Summary
- Spielberg’s Jaws balances horror and personal drama perfectly, creating an intense and iconic masterpiece of cinema.
- Nolan’s The Dark Knight revolutionizes superhero movies with thrilling action and Heath Ledger’s legendary Joker performance.
- Miyazaki’s Spirited Away showcases the potential of animation with a gorgeous, enchanting story that appeals to all ages.
While all movies generate a swirl of conflicting opinions, there are some movies which people generally agree are flawless from beginning to end. Some might argue that perfection is an impossible standard, especially in an art form measured in emotion and personal connection. However, a more generous definition of perfection could suggest that there are plenty of “perfect” movies. If a movie sets out to achieve all that it aims for, no matter what genre it is, it could be described as perfect.
There are many great movies that fall short of perfection. For example, Breakfast at Tiffany‘s could be a contender if not for the racist caricature of Mr. Yunioshi, and Alfred Hitchcock famously hated the voiceover at the end of Psycho. Some movies manage to go from start to finish without putting a foot wrong, however. Cinema is a subjective art form, and everyone is free to their own opinions, but some movies are so outstanding that most would agree that they are perfect.
Related The 60 Best Movies Of All Time
Screen Rant breaks down the best movies of all time, from old classics to modern masterpieces across multiple genres of cinema.
5
10 Jaws (1975)
Steven Spielberg’s Masterful Horror Movie Fleshes Out Its Human Characters Perfectly
Close
Jaws Where to Watch
- stream
- rent
- buy
Not available
Not available
Not available
*Availability in US
Director Steven Spielberg Release Date June 18, 1975 Cast Roy Scheider , Robert Shaw , Richard Dreyfuss , Lorraine Gary , Murray Hamilton , Carl Gottlieb
Steven Spielberg has long been known as a master of cinematic spectacle, and this was never more apparent than in his first true masterpiece. Jaws is an intense horror movie that subverts its sunny, idyllic setting to show the dark perils lingering beneath the waves. Spielberg uses shots from the perspective of the shark to create a terrifying dramatic irony, as audiences are forced to watch swimmers splashing around without knowing what’s coming for them.
Jaws
balances its horror with a compelling personal drama.
Jaws is packed with iconic moments from beginning to end. The opening scene sets the tone perfectly, as two teenagers see their perfect summer night turn into a nightmare. From then on, Jaws balances its horror with a compelling personal drama. For all its thrills and blood-soaked chaos, Jaws is just as interesting when the three heroes have to spend time together on Quint’s fishing, passing the time before the shark surfaces once again.
9 The Dark Knight (2008)
Christopher Nolan’s Second Batman Movie Is Arguably The Greatest Superhero Movie Ever
Close
The Dark Knight Where to Watch
- stream
- rent
- buy
Not available
Not available
Not available
*Availability in US
Director Christopher Nolan Release Date July 18, 2008 Cast Christian Bale , Heath Ledger , Michael Caine , Morgan Freeman , Nestor Carbonell , Ritchie Coster , Cillian Murphy , Chin Han , Gary Oldman , Eric Roberts , William Fichtner , Aaron Eckhart , Maggie Gyllenhaal , David Dastmalchian , Anthony Michael Hall Expand
By incorporating elements of crime movies and establishing a gritty, confronting tone, Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy revolutionized the superhero genre. After years of superhero dominance at the box office, many movies have taken inspiration from The Dark Knight, but few have produced a movie so consistently thrilling. The Dark Knight squeezes an incredible number of great action set pieces into its runtime, helped along by Nolan’s commitment to practical effects.
Heath Ledger’s legendary performance as the Joker produces one of the most compelling comic book villains of all, ensuring that Batman’s personal conflict is just as vital as the battle for Gotham’s soul.
The Dark Knight could be the perfect sequel. It builds on Bruce’s character arc from Batman Begins, and it sets up his next chapter in The Dark Knight Rises with a tantalizing ending. Despite all this, The Dark Knight somehow still manages to function as an exciting standalone movie. Heath Ledger’s legendary performance as the Joker produces one of the most compelling comic book villains of all, ensuring that Batman’s personal conflict is just as vital as the battle for Gotham’s soul.
8 Portrait Of A Lady On Fire (2019)
Céline Sciamma’s Period Romance Is An Absorbing Love Story
Close
Portrait of a Lady on Fire Where to Watch
- stream
- rent
- buy
Not available
Not available
Not available
*Availability in US
Director Céline Sciamma Release Date September 18, 2019 Cast Adèle Haenel , Noemie Merlant , Valeria Golino
Portrait of a Lady on Fire opens with Marianne rediscovering one of her old paintings, and the implication is that it depicts something that she wishes to forget. This pervasive sense of impending doom runs throughout the story, but the magic of Céline Sciamma’s period romance is that it is so charming and gorgeously made that it’s easy to get whisked away. Even though Marianne, Héloise and the audience know that their love will be cut short, it takes a hard heart to resist their love story.
