Well given I’ve taken up the task of ranking both the top 100 songs of all time as well as the top 50 TV shows of all time, I felt it only appropriate to give ranking the top 50 movies of all time.
What can I say, I just like ranking things, so this seemed like the next appropriate task on the agenda. As with the TV list, I felt it important to rank films that I feel have played a role in my life as well as once again potentially helping to promote some movies that don’t get the love they thoroughly deserve.
As is always the case with my rankings there were no criteria. No algorithm. No methodology. It’s a list purely made up of personal preference, and a list of 50 movies that to me exist in their own right as amazing films that somehow forged a strong part of my life. Movies that you can watch on repeat and never get sick of. Movies that to me, are simply the best.
So without further ado I present to you the greatest 50 movies of all time…at least according to me.
50. American Beauty (1999)
I put on my top 50 TV shows list that Kevin Spacey was one of my favourite actors, and I’ll go ahead and say that again now. Because when I think of American Beauty, it’s hard not to think of the amazing performance given by him. Sure, it’s a tad creepy now in hindsight, but the movie still holds up to this day as a piece of art. Who would’ve ever thought a simple plastic bag blowing in the wind could be so iconic? And also who would’ve though the director of such a scene would go on to direct two James Bond movies a decade later. A great film worthy of all the praise.
49. Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)
The haters are wrong. It’s that simple. BvS is an incredible film that needs more love and I’m here to give it some. It’s a film that manages to ground superheroes into a realistic setting and really amp up the intrigue in the world around them. Let’s be honest, if a man from space came to earth and had almost invincible powers, we would all be scared. We would all want him made accountable for his actions. And there would be so many ramifications around it. Which is exactly what BvS shows. And then there is Batman. Damn. Who knew Ben Affleck would be so good in the role? I would argue the best Batman of them all. So damn good. Add into that Wonder Woman, the introduction of the other members of Justice League and you have an amazing movie. The directors cut is even better too, which only adds on the love I am happy to own by giving this movie a place in my top 50.
48. The River Wild (1994)
Kevin Bacon. Meryl Streep. David Strathaim. Joseph Mazzello. John C Reilly. How can a movie with such an incredible cast not be good? The River Wild was a movie that I really stumbled upon by accident as a kid and never really looked back, and it’s one that I would always rent during the school holidays. There’s just a level of high drama and action mixed in that works so well, and it comes from a subject matter (boats and water) that I am not a fan of. Streep and Bacon own every single scene they are in and really should be in more movies together. Perhaps that would help Bacon finally get an Oscar nomination? Such a great movie.
47. Mars Attacks! (1996)
This movie used to terrify me as a kid. Those aliens and their weird high pitched squawking legitimately gave me nightmares. But there is no denying what a fun ride Mars Attacks! is. And what a cast! I could list everyone here but it would fill the whole page up! Stars galore. Of course Natalie Portman being in this movie also helps in my love for it, but it’s just so over the top and fun that it’s impossible not to love. It’s actually the only Tim Burton film I like too, so props to you Mr Burton for doing something (sorta) different for me to be able to appreciate your style. ACK ACK!
46. Apollo 13 (1995)
Growing up I wanted nothing more than to be an astronaut, so you can imagine how often I used to watch this film. The take off sequence still makes me tear up to this day, and I for some reason still hold out hope that the disaster won’t happen aboard the ship and they will all manage to land on the moon. Foolish, but I’m allowed to have dreams right? Once again Kevin Bacon owns the screen, and he does so alongside Tom Hanks, Bill Paxton and Gary Sinise who are all awesome in their own right. One of the greatest scores in movie history too. A true epic.
45. Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)
My dad introduced me to many action films as a kid but one that perhaps stuck out the most was Terminator 2. What a ride. From the incredible special effects that help define the art in Hollywood, through to some truly incredible acting and action that deserved more love from the Academy it ultimately got. Sure, four Oscars is a good haul, but how was Linda Hamilton overlooked for a best actress nod? In 2019 she would’ve received one for sure, so can we somehow get that time machine to go back, get her with the words “come with me if you want an Oscar” and make it alright? I’m sure that’s pretty simple to do. I’m on to it.
