Career Timeline of Stanley Kubrick: Major Achievements and Milestones
How Stanley Kubrick built a successful career. Explore key moments that defined the journey.
Stanley Kubrick was a highly influential American filmmaker and photographer, considered one of cinema's greatest. His films, largely adaptations of novels or short stories, spanned diverse genres and were celebrated for meticulous detail, groundbreaking cinematography, elaborate set design, and dark humor. A significant figure in post-war cinema, Kubrick's work continues to inspire and provoke debate.
June 26, 1945: Photographic Series Published in Look Magazine
On June 26, 1945, Look magazine published a photographic series by Stanley Kubrick, marking an early achievement in his photography career.
April 16, 1946: "A Short Story from a Movie Balcony" Published
On April 16, 1946, Look magazine published Stanley Kubrick's photo story, "A Short Story from a Movie Balcony," showcasing a staged altercation.
1948: "The Sentinel" short story
In 1948, Arthur C. Clarke wrote the short story "The Sentinel", which later inspired Kubrick's film 2001: A Space Odyssey.
1948: Travel Piece and Circus Assignment
In 1948, Stanley Kubrick was sent to Portugal to document a travel piece for Look magazine. Later that year, he covered the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus in Sarasota, Florida.
January 18, 1949: "Prizefighter" Photo Essay Published
On January 18, 1949, Look magazine published Stanley Kubrick's photo essay "Prizefighter," which captured a boxing match and the events leading up to it, featuring middleweight Walter Cartier.
April 2, 1949: "Chicago-City of Extremes" Published
On April 2, 1949, Look magazine published Stanley Kubrick's photo essay "Chicago-City of Extremes", showcasing his early talent for creating atmosphere with imagery.
July 1950: "Working Debutante" Photo Essay Published
In July 1950, Look magazine published Stanley Kubrick's photo essay "Working Debutante – Betsy von Furstenberg", which featured a Pablo Picasso portrait of Angel F. de Soto in the background.
1951: Began Making Flying Padre
In 1951, Stanley Kubrick began making Flying Padre, a film documenting Reverend Fred Stadtmueller's travels to visit his churches.
1952: Kubrick names Le Plaisir his favorite film
In 1952, Kubrick named Max Ophüls' film Le Plaisir as his favorite film.
June 1953: The Seafarers Filmed
In June 1953, Stanley Kubrick shot The Seafarers, his first color film, for the Seafarers International Union. The film focused on the logistics and amenities of seafaring.
1953: Production of Fear and Desire
In 1953, Stanley Kubrick directed his first feature film, "Fear and Desire", after raising $1000 and receiving a $9000 investment from his uncle. The film, originally titled "The Trap" and later "The Shape of Fear", was shot in the San Gabriel Mountains with a small cast and crew and became a fictional allegory about soldiers caught behind enemy lines during war.
1955: Formation of Harris-Kubrick Pictures Corporation
In 1955, Stanley Kubrick met James B. Harris and formed the Harris-Kubrick Pictures Corporation. Harris then purchased the rights to Lionel White's novel, Clean Break, which was to become the basis for The Killing.
1955: Production of Killer's Kiss
In 1955, following "Fear and Desire," Kubrick began working on "Killer's Kiss," a film noir about a boxer and a woman abused by her boss. The film was privately funded, with Kubrick experimenting with cinematography and unconventional angles during filming in Times Square. Sound recording issues led to costly post-production work.
1956: Ruth Sobotka works on "The Killing"
In 1956, Ruth Sobotka was the art director for Kubrick's film "The Killing".
1956: The Killing Released
In 1956, Stanley Kubrick made his first major Hollywood film, The Killing, for United Artists. This marked a significant milestone in his early career as a director.
March 1957: Shooting Paths of Glory
In March 1957, Kubrick began shooting "Paths of Glory" in Munich. The film, based on Humphrey Cobb's novel, focuses on a French army unit during World War I ordered on an impossible mission and the subsequent court martial of three soldiers. Kubrick meticulously planned and filmed the battle scene with multiple cameras.
