Sometimes, when you want to watch a movie, the sheer volume of selection can be daunting. Gone are the days of Blockbuster—now, an endless catalog is at your fingertips. How can you possibly choose? Thankfully, this list has narrowed down some of the best, highest-rated films of all time.
The Godfather
The Godfather is the first of a trilogy directed by Francis Ford Coppola. Inspired by Mario Puzo's novel of the same name, the film follows Don Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando), the head of a mafia family, who decides to pass on his empire to his son, Michael (Al Pacino). The Godfather earned three Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Writing.
Taxi Driver
In Martin Scorsese's critically acclaimed Taxi Driver, Robert De Niro plays Travis Bickle, a disturbed insomniac who makes a living as a cabbie in New York City. Unable to sleep, Bickle haunts the streets, increasingly obsessed with cleaning up the city. De Niro's performance is considered a tour-de-force, effectively painting the picture of a deranged man who believes it is his duty to save the world.
Bonnie and Clyde
Faye Dunaway and Warren Beatty star as the titular character in this 1967 biographical crime drama. Bonnie and Clyde is universally regarded as the first film of the New Hollywood era. It shattered conventions by introducing sex and violence to the screen in a way that was unfamiliar to audiences.
12 Angry Men
This courtroom drama follows 12 members of a murder trial jury, who must deliberate the fate of the accused—an inner-city teen who will die if he is convicted. After one juror (Henry Fonda) casts doubt on the case, personal conflicts arise, threatening the legal process that will determine the boy's fate. 12 Angry Men's examination of the jury system remains valid over sixty after its release.
Alien
Ridley Scott can be considered a pioneer of science fiction horror with 1979's Alien. A crew is awakened from cryo-sleep halfway through their journey home to investigate a distress call from an alien vessel, and gory chaos ensues. The film took home a well-deserved Academy Award for Best Visual Effects.
The Silence of the Lambs
The Silence of the Lambs stars Jodie Foster in her breakout role alongside Anthony Hopkins. Foster plays Clarice Starling, a top student at the FBI's training academy who is tasked with interviewing cannibalistic psychopath and brilliant psychiatrist Dr. Hannibal Lecter (Hopkins). This mesmerizing thriller won the Academy Award for Best Picture and resulted in a number of spinoffs, including the TV series Hannibal and Clarice.
12 Years a Slave
Based on a haunting true story, 12 Years a Slave tells the tale of a free black man, Solomon Northup (Chiwetel Ejiofor), who is kidnapped and sold into slavery. Northup is subjected to the cruelty of his malevolent owner, Epps (Michael Fassbender), as he struggles to survive with dignity. The film, which grossed $188 million in the box office, launched Lupita N'yongo's career.
Citizen Kane
Citizen Kane has been described by Roger Ebert as "more than a great movie," which continues to ring true eighty years after its initial release. Directed, written by, and starring Orson Welles, the film follows a reporter who seeks to decipher Charles Foster Kane's (Welles) dying words. Citizen Kane is the most critically-acclaimed motion picture in cinema history.
Moonlight
This powerful coming-of-age film tells the story of a young Black man's epic journey to adulthood, guided by the support of the Miami community that raised him. A stunning cinematic feat in every possible way, Moonlight won several Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Writing.
Slumdog Millionaire
This romantic drama stars Dev Patel in his breakout role as 18-year-old Jamal Malik. Through a series of flashbacks, Jamal recalls his difficult upbringing on the streets of Mumbai, and how he ended up where he is today thanks to the Indian version of "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire." The film is a loose adaptation of the novel Q&A by Vikas Swarup.
Apocalypse Now
Based on the novel "Heart of Darkness" by Joseph Conrad, Apocalypse Now follows the journey of Vietnam War Captain Benjamin Willard (Martin Sheen) as he hunts down Colonel Kurtz (Marlon Brando), a once-promising officer who has succumbed to insanity. Directed, co-written, and produced by Francis Ford Coppola, Apocalypse Now became an instant classic when it hit theaters in 1979.
