The term "sword and sandal" movie technically refers to a type of Italian cinema that was popular in the mid-20th Century. The movies are set in ancient times, usually ancient Greece or Rome, and often featured American stars of the day. For the purposes of this list, we're expanding the scope to include basically any movie sent in ancient times, especially some of the American blockbusters during and well after that original era. Movies like Gladiator and Ben-Hur, or even The Passion of the Christ. So let's hop on our chariots and go for a ride with this list of the best sword and sandal movies.

Ben-Hur (1959)

The Charlton Heston classic Ben-Hur is one of the biggest movies in Hollywood history and it fits the definition of a "sword and sandal" movie perfectly. It was an enormous success when it came out in the 1950s and the epic has remained popular more than half a century after its release.

Troy (2004)

Though it made a ton of money when it was released in 2004, it wasn't until the Director's Cut of Troy was released about three years later that Wolfgang Peterson's full vision succeeded, critically. The first version left out many key elements of the story it was based on, Homer's Iliad. If you're going to watch it, and you should, you should make sure to check out that 2007 cut of the film.

Conan The Barbarian (1982)

1982's Conan The Barbarian is the film you can point to that truly launched Arnold Schwarzenegger's rise to Hollywood superstardom. Though it's just as much a fantasy movie as anything else, there are definitely swords and sandals, so while it's not based on any kind of ancient history or even story, we're keeping on this list because it's so awesome.

Clash Of The Titans (1981)

There is a lot to love about 1981's Clash of the Titans. For starters, there is the amazing cast that includes Laurence Olivier, Maggie Smith, Burgess Meredith, Ursula Andress (the original 'Bond Girl), and Harry Hamlin. Second, though it looks dated today, the stop motion animation looked amazing in its day. There is really little reason to mention the 2010 remake. Stick with the original.

Spartacus (1960)

Decades before Gladiator, there was Spartacus. Like the former, Spartacus is about a gladiator and slave in ancient Rome. Kirk Douglas stars alongside Laurence Olivier in this classic Hollywood epic that includes one of the most famous moments in film history when hundreds of slaves declare that they are all Spartacus.

300 (2006)

There is almost nothing historically accurate about 300, but that's not the point of the movie. Based on a graphic novel of the same name, this Zack Snyder flick tells a fictionalized version of the Battle of Thermopylae when 300 Spartans (and thousands of other Greeks) defeated the much larger Persian army.

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (1966)

Most sword and sandal movies are full of epic battles and legendary myths. A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum is a very different take on ancient Rome, as it's both a musical and a comedy. The musical, originally a Broadway show written by the great Stephen Sondheim.

Hercules (1958)

1958's Hercules is an actual Italian sword and sandal movie starring the legendary Steve Reeves. Obviously it's based on the Roman myth of Hercules and it really helped launch the body-building Reeves to stardom and made him a staple of the genre in the 1960s.

Alexander (2004)

Oliver Stone took on the genre in 2004's Alexander, starring Colin Farrell as Alexander the Great and telling the story of his attempt to conquer the known world for the Greeks. It's a very flawed movie, especially the weird "love" story between Alexander and his mother, played by Angela Jolie, but it does feature some epic battles.

Cleopatra (1963)

The story of Marc Antony and Cleopatra is one of the most epic love stories of all time and has been brought to life on stage and screen for centuries. One of the most epic tellings is the 1963 Hollywood classic Cleopatra starring Elizabeth Taylor as the Egyptian queen and Richard Burton as her Roman lover.

Gladiator (2000)

No list like this could ever be complete with Ridley Scott's modern classic Gladiator. It's among the best sword and sandal movies ever made and basically launched a new era in the genre. Though its sequel doesn't live up the original, it still could have easily launched a new franchise, and who knows, maybe it will.

William Shakespeare's Julius Caesar (1953)

William Shakespeare's Julius Caesar is one of the most epic tales ever told. It's such a part of Western Culture that it is often taken as fact, despite being written a millennium and a half after the events of the play. The 1953 take on the play, starring Marlon Brando as Marc Antony, is one of the best modern adaptations of the classic and is worth watching for Antony's famous speech alone.

The Scorpion King (2002)

The role of the Scorpion King in The Mummy launched Dwayne Johnson's film career and the sequel, titled simply The Scorpion King, is the origin story of the pre-pyramid Egyptian demigod played by Johnson. The time period is a little too early to be a true sword and sandal movie, but it's so popular, there is no way to leave it off the list.

Gladiator II

Ridley Scott's long-awaited follow up to 2000's Gladiator finally hit theaters in 2024. Gladiator II isn't on the same level as the first movie, but its epic scope and incredible production design carry the thin plot well enough to make it a worthwhile watch. Like its predecessor, it's not historically accurate in almost any way, but seeing the epic battles in the Roman Coliseum on the big screen is breathtaking.

The Ten Commandments (1956)

There is no more epic story in Western culture than the Biblical tale of Moses and the Ten Commandments. The movie, starring Charlton Heston as Moses and Yul Brynner as Rameses II, is as epic as the tale itself. It's one of the most popular movies ever made and will likely remain so for many more years, even seven decades after it was made.

Jason And The Argonauts (1963)

Greek myths and stories have long been a part of Hollywood film making. 1963's Jason And The Argonauts is one of the most popular movies in the genre. Like a couple of other entries on this list, it features some really awesome stop-motion special effects that, for the day, were completely groundbreaking. They look a little cheesy today, when taken at face value, but it's easy to see why the movie was such a spectacle in the early '60s.

Red Sonja (1985)

1985's Red Sonja is the third movie starring Arnold Schwarzenegger as Conan. The star of the movie is the titular Red Sonya, played by Brigitte Nielsen, but it all takes place in the same world as the first two movies. Conan The Barbarian and Conan The Destroyer.

300: Rise Of An Empire (2014)

Like it's predecessor, 300: Rise Of An Empire, is based on a graphic novel by Frank Miller. While it takes its inspiration from Greek history and myth, it's not actually historically accurate. It continues the story of the Greco-Persian war that 300 told, in much the same way. Sadly, it's not as good as the original, but it is a fun time.

Exodus: Gods and Kings (2014)

Director Ridley Scott has never been afraid to take on epic stories and there are stories as epic of the story Exodus from the Bible. It's a technical marvel, filled with amazing set pieces and special effects, but it's a very uneven story in the way it's told and could have been much more than it was.

The 7th Voyage Of Sinbad (1958)

As one of the movies on Rotten Tomatoes with over a 90% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, you know The 7th Voyage Of Sinbad is worth checking it. Like a few other entries on this list, there is some amazing stop-motion animation from the legendary Ray Harryhausen, who was the best at what he did for decades.

Samson And Delilah (1949)

At the time, Samson And Delilah was one of the highest grossing movies of all time. It was a massive hit based on the Biblical story of Samson and Delilah starring Victor Mature as the man whose strength was tied to his hair and Hedy Lamar as the woman who cut it. It is exactly the kind of sprawling epic you expect of the genre.

Barabbas (1961)

Dino De Laurentiis was a giant in Italian cinema, so of course he was responsible for some of the most famous sword and sandal movies, and Biblical movies, like Barabbas about the Roman execution of Christ and Barabbas (played by Anthony Quinn), the man chosen by Pontius Pilate to be spared instead of Jesus.

Ulysses (1954)

Kirk Douglas stars in Ulysses, the retelling of Homer's Odyssey and was directed by Mario Camerini. It was one of the earliest examples of a co-production between an Italian company and an American and remains an important film in the genre.

The Fall Of The Roman Empire (1964)

It's easy to know what a movie called The Fall Of The Roman Empire is about, right? It's a fantastic example of the sword and sandal genre, featuring epic set pieces and an all-star cast that includes Sophia Loren, Alec Guinness, Christopher Plummer, and Omar Sharif.

Centurion (2010)

The disappearance of the famous Roman Ninth Legion is one of the most enduring mysteries in world history. Its fate has been investigated over and over and there is no clear answer. 2010's Centurion attempts to bring the mystery to the big screen with mixed results. The movie wasn't a success, and it's easy to see why. It's still a fascinating question it tries to explain.

The Passion of the Christ (2004)

Director Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ remains one of the most controversial movies ever made. It's been accused of all kinds of negative things that we don't have to rehash here, but as a film, it's actually one heck of a spectacle. As the name says, it tells the story of Jesus' crucifixion as told by the Gospel John.

The Eagle (2011)

Channing Tatum and Donald Sutherland star in another movie released around the same time to try to explain the disappearance of the Roman Ninth Legion. This one is a little better than Centurion, which was released a year earlier, but it's still very uneven.

Risen (2016)

2016's Risen starring Joseph Fiennes as a Roman soldier searching for the body of Christ is a great combination of Roman swords and sandals, and a famous Bible story. It plays out a little like a detective story in a way, but unfortunately it just doesn't quite reach the heights it was obviously trying for in the storytelling.

The Robe (1953)

Biblical epics like were often big hits in the '40s and '50s and The Robe is no exception. In it's day, the Henry Koster-directed film was a success at the box office and won multiple Oscars. Over the years, critical reviews haven't been kind to the movie and that is likely the reason it isn't as talked about these days as much as other sword and sandal movies from the same era.

Immortals (2011)

If you love a great spectacle on screen, Immortals is for you. The set pieces and special effects on this fantasy film based loosely on Greek myth and starring Henry Cavill as Theseus looks amazing. It doesn't tell a great story, but sometimes you just want to watch a movie that looks super cool, right?

Quo Vadis (1951)

Quo Vadis ("Where are we going in Latin") was an enormous hit for MGM in 1951. It was nominated for an impressive eight Academy Awards, but it was shut out at the awards ceremony.

Alexander The Great (1951)

Alexander The Great, starring Richard Burton as the young king, is a weird one. It had a huge budget and contains all the ingredients of a great sword and sandal movie, but it's actually comically terrible. It's so bad that it's fun to watch and make fun of. That's really the best we can say about it,

There's a good chance some of your favorite movies are actually remakes and you might not even know it. Sometimes they might be remakes of older Hollywood films, sometimes they might be remakes of foreign films, but some of the best movies of all time are based on previous works in one way or another. Here is our list of 32 great films are actually remakes. 

Father of the Bride

The 1991 Steve Martin flick Father of the Bride is loved by millions who grew up with it as one of their go-to comedies. What might surprise you is that it's a remake. The original, starring Spencer Tracy and Elizabeth Taylor marked a moment in Taylor's career when she moved to playing adult roles. It's also really good, having been nominated for multiple Oscars after its release in 1950.

Ben-Hur

Usually, you'd expect a movie released in the 1950s to be the one being remade, rather than being a remake itself, but one of the greatest movies in Hollywood history, 1959's Ben-Hur, is actually a remake itself. The original, a silent movie released in 1925, was also a blockbuster, but it's almost completely in the shadow of the Charlton Heston-led hit. 

Cape Fear

Nick Nolte and Robert De Niro are fantastic in Martin Scorsese's Cape Fear from 1991. De Niro got jacked for the role and his performance is legendary. The movie itself is actually a remake of a 1962 movie that Gregory Peck in the Nolte role and Robert Mitchem as the psychopath Max Cady, played by De Niro in the remake. A fun bit of trivia is that both Peck and Mitchem appeared as different characters in the remake. 

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels is one of the most quotable and timeless comedies of the 1980s. Michael Caine, Steve Martin, and Glenne Headly star in the movie about scheming con artists on the French Riviera. It's also a remake of a movie starring David Niven, Marlon Brando, and Shirley Jones called Bedtime Story, released in 1964.

True Lies

1994's True Lies was Arnold Schwarzenegger and James Cameron at the height of their collective powers. Tom Arnold is surprisingly great too. The original version of the story was released just three years earlier, a French comedy called La Totale! It doesn't have the huge action sequences that True Lies has, but it is really funny. 

Heat

Michael Mann's 1995 film Heat is one of the best heist movies ever made and marked the first time Robert De Niro and Al Pacino acted opposite each other in a movie (they were both in The Godfather II, but not together). 

The Fly

If you grew up in the '80s, there's a good chance the 1986 film The Fly is one of the craziest movies you remember watching. The combo of Jeff Goldblum as the star and David Cronenberg as director makes for one wild ride of a horror movie. The visuals stick with you forever. Of course, the original, released in 1958, is also a classic of the sci-fi horror genre and should not be missed. 

The Birdcage

The Birdcage was a massive hit upon its release in 1991. The Robin Williams and Nathan Lane-led film is considered a landmark movie in LQBTQ+ representation in film and was a remake of a wonderful French movie called La Cage aux Folles. La Cage aux Folles won a Golden Globe and was nominated for three Oscars after its release in 1978.

The Ring

The Ring was one of the scariest movies of the early 21st Century that benefited from a unique marketing campaign that in and of itself freaked people out. The Gore Verbinski-directed horror movie was a fantastic remake of a 1998 Japanese movie simply called Ring. Both are excellent. 

Three Men And A Baby

Did you know that Three Men and a Baby was a remake? Like a lot of movies, it was based on an earlier French film. Trois hommes et un couffin, which translates to "Three Men and a Cradle," was in 1985, two years before its American cousin. The French version was a hit in France and earned an Oscar nomination for Best Foreign Film. 

The Thomas Crown Affair

It's rare that remakes are actually better than the original, but one clear case is 1999's The Thomas Crown Affair starring Pierce Brosnan and Renee Russo. That's not to say the original 1968 version with Faye Dunaway and Steve McQueen is bad, because it's also great. That's just how good the later version is. Both are worth watching, if you've never seen them. 

3:10 To Yuma

Despite being one of the best Westerns of the 21st Century, 3:10 To Yuma was a box office disappointment. Both the 2007 version and the 1957 version of the movie were based on a short story by the great Elmore Leonard. 

The Departed

For many, the most surprising entry on this list will be Martin Scorsese's masterpiece The Departed. That's right, the Best Picture winner released in 2006 was actually a remake of a 2002 Hong Kong movie called Infernal Affairs. Obviously the setting and the characters are different, as Scorsese set his movie in Boston, but the plot points, dueling "rats" in the police department and mafia, remains the core of both stories. 

Little Shop Of Horrors

This one is a little different than most of the others on this list. 1986's Little Shop of Horrors was actually a film adaptation of a 1983 Broadway musical, but the musical was based on a 1960 B horror movie directed by Roger Corman. Frankly, all three are worth your time, but the '88 off-beat version of the musical is the best. 

Gone In 60 Seconds

The original Gone In 60 Seconds, released in 1974, is a fantastic low-budget flick that was basically the vision of man, H. B. Halicki. The remake, which basically just lifts the plot with very little else in common, is a big-budget blockbuster that is also a really fun watch. It's filled with some of the coolest cars in Hollywood history, so if that's your thing, you should check out both. 

Fatal Attraction

There are few movies in history as disturbing as 1987's Fatal Attraction. Glenn Close's performance as the jilted lover/psychopath is remarkable and it's a shame she didn't win an Oscar for it. The movie itself was based on a short filmed from 1980 short film called Diversion. Both were written by James Dearden, who was also involved in the 2023 TV show, also called Fatal Attraction.

The Ladykillers

The Ladykillers, directed by the Coen Brothers, is generally thought of as a bad movie by iconic directors, That might be because it's a remake. Sure, they did a great job with True Grit, but the original Ladykillers, released in 1955 and starring Alec Guinness, is a much better movie than the Coens' version, and that isn't easy to admit. 

Angels In The Outfield

Angels in the Outfield is another movie on this list that might surprise you. The family baseball movie released in 1994 was a hit and is still beloved by people today who are nostalgic for their childhood. It also happens to be a remake of a movie few of those same people have seen. The original Angels in the Outfield was released in 1951 and faired poorly at the box office but is generally thought more highly of today. 

The Maltese Falcon

1941's The Maltese Falcon starring Humphrey Bogart is a stone-cold classic. It's also, surprisingly, a remake! That's right, one of the best movies ever was based on a movie from ten years earlier, of the same name. The original is mostly forgotten these days, and understandably so.

Living

One of the most overlooked movies in recent years has to be 2022's Living starring Bill Nighy. The movie, based on a 1952 Akira Kurosawa film called Ikiru, is about what it's like to be freed by a terminal cancer diagnosis and really start... living. It's always a bold decision to remake a movie by a master like Kurosawa, but the crew behind Living knocked it out of the park. 

The Taking Of Pelham 123

The Tony Scott-directed 2009 movie The Taking Of Pelham 123 is actually the third film adaptation of a novel by Morton Freedgood. The first movie, directed by Joseph Sargent and starring Walter Matthau, is still the best of the three, but the '09 version is also worth a watch. 

Dinner for Schmucks

Dinner for Schmucks, from 2010, isn't the greatest movie Steve Carrell has ever made, but his performance is still fantastic. It's a real bright spot in the film. If you want the same story, but better, and you don't mind French subtitles, check out the movie Schmucks was based on, the 1998 French film Le Dîner de Cons (The Dinner Game).

The Man Who Knew To Much

This is a unique one. Alfred Hitchcock's The Man Who Knew Too Much from 1956 is, in fact, a remake of his own movie of the same name from 1934. The '50s version, starring James Stewart and Doris Day, actually altered quite a bit from the original, but we simply have to include it for its uniqueness. 

Scarface

1983's legendary Scarface is very different from the movie it was based on, a 1932 movie loosely inspired by Al Capone. The '80s movie is about a Cuban immigrant who rises to power in the Miami underground, as opposed to the Capone-inspired character in the original rising to power in Chicago. 

Scent Of A Woman

Al Pacino finally won his first Oscar for his performance in 1992's Scent Of A Woman. While it's debatable if it's one of Pacino's best performances, there's no question he needed to win an Academy Award at some point. The movie was based on an Italian film of the same name (Profumo di donna in Italian), and that movie was nominated for two Oscars, so it's well worth checking out. 

The Magnificent Seven

Yes, there was a remake of the 1960 John Sturges-directed The Magnificent Seven in 2016, but we're talking about the original here. The 1960 movie is technically a remake of Kurosawa's Seven Samurai from 1954, which is often listed as among the Japanese director's best. Sturges' movie is great too. 

Victor/Victoria

Victor/Victoria, starring Julie Andrews in one of her best roles and directed by the great Blake Edwards, is kind of a forgotten hit these days. It was nominated for seven Oscars in its day and features some wonderful performances. The movie was a remake of a German movie from 1933 called Viktor und Viktoria.

Man On Fire

2004's Man on Fire isn't one of Denzel Washington's best movies. The movie it was a remake of (or, at least, another movie based on the same book) wasn't very good either. The original was released in 1987 and starred Scott Glenn in the lead role. It's a great story, so at some point maybe someone will remake it again and make it work. 

Heaven Can Wait

Warren Beaty was nominated for four Academy Awards for 1978's Heaven Can Wait, picking up nominations for Best Picture (he produced it), Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Actor. Sadly he didn't win one, but it's still a great movie. It's a remake of a movie from 1941 called Here Comes Mr. Jordan, though both are based on a play, originally. 

