Buzz
While most movie lists you find online typically focus on specific genres or the best films of a given year, this one takes a wider view.
This list takes into account that Hollywood has been producing films for over 100 years. Rather than picking the best film of a year or genre, the movies on this list were selected based on the decade of their release.
Choosing the right movie from each decade involves considering factors like box office success, critical praise, awards won, and cultural influence. It's possible you may disagree with these choices, so feel free to share your top picks in the comments for each decade.
10. 1920s—Metropolis
You may not immediately associate the 1920s with exceptional cinematic achievements, but this decade saw the release of groundbreaking films like Battleship Potemkin, The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, and Nosferatu. Feature films were beginning to establish themselves as an enduring medium, showing that movies were here to stay. Though silent, these films used purely visual storytelling to overcome their lack of sound.
The standout film of the 1920s is Fritz Lang’s stunning expressionist sci-fi epic, Metropolis. A pioneering work in the science fiction genre, the film’s lack of sound was compensated by its breathtaking depiction of a dystopian cityscape. It took 17 months to complete and the production process was far from smooth.
Despite the difficulties, Lang finished the film with almost 2.5 times the initial budget. Metropolis introduced many visual effects techniques, most notably the Schüfftan process, created by the film’s VFX artist Eugen Schüfftan, which used mirrors to reflect actors into miniature sets.
Metropolis didn’t fare well upon its initial release. H.G. Wells described it as “foolishness, cliché, platitude, and muddlement about mechanical progress and progress in general.” However, in the years following, restorations of the film have made it accessible to modern audiences, and it is now widely regarded as one of the greatest films ever created.
9. 1930s—The Wizard Of Oz
The 1930s gave us some of the most iconic films in cinematic history, such as Duck Soup, King Kong, Bringing Up Baby, M, Gone with the Wind, and City Lights. While this decade is filled with timeless classics, the film that stands above them all is 1939’s The Wizard of Oz.
By the time The Wizard of Oz was released, it was already the eighth adaptation of L. Frank Baum’s beloved story. While some of the earlier stage plays and silent films were noteworthy, they don't compare to the magical musical directed by Victor Fleming.
The film’s brilliant use of black and white transitioning into stunning Technicolor is just one of the many elements that set it apart. It's safe to say that most people today have little to no firsthand experience with films from the 1930s, but there’s an exception to that.
Chances are, nearly everyone has seen The Wizard of Oz at least once, making it the most influential movie of the decade. The Library of Congress even declared that it has “been seen by more viewers than any other movie.”
8. 1940s—Citizen Kane
The 1940s began with Charlie Chaplin’s brilliant work, The Great Dictator, and from there, the decade delivered a number of unforgettable films, including Double Indemnity, It’s A Wonderful Life, The Treasure of the Sierra Madre, The Grapes of Wrath, and Casablanca. While the 1940s offered a wealth of cinematic gems, there is one film that many consider the greatest ever made.
Orson Welles first grabbed the attention of RKO Pictures with his narration of The War of the Worlds. The studio was so eager to collaborate with him that they offered him a contract to act, produce, write, and direct two films. Despite his initial reluctance, Welles accepted the offer, and his debut film was Citizen Kane.
Welles teamed up with Herman J. Mankiewicz to co-write a semi-autobiographical film about the life of William Randolph Hearst. The result was the tale of Charles Foster Kane and his mysterious “Rosebud,” which premiered in 1941. Like many iconic films, it didn’t make a huge impact at first.
Although it received critical praise, the film was a box office failure and failed to recover its costs. It wasn’t until the mid-1950s that it started to earn the widespread recognition it deserved. Since then, Citizen Kane has been lauded as the greatest film of all time by the AFI, numerous film critics, and directors.
7. 1950s—Sunset Blvd.
In an era marked by the cinematic dominance of legends like Alfred Hitchcock, Stanley Kubrick, and Ingmar Bergman, choosing a single film to crown as the best of the decade is no simple feat. This was the decade when classics like Some Like It Hot, Singin’ in the Rain, North By Northwest, and Rear Window first graced the big screen.
