Entertainment

7.1k voters

The Best Movies Roger Ebert Gave Four Stars

Updated July 27, 2020 146.5k votes 7.1k voters 210.3k views675 items

List RulesMovies that Roger Ebert gave four stars

List of movies Roger Ebert gave four stars, ranked best to eh. This is NOT a complete list of all of Roger Ebert's four star movies. In fact, the famous critic gave nearly 1,000 movies 4-star reviews in his 46 year career writing for The Chicago Sun Times, many of which have long since dropped from the collective consciousness. So this list doesn't include all of them, but (hopefully) all of the ones you have actually heard of, plus a few that you should consider watching. If I missed any important ones, feel free to add them!

Photo:

...more

1
2,300
842
Forrest Gump
Tom Hanks, Sally Field
Released: 1994
Directed by: Robert Zemeckis
Forrest Gump is a 1994 American epic romantic-comedy-drama film based on the 1986 novel of the... more
More Forrest Gump
16 Extremely Messed Up Things About Forrest Gump That'll Change How You See It#27 of 1,189 Every Oscar Winning Film Ever
2
1,514
608
Toy Story
Tom Hanks, Tim Allen
Released: 1995
Directed by: John Lasseter
Toy Story is a 1995 American computer-animated buddy-comedy adventure film produced by Pixar... more
More Toy Story
25 Weird 'Toy Story' Thoughts That Actually Make A Good Point#2 of 542 The Best Animated Films Ever
3
1,567
626
Saving Private Ryan
Tom Hanks, Matt Damon
Released: 1998
Directed by: Steven Spielberg
Saving Private Ryan is a 1998 American epic drama war film directed by Steven Spielberg. Set... more
More Saving Private Ryan
12 Small - But Accurate - Details From 'Saving Private Ryan'#2 of 99 The Most Patriotic Movies of All Time
4
1,295
491
Apollo 13
Tom Hanks, Bryce Dallas Howard
Released: 1995
Directed by: Ron Howard
Apollo 13 is a 1995 American historical docudrama film directed by Ron Howard. The film stars... more
More Apollo 13
Behind-The-Scenes Stories From 'Apollo 13'#3 of 82 The Best Movies Based on Non-Fiction Books
5
1,103
491
Jaws
Steven Spielberg, Richard Dreyfuss
Released: 1975
Directed by: Steven Spielberg
Jaws is a 1975 American thriller film directed by Steven Spielberg and based on Peter... more
More Jaws
Behind The Scenes Of Every Death In ‘Jaws’#2 of 553 The Best '70s Movies
6
622
306
Cool Hand Luke
Paul Newman, Dennis Hopper
Released: 1967
Directed by: Stuart Rosenberg
Cool Hand Luke is a 1967 American prison drama film directed by Stuart Rosenberg, starring... more
More Cool Hand Luke
#197 of 277 The Top Tearjerker Movies That Make Men Cry#7 of 46 Every Single Movie On Rotten Tomatoes With 100% Approval, Ranked
7
874
447
Back to the Future
Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd
Released: 1985
Directed by: Robert Zemeckis
Back to the Future is a 1985 American science fiction film directed by Robert Zemeckis. Marty... more
More Back to the Future
Surprising Facts You Didn't Know About Back to the Future#4 of 167 The Best Science Fiction Action Movies
8
828
423
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
Drew Barrymore, Erika Eleniak
Released: 1982
Directed by: Steven Spielberg
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial is a 1982 American science fiction-family film co-produced and... more
More E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
The Dark Story Behind The Canceled Sequel To 'E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial'#30 of 549 The Greatest Epic Movies Ever Made
9
710
348
Young Frankenstein
Gene Hackman, Mel Brooks
Released: 1974
Directed by: Mel Brooks
Young Frankenstein is a 1974 American comedy film directed by Mel Brooks and starring Gene... more
More Young Frankenstein
#317 of 356 The Best Musical Movies Of All Time#66 of 126 The Greatest Date Movies Of All Time
10
470
222
The Sting
Paul Newman, Robert Redford
Released: 1973
Directed by: George Roy Hill
The Sting is a 1973 American caper film set in September 1936, involving a complicated plot by... more
More The Sting
#16 of 92 The Very Best Oscar-Winning Movies For Best Picture#53 of 933 The All-Time Greatest Comedy Films
11
1,280
567
Pulp Fiction
John Travolta, Bruce Willis
Released: 1994
Directed by: Quentin Tarantino
Pulp Fiction is a 1994 American crime film directed by Quentin Tarantino. The lives of two mob... more
More Pulp Fiction
Genius Fan Theories About What's In The Briefcase In 'Pulp Fiction'#1 of 26 The Best F-Bombs In Movie History
12
661
315
The Fugitive
Julianne Moore, Harrison Ford
Released: 1993
Directed by: Andrew Davis
This film is a 1993 American action film based on the 1960s television series of the same name... more
More The Fugitive
#19 of 50 The 50 Highest Grossing '90s Movies, Ranked#48 of 230 The Best Psychological Thrillers of All Time
13
543
211
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
Harrison Ford, Sean Connery
Released: 1989
Directed by: Steven Spielberg
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade is a 1989 American adventure film directed by Steven... more
More Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
The Best Characters in the Whole Indiana Jones Franchise, Ranked#16 of 512 The Greatest Movies Of The 1980s, Ranked

