There is nothing better than sitting down with a big tub of popcorn to watch a great movie.
However, how can one determine whether a movie is great or not? It turns out, an IMDB user found a great way to do it.
“The movies on this list are ranked according to their success (awards & nominations), their popularity, and their cinematic greatness from a directing/writing perspective,” creator ChrisWalczky55 said.
In order to rank the films, he used criteria that are more or less unbiased, and we feel confident that his method was sound. For this reason, we can safely say that these are the Top 50 Greatest Movies Of All Time.
What do you think of this list?
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50. Jaws (1975)
Jaws is the original killer shark movie. After it was released, the Steven Spielberg flick went on to win three Oscars and one Golden Globe. There is nothing more exciting than a giant shark unleashing chaos on a quiet beach community.
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IMDB
49. The Searchers (1956)
The Searchers encapsulates everything people love about classic western adventure movies. It has cowboys, civil war veterans, and Native Americans all having giant shootouts out on the open plains. Of course, there is a lot of great scenery and images of men on horses riding off into the sunset as well.
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IMDB
48. Doctor Zhivago (1965)
Doctor Zhivago is a drama romance that won five Golden Globes and five Oscars. It tells the story of a Russian physicist and his wife, a poet. The main plot follows the doctor as he falls in love with another woman — the wife of a political activist. The film is set to the backdrop of World War I.
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IMDB
47. A Clockwork Orange (1971)
A Clockwork Orange is one of the most celebrated futuristic dystopian sci-fi flicks. It is the work of director Stanley Kubrick and follows the story of a violent youth gang leader who is arrested and put through an experimental conduct-aversion program. Unfortunately, things don’t go as planned.
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IMDB
46. My Fair Lady (1964)
My Fair Lady won eight Oscars, three Golden Globes, and one BAFTA Award. It is a drama family musical film. The story revolves around an arrogant professor’s attempt to try and transform a working-class girl into a respectable member of high society.
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IMDB
45. The Best Years of Our Lives (1946)
The Best Years Of Our Lives is a drama romance war movie that follows three World War II veterans as they return home and discover how much things have changed while they were gone. It is the classic depiction of American small-town life post-war. The film won seven Oscars, one BAFTA Award, and one Golden Globe.
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44. An American in Paris (1951)
An American in Paris depicts life in Paris as two men struggle to find work. To complicate matters further, they both fall in love with the same woman. The musical film won six Oscars and one Golden Globe.
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IMDB
43. To Kill a Mockingbird (1962)
Based on the famous novel by Harper Lee, the movie To Kill a Mockingbird shows what life was like in the deep south during the Great Depression. Lawyer Atticus Finch stands against prejudice in his town while defending a black man fighting an undeserved rape charge. The movie won three Oscars and three Golden Globes.
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IMDB
42. The Philadelphia Story (1940)
The Philadephia Story is a classic American comedy romance movie. It follows the ups and downs of a bunch of Philadelphian socialites who marry, divorce, and remarry each other. The real reason the film is probably so well known is that it stars actor Katharine Hepburn. Although, it did win two Oscars also.
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41. A Streetcar Named Desire (1951)
A Streetcar Named Desire won four Oscars, one BAFTA Award, and one Golden Globe. Actor Marlon Brando really helped to make this one great. The story follows a woman as she moves in with her sister in New Orleans. However, her reality crumbles as she is tormented by her hyper-masculine brother in law (Brando).
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40. Rocky (1976)
Everyone has heard of the movie Rocky. Actor Sylvester Stallone (Rocky) plays a small-time boxer who gets to chance to fight a heavyweight. He is a huge underdog yet attempts to go the distance anyway. The film won three Oscars and one Golden Globe.
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39. Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
Raiders of the Lost Ark is the Indiana Jones movie that started them all. Indiana Jones is hired by the government to find the Ark of the Covenant before the Nazis do. It is one of the most loved action adventure movies of all time. Critics love it as well. It won four Oscars and one BAFTA award.
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38. Unforgiven (1992)
Unforgiven won four Oscars, one BAFTA award, and two Golden Globes. It is a western that follows the life of retired gunslinger who is hired for one last job. He calls upon his old partner and another young man for help. The movie stars none other than Clint Eastwood.
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37. Saving Private Ryan (1998)
Saving Private Ryan is one of the most harrowing war movies ever and takes viewers on a very emotional journey. It is set during the invasion of Normandy in WWII. The movie won five Oscars, two BAFTA Awards, and two Golden Globes.
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36. From Here to Eternity (1953)
From Here to Eternity won eight Oscars, one BAFTA Award, and two Golden Globes. It is another famous war movie that is set in Hawaii in 1941. A soldier is punished for refusing to join his unit’s boxing team. It documents the lives of army personnel on the island leading up to the attack on Pearl Harbor.
