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Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →For a five-film ranking, Purple Noon (1960) comes first, followed by The American Friend (1977), The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999), Ripley’s Game (2002; sometimes listed as 2003), and Ripley Under Ground (2005). This is an editorial selection of feature adaptations, not a claim that these are the only screen versions: Netflix’s Ripley (2024) is a limited series, and Naan (2012) is a loosely based Tamil-language film.
The ranking weighs how each film interprets Patricia Highsmith’s character and story, the coherence of its adaptation, its performances, visual style and use of place, and its pacing. It favors distinctive filmmaking and persuasive character work over release order. Different priorities can change the result: viewers drawn to lush period melodrama may prefer the 1999 film, while those interested in stylized European cinema may favor the top two.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
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The Talented Mr. Ripley | $4.82 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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The Talented Mr. Ripley | $11.98 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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The Talented Mr. Ripley | $10.55 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Talented Mr. Ripley, The / Ripley's Game (DBFE) | $8.97 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
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Talented Mr. Ripley, the | $9.99 | Buy on Amazon |
Which Tom Ripley movie is best?
1. Purple Noon (1960)
René Clément’s film is the earliest feature adaptation in this list, with Alain Delon playing Ripley. Its strongest claim to the top spot is the tension between Ripley’s allure and the danger underneath it: Delon makes the character compelling to watch, while the film’s visual approach gives the story a particular atmosphere. Paramount’s listing identifies Purple Noon as the story’s first filming. Paramount Pictures
2. The American Friend (1977)
Wim Wenders adapts Highsmith’s Ripley’s Game as an art-world neo-noir, with Dennis Hopper as Ripley and Bruno Ganz in a central supporting role. Its place near the top rests on its distinctive filmmaking and performances. It is a strong choice for viewers who want a more stylized, European-cinema take than the later, more accessible 1999 adaptation.
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3. The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999)
Anthony Minghella’s Italian-set film stars Matt Damon, Jude Law, and Gwyneth Paltrow. Its ensemble and polished presentation make it an approachable entry point to Ripley’s story. The trade-off is that its changes to Highsmith’s plot and characterization may be less satisfying for viewers who prize a closer fit with the novel or a more unsettling interpretation of Ripley.
4. Ripley’s Game (2002; sometimes listed as 2003)
Liliana Cavani’s adaptation of the third Ripley novel stars John Malkovich as an older, established Ripley. That premise offers a useful contrast with films centered on his earlier schemes. The film ranks lower here because the consulted critical roundup found its storytelling less effective; that is one publication’s judgment, not a settled consensus.
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5. Ripley Under Ground (2005)
Directed by Roger Spottiswoode and starring Barry Pepper, this film adapts Highsmith’s second Ripley novel. The same roundup judged its tone uneven and its departures from the book substantial, making it the least cohesive adaptation in this ranking. It is not an official sequel to the 1999 film in a shared movie continuity.
What order should you watch the Ripley movies in?
For a first watch, follow the ranking above: it moves from the most distinctive feature adaptation here to the least persuasive, while keeping the viewing choices easy to compare. If you prefer release order, watch Purple Noon, The American Friend, The Talented Mr. Ripley, Ripley’s Game, and Ripley Under Ground. These films adapt different Ripley novels and are not a single, continuous film series, so you do not need to watch them as chapters in one storyline.
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Rank #3
Is Ripley a movie or a series?
Ripley (2024) is a Netflix limited series, not a feature film. Netflix lists Andrew Scott as Tom Ripley, Dakota Fanning as Marge Sherwood, and Johnny Flynn as Dickie Greenleaf; Steven Zaillian wrote and directed all eight episodes. The premise begins with Tom being sent to persuade a wealthy man’s son to return from Italy, drawing him into deceit, fraud, and murder. Netflix Media Center
A TIME review describes the eight-hour series as closer to the novel’s plot than the 1960 and 1999 films, and notes its black-and-white cinematography. That is the reviewer’s comparison rather than a universal verdict. TIME
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How does Purple Noon compare with The Talented Mr. Ripley?
Both adapt Highsmith’s first Ripley novel, but they offer different viewing experiences. Purple Noon is the earlier, more stylized European film, with Delon at its center; The Talented Mr. Ripley is a later, ensemble-led Italian-set production with Damon, Law, and Paltrow. Choose the 1960 film for Clément’s visual approach and Delon’s interpretation; choose the 1999 film for its polished presentation and supporting cast. Neither should be treated as the definitive version for every viewer: the preference depends on whether character interpretation and style or accessible period drama matter more to you.
Are there other screen versions of Ripley?
Yes. The five entries above define a core feature-film selection rather than an exhaustive list of screen adaptations. The 2024 Ripley is a limited series, and Naan (2012) is a loosely based Tamil-language film. Readers who want to compare the films with Highsmith’s original characterization can also turn to her Ripley novels; the adaptations differ in plot, tone, and how they portray Tom.
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