Sam Mendes

Directing

Sam Mendes

Born 1965-08-01 · Reading, Berkshire, England, UK

Sir Samuel Alexander Mendes CBE (born 1 August 1965) is a British film and stage director, producer, and screenwriter. In 2000, Mendes was appointed a CBE for his services to drama, and he was knighted in the 2020 New Year Honours List. In 2000, Mendes was awarded the Shakespeare Prize by the Alfred Toepfer Foundation in Hamburg, Germany. In 2005, he received a lifetime achievement award from the Directors Guild of Great Britain. In 2008, The Daily Telegraph ranked him number 15 in their list of the "100 most powerful people in British culture". Born in Berkshire to a Trinidadian Catholic father and an English Jewish mother, Mendes grew up in North London. He read English at Peterhouse at Cambridge University. He began directing plays there before joining Donmar Warehouse, a centre of 1990s London theatre culture. In theatre, he is known for his dark re-inventions of the stage musicals Cabaret (1993), Oliver! (1994), Company (1995), and Gypsy (2003). For the first time, he directed an original West End stage musical with Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2013). For his work on the London stage, Mendes has received three Laurence Olivier Awards for Company, Twelfth Night, and The Ferryman. On Broadway, he earned two Tony Awards for Best Direction of a Play for  The Ferryman in 2019 and The Lehman Trilogy in 2022. In film, he made his directorial debut with the drama American Beauty (1999), which earned him the Academy Award and Golden Globe Award for Best Director. He has since directed the films Road to Perdition (2002), Jarhead (2005), Revolutionary Road (2008), and the James Bond films Skyfall (2012) and Spectre (2015). For the war film 1917 (2019), he received the BAFTA Award and Golden Globe Award for Best Director, as well as his second Academy Award nomination for Best Director, Best Picture and Best Original Screenplay. Description above from the Wikipedia article Sam Mendes, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

Acting credits

The Sound of 007 poster
7.3

Pull back the curtain on the remarkable history of six decades of James Bond music, from Sean Connery’s Dr No through to Daniel Craig’s final outing in No Time to Die.

The Sound of 007

2022

"Jarhead" Diaries poster
NR

An intimate behind-the-scenes look at the making of Sam Mendes’ “Jarhead,” featuring Jake Gyllenhaal and Jaime Foxx.

"Jarhead" Diaries

2006

Everything or Nothing poster
7.2

The story of three men with a shared dream: James Bond franchise producers Albert R. Broccoli and Harry Saltzman, and Bond creator and author Ian Fleming. It’s the thrilling and inspiring narrative behind the longest running film franchise in cinema history, which began in 1962.

Everything or Nothing

2012

Semper Fi: Life After the Corps poster
7.0

A powerful, in-depth documentary profiling U.S. Marines back from duty in Iraq. Produced for the “Jarhead” DVD.

Semper Fi: Life After the Corps

2006

Who Needs Sleep? poster
6.8

A documentary that highlights the deadly combination of sleep deprivation and long days of work, focusing on the American film industry.

Who Needs Sleep?

2006

American Beauty: Look Closer... poster
7.8

A promotional short documentary on the making of the film American Beauty, directed by Sam Mendes and written by Alan Ball.

American Beauty: Look Closer...

2000

Jarhead: Background poster
NR

Documentary that profiles of U.S. Marines who were cast as background extras in “Jarhead.” Produced for the “Jarhead” DVD.

Jarhead: Background

2006

Company poster
7.1

Set in modern upper-crust Manhattan, an exploration of love and commitment as seen through the eyes of a charming perpetual bachelor questioning his single state and his enthusiastically married, slightly envious friends.

Company

1996

No artwork available
8.0

No synopsis available yet.

Tom Hanks: A League of His Own

2016

Judi Dench: All the World's Her Stage poster
7.8

This documentary celebrates one of Britain’s greatest actors, Dame Judi Dench, and looks back over her remarkable 60-year career.