An Affair To Remember

An Affair to Remember (1957) starring Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr is one of the most beloved movies of its day. It was not, however, totally original. It was, in fact, a remake of a 1939 movie called Love Affair, itself far less revered. Just remember that the next time someone says "Hollywood doesn't have original ideas anymore" - Hollywood has been remaking movies forever. 

CODA

2021's CODA was a bit of a surprise hit, winning Best Picture at the 2022 Oscars. It tells the story of a woman who is the only hearing member of a deaf family. It's a powerful movie, reflected in the praise it earned from critics. It is a remake of another wonderful movie, a Belgium film called La Famille Bélier (The Family Belier) released in 2014. 

The Secret Life Of Walter Mitty

While The Secret Life Of Walter Mitty was a modest hit with generally middling reviews, it really should be seen by any movie fan. Ben Stiller puts forth one of the best performances of his stellar career in the movie, which is the second adaption of a short story by author James Thurber. The first came way back in 1947, starring Danny Kaye in the lead role. 

In recent years, we’ve seen instant-classics like CODA, Everything Everywhere All at Once, Oppenheimer, and several other Best Picture winners dominate the conversation surrounding the Academy Awards. And while those three movies and other examples from the 21st century are worth celebrating, it’s equally important to honor those who came before them. And by “before” we mean a long time ago, like the early years of the Oscars.

Below is a breakdown of every Best Picture winner from the first 40 years of the Oscars, several dozen or so landmark films that many cherish decades later as well as a few that some may have forgotten about entirely.

Wings (1927)

William A. Wellman’s Wings, which is a great war movie and romantic epic, had the honor of being the first film to be named Best Picture at the inaugural Academy Awards in 1929. Great performances from Clara Bow and Charles Rogers, as well as that iconic tracking shot, make this a worthy watch decades later.

The Broadway Melody (1929)

Harry Beaumont’s The Broadway Melody was the first of many musicals to be named Best Picture when this “talkie” took home the top prize at the second annual Academy Awards. Romance, music, and aspirations are plenty in this treasured classic.

All Quiet On The Western Front (1930)

Nearly 100 years before Edward Berger gave everyone with a Netflix subscription a first-hand account of the horrors of war with his 2022 Oscar-winning thriller, Lewis Milestone adapted Erich Maira Remarque’s All Quiet on the Western Front for the big screen in 1930. Tense, epic, and heartbreaking, this anti-war film doesn’t pull its punches. 

Cimarron (1931)

A lot of the great Western films have won an Academy Award or two over the years, and  Wesley Ruggles’ 1931 gem, Cimarron, was the very first to do so. Released in 1932, this period drama throws the audience into 19th-century Oklahoma for one wild land rush.

Grand Hotel (1932)

Following several groups of people in separate yet intertwined stories, Edward Goulding’s 1931 drama film, Grand Hotel, is a splendid and highly influential piece of cinema. Set in a luxurious Berlin hotel, this sprawling story of romance, schemes, and ambitious players is worth a watch.

Cavalcade (1933)

Taking place between the turn of the 20th century and the early 1930s, Cavalcade follows two couples as they navigate the good, the bad, and the in-between of life. In addition to playing into romance,  Frank Lloyd’s Best Picture winner also recreates some of the century’s most memorable and harrowing chapters.

It Happened One Night (1934)

Frank Capra’s It Happened One Night won all five categories for which it was nominated at the 7th Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor (Clark Gable), Best Actress (Claude Colbert), and Best Adaptation. No wonder it’s still considered one of the best romantic comedies ever made.

Mutiny On The Bounty (1935)

We don’t see too many swashbuckling adventures winning the Oscar for Best Picture these days, but it was a different story in 1935 when Mutiny on the Bounty took the top prize. This adventurous seafaring drama follows a crew of sailors led by Fletcher Christian (Clark Gable) as they depose their tyrannical captain and deal with the consequences.

 The Great Ziegfeld (1936)

We’ve seen several biopics take home the Best Picture award over the years, including The Great Ziegfeld, Robert Z. Leonard’s 1936 musical drama about Florenz Ziegfeld Jr. (William Powell) as the young theater producer makes a name for himself.

The Life Of Emile Zola (1937)

One of the best courtroom dramas of all time, The Life of Emile Zola follows Paul Muni’s titular author as finds new meaning in life after hearing of a victim of anti-semitism and dedicating his life and career to standing against hate. However, the plan isn’t without its own issues.

You Can’t Take It With You (1938)

Frank Capra’s You Can’t Take It with You, a satirical romantic comedy starring Jean Arthur, Lionel Barrymore, and a young James Stewart, has a little bit of everything from laughs to romance to drama to social commentary. Oh, and it won Best Picture on top of that.

Gone With The Wind (1939)

One of the most well-known and controversial films ever made, Victor Fleming’s epic historical romance story about Scarlett O’Hara (Vivien Leigh) and Rhett Butler (Clark Gable) finding meaning in the madness of the Civil War and its aftermath won Best Picture and nine other Oscars at the 12th Academy Awards.

Rebecca (1940)

Alfred Hitchcock became the first director to try their hand at adapting Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca, and considering the film took home the Oscar for Best Picture at the 13th Academy Awards, it was a worthy effort.

How Green Was My Valley (1941)

Set during the late Victorian Era, How Green Was My Valley follows the tight-knit and hard-working Morgan family as they navigate life as miners in the South Wales Valleys. One of John Ford’s best efforts (which is saying something), this Best Picture winner will test you in every way.

Mrs. Miniver (1942)

Though not your average World War II movie, Mrs. Miniver is a worthy addition to the list nonetheless. Set during the height of the global conflict, this Best Picture winner follows an English family as they learn to cope and live with the fear and decimation brought on by war.

Casablanca (1943)

One of the most iconic and quotable movies of all time, there was no way Casablanca wasn’t going to win the Best Picture upon its release. The story of a washed-up expat (played by Humphrey Bogart) as he helps a former lover (played by Ingrid Bergman) and her fiance escape Nazi-controlled Morocco never gets old.

Going My Way (1944)

Led by the late, great Bing Crosby, Going My Way tells a splendid story of a young priest as he attempts to make sense out of life while also inspiring the boys in his impoverished and tough-as-nails parish to form a choir and make something of themselves.

The Lost Weekend (1945)

Billy Wilder’s The Lost Weekend, one of the best additions to the film noir genre, might be one of the darkest movies to ever win Best Picture, but don’t let that stop you from checking out this must-watch thriller starring Ray Milland and Jane Wyman.

The Best Years Of Our Lives (1946)

One of the more harrowing war films ever released, The Best Days of Our Lives doesn’t shy away from the terrible nature of armed combat and how some soldiers never fully leave the battlefield, even long after the final shot has been fired.

Gentleman’s Agreement (1947)

Gregory Peck had countless great movie performances over the years, and one of the best was in Elia Kazan’s 1947 drama, Gentleman’s Agreement. A young Peck plays a journalist who goes undercover to expose antisemitism in New York’s elite masterfully here.

Hamlet (1948)

In addition to winning an Oscar for Best Costume Design, Hamlet also took home the Best Picture prize at the 21st Academy Awards. Laurence Olivier’s adaptation of William Shakespeare's beloved play remains one of the best all these years later.

All The King’s Men (1949)

Inspired by the life and death of Louisiana Governor Huey P. Long, All the King’s Men chronicled the rise and fall of southern politician Willie Stark (Broderick Crawford), and was rewarded handsomely for its riveting and dramatic story. Robert Rossen’s film won three Oscars, including Best Picture.

All About Eve (1950) 

Joseph L. Mankiewicz’s thrilling drama, All About Eve centers on an aspiring and scheming actress (played by Anne Baxter) as befriends and takes advantage of an aging Broadway star (Bette Davis) to further propel her career. Backstabbing, politicing, and incredible style make this Best Picture winner one for the ages.

An American In Paris (1951)

One of the most famous musicals ever made, An American in Paris is one of those movies you can watch, twice, or a million times without growing tired of its story about an expat (played by Gene Kelly) as he starts a new life in France, which is a long way of saying it’s a tremendous piece of art.

The Greatest Show On Earth (1952)

Cecil B. DeMille’s The Greatest Show on Earth is one of those movies that’s always fun to revisit because of its cast (James Stewart and Charlton Heston) are two of its top stars), incredible circus sequences, and a certain train crash scene that is just as epic today as it was 60-plus years ago.

From Here To Eternity (1953)

Fred Zinnemann’s From Here to Eternity has a little something for everyone including action, drama, romance, and an intense war story. Perhaps this is why the Burt Lancaster, Montgomery Clift, and Frank Sinatra-led Oscar Winner is so beloved years later.

On The Waterfront (1954)

The “coulda been a contender” speech in On the Waterfront was enough to earn Marlon Brando a Best Actor Oscar and was certainly more than enough to win the Best Picture trophy at the 27th Academy Awards.

Marty (1955)

Ernest Borgnine and Besty Blair play unlikely romantic partners in Marty, a 1955 drama about the complicated lives of New Yorkers who will do anything and everything to find true love in the maddening world.

Around The World In 80 Days (1956)

In 1956, Michael Anderson transformed a classic Jules Verne novel into one of the funniest, most adventurous, and eye-catching films of the 20th century with his adaptation of Around the World in 80 Days. It was a booming success as it took home Best Picture and numerous other Oscars.

The Bridge On The River Kwai (1957)

When it comes to World War II movies about POWs attempting to overcome seemingly impossible tasks, The Bridge on the River Kwai is one of the best to do it. Winner of seven Oscars, including Best Picture, this star-studded adventure film brings a lot to the table.

Gigi (1958)

Directed by the late, great Vincente Minnelli, the 1958 musical, Gigi, features swirling musical numbers, and an all-time friends-to-lovers story with its tale about a Parisian playboy (played by Louis Jourdan) trying to change his ways and become the one and only for the young and precious courtesan-in-training (played by Leslie Caron). 

Ben-Hur (1959)

Willian Wyler’s larger-than-life period drama, Ben-Hur, is one of those movies people mostly remember for one scene, which is the chariot race in the case of this 1959 epic. The rest of the movie is just as intense and fun to watch, which explains the Best Picture win.

The Apartment (1960)

When Billy Wilder and Jack Lemmon teamed up for 1960’s The Apartment, it was all but guaranteed that it would become a massive success and eventual winner of five Academy Awards, including Best Picture.

West Side Story (1961)

From the battles between the Jets and the Sharks to the swirling romance of lovers caught on opposing sides to over-the-top musical numbers, there’s so much to love about West Side Story. Academy voters must have felt the same way, as this 1961 gem won a total of 11 Oscars, including Best Picture.

Lawrence Of Arabia (1962)

If you’re looking for proof that sometimes longer movies are better movies, Lawrence of Arabia is going to get the job done. Epic in just about every possible way, this four-hour biopic dives into the various stages of T.E. Lawrence’s (Peter O’Toole) life and just works. It works so well.

Tom Jones (1963)

In 1963, Tony Richardson turned his attention to Henry Fieldling’s novel Tom Jones and created one of the greatest and most endearing Best Picture winners of all time. With Albert Finney in the titular role, this landmark comedy is worthy of all praise.

My Fair Lady (1964)

George Cukor’s 1964 adaptation of My Fair Lady is one of those cinematic masterpieces that just gets better with age. Audrey Hepburn, Rex Harrison, and the other actors appearing on screen make this comedy about two high society types trying to transform a beautiful yet uncivilized woman into a duchess oh so grand.

The Sound Of Music (1965)

Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer helped make The Sound of Music not just one of the most iconic Best Picture winners of the ‘60s, but also one of the most cherished musicals of all time.

A Man For All Seasons (1966)

A Man for All Seasons takes the story of Sir Thomas More (Paul Scofield) going to war with the Catholic church over the concept of divorce and turns into an unforgettable cinematic experience. 

In The Heat Of The Night (1967)

Before it was turned into a long-running TV show of the same name, In the Heat of the Night was a revolutionary and well-respected crime drama about a Black detective (played by Sidney Poitier) as he goes from being accused of murder to hunting down those responsible for it. Nothing is off the table in Norman Jewison’s landmark mystery film.

As you can probably tell by now, the first 40 years of the Academy Awards saw some of the most iconic and legendary films to ever grace the silver screen. But as we all know, this is just the beginning of the story…

Narrative works of fiction and nonfiction alike have always been a strong device when it comes to examining the many facets of warfare. A subject that can be both personal, but also wide reaching, there’s so many lenses one can use to tell a story about the various armed combats the people of the world have experienced. It’s because of this that today, we’re here to honor the best war movies that make up the canon, from movies about Pearl Harbor and Vietnam to great films about World War I and  World War II films set around the world, and that's just breaching the surface. 

Whether on the battlefield, or at the homefront, tales such as these can help us better understand one of the most complicated impulses of humanity. Some of the movies highlighted are even based on fictional characters/conflicts, but those entries aren’t any less effective for it. Some of the best action movies even qualify for this feature as a result. With that in mind, please enjoy CinemaBlend’s rundown of the best war movies of all time. 

30. Dunkirk (2017)

Leave it to Christopher Nolan (Inception, Tenet) to take the fairly straightforward concept of a war picture and filter it through three intersecting time frames, which all converge on the key battle that’s mentioned in the title. 

You don’t quite pick it up at first. But as Nolan – and, by extension, the audience – follows the events of the Allied forces trapped on the beaches of Dunkirk during WWII, we see the timeline of a soldier (Fionn Whitehead), a pilot (Tom Hardy), and a civilian boat captain (Mark Rylance) all intersecting while the narrative unfurls. Dunkirk delivers a thinking-man’s approach to the brutality of combat, an intelligent dissection of combat as seen from the land, the sea, and the air. 

29. Ben-Hur (1959)

Few movies are more befitting of the word “epic” than William Wyler’s masterpiece, Ben-Hur. Oh, and fun fact, but Wyler also won two more Oscars for two other war films, those being Mrs. Miniver, and The Best Years of Our Lives. But back to Ben-Hur, which stars Charlton Heston as Judah Ben-Hur, a Jewish prince who becomes a slave, but then ultimately rises up and becomes a respected charioteer during the Roman Empire. This sprawling movie has some of the most impressive scenes in cinema, like when the Roman fleet is attacked by pirates, or of course the groundbreaking chariot race. But the real war is more of a personal battle between Ben-Hur and his former friend, Messala. All of this is set to a story of the Christ, which ultimately makes Ben-Hur’s quest for vengeance really a quest for redemption. It’s a film for the ages!

28. Valkyrie (2008)

While most World War II movies focus on the action in the major battlefields, director Bryan Singer’s Valkyrie pays tribute to a piece of history that’s more localized. One of the great Tom Cruise movies you may have never seen, the action star plays Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg, a key figure in an attempt to overthrow Adolf Hitler from within his own military.

Heading up an all star cast, including Terrence Stamp, Eddie Izzard, and Kenneth Branagh - among others, Cruise commands the picture as its dramatic anchor. A portrait of people who rejected their own government’s cruelty by using its very machinery against it, Valkyrie’s plot skews away from traditional war stories. Opting to show a more clandestine battle, the action is mixed with a climate of tension and personal stakes that makes this more confined tale as thrilling as one told with a more open battlefield.

27. Lincoln (2012)

Though Lincoln probably isn’t the first title that comes to mind when thinking about the best war movies, it’s more than deserving of a spot on this list. With the American Civil War in the background, Steven Spielberg’s historical drama follows U.S. President Abraham Lincoln (Daniel Day-Lewis) as he attempts to accomplish two major goals: bring an end to the bloody military conflict, and ban slavery once and for all.

Again, there’s not much in terms of battles (the only major sequence is in the opening minutes of the film), but Lincoln does a masterful job of capturing the attitudes and fears of a nation torn in two as well as the impact it has on the country 150 years later.

26. Inglourious Basterds (2009)

When Brad Pitt’s Lt. Aldo Raine looks down upon the carved forehead of Christoph Waltz’s Hans Landa at the end of Inglourious Basterds and remarks, “I think this might just be my masterpiece,” it’s A) hard not to read it as a meta sentiment from Quentin Tarantino, and B) hard not to agree with said sentiment. The writer/director has made some phenomenal films, and there is an argument to be made that his 2009 contribution to the war movie genre is his greatest.

It’s gnarly and awesome to see the titular collection of commandos execute their mission to start up a collection of Nazi scalps, but the genius comes in with the integration of the fiery revenge plot unfurled by Mélanie Laurent’s Shosanna Dreyfus. With the sinister, slimy Landa slithering through both stories, it’s a movie that shocks, thrills, and delights with a killer vision of alternative history.

25. Gladiator (2000)

Ridley Scott’s Gladiator is more about the aftermath of a war, and a power struggle that ensues when the Emperor’s son murders him in order to prevent losing his right to the throne to a successful war general. Scott is a master when it comes to directing historical films, and he really knocked it out of the park pitting established star Russell Crowe against a young but phenomenal Joaquin Phoenix. 

The film won five Academy Awards after its release, and was nominated for a whole lot more. Russell Crowe received his Best Actor Oscar, though Joaquin Phoenix would have to wait longer before finally getting one of his own. When it comes to modern gladiator films, there’s really no better option to choose from. 

24. Hacksaw Ridge (2016)

“Please Lord, help me get one more.” Repeated variations on that plea are heard throughout director Mel Gibson’s Hacksaw Ridge, as combat medic Desmond Doss (Andrew Garfield) tries to save as many of his fellow soldiers. The story of the first Medal of Honor recipient to be a conscientious objector, it’s a cross between a more traditional, combat heavy picture, and a moving biographical drama.

Through his dedication to protecting and saving as many lives as he could, especially during the Battle of Okinawa, Desmond’s career as a World War II combat medic is brought to life through an intense performance from Andrew Garfield. Producer Bill Mechanic once remarked on the reason Hacksaw Ridge resonates with audiences is due to how the story affects people. Basing its message on the universal belief that true heroes can rise to the darkest of occasions, it’s not hard to agree.

23. The Deer Hunter (1978)

While the famous “Russian roulette” scene is the most iconic image of The Deer Hunter, what makes the movie great, what makes it important, is the metaphorical Russian roulette of three friends who go to war, and come out of it in very different ways. Many war movies deal with the terrible cost of war, but few do it in quite the same way as The Deer Hunter. 

The movie ultimately spends little of its three-hour runtime on the Vietnam War itself. This is a story about the men who fought in it, both before and after their time there. By spending so much time with Mike (Robert De Niro), Nick (Christopher Walken) and Steven (John Savage) before they ever go to war, we understand who they truly were, and therefore we understand the loss of those men that much more.

