Introduction
As Cinema Students rolls alongside into its second 12 months, we thought this may be a superb time to achieve out to you, the readers, with a purpose to discover out what you thought was thought of the ‘best’ movies of all time. Since that’s a tricky and subjective query to reply and can garner a large berth of high quality movies, we determined to make it a high 50 listing. Break up into two articles, the beneath is the tallied outcomes primarily based in your response to our social media ballot. We’ve additionally included what number of Academy Awards wins and nominations every movie acquired. Thanks to your super suggestions in addition to your continued help!
Word: Academy Awards could embody Honorary wins in each the nominations and complete counts.
50. Psycho (1960) – tie
Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho (1960) is believed by many to be the best horror movie of all time. But, to easily name the movie a ‘horror’ movie is clearly doing Hitchcock’s masterpiece a disservice. The movie additionally modified the way in which that we checked out what a horror movie might be. The power to scare the viewer with out blood, monsters, or ghouls, again in 1960, was actually groundbreaking. It additionally helps to have Anthony Perkins, portraying a mama’s boy motel clerk, handing over a subdued but nervously horrifying efficiency. The movie’s bathe scene is broadly thought of to be the only best scene within the historical past of horror movies.
Director: Alfred Hitchcock
Academy Award Nominations: 4
Academy Award Wins: 0
50. Gone With the Wind (1939) – tie
Gone with the Wind (1939), adjusted for inflation, is without doubt one of the most commercially profitable movies within the historical past of Hollywood. Directed by Victor Fleming and starring Vivian Leigh and Clark Gable, the movie tells the story of a Southern Belle who loses all the pieces, but recovers to change into a sensible, crafty, and succesful girl with the power to succeed because the world round her is altering. Launched within the midst of the Nice Melancholy, the movie hit house for lots of people and gave hundreds of thousands of People hope. One of many first movies to be shot in technicolor, it broke the mildew when it got here to portraying a savvy and empowering feminine character.
Director: Victor Fleming
Academy Award Wins: 10
Academy Award Nominations: 15
49. Ghostbusters (1984)
Ghostbusters (1984), directed by Ivan Reitman, presents the viewer with the right mix of laugh-out-loud comedy and genuinely terrifying moments. it’s a tough job to seamlessly mix these two components right into a single movie. Invoice Murray, Dan Ackroyd, and Harold Ramis are firing on all cylinders as parapsychologists who begin a ghost-nabbing enterprise in Manhattan. This crossover movie has all the pieces, nice particular results, a incredible solid, a catchy theme music, and an iconic emblem. Spawning sequels, reboots, comics, cartoons, and video video games, the movie has since gone on to be an unheralded traditional and probably the most financially profitable comedy of the Nineteen Eighties.
Director: Ivan Reitman
Academy Award Nominations: 2
Academy Award Wins: 0
48. One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975)
Set in a psychological establishment in 1963, Milos Forman’s One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975) was an prompt traditional. Very similar to Ken Kesey’s 1962 novel of the identical identify, the movie is a lot greater than it seems on-screen. It brilliantly displays society’s altering values and morals throughout each the post-Watergate (the Seventies) and post-Kennedy (the Sixties) years. As sensible because the supporting solid is, and they’re, it’s Jack Nicholson and Louise Fletcher who each ship volcanic performances. They each, deservedly so, received Academy Awards for his or her roles as Greatest Actor and Greatest Actress respectively. The movie is certainly one of solely three movies to win the Academy Award for Greatest Actor, Actress, Director, Screenplay, and Image, in any other case often known as The Large 5.
Director: Milos Forman
Academy Award Nominations: 9
Academy Award Wins: 5
47. Evening of the Residing Useless (1968)
There have actually been horror films over the past fifty years which have had higher budgets, a stronger solid of actors, and even been extra terrifying. Nevertheless, there has by no means been a horror movie with a message as socially related as George Romero’s Evening of The Residing Useless (1968). Romero’s subtext is current in all the pieces from the Civil Rights Motion to the very survival of American society itself. That is the movie that began all of it and each previous movie within the zombie style ought to tip its blood-soaked cap to Romero’s black and white unique and plenty of have. Whereas many subsequent zombie movies – and TV exhibits – have an underlying theme of hope, Romero’s message is that of doom. All these years later, it’s nonetheless horrifying, and related.
