The 60 Best Movies Of All Time (2024)

Here are the Best Movies of all time, as evaluated by Screen Rant. Covering Guillermo del Toro’s Pan’s Labyrinth to Alfred Hitchco*ck’s classic thriller Rear Window, with cartoon rats, gangsters and superheroes in between, it’s the perfect list for emerging cinephiles or checking off essential watches.

Deciding the best movies ever takes a balance of objective and subjective preference, which can differ for industry professionals and general viewers. Something as important as the greatest movies of all time requires some advanced thinking, beyond the opinion of a single writer. With that in mind, Screen Rant's ranking collates critical scores and the opinions of movie lovers to compile the definitive list of the most highly rated movies of all time.

60 The Grapes of Wrath (1940)

Classic Adaptation of A Depression-Era Story Of Heroism

The Grapes of Wrath

5.0

Passed

Drama

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After serving time for murder, Tom Joad returns to find his family's farm abandoned. With former preacher Casy, they join the exodus to California for work. Along the journey, they face loss, exploitation, and violence. Tom defends his family but knows he must continue fighting for justice, leaving his worried mother behind as they seek a better future up north.

Director

John Ford

Release Date

January 24, 1940

Cast

Henry Fonda , Jane Darwell , John Carradine , Shirley Mills , John Qualen , Eddie Qullian

Runtime

129 Minutes

An incredibly important moment in the history of the United States of America, The Grapes of Wrath began life in 1939 as John Steinbeck's Pulitzer prize-winning novel. A year later, legend of cinema John Ford took the reins of an adaptation that stars Henry Fonda as Tom Joad, a recently released prisoner who leads his family across the States to California after the Great Depression robs them of their farm and livelihood.

One of the greatest realist movies ever made, Ford's take on the novel is a haunting look at a dark time in the country's early history, buoyed by excellent performances - particularly from Fonda - and one of the earliest examples of Hollywood giving its platform to the voice of the working class.

59 The Devil Wears Prada (2006)

A high-fashion flick that became an icon

The Devil Wears Prada

4.5

PG-13

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Based on Lauren Weisberger's novel, The Devil Wears Prada stars Anne Hathaway as Andrea Sachs, an aspiring journalist who, after landing a job with top New York fashion designer Miranda Priestly, gets drawn deeper and deeper into the cutthroat world of the fashion industry. Meryl Streep stars alongside Hathaway as Miranda Priestly, with a further cast that includes Emily Blunt, Stanley Tucci, and Simon Baker.

Release Date

June 30, 2006

Director

David Frankel

Cast

Anne Hathaway , Stanley Tucci , Meryl Streep , Adrian Grenier , Emily Blunt , Simon Baker , Tracie Thoms , Rich Sommer

Runtime

109 Minutes

It's hard to define The Devil Wears Prada, as it seems, at times, to have the energy of a great rom-com, but romance is far from the central plot of this iconic 2000s film. Instead, the movie looks at the fashion industry, at ambitious women and the sacrifices that they make to be successful, and at female friendships (even if they do not start out as friendships at all). It's a movie that defies easy categorization because it refused to play by the rules of drama, with a style and brightness more fitting a comedy, but is too sincere to truly be considered a comedy. Instead, it stands entirely on its own - and is stunning for knowing exactly what it is, and refusing to apologize for it. Miranda would be proud.

The Devil Wears Prada has also had an impressively lasting impact on pop culture - it was nominated for two Oscars, parodied by The Simpsons and The Office, and even referenced in politics, when Senator Amy Klobuchar was compared to Miranda Priestly while she was seeking the Democratic Presidential Nomination. It has become entrenched in the pop culture language of memes and gifs, and has become the defining portrayal of over-demanding bosses and of overworked assistants. And now, almost two decades after the original release, a sequel has been announced as on the way. Whether it can find the same success of the original, of course, is yet to be seen.

58 Ratatouille (2007)

Pixar's Beautiful Story Of Talent In Unexpected Places

Ratatouille

4.5

G

Animation

Comedy

Drama

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Remy the rat dreams of becoming a great chef despite the world's anti-rodent bias. After moving to Paris to follow his dream, he teams up with kitchen assistant Linguini and shows off his culinary skills in a professional kitchen. But can the pair convince the world's most notorious food critic that anyone can be a chef?

