---
name: "Ruben Östlund"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/ruben-ostlund"
fi1m_id: "ruben-ostlund"
imdb_id: "nm1128037"
tmdb_id: 56370
wikidata_id: "Q211228"
roles: ["Director","Writer"]
born: "13 April 1974"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 2
average_fi1m_score: 75
average_as: "director"
average_over: 2
updated: "2026-09-20T08:38:03.799490+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."
---

# Ruben Östlund

## Identity

Ruben Östlund

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/ruben-ostlund
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** ruben-ostlund
- **IMDb ID:** nm1128037
- **TMDB ID:** 56370
- **Wikidata ID:** Q211228
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruben_%C3%96stlund, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q211228, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1128037/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/56370

Director and writer. Born 13 April 1974 in Styrsö, Gothenburg, Sweden.

## Details

- **Work:** Director, Writer
- **Born:** 13 April 1974, Styrsö, Gothenburg, Sweden
- **Active:** 2014–present
- **Also known as:** Claes Olle Ruben Östlund, 루벤 외스틀룬드, Рубен Эстлунд, 루벤 외스트룬드
- **Frequently works with:** [Erik Hemmendorff](https://film.one/person/erik-hemmendorff.md), [Philippe Bober](https://film.one/person/philippe-bober.md)
- **Cannes Film Festival:** 2 Cannes prizes (2 won)
- **Average Fi1m score:** 75, as director, over 2 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 2010s 84 (1), 2020s 66 (1)
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruben_%C3%96stlund, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q211228, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1128037/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/56370

## Streaming the US now

- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*Force Majeure*](https://film.one/film/force-majeure.md) (84)
- **Netflix:** [*Triangle of Sadness*](https://film.one/film/triangle-of-sadness.md) (66)

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

## Fi1m on Ruben Östlund

> Ruben Östlund keeps watching after people have embarrassed themselves, and makes the explanations painfully funny. We rate him most when those people remain recognisable; his patience is less rewarding when the same accusation comes round again.

In *Force Majeure* (2014), a father runs from an avalanche, leaving his wife and children behind. Ruben Östlund holds the incident in a single shot, with cinematographer Fredrik Wenzel giving us time to notice both the danger and the response. We were appalled by the flight, then uneasy about how quickly we had condemned an instinctive act. That doubt is what makes his comedy worth the discomfort. He lets us judge Tomas, then leaves us sitting with the possibility that we would have done no better.

His first feature, *The Guitar Mongoloid* (2004), established his interest in outsiders and the ways people behave in company. *Involuntary* (2008) examined peer pressure, while *Play* (2011) built a prolonged confrontation around racial and class tensions. *Force Majeure* brought that scrutiny into a marriage and became his international breakthrough. The later satires broadened the settings to the contemporary art world in *The Square* (2017) and a luxury yacht in *Triangle of Sadness* (2022). Across these films, the recurring concern is what people do when their standing among others is threatened.

His long takes work because they give behaviour time to become embarrassing without a cut insisting on the joke. In *Force Majeure*, Tomas's refusal to acknowledge what happened supplies the next discomfort, and Östlund is willing to wait through the explanations. He and fellow editor Jacob Secher Schulsinger also let the marital conversations run beyond the point at which we want someone to stop talking. That is often funny, but the repetition matters: once Tomas's defensiveness and Ebba's anger are clear, another argument does not necessarily tell us more. Some exchanges sound too carefully arranged to set the audience a discussion topic.

Östlund is less persuasive when everyone seems lined up to be found wanting. The actors in *Force Majeure* keep the couple recognisable, so that finding Tomas ridiculous never quite settles the question of how we feel about him. We value that uncertainty more than another demonstration that people protect their status. Start with *Force Majeure*, but allow some time afterwards before asking your companion what they would have done.

## Biography

Ruben Östlund is a Swedish film director, screenwriter and editor. Born in 1974 in Styrsö, near Gothenburg, he studied at the film school in Gothenburg, graduating in 2001. He began by making skiing videos and later co-founded the production company Plattform Produktion with Erik Hemmendorff.

