I understand there might be difference of opinion here, but this list is purely according to my favorites. Now I thought of filtering it with genres but that wouldn't serve the purpose of this post, which is to encourage other genre fans to try out new genres.
The list will keep updating as new movies will come up. So don't forget to keep coming back here to find some quality movies.
Note: The following list is un-ordered.
1. Les Misérables: In 19th-century France, Jean Valjean, who for decades has been hunted by the ruthless policeman Javert after he breaks parole, agrees to care for factory worker Fantine's daughter, Cosette. The fateful decision changes their lives forever.
This movie in every aspect is well made. The script, the songs, acting, direction, art, camera and the list never ends. Each character is powerful and no matter how short the role is, it has been enacted with gusto. My personal favorite? Javert - The strongest character, yet so simple. Few people found him to be a confused one, but I beg to differ.
Don't wait, if you appreciate a good drama-musical movie - Look Down, to this one.
2. The Shawshank Redemption: Two imprisoned men bond over a number of years, finding solace and eventual redemption through acts of common decency.
This comes under twisted climax genre :) or so I like to call it. I was never a Frank Darabont fan, and then I saw 'The Mist' followed by 'The Green Mile'. He surely knows how to engage the audience and baffle them at the end specially.
20. Schindler's list: In Poland during World War II, Oskar Schindler gradually becomes concerned for his Jewish workforce after witnessing their persecution by the Nazis.
The list will keep updating as new movies will come up. So don't forget to keep coming back here to find some quality movies.
Note: The following list is un-ordered.
1. Les Misérables: In 19th-century France, Jean Valjean, who for decades has been hunted by the ruthless policeman Javert after he breaks parole, agrees to care for factory worker Fantine's daughter, Cosette. The fateful decision changes their lives forever.
Don't wait, if you appreciate a good drama-musical movie - Look Down, to this one.
2. The Shawshank Redemption: Two imprisoned men bond over a number of years, finding solace and eventual redemption through acts of common decency.
Oh and there's Mr. Freeman. If I own a robot, I would definitely prefer its voice to be of Morgan Freeman's. Apart from his dynamic acting, you can never get bored of hearing his dialogues.
3. The Green Mile: The lives of guards on Death Row are affected by one of their charges: a black man accused of child murder and rape, yet who has a mysterious gift.
Another gem from Frank Darabont. Before I say anything about this movie, I want to say I will miss Michael Clark Duncan very much. You sir, were my favorite since I saw you in Daredevil. And after watching this movie? I got no words for you.
The script is so engaging, you will always keep wondering whats gonna happen next. Tom Hanks needs no mentioning, only that this is one of his finest work. Without giving much spoilers this film has one of the most depressing and saddest scene in the history of cinema and is wonderfully executed.
4. The Godfather triology:
If you're here, you are a movie buff. Even if you're not, there is 99.99% possibility that you've already seen this triology. If not then, don't waste any more time. Rent or buy this movie today!
I would only say that The Godfather I, II & III are among most highest rated movies in Imdb.
5. Snatch: Unscrupulous boxing promoters, violent bookmakers, a Russian gangster, incompetent amateur robbers, and supposedly Jewish jewelers fight to track down a priceless stolen diamond.
Among all Guy Ritchie films, I think this is the most well made when it comes to direction. Needless to say all his films are witty, hilarious and full of thrills, but this one stands out from all.
Everything is great but I would like to mention here that the editing is of top notch quality. Brad Pitt's acting was mind blowing, specially in one of the scene which I am sure those you've watched this know which it is. I would rather not give out spoilers here. Jason Statham as 'Turkish' is marvelous.
6. Oldboy: After being kidnapped and imprisoned for 15 years, Oh Dae-Su is released, only to find that he must find his captor in 5 days.
Dae-su Oh, is kidnapped and kept imprisoned for no reason he knows of, for 15 years. Normally you wouldn't care. But the character of Dae-su is so well made and fed to the audience that you actually would want to find out what must he have done to get that punishment. The movie from the start itself is tight and keeps you on the edge. Its funny at times. Min-sik's acting as Dae-su Oh is mind blowing. Watch out for the action sequences, they are well made and look original.