22. The Dirty Dozen (1967)

What do you get when a group of colorful criminals-turned-commandos are sent out on a top secret, high risk mission to disrupt German command ahead of the D-Day invasion during World War II? If your answer is one hell of a movie, you’re 100% right. With legend Robert Aldrich at the helm, The Dirty Dozen sports one of the best ensemble casts of any movie from the 1960s – including Lee Marvin, Charles Bronson, Ernest Borgnine, Donald Sutherland, George Kennedy, Robert Ryan, Telly Savalas, and more – and their mission as expendables soldiers risking their lives for a pardon is a blast.

Not just a great movie unto itself, The Dirty Dozen also happens to be hugely influential. Number 26 on this list wouldn’t exist without it, not to mention the Suicide Squad blockbusters and the comics on which they are based.

21. Black Hawk Down (2001)

There are two major aspects of warfare that Ridley Scott’s Black Hawk Down commits to displaying in its adaptation of author Mark Bowden’s account of the Battle of Mogadishu. On one hand, the picture shows the importance of tactical awareness, as what seemed like a “routine mission” for UN peacekeepers during the Somali Civil War turned into what was known as the “longest sustained firefight” since the Vietnam War. 

Adding to the masterfully claustrophobic feel of that very war zone is the atmosphere of personal valor. Black Hawk Down’s cast boasts actors like Josh Hartnett, Ewan McGregor, Eric Bana, and Sam Shepherd; all playing the peacekeepers who unexpectedly find themselves in harm's way. Rather than merely showing the battle as a lesson of preparedness, Ridley Scott and writer Ken Nolan also dig into why we fight, especially when the battle becomes greater than we could have ever anticipated. 

20. The Hurt Locker (2008)

Where has director Kathryn Bigelow gone? After bursting onto the scene with Near Dark, Blue Steel and Point Break, the searing action director settled into a groove of gripping combat features with the back-to-back releases of The Hurt Locker and Zero Dark Thirty, winning Best Picture and Director for Locker. Bigelow has only made one movie since then – Detroit in 2017 – and when you watch The Hurt Locker, you realize how much we, as an audience, are missing. 

The Hurt Locker goes deep behind enemy lines during the Iraq War, following bomb technicians (Anthony Mackie, Jeremy Renner) as they tackle fresh waves of devastating new threats. The film put human faces on a war that played out in our nation’s headlines, while also remembering to be a riveting and suspense-filled action thriller. 

19. Born On The Fourth of July (1989)

The second movie in Oliver Stone’s Vietnam trilogy (the first film being the Academy-Award winning, Platoon, and the third being Heaven & Earth), Born on the Fourth of July may just be the most potent and personal of the three. In one of Tom Cruise’s best movie performances, the talented actor portrays real-life figure, Ron Kovic, a proud American who was itching to get into Vietnam, but returned home broken and disillusioned. 

The film chronicles his change, from gung-ho soldier, to wounded veteran, to activist, and it never shies away from the message that war is never kind to anyone, especially those who go into it thinking it’s noble or glorious.

18. Beasts Of No Nation (2015)

Beasts Of No Nation is not an easy movie to watch. Director Cary Joji Fukunaga’s unflinching look at the story of a young boy in an unnamed West African country who finds himself forced into a warlord’s army of children is brutal, horrific, and completely brilliant. 

The boy, Agu (Abraham Attah) is enlisted into the Commandant's army after most of his family flees his village in the midst of a civil war and his father is killed after telling Agu to run into the jungle as the village is attacked. The Commandant, played exceptionally by Idris Elba, is remorseless and cruel with his child soldiers and the movie pushes the emotions of its viewers as far as anyone would want. It’s well worth the sacrifice, but maybe not repeat viewings.

17. M*A*S*H (1970)

While M*A*S*H is mostly famous for the television series that lasted years longer than the Korean War itself, that show owes its existence to Robert Altman’s excellently subversive film. It’s not a shock the movie translated well to television considering the film is fairly episodic, following Hawkeye (Donald Sutherland) and Trapper (Elliot Gould) from one wild situation to the next, with each story having little to do with those around it. 

Still, M*A*S*H does a fantastic job of looking at the Korean War (as well as the Vietnam War), which was raging alongside the film’s release, with a hilariously dark sense of humor, something the men in the actual conflict likely had to do to make it through.

16. Enemy At The Gates (2001)

Few war movies are as riddled with the tension that Enemy At The Gates provides, as two opposing snipers look to kill the other during the Battle of Stalingrad during World War II. Jean-Jacques Annaud does a phenomenal job of building the tension between Jude Law’s Vassili Zaitsev as he takes on Ed Harris’ Major Erwin König. 

This movie delivers both the massive battles that other great war films feature, and does a great job at showcasing some of the key minor battles that were fought, and how just a couple of key players could play a massive role in the morale of an entire army.  

15. Patton (1970)

Directed by Franklin J. Schaffner and co-written by Francis Ford Coppola (another filmmaker known for a brilliant war movie), Patton features one of the best depictions of a military leader in the medium’s history with George C. Scott’s portrayal of U.S. General George S. Patton. This epic war movie, which starts with one of the most iconic speeches of all time, spends 172 minutes dissecting the man, the myth, and the legend of the decorated military mind.

A Best Picture winner, Patton took home an impressive seven Academy Awards, including Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Actor, though Scott refused to accept the award.

14. Starship Troopers (1997)

For sci-fi fans, it might be hard to pick which is the best Paul Verhoeven movie: Total Recall, RoboCop, or Starship Troopers, but for the sake of this article, we’re going to focus on Starship Troopers, which is definitely worthy of being in consideration as one of the best war movies of all time. On the surface, this might not seem right. Here we have a movie about soldiers fighting giant bugs, which wasn’t in any textbooks that we remember growing up. 

Underneath the pulse-pounding action, however, is a satire that is definitively anti-fascism. In fact, many of our “heroes” are dressed like Nazis, and when our protagonists capture the enemy species, they rejoice in the fact that “it’s afraid.” So, yeah. It might not be the first movie you think of when it comes to great anti-war movies, but it definitely is once you think about it.

13. The Thin Red Line (1998)

Released the same year as Steven Spielberg’s Saving Private Ryan and set during the same conflict (World War II), Terrence Malick’s 1998 epic war film, The Thin Red Line, couldn’t be any more different than the Tom Hanks-led spectacle. Set during the Battle of Mount Austen in the Pacific Theater of WWII, the movie largely consists of a series of internal monologues by characters played by Jim Caviezel, Sean Penn, Nick Nolte, and others, as they contemplate their respective roles in the war and what fate has in store for them.

Malick’s first movie in 20 years, The Thin Red Line is less of a straightforward portrayal of war and more an artistic exploration of the internal struggles soldiers face while staring death in the eye.

12. Spartacus (1960)

Spartacus, which is the story of a slave-cum-gladiator who becomes a leader of men and leads a revolt, is one of Stanley Kubrick’s most underappreciated gems. Starring Kirk Douglas (who also starred in Kubick’s anti-war masterpiece, Paths of Glory), the film is as epic in scope as you’d want it to be. 

Set during the Third Servile War (also known as the Gladiator War), the film follows the rise, and ultimate fall of its titular character. But along the way, we get stirring speeches, and excellent scenes of combat – most notably a gladiatorial fight involving a man using a net and a trident! Yes, at over three hours, it’s a bit long, but the voyage along the way is rewarding as all hell. I am Spartacus!

11. Platoon (1986)

Oliver Stone’s Platoon is considered to be one of the top war movies to win Best Picture as well as one of the most realistic military films of all time. Centering on Chris Taylor (Charlie Sheen), an idealistic young soldier thrown into the meat-grinder that was Vietnam, this harrowing drama is as disturbing as it is decorated with its depictions of heroism, human depravity, and a battle between right and wrong on the battlefield.

Remembered for its unflinching examination of one of the bloodiest conflicts in American military history, Platoon also gave the world one of the most emotional and cinematic scenes in movie history with Sergeant Elias (Willem Dafoe) being chased through the jungle set to Samuel Barber’s “Adagio for Strings.”

10. Glory (1989)

One way to guarantee success in a war movie is to assemble an all-star cast and tell an inspirational, if little told, story of a war. That is exactly what director Edward Zwick did with 1989’s Glory. Telling the story of the 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment in the Civil War, one of the few all-Black outfits to fight for the Union, Zwick put together a cast of serious heavyweights to show all the emotion, the glorious highs and the heartbreaking lows of the regiment. 

The movie stars Morgan Freeman, Denzel Washington (who won an Oscar for his performance), Andre Braugher (in his first film role), as members of the unit, and Matthew Broderick and Cary Elwes as their commanding officers. It’s a powerful film that is as true to history as a movie can be, but also as inspiring as a film can be. It was nominated for five Academy Awards and won two –  Best Cinematography as well as Washington’s win.

9. 1917 (2019)

In 2019, Sam Mendes gave audiences one of the best World War I movies with 1917, a blistering and grueling thriller about two young British soldiers – Will Schofield (George MacKay) and Tom Blake (Dean-Charles Chapman) – as they try to reach the frontline and deliver an important message that could save scores of lives. But this proves to be no simple task, as the pair has to cross enemy lines where they encounter attacks on land and from the air before they can reach their destination and call off a doomed offensive.

The winner of three Academy Awards, including Best Cinematography for the legendary Roger Deakins, 1917 is presented as two extended takes, a decision that creates a sensation of being right there in the trenches and on the battlefields with its stars. This chaotic, fast-paced, and intense delivery of a story of survival and hope created a war movie like no other, and one we’ll probably remember for years if not decades to come. 

8. Full Metal Jacket (1987)

Stanley Kubrick’s Full Metal Jacket is almost three movies in one, with each act being very distinct from the others. The first, and most famous, is the Marine boot camp for new recruits. R. Lee Ermey steals the show with his amazing performance as Gunnery Sergeant Hartman. Still, it’s the intensity of Vincent D’Onofrio as Leonard “Gomer Pyle” Lawrence that leaves the most haunting impression. 

The second act details the futility of war, particularly the Vietnam War that it depicts. Joker (Matthew Modine) travels the combat zone and sees just how pointless the whole war is and how no one seems to care, they are just doing what they are told. The third act takes on a horror-movie vibe as the platoon attempts to take out an unseen enemy sniper in the spooky, bombed-out town of Huế. Fear, death, and hopelessness consume the latter third of the movie. The film is a masterpiece by one of film’s greatest directors.

7. All Quiet On The Western Front (2022)

It seemed pretty impossible that the modern version of All Quiet on the Western Front could actually be superior to the groundbreaking 1930 movie that won Best Picture back at the third Academy Awards (making it one of sixteen war films to take home the prestigious statue), but 2022’s version manages to do it. It’s the grand scope of it all, but also the fact that it feels extremely personal. By focusing mainly on one soldier — an enthusiastic 17-year-old who can’t wait to get into the trenches of World War I, but also featuring a subplot involving officials working toward armistice, the dual plots really add layers to the people on the ground, but also the people who worked toward ending the war. 

The movie is grueling, and our once plucky hero sees firsthand that war is hell. Director Edward Berger got the best performances out of his actors, while the cinematography by James Friend is top notch, really putting us in the heat of combat. It’s a powerful film that spotlights the horrors of combat, making it a modern masterpiece, and one of the greatest anti-war movies ever made.

6. The Bridge On The River Kwai (1957)

“What have I done?” Alec Guinness’ horrified line delivery as he realizes the extreme consequences of his abetting the construction of the titular structure is perhaps the most iconic part of The Bridge On The River Kwai, but it’s really just a part of the immense power and drama of David Lean’s 1957 epic. It’s both one of the all-time great war movies and one of the all-time great prison movies – something it shares in common with other entries on this list.

An adaptation of Pierre Boulle’s novel, the branched narrative follows American and British prisoners of war building a bridge to connect Bangkok and Rangoon (aided by Guinness’ tortured/Stockholm Syndrome-afflicted Colonel Nicholson) and the efforts by escapee Navy Commander Shears (William Holden) to return to the camp and sabotage the work. It’s magnificent and gripping throughout, and yes, the film’s ending packs an incredible punch.

5. Master and Commander: Far Side Of The World (2003)

Perhaps the reason that co-writer/director Peter Weir and co-writer John Collee’s Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World is a brilliant war movie is because, frankly, it’s not totally a war movie. Adapted from selected texts out of author Patrick O’Brien’s Aubrey-Maturin series, the Russell Crowe/Paul Bettany-led ensemble drama cares just as much about its mythic characters as it does its Napoleonic Wars setting. Nowhere is that better shown than through the camaraderie of the HMS Surprise’s crew, most notably through the friendship of the vessel’s captain Jack Aubrey (Crowe) and his ship surgeon Stephen Maturin (Bettany). While Aubrey’s orders border on obsession, we don’t totally see Russell Crowe’s protagonist lose himself in the fog of war, carefully walking between protecting his crew, while also recognizing when and how to strike. 

Master and Commander also uses a handful of intense, expertly crafted set-pieces to depict the era of warfare the story occupies. Naval battles of close proximity and great destruction are shown, which are only heightened by getting to know the HMS Surprise and its proud sailors. With great warmth, humor, and action, it’s a true shame that this attempted franchise never sailed far from port.

4. Saving Private Ryan (1998)

I’m not sure if there’s any movie that can truly give viewers the full scope of what invading allied forces felt when storming the Omaha beach in Normandy during World War II, but Saving Private Ryan does a damn good job. In fact, veterans who actually were present at D-Day told Time that Steven Spielberg’s opening battle featured very little Hollywood embellishment, to the point that it may be painful for those who were there to experience. That’s truly horrifying to hear as a viewer, and a great scene to showcase the brutality of war. 

Many would call Saving Private Ryan Steven Spielberg’s best movie, and that’s hard to argue with the amount of care that went into crafting it. Even if the story is only loosely based on the rescue of paratrooper Fritz Niland after the death of his two brothers, it is a wonderful story that works to give the audience a fairly solid depiction of the most brutal war in human history. 

3. The Great Escape (1963)

We often see World War II depicted on-screen on a massive scale, it was a world war, after all. And yet, part of what makes The Great Escape such a wonderful movie is how it tightens that focus onto a relatively small group of soldiers located in one place at one point in time. It humanizes the scale of it all in a real way and tells a story of true bravery and heroism. The only way for a group of men to fight the Nazis is to try and escape from them.

The events of The Great Escape are broadly embellished for the sake of drama, to be sure, but the story of a massive jailbreak from a POW camp is exactly the sort of exciting story that works well as a blockbuster movie. While it made Steve McQueen a star, The Great Escape has one of the best ensemble casts in movie history, and one of the most iconic movie themes ever written.

2. Paths of Glory (1957)

The first war movie that springs to many people’s minds when somebody mentions Stanley Kubrick’s name is Full Metal Jacket, which makes sense, as Jacket is definitely the more popular war movie. However, Paths of Glory is probably the better one, mostly since its anti-war message is much clearer and more pronounced. Based on the novel of the same name by Humphrey Cobb, the story centers around a commanding officer, played by Kirk Douglas, who defends three French soldiers against being court-martialed and shot. 

In this war movie set during World War I, Douglas delivers a powerful performance, and the film gives a more nuanced look at the closed-door machinations that occur in offices while soldiers go off to die. The film also gives a fascinating look at the effects of shell shock, and does an admirable job of showcasing the hell that was no man’s land. It’s definitely one of Stanley Kubrick’s very best movies.

1. Apocalypse Now (1979)

War is hell. As Apocalypse Now proves, making a movie about war can be hell, as well. Francis Ford Coppola’s masterful interpretation of Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness addresses the physical and mental toll that combat has on soldiers, as a platoon of Special Forces troops are ordered to head upriver in Vietnam and deal with rogue commander Kurtz (Marlon Brando). Turn up “The End” by The Doors, and lose yourself in Coppola’s disturbing haze.  

The story of the making of Apocalypse Now is almost as famous as the finished movie, which boasts a commanding cast (Martin Sheen, Brando, Robert Duvall, Laurence Fishburne, Dennis Hopper, Scott Glenn, Harrison Ford) in service of a filmmaker renowned for his two Godfather features. But it’s Coppola’s unflinching approach to the horrors of overseas conflict, and the psychological damage it does to our soldiers, that keeps Apocalypse Now atop virtually every list made about iconic war movies… this one, included.  

While there are certainly other great, impactful and intriguing movies that depict battles and the inner workings of military conflicts in a variety of ways, these are our picks for the thirty best war films. 

Of all the great 2024 movies nominated for Best Picture at the 2025 Academy Awards – including The Brutalist, The Substance, and Wicked – Anora was the big surprise winner of the night. In celebration of the most recent celebration of Hollywood's finest achievements, let’s take a look back at not just the best Best Picture Oscar winners but all 97 films to receive the honor in the annual ceremony’s prestigious history, along with a tip on how to watch them from home. Let’s start at the very beginning.

The 1920s-1930s

Wings (1927)

Director: William A. Wellman

Starring: Clara Bow, Charles "Buddy" Rogers, Richard Arlen

What it’s about: According to History.com, the first movie to win Best Picture at the Academy Awards (before they were called Oscars) was Wings – an action-packed, silent epic following two World War I fighter pilots and their bitter feud over the same woman.

How to watch Wings

• Stream Wings on Tubi
• Rent or buy Wings on Amazon
• Buy Wings on Blu-ray on Amazon

The Broadway Melody (1929)

Director: Harry Beaumont

Starring: Charles King, Anita Page, Bessie Love

What it’s about: There is a romantic rivalry at the heart of The Broadway Melody – a musical about show business dreams and the first “talkie” to win the highest honor at the Academy Awards.

How to watch The Broadway Melody

• Stream The Broadway Melody on Tubi
• Rent or buy The Broadway Melody on Amazon
• Buy The Broadway Melody on Blu-ray on Amazon

All Quiet On The Western Front (1930)

Director: Lewis Milestone

Starring: Lew Ayres, Lewis Wolheim

What it’s about: The first adaptation of Erich Maria Remarque’s novel, All Quiet on the Western Front, – and only the first to be nominated for Best Picture before Netflix’s 2022 version (one of the best war movies on Netflix) – won the prize for its heartbreaking depiction of World War I from a German soldier’s perspective.

How to watch All Quiet on the Western Front

• Stream All Quiet on the Western Front on Tubi
• Rent or buy All Quiet on the Western Front on Amazon
• Buy All Quiet on the Western Front on Blu-ray on Amazon

Cimarron (1931)

Director: Wesley Ruggles

Starring: Richard Dix, Irene Dunne

What it’s about: Edna Farber’s novel about a newspaper editor and his involvement in the late 19th-Century Oklahoma land rush inspired Cimarron – the first Western to win at the Academy Awards, including the top prize.

How to watch Cimarron

• Rent or buy Cimarron on Amazon
• Buy Cimarron on Blu-ray on Amazon

Grand Hotel (1932)

Director: Edmund Goulding

Starring: Joan Crawford, Greta Garbo, John Barrymore

What it’s about: An iconic ensemble leads the thrilling, romantic interwoven stories told in Grand Hotel, which was only nominated for Best Picture but managed to take it home.

