intheheat247/MovieStillsDBDespite the massive expanse of genres and stories in films, so many directors, writers, and producers can trace their love of the silver screen back to almost universally revered movies. From Hollywood’s Golden Age to the modern blockbuster, these are the great films that have made their mark on the industry and pushed the art form forward.
25. The Dark Knight
Crane/MovieStillsDBDirector Christopher Nolan may have created the most realistic and nuanced version of Batman in Batman Begins, but 2008’s The Dark Knight cemented not only his style as a filmmaker but gave audiences their version of the Caped Crusader and his cackling arch nemesis that they never knew they needed to see. Giving a comic book film the aesthetic of an epic crime thriller took the over-the-top camp away from the typical adaptations.
With the cinema landscape becoming more and more saturated with formerly illustrated heroes, an entire genre of film was defined by this new account of what it meant to be a hero. The Dark Knight’s Bruce Wayne is a protagonist who wants to retire, and wants to hang up the cape and cowl for good — a hero with a trajectory was a rare occurrence before The Dark Knight. Nolan’s vision showed audiences and critics that a comic-book film could exist beyond the confines of its own genre, feats that haven’t even been topped by the mega-blockbuster that is Avengers: Endgame.
24. Blade Runner
Hope74/MovieStillsDBWhere movies once showed us futures of vastly improved lives and a cleaner, more wholesome world, Blade Runner trapped us within claustrophobic cityscapes before post-apocalyptic films became popular. Its bleak outlook on a smoggy downtown Los Angeles set the gold standard for a future rife with overpopulation, limited resources, and oppression — all monitored by mega-corporations. Harrison Ford plays Rick Deckard, a man tasked with taking down rogue Replicants — bio-engineered super-humans bred for war and slave labor.
As Deckard looks further and further into the Replicants’ actions and motivations, his goal becomes increasingly questionable. The future Los Angeles, while technologically advanced, reminds us more of the lawless Old West or debauched ancient Rome. And despite all advancements, both mechanical and social, we see a vision of humanity that has once again relied on the slavery of living organisms. Blade Runner uses its story and gorgeous art direction as a cautionary tale of a doomed future that has repeated the worst mistakes of the past.
23. The Exorcist
MovieStillsDBOne of horror’s finest and most defining films is unfortunately too often the victim of silly parody. Spewing pea soup is momentarily funny, but nothing should distract us from the quality and effect this film has had through the decades since its release. Set among the misty homes of Georgetown, evil does not lurk behind every corner. It’s not even hiding in your closet. It’s right in front of you, in the sickening snarl of a possessed child. While most horror victims have been at least teenagers, The Exorcist showed us the torment a young girl is forced to endure when a demon takes over her soul.
As her body breaks down, we feel every inch of her pain as scars and sores break out across her face. The film forces us to observe this at length, far longer than we are comfortable with. Unlike most modern horror films, The Exorcist has nearly zero reliance on jump scares. It opts for unrelentingly ferocious sound design and sharp dialogue being spat by a creature of pure anger and hate. By the time the titular priest arrives to save young Regan, we’ve nearly forgotten that any form of help is coming at all.
22. The Matrix
Zayne/MovieStillsDBAlthough one single stunt occupies our minds when we think of The Matrix, its stylistic approach to adrenaline-fueled action changed the fight choreography landscape forever. Bringing Eastern kung-fu action together with Western gunplay resulted in combat that had audiences’ jaws on the floor. Eastern audiences would have recognized this unique style, but the Western Hemisphere was happily aghast at seeing slow motion and physic-altering stunts on the big screen.
The Wachowski siblings bridged a continental gap with a masterful blend of on-set wires and computer-generated imagery. Action has always been a frequent crutch for films, especially the closer we’ve come to the modern age. The Matrix has the grand distinction of infusing its plot with the need for action. Fights in films have tried tirelessly to replicate the style that The Matrix brought to the big screen, but it is an endeavor wholly unique and successful to one of action’s most important films.
