Top 50 Movies of All-Time
40. War of the Worlds (1953)
Directed by: Byron Haskin
Starring: Gene Barry, Ann Robinson, Les Tremayne
IMDb Page
My personal favorite "true" sci-fi film of all time. You'll find some other "sci-fi-ey" films later on, but nothing that gets as into it as WotW. UFO invasions? Check. Ray guns? Check. Scary alien-technology? Check. Not-so scary aliens? Check.
The H.G. Wells adapted masterpiece was somewhat spoiled later by Tom Cruise and whiny Dakota Fanning. Just to prove how much I love the original though, I actually own, and have watched the remake a few times. Yeah, it's THAT serious.
Starring: Gene Barry, Ann Robinson, Les Tremayne
IMDb Page
My personal favorite "true" sci-fi film of all time. You'll find some other "sci-fi-ey" films later on, but nothing that gets as into it as WotW. UFO invasions? Check. Ray guns? Check. Scary alien-technology? Check. Not-so scary aliens? Check.
The H.G. Wells adapted masterpiece was somewhat spoiled later by Tom Cruise and whiny Dakota Fanning. Just to prove how much I love the original though, I actually own, and have watched the remake a few times. Yeah, it's THAT serious.
39. Christmas Vacation (1989)
Directed by: Jeremiah Chechik
Starring: Chevy Chase, Beverly D'Angelo, Randy Quaid, Juliette Lewis
IMDb Page
Three words: "Shitter was full". That's all I needed to put this in my top 50. It was hard for me to put this above the original Vacation, but as a child, I was introduced to the Griswald family by Christmas Vacation before seeing the one that started it all. And we all remember our first times more vividly.
Christmas Vacation also had some of the best family chemistry of any Vacation movie. Juliette Lewis is by far my favorite Audrey and cute little Johnny Galecki plays the father-adoring Russ beautifully (although he's no Anthony Michael Hall). Easily the best Christmas movie around.
Starring: Chevy Chase, Beverly D'Angelo, Randy Quaid, Juliette Lewis
IMDb Page
Three words: "Shitter was full". That's all I needed to put this in my top 50. It was hard for me to put this above the original Vacation, but as a child, I was introduced to the Griswald family by Christmas Vacation before seeing the one that started it all. And we all remember our first times more vividly.
Christmas Vacation also had some of the best family chemistry of any Vacation movie. Juliette Lewis is by far my favorite Audrey and cute little Johnny Galecki plays the father-adoring Russ beautifully (although he's no Anthony Michael Hall). Easily the best Christmas movie around.
38. The Goonies (1985)
Directed by: Richard Donner
Starring: Sean Astin, Corey Feldman, Josh Brolin, Joe Pantoliano
IMDb Page
If Christmas Vacation shaped my childhood holidays, it's safe to say that the Goonies simply shaped my childhood....period. If you saw this movie by the time you turned 8, then you undoubtedly searched your attic for a treasure map, wondered if there was a hidden world beneath your local wishing well, and most likely tried to have the local asian boy make you gadgets.
With Spielberg and Home Alone scribe Chris Columbus writing, and Superman director Richard Donner behind the camera, it was always destined for greatness. Although I am uber-pissed that I'm just now finding out about Goonies action figures! Where the hell were these when I was a kid?!
And to feel really old, check out their reunion for Empire Magazine.
Starring: Sean Astin, Corey Feldman, Josh Brolin, Joe Pantoliano
IMDb Page
If Christmas Vacation shaped my childhood holidays, it's safe to say that the Goonies simply shaped my childhood....period. If you saw this movie by the time you turned 8, then you undoubtedly searched your attic for a treasure map, wondered if there was a hidden world beneath your local wishing well, and most likely tried to have the local asian boy make you gadgets.
With Spielberg and Home Alone scribe Chris Columbus writing, and Superman director Richard Donner behind the camera, it was always destined for greatness. Although I am uber-pissed that I'm just now finding out about Goonies action figures! Where the hell were these when I was a kid?!
And to feel really old, check out their reunion for Empire Magazine.
37. No Country for Old Men (2007)
Directed by: Joel and Ethan Coen
Starring: Josh Brolin, Javier Bardem, Tommy Lee Jones, Woody Harrelson
IMDb Page
I really didn't want this movie to be better than "There Will Be Blood", especially during awards season. I didn't see NCfOM in theaters, but once I popped it in the ol' DVD player and sat down to watch, I was mesmerized. Watching the character of Anton Chigurh calmly and meticulously tear through this small town in search of Josh Brolin's Llewelyn Moss with such precision and professionalism made hitmen seem awesome yet again.
