King Kong (1933)
King Kong stands the test of time thanks to its innovative approach to visual effects and a genuinely engaging display of monster movie magic that combine to earn it a spot among the greats.
Capturing the Friedmans
By exploring the inconsistencies of the American legal/judicial system and the confirmation bias inherent to many police investigations and interviews, Capturing the Friedmans asserts itself as one of the premier true crime documentaries.
Puss in Boots: The Last Wish
Puss in Boots: The Last Wish shows that children’s sequels don’t have to be simple cash grabs and that animation can offer mature themes, fun action, and interesting characters to audiences of all ages, making it a film worthy of recognition among the greats and one worth celebrating for years to come.
Hotel Rwanda
Hotel Rwanda does the important work of showing audiences that the Rwandan Genocide was carried out by actual people as the result of European colonization of the nation, all of it with engrossing performances from its lead man and chief supporting lady, warranting recognition as one of the Greatest Films of All Time.
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.
Promising Young Woman
Carey Mulligan’s leading performance pairs perfectly with Emerald Fennell’s script and story in Promising Young Woman to give audiences a film that captures the outrage of victims of sexual assault across the world who have been silenced because of the inconveniences of their plights, making this one of the most necessary and greatest films ever made.
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.
The Theory of Everything
Two stellar leading performances make what could otherwise be a paint-by-numbers biopic combined with an okay example of a period romantic drama into a showcase of acting capabilities and moving performances in The Theory of Everything, saving its place among the greats.
My Neighbor Totoro
My Neighbor Totoro checks so many of the boxes for what makes a film good: from its animation and music to its story and themes, Miyazaki gives audiences a gloriously fun film that is sure to touch the hearts of anyone who watches it.
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.
Fiddler on the Roof
It really is the interplay between Topol’s phenomenal performance as Tevye and the gorgeous camerawork of Morris that turn Fiddler into one of the all-time greats, rewarding the audience for the time they have invested.
If Beale Street Could Talk
Barry Jenkins brings forth a beautiful homage to James Baldwin’s novel in his adaptation of If Beale Street Could Talk thanks to the work of his actors and cinematographer and his faithful adherence to the first two acts of the story, earning the film a spot among the greats.
Paris, Texas
While imperfect in its first act, the story that Wenders tells with his screenwriters in the second and third is one of the most human stories ever told, sure to leave an impact on any audience, which is why this film stands the test of time as one of the greatest ever made.
Sherpa
You hate to say that Sherpa benefitted from an act of nature when that act of nature left sixteen people dead, but that act also provided the film with a much-needed catalyst to present the horrors of the reality that it wants to show the audience, ultimately earning it a spot among the greats.
Hacksaw Ridge
Led by Andrew Garfield, populated by Gibson’s directorial vision, and ultimately driven by Doss’s own convictions in favor of peace and pacifism, Hacksaw Ridge undeniably earns its place among biopics, World War II films, and, ultimately, the Greatest Films of All Time.
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.
Y Tu Mamá También
In these two tales told side by side, Cuarón has crafted one of the most devastating looks at young adulthood and growing up and friendship that still manages to escape nihilism through the life of its most doomed character, earning it an undeniable place among the Greatest Films of All Time.