Director

Brad Bird

Release Date

June 29, 2007

Cast

Patton Oswalt , Ian Holm , Lou Romano , Brad Garrett , Peter O'Toole , Janeane Garofalo , Brian Dennehy , Peter Sohn , Will Arnett

Runtime

111 Minutes

After convincing the world's children that their toys were alive, and painting imaginative worlds for insects, cars, the monsters under their beds, fish, and superheroes, Pixar took their boldest step by telling the story of a gourmet rat. As perverse as the idea might have appeared, Ratatouille — directed by Brad Bird and Jan Pinkava — is a gentle meditation on following dreams and the wholesome pursuit of art.

Patton Oswalt is the rat, Remy, who commandeers the career of aspiring chef Alfredo Linguini (Lou Romano) to explore his passion. It's a joyous, heart-filled, and personal comedy-drama that deserves to rank alongside Pixar's best, with an infamous reflection on the nature of criticism as a great stinger.

57 12 Years A Slave (2013)

Best Picture Winning Story Of Stolen Freedom

12 Years a Slave

3.0

r

Drama

Directed by Steve McQueen and based on the 1853 memoir by Solomon Northup, 12 Years a Slave tells the story of Northrup, a free black man from New York who, in 1841, is captured and sold into slavery in the south. Separated from his family, and forced to endure intense brutality at the hands of his new masters, Northrup works tirelessly to stay alive and regain his freedom. The film stars Chiwetel Ejiofor as Northrup, with a cast that includes Lupita Nyong'0, Michael Fassbender, Paul Dano, and Benedict Cumberbatch.

Release Date

January 9, 2014

Director

Steve McQueen

Cast

Chiwetel Ejiofor , Michael Fassbender , Brad Pitt , Lupita Nyong'o , Benedict Cumberbatch

Runtime

134minutes

The 2013 biographical drama is based on the 1853 memoir by Solomon Northup, a free Black man kidnapped and sold into slavery in 1941. Northup is forced to work on Louisiana plantations with varying cruelties for 12 years before being released. The Steve McQueen-directed drama 12 Years a Slave isn't easy to watch, but it’s an important and crucial piece of filmmaking that tells the honest, painful stories that need to be told.

It’s an upsetting portrait of the lows of humanity and a deeply emotional exploration of what it means to live, which is enhanced by the brilliant performances of Chiwetel Ejiofor and Lupita Nyong’o in her Oscar-winning feature film debut. 12 Years a Slave is also a triumph in cinema for its cinematography, moving score, and McQueen’s direction.

56 The Treasure Of The Sierra Madre (1948)

Humphrey Bogart's Dark Performance Leads This Tale Of Greed

The Treasure of the Sierra Madre

5.0

Not Rated

Adventure

Drama

Western

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In this classic adventure, Dobbs (Humphrey Bogart) and Curtin (Tim Holt) team up with an experienced prospector Howard to hunt for gold in Mexico's Sierra Madre mountains. Amidst treasure and peril, they confront ruthless bandits and inner demons fueled by greed, risking conflict and betrayal in their quest for riches.

Release Date

January 24, 1948

Director

John Huston

Cast

Humphrey Bogart , Walter Huston , Tim Holt , Bruce Bennett , Barton MacLane

Runtime

126 Minutes

John Huston’s Western tells the story of two men who unite with an old prospector to search for gold in Mexico, only to face trouble from themselves and bandits after striking rich. The Treasure of the Sierra Madre is a thrilling portrait of greed and corruption, with the character of Fred Dobbs being one of the best performances of the legendary Humphrey Bogart’s career.

It’s an exciting Western and adventure film that uses dark humor to tell its moral lesson, with superb direction by master filmmaker John Huston and a screenplay that uses the magical presence and wit of a haggard Bogart to its greatest extent.

