Compiling a list of the greatest movies of all time is no easy feat to take. There are thousands of movies to pick from and it’s very difficult to agree upon one movie as the greatest movie ever made. That’s why this list contains not just one but ten movies which, I hope you’ll agree, are all worthy contenders for the top spot.
Ranking the best movies of all time is a daunting task. Trying to compare a classic like Citizen Kane with Star Wars trilogy is like apples and oranges. This list will be based primarily on IMDB ratings and Rotten Tomatoes reviews as well as my personal opinion and experiences when it comes to movies.
What Are The Top 10 Greatest Movies of All Time?
We’ve put together a collection of movies that have stood the test of time and were either groundbreaking or influential in their own way.
Here’s our list of the top 10 greatest movies ever made, ranked according to each film’s status as a cinematic masterpiece. Data pull and reproduced from IMDb
- The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
- The Godfather (1972)
- The Dark Knight (2008)
- The Godfather: Part II (1974)
- 12 Angry Men (1957)
- Schindler’s List (1993)
- The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
- Pulp Fiction (1994)
- The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
- The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966)
1. The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
With a staggering 9.2/10 rating on IMDb, The Shawshank Redemption (1994) is still smiling with the highest-rated and top movie of all-time according to IMDb. Although older than two decades ago, Shawshank Redemption is still making waves in the movie world.
It is one of the most beautiful movies about hope. It is a story about Andy Dufresne who is sent to prison for murdering his wife and her lover. He befriends Red, an inmate, who helps him in getting through jail life smoothly.
This movie ranks first position among the top 250 movies of all time according to IMDb and also it is one of the best films ever made in Hollywood according to different film critics, user reviews, and ratings.
2. The Godfather (1972)
The Godfather (1972) is the second most rated and greatest of all time movie according to IMDb. The movie has thousands of positive ratings with an average rating of 9.2/10. The audience loved it and the film was nominated for 11 Academy Awards, of which it won three: best picture; best adapted screenplay; and best actor for Marlon Brando as Vito Corleone. It has also 31 wins and 30 nominations for awards in different categories.
The film’s story spans 10 years from 1945 to 1955 and chronicles the fictional Italian-American Corleone crime family. When organized crime family patriarch, Vito Corleone barely survives an attempt on his life, his youngest son, Michael steps in to take care of the would-be killers, launching a campaign of bloody revenge.
3. The Dark Knight (2008)
The Dark Knight (2008) is the third most rated and greatest of all time movie according to IMDb ratings using different criteria including users reviews.
The Dark Knight is a 2008 superhero film directed, co-produced, and co-written by Christopher Nolan. Based on the DC Comics character Batman, the film is the second installment of Nolan’s The Dark Knight Trilogy and a sequel to 2005’s Batman Begins, starring Christian Bale and supported by Michael Caine, Heath Ledger, Gary Oldman, Aaron Eckhart, Maggie Gyllenhaal, and Morgan Freeman.
In the film, Bruce Wayne / Batman (Bale), Police Lieutenant James Gordon (Oldman) and District Attorney Harvey Dent (Eckhart) form an alliance to dismantle organized crime in Gotham City but are menaced by an anarchistic mastermind known as The Joker (Ledger), who seeks to undermine Batman’s influence and create chaos.
4. The Godfather: Part II (1974)
The Godfather: Part II (1974) – Francis Ford Coppola’s sequel to his original classic, The Godfather Part 2 is a worthy sequel and nearly as good as the original! It is certainly the most ambitious gangster film ever made.
The Godfather: Part II (1974) is the 4th greatest of all time movie that is still making waves in this generation. The movie which was released over 40 years ago remains a classic and has been rated by many as their best ever. The film was directed by Francis Ford Coppola and written by Coppola and Mario Puzo, based on Puzo’s 1969 novel The Godfather.
The film is both a sequel and a prequel to The Godfather, presenting parallel dramas: one picks up the 1958 story of Michael Corleone (Al Pacino), the new Don of the Corleone crime family, protecting the family business in the aftermath of an attempt on his life; the prequel covers the journey of his father, Vito Corleone (Robert De Niro), from his Sicilian childhood to the founding of his family enterprise in New York City. The dual storylines are interspersed with scenes from the 5 Families’ war over gambling rackets in New York City, following Don Vito’s rise and fall.
5. 12 Angry Men (1957)
12 Angry Men is a 1957 American courtroom drama film directed by Sidney Lumet, written by Reginald Rose, and starring Henry Fonda and it has for over decades remained amongst the top ten greatest movies of all time.
