Summary

• Film is subjective, so there is no definitive answer to the best movie ever. Different people have different criteria for greatness.
• Some movies consistently appear in debates about the greatest movies, like Seven Samurai and Casablanca.
• The classics deserve respect and anyone interested in film should familiarize themselves with them.

There's no real answer to the debate about the best ever movie, but some movies hold a consistent spot in the debate. Film is as subjective as any other art form, so there will never be a definitive best movie. Different people will have their own criteria for what constitutes a great movie, and the most important aspects, such as emotional resonance, can't be measured objectively. Film is also split into many different genres, which can be hard to stack up against one another. It's impossible to compare a great war drama with a great romcom, for example, because each movie aims to achieve different goals.

Despite the futile nature of film comparisons, the debate over which movie should be considered the greatest of all time continues to rage on. Some familiar suspects will crop up in any poll of critics, filmmakers, or fans. These films have stood the test of time, and are outstanding examples of their genre. Even if they can't categorically be considered the best movies ever, they deserve a lot of respect, and anyone interested in film should acquaint themselves with the classics.

12 Seven Samurai (1954)

The template for decades of action movies

Akira Kurosawa’s historical epic deserves every minute of its mammoth runtime, which eclipses three hours in total. Its thrilling action sequences still hold up today, 70 years later, but Seven Samurai injects these scenes with added tension due to its acute focus on human emotion. After the samurai come together, in one of the most frequently remade sequences in film history, the story retains a razor-sharp focus on the strengths and fears of its characters. Seven Samurai is often cited as one of the finest non-English language films ever, and the best Japanese film too.

11 The Shawshank Redemption (1993)

A character study which leaves some details a mystery

Although it features some uncomfortable scenes of prison brutality, The Shawshank Redemption manages to engender feelings of hope. This is down to the career-best performances from both Morgan Freeman and Tim Robbins as two prison inmates who strike up an unlikely friendship. The Shawshank Redemption is irable for its calculated use of different perspectives. Robbins’ character, Andy, is only ever seen through the eyes of others. It isn’t even clear whether he is innocent or guilty, but ultimately, this is immaterial to his story.

10 Blade Runner (1982)

A unique sci-fi concept utilized to its full potential

Blade Runner may be set in a future of flying cars and artificial life, but the questions it raises about human nature and identity are firmly grounded in reality.

The best and most enduring sci-fi movies use their otherworldly premises to examine deep-seated human hopes and fears. Blade Runner may be set in a future of flying cars and artificial life, but the questions it raises about human nature and identity are firmly grounded in reality. With the sci-fi elements stripped away, Blade Runner would still be a brilliant film noir tale of a world-weary detective hunting fugitives. But it’s made even better by its use of “replicants,” and this is exemplified by Blade Runner’s heartbreaking ending.

9 Vertigo (1958)

A twisted tale of obsession and fear

Psycho and Rear Window are also frequently mentioned, but Vertigo is the one Alfred Hitchcock film which crops up in debates about the best movies more than any other. Vertigo is the perfect encapsulation of Hitchcock’s pioneering use of the subjective camera, which moves to reflect the inner state of the characters. The plot is typically twisty and propulsive, as one can expect from the Master of Suspense, but it's Hitchcock’s powerful direction which makes the film stand out.

8 12 Angry Men (1957)

An intricately plotted drama in one location

Despite having just one location and a very limited number of characters, 12 Angry Men is a relentlessly gripping drama. Sidney Lumet’s direction keeps things visually interesting within a single room, as he frames characters differently depending on their emotions, their allegiances, and their sense of power. 12 Angry Men’s characters are what make it so compelling. They are each drawn distinctly and designed to provoke one another in just the right way. In doing so, they represent a cross-section of American society, and its approach to criminal justice.

7 Saving Private Ryan (1998)

Explosive action and quiet characterization

Saving Private Ryan establishes its credentials very quickly, with the unforgettable D-Day landing scene. The Normandy invasion is a remarkable action sequence, with Steven Spielberg’s camera swirling around a chaotic battlefield, but maintaining its focus on the personal journey of Captain Miller. Saving Private Ryan is a masterpiece of the war genre. Very few movies have been able to portray the horrors of war in such alarming detail, while also focusing on the personal stories of the soldiers.

6 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)

Visually revolutionary and boldly ambitious

No conversation about the greatest movies ever made would be complete without mentioning Stanley Kubrick. The revolutionary director created hits in a wide variety of genres, including Full Metal Jacket, Dr. Strangelove, and The Shining. Each of these are classics in their own right, but 2001: A Space Odyssey is often regarded as his masterpiece. The abstract storytelling evokes emotions of fear and confusion, which fit perfectly with the movie’s massive scope. 2001: A Space Odyssey’s surreal ending opens up discussions about the fate of humanity and the Earth’s place within time and space.

5 The Lord Of The Rings: The Return Of The King (2003)

A masterpiece of high fantasy

If Oscars success is anything to go by, then The Lord of the Ring: The Return of the King deserves its spot in the conversation of the greatest movies of all time. It’s one of only three movies to win 11 Oscars, alongside Ben-Hur and Titanic. The Return of the King is the perfect culmination to Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings trilogy, which remains the pinnacle of the fantasy genre. The gorgeous scenery and epic battle scenes are unmatched.

4 Gone With The Wind (1939)

An enduring romance about dreams and reality

The scale of its ambition is impressive, but Gone with the Wind is equal to the challenge that it sets itself.

Set against the backdrop of the American Civil War, Gone with the Wind tells the story of Scarlett O’Hara, and her uncomfortable marriage to Rhett Butler. The scale of its ambition is impressive, but Gone with the Wind is equal to the challenge that it sets itself. Excellent performances from Vivien Leigh and Clark Gable help ensure that the movie stays immersive throughout. Gone with the Wind’s best quotes deal with the troubles of love, marriage, and regret. It’s a triumph of delicate characterization.

3 Casablanca (1942)

Infinitely quotable and oozing with style

Casablanca has become intrinsically linked to the Golden Age of Hollywood, thanks to the allure of its two stars, Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman. The wartime romance is still just as potent today, decades removed from its original context. Casablanca’s timeless quotes and brooding atmosphere make it an eternal love story, but it’s also about so much more than romance. Rick grapples with regret, loneliness, and resentment on his journey toward eventual acceptance, and Casablanca ends with one of the most memorable scenes in film history.