21. Raging Bull
murraymomo/MovieStillsDBMartin Scorsese’s boxing drama is not only the greatest sports film of all time, but it is perhaps the greatest biopic to ever grace the screen — and successfully redefined what a movie protagonist can be. Beautifully contrasting an egotistical Jake LaMotta (Robert De Niro) in his prime with the balding, overweight mess he has become, the film never tries to make him the hero. He is our central focus from beginning to end, but this lead character is not one we actively choose to pity or root for. As an audience, we witness a downfall in slow-motion action.
Jake is a fiery prize fighter who lets his anger seep into daily life far too often — mostly to the detriment of those he claims are his loved ones. A life of success builds his pride to the point where he pushes everyone away from him. By the end, Jake’s title-winning physique has degraded and he is forced to reassure himself in front of the mirror that he is still a winner. Great films never rely on what we have seen before. They bring new perspectives and new stories to our rabid eyes. Raging Bull succeeds marvelously at showing us the bitter effects of a poorly lived life and the character who could care less about learning from those mistakes.
20. On the Waterfront
CaptainOT/MovieStillsDB“I coulda’ had class. I coulda’ been a contender. I coulda’ been somebody,” laments Marlon Brando’s Terry Malloy. The film’s most famous scene appropriately brings regret and guilt to the forefront of Elia Kazan’s magnificent crime drama. The film was his own apology to those he blacklisted when he testified against supposed Communists in the much-maligned McCarthy witch-hunts. Dock workers are all but imprisoned by a corrupt union boss — ironically known as “Friendly” — who is hellbent on control.
Ex-boxer Terry carries out Friendly’s requests to encourage dockworkers not to testify against him. At first, Terry is content with the status quo of life. But as Friendly’s actions go from shakedowns to violence to murder, Terry is unable to ignore his own need to go to the authorities. It’s a film that shows the moral power of speaking up for your fellow man. Terry endures threats, losses, and pain but at the end of the day is a stronger man for it — as are the dock workers he has sacrificed so much for to protect. These redemptive moments allow Terry and his community to move forward in life and hopefully allow Kazan to forgive himself.
19. The Graduate
Moviepics1001/MoviestillsDBIt’s rare that a film can have defined a generation. It’s even rarer when it can define each new generation that sees it. The film chronicles Benjamin Braddock’s (Dustin Hoffman) first summer as a college graduate. Legions of nosy neighbors congratulate him, immediately asking him the same terrifying question: “What’s next?” Floundering in an unsure future, Benjamin finds himself taking comfort in the cougar-ish claws of Mrs. Robinson. The film uses the illicit affair to highlight the anxiety that post-college students frequently go through.
For so many, life is lived based on the path laid out before them. Deviating from it could be too risky, despite the threat of monotony and regret later in life. Benjamin, though very smart and charming, feels burnt out and has no desire to apply himself anymore. One needs only look to the news today to feel not only dread but a sense of apathy. Why continue to strive and fight for success when so many foundations of society seem on the brink of crumbling? These are personal questions best answered by individual people, but The Graduate was a film always ahead of its time and is possibly even more relevant today than ever.
18. Taxi Driver
Zayne/MovieStillsDBWhen it comes to showing broad-spectrum conflict and the difficulty of everyday life, films typically lean towards showing the future or the past. But no film has shown us the difficulties of modern life more than Martin Scorsese’s Taxi Driver. A major inspiration for the recent Joker, the film tackles taboo topics of the 1970s — topics that are still sadly not discussed in many circles today. Travis Bickle (Robert DeNiro) struggles with his mental health and view of the world around him.
As the title suggests, Travis transports passengers across New York City, the only job that can help him take his mind off his lack of sleep. The neon-lit avenues are almost like a blacklight to Travis — he sees the grime, filth, and muck that inhabitants these streets. He attempts to find hope in local lawmakers before he feels the need to take the law into his own hands. Travis wants to be a hero, a savior but struggles with exactly what that means. His plans shift from political assassinations to rescue attempts as fast as he can turn the wheel of his car. It’s a saga of modern life and modern struggles that like all great movies remains true even today.
17. Rocky
Yaut/MovieStillsDBThe exact opposite of the previously mentioned Raging Bull, Rocky is the film that makes you want to jump up and down. The fighter’s success becomes our success as we watch him run up those famous steps, his hands victoriously pumping in the cold morning air. The greatest protagonists always strike the perfect balance between who we are and who we want to be. Sylvester Stallone’s Rocky Balboa is no exception to this golden rule. The pursuit of his dreams may be in the boxing ring, but it’s a struggle that all can relate to, regardless of profession or desire.