2001: A Space Odyssey
Stanley Kubrick wrote, directed, and produced this 1968 classic, which is based on a short story by revered science fiction author Arthur C. Clarke. Dr. Dave Bowman (Keir Dullea) and his team of fellows astronauts are sent on a mysterious mission, their ship's computer system, HAL, begins to act out in increasingly strange ways. 2001: A Space Odyssey's visual effects were far ahead of its time, which is precisely why it took home the Oscar for Best Visual Effects.
Inception
Inception features one of Leonardo DiCaprio's most critically-acclaimed performances as Dom Cobb, a thief who specializes in corporate espionage by stealing people's secrets from their subconscious. Directed by Christopher Nolan, this mind-bending film explores the possibility of a lucid and hive-mind dream experience. Although the film is incredibly intense and complex, it remains coherent, entertaining, and original.
Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope
Originally released as Star Wars, this is the first film in George Lucas' Star Wars trilogy. Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, and Carrie Fisher's roles helped them skyrocket to stardom. Empire noted that although the movie is clearly "a product of its time," its legacy "will outlive the lot of us." While it cost $11 million to produce, Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope grossed seven $776 million at the box office.
It's a Wonderful Life
This Christmas classic is one of the most beloved films of all time. Its a Wonderful Life follows George Bailey (James Stewart), who learns what life would really be like without him. No matter how many time you watch it, It's a Wonderful Life remains just as heartwarming and flawless.
The Maltese Falcon
This classic noir adaptation of Dashiell Hammett's 1941 novel received three Academy Award nominations. The Maltese Falcon tells the story of detective Sam Spade (Humphrey Bogart), whose life is turned upside-down when he takes on a case given to him by the beautiful and mysterious Ruth Wonderly (Mary Astor). Warner Bros. attempted to make a sequel but was ultimately unable get the original cast together.
A Clockwork Orange
Adapted from Anthony Burgess' novel of the same name, A Clockwork Orange was directed and produced by cinematic mastermind Stanley Kubrick. In a dystopian England of the future, Alex (Malcolm McDowell) and his "Droogs" spend their night inflicting "ultraviolence" upon innocent people. After he is imprisoned and conditioned to be physically sickened by the thought of violence, Alex returns to society—only for his prior victims to seek revenge.
Spotlight
Based on a true story, this powerful film is one of the most provocative and impactful newspaper films to date. Led by Walter Robinson (Michael Keaton), the Boston Globe's Spotlight team made it their mission to uncover the dark truth behind sexual abuse allegations and subsequent cover-ups within the Roman Catholic Church. The Globe won a Pulitzer in 2003 for its coverage of the issue.
Rear Window
Alfred Hitchcock's Rear Window manufactures incredible tremendous tension without ever leaving Jeff's (James Stewart) room. Stewart plays L.B. "Jeff" Jeffries, a new photographer confined to his apartment while recuperating from an accident. Upon witnessing an altercation in a neighbor's apartment, Jeff becomes convinced that he has witnessed a murder.
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers is the fourth-highest grossing film of all time. The sequel has been revered as one of the best fantasy films in history, earning six Academy Award nominations and winning in four categories. The film also launched the career of Elijah Wood, who played Frodo Baggins throughout the franchise.
Wall-E
When Wall-E first hit theaters in 2008, it grossed over $533 million. The film follows a lonely trash-compacting robot who was left alone on an uninhabitable planet. Profoundly thought-provoking and deeply moving, Wall-E is an allegorical tale of what would happen were the world to end today.
Close Encounters of the Third Kind
Steven Spielberg's epic science fiction film follows a group of people who believe that they have witnessed alien contact. Roy Neary (Richard Dreyfuss) encounters a UFO and becomes obsessed with uncovering the truth about extraterrestrials. Neary meets Jillian Guiler (Melinda Dillon), whose son has been abducted in a close encounter. This thrilling adventure is ahead of its time in terms of SFX.