44. Johnny English (2003)
As such a fan of the James Bond franchise, I’m easily entertained by a great parody of the series. You’ll see that a bit later in this list with a certain other film, but Johnny English was done in such a way that it’s impossible not to love. Rowan Atkinson is a comedic genius, and his ability to play the bumbling English with such enthusiasm made the film even more enjoyable. A fond memory of this is seeing it with mum at the movies and having her absolutely love it and talk about it constantly for days afterwards. And it’s easy to see why when the movie was just so much fun. The two sequels that followed were a bit same same, but they did nothing to take away from the joy that came from the original film.
43. Air Force One (1997)
Harrison Ford is perhaps one of the best ever movie presidents to have ever been put to film. There is just something about him that ooze presidential and it’s on full display in Air Force One. We also have Glenn Close as Vice President, which let’s be honest would be an amazing pair to run the USA. The film though is just incredible. Gary Oldman is born to play a villain, and it’s completely apparent with every minute on display here. Sure the premise is a tad ludicrous, but who needs to worry about believability when the film is so darn entertaining?
42. Rush (2013)
Very tempted to place this higher given the recent death of Niki Lauda, but I hold firm on the placement here. As soon as I walked out of the cinema having seen Rush I knew it was a film I would hold close to me for a long time. Everything about it is incredible. Given my love for Formula 1 it was bound to always be a film I liked, but I could never have imagined just how much I would like it. Chris Hemsworth went a long way in my opinion stakes after this movie and showed he had come a long way from his terrible days on Home and Away. Daniel Bruhl however was the star, simply becoming Lauda in what has to be one of the greatest performances I have ever seen. It was a shame not to see him recognised at the Oscars, because it was a recognition he would’ve thoroughly deserved. The best Formula 1 movie ever made.
41. Galaxy Quest (1999)
How can anyone not love Galaxy Quest? Perhaps the greatest sci-fi send up ever made, everything about this movie works and works so damn well. It’s incredibly quotable, has some of the funniest moments ever put to film and the chemistry between the cast is so incredible that to this day they all seemingly talk about how great it was to film this movie. It’s such a shame that if the long awaited TV version gets made that we won’t have Alan Rickman to return because that will be a huge gaping hole should it ever eventuate. What we do still have though is this movie to show us just how great he was, as well as everyone else in this true comedy masterpiece.
40. A Night At The Roxbury (1998)
This is a movie I wish I had of seen when I was younger. I didn’t discover it until I was about 19 and having heard my then work colleagues quote it and talk about it pretty much non-stop. And boy was I glad I found it. It is just so damn funny with one of the best soundtracks you will ever hear in a movie. Will Ferrell is great as he always is, but Chris Kattan is equally as incredible and it’s such a shame that he never went on to bigger things. If only Jim Carrey was able to make a cameo to replicate the SNL sketch completely. Such a funny movie that you need to see again soon.
39. Spider-Man (2002)
With great power comes great responsibility, and if that is true then the original Spider-Man in 2002 took that power and made it a responsibly great movie. It is still the best of all the recent film adaptations of the web-slinger, and although it was a toss up between this and Spider-Man 2, I had to give the edge slightly to the first film. There is just something so charming about it. It’s the way a comic book movie should be. Simple, fun, serious, funny and action packed. There is no need to connect it with 100 different characters and movies in order to create something more impactful. No. Simple is good. Simple is great. And that is exactly what Spider-Man is.
38. Forrest Gump (1994)
I’ve never understood why life is like a box of chocolates. Because you do know what you’re going to get in a box of chocolates. It’s literally right under the lid! But with that aside, Forrest Gump remains easily on of the best films of all time. Tom Hanks is an absolute powerhouse in the role and easily shows why he is one of this generation’s greatest actors. Is there anyone else you can imagine in the role? Absolutely not. Everything just flows perfectly with Forrest Gump and it still holds up perfectly to this day. It also gave us Robin Wright, which is an added bonus for all of us House Of Cards fans.
37. The Cable Guy (1996)
I’m thrilled that The Cable Guy is finally getting some recognition. It was hated when it first came out and went on to be one of the biggest turkeys of all time. But as time has gone on, the appreciation seems to have grown and it is slowly building a case for one of the best cult films of all time. Jim Carrey is incredible, and I would argue it’s one of his strongest performances in his career. Matthew Broderick too shines, as does Jack Black and everyone else on screen, and the dark tone mixed with the quirky humour just makes the movie a great ride. As my favourite actor of all time, you’ll see a bit of Jim Carrey on this list, and it was so damn difficult to have to cut more of his films to not make the top 50. The Cable Guy however was an easy one to survive the cut.