Judi Dench: All the World's Her Stage

2016

NOW: In the Wings on a World Stage poster
6.2

Kevin Spacey, Sam Mendes and the Bridge Project Company go on the road in NOW: in the Wings on a World Stage. In over 200 performances, and across 3 continents, Kevin and the troupe reveal some of the most intimate moments behind the scenes of their staging of Shakespeare's classic tragedy, "Richard III." Their story and experiences weave around, and reflect on, excerpts from the play from their various locations, from Epidaurus to Doha, and provides a great opportunity for those who have never experienced Spacey on stage to witness his immerse and captivating interpretation of Richard III. NOW chronicles the first collaboration between Spacey and Mendes since both won Academy Awards® for their work on American Beauty.

NOW: In the Wings on a World Stage

2014

Jill Bilcock: The Art of Film Editing poster
NR

Australian film editor Jill Bilcock is one of the world's most sought after film editors, having edited beloved films such as STRICTLY BALLROOM, ROMEO+JULIET, MURIEL’S WEDDING, ELIZABETH, MOULIN ROUGE!, ROAD TO PERDITION and THE DRESSMAKER. This documentary looks at her craft and charts how an outspoken arts student in 1960s Melbourne became one of the world’s most acclaimed film artists. Featuring interviews with Jill and many of today's leading filmmakers and actors, such as Baz Luhrmann, Jocelyn Moorehouse, Sam Mendes, Shekhar Kapur, Fred Schepisi and Cate Blanchett.

Jill Bilcock: The Art of Film Editing

2017

Allied Forces: Making 1917 poster
6.5

Learn how the one shot, 360-degree format was executed and the pivotal role Academy Award® winner Roger Deakins served in bringing Sam Mendes’ vision to life.

Allied Forces: Making 1917

2020

Still Tickin': The Return of 'A Clockwork Orange' poster
4.8

Produced by Channel 4, Still Tickin´: The Return of A Clockwork Orange examines the controversy over Kubrick’s iconic film, explaining the film’s “demonic level of attention,” and its influence on culture, politics and society, which led to the director’s self-imposed ban.

Still Tickin': The Return of 'A Clockwork Orange'

2000

A Cinematic Life: The Art and Influence of Conrad Hall poster
5.5

No synopsis available yet.

A Cinematic Life: The Art and Influence of Conrad Hall

2010

Ben Stokes: Phoenix from the Ashes poster
5.8

From breathtaking highs — a World Cup win, an astonishing last stand in the Ashes, and an inspiring England captaincy — to the lows — a trial for affray, personal tragedy, and mental health challenges, which saw him take time away from the game — the documentary follows Ben Stokes in an honest film about the man behind the extraordinary cricketer.

Ben Stokes: Phoenix from the Ashes

2022

Behind the camera

1917 poster
8.0

At the height of the First World War, two young British soldiers must cross enemy territory and deliver a message that will stop a deadly attack on hundreds of soldiers.

1917

2019

1917 poster
8.0

At the height of the First World War, two young British soldiers must cross enemy territory and deliver a message that will stop a deadly attack on hundreds of soldiers.

1917

2019

1917 poster
8.0

At the height of the First World War, two young British soldiers must cross enemy territory and deliver a message that will stop a deadly attack on hundreds of soldiers.

1917

2019

American Beauty poster
8.0

Lester Burnham, a depressed suburban father in a mid-life crisis, decides to turn his hectic life around after developing an infatuation with his daughter's attractive friend.

American Beauty

1999

Hamnet poster
7.7

The powerful story of love and loss that inspired the creation of Shakespeare's timeless masterpiece, Hamlet.

Hamnet

2025

Skyfall poster
7.3

When Bond's latest assignment goes gravely wrong, agents around the world are exposed and MI6 headquarters is attacked. While M faces challenges to her authority and position from Gareth Mallory, the new Chairman of the Intelligence and Security Committee, it's up to Bond, aided only by field agent Eve, to locate the mastermind behind the attack.

Skyfall

2012

Spectre poster
6.6

A cryptic message from Bond’s past sends him on a trail to uncover a sinister organization. While M battles political forces to keep the secret service alive, Bond peels back the layers of deceit to reveal the terrible truth behind SPECTRE.

