Summary
- Screen Rant compiles the definitive list of the best movies of all time, based on critical scores and audience opinions.
- The list includes a diverse range of films, from classic dramas to animated favorites.
- These movies are highly acclaimed for their storytelling, performances, and significant contributions to cinema history.
Here are the Best Movies of all time, as evaluated by Screen Rant. Covering Guillermo del Toro’s Pan’s Labyrinth to Alfred Hitchcock’s classic thriller Rear Window, with cartoon rats, gangsters and superheroes in between, it’s the perfect list for emerging cinephiles or checking off essential watches.
Deciding the best movies ever takes a balance of objective and subjective preference, which can differ for industry professionals and general viewers. Something as important as the greatest movies of all time requires some advanced thinking, beyond the opinion of a single writer. With that in mind, Screen Rant's ranking collates critical scores and the opinions of movie lovers to compile the definitive list of the most highly rated movies of all time.
The Best TV Shows Of All Time, Ranked
The best TV shows of all time will be debated forever, but there are clear contenders. These are the very best TV shows of all time, ranked.
55 The Grapes of Wrath (1940)
Classic Adaptation of A Depression-Era Story Of Heroism
The Grapes of Wrath
After serving time for murder, Tom Joad returns to find his family's farm abandoned. With former preacher Casy, they join the exodus to California for work. Along the journey, they face loss, exploitation, and violence. Tom defends his family but knows he must continue fighting for justice, leaving his worried mother behind as they seek a better future up north.
- Director
- John Ford
- Release Date
- January 24, 1940
- Cast
- Henry Fonda , Jane Darwell , John Carradine , Shirley Mills , John Qualen , Eddie Qullian
- Runtime
- 129 Minutes
An incredibly important moment in the history of the United States of America, The Grapes of Wrath began life in 1939 as John Steinbeck's Pulitzer prize-winning novel. A year later, legend of cinema John Ford took the reins of an adaptation that stars Henry Fonda as Tom Joad, a recently released prisoner who leads his family across the States to California after the Great Depression robs them of their farm and livelihood.
One of the greatest realist movies ever made, Ford's take on the novel is a haunting look at a dark time in the country's early history, buoyed by excellent performances - particularly from Fonda - and one of the earliest examples of Hollywood giving its platform to the voice of the working class.
54 Ratatouille (2007)
Pixar's Beautiful Story Of Talent In Unexpected Places
Ratatouille
Remy the rat dreams of becoming a great chef despite the world's anti-rodent bias. After moving to Paris to follow his dream, he teams up with kitchen assistant Linguini and shows off his culinary skills in a professional kitchen. But can the pair convince the world's most notorious food critic that anyone can be a chef?
- Director
- Brad Bird
- Release Date
- June 29, 2007
- Cast
- Patton Oswalt , Ian Holm , Lou Romano , Brad Garrett , Peter O'Toole , Janeane Garofalo , Brian Dennehy , Peter Sohn , Will Arnett
- Runtime
- 111 Mins
After convincing the world's children that their toys were alive, and painting imaginative worlds for insects, cars, the monsters under their beds, fish, and superheroes, Pixar took their boldest step by telling the story of a gourmet rat. As perverse as the idea might have appeared, Ratatouille — directed by Brad Bird and Jan Pinkava — is a gentle meditation on following dreams and the wholesome pursuit of art.
Patton Oswalt is the rat, Remy, who commandeers the career of aspiring chef Alfredo Linguini (Lou Romano) to explore his passion. It's a joyous, heart-filled, and personal comedy-drama that deserves to rank alongside Pixar's best, with an infamous reflection on the nature of criticism as a great stinger.
DID YOU KNOW: Ironically, marketing proved an issue for Pixar, as no food company wanted to be associated with a rat.
The Highest-Grossing Pixar Movies Of All Time
The highest-grossing Pixar movies include Toy Story and Inside Out, but which movie from the studio comes out on top?
53 12 Years A Slave (2013)
Best Picture Winning Story Of Stolen Freedom
12 Years a Slave
Directed by Steve McQueen and based on the 1853 memoir by Solomon Northup, 12 Years a Slave tells the story of Northrup, a free black man from New York who, in 1841, is captured and sold into slavery in the south. Separated from his family, and forced to endure intense brutality at the hands of his new masters, Northrup works tirelessly to stay alive and regain his freedom. The film stars Chiwetel Ejiofor as Northrup, with a cast that includes Lupita Nyong'0, Michael Fassbender, Paul Dano, and Benedict Cumberbatch.
- Release Date
- January 9, 2014
- Director
- Steve McQueen
- Cast
- Chiwetel Ejiofor , Michael Fassbender , Brad Pitt , Lupita Nyong'o , Benedict Cumberbatch
- Runtime
- 134minutes
The 2013 biographical drama is based on the 1853 memoir by Solomon Northup, a free Black man kidnapped and sold into slavery in 1941. Northup is forced to work on Louisiana plantations with varying cruelties for 12 years before being released. The Steve McQueen-directed drama 12 Years a Slave isn't easy to watch, but it’s an important and crucial piece of filmmaking that tells the honest, painful stories that need to be told.