Whiplash
Miles Teller plays Andrew Neiman, a jazz drumming student at the elite Shaffer Conservatory, who battles against his abusive mentor Terence Fletcher (J.K. Simmons). Determined to become one of the greatest jazz drummers of all time, Neiman must overcome the ruthless tutelage of Fletcher. The film earned a number of Academy Awards, including Best Supporting Actor for J.K. Simmons' performance.
Inside Out
This Pixar film follows Riley (Kaitlyn Dias), an 11-year-old girl grappling with the prospect of moving across the country. The narrative is told from the perspective of her emotions, Joy, Fear, Disgust, Sadness, and Anger, who help her to process such a life-changing event. Inside Out's creative, heartfelt center is amplified by gorgeous animation and sharp writing.
Raging Bull
Young Robert De Niro plays Jake LaMotta, a middleweight boxer rising through the ranks to earn a shot at the crown. Despite his talent, LaMotta has trouble expressing his feelings. Eventually, his inability to articulate emotions enters the ring, costing him everything. Director Martin Scorsese shot the film in black-and-white in order to evoke a 1940s aesthetic.
Coco
This sweet coming-of-age tale follows Miguel as he dreams of becoming a musician, despite his family's protest. He makes his way to the land of the dead, where he discovers that all is not as it seems. Coco's heartwarming narrative and vibrant animation will surely make you shed a few tears.
Boyhood
Filmed over a period of twelve years, Boyhood is Richard Linklater's attempt at organically capturing a young boy's ascent to manhood. The script was conceptualized as the movie was made, working off basic plot points. Boyhood won a number of awards, including Patricia Arquette's Oscar for Best Actress in a Supporting Role.
All the President's Men
This classic Robert Redford and Dustin Hoffman film wove a narrative around the infamous Watergate scandal. President Nixon's term was slated with a number of other scandals, but thanks to reporters Bob Woodward (Redford) and Carl Bernstein (Hoffman), Watergate was the defining moment of Nixon's time in office. The film was preserved in the Library of Congress in 2010.
L.A. Confidential
This 1997 neo-noir thriller is an adaptation of James Ellroy's novel of the same name. Guy Pearce, Russell Crowe, and Kevin Spacey all play policemen who grow obsessed with an unsolved murder in 1950s Hollywood, all with their own unique motivations. Filled with twists and turns, L.A. Confidential is a gritty, glittering masterpiece, capturing the City of Angels in its prime.
Reservoir Dogs
Reservoir Dogs was Quentin Tarantino's first feature-length project, which served as the cornerstone of his lucrative career. Empire lists it as "the single greatest independent film of all time." Although Tarantino's gory style has become less shocking to modern audiences, Reservoir Dogs was somewhat controversial in the early '90s.
Once Upon a Time in America
Once Upon a Time in America was Sergio Leone's last project before he died. In 1968, David "Noodles Aaronson (Robert De Niro) reflects on his past as a gangster in the '20s and '30s, climbing the ranks from the Jewish slums of the Lower East Side. It premiered at the Cannes Film Festival and received a standing ovation that lasted fifteen minutes.
The Apartment
Though The Apartment is technically labeled a romantic comedy, it certainly leans into the element of drama. The film follows insurance worker C.C. Baxter (Jack Lemmon), who allows his married senior advisors to use his apartment as a space to congregate with their mistresses. Lemmon manages to transform the role of a lonely, unassertive clerk into something much more poignant.
Notorious
This infamous Alfred Hitchcock spy noir follows Cary Grant and Ingrid Bergman as spies tasked with the challenge of seducing a Nazi played by Claude Rains. Notorious features all the elements of a great movie—romance, suspense, and phenomenal acting. The film is preserved in the Library of Congress.
Black Narcissus
Black Narcissus tells the story of a group of Anglican nuns on a mission that takes them to the top of the Himalayas. The natives are less than pleased by their arrival, and an inevitable conflict ensues. The film achieved considerable acclaim for its technical mastery, winning two Academy Awards for Best Production Design and Best Cinematography, respectively.
