The Best Movies Of All Time

Originally by Ranker Community

Updated February 23, 2021 6.1m votes 432.3k voters 16.1m views4.8k items

List RulesVote up the top movies of all time.

These are the best movies of all time, ranked by movie experts and film fans alike. What are the greatest movies in cinema history? This list of the top films ever made was created by taking best movie suggestions from Ranker users and letting them vote to determine which famous movies are the best ever made.

So, what are the best movies of all time? The list includes a wide range of films from all over the world, from art house European cinema to top action films and must-see blockbusters to established, highly-regarded classics of the Golden Age of Hollywood. The entries span many genres and include some of the greatest movie villains created by the best writers and top film directors in the industry. Included are movies that were recognized in their own time – including a number of Academy Award recipients and even Best Picture selections – as well as cult movies or sleeper hits that took time to find an audience. 1994 American drama film Shawshank Redemption, for example, was not highly regarded or popular in theaters when it first opened, but has since risen to the top 10 of many best movie lists.

If your favorite movies still aren't included with this ranking of good movies to watch, add them by clicking "rerank" below to make your own list. Or just vote for the top rated movies below that are most worthy of the title of the greatest movie ever. Also, check out Ranker's lists of the greatest actors of all time.

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58,979
22,907
Forrest Gump
Tom Hanks, Sally Field
Released: 1994
Directed by: Robert Zemeckis
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2
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41,377
The Shawshank Redemption
Morgan Freeman, Rita Hayworth
Released: 1994
Directed by: Frank Darabont
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3
51,494
18,777
Saving Private Ryan
Tom Hanks, Matt Damon
Released: 1998
Directed by: Steven Spielberg
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4
31,266
12,154
Toy Story
Tom Hanks, Tim Allen
Released: 1995
Directed by: John Lasseter
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5
20,060
9,695
Catch Me If You Can
Tom Hanks, Leonardo DiCaprio
Released: 2002
Directed by: Steven Spielberg
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6
28,744
10,569
The Green Mile
Tom Hanks, Gary Sinise
Released: 1999
Directed by: Frank Darabont
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7
78,319
45,571
The Dark Knight
Christian Bale, Michael Caine
Released: 2008
Directed by: Christopher Nolan
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8
38,823
23,603
The Silence of the Lambs
Jodie Foster, Anthony Hopkins
Released: 1991
Directed by: Jonathan Demme
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9
14,659
6,588
Cast Away
Tom Hanks, Helen Hunt
Released: 2000
Directed by: Robert Zemeckis
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10
43,719
28,011
Back to the Future
Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd
Released: 1985
Directed by: Robert Zemeckis
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11
28,853
17,721
Braveheart
Mel Gibson, Sophie Marceau
Released: 1995
Directed by: Mel Gibson
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12
21,730
13,212
Die Hard
Bruce Willis, Alan Rickman
Released: 1988
Directed by: John McTiernan
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13
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Seven
Brad Pitt, Gwyneth Paltrow
Released: 1995
Directed by: David Fincher
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14
21,847
13,474
Terminator 2: Judgment Day
Arnold Schwarzenegger, Edward Furlong
Released: 1991
Directed by: James Cameron
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15
35,546
21,559
The Lord of the Rings - The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
Cate Blanchett, Ian McKellen
Released: 2001
Directed by: Peter Jackson
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16
23,383
13,562
The Lord of the Rings - The Two Towers (2002)
Cate Blanchett, Ian McKellen
Released: 2002
Directed by: Peter Jackson
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17
35,596
21,351
Inception
Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hardy
Released: 2010
Directed by: Christopher Nolan
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18
17,902
10,626
Alien
Sigourney Weaver, John Hurt
Released: 1979
Directed by: Ridley Scott
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19
16,024
9,493
Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi
Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher
Released: 1983
Directed by: Richard Marquand
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20
20,402
12,648
The Terminator
Arnold Schwarzenegger, Bill Paxton
Released: 1984
Directed by: James Cameron
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21
12,882
6,980
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
Harrison Ford, Sean Connery
Released: 1989
Directed by: Steven Spielberg
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22
18,548
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Full Metal Jacket
Vincent D'Onofrio, R. Lee Ermey
Released: 1987
Directed by: Stanley Kubrick
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23
16,787
9,394
Scarface
Al Pacino, Michelle Pfeiffer
Released: 1983
Directed by: Brian De Palma
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24
18,827
10,988
The Departed
Leonardo DiCaprio, Jack Nicholson
Released: 2006
Directed by: Martin Scorsese
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13,556
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Groundhog Day
Bill Murray, Andie MacDowell
Released: 1993
Directed by: Harold Ramis
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