55 Jaws (1975)

An Epic Battle Between One Man And The Shark Terrorizing His Community

Jaws

5.0

PG-13

Adventure

Horror

Thriller

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Steven Spielberg's legendary tale of one man's desperate battle with a killer Great White shark on his small seaside community. Faced with a mounting list of victims and a local authority dead-set against causing panic or destroying the tourist economy, he assembles a team to tackle the shark head-on.

Release Date

June 18, 1975

Director

Steven Spielberg

Cast

Roy Scheider , Robert Shaw , Richard Dreyfuss , Lorraine Gary , Murray Hamilton , Carl Gottlieb

Runtime

124 minutes

Jaws is the ultimate expression of the power of suggestion in cinema. Partly out of necessity, thanks to a notoriously bumpy production, Spielberg's big fish movie conspicuously chooses to show Bruce the shark, as he was affectionately known, very little. In place of showing him, his presence was anxiously felt thanks to perfect camera trickery that put the audience in the perverse position of underwater attacker, and a couple of notes on a tuba. And that was more than enough.

The film isn't really about a shark, as much as it's about paranoia and how humans react to startling tragedy. Roy Scheider is the everyman and the stand-in for the audience, equally as appalled by his community's wilful ignorance to the shark as he is terrified by its threat. He takes it upon himself to deal with the situation, with a sceptical scientist type (Richard Dreyfus), and a walking-talking caricature in Robert Shaw's Quint. And it's their fight for survival that becomes the most compelling part of Jaws, to the point that the final triumph is a true air-punching moment. - Simon Gallagher, Executive Editor

54 City Lights (1931)

A Silent And Romantic Charlie Chaplin Adventure

City Lights

5.0

G

Drama

Romance

Comedy

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Charlie Chaplin's tramp falls for a blind flower girl facing eviction. Despite repeated failures to help, a chance encounter with a drunken millionaire offers hope. Rewarded for his heroism, the tramp can finally alter the flower girl's fate, in this heartfelt tale of love and resilience on the city streets.

Release Date

March 7, 1931

Director

Charles Chaplin

Cast

Charlie Chaplin , Virginia Cherrill , Al Ernest Garcia , Albert Austin , Henry Bergman

Runtime

87 Minutes

The wide-eyed Tramp recruits the help of an alcoholic millionaire to raise money to restore the eyesight of a blind flower seller with whom he has fallen in love. City Lights is the greatest use of filmmaker Charlie Chaplin’s iconic character The Tramp, with the actor-director continuing to delight critics and audiences with a silent picture four years after “talkies” began.

The film features some of the Tramp’s funniest sequences and a touching pathos as he attempts to romance a blind flower seller and earn money to restore her sight. City Lights is the genius intersection of Chaplin’s inimitable humor and sentiment, which proved that he didn’t need sound to craft a wonderful story in the new Hollywood.

53 Three Colors: Red (1994)

The Highlight Of The Art-House Trilogy

Three Colors: Red

5.0

R

Mystery

Romance

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After accidentally hitting his dog, part-time model Valentine meets a retired judge. Initially gifted the dog, her possessive boyfriend forces her to return it. Returning to the judge's home, she discovers his habit of eavesdropping on neighbors' calls. Initially appalled, their ensuing debates about privacy and morality create an unexpected connection between them, despite their differences, in this compelling exploration of human relationships.

Release Date

May 12, 1994

Director

Krzysztof Kieślowski

Cast

Irène Jacob , Jean-Louis Trintignant , Jean-Pierre Lorit , Frédérique Feder

Runtime

99 Minutes

Three Colors: Red follows a model who meets a retired judge with an interest in listening to others’ private moments, after which time the two form an unexpected bond. The brilliant 1994 film is a quintessential example of art-house cinema that provides a warm and contemplative narrative of fate and human connection.

The final installment in Krzysztof Kieślowski’s Three Colors trilogy about French ideals, Red is celebrated for its beautiful depiction of camaraderie, bonds, and the interconnected lives of people who seemingly share little in common or represent opposing personalities and outlooks on the world.

52 Touch Of Evil (1958)

A B-Movie Crime Plot Told By A Master Filmmaker

Touch of Evil

5.0

PG-13

Noir

Thriller

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After a car bomb detonates at the U.S./Mexico border, Mexican agent Miguel Vargas and American captain Hank Quinlan investigate. As Vargas uncovers corruption within Quinlan's team, his pursuit of justice jeopardizes his safety and his wife's, in this tense thriller.

