The Greatest Movies in World Cinema History
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Vote up the best movie from outside of the United States.
- 1Toshiro Mifune, Takashi Shimura, Eijirō TōnoIn the heart of 1586 Japan, Seven Samurai unfolds. A rural village, terrorized by marauding bandits, recruits seven ronin - masterless samurai. Leading them is Kambei (Takashi Shimura), a seasoned warrior with a strategic mind. Among his team are personalities as diverse as Kikuchiyo (Toshiro Mifune), a boisterous yet compassionate soul, and Kyuzo (Seiji Miyaguchi), the silent sword-master. Directed by Akira Kurosawa, this epic adventure-drama won several awards, including the Silver Lion at Venice Film Festival. A tale of courage and sacrifice, it's a pivotal entry in the cinematic world that transcends its genre.More Seven Samurai
- #105 of 262 onThe 200+ Best War Movies Of All Time
- #706 of 769 onThe Most Rewatchable Movies
- #172 of 191 onThe Best Movies For Men
- 2Enzo Staiola, Lianella Carell, Lamberto MaggioraniBicycle Thieves, is a 1948 film directed by Vittorio De Sica. The film follows the story of a poor father searching post-World War II Rome for his stolen bicycle, without which he will lose the job which was to be the salvation of his young family. Adapted for the screen by Cesare Zavattini from a novel by Luigi Bartolini, and starring Lamberto Maggiorani as the desperate father and Enzo Staiola as his plucky young son, Bicycle Thieves is one of the masterpieces of Italian neorealism. It received an Academy Honorary Award in 1950 and, just four years after its release, was deemed the greatest film of all time by Sight & Sound magazine's poll of filmmakers and critics; fifty years later the same poll ranked it sixth among greatest-ever films. It is also one of the top ten among the British Film Institute's list of films you should see by the age of 14.More Bicycle Thieves
- #121 of 133 onThe Most Utterly Depressing Movies Ever Made
- #3 of 41 onThe 100+ Best Movies Streaming On The Criterion Channel
- #39 of 66 onThe Best Father-Son Movies Ever Made
- 3Elle Fanning, Dakota Fanning, Tim DalyThis acclaimed animated tale by director Hayao Miyazaki follows schoolgirl Satsuke and her younger sister, Mei, as they settle into an old country house with their father and wait for their mother to recover from an illness in an area hospital. As the sisters explore their new home, they encounter and befriend playful spirits in their house and the nearby forest, most notably the massive cuddly creature known as Totoro.More My Neighbor Totoro
- Dig Deeper...There's Totally a My Neighbor Totoro Sequel, But You Can Only See It At The Ghibli Museum
- #319 of 399 onThe Best Movies Of The 1980s, Ranked
- #56 of 452 onThe 400+ Best Animated Kids Movies
- 4Victoire Thivisol, Marie Trintignant, Xavier BeauvoisAfter losing her mother in a car accident that leaves her with a broken arm, 4-year-old Ponette (Victoire Thivisol) struggles with anguish and fear. Left by her father with a caring aunt (Claire Nebout) and her children, Ponette grieves, secretly hoping her mother will somehow come back. Confused by the religious explanations provided by adults, and challenged by the cruel taunts of a few children at school, little Ponette must make her way through her emotional turmoil.
- 5Song Kang-ho, Lee Sun-gyun, Jo Yeo-jeongGreed and class discrimination threaten the newly formed symbiotic relationship between the wealthy Park family and the destitute Kim clan.More Parasite
- #108 of 252 onThe 200+ Best Psychological Thrillers Of All Time
- #26 of 96 onThe Very Best Oscar-Winning Movies For Best Picture
- #38 of 40 onThe 40 Best Movie Drinking Games, Ranked By Fans
- 6Max von Sydow, Bibi Andersson, Gunnar BjörnstrandThe Seventh Seal is a 1957 Swedish drama-fantasy film written and directed by Ingmar Bergman. Set in Denmark it tells of the journey of a medieval knight and a game of chess, who has come to take his life. Bergman developed the film from his own play Wood Painting. The title refers to a passage from the Book of Revelation, used both at the very start of the film, and again towards the end, beginning with the words "And when the Lamb had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour".More The Seventh Seal
- #147 of 252 onThe 200+ Best Psychological Thrillers Of All Time
- #204 of 675 onThe Best Movies Roger Ebert Gave Four Stars
- #158 of 191 onThe Best Movies For Men
- 7Chow Yun-Fat, Michelle Yeoh, Zhang ZiyiCrouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is an epic martial arts film that takes viewers on a journey through ancient China. The story revolves around two warriors, stoic Li Mu Bai (Chow Yun-Fat) and fiery Yu Shu Lien (Michelle Yeoh), as they cross paths with a mysterious young aristocrat named Jen Yu (Zhang Ziyi). A stolen sword and dangerous secrets set the stage for a grand adventure filled with breathtaking fight scenes and stunning visuals. Directed by Ang Lee and winning four Academy Awards, including Best Foreign Language Film, this movie masterfully blends action, romance, and Eastern philosophy in a captivating tale of honor, love, and destiny.
