peeping Tom' style, the people in the apartment across the street. His obsession with making films leads him to fall in with a radical 'Black Power' group, which in turn leads him to carry out a bizarre act of urban terrorism.

Hi, Mom!

1970

Hi, Mom! poster
6.2

Vietnam vet Jon Rubin returns to New York and rents a rundown flat in Greenwich Village. It is in this flat that he begins to film, 'Peeping Tom' style, the people in the apartment across the street. His obsession with making films leads him to fall in with a radical 'Black Power' group, which in turn leads him to carry out a bizarre act of urban terrorism.

Hi, Mom!

1970

Home Movies poster
5.4

A cult guru urges a shy disciple to make life a movie and be its star.

Home Movies

1980

Home Movies poster
5.4

A cult guru urges a shy disciple to make life a movie and be its star.

Home Movies

1980