Not only did Chigurh use a cattle prod and silenced shotgun as weapons, he managed to make coin flipping terrifying. Call it.
Starring: Josh Brolin, Javier Bardem, Tommy Lee Jones, Woody Harrelson
IMDb Page
I really didn't want this movie to be better than "There Will Be Blood", especially during awards season. I didn't see NCfOM in theaters, but once I popped it in the ol' DVD player and sat down to watch, I was mesmerized. Watching the character of Anton Chigurh calmly and meticulously tear through this small town in search of Josh Brolin's Llewelyn Moss with such precision and professionalism made hitmen seem awesome yet again.
Not only did Chigurh use a cattle prod and silenced shotgun as weapons, he managed to make coin flipping terrifying. Call it.
36. The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
Directed by: Frank Darabont
Starring: Tim Robbins, Morgan Freeman, Bob Gunton, William Sadler
IMDb Page
Wow, shocker right? The #1 movie on IMDb's Top 250 made the list. Frank Darabont manages to set the tone of this film so well that everytime you watch it, you remember how excited and captivated you were the first time you watched Andy Dufresne inside of Shawshank Prison.
Thomas Newman's score rises from start to climax so well that it makes you a part of the film's universe. Go on, think about Andy stumbling through the ditch ripping his shirt off, and tell me you can't hear that iconic music. Beautifully written, acted, and directed, once you watch this movie, you never forget it.
Starring: Tim Robbins, Morgan Freeman, Bob Gunton, William Sadler
IMDb Page
Wow, shocker right? The #1 movie on IMDb's Top 250 made the list. Frank Darabont manages to set the tone of this film so well that everytime you watch it, you remember how excited and captivated you were the first time you watched Andy Dufresne inside of Shawshank Prison.
Thomas Newman's score rises from start to climax so well that it makes you a part of the film's universe. Go on, think about Andy stumbling through the ditch ripping his shirt off, and tell me you can't hear that iconic music. Beautifully written, acted, and directed, once you watch this movie, you never forget it.
35. The Rock (1996)
Directed by: Michael Bay
Starring: Nicolas Cage, Sean Connery, Ed Harris, David Morse
IMDb Page
God it pains me to have "Directed by: Michael Ba-urlaaauahhhhhh"....sorry, just vomited. This movie just happened to come out at the exactly perfect time in my life that the over-the-top Nic Cage dialogue, combined with the idea of a chemical freak (excuse me, chemical super freak) being able to infiltrate Alcatraz with an old SOS officer just seemed plain awesome. Combine that with Ed Harris giving one of the best performances of his career (the behind the scenes footage of his character acting on the Criterion Collection are amazing) and you end up with a Michael Bay movie on my top 50 list.
Starring: Nicolas Cage, Sean Connery, Ed Harris, David Morse
IMDb Page
God it pains me to have "Directed by: Michael Ba-urlaaauahhhhhh"....sorry, just vomited. This movie just happened to come out at the exactly perfect time in my life that the over-the-top Nic Cage dialogue, combined with the idea of a chemical freak (excuse me, chemical super freak) being able to infiltrate Alcatraz with an old SOS officer just seemed plain awesome. Combine that with Ed Harris giving one of the best performances of his career (the behind the scenes footage of his character acting on the Criterion Collection are amazing) and you end up with a Michael Bay movie on my top 50 list.
34. Die Hard (1988)
Directed by: John McTiernan
Starring: Bruce Willis, Alan Rickman, Bonnie Bedelia, William Atherton
IMDb Page
If nothing else, Die Hard introduced this white, mid-western boy to "Christmas in Hollis" by way of a limo driver named after a sweater. But on a more serious note, Die Hard single-handedly changed the way we looked at action movies. Without John McClane, our action stars would still be steroid filled, shirtless men romping through jungles with large machine guns. McClane's personality and tenacity showed that an "every-man" could in fact carry an action franchise.
And don't forget, that "Hans Gruber" was Alan Rickman's first role in a major motion picture. He had just done some TV work before that. Not bad for a debut, eh?
Starring: Bruce Willis, Alan Rickman, Bonnie Bedelia, William Atherton
IMDb Page
If nothing else, Die Hard introduced this white, mid-western boy to "Christmas in Hollis" by way of a limo driver named after a sweater. But on a more serious note, Die Hard single-handedly changed the way we looked at action movies. Without John McClane, our action stars would still be steroid filled, shirtless men romping through jungles with large machine guns. McClane's personality and tenacity showed that an "every-man" could in fact carry an action franchise.
