---
name: "Michael Haneke"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/michael-haneke"
fi1m_id: "michael-haneke"
imdb_id: "nm0359734"
tmdb_id: 6011
wikidata_id: "Q84199"
roles: ["Director","Writer"]
born: "23 March 1942"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 5
average_fi1m_score: 84
average_as: "director"
average_over: 5
updated: "2026-09-24T03:20:21.031193+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Michael Haneke

## Identity

Michael Haneke

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/michael-haneke
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** michael-haneke
- **IMDb ID:** nm0359734
- **TMDB ID:** 6011
- **Wikidata ID:** Q84199
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Haneke, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q84199, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0359734/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/6011

Director and writer. Born 23 March 1942 in Munich, Germany.

## Details

- **Work:** Director, Writer
- **Born:** 23 March 1942, Munich, Germany
- **Active:** 1997–2012
- **Also known as:** 마이클 하네케
- **Frequently works with:** [Veit Heiduschka](https://film.one/person/veit-heiduschka.md), [Annie Girardot](https://film.one/person/annie-girardot.md), [Isabelle Huppert](https://film.one/person/isabelle-huppert.md), [Stefan Arndt](https://film.one/person/stefan-arndt.md), [Susanne Lothar](https://film.one/person/susanne-lothar.md)
- **Academy Awards:** 2 Oscar nominations
- **Average Fi1m score:** 84, as director, over 5 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1990s 74 (1), 2000s 85 (3), 2010s 88 (1)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 84 to 77 across 5 titles
- **Score spread:** 4 at 80+, 1 at 60–79, 0 under 60
- **Genres:** Drama 5, Mystery 2, Romance 2, Thriller 2, Horror 1
- **Screen time:** 10 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $64m across 5 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Haneke, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q84199, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0359734/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/6011

## Streaming the US now

- **HBO Max:** [*The Piano Teacher*](https://film.one/film/the-piano-teacher.md) (82), [*Funny Games*](https://film.one/film/funny-games.md) (74)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Fi1m on Michael Haneke

> Michael Haneke makes quiet cruelty hard to bear, helped by actors who keep the suffering human. We admire his discipline, though his habit of lecturing the audience can make an already difficult evening unnecessarily wearing.

Two polite young men make a family's life unbearable in *Funny Games* (1997), and Haneke gives them no motive that might help us explain them away. He concentrates on power and humiliation, making ordinary manners threatening. We were frightened by their courtesy, because it offers none of the warning that obvious rage would give. This is where his direction earns our confidence: he knows how to sustain dread without offering elaborate injuries as entertainment.

His first cinema feature, *The Seventh Continent* (1989), began a trilogy about social alienation, continued in *Benny’s Video* (1992) and *71 Fragments of a Chronology of Chance* (1994). *Funny Games* brought wider international attention and made the viewer's consumption of violence an explicit concern. The later films broaden the scrutiny to repression in *The Piano Teacher* (2001) and guilt and surveillance in *Caché* (2005). With *Amour* (2012), the attention turns to ageing and love; there is more to his interests than the cruelty of *Funny Games* might suggest.

His long takes and fixed camera positions prolong discomfort by denying us the relief of a cut. His collaborators include cinematographers Christian Berger and Jürgen Jürges, and editor Monika Willi. Yet the achievement we value most in *Funny Games* is the acting. Susanne Lothar and Ulrich Mühe keep the family painfully human, giving us people to fear for even when Haneke seems more concerned with correcting us.

The trouble with *Funny Games* is Haneke's confidence about what our distress proves. His screenplay leaves too little room for the possibility that we care about the family without secretly enjoying its suffering. Once the accusation has registered, the prolonged scenes begin to feel like repeated instructions, and our attention shifts from the people to the director pressing his case. We would rather be allowed to stay with the family. Watch *Funny Games* for the dread, with no obligation to accept the lecture.

## Biography

Michael Haneke is an Austrian director and screenwriter. Born in Munich, Germany, he was raised in Austria and studied philosophy, psychology and drama at the University of Vienna. He began his career in television and theatre before making his first feature film, *The Seventh Continent*, in 1989.