36. Toy Story (1995)
As somebody who isn’t the biggest animation fan I still hold some animated films very close to my heart. Toy Story is easily one of those. Pixar films in general are movies that I’ll go out of my way to watch, and that love of course started with the very first movie to make Pixar a thing. The story is just so charming. It works on so many levels, and Tom Hanks working with Tim Allen is a match made in heaven. I never get old of the Toy Story franchise and I could’ve easily included Toy Story 2 and to a lesser extent Toy Story 3 in this list as well. But when it comes to the first film, it holds up as the best and one of the greatest animated movies of all time.
35. Men In Black (1997)
Will Smith is easily one of my favourite actors and pretty much everything he touched in the 90s was gold. Men In Black is one of his most golden touches, and combined with Tommy Lee Jones it gives us one of the greatest pairings of all time. The movie has everything. It has comedy, action, drama, sci-fi. So much of everything. And it’s another movie that holds up so damn well after all this time. Sure the sequels weren’t quite as good, and then we have that reboot with Chris Hemsworth. But it’s another case of loving where it all began as it’s where it was done the best.
34. BoyTown (2006)
How did this movie not achieve more success? It is so damn funny, so damn entertaining and has possibly the greatest soundtrack in the history of Australian cinema. Watching five middle-aged men take on the boy band industry is hilarious, and having some of Australia’s finest comedic actors on screen makes it even better. Glenn Robbins and Mick Molloy should work together more, especially when it comes to their cheesy dancing and even cheesier singing. What makes it even more great to me is the fact that I was able to show this to a certain Canadian who may or may not be a big part of my life and she loved it every bit as I did. That there is love people. And this film is love. Watch it.
33. On The Beach (2000)
I very nearly included this on my TV shows list but given it’s actually a movie, I thought screw conventions and put it on this list. On The Beach was a re-make of a 1959 film which was a film based on a 1957 novel and it’s basically the most depressing end of the world movie you will ever see. It’s an end of the world movie with no happy ending. The world ends. Everyone dies. It’s really that simple. But it’s how it all happens that makes it so compelling. It’s an emotional journey watching everything that happens, and given Australia plays such a key part in the story, it makes it hit close to home more so than many other films. Definitely worth a watch again with a few boxes of tissues nearby.
32. Eddie (1996)
Whoopi Goldberg was the movie queen in the 1990s but she managed to land a couple of turkeys that pretty much derailed her career. One of those movies people cite is Eddie, and I for one think that everyone who has that opinion is wrong. Why? Because Eddie is incredibly fun. Sure, the plot might be the most ridiculous plot on this entire list. A random fan from the crowd gets chosen to be a head coach of a NBA team? Ha. Right. Well…okay…it is the New York Knicks but I don’t think they’re that desperate…yet. But with all of that aside, Goldberg has such a charm about her and such a passion during this performance that I find it hard to see why this movie gets the hate it does. Quite possibly the most underrated sports film of all time, and one that I hope will find at least a cult status sometime in the future.
31. The Air Up There (1994)
Kevin Bacon again. Yup. You knew he would feature a few times if you know me. But I would argue this is easily his greatest ever film. There is just something so fun about this movie. It’s a trend you’re seeing right? I like a good fun film. And having Bacon go from wannabe college basketball coach to fish out of water in the African wilderness is just fun. Bacon is great as Jimmy Dolan, a washed up player who is tasked with finding the next great basketball recruit, and although he of course shines there are so many great side characters in this film that the entire thing is a joy to watch. The basketball action too is great, and overall it’s just a great sports film. I had the pleasure of being able to interview Bacon last year with his brother to talk about their music, but the one film question I was able to sneak in was about The Air Up There. Not Footloose. Not Tremors. Not even Apollo 13 or The River Wild. It was The Air Up There. That’s how much I love this movie.
