Hundreds of movies get release every year, however, there are only a few among those that capture our minds, mesmerize our senses, and remain fresh in our memory for years. Let us go down the memory lane and recapture the essence of some of the most popular movies.
Did You Know?
‘Gone with the Wind’ is the highest grossing movie since 25 years.
Watching movies is a great way of keeping oneself entertained. Moreover, movies are further classified into so many genres, and each genre has movies which have captured the hearts of the audience, since the time of their release. Apart from this, there are also movies which did not do well in the theaters, but were actually loved by the viewers.
With little over five hundred movies made each year, and each outnumbering the other in one aspect or the other, it is really difficult to announce a winner. However, here, we have managed to bring together the top 10 films which continue to entertain people even today.
* Before I start with the list, I want you to tell you that this list may not contain the movies that you consider to be the best. As this list requires a mention of only the top ten movies, the selection amongst the long list of really good movies of all time has been a difficult one.
Dance
“Oh, come on, ladies. God wouldn’t have given you maracas if He didn’t want you to shake ’em.”
When Penny (Cynthia Rhodes) said this in Dirty Dancing, she not only generated interest but also inspired a lot of people to put on their dancing shoes! Movies likeStrictly Ballroom, Flashdance,Footloose, etc., inspired us to “Follow our Dreams”. Passion is what every dancer needs, to give a splendid performance and that’s exactly what our dance movies showcase. Even with big names in these movies, dance was always the protagonist.
Strictly Ballroom (1992)
Starring: Paul Mercurio (Scott Hastings), Tara Morice (Fran), Bill Hunter (Barry Fife)
Director: Baz Luhrmann
Black Swan (2010)
Starring: Natalie Portman (Nina Sayers), Mila Kunis (Lily), Vincent Cassel (Thomas Leroy)
Director: Darren Aronofsky
Dirty Dancing (1987)
Starring: Patrick Swayze (Johnny Castle), Jennifer Grey (Frances ‘Baby’ Houseman)
Director: Emile Ardolino
Chicago (2002)
Starring: Taye Diggs (Bandleader), Catherine Zeta-Jones (Velma Kelly)
Director: Rob Marshall
All that Jazz (1979)
Starring: Roy Scheider (Joe Gideon), Jessica Lange (Angelique), Leland Palmer (Audrey Paris)
Director: Bob Fosse
Dance with Me (1998)
Starring: Vanessa Williams (Ruby Sinclair), Chayanne (Rafael Infante)
Director: Randa Haines
Footloose (1984, 2011)
Starring: Kevin Bacon (Ren McCormack), Lori Singer (Ariel Moore), John Lithgow (Reverend Shaw) in 1984 movie; Kenny Wormald (Ren MacCormack), Julianne Hough (Ariel Moore) in 2011 movie.
Flashdance (1983)
Starring: Jennifer Beals (Alex Ownes), Michael Nouri (Nick Hurley), Lila Skala (Hanna Long)
Director: Adrian Lyne
Magic Mike (2012)
Starring: Matthew McConaughey (Dallas), Channing Tatum (Magic Mike)
Director: Steven Soderbergh
Step Up (2006 – 2012)
Starring: Channing Tatum (Tyler Gage) and Jenna Dewan (Nora Clark) in Step Up; Adam Sevani (Moose) and Alyson Stoner (Camille) in Step Up 3D; Ryan Guzman (Sean) and Kathryn McCormick (Emily) in Step Up Revolution; Briana Evigan (Andie West) and Robert Hoffman (Chase Collins) in Step Up 2.
Sports
Sports have always inspired filmmakers and as a result of this, we have some truly motivating and path-breaking movies made in this genre. From hockey to football, and from boxing to martial arts, our movies have them all! Such is the impact of these movies that there was a landmark statue built in Philadelphia forRocky.
Some movies even roped in real life sports stalwarts to play themselves. With the largest medium of communication across the globe, these movies have helped dying sports regain their popularity.
Rocky I – VI (1976 – 2006)
Starring: Sylvester Stallone (Rocky Balboa), Talia Shire (Sdrian Pennino), Burt Young (Paulie Pennino)
Director: Sylvester Stallone, John G. Avildsen
Slap Shot (1977)
Starring: Paul Newman (Reggie Dunlop), Strother Martin (Joe McGrath), Michael Ontkean (Ned Braden)
Director: George Roy Hill
Million Dollar Baby (2004)
Starring: Clint Eastwood (Frankie Dunn), Hilary Swank (Maggie Fitzgerald), Morgan Freeman (Eddie Scrap-Iron Dupris)
Director: Clint Eastwood
Rudy (1993)
Starring: Sean Astin (Rudy), Jon Favreau (D-Bob), Ned Beatty (Daniel Ruettiger)
Director: David Anspaugh
Remember the Titans (2000)
Starring: Denzel Washington (Coach Herman Boone), Will Patton (Coach Bill Yoast), Wood Harris (Julius Campbell)
Director: Boaz Yakin
Major League (1989)
Starring: Tom Berenger (Jake Taylor), Charlie Sheen (Ricky Vaughn), Corbin Bernsen (Roger Dorn)
Director: David S. Ward
Breaking Away (1979)
Starring: Dennis Christopher (Dave Stoller), Dennis Quaid (Mike), Daniel Stern (Cyril)
Director: Peter Yates
Bend it Like Beckham (2002)
Starring: Parminder Nagra (Jess), Keira Knightley (Jules), Jonathan Rhys Meyers (Joe)
Director: Gurinder Chadha
The Karate Kid (2010)
Starring: Jaden Smith (Dre Parker), Jackie Chan (Mr. Han), Taraji P. (Sherry Parker)
Director: Harald Zwart
Chariots of Fire (1981)
Starring: Nicholas Farrell (Aubrey Montague), Nigel Havers (Lord Andrew Lindsay), Ian Charleson (Eric Liddell)
Director: Hugh Hudson
Crime
Crime movies are gripping and frightening at the same time! When Buffalo Bill was introduced in The Silence of the Lambs, many were shaken by the character. The impact that these movies have on the minds of the audience, is tremendous. Such movies also give us an insight in the minds and lives of convicts as well as victims! Some of these scripts are also based on real life incidents that are dealt rather sensitively, so that they don’t hurt anyone’s sentiments.
