Summary

• Screen Rant compiles the definitive list of the best movies of all time, based on critical scores and audience opinions.
• The list includes a diverse range of films, from classic dramas to animated favorites.
• These movies are highly acclaimed for their storytelling, performances, and significant contributions to cinema history.

Here are the Best Movies of all time, as evaluated by Screen Rant. Covering Guillermo del Toro’s Pan’s Labyrinth to Alfred Hitchcock’s classic thriller Rear Window, with cartoon rats, gangsters and superheroes in between, it’s the perfect list for emerging cinephiles or checking off essential watches.

Deciding the best movies ever takes a balance of objective and subjective preference, which can differ for industry professionals and general viewers. Something as important as the greatest movies of all time requires some advanced thinking, beyond the opinion of a single writer. With that in mind, Screen Rant's ranking collates critical scores and the opinions of movie lovers to compile the definitive list of the most highly rated movies of all time.

55 The Grapes of Wrath (1940)

Classic Adaptation of A Depression-Era Story Of Heroism

An incredibly important moment in the history of the United States of America, The Grapes of Wrath began life in 1939 as John Steinbeck's Pulitzer prize-winning novel. A year later, legend of cinema John Ford took the reins of an adaptation that stars Henry Fonda as Tom Joad, a recently released prisoner who leads his family across the States to California after the Great Depression robs them of their farm and livelihood.

One of the greatest realist movies ever made, Ford's take on the novel is a haunting look at a dark time in the country's early history, buoyed by excellent performances - particularly from Fonda - and one of the earliest examples of Hollywood giving its platform to the voice of the working class.

54 Ratatouille (2007)

Pixar's Beautiful Story Of Talent In Unexpected Places

After convincing the world's children that their toys were alive, and painting imaginative worlds for insects, cars, the monsters under their beds, fish, and superheroes, Pixar took their boldest step by telling the story of a gourmet rat. As perverse as the idea might have appeared, Ratatouille — directed by Brad Bird and Jan Pinkava — is a gentle meditation on following dreams and the wholesome pursuit of art.

Patton Oswalt is the rat, Remy, who commandeers the career of aspiring chef Alfredo Linguini (Lou Romano) to explore his passion. It's a joyous, heart-filled, and personal comedy-drama that deserves to rank alongside Pixar's best, with an infamous reflection on the nature of criticism as a great stinger.

DID YOU KNOW: Ironically, marketing proved an issue for Pixar, as no food company wanted to be associated with a rat.

53 12 Years A Slave (2013)

Best Picture Winning Story Of Stolen Freedom

The 2013 biographical drama is based on the 1853 memoir by Solomon Northup, a free Black man kidnapped and sold into slavery in 1941. Northup is forced to work on Louisiana plantations with varying cruelties for 12 years before being released. The Steve McQueen-directed drama 12 Years a Slave isn't easy to watch, but it’s an important and crucial piece of filmmaking that tells the honest, painful stories that need to be told.

It’s an upsetting portrait of the lows of humanity and a deeply emotional exploration of what it means to live, which is enhanced by the brilliant performances of Chiwetel Ejiofor and Lupita Nyong’o in her Oscar-winning feature film debut. 12 Years a Slave is also a triumph in cinema for its cinematography, moving score, and McQueen’s direction.

12 Years a Slave is available to rent on Apple TV.

52 The Treasure Of The Sierra Madre (1948)

Humphrey Bogart's Dark Performance Leads This Tale Of Greed

John Huston’s Western tells the story of two men who unite with an old prospector to search for gold in Mexico, only to face trouble from themselves and bandits after striking rich. The Treasure of the Sierra Madre is a thrilling portrait of greed and corruption, with the character of Fred Dobbs being one of the best performances of the legendary Humphrey Bogart’s career.

It’s an exciting Western and adventure film that uses dark humor to tell its moral lesson, with superb direction by master filmmaker John Huston and a screenplay that uses the magical presence and wit of a haggard Bogart to its greatest extent.

