Originally by Ann CasanoList RulesVote up the best movies that run 2 hr 20 min (140 minutes) or longer
Hollywood movies typically run about 1.5 to 2 hours. The patented three act structure unfolds onscreen and the credits roll before backs begin to ache and minds begin to wonder. But sometimes two hours is not enough and this list has them all. These are the best movies that are super long.
All the films on this list run at least 2 hours and 20 minutes. Most of them are even longer than that and some of them are twice as long as the average movie. Why would a filmmaker keep someone glued to the screen for over three hours with a really long movie? Not every great movie is packaged with a simple beginning, middle, and an end. Epic stories need to percolate and their characters need more room to develop.
Imagine The Godfather without the legendary opening wedding scene. That sequence alone lasts over thirty minutes, and it has very little to do with moving the story forward. Instead, it’s basically thirty minutes of director Francis Ford Coppola introducing the audience to the Corleone family.
Several films on this list run over three hours. Think that’s too long? Check out their Rotten Tomatoes scores - every single one of them received an outstanding rating. When a person sees Schindler’s List or Lawrence of Arabia for the first time, they do not walk away from the experience worried that they’ve spent too long looking at a movie screen. Sure, some movies with long running times could afford a clip or two in the editing room. But you won’t find any of those movies on this list.
These good films warrant and demand your full attention, no matter how long they are. Be sure to upvote for your favorite long movies to watch, those with an epic runtime.1
2,208355Forrest Gump
Tom Hanks, Sally FieldReleased: 1994
Directed by: Robert Zemeckis
Running Time: 2 hr. 22 min.
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 72%
2
1,011701Saving Private Ryan
Tom Hanks, Matt DamonReleased: 1998
Directed by: Steven Spielberg
Running Time: 2 hr. 41 min.
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 92%Saving Private Ryan is a 1998 American epic drama war film directed by Steven Spielberg. Set... more3
958238The Green Mile
Tom Hanks, Gary SiniseReleased: 1999
Directed by: Frank Darabont
Running Time: 3 hr. 9 min.
Rotton Tomatoes Score: 80%The Green Mile is a 1999 American fantasy drama film directed by Frank Darabont and adapted... more4
571461Gone with the Wind
Clark Gable, Vivien LeighReleased: 1939
Directed by: Sam Wood, George Cukor, Victor Fleming
Running Time: 3 hr. 42 min.
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 94%
5
598478The Godfather Part II
Al Pacino, Robert De NiroReleased: 1974
Directed by: Francis Ford Coppola
Running Time: 3 hr. 20 min.
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 97%The Godfather Part II is a 1974 American epic crime film produced and directed by Francis Ford... more6
578446Pulp Fiction
John Travolta, Bruce WillisReleased: 1994
Directed by: Quentin Tarantino
Running Time: 2 hr. 34 min.
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 93%Pulp Fiction is a 1994 American crime film directed by Quentin Tarantino. The lives of two mob... more7
601467Goodfellas
Robert De Niro, Samuel L. JacksonReleased: 1990
Directed by: Martin Scorsese
Running Time: 2 hr. 26 min.
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 96%Goodfellas is a 1990 American crime film directed by Martin Scorsese. It is a film adaptation... more8
373230Scarface
Al Pacino, Michelle PfeifferReleased: 1983
Directed by: Brian De Palma
Running Time: 2 hr. 50 min.
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 83%Scarface is a 1983 American crime drama film directed by Brian De Palma, and a remake of the... more9
807664The Godfather
Al Pacino, Marlon BrandoReleased: 1972
Directed by: Francis Ford Coppola
Running Time: 2 hr. 55 min.
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 99%The Godfather is a 1972 American crime film directed by Francis Ford Coppola, based on the... more10
268173Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
Johnny Depp, Keira KnightleyReleased: 2003
Directed by: Gore Verbinski
Running Time: 2 hr. 23 min.
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 79%
11
244177Lawrence of Arabia
Omar Sharif, Peter O'TooleReleased: 1962
Directed by: David Lean
Running Time: 3 hr. 36 min.
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 99%Lawrence of Arabia is a 1962 British epic adventure drama film based on the life of T. E.... more12
553436Braveheart
Mel Gibson, Sophie MarceauReleased: 1995
Directed by: Mel Gibson
Running Time: 3 hr. 2 min.
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 78%Braveheart is a 1995 epic historical medieval war drama film directed by and starring Mel... more13
360223Casino
Sharon Stone, Robert De NiroReleased: 1995
Directed by: Martin Scorsese
Running Time: 3 hr. 2 min.
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 80%
14
193133The Bridge on the River Kwai
Alec Guinness, William HoldenReleased: 1957
Directed by: David Lean
Running Time: 2 hr. 41 min.
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 95%
15
216150Avengers: Infinity War
Robert Downey Jr., Chris HemsworthReleased: 2018
Directed by: Anthony Russo, Joe Russo
Running Time: 2 hr. 36 min.
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 85%
16
498399The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
Clint Eastwood, Eli WallachReleased: 1966
Directed by: Sergio Leone
Running Time: 3 hr. 6 min.
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 97%The Good, the Bad and the Ugly is a 1966 Italian epic Spaghetti Western film directed by... more17
409307The Departed
Leonardo DiCaprio, Jack NicholsonReleased: 2006
Directed by: Martin Scorsese
Running Time: 2 hr. 32 min.
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 91%The Departed is a 2006 American crime drama film directed by Martin Scorsese, and a remake of... more18
473376The Avengers
Robert Downey Jr., Chris EvansReleased: 2012
Directed by: Joss Whedon
Running Time: 2 hr. 23 min.
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 92%
19
402316Apocalypse Now
Marlon Brando, Harrison FordReleased: 1979
Directed by: Francis Ford Coppola
Running Time: 2 hr. 33 min.
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 99%Apocalypse Now is a 1979 American epic adventure war film set during the Vietnam War. Produced... more20
346237Django Unchained
Leonardo DiCaprio, Kerry WashingtonReleased: 2012
Directed by: Quentin Tarantino
Running Time: 2 hr. 45 min.
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 88%Django Unchained is a 2012 American revisionist Western film directed by Quentin Tarantino.... more21
220157Ben Hur
William Wyler, Charlton HestonReleased: 2003
Directed by: William R. Kowalchuk Jr.
Running Time: 3 hr. 42 min.
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 87%
22
239173The Great Escape
Steve McQueen, Richard AttenboroughReleased: 1963
Directed by: John Sturges
Running Time: 2 hr. 53 min.
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 93%The Great Escape is a 1963 American WWII epic film based on an escape by British and... more23
696571The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
Cate Blanchett, Ian McKellenReleased: 2001
Directed by: Peter Jackson
Running Time: 3 hr. 48 min.
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 98%The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring is a 2001 epic fantasy film directed by... more24
235165Heat
Natalie Portman, Al PacinoReleased: 1995
Directed by: Michael Mann
Running Time: 2 hr. 51 min.
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 86%Heat is a 1995 American crime thriller film written, produced and directed by Michael Mann,... more25
15493The Wolf of Wall Street
Leonardo DiCaprio, Matthew McConaugheyReleased: 2013
Directed by: Martin Scorsese
Running Time: 2 hr. 59 min.
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 77%The Wolf of Wall Street is a 2013 American biographical black comedy film directed by Martin... more
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