Buzz
Can you believe that after twelve years of creating lists, we’ve never put together one of the greatest films ever made? Well, that changes today!
With more time spent at home these days, what better way to unwind and escape from the daily grind than with a great movie?
No need to leave the house. Countless films are available through streaming platforms all over the world. But how do you pick the right one? How can you be sure it’s going to be a hit?
You could spend hours watching trailers, read a mountain of reviews, and even make an Excel sheet ranking every movie for its rewatch value.
Or, you could simply check out this list and dive into some truly fantastic films.
20. Call Me By Your Name, 2017
If you're craving a coming-of-age romance or just something that evokes the warmth of summer, look no further than Call Me By Your Name. Released in 2017, the film features Timothée Chalamet as 17-year-old Elio, spending the summer with his family in a picturesque Italian villa. Armie Hammer plays Oliver, a 24-year-old who, despite being a bit miscast, adds charm to the role.
Once you accept that minor casting issue, though, the movie unfolds as a poignant tale of first love. If you had to sum up the pacing in one word, it would likely be ‘languid.’ It’s as if the heat of the Italian summer slows everyone down. The landscapes are breathtaking, Hammer delivers a career-best performance, and Timothée Chalamet brilliantly portrays a young man who is captivated by everything—women, men, and even fruit.
This isn’t a film about forbidden love. In Call Me By Your Name, love of all kinds is not only accepted, but celebrated.
Significantly, this is also the most important film created by James Ivory since the passing of his partner in both business and life, Ismail Merchant. Under the Merchant Ivory banner, they brought us masterpieces like Remains of the Day and A Room With A View.
19. The Seventh Seal, 1957
The Seventh Seal frequently appears on lists of the greatest films ever made. Some of the people who voted for it have actually seen the movie. The others should definitely watch it.
Written and directed by Ingmar Bergman and set during the era of the Black Death, the film is most famous for the scene where Death plays chess for the soul of a human.
Is Death playing the game to win, or does he have some other intention?
The film is often hailed as an Existentialist Masterpiece, but don’t let that discourage you from watching it.
Step into the Dance Macabre.
18. Tokyo Story, 1953
Tokyo Story, a 1953 film by Yasujiro Ozu, is often considered one of the greatest films ever made. If you haven’t heard of it, you should have. Unfortunately, due to its Japanese language, it hasn’t received much attention in the West.
It’s time to change that. The film tells a simple story of an elderly couple visiting their children in Tokyo, only to be mostly ignored. The only one who shows them kindness is their daughter-in-law.
Their children are terrible, far too consumed with their own lives to care about their aging parents, and can’t wait to send them back. They even give them passes to a health club just to free up the room for an office.
This is not a feel-good movie. Its themes center on loss, loneliness, and the breakdown of family bonds, yet it remains a straightforward tale, told with beautiful simplicity.
Prepare the tissues.
17. Die Hard, 1988
The only thing that truly qualifies Die Hard as a Christmas movie is the Christmas tree in the Nakatomi building’s lobby, but don't let that deter you. Alan Rickman plays the villain, Hans Gruber, who is certainly capable of killing you, but he’ll do it with an irresistible charm.
Bruce is having a rough day. But that’s nothing compared to what’s coming. Die Hard ignited countless imitations. One man, standing alone, facing impossible odds, yet still managing to crack a joke. One dead villain is turned into a makeshift Post-It Note, with the words 'Now I have a machine gun. Ho Ho Ho' scrawled across his body.
There’s a scene that’ll make you cringe, where Bruce has to walk barefoot across a bed of broken glass. But other than that, it’s nothing but high-octane, explosive fun from start to finish.
Welcome to the party, pal.
16. Some Like It Hot, 1959
Some Like It Hot is the ultimate feel-good classic. Jack Lemmon and Tony Curtis are hilarious as two musicians on the run from mobsters after they witness a mob hit. They end up joining an all-girl band on tour, only to find themselves in drag. Unsurprisingly, Tony Curtis makes a surprisingly attractive woman, though Lemmon also has his share of admirers.
Marilyn Monroe also stars as the band’s lead singer, Sugar Kane, delivering the iconic ‘I wanna be loved by you,’ a performance that speaks for itself.
It’s tough to find much to fault with this movie. Which is all the more surprising given that the production was reportedly quite challenging. Monroe famously required 47 takes to get the line ‘It’s me, Sugar’ just right. And when she had to say, ‘Where’s the bourbon?’ while searching through some drawers, director Billy Wilder had the words pasted inside every drawer to help her out.
It took 59 takes.
But then again, nobody’s perfect.