October 1957: Bryna Productions optioned I Stole $16,000,000
In October 1957, after "Paths of Glory" premiered, Bryna Productions optioned Herbert Emerson Wilson's autobiography, "I Stole $16,000,000", for Kubrick and Harris as part of their co-production deal, with Kubrick to direct and Douglas to star.
November 1957: Gavin Lambert signed for God Fearing Man
In November 1957, Gavin Lambert was signed as story editor for "I Stole $16,000,000", and worked with Kubrick to create a script titled "God Fearing Man", though the film was never produced.
1957: Offer to direct Paths of Glory
In 1957, Dore Schary of MGM was impressed with "The Killing" and offered Kubrick and Harris $75,000 to write, direct, and produce a film, which eventually became "Paths of Glory".
1957: Paths of Glory Released
In 1957, Stanley Kubrick released Paths of Glory, an anti-war film that he collaborated on with Kirk Douglas. This film showcased Kubrick's ability to tackle serious and thought-provoking themes.
February 1959: Kubrick to Direct Spartacus
In February 1959, Kirk Douglas contacted Kubrick to direct "Spartacus", based on the novel by Howard Fast. Kubrick replaced Anthony Mann as director and was paid $150,000 for the project.
October 1960: Shooting of Lolita Begins
In October 1960, Kubrick began shooting "Lolita" at Elstree Studios on a $2 million budget. The shooting lasted for 88 days.
1960: Kubrick interview with Robert Emmett Ginna
In 1960, Kubrick explained in an interview with Robert Emmett Ginna that he was very careful not to present his own views of the meaning of his films and to leave them open to interpretation.
1960: Spartacus Released
In 1960, Stanley Kubrick released Spartacus, a historical epic film, in another collaboration with Kirk Douglas. This film demonstrated Kubrick's capacity for handling large-scale productions.
1961: Move to the United Kingdom
In 1961, Kubrick and his family moved to the United Kingdom to make Lolita.
1961: Release of One-Eyed Jacks
In 1961, One-Eyed Jacks was released. Kubrick worked on the script for Marlon Brando for six months, but later distanced himself from the project. Brando ended up directing this movie.
1961: Kubrick drafts Napoleon screenplay
In 1961, Stanley Kubrick drafted a screenplay for a film about Napoleon, envisaging a grandiose epic with up to 40,000 infantry and 10,000 cavalry.
1961: Kubrick Moves to England
In 1961, Stanley Kubrick left the United States and settled in England. This move would have a significant impact on his career, allowing him greater artistic control over his films.
December 28, 1962: Terry Southern's Involvement with Dr. Strangelove
On December 28, 1962, Terry Southern's relatively brief but intense work on the Dr. Strangelove script concluded. His contributions led to a public rift between Kubrick and Peter George over credit for the film's writing.
1962: Production of Lolita in England
In 1962, Kubrick began production of "Lolita" in England due to contract clauses and financial incentives. The film, based on Vladimir Nabokov's novel, marked a transition in Kubrick's style towards surrealism. He signed a $1 million deal with Eliot Hyman's Associated Artists Productions, that gave him the artistic freedom he desired.
April 1963: Shooting of Dr. Strangelove Ends
In April 1963, the 15-week shooting of "Dr. Strangelove" concluded after which Kubrick spent eight months editing it. The movie was shot in England.
1963: Names "I Vitelloni" as top film
In 1963, when asked by Cinema magazine to name his favorite films, Kubrick listed Federico Fellini's "I Vitelloni" as number one in his Top 10 list.
April 1964: Meeting with Arthur C. Clarke
In April 1964, Stanley Kubrick met Arthur C. Clarke in New York City and suggested collaborating on Clarke's 1948 short story "The Sentinel".
1964: Production of Dr. Strangelove
In 1964, Kubrick directed "Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb", a satirical black comedy. He became preoccupied with nuclear war, studied numerous books on the subject, and concluded the situation was absurd.
1964: Weegee Hired for Dr. Strangelove
In 1964, Stanley Kubrick hired Arthur Fellig, also known as Weegee, as the special stills photographer for his film Dr. Strangelove.
