The Best Polish Movies of All Time
by sychpawel | created - 18 Jul 2012 | updated - 18 Jan 2014 | Public- Instant Watch Options
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1. The Saragossa Manuscript (1965)
182 min | Adventure, Comedy, Drama
Upon finding a book that relates his grandfather's story, an officer ventures through Spain meeting a wide array of characters, most of whom have a story of their own to tell.
Director: Wojciech Has | Stars: Zbigniew Cybulski, Iga Cembrzynska, Elzbieta Czyzewska, Gustaw Holoubek
Votes: 5,888 | Gross: $0.12M
2. The Promised Land (1975)
Not Rated | 170 min | Drama
Three friends hope to build a factory but their plans are quickly jeopardized by local politics and one of the partner's dangerous love affair.
Director: Andrzej Wajda | Stars: Daniel Olbrychski, Wojciech Pszoniak, Andrzej Seweryn, Anna Nehrebecka
Votes: 4,025
3. Ashes and Diamonds (1958)
Not Rated | 103 min | Drama, Romance, War
As World War II and the German occupation ends, the Polish resistance and the Soviet forces turn on each other in an attempt to take over leadership in Communist Poland.
Director: Andrzej Wajda | Stars: Zbigniew Cybulski, Ewa Krzyzewska, Waclaw Zastrzezynski, Adam Pawlikowski
Votes: 13,455
4. The Cruise (1970)
65 min | Comedy
A stowaway on a cruise ship is mistaken for an entertainment director.
Director: Marek Piwowski | Stars: Stanislaw Tym, Jolanta Lothe, Wanda Stanislawska-Lothe, Jerzy Dobrowolski
Votes: 3,694
5. Sexmission (1984)
122 min | Adventure, Comedy, Sci-Fi
Two scientists are placed into a 3-year hibernation, but when they wake up, it turns out to have been 50 years, and they are the only two males in a new underground society composed exclusively of women.
Director: Juliusz Machulski | Stars: Wieslaw Michnikowski, Jerzy Stuhr, Olgierd Lukaszewicz, Dorota Stalinska
Votes: 14,411
6. Teddy Bear (1981)
111 min | Comedy
The main character is the manager of a sport club, nicknamed "Teddy Bear" by his friends and acquaintances. One day he is detained at the border just as his sport team is off to a ... See full summary »
Director: Stanislaw Bareja | Stars: Stanislaw Tym, Barbara Burska, Christine Paul, Krzysztof Kowalewski
Votes: 6,616
7. Camera Buff (1979)
Not Rated | 112 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance
An ordinary factory worker buys a camera on the occasion of the birth of his child. The authorities order him to make documentaries about the factory's success. But his endeavor to be truthful leads him to opposition against censorship.
Director: Krzysztof Kieslowski | Stars: Jerzy Stuhr, Malgorzata Zabkowska, Ewa Pokas, Stefan Czyzewski
Votes: 8,278
8. Vabank (1981)
108 min | Comedy, Crime
The famous safecracker Kwinto, after leaving prison, decided to quit. But the news of the death of a friend abruptly changes his plans. He decides to "take" Kramer's bank. And, of course, he takes. Elegant, fun and twisted.
Director: Juliusz Machulski | Stars: Jan Machulski, Leonard Pietraszak, Witold Pyrkosz, Ewa Szykulska
Votes: 4,966
9. Our Folks (1967)
81 min | Comedy
Two quarreling peasant families, who were forced to leave their lands after the war, are settled by accident on two neighbouring farms.
Director: Sylwester Checinski | Stars: Waclaw Kowalski, Wladyslaw Hancza, Zdzislaw Karczewski, Eliasz Kuziemski
Votes: 3,954
10. Camouflage (1977)
Not Rated | 106 min | Comedy, Drama
A group of students are spending the summer vacation at a university camp studying the science of linguistics. One of the camp directors, Jaroslaw, is a young professor who prefers the ... See full summary »
Director: Krzysztof Zanussi | Stars: Piotr Garlicki, Zbigniew Zapasiewicz, Christine Paul, Mariusz Dmochowski
Votes: 1,729
11. The Deluge (1974)
287 min | Adventure, History, Romance
During the 1655 war between Protestant Sweden and Catholic Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth some Polish-Lithuanian nobles side with Swedish king Charles X Gustav while others side with the Polish king Jan Kazimierz.