I highly recommend this one among all Korean movies.
7. The City of God: Two boys growing up in a violent neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro take different paths: one becomes a photographer, the other a drug dealer.
Oh this movie! Reminds me of Slumdog Millionaire but its not. Totally different, totally awesome (not saying SM is bad). The cinematography is unforgettable. Brazil never looked so beautiful. The actors have done terrific job and the direction is just marvelous.
The title suits it so much, you'll understand after watching the movie. A must have in collection.
8. Argo: A dramatization of the 1980 joint CIA-Canadian secret operation to extract six fugitive American diplomatic personnel out of revolutionary Iran.
Ben Affleck, I have always liked you. After watching 'The Town' I knew you had extraordinary potential as a Director. And with this movie you have proved yourself and earned respect of me as well as billion other genuine movie lovers.
Whether you know the climax or not, it is gripping and certainly most nail biting in the history of cinema. The cinematography is superb and the screenplay writer deserves brownie points for this movie. Seriously, go for it!
9. Amélie: Amelie, an innocent and naive girl in Paris, with her own sense of justice, decides to help those around her and along the way, discovers love.
One of the worst mistakes of my life was to ignore this movie despite of its high rating, because I thought its a story about some nerd girl (as the poster had me thinking). But after watching the movie you would wish you had an Amelie in your life, as a friend, sister, wife or whatsoever. Her character is so brilliant and chirpy and witty and full of life that you can't help yourself but to fall in love with Amelie. The movie is funny and Audrey Tautou is the one and only who could have done justice to the character of Amelie, and she does it like none could/would have. Its a feel good movie and will certainly make your heart's heart cry tears of joy. My personal favorite.
10. Forrest Gump: Forrest Gump, while not intelligent, has accidentally been present at many historic moments, but his true love, Jenny Curran, eludes him.
Feeling inferior? Watch this one. This movie certainly is one of the most motivational movies of all time, intended to be so or not. It will make you cry and laugh or maybe even get you up to do something which you've been ignoring because you thought you might fail (my personal experience).
Tom Hanks as 'Forrest' is awesome. The dialogues are natural but powerful. I always watch this one when I am facing failure from all sides.
11. Batman - The Dark Knight: When Batman, Gordon and Harvey Dent launch an assault on the mob, they let the clown out of the box, the Joker, bent on turning Gotham on itself and bringing any heroes down to his level.
Two reasons are enough for you to watch this movie over and over again without skipping a single frame: (i) The Joker (ii) Christopher Nolan. Rest in Peace, Sir Heath Ledger for you have escalated the term 'actor' to a new pinnacle.
Hans Zimmer's background score, Christian Bale's acting, Michael Caine as 'Alfred', Heath ledger playing 'The Joker', surely the epicness of this movie cannot be described in words. For all reviewers have failed, so have I. I just wanna say one thing here, even if you don't watch this movie, just owning this movie will be epic within itself.
12. Downfall: Traudl Junge, the final secretary for Adolf Hitler, tells of the Nazi dictator's final days in his Berlin bunker at the end of WWII.
If you are into war/history movies. This should have already passed your list of watched movies along with 'Saving Private Ryan'. Hitler's character has been always negatively interesting to me since childhood and this movie certainly helped me understand him more.
Bruno Ganz as 'Adolf Hitler' was terrific. The dialogues and script is so engaging that a miss of a second of this movie will make you rewind back. Cinematography and editing is top notch. In all war movies, sound design is very important and I have to say the sound technicians have done a great job.
13. American Beauty: Lester Burnham, a depressed suburban father in a mid-life crisis, decides to turn his hectic life around after developing an infatuation for his daughter's attractive friend.
A strong message is conveyed through this movie. There is nothing beautiful about this one. Its dark, its saddening and its a near perfect movie. Kevin Spacey is awesome. Sam Mendes has done a wonderful job and you feel like each frame is crafted. No matter how much you prepare yourself for the big twist but it will get you, definitely.
