Why Reddit Matters
Before diving into the rankings, it‘s worthwhile to address why Reddit users‘ opinions carry weight. With over 50 million daily active users, Reddit facilitates passionate discussions across endless topics – including movies.
Unlike professional critics who analyze film through an academic lens, Reddit represents real movie fans. The site‘s subreddit r/movies with over 28 million members regularly debates everything from classic masterpieces to the latest releases.
By observing which titles keep appearing in "best ever" conversations, we can gauge what real audiences revere. We can also discover lesser-known gems celebrated by devoted cinephiles.
While no list can be definitive, Reddit‘s widespread user base provides a compelling peek at films that have truly captivated viewers. So let‘s explore the platform‘s top 15 movies of all time.
15. Fargo (1996)
The first entry on the list comes from the prolific Coen Brothers. This 1990s dark comedy earns acclaim for its quirky characters, mounting tension, regional aesthetics, and a star-making lead performance.
Taking inspiration from true crimes, the premise follows pregnant cop Marge Gunderson (Frances McDormand) investigating grisly homicides. As she pieces together clues, it‘s revealed the killings trace back to a botched kidnapping scheme orchestrated by a pathetic car salesman (William H. Macy).
Balancing gleeful absurdity with bursts of violence, Fargo encapsulates the Coens‘ unique style. The film netted them their first Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay. And McDormand took home the Oscar for Best Actress – setting her on a path to future glory in Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri.
14. Jurassic Park (1993)
In this Hollywood blockbuster, legendary director Steven Spielberg brings dinosaurs to terrifying life through landmark CGI effects. It was a technical achievement that redefined what was possible in big-screen illusion.
Based on Michael Crichton‘s novel, the basic premise sees scientists clone extinct species to populate a wildlife park attraction. But when a tropical storm hits, the power goes out – allowing the mighty beasts to run amok.
What ensues is a thrilling rollercoaster filled with iconic pop culture moments. Periodic effects imperfections only increase the tactile sense of awe and wonder. Jurassic Park became a worldwide phenomenon that still inspires films today. Its use of animatronics and CGI set new benchmarks other titles struggle to match.
13. Star Wars (1977)
With a sprawling multi-generational fandom, debate around the greatest Star Wars film will never cease. But Reddit gives the edge to George Lucas‘s game-changing original that introduced beloved characters Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Princess Leia, and Darth Vader.
Star Wars redefined Hollywood blockbusters thanks to nostalgic serial-style storytelling melded with groundbreaking world-building. Lucas crafted an expansive lived-in galaxy brimming with intricate creatures and technology. Add in archetypal themes of good vs. evil alongside John Williams‘ rousing score, and the cultural resonance is astronomical.
While divisive prequels, sequels, and spin-offs followed, nothing matches the fresh wonder and sheer imagination conjured through this initial light speed jump to a galaxy far, far away.
12. The Graduate (1967)
Mike Nichols‘ landmark coming-of-age tale spoke profoundly to youth of the 1960s through themes of alienation, materialism, and commandeering one‘s purpose in life. Star-making lead Dustin Hoffman plays Benjamin Braddock, a listless college grad rebelling against expectations by entering an affair with a middle-aged family friend (Anne Bancroft as the infamous Mrs. Robinson).
With richness transcending any single generation, The Graduate remains painfully relevant in its societal observations. Simon & Garfunkel‘s songs punctuate the atmosphere. And Nichols enhances standout moments through inventive shot compositions and editing rhythms. The film continues to influence both comedies and dramas tackling restless modern angst.
11. Taxi Driver (1976)
Martin Scorsese has directed many masterworks, but his gritty post-Watergate vision Taxi Driver remains an all-timer. The film reflects festering New York City tensions in the mid-1970s while exploring one unhinged man‘s psyche collapsing through isolation.
As disturbed veteran turned graveyard shift driver, Travis Bickle, Robert De Niro delivers arguably his most iconic performance. Sporting a mohawk, this ticking time bomb of toxic masculinity descends into violent vigilantism aimed at "cleaning up" the streets. Supporting turns by a 12-year old Jodie Foster and Harvey Keitel intensify the tonal tightrope act.
