Top 40 Best Movies of All Time

Coming up with a list of the top 40 best movies of all time is sure to stir up a hornet’s nest, but the great thing about these sorts of lists is that they create heated debate among those who are passionate about movies. With this list I have tried to be as objective as possible while attempting to represent all genres and eras. Read on to discover which flicks made my list of the greatest films of all time.

40 – Gandhi - Ben Kingsley gives the performance of a lifetime as Mahatma Gandhi, an Indian rebel leader whose non-violent protests against the British in order to try and secure India’s independence. The film won 8 Oscars in 1983, including Best Picture that year.

39 – The Graduate - The 1967 film that really launched Dustin Hoffman’s career as a film actor is one of the best romantic comedies of all time. Hoffman finds himself in a bizarre love triangle and Anne Bancroft is fantastic in the role of film icon Mrs. Robinson.

38 – Dog Day Afternoon - This list seems to be a personal competition between Jack Nicholson, Robert De Niro and Al Pacino. It is Pacino’s turn this time around, earning an Oscar nomination for his portrayal of a gay man who tries to get money for his lover’s sex change operation by robbing a bank. Amazingly the film is actually based on a true story.

37 – The Wild Bunch - Another classic western this 1969 film follows the adventures of a group of outlaws who wind up in a bloody battle for their lives after making a deal with a bloodthirsty Mexican general to rob a U.S. train.

36 – The Exorcist - Arguably the best horror movie of all time, The Exorcist is one of those films that is so powerful it has the ability to physically sicken viewers. People left movie theaters in droves back in 1973, unable to watch the disturbing subject matter playing out on screen.

35 – Monty Python and the Holy Grail - The legendary British comedy troupe delivers non-stop laughs in their take on the Arthurian legend. Graham Chapman stars as Arthur and he and his knights must deal with rude Frenchmen, an unkillable Black knight and a ferocious rabbit in their quest to procure the legendary chalice.

34 – A Clockwork Orange - Not only one of the best movies of all time, but also one of the strangest as well. Stanley Kubrick directed and also wrote the screenplay for this film adapted from the Anthony Burgess novel of the same name. Brilliantly dark, violent and twisted the film is arguably Kubrick’s best work.

33 – Forrest Gump - Tom Hanks shows his incredible versatility as both a dramatic and comedic actor in this 1994 Best Picture about one man’s incredible journey through life and all that he experiences and accomplishes despite the fact his IQ is only slightly higher than the box of chocolates he enjoys talking about so much.

32 – It’s a Wonderful Life - If this was a list of the best Christmas movies of all time this tremendous 1946 film would certainly be at #1. James Stewart delivered many memorable performances during his long, distinguished career but perhaps none as good as his turn as George Bailey in this fantastical holiday film.

31 – Goodfellas - Though this one might not be a huge hit with the ladies, I don’t know a single guy who doesn’t absolutely love this film. Martin Scorsese and Robert De Niro team up yet again, and Ray Liotta and Joe Pesci give some of the best performances of their career in what is arguably the best gangster film outside of the Godfather movies.

30 – Rear Window - Three legends team up in this thriller. Alfred Hitchcock directs both James Stewart and Grace Kelly in this 1954 classic about a wheelchair-bound man who thinks he has witnessed a murder while spying on his neighbors.

29 – The Silence of the Lambs - Anthony Hopkins brings to life one of the most frightening characters in the history of film with his chilling portrayal as the murderous cannibal Dr. Hannibal Lecter. Jodie Foster plays the FBI agent Clarice Starling who must match wits with the diabolical killer in order to track down another serial murderer before he can claim his next victim.

28 – Terminator 2: Judgment Day - Though some might prefer the original, there is little question in my mind that James Cameron’s 1991 sequel was superior in every way. A special effects tour de force with much better acting than the original Terminator 2 will keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish and can easily hold up to today’s standards for action movies nearly 20 years after its release.

