Movies have been at the forefront of culture for the last 100 years, and in that time, a countless number of classics and “cant miss” films have been made. We stockpiled comments, theories, and discussions from some of reddits most die-hard film communities to gather the 25 best films according to reddit. Don’t worry, we keep it as spoiler free as possible!
In a world where superhero movies rule both box offices, The Dark Knight soars high above the pack. Highlighted by the late Heath Ledger’s award winning performance as Batman’s arch nemesis The Joker, the second film in Christopher Nolan’s trilogy has long been hailed as one of this generation's crowning film achievements. The chess match between the Dark Knight and his greatest foe escalates with higher and higher stakes, culminating in a showdown for the ages!
Gritty, epic, and above all else undeniably a classic, this is a film you simply can’t miss.
Audiences first trip to the mystical world of Middle Earth seemed to be their favorite. Based on the books by author J.R.R Tolkien, Fellowship of the Ring is the grand opening to one of the world’s most classic fantasy adventures.
Setting forth from his quiet abode in The Shire, home to the comical and adventurous Hobbits, Frodo and his right-hand man Samwise Gamgee embark to drive the mystical ring to rule them all back into the fires of Mordor. Along the way they form an unlikely “fellowship” of humans, dwarves, elves, and a wizard, all in the name of stopping the demonic Sauron.
A dream within a dream… within a dream? Inception has been enthralling and confusing film goers since it came out nearly 10 years ago. Dom Cobb is an extractor, who enters the shared dream worlds of his targets to learn secret information from the deepest part of their subconscious. A can’t miss film that has as many layers to it’s plot as it does dreams, you will certainly have your jaw on the floor once credits roll.
At the core of this coming of age tale about Andrew Neiman’s journey to be the next great drummer is the relationship between teacher and student. Pushed by famed conductor and teacher Terence Fletcher, Andrew struggles to gain his teachers approval while also keeping his own musical identity.
K, played by Ryan Gosling, is a replicant (bioengineered human) working as an LAPD blade runner. Tasked with hunting down and killing replicants gone awol, he is eventually led to a strange farm where he retires his latest target.
Buried there however he uncovers a secret that could shake the core of his worlds reality, and also draws everything he’s ever known to be true into question.
The breakout hit of famed director Quentin Terrantino, this movie is a laundry list of quotable dialogue, unforgettable scenes, and some of the films finest (yet flawed) characters. Uma Thurman, Samuel L. Jackson, Bruce Willis, John Travolta, and many more will keep your eyes on the screen and brain scrambling to comprehend all that you’re seeing.
Just make sure you don’t ask “What?” one more time!
Welcome to the post apocalypse. Max Rockatansky is a survivor in a world where water, gas, and just about every precious research is a hot commodity, and he has to team up with Imperator Furiosa, Charlize Theron, to escape the cult like War Boys. This beautifully stylized look at a hopefully very distant future features some of cinemas most intense car chases and battles on four wheels. Redditors were quick to point out just how over-the-top the film gets as it progresses, and that it is a can’t miss affair.
A cinematic retelling of the book by famed author Cormac McCarthy (The Road, Blood Meridian, All The Pretty Horses), No Country is a violent masterpiece. Set in the heart of Texas, the fate of three men is intertwined over a drug deal gone wrong and the suitcase of money left in the aftermath.
Anton Chigurh, the film’s maniacal villain, considers no one off limits in his quest to recover both the suitcase, and his pride. City shootouts, motel staredowns, and a coin toss that could mean everything all await you when you watch this westenr classic.
“Luke I am your father.” Perhaps the most famous line in movie history traces its roots back to the second installment (at the time) of the most famous science fiction franchise ever. Continuing Luke, Leah, and Han Solo’s quest to stop the Galactic Empire, Episode V takes viewers from the snowy world of Hoth, to the heights of Cloud City and beyond! Hailed by redditors for it’s unforgettable action scenes and one-liners, it stands tall among the series as the best.
When twelve alien spaceships appear hovering above Earth, an American linguist is sent to uncover their true intentions. Mysterious visions of her deceased daughter flash before her, and the clock starts ticking to solve the aliens code before the world’s nations resort to war. Redditors loved the film’s portrayal of aliens.
A cinematic masterpiece. Francis Ford Coppola’s reimagining of author Mario Puzo’s classic novel is as much a mob movie as it is a political drama. Brutal and honest in its violence, The Godfather pulls no punches in exposing viewers to the chess game of organized crime families. Following the transition from Vito Corleone’s (Marlon Brando) reign as the Godfather to his son Michael (Al Pacino), this sprawling, near three hour film is a web of trust, betrayal, and family disputes. The Godfather stands as one of the most influential movies in the “gangster film” genre.
Over half a century later, and few films if any leave you with a sense of wonder and awe at what is possible like 2001. A pioneer of the science fiction genre, 2001 explores the limits of mankind, and the true sense of exploration that will forever motivate it. We found redditors were enthralled by the movie’s technological depiction of space travel, and how it still holds up years later.
Based on Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg’s inspiring yet ruthless rise to power, Andy Sorkin’s screenplay has long been famed by redditors as one of the best ever. This movie peals back the curtain on the politics behind the founding of the world’s most powerful social media, and the back stabbing, finger-pointing, and betrayal along the way.