1964: Dr. Strangelove Released
In 1964, Stanley Kubrick released Dr. Strangelove, a Cold War satire film featuring Peter Sellers. This film further cemented Kubrick's reputation as a versatile and innovative filmmaker.
December 29, 1965: Filming Commenced
On December 29, 1965, filming for 2001: A Space Odyssey commenced with the excavation of the monolith on the moon.
1965: Kubrick Buys Abbots Mead
In 1965, Stanley Kubrick purchased Abbots Mead on Barnet Lane, near the Elstree/Borehamwood studio complex in England. He used this home as his primary workspace for the next 14 years, managing all aspects of four films from there.
1966: First to use video assist
In 1966, Kubrick was among the first directors to use video assist during filming, requiring him to build his own system.
1966: Desire to make the scariest movie
In 1966, Stanley Kubrick expressed his desire to make the world's scariest movie to a friend, envisioning a series of episodes that would play upon the audience's nightmare fears.
1968: Release of 2001: A Space Odyssey
In 1968, Kubrick released 2001: A Space Odyssey, a film developed over five years after being inspired by Arthur C. Clarke's novel Childhood's End. The film explores themes of evolution and artificial intelligence.
1968: Malcolm McDowell's role in if....
In 1968, Malcolm McDowell's role in Lindsay Anderson's if.... was crucial to his casting as Alex in A Clockwork Orange.
1968: 2001: A Space Odyssey Released
In 1968, Stanley Kubrick released 2001: A Space Odyssey, a science fiction epic featuring scientific realism and innovative special effects that were a first in cinema history. The film earned him his only Academy Award for Best Visual Effects and is regarded as one of the greatest films ever made.
1968: Wendy Carlos's "Switched-On Bach" catches Kubrick's attention
In 1968, Wendy Carlos's album Switched-On Bach, which re-interpreted baroque music using a Moog synthesizer, caught Kubrick's attention.
1969: Settling on A Clockwork Orange
At the end of 1969, Kubrick settled on A Clockwork Orange (1971) as his next project.
1969: Influence of "Funeral Parade of Roses"
In 1969, A Clockwork Orange is thought to have been strongly influenced by Kubrick's many viewings of Matsumoto Toshio's landmark in queer cinema, "Funeral Parade of Roses".
1969: MGM cancels Napoleon project
In 1969, Stanley Kubrick's Napoleon film project, which was well into preproduction and ready to begin filming, was canceled by MGM.
1970: Filming of A Clockwork Orange
A Clockwork Orange was shot over 1970–1971 on a budget of £2 million.
1971: Release of A Clockwork Orange
In 1971, Kubrick released A Clockwork Orange, a film exploring violence and experimental rehabilitation.
1971: A Clockwork Orange Release and Controversy
In 1971, Stanley Kubrick released A Clockwork Orange. The film was controversial and received mixed reviews. It was later withdrawn from circulation in the UK following a media frenzy.
1971: Carlos composes and records music for A Clockwork Orange
In 1971, Wendy Carlos composed and recorded music for the soundtrack of A Clockwork Orange.
1972: Warner Bros. investment in Barry Lyndon
In 1972, John Calley of Warner Bros. agreed to invest $2.5 million into the film Barry Lyndon.
1972: "Wendy Carlos's Clockwork Orange" release
In 1972, Wendy Carlos's Clockwork Orange, music not used in the film, was released.
1973: Turned down The Exorcist
In 1973, Stanley Kubrick turned down the opportunity to direct the horror film "The Exorcist".
1973: Filming of Barry Lyndon begins in Ireland
In the autumn of 1973, filming for Barry Lyndon began on location in Ireland, with a cost of $11 million and a cast and crew of 170.
1975: Release of Barry Lyndon
In 1975, Barry Lyndon, an adaptation of William Makepeace Thackeray's The Luck of Barry Lyndon, was released.
1975: Barry Lyndon Filmed with NASA Lenses
In 1975, for the 18th-century period film Barry Lyndon, Stanley Kubrick used lenses developed by Carl Zeiss for NASA to film scenes by candlelight. This innovative technique added to the film's unique visual style.
