Beauty and the Beast (1946)
Jean Cocteau’s Beauty and the Beast offers a familiar but fresh take on the timeless fairy tale, delivering production excellence and compelling character arcs that earn the film a place among the Greatest Films of All Time.
Won’t You Be My Neighbor?
The ways that Won’t You Be My Neighbor stays true to the message and legacy of Mr. Rogers are what makes the film so excellent, offering an equal parts biography of Rogers and life lesson from the man himself even beyond the grave.
The Decline of Western Civilization
The way that Penelope Spheeris presents the world of Los Angeles punk in The Decline of Western Civilization leaves plenty of open-endedness for the audience to explore it further, piquing the interest without trying to take a preachy stance about the music, earning it a spot in music and cinematic history worthy of reverence.
The Odd Couple
The script and actors in The Odd Couple have done a phenomenal job of playing with audience expectations about comedy and comic archetypes, giving us a refreshingly original take on the buddy comedy in the process that deserves a place among the Greatest Films of All Time.
The Nun’s Story
Between Audrey Hepburn’s strong leading character study and the thematically appropriate cinematography, The Nun’s Story captures something about an era of film that deserves a place among the greats.
Spider-Man 2
The visuals and story of Spider-Man 2, highlighted by iconic moments, an unforgettable villain, and a compelling arc for Peter coming to terms with his role as both person and superhero, make the film not just one of the best superhero films of all time but simply one of the Greatest Films of All Time.
The Descendants
Thanks to the standout cast, led by George Clooney, and a rich script full of character, theme, and story, The Descendants manages to take its premise of a film about grief in paradise and turn it into a film worthy of a place among the greats.
Cold War
Pawel Pawlikowski has given us a truly enthralling romance in Cold War; bolstered by the performances of his two leads, it offers audiences a love worth rooting for in the face of the storms of life and the hardships of the Cold War in Europe, earning the film a much-deserved spot among the greats.
Son of the White Mare
Son of the White Mare offers a visually engaging and traditionally enriching exploration of folklore and the stories of the steppe peoples, earning a spot among the Greatest Films of All Time as it does so.
Sling Blade
Altogether, Sling Blade gives audiences a relatable, and generally positive, look at the ways we need each other to get through life’s hardships, highlighted by Thornton’s brilliant turn as writer, director, and actor, which earns the film its place among the greats.
The Seventh Seal
Altogether, The Seventh Seal offers a rich examination of death, mortality, human relationships, and religion without doing too much to answer any of its posed questions, instead offering partial answers and stunning visuals to engage the audience and earn a place of greatness along the way.
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs earns its spot among the greats thanks to its phenomenal feats of animation, iconic character designs, and classic music that all bolster the film’s watchability.
This Is Spinal Tap
This Is Spinal Tap is the perfect mockumentary – self-aware, intelligent, hilarious, and authentic in its message – and it stands the test of time in both its portrayal of the music industry and in its many bits of humor, earning it an irrefutable place among the Greatest Films of All Time.
The Constant Gardener
Carried by its two leading performers, The Constant Gardener supplies us with a compelling look at government and pharmaceutical corruption and exploitation that maintains its watchability primarily through Weisz and Fiennes, who earn it a spot among the greats.
The Usual Suspects
With a plot twist that stands the test of time, a phenomenal script, and a memorable performance from its primary witness, The Usual Suspects earns its place in cinematic history, standing among the other great crime thrillers as one of the best.
Reversal of Fortune
The leading performances of Reversal of Fortune are what have earned it a place among the all-time greats, but none stand taller than Jeremy Irons’s Oscar-winning portrayal of Claus von Bülow, which keeps the audience guessing and almost rooting against the narrative at every turn while staying fully hooked into how it’ll all play out.
Iron Man
With the inspired casting of Robert Downey Jr. in the lead role and Jon Favreau’s creative liberties with the comic books, Iron Man became an instant classic, and it continues to shape the public’s perception of superhero films and blockbusters, cementing a place of greatness in cinematic history.
Demon Slayer: Mugen Train
Between its phenomenal scenes of combat, compelling worldbuilding, and beautiful animation style, Demon Slayer: Mugen Train offers itself as a film for anyone interested in dark fantasy, fast-paced action, and/or anime drama, earning itself a spot among the greats in the process.