Welcome to the Ultimate Cinematic Time-Travel
This “Best Movies of All Time” list is a ticket to a cinematic journey like no other.
If this is your first ride on the time-travelling FrameTrek Wagon, here’s what this is all about:
We choose a topic, in this case: “Best Movies of All Time”, and we set sail for a journey, where the bricks of the trek are made of movie frames, and each stop represents a magnificent achievement in Film.
This “All Time” journey is actually the synopsis of 10 other amazing journeys we took. Each of them explored a selected era or decade of Cinema, and without the experiences we gathered through them, this journey would have been just too complex to undertake.
Does “All Time” actually mean “All Time” to You?
In our dictionary, “All Time” means just that: From the earliest to the latest. In cinematic terms that would be: From the dawn of Cinema aka Silent Era to the current decade.
Thus, on this journey, we will visit every single era of World Cinema, not just a selected few – and we’ll do so chronologically.
So prepare yourself, cause you’re about to see silent classics, early talkies, neo-noir, retro flicks and modern blockbusters and everything in between. Every era and every genre you can think of, will show up here.
In case you’d rather explore just one specific era in film, you may want to choose from the journeys below:
If you’re still here, that means you’re up for the full journey. Nice!
Let’s keep the balance between the decades!
It is debatable, whether some cinematic eras are more significant than others. Well, we don’t debate. Instead, we decided to keep a perfect balance between them.
Every era or decade got three spots on our highlighted list, and ten spots on our extended list at the end of this article. That’s it, no exceptions.
This is a chronological list!
This is not a worst to best list. It presents the movies chronologically, in the order they came out. This way, if you decide to watch them all, the list will take you on an actual time-travel.
If this is your first time exploring the cinema from its birth to its present, then it’s a good idea to start with watching the 30 highlighted movies of this collection.
However, if you are already a fan, who saw most of the highlights and want some more, then you should dive into the Top 100 list at the end of this article.
Ready? Buckle up then, and let the best movies of all time carry you to the Wonderland of Cinema!
See FrameTrek's definition of 'Best' and the story behind this List (click to expand) ↴How to define ‘Best’?
That’s a pretty good question, since ‘Best’ is relative. A movie can be considered being among the best for multiple reasons, such as: Critical Acclaim, Audience Feedback, Box Office Performance, Awards and Nominations, Iconic Status, Popularity, Watchability, and even Personal Preference, or for being part of a famous list such as the 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die or Roger Ebert’s The Great Movies list – or because that particular movie defined its era.
So how did we pick the Top 30 and Top 100 Movies of All Time?
Well, it wasn’t simple, and it wasn’t easy! While composing the Best Films of All Time list, we tried to consider all of the factors mentioned in the ‘How to define Best’ paragraph above, and then some.
We believe that the movies that made the cut should not compete with one another any further, so we will just present them in the order they were released in.
We picked 10 movies from each era, thus created a Top 100 List, which can be found at the end of this article. We also highlighted three movies from each era, so there’s a Top 30 List too. Let’s start with that!
Revealing the Best Movies of All Time
A chronological presentation of the Greatest Films Ever Made
– 3 movies from each decade –
Silent Era
The Kid (1921)
American silent comedy-drama film written, produced, directed by, and starring Charlie Chaplin.
Story: The Tramp cares for an abandoned child, but events put that relationship in jeopardy. (IMDB)
Charles Chaplin’ irascible Tramp is given able support from Jackie Coogan as The Kid in this slapstick masterpiece, balancing the guffaws with moments of disarming poignancy.
Rotten Tomatoes Critics Consensus
Why is The Kid among the best films ever made?
✓ The Library of Congress selected The Kid for preservation in the National Film Registry for being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant”.
✓ Innovative in its combination of comedic and dramatic elements, it is widely considered one of the greatest films of the Silent Era.
Nosferatu, a Symphony of Horror (1922)
Nosferatu, eine Symphonie des Grauens (original German title)
German Expressionist silent fantasy horror film directed by F. W. Murnau and starring Max Schreck.
The movie is an unauthorised adaptation of the classic gothic horror novel Dracula, first published in 1897, written by Irish author Bram Stoker. Would you like to read the book?