Scarface (1983)
Starring: Al Pacino (Tony Montana), Steven Bauer (Manny Ribera), Michelle Pfeiffer (Elvira Hancock)
Director: Brian De Palma
The Departed (2006)
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio (Billy), Matt Damon (Colin Sullivan), Jack Nicholson (Frank Costello)
Director: Martin Scorsese
American Gangster (2007)
Starring: Denzel Washington (Frank Lucas), Russell Crowe (Richie Roberts), Chiwetel Ejiofor (Huey Lucas)
Director: Ridley Scott
Bullhead (2011)
Starring: Matthias Schoenaerts (Jacky Vanmarsenille), Jeroen Perceval (Diederik Maes), Jeanne Dandoy (Lucia Schepers)
Director: Michaël R. Roskam
Pulp Fiction (1994)
Starring: John Travolta (Vincent Vega), Samuel Jackson (Jules Winnfield), Tim Roth (Pumpkin)
Director: Quentin Tarantino
The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
Starring: Anthony Hopkins (Hannibal Lecter), Jodie Foster (Clarice Starling), Ted Levine (Buffalo Bill)
Director: Jonathan Demme
Sherlock Holmes (2009, 2011)
Starring: Robert Downey Jr. (Sherlock Holmes), Jude Law (Dr. John Watson)
Director: Guy Ritchie
City of God (2002)
Starring: Alexandre Rodrigues (Buscapé/Rocket), Leandro Firmino (Ze Pequeno)
Director: Fernando Meirelles and Kátia Lund
The French Connection (1971)
Starring: Gene Hackman (Jimmy Doyle), Fernando Rey (Alain Charnier), Roy Scheider (Det. Busey Russo)
Director: William Friedkin
The Fast and the Furious (2001 – 2013)
Starring: Paul Walker (Brian O’Conner), Vin Diesel (Dominic Toretto), Jordana Brewster (Mia Toretto)
3D
The latest technology in the town is 3D and our filmmakers are making a good use of it! In 1939, the first commercial 3D film In Tune with Tomorrow was released, and the first animated 3D, The Polar Express, was released in the year 2004. However, undoubtedly, the popularity of this genre of films increased manifold with the release of James Cameron’sAvatar.
Avatar (2009)
Starring: Sam Worthington (Jake Sully), Zoe Saldana (Neytiri), Sigourney Weaver (Grace), Stephen Lang (Colonel Quaritch), Michelle Rodriguez (Trudy)
Director: James Cameron
The Avengers (2012)
Starring: Robert Downey Jr. (Iron Man), Chris Evans (Captain America), Mark Ruffalo (The Hulk), Chris Hemsworth (Thor), Scarlett Johansson (Black Widow), Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson)
Director: Joss Whedon
Final Destination (2000 – 2011)
Starring: Nicholas D’Agosto (Sam), Emma Bell (Molly), Miles Fisher (Peter), Arlen Escarpeta (Nathan), David Koechner (Dennis), Tony Todd (Bludworth)
Director: David R. Ellis, James Wong, Steven Quale
Resident Evil: Afterlife (2010)
Starring: Milla Jovovich (Alice), Ali Larter (Claire Redfield), Kim Coates (Bennett), Shawn Roberts (Albert Wesker), Spencer Locke (K-Mart)
Director: Paul W.S. Anderson
Prometheus (2012)
Starring: Noomi Rapace (Elizabeth Shaw), Michael Fassbender (David), Charlize Theron (Meredith Vickers), Guy Pearce (Peter Weyland)
Director: Ridley Scott
The Amazing Spider-Man (2012)
Starring: Andrew Garfield (Spider-Man/Peter Parker), Emma Stone (Gwen Stacy), Rhys Ifans (The Lizard), Denis Leary (Captain Stacy), Martin Sheen (Uncle Ben)
Director: Marc Webb
Legend of Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole (2010)
Starring: Jim Sturgess (Soren), Hugo Weaving (Grimble), Abbie Cornish (Otulissa), Helen Mirren (Nyra), Geoffrey Rush (Ezylryb)
Director: Zack Snyder
Hotel Transylvania (2012)
Starring: Adam Sandler (Dracula), Selena Gomez (Mavis), Andy Samberg (Jonathan), Kevin James (Frankenstein)
Director: Genndy Tartakovsky
Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011)
Starring: Shia LaBeouf (Sam Witwicky), Rosie Huntington-Whitetely (Carly), Josh Duhamel (Lennox), John Turturro (Simmons)
Director: Michael Bay
Nightmare before Christmas (1993)
Starring: Danny Elfman (Jack Skellington), Catherine O’Hara (Sally), Chris Sarandon (Jack Skellington), Paul Reubens (Lock)
Director: Henry Selick
Music
There’s nothing more relaxing and pleasing than soothing music. Many of our music films have, therefore, have achieve great success, and have become highly popular.
There are so many musical movies that have topped the charts over the years like Sound of Music,Broadway Melody Series,Band Wagon, etc.
Singin’ in the Rain (1952)
Starring: Gene Kelly (Don Lockwood), Debbie Reynolds (Kathy Selden), Donald O’Connor (Cosmo Brown), Cyd Charisse (Dancer)
Director: Stanley Donen, Gene Kelly
West Side Story (1961)
Starring: Natalie Wood (Maria), George Chakiris (Bernardo), Rita Moreno (Anita), Richard Beymer (Tony), Russ Tamblyn (Riff)
Director: Jerome Robbins, Robert Wise
The Sound of Music (1965)
Starring: Julie Andrews (Fraulein Maria), Christopher Plummer (Captain Von Trapp), Charmian Carr (Liesl von Trapp), Heather Menzies (Louisa von Trapp), Angela Cartwright (Brigitta von Trapp)
Director: Robert Wise
My Fair Lady (1964)
Starring: Audrey Hepburn (Eliza Doolittle), Rex Harrison (Prof. Henry), Stanley Holloway (Alfred Doolittle), Jeremy Brett (Freddy Eynsford-Hill)
Director: George Cukor
The Band Wagon (1953)
Starring: Fred Astaire (Tony Hunter), Cyd Charisse (Gabrielle Gerard), Oscar Levant (Lester Marton), Jack Buchanan (Jeffrey Cordova)
Director: Vincente Minnelli
42nd Street (1933)
Starring: Warner Baxter (Julian Marsh), Bebe Daniels (Dorothy Brock), George Brent (Pat Denning), Ruby Keeler (Peggy Sawyer)
Director: Busby Berkeley and Lloyd Bacon
An American in Paris (1951)
Starring: Gene Kelly (Jerry Mulligan), Leslie Caron (Lise Bouvier), Oscar Levant (Adam Cook), Nina Foch (Milo Roberts)
Director: Vincente Minnelli
White Christmas (1954)
Starring: Bing Crosby (Bob Wallace), Danny Kane (Phil Davis), Rosemary Clooney (Betty Haynes), Vera-Ellen (Judy Haynes)
Director: Michael Curtiz
De-Lovely (2004)
Starring: Kevin Kline (Cole Porter), Ashley Judd (Linda Porter), Jonathan Pryce (Gabe), Kevin McNally (Gerald Murphy), Sandra Nelson (Sara Murphy)
Director: Irwin Winkler
The Broadway Melody Series (1929 – 1940)
Starring: Fred Astaire (Johnny Brett) & Eleanor Powell (Clare Bennett) in 1940 movie, Jack Benny (Bert Keeler) & Eleanor Powell (Irene Foster) in 1936 movie, Robert Taylor (Stephan ‘Steve’ Raleigh) & Eleanor Powell (Sally Lee) in 1938 movie, Charles King (Eddie Kearns) & Anita Page (Queenie Mahoney) in 1929 movie.
Fantasy
Have you ever thought about flying alien ships? Even before we could think on these lines, our storytellers in Hollywood made wonderful movies on these concepts. From romancing vampires to boy wizards and space wars to pirate fights, you name it and there’s a movie on the same. The depiction of these characters is so real that we sometimes forget that they are fictional!
Harry Potter Series (2001 – 2011)
Starring: Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter), Rupert Grint (Ron Weasley), Emma Watson (Hermione Granger)
Jurassic Park (1993, 1997, 2001)
Director: Steven Spielberg, Joe Johnston (2001)
Wizard of Oz (1939)
Starring: Judy Garland (Dorothy), Frank Morgan (Wizard of Oz), Ray Bolger (Scarecrow), Bert Lahr (Cowardly Lion), Jack Haley (Tin Man), Margaret Hamilton (Wicked Witch of the West)
Director: Victor Fleming, King Vidor, Norman Taurog, Mervyn LeRoy, George Cukor
The Twilight Saga (2009 – 2012)
Starring: Kristen Stewart (Bella Swan), Robert Pattinson (Edward Cullen), Taylor Lautner (Jacob Black)
Director: Bill Condon, Catherine Hardwicke, Chris Weitz, David Slade
Pirates of the Caribbean (2003 – 2011)
Starring: Johnny Depp (Jack Sparrow)
Director: Gore Verbinski, Rob Marshall, Espen Sandberg, Joachim Rønning
The Chronicles of Narnia (2005, 2008, 2010)
Starring: Georgie Henley (Lucy Pevensie), Skandar Keynes (Edmund Pevensie), William Moseley (Peter Pevensie), Anna Popplewell (Susan Pevensie)
Director: Andrew Adamson, Michael Apted
The Lord of The Rings Trilogy (2001, 2002, 2003)
Starring: Elijah Wood (Frodo Baggins), Viggo Mortensen (Aragorn), Ian McKellen (Gandalf), Orlando Bloom (Legolas), Sean Bean (Boromir), John Rhys-Davies (Gimli), Sean Astin (Samwise Gamgee)
Director: Peter Jackson
King Kong (2005)
Starring:Naomi Watts (Ann Darrow), Jack Black (Carl Denham), Adrien Brody (Jack Driscoll), Colin Hanks (Preston)
Director: Peter Jackson
Hellboy (2004, 2008)
Starring: Ron Perlman (Hellboy), Selma Blair (Liz Sherman)
Director: Guillermo del Toro
Star Wars Series (1977 – 2005)
Starring: Darth Vader played by David Prowse in A New Hope, Empire Strikes Back, Return of the Jedi; Jake Lloyd in The Phantom Menace; Hayden Christensen in Attack of the Clones; Hayden Christensen in Revenge of the Sith; Matt Lanter in The Clone Wars.
Romantic
“So it’s not gonna be easy. It’s gonna be really hard. We’re gonna have to work at this every day, but I want to do that because I want you. I want all of you, for ever, you and me, every day. Will you do something for me, please? Just picture your life for me? 30 years from now, 40 years from now? What’s it look like? If it’s with him, go. Go! I lost you once, I think I can do it again. If I thought that’s what you really wanted. But don’t you take the easy way out.” – Noah (Ryan Gosling) to Allie (Rachel McAdams)
The above quote says it all…love is all we need!!
Love Story (1970)
Starring: Ali MacGraw (Jennifer Cavalleri), Ryan O’Neal (Oliver Barrett IV), John Marley (Phil Cavalleri), Ray Milland (Oliver Barrett III)
Director: Arthur Hiller
Sleepless in Seattle (1993)
Starring: Tom Hanks (Sam Baldwin), Ross Malinger (Jonah Baldwin), Meg Ryan (Annie Reed), Rita Wilson (Suzy), Victor Garber (Greg)
Director: Nora Ephron
Titanic (1997)
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio (Jack Dawson), Kate Winslet (Rose Bukater), Billy Zane (Caledon Hockley)
Director: James Cameron
P.S. I Love You (2007)
Starring: Hilary Swank (Holly), Gerard Butler (Gerry), Lisa Kudrow (Denise), Gina Gershon (Sharon)
Director: Richard LaGravenese
Pretty Woman (1990)
Starring: Richard Gere (Edward Lewis), Julia Roberts (Vivian Ward), Ralph Bellamy (James Morse)
Director: Garry Marshal
The Notebook (2004)
Starring: Ryan Gosling (Noah), Rachel McAdams (Allie), James Garner (Duke)
Director: Nick Cassavetes
A Walk to Remember (2002)
Starring: Shane West (Landon Carter), Mandy Moore (Jamie Sullivan)
Director: Adam Shankman
Notting Hill (1999)
Starring: Julia Roberts (Anna Scott), Hugh Grant (William Thacker)
Director: Roger Michell
Gone With The Wind (1939)
Starring: Clark Gable (Rhett Butler), Vivien Leigh (Scarlett), Leslie Howard (Ashley), Olivia de Havilland (Melanie Hamilton)
Director: Victor Fleming, George Cukor, Sam Wood
Serendipity (2001)
Starring: John Cusack (Jonathan Trager), Kate Beckinsale (Sara Thomas)
Director: Peter Chelsom
Drama
Simple stories, real-life characters, normal situations, all these sum up most of the movie plots in this genre. The story is told in a straightforward manner with the storyline moving at a medium pace. Some of the characters like Michael (Al Pacino) or Will Hunting (Matt Damon) have been immortalized, such is the impact of these movies.
Blood Diamond (2006)
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio (Danny Archer), Djimon Hounsou (Solomon Vandy), Jennifer Connelly (Maddy Bowen)
Director: Edward Zwick
Goodwill Hunting (1997)
Starring: Matt Damon (Will Hunting), Robin Williams (Sean Maguire), Ben Affleck (Chuckie Sullivan)
Director: Gus Van Sant
Casablanca (1942)
Starring: Humphrey Bogart (Rick Blaine), Ingrid Bergman (Ilsa Lund), Paul Henreid (Victor Laszlo)
Director: Michael Curtiz
The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
Starring: Tim Robbins (Andy Dufresne), Morgan Freeman (Ellis Boyd Redding), Bob Gunton (Warden Norton)
Director: Frank Darabont
American Beauty (1999)
Starring: Kevin Spacey (Lester Burnham), Annette Bening (Carolyn Burnham), Thora Birch (Jane Burnham)
Director: Sam Mendes
Rebecca (1940)
Starring: Laurence Olivier (Maxim de Winter), Joan Fontaine (Mrs. De Winter), Judith Anderson (Mrs. Danvers)
Director: Alfred Hitchcock
Cast Away (2000)
Starring: Tom Hanks (Chuck Noland), Paul Sanchez (Ramon), Lari White (Bettina Peterson), Leonid Citer (Fyodor)
Director: Robert Zemeckis
Citizen Kane (1941)
Starring: Orson Welles (Charles Foster Kane), William Alland (Jerry Thompson), Ray Collins (Jim W. Gettys)
Director: Orson Welles
Forrest Gump (1994)
Starring: Tom Hanks (Forrest Gump), Rebecca Williams (Nurse), Sally Field (Mrs. Gump)
Director: Robert Zemeckis
The Godfather (1972, 1974, 1990)
Starring: Marlon Brando (Don Vito Corleone), Al Pacino (Michael)
Director: Francis Ford Coppola
War
War movies have always been inspired by the real-time wars. The sentiments and the emotions of the soldiers and their families shown in these movies are heart-warming. Some Oscar winning movies like Pearl Harbor, The Longest Day, Inglourious Basterds,etc., belong to this genre.
The Longest Day (1962)
Starring: Eddie Albert (Col. Thompson), Paul Anka (U.S. Army Ranger), Arletty (Madame Barrault)
Director: Ken Annakin, Andrew Marton, Bernhard Wicki, Darryl F. Zanuck
Inglourious Basterds (2009)
Starring: Brad Pitt (Lt. Aldo Raine), Christoph Waltz (Col. Hans Landa), Melanie Laurent (Shoshanna), Eli Roth (Donny Donowitz)
Director: Quentin Tarantino and Eli Roth
Braveheart (1995)
Starring: Mel Gibson (William Wallace), Sophie Marceau (Princess Isabelle), Patrick McGoohan (King Edward I), Angus Macfadyen (Robert)
Director Mel Gibson
The Hurt Locker (2008)
Starring: Jeremy Renner (Sergeant First Class William James), Anthony Mackie (Sergeant JT Sanborn), Brian Geraghty (Specialist Owen Eldridge)
Director: Kathryn Bigelow
Apocalypse Now (1979)
Starring: Marlon Brando (Colonel Walter), Robert Duvall (Lieutenant Colonel Bill), Martin Sheen (Captain Benjamin)
Director: Francis Coppola
Black Hawk Down (2001)
Starring: Josh Hartnett (Eversman), Ewan McGregor (Grimes), Tom Sizemore (McKnight)
Director: Ridley Scott
The Great Escape (1963)
Starring: Steve McQueen (Hilts), James Garner (Hendley), Richard Attenborough (Bartlett)
Director: John Sturges
Pearl Harbor (2001)
Starring: Ben Affleck (Capt. Rafe McCawley), Josh Hartnett (Capt. Danny Walker), Kate Beckinsale (Nurse Lt. Evelyn Johnson)
Director: Michael Bay
Paths of Glory (1957)
Starring: Kirk Douglas (Col. Dax), Ralph Meeker (Cpl. Philippe Paris), Adolphe Menjou (Gen. George Broulard)
Director: Stanley Kubrick
Schindler’s List (1993)
Starring: Liam Neeson (Oskar Schindler), Ben Kingsley (Itzhak Stern), Ralph Fiennes (Amon Goeth)
Director: Steven Spielberg
Biopic
Showcasing one’s life on the silver screen is no child’s play! Our filmmakers have time and again sneak-peeked into the lives of some of the most famous personalities in history. Be it Abraham Lincoln or Mahatma Gandhi, we have biopics made on all of them. And yes, they are commercially successful too.
Lincoln (2012)
Starring: Daniel Day-Lewis (Abraham Lincoln), Sally Field (Mary Lincoln), David Strathairn (William Seward)
Director: Steven Spielberg
My Left Foot (1989)
Starring: Daniel Day-Lewis (Christy Brown), Brenda Fricker (Bridget Brown), Ray McAnally (Paddy Brown)
Director: Jim Sheridan
A Beautiful Mind (2001)
Starring: Russell Crowe (John Nash), Ed Harris (Parcher), Jennifer Connelly (Alicia Nash)
Director: Ron Howard
Ali (2001)
Starring: William Smith (Muhammad Ali), Jamie Foxx (Drew Brown), Jon Voight (Howard Cosell)
Director: Michael Mann
Elizabeth: The Golden Age (2007)
Starring: Cate Blanchett (Queen Elizabeth I), Geoffrey Rush (Sir Francis Walsingham), Clive Owen (Sir Walter Raleigh)
Director: Shekar Kapur
GoodFellas (1990)
Starring: Robert De Niro (James Conway), Ray Liotta (Henry Hill), Joe Pesci (Tommy DeVito)
Director: Martin Scorsese
Raging Bull (1980)
Starring: Robert De Niro (Jake LaMotta), Cathy Moriarty (Vickie Thailer) , Joe Pesci (Joey LaMotta)
Director: Martin Scorsese
The Aviator (2004)
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio (Howard Hughes), Cate Blanchett (Katherine Hepburn), Kate Beckinsale (Ava Gardner)
Director: Martin Scorsese
The Pianist (2002)
Starring: Adrein Brody (Wladyslaw Szpilman), Dorota (Emilia Fox), Michal Zebrowski (Jurek)
Director: Roman Polański
Gandhi (1982)
Starring: Ben Kingsley (Mahatma Gandhi), Candice Bergen (Margaret Bourke), Edward Fox (Genreal Dyer)
Director: Richard Attenborough
History
Michael Crichton once said, “If you don’t know history, then you don’t know anything. You are a leaf that doesn’t know it is part of a tree.”
What better way to know about it than our movies! Some of the most famous historical characters and events have inspired our filmmakers over the years, and their greatness and strength of character have been beautifully replicated in these movies.
Gladiator (2000)
Starring: Russell Crowe (Maximus Decimus Meridius), Joaquin Phoenix (Commodus), Connie Nielsen (Lucilla)
Director: Ridley Scott
Ben-Hur (1959)
Starring: Charlton Heston (Judah Ben-Hur), Jack Hawkins (Quintus Arrius), Haya Harareet (Esther)
Director: William Wyler
The Last Samurai (2003)
Starring: Tom Cruise (Nathan Algren), Ken Watanabe (Katsumoto)
Director: Edward Zwick
Henry V (1989)
Starring: Kenneth Branagh (King Henry V), Paul Scofield (King Charles VI of France), Derek Jacobi (Narration)
Director: Kenneth Branagh
Defiance (2008)
Starring: Daniel Craig (Tuvia Bielski), Liev Schreiber (Zus Bielski), Jamie Bell (Asael Bielski)
Director: Edward Zwick
Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
Starring: Peter O’Toole (T.E. Lawrence), Alec Guinness (Prince Feisal), Anthony Quinn (Auda Abu Tayi)
Director: David Lean
Spartacus (1960)
Starring: Kirk Douglas (Spartacus), Laurence Olivier (Crassus), Jean Simmons (Varinia)
Director: Stanley Kubrick
300 (2006)
Starring: Gerard Butler (King Leonidas), Lena Headey (Queen Gorgo), Dominic West (Theron)
Director: Zack Snyder
JFK (1991)
Starring: Kevin Costner (Jim Garrison), Kevin Bacon (Willie O’Keefe), Tommy Lee Jones (Clay Shaw)
Director: Oliver Stone
The Last Emperor (1987)
Starring: John Lone (Pu Yi – Adult), Joan Chen (Wan Jung)
Director: Bernardo Bertolucci
Horror
Do you have a weak heart? Then you better stay from these movies, else your health condition may worsen! Our filmmakers have made some of the scariest movies, that are sure to give you sleepless nights for a long time.
The Exorcist (1973)
Starring: Ellen Burstyn (Chris MacNeil), Max Von Sydow (Father Merrin), Lee J. Cobb (Lt. William Kinderman)
Director: William Friedkin
Psycho (1960)
Starring: Anthony Perkins (Norman Bates), Vera Miles (Lila Crane), Janet Leigh (Marion Crane)
Director: Alfred Hitchcock
The Ring (2002)
Starring: Naomi Watts (Rachel Keller), Martin Henderson (Noah Clay), David Dorfman (Aidan Keller)
Director: Gore Verbinski
The Shining (1980)
Starring: Jack Nicholson (Jack Torrance), Shelley Duvall (Wendy Torrance), Danny Lloyd (Danny Torrance)
Director: Stanley Kubrick
Ju-on: The Grudge (2002)
Starring: Megumi Okina (Rika Nishina), Misaki Ito (Hitomi Tokunaga), Yui Ichikawa (Izumi Toyama)
Director: Takashi Shimizu
The Thing (2011)
Starring: Mary Elizabeth Winstead (Kate Lloyd), Joel Edgerton (Sam Carter), Ulrich Thomsen (Dr. Sandra Halvorson)
Director: Matthijs van Heijningen Jr.
Orphan (2009)
Starring: Vera Farmiga (Kate Coleman), Peter Sarsgaard (John Coleman), Isabelle Fuhrman (Esther), CCH Pounder (Sister Abigail)
Director: Jaume Collet-Serra
Paranormal Activity (2007 – 2012)
Starring: Katie Featherston (Katie), Micah Sloat (Micah)
The Omen (1976, 2006)
Starring: Gregory Peck (Robert Thorn) & Lee Remick (Katherine Thorn) in 1976 movie, Liev Schreiber (Robert Thorn) & Julia Stiles (Katherine Thorn) in 2006 movie.
Director: Richard Donner (1976), John Moore (2006)
Mirrors (2008, 2010)
Starring: Kiefer Sutherland (Ben Carson) & Paula Patton (Amy Carson) in 2008 movie; Nick Stahl (Max Matheson) & Emmanuelle Vaugier (Elizabeth Reigns) in 2010 movie
Director: Alexandre Aja, Grégory Levasseur
Comedy
Entertainment is the sole reason for watching movies, and what better genre to release your stress than comedy! From Rom-Coms to slapstick comedy, this genre has it all. After watching these movies, you are sure to fall off your chair, laughing. Check out this one:
“There’s no reason to become alarmed, and we hope you’ll enjoy the rest of your flight. By the way, is there anyone on board who knows how to fly a plane?” – Airplane (1980) – Elaine Dickinson (Julie Hagerty)
Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975)
Starring: Graham Chapman (King Arthur), John Cleese (Sir Lancelot), Terry Gilliam (Patsy)
Director: Terry Gilliam, Terry Jones
The 40 Year Old Virgin (2005)
Starring: Steve Carell (Andy), Catherine Keener (Trish), Paul Rudd (David)
Director: Judd Apatow
The Hangover (2009, 2011, 2013)
Starring: Bradley Cooper (Phil), Ed Helms (Stu), Zach Galifianakis (Alan), Justin Bartha (Doug)
Director: Todd Phillips
The Pink Panther (1963 – 2009)
Starring: Peter Sellers (Inspector Jacques Clouseau) in The Pink Panther (1963), A Shot in the Dark (1964), The Return of the Pink Panther (1975), The Pink Panther Strikes Again (1976), Revenge of the Pink Panther (1978), Trail of the Pink Panther (1982)
Rush Hour (1998, 2001, 2007)
Starring: Jackie Chan (Inspector Lee), Chris Tucker (Detective Carter)
Director: Brett Ratner
The Mask (1994)
Starring: Jim Carrey (Mask), Peter Riegert (Lt. Mitch Kellaway), Peter Greene (Dorian Tyrell)
Director: Chuck Russell
Liar Liar (1997)
Starring: Jim Carrey (Fletcher Reede), Maura Tierney (Audrey Reede), Cary Elwes (Jerry), Jennifer Tilly (Samantha Cole)
Director: Tom Shadyac
Bad Santa (2003)
Starring: Billy Bob Thornton (Willie), Tony Cox (Marcus), Brett Kelly (The Kid)
Director: Terry Zwigoff
Home Alone (1990 – 2012)
Starring: Kevin McCallister played by Macaulay Culkin in Home Alone, Home Alone 2: Lost in New York; Mike Weinberg in Home Alone 4
Animated
From the fist animated movie, our films have come a long way! The quality of animation has improved so much that now even popular stars are giving their voices to the characters. Angeline Jolie was the voice for Tigress in the first Kung-Fu Panda movie. Like the mainstream movies, sequels are made for this genre as well!