Just as he begins a relationship with timid Adrian (Talia Shire), his battle against heavyweight champion Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers) rears its head. The gladiators trade endless blows, Creed’s technical ability countered by Rocky’s pure determination. As the final bell rings, Creed wins in a split decision — but that doesn’t make him the true victor of the night. Professing his love for Adrian in the ring, Rocky shows us that winning the title doesn’t matter. He gave it his all and proved to himself he could go the distance. That was the battle that mattered. True victory comes from never giving up on your dreams and in yourself.
16. Pulp Fiction
kba/MovieStillsDBInnumerable rip-offs with pop culture-laden dialogue made meager attempts to recreate exactly what made Pulp Fiction so special. The second feature film from writer/director Quentin Tarantino was as fresh a style of film as anything, nearly becoming a genre of its own. Told in a nonlinear fashion, the crime saga follows a handful of characters throughout their day — and for some of them, their last. The small and out-of-order time frame gives Tarantino the chance to do what he does best — allow his characters to talk and indulge in the moment.
To this day, the writer/director delivers dialogue with the most unique of voices as characters reference the films and television shows that Tarantino himself loves. Just as we unwittingly do in daily life, a simple conversation about a cheeseburger reveals so much about a person and reflects what they would do in more dire circumstances. Mundane situations became outrageously cool as his typically whip-smart characters bantered back and forth. Film is a medium that only survives because it has always evolved, and Tarantino’s breakout film pushed the business into that next generation.
15. Raiders of the Lost Ark
Zayne/MovieStillsDBAmong cinema’s most iconic character silhouettes, few can truly top the rugged simplicity of a whip and a hat. Hearkening back to the serials that would play before movies and end on constant cliffhangers, Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, and star Harrison Ford brought us the media’s greatest adventure of all time. Archaeologist Indiana Jones scours the globe for mysterious antiquities lost to time, with each daring snatch-and-grab attempt more difficult than the last.
The film’s famous boulder sequence may as well be a metaphor for the movie as a whole — the plot rolls along with danger and excitement around each new undiscovered corner. But as opposed to today’s adventure films (a genre that has been mostly absorbed by superhero movies) Raiders gave us a somewhat sloppier, more relatable hero in Indy. Undoubtedly a talented fighter and unquestionably brave, Indy is still a wonderful reflection of us as the audience — he’s typically in over his head and always has a bump or bruise to show for his exploits. But he keeps smirking at the end of the day and we love him (and the film) for it. Movies simply don’t get more exciting than this.
14. Lawrence of Arabia
MoviePics1001/MovieStillsDBThe exploits of T.E. Lawrence made him a legend among British and American tabloids, giving readers a face of courage and victory in the dangerous trenches of World War I. Director David Lean’s remarkable epic indulges in set-pieces and blazing desert action while also peeling back the layers of the man behind the journalistic myth. What begins as an attempt to rally various Arab tribes to fight against the Ottoman Turks in the Great War ends up with Lawrence becoming fully integrated into the daily lives of these complicated clans.
Roaring battles result in victory for Lawrence and his newfound friends, but the future of Arabia remains in contention — are the British going to continue their plans to add it to their empire? By the end, Colonel Lawrence laments the role he played in allowing greater British control. It takes extraordinary skill to stage battle scenes and tactical genius to create a near-mythical figure and then dive into the heart, soul, and regret of the man underneath it all. While most contemporary large-scale films seem to dedicate time and resources to their action sequences alone, Lawrence of Arabia gives the same amount of attention to its lead character’s subtle intricacies as well.
13. The Lord of the Rings
SkyOcelot/MovieStillsDBAny film can use the spectacle of computer-driven visual effects and mind-numbing action to mask a thin plot and weak characters. It takes a special type of film to use those same tools to heighten an already emotional film experience. Lord of the Rings (meaning all three films, it’s nearly impossible to discuss them as separate entities), for all its spectacle, exists as a beautifully realized vision of courage, strength, and enduring friendship. The Lord of the Rings stands out not only for its achievements as a film but as a testament to all the films that inspired it.
