While all movies generate a swirl of conflicting opinions,there are some movies which people generally agree are flawless from beginning to end. Some might argue that perfection is an impossible standard, especially in an art form measured in emotion and personal connection. However, a more generous definition of perfection could suggest that there are plenty of “perfect” movies. If a movie sets out to achieve all that it aims for, no matter what genre it is, it could be described as perfect.
There are many great movies that fall short of perfection. For example,Breakfast at Tiffany’s could be a contender if not for the racist caricature of Mr. Yunioshi, and Alfred Hitchcock famously hated the voiceover at the end ofPsycho.Some movies manage to go from start to finish without putting a foot wrong, however. Cinema is a subjective art form, and everyone is free to their own opinions, but some movies are so outstanding that most would agree that they are perfect.
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The 60 Best Movies Of All Time
Screen Rant breaks down the best movies of all time, from old classics to modern masterpieces across multiple genres of cinema.
Jaws
Cast
Jaws, directed by Steven Spielberg, follows the residents of Amity Island as they face terror from a menacing great white shark. The town’s police chief, a marine biologist, and a seasoned shark hunter join forces to track and kill the predator threatening their coastal community. Released in 1975.
Steven Spielberg has long been known as a master of cinematic spectacle, and this was never more apparent than in his first true masterpiece.Jawsis an intense horror movie that subverts its sunny, idyllic settingto show the dark perils lingering beneath the waves. Spielberg uses shots from the perspective of the shark to create a terrifying dramatic irony, as audiences are forced to watch swimmers splashing around without knowing what’s coming for them.
Jawsis packed with iconic momentsfrom beginning to end.The opening scene sets the tone perfectly, as two teenagers see their perfect summer night turn into a nightmare. From then on,Jawsbalances its horror with a compelling personal drama. For all its thrills and blood-soaked chaos,Jawsis just as interesting when the three heroes have to spend time together on Quint’s fishing, passing the time before the shark surfaces once again.
The Dark Knight
The Dark Knight, directed by Christopher Nolan, is the second installment in the Batman trilogy starring Christian Bale as Batman. Released in 2008, the film follows Batman’s alliance with Jim Gordon and Harvey Dent as they combat the organized crime that threatens Gotham, facing the menacing Joker.
By incorporating elements of crime movies and establishing a gritty, confronting tone,Christopher Nolan’sDark Knighttrilogy revolutionized the superhero genre.After years of superhero dominance at the box office, many movies have taken inspiration fromThe Dark Knight,but few have produced a movie so consistently thrilling.The Dark Knightsqueezes an incredible number of great action set pieces into its runtime, helped along by Nolan’s commitment to practical effects.
Heath Ledger’s legendary performance as the Joker produces one of the most compelling comic book villains of all, ensuring that Batman’s personal conflict is just as vital as the battle for Gotham’s soul.
The Dark Knightcould be the perfect sequel.It builds on Bruce’s character arc fromBatman Begins,and it sets up his next chapter inThe Dark Knight Riseswith a tantalizing ending. Despite all this,The Dark Knightsomehow still manages to function as an exciting standalone movie. Heath Ledger’s legendary performance as the Joker produces one of the most compelling comic book villains of all, ensuring that Batman’s personal conflict is just as vital as the battle for Gotham’s soul.
Portrait of a Lady on Fire
Marianne is a young painter in 18th century France who is given the task of painting a portrait of Héloïse for her wedding, without her knowing. Spending her days observing Héloïse and her nights painting, Marianne finds herself getting closer and closer to her model.
Portrait of a Lady on Fireopens with Marianne rediscovering one of her old paintings, and the implication is that it depicts something that she wishes to forget. This pervasive sense of impending doom runs throughout the story, but the magic of Céline Sciamma’s period romance is that it is so charming and gorgeously made that it’s easy to get whisked away. Even though Marianne, Héloise and the audience know that their love will be cut short, it takes a hard heart to resist their love story.
Portrait of a Lady on Fire’s dramatic endingbrings Marianne’s journey full circle, as she steals one last look at the woman she loves. Period romances so often fall into restrictive tropes of class divides, social scandal and string music.Portrait of a Lady on Fireprovides a breath of fresh air, using its period setting to reveal timeless truths about the nature of love and responsibility.