15. The Princess Bride, 1987
Cool guys might get the pick of action films, but for those of us who are a bit clumsy and awkward, there's always The Princess Bride. The plot is, let’s say, intricate, but there’s no shortage of heroic roles to take on. You could be Westley, the farm boy hopelessly in love with Buttercup (that’s a girl, not a cow), willing to do anything for her. Or you could be Fezzik, the gentle giant. Or maybe Inigo Montoya, a Spanish swordsman on a quest for revenge against a man with six fingers.
That’s enough heroism for anyone.
This fantasy/comedy/fairy tale has become a cult classic, despite its questionable sets, cheesy dialogue, and Mandy Patinkin sporting a truly dreadful wig. The ‘heroes’ mostly win through sheer luck, but a win is still a win, and a hero is always a hero.
And anything else is simply inconceivable.
14. The Great Dictator, 1940
Charlie Chaplin made countless iconic silent films, with City Lights often regarded as his finest. Even as the world transitioned to talkies, Chaplin continued to embrace the silent medium. But in 1940, just to show he could, Chaplin made his first full-length sound film—and it was nothing short of brilliant.
The Great Dictator is a satire about fascism. In the midst of World War II, Chaplin took on the task of mocking Hitler and Mussolini, highlighting the absurdity of their ideologies. He played dual roles: the tyrant Adenoid Hynkel and a Jewish barber, who bears a striking resemblance to his famous tramp character.
Through a series of chaotic events, the barber is mistaken for Hynkel and is forced onto the stage to speak at a massive rally. After some hesitation, the barber seizes the moment to deliver a powerful speech that initially confuses his audience but ultimately leaves them feeling inspired and empowered.
You are not machines.
The Great Dictator includes everything you love about Chaplin's films—plus a healthy dose of anti-Nazi propaganda.
It’s da banana.
13. Sunset Boulevard, 1950
Sunset Boulevard is a film about a washed-up movie star. Possibly Billy Wilder’s greatest movie, it starred Gloria Swanson as Norma Desmond, the aging silent movie star who lives alone, except for her butler.
The film isn’t just about the movie industry. It’s also about the arrogance of youth, the fragility of age, and dreams we can’t let go of. Mostly, it is a movie about obsession. Norma Desmond’s obsession with recapturing her stardom, her butler’s obsession with her (he wasn’t always her butler), and a playwright’s ruthless ambition to Make It in Hollywood.
Gloria Swanson took a huge risk in playing a washed-up has-been obsessed with her fading beauty, unable to come to terms with no longer being adored. After all, she was herself a former silent movie actress whose career stalled with the advent of the talkies, and she could have done lasting damage to her reputation. In the end, however, Sunset Boulevard became the outstanding film of her career, and ensured that she has a place in the top 10 of everyone’s greatest movie list.
12. Reservoir Dogs, 1992
No list of cinematic masterpieces would be complete without at least one film from Quentin Tarantino.
Tarantino has a wide selection (well, nine films to date) to pick from. However, with only 20 spots on this list, we’re limiting ourselves to one QT film. And the most quintessentially Tarantino movie? Reservoir Dogs.
Tarantino’s first feature (by his own count), Reservoir Dogs is packed with everything that has made his work iconic. From the famous trunk shot to the tense Mexican standoff, it has all the trademarks. Expect more blood than you could imagine, a psycho who sings as he tortures, sharply-dressed criminals, and those long, tension-building tracking shots.
The one thing it’s missing? Women with bare feet—but then again, apart from a few background extras, there aren’t any women to begin with.
11. One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest, 1975
Jack Nicholson does crazy well. From his psychotic turn in The Shining, to his portrayal of OCD in As Good as it Gets, and of course, as the Joker—the epitome of madness.
Tell me, have you ever danced with the devil in the pale moonlight?
But his finest portrayal of insanity is when he plays the only sane man in a mental institution. One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest is a tribute to individuality and a cautionary tale about pretending madness when you're not really mad.
Based on Ken Kesey’s novel, the film took home 9 Oscars, including Best Director, Film, Actor, and Actress. Brad Dourif also earned a nomination for his role as Billy Bibbit, a young man who finds his manhood for a night, only to lose it the following morning.
Louise Fletcher gives a chilling performance as Nurse Ratched, where her obsession with order borders on fanaticism, and sanity is forbidden if it disrupts the pristine surroundings.
The conclusion of the film is genuinely terrifying, yet it's so gripping that you can't look away.
10. The Usual Suspects, 1995
Some films are straightforward to follow, while others demand your full attention. For The Usual Suspects, you'll likely need to take notes to keep track.