One of the silent era’s most influential masterpieces, Nosferatu’s eerie, gothic feel – and a chilling performance from Max Schreck as the vampire – set the template for the horror films that followed.
Rotten Tomatoes Critics Consensus
Why is Nosferatu among the best films of all time?
✓ It is selected by the Vatican in the “art” category of its list of 45 “great films”.
✓ Included among the 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die and Roger Ebert’s Great Movies list.
✓ The first true vampire movie ever made.
Metropolis (1927)
German silent expressionist science-fiction drama film directed by Fritz Lang.
Story: Set in 2026, Metropolis is a city where an underground community of overworked labourers run the machinery that maintains the existence of the Utopian world above ground.
The story is based on the classic sci-fi novel of the same title, first published in 1925, written by Fritz Lang’s wife Thea von Harbou. Would you like to read the book?
A visually awe-inspiring science fiction classic from the silent era.
Rotten Tomatoes Critics Consensus
Why is Metropolis among the best movies ever made?
✓ It is included among the 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die and Roger Ebert’s Great Movies list.
✓ Chosen by Premiere magazine as one of the “100 Movies That Shook the World” and selected by the Vatican in the “art” category of its list of 45 “great films”.
✓ Considered to be the world’s first feature-length science fiction movie.
…end of the Silent Era…
Want to dig deeper into this era?
See the Top 10 Films of the Silent Era (click to expand) ↴
 | The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920) |
 | The Kid (1921) |
 | Nosferatu, a Symphony of Horror (1922) |
 | Sherlock Jr. (1924) |
 | Battleship Potemkin (1925) |
 | The Gold Rush (1925) |
 | The General (1926) |
 | Metropolis (1927) |
 | Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans (1927) |
 | The Passion of Joan of Arc (1928) |
Want to dig even deeper into the Silent Era? Here’s a journey for you:
1930s
Frankenstein (1931)
Pre-Code science fiction horror film directed by James Whale and starring Boris Karloff.
Story: An obsessed scientist assembles a living being from parts of exhumed corpses. (IMDB)
Still unnerving to this day, Frankenstein adroitly explores the fine line between genius and madness, and features Boris Karloff’s legendary, frightening performance as the monster.
Rotten Tomatoes Critics Consensus
Why is Frankenstein among the best movies of all time?
✓ Included among the 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die.
✓ It had a significant impact on popular culture, with the imagery of a scientist’s hunchbacked assistant, and with Frankenstein’s monster becoming iconic.
✓ The United States Library of Congress selected Frankenstein for preservation in the National Film Registry as being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant”.
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)
Animated musical fantasy film produced by Disney.
Story: Exiled into the dangerous forest by her wicked stepmother, a princess is rescued by seven dwarf miners who make her part of their household. (IMDB)
With its involving story and characters, vibrant art, and memorable songs, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs set the animation standard for decades to come.
Rotten Tomatoes Critics Consensus
Why is Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs among the greatest films ever made?
✓ It is included among the 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die and Roger Ebert’s Great Movies list, also included among the American Film Institute’s list of the Top 100 Greatest American Movies.
✓ Selected into the National Film Registry for being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant”.
✓ It is considered to be the first major full-length animated feature film.
The Wizard of Oz (1939)
Musical fantasy adventure family film directed by Victor Fleming and starring Judy Garland.
Story: Dorothy is swept away from a farm in Kansas to the magical land of Oz in a tornado and embarks on a quest with her new friends to see the Wizard who can help her return home. (IMDB)
An absolute masterpiece whose groundbreaking visuals and deft storytelling are still every bit as resonant, The Wizard of Oz is a must-see film for young and old.
Rotten Tomatoes Critics Consensus
Why is The Wizard of Oz among the greatest films of all time?
✓ Selected by the Vatican in the “art” category of its list of 45 “great films” and was added to the National Film Registry by the United States Library of Congress.
✓ It is included among the 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die and Roger Ebert’s Great Movies list.
✓ Thanks to its brilliant use of Technicolor, fantasy storytelling, musical score, and memorable characters, the film has become an American pop culture icon.
…end of the 1930s…
Want to dig deeper into this era?
