Michael Apted

Michael David Apted, CMG (10 February 1941 – January 8, 2021) was a British director, producer, writer and actor. One of the most prolific English film directors of his generation, he is known for directing: the Up series (1964–2019), the James Bond film The World Is Not Enough (1999), and the American film, Coal Miner's Daughter (1980); the latter being nominated for seven Academy Awards, including for the Best Picture. He also directed Nell (1994), which received three Golden Globe Award nominations and one Academy Award nomination. On 29 June 2003, he was elected president of the Directors' Guild of America. He returned to television, directing the first three episodes of the TV series Rome (2005). Apted directed Amazing Grace, which premiered at the closing of the Toronto International Film Festival in 2006. He was appointed a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) in the 2008 Birthday Honours.

2 3 4

The World Is Not Enough (1999)

Fast pacedAction-packedBoring

Greed, revenge, world dominance and high-tech terrorism – it's all in a day's work for Bond, who's on a mission to protect a beautiful oil heiress from a notorious terrorist. In a race against time that culminates in a dramatic submarine showdown, Bond works to ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Michael Apted
CAST:  Pierce Brosnan  •  Sophie Marceau  •  Robert Carlyle  •  Denise Richards

Greed, revenge, world dominance and high-tech terrorism – it's all in a day's work for Bond, who's on a mission to protect a beautiful oil heiress from a notorious terrorist. In a race against time that culminates in a dramatic submarine showdown, Bond works to ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Michael Apted
CAST:  Pierce Brosnan  •  Sophie Marceau  •  Robert Carlyle  •  Denise Richards

Chasing Mavericks (2012)

Surfer Jay Moriarity sets out to ride the Northern California break known as Mavericks.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Curtis Hanson  •  Michael Apted
CAST:  Leven Rambin  •  Gerard Butler  •  Elisabeth Shue  •  Abigail Spencer

Surfer Jay Moriarity sets out to ride the Northern California break known as Mavericks.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Curtis Hanson  •  Michael Apted
CAST:  Leven Rambin  •  Gerard Butler  •  Elisabeth Shue  •  Abigail Spencer

Coal Miner's Daughter (1980)

EmotionalThought provokingOriginalDramatic

Biography of Loretta Lynn, a country and western singer that came from poverty to fame.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Michael Apted
CAST:  Sissy Spacek  •  Tommy Lee Jones  •  Levon Helm  •  Phyllis Boyens

Biography of Loretta Lynn, a country and western singer that came from poverty to fame.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Michael Apted
CAST:  Sissy Spacek  •  Tommy Lee Jones  •  Levon Helm  •  Phyllis Boyens

Critical Condition (1987)

Eddie is a con artist. When he's framed and comes before a judge, he hopes to get off the hook by climbing insanity—but instead ends up in a hospital for a mental assessment. That night, a storm causes a power failure and, in the ensuing chaos, Eddie is mistaken ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Michael Apted
CAST:  Richard Pryor  •  Rachel Ticotin  •  Rubén Blades  •  Maria Cardinale

Eddie is a con artist. When he's framed and comes before a judge, he hopes to get off the hook by climbing insanity—but instead ends up in a hospital for a mental assessment. That night, a storm causes a power failure and, in the ensuing chaos, Eddie is mistaken ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Michael Apted
CAST:  Richard Pryor  •  Rachel Ticotin  •  Rubén Blades  •  Maria Cardinale

Enigma (2001)

The story of the WWII project to crack the code behind the Enigma machine, used by the Germans to encrypt messages sent to their submarines.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Michael Apted
CAST:  Dougray Scott  •  Kate Winslet  •  Saffron Burrows  •  Jeremy Northam

The story of the WWII project to crack the code behind the Enigma machine, used by the Germans to encrypt messages sent to their submarines.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Michael Apted
CAST:  Dougray Scott  •  Kate Winslet  •  Saffron Burrows  •  Jeremy Northam

Extreme Measures (1996)

Guy Luthan, a British doctor working at a hospital in New York, starts making unwelcome enquiries when the body of a man who died in his emergency room disappears. After the trail leads Luthan to the door of an eminent surgeon at the hospital, Luthan soon finds ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Michael Apted
CAST:  Hugh Grant  •  Gene Hackman  •  Sarah Jessica Parker  •  David Morse

