Director: Alexander Payne

Alexander Payne is one of the last remaining great directors of script- and character-focused dramedies. Payne came up with the boom of Sundance indie directors in the 1990s and earned repute with some biting portraits and satires. In the 2000s, his films became a smidge nicer and messier. They also started getting awards buzz. Payne remains an Oscar darling whose films always satisfy even when they’re uneven.

Rankings

• Every Alexander Payne Film Ranked

Chronological

• The Passion of Martin (1991) (Good) – Student film
• Citizen Ruth (1996) (Very Good)
• Election (1999) (Exceptionally Good)
• About Schmidt (2002) (Good)
• Sideways (2004) (Exceptionally Good)
• The Descendants (2011) (Nearly Good)
• Nebraska (2013) (Good)
• Downsizing (2017) (Nearly Good)
• The Holdovers (2023) (Very Good)

By Rating

Exceptionally Good (7/8)

• Election (1999)
• Sideways (2004)

Very Good (6/8)

• Citizen Ruth (1996)
• The Holdovers (2023)

Good (5/8)

• The Passion of Martin (1991) – Student film
• About Schmidt (2002)
• Nebraska (2013)

Nearly Good (4/8)

• The Descendants (2011)
• Downsizing (2017)

Last Updated

• 9/28/2024

Review Index

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