Ken Loach: Movies, Awards & Box Office
- films
- 69
- as director
- 45
- on screen
- 1965–2025
- box office
- $111M
- nominations
- 3
- average score
- 72
- Born
- June 17, 1936 (age 90)
- Birthplace
- Nuneaton, England
- Full name
- Kenneth Charles Loach
- Citizenship
- British
- Occupations
- Film director,screenwriter
- Years active
- 1962-present
- Spouses
- Lesley Ashton
- Children
- 5
The Best Ken Loach Movies
The films of Ken Loach that made the most at the worldwide box office, biggest first: The Wind That Shakes the Barley (2007) leads with $22.9M. The full ranking adds the most awarded films and the newest releases.
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Worldwide box office: $22.9M The Wind That Shakes the Barley 2007 · Drama -
Worldwide box office: $15.7M I, Daniel Blake 2016 · Drama -
Worldwide box office: $13.1M The Angels' Share 2013 · Drama -
Worldwide box office: $11.7M Looking for Eric 2010 · Drama -
Worldwide box office: $8.94M Sorry We Missed You 2020 · Drama -
Worldwide box office: $8.94M Sorry We Missed You 2019 · Drama
Ken Loach's Career in Numbers
Ken Loach's films in numbers — as an actor and a director, not counting appearances as themselves: when they were made, the genres Ken Loach works in most and the milestones along the way. The filmography runs from The End of Arthur’s Marriage (1965) to The Legend of the Palme d’Or Continues (2025), and the 2000s were the busiest decade.
Ken Loach Movies by Decade
- 1960s 8
- 1970s 6
- 1980s 6
- 1990s 7
- 2000s 9
- 2010s 9
- 2020s 4
The 2000s were Ken Loach's busiest decade, with 9 films.
Ken Loach Movies by Genre
- Drama 28
- Documentary 11
- Tv movie 4
- Comedy 2
- Romance 1
- Crime 1
- Music 1
- Adventure 1
Drama is the genre Ken Loach has worked in most, with 28 films, ahead of documentary (11).
Ken Loach Career Milestones
- First film
- The End of Arthur’s Marriage 1965
- Biggest box office hit
- The Wind That Shakes the Barley $22.9M worldwide
- Best-rated film
- Sorry We Missed You Movie Echo Score 75
- Newest film
- The Legend of the Palme d’Or Continues 2025
Ken Loach Filmography: Every Movie
Every film Ken Loach is credited on, newest first, with the role, the box office and the Movie Echo Score. 45 as director and 4 as actor. Rated films average a score of 72. Re-order the list to see the best-rated films or the biggest hits first.
Movies Directed by Ken Loach
45- 2024
The Old Oak Drama Worldwide box office: $7.73M Movie Echo Score: 68 - 2020
Sorry We Missed You Drama Worldwide box office: $8.94M Movie Echo Score: 75 - 2019
Sorry We Missed You Drama Worldwide box office: $8.94M Movie Echo Score: 72 - 2016
I, Daniel Blake Drama Worldwide box office: $15.7M - 2016
In Conversation With Jeremy Corbyn Documentary - 2015
Jimmy's Hall Drama Worldwide box office: $4.83M - 2013
The Angels' Share Drama Worldwide box office: $13.1M - 2013
The Spirit of ’45 Documentary Worldwide box office: $489K - 2010
Route Irish Drama Worldwide box office: $1.02M - 2010
Looking for Eric Drama Worldwide box office: $11.7M - 2007
It’s a Free World… Drama - 2007
The Wind That Shakes the Barley Drama Worldwide box office: $22.9M - 2005
McLibel Documentary Worldwide box office: $7.23K - 2005
Tickets Comedy Worldwide box office: $367K - 2004
Ae Fond Kiss... Drama Worldwide box office: $6.57M - 2003
September 11 Drama Worldwide box office: $1.27M - 2003
Sweet Sixteen Drama Worldwide box office: $3.96M - 2001
Bread and Roses Drama Worldwide box office: $707K - 1998
My Name Is Joe Drama Worldwide box office: $355K - 1996
Carla’s Song Romance Worldwide box office: $25.8K - 1995
Land and Freedom Drama Worldwide box office: $229K - 1994
Ladybird Ladybird Drama Worldwide box office: $152K - 1993
Raining Stones Crime Worldwide box office: $90.6K - 1991
Riff-Raff Drama Worldwide box office: $295K - 1990
Hidden Agenda Drama Worldwide box office: $1.23M - 1989
Time to Go Documentary - 1986
Fatherland Music - 1985
Which Side Are You On? Documentary - 1983
The Red and the Blue Documentary - 1981
Looks and Smiles Drama - 1980
The Gamekeeper Tv movie - 1979
Black Jack Adventure - 1977
The Price of Coal, Part 2: Back to Reality Drama - 1977
The Price of Coal, Part 1: Meet the People Tv movie - 1975
Days of Hope Drama - 1971
Talk About Work Documentary - 1971
The Rank and File Tv movie - 1969
Kes Drama Worldwide box office: $86.2K - 1969
The Big Flame Drama - 1968
The Golden Vision Comedy - 1967
Poor Cow Drama Worldwide box office: $15.7K - 1967
In Two Minds Drama - 1965
The End of Arthur’s Marriage Tv movie - 1965
Up the Junction Drama - 1965
Three Clear Sundays Drama
Ken Loach Movies as an Actor
4Ken Loach in Documentaries & Specials
20- 2023
Cannes Uncut as Self · Documentary - 2022
Thatcher’s Not Dead as Self · Documentary - 2022
Reel Britannia as Self · Documentary - 2021
A Bolsa ou a Vida as Self · Documentary - 2021
I Get Knocked Down as Self · Music - 2021
Once upon a time… “I, Daniel Blake” as himself · Documentary - 2020