30. The Castle (1997)
Easily the greatest Australian movie ever made. Name an Australian who doesn’t like The Castle? It’s so iconic down-under and has gone on to play such a huge part in our culture that it just has to appear on this list. The quotes alone stand the test of time, and it’s just such an accurate depiction of Australian culture and life that I feel more people should watch this movie over something like Crocodile Dundee to get a true taste of what Australia is like. I could sit here and type all the quotes, all the moments and everything else that make this movie so great but it just wouldn’t do it justice enough to appreciate it. So do yourself a favour and go and watch it if you have never seen it. You’ll then get the vibe of it I’m talking about it see the serenity of it all.
29. Groundhog Day (1993)
The funny thing about a movie involving a man living the same day over and over again is that it’s so great to watch that I could literally sit and watch it over and over again all day. It’s just that enjoyable. I do love movies that play with the concept of time and give the ability for a person to go over moments in the manner that Groundhog Day does, and it’s seriously such an enjoyable ride the whole way through that you could argue it’s one of the best of the genre of all time. Bill Murray is amazing and it’s a role that you really couldn’t see being played by anyone else. And I for one am glad that after close to 30 years it has never been touched, never been given a pointless sequel or never been touted for a re-make. Because Groundhog Day is perfect the way it is, and I hope it stays that way for forever and a day.
28. The Matrix (1999)
Did anyone understand The Matrix on a first viewing? I for one didn’t. Mind you I was 12 when the movie came out but still. It’s complicated. But it’s also incredible. So incredible. The special effects are so mind blowing that basically any action movie that came out in the next five years did something to try and replicate it. And then there was Keanu Reeves. Who thought there was a role so perfectly written for him in the way that Neo was? Just so good. And it was filmed in Australia too. Such a big deal for our country. Still to this day whenever I go to Sydney I can’t help but get excited seeing the fountain, or the glass building, or any little bit from The Matrix that I remember. It’s that memorable. The sequels weren’t quite up to the standard as the original but I would still argue they aren’t as bad as people say they are. But that of course is a debate for another time. Right now, the only thing worth talking about is how amazing The Matrix is and why it easily landed a place on this list.
27. Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (1997)
I mentioned previously in the Johnny English entry that I do love a good parody of the James Bond franchise and there is no better movie for this than Austin Powers. I could argue this entry is perhaps for the entire trilogy, but ultimately the first movie gets the place. Everything this film does in satire is perfect, and any James Bond fan will easily be able to appreciate every single aspect of this movie. Mike Myers clearly is a big enough Bond fan to really get the level of parody needed for a film like this, and he succeeds in every way. The fact that he was able to create his own iconic character with his own iconic catchphrases and look surely superseded everything he was attempting to do in this first film in the franchise, but the end result still stands head and shoulders above the rest. An absolute perfect send up.
26. Canadian Bacon (1995)
I randomly saw this movie at my local video rental store as a kid and was hooked from the moment I saw it. So much so that I was allowed to stay home one afternoon from school to record it when it was shown as a midday movie on TV just so I could remove the ads from it. Thanks mum. It’s just such a fun (there’s that word again) movie. The whole idea of having Canada and the USA at war together is hilarious enough without having the ridiculous Canadian stereotypes played up and everything else that comes with it. John Candy is great as always and it’s still sad to think this was his last ever film performance. A fun little fact too is that it is the first and only non-documentary film by Michael Moore, who very nearly made this list with at least two of his documentaries. Definitely worth hunting down if you have never been able to see it.
25. Jaws (1975)
Sharks are my favourite animal so you know I’m going to love most movies with them in it. Jaws of course is the grand daddy of them all, and is still a movie that holds up today with it’s incredible tension and filming techniques that made it so iconic upon its release. Yeah the special effects aren’t exactly great compared to what is possible nowadays, but the style used is so endearing that it’s easy to look past them. And Steven Spielberg just shot this film so darn well that you have to love it. I may not have been around in 1975 to fully appreciate the fear around going into the water after this movie was released but I feel as though I was like anybody who watched this movie the first time when it came to having something small in the back of your head when it next came to going swimming at your local beach. Thankfully I tend to stick to swimming pools now.