Director: George Romero
Academy Award Nominations: 0
Academy Award Wins: 0
46. Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992)
By far probably the most opulent and lavish movie he’s ever made, Francis Ford Coppola’s Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992) swings for the fences on nearly each degree. Whether or not it’s the over-the-top performances, or the beautiful costumes and set design, the movie is an train in overindulgence. Each hilarious and terrifying on the identical time, Gary Oldman’s efficiency because the titular character is a tour de power clinic in performing. Michael Ballhaus’s dream-like cinematography is nothing in need of spectacular. The movie’s costume design, make-up, and sound modifying have been all acknowledged on the 1993 Academy Awards. The movie is visually beautiful and confirmed the lots that Coppola was nonetheless a power to be reckoned with.
Director: Francis Ford Coppola
Academy Award Nominations: 4
Academy Award Wins: 3
45. Bringing Up Child (1938)
Whereas initially Bringing Up Child (1938) wasn’t a movie that was effectively acquired by critics or on the field workplace, the screwball comedy directed by Howard Hawks has been reevaluated over the past 80 years. The second of 4 movies starring the enduring Cary Grant and Katherine Hepburn is now broadly thought of one of many 100 best comedies of all time. Containing components of a number of sub-genres of comedy, together with slapstick and situational comedy, the movie has influenced comedy on movie and tv for many years. With a razor-sharp and fast-paced script, one can see the influences that writers like David Mamet and Aaron Sorkin have gleamed from this incredible and hilarious movie.
Director: Howard Hawks
Academy Award Nominations: 0
Academy Award Wins: 0
44. Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961)
Breakfast at Tiffany’s, the 1961 movie primarily based on Truman Capote’s novella launched in 1958 could also be most well-known for its Oscar-winning theme music Moon River and its trend-setting costume design created by legends Edith Head and Givenchy. Nevertheless, Audrey Hepburn’s iconic efficiency as Holly Golightly deserves simply as a lot credit score for this Blake Edward’s directed movie changing into the traditional it has change into. It was each a crucial and industrial success upon its launch and has since change into probably the most legendary romantic comedies of all time. Written by George Axelrod, the movie received two Academy Awards and 5 Grammys. Hepburn’s ‘cafe society’ lady in darkish tortoiseshell Oliver Goldsmith sun shades, chignon coiffure, and lengthy cigarette holder is without doubt one of the extra iconic photos in movie historical past.
Director: Blake Edwards
Academy Award Nominations: 5
Academy Award Wins: 2
43. Now, Voyager (1942)
Whereas Now, Voyager (1942) will not be a movie that’s on the AFI’s listing of high 100 movies, it’s actually on their listing of best love tales. Starring Bette Davis and Paul Henreid, the Irving Rapper-directed movie has one of many nice closing traces in cinema historical past, when Davis’ character exclaims: “Oh, Jerry, don’t let’s ask for the moon…we now have the celebrities!” 80 years later Davis’s transformation from a frumpy spinster right into a confident and seductive take-charge girl remains to be astonishing. The movie is arguably the actress’s best efficiency.
Director: Irving Rapper
Academy Award Nominations: 3
Academy Award Wins: 1
42. Dances With Wolves (1990)
Solely 4 westerns have received the Academy Award for Greatest Image because the Oscars have been first launched again in 1929. Dances With Wolves (1990), produced, directed, and starring Kevin Costner has the consideration of being a type of 4. Costner’s ardour venture was additionally a large hit on the field workplace, grossing over $420 million worldwide. Together with its beautiful visuals and breathtaking cinematography, the movie succeeds in breaking down cultural variations maybe higher than any western movie earlier than it. Costner’s expansive scope and touching romanticism rival that of the best movies of John Ford and Howard Hawks.
Director: Kevin Costner
Academy Award Nominations: 12
Academy Award Wins: 7
41. Hoosiers (1986)
Typically thought of to be one of many best sports activities movies of all time, and maybe the best basketball movie ever, Hoosiers (1986) underdog story of satisfaction and teamwork is as a lot beloved at the moment because it was nearly 40 years in the past. The movie is loosely primarily based on the Milan Excessive Faculty basketball workforce and its unbelievable march in the direction of the 1954 state championship recreation. Gene Hackman’s efficiency as a washed-out coach recruited to resurrect the dysfunctional workforce is certainly one of his greatest. Dennis Hopper and Barbara Hershey additionally flip in incredible supporting performances. Together with Rocky (1976) and Subject of Goals (1989), the movie stays one of many most interesting sports activities movies, and underdog tales, in cinema historical past.