27 – Midnight Cowboy - Jon Voight and Dustin Hoffman star in this 1969 classic about a Texan who finds life on the mean streets of New York City to be far more difficult and dangerous than he’d imagine. Won the Oscars for Best Picture and Best Director.

26 – To Kill a Mockingbird - Writer Horton Foote and director Robert Mulligan bring Harper Lee’s groundbreaking novel to the big screen. Gregory Peck stars in the lead role as Atticus Finch, earning an Oscar for his fine work portraying a lawyer who defends a black man falsely accused of rape.

25 – The Grapes of Wrath - Another movie based on a classic American novel. John Steinbeck’s book about a family of farmers who endure terrible hardships just to survive during the Great Depression is brought to the big screen by director John Ford and screen icon Henry Fonda stars in the lead role as Tom Joad.

24 – North by Northwest - Alfred Hitchcock is back again, this time directing Cary Grant who gets mixed up in a dangerous misadventure due to a case of mistaken identity.

23 – The Dark Knight - For some reason many people seem opposed to putting “new” movies on a best movies of all time list, perhaps believing the need to age in order to settle into their place in history. However, in my opinion, 2008’s The Dark Knight is so good it should have that unofficial wait waived. Dark, gritty and as believable as a superhero movie can get the film features top notch acting by multiple Oscar winners, interesting characters, tremendous action, and fantastic special effects. New or not, it is one of the best movies ever, plain and simple.

22 – The Maltese Falcon - This 1941 classic has had nearly 70 years to settle into its place in history. Based on the detective novel by Dashiell Hammett, The Maltese Falcon brings to life the iconic character Sam Spade, played to perfection by the incomparable Humphrey Bogart.

21 – Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb - Though he is best known for his iconic character Inspector Jacques Clousseau from the Pink Panther movies, Peter Sellers best work arguably comes in this 1964 Stanley Kubrick comedy. Sellers works triple time portraying a British captain, the President of the United States, and a brilliant former Nazi scientist now consulting for the Americans, all trying to stop a rogue General from starting a nuclear war.

20 – Chinatown - Nominated for 11 Oscars, this Roman Polanski directed murder mystery marks our entry into the top 20 movies of all time. Jack Nicholson makes yet another appearance, starring in the lead role as private investigator J.J. Gittes.

19 – Aliens - Though many prefer the original, I think the sequel exceeded it in all ways. Sigourney Weaver returns to do battle with hordes of the stomach bursting aliens. More violence, more suspense, more terror make for a better movie in my opinion.

18 – Lawrence of Arabia - This epic desert film based on the life of T.E. Lawrence and starring Peter O’Toole won an impressive 7 Oscars, including for Best Picture back in 1963.

17 – Some Like It Hot – One of the best comedy movies of all time, Some Like It Hot stars blond bombshell and celebrity icon Marilyn Monroe. Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon provide the laughs, dressing in drag to join an all girls band to evade the mob.

16 – Raging Bull - Forget Rocky, this is the greatest boxing movie of all time. Martin Scorsese is robbed again as best director and Robert De Niro turns in another incredible performance as boxer Jake La Motta.

15 – A Streetcar Named Desire - Screen legends Marlon Brandon and Vivien Leigh co-star in this 1951 classic set it New Orleans. The film features richly detailed, conflicted characters with real depth sorely lacking in the cardboard cutout characters Hollywood normally delivers. Based on the play by Tennessee Williams.

14 – The Wizard of Oz - We are getting into some true classics on the list of the best movies of all time. Judy Garland stars as Dorothy in this tale of a girl and her dog who get caught in a tornado and are transported to the magical land of Oz. One of the best loved classics ever made The Wizard of Oz was nominated for Best Picture that year, and only lost due to the incredible competition it faced that year, including the epic eventual winner Gone with the Wind.