24. The Lion King (1994)
I mentioned earlier how I wasn’t a huge animation fan, but that doesn’t mean I still don’t hold a couple of exceptions. The Lion King of course is the main one, and to me it is easily the greatest animated film of all time. This movie was my childhood. From seeing it when it first came out as a 7-year-old, to basically owning any form of merchandise I was allowed to have, it was basically everything to me. And having recently re-watched it, I can still say it holds up and is so damn endearing to this day. At the time of writing this though we’re only months away from the ‘live action’ re-make to which I am so not pumped for I’m almost wanting to not see it as a pure protest. But stupidly I’m ready to give anything a try, but I’m telling you now if Disney stuffs it up there will be hell to pay. And by that I mean probably an angry rant on a podcast. Which I know will show them!
23. Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny (2006)
Oh the under-appreciation this movie gets. IT IS SO FUNNY! I don’t get the hate. I really don’t. Sure it’s perhaps seen as more of a ‘stoner movie’ and that’s perhaps where the humour comes from, but given I’m not a stoner it can easily appeal to those of us who do not partake in regular recreational drug use. The band itself is great, and Jack Black is just the type of actor this film was made for. Kyle Gass too is incredible, and the two of them have incredible chemistry that it is easy to see why they have had such a successful career as the duo that is Tenacious D. The soundtrack might be my favourite movie soundtrack of all time, and it’s clearly my favourite musical of all time as well. So so great and I’m so so stoked for the sequel! Bring it on!
22. Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith (2005)
I’ve mentioned a few times already that I could’ve snuck a few multiple entries on this list for franchises but when it comes to the likes of Star Wars, you know there will be multiple entries. This might be somewhat controversial having on this list over some of the other Star Wars movies but I for one am a huge fan of not only Revenge of the Sith but the prequels in general. Sith takes the absolute cherry of the prequel trilogy though, as everything you were waiting to happen across those three films finally all comes together and you are left with a true epic of the Star Wars kind. The birth of Darth Vader, the setting up for the original trilogy, the creation of some great new characters and epic landscapes. It’s all what makes this movie so damn good. And the score from this film. Damn. So epic in itself. Revenge of the Sith needs more love, just like all of the prequels. And I for one will gladly front that campaign whenever needed.
21. Space Jam (1996)
I seemingly have a large collection of basketball movies on this list, but easily the best of them all is Space Jam. Yeah there is definitely a huge level of childhood nostalgia by having this on the list, but that is a huge factor when it comes to making my decisions here. Movies formed a huge part of my life growing up and to me the love that comes from a film can be connected to so many parts in my life. To me, being nine was all about basketball. I was obsessed. My friend and I at recess and lunch would play basketball constantly. I was Michael Jordan, he was Scottie Pippen. We were the greatest. And when Space Jam came about it just solidified our love for the sport, and for this movie. Michael Jordan plays basketball with Bugs Bunny. That concept sells itself! And with an epic soundtrack, great supporting cast, the movie is just incredible. I can’t say I’m holding out much hope for LeBron to replicate the awesomeness of this movie for Space Jam 2, but at the end of the day who cares? Space Jam exists and that’s enough to keep me happy.
20. Mrs. Doubtfire (1993)
Mrs Doubtfire is similar to Groundhog Day in a movie that I could literally sit down and watch all day on repeat and never get sick of it. In fact I’m pretty sure I did that several times as a kid. This movie is just perfect. There’s no need for me to say how incredible Robin Williams is because we all know how incredible he is. It’s still so sad to think he is no longer with us, but I am so glad to be able to watch films like this to see his genius on full display. Outside of Williams the likes of Sally Field and Pierce Brosnan make this movie even more incredible, and it’s just a movie that makes me smile even thinking about it. Hell I just want to watch it now. I might need to go find the DVD…
19. Rush Hour (1998)
Quite possibly one of the most quoted movies from my teenage years, Rush Hour is pretty much a perfect comedy film. And I would also argue that Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker might be the greatest pairing in the history of comedy movies. They work so damn well, are so damn funny and have so much chemistry I would watch them in anything as long as they were together. Another case of me wanting to put the sequels on this list too but not being able to find the room, the original just sells the franchise so well and gives so many laughs and thrills that it is the easy choice to include on this list. Another one I need to watch again soon.