See the Top 10 Films of the 1930s (click to expand) ↴
 | Frankenstein (1931) *Part of the Collection: Wolfrancula Cinematic Universe |
 | City Lights (1931) |
 | M (1931) *Part of the Collection: Fritz Lang’s Dr. Mabuse and M Cinematic Universe |
 | King Kong (1933) *Part of the Collection: Classic King Kong Duology |
 | It Happened One Night (1934) |
 | Modern Times (1936) |
 | Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937) |
 | Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939) |
 | Gone with the Wind (1939) |
 | The Wizard of Oz (1939) *Part of the Collection: Land of Oz Franchise |
Want to dig even deeper into the 1930s? Here’s a journey for you:
1940s
The Great Dictator (1940)
Political satire comedy-drama film written, directed, produced, scored by, and starring Charlie Chaplin.
Story: Dictator Adenoid Hynkel tries to expand his empire while a poor Jewish barber tries to avoid persecution from Hynkel’s regime. (IMDB)
Charlie Chaplin demonstrates that his comedic voice is undiminished by dialogue in this rousing satire of tyranny, which may be more distinguished by its uplifting humanism than its gags.
Rotten Tomatoes Critics Consensus
Why is The Great Dictator among the greatest movies ever made?
✓ Included among the American Film Institute’s list of the Top 100 Funniest American Movies, and also part of Roger Ebert’s Great Movies list.
✓ One of the most popular movies of the 1940s Cinema and an influential, timeless classic.
✓ Selected by the Library of Congress for preservation in the United States National Film Registry as being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant”.
Casablanca (1942)
Romantic drama film directed by Michael Curtiz, starring Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman.
Story: A cynical American expatriate struggles to decide whether or not he should help his former lover and her fugitive husband escape French Morocco. (IMDB)
An undisputed masterpiece and perhaps Hollywood’s quintessential statement on love and romance, Casablanca has only improved with age, boasting career-defining performances from Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman.
Rotten Tomatoes Critics Consensus
Why is Casablanca among the greatest movies of all time?
✓ Winner of 3 Oscars, including “Best Picture of the Year” Academy Award.
✓ Included among the 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die and Roger Ebert’s Great Movies list.
✓ Its lead characters, memorable lines, and pervasive theme song have all become iconic.
It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)
Christmas fantasy drama film produced and directed by Frank Capra, starring James Stewart.
Story: An angel is sent from Heaven to help a desperately frustrated businessman by showing him what life would have been like if he had never existed. (IMDB)
The holiday classic to define all holiday classics, It’s a Wonderful Life is one of a handful of films worth an annual viewing.
Rotten Tomatoes Critics Consensus
Why is It’s a Wonderful Life among the top films ever made?
✓ Selected by the Vatican in the “values” category of its list of 45 “great films”.
✓ Included among the 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die and Roger Ebert’s Great Movies list.
✓ The American Film Institute ranked this as the #1 Most Inspirational Movie of All Time and as the #20 Greatest Movie of All Time.
…end of the 1940s…
Want to dig deeper into this era?
See the Top 10 Films of the 1940s (click to expand) ↴
 | The Great Dictator (1940) |
 | Pinocchio (1940) |
 | The Maltese Falcon (1941) |
 | Citizen Kane (1941) |
 | Casablanca (1942) |
 | Double Indemnity (1944) |
 | It's a Wonderful Life (1946) |
 | Rope (1948) |
 | Bicycle Thieves (1948) |
 | The Third Man (1949) |
Want to dig even deeper into the 1940s? Here’s a journey for you:
1950s
Rear Window (1954)
Technicolor mystery thriller film directed by Alfred Hitchcock, starring James Stewart and Grace Kelly.
Story: A wheelchair-bound photographer spies on his neighbors from his apartment window and becomes convinced one of them has committed murder. (IMDB)
Hitchcock exerted full potential of suspense in this masterpiece.
Rotten Tomatoes Critics Consensus
Why is Rear Window among the top films of all time?
✓ Included among the 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die and Roger Ebert’s Great Movies list.
✓ Added to the United States National Film Registry in the Library of Congress as being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant”.
✓ Ranked #3 on the American Film Institute’s list of the 10 greatest films in the genre “Mystery” and #48 on their list of the Greatest Movies of All Time.
12 Angry Men (1957)
Courtroom drama thriller starring Henry Fonda.
