Top 10 Hollywood Movies of All Time
From sweeping action to rich storytelling, these top hollywood movies have left an impact on the world. These movies are timeless and will continue to inspire audiences for years to come.
De Palma’s virtuosic film-freak fetishism is a thing of beauty, but this edgy tale of a telekinetic high school wallflower remains the movie fairy tale of former teen geeks everywhere.
1. The Godfather
NYFA Associate Professor Andy Smith on the film’s impact:
Before The Godfather, movies would be released in major markets only and then slowly rolled out to smaller theaters over the course of months. But Francis Ford Coppola’s masterpiece broke this mold, changing how movies were distributed forever.
The Godfather’s lasting appeal comes from its trailblazing visual style and iconic performances. The story’s subtle references to past gangster films also help explain its longevity.
2. The Dark Knight
A movie’s popularity can change a lot over time, but the top-rated movies on IMDb are often considered to be some of the best films ever made.
The Dark Knight changed the way blockbuster filmmakers approach superhero movies. Its grounded world and realistic style set a new standard for the genre. The film’s impact is still being felt 10 years later. Many up-and-coming directors now seek to get a gig helming a comic book franchise as a stepping stone into the business. And the tone and realism of Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy continues to influence studio tentpoles.
3. The Shawshank Redemption
Director Frank Darabont and his cast of talented actors, including Morgan Freeman and Tim Robbins, knew they had a film that would resonate with audiences. But when it opened against Quentin Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction, the prison-set drama struggled for audiences.
Its message of perseverance and hope, though, eventually found an audience. It’s a rare movie that manages to be both uplifting and thought-provoking, while remaining highly rewatchable. A true classic.
4. Pulp Fiction
After Reservoir Dogs, Quentin Tarantino proved he was more than just a one-off. Pulp Fiction, a tale of hit men Vince and Jules, mob boss Marsellus Wallace (Ving Rhames) and past-his-prime boxer Butch Coolidge (Bruce Willis), is a film that reworks genres in a variety of dazzling ways.
The elongated dialogue, pop culture references and experiments with narrative make it an essential modern movie that never gets old. It also catapulted stars like John Travolta back into the limelight and helped launch the careers of Samuel L Jackson and Uma Thurman.
5. The Matrix
The Wachowskis had trouble selling the high-concept idea behind The Matrix to studio execs from the get-go. The duo’s first film, the low-budget indie Bound, was a commercial disaster and their second, Assassins, received scathing reviews.
But The Matrix would eventually prove a box office smash. Its mash-up of pop culture tropes and millennial worries set new standards for blockbuster movies. And its balletic fight scenes inspired everything from Ang Lee’s Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon to Sucker Punch. The Matrix also introduced audiences to the stunning effects of rotoscope animation.
6. The Dark Knight Rises
When it comes to redefining how we look at the superhero genre, The Dark Knight Rises is one of the most influential movies ever made. It tests the weight that a superhero movie can bear, with Christian Bale’s vengeful Batman emerging from seclusion to take on a soulless villain.
This twisty crime thriller elevated the genre, and it remains a modern cinematic classic. The Dark Knight’s impact can also be seen in the way the Oscars changed their rules for best picture nominations, allowing films like Inception and Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close to win awards.
7. The Hunger Games
The record-setting blockbuster franchise of Suzanne Collins’ YA dystopian novels made Jennifer Lawrence into a bona fide movie star and the series cemented the idea that movies for and about women could earn big bucks. It also ignited a wave of young-adult adaptations, such as Divergent and The Maze Runner.
Its life-or-death scenarios and engaging political world hooked viewers, and Hollywood took note, launching its own version of Panem with films like 12 Angry Men and The Conjuring. However, none of these came close to matching The Hunger Games’ success.
8. The Hangover
In the midst of a summer filled with bad movies, The Hangover was one of the few that stood out. Its raunchy humor and unexpected twists made it a hit with audiences.
This movie also makes use of a non-linear narrative to portray a number of arcs, from two hitmen having darkly humorous conversations to a Bonnie and Clyde-esque couple hyped up for their own heist. Todd Phillips is a director who knows how to balance character and vulgarity in his films.
Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms and Zach Galifianakis incarnate masculine stereotypes in a way that feels moderately fresh and soothingly familiar at the same time.
9. The Way of Water
It’s not hyperbole to say that Avatar set the water mark for visual effects movies. But Cameron’s dazzling vistas would have been worthless without a compelling story to go along with them.
Sam Worthington stars as the ex-Marine who transferred his consciousness into a Na’vi body to protect a forest home on the lush planet Pandora from human colonizers. Despite the hefty slug of exposition and faux-spiritual mumbo-jumbo, the characters feel authentic. And the performances are top-notch. Especially from Freeman and Pitt.
10. Thor: Love and Thunder
Despite some funny moments and classic Guns N’ Roses needle-drops, Love and Thunder doesn’t hit as hard as it wants to. The blobby action and the Jane Foster cancer storyline both feel like tacked-on, crowd-pleasing add-ons rather than the dramatic core of the movie.
It dresses up progressive trappings in the guise of fun, hoping you’ll be distracted by ribbons of representation and ignore that they treat those identities as punchlines or window dressing. It also avoids exploring grief or other serious emotions, relying instead on the same old broodiness.