18. Dante’s Peak (1997)
I don’t know if I’ve really expressed my love and appreciate of a good disaster film on this list but I do love me some destruction. Dante’s Peak is easily one of my favourites, and although it was one of two volcano movies to come out in 1997, I have to say it takes my personal choice as the better of the two (sorry Volcano). Pierce Brosnan teaming up with Linda Hamilton sells itself, because why wouldn’t you want Sarah Connor and James Bond hooking up? That is a fanboys dream. The action too is second to none, and the story is actually incredibly compelling in seeing such a small town go through a disaster of this level. The greatest volcano themed movie of all time.
17. Dumb and Dumber (1994)
So many Jim Carrey movies to choose from, so little space to include them all. I might need to do a rankings of all of his movies just to make up for that. But Dumb & Dumber is easily one of his best and most iconic movies and easily one of my favourites. I watched this movie on repeat basically for most of the 90s, and it’s still a movie I will be sure to watch at least once a year. It’s that good to me. The sequel was nowhere near on the same level, but it was great to see both Carrey and Jeff Daniels come back together to give it another crack. But there was no way the charm, humour and appeal of the original was ever going to be reached and for that reason Dumb & Dumber will always remain a classically awesome and hilarious film that sits comfortably in my top 20.
16. The Santa Clause (1994)
The greatest Christmas movie of all time, Tim Allen shines as Scott Calvin/Santa Clause in a movie that just makes me love Christmas more and more each year. This movie has formed part of my annual Christmas Eve tradition for over 20 years now, and I will keep that tradition until the day I die. Yeah there are some things that don’t exactly hold up 25 years after it was released, but my inner child will continue to make me love this movie no matter how much my inner adult tells me it’s stupid. Speaking of stupid, there were two sequels that followed which absolutely personify the word stupid, but it’s another case of me not caring about them and only caring about the original as that is where the franchise remains the best.
15. The Truman Show (1998)
The greatest Jim Carrey movie of all time and perhaps the film that brought about the biggest Oscar snub of all time. How on earth was Carrey not even nominated for an Oscar for this movie? It baffles all belief. He is incredible as Truman Burbank, and completely takes over every minute of screentime he has across the movie. This is a movie that has constantly made me think about reality and whether or not my life is perhaps just one giant TV show, but then I realise that it’s not possible because who on earth would want to watch my life? Unless you are watching me type this right now and you’re laughing at the irony of it? Man…mind is being boggled right now, better quickly wrap up this post and say that it is amazing and you should watch it and not change the channel right now….
14. Zoolander (2001)
The moment I saw this movie I was hooked and I automatically knew it would go down as one of the greatest movies of all time. It’s just so damn funny and entertaining and everything about it works. Ben Stiller is incredible, as is Owen Wilson and the large variety of celebrities who appear in the movie. Easily one of the most quotable movies of all time, Zoolander is just a great fun, dumb comedy that helps you take your mind off life and puts a smile on your face. Or maybe a duck lip facial expression instead? Whichever works best I’d say.
13. Titanic (1997)
I gladly own my love of Titanic and it was so hard to not put this in my top ten. It’s a movie I can sit down and watch all three hours of it and never get sick of it, and I still find myself getting a tad teary at the end result. So much about this movie just works, from the incredible look, the costumes, the acting, the humour and of course the action. It’s just that good. It also makes me so happy to see that both Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet remain close friends over 20 years later from the release of this film. Does that make me lame? Who cares. Titanic is awesome and I have a five hour podcast to prove it! Don’t make me make you listen to it! Because you know I will!
12. The Mighty Ducks (1992)
A movie so good it made me support a team because of it and make me love an entire sport. The Mighty Ducks (or Champions as I knew it as when it came out) just completed my childhood and was another movie I’d constantly have on repeat during the 90s. Emilio Estevez is an actor I’ll basically watch in anything now purely on my love for the Gordon Bombay character, and I swear I dreamt constantly about him being my coach as a kid for pretty much any sport I played. It also really made me want to know how to skate, an act that I still don’t know how to do after all these years. Perhaps one day I’ll get to that, but in the meantime I’ll go and watch The Mighty Ducks once again to make me feel just that little bit better.