Even though Marianne, Héloise and the audience know that their love will be cut short, it takes a hard heart to resist their love story.
Portrait of a Lady on Fire‘s dramatic ending brings Marianne’s journey full circle, as she steals one last look at the woman she loves. Period romances so often fall into restrictive tropes of class divides, social scandal and string music. Portrait of a Lady on Fire provides a breath of fresh air, using its period setting to reveal timeless truths about the nature of love and responsibility.
7 Back To The Future (1985)
Marty And Doc Are Worth Rewatching Over And Over Again
Close
Back to the Future Where to Watch
- stream
- rent
- buy
Not available
Not available
Not available
*Availability in US
Director Robert Zemeckis Release Date July 3, 1985 Cast Claudia Wells , Christopher Lloyd , James Tolkan , Thomas F. Wilson , Michael J. Fox , Wendie Jo Sperber , Crispin Glover , Marc McClure , Lea Thompson
Back to the Future is one of the most endlessly rewatchable movies of all time. It’s a wonderfully entertaining journey from start to finish, and it’s fully aware of the kooky intricacies of its time-traveling plot. Back to the Future provides just enough backstory to reveal who Doc and Marty are, but it doesn’t linger in the present for too long when there’s so much fun to be had in the past.
Back to the Future
pokes fun at some classic sci-fi tropes, but it displays enough love for the genre to be a genuinely compelling sci-fi movie in its own right.
Back to the Future pokes fun at some classic sci-fi tropes, but it displays enough love for the genre to be a genuinely compelling sci-fi movie in its own right. With a perfect blend of humor and action, Back to the Future has become a comforting classic that is just as enjoyable today as it was in 1985. The entire trilogy is enjoyable, but there’s no beating the original Back to the Future for a nostalgic thrill ride.
6 No Country For Old Men (2007)
The Coen Brothers Created A Brilliant Western For The Modern Age
Close
No Country for Old Men Where to Watch
- stream
- rent
- buy
Not available
Not available
Not available
*Availability in US
Director Joel Coen , Ethan Coen Release Date November 21, 2007 Cast Kelly Macdonald , Woody Harrelson , Josh Brolin , Javier Bardem , Tommy Lee Jones
Based on Cormac McCarthy’s novel of the same name, No Country for Old Men is a stunning blend of crime movies and classic Westerns. With a host of interesting characters vying for a briefcase with millions of dollars in cash, No Country for Old Men plays out as a thrilling tragedy in the desert of America’s borderlands. Javier Bardem’s cold-blooded assassin has gone down as one of cinema’s great villains, but the entire cast is superb.
The Coen brothers are perfectly suited to McCarthy’s style, and they have the wisdom to leave his dialogue untouched when no substitute could possibly surpass it.
No Country for Old Men is one of the best Coen brothers movies. They are perfectly suited to McCarthy’s style, and they have the wisdom to leave his dialogue untouched when no substitute could possibly surpass it. This helps create the harrowing ending, when Sheriff Ed Tom Bell recounts his dreams. It’s a final moment of quiet contemplation after a breathlessly tense movie, and it lingers long after the credits roll.
5 Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Love The Bomb (1964)
Stanley Kubrick’s Dark Comedy Has Aged Beautifully
Close
Dr. Strangelove Or: How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Love The Bomb (1964) Where to Watch
- stream
- rent
- buy
Not available
Not available
Not available
*Availability in US
Director Stanley Kubrick Release Date January 29, 1964 Cast George C. Scott , Slim Pickens , Peter Sellers , Keenan Wynn , Sterling Hayden
Stanley Kubrick’s Cold War comedy Dr. Strangelove makes the end of the world seem hilarious. The scathing political satire follows a group of squabbling politicians trying to prevent a rogue military commander from launching an attack on the Soviet Union. Once they realize that their attempts are set to fail, they pivot toward petty acts of self-preservation. Dr. Strangelove‘s ending shows that the men have learned nothing.
Because
Dr. Strangelove
‘s satire is so acutely observed, it retains a sharp focus throughout.
Because Dr. Strangelove‘s satire is so acutely observed, it retains a sharp focus throughout. No scene is wasted, as each character represents a different symptom of America’s widespread political dysfunction, and the frailty that lies within the human spirit. The movie is anchored by Peter Sellers in a career-defining performance as three different characters, each making matters worse in their own ways.