12 Angry Men is a 1957 American courtroom drama film directed by Sidney Lumet, written by Reginald Rose, and starring Henry Fonda. It tells the story of twelve jurors who must decide whether or not a young man is guilty of murdering his father.
What at first seems like an open-and-shut case soon becomes a complex battle of wills between the individual jurors as they begin to question one another’s motives. In the end, their vote becomes less about whether the defendant committed murder and more about who has the better moral character.
6. Schindler’s List (1993)
Schindler’s List is a 1993 American epic historical period drama film that has for a long time remained the most relevant movie. It is based on the novel Schindler’s Ark by Australian novelist Thomas Keneally. The film follows Oskar Schindler, a Sudeten German businessman, who saved the lives of more than a thousand mostly Polish-Jewish refugees from the Holocaust by employing them in his factories during World War II. It stars Liam Neeson as Schindler, Ralph Fiennes as SS officer Amon Göth, and Ben Kingsley as Schindler’s Jewish accountant Itzhak Stern.
The idea for the film came from Spielberg’s long-time interest in World War II. While searching for stories about the Holocaust, he came across the book Schindler’s Ark (1982) by Australian author Thomas Keneally. He decided to turn it into a movie after reading the book, which was based on the wartime experiences of Poldek Pfefferberg, one of the Schindlerjuden (Schindler Jews)
7. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003) is a three-hour film that was directed by Peter Jackson. It is the third and final installment in the Lord of the Rings trilogy. The film won 11 Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Adapted Screenplay.
This movie is not only one of the greatest movies of all time but it also has a very rich history behind it. There are many interesting facts about this movie that you may not know. For example, did you know that there were two endings filmed for this movie? Now, you know it.
8. Pulp Fiction (1994)
Pulp Fiction (1994) is one of the greatest movies of all time according to IMDb’s chart. Despite being one of the old days’ movies, it’s still getting good ratings from users. The film is filled with great dialogue, a sharp script, and an excellent ensemble cast. The film features many great scenes that are highlighted by superb acting and memorable dialogue. The film is filled with great dialogue, a sharp script, and an excellent ensemble cast. The film features many great scenes that are highlighted by superb acting and memorable dialogue.
The movie has been a hit since its first release in 1994. It has been well-received by critics and audiences alike, and it has won numerous awards including two Oscars, two Golden Globes, two BAFTAs, and a Golden Globe nomination. The film has received critical acclaim for its acting, direction, screenplay, and direction.
9. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring is a 2001 epic high fantasy adventure film directed by Peter Jackson and both parts made it to the greatest of all time movies in the IMDb’s top 250 movies chart. It is the first part of The Lord of the Rings trilogy, based on the book by J. R. R. Tolkien, and is followed by The Two Towers (2002) and The Return of the King (2003).
The story tells of Frodo Baggins (Elijah Wood), a hobbit who sets out to destroy the One Ring in order to save Middle-earth from its evil creator, Sauron. Joined by his loyal friend Samwise Gamgee (Sean Astin), and guided by the wizard Gandalf (Ian McKellen), he journeys through treacherous territory full of creatures such as orcs, trolls, ents, and wraiths to reach Mount Doom where
10. The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966)
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly is a 1966 Italian epic Spaghetti Western film directed by Sergio Leone. It stars Clint Eastwood, Lee Van Cleef, and Eli Wallach. The film still sits at the top ten greatest of all time movies despite how many decades it was released.
The film is known for its large cast of characters and long running time. The title of the film refers to a phrase that was used in the old American West when referring to three outlaws who had been hanged together. The film has been called “the most ambitious Western ever made,” as well as “the greatest achievement in Sergio Leone’s brilliant career.”
Faqs
What is considered the greatest movie ever?
If you search Google for “Greatest Movie Ever” or “Best Film Ever” you’ll find a number of lists that have been compiled by various media outlets, critics, and fans. There is no definitive list, however, so the rankings are often subjective and open to debate.
The movie most commonly cited as the greatest film ever made by professional critics and industry insiders is Citizen Kane. It was directed by Orson Welles and released in 1941.
Some of the other well-known movies that often appear on these lists include Casablanca (1942), Gone with the Wind (1939), The Godfather (1972), Psycho (1960), Jaws (1975), and Star Wars (1977).
It should be noted that Citizen Kane, Casablanca, and Gone With the Wind were all nominated for Best Picture of the Year awards at the Academy Awards, and only Gone With The Wind won.
Conclusion
We hope you agree with our choices that directly support IMDb’s reports! Let us know in the comments if you think we missed any movies that are on your Top 10 list, or if you think some of ours could be swapped out for others. And take a moment to like and share this article—maybe a few other readers will find it helpful as well!