Victoria Wood: The Secret List as Himself · Documentary - 2020
Drama Out of a Crisis: A Celebration of Play for Today as Self · Documentary - 2019
Greg Davies: Looking for Kes as Self · Documentary - 2018
Who Killed British Cinema? as Self · Documentary - 2018
CzechMate: In Search of Jiří Menzel as Self · Documentary - 2016
Versus: The Life and Films of Ken Loach as Self - Film Director · Documentary Worldwide box office: $51.3K - 2015
About Cinema as Self · Documentary - 2012
A Special Day as Self · Documentary Worldwide box office: $272K - 2012
Catastroika as Self · Documentary - 2010
Making Kes as Self · Documentary - 2009
Celuloide colectivo: el cine en guerra as Himself · History - 2009
Vittorio D. as Self · Documentary - 2009
Great Directors as Self · Documentary Worldwide box office: $17.9K - 1985
Shooting from the Heart: Chris Menges, Cameraman as Self · Documentary
Ken Loach: Awards & Nominations
3 nominations across 1 award body, from 2017 to 2024. Every ceremony is listed newest first, with the category and the film.
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77th British Academy Film Awards- Ken Loach: Nominated Outstanding British Film The Old Oak
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73rd British Academy Film Awards- Ken Loach: Nominated Outstanding British Film Sorry We Missed You
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70th British Academy Film Awards- Ken Loach: Nominated Best Director I, Daniel Blake
Who Is Ken Loach?
Ken Loach was born in Nuneaton, England in 1936 and is 90 years old. Credited on films since 1965, as both an actor and a director. The background, training and the roles that shaped the career.
Kenneth Charles Loach, known as Ken Loach, is a significant figure in the English film industry. Born on 17 June 1936, Loach's career has been flourishing since the early 1960s. His directing style is heavily influenced by his socialist views, reflected dramatically in his films. His focus is primarily on social issues, such as poverty, homelessness, and labor rights, evident in his films like 'Poor Cow' (1967), 'Cathy Come Home' (1966), and 'Riff-Raff' (1991). Loach's work is widely recognized, with his film 'Kes' (1969) being voted the seventh greatest British film of the 20th century. Additionally, two of his movies, 'The Wind That Shakes the Barley' (2006) and 'I, Daniel Blake' (2016), won the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival.
Loach's journey began in his birthplace, Nuneaton, where he was born on 17 June 1936. After joining the Royal Air Force at 19, he directed an open-air production of Bartholomew Fair for the Experimental Theatre Club during his time at St Peter's College, Oxford. His transition to the cinematic world was gradual, starting from the regional theatre realm to directing for BBC Television. Overcoming hurdles such as political censorship, his career took a turn when political changes in the UK sparked a new beginning for him. His later works include global political dramas and personal relationship examinations.
Who Ken Loach Makes Movies With
The actors and directors Ken Loach shares the most films with. Stephen Frears comes first, with 4 films together, followed by Rita May (4).
Ken Loach: Questions & Answers
How many movies Ken Loach has made, the biggest hit, the best-rated film, the award record and more, answered from the filmography above.
How many movies has Ken Loach been in?
Ken Loach is credited on 69 films, from 1965 to 2025. 4 of them as an actor and 45 as a director. The filmography on this page lists every one of them, newest first, with the role and the Movie Echo Score.
What is Ken Loach's highest-grossing movie?
The Wind That Shakes the Barley (2007) is Ken Loach's biggest box office hit, with $22.9M worldwide, ahead of I, Daniel Blake (2016) ($15.7M). Across every film with box office figures, Ken Loach's movies have made $111M.
Ken Loach's biggest hits What is the best Ken Loach movie?
By the Movie Echo Score, which blends critic reviews, audience ratings and lasting impact, Ken Loach's best-rated film is Sorry We Missed You (2020) with a score of 75, followed by Sorry We Missed You (2019) (72).
Best Ken Loach movies, ranked Has Ken Loach won an Oscar?
Ken Loach has not been nominated for an Oscar. Across every ceremony in the awards database, Ken Loach has 0 wins from 3 nominations.
How old is Ken Loach?
Ken Loach is 90 years old, born on June 17, 1936 in Nuneaton, England.
What is Ken Loach's newest movie?
The most recent film on Ken Loach's filmography is The Legend of the Palme d’Or Continues (2025).
Who does Ken Loach work with most often?
Ken Loach shares the most films with Stephen Frears (4 films), Rita May (4 films) and Mike Leigh (4 films).
The Best Ken Loach Movies, Ranked
Top rated, most awarded and biggest box office hits from 69 credits.
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