Haneke is known for films including *Funny Games* (1997), which he also wrote, *The Piano Teacher* (2001), *Caché* (2005), *The White Ribbon* (2009) and *Amour* (2012). He directed a shot-for-shot English-language remake of *Funny Games* in 2007. His work has received the Palme d'Or at Cannes twice, for *The White Ribbon* and *Amour*.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, britannica.com, haneke.filmmuseum.at.*

## On Fi1m (5)

- *Amour* (2012), Fi1m 88, Writer, Director — [page](https://film.one/film/amour.md)
- *The White Ribbon* (2009), Fi1m 86, Director, Screenplay, Story — [page](https://film.one/film/the-white-ribbon.md)
- *Caché* (2005), Fi1m 88, Director, Screenplay — [page](https://film.one/film/cache.md)
- *The Piano Teacher* (2001), Fi1m 82, Director, Screenplay — [page](https://film.one/film/the-piano-teacher.md)
- *Funny Games* (1997), Fi1m 74, Director, Screenplay — [page](https://film.one/film/funny-games.md)

## Complete filmography (31)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *Happy End* (2017), Director, Writer
- *Goodnight Mommy* (2015), Thanks
- *Così fan tutte* (2013), Stage Director
- *Amour* (2012), Director, Writer — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/film/amour.md)
- *The White Ribbon* (2009), Director, Story, Screenplay — Fi1m 86, [page](https://film.one/film/the-white-ribbon.md)
- *Protect You + Me* (2008), Thanks
- *Funny Games* (2008), Director, Screenplay
- *Caché* (2005), Director, Screenplay — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/film/cache.md)
- *Time of the Wolf* (2003), Director, Screenplay
- *The Piano Teacher* (2001), Screenplay, Director — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/film/the-piano-teacher.md)
- *Filming Haneke* (2000), as Interviewee
- *Code Unknown* (2000), as Film Director (Voice) (Uncredited) · Director, Screenplay
- *Funny Games* (1997), Screenplay, Director — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/film/funny-games.md)
- *The Castle* (1997), Director, Writer
- *Charm's Incidents* (1996), Actor
- *Lumière & Company* (1995), Director
- *The Moor's Head* (1995), Screenplay
- *71 Fragments of a Chronology of Chance* (1995), Director, Writer
- *The Rebellion* (1993), Director, Writer
- *Benny's Video* (1992), Screenplay, Director
- *Obituary for a Murderer* (1991), Director, Writer
- *The Seventh Continent* (1989), Director, Screenplay
- *Dirt* (1986), Dialogue
- *Fraulein* (1986), Director, Writer
- *Who Was Edgar Allan?* (1984), Writer, Director
- *Variation* (1983), Director, Writer
- *Lemmings* (1979), series, Director, Writer, Creator
- *Three Paths to the Lake* (1976), Director, Screenplay
- *Trash* (1976), Director
- *After Liverpool* (1974), Director, Writer
- *Scene of the Crime* (1970), series, Writer

## Gallery

- ![Michael Haneke](https://film.one/media/person/87369/gallery-033f79fe800e.jpg) Michael Haneke — Georges Biard, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3c/Michael_Haneke_2009.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Christian Berger, Marika Green, Michael Haneke, Susanne Haneke, 2013.](https://film.one/media/person/87369/gallery-f0986b8fcc8e.jpg) Christian Berger, Marika Green, Michael Haneke, Susanne Haneke, 2013. — Sabine Maierhofer, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5f/Christian_Berger%2C_Marika_Green%2C_Michael_Haneke%2C_Susanne_Haneke%2C_2013.jpg/1280px-Christian_Berger%2C_Marika_Green%2C_Michael_Haneke%2C_Susanne_Haneke%2C_2013.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Verleihung Papierener Gustl 2013 (Bester internationaler Film 2003 bis 2012 "Das weiße Band") v.l.n.r. Herbert Wilfinger, Gabriele Knittel, Michael Haneke (2014)](https://film.one/media/person/87369/gallery-e22b4587c007.jpg) Verleihung Papierener Gustl 2013 (Bester internationaler Film 2003 bis 2012 "Das weiße Band") v.l.n.r. Herbert Wilfinger, Gabriele Knittel, Michael Haneke (2014) — Alfons Bolnberger, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0f/Gustl_2013_Bild_1.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Preisverleihung Papierener Gustl 2013, v.l.n.r. die Regisseure Michael Haneke und Ulrich Seidl (2014)](https://film.one/media/person/87369/gallery-ed1f6def27a7.jpg) Preisverleihung Papierener Gustl 2013, v.l.n.r. die Regisseure Michael Haneke und Ulrich Seidl (2014) — Alfons Bolnberger, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/ac/Gustl_2013_Bild_4.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Michael Haneke](https://film.one/media/person/87369/gallery-7461adb2552c.jpg) Michael Haneke — Image via TMDB
- ![Michael Haneke](https://film.one/media/person/87369/gallery-8a5243771849.jpg) Michael Haneke — Image via TMDB
- ![Michael Haneke](https://film.one/media/person/87369/gallery-3982fb20922c.jpg) Michael Haneke — Image via TMDB
- ![Michael Haneke (2014)](https://film.one/media/person/87369/gallery-c16115f2d1e2.jpg) Michael Haneke (2014) — Manfred Werner -Tsui, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f3/M.Haneke_2014_crop.jpg/1280px-M.Haneke_2014_crop.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Christian Berger, Marika Green, Michael Haneke, Susanne Haneke, 2013.](https://film.one/media/person/87369/gallery-74aa76076ea3.jpg) Christian Berger, Marika Green, Michael Haneke, Susanne Haneke, 2013. — Sabine Maierhofer, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/87/Marika_Green_in_2013.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Michael Haneke](https://film.one/media/person/87369/gallery-3add0beb664e.jpg) Michael Haneke — Image via TMDB
- ![Michael Haneke](https://film.one/media/person/87369/gallery-5870a795e972.jpg) Michael Haneke — Image via TMDB