Director Peter Jackson is above all a moviegoer, a fan of films. By his admission, he has taken inspiration from so many of the films already on this list. So, why do his films rank higher than some of his cinematic heroes? The Lord of the Rings is the torchbearer of what it means to love the world of film. With attention to design detail that mirrors a documentary and heartfelt emotion that reflects endless hours of hard work, this esteemed, Oscar-showered trilogy is a testament to the love and care put into every single frame.
12. Citizen Kane
MagisterYODA/MovieStillsDBWelles’ film about the pursuit of the furthest reaches of the American Dream is consistently listed as one of the greatest films of all time. The film chronicles the life of Charles Foster Kane (Welles), who we see die in the opening scene, uttering his famous last word: “Rosebud.” The journalism world scrambles to uncover the life of the revered publisher and find out the meaning of his mysterious phrase. Kane’s life began modestly, his only joy in life was playing on his sleigh. Yet his family’s discovery of gold on their property grants him a mighty trust fund.
After absorbing numerous other papers and even attempting a run for Governor of New York, Kane seems unstoppable in his quest for greater clout — even when a string of messy relationships soil his political aspirations. His monetary success grows and grows while his relationships shrivel and die. Kane’s pure determination and raging temper have given him nearly everything he wants in life — and Rosebud, the last mystery of his exorbitant existence cannot be figured out. As a crew catalogs his possessions, they aimlessly toss away certain items… including the sleigh from his childhood, the word “Rosebud” painted across it. For all his success, all Kane wanted was a small connection to a life that seemed to exist in a different — and perhaps better — era.
11. Jaws
yodasimpson/MovieStillsDBThis title could easily be replaced by a sound bite of just two notes on a piano and you would know exactly what film we were talking about. Few movies can claim to get a reaction like that from the general populace. But, in 1975, a killer swam to our shores that has gained as much infamy as any film slasher. The peaceful getaway of Amity Island is terrorized by a monstrous shark and it’s up to the police chief, an oceanographer, and a grizzled boat captain to take it down.
The sea-faring horror/adventure has given audiences thrills from release to today. Set on a bloody 4th of July weekend, it seems only natural to us that a summer setting had a summer release. But before Jaws, the summer blockbuster didn’t exist. For films that seemed destined to make a decent return on their budget, studios usually opened their films around Christmas. Jaws proved to the Hollywood bigwigs that audiences wanted to see their tent-pole films in the summer, on the days when the sun was just too hot and the kids needed something to do when the usual August antics have worn dry. Thanks to Jaws, the blockbuster era and the summer season of grand-scale films were born — and the entire business of cinema has never been the same again.
10. The Wizard of Oz
FilmPublicityArchive / United Archives via Getty ImagesIt’s a film you know, even if you’ve never seen it — you probably have — and even if you don’t love it — you probably do. Reminding us that “there’s no place like home,” Dorothy’s adventures with her comic and heartfelt companions have continued to be a shared generational experience and will continue to be for decades to come. Its songs and characters have been absorbed into the national consciousness, and rightfully so. The film bursts with optimism and joy in nearly every frame, even when Dorothy returns to the sepia-filtered Kansas farm.
And speaking of color tones, one cannot discuss The Wizard of Oz without mentioning that amazing transition into gorgeous technicolor. Though not the first film to use color film, it made the greatest impact of its generation. Similar to how producers feared the introduction of sound, technicolor films were another scary bridge that needed to be crossed. Oz was a world of brilliant greens, dazzling reds, and beaming yellows. The film showed us that this use of color wasn’t just a phase or gimmick — this new stunning form of filmmaking was here to stay.
9. Frankenstein
aleteo/MovieStillsDBThe very nature of procreation is at the core of so much of our daily lives. What does it mean to create life? What responsibility do we carry to our creations? Those philosophical concepts are at the forefront of Frankenstein, the most influential horror film of all time. Dr. Frankenstein wades into murky depths of science and religion, each of his hands curled around the worst traits of theirs. His creation — among cinema’s greatest character designs — comes into this life with immense strength but in need of guidance.