Director: David Anspaugh
Academy Award Nominations: 2
Academy Award Wins: 0
40. Aliens (1986)
Aliens (1986), as directed by legendary auteur James Cameron, doesn’t ever actually spell issues out or clarify to the viewer what is definitely unfolding. We’re entrance and heart with Sigourney Weaver and her workforce as issues unfold. This artistic choice makes the movie all that extra breathtaking and horrific. The development in expertise together with H.R. Giger’s surreal and creepy designs, make this sequel to Ridley Scott’s Alien (1979) one of many nice science fiction movies of all time. Sooner-paced and with a tighter screenplay than its predecessor, the movie can also be thought of one of many best sequels in movie historical past.
Director: James Cameron
Academy Award Nominations: 3
Academy Award Wins: 2
39. Seven Samurai (1954)
How, may Akira Kurosawa’s Seven Samurai (1954), a three-and-a-half-hour black-and-white epic that takes place in feudal Sixteenth-Century Japan be such a traditional in America and the Western World? That’s the magic of Kurosawa’s masterpiece. Combining his influences from John Ford westerns with the Japanese swordplay dramas of the day, nobody had ever seen something prefer it earlier than. Starring Kurosawa common Toshiro Mifune, the movie has since gone on to affect a legion of filmmakers, changing into probably the most remade and labored movies within the historical past of the medium. The story of the seven ronin has since been reworked or remade in such movies as The Magnificent Seven (1960), Star Wars (1977), and Django Unchained (2012).
Director: Akira Kurosawa
Academy Award Nominations: 2
Academy Award Wins: 0
38. Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
Lawrence of Arabia (1962) is mostly acknowledged as director David Lean’s masterpiece. The story of T.E. Lawrence (Peter O’Toole) can also be probably the most critically celebrated movies in Hollywood historical past, profitable seven Oscars. This contains Greatest Image and Greatest Director. O’Toole’s profession was launched by this movie, and it’s the one movie that he’s actually synonymous with. Depicting Lawrence’s experiences throughout WWI within the Ottoman Empire, particularly the Arab areas of Aqaba and Damascus, the movie is humorous, dramatic, brutal, heartbreaking, and beautiful, all below Lean’s masterful path. Add to that one of many nice soundtracks in cinema historical past and a supporting efficiency by Jose Ferrer for the ages, and you’ve got a movie that can be related and studied for hundreds of years.
Director: David Lean
Academy Award Nominations: 10
Academy Award Wins: 7
37. King Kong (1933)
When one thinks of a “traditional” movie, there are just a few that come to thoughts. A type of is the immortal and legendary King Kong (1933). Remade, reformatted, and retold within the many years since its launch, nothing can come near the magic and surprise of the unique. Directed by Merian C. Cooper and Ernest B. Shoedsack, the movie was launched in the course of the pre-code period of movies. Consequently, one usually forgets how actually horrific this nearly ninety-year-old movie is. The bottom-breaking stop-motion visible results by Willis O’Brien nonetheless maintain up all these many years later. The scenes that happen on Cranium Island are actually horrifying. Very similar to most of the different movies on this listing, King Kong is a real masterpiece that has influenced legions of filmmakers within the ensuing years.
Director: Merian C. Cooper and Ernest B. Schoedsack
Academy Award Nominations: 0
Academy Award Wins: 0
36. Jules et Jim (1962)
Jules et Jim (1962) is broadly thought to be one of many traditional French New Wave movies, of which there have been a number of. Directed by François Truffaut, the movie epitomizes the bohemian way of life of the early Sixties, whereas wrapping itself up in a tragic love triangle. Starring Jeanne Moreau and Oskar Werner, Truffaut’s movie featured revolutionary types of path. This included voiceover, narration, fast cuts in addition to freeze body pictures. Quite a few filmmakers, particularly Martin Scorsese, have been influenced by Jules et Jim and the works of Truffaut and his contemporaries corresponding to Jean-Luc Godard, Claude Chabrol, and Anna Karina. Very similar to the works of Scorsese, Truffaut’s masterwork strikes at a brisk tempo that leaves the viewer energized and wanting extra.