14
704
367
Taxi Driver
Robert De Niro, Jodie Foster
Released: 1976
Directed by: Martin Scorsese
Taxi Driver is a 1976 American neo-noir psychological thriller film directed by Martin... more
More Taxi Driver
12 Behind-The-Scenes Stories From 'Taxi Driver' That Are As Wild As The Film Itself#4 of 20 Famous Movie Lines That Were Unscripted
15
708
390
Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory
Gene Wilder, Jack Albertson
Released: 1971
Directed by: Mel Stuart
Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory is a 1971 musical fantasy film directed by Mel Stuart, and... more
More Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory
Willy Wonka Fan Theories That Are Pure Imagination#60 of 105 The Best Halloween Movies for Kids
16
927
419
Fargo
Steve Buscemi, William H. Macy
Released: 1996
Directed by: Ethan Coen, Joel Coen
Fargo is a 1996 American neo-noir dark comedy crime film written, produced, edited, and... more
More Fargo
Small Details, Trivia, And Interesting Tidbits About 'Fargo' That Made Us Say 'You Betcha!'#278 of 399 The Best Western Movies Ever Made
17
343
150
Some Like It Hot
Marilyn Monroe, Jack Lemmon
Released: 1959
Directed by: Billy Wilder
Some Like It Hot is a 1959 American comedy film set in 1929, directed by Billy Wilder,... more
More Some Like It Hot
#7 of 15 Comedies That Are Horror Films From the Supporting Character's Perspective#37 of 75 The Greatest Classic Romance Movies
18
1,307
701
The Dark Knight
Christian Bale, Michael Caine
Released: 2008
Directed by: Christopher Nolan
The Dark Knight is a 2008 superhero film directed by Christopher Nolan, based on the DC Comics... more
More The Dark Knight
Subtle Details From The Dark Knight Even The Biggest Batman Fans Missed#1 of 177 The Greatest Comic Book Movies Of All Time
19
610
293
Blazing Saddles
Mel Brooks, Gene Wilder
Released: 1974
Directed by: Mel Brooks
Blazing Saddles is a 1974 satirical Western comedy film directed by Mel Brooks. Starring... more
More Blazing Saddles
#18 of 151 The Most Rewatchable Comedy Movies#1 of 1,137 The Absolute Funniest Movies Of All Time
20
820
474
Apocalypse Now
Marlon Brando, Harrison Ford
Released: 1979
Directed by: Francis Ford Coppola
Apocalypse Now is a 1979 American epic adventure war film set during the Vietnam War. Produced... more
More Apocalypse Now
15 Stories From The Wild Life Of David Hackworth, Who Inspired Two 'Apocalypse Now' Characters#20 of 69 The Best Movies That Are Super Long
21
1,335
790
Goodfellas
Robert De Niro, Samuel L. Jackson
Released: 1990
Directed by: Martin Scorsese
Goodfellas is a 1990 American crime film directed by Martin Scorsese. It is a film adaptation... more
More Goodfellas
15 Behind-The-Scenes Stories From The Making Of 'Goodfellas'#23 of 63 Movies Set in Brooklyn
22
1,256
751
Schindler's List
Liam Neeson, Ralph Fiennes
Released: 1993
Directed by: Steven Spielberg
Schindler's List is a 1993 American epic historical period drama, directed and co-produced by... more
More Schindler's List
#32 of 46 Movies That Won Best Picture at the Oscars and Golden Globes#1 of 170 The Most Utterly Depressing Movies Ever Made
23
777
421
No Country for Old Men
Javier Bardem, Tommy Lee Jones
Released: 2007
Directed by: Ethan Coen, Joel Coen
No Country for Old Men is a 2007 American neo-western neo-noir thriller film directed by Joel... more
More No Country for Old Men
#35 of 134 The Best Movies You Never Want to Watch Again#7 of 36 The Best Period Movies Set in the '80s

24
407
212
Chinatown
Jack Nicholson, Faye Dunaway
Released: 1974
Directed by: Roman Polanski
Chinatown is a 1974 American neo-noir mystery film, directed by Roman Polanski from a... more
More Chinatown
#23 of 24 The Best Movies with Twist Endings#26 of 123 The Best Mafia Films Of All Time
25
1,393
831
Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark
Harrison Ford, Alfred Molina
Released: 1981
Directed by: Steven Spielberg
Raiders of the Lost Ark is a 1981 American adventure film directed by Steven Spielberg. The... more
More Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark
12 Stories That Prove The Making Of 'Raiders Of The Lost Ark' Was An Adventure Behind The Scenes Too#2 of 33 The Best Steven Spielberg Movies