Release Date

April 23, 1958

Director

Orson Welles

Cast

Charlton Heston , Janet Leigh , Orson Welles , Joseph Calleia , Akim Tamiroff , Marlene Dietrich , Zsa Zsa Gabor

Runtime

111 Minutes

Orson Welles’ film noir centers on a murder mystery at the US/Mexico border. As a Mexican drug enforcement agent suspects an American police captain of planting evidence, the investigation places himself and his wife in danger. The twists and turns of Touch of Evil are a masterpiece in film noir and depict the grayness of good and evil.

Welles’ style, the performances of himself, Charlton Heston, and Janet Leigh, as well as the poignant music combine to form a vividly entertaining unorthodox pulp. As one of the best movies of all time, Touch of Evil is an essential viewing for film noir in the classic era and Welles’ filmography.

51 Pinocchio (1940)

Disney Magic Brings The Fairy Tale To Life

Pinocchio

5.0

G

Animation

Adventure

Drama

Family

Fantasy

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Jiminy Cricket narrates the story of Geppetto, a woodworker who creates Pinocchio, a puppet brought to life by the Blue Fairy. Pinocchio faces trials guided by Jiminy's conscience, encountering deceitful characters like Honest John and a cursed Pleasure Island. When Pinocchio saves his father from a whale but sacrifices himself, his selflessness earns him real boyhood. Celebrating his transformation, Jiminy receives recognition for his guidance from the Blue Fairy.

Release Date

February 23, 1940

Director

Hamilton Luske , Ben Sharpsteen

Cast

Mel Blanc , Don Brodie , Walter Catlett , Marion Darlington , Frankie Darro , Cliff Edwards

Runtime

88 minutes

Adapted from an 1883 Italian children’s story, Disney’s Pinocchio is about a wooden puppet who must prove himself worthy to become a real boy. Following Snow White (1937), Pinocchio is the second animated feature made by Disney, which was an ambitious venture with an emotional core that has stood the test of time.

Still culturally relevant today, the film was a brilliant technical achievement for Disney that set the tone for the enchanting nature, beautiful visuals, and storytelling power that became the golden standard for animation. Pinocchio was also the first animated feature to win a competitive award at the Oscars, including Best Original Song and Best Original Score.

50 Hoop Dreams (1994)

A Documentary About Aspiring Basketball Stars

Hoop Dreams

5.0

PG-13

Documentary

Sports

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Hoop Dreams is a 1994 sports documentary film by director Steve James. The film follows the high school years of two young African-American men from Chicago pursuing their dream of being in the NBA despite the physical and social challenges they had to overcome during their era.

Release Date

October 14, 1994

Director

Steve James

Cast

William Gates , Arthur Agee

Runtime

170 Minutes

The groundbreaking sports documentary depicts the stories of two aspiring inner-city Chicago basketball players, following them through high school as they work toward college scholarships and their dreams of playing professionally in the NBA. Proving the emotional power of documentary filmmaking, Hoop Dreams remains one of the most inspiring films of all time as a sobering portrait of social inequality with high school basketball as the backdrop.

Hoop Dreams looks at the impacts that race, class, uncontrollable hurdles, and education inequality have on the players' experiences and goals. The teens’ heartbreaking adversity and well-earned victories yield rewarding results that will appeal to even the most cynical of viewers.

49 The Rules Of The Game (1939)

An Examination Of Class In Wartime

The Rules Of The Game (1939)

5.0

Not Rated

Comedy

Drama

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The Rules of the Game is a satirical, dramedy film by director Jean Renoir that was released in 1939. A satire of the upper class, the film follows members of the bourgeois and their servants as they arrive at the beginning of World War II and presents a darkly comedic perspective of the upper class's moral indifference to the plights of the lower class during the era.