It’s an upsetting portrait of the lows of humanity and a deeply emotional exploration of what it means to live, which is enhanced by the brilliant performances of Chiwetel Ejiofor and Lupita Nyong’o in her Oscar-winning feature film debut. 12 Years a Slave is also a triumph in cinema for its cinematography, moving score, and McQueen’s direction.
12 Years a Slave is available to rent on Apple TV.
52 The Treasure Of The Sierra Madre (1948)
Humphrey Bogart's Dark Performance Leads This Tale Of Greed
The Treasure of the Sierra Madre
In this classic adventure, Dobbs (Humphrey Bogart) and Curtin (Tim Holt) team up with an experienced prospector Howard to hunt for gold in Mexico's Sierra Madre mountains. Amidst treasure and peril, they confront ruthless bandits and inner demons fueled by greed, risking conflict and betrayal in their quest for riches.
- Release Date
- January 24, 1948
- Director
- John Huston
- Cast
- Humphrey Bogart , Walter Huston , Tim Holt , Bruce Bennett , Barton MacLane
- Runtime
- 126 Minutes
John Huston’s Western tells the story of two men who unite with an old prospector to search for gold in Mexico, only to face trouble from themselves and bandits after striking rich. The Treasure of the Sierra Madre is a thrilling portrait of greed and corruption, with the character of Fred Dobbs being one of the best performances of the legendary Humphrey Bogart’s career.
It’s an exciting Western and adventure film that uses dark humor to tell its moral lesson, with superb direction by master filmmaker John Huston and a screenplay that uses the magical presence and wit of a haggard Bogart to its greatest extent.
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51 Jaws (1975)
An Epic Battle Between One Man And The Shark Terrorizing His Community
Jaws
Steven Spielberg's legendary tale of one man's desperate battle with a killer Great White shark on his small seaside community. Faced with a mounting list of victims and a local authority dead-set against causing panic or destroying the tourist economy, he assembles a team to tackle the shark head-on.
- Release Date
- June 18, 1975
- Director
- Steven Spielberg
- Cast
- Roy Scheider , Robert Shaw , Richard Dreyfuss , Lorraine Gary , Murray Hamilton , Carl Gottlieb
- Runtime
- 124 minutes
Jaws is the ultimate expression of the power of suggestion in cinema. Partly out of necessity, thanks to a notoriously bumpy production, Spielberg's big fish movie conspicuously chooses to show Bruce the shark, as he was affectionately known, very little. In place of showing him, his presence was anxiously felt thanks to perfect camera trickery that put the audience in the perverse position of underwater attacker, and a couple of notes on a tuba. And that was more than enough.
The film isn't really about a shark, as much as it's about paranoia and how humans react to startling tragedy. Roy Scheider is the everyman and the stand-in for the audience, equally as appalled by his community's wilful ignorance to the shark as he is terrified by its threat. He takes it upon himself to deal with the situation, with a sceptical scientist type (Richard Dreyfus), and a walking-talking caricature in Robert Shaw's Quint. And it's their fight for survival that becomes the most compelling part of Jaws, to the point that the final triumph is a true air-punching moment. - Simon Gallagher, Executive Editor
DID YOU KNOW: The shark is only on-screen for 4 minutes in Jaws.
Every Jaws Movie Ranked, Worst To Best
Steven Spielberg's classic Jaws birthed a franchise consisting of four movies to date, and here's how those shark adventures stack up, worst to best.
50 City Lights (1931)
A Silent And Romantic Charlie Chaplin Adventure
City Lights
Charlie Chaplin's tramp falls for a blind flower girl facing eviction. Despite repeated failures to help, a chance encounter with a drunken millionaire offers hope. Rewarded for his heroism, the tramp can finally alter the flower girl's fate, in this heartfelt tale of love and resilience on the city streets.
- Release Date
- January 30, 1931
- Director
- Charles Chaplin
- Cast
- Charlie Chaplin
- Runtime
- 87 Mins
The wide-eyed Tramp recruits the help of an alcoholic millionaire to raise money to restore the eyesight of a blind flower seller with whom he has fallen in love. City Lights is the greatest use of filmmaker Charlie Chaplin’s iconic character The Tramp, with the actor-director continuing to delight critics and audiences with a silent picture four years after “talkies” began.
The film features some of the Tramp’s funniest sequences and a touching pathos as he attempts to romance a blind flower seller and earn money to restore her sight. City Lights is the genius intersection of Chaplin’s inimitable humor and sentiment, which proved that he didn’t need sound to craft a wonderful story in the new Hollywood.
49 Three Colors: Red (1994)
The Highlight Of The Art-House Trilogy
Three Colors: Red
After accidentally hitting his dog, part-time model Valentine meets a retired judge. Initially gifted the dog, her possessive boyfriend forces her to return it. Returning to the judge's home, she discovers his habit of eavesdropping on neighbors' calls. Initially appalled, their ensuing debates about privacy and morality create an unexpected connection between them, despite their differences, in this compelling exploration of human relationships.
