Roman Polanski: Movies, Awards & Box Office
- films
- 78
- as director
- 24
- on screen
- 1955–2025
- box office
- $418M
- award wins
- 4
- average score
- 73
- Born
- August 18, 1933 (age 93)
- Birthplace
- Paris, France
- Full name
- Raymond Roman Thierry Liebling
- Citizenship
- Poland, France
- Occupations
- Film director, producer, screenwriter, actor
- Years active
- 1953-present
- Spouses
- Barbara Kwiatkowska-Lass, Sharon Tate, Emmanuelle Seigner
- Children
- 2
The Best Roman Polanski Movies
The films of Roman Polanski that made the most at the worldwide box office, biggest first: The Pianist (2002) leads with $120M. The full ranking adds the most awarded films and the newest releases.
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Worldwide box office: $120M The Pianist 2002 · Biography -
Worldwide box office: $60.3M The Ghost Writer 2010 · Drama -
Worldwide box office: $58.4M The Ninth Gate 2000 · Drama -
Worldwide box office: $42.6M Oliver Twist 2005 · Drama -
Worldwide box office: $30M Carnage 2011 · Drama -
Worldwide box office: $29.2M Chinatown 1974 · Drama
Roman Polanski's Career in Numbers
Roman Polanski's films in numbers — as an actor and a director, not counting appearances as themselves: when they were made, the genres Roman Polanski works in most and the milestones along the way. The filmography runs from A Generation (1955) to An Officer and a Spy (2025), and the 1960s were the busiest decade.
Roman Polanski Movies by Decade
- 1950s 9
- 1960s 12
- 1970s 5
- 1980s 4
- 1990s 4
- 2000s 6
- 2010s 9
- 2020s 1
The 1960s were Roman Polanski's busiest decade, with 12 films.
Roman Polanski Movies by Genre
- Drama 22
- Comedy 10
- Horror 4
- Thriller 3
- Documentary 3
- Adventure 2
- War 2
- Biography 1
- Mystery 1
- Crime 1
Drama is the genre Roman Polanski has worked in most, with 22 films, ahead of comedy (10).
Roman Polanski Career Milestones
- First film
- A Generation 1955
- Biggest box office hit
- The Pianist $120M worldwide
- Best-rated film
- An Officer and a Spy Movie Echo Score 78
- Newest film
- An Officer and a Spy 2025
Roman Polanski Filmography: Every Movie
Every film Roman Polanski is credited on, newest first, with the role, the box office and the Movie Echo Score. 24 as director and 26 as actor. Rated films average a score of 73. Re-order the list to see the best-rated films or the biggest hits first.
Movies Directed by Roman Polanski
24- 2025
An Officer and a Spy Drama Movie Echo Score: 67 - 2017
Based on a True Story Thriller Worldwide box office: $4.01M - 2014
Venus in Fur Drama Worldwide box office: $8.35M - 2013
Weekend of a Champion Documentary Worldwide box office: $4.98K - 2012
A Therapy Comedy - 2011 Carnage Drama Worldwide box office: $30M
- 2010 The Ghost Writer Drama Worldwide box office: $60.3M
- 2007
Cinéma érotique Comedy - 2006
Repulsion (re-release) Drama - 2005 Oliver Twist Drama Worldwide box office: $42.6M
- 2002 The Pianist Biography Worldwide box office: $120M
- 2000 The Ninth Gate Drama Worldwide box office: $58.4M
- 1994
Death and the Maiden Drama Worldwide box office: $3.1M - 1994
Bitter Moon Drama - 1988
Frantic Drama Worldwide box office: $17.6M - 1986
Pirates Adventure Worldwide box office: $1.64M - 1980
Tess Drama Worldwide box office: $20.1M - 1974 Chinatown Drama Worldwide box office: $29.2M
- 1971
Macbeth War - 1968
Rosemary's Baby Drama Worldwide box office: $3.29K - 1967
The Fearless Vampire Killers Horror - 1966
Cul-de-sac Drama Worldwide box office: $1.5K - 1962
Mammals Comedy - 1957
A Toothful Smile Comedy
Roman Polanski Movies as an Actor