11. About a Boy (2002)
Hugh Grant is another favourite actor of mine and somehow only one movie by him makes this list. But when that movie is About a Boy it’s easy to see why. There is just so much to love about this film. Grant and Nicholas Hoult have such great chemistry and make the entire movie what it is. It’s great to see Grant play something a little bit different for once and goes to show he actually has more range than he is every given credit for. I related to this movie on so many levels growing up, from the ‘a man is an island’ concept through to the ‘doing things in units’ mentality displayed in the movie. Then there was the relationship between Hoult’s character and his mum, which still to this day gets me emotional given how close it was to my relationship with my mum. Such an incredible film that I will find any excuse to watch.
10. Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
Anybody reading this will probably think I’ve either got this too low for my highest Star Wars film or be worried I have another Star Wars film even higher than this. Well I will say one of those is true and that I do have another Star Wars movie yet to come. But don’t worry, it’s not a prequel. The Empire Strikes Back is all kinds of incredible, and is easily one of the greatest sequel ever made. There is nothing not to like about this movie, and it’s absolutely peak Star Wars when everything was clicking absolutely perfectly and nothing could touch it in terms of quality. That reveal too, the twist. Greatest twist in movie history? Quite possibly. And when it is from one of the top ten movies of all time, it definitely get it’s plaudits and then some. Just like all the movies to follow in the top ten, a perfect movie.
9. Twister (1996)
I was absolutely obsessed with tornadoes after seeing this movie in 1996 and honestly I can say to this day I’m pretty fascinated by them. Is it the weather itself that fascinates me or the fact that I think with every good tornado comes Bill and Jo hunting one at some point? Possibly that. Whatever the reason is, Twister did a lot in making me love them. This might be one of the most chemistry filled casts in movie history, and it just seems that each person involved in this movie is having such a blast that you want to hang out with them and chase storms with them. I had a mad crush on Helen Hunt after seeing this movie too, and it’s something that still exists deep down inside me. Same could be said for Bill Paxton too, who is sorely missed since his death. Mix all of that in with a great soundtrack and amazing special effects and Twister still stands the test of time over 20 years later.
8. GoldenEye (1995)
It was tricky not to just fill this lists with James Bond movies but there were two that were always going to make this list. One of course is GoldenEye, the first Pierce Brosnan movie and the source material for one of the greatest video games of all time too. Everything just works in this movie. It has the best James Bond of all time with the best James Bond villain of all time and the best James Bond henchman (or in this case henchwoman) of all time. A perfect mix. Brosnan just owns the character, and as I just mentioned I will gladly say he is the greatest James Bond to ever be James Bond. This was the movie that introduced me to the franchise and probably the one I’ve seen the most. That is a feat I’m extremely glad is true, and one that will probably continue into the future.
7. Independence Day (1996)
I mentioned previously that I love a good disaster movie and Independence Day takes the cake when it comes to the genre. This movie is just so epic. From the incredible marketing back in 1996 to make this even a thing, through to the incredible tension and build up to the alien attack and the amazing special effects that follow. Everything is so amazing. The cast too just clicks. Bill Pullman. Will Smith. Jeff Goldblum. Perfect. So much chemistry. So much action mixed with humour. A real sense of connection when it comes to earth fighting back against their invaders. Just incredible. It’s such a shame that when they finally got around to making a sequel it was perhaps one of the worst movies I had ever seen. So incredibly bad. So that is why this movie exists on its own and I refuse to believe a sequel was ever made. Because this movie is perfect, and nothing else that comes after it could ever compare in the same genre.
6. Cool Runnings (1993)
Some people say they know they can’t believe, Ben put Cool Runnings in his top six. Well I did, and it deserves to be here! Cool Runnings is just one of those films that makes you feel great and you just want to keep watching all the time. Sure it’s not all exactly true what happened, but it’s close enough to it that I like to believe it more so than what actually happened. The cast is incredible, the chemistry is amazing, it’s funny, it’s dramatic, it’s action packed, and it’s just incredible. Have I said that already? Probably but I’ll continue to say it. Because it’s true. It’s incredible. Anything around the Olympics I’ll generally be obsessed with and this is just a perfect fit around that obsession. I actually legitimately remember renting this movie and not wanting to return it, so I got my dad to rent it again for another week just so I could watch it another 100 times during the week. I loved it that much. And I still do. So much. Because guess what? It’s incredible.