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35. Titanic (1997)
Titanic is one of those movies that you can’t help but cry while watching. It is just so touching and Leonardo DiCaprio does a great job acting in it. He plays the role of a young aristocrat who falls in love with a woman named Rose. Then the ship sinks. The movie won eleven Oscars and four Golden Globes.
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IMDB
34. Gladiator (2000)
Gladiator tells the story of a Roman General who was captured, sold into slavery and forced to fight as a gladiator after the murder of his family. It stars actor Russel Crow. The flick won five Oscars, four BAFTA awards, and two Golden Globes.
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IMDB
33. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
The Return of the King is the third film in The Lord of the Rings series based on the books by author J. R. R. Tolkien. In this one, Gandalf and Aragaon take on Sauron’s army as Frodo approaches Mt Doom with the ring. The movie is much loved by fantasy fans and won eleven Oscars, four BAFTA Awards, and four Golden Globes.
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32. Amadeus (1984)
Amadeus won eight Oscars, four BAFTA Awards, and four Golden Globes. It is the historical retelling of the life of famous composer Mozart as told by rival composer Antonio Salieri. For both movie and music fans, this film is truly a gem.
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31. Apocalypse Now (1979)
Apocalypse Now is a war movie centered on the conflicts in Vietnam during the height of the war. The film shows the dark side of man. An army officer is tasked with eliminating a special forces agent who has gone rogue and considers himself a god. It won two Oscars, two BAFTA Awards, and three Golden Globes.
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30. Ben-Hur (1959)
In Ben Hur, a Jewish prince is sent into slavery by his Roman friend after being betrayed. It is a religious tale that is totally epic and filled with lots of adventure. The movie won eleven Oscars, one BAFTA Award, and three Golden Globes.
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29. Some Like It Hot (1959)
Some Like It Hot only won one Oscar, one BAFTA, and three Golden Globes, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t one of the greatest movies of all times. The plot follows the story of two Chicago musicians who witness a mob hit and then a bunch of craziness ensues. It is the perfect comedy.
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28. Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964)
Dr. Strangelove is a comedy that somehow manages to make the horrors of nuclear war hilarious. It follows a room of politicians as they frantically try to stop an insane general from triggering a nuclear holocaust. The movie won three BAFTA Awards.
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IMDB
27. It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)
It’s a Wonderful Life is quite possibly the best feel-good movie ever. An angel comes down from heaven and helps a frustrated businessman by showing him what life would have been like if he was never born. Despite going down in history as one of the world’s greatest movies, at the time it was released, the film was only awarded one Golden Globe.
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26. Singin’ in the Rain (1952)
Singin’ in the Rain is one of those movies that serves as a fantastic window into the past. The comedy musical romance follows a silent film production crew in 1927 as they transition into the new era of sound. It won one Golden Globe.
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25. The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)
The Bridge on the River Kwai tells the story of the British prisoners of war in WWII who are forced to build a bridge for the Burma-Siam railway. The allies then send a mission into the jungle to blow up the bridge. The movie won seven Oscars, four BAFTA Awards, and three Golden Globes.
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24. Chinatown (1974)
Chinatown is a drama mystery thriller that focuses on a private detective who finds himself in a web of deceit after he is hired to track down an adulterer. It won one Oscar, three BAFTA Awards, and four Golden Globes. The movie is set in 1930s Los Angeles.
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23. The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
The Silence of the Lambs is both thrilling and disturbing. It is about an FBI agent who enlists the help of incarcerated serial killer Hannibal Lecter in order to track down a new serial killer. The movie won five Oscars, two BAFTA Awards, and one Golden Globe.
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22. E. T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
E. T. the Extra-Terrestrial is a movie that kids absolutely loved. It follows the story of a friendly alien who forms a friendship with a young boy after he is stranded on Earth. The boy helps him return to his home planet. The film won four Oscars, one BAFTA Award, and two Golden Globes.
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21. 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
2001: A Space Odyssey is one of the most classic space alien movies ever made. It won one Oscar and three BAFTA Awards. The movie follows mankind’s journey to uncover the mystery behind a strange alien artifact that was found buried on the moon. The astronauts are helped along by a supercomputer named HAL 9000.
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20. Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope (1977)
Although it is called “Episode IV”, Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope is actually the first film of the Star Wars franchise. Luke Skywalker and crew try to save the Empire from Darth Vader. This legendary sci-fi movie won six Oscars, one BAFTA Award, and one Golden Globe.
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19. West Side Story (1961)
West Side Story is essentially a modern day Romeo and Juliet musical. The movie is about two members of rival New York gangs that end up falling in love. The tension between the gangs eventually leads to tragedy. The movie won ten Oscars and three Golden Globes.
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18. 12 Angry Men (1957)
12 Angry Men won just one BAFTA Award. It is a simple movie, yet still great. The whole thing is pretty much filmed in a courtroom where a jury holds out in an attempt to prevent a miscarriage of justice. They ask their colleagues to reconsider the evidence.