## Awards

### Academy Awards — 0 won, 2 nominated

- 2013: Best Writing, Original Screenplay (nominated), for *Amour*
- 2013: Best Director (nominated), for *Amour*

### Other awards — 21 won, 6 nominated

- Knight Commander's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany 2019: Knight Commander's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany (won)
- Bavarian Maximilian Order for Science and Art 2018: Bavarian Maximilian Order for Science and Art (won)
- Pour le Mérite for Sciences and Arts order 2018: Pour le Mérite for Sciences and Arts order (won)
- Sonning Prize 2014: Sonning Prize (won)
- Austrian Decoration for Science and Art 2013: Austrian Decoration for Science and Art (won)
- César Award for Best Director 2013: César Award for Best Director (won), for *Amour*
- Princess of Asturias Award for the Arts 2013: Princess of Asturias Award for the Arts (won)
- European Film Award for Best Director 2012: European Film Award for Best Director (won), for *Amour*
- European Film Award for Best Film 2012: European Film Award for Best Film (won), for *Amour*
- European Film Award for Best Screenwriter 2012: European Film Award for Best Screenwriter (nominated), for *Amour*
- honorary doctor of Paris 8 University 2012: honorary doctor of Paris 8 University (won)
- Officer's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany 2012: Officer's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany (won)
- European Film Award for Best Director 2009: European Film Award for Best Director (won), for *The White Ribbon*
- European Film Award for Best Film 2009: European Film Award for Best Film (won), for *The White Ribbon*
- European Film Award for Best Screenwriter 2009: European Film Award for Best Screenwriter (won), for *The White Ribbon*
- European Film Academy Critics Award 2005: European Film Academy Critics Award (won), for *Caché*
- European Film Award for Best Director 2005: European Film Award for Best Director (won), for *Caché*
- European Film Award for Best Film 2005: European Film Award for Best Film (won), for *Caché*
- European Film Award for Best Screenwriter 2005: European Film Award for Best Screenwriter (nominated), for *Caché*
- Axel Corti Prize 2001: Axel Corti Prize (won)
- European Film Award for Best Film 2001: European Film Award for Best Film (nominated), for *The Piano Teacher*
- European Film Award for Best Screenwriter 2001: European Film Award for Best Screenwriter (nominated), for *The Piano Teacher*
- European Film Award - People's Choice Award for Best Director 2001: European Film Award - People's Choice Award for Best Director (nominated), for *The Piano Teacher*
- Konrad Wolf Prize 1998: Konrad Wolf Prize (won)
- Sitges Film Festival Best Screenplay award 1994: Sitges Film Festival Best Screenplay award (won), for *71 Fragments of a Chronology of Chance*
- European Film Academy Critics Award 1993: European Film Academy Critics Award (won), for *Benny's Video*
- European Film Award for Best Film 1993: European Film Award for Best Film (nominated), for *Benny's Video*

*From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.*

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/michael-haneke