5. Star Wars: Episode VI – Return Of The Jedi (1983)
The greatest Star Wars movie of all time. Sure that may be a controversial choice, but to me it stands alone as the best. There’s just always been something about Return of the Jedi which I have connected with. It balances the storyline so well across the entire run, and has just an epic conclusion that it’s hard not to be hooked to every moment of it. Sure the ewoks are a tad annoying, but I in no way have the hatred for them that some people seemingly do. The closing moments between Luke and Vader are just so intense, so incredible and gets me so emotional. As does the final moments, particularly in the special edition when we see so many of the different planets coming together to celebrate to really make you feel like all the galaxy is connected. It’s just so epic. I will always love Return of the Jedi as my favourite Star Wars film and until Disney gives us something decent in their sequel trilogy, it will be the ultimate and perfect conclusion to one of the greatest franchises in the history of movies.
4. The World Is Not Enough (1999)
The greatest James Bond movie of all time. TWINE is just so layered that it deserves way more love than it ultimately gets. From Pierce Brosnan once again owning the character of James Bond, to the incredible villain that is Sophie Marceau as Elektra King. TWINE is just perfect. Sure Denise Richards isn’t entirely amazing, but I can easily overlook her given everything and everyone around here is just so good. The complexity of the plot is intriguing, and the twist involving Elektra is also a shocking moment that you don’t really see coming. Involving Judi Dench more was a stroke of genius, and Robert Carlyle too fits perfectly as the other villain/henchman along the way. The theme too is easily one of the best of all time, and Shirley Manson fits so perfectly singing the song with Garbage that you know it just had to work. Any Bond fan who seemingly hates this movie I implore you to give it a second chance. Perhaps even a third, fourth or fifth chance. Because it really is an incredible movie that never gets the justice it truly deserves.
3. Back To The Future (1985)
I somehow managed to not see Back To The Future until I was in high school, but boy was my world opened when I did. The entire trilogy is just a work of art, and it’s another case of realistically having all three of them on this list. But the first movie stands the test of time and really never lets up in just how awesome it is. Marty and Doc are a combination made in heaven, and way the movie treats the art of time travel is perfectly done in a way that is believable and entertaining. The soundtrack is incredible, the supporting cast is incredible. It really just is a perfect movie. This is a movie I’m sure will never ever be re-made because if it is, there will be riots in the street. Literally riots. How do I know that? Because I’ll be the one leading them. Nothing can touch this movie as a piece of cinematic art and I’m sure that’s something people will be saying for centuries to come.
2. Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986)
This was a movie that my dad randomly rented one time and made me watch. There were groans. There were eye rolls. Why would I want to watch some stupid old movie? Well, I’m glad I did, because it sits quite comfortably at number two on my all time list. There is just something so great about this movie that I can connect with. Is it the awesome 80s feel? Is it the Ferrari? Is it the Matthew Broderick? The Alan Ruck? All of the above? Who knows. But all I do know is this is a movie I could watch on repeat for days at a time and never get sick of. We’ve all dreamt we could have a day off like Ferris Bueller, and perhaps one day we could try and do that. Because that is one epic bucket list to do in a day, and one that would be worth every single minute of it. Just like watching this movie. Worth every minute of it.
1. Jurassic Park (1993)
Was it ever going to be anything else? Of course not. Jurassic Park is hands down the greatest movie ever made. What is not to love? Dinosaurs get brought back to life. That sells itself. It really does. Mix this was the most amazing cast, the most amazing special effects and the most amazing score and you have an absolute perfect movie. Absolutely perfect. I really struggled to not at least include The Lost World on this list too as I believe that holds up so well and deserves so much more credit than it gets. So I was very sad not to be able to fit that in. But the movie that started it all. Flawless. I saw this at the movies as a six year old and remember people literally screaming and running out in fear when the T-Rex came out. That’s how realistic people thought it looked. I also remember covering my own eyes for large portions of the movie too (the raptors mainly) and weirdly being scared of the Dilophosaurus for a large part of my childhood. But neither of those moments stopped me from putting this as firmly the greatest movie of all time. And something that I’m sure will never ever change.
What do you think of this list? Do you agree with the movies included? Don’t forget to check out my previous rankings on this site and stay tuned as I post some other fun rankings in the coming months!
You can also check out further discussion around this top 50 in a special podcast episode I did for one of my shows, The Oz Network, here.
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