Director: François Truffaut
Academy Award Nominations: 0
Academy Award Wins: 0
35. It’s A Fantastic Life (1948)
Whereas It’s A Fantastic Life (1948) had acquired blended critiques and did common numbers on the field workplace, director Frank Capra’s masterpiece has since gone on to change into one of many nice American movies of all time, and maybe the best Christmas movie of all time. On the heart of the movie is a masterclass in performing by Jimmy Stewart. Again from World Warfare II the place we flew over sixty treacherous bombing missions over Germany, the actor appears thinner and haggard. The result’s a convincing efficiency a couple of man who wonders if his life has any actual which means. Turning into a tv staple within the mid-Seventies, Capra’s movie has change into a traditional morality story by which one solely wants to have a look at the family and friends round them to see if their life has any true which means.
Director: Merian C. Cooper and Ernest B. Schoedsack
Academy Award Nominations: 5
Academy Award Wins: 0
34. The Searchers (1956)
The Searchers (1956) was the right collaboration between star and director. John Wayne had been on the lookout for a task that he felt may elevate his profession to the following degree. Director John Ford’s movie not solely elevated Duke’s profession but in addition cemented his legacy because the movie is broadly thought of the best western movie of all time and one of many high twenty American movies ever made. Wayne turns in a haunting efficiency as a vengeful and brazenly racist Civil Warfare soldier on the lookout for his kidnapped niece. Stunningly filmed in Monument Valley, Utah, Ford’s story of redemption has been emulated and paid homage to by the likes of Francis Ford Coppola, Steven Spielberg, and George Lucas. It’s John Wayne’s best efficiency and certainly one of John Ford’s most interesting achievements.
Director: John Ford
Academy Award Nominations: 0
Academy Award Wins: 0
33. Ben-Hur (1959)
William Wyler’s Ben Hur (1959) is the very definition of an ‘epic.’ Made on a scale and finances by no means earlier than seen or achieved within the Fifties, the movie stays a homage to the Outdated Hollywood-style epic that merely doesn’t exist anymore. Over sixty years since its launch, the movie remains to be jaw-dropping in its scope. Working at over three-and-a-half hours in size, and starring Charlton Heston, the spiritual epic had the biggest finances ($15 million) of any movie in historical past as much as that time. Using a whole bunch of costume and set designers, the gamble paid off as Ben Hur was a large box-office hit, incomes over $145 million throughout its preliminary launch. The movie stays probably the most visually beautiful movies ever produced.
Director: William Wyler
Academy Award Nominations: 12
Academy Award Wins: 11
32. Again to the Future (1985)
Whereas maybe not as deep as among the different movies on this listing, Again to the Future (1985) stays a traditional Nineteen Eighties blockbuster and a clinic on knowledgeable path and screenwriting. Written and directed by Robert Zemeckis (with a co-writing credit score to Bob Gale), the movie merges all of the components masterfully that make an amazing Summer season blockbuster. Romance, motion, humor, Rock & Roll, and science fiction, it’s all there on this taut and well-paced screenplay. Michael J. Fox as Marty McFly exhibits that he can deal with bodily comedy with the very best of them. This time-traveling science fiction traditional is arguably one of many best and most profitable movies of the Nineteen Eighties, incomes nearly $400 million worldwide. The movie’s themes of hopes and goals and the bridge that children have with their dad and mom stay timeless.
Director: Robert Zemeckis
Academy Award Nominations: 4
Academy Award Wins: 1
31. The Maltese Falcon (1941)
The Maltese Falcon (1941) is just not robust by way of plot or narrative, and it doesn’t must be. Broadly thought of to be one of many best movies of all time, the John Huston-directed traditional is all about character and temper. Of all of the movies on this listing, maybe none has influenced a whole style as a lot as this one. One of many founding movies of the film-noir style, The Maltese Falcon reinvented Humphrey Bogart’s profession and saved him from the B-level gangster films that he was churning out. His hardened and clean portrayal of private-eye Sam Spade has been imitated and emulated for generations.
