Sam Mendes - Ranked and Rated

Sam Mendes

Short Biography:

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 Years Honours List. That same year, he 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”.

Here is a rundown of his movies, with the score based on the average from IMDb, Rotten Tomatoes (public votes only) and Letterboxd, from lowest ranked to highest:

NUMBER OF QUALIFYING MOVIES:

CAREER AVERAGE SCORE:

TOTAL WORLDWIDE BOX OFFICE:

TOTAL BUDGETS COMBINED:

TOTAL PROFIT OR LOSS:

CAREER RETURN ON EVERY $1 SPENT:

7.54

$ 3,100,305,273

$ 759,000,000

$ 2,341,305,273

$ 5.46

8 – Spectre (2015)

A Plan No One Escapes

6.35 /10

Action | Adventure | Thriller

Directed by: Sam Mendes

Top Billed Cast:

SYNOPSIS:

A cryptic message from the past leads James Bond (Daniel Craig) to Mexico City and Rome, where he meets the beautiful widow (Monica Bellucci) of an infamous criminal. After infiltrating a secret meeting, 007 uncovers the existence of the sinister organization SPECTRE. Needing the help of the daughter of an old nemesis, he embarks on a mission to find her. As Bond ventures toward the heart of SPECTRE, he discovers a chilling connection between himself and the enemy (Christoph Waltz) he seeks.

Critics response: Mostly Positive

367 Critic reviews: 231 positive (62.9%); 136 negative (37.1%)

(Source: Rotten Tomatoes)

FINANCIAL DATA:

WORLDWIDE BOX OFFICE GROSS:

$ 880,681,519

PRODUCTION BUDGET:

$ 245,000,000

PROFIT OR (LOSS):

$ 635,681,519

PROFIT RETURN (OR LOSS IF FIGURE IS UNDER 1):

$ 3.59

7 – Jarhead (2005)

Welcome to the suck.

6.91 /10

Drama | War

Directed by: Sam Mendes

Top Billed Cast:

SYNOPSIS:

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.

Critics response: Slightly Positive

200 Critic reviews: 121 positive (60.5%); 79 negative (39.5%)

(Source: Rotten Tomatoes)

FINANCIAL DATA:

WORLDWIDE BOX OFFICE GROSS:

$ 97,076,152

PRODUCTION BUDGET:

$ 72,000,000

PROFIT OR (LOSS):

$ 25,076,152

PROFIT RETURN (OR LOSS IF FIGURE IS UNDER 1):

$ 1.35

6 – Away We Go (2009)

A Sam Mendes Film

7.03 /10

Comedy | Drama | Romance

Directed by: Sam Mendes

Top Billed Cast:

SYNOPSIS:

Verona and Burt have moved to Colorado to be close to Burt’s parents but, with Veronica expecting their first child, Burt’s parents 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.

Critics response: Slightly Positive

192 Critic reviews: 128 positive (66.6%); 64 negative (33.3%)

(Source: Rotten Tomatoes)

FINANCIAL DATA:

WORLDWIDE BOX OFFICE GROSS:

$ 15,779,455

PRODUCTION BUDGET:

$ 17,000,000

PROFIT OR (LOSS):

$ (1,220,545)

PROFIT RETURN (OR LOSS IF FIGURE IS UNDER 1):

$ 0.93

5 – Revolutionary Road (2008)

How do you break free without breaking apart?

7.15 /10

Drama | Romance

Directed by: Sam Mendes

Top Billed Cast:

SYNOPSIS:

Frank (Leonardo DiCaprio) and April Wheeler (Kate Winslet) always see themselves as far-removed from the conventionality of suburbia. Yet that is exactly what creeps up on them when they buy a house in Connecticut. He toils 10 hours a day in a job he hates, while she, as a 1950s homemaker, yearns for fulfillment and passion. Rebelling against the torpor of their lives, the couple plan an escape that may push them to their limits.