How to watch Grand Hotel

• Rent or buy Grand Hotel on Amazon
• Buy Grand Hotel on Blu-ray on Amazon

Cavalcade (1933)

Director: Frank Lloyd

Starring: Diana Winyard, Clive Brook

What it’s about: Several notable and tragic events of the early 20th Century are seen through the eyes of a well-to-do English family in Cavalcade, which also earned awards for Frank Lloyd and art director William S. Darling.

How to watch Cavalcade

• Rent or buy Cavalcade on Amazon
• Buy Cavalcade on Blu-ray on Amazon

It Happened One Night (1934)

Director: Frank Capra

Starring: Clark Gable, Claudette Colbert

What it’s about: Frank Capra, Clark Gable, and Claudette Colbert each won their first Academy Award for It Happened One Night – one of the most charming and influential romantic comedy movies ever made.

How to watch It Happened One Night

• Stream It Happened One Night on Tubi
• Rent or buy It Happened One Night on Amazon
• Buy It Happened One Night on Blu-ray on Amazon

Mutiny On The Bounty (1935)

Director: Frank Lloyd

Starring: Clark Gable, Charles Laughton

What it’s about: Mutiny on the Bounty is a thrilling adventure, inspired by a real incident from 1789, about a ship crew rebelling against their sadistic captain.

How to watch Mutiny on the Bounty

• Rent or buy Mutiny on the Bounty on Amazon
• Buy Mutiny on the Bounty on Blu-ray on Amazon

The Great Ziegfeld (1936)

Director: Robert Z. Leonard

Starring: William Powell, Luise Rainer, Myrna Loy

What it’s about: The Great Ziegfeld is a lavish, fact-based tale about the ups and downs of show business that also took home an award for Seymour Felix’s choreography.

How to watch The Great Ziegfeld

• Rent or buy The Great Ziegfeld on Amazon
• Buy The Great Ziegfeld on Blu-ray on Amazon

The Life Of Emile Zola (1937)

Director: William Dieterle

Starring: Paul Muni, Gloria Holden

What it’s about: The following year, the Academy gave the Best Picture Oscar to another fact-based drama, The Life of Emile Zola, which follows the titular French writer and his fight against the unjust Dreyfus affair.

How to watch The Life of Emile Zola

• Stream The Life of Emile Zola on Max
• Rent or buy The Life of Emile Zola on Amazon
• Buy The Life of Emile Zola on Blu-ray on Amazon

You Can't Take It With You (1938)

Director: Frank Capra

Starring: Jean Arthur, Lionel Barrymore, James Stewart

What it’s about: You Can’t Take It with You – based on playwrights George S. Kaufmann and Moss Hart’s brilliant, romantic class satire – won Best Picture the first year the Academy started calling the statuette “Oscar.”

How to watch You Can’t Take It with You

• Rent or buy You Can’t Take It with You on Amazon
• Buy You Can’t Take It with You on Blu-ray on Amazon

Gone With The Wind (1939)

Director: Victor Fleming

Starring: Clark Gable, Vivien Leigh, Hattie McDaniel

What it’s about: Still the all-time highest-grossing movie when adjusted for inflation, according to Box Office Mojo, Gone with the Wind made Oscar history as the first color film to win Best Picture and Hattie McDaniel became the first Black person to be nominated and awarded by the Academy when she won Best Supporting Actress.

How to watch Gone with the Wind

• Stream Gone with the Wind on Max
• Rent or buy Gone with the Wind on Amazon
• Buy Gone with the Wind on Blu-ray on Amazon

The 1940s

Rebecca (1940)

Director: Alfred Hitchcock

Starring: Laurence Olivie, Joan Fontaine

What it’s about: It is hard to believe that Alfred Hitchcock never won an Oscar himself, but his adaptation of Daphne Du Maurier’s riveting suspense novel, Rebecca, at least earned him the honor of saying he helmed a Best Picture winner.

How to watch Rebecca

• Stream Rebecca on Filmzie
• Buy Rebecca on Blu-ray on Amazon

How Green Was My Valley (1941)

Director: John Ford

Starring: Walter Pidgeon, Maureen O’Hara

What it’s about: Famous for beating Citizen Kane for the top prize is How Green Was My Valley, which is based on Richard Llewellyn’s story of one family’s struggles in a Welsh mining village in the early 1900s.

How to watch How Green Was My Valley

• Rent or buy How Green Was My Valley on Amazon
• Buy How Green Was My Valley on Blu-ray on Amazon

Mrs. Miniver (1942)

Director: William Wyler

Starring: Greer Garson, Walter Pidgeon

What it’s about: As World War II was still raging, the Best Picture Oscar went to Mrs. Miniver, which chronicles the early days of the earth-shattering conflict through the eyes of a middle-class British family.

How to watch Mrs. Miniver

• Stream Mrs. Miniver on Max
• Stream Mrs. Miniver on IndieFlix
• Rent or buy Mrs. Miniver on Amazon
• Buy Mrs. Miniver on Blu-ray on Amazon

Casablanca (1943)

Director: Michael Curtiz

Starring: Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman

What it’s about: The events of World War II were very much an influence on the story of the heartbreaking classic about unrequited love, Casablanca, in which former lovers reunited over political intrigue in Morocco.

How to watch Casablanca

• Stream Casablanca on Max
• Rent or buy Casablanca on Amazon
• Buy Casablanca on Blu-ray on Amazon

Going My Way (1944)

Director: Leo McCarey

Starring: Bing Crosby, Barry Fitzgerald

What it’s about: The Academy must have been in the mood for something lighter when it awarded Best Picture to a musical called Going My Way, which also earned Bing Crosby his sole Oscar.

How to watch Going My Way

• Rent or buy Going My Way on Amazon
• Buy Going My Way on Blu-ray on Amazon

The Lost Weekend (1945)

Director: Billy Wilder

Starring: Ray Milland, Jane Wyman

What it’s about: Following World War II’s end, the Academy sought darkness again and gave the top prize to Billy Wilder’s The Lost Weekend – a film noir classic following an alcoholic’s days-long bender.

How to watch The Lost Weekend

• Rent or buy The Lost Weekend on Amazon
• Buy The Lost Weekend on Blu-ray on Amazon

The Best Years Of Our Lives (1946)

Director: William Wyler

Starring: Myrna Loy, Fredric March

What it’s about: While many films set around and released close to World War II intended to glorify the conflict, The Best Years of Lives took a more honest approach to its psychological effects, by following a trio of traumatized veterans struggling to readjust.

How to watch The Best Years of Our Lives

• Stream The Best Years of Our Lives on Amazon Prime
• Stream The Best Years of Our Lives on Peacock
• Buy The Best Years of Our Lives on Blu-ray on Amazon

Gentleman's Agreement (1947)

Director: Elia Kazan

Starring: Gregory Peck, Dorothy McGuire

What it’s about: A renowned journalist goes undercover as a Jewish man as research for a series of articles covering anti-Semitism in Gentleman’s Agreement.

How to watch Gentleman’s Agreement

• Rent or buy Gentleman’s Agreement on Amazon
• Buy Gentleman’s Agreement on Blu-ray on Amazon

Hamlet (1948)

Director: Laurence Olivier

Starring: Laurence Olivier, Jean Simmons

What it’s about: Sir Laurence Olivier also did uncredited screenwriting work on and gave an Oscar-winning performance in the title role of Hamlet – the first talkie based on William Shakespeare’s tragedy and the first non-American film to win Best Picture.

How to watch Hamlet

• Stream Hamlet on Max
• Stream Hamlet on Tubi
• Rent or buy Hamlet on Amazon
• Buy Hamlet on DVD on Amazon

All The King's Men (1949)

Director: Robert Rossen

Starring: Broderick Crawford, John Ireland

What it’s about: Broderick Crawford earned an Oscar for his lead performance in All the King’s Men – based on Robert Penn Warren’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel following the triumphant rise and fall of a corrupt politician.

How to watch All the King’s Men

• Stream All the King's Men on Tubi
• Rent or buy All the King’s Men on Amazon
• Buy All the King’s Men on Blu-ray on Amazon

The 1950s

All About Eve (1950)

Director: Joseph L. Mankiewicz

Starring: Anne Baxter, Bette Davis

What it’s about: “Fasten your seatbelts” for All About Eve – the dazzling drama in which the title character schemes to assume the life of an aging Broadway star.

How to watch All About Eve

• Rent or buy All About Eve on Amazon
• Buy All About Eve on Blu-ray on Amazon

An American In Paris (1951)

Director: Vincente Minnelli

Starring: Gene Kelly, Leslie Caron

What it’s about: A painter struggles to find work in France in the essential romantic musical, An American in Paris, which also won Best Original Score.

How to watch An American in Paris

• Rent or buy An American in Paris on Amazon
• Buy An American in Paris on Blu-ray on Amazon

The Greatest Show On Earth (1952)

Director: Cecil B. DeMille

Starring: James Stewart, Charlton Heston

What it’s about: The Greatest Show on Earth brought all the excitement of the circus to the movie theater and, as depicted in The Fabelmans, inspired a young Steven Spielberg to pursue a career in filmmaking.

How to watch The Greatest Show on Earth

• Stream The Greatest Show on Earth on MGM+
• Rent or buy The Greatest Show on Earth on Amazon
• Buy The Greatest Show on Earth on Blu-ray on Amazon

From Here To Eternity (1953)

Director: Fred Zinnemann

Starring: Burt Lancaster, Montgomery Clift, Frank Sinatra, Deborah Kerr, Donna Reed

What it’s about: One of the most exciting and romantic war dramas of all time is From Here to Eternity, which includes one of the most iconic movie kisses and for which Frank Sinatra won a Best Supporting Actor Oscar.

How to watch From Here to Eternity

• Rent or buy From Here to Eternity on Amazon
• Buy From Here to Eternity on Blu-ray on Amazon

On The Waterfront (1954)

Director: Elia Kazan

Starring: Marlon Brando, Karl Malden

What it’s about: Marlon Brando won his first Academy Award for playing a down-and-out former boxer who “coulda been a contender” in On the Waterfront, which also earned Elia Kazan his second Oscar.

How to watch On the Waterfront

• Rent or buy On the Waterfront on Amazon
• Buy On the Waterfront on Blu-ray on Amazon

Marty (1955)

Director: Delbert Mann

Starring: Ernest Borgnine, Betsy Blair

What it’s about: Ernest Borgnine gives an Oscar-winning performance in the title role of Marty – a Bronx butcher who receives an unexpected chance at love when he meets the equally disillusioned teacher, Clara.

How to watch Marty

• Stream Marty on Amazon Prime
• Stream Marty on Tubi
• Stream Marty on Pluto TV
• Buy Marty on Blu-ray on Amazon

Around The World In 80 Days (1956)

Director: Michael Anderson

Starring: David Niven, Cantinflas

What it’s about: Based on Jules Verne’s seminal, inventive adventure novel, Around the World in 80 Days follows two explorers attempting to do just what the title suggests.

How to watch Around the World in 80 Days

• Rent or buy Around the World in 80 Days on Amazon
• Buy Around the World in 80 Days on DVD on Amazon

The Bridge On The River Kwai (1957)

Director: David Lean

Starring: Alec Guinness, William Holden

What it’s about: Future Obi-Wan Kenobi actor Alec Guinness won the Best Actor Oscar for playing one of many POWs forced to build a doomed railroad during World War II in The Bridge on the River Kwai.

How to watch The Bridge on the River Kwai

• Rent or buy The Bridge on the River Kwai on Amazon
• Buy The Bridge on the River Kwai on Blu-ray on Amazon

Gigi (1958)

Director: Vincente Minnelli

Starring: Leslie Caron, Louis Jordan

What it’s about: Winner of all nine Oscars it was nominated for, Gigi is a sweeping musical about a friendship between a rich playboy and a courtesan-in-training that blossoms into more.

How to watch Gigi

• Stream Gigi on Tubi
• Rent or buy Gigi on Amazon
• Buy Gigi on Blu-ray on Amazon

Ben-Hur (1959)

Director: Willian Wyler

Starring: Charlton Heston, Jack Hawkins

What it’s about: Charlton Heston won Best Actor for playing the title role of a Jewish prince wrongfully sold into slavery in Ben-Hur – a quintessential period epic that is also celebrated for its editing by experts of the craft.

How to watch Ben-Hur

• Stream Ben-Hur on Tubi
• Rent or buy Ben-Hur on Amazon
• Buy Ben-Hur on Blu-ray on Amazon

The 1960s

The Apartment (1960)

Director: Billy Wilder

Starring: Jack Lemmon, Shirley MacLaine

What it’s about: One of Billy Wilder’s most definitive achievements was The Apartment – an inventive comedy about an insurance clerk who allows his coworkers to have romantic encounters in his Manhattan home.

How to watch The Apartment

• Stream The Apartment on MGM+
• Stream The Apartment on Tubi
• Rent or buy The Apartment on Amazon
• Buy The Apartment on Blu-ray on Amazon

West Side Story (1961)

Director: Jerome Robbins, Robert Wise

Starring: Natalie Wood, Richard Beymer

What it’s about: William Shakespeare’s seminal romantic tragedy, Romeo & Juliet, is given a modernized, musical update with West Side Story, which Steven Spielberg would later reimagine in 2021.

How to watch West Side Story

• Stream West Side Story on Amazon Prime
• Stream West Side Story on Tubi
• Buy West Side Story on Blu-ray on Amazon

Lawrence Of Arabia (1962)

Director: David Lean

Starring: Peter O’Toole, Alec Guinness

What it’s about: It is hard to believe that Peter O’Toole never won an Oscar, even for his performance in the title role of Lawrence of Arabia, which is about how England’s T.E. Lawrence led Arab tribes against the Turks during World War I.

How to watch Lawrence of Arabia

• Stream Lawrence of Arabia on Max
• Rent or buy Lawrence of Arabia on Amazon
• Buy Lawrence of Arabia on Blu-ray on Amazon

Tom Jones (1963)

Director: Tony Richardson

Starring: Albert Finney, Susannah York

What it’s about: Four Oscars went to this adaptation of Henry Fielding’s period novel, Tom Jones, which follows the romantic exploits of the chivalrous, titular lothario.

How to watch Tom Jones

• Stream Tom Jones on Max
• Rent or buy Tom Jones on Amazon
• Buy Tom Jones on Blu-ray from Walmart

My Fair Lady (1964)

Director: George Cukor

Starring: Audrey Hepburn, Rex Harrison

What it’s about: Based on the stage musical of the same name, My Fair Lady is the largely influential story (it was the basis for She’s All That) of a phonetics professor who wagers he can make an upper-class citizen out of a working-class, Cockney woman.

How to watch My Fair Lady

• Rent or buy My Fair Lady on Amazon
• Buy My Fair Lady on Blu-ray on Amazon

The Sound Of Music (1965)

Director: Robert Wise

Starring: Julie Andrews, Christopher Plummer

What it’s about: Another iconic musical that earned the top prize at the Oscars in the 1960s is Rodgers and Hammerstein’s The Sound of Music, starring Julie Andrews as a governess who teaches the children of her employer about the joys of song.

How to watch The Sound of Music

• Stream The Sound of Music on Disney+
• Stream The Sound of Music on Hulu
• Rent or buy The Sound of Music on Amazon
• Buy The Sound of Music on Blu-ray on Amazon

A Man For All Seasons (1966)

Director: Fred Zinnemann

Starring: Paul Scofield, Wendy Hiller

What it’s about: Sir Thomas More’s defiance of the Catholic Church’s prohibition of divorce inspired the play A Man for All Seasons by Robert Bolt, who would win an Oscar for penning the screenplay of this enthralling adaptation.

How to watch A Man for All Seasons

• Rent or buy A Man for All Seasons on Amazon
• Buy A Man for All Seasons on Blu-ray on Amazon

In The Heat Of The Night (1967)

Director: Norman Jewison

Starring: Sidney Poitier, Rod Steiger

What it’s about: In one of Sidney Poitier’s best movies, In the Heat of the Night, he plays a Black detective asked by a Mississippi police chief to help solve a murder he was unjustly accused of.

How to watch In the Heat of the Night

• Stream In the Heat of the Night on Tubi
• Rent or buy In the Heat of the Night on Amazon
• Buy In the Heat of the Night on Blu-ray on Amazon

Oliver! (1968)

Director: Carol Reed

Starring: Ron Moody, Mark Lester

What it’s about: Based on the classic Charles Dickens novel, Oliver! is a musical that tells the story of a young orphan who adopts the art of pickpocketing in 1830s London.

How to watch Oliver!

• Stream Oliver! on The Roku Channel
• Rent or buy Oliver! on Amazon
• Buy Oliver! on Blu-ray on Amazon

Midnight Cowboy (1969)

Director: John Schlesinger

Starring: Jon Voight, Dustin Hoffman

What it’s about: The first and only Best Picture winner to receive an X rating is Midnight Cowboy, in which a Texas hustler in Brooklyn forms a deep bond with a rebuffed local.

How to watch Midnight Cowboy

• Stream Midnight Cowboy on Amazon Prime
• Stream Midnight Cowboy on Tubi
• Buy Midnight Cowboy on Blu-ray on Amazon

The 1970s

Patton (1970)

Director: Franklin J. Schaffner

Starring: George C. Scott, Karl Malden

What it’s about: George C. Scott brilliantly embodied one of the most famous military figures in history to Oscar-winning acclaim in the monumental biopic, Patton.

How to watch Patton

• Rent or buy Patton on Amazon
• Buy Patton on Blu-ray on Amazon

The French Connection (1971)

Director: William Friedken

Starring: Gene Hackman, Roy Scheider

What it’s about: In addition to earning a Best Director Oscar, William Friedkin arguably redefined the cop thriller with The French Connection, starring Gene Hackman in a winning performance as Jimmy “Popeye” Doyle.

How to watch The French Connection

• Rent or buy The French Connection on Amazon
• Buy The French Connection on Blu-ray on Amazon

The Godfather (1972)

Director: Francis Ford Coppola

Starring: Marlon Brando, Al Pacino

What it’s about: The mafia thriller genre was inarguably redefined by one of the best ‘70s movies, The Godfather, starring Marlon Brando in an Oscar-winning performance as Don Vito Corleone.

How to watch The Godfather

• Stream The Godfather on Paramount+
• Rent or buy The Godfather on Amazon
• Buy The Godfather on Blu-ray on Amazon

The Sting (1973)

Director: George Roy Hill

Starring: Paul Newman, Robert Redford

What it’s about: In the classic heist thriller classic The Sting, a pair of grifters plan a huge con to avenge the murder of their mutual friend.

How to watch The Sting

• Stream The Sting on Netflix
• Rent or buy The Sting on Amazon
• Buy The Sting on Blu-ray on Amazon

The Godfather Part II (1974)

Director: Francis Ford Coppola

Starring: Al Pacino, Robert De Niro

What it’s about: Francis Ford Coppola won Best Director after completing his adaptation of Mario Puzo’s novel with the, arguably, more powerful follow-up, The Godfather Part II, starring Robert De Niro in an Oscar-winning performance as a young Don Vito Corleone.