Director: Jerzy Hoffman | Stars: Daniel Olbrychski, Malgorzata Braunek, Tadeusz Lomnicki, Kazimierz Wichniarz
Votes: 3,180
12. Man of Marble (1977)
160 min | Drama
A young Polish filmmaker sets out to find out what happened to Mateusz Birkut, a bricklayer who became a propaganda hero in the 1950s but later fell out of favor and disappeared.
Director: Andrzej Wajda | Stars: Krystyna Janda, Jerzy Radziwilowicz, Tadeusz Lomnicki, Jacek Lomnicki
Votes: 4,777
13. Bad Luck (1960)
92 min | Comedy
The story is an odyssey of a little man through Poland of 1930 to 1950. It shows his attempts to cope with a changing world which seems to have no place for him. He has no consciousness of ... See full summary »
Director: Andrzej Munk | Stars: Bogumil Kobiela, Maria Ciesielska, Helena Dabrowska, Barbara Lass
Votes: 1,352
14. Wodzirej (1978)
104 min | Drama
An ironic look at a climber who decides to do anything, including throwing mud at his best friend, to get a job he thinks will launch him into a better career.
Director: Feliks Falk | Stars: Jerzy Stuhr, Slawa Kwasniewska, Wiktor Sadecki, Michal Tarkowski
Votes: 851
15.
The Decalogue (1989–1990)
Episode:
Dekalog, dziesiec
(1989)
TV-MA | 59 min | Drama
After their father's death, two brothers inherit a valuable stamp collection.
Director: Krzysztof Kieslowski | Stars: Jerzy Stuhr, Zbigniew Zamachowski, Henryk Bista, Olaf Lubaszenko
Votes: 3,687
16. The Debt (1999)
Not Rated | 106 min | Drama, Crime, Thriller
Two entrepreneurs become tangled in the web of a Russian thug.
Director: Krzysztof Krauze | Stars: Robert Gonera, Jacek Borcuch, Andrzej Chyra, Cezary Kosinski
Votes: 3,934
17. Zawrócony (1994 TV Movie)
79 min | Comedy, Drama
Tomasz Siwek unexpectedly changes from an obedient communist party member into an opposition activist. And all that happens during a Solidarity rally where he was sent to spy on the protesters.
Director: Kazimierz Kutz | Stars: Zbigniew Zamachowski, Henryk Bista, Marek Kondrat, Stanislaw Górka
Votes: 366
18. Kobieta samotna (1987 TV Movie)
92 min | Drama
A story of a middle-aged woman, Irena, living alone on the outskirts of Wroclaw with her 8-year old son. They live in a drab apartment. She is a mail carrier and her son is her only pride ... See full summary »
Director: Agnieszka Holland | Stars: Maria Chwalibóg, Boguslaw Linda, Pawel Witczak, Danuta Balicka
Votes: 513
19. Big Shar (1983)
96 min | Action, Drama, Romance
Released from prison after five years, con-artist Szu is sent packing by his young wife; he heads for the town of Lutyn where he runs a con and attracts the interest of Jurek, a young cab ... See full summary »
Director: Sylwester Checinski | Stars: Jan Nowicki, Andrzej Pieczynski, Dorota Pomykala, Leon Niemczyk
Votes: 1,121
20. Wniebowzieci (1973 TV Movie)
45 min | Comedy
Two simple men win the lottery and decide to spend the money on their first plane flight and some other pleasures. But all that does not bring enough happiness to their lives.
Director: Andrzej Kondratiuk | Stars: Zdzislaw Maklakiewicz, Jan Himilsbach, Ryszard Narozniak, Ewa Pielach
Votes: 465
21. Boys Don't Cry (2000)
90 min | Comedy, Crime
A satirical look at the gangsters of Poland and some teens who accidentally get involved with them.
Director: Olaf Lubaszenko | Stars: Maciej Stuhr, Cezary Pazura, Michal Milowicz, Miroslaw Zbrojewicz
Votes: 7,237
22. Man - Woman Wanted (1973)
82 min | Comedy
Falsely accused Warsaw art museum assistant goes into hiding as a woman.