Release Date

July 8, 1939

Director

Jean Renoir

Cast

Nora Gregor , Paulette Dubost , Mila Parély , Marcel Dalio , Julien Carette , Roland Toutain , Gaston Modot , Pierre Magnier , Jean Renoir

Runtime

110 minutes

The 20th-century French movie directed by Jean Renoir surrounds members of upper-class French society and their servants as they gather in a château in the time leading up to World War II. The Rules of the Game was generally dismissed by critics and audiences upon release but has gained a more positive and influential legacy over time.

The social satire has since been lauded for its biting satire of the upper class and criticism of social pretenses, with the film also being important for its early use of deep-focus cinematography and complex sound. Its influence can also be seen in films like The Big Chill and Gosford Park.

48 Playtime (1967)

A Sci-Fi Comedy Masterpiece

Playtime

5.0

Not Rated

Comedy

In bustling Paris, clumsy Monsieur Hulot navigates a maze of gadgetry, getting lost on his way to a business meeting. Alongside an American tourist, their paths intertwine in the city's inventive chaos, sparking mutual intrigue. Their journey culminates in a chaotic restaurant encounter, where they, along with other eccentric characters, find connection amidst the commotion.

Release Date

December 16, 1967

Director

Jacques Tati

Cast

Jacques Tati

Runtime

124 Minutes

Set in a hyper-consumerist, futuristic Paris, the comedy surrounds a Frenchman lost in the high-tech city who continues to encounter a young American woman visiting Paris with a tourist group. Playtime has been celebrated as Jacque Tati’s masterpiece, with pioneering sight gags that provide brilliant satire and praise of modernization.

It’s a playful comedy with ambitious, complex craftsmanship marked by its visuals and ability to turn daily minutiae into grand spectacles. A true example in the art of filmmaking, Playtime is playing with paradoxes of simplicity and complexity throughout to make a wonderfully enjoyable satire.

WHERE TO WATCH PLAYTIME

47 Notorious (1946)

Hitchco*ck's Gripping Spy Thriller

Notorious (1946)

5.0

Not Rated

Noir

Thriller

Romance

U.S. agent T.R. Devlin enlists Alicia Huberman, daughter of a German war criminal, as a spy to infiltrate Nazi circles in Brazil. As Alicia and Devlin develop feelings, her mission to seduce Alexander Sebastian, a high-ranking Nazi, intensifies. However, Alicia's growing involvement with Sebastian complicates matters, forcing Devlin to watch her descend deeper into danger undercover.

Release Date

August 15, 1946

Director

Alfred Hitchco*ck

Cast

Cary Grant , Ingrid Bergman , Claude Rains , Louis Calhern , Leopoldine Konstantin

Runtime

101 Minutes

The daughter of a convicted Nazi is requested by American agents to take on the dangerous task of gathering information from Nazi scientists in South America. Featuring compelling performances by Ingrid Berman, Claude Rains, and frequent Hitchco*ck collaborator Cary Grant, Notorious ushered the director into a crucial new era of sophisticated filmmaking by utilizing his talents with espionage thrillers to craft a fatal love triangle full of twists and deception.

In addition to the timely political themes in a post-WWII society, Notorious succeeds in its emotionally romantic story and visual elegance on behalf of Hitchco*ck’s style and the lead characters.

46 Singin’ In The Rain (1952)

One Of The Greatest Musicals Of All Time

Singin' in the Rain

5.0

G

Comedy

Musical

Romance

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Singin' in the Rain is a 1952 romantic-comedy musical by directors Stanley Donen and Gene Kelly. Centering on the 1920s era of Hollywood, Singin' in the Rain follows two movie stars forced to adjust to the talking pictures era of films. When the film's leading man realizes his on-screen partner's voice is less than pleasing, a young singer is brought in to dub her lines - including her singing, causing a mix of joy and chaos behind the scenes.

Release Date

April 11, 1952

Director

Stanley Donen , Gene Kelly

Cast

Gene Kelly , Donald O'Connor , Debbie Reynolds , Jean Hagen , Millard Mitchell , Cyd Charisse

Runtime

103 Minutes

The musical romantic comedy depicts Hollywood in the late 1920s, following three performers who traverse the transition from silent pictures to “talkies.” With dazzling performances by Gene Kelly, Debbie Reynolds, and Donald O’Connor, Singin’ in the Rain is a charming and humorous musical that ironically uses the glamour and style of movie-making to lightheartedly pull back the curtain on Hollywood's deceptions.

The movie features entertaining banter between the characters, iconic song and dance sequences like the famous title number, and a good-spirited story that rewards those who love the movies and the process behind them. It's also a callback to a Hollywood that simply doesn't exist any more, and the nostalgia factor works very hard here.

45 The Lady Vanishes (1938)

A Disappearance Aboard A Train Leads To Intrigue And Humor In The Early Hitchco*ck Thriller

The Lady Vanishes

5.0

Not Rated

Mystery

Thriller

Trapped by an avalanche, Iris befriends Miss Froy on a train to England. But when Miss Froy vanishes and fellow passengers deny her existence, Iris investigates with a fellow traveler, sparking romance amid mystery.

Release Date

October 7, 1938

Director

Alfred Hitchco*ck

Cast

Margaret Lockwood , Michael Redgrave , Paul Lukas , Dame May Whitty

Runtime

97 Minutes

Alfred Hitchco*ck’s The Lady Vanishes follows Iris, a young English tourist traveling through Europe by train, who awakens to discover that her elderly companion has inexplicably disappeared. After other passengers deny the lady’s existence, Iris works with another traveler to solve the mystery. The Lady Vanishes is early British Hitchco*ck at his finest, renowned as an unconventional and sophisticated comedy-thriller that stands as one of the director’s wittiest films.

It arrived amid the popularity of train movies in the 1930s, though Hitchco*ck’s entertaining direction, the chemistry between the leads, and the clever construction of the mystery make it an unmissable example of its genre and certainly one of the best Alfred Hitchco*ck movies.

44 Moonlight (2016)

A Coming-of-age Story About Self-Acceptance Won Best Picture

Moonlight

4.5

R

Drama

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Written and directed by Barry Jenkins, Moonlight follows Chiron (Trevante Rhodes, Ashton Sanders, and Alex Hibbert) during three stages of his life, starting in childhood and progressing all the way up through adulthood. The film explores themes of identity and sexuality, chronicling Chiron's life as a gay black man growing up in Miami to an abusive, drug-addicted mother.

Release Date

October 21, 2016

Director

Barry Jenkins

Cast

Janelle Monae , Edson Jean , Alex R. Hibbert , Mahershala Ali , Ashton Sanders , Duan Sanderson , Jaden Piner , Shariff Earp , Patrick Decile , Naomie Harris , Rudi Goblen

Runtime

111 Minutes

Moonlight follows the journey into manhood of a young Black man who explores his identity and sexuality with the kindness and support of his community raising him. While Moonlight may always be associated with the Oscars flub that mistakenly announced La La Land as the Best Picture winner instead, the film is truly a gripping emotional journey of a boy’s life that is depicted with caring empathy and humanity.

Told in three parts of Chiron’s life, Moonlight is a quiet, visually engrossing experience that’s both tender and tough in how it addresses its heartfelt themes. It’s the type of story that’s rarely depicted on-screen in Hollywood, with Moonlight demanding that more be told.

43 Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)

The Russo Brothers Shake Up The Superhero Genre For Cap's Espionage Drama

Captain America: The Winter Soldier

4.0

PG-13

Superhero

Action

Sci-Fi

Thriller

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Captain America: The Winter Soldier is the ninth entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. After being awoken from cryosleep in the previous film, Steve Rogers struggles to embrace his role in the modern world. As he adjusts, he must battle a new threat from old history: the Soviet agent known as the Winter Soldier.

Release Date

April 4, 2014

Director

Joe Russo , Anthony Russo

Cast

Chris Evans , Hayley Atwell , Scarlett Johansson , Samuel L. Jackson , Robert Redford , Anthony Mackie , Cobie Smulders , Frank Grillo , Sebastian Stan

Runtime

136 minutes

With Captain America: The Winter Soldier, directors Anthony and Joe Russo not only elevated the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but superhero movies as a whole. The second in Chris Evans' Captain America trilogy is an exciting and emotionally compelling story that challenges the idea of what a superhero movie can be. The movie has some of the best action scenes in not only the Captain America trilogy, but the MCU as a whole, from Steve Rogers' elevator fight scene against SHIELD's Strike Team to his hand-to-hand combat scene with Sebastian Stan's Winter soldier.