Director: John Huston
Academy Award Nominations: 3
Academy Award Wins: 0
30. Chinatown (1974)
Chinatown (1974) is the neo-noir crime drama that secured star Jack Nicholson’s legacy as one of many best American actors in cinema historical past. It was additionally director Roman Polanski’s last movie earlier than he fled the jurisdiction of the US, convicted of statutory rape of a minor. Nearly 50 years later, the movie is taken into account to be one of many best movies in cinema historical past and broadly thought to be the best screenplay ever written. Robert Townes’s neo-noir script weaves an intricate story of infidelity, homicide and corruption. Faye Dunaway and John Huston each flip in incredible performances. Chinatown is a traditional noir movie in the identical vein as The Maltese Falcon, solely up to date for a Seventies viewers. Produced by Hollywood legend Robert Evans, its one of many perfect movies of the final hundred years, garnering eleven Oscar nominations and Towne profitable for Greatest Authentic Screenplay.
Director: Roman Polanski
Academy Award Nominations: 11
Academy Award Wins: 1
29. A Star is Born (1954)
Remade 5 instances, George Cukor’s masterpiece A Star is Born (1954) stays the definitive model of this timeless traditional. Mockingly, what could also be thought of her best efficiency, additionally marked the top of Judy Garlands ‘main woman’ standing in cinema. With a screenplay written by Moss Hart, the 1954 movie is taken into account to be one of many best filmed musicals within the historical past of the medium. Whereas the movie barely broke even on the box-office, it was a crucial success, incomes six Academy-Award nominations. Each Garland and James Mason flip in heart-wrenching performances on this harrowing story of fame, love, jealousy and alcoholism.
Director: George Cukor
Academy Award Nominations: 6
Academy Award Wins: 0
28. Prime Hat (1935)
Prime Hat (1935) is certainly one of many ‘dance musicals’ that premiered in theaters within the Thirties. Its additionally one of many perfect. Pairing legendary display couple Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers collectively for the fourth of 9 instances for RKO Radio Footage, this movie is Astaire and Rogers at their best possible and most charismatic. The movie can also be probably the most financially profitable movies the pair made collectively, grossing over $3 million on a $600,000 finances. Whereas the plot is overtly easy, it doesn’t matter, as Irving Berlin’s songs and Max Steiner’s rating soothes the viewer like a heat blanket. Filmed in the course of the Melancholy Period, Prime Hat was technique of escapism for hundreds of thousands of People. The dance routines between Astaire and Rogers are among the perfect they ever carried out on display.
Director: Mark Sandrich
Academy Award Nominations: 4
Academy Award Wins: 0
27. Some Like It Scorching (1959)
Billy Wilder’s Some Like It Scorching (1959) is a romantic comedy disguised as against the law caper, disguised as a musical. The script, co-written by Wilder and I.A.L. Diamond is mostly seen as one of many best comedic screenplays ever written. The movie is a cross-dressing comedy that doesn’t go for reasonable gimmicks and cheesy laughs. Additional, the movie’s stance on gender id is progressive and extremely forward of its time. Add to that Jack Lemmon, Tony Curtis, and Marylin Monroe, all handing over performances for the ages, and you’ve got a traditional comedy that has remained related for over sixty years.
Director: Billy Wilder
Academy Award Nominations: 6
Academy Award Wins: 0
26. The Return of the King (2003)
The Return of the King (2003) marked the top of Peter Jackson’s adaptation of JRR Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings Trilogy. This critically acclaimed movie was a field workplace smash incomes over $1 billion globally. On the 76th Academy Awards Jackson’s epic movie went on to win eleven Oscars, tying it with 1959’s Ben-Hur and 1997’s Titanic because the movie with probably the most Academy Award wins. Whereas the primary two movies within the collection are spectacles in and of themselves, Jackson takes this last installment to a different degree with among the most unbelievable motion scenes ever dedicated to movie. The CGI utilized in making The Return of the King is equally astonishing. It ought to be famous that Jackson’s unbelievable movie isn’t all flash and thunder as one of many Oscars received was for Greatest Tailored Screenplay.
Director: Peter Jackson
Academy Award Nominations: 11
Academy Award Wins: 11
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