Although these films continue to captivate audiences, the finest work of the decade arguably belongs to Billy Wilder’s iconic 1950 masterpiece, Sunset Blvd. A film that, while you may not have watched in its entirety, you've certainly seen snippets of, as it stands as one of the greatest black comedy film noirs ever made.
The story revolves around Joe Gillis, a screenwriter entangled in the life of Norma Desmond, a former silent-film star. The film boasts memorable cameos from silent-era legends like Buster Keaton, Anna Q. Nilsson, and H.B. Warner, which add authenticity to its narrative, and it does so brilliantly.
Upon its release, Sunset Blvd. was met with widespread acclaim, and it is now regarded as one of the greatest films ever made. It was among the pioneering films selected for preservation in the National Film Registry, and it’s clear why it earned such an honor.
6. 1960s—Psycho
The 1960s marked a pivotal time for science-fiction, as films like *2001: A Space Odyssey* made the genre accessible and appealing to a much broader audience. This era also gave rise to some of the greatest westerns ever produced, largely due to the popularity of the 'spaghetti western' with iconic titles such as *The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly*. Other memorable films from the decade include *Dr. Strangelove*, *Lawrence of Arabia*, and *Rosemary’s Baby*.
The 1960s undoubtedly saw some truly remarkable films, but the one that stands head and shoulders above the rest is Alfred Hitchcock's timeless classic *Psycho*. This psychological thriller is an unparalleled example of suspenseful filmmaking, and it remains one of the greatest cinematic works ever made.
If there were any lingering doubts about Hitchcock's storytelling brilliance prior to *Psycho*, this film silenced them completely. It stands as his most renowned work, often hailed as his finest, though *Rear Window* and *North by Northwest* aren't far behind in acclaim.
*Psycho* not only captivated audiences but also turned a massive profit, earning $32 million on a modest budget of around $800,000. Often regarded as one of the first and most influential slasher films, its impact is felt in nearly every major thriller or slasher film that followed.
5. 1970s—*The Godfather*
The 1970s was a decade filled with iconic films like *Star Wars*, *Annie Hall*, *Alien*, *Apocalypse Now*, and *A Clockwork Orange*. This period also introduced classics like *The Sting*, *Monty Python and the Holy Grail*, and *Rocky*. Narrowing it down to one standout film is a challenge, but without a doubt, the greatest film of the 1970s remains Francis Ford Coppola’s *The Godfather*.
If you managed to get through film school without viewing *The Godfather*, you’ve probably been in a coma for an extended period. It’s an immensely studied and cherished film, a true cinematic masterpiece. The story follows the Corleone family from 1945 to 1955, charting Michael Corleone’s rise as the family's new Don.
This film delivers a full range of emotions, from intense violence to tender romance, and everything in between. It received widespread praise for its storytelling and craftsmanship, with much of the credit going to Marlon Brando for his legendary performance. *The Godfather* played a major role in reviving his career, leading to his roles in *Apocalypse Now*, *Superman: The Movie*, and *Last Tango in Paris*.
The influence of *The Godfather* on both modern cinema and popular culture is profound. Often regarded as one of the greatest films ever made, it’s also widely considered the best gangster film in history. Its sequel, which also released in the 1970s, is remarkable in its own right, but it all started with *The Godfather*.
4. 1980s—*Raiders of the Lost Ark*
The 1980s brought us unforgettable films like *The Empire Strikes Back*, *Labyrinth*, *Beetlejuice*, *The Princess Bride*, and *The Goonies*. This decade was filled with incredible fantasy, sci-fi, comedy, and family films, but the clear standout is Steven Spielberg’s *Raiders of the Lost Ark*.
Harrison Ford’s portrayal of a college professor who secretly hunts artifacts and battles Nazis is more than just an epic adventure — it’s an absolute blast! With a perfect blend of romance, action, adventure, and humor wrapped around a story of biblical archaeology, the film excels in every way. It wasn’t merely a great film; it also introduced the world to an iconic character.
Upon its release in 1981, the film was an immense success. Its impact on cinema during the 1980s was profound, inspiring films like *Romancing the Stone*. Its influence didn’t stop there, though; it carried over into the 1990s and beyond, affecting movies like *The Mummy*, and Indiana Jones’ legacy continues to this day.