Back to the Future
Back to the Future follows teenager Marty McFly as he is inadvertently sent back to 1955, where he disrupts his parents' meeting. With the assistance of eccentric inventor Doc Brown, Marty must restore the timeline by ensuring his parents fall in love and find a way back to 1985.
Back to the Futureisone of the most endlessly rewatchable movies of all time.It’s a wonderfully entertaining journey from start to finish, and it’s fully aware of the kooky intricacies of its time-traveling plot.Back to the Futureprovides just enough backstory to reveal who Doc and Marty are, but it doesn’t linger in the present for too long when there’s so much fun to be had in the past.
Back to the Futurepokes fun at some classic sci-fi tropes, but it displays enough love for the genre to be a genuinely compelling sci-fi movie in its own right.
Back to the Futurepokes fun at some classic sci-fi tropes, but it displays enough love for the genre to be a genuinely compelling sci-fi movie in its own right. With a perfect blend of humor and action,Back to the Futurehas become a comforting classic that is just as enjoyable today as it was in 1985.The entire trilogy is enjoyable, but there’s no beating the originalBack to the Futurefor a nostalgic thrill ride.
No Country for Old Men
No Country for Old Men is a western crime-thriller based on the novel by Cormac McCarthy and directed by the Cohen Brothers. Following three protagonists, the film centers around a large $2,000,000+ cache of dirty money lost near the Rio Grande. With a veteran who finds it, a hitman who will stop at nothing to get it, and a sheriff trying to investigate the crimes connected to it, all roads lead to death and mayhem as they find themselves in each other’s crosshairs.
Based on Cormac McCarthy’s novel of the same name,No Country for Old Menis a stunning blend of crime movies and classic Westerns. With a host of interesting characters vying for a briefcase with millions of dollars in cash,No Country for Old Menplays out as a thrilling tragedy in the desert of America’s borderlands.Javier Bardem’s cold-blooded assassin has gone down as one of cinema’s great villains, but the entire cast is superb.
No Country for Old Menis one of thebest Coen brothers movies. They are perfectly suited to McCarthy’s style, and they have the wisdom to leave his dialogue untouched when no substitute could possibly surpass it. This helps create the harrowing ending, when Sheriff Ed Tom Bell recounts his dreams. It’s a final moment of quiet contemplation after a breathlessly tense movie, and it lingers long after the credits roll.
10 Best Movies That Are Over 3 Hours Long
Though sitting down for a movie that’s over 3 hours long is a daunting task, some of the best films ever made clock in at this runtime.
Dr. Strangelove Or: How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Love The Bomb
Stanley Kubrick’s 1964 black-and-white satire Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb parodies the growing tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold War. Starring Peter Sellers, the plot revolves around a US Air Force general who orders a nuclear attack on the Soviet Union against the wishes of the government.
Stanley Kubrick’s Cold War comedyDr. Strangelovemakes the end of the world seem hilarious.The scathing political satire follows a group of squabbling politicians trying to prevent a rogue military commander from launching an attack on the Soviet Union. Once they realize that their attempts are set to fail, they pivot toward petty acts of self-preservation.Dr. Strangelove’s endingshows that the men have learned nothing.
BecauseDr. Strangelove’s satire is so acutely observed, it retains a sharp focus throughout. No scene is wasted, as each character represents a different symptom of America’s widespread political dysfunction, and the frailty that lies within the human spirit.The movie is anchored by Peter Sellers in a career-defining performanceas three different characters, each making matters worse in their own ways.
Mean Girls
Mean Girls tells the story of Cady (Lindsay Lohan), a teen girl who falls in with the wrong crowd. After returning to the USA after spending her childhood in Africa, Cady infiltrates her school’s group of mean girls, befriending the conniving Regina George (Rachel McAdams) and her cronies. However, Cady finds the high school hierarchy to be far more complicated than she had imagined, drawing her into a game of manipulation and deceit that threatens her reputation.
