1946 -

Forsyth describes Waterloo as a psychological monologue, which had some unexpected effects on the first audience he showed it to, namely emptying the theater. Regarding that film, Forsyth once said "I think most of them just left because it was boring. I suppose that was the first moment I felt like a filmmaker because I had actually moved an audience. If not emotionally or anything else I had actually moved them out of their seats."

For the most part, Forsyth's films have been comedies, but comedies with a human side to them. He describes Glaswegian humour as "the humour of despair, the humour of the gallows. The humour of awful circumstances or predicaments." While he is foremost a director, Forsyth has many times had to be a reluctant writer. He says that he would prefer not to write, but that it often ends up being a matter of necessity (although he does admit to enjoying the freedom of directing a script that's his own and not another writer's).

Forsyth's list of credits includes Being Human (1994), Breaking In (1989), Housekeeping (1987), Comfort and Joy (1984), Gregory's Girl (1982), and That Sinking Feeling (1979). The 1983 hit Local Hero was nominated for 6 British Academy Awards, including two for Forsyth, for Best Screenplay and Best Direction; it won Best Screenplay. Local Hero also received Best Screenplay honors from the US National Society of Film Critics and from the New York Film Critics Circle. Forsyth studied briefly at the National Film and Television School, but quit after three months to go back to film production.

Displaying a sense of Scottish practicality, Forsyth was once quoted as saying "It would be impossible to make films in Scotland without thermal underwear."