Christopher Hampton's plays, musicals and translations have garnered four Tony Awards, Two Olivier Awards, four Evening Standard Awards and the New York Theatre Critics Circle Award while prizes for his film and television work include An Academy Award, two BAFTAs, a Writer's Guild of America Award, the Prix Italian and a Special Jury Award at the Cannes Film Festival.

His plays include a translation of  Judgment Day at the Almeida (2009) and a translation of God of Carnage (2008) at the Gielgud Theatre starring Ralph Fiennes and on Broadway starring James Gandolfini (2009), Embers (2006) at the Duke of York’s Theatre starring Jeremy Irons, The Talking Cure (2002), Alice's Adventures Under Ground (1994), White Chameleon (1991) and Tales From Hollywood (1983)  (all at the Royal National Theatre); Les Liaisons Dangereuses, which  began at the R.S.C.'s Other Place in Stratford in Sept. 1985 and subsequently ran at the Ambassadors Theatre for over five years; Treats (1976), Savages (1973) The Philanthropist (1970), all of which transferred from the Royal Court Theatre  to the West End, where The Philanthropist ran for more than 1100 performances; Total Eclipse (1968) and When Did You Last See My Mother? (1966) (also at the  Royal Court Theatre), the last of which , when it transferred, made him the youngest playwright ever to have a play in the West End, a record which still stands.

Treats and Total Eclipse were both revived in London in 2007 to critical acclaim.
He has written (with Don Black) the book and lyrics for two musicals; Dracula (2004), with music by Frank Wildhorn and Sunset Boulevard (1992) with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber.

His other translations include: from Chekhov, The Seagull (2007 Royal Court, 2008 Broadway) Three Sisters (2003 A.T.G)  and Uncle Vanya (1970, Royal Court); from Ibsen, An Enemy of the People (1997), The Wild Duck (1979), and Hedda Gabler (1970) (all at the Royal National Theatre), Ghosts for the Actor's Company (1978) and A Doll's House (1971) with Claire Bloom on Broadway and in the West End, subsequently filmed (1973); from Odon von Horvath, Tales From The  Vienna Woods (1977) subsequently filmed (1979), Don Juan Comes Back From The War (1978) at the Royal National Theatre, Faith,  Hope and Charity (1989) at the Lyric, Hammersmith; Tartuffe by Moliere at the R.S.C (1983) and from Yasmina Reza, Life x 3 (2000) at the Royal National Theatre,  Conversations after a Burial (2000) at the Almeida, The Unexpected Man (1997) at the R.S.C. and "Art", which opened  at Wyndham's in Oct.1996 and ran for over 2500 performances.

His Television work includes: The Ginger Tree (1989 from Oswald Wynd),  Hotel du Lac (1986, from Anita Brookner), The History Man (1980,  from Malcolm Bradbury) and Able's Will (1977).

Screenplays include: Dangerous Method (2011), Cheri (2009) Atonement (2007), The Quiet American (2002), Mary Reilly (1996),  Total Eclipse (1995), Dangerous Liaisons (1988), The Good Father (1986) and The Honorary Consul (1983).
He has also written and directed three films: Imagining Argentina (2004), The Secret Agent (1996) and Carrington (1995).