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17. The Sound of Music (1965)
The Sound of Music is about a nun who leaves her Austrian convent and becomes a nanny and teacher to the children of a Naval Officer whose wife passed away. It won five Oscars and two Golden Globes. It is one of the greatest musicals ever produced in Hollywood.
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IMDB
16. Forrest Gump (1994)
Forrest Gump is one of the most popular movies ever and for good reason. It is both comical and beautiful at the same time. The main character is a low IQ Alabama man who blunders through life in the Vietnam war era. Yet, he has a very good heart. The film won six Oscars, one BAFTA Award, and three Golden Globes.
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15. Sunset Boulevard (1950)
Sunset Boulevard tells the story of a screenwriter who falls in love with an outdated film star that is trying to make a comeback. They form a dangerous relationship. The movie featured an amazing performance by actress Gloria Swanson and won three Oscars and four Golden Globes.
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14. On the Waterfront (1954)
On the Waterfront won eight Oscars, one BAFTA Award, and four Golden Globes. The plot revolves around an ex-boxer’s fight against corrupt union bosses after he makes a career change to that of a longshoreman. It is a very powerful movie that still holds relevance today.
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13. The Godfather: Part II (1974)
The Godfather: Part II is a movie that is on almost every greatest movies list. It reveals the fascinating story of the early life of mob boss Vito Corleone and his family crime syndicate. The film won six Oscars and one BAFTA Award.
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12. Psycho (1960)
As one of the first movies ever to be produced in the horror genre, Psycho holds a special place in peoples’ hearts. The plot follows an office worker who embezzles a bunch of money from her company and leaves her old life behind. She then checks into the Bates Motel and things start to get weird. The movie won one Golden Globe.
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11. Vertigo (1958)
Although Vertigo never won any awards, it is one of the most celebrated Alfred Hitchcock movies. Fans of the director rave about it. The story focuses on a former police detective as he deals with his own personal demons and becomes obsessed with a beautiful woman.
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10. Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
Lawrence of Arabia is a biographical drama based upon General T. E. Lawrence, an English officer in WWII. The man helped bring together diverse groups of Arab tribes and led them to fight against the Turks as one unified front. The film received seven Oscars, four BAFTA Awards, and four Golden Globes.
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9. One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975)
One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest won five Oscars, six BAFTA Awards, and six Golden Globes for its retelling of Ken Kesey’s novel by the same name. The plot follows a criminal who pleads insanity, then continues to rebel once in the mental institution. The lead part is played by Jack Nicholson.
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8. The Wizard of Oz (1939)
The Wizard of Oz is a time-honored classic that has been celebrated for generations. The plot follows Dorothy Gale who is swept up into the magical land of Oz, far away from her home in Kansas. The film received two Oscars. At the time of the movie’s release, the Golden Globe the BAFTA Awards did not yet exist.
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IMDB
7. Gone with the Wind (1939)
Gone with the Wind has everything — great actors, plot, cinematography, and soundtrack. It is a romantic movie that is set right as the Civil War is about to begin. It too was released well before BAFTA and Golden Globe awards existed. However, the film did receive eight Oscars.
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IMDB
6. Citizen Kane (1941)
Sometimes the classics are the best movies. Citizen Kane is another old mystery movie that has definitely withstood the test of time. The plot follows news reporters as they scramble to discover the meaning behind the death of a publishing tycoon. It won one Oscar.
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IMDB
5. Casablanca (1942)
Casablanca is a film about an American expatriate’s struggle in Morocco as he tries to decide whether or not to help a fugitive escape the country. To complicate matters further, the fugitive is his former lover. The movie won three Oscars.
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4. Raging Bull (1980)
Raging Bull follows the life of boxer Jake LaMotta. His temper and violence make him one of the best in the ring, but destroy his personal life outside of the sport. Raging Bull won two Oscars, two BAFTA Awards, and one Golden Globe.
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3. Schindler’s List (1993)
Schindler’s List is a depressing but important movie that shows the suffering experienced by Jewish individuals in Hitler’s Nazi Germany. One man, Oskar Schindler, turned his factory into a refuge for those escaping from the Auschwitz concentration camp. The movie received seven Oscars, six BAFTA Awards, and three Golden Globes.
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IMDB
2. The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
The Shawshank Redemption is a drama that focuses on the relationship between two prisoners held in the jailhouse of Shawshank. The two men bond over the years, and eventually, find peace and redemption through small acts of common decency. The film shockingly won zero awards, yet it is still one of the most highly rated movies ever.
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IMDB
1. The Godfather (1972)
The Godfather, the first of the series, is hands down the greatest movie of all time. The actors, storyline, and direction of the film are all top-notch. The plot follows Godfather “Don” Vito Corleone as he transfers the reigns of his mafia over to his son. The movie won three Oscars and six Golden Globes.
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IMDB
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