Surely, this is a classic for those who love dark dramatic movies.
14. I am Sam: A mentally retarded man fights for custody of his 7-year-old daughter, and in the process teaches his cold-hearted lawyer the value of love and family.
Grab your tissues, this movie is sure to make you cry several times. Sean Penn has done such a beautiful acting that you can't help and watch every moves he makes on the screen. Sean Penn brings you deep inside his character and makes you feel how the character must have.
The story is so beautiful that it makes you watch all over again and again. Highly recommended.
15. King Kong: In 1933 New York, an overly ambitious movie producer coerces his cast and hired ship crew to travel to mysterious Skull Island, where they encounter Kong, a giant ape who is immediately smitten with leading lady Ann Darrow.
Some movies just visually blow you away. This is one of those movies. It takes you to another world. Whether its the thirties of New York or the Skull island (dark, foggy and mysteriously beautiful) Peter Jackson will take you there as if you were there in person.
Naomi Watts has never looked so beautiful, Adrien Broody is wonderful, Jack Black is awesome as the greedy bad guy. The CG is a quality to see. All the action sequences are carefully and marvelously handled. Should be watched on big screen and good sound system in full volume.
16. The Departed: An undercover state cop who infiltrated a Mafia clan and a mole in the police force working for the same mob race to track down and identify each other before being exposed to the enemy, after both sides realize their outfit has a rat.
This is probably Martin Scorsese's best work till date. We all know how Leonardo is good at acting, and so is Matt Damon. But both of them shine here extra ordinarily. The story and the soft and hard twist and turns keeps you engaged through out. Dialogues are razor sharp. And when the climax comes, it blows you away with a grenade.
The soundtrack is awesome. The cinematography suits the theme well and the editing is done skillfully. A must watch for crime/drama/thriller fans.
17. Inglourious Basterds: In Nazi-occupied France during World War II, a plan to assassinate Nazi leaders by a group of Jewish U.S. soldiers coincides with a theatre owner's vengeful plans for the same.
Nope, I didn't spell Inglourious Basterds wrong. The title is as such, I don't know the reason behind that. Maybe its Quentin Tarentino playing mind games with the audience. Kill me for this, but I liked this movie better than 'Pulp Fiction'. Reasons? Perfect casting. Christopher Waltz's first sequence where he single handedly thaws you with his dialogue delivery. Brad Pitt's excellent body language as a Basterd. Melaine's wonderful acting left me spell bound. Watch out for the theatre sequence.
It will make you feel that somehow this should have been a true story.
18. Pulp Fiction: The lives of two mob hit men, a boxer, a gangster's wife, and a pair of diner bandits intertwine in four tales of violence and redemption.
This movie's screenplay is, will and always be an example of how a perfect screen writing should be. This movie is not a roller coaster. Its not smooth free way either. This movie is a dirty road, with lots of bumps and turns and pot holes. Surprisingly no matter how dirty the road is, you will love it.
John & Samuel's presence on screen will always cheer you up. Love'em or hate'em, they will get in your mind. Uma Thurman proves her class of acting in this movie. Quentin Tarentino needs no introduction.
19. The Prestige: The rivalry between two magicians is exacerbated when one of them performs the ultimate illusion.
Every great magic trick consists of three parts or acts. The first part is called "The Pledge". The magician shows you something ordinary: a deck of cards, a bird or a man. He shows you this object. Perhaps he asks you to inspect it to see if it is indeed real, unaltered, normal. But of course... it probably isn't. The second act is called "The Turn". The magician takes the ordinary something and makes it do something extraordinary. Now you're looking for the secret... but you won't find it, because of course you're not really looking. You don't really want to know. You want to be fooled. But you wouldn't clap yet. Because making something disappear isn't enough; you have to bring it back. That's why every magic trick has a third act, the hardest part, the part we call "The Prestige".