- Release Date
- May 12, 1994
- Director
- Krzysztof Kieślowski
- Cast
- Irène Jacob , Jean-Louis Trintignant , Jean-Pierre Lorit , Frédérique Feder
- Runtime
- 99 Minutes
Three Colors: Red follows a model who meets a retired judge with an interest in listening to others’ private moments, after which time the two form an unexpected bond. The brilliant 1994 film is a quintessential example of art-house cinema that provides a warm and contemplative narrative of fate and human connection.
The final installment in Krzysztof KieÅ›lowski’s Three Colors trilogy about French ideals, Red is celebrated for its beautiful depiction of camaraderie, bonds, and the interconnected lives of people who seemingly share little in common or represent opposing personalities and outlooks on the world.
DID YOU KNOW: This was also the final movie of Krzysztof Kieslowski's career - he announced his retirement immediately after.
48 Touch Of Evil (1958)
A B-Movie Crime Plot Told By A Master Filmmaker
Touch of Evil
After a car bomb detonates at the U.S./Mexico border, Mexican agent Miguel Vargas and American captain Hank Quinlan investigate. As Vargas uncovers corruption within Quinlan's team, his pursuit of justice jeopardizes his safety and his wife's, in this tense thriller.
- Release Date
- April 23, 1958
- Director
- Orson Welles
- Cast
- Charlton Heston , Janet Leigh , Orson Welles , Joseph Calleia , Akim Tamiroff , Marlene Dietrich , Zsa Zsa Gabor
- Runtime
- 111 Minutes
Orson Welles’ film noir centers on a murder mystery at the US/Mexico border. As a Mexican drug enforcement agent suspects an American police captain of planting evidence, the investigation places himself and his wife in danger. The twists and turns of Touch of Evil are a masterpiece in film noir and depict the grayness of good and evil.
Welles’ style, the performances of himself, Charlton Heston, and Janet Leigh, as well as the poignant music combine to form a vividly entertaining unorthodox pulp. As one of the best movies of all time, Touch of Evil is an essential viewing for film noir in the classic era and Welles’ filmography.
47 Pinocchio (1940)
Disney Magic Brings The Fairy Tale To Life
Pinocchio
Jiminy Cricket narrates the story of Geppetto, a woodworker who creates Pinocchio, a puppet brought to life by the Blue Fairy. Pinocchio faces trials guided by Jiminy's conscience, encountering deceitful characters like Honest John and a cursed Pleasure Island. When Pinocchio saves his father from a whale but sacrifices himself, his selflessness earns him real boyhood. Celebrating his transformation, Jiminy receives recognition for his guidance from the Blue Fairy.
- Release Date
- February 23, 1940
- Director
- Hamilton Luske , Ben Sharpsteen
- Cast
- Mel Blanc , Don Brodie , Walter Catlett , Marion Darlington , Frankie Darro , Cliff Edwards
- Runtime
- 88 minutes
Adapted from an 1883 Italian children’s story, Disney’s Pinocchio is about a wooden puppet who must prove himself worthy to become a real boy. Following Snow White (1937), Pinocchio is the second animated feature made by Disney, which was an ambitious venture with an emotional core that has stood the test of time.
Still culturally relevant today, the film was a brilliant technical achievement for Disney that set the tone for the enchanting nature, beautiful visuals, and storytelling power that became the golden standard for animation. Pinocchio was also the first animated feature to win a competitive award at the Oscars, including Best Original Song and Best Original Score.
Every Upcoming Animated Disney Movie
From the whimsical Strange World to the Toy Story prequel Lightyear, Disney and Pixar have some exciting animated movies coming in the near future.
46 Hoop Dreams (1994)
A Documentary About Aspiring Basketball Stars
Hoop Dreams
Hoop Dreams is a 1994 sports documentary film by director Steve James. The film follows the high school years of two young African-American men from Chicago pursuing their dream of being in the NBA despite the physical and social challenges they had to overcome during their era.
- Release Date
- October 14, 1994
- Director
- Steve James
- Cast
- William Gates , Arthur Agee
- Runtime
- 171 Minutes
The groundbreaking sports documentary depicts the stories of two aspiring inner-city Chicago basketball players, following them through high school as they work toward college scholarships and their dreams of playing professionally in the NBA. Proving the emotional power of documentary filmmaking, Hoop Dreams remains one of the most inspiring films of all time as a sobering portrait of social inequality with high school basketball as the backdrop.
Hoop Dreams looks at the impacts that race, class, uncontrollable hurdles, and education inequality have on the players' experiences and goals. The teens’ heartbreaking adversity and well-earned victories yield rewarding results that will appeal to even the most cynical of viewers.
DID YOU KNOW: Over 5 years, the filmmakers shot 250 hours of footage, which was edited down to the final 3 hours run time.