51 Jaws (1975)

An Epic Battle Between One Man And The Shark Terrorizing His Community

Jaws is the ultimate expression of the power of suggestion in cinema. Partly out of necessity, thanks to a notoriously bumpy production, Spielberg's big fish movie conspicuously chooses to show Bruce the shark, as he was affectionately known, very little. In place of showing him, his presence was anxiously felt thanks to perfect camera trickery that put the audience in the perverse position of underwater attacker, and a couple of notes on a tuba. And that was more than enough.

The film isn't really about a shark, as much as it's about paranoia and how humans react to startling tragedy. Roy Scheider is the everyman and the stand-in for the audience, equally as appalled by his community's wilful ignorance to the shark as he is terrified by its threat. He takes it upon himself to deal with the situation, with a sceptical scientist type (Richard Dreyfus), and a walking-talking caricature in Robert Shaw's Quint. And it's their fight for survival that becomes the most compelling part of Jaws, to the point that the final triumph is a true air-punching moment. - Simon Gallagher, Executive Editor

DID YOU KNOW: The shark is only on-screen for 4 minutes in Jaws.

50 City Lights (1931)

A Silent And Romantic Charlie Chaplin Adventure

The wide-eyed Tramp recruits the help of an alcoholic millionaire to raise money to restore the eyesight of a blind flower seller with whom he has fallen in love. City Lights is the greatest use of filmmaker Charlie Chaplin’s iconic character The Tramp, with the actor-director continuing to delight critics and audiences with a silent picture four years after “talkies” began.

The film features some of the Tramp’s funniest sequences and a touching pathos as he attempts to romance a blind flower seller and earn money to restore her sight. City Lights is the genius intersection of Chaplin’s inimitable humor and sentiment, which proved that he didn’t need sound to craft a wonderful story in the new Hollywood.

49 Three Colors: Red (1994)

The Highlight Of The Art-House Trilogy

Three Colors: Red follows a model who meets a retired judge with an interest in listening to others’ private moments, after which time the two form an unexpected bond. The brilliant 1994 film is a quintessential example of art-house cinema that provides a warm and contemplative narrative of fate and human connection.

The final installment in Krzysztof Kieślowski’s Three Colors trilogy about French ideals, Red is celebrated for its beautiful depiction of camaraderie, bonds, and the interconnected lives of people who seemingly share little in common or represent opposing personalities and outlooks on the world.

DID YOU KNOW: This was also the final movie of Krzysztof Kieslowski's career - he announced his retirement immediately after.

48 Touch Of Evil (1958)

A B-Movie Crime Plot Told By A Master Filmmaker

Orson Welles’ film noir centers on a murder mystery at the US/Mexico border. As a Mexican drug enforcement agent suspects an American police captain of planting evidence, the investigation places himself and his wife in danger. The twists and turns of Touch of Evil are a masterpiece in film noir and depict the grayness of good and evil.

Welles’ style, the performances of himself, Charlton Heston, and Janet Leigh, as well as the poignant music combine to form a vividly entertaining unorthodox pulp. As one of the best movies of all time, Touch of Evil is an essential viewing for film noir in the classic era and Welles’ filmography.

47 Pinocchio (1940)

Disney Magic Brings The Fairy Tale To Life

Adapted from an 1883 Italian children’s story, Disney’s Pinocchio is about a wooden puppet who must prove himself worthy to become a real boy. Following Snow White (1937), Pinocchio is the second animated feature made by Disney, which was an ambitious venture with an emotional core that has stood the test of time.

Still culturally relevant today, the film was a brilliant technical achievement for Disney that set the tone for the enchanting nature, beautiful visuals, and storytelling power that became the golden standard for animation. Pinocchio was also the first animated feature to win a competitive award at the Oscars, including Best Original Song and Best Original Score.

46 Hoop Dreams (1994)

A Documentary About Aspiring Basketball Stars

The groundbreaking sports documentary depicts the stories of two aspiring inner-city Chicago basketball players, following them through high school as they work toward college scholarships and their dreams of playing professionally in the NBA. Proving the emotional power of documentary filmmaking, Hoop Dreams remains one of the most inspiring films of all time as a sobering portrait of social inequality with high school basketball as the backdrop.