Story: A jury holdout attempts to prevent a miscarriage of justice by forcing his colleagues to reconsider the evidence. (IMDB)
Sidney Lumet’s feature debut is a superbly written, dramatically effective courtroom thriller that rightfully stands as a modern classic.
Rotten Tomatoes Critics Consensus
Why is 12 Angry Men among the top movies of all time?
✓ Included among the 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die and Roger Ebert’s Great Movies list.
✓ Ranked #2 on the American Film Institute’s list of the ten greatest films in the genre “Courtroom Drama”.
✓ Selected for the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant”.
Ben-Hur (1959)
Epic historical drama directed by William Wyler and starring Charlton Heston.
Story: When a Jewish prince is betrayed and sent into slavery by a Roman friend, he regains his freedom and comes back for revenge. (IMDB)
Uneven, but in terms of epic scope and grand spectacle, Ben-Hur still ranks among Hollywood’s finest examples of pure entertainment.
Rotten Tomatoes Critics Consensus
Why is Ben-Hur among the top movies ever made?
✓ It is included among the 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die.
✓ Winner of 11 Oscars, including the “Best Picture of the Year” Academy Award.
✓ Ranked #2 on the American Film Institute’s list of the 10 greatest films in the genre “Epic”.
✓ It became the second highest-grossing film in history at the time.
…end of the 1950s…
Want to dig deeper into this era?
See the Top 10 Films of the 1950s (click to expand) ↴
 | Singin' in the Rain (1952) |
 | Rear Window (1954) |
 | Seven Samurai (1954) |
 | 12 Angry Men (1957) |
 | The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957) |
 | Paths of Glory (1957) |
 | Vertigo (1958) |
 | Ben-Hur (1959) |
 | North by Northwest (1959) |
 | Some Like It Hot (1959) |
Want to dig even deeper into the 1950s? Here’s a journey for you:
1960s
Psycho (1960)
Psychological horror thriller directed by Alfred Hitchcock and starring Anthony Perkins.
Story: A Phoenix secretary embezzles forty thousand dollars from her employer’s client, goes on the run, and checks into a remote motel run by a young man under the domination of his mother. (IMDB)
Infamous for its shower scene, but immortal for its contribution to the horror genre. Because Psycho was filmed with tact, grace, and art, Hitchcock didn’t just create modern horror, he validated it.
Rotten Tomatoes Critics Consensus
Why is Psycho among the best films ever made?
✓ Included among the 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die and Roger Ebert’s Great Movies list.
✓ Selected for preservation by The Library of Congress at The National Film Registry.
✓ It set a new level of acceptability for violence, deviant behavior and sexuality in films, and is widely considered to be the earliest example of the slasher film genre.
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966)
Epic spaghetti western film directed by Sergio Leone and starring Clint Eastwood.
Story: A bounty hunting scam joins two men in an uneasy alliance against a third in a race to find a fortune in gold buried in a remote cemetery. (IMDB)
Arguably the greatest of the spaghetti westerns, this epic features a compelling story, memorable performances, breathtaking landscapes, and a haunting score.
Rotten Tomatoes Critics Consensus
Why is The Good, the Bad and the Ugly among the best films of all time?
✓ One of the highest grossing movies of the 1960s.
✓ Included among the 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die and Roger Ebert’s Great Movies list.
✓ Praised for Leone’s use of long shots and close-up cinematography, as well as his distinctive use of violence, tension, and stylistic gunfights.
2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
Epic science fiction film directed by Stanley Kubrick.
Story: After discovering a mysterious artifact buried beneath the Lunar surface, mankind sets off on a quest to find its origins with help from intelligent supercomputer H.A.L. 9000. (IMDB)
One of the most influential of all sci-fi films – and one of the most controversial – Stanley Kubrick’s 2001 is a delicate, poetic meditation on the ingenuity – and folly – of mankind.
Rotten Tomatoes Critics Consensus
Why is 2001: A Space Odyssey among the best movies ever made?
✓ Included among the 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die and Roger Ebert’s Great Movies list, and also selected by the Vatican in the “art” category of its list of 45 “great films”.
✓ Praised for its scientifically accurate depiction of space flight, pioneering special effects, and ambiguous imagery.
