Shallow Grave, 1994

Boyle had directed theatre and TV movies before his feature directorial debut; a tar-black comedy thriller with Hitchcockian influences. The screenplay was written by John Hodge, who would continue to collaborate with Danny Boyle on Trainspotting, A Life Less Ordinary, The Beach, Trance and Trainspotting 2. The film was notable for becoming the first of many collaborations between Boyle and the then relatively unknown actor, Ewan McGregor. Revolving around a trio of unlikely friends who end up concealing the death of their new, rich flatmate, the film is filled with dark humour, tension and double-crossings galore. Boyle’s distinctive and inventive style is already evident here, seen in the relentless pacing, a claustrophobic sense of tension and atmospheric score. Of the film, Boyle has said “I have this theory that your first film is always your best film in some way. I always try to get back to that moment when you're not relying on things you've done before.”

Trainspotting, 1996

Voted the best Scottish film of all time, and the tenth best British film ever, Boyle’s adaptation of Irvine Welsh’s novel has become iconic for its depiction of friendship, addiction, urban poverty and the Thatcherite 80s. Boyle’s direction combined with John Hodge’s script is scabrous and brutal, moving from raw visceral realism, cinematic fantasy and explosive stylistic choices, including the incredible soundtrack. The film was a provocative risk on many levels – the profanity, the graphic depictions of heroin-induced highs, and even the actors’ use of heavy Scottish accents, which proved challenging for American audiences. But as Boyle said after the release of the film, Irvine Welsh’s own words became a filmmaking philosophy driving the film. “‘Take risks’ is the one I got from Trainspotting. Really take risks. I haven’t always clung to it, but I certainly always return to it. And I love that. That’s what people go to the movies for. They don’t go to see what’s acceptable.”

The Beach, 2000

Adapted from Alex Garland’s novel by John Hodge, this atmospheric drama thriller proved to be Boyle’s most challenging film. After planning to cast frequent collaborator Ewan McGregor in the lead role, Boyle ultimately cast Leonardo DiCaprio, who was hot off the monumental success of Titanic. Boyle and McGregor wouldn’t speak for nearly a decade. The film’s production also proved hugely controversial, as locals protested film’s bulldozing and clearing of Ko Phi Phi Leh beach and surrounding trees. Environmentalists ended up filing lawsuits against 20th Century Fox and some Thai government officials, complaining about permanent damage. Boyle has said that The Beach is “a brilliant idea from Alex Garland’s novel. And I don’t think that I made the best job of it as a director. I’d make a much better film of it now. I was rather overawed by the money, and the way the film was set up. It was huge, not really suited to what I’ve learned I’m better at.”

Slumdog Millionaire, 2008

Boyle’s smash hit drama starred Dev Patel as a teenager from Mumbai who ends up as a contestant on the Indian version of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire – and surprises everyone by answering every question correctly. When accused of cheating, Jamal’s life story reveals an epic tale of poverty, loss, family, love – and knowledge amassed in the most unexpected ways. Having learned his lesson on The Beach and being wary of being intrusive Westerners in India, Boyle tried to shoot Slumdog Millionaire with only a tiny American crew, hiring locals as actors and extras, and Bollywood professionals to round out the crew. Slumdog Millionaire won eight Academy Awards, and when Boyle went onstage to accept his Best Director award, he was literally bouncing with joy. Boyle later explained, "My kids are too old to remember this now but, when they were much younger, I swore to them if this miracle ever happened, I would receive it in the spirit of Tigger from Winnie the Pooh, and that's what that was."

127 Hours, 2010

Never has Boyle’s love of a stylistic shift felt so clear as his transition between Slumdog Millionaire to 127 Hours. Moving from a hectic, vibrant, country-sweeping, multi-strand story to a film that revolves around a single actor in one claustrophobic location, James Franco plays real life rock climber Aron Ralston, who spent five days stuck in a canyon after a rockslide, his arm pinned by an immovable boulder. Franco is superb in the role, bringing us on Ralston’s journey through the five stages of grief – and the ultimate act of “acceptance” when he decides to remove his own arm. A.R. Rahamn’s synthpop score is alternately energetic, tense and spine-chilling – but the film itself manages to be funny and uplifting as well as tense. “This is a film about how precious life is,” Boyle explained to NPR. “And it's only precious because of other people. It's not precious in itself, which is what we sometimes think -- we think the will to survive is an individualistic thing. But it's actually connected to other people. And that's what the life essence is really about -- it's always about other people, even in the loneliest places."

Yesterday is in cinemas from today, Friday June 28. Watch the trailer for it below: