Best Movies

Whether it's coming of age in a long-ago time, exploring the idiosyncrasies of modern life, or journeying across space, the best movies let us experience these diverse situations and much more. Few can argue with the power a great movie has to make us laugh, cry, scream, and jump for joy.

1.

 The rise and fall of a publishing magnate in early 20th-century America.

 The movie that put the word "Rosebud" on everyone's lips while highlighting the acting and directing prowess of Orson Welles. Citizen Kane is the top movie on the American Film Institute's (AFI's) 100 Years...100 Movies list. It also appears on numerous critical lists, including Time magazine's All-Time 100 Movies and The Best 1,000 Movies Ever Made, as determined by the film critics of The New York Times..

2.

 Power struggles and family ties in the New York mafia.

 Much more than a mafia movie, The Godfather touches on timeless themes while showcasing the work of powerhouse actors. The movie holds the top spot on The Internet Movie Database's Top 250, earning a rating of 9.1 from IMDb users, while it is the number three movie on the 100 Years...100 Movies list.

3.

 Intrigue and romance in 1940s Morocco

 While number two on AFI's 100 Years...100 Movies list, Casablanca earns the top spot for 100 Years...100 Passions as the best romantic movie of all time, thanks to the chemistry between Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman.

4.

 Beset with problems, George Bailey wishes he had never been born and receives a valuable lesson from his guardian angel.

 Because the plot takes place during the holiday season, It's a Wonderful Life has become a frequently-watched Christmas classic. However, there's more to this film than candy canes and stockings; the larger message about the importance of a single life is pertinent at any time of the year. Jimmy Stewart imbues George Bailey with an everyman charm. It was deemed the most inspiring movie of all time on AFI's 100 Years...100 Cheers list, just barely missing the top ten on 100 Years...100 Movies.

5.

 The struggles of the Civil War and the end of a way of life.

 Lavish sets and costumes, a compelling historical setting, life-and-death struggles, and a memorable romance combine for a classic film. The movie is fourth on the 100 Years...100 Movies list and number 2 on the 100 Years...100 Passions list.

6.

 Oskar Schindler uses his wits and connections to save thousands of Jews from Hitler's concentration camps.

 Famed director Steven Spielberg takes on a somber and touching subject, dramatizing moment of humanity and hope during a terrible era. The predominantly black-and-white cinematography gives the movie a documentary feel and an added weight. It is rated seventh among IMDb users, was ninth on the 100 Years...100 Movies list, and is third on AFI's 100 Years...100 Cheers list for its inspirational nature.

7.

 A southern lawyer fights small-town racism as his children grow from the experience.

 The novel by Harper Lee has become a staple in high school English classrooms, and the movie is recognized in its own right among the best movies. Gregory Peck turns in a memorable performance as the noble Atticus Finch, the top hero on AFI's 100 Years... 100 Heroes & Villains list. The movie is also ranked second on AFI's 100 Years...100 Cheers list.

8.

 A British soldier leads Bedouin tribes to victory.

 Lawrence of Arabia is a fictionalized account of the life of T.E. Lawrence as he struggles with questions of violence and belonging in World War I-era Africa and the Middle East. The movie holds spot number five on AFI's 100 Years...100 Movies list while also appearing on Time's All-Time 100 Movies and The Best 1,000 Movies Ever Made.

9.

 Dorothy travels "over the rainbow" to the magical land of Oz.

 With its colorful cast of characters, Dorothy's adventures in Oz continue to enchant viewers of all ages, even decades after its release. Falling at number six on AFI's 100 Years...100 Movies list, it's also a part of The Best 1,000 Movies Ever Made.

10.

 The comic tale of two men who disguise themselves as female performers to escape from gangsters.

 Some Like It Hot was ranked number one on AFI's 100 Years...100 Laughs list. It is also included in Time's All-Time 100 Movies and The Best 1,000 Movies Ever Made.

11.

 A silent film star makes a comic transition to the world of talking pictures.

 Singin' In The Rain offers a winning combination of singing, dancing, and comedy. The movie earned the top spot on AFI's Greatest Movie Musicals list. Songs like "Make 'Em Laugh" and the title track are well known to this day.

12.

 Marlon Brando gives life to a hapless dockworker.

 While the movie itself falls at number 8 on the 100 Years...100 Movies list, on AFI's 100 Years...100 Movie Quotes list, Brando's "I coulda been a contender" was deemed the 3rd most memorable line in movie history.

13.

 Witness a descent into madness at the Bates Motel.

 Hitchcock earns his reputation as a master of suspense with this film. The shower scene alone has become an iconic part of cinema. Psycho earned the number one ranking on AFI's 100 Years...100 Thrills list and is included in Time's All-Time 100 Movies.

14.

 A classic tale of good versus evil set against an exciting space backdrop.

 The movie that introduced the world to Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, Han Solo, Chewbacca, and Darth Vader while giving science fiction mainstream appeal. Star Wars has inspired legions of devoted fans while creating an entire industry of memorabilia and media. Ranking fifteenth at 100 Years...100 Movies, it also makes its way on to Time's All-Time 100 Movies and The Best 1,000 Movies Ever Made.

15.

 An unlikely band of traveling companions strive to save the lands of Middle Earth from the dark forces of Sauron.

 An adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien's epic fantasy work, The Lord of the Rings is actually a trilogy made up of The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, and The Return of the King. Unlike most movies and their sequels, these three films combine to tell one sweeping fantasy tale rather than three separate stories. The series was included in Time's All-Time 100 Movies, and the individual movies rank fourth, fourteenth, and twentieth among IMDb reviewers.