Often described as a 'neo-noir' (think Noir, but with a modern twist), The Usual Suspects uses flashbacks extensively to unravel the tale of a group of con men, a jewel robbery, a cryptic crime lord with a ludicrous name, possibly imaginary, loads of cocaine, and an explosion on a ship.
Kevin Spacey portrays Verbal Kint, a sly and untrustworthy con artist who is deeply afraid of the wrath of Keyser Soze and his equally intimidating accomplice, Kobayashi. Verbal fears for both his life and the safety of his family should he reveal anything about Soze’s dealings.
Over time, Verbal is manipulated, coerced, and pressured into sharing his unbelievable tale. Eventually, the police release him, having listened to his extraordinary account.
And just like that, he disappears.
9. Apocalypse Now, 1979
Apocalypse Now, directed by Francis Ford Coppola, offers a bold reimagining of Joseph Conrad’s novella, Heart of Darkness. The film follows Captain Willard, portrayed by Martin Sheen, as he travels through the jungles of Vietnam to track down Colonel Kurtz, played by Marlon Brando. Kurtz, a Special Forces leader, is believed to have lost his sanity while commanding his forces.
The film vividly portrays the essence of warfare—extended stretches of sheer terror when nothing happens, followed by sudden, fleeting moments of combat that ultimately lead to no resolution.
Brando’s character, Kurtz, makes his entrance late in the film, but the anticipation makes it all the more impactful. Is Kurtz truly mad, or is madness the only logical response when you’re stuck in a jungle, living on the edge, and facing a relentless, unseen adversary?
Brando’s arrival is both eerie and unsettling, as is the film’s conclusion. Will the grim reality of Kurtz's actions affect Willard in the same way? Can horror be contagious?
Despite a turbulent production filled with setbacks, including Martin Sheen’s heart attack and Brando’s unpreparedness, the final version of Apocalypse Now—rumored to have been edited from over a million feet of footage—has consistently been hailed as one of the greatest war films ever created.
8. Toy Story, 1995
Toy Story marked a revolutionary moment in film history. It was the first full-length feature film created entirely through computer animation. It was also the debut film from Pixar, a new animation studio at the time. And it cleverly integrated its marketing with the storyline, as the characters were all toys.
You create a movie for kids featuring toys, and then you cash in by selling those toys.
Pure brilliance.
What made it even more brilliant was the script. While the concept of toys coming to life when unseen wasn’t groundbreaking, it didn’t matter. The script wasn’t just about toys – it was about friendship. Toy Story is a buddy film that explores acceptance. Accepting ourselves, even when we don’t meet our own expectations, and embracing our friends, no matter how annoying they can be or how silly their catchphrases are.
The script was so outstanding that it earned a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay. Watch the film with your kids, or better yet, watch it on your own, and let it transport you to infinity... and beyond. (See what I did there? Totally nonsensical.)
7. The Matrix, 1999
The Matrix, released in 1999, was a sci-fi film from the Wachowskis that broke new ground in ways no other sci-fi film had before. While it followed the familiar theme of a dystopian future where aliens or machines have taken control, everything else felt fresh and original.
For starters, Keanu Reeves, Carrie-Anne Moss, and Laurence Fishburne looked incredibly cool – all in black attire, slicked-back hair, and sporting stylish sunglasses. They also demonstrated some seriously impressive Kung Fu moves. And the special effects? Revolutionary doesn’t even do them justice. Though they didn’t invent ‘bullet time,’ no one had ever made better use of it.
The Matrix taught us that anything is achievable. The key wasn’t to try to bend the spoon, but rather to understand that you can make $460 million by convincing people the spoon doesn’t even exist.
While the Matrix sequels were disappointing, nothing will ever erase the unforgettable experience of watching the original.
Unless you opt for the blue pill.
6. Fight Club, 1999
The first rule of soap club is… It’s not really about the soap. It’s about the fighting.
Fight Club, a film adapted from Chuck Palahniuk’s novel, delves into the crisis of identity that men experience in a modern, civilized world. Or perhaps it’s about the growing frustration with capitalist society.
Or maybe it was just about the fighting.
Edward Norton, an insomniac who roams the globe to witness car wrecks, literally crosses paths with Tyler Durden (played by Brad Pitt). Tyler is everything Edward is not: sharp, tough, and fearless.
One of them is out of their mind.
They form a fight club because they don’t want to live without some marks to show for it. Before long, half the city’s walking around with black eyes or swollen lips.
Though it hardly made an impression upon its initial release, Fight Club has since earned its place as one of the most quotable films in cinema history.
And the second rule of Fight Club is…
5. The Dark Knight, 2008
Not all superhero films are created equally. They can be entertaining, sure, but they’re rarely good, and even less often, truly great.