Captain America: The Winter Soldier excels because it combines blisteringly realistic and brutal fight scenes with an espionage storyline ripped right out of the best spy thriller. But what makes it so compelling is that at the heart of the story is Steve Rogers' vulnerabilities. He's faced with a villain who used to be his best friend and confronted by the knowledge that the institution he trusted was infiltrated by his worst enemies. Thanks to this throughline, Captain America: The Winter Soldier is not just a fun action movie, it's an emotionally rich story of betrayal and moving forward. - Molly Freeman, Superheroes Lead Editor

42 Pretty Woman (1990)

A defining rom-com for a generation

Pretty Woman

5.0

R

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Directed by Gary Marshall, Pretty Woman stars Julia Roberts and Richard Gere as Vivian Ward and Edward Lewis. Lewis is a wealthy New York businessman who hires Hollywood sex worker Ward to accompany him during his stay in Los Angeles. Initially wary of each other, the couple's relationship grows steadily deeper over Lewis' stay, causing Ward to begin to rethink her career path.

Release Date

March 23, 1990

Director

Garry Marshall

Cast

Richard Gere , Julia Roberts , Ralph Bellamy , Laura San Giacomo , Jason Alexander

Runtime

119 minutes

Writers

J.F. Lawton

The '90s were a wonderful time for romance, and rom-coms found a level of success in this decade that hasn't been recovered since - and Pretty Woman is one of the most iconic of them all. The pygmalion story of a sex worker (Vivian, played by Julia Roberts) who falls in love with her rich client (Edward, played by Richard Gere), this movie is a lesson in romance tropes done well, from the rich leading man who can't fall in love (and does), to the fake-dating-adjacent scenes of Vivian accompanying Edward to fancy events, and of course, the grand gesture at the end.

It is still rare, in film, to see sex workers portrayed as nuanced heroines, and Pretty Woman was ahead of its time in its handling of Vivian's story - and it is impossible to imagine anyone other than the incomparable Julia Roberts bringing her to life. However, it's not just the bigger picture of the film that makes it so incredible.

The costuming is impeccable, and the writing is so good that lines from the film have become entrenched in pop culture. Roberts was even nominated for Best Actress for the role, which, for a rom-com about a prostitute, is incredible. Although the award went to the incredible Kathy Bates for Misery, there's little doubt that if Vivian herself was asked about it, she would call it a mistake. A big mistake, even. Huge.

41 Apocalypse Now (1979)

Francis Ford Coppola's Surreal Ventures Into The Madness Of The Vietnam War

Apocalypse Now

5.0

R

Drama

War

Mystery

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In Francis Ford Coppola's classic Vietnam War film, loosely based on Joseph Conrad's novella Heart of Darkness, an army Captain is tasked with assassinating a rogue Colonel who has created a cult-like compound in the Cambodian jungle and is currently waging his own war outside the army's purview. Martin Sheen and Marlon Brando star as Captain Willard and Colonel Kurtz respectively, with an ensemble cast that includes Robert Duvall, Laurence Fishburne, and Dennis Hopper.

Release Date

August 15, 1979

Director

Francis Ford Coppola

Cast

Marlon Brando , Martin Sheen , Robert Duvall , Frederic Forrest , Sam Bottoms , Laurence Fishburne

Runtime

147 minutes

The war epic Apocalypse Now follows a group of American soldiers traveling dangerous rivers in Vietnam as they embark on a secret mission to assassinate a renegade officer. It’s not an exaggeration to deem this one of the greatest war films ever created, with Francis Ford Coppola’s hallucinatory visuals, a modern soundtrack, and the haunting ways that war brings out of the horrors of humanity make it a unique, engrossing staple of the genre.

In addition to the sobering performances of Martin Sheen and Marlon Brando, Apocalypse Now is a cinematic achievement in thematic paradoxes and visuals reflecting the darkness of humanity and war. It is still the standard against which more cerebral war movies are judged almost 50 years later.