And don't forget, that "Hans Gruber" was Alan Rickman's first role in a major motion picture. He had just done some TV work before that. Not bad for a debut, eh?
33. The Bourne Identity (2002)
Directed by: Doug Liman
Starring: Matt Damon, Franke Potente, Chris Cooper, Brian Cox
IMDb Page
Hey, speaking of action franchises that change things! How about one that changes the way that James-Freaking-Bond movies are made!? Seriously, without Bourne, would that scene have ever been put into a Bond movie? I think not. While Ultimatum may receive more critical and overall praise, I have to go back to the original Doug Liman film as my favorite of the series. There was still an innocence about Jason Bourne. We found he could kick ass, but why could he kick ass?! With Ultimatum, the character had already been developed and we were just filling in the pieces in the final pieces of the story. With Identity, we were still learning who Jason Bourne really was and were along for the ride through the unknown.
The real moral of the entire franchise, however, should be that if you get a chance to kill Adebisi, you fucking take that shot.
Starring: Matt Damon, Franke Potente, Chris Cooper, Brian Cox
IMDb Page
Hey, speaking of action franchises that change things! How about one that changes the way that James-Freaking-Bond movies are made!? Seriously, without Bourne, would that scene have ever been put into a Bond movie? I think not. While Ultimatum may receive more critical and overall praise, I have to go back to the original Doug Liman film as my favorite of the series. There was still an innocence about Jason Bourne. We found he could kick ass, but why could he kick ass?! With Ultimatum, the character had already been developed and we were just filling in the pieces in the final pieces of the story. With Identity, we were still learning who Jason Bourne really was and were along for the ride through the unknown.
The real moral of the entire franchise, however, should be that if you get a chance to kill Adebisi, you fucking take that shot.
32. Memento (2000)
Directed by: Christopher Nolan
Starring: Guy Pearce, Carrie Anne Moss, Joe Pantoliano
IMDb Page
.that just did film unique incredibly this and, amazing into mundane the turn to ability the has Nolan Chris
(HA!)
Memento is one of those movies I had no idea what it was about, who was in it, or that it even existed until a friend said he heard it was amazing. On a whim, I bought the DVD and was blown away. Guy Pearce's smooth voice-over along with his calm acting was impeccable, Joe Pantoliano shows that he can actually act, and Carrie Anne Moss sheds her "Trinity" label (well, tries to shed it). You feel the angst of Leonard, an amnesiac struggling to find out who killed his wife. Despite the backwards story-telling, it remains a movie that can keep you riveted viewing after viewing.
Starring: Guy Pearce, Carrie Anne Moss, Joe Pantoliano
IMDb Page
.that just did film unique incredibly this and, amazing into mundane the turn to ability the has Nolan Chris
(HA!)
Memento is one of those movies I had no idea what it was about, who was in it, or that it even existed until a friend said he heard it was amazing. On a whim, I bought the DVD and was blown away. Guy Pearce's smooth voice-over along with his calm acting was impeccable, Joe Pantoliano shows that he can actually act, and Carrie Anne Moss sheds her "Trinity" label (well, tries to shed it). You feel the angst of Leonard, an amnesiac struggling to find out who killed his wife. Despite the backwards story-telling, it remains a movie that can keep you riveted viewing after viewing.
31. 12 Angry Men (1957)
Directed by: Sidney Lumet
Starring: Henry Fonda, Lee J Cobb, Ed Begley, Jack Warden
IMDb Page
Moral of the story? Even if you're 100% sure a guy is a murderer, there's still a chance some dick will wear you down long enough to make you give in and acquit him. God Bless 'Merica!!!
12 Angry Men has been parodied plenty, but it still reigns as one of the greatest movies about the purity of man. We don't know if we're born good or evil, but we do have the ability to reason before making snap judgements. Despite the fact that it's been shown in every social studies class as a way for the teacher to get over a hangover, it is still a great movie. The fact that all but 3 minutes were shot in that tiny jury room, just proves how great Sidney Lumet truly is.
Starring: Henry Fonda, Lee J Cobb, Ed Begley, Jack Warden
IMDb Page
Moral of the story? Even if you're 100% sure a guy is a murderer, there's still a chance some dick will wear you down long enough to make you give in and acquit him. God Bless 'Merica!!!
12 Angry Men has been parodied plenty, but it still reigns as one of the greatest movies about the purity of man. We don't know if we're born good or evil, but we do have the ability to reason before making snap judgements. Despite the fact that it's been shown in every social studies class as a way for the teacher to get over a hangover, it is still a great movie. The fact that all but 3 minutes were shot in that tiny jury room, just proves how great Sidney Lumet truly is.