Östlund's early features include *The Guitar Mongoloid* (2004), *Involuntary* (2008) and *Play* (2011). He achieved international recognition with *Force Majeure* (2014), which he directed, wrote and co-edited. The film won the Jury Prize in the Un Certain Regard section at Cannes. Subsequent works include *The Square* (2017) and *Triangle of Sadness* (2022), both of which won the Palme d'Or at Cannes.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com.*

## On Fi1m (2)

- *Triangle of Sadness* (2022), Fi1m 66, Director, Writer, Editor — [page](https://film.one/film/triangle-of-sadness.md)
- *Force Majeure* (2014), Fi1m 84, Screenplay, Editor, Director — [page](https://film.one/film/force-majeure.md)

## Complete filmography (37)

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

- *Redoubt* (2026), Producer
- *Death of a Fantastic Machine* (2025), Production Consultant
- *Iris Berben - Ein persönliches Porträt* (2024), Actor
- *Life and Other Problems* (2024), Executive Producer
- *And the King Said, What a Fantastic Machine* (2023), Executive Producer
- *Beau Is Afraid* (2023), Thanks — Fi1m 60, [page](https://film.one/film/beau-is-afraid.md)
- *Triangle of Sadness* (2022), Editor, Director, Writer — Fi1m 66, [page](https://film.one/film/triangle-of-sadness.md)
- *Snow thérapie* (2022), Original Film Writer
- *Marks* (2022), Thanks
- *Downhill* (2020), Executive Producer, Original Film Writer
- *The Square* (2017), Director, Writer, Editor
- *Fight on a Swedish Beach!!* (2016), Creative Director
- *Ruben Östlund Attack on NATO* (2016), Director
- *Ten Meter Tower* (2016), Art Department Production Assistant
- *Force Majeure* (2014), Editor, Director, Screenplay — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/force-majeure.md)
- *Room 1112* (2012), Actor
- *Twin Brothers: 53 Scenes in Chronological Order* (2011), Executive Producer
- *Play* (2011), Director, Writer, Editor
- *Incident by a Bank* (2010), Director, Screenplay, Editor
- *Greetings from the Woods* (2009), Executive Producer
- *Involuntary* (2008), Director, Screenplay, Editor
- *An Extraordinary Study in Human Degradation* (2008), as Director of Photography · Producer
- *Nattbad* (2006), Director
- *Weekend* (2006), Editor, Executive Producer
- *Autobiographical Scene Number 6882* (2005), Director of Photography, Director, Writer, Editor
- *The Guitar Mongoloid* (2004), Director, Writer
- *Den ljusnande framtid är vår* (2004), Producer
- *Irmelin* (2003), Director of Photography
- *Mustasch: Down in Black* (2002), Director
- *Family Again* (2002), Editor, Director of Photography, Director
- *Kalle och bollhavet* (2002), Editor
- *Let the Others Deal With Love* (2001), Director, Cinematography, Screenplay, Editor
- *Scen nr 6345 ur mitt liv* (2001), Director, Writer
- *Free Radicals II* (1998), Director of Photography, Director
- *Free Radicals* (1997), Camera Operator, Director
- *Toast*, Director, Writer
- *The Entertainment System Is Down*, Director, Writer, Producer

## Gallery

- ![Ruben Östlund](https://film.one/media/person/121392/gallery-22404fa8de25.jpg) Ruben Östlund — Frankie Fouganthin, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/62/Ruben_%C3%96stlund_in_Aug_2014.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Valencia Film Festival 2015](https://film.one/media/person/121392/gallery-40dc890efecf.jpg) Valencia Film Festival 2015 — Plattform Produktion 2015, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8b/Prensa_imgs_447-dgs-4438.jpg/1280px-Prensa_imgs_447-dgs-4438.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Rüben Ostlund with his Golden Palm for "The Square" (2017)](https://film.one/media/person/121392/gallery-da80cc060ee9.jpg) Rüben Ostlund with his Golden Palm for "The Square" (2017) — FR, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9d/Ruben_Ostlund_-_The_Square_Golden_Palm.jpg/1280px-Ruben_Ostlund_-_The_Square_Golden_Palm.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Ruben Östlund (til højre) har skrevet manuskriptet og instrueret filmen Play, og står sammen med produceren Erik Hemmendorff, vinder af Nordisk Råds Filmpris 20](https://film.one/media/person/121392/gallery-f988959ef972.jpg) Ruben Östlund (til højre) har skrevet manuskriptet og instrueret filmen Play, og står sammen med produceren Erik Hemmendorff, vinder af Nordisk Råds Filmpris 20 — Gunnar Bangsmoen, Norsk filminstitutt, CC BY 2.5 dk, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bd/Ruben_ostlund_%28til_hojre%29_har_skrevet_manuskriptet_og_instrueret_filmen_Play%2C_og_star_sammen_med_produceren_Erik_Hemmendorff%2C_vinder_af_Nordisk_Rads_Filmpris_2012.jpg/1280px-thumbnail.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Ruben Östlund](https://film.one/media/person/121392/gallery-94b3449b4311.jpg) Ruben Östlund — Image via TMDB
- ![Ruben Östlund](https://film.one/media/person/121392/gallery-823bd2cf58fa.jpg) Ruben Östlund — Image via TMDB
- ![Ruben Östlund](https://film.one/media/person/121392/gallery-86362e4fb973.jpg) Ruben Östlund — Image via TMDB
- ![Ruben Östlund (til venstre) har skrevet manuskriptet og instrueret filmen Play, og står sammen med produceren Erik Hemmendorff, vinder af Nordisk Råds Filmpris ](https://film.one/media/person/121392/gallery-bf8691ef4263.jpg) Ruben Östlund (til venstre) har skrevet manuskriptet og instrueret filmen Play, og står sammen med produceren Erik Hemmendorff, vinder af Nordisk Råds Filmpris  — Gunnar Bangsmoen, Norsk filminstitutt, CC BY 2.5 dk, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e6/Ruben_ostlund_%28til_venstre%29_har_skrevet_manuskriptet_og_instrueret_filmen_Play%2C_og_star_sammen_med_produceren_Erik_Hemmendorff%2C_vinder_af_Nordisk_Rads_Filmpris_2012.jpg/1280px-thumbnail.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Ruben Östlund har skrevet manuskriptet og instrueret filmen Play, og står sammen med produceren Erik Hemmendorff, vinder af Nordisk Råds Filmpris 2012.](https://film.one/media/person/121392/gallery-42ca9ea53954.jpg) Ruben Östlund har skrevet manuskriptet og instrueret filmen Play, og står sammen med produceren Erik Hemmendorff, vinder af Nordisk Råds Filmpris 2012. — Gunnar Bangsmoen, Norsk filminstitutt, CC BY 2.5 dk, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4b/Ruben_ostlund_%28til_venstre%29_har_skrevet_manuskriptet_og_instrueret_filmen_Play%2C_og_star_sammen_med_produceren_Erik_Hemmendorff%2C_vinder_af_Nordisk_Rads_Filmpris_2012_%28cropped%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Ruben Östlund](https://film.one/media/person/121392/gallery-53eae754eab9.jpg) Ruben Östlund — Image via TMDB
- ![Ruben Östlund](https://film.one/media/person/121392/gallery-53232c21616f.jpg) Ruben Östlund — Image via TMDB