26- 2019
An Officer and a Spy as Concertgoer (uncredited) · Thriller Worldwide box office: $18.9M Movie Echo Score: 78 - 2019
Valerie Documentary - 2015
Face of Evil: The Charles Manson Murders Documentary - 2002
The Revenge as Józef Papkin · Comedy - 1994
A Pure Formality as Inspector · Mystery Worldwide box office: $191K - 1992
Back in the USSR as Kurilov · Crime - 1989
En attendant Godot as Lucky · Tv movie - 1978
The Evolution of Snuff Horror - 1974
Blood for Dracula as Gambler · Horror - 1972
What? as Mosquito · Comedy - 1969
The Magic Christian as Solitary Drinker · Comedy - 1965
Repulsion as Spoon Player · Horror Worldwide box office: $33.4K - 1962
Knife in the Water as Young Man (voice) · Drama - 1961
Samson as Partner of Malina's Blackmailer (uncredited) · Adventure - 1961
The Fat and the Lean as the lean · Comedy - 1960
Innocent Sorcerers as Dudzio · Drama - 1960
Good Bye, Till Tomorrow as Romek · Drama - 1960
Bad Luck as Tutor (uncredited) · Comedy Worldwide box office: $1.71K - 1959
When Angels Fall as Old woman · Drama - 1959
Lotna as Musician (uncredited) · Drama - 1959
The Lamp as A passer-by (uncredited) · Drama - 1958
Two Men and a Wardrobe as Bad Boy · Comedy - 1957
Koniec nocy as Mały · Drama - 1957
Wraki as Romek · Thriller - 1957
Kanal as Resistance Member pushed into a Sewer (uncredited) · Drama - 1955
A Generation as Mundek · War Worldwide box office: $24.1K
Roman Polanski in Documentaries & Specials
28- 2025
Mia Farrow: Shadows and Light as Self - Filmmaker (archive footage) · Tv movie - 2021
Polanski, Horowitz. The Wizards From the Ghetto as Self · Documentary - 2019
Manson: Music From an Unsound Mind as Self (archive footage) · Documentary - 2018
Françoise Dorléac, une promesse as Self · Documentary - 2018
In The Tracks Of - Alexandre Desplat as Self · Documentary - 2015
Steve McQueen: The Man & Le Mans as Self (archive footage) · Documentary Worldwide box office: $41.2K - 2014
Toil And Trouble: Making ‘Macbeth’ as Self · Documentary - 2014
Henri Langlois vu par… as Self · Documentary - 2012
Komeda, Komeda… as Self · Documentary - 2012
A Special Day as Self · Documentary Worldwide box office: $272K - 2012
Remembering ‘Rosemary’s Baby’ as Self · Documentary - 2011
Roman Polanski: A Film Memoir as Self · Documentary Worldwide box office: $63.8K - 2010
Catherine Deneuve, belle et bien là as Self (archive footage) · Documentary - 2007
Once Upon a Time… ‘Tess’ as Self · Documentary Worldwide box office: $2.81M - 2002
Sharon Tate: Murdered Innocence as Self (archive footage) (uncredited) · Documentary - 2001
The Unbeatable Bruce Lee as Self (archive footage) · Documentary - 2000
Light Keeps Me Company as Self · Documentary - 1998
Playboy: The Story of X as Self (archive footage) · Documentary - 1997
Dracula: The True Story as Himself · Tv movie - 1996
Elle s’appelait Françoise as Self · Tv movie - 1995
Empire of the Censors as Self · Documentary - 1972
Weekend of a Champion as Self · Documentary - 1972
Polanski Meets Macbeth as Self · Documentary - 1970
Ciao, Federico! as Self (uncredited) · Documentary Worldwide box office: $825 - 1968
Mia and Roman as Himself · Documentary - 1968
The New Cinema as Self · Tv movie - 1967
Valley of the Dolls: A World Premiere Voyage as Himself · Documentary - 1967
Tonite Let’s All Make Love in London as Self · Documentary
Roman Polanski: Awards & Nominations
4 wins from 13 nominations across 6 award bodies, from 1969 to 2003. That includes an Oscar: Best Director for The Pianist. Every ceremony is listed newest first, with the category and the film.