Critics response: Slightly Positive

216 Critic reviews: 144 positive (66.6%); 72 negative (33.3%)

(Source: Rotten Tomatoes)

FINANCIAL DATA:

WORLDWIDE BOX OFFICE GROSS:

$ 75,981,180

PRODUCTION BUDGET:

$ 35,000,000

PROFIT OR (LOSS):

$ 40,981,180

PROFIT RETURN ON EVERY $1 SPENT (OR LOSS IF FIGURE IS UNDER 1):

$ 2.17

4 – Road to Perdition (2002)

Pray for Michael Sullivan.

7.89 /10

Crime | Drama | Thriller

Directed by: Sam Mendes

Top Billed Cast:

SYNOPSIS:

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.

Critics response: Very Positive

215 Critic reviews: 175 positive (81.4%); 40 negative (18.6%)

(Source: Rotten Tomatoes)

FINANCIAL DATA:

WORLDWIDE BOX OFFICE GROSS:

$ 181,001,478

PRODUCTION BUDGET:

$ 80,000,000

PROFIT OR (LOSS):

$ 101,001,478

PROFIT RETURN ON EVERY $1 SPENT (OR LOSS IF FIGURE IS UNDER 1):

$ 2.26

3 – Skyfall (2012)

Think on your sins.

8.01 /10

Action | Adventure | Thriller

Directed by: Sam Mendes

Top Billed Cast:

SYNOPSIS:

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.

Critics response: Overwhelmingly Positive

389 Critic reviews: 357 positive (91.8%); 32 negative (8.2%)

(Source: Rotten Tomatoes)

FINANCIAL DATA:

WORLDWIDE BOX OFFICE GROSS:

$ 1,108,569,499

PRODUCTION BUDGET:

$ 200,000,000

PROFIT OR (LOSS):

$ 908,569,499

PROFIT RETURN ON EVERY $1 SPENT (OR LOSS IF FIGURE IS UNDER 1):

$ 5.54

2 – 1917 (2019)

Time is the enemy

8.39 /10

War | Drama | Action | Thriller | History

Directed by: Sam Mendes

Top Billed Cast:

SYNOPSIS:

During World War I, two British soldiers — Lance Cpl. Schofield and Lance Cpl. Blake — receive seemingly impossible orders. In a race against time, they must cross over into enemy territory to deliver a message that could potentially save 1,600 of their fellow comrades — including Blake’s own brother.

Critics response: Extremely Positive

470 Critic reviews: 416 positive (88.5%); 54 negative (11.5%)

(Source: Rotten Tomatoes)

FINANCIAL DATA:

WORLDWIDE BOX OFFICE GROSS:

$ 384,919,389

PRODUCTION BUDGET:

$ 95,000,000

PROFIT OR (LOSS):

$ 289,919,389

PROFIT RETURN ON EVERY $1 SPENT (OR LOSS IF FIGURE IS UNDER 1):

$ 4.05

1 – American Beauty (1999)

Look closer.

8.54 /10

Drama

Directed by: Sam Mendes

Top Billed Cast:

SYNOPSIS:

A telesales operative becomes disillusioned with his existence and begins to hunger for fresh excitement in his life. As he experiences a new awakening of the senses, his wife and daughter also undergo changes that seriously affect their family. Critically acclaimed, this film won Oscars for Best Screenplay, Best Director, Best Actor and Best Film.

Critics response: Extremely Positive

191 Critic reviews: 166 positive (86.9%); 25 negative (13.1%)

(Source: Rotten Tomatoes)

FINANCIAL DATA:

WORLDWIDE BOX OFFICE GROSS:

$ 356,296,601

PRODUCTION BUDGET:

$ 15,000,000

PROFIT OR (LOSS):

$ 341,296,601

PROFIT RETURN ON EVERY $1 SPENT (OR LOSS IF FIGURE IS UNDER 1):

$ 23.75

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