Guy Luthan, a British doctor working at a hospital in New York, starts making unwelcome enquiries when the body of a man who died in his emergency room disappears. After the trail leads Luthan to the door of an eminent surgeon at the hospital, Luthan soon finds ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Michael Apted
CAST:  Hugh Grant  •  Gene Hackman  •  Sarah Jessica Parker  •  David Morse

Firstborn (1984)

Because he's the oldest, Jake has been the man of the house, since his parents divorce. When Mom starts seeing Sam, who always seems to be trying some new way to get rich quick, and declares he's the man of the house now, Jake puts up with it. Until he discovers ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Michael Apted
CAST:  Teri Garr  •  Peter Weller  •  Christopher Collet  •  Corey Haim

Because he's the oldest, Jake has been the man of the house, since his parents divorce. When Mom starts seeing Sam, who always seems to be trying some new way to get rich quick, and declares he's the man of the house now, Jake puts up with it. Until he discovers ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Michael Apted
CAST:  Teri Garr  •  Peter Weller  •  Christopher Collet  •  Corey Haim

Gorillas in the Mist (1988)

The story of Dian Fossey, a scientist who came to Africa to study the vanishing mountain gorillas, and later fought to protect them.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Michael Apted
CAST:  Sigourney Weaver  •  Bryan Brown  •  Julie Harris  •  John Omirah Miluwi

The story of Dian Fossey, a scientist who came to Africa to study the vanishing mountain gorillas, and later fought to protect them.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Michael Apted
CAST:  Sigourney Weaver  •  Bryan Brown  •  Julie Harris  •  John Omirah Miluwi

Gorky Park (1983)

Police Inspector Renko tries to solve the case of three bodies found in Moscow's Gorky Park but finds his attempts to solve the crime impeded by his superiors. Working on his own, Renko seeks out more information and stumbles across a conspiracy involving the ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Michael Apted
CAST:  William Hurt  •  Lee Marvin  •  Brian Dennehy  •  Joanna Pacula

Police Inspector Renko tries to solve the case of three bodies found in Moscow's Gorky Park but finds his attempts to solve the crime impeded by his superiors. Working on his own, Renko seeks out more information and stumbles across a conspiracy involving the ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Michael Apted
CAST:  William Hurt  •  Lee Marvin  •  Brian Dennehy  •  Joanna Pacula

Nell (1994)

IntenseGrippingEmotionalWhimsical

In a remote woodland cabin, a small town doctor discovers Nell — a beautiful young hermit woman with many secrets.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Michael Apted
CAST:  Jodie Foster  •  Liam Neeson  •  Natasha Richardson  •  Richard Libertini

In a remote woodland cabin, a small town doctor discovers Nell — a beautiful young hermit woman with many secrets.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Michael Apted
CAST:  Jodie Foster  •  Liam Neeson  •  Natasha Richardson  •  Richard Libertini

Spies Like Us (1985)

Two bumbling government employees think they are U.S. spies, only to discover that they are actually decoys for nuclear war.  (more)

DIRECTION:  John Landis
CAST:  Chevy Chase  •  Dan Aykroyd  •  Steve Forrest  •  Donna Dixon

Two bumbling government employees think they are U.S. spies, only to discover that they are actually decoys for nuclear war.  (more)

DIRECTION:  John Landis
CAST:  Chevy Chase  •  Dan Aykroyd  •  Steve Forrest  •  Donna Dixon

Enough (2002)

Working-class waitress Slim thought she was entering a life of domestic bliss when she married Mitch, the man of her dreams. After the arrival of their first child, her picture perfect life is shattered when she discovers Mitch's hidden possessive dark side, a ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Michael Apted
CAST:  Jennifer Lopez  •  Billy Campbell  •  Tessa Allen  •  Juliette Lewis

Working-class waitress Slim thought she was entering a life of domestic bliss when she married Mitch, the man of her dreams. After the arrival of their first child, her picture perfect life is shattered when she discovers Mitch's hidden possessive dark side, a ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Michael Apted
CAST:  Jennifer Lopez  •  Billy Campbell  •  Tessa Allen  •  Juliette Lewis

Class Action (1991)

A liberal activist lawyer alienated his daughter Maggie years ago when she discovered his many affairs. Now a conservative corporate lawyer, Maggie agrees to go up against her father in court. To gain promotion, she must defend an auto manufacturer against charges ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Michael Apted
CAST:  Gene Hackman  •  Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio  •  Colin Friels  •  Laurence Fishburne

