A Patch of Blue
A Patch of Blue delivers its much-needed message of tolerance through the powerful performances of its four central characters and the musical score that plays behind all their actions, reminding us of the human need for acceptance, which earns this film a spot on the list.
Invasion of the Body Snatchers
The speed and execution of the story in Invasion of the Body Snatchers make it one for the ages, delivering a high intensity thriller that’ll leave you questioning just enough to come away satisfied, marking it as one of the greats.
Persona
Without spending thousands of words breaking down each scene of Persona piece by piece, I don’t know how else to convince you of its greatness other than by saying that the film might be the prime example of a director in full mastery of his art working with his ideal script and two incredibly talented performers.
Ball of Fire
Stanwyck’s leading performance works perfectly in the story and script from Billy Wilder to turn Howard Hawks’s film from just any other screwball comedy into one that stands the test of time to earn a spot among the greats.
Eyes Without a Face
The haunting realism and religious imagery of Eyes Without a Face carve it a unique niche within the greater horror pantheon and, therefore, a guaranteed spot among the Greatest Films of All Time.
The Innocents
The Innocents is a hallmark of gothic psychological horror, capturing the essence of its iconic source material by never letting its protagonist nor its audience escape the growing sense of unease built by its filmmakers’ careful crafting, marking it as one of the Greatest Films of All Time.
Night of the Living Dead
The combination of genre-defining tropes, scenes, and characters with a difficult truth about humanity in Night of the Living Dead makes it a film that stands the test of time and continues to sit as one of the Greatest Films of All Time.
The Wild Child
The three leads of The Wild Child bring a deep level of emotion and humanity to the pages of research and history that bring the story to life in a way that will resonate with audiences as Truffaut so often accomplishes.
Bringing Up Baby
The insanity of Bringing Up Baby perfectly exemplifies screwball comedy, and both Hepburn and Grant perform wonderfully in their roles, allowing the film to offer some comment on the state of gender roles in relationships – all of which earns it a place among the Greatest Films of All Time.
Only Angels Have Wings
Howard Hawks achieves greatness in Only Angels Have Wings thanks in large part to the originality of its broad cast of characters and the honest portrayals delivered by his stellar cast, earning the film its spot among the greats.
Masculin Féminin
Masculin Féminin is a masterclass from Godard, telling a story, giving social commentary, and engaging the audience all at an incredibly high level, worthy of its position among the greats.
The 39 Steps
Hitchcock manages to pull off a winning formula for early greatness in The 39 Steps, utilizing a relatively innovative (for the period) style that blends lightness with suspense and a charismatic leading man tying it all together to cement the film’s place in history.
Inherit the Wind
Incredibly modern and important themes couched in a brilliantly written and excellently acted two hours and eight minutes (give or take credits) earn Inherit the Wind a place of prominence among the Greatest Films of All Time.
In Cold Blood
The film adaptation of Capote’s In Cold Blood earns its place among the greats with cinematography and pacing that feel beyond their time and an exploration of the criminal mind and the justice system that seeks to punish them that should still raise discussions today.
David Copperfield
Oliver and Fields deliver the memorable performances that David Copperfield needs to elevate its simple retelling of Dickens’s novel and earn it a spot among the greats.
Broadway Danny Rose
Broadway Danny Rose is a testament to Woody Allen’s comedic capabilities – overflowing with jokes from front to back that still hit nearly forty years later – earning the film a spot alongside the Greatest Films of All Time.
Wings of Desire
Wenders invites audiences into an engaging celebration of the human race through his story of angels and humans and life and its struggles and celebrations that coalesce to make the complete film that is Wings of Desire, a film worthy of a spot among the Greatest Films of All Time.
The Magician
In The Magician, Bergman has crafted his own sideshow, blending genres and subplots and skillful camerawork together into a singularly unique and entertaining piece of film, deserving of mention among the greats.
Scarface (1932)
Paul Muni’s leading performance helps cement the many tropes of gangster films contained in Scarface into the canon of gangster cinema, earning the film a place among the greatest films of all time.