Director: Stanislaw Bareja | Stars: Wojciech Pokora, Jolanta Bohdal, Mieczyslaw Czechowicz, Maria Chwalibóg
Votes: 2,491
23. Ga-ga: Glory to the Heroes (1986)
84 min | Comedy, Horror, Sci-Fi
In the 21st century, prisoners aboard penitentiary space ships explore unknown worlds.
Director: Piotr Szulkin | Stars: Daniel Olbrychski, Jerzy Stuhr, Katarzyna Figura, Mariusz Benoit
Votes: 768
24. Zmruz oczy (2002)
Not Rated | 88 min | Drama, Comedy
The story of a spirited ten-year-old girl who has run away from her proudly affluent parents in town and finds grudging refuge with the slightly slovenly caretaker of an abandoned farm, an ex-teacher.
Director: Andrzej Jakimowski | Stars: Zbigniew Zamachowski, Olga Prószynska, Rafal Guzniczak, Malgorzata Foremniak
Votes: 967
25. Colonel Wolodyjowski (1969)
160 min | Adventure, History, War
In 1668 Polish colonel Michael Wolodyjowski, who recently retired to a monastery, is recalled to active duty and takes charge of Poland's eastern frontier defenses against invading Tatar hordes and Ottoman armies.
Director: Jerzy Hoffman | Stars: Tadeusz Lomnicki, Magdalena Zawadzka, Mieczyslaw Pawlikowski, Hanka Bielicka
Votes: 1,782
26. The Welts (2004)
91 min | Drama
Wiktor, who was mistreated by his father as a child, is now a tormented grown-up. He meets beautiful Tania and wants to settle down but it's not easy to get rid of childhood traumas.
Director: Magdalena Piekorz | Stars: Michal Zebrowski, Jan Frycz, Agnieszka Grochowska, Waclaw Adamczyk
Votes: 1,340
27. King Size (1988)
105 min | Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy
This comedy follows a young scientist in the contemporary world, who actually came from the world of dwarves, thanks to a magic potion, held by the Big Eater, ruler of the dwarves. The ... See full summary »
Director: Juliusz Machulski | Stars: Jacek Chmielnik, Jerzy Stuhr, Katarzyna Figura, Grzegorz Herominski
Votes: 3,381
28. Salto (1965)
104 min | Drama
A man hops off a train by the small town where he claims he was before. His presence allows to bring out the inner feelings and beliefs of the inhabitants. A man who has hidden through all ... See full summary »
Director: Tadeusz Konwicki | Stars: Zbigniew Cybulski, Jerzy Block, Marta Lipinska, Wlodzimierz Borunski
Votes: 866
29. Escape from the 'Liberty' Cinema (1990)
PG | 92 min | Comedy, Drama, Fantasy
During the screening of the film "Daybreak" at the Liberty Cinema, movie characters suddenly come alive and begin to talk to the viewers. The situation surprises communist authorities who send a censor to the theatre.
Director: Wojciech Marczewski | Stars: Janusz Gajos, Zbigniew Zamachowski, Teresa Marczewska, Piotr Fronczewski
Votes: 1,190
30. Mother Joan of the Angels (1961)
110 min | Drama, Horror, Mystery
A priest is sent to a small parish in the Polish countryside which is believed to be under demonic possession and there he finds his own temptations awaiting.
Director: Jerzy Kawalerowicz | Stars: Lucyna Winnicka, Mieczyslaw Voit, Anna Ciepielewska, Maria Chwalibóg
Votes: 4,304
31. Man of Iron (1981)
PG | 156 min | Drama, History
A few years after the events of Man of Marble (1977), a journalist investigates Mateusz Birkut's son Maciek Tomczyk, now an activist leading a shipyard strike.
Director: Andrzej Wajda | Stars: Jerzy Radziwilowicz, Krystyna Janda, Marian Opania, Wieslawa Kosmalska
Votes: 3,793
32. A Short Film About Love (1988)
Not Rated | 87 min | Drama, Romance
A naive inexperienced young man spies on a woman who lives across the courtyard, and falls in love with her. He starts using tricks which he hopes will lead to them meeting.
Director: Krzysztof Kieslowski | Stars: Grazyna Szapolowska, Olaf Lubaszenko, Stefania Iwinska, Piotr Machalica
Votes: 26,056
33. Zywot Mateusza (1968)
80 min | Drama
Mateusz is a weird man living a peaceful life in a remote country house by the lake. When a stranger is attracted to his beloved sister, his life starts falling apart.