If the purpose of a comedy movie is to make its audience laugh, thenMean Girlscould easily be described as a perfect movie.Tina Fey’s script is packed with laughs, and thecast ofMean Girlsdoes it justice. The result is a teen comedy which captures the truth of growing up, while having enough distinct characters and iconic quotes to makeMean Girlsstand head and shoulders above its competition.
Comedies tend to be looked down upon by some critics as lesser than dramatic movies. This means that several perfect movies don’t get the respect they deserve, just because their intent isn’t as widely respected as other classics.Mean Girlsdefinitely falls under this category. It may be described as a “chick flick” or a “guilty pleasure” or any other label meant to subtly degrade its worth.Mean Girlsis a favorite of people everywhere for good reason.
Spirited Away
Spirited Away, a masterpiece by Hayao Miyazaki, is an animated fantasy film that follows the enchanting journey of a young girl named Chihiro. Trapped in a mystical world after her parents are transformed into pigs, Chihiro must navigate a realm filled with spirits and peculiar creatures to save her family.
Spirited Awayis one of the most gorgeous animated movies of all time, with generous touches occupying every frame of Hayao Miyazaki’s dreamlike fable. The story is populated with inventive creatures and characters - enough to make it impossible to predict who or what might show up next - but the movie’s visual splendor serves a bigger purpose than pure whimsy.
Spirited Awayis one of the most gorgeous animated movies of all time, with generous touches occupying every frame of Hayao Miyazaki’s dreamlike fable.
Inspired by Japanese mythology, the characters inSpirited Awayeach serve to expand the bizarre world that Chihiro finds herself in, although many of its mysteries remain enticingly out of reach.Spirited Awayis a movie that beckons the audience in for a closer look, and it has proved just as popular among adults as children. Miyazaki’s sumptuous style has always pushed the limits of animation, andSpirited Awaymakes full use of the medium.
Singin' in the Rain
Singin' in the Rain is a 1952 romantic-comedy musical by directors Stanley Donen and Gene Kelly. Centering on the 1920s era of Hollywood, Singin' in the Rain follows two movie stars forced to adjust to the talking pictures era of films. When the film’s leading man realizes his on-screen partner’s voice is less than pleasing, a young singer is brought in to dub her lines - including her singing, causing a mix of joy and chaos behind the scenes.
Anyone with a passion for movies should watchSingin' in the Rain,even those who usually ignore musicals. Rather than being a stage musical committed to film,Singin' in the Rainwas one of the first musicals that felt specifically designed for the endless possibilities of the big screen, and it has influenced the genre in countless ways. Decades later,Gene Kelly’s masterpiece has retained its effervescent charm.
Singin' in the Rainis about the triumph and tragedy of making movies, and it’s clear from the lavish sets and inventive dance numbers that Kelly and co. had a lot of fun making this one. Just asSingin' in the Raintells the story of the seismic shift from silent films to the talkies, it ushers in another new dawn for the art form. With at least three of the finest musical numbers ever filmed - “Singin' in the Rain,” “Make ‘Em Laugh” and “Broadway Melody” -Singin’ in the Rainis a pacy, deliriously good time.
The Shawshank Redemption
The Shawshank Redemption follows Andy Dufresne, a banker sentenced to life in Shawshank prison for the murder of his wife and her lover. While incarcerated, he befriends fellow inmate Red and uses his financial skills to assist the corrupt warden, all while maintaining his hope and integrity.
The Shawshank Redemptionoffers a masterclass in how to adapt a book for the big screen. Based on Stephen King’s novel,The Shawshank Redemptiontells the story oftwo prisoners who develop an emotional bondduring their time on the inside. Frank Darabont’s drama focuses on the personal story of its two main characters, but it also touches on the broader societal issues associated with criminal justice and incarceration.
The Shawshank Redemptionmakes a few changes to King’s novel, but they are all done to center the action on the two protagonists, and to heighten the emotional drama of their bond. The movie is extremely effective, first in getting audiences to know the characters, then to love them, and finally to root for them.Morgan Freeman and Tim Robbins are both on top form, lending plenty of relatable personal touches to their roles which make the drama even more excruciating.
25 Best Movies Of The Past 25 Years (Including 2023)
We look back on the past 25 years and select the best movies that have released (including in 2023) to celebrate Screen Rant’s 20th anniversary.