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BAFTA 2 wins from 3 nominations -
Oscars 1 win from 3 nominations -
Golden Globes 1 win from 2 nominations -
DGA Awards 3 nominations -
Critics' Choice 1 nomination -
Spirit Awards 1 nomination
- 75th Academy Awards
- Roman Polanski: Win Best Director The Pianist
- 56th British Academy Film Awards
- Roman Polanski: Win Best Director The Pianist
- 8th Critics' Choice Awards
- Roman Polanski: Nominated Best Director The Pianist
- 55th Directors Guild of America Awards
- Roman Polanski: Nominated Outstanding Directing – Feature Film The Pianist
- 10th Independent Spirit Awards
- Roman Polanski: Nominated Best Director Death and the Maiden
- The 53rd Academy Awards
- Roman Polanski: Nominated Best Director Tess
- 38th Golden Globe Awards
- Roman Polanski: Nominated Best Director Tess
- 47th Academy Awards
- Roman Polanski: Nominated Best Director Chinatown
- 27th Directors Guild of America Awards
- Roman Polanski: Nominated Outstanding Directing – Feature Film Chinatown
- 32nd Golden Globe Awards
- Roman Polanski: Win Best Director Chinatown
- 21st Directors Guild of America Awards
- Roman Polanski: Nominated Outstanding Directing – Feature Film Rosemary's Baby
Who Is Roman Polanski?
Roman Polanski was born in Paris, France in 1933 and is 93 years old. Credited on films since 1955, as both an actor and a director. The background, training and the roles that shaped the career.
Roman Polanski, originally named Raymond Roman Thierry Liebling, is an acclaimed Franco-Polish film director, producer, writer, and actor. Having survived the Holocaust, he launched his filmmaking career in Poland in the 1950s. Some of his best-known movies include The Pianist, Rosemary’s Baby, Tess, Chinatown, and Knife in the Water. Despite his artistic accomplishments and awards, Polanski's reputation is largely marred by his conviction of sexually assaulting 13-year-old Samantha Gailey in 1977. When he learned that the judge was planning to reject his plea bargain and jail him, Polanski fled to Europe and has remained a fugitive from U.S. justice. Further allegations of abuse by other women have been made as well. Throughout his life, Polanski has faced immense personal tragedies and controversies, which have invariably intersected with his professional life.
Who Roman Polanski Makes Movies With
The actors and directors Roman Polanski shares the most films with. Andrzej Wajda comes first, with 8 films together, followed by Mia Farrow (7).
Roman Polanski: Questions & Answers
How many movies Roman Polanski has made, the biggest hit, the best-rated film, the award record and more, answered from the filmography above.
How many movies has Roman Polanski been in?
Roman Polanski is credited on 78 films, from 1955 to 2025. 26 of them as an actor and 24 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 Roman Polanski's highest-grossing movie?
The Pianist (2002) is Roman Polanski's biggest box office hit, with $120M worldwide, ahead of The Ghost Writer (2010) ($60.3M). Across every film with box office figures, Roman Polanski's movies have made $418M.
Roman Polanski's biggest hits What is the best Roman Polanski movie?
By the Movie Echo Score, which blends critic reviews, audience ratings and lasting impact, Roman Polanski's best-rated film is An Officer and a Spy (2019) with a score of 78, followed by An Officer and a Spy (2025) (67).
Best Roman Polanski movies, ranked Has Roman Polanski won an Oscar?
Roman Polanski has won an Oscar: Best Director for The Pianist at the 2003 ceremony. Across every ceremony in the awards database, Roman Polanski has 4 wins from 13 nominations.
How old is Roman Polanski?
Roman Polanski is 93 years old, born on August 18, 1933 in Paris, France.
What is Roman Polanski's newest movie?
The most recent film on Roman Polanski's filmography is An Officer and a Spy (2025), which Roman Polanski directed.
Who does Roman Polanski work with most often?
Roman Polanski shares the most films with Andrzej Wajda (8 films), Mia Farrow (7 films) and Emmanuelle Seigner (7 films).
The Best Roman Polanski Movies, Ranked
Top rated, most awarded and biggest box office hits from 78 credits.
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