✓ Deemed “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant” by the United States Library of Congress and selected for preservation in the National Film Registry.
…end of the 1960s…
Want to dig deeper into this era?
See the Top 10 Films of the 1960s (click to expand) ↴
 | Psycho (1960) *Part of the Collection: Anthony Perkins’s Psycho Quadrology |
 | Lawrence of Arabia (1962) |
 | To Kill a Mockingbird (1962) |
 | The Great Escape (1963) |
 | Dr. Strangelove (1964) |
 | The Sound of Music (1965) |
 | The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966) *Part of the Collection: Sergio Leone’s Dollars Trilogy |
 | The Graduate (1967) |
 | Once Upon a Time in the West (1968) |
 | 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) *Part of the Collection: Space Odyssey Duology |
Want to dig even deeper into the 1960s? Here’s a journey for you:
1970s
The Godfather (1972)
Crime drama film directed by Francis Ford Coppola, starring Marlon Brando and Al Pacino.
Story: The aging patriarch of an organized crime dynasty transfers control of his clandestine empire to his reluctant son. (IMDB)
One of Hollywood’s greatest critical and commercial successes, The Godfather gets everything right; not only did the movie transcend expectations, it established new benchmarks for American cinema.
Rotten Tomatoes Critics Consensus
Why is The Godfather among the best movies of all time?
✓ Included among the 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die and Roger Ebert’s Great Movies list.
✓ Winner of 3 Oscars, including the ‘Best Picture of the Year’ Academy Award.
✓ Critics and audiences praised the performances of the principal cast, particularly Brando and Pacino, the directing, screenplay, cinematography, editing, score, and portrayal of the mafia.
Star Wars: A New Hope (1977)
Epic space opera directed by George Lucas and starring Harrison Ford.
Story: Luke Skywalker joins forces with a Jedi Knight, a cocky pilot, a Wookiee and two droids to save the galaxy from the Empire’s world-destroying battle station, while also attempting to rescue Princess Leia from the mysterious Darth Vader. (IMDB)
A legendarily expansive and ambitious start to the sci-fi saga, George Lucas opened our eyes to the possibilities of blockbuster filmmaking and things have never been the same.
Rotten Tomatoes Critics Consensus
Why is Star Wars: A New Hope among the greatest films ever made?
✓ Included among the 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die and Roger Ebert’s Great Movies list, also selected as part of the U.S. Library of Congress’s National Film Registry as being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant”.
✓ Winner of 7 Oscars, one Golden Globe, and two BAFTAs.
✓ Regarded as one of the most important and most influential films in the history of motion pictures.
Alien (1979)
Science fiction horror film directed by Ridley Scott and starring Sigourney Weaver.
Story: After a space merchant vessel perceives an unknown transmission as a distress call, its landing on the source moon finds one of the crew attacked by a mysterious lifeform, and they soon realize that its life cycle has merely begun. (IMDB)
A modern classic, Alien blends science fiction, horror and bleak poetry into a seamless whole.
Rotten Tomatoes Critics Consensus
Why is Alien among the greatest films of all time?
✓ Included among the 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die and Roger Ebert’s Great Movies list.
✓ Deemed “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant” by the Library of Congress and was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry.
✓ Ranked by the American Film Institute as the seventh-best film in the science-fiction genre, and as the 33rd-greatest film of all time by Empire.
…end of the 1970s…
Want to dig deeper into this era?
See the Top 10 Films of the 1970s (click to expand) ↴
 | A Clockwork Orange (1971) |
 | The Godfather (1972) *Part of the Collection: The Original Godfather Trilogy |
 | The Exorcist (1973) *Part of the Collection: Original Exorcist Franchise |
 | One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975) |
 | Jaws (1975) *Part of the Collection: Jaws Quadrology |
 | Rocky (1976) *Part of the Collection: Rocky and Creed Franchise |
 | Taxi Driver (1976) |
 | Star Wars: A New Hope (1977) *Part of the Collection: Star Wars Cinematic Universe |
 | Alien (1979) *Part of the Collection: Aliens and Predators Cinematic Universe |
 | Apocalypse Now (1979) |
Want to dig even deeper into the 1970s? Here’s a journey for you:
1980s
The Terminator (1984)
Science fiction action film directed by James Cameron, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger and Linda Hamilton.