Terrified of his creation, the Doctor locks the Monster away, teaching what is essentially a child only about isolation, pain, and torment. Fear and misunderstanding lead the Monster to be trapped in a windmill while the townsfolk set it ablaze. Dr. Frankenstein is left with his grand designs burning before him, a living soul he was too cowardly to help through life. Though the scares are tame by most standards today, is there anything more terrifying than the hubris of a man who wants to control what only higher powers can do?
8. Seven Samurai
LMPC via Getty ImagesAmerica’s earliest forays into filmmaking were defined by the dusty Old West. The Westerns of the late 1950s and 60s have become eternal and iconic, but the genre’s greatest inspiration and achievement came from Japan. Cited as their main inspiration by filmmakers like George Lucas and Francis Ford Coppola, director Akira Kurosawa crafted an epic tale of a handful of warriors tasked with protecting a village from an onslaught. Its depiction of bravery in the face of near-impossible odds not only brought to life the rigorous code that Samurai lived by but gave its richly flawed characters plenty to argue about as they approach the defining battle of their lives.
Fantastic and focused fight choreography — all the more impressive given that the film was made in 1954 — gives us sword fights with equally sharp dialogue and characterizations. These lone figures, all with their moral code, live a life away from corrupt and unjust institutions — but that same code is what always draws them to fight for the greater good. It is the strongest foundation of all Westerns and no film has done it better than Seven Samurai.
7. King Kong
Hulton Archive/Getty ImagesThe original monster movie is still considered by many as its best — and appropriately so. It is still dizzying to see the titular ape in action. Who could have thought that 1933 could produce stop-motion effects of that caliber? Audiences were in pure awe — Hollywood had finally created a film big enough to be truly worthy of the big screen. It is a simultaneous rousing adventure that surrounds the love story at its heart — and not between the characters you expect. The legendary tale of the beauty and the beast finds new life within the dark jungles of Skull Island.
Kong covets the beautiful struggling actress Ann Darrow (Fay Wray) and battles dinosaurs and forgotten monstrosities of time to protect her. While more recent adaptations have shown Kong as a gentler creature with a pure heart for Ann, the 1933 original always brings the word “beast” to the forefront. To the towering creature, Ann is a prize. His heart does love her but from a place of appropriately primal selfishness. The expanse of Hollywood films became nearly unlimited when Kong came onto our screens, bringing screams and awe to the forefront of filmmaking.
6. Gone with the Wind
hope78/MovieStillsDBThe genre of epic films can be rightfully divided into two eras — before Gone with the Wind, and after Gone with the Wind. A sweeping love story set against the backdrop of a horrendous conflict, it never shies away from showing us the effects of the all-too-bloody Civil War. Its scale isn’t only defined by its presentation of war but in the emotions of its central romance.
As Rhett and Scarlett grasp each other, it’s almost like watching the heart of love itself in action, toying with us as all manner of emotions flows through them. Just like its title suggests, the film has a style of filmmaking that is simultaneously grand yet intimate — but almost no longer exists. Equally epic romances and settings rarely go hand in hand on screen anymore. Films like Titanic and Australia are the latest torchbearers of such style but are few and far between. Gone with the Wind’s unique narrative impact will, and never should be, forgotten — it’s always reminded us that matters of the heart can be as uproarious and tumultuous as any widespread conflict.
5. Casablanca
intheheat247/MovieStillsDBIt’s a film too optimistic to be a noir, but too painfully bittersweet to be a true romance. Casablanca can be called many things, but chief among them is that it is filmmaking at its finest. The African town harbors criminals, World War II officers, and plenty of bars to drown their sorrows in. One notable nightclub is owned by Rick Blaine (Humphrey Bogart), an American ex-pat and cinema’s greatest anti-hero. With the war restricting travel, Rick’s bar becomes the staging ground to help a resistance fighter escape to America to continue his work — who also happens to be the husband of Rick’s ex-lover Ilsa.