3. The Green Mile: The lives of guards on Death Row are affected by one of their charges: a black man accused of child murder and rape, yet who has a mysterious gift.
The script is so engaging, you will always keep wondering whats gonna happen next. Tom Hanks needs no mentioning, only that this is one of his finest work. Without giving much spoilers this film has one of the most depressing and saddest scene in the history of cinema and is wonderfully executed.
4. The Godfather triology:
I would only say that The Godfather I, II & III are among most highest rated movies in Imdb.
5. Snatch: Unscrupulous boxing promoters, violent bookmakers, a Russian gangster, incompetent amateur robbers, and supposedly Jewish jewelers fight to track down a priceless stolen diamond.
Everything is great but I would like to mention here that the editing is of top notch quality. Brad Pitt's acting was mind blowing, specially in one of the scene which I am sure those you've watched this know which it is. I would rather not give out spoilers here. Jason Statham as 'Turkish' is marvelous.
6. Oldboy: After being kidnapped and imprisoned for 15 years, Oh Dae-Su is released, only to find that he must find his captor in 5 days.
I highly recommend this one among all Korean movies.
7. The City of God: Two boys growing up in a violent neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro take different paths: one becomes a photographer, the other a drug dealer.
The title suits it so much, you'll understand after watching the movie. A must have in collection.
8. Argo: A dramatization of the 1980 joint CIA-Canadian secret operation to extract six fugitive American diplomatic personnel out of revolutionary Iran.
Whether you know the climax or not, it is gripping and certainly most nail biting in the history of cinema. The cinematography is superb and the screenplay writer deserves brownie points for this movie. Seriously, go for it!
9. Amélie: Amelie, an innocent and naive girl in Paris, with her own sense of justice, decides to help those around her and along the way, discovers love.
10. Forrest Gump: Forrest Gump, while not intelligent, has accidentally been present at many historic moments, but his true love, Jenny Curran, eludes him.
Tom Hanks as 'Forrest' is awesome. The dialogues are natural but powerful. I always watch this one when I am facing failure from all sides.
11. Batman - The Dark Knight: When Batman, Gordon and Harvey Dent launch an assault on the mob, they let the clown out of the box, the Joker, bent on turning Gotham on itself and bringing any heroes down to his level.
Hans Zimmer's background score, Christian Bale's acting, Michael Caine as 'Alfred', Heath ledger playing 'The Joker', surely the epicness of this movie cannot be described in words. For all reviewers have failed, so have I. I just wanna say one thing here, even if you don't watch this movie, just owning this movie will be epic within itself.
12. Downfall: Traudl Junge, the final secretary for Adolf Hitler, tells of the Nazi dictator's final days in his Berlin bunker at the end of WWII.
Bruno Ganz as 'Adolf Hitler' was terrific. The dialogues and script is so engaging that a miss of a second of this movie will make you rewind back. Cinematography and editing is top notch. In all war movies, sound design is very important and I have to say the sound technicians have done a great job.
13. American Beauty: Lester Burnham, a depressed suburban father in a mid-life crisis, decides to turn his hectic life around after developing an infatuation for his daughter's attractive friend.
Surely, this is a classic for those who love dark dramatic movies.
14. I am Sam: A mentally retarded man fights for custody of his 7-year-old daughter, and in the process teaches his cold-hearted lawyer the value of love and family.
The story is so beautiful that it makes you watch all over again and again. Highly recommended.
15. King Kong: In 1933 New York, an overly ambitious movie producer coerces his cast and hired ship crew to travel to mysterious Skull Island, where they encounter Kong, a giant ape who is immediately smitten with leading lady Ann Darrow.
Naomi Watts has never looked so beautiful, Adrien Broody is wonderful, Jack Black is awesome as the greedy bad guy. The CG is a quality to see. All the action sequences are carefully and marvelously handled. Should be watched on big screen and good sound system in full volume.
16. The Departed: An undercover state cop who infiltrated a Mafia clan and a mole in the police force working for the same mob race to track down and identify each other before being exposed to the enemy, after both sides realize their outfit has a rat.