- #81 of 675 onThe Best Movies Roger Ebert Gave Four Stars
- #29 of 80 onThe Best Period Romance Movies
- #14 of 55 onThe Best Oscar-Nominated Movies of the 2000s
- 8Yoo Ah-in, Steven Yeun, Jeon Jong-seoJong-soo runs into Hae-mi, a girl who once lived in his neighborhood, and she asks him to watch her cat while she's out of town. When she returns, she introduces him to Ben, a man she met on the trip. Ben proceeds to tell Jong-soo about his hobby.
- 9Roberto Benigni, Nicoletta Braschi, Giorgio CantariniIn the heart-warming yet poignant film Life is Beautiful, Guido Orefice (Roberto Benigni) is an Italian Jewish bookshop owner. He employs his fertile imagination to shield his son, Giosué (Giorgio Cantarini), from the horrors of internment in a Nazi concentration camp. The movie, a unique blend of comedy and drama, bagged three Academy Awards. It weaves a tale of resilience and love against the grim backdrop of World War II. Its endearing characters and compelling narrative make it an unforgettable cinematic experience.More Life Is Beautiful
- #61 of 125 onThe 100+ Grossest Movies Ever
- #18 of 133 onThe Most Utterly Depressing Movies Ever Made
- #159 of 379 onThe Best Movies Of The 1990s
- 10Adrien Brody, Thomas Kretschmann, Frank FinlayThe Pianist, a historical drama, traces the harrowing journey of Wladyslaw Szpilman (Adrien Brody), a gifted Jewish pianist living in Warsaw during World War II. As Nazi forces take over Poland, Szpilman struggles to survive in the ravaged city. Directed by Roman Polanski, this gripping narrative is a testament to human endurance amidst war's devastation. The film won three Academy Awards - Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Actor for Brody's heart-wrenching portrayal of Szpilman. The Pianist paints an unforgettable image of wartime terror and resilience through its poignant storytelling and powerful performances.More The Pianist
- #123 of 262 onThe 200+ Best War Movies Of All Time
- #45 of 125 onThe 100+ Grossest Movies Ever
- #25 of 241 onThe 200+ Best Movies Based On A True Story
- 11Sergi López, Maribel Verdú, Ivana BaqueroIn 1944 Spain young Ofelia (Ivana Baquero) and her ailing mother (Ariadna Gil) arrive at the post of her mother's new husband (Sergi López), a sadistic army officer who is trying to quell a guerrilla uprising. While exploring an ancient maze, Ofelia encounters the faun Pan, who tells her that she is a legendary lost princess and must complete three dangerous tasks in order to claim immortality.More Pan's Labyrinth
- #47 of 252 onThe 200+ Best Psychological Thrillers Of All Time
- #115 of 675 onThe Best Movies Roger Ebert Gave Four Stars
- #43 of 125 onThe 100+ Grossest Movies Ever
- 12Min-sik Choi, Ji-tae Yu, Hye-jeong KangIn Oldboy, a 2003 South Korean neo-noir action thriller, Dae-Su (Choi Min-sik) is an ordinary man who's inexplicably imprisoned for 15 years in a solitary confinement without any clue of his captor or the reason behind his incarceration. On his sudden release, he embarks on an obsessive quest to discover the identity and motives of his tormentor. Directed by Park Chan-wook, this movie won the Grand Prix at the 2004 Cannes Film Festival. Known for its violent yet artistic depiction of revenge, it stands as a significant film in contemporary cinema.More Oldboy
- #92 of 252 onThe 200+ Best Psychological Thrillers Of All Time
- #98 of 186 onThe Greatest Comic Book Movies Of All Time
- #223 of 675 onThe Best Movies Roger Ebert Gave Four Stars
- 13Ulrich Tukur, Ulrich Mühe, Martina GedeckThe Lives of Others is a 2006 German drama film, marking the feature film debut of filmmaker Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck, about the monitoring of East Berlin by agents of the Stasi, the GDR's secret police. It stars Ulrich Mühe as Stasi Captain Gerd Wiesler, Ulrich Tukur as his superior Anton Grubitz, Sebastian Koch as the playwright Georg Dreyman, and Martina Gedeck as Dreyman's lover, a prominent actress named Christa-Maria Sieland. The film was released in Germany on 23 March 2006. At the same time, the screenplay was published by Suhrkamp Verlag. The Lives of Others won the 2006 Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. The film had earlier won seven Deutscher Filmpreis awards—including those for best film, best director, best screenplay, best actor, and best supporting actor—after setting a new record with 11 nominations. It was nominated for Best Foreign Language Film at the 64th Golden Globe Awards. The Lives of Others cost US$2 million and grossed more than US$77 million worldwide as of November 2007.