Set during a time before America entered World War II, Casablanca blends its plot, characters, and overarching context to create a masterpiece. The film is about Rick’s quest to become a better man, even when he begrudges his own transformation. His bitterness, apathy, and jealousy are set aside to serve the greater good. As he famously tells Ilsa (Ingrid Bergman), she’ll always regret it if she stays with him. He sacrifices the woman he loves for her own happiness, and for the sake of an Allied victory. As he watches her plane fly away, he famously tells the local police captain that this is “the beginning of a beautiful friendship.” And as moviegoers, the relationship that Casablanca continues to have with audiences truly is a beautiful thing.
4. Psycho
TeClectic/MovieStillsDBAlfred Hitchcock — the eternal Master of Suspense — not only gave us one of the greatest films of all time with Psycho, but gave audiences the single most famous movie scene of all time. Leaving entire theaters thinking twice before entering their shower, Hitchcock took massive risks in crafting his most iconic film — and the results and their effect on cinema have stood the test of time. We see a toilet (insanely enough something censors tried to cut out), Marion Crane — our lead character — remove her clothing, enter a shower, and then see that main character murdered.
Keep in mind, that this is all within the first third of the film’s running time. Audiences suddenly had their trajectory completely thrown off, their minds bouncing around perhaps as much as the killer at the center of the film. Part of Psycho’s lasting beauty is in Anthony Perkins’ extraordinary layered portrayal of Norman Bates. Norman is never portrayed as a monster — he is a man, through and through. He’s handsome, polite (but not deceptively so), and wants to please. Hitchcock gave us all the elements to please and terrify, no matter how many times it’s been viewed.
3. Star Wars
Crane/MovieStillsDBNo other film in history has been cited more by filmmakers as their career inspiration than 1977’s Star Wars. A cinematic achievement on all fronts, from narrative to technological, the original entry in a galaxy far, far away took us to worlds and introduced us to characters we never thought we could meet. The combination of a cosmos filled with starships and lightsabers and the mythic storytelling of Arthurian legend has left generations of audiences enthralled and entranced.
In this sci-fi world, poverty, unfulfilled desires, and the fight for freedom still existed despite a setting and aesthetic we had never seen on film before. Imaginary words such as Jedi, Wookiee, and Hyperspace were put into mainstream language as we followed the journey of a young man striving to find and make his place in the galaxy. We don’t love Star Wars because we escaped somewhere else — we love Star Wars because we saw people and places that reminded us of ourselves.
2. 2001: A Space Odyssey
kingmaus/MovieStillsDBIf Star Wars allowed countless generations of filmmakers to be inspired, 2001: A Space Odyssey was the film that allowed for the creation of Star Wars. The magnum opus of director Stanley Kubrick’s ridiculously impressive filmography, the oft-abbreviated 2001 is a triumph of the highest order. Through its use of matte paintings, miniatures, and early computer wizardry, the film became a pioneer of visual effects.
Its technical achievements showed filmmakers that the possibilities of what you can put on the screen were still limitless. In an almost meta-fashion, the film charts humanity’s journey to the stars — one that started from our earliest ancestors. Just like the film’s mysterious black monolith frequently appears as humanity’s evolution surges forward, 2001 stands as a monolith among films, having pushed it further beyond its limits than filmmakers and audiences alike never thought we could go.
1. The Godfather
Barney112/MovieStillsDBWith endless quotes, evocative imagery, and the timeless story of family — regardless of how brutal — The Godfather is the apex of cinema. Its impact on the cultural and cinematic landscape is simply immeasurable. Rich, complex characters make secretive business deals, stab each other in the back, and dish out painful revenge (sound like a certain fantasy series?). A true American tragedy through and through, the saga of the Corleone family continues to enwrap us in cinematic wonder. The journey of the youngest son Michael (Al Pacino) shows the perversion of the American Dream.
One where Michael dreamed of becoming a legitimate businessman outside of his family’s mob dealings, loyalty, and love draw him further in — and as it ends up, he’s the most dangerous one of them all. Though his American Dream may have become stained and corrupted, The Godfather questions if the Dream was ever supposed to be the shining peak of morality. Don Vito (Marlon Brando’s most iconic performance), recovering in the hospital after being shot, weeps when he hears that Michael is the one who exacted revenge on his father’s assailants. Vito Corleone achieved his version of the American Dream, a trap of cyclical violence that he never wanted Michael to fall into.
