What makes a movie the best of all time? Is it the cinematography, the character development or the shock factor? There are many reasons that a film can stand the test of time. From comic book blockbusters to gangster thrillers, would you count any of these in your top 10?
Here are the top 10 best films of all time as ranked by British film magazine Empire and where you can watch them.
Full list of the top 10
10. Goodfellas (1990)
Coming in at number 10 is Martin Scorsese’s Goodfellas. It’s cast includes Robert De Niro, Ray Liotta, Joe Pesci, Lorraine Bracco and Paul Sorvino. The film takes you on a wild ride as tensions increase when charismatic gangster fanboy Henry Hill (Liotta) takes cocaine and begins making reckless actions. It’s unique styling of bleeding one scene into the next, means you can’t take your eyes of it. The gangster thriller is cinematic masterpiece and is likely in many peoples’ top 10.
Streaming on: Apple TV+ | Amazon Prime
9. Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
Steven Spielberg’s Raiders of the Lost Ark was an arc of cinematic history. When the creator of Star Wars teams up with the director of Jaws to make an all-out, Bond-style adventure it’s hard to go wrong. The film stars Harrison Ford, Karen Allen, Paul Freeman and John Rhys-Davies. The film is centred around professor Indiana Jones, a fearless archaeologist, who is tasked by the US government to locate an ark rumoured to hold immense power before the Nazis get their first.
Streaming on: Apple TV+ | Amazon Prime
8. Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
When the biggest crossover alongside a hugely dramatic cliffhanger went down in 2018, it was the peak of the marvel world. From directors Anthony Russo and Joe Russo, the action film melded all of the marvel figures into one universial epic. There was action-packed battles, triumphs and emotion spilling at the seams. The star-studded cast included Chris Evans, Robert Downey Jr, Mark Ruffalo, Scarlett Johansson, Chadwick Boseman, Chris Hemsworth, Sebastian Stan and Josh Brolin.
Streaming on: Disney+ | Apple TV+
7. Pulp Fiction (1994)
It woudn’t be a top 10 without including one of Quentin Tarantino’s incredible pictures. Pulp Fiction, starring Samuel L. Jackson, John Travolta, Uma Thurman and Bruce Willis is an iconic 1990s story set in Los Angeles. It’s about a set of interweaving tales, a host of hitmen, armed robbers, fixers and an ageing boxer as they find themselves entangled in amongst death, drugs, and lucky escapes. Add to that many self-aware conversations on pop culture, religion and the nature of crime itself and Tarantino’s fresh directing and you’ve got a classic.
Streaming on: Apple TV+ | Amazon Prime
6. Jaws (1975)
Another one from Steven Spielberg’s repertoire, everyone can surely remember the first time they sat down to watch Jaws. It’s the film many people love to hate, with its deep pounding drums to build suspense, and its ability to feed the curiosity that most have when it comes to sharks, it had such a strong impact. Despite its famous struggles with filming a mechanical shark that kept breaking, the film was beautfully shot. It starred Roy Scheider, Robert Shaw and Richard Dreyfuss.
Streaming on: Apple TV+ | Amazon Prime
5. The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
Frank Darabont’s adaptation of Stephen King’s novel is a tear-jerker to say the least. Shawshank Redemption’s tragic story is harsh but leaves you with a feeling of hope and resilience. Surprisingly, it was a box-office flop on its release and is now comfortably sitting on the top spot of many peoples’ movie lists. The film’s powerful message as become known as a cultural milestone. It’s cast included Tim Robbins, Morgan Freeman and William Sadler.
Streaming on: Apple TV+ | Amazon Prime
4. The Dark Knight (2008)
Christopher Nolan’s reinvention of Gotham and introduction of a Clown intent on bringing the whole thing down is a spectacle to behold. The incredibly talented Heath Ledger as the Joker, put in a truly terrifying and transformative performance. The Dark Knight is high-voltage, no-holds-barred, firing-on-all cylinders Nolan, and not just an all-time great comic book movie, but an all-time great movie in itself – furthered by the movies high ranking spot on this list.
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3. The Godfather (1972)
Surprisingly, not at number one here, but awarded the bronze medal is Francis Ford Coppola’s The Godfather. The gangster movie that is at once an arthouse drama and also a commercial blockbuster. Starring Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Caan, John Cazale and Talia Shire, the film managed to both smash box office records and continues to be a staple of cinematic action. An iconic movie of the gangster genre, it lives on in popular culture today.
Streaming on: Apple TV+ | Amazon Prime
2. Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
This film made the Star Wars universe feel even deeper and richer. George Lucas decided to shoot for the moon a second time around after the initial success, teaming up with director Irvin Kershne. The film tells the story of Luke training under Master Yoda, Han and Leia heading to Cloud City and Darth Vader dropping the biggest of all twists. Episode V brought the snowy Hoth battle and a ferocious lightsaber duel between Luke and Vader. It starred Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Billy Dee Williams and David Prowse.
Streaming on: Disney+ | Apple TV+
1. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
Did you guess it? Of course there had to be a mention of the epic fanstasy adveture triology. Directed by Peter Jackson and starring Elijah Wood, Sean Astin, Ian McKellen, Viggo Mortensen, Orlando Bloom, Sean Bean, Cate Blanchett and Liv Tyler, this is the first installment of the LOTR series. The movie turly takes us on a journey and is full of thrills, suspense, jollity and on top of that ethereal beauty. It’s balance of action with emotional impact is pretty close to perfect and the relationship between the characters has so much warmth and wit, making it a movie to comeback to time and time again.
Streaming on: Apple TV+ | Amazon Prime