- 14Jacques Perrin, Philippe Noiret, Leopoldo TriesteNuovo Cinema Paradiso, internationally released as Cinema Paradiso, is a 1988 Italian drama film written and directed by Giuseppe Tornatore. The film stars Jacques Perrin, Philippe Noiret, Leopoldo Trieste, Marco Leonardi, Agnese Nano and Salvatore Cascio, and was produced by Franco Cristaldi and Giovanna Romagnoli, while the music score was composed by Ennio Morricone along with his son, Andrea.
- 15Alice Braga, Seu Jorge, Matheus NachtergaeleCity of God is a 2002 Brazilian crime drama film directed by Fernando Meirelles and co-directed by Kátia Lund, released in its home country in 2002 and worldwide in 2003. The story was adapted by Bráulio Mantovani from the 1997 novel of the same name written by Paulo Lins, but the plot is loosely based on real events. It depicts the growth of organized crime in the Cidade de Deus suburb of Rio de Janeiro, between the end of the 1960s and the beginning of the 1980s, with the closure of the film depicting the events between the Li'l Zé and Knockout Ned.More City of God
- #229 of 675 onThe Best Movies Roger Ebert Gave Four Stars
- #17 of 22 on22 Disturbing, Brutal Movies Based on Real-Life Atrocities
- #21 of 152 onThe Best Movies of 2002
- 16Gael García Bernal, Diego Luna, Maribel VerdúY Tu Mamá También is a 2002 Mexican drama film directed by Alfonso Cuarón and co-written by Cuarón and his brother Carlos. The film tells a coming-of-age story about two teenage boys who take a road trip with a woman in her late twenties. It stars Mexican actors Diego Luna and Gael García Bernal and Spanish actress Maribel Verdú in the leading roles.More Y Tu Mamá También
- #252 of 675 onThe Best Movies Roger Ebert Gave Four Stars
- #36 of 88 onThe Most Awkward Movies to Watch with Your Parents
- #31 of 43 onGreat Movies About Secret Love Affairs
- 17Juliette Binoche, Zbigniew Zamachowski, Julie DelpyThe Three Colors trilogy is the collective title of three films directed by Krzysztof Kieślowski, two made in French and one primarily in Polish: Three Colors: Blue, Three Colors: White, and Three Colors: Red. All three were co-written by Kieślowski and Krzysztof Piesiewicz and have musical scores by Zbigniew Preisner. The films were Kieślowski's first major successes in the Western world.