Layered with controversy and sociopolitical angst, Taxi Driver still reigns as Scorsese‘s most searing urban nightmare – catapulting De Niro into lasting stardom along the way. The chilling climax alone warrants its status as an all-time great.
10. No Country for Old Men (2007)
The Coen brothers score double entries thanks to this Academy darling based on Cormac McCarthy‘s novel. Embracing nail-biting tension over backwoods landscapes, No Country ranks among the finest crime thrillers ever constructed – led by jailbreak psycho Anton Chigurh (Javier Bardem).
After stumbling upon $2 million left at a drug deal gone wrong, humble welder Llewelyn Moss (Josh Brolin) takes the cash only to end up the target of relentless bounty hunters. Weary sheriff Ed Tom Bell (Tommy Lee Jones) tries to intervene while attempting to grasp society‘s endless violence.
With serpentine plotting and imagery mimicking motifs in McCarthy‘s prose, the Coens invoke an existential abyss unmatched in any of their works. Stomach-churning sequences cement it as a towering achievement for all involved.
9. Easy Rider (1969)
Symbolizing rebellion in the Summer of Love era, Dennis Hopper‘s counterculture road trip Easy Rider echoes calls for freedom through motorcycle adventurers Wyatt "Captain America" (Hopper) and Billy (Peter Fonda). Along their southwestern journey towards Mardi Gras, they befriend alcoholic lawyer George Hanson (Jack Nicholson in a star-making performance) only to confront violent prejudice in the deep South.
With landmark editing styles and smoked-out cinematography mirroring the lead characters‘ drug-fueled quest for escape, Easy Rider spoke irresistibly to 1960s youth. Steeped in period soundtrack songs by Jimi Hendrix, The Byrds, and others, this anti-establishment fable forever changed independent filmmaking. Today, it endures through themes championing the open highway as a conduit towards self-discovery.
8. Dr. Strangelove (1964)
With the threat of nuclear catastrophe escalating in the 1960s, only iconic satirist Stanley Kubrick could fashion such a scathing and hilarious indictment of military madness. Weaving together four distinct storylines, a rogue Air Force general‘s (Sterling Hayden) order to drop an atomic bomb on Russia sends politicians and generals scrambling whilst confined to a NATO war room.
Peter Sellers showcases hilarious range through three roles – including the bizarrely accented title advisor. Slim Pickens‘ cowboy-esque major memorably rides a bomb like a bucking bronco all the way down. Plus, George C. Scott stands out as the gum-chomping General Buck Turgidson, epitomizing overzealous war hawks. The humor holds up with Monty Python-level absurdity that masks sobering truths.
7. Days of Heaven (1978)
Revered as iconic auteur Terrence Malick‘s finest mosaic, Days of Heaven finds transcendent beauty in early 20th Century farm life – even as conflicts bubble beneath the surface. Richard Gere and Brooke Adams pose as siblings to avoid moral judgement, only for Adams‘ character to marry their wealthy but ailing boss (Sam Shepard).
Magic hour cinematography over rustic vistas earned Oscar-winning acclaim. And Linda Manz‘s wispy voiceover narration further poeticizes themes of innocence lost. Hailed as arguably the most gorgeous film ever photographed, Days of Heaven flows like a fleeting memory destined to ripple through time. Hypnotic and heartbreaking in equal measure.
6. City Lights (1931)
Legendary pioneer Charlie Chaplin showcases his signature physical comedy through his iconic "Little Tramp" character in this critically worshipped silent romance. The trademark Tramp develops an impromptu friendship with a blind flower seller (Virginia Cherrill), eventually falling for her without revealing his true penniless status.