With its impressive action sequences, taut economic direction, and relentlessly fast pace, it’s clear why The Terminator continues to be an influence on sci-fi and action flicks.
Rotten Tomatoes Critics Consensus
Why is The Terminator among the greatest movies ever made?
✓ Included among the 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die.
✓ Selected by the Library of Congress for preservation in the National Film Registry as “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant”.
✓ A huge critical and commercial success, the film developed a significant cult following, and the character of the Terminator became iconic.
Back to the Future (1985)
Science fiction adventure film directed by Robert Zemeckis, starring Michael J. Fox and Christopher Lloyd.
Story: Marty McFly, a 17-year-old high school student, is accidentally sent thirty years into the past in a time-traveling DeLorean invented by his close friend, the eccentric scientist Doc Brown. (IMDB)
Inventive, funny, and breathlessly constructed, Back to the Future is a rousing time-travel adventure with an unforgettable spirit.
Rotten Tomatoes Critics Consensus
Why is Back to the Future among the greatest movies of all time?
✓ Included among the 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die, and the Library of Congress selected it for preservation in the National Film Registry.
✓ Ranked #10 on the American Film Institute’s list of the ten greatest films in the genre “Sci-Fi”.
✓ One of the most successful and most popular movies of the 1980s, and it also developed a significant cult following.
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)
Action adventure film directed by Steven Spielberg, starring Harrison Ford and Sean Connery.
Story: In 1938, after his father Professor Henry Jones, Sr. goes missing while pursuing the Holy Grail, Professor Henry “Indiana” Jones, Jr. finds himself up against Adolf Hitler’s Nazis again to stop them from obtaining its powers. (IMDB)
Lighter and more comedic than its predecessor, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade returns the series to the brisk serial adventure of Raiders, while adding a dynamite double act between Harrison Ford and Sean Connery.
Rotten Tomatoes Critics Consensus
Why is Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade among the top films ever made?
✓ One of the most popular and highest grossing movies of the 1980s.
✓ Critics and audiences praised the Spielberg’s direction, the action sequences and the performance of the principal cast, especially Ford and Connery, and their onscreen father–son relationship’s thematic depth.
…end of the 1980s…
Want to dig deeper into this era?
See the Top 10 Films of the 1980s (click to expand) ↴
 | Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (1980) *Part of the Collection: Star Wars Cinematic Universe |
 | The Shining (1980) *Part of the Collection: The Shining Duology |
 | Blade Runner (1982) *Part of the Collection: Blade Runner Duology |
 | Scarface (1983) |
 | The Terminator (1984) *Part of the Collection: The Terminator Franchise |
 | Back to the Future (1985) *Part of the Collection: Back to the Future Trilogy |
 | Aliens (1986) *Part of the Collection: Aliens and Predators Cinematic Universe |
 | Full Metal Jacket (1987) |
 | Die Hard (1988) *Part of the Collection: Bruce Willis’s Die Hard Franchise |
 | Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989) *Part of the Collection: Indiana Jones Quadrology |
Want to dig even deeper into the 1980s? Here’s a journey for you:
1990s
The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
American drama film starring Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman.
Story: Two imprisoned men bond over a number of years, finding solace and eventual redemption through acts of common decency. (IMDB)
The Shawshank Redemption is an uplifting, deeply satisfying prison drama with sensitive direction and fine performances.
Rotten Tomatoes Critics Consensus
Why is The Shawshank Redemption among the top films of all time?
✓ Included among the 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die and Roger Ebert’s Great Movies list.
✓ The United States Library of Congress selected it for preservation in the National Film Registry, finding it “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant”.
✓ Received praise from audiences and critics particularly for its story and the performances of Robbins and Freeman.
Fight Club (1999)
American drama film starring Brad Pitt and Edward Norton.
Story: An insomniac office worker and a devil-may-care soapmaker form an underground fight club that evolves into something much, much more. (IMDB)
Solid acting, amazing direction, and elaborate production design make Fight Club a wild ride.
Rotten Tomatoes Critics Consensus
Why is Fight Club among the top movies of all time?
✓ Included among the 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die.