The soundtrack is awesome. The cinematography suits the theme well and the editing is done skillfully. A must watch for crime/drama/thriller fans.
17. Inglourious Basterds: In Nazi-occupied France during World War II, a plan to assassinate Nazi leaders by a group of Jewish U.S. soldiers coincides with a theatre owner's vengeful plans for the same.
It will make you feel that somehow this should have been a true story.
18. Pulp Fiction: The lives of two mob hit men, a boxer, a gangster's wife, and a pair of diner bandits intertwine in four tales of violence and redemption.
John & Samuel's presence on screen will always cheer you up. Love'em or hate'em, they will get in your mind. Uma Thurman proves her class of acting in this movie. Quentin Tarentino needs no introduction.
19. The Prestige: The rivalry between two magicians is exacerbated when one of them performs the ultimate illusion.
Final word? Christopher Nolan. I rest my case.
At the end of this movie I didn't know, whether to feel good or cry. This is one of those movies which makes you feel 'faith in humanity restored'. This is one of those movies which you shall have to sit patiently and watch each and every frame unfold. Some might find interesting if they are watching closely, some might feel bored because of the slow pace. Me personally was busy watching the black and white screen so easily and so soothingly telling me a story which needed to be told and was worth all my time. A lot more than that actually.
If you like Steven Spielberg, you have to watch this.
21. The Secret in their Eyes: A retired legal counselor writes a novel hoping to find closure for one of his past unresolved homicide cases and for his unreciprocated love with his superior - both of which still haunt him decades later.
Don't you hate it when the title of the movie has nothing to do with the story? Well watch this one. This is one of those movies, where you will say in the end, "Oh! So that's why the title is such."
Each and every character is important here. All the actors have done wonderful job. The drama is worth watching. I can't say much about this movie, you have to watch it to see the secret unfold.
22. Like Stars on Earth (Taare Zameen Par): An eight year old boy is thought to be lazy and a troublemaker, until the new art teacher has the patience and compassion to discover the real problem behind his struggles in school.
Again get ready to get your eyes wet. This bollywood flick is like no other. Aamir Khan is known as 'the perfectionist' in bollywood industry for a reason, which you will know after watching this movie.
So spellbound, that the Queen of England invited Mr. Aamir Khan for a lunch to express her thanks for making this movie. Acting, direction, soundtrack, cinematography, dialogues and everything else is top grade. Don't you ever say bollywood is all about actors and actresses dancing around trees.
23. Silver Linings Playbook: After a stint in a mental institution, former teacher Pat Solitano moves back in with his parents and tries to reconcile with his ex-wife. Things get more challenging when Pat meets Tiffany, a mysterious girl with problems of her own.
No, this is not a lovey dovey, romantic flick you come across every now and then. This is a hysterical, fun to watch, sad to feel journey with Pat and Tiffany who have their own mental, emotional issues.
This is one of those loud movies where the characters talk so mercilessly fast and everything happens all at the same time on the screen which is very hard to execute as director. Thankfully its carried out wonderfully. You can't just take your eyes off the screen while watching this one. Both Brad and Jenniffer have shown where they belong when it comes to the level of acting.
24. Saving Private Ryan: Following the Normandy Landings, a group of U.S. soldiers go behind enemy lines to retrieve a paratrooper whose brothers have been killed in action.
Someone told me that, no one has ever filmed a war movie like Steven Spielberg has filmed Saving Private Ryan. After watching the first 30 minutes of the movie I was ready to punch anyone who said 'this' or 'that' movie is filmed better than Saving Private Ryan. No its not about the gore, no its not about the war action. Its about the whole theme and feel of this movie. Its the whole point of Saving Private Ryan, the journey, where you feel like you indeed need to find and save Pvt. Ryan or kill yourself.
Matt Damon and Tom Hanks do wonderful job. Sound design and camera work guys, hats off to you for this one.
The list is yet to go long way ... Stay tuned for more movies, till then watch the above mentioned :)