Spectre

2015

The Beatles: John poster
NR

One of four biopics, focusing on individual members of The Beatles, this one telling the story of the group from the perspective of John Lennon.

The Beatles: John

2028

The Beatles: John poster
NR

One of four biopics, focusing on individual members of The Beatles, this one telling the story of the group from the perspective of John Lennon.

The Beatles: John

2028

Road to Perdition poster
7.4

Mike Sullivan works as a hit man for crime boss John Rooney. Sullivan views Rooney as a father figure, however after his son is witness to a killing, Mike Sullivan finds himself on the run in attempt to save the life of his son and at the same time looking for revenge on those who wronged him.

Road to Perdition

2002

Road to Perdition poster
7.4

Mike Sullivan works as a hit man for crime boss John Rooney. Sullivan views Rooney as a father figure, however after his son is witness to a killing, Mike Sullivan finds himself on the run in attempt to save the life of his son and at the same time looking for revenge on those who wronged him.

Road to Perdition

2002

Jarhead poster
6.7

Jarhead is a film about a US Marine Anthony Swofford’s experience in the Gulf War. After putting up with an arduous boot camp, Swofford and his unit are sent to the Persian Gulf where they are eager to fight, but are forced to stay back from the action. Swofford struggles with the possibility of his girlfriend cheating on him, and as his mental state deteriorates, his desire to kill increases.

Jarhead

2005

Revolutionary Road poster
7.0

A young couple living in a Connecticut suburb during the mid-1950s struggle to come to terms with their personal problems while trying to raise their two children. Based on a novel by Richard Yates.

Revolutionary Road

2008

Revolutionary Road poster
7.0

A young couple living in a Connecticut suburb during the mid-1950s struggle to come to terms with their personal problems while trying to raise their two children. Based on a novel by Richard Yates.

Revolutionary Road

2008

Empire of Light poster
6.6

The duty manager of a seaside cinema, who is struggling with her mental health, forms a relationship with a new employee on the south coast of England in the 1980s.

Empire of Light

2022

Empire of Light poster
6.6

The duty manager of a seaside cinema, who is struggling with her mental health, forms a relationship with a new employee on the south coast of England in the 1980s.

Empire of Light

2022

Empire of Light poster
6.6

The duty manager of a seaside cinema, who is struggling with her mental health, forms a relationship with a new employee on the south coast of England in the 1980s.

Empire of Light

2022

Things We Lost in the Fire poster
6.6

A recent widow invites her husband's troubled best friend to live with her and her two children. As he gradually turns his life around, he helps the family cope and confront their loss.

Things We Lost in the Fire

2007

The Beatles: Paul poster
NR

One of four biopics, focusing on individual members of The Beatles, this one telling the story of the group from the perspective of Paul McCartney.

The Beatles: Paul

2028

The Beatles: Paul poster
NR

One of four biopics, focusing on individual members of The Beatles, this one telling the story of the group from the perspective of Paul McCartney.

The Beatles: Paul

2028

Away We Go poster
6.7

Verona and Burt have moved to Colorado to be close to Burt's parents but, with Verona expecting their first child, Burt's parents inexplicably decide to move to Belgium, now leaving them in a place they hate and without a support structure in place. They set off on a whirlwind tour of of disparate locations where they have friends or relatives, sampling not only different cities and climates but also different families. Along the way they realize that the journey is less about discovering where they want to live and more about figuring out what type of parents they want to be.

Away We Go

2009

Cabaret poster
8.1

Inside the Kit Kat Club in 1931 Berlin, starry-eyed singer Sally Bowles and the lewd Emcee sound the clarion call to decadence, while outside, the Nazi party grows into a brutal force. (Filmed live during the 1993 revival, Sam Mendes' directorial debut takes place at the Donmar Warehouse in London's West End.)

Cabaret

1993

The Beatles: George poster
NR

One of four biopics, focusing on individual members of The Beatles, this one telling the story of the group from the perspective of George Harrison.

The Beatles: George

2028

The Beatles: George poster
NR

One of four biopics, focusing on individual members of The Beatles, this one telling the story of the group from the perspective of George Harrison.

The Beatles: George

2028