Director: Witold Leszczynski | Stars: Franciszek Pieczka, Anna Milewska, Wirgiliusz Gryn, Aleksander Fogiel
Votes: 494
34. Pan Tadeusz (1999)
Not Rated | 147 min | Drama, History, Romance
In the early 1810s, Poles, part of Russia's client state of Lithuania, think independence will come if they join forces with Napoleon when he invades Russia. This unity of purpose, in one ... See full summary »
Director: Andrzej Wajda | Stars: Boguslaw Linda, Daniel Olbrychski, Grazyna Szapolowska, Andrzej Seweryn
Votes: 3,710
35. Knife in the Water (1962)
Not Rated | 94 min | Drama, Thriller
A couple pick up a hitchhiker on the way to their yacht. The husband invites the young man to come along for their day's sailing. As the voyage progresses, the antagonism between the two men grows. A violent confrontation is inevitable.
Director: Roman Polanski | Stars: Leon Niemczyk, Jolanta Umecka, Zygmunt Malanowicz, Anna Ciepielewska
Votes: 23,576
36. A Jungle Book of Regulations (1974)
91 min | Comedy
After moving from a small flat to a bigger one, a young married couple unexpectedly meet their new flatmate.
Director: Stanislaw Bareja | Stars: Jacek Fedorowicz, Mieczyslaw Czechowicz, Stanislawa Celinska, Jerzy Dobrowolski
Votes: 1,234
37. Giuseppe w Warszawie (1964)
99 min | Comedy, War
Adventures of the Italian soldier in a rebellious Warsaw in 1943, between Germans and the Polish resistance.
Director: Stanislaw Lenartowicz | Stars: Elzbieta Czyzewska, Antonio Cifariello, Zbigniew Cybulski, Jarema Stepowski
Votes: 339
38.
The Decalogue (1989–1990)
Episode:
Dekalog, cztery
(1989)
TV-MA | 57 min | Drama
When her father is away on business, a young woman discovers a letter from her dead mother reading, 'Open after my death'.
Director: Krzysztof Kieslowski | Stars: Adrianna Biedrzynska, Janusz Gajos, Artur Barcis, Aleksander Bardini
Votes: 4,616
39. Big Bang (1986 TV Movie)
89 min | Comedy, Drama, Sci-Fi
A UFO lands at night in a typical Masovian village. The villagers feel honored and want to be as hospitable as possible for the unexpected alien guests.
Director: Andrzej Kondratiuk | Stars: Ludwik Benoit, Zofia Merle, Janusz Gajos, Zdzislaw Kozien
Votes: 142
40. Day of the Wacko (2002)
Not Rated | 93 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance
24 hours in the bitter life of a frustrated divorced teacher who stays in the vicious circle of his numerous obsessions.
Director: Marek Koterski | Stars: Marek Kondrat, Janina Traczykówna, Andrzej Grabowski, Michal Koterski
Votes: 11,795
41. Skarb (1949)
102 min | Comedy, Romance
A comedy set in the ruins of post-war Warsaw. A young married couple moves in to a rented flat full of other lodgers, some of whom by misunderstanding start to believe there's a hidden treasure somewhere in the house.
Director: Leonard Buczkowski | Stars: Jadwiga Chojnacka, Wanda Jakubinska, Alina Janowska, Danuta Szaflarska
Votes: 206
42. Psy (1992)
104 min | Action, Crime, Drama
In the good old days Franz Maurer and his partners from the secret police used to live like kings. Now, they all must adapt to a new post-communist environment where they are scorned and ... See full summary »
Director: Wladyslaw Pasikowski | Stars: Boguslaw Linda, Marek Kondrat, Cezary Pazura, Janusz Gajos
Votes: 5,500
43. A Short Film About Killing (1988)
Not Rated | 84 min | Crime, Drama
A soon-to-be lawyer crosses his path with a taxi driver and a young sinister man.
Director: Krzysztof Kieslowski | Stars: Miroslaw Baka, Krzysztof Globisz, Jan Tesarz, Zbigniew Zapasiewicz
Votes: 22,396
44. Eroica (1958)
87 min | Comedy, Drama