*Raiders of the Lost Ark* didn’t just create a movie, it sparked a franchise that has become one of the finest in its genre. The decade saw two sequels, both of which were just as successful as the original, and even though the fourth installment didn’t receive the same praise, it certainly won’t be the last, with a fifth film scheduled for release in 2022.
3. 2010s—*Boyhood*
While many might have expected films like *Avengers: Endgame*, *Get Out*, *The Social Network*, or *The Grand Budapest Hotel* to top the last decade, the true leader of the past ten years is a relatively underappreciated film from Richard Linklater, *Boyhood*.
Linklater showed he was willing to take a long-term approach to filmmaking with *Boyhood*. The movie took 12 years to complete, though it wasn’t filmed continuously. Instead, Linklater convinced Ethan Hawke, Patricia Arquette, Ellar Coltrane, and others to return periodically over the years to film their parts in this groundbreaking production.
What results is a deeply authentic coming-of-age story that spans from a boy’s early childhood at age six to his maturation into an 18-year-old. Each individual scene might not stand out, but as a whole, the film is a stunning portrayal of life. Watching Coltrane’s Mason transition from a young child to a teenager in Texas feels incredibly natural in *Boyhood*.
Amid a decade dominated by superhero films and action-packed blockbusters, *Boyhood* captivated audiences by exploring what it means to be human. The film drew attention for its unique production process, but it excelled because of its heartfelt narrative, rightfully claiming its place as the best film of the decade.
2. 2000s—*Spirited Away*
The 2000s introduced the world to the MCU with *Iron Man*, left audiences heartbroken by the first five minutes of *Up*, and marked the start of Peter Jackson’s cinematic masterpiece with *The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring*. Batman squared off against the Joker in *The Dark Knight*, and Scarlett Johansson mesmerized audiences in *Lost in Translation*.
The new millennium saw an abundance of incredible films, but none captured the imagination quite like Hayao Miyazaki’s *Spirited Away*. While Miyazaki had been making exceptional films for years, it was *Spirited Away* that finally caught the attention of a wide western audience, earning the distinction of the best film of the decade.
The film follows Sen (Chihiro), a young girl who takes a job at a bathhouse owned by a witch. She takes this job after the witch, Yubaba, transforms her parents into pigs. Her main goal is to find a way to undo their transformation and escape the mystical world of Kami, so she can return to the human world.
As with all of Miyazaki’s work, *Spirited Away* is a visual masterpiece, embodying the phrase “every frame a painting.” The film’s beauty is undeniable, with every scene serving a purpose in advancing the story. The enchanting narrative, paired with its breathtaking depiction of Japanese Shinto mythology, pulls the viewer into its magical world. It won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature, and it’s clear why it deserved that honor.
1. 1990s—*The Shawshank Redemption*
In a decade that brought the world iconic films like *Pulp Fiction*, *Schindler’s List*, *Forrest Gump*, *Fight Club*, *The Silence of the Lambs*, and many more, picking the best film of the ’90s is no easy feat. The ’90s offered a mix of high-intensity action, gripping dramas, captivating thrillers, and stunning sci-fi, but the film that defines the decade is undoubtedly *The Shawshank Redemption*.
Frank Darabont’s adaptation of Stephen King’s novella *Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption* tells the story of Andy Dufresne, a man sentenced to life for the murder of his wife and her lover. The movie traces Andy’s time at Shawshank Prison, where he builds relationships with both allies and enemies, all while plotting his eventual escape.
The escape itself was a complete surprise to the warden, Andy’s companions, and the audience. Darabont skillfully keeps the viewers on edge, and just as it seems Andy might take his own life, he outwits everyone. It’s a masterclass in storytelling, showing the beauty of hope in the most desolate of places.
*The Shawshank Redemption* had a poor showing when it was first released in theaters, yet it received numerous award nominations. This led to a re-release to capitalize on the acclaim, but its true success came from the home video rental market. Today, it’s a staple on television and is widely regarded as one of the best and most beloved films of the ’90s.