City Lights meshes uproarious slapstick set pieces with extraordinary pathos in its final moments – cementing it as Chaplin‘s crowning achievement. Despite arriving after Hollywood embraced sound, Chaplin‘s perfected interplay of music and pantomime rendering dialogue unnecessary. Multiple scenes remain etched in comedy echelons, particularly the ensuing chaos when the Tramp enters a boxing match. Eighty-plus years since release, City Lights endlessly inspires laughter and tears.
5. Spirited Away (2001)
Japanese animation icon Hayao Miyazaki reaches sublime heights through this wondrous Alice in Wonderland-esque fantasy. The coming-of-age fable follows ten-year-old Chihiro after her family becomes trapped in the spirit world. Chihiro secures a job at a magical bathhouse for spirits and gods overseen by the witch Yubaba, hoping to free her parents from a dark spell.
Blending traditional hand-drawn animation with modern digital techniques, Spirited Away builds an immersive realm brimming with imagination. Mythic creatures and dazzling imagery come to life through detailed artistry and world-building not replicated since. The film captured Miyazaki his first competitive Academy Award, serving as a gateway for Western viewers into the acclaimed Studio Ghibli catalog.
4. The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966)
Completing "The Man With No Name" trilogy, Sergio Leone‘s epic showdown features bounty hunting anti-hero Blondie (Clint Eastwood) forming an unlikely alliance with bandit Tuco (Eli Wallach) during the American Civil War. As they pursue buried treasure, they must outpace the murderous Angel Eyes (Lee Van Cleef).
From sun-drenched vistas to extreme close-ups heighteningtension, Leone amplifies stylistic elements from preceding "Dollars" entries into a sprawling opus. Ennio Morricone‘s iconic score ties it all together. None of its nearly three-hour runtime feels excessive as these magnetic figures navigate changing loyalties and death-defying gambits towards an iconic three-way duel. Its influential techniques and performative heights remain downright mythic.
3. Seven Samurai (1954)
Hailed as one of cinema‘s supreme feats, Akira Kurosawa‘s rousing adventure epic chronicles seven warriors recruited to defend a struggling village against ruthless bandits. Leading the ensemble is veteran swordsman Kambei Shimada as he prepares peasants for the incoming attack.
Despite its nearly 3.5 hour length, Seven Samurai quickens the pulse through richly developed bonds between samurai men from various backgrounds. Seasoned thespians like Takashi Shimura and Toshiro Mifune deliver fiercely charismatic turns that have inspired countless characters since. Beyond just thrills, the film mines substantial philosophical insights on loyalty and service. Seven Samurai reigns as a cinematic temple few works dare approach.
2. 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
Stanley Kubrick‘s mind-melting sci-fi head trip simultaneously mystifies and entrances through its cosmic scale spanning prehistoric evolution towards interdimensional star gate travel. After a tribe of apes discovers an alien monolith, flash forwards trace mankind‘s technological leaps launching astronauts towards Jupiter seeking clues linked to extraterrestrial life.
Award-winning special effects envisioning lunar landscapes and space flight create an experiential spectacle. Meanwhile, classical music selections and graphic match cuts signal Kubrick‘s meticulous craft. An 18-minute "Star Gate" finale catapults viewers into surreality circling questions on humanity‘s past and future. Daringly ambiguous and visually hypnotic, 2001‘s innovations establish it as the quintessential sci-fi film.
1. The Godfather (1972)
Francis Ford Coppola‘s sprawling mob opus has not just cast an inescapable influence on gangster dramas, but all of contemporary cinema.detailing the Corleone crime family‘s multigenerational rise to power. Marlon Brando delivers career-defining work as aging patriarch Vito, alongside Al Pacino as youngest son Michael, assuming control through corruption and calculated vengeance.
With elaborate set pieces centered on lavish Italian weddings, mob negotiations, and shocking assassinations, The Godfather immerses through rich world-building and Shakespearean character arcs. Coppola laces even small talk dialogue scenes with simmering dread thanks to iconic contributions by Robert Duvall, James Caan, and Diane Keaton. Every frame brims with majesty and pathos, ensuring its legacy remains etched as an unequivocal masterpiece.