Hoop Dreams looks at the impacts that race, class, uncontrollable hurdles, and education inequality have on the players' experiences and goals. The teens’ heartbreaking adversity and well-earned victories yield rewarding results that will appeal to even the most cynical of viewers.

DID YOU KNOW: Over 5 years, the filmmakers shot 250 hours of footage, which was edited down to the final 3 hours run time.

45 The Rules Of The Game (1939)

An Examination Of Class In Wartime

The 20th-century French movie directed by Jean Renoir surrounds members of upper-class French society and their servants as they gather in a château in the time leading up to World War II. The Rules of the Game was generally dismissed by critics and audiences upon release but has gained a more positive and influential legacy over time.

The social satire has since been lauded for its biting satire of the upper class and criticism of social pretenses, with the film also being important for its early use of deep-focus cinematography and complex sound. Its influence can also be seen in films like The Big Chill and Gosford Park.

44 Playtime (1967)

A Sci-Fi Comedy Masterpiece

Set in a hyper-consumerist, futuristic Paris, the comedy surrounds a Frenchman lost in the high-tech city who continues to encounter a young American woman visiting Paris with a tourist group. Playtime has been celebrated as Jacque Tati’s masterpiece, with pioneering sight gags that provide brilliant satire and praise of modernization.

It’s a playful comedy with ambitious, complex craftsmanship marked by its visuals and ability to turn daily minutiae into grand spectacles. A true example in the art of filmmaking, Playtime is playing with paradoxes of simplicity and complexity throughout to make a wonderfully enjoyable satire.

WHERE TO WATCH PLAYTIME

43 Notorious (1946)

Hitchcock's Gripping Spy Thriller

The daughter of a convicted Nazi is requested by American agents to take on the dangerous task of gathering information from Nazi scientists in South America. Featuring compelling performances by Ingrid Berman, Claude Rains, and frequent Hitchcock collaborator Cary Grant, Notorious ushered the director into a crucial new era of sophisticated filmmaking by utilizing his talents with espionage thrillers to craft a fatal love triangle full of twists and deception.

In addition to the timely political themes in a post-WWII society, Notorious succeeds in its emotionally romantic story and visual elegance on behalf of Hitchcock’s style and the lead characters.

Notorious is available to stream on Tubi.

42 Singin’ In The Rain (1952)

One Of The Greatest Musicals Of All Time

The musical romantic comedy depicts Hollywood in the late 1920s, following three performers who traverse the transition from silent pictures to “talkies.” With dazzling performances by Gene Kelly, Debbie Reynolds, and Donald O’Connor, Singin’ in the Rain is a charming and humorous musical that ironically uses the glamour and style of movie-making to lightheartedly pull back the curtain on Hollywood's deceptions.

The movie features entertaining banter between the characters, iconic song and dance sequences like the famous title number, and a good-spirited story that rewards those who love the movies and the process behind them. It's also a callback to a Hollywood that simply doesn't exist any more, and the nostalgia factor works very hard here.

DID YOU KNOW: Despite a popular industry myth, milk was not added to the rain to make it stand out on camera better.

41 The Lady Vanishes (1938)

A Disappearance Aboard A Train Leads To Intrigue And Humor In The Early Hitchcock Thriller

Alfred Hitchcock’s The Lady Vanishes follows Iris, a young English tourist traveling through Europe by train, who awakens to discover that her elderly companion has inexplicably disappeared. After other passengers deny the lady’s existence, Iris works with another traveler to solve the mystery. The Lady Vanishes is early British Hitchcock at his finest, renowned as an unconventional and sophisticated comedy-thriller that stands as one of the director’s wittiest films.

It arrived amid the popularity of train movies in the 1930s, though Hitchcock’s entertaining direction, the chemistry between the leads, and the clever construction of the mystery make it an unmissable example of its genre and certainly one of the best Alfred Hitchcock movies.