Strangers on a Train
Alfred Hitchcock's 1951 adaptation of Patricia Highsmith's novel Strangers on a Train follows two men who meet on a train and devise a plan to murder someone in each of their lives. The film has been called a "magnificent absurdist crime drama" with suspense that builds "relentlessly, almost sickeningly." The cinematographer, Robert Burks, was nominated for an Oscar.
Badlands
Sissy Spacek and Martin Sheen star in this 1970s crime drama as Holly and Kit, respectively. After a conflict between Holly and her father (Warren Oates) ends in violence, she and Kit are forced to flee their dead-end town, evading the authorities as they travel through the Midwest to the Badlands of Montana. Spacek said shooting the film changed the way she thought about filmmaking.
Unforgiven
Clint Eastwood directed, produced, and starred in this 1992 film, which won him an Academy Award for Best Director and the Best Actor nomination. The film depicts a clash between the town sheriff and two vigilantes who come to collect the reward for killing a pair of cowboys who brutally disfigured a sex worker. Unforgiven was the third-ever western to win the Oscar for Best Picture.
In a Lonely Place
In a Lonely Place stars legendary actor Humphrey Bogart as an alcoholic screenwriter suspected of murdering a girl he met only once. Bogart's spectacular performance is weighted perfectly against Gloria Grahame, who plays Bogart's love interest. The film was added to the Library of Congress in 2007.
Laura
Laura has been heralded as one of the best film noirs of the 1940s. This mystery thriller follows NYPD detective Mark McPherson (Dana Andrews) as he investigates the murder of Laura Hunt (Gene Tierney). The twist? As McPherson's obsession with the case spirals out of control, the more he falls in love with the victim.
Shadow of a Doubt
Of all the films Alfred Hitchcock directed, Shadow of a Doubt is his personal favorite. Uncle Charlie (Joseph Cotten) pays a visit to his family in Santa Rosa; his niece, played by Teresa Wright, recognizes that Charlie is wanted for murder. Although Cotten rarely played the bad guy throughout the duration of his acting career, he worked the role to perfection.
The Philadelphia Story
In this classic romantic comedy, Cary Grant and Katharine Hepburn play a couple whose relationship is on the rocks. Tracy Lord (Hepburn) must decide between three men, all vying her for her affection in different ways. The narrative has been lauded for its realistic portrayals of love and marriage.
Cool Hand Luke
Cool Hand Luke scored a 100% on Rotten Tomatoes, and for good reason—it's one of Golden Age Hollywood's most classic films. Paul Newman stars as the titular character, a petty criminal sentenced to two years on a Florida prison farm. There, Luke is The role earned Newman an Oscar nomination.
Rebecca
Alfred Hitchcock's Rebecca won several accolades, including Academy Awards for Best Picture and Best Cinematography. The film follows a young woman who marries a charming and wealthy widower, only to learn that she must live in the shadow of his former wife, Rebecca, who died years earlier in a mysterious accident. Rebecca was Hitchcock's first American-made film.
The Kid
The Kid is a 1921 silent film starring Charlie Chaplin. This was Chaplin's first full-length feature, which he also wrote and directed. It follows the story of a tramp who raises an orphan as his own and is devastated when the orphanage comes to reclaim him. The Kid's soulful narrative is strong enough to carry the film despite its lack of sound.
His Girl Friday
Cary Grant and Rosalind Russell lead in His Girl Friday, a classic romantic comedy that tells the story of a newspaper editor and reporter who work together on a murder case and, of course, fall in love. It has been preserved in the Library of Congress for its "cultural, historical, and aesthetic significance."
Aliens
James Cameron's Aliens remains one of the most popular sci-fi films of all time. The 1986 sequel stars Sigourney Weaver as Lt. Ripley, the lone survivor of an apocalyptic attack aboard her space vessel. Ripley awakens from hyper-sleep after being rescued by a deep space salvage team, but her warnings about the predators aren't enough to save everyone.