How to watch The Godfather Part II

• Stream The Godfather Part II on Paramount+
• Rent or buy The Godfather Part II on Amazon
• Buy The Godfather Part II on Blu-ray on Amazon

One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest (1975)

Director: Milos Forman

Starring: Jack Nicholson, Louise Fletcher

What it’s about: A movie that gets real about mental health is One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, which features one of the greatest Jack Nicholson performances as a petty criminal who leads a rebellion against a sadistic nurse after an insanity plea gets him sent to a mental institution.

How to watch One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest

• Rent or buy One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest on Amazon
• Buy One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest on Blu-ray on Amazon

Rocky (1976)

Director: John G. Avildsen

Starring: Sylvester Stallone, Talia Shire

What it’s about: Sylvester Stallone was nominated for both writing and starring in the title role of Rocky – one of the best sports movies ever made, which inspired an ongoing franchise of beloved boxing films.

How to watch Rocky

• Stream Rocky on Pluto TV
• Rent or buy Rocky on Amazon
• Buy Rocky on Blu-ray on Amazon

Annie Hall (1977)

Director: Woody Allen

Starring: Woody Allen, Diane Keaton

What it’s about: A neurotic comedian looks back on his unique relationship with a free-spirited, aspiring singer in Annie Hall, which remains one of the best romantic comedy movies of all time.

How to watch Annie Hall

• Stream Annie Hall on Tubi
• Rent or buy Annie Hall on Amazon
• Buy Annie Hall on Blu-ray on Amazon

The Deer Hunter (1978)

Director: Michael Cimino

Starring: Robert De Niro, Meryl Streep, Christopher Walken

What it’s about: Less a war movie and more an analysis of post-war trauma, The Deer Hunter – one of the best Robert De Niro movies – is the harrowing and controversial story of a veteran and his struggles to find his friends after becoming separated in Vietnam.

How to watch The Deer Hunter

• Rent or buy The Deer Hunter on Amazon
• Buy The Deer Hunter on Blu-ray on Amazon

Kramer Vs. Kramer (1979)

Director: Robert Benton

Starring: Dustin Hoffman, Meryl Streep

What it’s about: Both Dustin Hoffman and Meryl Streep received Oscars for their performances in Kramer vs. Kramer as a separated couple embroiled in a bitter custody battle over their young son.

How to watch Kramer vs. Kramer

• Rent or buy Kramer vs. Kramer on Amazon
• Buy Kramer vs. Kramer on Blu-ray on Amazon

The 1980s

Ordinary People (1980)

Director: Robert Redford

Starring: Donald Sutherland, Mary Tyler Moore, Judd Hirsch, Timothy Hutton

What it’s about: Dysfunctional family dynamics are also at the heart of the devastating drama, Ordinary People – one of Donald Sutherland's best movies – for which Robert Redford won his sole competitive Academy Award.

How to watch Ordinary People

• Stream Ordinary People on Pluto TV
• Rent or buy Ordinary People on Amazon
• Buy Ordinary People on Blu-ray on Amazon

Chariots Of Fire (1981)

Director: Hugh Hudson

Starring: Ben Cross, Ian Charleson

What it’s about: Vangelis earned his sole Academy Award for his instantly recognizable score for Chariots of Fire, which follows two young, British track runners of differing backgrounds at the 1924 Olympics.

How to watch Chariots of Fire

• Rent or buy Chariots of Fire on Amazon
• Buy Chariots of Fire on Blu-ray on Amazon

Gandhi (1982)

Director: Richard Attenborough

Starring: Ben Kingsley, John Gielgud

What it’s about: Sir Ben Kingsley, who is of Indian descent on his father’s side, disappears into the role of the titular, iconic proponent for non-violent resistance in the rousing historical biopic, Gandhi.

How to watch Gandhi

• Stream Gandhi on Tubi
• Rent or buy Gandhi on Amazon
• Buy Gandhi on Blu-ray on Amazon

Terms Of Endearment (1983)

Director: James L. Brooks

Starring: Shirley MacLaine, Debra Winger, Jack Nicholson

What it’s about: It is hard to believe that Shirley MacLaine has just one Oscar, for her performance in Terms of Endearment – a drama tracing the relationship between a woman and her daughter that is often funny, until it is devastating.

How to watch Terms of Endearment

• Stream Terms of Endearment on Paramount+
• Stream Terms of Endearment on MGM+
• Stream Terms of Endearment on Hoopla
• Rent or buy Terms of Endearment on Amazon
• Buy Terms of Endearment on Blu-ray on Amazon

Amadeus (1984)

Director: Milos Forman

Starring: Tom Hulce, F. Murray Abraham

What it’s about: Milos Forman earned his second Best Director Oscar for Amadeus – a retelling of the life of renowned composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart as told by a fellow musician who claims to have enviously murdered him, Antonio Salieri.

How to watch Amadeus

• Rent or buy Amadeus on Amazon
• Buy Amadeus on Blu-ray on Amazon

Out Of Africa (1985)

Director: Sydney Pollack

Starring: Robert Redford, Meryl Streep

What it’s about: A big game hunter and a Danish baroness fall in love in 20th-century Kenya in the tender, powerful romance, Out of Africa.

How to watch Out of Africa

• Stream Out of Africa on Netflix
• Rent or buy Out of Africa on Amazon
• Buy Out of Africa on Blu-ray on Amazon

Platoon (1986)

Director: Oliver Stone

Starring: Charlie Sheen, Willem Dafoe

What it’s about: American soldiers are subjected to relentless, senseless brutality while serving in Vietnam in one of the greatest war movies to win Best Picture, Platoon.

How to watch Platoon

• Stream Platoon on Amazon Prime
• Stream Platoon on Tubi
• Buy Platoon on Blu-ray on Amazon

The Last Emperor (1987)

Director: Bernardo Bertolucci

Starring: John Lone, Joan Chen

What it’s about: The story of Pu Yi – who would become the last person to serve as the monarchical leader of China – is revealed in The Last Emperor, for which Bernardo Bertolucci earned Oscars for both writing and directing.

How to watch The Last Emperor

• Stream The Last Emperor on Max
• Buy The Last Emperor on Blu-ray on Amazon

Rain Man (1988)

Director: Barry Levinson

Starring: Dustin Hoffman, Tom Cruise

What it’s about: Dustin Hoffman gives one of the most esteemed performances of his career as an autistic savant opposite a stellar Tom Cruise as his previously unwitting younger sibling in Rain Man – a beautiful story of redemption through brotherly love.

How to watch Rain Man

• Stream Rain Man on Tubi
• Rent or buy Rain Man on Amazon
• Buy Rain Man on Blu-ray on Amazon

Driving Miss Daisy (1989)

Director: Bruce Beresford

Starring: Jessica Tandy, Morgan Freeman

What it’s about: Jessica Tandy and Morgan Freeman make an irresistible pair as a disgruntled, elderly widow and her chauffeur in one of Freeman’s best movies, Driving Miss Daisy – an inspirational story about redemption through friendship set between the 1950s and 1970s.

How to watch Driving Miss Daisy

• Rent or buy Driving Miss Daisy on Amazon
• Buy Driving Miss Daisy on Blu-ray on Amazon

The 1990s

Dances With Wolves (1990)

Director: Kevin Costner

Starring: Kevin Costner, Mary McDonell

What it’s about: Kevin Costner won a Best Director Oscar for Dances with Wolves – the first Western to win Best Picture since 1931’s Cimarron – in which the Yellowstone cast member also plays the title role of a Civil War-era soldier who learns the ways of a Native American tribe.

How to watch Dances with Wolves

• Stream Dances with Wolves on Amazon Prime
• Stream Dances with Wolves on Peacock
• Stream Dances with Wolves on MGM+
• Stream Dances with Wolves on Tubi
• Buy Dances with Wolves on Blu-ray on Amazon

The Silence Of The Lambs (1991)

Director: Jonathan Demme

Starring: Jodie Foster, Anthony Hopkins

What it’s about: An FBI trainee seeks help from a cannibalistic former psychologist to catch a killer in The Silence of the Lambs – one of the best horror movies ever made and the only film out of a handful of horror movies nominated for Best Picture to win so far.

How to watch The Silence of the Lambs

• Rent or buy The Silence of the Lambs on Amazon
• Buy The Silence of the Lambs on Blu-ray on Amazon

Unforgiven (1992)

Director: Clint Eastwood

Starring: Clint Eastwood, Gene Hackman, Morgan Freeman

What it’s about: The Academy would show its taste for the Western again by giving the top prize to one of the best Clint Eastwood movies, Unforgiven, for which the star won his first Oscar as both director and producer.

How to watch Unforgiven

• Rent or buy Unforgiven on Amazon
• Buy Unforgiven on Blu-ray on Amazon

Schindler’s List (1993)

Director: Steven Spielberg

Starring: Liam Neeson, Ralph Fiennes

What it’s about: Arguably the best Steven Spielberg movie is the film that made him an Academy Award-winning filmmaker as director and producer, Schindler’s List – a technically magnificent, emotionally distressing portrait of the Holocaust.

How to watch Schindler’s List

• Stream Schindler’s List on Netflix
• Rent or buy Schindler’s List on Amazon
• Buy Schindler’s List on Blu-ray on Amazon

Forrest Gump (1994)

Director: Robert Zemeckis

Starring: Tom Hanks, Robin Wright

What it’s about: In one of Tom Hanks’ best movies, the actor gives his second Oscar-winning performance as the simple-minded title hero of Forrest Gump – an endearing revisionist history drama from director Robert Zemeckis.

How to watch Forrest Gump

• Stream Forrest Gump on Paramount+
• Rent or buy Forrest Gump on Amazon
• Buy Forrest Gump on Blu-ray on Amazon

Braveheart (1995)

Director: Mel Gibson

Starring: Mel Gibson, Sophie Marceau

What it’s about: Mel Gibson became an Oscar-winning filmmaker as the director and producer of the historical epic Braveheart, in which he also stars as Scottish warrior William Wallace in a bid to free his people from England’s tyrannical rule.

How to watch Braveheart

• Stream Braveheart on Pluto TV
• Rent or buy Braveheart on Amazon
• Buy Braveheart on Blu-ray on Amazon

The English Patient (1996)

Director: Anthony Minghella

Starring: Ralph Fiennes, Juliette Binoche

What it’s about: A French-Canadian nurse indulges in an affair with a British, semi-amnesiac plane crash victim in the romantic World War II-era drama, The English Patient.

How to watch The English Patient

• Stream The English Patient on MGM+
• Stream The English Patient on Hoopla
• Rent or buy The English Patient on Amazon
• Buy The English Patient on Blu-ray on Amazon

Titanic (1997)

Director: James Cameron

Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet

What it’s about: Sparks fly between a wealthy young woman and a poor young man while on an ill-fated luxury ship in Titanic – James Cameron’s heavily dramatized retelling of the 1912 tragedy that became the highest-grossing film ever for a time.

How to watch Titanic

• Stream Titanic on Paramount+
• Stream Titanic on MGM+
• Rent or buy Titanic on Amazon
• Buy Titanic on Blu-ray on Amazon

Shakespeare In Love (1998)

Director: John Madden

Starring: Joseph Fiennes, Gwyneth Paltrow, Judi Dench

What it’s about: A young William Shakespeare indulges in an affair with a woman who inspires some of his most iconic work in Shakespeare in Love, for which Gwyneth Paltrow and Judi Dench also won Oscars for their performances.

How to watch Shakespeare in Love

• Stream Shakespeare in Love on Paramount+
• Rent or buy Shakespeare in Love on Amazon
• Buy Shakespeare in Love on Blu-ray on Amazon

American Beauty (1999)

Director: Sam Mendes

Starring: Kevin Spacey, Annette Bening

What it’s about: Following his own death, a forty-something suburban dad recalls the bizarre last few weeks of his life through overhead narration in American Beauty.

How to watch American Beauty

• Stream American Beauty on Pluto TV
• Rent or buy American Beauty on Amazon
• Buy American Beauty on Blu-ray on Amazon

The 2000s

Gladiator (2000)

Director: Ridley Scott

Starring: Russell Crowe, Joaquin Phoenix

What it’s about: Russell Crowe gives an Oscar-winning performance as the hero of Gladiator – a thrilling period piece that surely had audiences “entertained” and spawned the sequel, Gladiator II, in 2024.

How to watch Gladiator

• Stream Gladiator on Paramount+
• Stream Gladiator on Pluto TV
• Rent or buy Gladiator on Amazon
• Buy Gladiator on Blu-ray on Amazon

A Beautiful Mind (2001)

Director: Ron Howard

Starring: Russell Crowe, Jennifer Connelly

What it’s about: Russell Crowe headlined back-to-back Best Picture winners in the early 2000s – the second being A Beautiful Mind, in which he plays real-life mathematician John Nash, whose struggles with mental illness almost threatened his career.

How to watch A Beautiful Mind

• Rent or buy A Beautiful Mind on Amazon
• Buy A Beautiful Mind on Blu-ray on Amazon

Chicago (2002)

Director: Rob Marshall

Starring: Catherine Zeta-Jones, Renée Zellwegger, Richard Gere

What it’s about: Catherine Zeta-Jones danced her way to Oscar glory in Chicago – the cinematic adaptation of the Broadway musical inspired by the infamous “Murderess Row” case of the late 1920s.

How to watch Chicago

• Stream Chicago on Paramount+
• Stream Chicago on Pluto TV
• Rent or buy Chicago on Amazon
• Buy Chicago on Blu-ray on Amazon

The Lord Of The Rings: The Return Of The King (2003)

Director: Peter Jackson

Starring: Elijah Wood, Viggo Mortensen

What it’s about: Director Peter Jackson completed his trilogy inspired by J.R.R. Tolkien’s influential fantasy books with The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, which also became the most acclaimed of the Lord of the Rings movies and earned him a Best Director Oscar.

How to watch The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

• Stream The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King on Max
• Stream The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (Extended Edition) on Max
• Rent or buy The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King on Amazon
• Buy The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King on Blu-ray on Amazon

Million Dollar Baby (2004)

Director: Clint Eastwood

Starring: Clint Eastwood, Hilary Swank, Morgan Freeman

What it’s about: Clint Eastwood won his second Best Director Oscar for the tragic boxing drama Million Dollar Baby, which also saw Morgan Freeman win his first Academy Award and Hilary Swank her second.

How to watch Million Dollar Baby

• Rent or buy Million Dollar Baby on Amazon
• Buy Million Dollar Baby on Blu-ray on Amazon

Crash (2005)

Starring: Sandra Bullock, Don Cheadle

What it’s about: Paul Haggis earned a Best Original Screenplay Oscar for co-writing Crash – an analysis of modern racial tension as told from the point of view of various Los Angeleans in a 36-hour period.

How to watch Crash

• Stream Crash on Plex
• Rent or buy Crash on Amazon
• Buy Crash on Blu-ray on Amazon

The Departed (2006)

Director: Martin Scorsese

Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Jack Nicholson

What it’s about: Martin Scorsese received a long-overdue Oscar for directing The Departed – a gritty, bleak, twisty remake of the Chinese cop drama, Infernal Affairs, set in Boston’s criminal underground.

How to watch The Departed

• Rent or buy The Departed on Amazon
• Buy The Departed on Blu-ray on Amazon

No Country For Old Men (2007)

Director: Joel Coen, Ethan Coen

Starring: Tommy Lee Jones, Javier Bardem, Josh Brolin

What it’s about: One of Joel and Ethan Coen’s best movies and one of the all-time best Western movies, No Country for Old Men – based on Cormac McCarthy’s powerful commentary on violence as seen through the eyes of three men on different sides of the law – also earned the duo Oscars for both writing and directing.

How to watch No Country for Old Men

• Stream No Country for Old Men on Paramount+
• Stream No Country for Old Men on MGM+
• Rent or buy No Country for Old Men on Amazon
• Buy No Country for Old Men on Blu-ray on Amazon

Slumdog Millionaire (2008)

Director: Danny Boyle

Starring: Dev Patel, Freida Pinto

What it’s about: A young man reflects on his childhood in Mumbai while competing on a game show in the inspiring fairy tale, Slumdog Millionaire.

How to watch Slumdog Millionaire

• Rent or buy Slumdog Millionaire on Apple TV
• Buy Slumdog Millionaire on Blu-ray on Amazon

The Hurt Locker (2009)

Director: Kathryn Bigelow

Starring: Jeremy Renner, Anthony Mackie

What it’s about: Kathryn Bigelow became the first female Best Director winner for The Hurt Locker – one of the best war movies of all time, which stars Jeremy Renner as a military bomb defuser whose recklessness puts him at odds with his peers while serving in Iraq.

How to watch The Hurt Locker

• Rent or buy The Hurt Locker on Amazon
• Buy The Hurt Locker on Blu-ray on Amazon

The 2010s

The King's Speech (2010)

Director: Tom Hooper

Starring: Colin Firth, Helena Bonham Carter, Geoffrey Rush

What it’s about: Colin Firth gives a brilliant performance as an heir to the British throne struggling to overcome his debilitating stammer in The King’s Speech, which also earned Tom Hooper an Oscar.

How to watch The King’s Speech

• Stream The King's Speech on The Roku Channel
• Rent or buy The King’s Speech on Amazon
• Buy The King’s Speech on Blu-ray on Amazon

The Artist (2011)

Director: Michel Hazanavicius

Starring: Jean Dujardin, Bérénice Bejo

What it’s about: The first “silent film” to win the Best Picture Oscar since the very first Best Picture Oscar winner (Wings) was The Artist, which, itself, is a rousing, visually stunning love letter to the silent era.

How to watch The Artist

• Stream The Artist on Tubi
• Rent or buy The Artist on Amazon
• Buy The Artist on Blu-ray on Amazon

Argo (2012)

Director: Ben Affleck

Starring: Ben Affleck, Bryan Cranston

What it’s about: One of Ben Affleck’s best movies, the intense thriller Argo is based on the true story of a CIA agent who helped Americans escape an Iranian hostage situation by posing as a film crew in 1979.

How to watch Argo

• Rent or buy Argo on Amazon
• Buy Argo on Blu-ray on Amazon

12 Years A Slave (2013)

Director: Steve McQueen

Starring: Chiwetel Ejiofor, Lupita Nyong’o, Michael Fassbender

What it’s about: Lupita Nyong’o earned a Best Actress Oscar for her performance in her feature-length debut, 12 Years a Slave, which is based on Solomon Northrup’s experience as a free Black man abducted and sold into slavery.

How to watch 12 Years a Slave

• Stream 12 Years a Slave on Hulu
• Rent or buy 12 Years a Slave on Amazon
• Buy 12 Years a Slave on Blu-ray on Amazon

Birdman Or (The Unexpected Virtue Of Ignorance) (2014)

Director: Alejandro González Iñárritu

Starring: Michael Keaton, Emma Stone

What it’s about: One of the best Michael Keaton movies, Birdman is a masterclass in satire and surrealism that sees the Oscar nominee poking fun at his own career by starring as a former superhero movie actor seeking a comeback.

How to watch Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)

• Stream Birdman on Hulu
• Rent or buy Birdman on Amazon
• Buy Birdman on Blu-ray on Amazon

Spotlight (2015)

Director: Tom McCarthy

Starring: Michael Keaton, Mark Ruffalo, Rachel McAdams

What it’s about: Michael Keaton led back-to-back Oscar winners in the mid-2010s – the second being Spotlight, which tells the story behind the Boston Globe’s Pulitzer Prize-winning exposé about child molestation cover-ups in the Catholic Church.

How to watch Spotlight

• Stream Spotlight on Starz
• Rent or buy Spotlight on Amazon
• Buy Spotlight on Blu-ray on Amazon

Moonlight (2016)

Director: Barry Jenkins

Starring: Mahershala Ali, Naomie Harris

What it’s about: Although an infamous mistake initially made it seem like La La Land won in 2017, the Best Picture Oscar really went to Moonlight – the harrowing story of a young Black man struggling with abuse and his sexual identity.

How to watch Moonlight

• Rent or buy Moonlight on Amazon
• Buy Moonlight on Blu-ray on Amazon

The Shape Of Water (2017)

Director: Guillermo del Toro

Starring: Sally Hawkins, Doug Jones

What it’s about: Visionary filmmaker Guillermo del Toro won over the Academy with The Shape of Water – one of his many celebrated collaborations with Doug Jones – which sees him continue to indulge in his love of creature features but filtered through a powerful commentary on forbidden love.

How to watch The Shape of Water

• Rent or buy The Shape of Water on Amazon
• Buy The Shape of Water on Blu-ray on Amazon

Green Book (2018)

Director: Peter Farrelly

Starring: Viggo Mortensen, Mahershala Ali

What it’s about: Mahershala Ali won his second Best Supporting Actor Oscar for one of his best roles yet – a Black pianist who forms a strong bond with his white chauffeur while touring the Jim Crow era South – in Green Book, which takes its name from a real road guide used to locate safe areas for Black travelers at the time.

How to watch Green Book

• Rent or buy Green Book on Amazon
• Buy Green Book on Blu-ray on Amazon

Parasite (2019)

Director: Bong Joon-ho

Starring: Song Kang-ho, Lee Sun-kyun

What it’s about: An impoverished, South Korean family infiltrates the lives of a wealthy family in the striking, brilliant, subversive thriller, Parasite – the first movie to win Oscars for both Best Foreign Language Film and Best Picture.

How to watch Parasite

• Stream Parasite on Netflix
• Stream Parasite on Hulu
• Rent or buy Parasite on Amazon
• Buy Parasite on Blu-ray on Amazon

The 2020s

Nomadland (2020)

Director: Chloé Zhao

Starring: Frances McDormand, David Strathairn

What it’s about: The Chinese-born Chloé Zhao became the first woman of color to win Best Director for Nomadland, which could almost count as a documentary on the post-Recession culture of middle-aged people living exclusively on the road for its casting of real “nomads” as themselves.

How to watch Nomadland

• Stream Nomadland on Hulu
• Rent or buy Nomadland on Amazon
• Buy Nomadland on Blu-ray on Amazon

CODA (2021)

Director: Sian Heder

Starring: Emilia Jones, Troy Kotsur, Marlee Matlin

What it’s about: A young woman, who is the only hearing person in her family, struggles between following her musical aspirations and helping her parents when they fall on hard times in CODA, which also saw star Troy Kotsur make history as the first deaf person to win the Best Actor Oscar.

How to watch CODA

• Stream CODA on Apple TV+

Everything Everywhere All At Once (2022)

Director: Daniel Kwan, Daniel Scheinert

Starring: Michelle Yeoh, Ke Huy Quan, Stephanie Hsu

What it’s about: One of the best A24 movies, Everything Everywhere All At Once – a bizarre, emotional, and crowd-pleasing Multiverse movie – took home the top prize, while acting awards went to Michelle Yeoh, Ke Huy Quan, and Jamie Lee Curtis and DANIELS earned Best Original Screenplay and Best Director.

How to watch Everything Everywhere All At Once

• Stream Everything Everywhere All At Once on Max
• Rent or buy Everything Everywhere All At Once on Amazon
• Buy Everything Everywhere All At Once on Blu-ray on Amazon

Oppenheimer (2023)

Director: Christopher Nolan

Starring: Cillian Murphy, Emily Blunt, Matt Damon, Robert Downey Jr.

What it’s about: Robert Downey, Jr. became the first former SNL actor to win an Oscar for his supporting performance in Oppenheimer – a dramatization of the story of the Atomic Bomb's construction from the perspective of the project's leader, J. Robert Oppenheimer, that also won the top prize.

How to watch Oppenheimer

• Stream Oppenheimer on Amazon Prime
• Buy Oppenheimer on Blu-ray on Amazon

Anora (2024)

Director: Sean Baker

Starring: Mikey Madison, Mark Eydelshteyn, Yura Borisov

What it’s about: At the 2025 Academy Awards, five went to Anora – in which a young, Brooklyn sex worker's impulsive marriage to a Russian oligarch's son creates issues in her life – including Best Editing, Original Screenplay, and Director for Baker; Best Actress for Madison; and top prize.

How to watch Anora

• Rent or buy Anora on Amazon
• Buy Anora on Blu-ray on Amazon

Now that you can say you have seen every Best Picture Oscar winner so far, would you say you agree with the Academy?

Looking back, 2016 wasn't a complete mess of a year for movies. Many great award-contenders were released, Disney shattered a major record, there were a quite a few hits in the horror genre, the list goes on. That said, there were definitely quite a few disappointments as well, particularly during the summer season. Granted, that comes with the territory each year, but 2016 had a staggering number of duds.

It's hard to ignore the negatives that accompanied the positives in 2016, so with just a few days left before 2017 kicks off, we've gathered the 10 most disappointing movies of the year. Keep in mind that these aren't listed in any particular order, but they're the ones that had us shaking our heads with frustration most often due to untapped potential.

Independence Day: Resurgence

Comedies aren't the only types of movies that usually don't benefit from being given a sequel a decade or more later. Unlike its 1996 predecessor, Independence Day: Resurgence lacked a compelling story and characters to care about. Oh sure, it was great to see some familiar faces back, but most of the them were gone by the end, and the new folks just weren't worth caring about. We weren't expecting Independence Day: Resurgence to be a cinematic masterpiece worthy of Oscar buzz, but sadly, the overabundance of explosions and meaningful plot elements meant that it came out more stupid than enjoyable.

Suicide Squad

It was hoped that Suicide Squad would fare better than its predecessor, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, in terms of critical reaction, but sadly, it earned practically the same amount of negative reviews. While many of Suicide Squad's characters were enjoyable to watch (Margot Robbie's Harley Quinn being among the most frequently mentioned), the plot was an overall mess, though whether that was more due to the script only being written in six weeks or the later reshoots is debatable. Even with the added humor, Suicide Squad's frantic editing and other issues didn't save it from being the perfect definition of style over substance. But hey, at least we're getting Gotham City Sirens because of it.

Zoolander 2

If ever there was a movie that proved that comedy sequels rarely work out, it was Zoolander 2. While the first Zoolander still has lines and gags that fans are quoting 15 years later, the sequel was a forgettable flick that rehashed a lot of the same territory to almost painful levels. It's fine to reference a few funny moments from the past, but a comedy sequel still needs to stand on its own with new material. It felt like Zoolander 2 was desperate to cash in on that nostalgia appeal, and few new Joes that were sprinkled in just didn't land. Zoolander 2 also showed why it's a bad idea to throw in too many celebrity cameos.

Warcraft

Movies based on video games are notorious from being subpar or straight-up awful, and Warcraft didn't break that trend. While longtime fans of the fantasy computer game seemed to enjoy how it adapted the world of Azeroth, the movie failed to impress most casual viewers. Even though Warcraft had a lot of great visuals, some of the common complaints directed toward it included its characters being uninteresting, the plot making barely any sense and looking like a pale imitation of Game of Thrones. All this being said, because Warcraft was financially successful in China, there's still a chance Warcraft 2 might be made, so hopefully the sequel can learn from these many mistakes.

Blair Witch

Much like 10 Cloverfield Lane, Blair Witch was a movie that the public didn't know was coming until months before it was released, as it was originally just known as The Woods. However, like 2000's Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2, Blair Witch failed to capture the magic of the 1999 original. The common consensus is that it was a boring retread of The Blair Witch Project, and even worse, it provided little decent frights for the horror fans out there. Like with Zoolander 2, this is another movie that was primarily trying to replicate the exact success of its predecessor, and it wouldn't be surprising if we had to wait longer than 16 years to revisit this world again.

The Legend of Tarzan

Tarzan is a literary character so ingrained in pop culture that it's inevitable he'll be revisited every so often. The Legend of Tarzan, though, is one of the weaker adaptations. Even with the latest visual effects, director David Yates at the helm and staying relatively true to the the spirit of the original stories, the blockbuster underperformed, both critically and commercially. The action didn't help with its slow pace and generic plot, and while we can't call The Legend of Tarzan a train wreck, it certainly didn't live up to its potential. Given all the Tarzan movies that have come before, maybe it's best if the Lord of the Apes be retired from cinematic exploration permanently.

Jack Reacher: Never Go Back

Jack Reacher: Never Go Back is the latest movie on Tom Cruise's resume, and since its 2012 predecessor did okay for itself, it was hoped that the sequel would provide moviegoers with similar thrills and then some. Well, that didn't happen. Cruise may still be marketable as an action hero, but Never Go Back was anything but exceptional, telling a mediocre story and bring nothing new to the table to make the sequel stand out. Its supporting stars, namely Cobie Smulders, felt wasted. Given how Cruise has plenty of other action content on the way, plus how neither of the Jack Reacher movies have made big splashes, this series is better off not receiving a third entry.

Alice Through The Looking Glass

2010's Alice in Wonderland wasn't a critical hit, but since it made over $1 billion in theaters, it was inevitable Disney would release a sequel. Six years later, Alice Through the Looking Glass not only earned worse reviews, but it didn't make anywhere near as much money. Even though it retained the same visual vibrancy that threatens to burn your eyes out, this sequel was unnecessary to the point that it felt obnoxious. For a movie that returned to a land filled with wonder, there wasn't anything wonderful about Through The Looking Glass, and Disney would be wise to not return to this "enchanted" land a third time.

Ben-Hur

1959's Ben-Hur is such a cinema classic that's it's baffling why anyone would ever want to make another adaptation of the 1880 novel. Nevertheless, 57 years later, the new Ben-Hur remake arrived, but there just wasn't enough to make this movie stand out on its own. Sure it featured some talented actors and a lot of money was poured into making this production look good, but the story itself was nowhere near as exciting as its predecessor, with the subpar dialogue being the main problem. This was yet another example of prioritizing visuals over giving audiences something meaningful, and the end result was this Ben-Hur coming off as a forgettable affair. Stick to the 1959 version.

Jason Bourne

Nine years after The Bourne Ultimatum, many people were looking forward to seeing Jason Bourne on the big screen again, especially since Aaron Cross in 2012's The Bourne Legacy just didn't measure up as an interesting protagonist. As an action movie, Jason Bourne is okay, but as the fifth movie in this series, it hit a lot of the same beats as the previous entries. That's fine to a degree, but the movie covered so much familiar territory that it didn't bring anything particularly unique to the table, thus coming off as generic. We're still hoping Bourne 6 will be made, but only because Jason Bourne's adventures deserves a more fitting conclusion.

It's hard to believe that it's already the end of 2016's summer season, considering we remember seeing Captain America: Civil War as if it was last weekend. It's been an interesting season at the movies, to say the least, and as usual there are winners and there are losers who are either enjoying their spoils, or licking their wounds. Though there's no longer a real off-season to speak of in the box office market, we can still take a moment to reflect on what happened, and who landed on which side. So raise a glass, and drink with us to summer 2016: the best, and worst, of times at the movies.

Winner: The Horror Genre

The Conjuring 2 and Lights Out both made compelling arguments for why horror is still a vital genre in the big budget side of Hollywood. Both films performed quite well in their respective release windows, and have kept the door open for others to cross over into the big leagues. Even better still, the film that may dethrone Suicide Squad's August reign of excellence is none other than the low budget horror outing Don't Breathe. With fans and critics alike buzzing about Fede Alvarez's latest exercise in terror, we're sure there are plenty more scares where that came from.

Loser: The Comedy Genre

Oh Comedy: a genre so wonderful, that it's hard to laugh at the fact that it failed to produce any high voltage hits this summer. Films like Keanu and The Nice Guys should have been easy summer contenders, but for some reason they both under-performed in a noticeable way. And the less said about the overall lukewarm performance of Ghostbusters, the better. Even a sure-fire win like Neighbors 2 struggled. While it probably wasn't the hardest hit genre of the summer, Comedy is going to need to do some serious thinking before it tries to sell the world on its next big idea.

Winner: Will Smith

Will Smith didn't just dodge a bullet in 2016, he fired quite a few back at the forces of fate. Not only did Smith pass up the turkey and a half known as Independence Day: Resurgence, he decided to take a chance and play a pretty bad dude in Suicide Squad. Come to think of it, watching Smith's performance in the latter was probably the most fun we've seen him have in quite some time. Let's hope that future projects like Bad Boys For Life keep the streak going for the pride of West Philadelphia.

Loser: Melissa McCarthy

We really like Melissa McCarthy. In fact, it's hard to be a living human being and not like her generally peppy outlook, even temper, and comedic chops. However, in the year 2016, it was hard for McCarthy to land a comedic hit that put her on the up and up. While The Boss was an out-of-season mediocrity at the marketplace, Ghostbusters caused a huge loss to Sony's rainy day fund. While it's not 100% her fault that the public didn't take to either film, we wonder if this is a temporary set-back, or something worse.

Winners: Animation Fans

Wow. If you're a fan of animated films, both kid and adult oriented in content, you had a lot to pick from this summer. Be it Finding Dory's emotional journey, The Secret Life of Pets' shenanigans with four legged pals, or Sausage Party's food based raunchiness, there was fun to be had by all. Even Kubo and the Two Strings mesmerized the intelligent audiences. And it seems like everyone got their fair share too, as the grosses for all of these films reflect a public hungry for animated entertainment, and with no signs of slowing.

Losers: Indie Fans

Normally during the summer, we'd hear about one or two indie hits that build such a groundswell of buzz that you have to see them for yourself. 2016 just didn't have anything like that, though if we were to guess, the closest the market came to an independent hit was Captain Fantastic, simply because it was one of the only ones we could remember. Even The Neon Demon, which seemed destined to draw in fans of Drive and high fashion alike, swung and missed in an extremely limited window of engagement. Fingers crossed we'll see some more compelling independent films towards the end of the year, as awards season mounts up.

Winners: Female Superhero Projects

As recently as five years ago, you'd probably be laughed off if you thought that a movie like Wonder Woman or Captain Marvel would be in the works any time in the near future. Yet here we are, with both films not only ready to come at us in the next couple of years, but also sounding like mighty prospects for entertainment. Both Gal Gadot's appearance as the Amazonian princess protecting humanity from itself, and Brie Larson's mere casting in the long awaited Captain Marvel film have us ready to see what Hollywood does with A-list properties lead by a female lead.

Losers: Remakes

Remakes: movies so nice, they were made twice! At least, that's what we think is going through the minds of folks who brought Ghostbusters and Ben-Hur to the theatrical arena in the past couple of months. With both looking at massive loss of investments, the studio system may want to think twice before Ocean's 8 or any other loosely based remake / sequel disguised as a remake / anything remotely standing near the word "remake" hits the pavement.

Winner: Disney / Marvel

Four of the top five spots for 2016's highest grossing films belong to Disney, with Marvel Studios ranking in with the highest grossing film of the year thus far. Captain America: Civil War was, and still is, a tough act to beat when it comes to the summer movie season, and that was during The Jungle Book's whirlwind pre-season run. Though, Finding Dory certainly helped keep things going for the house that Walt built, as its success was still a surprise, even to those who were totally on board with the concept from day one.

Loser: Warner Bros. / DC Comics

The good news for Warner Bros. is that Suicide Squad is keeping them in the comic movie game, and has brought them a truckload of money and fan adoration (though not critical respect) in the process. However, the bad news is that films like Central Intelligence, The Legend of Tarzan, and even Me Before You didn't do them any favors, as all brought in middling to diminished returns. Not to mention, the PR nightmare that was the downright toxic letter from an alleged ex-employee hasn't cast a rosy tint on their future either.

Winner: Hollywood Studios

In a year that was supposed to be marred with a lower showing than last year's blockbuster summer, Hollywood pulled that proverbial rabbit out of the hat! With a 3% jump in grosses from last summer, Tinseltown seems to be bucking the odds. They may still have their problems, but considering the doldrums they looked like they were headed towards, a narrow victory is still just as sweet. Not to mention, 2017's looking mighty bright with all of the big ticket flicks that are looking to make their way into the market.

Loser: Sci-Fi / Fantasy

If you needed two huge signs that these usually dependable genres have had a bad year, look no further than Warcraft and Independence Day: Resurgence. While Warcraft has been making its bones overseas, both it and Roland Emmerich's terminally overdue sequel were slammed by critics. Not to mention, it still sucks that the domestic market seemed to reject both of these films en masse, especially when on paper they should have been sure things. Maybe it's time to give Sci-Fi and Fantasy a breather, so as to regroup and let the dream factory replenish. Though we have a feeling that's easier said than done.

From a budgetary stand point for studios, as well as a content viewpoint from the audience, summer 2016 sucked. With a lot of mediocre to dismal films trying to make a living in the wake of the select few big hits, the word "success" wouldn't be the one we'd automatically want to use. And yet, from a monetary standpoint, things couldn't be better, as summer 2016 has ticket sales that are up 3%, with the box office haul being estimated at $4.14 billion, so far.

These surprising metrics came from comScore, via The Wrap, as this box-office breakdown comes from the 108 day period between the first Friday in May, up until today. With 2015, a record breaking year all around, bringing in $4.02 billion in that 108 day window, the market seems to have made a slight improvement. This is all the more surprising, considering that analysts had 2016 pegged as a year that would suffer a downturn when compared to 2015's rocket sled of a year.

So just how did summer 2016 go from garbage fire to diamond mine in one, fell swoop? Well, it's because if you analyze the market on a case by case basis, you'll see that it was still pretty bad. With everything from X-Men: Apocalypse failing to conjure the magic of franchise past to the Ghostbusters movie backfiring and Ben Hur not finding an audience, there were plenty examples of films doing it wrong. And yet, high profile successes such as Captain America: Civil War and Suicide Squad bookended the season, pushing this summer to heights that even the most generous box office predictors couldn't see coming.