Scientists create a theme park where living and cloned dinosaurs roam free on a tropical island. What could possibly go wrong? The answer is everything. Praised for its cinematic effects, this film is a hit with millennial redditors, and inspired a generation with an uncanny obsession with prehistoric reptiles.
A horrifying account of extraterrestrial proportions, Alien follows a crew of commercial astronauts on their journey home. When a distress call leads to a rocky landing on the moon, they soon find out that they are not alone. Trapped in space, thousands of miles from Earth, the group must survive against an ever-adapting maniacal predator. Redditors loved the film’s strong, female protagonist Ripley, who never back downs when it comes to fighting versus the Alien threat.
A star studded musical about two lovers trying to make their way in Hollywood and the limits people will go to for fame. Redditors loved the musical score, and we found comments on comments praising the romanticized cinematography.
“Arriva-derci!” Quentin Terrantino’s second film on the list is also probably his most bold to date, taking the tried and true World War 2 movie and throwing it on it’s own head. His retelling of such sensitive content remains controversial to this day, but it is hard to dispute that Inglorious Basterds isn’t an instant classic. Following Brad Pitt’s Aldo Rayne (a fictional Jewish-American soldier called on to lead an all Jewish military unit to kill Nazi soldiers from within their own territory) and an outstanding ensamble cast, this film features Terrantino’s most attention grabbing scenes ever!
A cultural classic, everyone’s beloved Marty McFly stars as a fun-loving teenager sucked into a time machine by the quirky Doc Brown. A staple of the 1980s, Back To The Future is universally recognizable. The Delorean, the Nike Air Mags, and the hoverboard were all mentioned in reddit comments as what people loved about the film. It was also cited as having a near perfect script, so it is safe to say this is a film you have to check out.
In the high stakes world of illusionary magic where the only goal is to one up your rival, mistakes can happen. Some of them just turn out to be deadly. Following two rival magicians on a mission to one-up each other, The Prestige thrills from start to finish. Beware before googling this movie though, as Reddit was a land mine of spoilers and discussion over the film’s famously mysterious ending. Sit down, watch the flick, then head online to read all the theories and discussions over this magical movie.
Seen as many as the best sci-fi film this decade, Interstellar is a mind boggling journey through time and space. Redditors came out in droves to discuss Interstellar, from its intricate yet distinct robot design, to its twist and turns, and beyond. Focusing on an attempt to relocate humanity in the face of an apocalypse, the movie is a beautifully shot look into what the future, and space, may hold.
Who doesn’t love Daniel Day-Lewis? Set in the early 1900’s during the oil rush of Southern California, Daniel Plainview (played by Day-Lewis) is a ruthless businessman set on turning his drilling operation into an empire. While some found the movie a bit long and tedious, most came out to defend this epic about the true horrors of what the old Western front held.
Part action film, part satirical comedy, Hot Fuzz was the second installment from the duo of Wright and Pegg, and perhaps their best to date. When London cop Nicholas Andrews is relocated to a small, quaint, and happy village he is quickly bored by the laid back country lifestyle. That is, until a series of murders reveal the true dark secrets the village holds. Don’t worry though, it isn’t all that serious. Redditors loved the slap stick nature of the film, and we think you will to.
A true thriller with dark comedic elements, Fargo follows the unlikely Marge Gunderson (a pregnant detective), on the case to solve a series of gruesome murders in her some Minnesota town. Reddiors praised how the film stands out from others in the genre, and contrasted it’s unlikely hero with the bravado and macismo of most 90’s films. Plus it’s the Coen Brothers, so you know you’ll love it.
Director Wes Anderson is no stranger to beautifully shot, oddly hilarious, and gripping films. Thankfully this one is no different. Featuring an ensemble cast of some of the world’s most seasoned actors, The Grand Budapest Hotel is a whimsical yet dramatic tale about an unlikely duo trying to prove the innocence of a man wanted for murder. Described as “Wes Anderson-y, in the best way possible,” this film features all the highlights that come with a director of his caliber. Don’t miss it!
A story about the good, bad, and the truly ugly aspects of prison, The Shawshank Redemption is a harrowing retelling of the Stephen King novella. The film is truly rooted in the friendship of Andy (Tim Robbins) and “Red” (Morgan Freeman) as they navigate the murky political waters of incarceration. Redditors praised the film adaptation, and found the cinematic storytelling to be remarkable.
When it comes to movies, it mostly comes down to a decision on taste or preference. We recommend sorting through the list, finding the one that stands out to you most, and giving it a shot. With so many streaming services and rental options available these days, many of these films if not all are easy to find on the internet and a relatively low costs.
Another thing to note is that 16 of the 25 films in this last are from the last 20 years. While recency bias is expected considering the age demographics of reddit, it is worth researching further into the films of the past and making sure you see any of the classics you may have missed along the way.
Lastly, subreddits like r/truefilm feature really comprehensive discussions on movies that are usually marked with heavy spoilers and discussion on films overall plots, themes, and theories. We recommend going into a movie as near blind as possible, taking it all in at face value, then heading to reddit for a deep dive into what you just saw. You’ll definitely realize how much you may have missed along the way, as well as hear seasoned critics and movie goers give their own opinions and theories on the film you just saw.