✓ Voted #4 in Total Film’s 100 Greatest Movies Of All Time list.
✓ Cited as one of the most controversial and talked-about films of the 1990s, and a defining cult classic.
The Matrix (1999)
Cyberpunk science fiction action film directed by the Wachowskis,
starring Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne and Carrie-Anne Moss.
Story: A computer hacker learns from mysterious rebels about the true nature of his reality and his role in the war against its controllers. (IMDB)
Thanks to the Wachowskis’ imaginative vision, The Matrix is a smartly crafted combination of spectacular action and groundbreaking special effects.
Rotten Tomatoes Critics Consensus
Why is The Matrix among the top movies ever made?
✓ Included among the 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die, and also added to the National Film Registry for preservation.
✓ Well-received by critics and won four Academy Awards, as well as other accolades, including BAFTA Awards and Saturn Awards.
✓ Praised for its innovative visual effects, cinematography and entertainment value.
…end of the 1990s…
Want to dig deeper into this era?
See the Top 10 Films of the 1990s (click to expand) ↴
 | Schindler's List (1993) |
 | The Shawshank Redemption (1994) |
 | Pulp Fiction (1994) |
 | Forrest Gump (1994) |
 | Se7en (1995) |
 | Titanic (1997) |
 | Saving Private Ryan (1998) |
 | The Green Mile (1999) |
 | The Matrix (1999) *Part of the Collection: The Matrix Trilogy |
 | Fight Club (1999) |
Want to dig even deeper into the 1990s? Here’s a journey for you:
2000s
The Lord of the Rings Trilogy (2001–2003)
Epic fantasy adventure film trilogy directed by Peter Jackson, starring Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen and Viggo Mortensen.
Story: A meek Hobbit from the Shire and his companions set out on a journey to destroy the powerful One Ring and save Middle-earth from the Dark Lord Sauron.
Visually breathtaking special effects, balancing spectacular action with emotional storytelling and featuring a pitch-perfect cast, The Lord of the Rings Trilogy brings J.R.R. Tolkien’s classic to vivid life.
Why is The Lord of the Rings Trilogy among the best films ever made?
✓ One of the biggest and most ambitious film projects ever undertaken, and a major financial success.
✓ Highly acclaimed by critics and fans alike, heavily awarded, and widely regarded as one of the greatest and most influential film series ever made, a landmark in film-making and an influential achievement in the fantasy film genre.
The Dark Knight (2008)
Superhero film directed by Christopher Nolan, starring Christian Bale and Heath Ledger.
Story: When the menace known as the Joker wreaks havoc and chaos on the people of Gotham, Batman must accept one of the greatest psychological and physical tests of his ability to fight injustice. (IMDB)
Dark, complex, and unforgettable, The Dark Knight succeeds not just as an entertaining comic book film, but as a richly thrilling crime saga.
Rotten Tomatoes Critics Consensus
Why is The Dark Knight among the best films of all time?
✓ Included among the 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die.
✓ Winner of 2 Oscars, and nominee for another 6.
✓ Considered one of the best films of its decade and one of the best superhero films of all time, the film received highly positive reviews, particularly for its action, score, screenplay, performances (particularly Ledger’s), visual effects, and direction, setting numerous records during its theatrical run.
Avatar (2009)
Epic science fiction film directed, written, produced, and co-edited by James Cameron.
Story: A paraplegic Marine dispatched to the moon Pandora on a unique mission becomes torn between following his orders and protecting the world he feels is his home. (IMDB)
It might be more impressive on a technical level than as a piece of storytelling, but Avatar reaffirms James Cameron’s singular gift for imaginative, absorbing filmmaking.
Rotten Tomatoes Critics Consensus
Why is Avatar among the best movies ever made?
✓ Included among the 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die.
✓ Winner of 3 Oscars, and nominee for another six. Also won two Golden Globes, two BAFTAs and ten Saturn Awards.
✓ It was a huge critical and commercial success, highly praised by critics for its groundbreaking visual effects. It broke several box office records and became the highest-grossing film worldwide at the time.
…end of the 2000s…
Want to dig deeper into this era?