It should be noted that the biggest summer box office year on record is 2013, which saw $4.37 billion enter through the door. While summer 2016 came close to that mark, summer 2017 might have a better bite at the apple, what with films like Spider-Man: Homecoming and War for the Planet of the Apes being released. While those two films are destined to perform well, it's our sincerest hope they continue to be the standard bearers of their respective franchises, as well as 2017's film market on the whole.

So was 2016 a good summer for movies? Again, if you're looking at the money making, then yes, it was one of the best. But if you're looking the hits vs misses ratio of what was put into theaters, you'd find a different picture altogether. Still, this summer did give us some great moments mixed in with the bad. Which means that the next time someone mention's Ben Hur's dismal wipe-out from last weekend, we'll always have Captain America: Civil War's airport sequence to remind us that it isn't all that bad.

Everything that's old is new again, and that includes classic sword and sandals epics about a wronged Jewish man who's forced into slavery, only to return home looking for vengeance. Ben-Hur has been remade and one has to assume that at least part of the reason was making the big chariot race happen in 3D seemed like a great idea. Was it worth it? We'll find out.

If you're interested in figuring our whether Ben-Hur is actually a good movie worth seeing, you'll want the full movie review, which you can find right here. If, however, you already think that you want to check this movie out, and the only remaining question is, do you spring for the 3D ticket price? Well that's what we're here for. Let's break down the 3D of Ben-Hur.

Why do 3D movies exist? To make massive blockbusters even bigger by literally adding dimension to them. The bigger the blockbuster, the more 3D can add. The classic Ben-Hur set piece is the chariot race, but the film has one other major scene which is really able to take full advantage of the 3D technology. However, as much as those two major sequences were clearly perfect for 3D, it's hard to say the rest of the film really benefits from the tech. Parts of Ben-Hur are a great fit for 3D, but not quite the entire film.

While large parts of Ben-Hur don't necessarily feel like they were well designed for 3D, that doesn't mean that the people involved didn't do everything possible to make 3D serve the entire film. While the movie may not be full of massive action sequences, it does include large crowd scenes, wide vistas and numerous other elements where the 3D can be, and was, implemented to full effect. It's clear that the filmmakers wanted to get everything out of the 3D presentation that they could.

As per usual, especially with most live-action 3D these days, using the technology's ability to push things into the audience continues to be overlooked as a gimmick. The movie is not entirely without some moments that push things right up to the front of the frame, and possibly slightly more, but these moments are few and far between, and to be blunt, they are more gimmick than anything else. If you're expecting a chariot to kick dirt into your lap, you'll be sorely disappointed.

Ben-Hur performs much better beyond the window than before it. The crowds in the circus who view the chariot race stretch on into the background. The activity outside of Judah's slave vessel truly feels separate from the activities in the galley, thanks to the use of the technology. In the finale, 3D helps separate the activities of one racing chariot from another. There always seems to be something happening in the background while our lead characters go about their business in the foreground.

3D glasses, by their nature, block out some of the light from the image that you see. As such, the film can often come across as generally dim compared to its non-3D version. The vast majority of the action in Ben-Hur takes place outside and during the day, so there is plenty of light, and brightness is not an issue. Some of the scenes at night, or inside the dark ship's galley, however, could have used a brightness bump. It's still possible to see everything, it's just not quite as crisp or clear as you might like.

Ben-Hur certainly has a lot of 3D going on. As such, the far from scientific "glasses off test" wherein you look at the film without your glasses to see if the image is actually viewable, generally comes up with a mass of visual gibberish. This means that there's a lot of 3D going on at any given moment. There are certainly some scenes that look as clear as a standard 2D movie, but by far you want to be sure you watch this one entirely with the glasses on. It's mostly unviewable otherwise.

This one is fairly subjective, as everybody's susceptibility to motion sickness is different. For the most part, however, Ben-Hur should not be a problem. While there are certainly some sequences where the camera moves very quickly in uncontrolled directions, mostly on the galley ship, the fact is that those scenes are likely to give you motion sickness without the 3D. It is possible the 3D makes them worse, but this all takes place in a brief part of the film, and should not be an issue after that. For the most part, your stomach should be able to keep the popcorn down.

_Final Verdict: _The 3D of Ben-Hur is not great, but then again, it's not terrible either. The stuff you would expect would be good in 3D, is. However, unless you're a die-hard Ben-Hur fan, or a die-hard 3D fan, it may not be worth the extra cash for the 3D ticket. If you're inclined to spend the money, the big things you expect to look cool in 3D will not disappoint, but there's a great deal of movie in between those big moments that you'll have to get through that won't necessarily wow you.

The main reason (but not the only reason) to watch William Wyler's Oscar-dominating Ben-Hur was for its chariot race -- a spectacular set piece in 1959 that wowed critics and audiences, and likely helped Wyler's picture pick up a whopping 11 Academy Awards. More than 50 years later, the main reason (but not the only reason) to watch a remade Ben-Hur is for its chariot race, though the desensitized, seen-it-all-before audiences of 2016 likely aren't going to rally behind Timur Bekmambetov's period drama in similar fashion. These days, Ben-Hur will struggle to win its opening weekend, so forget about sweeping the Oscars.

Which is unfortunate, because Bekmambetov's Ben-Hur is a commendable, if unspectacular, recounting of Lew Wallace's Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ. Satisfying the appetites of Game of Thrones fans as they patiently await season seven, Ben-Hur spins its period epic into a melodramatic and opulent historical soap, though one that's worthy of a big-screen watch if you tend to favor sword-and-sandal cinema. If you think Gladiator is the best movie in the world, for example, you'll likely leave Ben-Hur happy.

Like the renowned and still-recognizable 1959 drama that precedes it, Ben-Hur tells the rise-fall-and-rise-again story of a Jewish prince facing Roman persecution during the time of Jesus Christ. And Bekmambetov's version deserves proper credit for firmly establishing the emotional bind between its main antagonists: Judah Ben-Hur (Jack Huston, Boardwalk Empire) an amiable and wealthy Jew; and his adopted brother Messala (Tobey Kebbell), a Roman soldier. Despite its period setting, Ben-Hur continues to have relevant contemporary themes, with family members on opposing sides of political conflicts, and drama conjured when one person makes a single poor decision, then spends years dealing with the consequences.

In Ben-Hur's case, his mistake comes in supporting a zealot, who betrays Ben-Hur's trust on the day a Roman leader marches through town. There's an assassination attempt, launched from Ben-Hur's plush abode. Messala can't defend his adopted family from the political storm that rains down on his adopted family. And before you can say "Charlton Heston," Judah Ben-Hur is banished to slavery and assigned to the slave quarters on a Roman ship.

The relationship between the brothers provides a strong enough foundation for Timur Bekmambetov's drama to rest, though the duration of Ben-Hur's time in exile and his personal journey toward inevitable vengeance slows Ben-Hur down to a steady jog. The movie neither sags nor sprints as we stop of at several familiar locations on a silver-screen hero's path to redemption. In Ben-Hur's case, it involves partnering with fellow, disgruntled native Ilderim (played by the always welcome Morgan Freeman), and training for a death-defying chariot race in the bloodthirsty circus for the Romans' sport.

The race, if we're being honest, is worth the price of admission (though not in 3D, for the technology contributes nothing to Bekmambetov's drama). A bruising, pulse-racing mix of savagery and CGI, the competition musters tension and thrills, even as its outcome remains solidly predictable. But Bekmambetov, best known for the action-packed Wanted, employs inventive tricks to put the audience over, under (yes, under) and around the stampeding horses and barreling chariots to deliver a rousing spectacle.

If only the rest of the movie could match that sequence's intensity. It doesn't. But Ben-Hur dedicates enough time to its central relationships, its underlying political debates, the overt Christian teachings and the period production values so that when the chariot race finally arrives, we care about its outcome. I went into Ben-Hur thinking we didn't need another interpretation of this story, but I left satisfied by the new one that we received.

Very few actors are able to say they have played the highest power on screen -- the vision of God. George Burns probably qualifies as the most recognizable take on the Lord and Savior, though smooth-voiced Morgan Freeman also took a crack at it a couple of times. So now, when younger actors ask the Shawshank co-star how they should approach the role of God in a movie, Freeman has the best advice possible: stick to the script, dummy. The Ben-Hur star says:

Morgan Freeman has reached that stage of his illustrious career where the Oscar winner just isn't going to suffer fools. You can take all of that Method mumbo jumbo (I'm looking at you, Jared Leto), and stick it in your silly Joker hat. Morgan Freeman doesn't care if you are playing God, or a dude who professionally debunks magicians. The best thing you can do is stick to the script. And why wouldn't you? As an actor, no matter the role, you have been hired to bring a screenplay to life. Everything that you need should be in the pages of the script. Of course, when possible, one can pull from everyday life experiences. But seeing as how Morgan Freeman, in real life, has never been a dolphin rehabilitator (Dolphin Tale), a boxing gym trainer (Million Dollar Baby) or God (Bruce Almighty, Evan Almighty), he has to rely on the written word to help bring a performance like this to fruition.

These quotes on Morgan Freeman's simplified approach to acting were acquired by NDTV as the actor was preparing to release Ben-Hur, a new pass on the classic tale of the Jewish man during the time of the Christ who engages his mortal enemy in a massive chariot race to save his family, and his people. The original movie, released in 1959, starred Charlton Heston and Jack Hawkins in a drama directed by William Wyler. The new version is being directed by Timur Bekmambetov, and co-stars Jack Huston, Toby Kebbell, and Rodrigo Santoro.

For more on Morgan Freeman's impeccable acting tips, he was a guest on Bravo's Inside the Actor's Studio, though that episode doesn't seem to be available on any YouTube pages (which normally archive the show's full run, so that's odd). Here's the Ben-Hur trailer, instead. It opens everywhere on Friday, August 19.

Hollywood has a little something for everyone this week. A remake of a sword and sandals classic, animated fare for the kids, and a little gun running. Get ready for Ben-Hur, Kubo and the Two Strings and War Dogs. It's gonna be a Rotten Week!

Just remember, I'm not reviewing these movies, but rather predicting where they'll end up on the Tomatometer. Let's take a look at This Rotten Week has to offer.

I know this won't be popular with everyone on here, but the original Ben-Hur doesn't exactly hold up like some other Hollywood classics. It's an endless parade of overacting and boredom. I know for the time it was considered epic movie making, but now it's a tough rewatch. Believe me, I tried. But does that mean we need it remade? Definitely not. Let sleeping Romans lie is what I say - and I think a lot of critics are going to feel that way.

We're now getting a retelling of Judah Ben-Hur's tale of highs and many, many lows through the eyes of director Timor Bekmambetov (Wanted - 74%; Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter - 39%). Unfortunately, it doesn't look like they're doing the original any favors here. The project's release date was pushed back months by the studio (never a good sign), and there's also reason to suspect it will be a box office mega bomb. We could have just left this one be and sent it to the retirement home of movies. But no, Hollywood just can't help itself.

Speaking of movies being pushed back from the original release date, we get War Dogs, the story of two hustling dudes who happened to score a massive government weapons contract with really no experience in the field. The fact that this flick is based on a true story makes it at least interesting on the surface. Miles Teller and Jonah Hill are strong leads, playing a couple of bros who work their way into the upper tier of arms dealing culminating in outfitting the Afghan army post 9-11. I want it to be good and the trailer looks slick and funny. But this could be all gloss and little substance especially if the main leads are epically unlikeable.

Director Todd Phillips is relatively hit or miss when it comes to critical reaction. Sure, he's got The Hangover (79%) and Old School (60%); but he's also made School for Scoundrels (25%), Due Date (40%), and The Hangover sequels (33% and 20%). It's all to say that we aren't locked into a solid critical finish for War Dogs.

The trailer for Kubo and The Two Strings, the latest feature from the stop-motion animation team at Laika, had me at the first couple of electric chords of "While My Guitar Gently Weeps." Honestly, the movie could have been just about anything I'd I have been on board. That it's an adventure story about a kid, a guitar and his magical powers. Sign me up.

This film is from the same studio that gave us Coraline (90%), ParaNorman (87%) and The Boxtrolls (75%), and it looks like Kubo and the Two Strings will continue Laika's string of critical hits. It's already off to a nice start. Early reviews on Kubo are excellent, with the film sitting at 90% right now with critics using words like "staggeringly beautiful", "dazzling", and "superb" among other praise. The score likely sticks in this range over the long haul.

I got a hit on all three movies last week, though I have to admit some early reviews helped here. That being said, this is about as strong a group of three predictions will finish on the Tomatometer.

For starters, Pete's Dragon (Predicted: 79% Actual: 85%) did well after an expected little dip mid-week. Just the right kind of children's movie. A story of a kid and (not-too-scary) dragon's friendship. This is a tough thing to pull of in terms of live action, but they did it and came back with strong critical returns. My prediction fell well within range.

Meanwhile, Sausage Party (Predicted: 90% Actual: 82%) dipped down some during the week and this was one I was glad to have a couple of early reviews on. There's almost no chance I would have predicted an R-rated story of food coming off the shelf and learning the inappropriate wonders of the world this high on the Tomatometer. It appeared more a stoner cult classic than an actual critical gem. And yet here is is pushing over 80%.

And finally, Florence Foster Jenkins (Predicted: 91% Actual: 86%) was an easy one. This looks like about a vanilla a film as you get, but it also happens to star Meryl Streep . I'm not knocking it for being a safe movie. I get it, but rather explaining why it was an easy prediction. Nothing controversial here with a nice enough story starring a legend of film. Total layup.

Next time around we've got Don't Breathe, Hands of Stone and Mechanic: Resurrection. It's gonna be a Rotten Week!

Ben-Hur has an established legacy in Hollywood for being remade, and the latest retelling is only weeks away from hitting theaters. However, unlike the Charlton Heston-led version, which took the world by storm in 1959 and earned several Academy Awards, it doesn't look like the 2016 remake will be remotely as successful. Right now, the movie is predicted to barely crack $10 million on its opening weekend.

According to tracking from THR, Ben-Hur will only open to between $14-15 million on its opening weekend in three weeks. This would be a low amount for almost any blockbuster, but considering that Ben-Hur cost almost $100 million to produce, it's especially disappointing. The report notes that MGM still has enough time to make a final marketing push for the movie, which includes targeting "faith-based viewers." This makes sense not only because of the story's content, but also because two of the movie's producers, Mark Burnett and Roma Downey, are Christians.

Assuming these projections are correct, even if the marketing push does a thorough job, it's hard to imagine it will be good enough to get Ben-Hur to the kind of financial success it was striving towards. The remake's competition that weekend are War Dogs and Kubo and the Two Strings. War Dogs is rated R, but despite that age restriction, it could do reasonably well. Then there's Kubo, a uniquely animated movie with some notable names in its voice cast. If that gets good buzz, then it could lead the charge that weekend, as it's accessible to viewers of all ages. Ben-Hur certainly has the blockbuster feel to it in the previews, but because the budget was so astoundingly large, it will be extremely difficult for the movie to break even and then some. Of course, that doesn't necessarily mean the movie won't be critically well received, but that's another conversation.

Just like the original 1880 novel and the previous movie adaptations, the Ben-Hur remake will follow the tale of Judah Ben-Hur, played by Jack Huston, a Jewish nobleman who is disgraced and sold into slavery after being betrayed by his childhood friend/adoptive brother, Messala, played by Toby Kebbell. After years of the slave life, he returns to seek revenge against Mescal by challenging him to a chariot race, but in the midst of his new life's mission, he will be changed when he comes across Jesus of Nazareth. The movie's cast also includes Morgan Freeman as Sheik Ilderim, Nazanin Boniadi as Esther, Rodrigo Santoro as Jesus (who, unlike in the 1959 movie, will have a prominent role), Ayelet Zurer as Naomi and many more.

Ben-Hur opens to the masses on August 19, and we'll keep you updated on how it performs in theaters once the numbers are officially crunched.

Ben Hur is a story of literally biblical proportions, so any time Hollywood chooses to tell said story ends up being a huge effort in and of itself. The 2016 remake is no exception, as director Timur Bekmambetov looks to be pulling out all the stops with his version of this tale of brotherly vengeance. Nowhere is this more evident than the 360 degree view that the film has provided of the most memorable moment of any version of the story: the chariot race. Take a look at this awesome spectacle below.

Paramount and MGM have released this unique look at one of Ben Hur's chariot races, through the courtesy of the film's official Facebook page, and it's quite a sight to see. If you take the time and explore the full panorama on display, you'll see Judah Ben Hur riding to victory, while his competition is wiping out in the background. With the advance of VR headset technology, you'll probably get more out of this image, though we must admit, it'd be even more impressive if this was a moving image rather than static. Baby steps, we guess.

The studios couldn't have picked a better time to release this look, as Comic Con is looking to rev up its engines, and Ben Hur is most assuredly a film that could use as much press as it can get in the coming weeks. With the film scheduled to open on August 19th, it hasn't exactly gotten the biggest marketing push that a film of it stature would normally receive. While we're not sure if the film will make an appearance at the Con, it wouldn't be too surprising if there were VR helmets showing off this image, as well as a couple centurions manning their stations, in hopes for a quick photo-op.

Jack Huston of Boardwalk Empire fame is playing the titular role of Judah Ben Hur, while Toby Kebbell from Fantastic Four and Dawn of the Planet of the Apes will be playing Messala, the adopted brother who betrays him and begins his path of struggle and eventually spiritual redemption. Rounding out this already powerful casting is Morgan Freeman, in the role of Sheik Ilderim, the man who would help Judah Ben Hur become the charioteer that we know today.

With this being the fourth version of the Ben Hur story, Timur Bekmambetov has lot riding on his version of the already iconic story. It certainly doesn't help that the film will be released in the month of August, which looks like it pretty much belongs to Suicide Squad lock, stock, and barrel. Though its third weekend positioning may help the film take a close second place, if not a first place finish by a hair. They might win at the chariot races, but Warner Bros' gang of misfits turned crime fighters look to have a pretty heavy arsenal in their possession.

Ben Hur tries its luck at the races on August 19th.

Thanks to modern movie-making technology, it's easy to rely on CGI and other kinds of digital effects when it comes to creating action-packed scenes. However, moviegoers have become so accustomed to these visual wonders that it's become easier to detect what looks fake, which is why practical effects are welcomed whenever possible. For the upcoming Ben-Hur movie, they maneuvered in that direction by shooting an actual chariot race without any CGI assistance, and you can see how they accomplished this in a new video.

Just like in the original Ben-Hur movies, the 2016 remake will feature Judah Ben-Hur (played by Jack Huston) going up against his childhood friend, Messala (played by Toby Kebbell), in a dangerous, high-stakes chariot race. In a new featurette posted by Paramount Pictures, the movie's cast and crew, including director Timur Bekmambetov, explained the steps they took to make the race look as realistic as possible. The actors were dragged by real horses at high speeds around the arena while a truck with a camera attached tracks their movements from the side.