Finding Nemo (2003)
Starring: Albert Brooks (Marlin), Bob Peterson (Mr. Ray), Alexander Gould (Nemo)
Director: Andrew Stanton
Ratatouille (2007)
Starring: Patton Oswalt (Remy), Ian Holm (Skinner), Lou Romano (Linguini)
Director: Brad Bird, Jan Pinkava
Madagascar (2005, 2008, 2012)
Starring: Ben Stiller (Alex), Chris Rock (Marty), David Schwimmer (Melman), Jada Pinkett Smith (Gloria)
Ice Age (2002 – 2012)
Starring: Ray Romano (Manny), John Leguizamo (Sid), Denis Leary (Diego), Chris Wedge (Scrat)
Up (2009)
Starring: Edward Asner (Carl Fredricksen), Christopher Plummer (Charles Muntz), Jordan Nagai (Russell)
Director: Peter Docter and Bob Peterson
The Incredibles (2004)
Starring: Craig T. Nelson (Mr. Incredible), Holly Hunter (Elastigirl), Samuel Jackson (Frozone)
Director: Brad Bird
Kung Fu Panda (2008, 2011)
Starring: Jack Black (Po), Dustin Hoffman (Shifu)
Toy Story (1995, 1999, 2010)
Starring: Tom Hanks (Woody), Buzz Lightyear played by Tim Allen in Toy Story, Toy Story 2; Tim Allen
Javier in Toy Story 3
The Lion King (1994, 1998, 2004)
Starring: Simba played by Jonathan Taylor Thomas, Matthew Broderick; Matthew Broderick & Cam Clarke in The Lion King II: Simba’s Pride; Matt Weinberg & Matthew Broderick in The Lion King 1½
Shrek (2001, 2007, 2010)
Starring: Mike Myers (Shrek), Cameron Diaz (Fiona)
Director: Andrew Adamson & Vicky Jenson
Action
“The name’s Bond..James Bond!” This line needs no introduction or explanation! Such is the fan following of action movies. Most action movies have an overwhelming response, and action heroes are worshiped above all others. With so many classics in this genre, it is extremely difficult to list out a few best…
Kill Bill (2003, 2004)
Starring: Uma Thurman (The Bride), Lucy Liu (O-Ren Ishii), David Carradine (Bill)
Director: Quentin Tarantino
Sin City (2005)
Starring: Jessica Alba (Nancy Callahan), Devon Aoki (Miho), Alexis Bledel (Becky), Bruce Willis (John Hartigan)
Director: Frank Miller, Robert Rodriguez, and Quentin Tarantino
Rambo (1982 – 2008)
Starring: Sylvester Stallone (John Rambo)
Die Hard (1988 – 2013)
Starring: Bruce Willis (John McClane)
True Lies (1994)
Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger (Harry Tasker), Jamie Lee Curtis (Helen Tasker), Tom Arnold (Albert Gibson)
Director: James Cameron
Commando (1985)
Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger (John Matrix), Rae Dawn Chong (Cindy), Dan Hedaya (Arius), Vernon Wells (Bennett)
Director: Mark L. Lester
Mission Impossible (1996 – 2011)
Starring: Tom Cruise (Ethan Hunt), Ving Rhames (Luther Stickell)
Batman Trilogy (2005, 2008, 2012)
Starring: Christian Bale (Bruce Wayne/Batman)
Director: Christopher Nolan
The Bourne Series (2002 – 2012)
Starring: Matt Damon (Jason Bourne) in The Bourne Identity, The Bourne Supremacy and The Bourne Ultimatum; Jeremy Renner (Aaron Cross)
Director: Christopher Nolan
Bond Series (1962-2012)
Starring: James Bond played by Sean Connery in Dr. No, From Russia With Love, Goldfinger, Thunderball, You Only Live Twice, Diamonds Are Forever, Never Say Never Again; George Lazenby in On Her Majesty’s Service; Roger Moore in Live and Let Die, The Man with the Golden Gun, The Spy who Loved Me, Moonraker, For Your Eyes Only, Octopussy, A View to a Kill; Timothy Dalton in The Living Daylights, Licence To Kill; Pierce Brosnan in Goldeneye, Tomorrow Never Dies, The World Is Not Enough, Die Another Day; Daniel Craig in Casino Royale, Quantum of Solace and Skyfall
Sci-Fi
Science fiction has always caught the eye of our filmmakers. There have been hosts of movies based on scripts involving the unexplored world of dreams, robots, etc. Given the scope this genre has, there are many more superb movies waiting to be made!