- 18Max Schreck, Alexander Granach, Gustav von WangenheimIn the chilling silent film Nosferatu, Count Orlok (Max Schreck), a vampire, sets his sights on the beautiful, innocent Ellen (Greta Schroeder). Thomas Hutter (Gustav von Wangenheim), her husband, unwittingly brings the creature into their lives when he visits Orlok's castle. A sinister game of cat and mouse ensues, with Ellen's life hanging in the balance. The movie is a masterpiece of German Expressionist cinema, captivating audiences with its eerie imagery and unnerving performances. This classic horror tale weaves an unforgettable narrative of fear, love, and sacrifice that remains impactful even today.More Nosferatu
- #3 of 86 onThe Best Silent Movies of All Time
- #719 of 769 onThe Most Rewatchable Movies
- #118 of 675 onThe Best Movies Roger Ebert Gave Four Stars
- 19Audrey Tautou, Mathieu Kassovitz, Rufus"Amélie" is a fanciful comedy about a young woman who discretely orchestrates the lives of the people around her, creating a world exclusively of her own making. Shot in over 80 Parisian locations, acclaimed director Jean-Pierre Jeunet ("Delicatessen"; "The City of Lost Children") invokes his incomparable visionary style to capture the exquisite charm and mystery of modern-day Paris through the eyes of a beautiful ingenue.More Amélie
- #714 of 769 onThe Most Rewatchable Movies
- #86 of 136 onThe 100+ Best Movies For Date Night
- #260 of 704 onThe All-Time Greatest Comedy Films
- 20Brigitte Helm, Alfred Abel, Gustav FröhlichThis influential German science-fiction film presents a highly stylized futuristic city where a beautiful and cultured utopia exists above a bleak underworld populated by mistreated workers. When the privileged youth Freder (Gustav Fröhlich) discovers the grim scene under the city, he becomes intent on helping the workers. He befriends the rebellious teacher Maria (Brigitte Helm), but this puts him at odds with his authoritative father, leading to greater conflict.More Metropolis
- #1 of 86 onThe Best Silent Movies of All Time
- #696 of 769 onThe Most Rewatchable Movies
- #68 of 166 onThe 150+ Best Futuristic Dystopian Movies
- 21Toshiro Mifune, Takashi Shimura, Machiko KyōRashomon is a 1950 Japanese period drama film directed by Akira Kurosawa, working in close collaboration with cinematographer Kazuo Miyagawa. It stars Toshiro Mifune, Machiko Kyō, Masayuki Mori and Takashi Shimura. The film is based on two stories by Ryūnosuke Akutagawa: "Rashomon", which provides the setting, and "In a Grove", which provides the characters and plot. The film is known for a plot device which involves various characters providing alternative, self-serving and contradictory versions of the same incident. The name of the film refers to the enormous city gate of Kyoto. The term Rashomon effect refers to real-world situations in which multiple eye-witness testimonies of an event contain conflicting information. Rashomon marked the entrance of Japanese film onto the world stage. It won several awards, including the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival in 1951, and an Academy Honorary Award at the 24th Academy Awards in 1952, and is now considered one of the greatest films ever made.
- 22Clint Eastwood, Eli Wallach, Lee Van CleefThe Good, the Bad and the Ugly is a classic spaghetti western that transcends time. Set amidst the chaos of the American Civil War, it stars Clint Eastwood as 'Blondie' (The Good), Lee Van Cleef as 'Angel Eyes' (The Bad), and Eli Wallach as 'Tuco' (The Ugly). The trio embarks on a thrilling quest for buried Confederate gold, each driven by their own unique motives. Directed by Sergio Leone, this film combines intense gunfights with strategic mind games. Boasting a memorable score by Ennio Morricone, it won the 1967 BAFTA Award for Best Original Score. This film is a must-see for fans of the genre and cinema history alike.
- #4 of 27 onThe 25+ Best Civil War Movies Of All Time, Ranked
- #53 of 262 onThe 200+ Best War Movies Of All Time
- #329 of 769 onThe Most Rewatchable Movies
- 23Victor Sjöström, Ingrid Thulin, Bibi AnderssonCrotchety retired doctor Isak Borg (Victor Sjöström) travels from Stockholm to Lund, Sweden, with his pregnant and unhappy daughter-in-law, Marianne (Ingrid Thulin), in order to receive an honorary degree from his alma mater. Along the way, they encounter a series of hitchhikers, each of whom causes the elderly doctor to muse upon the pleasures and failures of his own life. These include the vivacious young Sara (Bibi Andersson), a dead ringer for the doctor's own first love.