## Awards

### Academy Awards — 0 won, 2 nominated

- 2023: Best Writing, Original Screenplay (nominated), for *Triangle of Sadness*
- 2023: Best Director (nominated), for *Triangle of Sadness*

### Cannes Film Festival — 2 won

- 2022: Palme d'Or (won), for *Triangle of Sadness*
- 2017: Palme d'Or (won), for *The Square*

### Other awards — 17 won, 5 nominated

- Guldbagge Award for Best Director 2023: Guldbagge Award for Best Director (won), for *Triangle of Sadness*
- European Film Award for Best Director 2022: European Film Award for Best Director (won), for *Triangle of Sadness*
- European Film Award for Best Film 2022: European Film Award for Best Film (won), for *Triangle of Sadness*
- European Film Award for Best Screenwriter 2022: European Film Award for Best Screenwriter (won), for *Triangle of Sadness*
- H. M. The King's Medal 2020: H. M. The King's Medal (won)
- Guldbagge Award for Best Director 2018: Guldbagge Award for Best Director (won), for *The Square*
- European Film Award for Best Comedy 2017: European Film Award for Best Comedy (won), for *The Square*
- European Film Award for Best Director 2017: European Film Award for Best Director (won), for *The Square*
- European Film Award for Best Film 2017: European Film Award for Best Film (won), for *The Square*
- European Film Award for Best Screenwriter 2017: European Film Award for Best Screenwriter (won), for *The Square*
- Guldbagge Award for Best Director 2017: Guldbagge Award for Best Director (won), for *The Square*
- European Film Award – People's Choice Award for Best European Film 2015: European Film Award – People's Choice Award for Best European Film (nominated), for *Force Majeure*
- Greta 2015: Greta (won), for *Force Majeure*
- European Film Award for Best Director 2014: European Film Award for Best Director (nominated), for *Force Majeure*
- European Film Award for Best Film 2014: European Film Award for Best Film (nominated), for *Force Majeure*
- Guldbagge Award for Best Director 2014: Guldbagge Award for Best Director (won), for *Force Majeure*
- Guldbagge Award for Best Screenplay 2014: Guldbagge Award for Best Screenplay (won), for *Force Majeure*
- Nordic Council Film Prize 2012: Nordic Council Film Prize (won), for *Play*
- European Film Award for Best Short Film 2011: European Film Award for Best Short Film (nominated), for *Incident by a Bank*
- Guldbagge Award for Best Director 2011: Guldbagge Award for Best Director (won), for *Play*
- Short Film Golden Bear 2010: Short Film Golden Bear (won), for *Incident by a Bank*
- European Film Award for Best Short Film 2005: European Film Award for Best Short Film (nominated), for *Autobiographical Scene Number 6882*

*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/ruben-ostlund