Inception (2010)
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio (Cobb), Joseph Gordon-Levitt (Arthur), Ellen Page (Ariadne), Tom Hardy (Eames)
Director: Christopher Nolan
The Matrix (1999)
Starring: Keanu Reeves (Neo), Laurence Fishburne (Morpheus), Carrie-Anne Moss (Trinity), Hugo Weaving (Agent Smith)
Director: Andrew Paul Wachowski, Lana Wachowski
Star Trek (2009)
Starring: Chris Pine (Kirk), Zachary Quinto (Spock), Leonard Nimoy (Spock Prime), Eric Bana (Nero), Bruce Greenwood (Pike)
Director: J. J. Abrams
The Terminator (1984)
Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger (Terminator), Michael Biehn (Kyle Reese), Linda Hamilton (Sarah Connor), Paul Winfield (Lieutenant Ed Traxler)
Director: James Cameron
Total Recall (1990)
Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger (Douglas Quaid), Sharon Stone (Lori Quaid), Rachel Tictoin (Melina), Ronny Cox (Cohaagen)
Director: Paul Verhoeven
War of the Worlds (2005)
Starring: Tom Cruise (Ray Ferrier), Dakota Fanning (Rachel Ferrier), Miranda Otto (Mary Ann), Justin Chatwin (Robbie), Tim Robbins (Harlan Ogilvy)
Director: Steven Spielberg
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
Starring: Henry Thomas (Elliott), Dee Wallace (Mary), Peter Coyote (Keys), Drew Barrymore (Gertie)
Director: Steven Spielberg
Independence Day (1996)
Starring: Will Smith (Captain Steven Hiller), Bill Pullman (President Thomas), Jeff Goldblum (David Levinson), Mary McDonnell (First Lady)
Director: Roland Emmerich
Men in Black (1997 – 2012)
Starring: Tommy Lee Jones (Agent K/Kevin Brown), Will Smith (James Darrell Edwards III/Agent J)
Director: Barry Sonnenfeld
X-Men (2000 – 2011)
Starring: Hugh Jackman (James Howlett/Logan/Wolverine), Patrick Stewart (Professor Charles Xavier), Ian McKellen (Magneto), Halle Berry (Storm)
Adventure
Though pretty similar to the action genre, there are a few specifically made adventure movies in the recent times like, Indiana Jones, Jaws, etc. In these movies, a lot of attention has been given to details like sets, backdrops, etc. This is a combined genre which includes period films, alongside sci-fi and war movies.
Indiana Jones (1981 – 2008)
Starring: Harrison Ford (Indiana Jones)
Director: Steven Spielberg
Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001)
Starring: Angelina Jolie (Lara Croft), Daniel Craig (Alex West)
Director: Simon West
The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948)
Starring: Humphrey Bogart (Dobbs), Walter Huston (Howard),Tim Holt (Curtin), Bruce Bennett (Cody)
Director: John Huston
The Gold Rush (1925)
Starring: Charlie Chaplin (The Lone Prospector), Mack Swain (Big Jim McKay), Tom Murray (Black Larsen)
Director: Charlie Chaplin
Treasure Island (1934, 1990, 1950)
Starring: Wallace Beery (Long John Silver), Jackie Cooper (Jim Hawkins), Lionel Barrymore (Billy Bones) in 1934 movie; Bobby Driscoll (Jim Hawkins), Robert Newton (Long John Silver), Basil Sydney (Captain Smollett) in 1950 movie; Charlton Heston (Long John Silver), Christian Bale (Jim Hawkins), Clive Wood (Captain Smollett) in 1990 movie.
2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
Starring: Keir Dullea (Dr. Dave Bowman), Gary Lockwood (Dr. Frank Poole), William Sylvester (Dr. Heywood R. Floyd)
Director: Stanley Kubrick
Back to the Future (1985, 1989, 1990)
Starring: Michael Fox (Marty McFly), Christopher Lloyd (Dr. Brown), Lea Thompson (Lorraine Baines), Crispin Glover (George McFly)
Director: Robert Zemeckis
The Princess Bride (1987)
Starring: Cary Elwes (Westley), Mandy Patinkin (Inigo Montoya), Chris Sarandon (Prince Humperdinck), Christopher Guest (Count Tyrone Rugen)
Director: Rob Reiner
The Goonies (1985)
Starring: Sean Astin (Mikey), Josh Brolin (Brand), Jeff Cohen (Chunk), Corey Feldman (Mouth)
Director: Richard Donner
The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938)
Starring: Errol Flynn (Robin Hood), Basil Rathbone (Sir Guy of Gisborne), Olivia de Havilland (Maid Marian)
Director: Michael Curtiz, William Keighley
If the lists didn’t match or your favorite movie didn’t make it to our list, feel free to add the same to our comments section and we will update our list accordingly. Till then, happy movie watching!