- 24Setsuko Hara, Chishū Ryū, Kyōko KagawaTokyo Story is a 1953 Japanese film directed by Yasujirō Ozu. It tells the story of an aging couple who travel to Tokyo to visit their grown children. The film contrasts the behavior of their children, who are too busy to pay them much attention, and their widowed daughter-in-law, who treats them with kindness. It is often regarded as Ozu's masterpiece, and has appeared several times in the British Film Institute lists of the greatest films ever made.More Tokyo Story
- #320 of 675 onThe Best Movies Roger Ebert Gave Four Stars
- #23 of 39 onThe Best Movies About Dysfunctional Families
- #8 of 37 onThe Best Movies About Old People
- 25Jürgen Prochnow, Herbert Grönemeyer, Uwe OchsenknechtDas Boot is a 1982 German epic film written and directed by Wolfgang Petersen, produced by Günter Rohrbach, and starring Jürgen Prochnow, Herbert Grönemeyer, and Klaus Wennemann. It has been exhibited both as a theatrical release and as a TV miniseries, and in several different home video versions of various running times. Das Boot is an adaptation of the 1973 German novel of the same name by Lothar-Günther Buchheim. Set during WWII, the film tells the fictional story of U-96 and its crew.More Das Boot
- #13 of 262 onThe 200+ Best War Movies Of All Time
- #284 of 399 onThe Best Movies Of The 1980s, Ranked
- #749 of 769 onThe Most Rewatchable Movies
- 26Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry GilliamIn Monty Python and the Holy Grail, King Arthur (Graham Chapman) embarks on an absurd, comedic quest for the famed relic. Accompanied by his Knights of the Round Table, including Sir Lancelot (John Cleese), Sir Robin (Eric Idle), and others, they traverse a fictitious medieval England. The film is a parody that humorously subverts the Arthurian legend with slapstick humor and satirical commentary. Directed by Terry Gilliam and Terry Jones, it's a cult classic in the comedy genre. Despite its low-budget production, the movie gained critical acclaim and numerous award nominations.
- 27Orson Welles, Joseph Cotten, Trevor HowardIn the aftermath of World War II, Holly Martins (Joseph Cotten), an American writer, navigates the shadowy underbelly of ruined Vienna in search of his friend Harry Lime (Orson Welles). A British officer tells him that Harry is dead, but inconsistencies arise. As a web of deception unravels, Martins discovers a chilling secret about Lime. This noir classic The Third Man is directed by Carol Reed and won an Oscar for Best Cinematography. Its haunting zither score and atmospheric cinematography remain iconic in cinema history.More The Third Man
- #186 of 252 onThe 200+ Best Psychological Thrillers Of All Time
- #127 of 675 onThe Best Movies Roger Ebert Gave Four Stars
- #39 of 81 onThe 75+ Best Whodunit Murder Mystery Movies
- 28Brigitte Mira, El Hedi ben Salem, Barbara ValentinEmmi Kurowski (Brigitte Mira), a cleaning lady, is lonely in her old age. Her husband died years ago, and her grown children offer little companionship. One night she goes to a bar frequented by Arab immigrants and strikes up a friendship with middle-aged mechanic Ali (El Hedi ben Salem). Their relationship soon develops into something more, and Emmi's family and neighbors criticize their spontaneous marriage. Soon Emmi and Ali are forced to confront their own insecurities about their future.
- 29Yoshiko Shinohara, Akemi Yamaguchi, Ayano ShiraishiA teenager is charged with the care of his younger sister after an Allied firebombing during World War II destroys their home and kills their mother.
- #254 of 262 onThe 200+ Best War Movies Of All Time
- #228 of 452 onThe 400+ Best Animated Kids Movies
- #20 of 125 onThe 100+ Grossest Movies Ever
- 30Peter Falk, Bruno Ganz, Solveig DommartinWings of Desire is a 1987 Franco-German romantic fantasy film directed by Wim Wenders. The film is about invisible, immortal angels who populate Berlin and listen to the thoughts of the human inhabitants and comfort those who are in distress. Even though the city is densely populated, many of the people are isolated or estranged from their loved ones. One of the angels, played by Bruno Ganz, falls in love with a beautiful, lonely trapeze artist. The angel chooses to become human so that he can experience the human sensory pleasures, ranging from enjoying food to touching a loved one, and so that he can experience human love with the trapeze artist. The film is shot in both a rich, sepia-toned black-and-white and color, with the former being used to represent the world as experienced by the angels. The film was followed by a sequel, Faraway, So Close!, in 1993. City of Angels, an American remake, was released in 1998.