See the Top 10 Films of the 2000s (click to expand) ↴
 | Memento (2000) |
 | Gladiator (2000) |
 | The Lord of the Rings Trilogy (2001-2003) *Part of the Collection: Middle Earth Cinematic Universe |
 | Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003) *Part of the Collection: Pirates of the Caribbean Franchise |
 | The Departed (2006) |
 | The Prestige (2006) |
 | WALL·E (2008) |
 | The Dark Knight (2008) *Part of the Collection: Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight Trilogy |
 | Inglourious Basterds (2009) |
 | Avatar (2009) |
Want to dig even deeper into the 2000s? Here’s a journey for you:
2010s
Inception (2010)
Science fiction action thriller directed by Christopher Nolan and starring Leonardo DiCaprio.
Story: A thief who steals corporate secrets through the use of dream-sharing technology is given the inverse task of planting an idea into the mind of a C.E.O. (IMDB)
Smart, innovative, and thrilling, Inception is that rare summer blockbuster that succeeds viscerally as well as intellectually.
Rotten Tomatoes Critics Consensus
Why is Inception among the best movies of all time?
✓ Included among the 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die.
✓ Winner of 4 Oscars, and nominee for another 4, including the ‘Best Picture of the Year’ Academy Award.
✓ Received critical praise for its screenplay, visual effects, score, Nolan’s direction and ensemble cast.
Django Unchained (2012)
Revisionist western drama directed by Quentin Tarantino, starring Jamie Foxx, Christoph Waltz and Leonardo DiCaprio.
Story: With the help of a German bounty hunter, a freed slave sets out to rescue his wife from a brutal Mississippi plantation owner. (IMDB)
Bold, bloody, and stylistically daring, Django Unchained is another incendiary masterpiece from Quentin Tarantino.
Rotten Tomatoes Critics Consensus
Why is Django Unchained among the greatest films ever made?
✓ Included among the 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die.
✓ Waltz won several awards for his performance, including the Best Supporting Actor at the Academy Awards, Golden Globes and BAFTAs.
✓ For his screenplay, Tarantino won an Academy Award, a Golden Globe, and a BAFTA.
Avengers: Infinity War & Endgame (2018–2019)
Superhero film duology directed by the Russo Brothers, starring Robert Downey Jr., Chris Hemsworth and Chris Evans.
Story: The Avengers and their allies must be willing to sacrifice all in an attempt to defeat the powerful Thanos before his blitz of devastation and ruin puts an end to the universe.
Avengers: Infinity War & Endgame ably juggle a dizzying array of MCU heroes in the fight against their gravest threat yet, and the result is a thrilling, emotionally impactful blockbuster duology that realizes its gargantuan ambitions and delivers a satisfying finale to Marvel’s epic Infinity Saga.
Rotten Tomatoes Critics Consensus
Why is Avengers: Infinity War & Endgame among the greatest films of all time?
✓ It is one (actually two) of the most influential and most ambitious superhero movies of all time, which, thanks to its enormous popularity and cult following, became a global phenomenon.
✓ It was one of the most expensive movie duology ever made, but it also became an enormous critical and box office success, with its second part becoming the highest-grossing film of all time (up to that point).
…end of the 2010s…
Want to dig deeper into this era?
See the Top 10 Films of the 2010s (click to expand) ↴
 | Inception (2010) |
 | Toy Story 3 (2010) *Part of the Collection: Toy Story Quadrology |
 | Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (2011) *Part of the Collection: Wizarding World |
 | Django Unchained (2012) |
 | The Wolf of Wall Street (2013) |
 | Interstellar (2014) |
 | Gone Girl (2014) |
 | The Martian (2015) |
 | Mad Max: Fury Road (2015) |
 | Avengers Infinity War & Endgame (2018-2019) *Part of the Collection: Marvel Cinematic Universe |
Want to dig even deeper into the 2010s? Here’s a journey for you:
…end of the reel…
So there you have it: The 30 Greatest Movies of All Time
If you want to take a look at the movies listed above, without all that info between the titles, here’s a quick recap:
Wait, there’s more!
If you’re a hardcore fan of All Time Cinema, and you already saw most of the movies in the Top 30 List above, than here’s the extended version for you:
TOP 100 FILMS OF ALL TIME
Click to reveal the List ↴
Is there a movie on the list you’d replace with another one? Share your thoughts in the comments section below!