Holiday
Cary Grant and Katharine Hepburn star together once again in Holiday, a rom-com beloved by critics and audiences alike. Johnny's (Grant) wanderlust makes him the perfect suitor for Linda (Hepburn), the outspoken younger sister of the woman he's supposed to marry. The film is regarded as director George Cukor's best work.
All Quiet on the Western Front
This anti-war film follows a team of propaganda-indoctrinated German Army recruits grappling with the harsh realities of WWI. All Quiet on the Western Front is often regarded as the best anti-war film in history. However, in 1930, Nazi Germany deemed the film anti-German and, under the command of Joseph Goebbels, began to disrupt viewings by setting off stink bombs, throwing sneeze powder in the air, and releasing white mice in the theaters.
Playtime
This film has been described many a time as "one of a kind." Playtime is the most expensive film ever made in French history. Although it wasn't necessarily loved by audiences, Playtime did win a number of art awards, as well as inclusion in the British Film Institute's "50 Greatest Films of All Time" list.
Touch of Evil
This film noir was written and directed by Orson Welles, who also plays a lead role as police captain Hank Quinlan. Touch of Evil tells the story of corrupt law enforcement officers in Mexico. After a car bomb explodes on the American side of the border, Mexican drug enforcement agent Miguel Vargas (Charlton Heston) investigates alongside Quinlan. However, it soon becomes clear that Quinlan and his shady partner, Menzies (Joseph Calleia), are planting evidence to frame an innocent man.
The Grapes of Wrath
Based on the classic John Steinbeck novel, The Grapes of Wrath follows a poor family looking for a better life in California, only to find that the promised land isn't what they had hoped. Despite his usual conservativism, John Ford accurately captured Steinbeck's depiction of the Great Depression and its impact on migrant farmworkers during the Dust Bowl.
Sweet Smell of Success
Sweet Smell of Success follows the story of a newspaper columnist J.J. Hunsecker (Burt Lancaster) who disapproves of his sister's relationship with aspiring jazz musician Steve Dallas (Marty Milner). Hunsecker then hires P.R. specialist Sidney Falco (Tony Curtis) to meddle his way into the relationship and drive the two apart. It is considered one of the best films ever made about the seedy underbelly of Broadway.
The Wild Bunch
This 1969 American western stars William Holden, Robert Ryan, and Ernest Borgnine. It's one of the most controversial films of its time, though what was once deemed "graphic" violence has become relatively commonplace in movies today. In the late 1960s, this sort of brutality was rarely seen on the silver screen.
Witness for the Prosecution
This crime drama is based on Agatha Christie's novel of the same name. Witness for the Prosecution follows the story of a screenwriter accused of murdering an old, wealthy woman. Regarded as one of the most notable courtroom dramas of all time, the film was nominated for six Academy Awards.
To Be or Not to Be
To Be or Not to Be tells the story of a Polish theater company fighting to stay afloat when the Nazis invade. To avoid closure, the staff turn themselves into spies. Time Out calls the film "one of the finest comedies to come out of Paramount."
Out of the Past
Out of the Past is based on the novel "Build My Gallows High" by Daniel Mainwaring and was released under the same title in the United Kingdom. This classic noir follows small-town gas station owner Jeff Bailey (Robert Mitchum) whose past returns to haunt him when he is recognized by a crook. The film affirmed the careers of Robert Mitchum, Jane Greer, and Kirk Douglas in one of his first major supporting roles.
Duck Soup
Although Duck Soup didn't do well at the box offices, critics were blown away by this Marx Brothers comedy. Pinky (Harpo Marx) and Chicolini (Chico Marx) are spies sent into the nation of Freedonia in order to stage a revolution after the country goes bankrupt. Despite its lack of success upon release, this wacky film is considered a masterwork of comedy.
Stagecoach
Stagecoach was John Wayne's first major role, and it ended up launching his career. Adapted from a short story by Ernest Haycox, Stagecoach follows a group of people traveling through Apache Indian territory. Directed by John Ford, this landmark Western is full of life and drama.