As if those stakes weren't enormous enough, there were also no air bags or brakes, just like the real chariot races from millennia earlier. Bekmambetov compared it to people nowadays enjoying NASCAR, including wanting to see participants crash. Obviously the Ben-Hur production didn't sacrifice the lives of extras so they can properly be trampled by hooves and wheels, but it looks like almost everything else was replicated to look as faithful as possible. That's dedication!

Along with this featurette, a new Ben-Hur trailer also premiered online, providing a deeper look at the third movie adaptation of Lew Wallace's 1880 novel, Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ.

As with the previous trailers, we get a look into Ben-Hur's past, his life as a slave and him returning to seek revenge, all with some Morgan Freeman narration. However, one of the biggest differences in this preview is the expanded focus on Jesus Christ (played by Rodrigo Santoro). Jesus gives Ben-Hur water when he's at his weakest as a slave, and near the end of the trailer, Ben tries to rescue Jesus before he is crucified, but the latter stops him, saying he gives his life of his own free will. While Jesus' role in the 1956 movie was small, this trailer definitely makes it clear he'll have a bigger presence in the new version of the story.

Ben-Hur rides into theaters on August 19.

The original Ben-Hur is one of the movies that defined the term epic during the golden age of Hollywood. Attempting to remake such a classic film is a herculean task, to say the least. And yet, that’s exactly what Paramount Pictures has decided to do. Among the summer blockbusters this year, we will see a new take on the chariot battle starring Jack Huston as the titular hero. Now we have our first look at the new film. Check out the first trailer for Ben-Hur.

The new Ben-Hur will follow in the footsteps of its previous incarnations, as well as the book both films were based on, and attempt to at least match the epic scale of the original. The story follows Judah Ben-Hur, a prince who is falsely accused of treason and enslaved when he refuses to help his adopted brother hunt down people that are deemed enemies of the state. After escaping his captivity, he attempts to earn his freedom in the arena of the chariot races. The film co-stars Toby Kebbell and Morgan Freeman

While the original Ben-Hur was a massive cinematic undertaking in its time, the new version will be competing in a Hollywood landscape where every movie is a major blockbuster. Still, Ben-Hur looks to be pulling out all the stops. We see some major set pieces here including a major sea battle complete with a sinking ship as well as our first look at the chariot battle which is the iconic sequence from the story.

It will be interesting to see what this Ben-Hur tries to do to make the story its own. Trying to remake one of the most famous movies ever made has two significant problems. One the one hand, there is a tendency to make the movie very similar to the original, because that’s what was successful the first time. At the same time, being too close to the original Ben-Hur isn’t particularly creative. The film is being directed by Timur Bekmambetov, who is known for spectacle, but more of the Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter variety.

While Ben-Hur will be an actual adaptation of a classic Hollywood film, it’s not the first one this year that will try to recapture the flavor of those sword-and-sandals epics. The recent Gods of Egypt was an obvious attempt to use modern technology to update the classic formula. Ben-Hur looks to be staying a little bit closer to home in regards to its effects. The stadium is surely a mostly digital effect, but it looks much more realistic than anything we saw in Gods of Egypt.

What did you think of your first look at Ben-Hur? Is this the epic storytelling that movies need, or is this a remake we could do without?

**UPDATE** With 2016 in the rearview window, it’s time for you to check out the always updated schedule for new movies in 2017!

2016 is loaded up with interesting and exciting films this year, including Captain America: Civil War, Ghostbusters, Suicide Squad, Finding Dory and the anticipated Star Wars spinoff, Rogue One. For those of you trying to keep all of the dates straight, here’s the rundown on what’s headed into theaters in 2016.

Dates and titles are subject to change. We'll do our best to keep this list updated with the most current information. We’re mainly focusing on wide releases here, but if there’s a 2016 movie you don’t see on the list, and want to know the date, drop it in the comments and we’ll do our best to dig up the info!

The Hateful Eight - January 1 (expanded release)

The Forest - Friday, January 8

13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi - Friday, January 15

Norm of the North - Friday, January 15

Ride Along 2 - Friday, January 15

The 5th Wave - Friday, January 22

The Boy - Friday, January 22

Dirty Grandpa - Friday, January 22

Fifty Shades of Black - Friday, January 29

The Finest Hours - Friday, January 29

Jane Got a Gun - Friday, January 29

Kung Fu Panda 3 - Friday, January 29

The Choice - Friday, February 5

Hail, Caesar! - Friday, February 5

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies - Friday, February 5

Deadpool - Friday, February 12

How to Be Single - Friday, February 12

Zoolander 2 - Friday, February 12

Race - Friday, February 19

Risen - Friday, February 19

The Witch - Friday, February 19

Eddie the Eagle - Friday, February 26

Gods of Egypt - Friday, February 26

Triple 9 - Friday, February 26

Desert - Friday, March 4

London Has Fallen - Friday, March 4

Whiskey Tango Foxtrot - Friday, March 4

Zootopia - Friday, March 4

10 Cloverfield Lane - Friday, March 11

The Brothers Grimsby - Friday, March 11

Coco - Friday, March 11

The Other Side of the Door - Friday, March 11

The Perfect Match - Friday, March 11

The Young Messiah - Friday, March 11

Miracles from Heaven - Wednesday, March 16

The Bounce Back - Friday, March 18

The Divergent Series: Allegiant - Friday, March 18

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice - Friday, March 25

The Disappointments Room - Friday, March 25

My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2 - Friday, March 25

God’s Not Dead 2 - Friday, April 1

The Boss - Friday, April 8

Hardcore Henry - Friday, April 8

Barbershop: The Next Cut - Friday, April 15

Criminal - Friday, April 15

Everybody Wants Some - Friday, April 15

The Jungle Book - Friday, April 15

The Huntsman Winter’s War - Friday, April 22

Keanu - Friday, April 22

Elvis & Nixon - Friday, April 22

Mother’s Day - Friday, April 29

Ratchet & Clank - Friday, April 29

Same Kind of Different as Me - Friday, April 29

Captain America: Civil War - Friday, May 6

Going in Style - Friday, May 6

The Darkness - Friday, May 13

Free State of Jones - Friday, May 13

Money Monster - Friday, May 13

The Angry Birds Movie - Friday, May 20

Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising - Friday, May 20

The Nice Guys - Friday, May 20

Alice Through the Looking Glass - Friday, May 27

X-Men: Apocalypse - Friday, May 27

Me Before You - Friday, June 3

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows - Friday, June 3

Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping - Friday, June 3

The Conjuring 2 - Friday, June 10

Now You See Me 2 - Friday, June 10

Warcraft - Friday, June 10

Central Intelligence - Friday, June 17

Finding Dory - Friday, June 17

Independence Day: Resurgence - Friday, June 24

The Shallows - Wednesday, June 29

The BFG - Friday, July 1

The Legend of Tarzan - Friday, July 1

The Purge 3 - Friday, July 1 (Purge: Election Year Trailer)

Mike & Dave Need Wedding Dates - Friday, July 8

The Secret Life of Pets - Friday, July 8

The Infiltrator - Wednesday, July 13

Ghostbusters - Friday, July 15

La La Land - Friday, July 15

Ice Age: Collision Course - Friday, July 22

Lights Out - Friday, July 22

Star Trek Beyond - Friday, July 22

Nerve - Friday, July 29

Bad Moms - Friday, July 29

Jason Bourne - Friday, July 29 (New Jason Bourne Trailer)

Nine Lives - Friday, August 5

Suicide Squad - Friday, August 5 (Suicide Squad Trailer)

Pete’s Dragon - Friday, August 12 (Watch the trailer.)

Florence Foster Jenkins - Friday, August 12

Sausage Party - Friday, August 12

Spectral - Friday, August 12

Ben Hur - Friday, August 19

Kubo and the Two Strings - Friday, August 19

War Dogs - Friday, August 19

Don't Breathe (Formerly titled A Man in the Dark)- Friday, August 26

Mechanic Resurrection - Friday, August 26

Hands of Stone - Friday, August 26

Solace - Friday, September 2

Morgan - Friday, September 2

The Light Between Oceans - Friday, September 2

Sully - Friday, September 9

Before I Wake - Friday, September 9

The Wild Life - Friday, September 9

When the Bough Breaks - Friday, September 9

Snowden - Friday, September 16

Blair Witch - Friday, September 16

Bridget Jones's Baby - Friday, September 16

Hillsong - Let Hope Rise - Friday, September 16

The Magnificent Seven - Friday, September 23

Storks - Friday, September 23

Deepwater Horizon - Friday, September 30

Masterminds - Friday, September 30

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children - Friday, September 30

The Girl on the Train - Friday, October 7

The Birth of a Nation - Friday, October 7

Friend Request - Friday, October 7

Middle School: The Worst Years of my Life - Friday, October 7

The Accountant - Friday, October 14 (The Accountant Trailer.)

Kevin Hart: What Now? - Friday, October 14

Max Steel - Friday, October 14

A Monster Calls - Friday, October 21

Boo! A Madea Halloween - Friday, October 21

Jack Reacher: Never Go Back - Friday, October 21

Ouija 2 - Friday, October 21

Keeping Up with the Joneses - Friday, October 21

I Am Ashamed - Friday, October 21

Inferno - Friday, October 28

Doctor Strange - Friday, November 4

Trolls - Friday, November 4

Hacksaw Ridge - Friday, November 4

Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk - Friday, November 11 (Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk Trailer)

Shut In - Friday, November 11

Almost Christmas - Friday, November 11

Arrival - Friday, November 11

Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them - Friday, November 18

The Edge of Seventeen - Friday, November 18

Bad Santa 2 - Wednesday, November 23

Allied - Wednesday, November 23

Moana - Wednesday, November 23 (Moana Trailer)

Rules Don't Apply - Wednesday, November 23

Jackie - Friday, December 2

The Eyes of My Mother - Friday, December 2

Incarnate - Friday, December 2

La La Land - Friday, December 9

The Bounce Back - Friday, December 9

Office Christmas Party - Friday, December 9

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story - Friday, December 16

Collateral Beauty - Friday, December 16

Assassin’s Creed - Wednesday, December 21 (Assassin's Creed Trailer)

Passengers - Wednesday, December 21

Patriots Day - Wednesday, December 21

Sing - Wednesday, December 21

The Space Between Us - Wednesday, December 21

Why Him? - Friday, December 23

A Monster Calls - Friday, December 23

Silence - Friday, December 23

Fences - Wednesday, December 28

20th Century Women - Wednesday, December 28

Hidden Figures - Wednesday, December 28

Live By Night - Wednesday, December 28

Which 2016 movies should you still be looking forward to? We break down the most anticipated movies of (the rest of) the year next...

Continue to Article >

Jack Huston has been confirmed as the titular star for the upcoming remake of Ben-Hur, which will be directed by Timur Bekmambetov and is set to start shooting in Europe next year.

The Boardwalk Empire actor isn’t the only addition to the film’s burgeoning ensemble, though, as screen-legend Morgan Freeman’s presence has been announced too.

MGM and Paramount have been auditioning legions of actors throughout Hollywood in order to land their Ben-Hur, and after his rather spectacular portrayal of Richard Harrow -- the one-eyed, World War I veteran who wears a mask to hide his injury -- on HBO’s Boardwalk Empire, it was pretty obvious to all who saw him that Huston would one day land a big, leading-man film role.

There had been various rumors circulating that Jack Huston would actually play Messala, Ben-Hur’s former friend who turns into his bitter rival, in Timur Bekmambetov’s epic. However, the director clearly saw something in the American Hustle star that convinced him to bump him up into the main part. According to Deadine, "[Huston] read for that role, but Bekmambetov decided instead he had the sympathetic manner and grit to play the title role."

Various actors have been heavily linked with both roles, but now that Huston has been confirmed as Ben-Hur, Tom Hiddleston has become the front-runner for Messala. However, it’s still not known if The Avengers and Thor scene-stealer will take the part, as he has numerous other projects that are also vying for his attention.

Deadline also first broke the news that Morgan Freeman -- who was the first actor to be announced for the film -- will play the role of Idlarin, the man who will transform Huston’s Judah Ben-Hur from a slave into the most renowned chariot racer in all of the land.

Ben-Hur’s Bekmambetov will direct from a script that was at first written by The Way Back’s Keith Clarke, and then spruced up by John Ridley, who recently won the 2014 Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay after his work on 12 Years A Slave. Their remake of the classic William Wyler-directed 1959 colossus (which won a record 11 Academy Awards) will actually draw more from the 1880 Lew Wallace novel, Ben-Hur: A Tale Of Christ, than its cinematic brethren.

It’s also been teased that this version will "play up the parallel storyline of Jesus Christ," but its main area of focus and conflict will still come from the feud between Judah Ben-Hur, who grew up as a Jewish prince, and Messala, the son of a Roman tax collector. The pair originally grew up as best friends, but their relationship dissolved after the Roman Empire took over Jerusalem, and Messala eventually betrays his former pal by manipulating an accident to look as though Judah committed it. This results in him being sold into slavery. Despite this setback, Ben-Hur vows that he will get revenge on his betrayer, and we follow his journey as he tries to do just that.

Ben-Hur has so far been touted for a February 26, 2016 release date, and you can expect the film’s final casting decisions to be unveiled before the end of the year.

The chariots are calling Loki, and the Avengers villain just might answer. MGM is digging deep into its back catalog to resurrect Ben-Hur for a new audience, under the stewardship of director Timur Bekmambetov. It stands to reason that the part would be one of the most highly in-demand in Hollywood, and MGM surely could have gone with a big name, or a fresh face. Instead, they might be splitting the difference, eying a man familiar to most audiences, but still as-yet-untested in a lead role.

Deadline reports that MGM wants Tom Hiddleston to star as the famous slave-turned-champion in 2016's Ben-Hur. This version is said to be more closely based on the novel Ben-Hur: A Tale Of The Christ, where the fate of Judah Ben-Hur is contrasted with Jesus Christ. Yep, you've got religion in my gladiator epic! No, you've got gladiator epic in my religion! Oh boy! John Ridley, who just recently earned an Academy Award for penning 12 Years A Slave, is the scribe in charge of the material, which would spotlight the feud between Judah Ben-Hur and former friend Messala, who double-crossed his buddy and allowed him to be sold into slavery. Coooold-blooooded.

Hiddleston is reportedly deciding between two MGM films, the other being the much more modest Me Before You. Based on the Jojo Moyes novel, the story would find Hiddleston as a lifelong overachiever who, after an accident, is restricted to a wheelchair, becoming suicidal as he questions his worth. In his recovery, he becomes close with a "small town girl" who serves as his caretaker and teaches him how to appreciate life. Or maybe they just sit around, pig out on junk food and watch Faces Of Death. MGM has secured a director for the film in theater-experienced Thea Sharrock, who had previously worked with Hiddleston on The Hollow Crown for the BBC. It's a difficult choice for Hiddleston – work on the small film with a former collaborator eager for a big break, or take the big paycheck for the blockbuster from Son Of God producers Roma Downey and Mark Burnett?

One of these roles could certainly shoot him into the stratosphere, but what would that mean for his beloved villain Loki? We've seen Hiddleston play the role three times now, and the end of Thor: The Dark World suggested big things ahead for the actor. Loki's no-doubt a juicy role, but he's definitely playing second fiddle to Chris Hemsworth: will he continue to do so if Ben-Hur turns him into the matinee idol his looks and talent suggest he will be? Thor 3 is in the planning stages: hopefully this news means that Marvel will bend over backwards to give Loki some juicy material to devour next time out.

Paramount Pictures is in the sequel business, and folks, business is booming.

The studio is gearing up for the release of Michael Bay’s Transformers: Age of Extinction, the fourth film in Bay’s lucrative franchise. And while the rest of the summer is filled with semi-original tentpoles like Hercules and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (semi-original in that they are not direct sequels to existing properties), the studio just confirmed a handful of upcoming sequels that will fill its 2016 release calendar.

At CineEurope on Wednesday, Paramount Pictures International SVP Edward Ryan mapped out the studio’s aggressive release plan (via THR), mentioning a few titles we knew about and confirming others that had been speculation to this point. For 2016, Paramount promises a fifth Transformers (as Bay has been saying Age of Extinction starts a new trilogy), a G.I. Joe 3, a Star Trek 3 (which we know will be directed by longtime screenwriter Roberto Orci), and Hansel and Gretel 2. Ryan also said that 2016 will bring the return of Eddie Murphy in a fourth Beverly Hills Cop movie, and a fifth Paranormal Activity. Looking for something original? Well, the sword-and-sandals epic Ben-Hur is getting a remake, with Wanted director Timur Bekmambetov behind the lens. I wonder if it will look like this?

Some of these films even have release dates, and they aren’t all summer blockbusters. Ben-Hur, according to BoxOfficeMojo, will drop on February 26. And Beverly Hills Cop is eyeing a March 25 release date. Those are subject to change, of course. The rest of the Paramount movies discussed by Edward Ryan were rumored to arrive in 2016, but are now confirmed.

The Transformers date strikes me as the most aggressive, particularly if Michael Bay finally decides that he is finished with Autobots and Decepticons, and is ready to move on to more non-Transformers material. Wheels will have to begin turning on a production schedule to maintain a 2016 date, as you can bet Paramount will want Transformers 5 to drop in the summer time. Right now, however, the favored Transformers weekend of late June / July 4 is occupied by Steven Spielberg’s The BFG, Sony’s Angry Birds movie, and Fox’s Independence Day 2. Crowded. But what weekend in 2016 won’t be?

So sequels will remain the rage at Paramount, which also talked about Terminator 5: Genesis, Mission: Impossible 5 and Friday the 13th 3D at CineEurope. Everything old is new again.

Long before filmmakers had access to the finest digital effects the industry has to offer, they had to get creative with matte paintings to blend like actors into locations and environments that couldn’t be achieved in real life. These are delicate works of art that date back to the early 20th century, when painters and artists helped directors achieve a nearly impossible vision.

The website ShadowLocked.com writes a thorough history of the art of matte painting, singling out accomplished artists like Walter Percy Day, Peter Ellenshaw, Mark Sullivan and more. Beyond that, the site names what it believes to be the 50 greatest matte paintings, including imagery from such classics as Mary Poppins (above) to near-misses like Ghostbusters II, which often looked prettier than it deserved to look.

This montage shows matte painting artist Matt Yuricich working on Ben-Hur, to give you an idea how a painter would create on a pane of clear glass through which actors could later be photographed to create a still (or even moving) image.

Want some other famous shots? Here’s one from Steven Spielberg’s Raiders of the Lost Ark:

One from Richard Donner’s original Superman:

And one from George Roy Hill’s classic The Sting:

Which matte shot earned the coveted No. 1 slot? Read the entire piece, which captures some history for each image, and find out for yourself.