WHERE TO WATCH THE LADY VANISHES

40 Moonlight (2016)

A Coming-of-age Story About Self-Acceptance Won Best Picture

Moonlight follows the journey into manhood of a young Black man who explores his identity and sexuality with the kindness and support of his community raising him. While Moonlight may always be associated with the Oscars flub that mistakenly announced La La Land as the Best Picture winner instead, the film is truly a gripping emotional journey of a boy’s life that is depicted with caring empathy and humanity.

Told in three parts of Chiron’s life, Moonlight is a quiet, visually engrossing experience that’s both tender and tough in how it addresses its heartfelt themes. It’s the type of story that’s rarely depicted on-screen in Hollywood, with Moonlight demanding that more be told.

DID YOU KNOW: The three actors who play Chiron never met during production, because director Barry Jenkins wanted their performances to be distinct.

39 Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)

The Russo Brothers Shake Up The Superhero Genre For Cap's Espionage Drama

With Captain America: The Winter Soldier, directors Anthony and Joe Russo not only elevated the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but superhero movies as a whole. The second in Chris Evans' Captain America trilogy is an exciting and emotionally compelling story that challenges the idea of what a superhero movie can be. The movie has some of the best action scenes in not only the Captain America trilogy, but the MCU as a whole, from Steve Rogers' elevator fight scene against SHIELD's Strike Team to his hand-to-hand combat scene with Sebastian Stan's Winter soldier.

Captain America: The Winter Soldier excels because it combines blisteringly realistic and brutal fight scenes with an espionage storyline ripped right out of the best spy thriller. But what makes it so compelling is that at the heart of the story is Steve Rogers' vulnerabilities. He's faced with a villain who used to be his best friend and confronted by the knowledge that the institution he trusted was infiltrated by his worst enemies. Thanks to this throughline, Captain America: The Winter Soldier is not just a fun action movie, it's an emotionally rich story of betrayal and moving forward. - Molly Freeman, Superheroes Lead Editor

DID YOU KNOW: The Winter Soldier is Chris Evans' favorite Marvel movie role.

38 Apocalypse Now (1979)

Francis Ford Coppola's Surreal Ventures Into The Madness Of The Vietnam War

The war epic Apocalypse Now follows a group of American soldiers traveling dangerous rivers in Vietnam as they embark on a secret mission to assassinate a renegade officer. It’s not an exaggeration to deem this one of the greatest war films ever created, with Francis Ford Coppola’s hallucinatory visuals, a modern soundtrack, and the haunting ways that war brings out of the horrors of humanity make it a unique, engrossing staple of the genre.

In addition to the sobering performances of Martin Sheen and Marlon Brando, Apocalypse Now is a cinematic achievement in thematic paradoxes and visuals reflecting the darkness of humanity and war. It is still the standard against which more cerebral war movies are judged almost 50 years later.

37 Double Indemnity (1944)

A Noir Love Story Of Double-Crosses

The 1944 film Double Indemnity follows an insurance salesman (Fred MacMurray) involved in the murder scheme of a seductive housewife (Barbara Stanwyck), who plans to kill her husband and cash in on his fraudulent death claim. Double Indemnity is a classic in the film noir genre of the 1940s, maintaining an eerie black-and-white format, a captivating femme fatale, and a compelling narrative choice in which the investigation is simultaneously a doomed confession.

Billy Wilder’s revolutionary direction in Double Indemnity was also a precursor to his classic noir Sunset Boulevard (1950), with both receiving nominations for Best Picture at the Oscars.

36 Toy Story (1995)

Pixar's Feature Debut About The Secret World Of Toys

Pixar’s first adventure of wind-up cowboy doll Woody and space cadet action figure Buzz Lightyear, toys that come to life when humans aren’t around. The dynamic between Woody and Buzz, existential crises, and a hilarious look into the lives of toys and their association with childhood make Toy Story a timeless tale, not to mention a revolutionary feat in animation and the beginning of Pixar’s domination.

Toy Story also appeals to adults as much as kids through the exploration of a toy’s psyche, prankish humor between the characters, and compelling voice acting by Tom Hanks and Tim Allen. The film set the stage for three sequels that would continue its critically acclaimed writing, vivid storytelling, and sharp wit, with Toy Story 5 in the works to continue the franchise.