The Searchers
This critically-revered western stars the iconic John Wayne as Ethan Edwards, a Civil War veteran searching for his niece Debbie—played by none other than Natalie Wood—who was abducted by Comanches. This timeless classic is full of breathtaking landscapes, haunting imagery, and a twist that will leave you absolutely reeling.
Steamboat Bill, Jr.
The 1928 film actually laid the groundwork for Disney's Steamboat Willie. Starring Buster Keaton, Steamboat Bill, Jr. includes Keaton's most famous on-screen stunt in which an entire house collapses around him. The film is considered a classic comedy.
Stairway to Heaven
Critics have described Stairway to Heaven, also known as A Matter of Life and Death, as a film "bursting with tantalizing ideas, surprising connections, and suggestive flights of fancy." This romantic war film follows British Air Force pilot Peter Carter (David Niven), who survives a plane wreck on his way home to England. The only problem? He wasn't supposed to live.
Vertigo
Based on the novel "The Living on the Dead" by Pierre Boileau and Thomas Narcejac, Alfred Hitchcock's Vertigo follows an ex-police officer, John Ferguson (James Stewart), who suffers from an intense fear of heights. Ferguson is hired to prevent an old friend's wife from committing suicide, but all is not as it seems. This compelling masterpiece is widely considered to be one of Hitchcock's best works.
The Wages of Fear
This French-Italian film is based on a novel titled "Le Salaire de la Peur," meaning "The Salary of Fear." The film tells the story of an oil company that pays four men to deliver supplies to a remote oil field; a tense rivalry develops. It was France's fourth-highest-earning film in 1953.
It Happened One Night
It Happened One Night follows newlywed heiress Ellie Andrews (Claudette Colbert) after she jumps ship—literally—to escape her new husband. Andrews teams up with Peter Warne (Clark Gable), who offers to reunite her with her husband in exchange for an exclusive story. It is one of three films to win all five of the Major Academy Awards.
The Gold Rush
The Gold Rush is another one of Charlie Chaplin's famous works. It portrays the struggles of American workers, lightened by Chaplin's classic comedic effect. Chaplin said if he could be remembered for one film, it would be this one.
Some Like it Hot
Marilyn Monroe stars in this picture, and it's regarded as the best film of all time. It follows the story of a musician who must dress in drag to hind from the mafia after they accidentally witness a crime. It was nominated for six Academy Awards.
Aguirre, the Wrath of God
Starring Klaus Kinski and directed by Werner Herzog, this legendary piece of cinema follows a group of conquistadors on a failed expedition for a lost city. Roger Ebert called the film "one of the great haunting visions of cinema." Herzog insisted upon filming on location, which caused a number of hardships for the cast and crew but his decision resulted in an undeniable verisimilitude.
The Night of the Hunter
Reverend Harry Powell (Robert Mitchum) is a religious fanatic and serial killer in Charles Laughton's The Night of the Hunter. A horror movie that boasts the qualities of a Grimm fairytale, Robert Mitchum's electrifying performance earned this movie the attention that it rightfully deserved. The Night of the Hunter is one of Laughton's only movies in which he did not act.
The Last Picture Show
The Last Picture Show is described as "feeling new and old at the same time." High school seniors and best friends Sonny (Timothy Bottoms) and Duane (Jeff Bridges) struggle to escape their dead-end Texas town and move on to something bigger. The film earned two Academy Awards and is considered one of the greatest American movies of all time.
Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans
Directed by the man behind the classic silent horror film Nosferatu, Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans was F.W. Murnau's American debut. Bored with his family and dull routine, a farmer (George O'Brien) falls for a flirtatious city girl (Margaret Livingston). However, when his wife (Janet Gaynor) becomes suspicious of the farmer's plans to abandon her and their baby, he must win back her trust—and, in doing so, the two rekindle their romance. Words are hardly necessary in this emotional silent film.