Joker, starring Joaquin Phoenix, was undeniably outstanding, but it can’t really be classified as a superhero film. It explores similar territory, but that’s where the similarities end. The Dark Knight, which also features a Joker, unquestionably fits the genre. Directed by Christopher Nolan, with Christian Bale portraying Batman, it’s a far darker film than most superhero flicks.
Gotham is an intensely dark city, both in a literal and symbolic sense. Christian Bale delivers a strong performance, but Heath Ledger’s portrayal of the Joker outshines him. He brings a level of madness to the character that makes it his final, legendary performance.
The film set box office records, not only as a tribute to Ledger but also because it redefined what it means to be a superhero. The days of spandex suits were gone, replaced with sleek black leather, moody lighting, and a villain so captivating that you can’t help but love him just a little too much.
4. Terminator 2: Judgment Day, 1991
Terminator 2 surpassed the original Terminator. Unfortunately, while time travel rules remained bent throughout the franchise, the law of diminishing returns caught up after Judgment Day. By the time we got to Terminator 6, Dark Fate, it had lost much of its former glory.
But it still had plenty of Terminator action.
Which is undeniably awesome.
But Terminator 2 was the true standout. Arnold Schwarzenegger was back, but this time, he had actual lines. He still said ‘Sarah Connor’ repeatedly, but he also delivered other iconic lines. Like, ‘hasta la vista, baby.’
And, 'I’ll be back.'
It’s packed with gunfights, machines, high-speed chases, and explosions. If you're in the mood for intense action, thrilling explosions, and plenty of unnecessary muscle (who isn’t?), this is the movie for you.
3. 12 Angry Men, 1957
The greatest courtroom drama ever made wasn’t even filmed in a courtroom. There were no impassioned closing arguments, no expert testimonies, and no bombshell revelations. Instead, it’s just 12 Angry Men. Released in 1957, it starred Henry Fonda as Juror #8, and Lee J. Cobb as Juror #3, along with 10 other men, of course.
The film offers a captivating exploration of Crowd Behavior, revealing how people often relinquish their own responsibility to the person with a more dominant personality. It was also groundbreaking for being filmed almost entirely in a single location—the jury room, filled with twelve strangers who don’t even know each other’s names.
After a brief conversation, 11 jurors vote guilty. Only one person stands firm against them. Yes, you guessed it—Henry Fonda isn’t convinced. He insists on reviewing the evidence, questioning the reliability of the witnesses, and raising doubts about the rarity of the murder weapon, which was supposedly found in the defendant’s pocket. In essence, Fonda is doing the job the defense attorney should have, but probably didn’t.
Fonda is a man unshaken by peer pressure, the suffocating heat in the room, or the thunderstorm raging outside. He’s ready to remain there, patiently, and discuss the case until the very end of the night, if that’s what it takes.
12 Angry Men is full of tension and genuine suspense. It illustrates just how much we’re influenced by the views of others and how deeply our own biases shape our judgments.
Above all, it demonstrates the power of one person standing up for what’s right—and who wouldn’t want to see that in action?
2. Harold and Maude, 1971
Can't choose between a dark comedy and a romance? Why not experience both?
In 1971, Harold and Maude tells the story of a teenage boy fixated on death and suicide. He meets Maude at a funeral and falls in love. Maude, at the age of 79, has a zest for life, likely because she understands she has little time left.
Maude imparts many lessons to Harold. While he drives around in a hearse and constantly plots his own death, she makes every moment matter. She teaches him to appreciate life and even shows him how to play the banjo.
She also teaches him how to love.
Harold and Maude is heartwarming, amusing, and admittedly a bit odd. But it is overflowing with joy and features a soundtrack by Cat Stevens.
So, go ahead and watch the movie, and if you feel like singing out, go ahead and sing out.
1. The Empire Strikes Back, 1980
There are many fantastic films about space, like 2001: A Space Odyssey, Alien, and even Guardians of the Galaxy (just kidding). But Star Wars stands alone in its own galaxy. Not the later, awful Disney versions, mind you, but the original three films. And if we had to choose just one, it would definitely be The Empire Strikes Back.
It’s got everything: not just Luke, Han, Leia, and Darth Vader for drama, but also some droids and a small, quirky Jedi master named Yoda who speaks in an unusual way.
There’s no shortage of lightsaber duels, explosions, and a plot twist involving a shocking revelation about family relations, making this film absolutely essential.
For the best experience, always make sure to watch The Empire Strikes Back after A New Hope. And once you've seen the first two, you might as well finish the trilogy and watch Return of the Jedi as well.
But that's where you should stop. Seriously, for your own sanity, stop right there.
