Since 1895, when Auguste and Louis Lumière utilized a cinematograph machine to display moving images onto a screen, audiences have been enthralled by cinema. Naturally, films have come a long way since the days of 50-second reels, resulting in a wide range of styles, many of which can be simply streamed from the comfort of your own home. Meanwhile, each cinematic age has produced its collection of immortal classics.

The best movies are undoubtedly the peak of artistic achievement in the modern period, which makes them deserving of repeat viewings. Stacker used IMDb ratings and Metascores to compile a list of the top 5 movies of all time. a score based on an equal weighting of the two Only films released in English in the United States were considered for the list. In addition, each film required at least 20,000 votes on IMDb, and if the film lacked a Metascore, it was excluded.

It all comes down to auteurism, which explains why most films age poorly while a select handful seems to improve with age. The stronger the creative stamp a filmmaker can put on their work, the more likely it is to gain in value over time. Many of the films on this list do not take place during their corresponding times, which is a significant tendency. It’s often safer to represent the past, future, or another universe entirely than it is to depict the present reality.

Great films frequently succeed on multiple levels. That means everything about it is memorable, if not downright legendary, from the screenplay to the music to the acting. At the end of the day, just as there is no one-size-fits-all type of great film, there is no one-size-fits-all answer to what constitutes a great film.

Amadeus (1984) – Milos Forman, director – Stacker score: 89.1

– Metascore (out of 100): 88

– 8.3 IMDb user rating

– Total running time: 160 minutes

The life of Amadeus Mozart is chronicled in this 1984 biopic through the perspective of his bitter contemporary Antonio Salieri. To achieve authenticity, filmmaker Milos Forman shot the picture using solely natural light, emulating Stanley Kubrick’s approach when producing “Barry Lyndon.” Tom Hulce went above and above in his preparation for his role as the famed composer, studying the piano for four to five hours a day before filming began. “Amadeus” was nominated for eight Academy Awards, including Best Picture.

Kathryn Bigelow directed The Hurt Locker (2008).

– Stacker’s rating: 89.1

– Metascore (out of 100): 95

– 7.6 IMDb user rating

– 131-minute runtime

With the release of her gripping Iraq War film, “The Hurt Locker,” Kathryn Bigelow’s career took off in a new direction. A bomb disposal crew is followed from one job to the next in this video. Rather than traditional character development, the story rides a wave of unrelenting, almost intolerable tension. It was nominated for six Academy Awards, making Bigelow the first woman to win Best Director.

Stacker score: 89.1 for Mad Max: Fury Road (2015), directed by George Miller.

– 90 Metascore

– 8.1 IMDb user rating

– Total running time: 120 minutes

In 2015, director George Miller recreated his iconic “Mad Max” franchise, with Tom Hardy replacing Mel Gibson in the lead role. Most fans, however, would argue that Furiosa, played by Charlize Theron, steals the show in this brilliant adventure film, in which she and Mad Max escape the clutches of an evil warlord. The violent action takes place in a post-apocalyptic wasteland populated by a variety of filthy individuals, as one might anticipate. Six of the ten Academy Awards for which it was nominated were won by the film.

Stacker score: 89.1 for The Truman Show (1998), directed by Peter Weir.

– 90 Metascore

– 8.1 IMDb user rating

– 103-minute runtime

“The Truman Show,” released in 1998, is set in a completely fabricated town where cameras lurk around every corner and every citizen is a professional actor or actress. Except for Truman Burbank (Jim Carrey), who is unwittingly the focus of a 24-hour reality show. Truman’s snug reality begins to crumble around him as he realizes the reason behind his existence. Meanwhile, from on high, a megalomaniac named Christof (Ed Harris) pulls the strings. A psychological ailment known as the Truman Show exemplifies how powerful the film was and continues to be. Delusion is called after a delusion in the film Delusion.

Stacker score: 89.1 for Finding Nemo (2003), directed by Andrew Stanton and Lee Unkrich.

– 90 Metascore

– 8.1 IMDb user rating

– Total running time: 100 minutes

It’s no wonder that Pixar leads when it comes to the best films of the twenty-first century, given the studio’s mastery of storytelling and computer animation. This 2003 adventure, in which a clownfish named Marlin navigates a treacherous undersea environment in search of his missing son, Nemo, is one of its most well-known works. This was Pixar’s highest-grossing film until the release of “The Incredibles 2” in 2018. The animated film was so popular that a spin-off sequel, “Finding Dory,” was released in June 2016. “Finding Marlin,” the third installment, will be released in 2026.

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