A liberal activist lawyer alienated his daughter Maggie years ago when she discovered his many affairs. Now a conservative corporate lawyer, Maggie agrees to go up against her father in court. To gain promotion, she must defend an auto manufacturer against charges ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Michael Apted
CAST:  Gene Hackman  •  Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio  •  Colin Friels  •  Laurence Fishburne

Blink (1993)

Emma is an attractive girl in her 20s who has been blind for 20 years. A new type of eye operation partially restores her sight, but she is having problems: sometimes she doesn't "remember" what she's seen until later. One night she is awakened by a commotion ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Michael Apted
CAST:  Madeleine Stowe  •  Aidan Quinn  •  James Remar  •  Peter Friedman

Emma is an attractive girl in her 20s who has been blind for 20 years. A new type of eye operation partially restores her sight, but she is having problems: sometimes she doesn't "remember" what she's seen until later. One night she is awakened by a commotion ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Michael Apted
CAST:  Madeleine Stowe  •  Aidan Quinn  •  James Remar  •  Peter Friedman

The Squeeze (1977)

An alcoholic London ex-cop becomes involved in a kidnapping drama and tries to free the daughter of a friend from a brutal gangster mob.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Michael Apted
CAST:  Stacy Keach  •  Stephen Boyd  •  Edward Fox  •  David Hemmings

An alcoholic London ex-cop becomes involved in a kidnapping drama and tries to free the daughter of a friend from a brutal gangster mob.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Michael Apted
CAST:  Stacy Keach  •  Stephen Boyd  •  Edward Fox  •  David Hemmings

Continental Divide (1981)

A hard-nosed Chicago journalist has an unlikely love affair with an eagle researcher.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Michael Apted
CAST:  John Belushi  •  Blair Brown  •  Allen Garfield  •  Carlin Glynn

A hard-nosed Chicago journalist has an unlikely love affair with an eagle researcher.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Michael Apted
CAST:  John Belushi  •  Blair Brown  •  Allen Garfield  •  Carlin Glynn

Agatha (1979)

England, 1926. An American journalist looks for mystery writer Agatha Christie when she suddenly disappears without explanation, leaving no trace.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Michael Apted
CAST:  Vanessa Redgrave  •  Dustin Hoffman  •  Timothy Dalton  •  Helen Morse

England, 1926. An American journalist looks for mystery writer Agatha Christie when she suddenly disappears without explanation, leaving no trace.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Michael Apted
CAST:  Vanessa Redgrave  •  Dustin Hoffman  •  Timothy Dalton  •  Helen Morse

Thunderheart (1992)

An FBI man with Sioux background is sent to a reservation to help with a murder investigation, where he has to come to terms with his heritage.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Michael Apted
CAST:  Val Kilmer  •  Sam Shepard  •  Graham Greene  •  Fred Ward

An FBI man with Sioux background is sent to a reservation to help with a murder investigation, where he has to come to terms with his heritage.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Michael Apted
CAST:  Val Kilmer  •  Sam Shepard  •  Graham Greene  •  Fred Ward

Amazing Grace (2006)

The true story of William Wilberforce and his courageous quest to end the British slave trade. Along the way, Wilberforce meets intense opposition, but his minister urges him to see the cause through.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Michael Apted
CAST:  Ioan Gruffudd  •  Romola Garai  •  Albert Finney  •  Benedict Cumberbatch

The true story of William Wilberforce and his courageous quest to end the British slave trade. Along the way, Wilberforce meets intense opposition, but his minister urges him to see the cause through.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Michael Apted
CAST:  Ioan Gruffudd  •  Romola Garai  •  Albert Finney  •  Benedict Cumberbatch

56 Up (2012)

When a cross-section of seven-year-olds were interviewed for 7 Up in 1964 it was immediately evident that their social backgrounds influenced their attitudes towards life. While the upper class children were confident and self-assured, those from middle and working ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Michael Apted
CAST:  Peter Davies  •  Neil Hughes  •  Tony Walker  •  Lynn Johnson

When a cross-section of seven-year-olds were interviewed for 7 Up in 1964 it was immediately evident that their social backgrounds influenced their attitudes towards life. While the upper class children were confident and self-assured, those from middle and working ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Michael Apted
CAST:  Peter Davies  •  Neil Hughes  •  Tony Walker  •  Lynn Johnson
2 3 4