13 – Psycho - Despite his numerous classic films few would argue that Alfred Hitchcock’s masterpiece is the 1960 horror film Psycho. This chilling tale would rank high on a list of the best horror movies ever made, and the decision to cast Anthony Perkins in the role of disturbed motel owner Norman Bates might be the best casting decision in Hollywood history.

12 – Raiders of the Lost Ark - Written by George Lucas, directed by Steven Spielberg and starring Harrison Ford this film had an absolute ton of star power associated with it. Ford is perfect as Indiana Jones, an adventurous archaeologist who is determined to find the legendary Ark of the Covenant before the Nazis can get their hands on it.

11 – The Shawshank Redemption - Morgan Freeman and Tim Robbins both give the performances of their distinguished careers in this unique prison movie about the friendship and the spiritual growth of two men. Based on a short story by Stephen King.

10 – On the Waterfront - It seems appropriate that Marlon Brandon stars in the film that marks the entry to the top 10 movies of all time. Brando stars as Terry Malloy, an ex-boxer working the docks who draws upon his experience in the ring to stand up to the corruption in his union. One of the most decorated films of all time, the movie captured 8 Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actor for Brando.

9 – Star Wars - This space opera set the film industry on its ear back in 1977. Written and directed by George Lucas the film is arguably the best loved film in movie history, developing a cult following of rabid fans unparalleled by any other movie franchise.

8 – Godfather: Part II - Al Pacino takes the reins as Don Corleone in this Francis Ford Copella masterpiece, based on the novel by Mario Puzo. The movie, which some claim was superior to the original Godfather film was awarded the Oscar for Best Picture in 1975 and earned a young Robert De Niro his first Academy Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role.

7 – Casablanca - Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman star in this complex tale of love and war set in Africa during World War II. Won the Oscar for Best Picture and Best Director.

6 – Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring - The opening third of J.R.R. Tolkien’s beloved classic novel Lord of the Rings comes to vivid life on the big screen, thanks to the incredible vision and work ethic of director Peter Jackson. Though Return of the King took home the Best Picture award in my opinion it was the groundbreaking first installment that was the best of the movie trilogy.

5 – Schindler’s List - Arguably the greatest work of Steven Spielberg’s illustrious career Schindler’s List tells the true story of Oskar Schindler, a man who went greedy business tycoon to a penniless hero who saved more than a thousand Jews from death at the Auschwitz concentration camp. Won Oscars for Best Picture and Best Director and Liam Neeson earned an Oscar nomination for his masterful portrayal of Schindler.

4 – Citizen Kane - Considered by many to be the greatest movie ever made, this incredible film written by, directed by and starring the legendary Orson Welles was a technical leap in filmmaking for its day, and though action junkies might complain at its slow pace it remains a classic that every movie fan should have in their collection.

3 – The Empire Strikes Back - It’s not often that you see a movie where the good guys take it on the chin. However, George Lucas bucked the normal Hollywood happy ending trend with The Empire Strikes Back. Luke loses a hand, Han Solo gets frozen, and Yoda dies as the rebellion faces its darkest hour. Yes, the original was great, but I think the sequel managed to outstrip it (barely).

2 – Gone with the Wind - Forget about Titanic or Star Wars, if you adjusted for inflation this great American classic’s box office take would blow the competition out of the water. Starring Hollywood icons Clark Gable and Vivian Leigh as Rhett Butler and Scarlett O’Hara it is widely considered Hollywood’s greatest love story. Beat out The Wizard of Oz, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington and Of Mice and Men among others to win best picture that year.

1 – The Godfather - Two of the greatest actors of their respective generations – Marlon Brando and Al Pacino – team up in Francis Ford Coppola’s incredible adaptation of Mario Puzo’s best-selling novel. With 11 Oscar nominations and 3 wins, including Best Picture and Best Actor The Godfather is one of the Academy’s most decorated films. Though I’m sure many may disagree I believe this film stands alone atop the list of the best movies of all time.