1975: Time magazine interview
In a 1975 interview with Time magazine, Kubrick stated that the essence of a dramatic form is to let an idea come over people without it being plainly stated and that realism is the best way to dramatize argument and ideas.
1976: Use of Steadicam
After the 1976 films "Bound for Glory", "Marathon Man" and "Rocky", "The Shining" was among the first half-dozen features to use the then-revolutionary Steadicam.
1977: Turned down Exorcist II
In 1977, Stanley Kubrick turned down directing "Exorcist II: The Heretic".
May 1978: Filming interiors of The Shining
In May 1978, Stanley Kubrick began filming the interior scenes for "The Shining" at Elstree Studios in England. Cardboard models were made of all of the sets of the film, and the lighting of them was a massive undertaking, which took four months of electrical wiring.
1978: Kubrick moves to Childwickbury Manor
In 1978, Kubrick relocated to Childwickbury Manor in Hertfordshire. This stately home became both a residence and a workplace, with stables converted into production rooms.
April 1979: End of filming interiors of The Shining
In April 1979, Stanley Kubrick concluded filming the interior scenes for "The Shining" at Elstree Studios in England, which had begun in May 1978.
May 23, 1980: Deletion of scene from The Shining
On May 23, 1980, five days after its release, Stanley Kubrick ordered the deletion of the final scene from "The Shining", where the hotel manager Ullman visits Wendy in the hospital, believing it to be unnecessary after witnessing audience reactions to the film's climax.
1980: Collaboration on The Shining
In 1980, Kubrick collaborated with Wendy Carlos on The Shining.
1980: Met Michael Herr
In 1980, Stanley Kubrick met author Michael Herr through a mutual friend and became interested in his book "Dispatches" about the Vietnam War.
1980: The Shining Utilizes Steadicam
In 1980, with the horror film The Shining, Stanley Kubrick became one of the first directors to use a Steadicam for stabilized and fluid tracking shots, enhancing the film's visual storytelling.
August 1985: Filming Full Metal Jacket
In August 1985, Stanley Kubrick began filming "Full Metal Jacket" within a 30-mile radius of his house.
September 1986: Filming Full Metal Jacket
In September 1986, Stanley Kubrick ended filming "Full Metal Jacket" within a 30-mile radius of his house.
1987: Full Metal Jacket and Steadicam Technology
In 1987, Stanley Kubrick's Vietnam War film Full Metal Jacket utilized Steadicam technology, which was crucial for creating the stabilized and fluid tracking shots characteristic of the movie.
1987: Interview with Rolling Stone
In 1987, when asked about his reputation for excessive takes by Rolling Stone, Kubrick replied that it was exaggerated, attributing it to actors being unprepared.
1995: Kubrick approached Spielberg with AI script
In 1995, Stanley Kubrick approached Steven Spielberg with the "AI" script, suggesting that Spielberg direct it and Kubrick produce it. Kubrick reportedly held long telephone discussions with Spielberg regarding the film.
July 16, 1999: Planned release date of Eyes Wide Shut
Stanley Kubrick worked relentlessly for 15 months to get "Eyes Wide Shut" out by its planned release date of July 16, 1999.
1999: Eyes Wide Shut Release and Kubrick's Death
In 1999, Stanley Kubrick hosted a screening for his family and the stars of his final film, the erotic drama Eyes Wide Shut, a few days before he died at the age of 70.
2001: Video assist during filming of 2001
During the filming of 2001 in 1966, Kubrick was able to view a video of a take immediately after it was filmed.
2001: Inclusion of György Ligeti's Music in 2001
In 2001, Kubrick is credited with introducing Hungarian composer György Ligeti to a broad Western audience by including his music in 2001: A Space Odyssey.
2001: Special effects in 2001
In 2001, Kubrick used slit-scan photography and front-screen projection for special effects in his film "2001: A Space Odyssey", which won him his only Oscar for special effects.
2001: Influenced by Max Ophüls style
In 2001, Kubrick was influenced by director Max Ophüls' tracking and fluid camera styles, which he used in many of his films, including Paths of Glory and 2001: A Space Odyssey.
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