4 Mean Girls (2004)
Mean Girls Is Endlessly Quotable And Gloriously Entertaining
Close
Mean Girls
Director Mark Waters Release Date April 30, 2004 Cast Amy Poehler , Lacey Chabert , Tina Fey , Rachel McAdams , Amanda Seyfried , Lindsay Lohan
If the purpose of a comedy movie is to make its audience laugh, then Mean Girls could easily be described as a perfect movie. Tina Fey’s script is packed with laughs, and the cast of Mean Girls does it justice. The result is a teen comedy which captures the truth of growing up, while having enough distinct characters and iconic quotes to make Mean Girls stand head and shoulders above its competition.
If the purpose of a comedy movie is to make its audience laugh, then
Mean Girls
could easily be described as a perfect movie.
Comedies tend to be looked down upon by some critics as lesser than dramatic movies. This means that several perfect movies don’t get the respect they deserve, just because their intent isn’t as widely respected as other classics. Mean Girls definitely falls under this category. It may be described as a “chick flick” or a “guilty pleasure” or any other label meant to subtly degrade its worth. Mean Girls is a favorite of people everywhere for good reason.
3 Spirited Away (2001)
Hayao Miyazaki Shows The Potential Of Animation
Close
Spirited Away Where to Watch
- stream
- rent
- buy
Not available
Not available
Not available
*Availability in US
Director Hayao Miyazaki Release Date July 20, 2001 Cast Rumi Hiiragi , Miyu Irino , Mari Natsuki , Takashi Naitô , Yasuko Sawaguchi , Tsunehiko Kamijô , Takehiko Ono , Bunta Sugawara
Spirited Away is one of the most gorgeous animated movies of all time, with generous touches occupying every frame of Hayao Miyazaki’s dreamlike fable. The story is populated with inventive creatures and characters – enough to make it impossible to predict who or what might show up next – but the movie’s visual splendor serves a bigger purpose than pure whimsy.
Spirited Away
is one of the most gorgeous animated movies of all time, with generous touches occupying every frame of Hayao Miyazaki’s dreamlike fable.
Inspired by Japanese mythology, the characters in Spirited Away each serve to expand the bizarre world that Chihiro finds herself in, although many of its mysteries remain enticingly out of reach. Spirited Away is a movie that beckons the audience in for a closer look, and it has proved just as popular among adults as children. Miyazaki’s sumptuous style has always pushed the limits of animation, and Spirited Away makes full use of the medium.
2 Singin’ In The Rain (1952)
Gene Kelly’s Joyous Musical Is The Epitome Of Movie Magic
Close
Singin’ in the Rain Where to Watch
- stream
- rent
- buy
Not available
Not available
Not available
*Availability in US
Director Stanley Donen , Gene Kelly Release Date April 11, 1952 Cast Gene Kelly , Donald O’Connor , Debbie Reynolds , Jean Hagen , Millard Mitchell , Cyd Charisse
Anyone with a passion for movies should watch Singin ‘ in the Rain, even those who usually ignore musicals. Rather than being a stage musical committed to film, Singin’ in the Rain was one of the first musicals that felt specifically designed for the endless possibilities of the big screen, and it has influenced the genre in countless ways. Decades later, Gene Kelly’s masterpiece has retained its effervescent charm.
With at least three of the finest musical numbers ever filmed – “Singin’ in the Rain,” “Make ‘Em Laugh” and “Broadway Melody” –
Singin’ in the Rain
is a pacy, deliriously good time.
Singin’ in the Rain is about the triumph and tragedy of making movies, and it’s clear from the lavish sets and inventive dance numbers that Kelly and co. had a lot of fun making this one. Just as Singin’ in the Rain tells the story of the seismic shift from silent films to the talkies, it ushers in another new dawn for the art form. With at least three of the finest musical numbers ever filmed – “Singin’ in the Rain,” “Make ‘Em Laugh” and “Broadway Melody” – Singin’ in the Rain is a pacy, deliriously good time.
1 The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
The Shawshank Redemption Is Full Of Heart, As Well As Hope
Close
The Shawshank Redemption Where to Watch
- stream
- rent
- buy
Not available
Not available
Not available
*Availability in US
Director Frank Darabont Release Date October 14, 1994 Cast Tim Robbins , Morgan Freeman , Bob Gunton , William Sadler , Clancy Brown , Gil Bellows , Mark Rolston , James Whitmore
The Shawshank Redemption offers a masterclass in how to adapt a book for the big screen. Based on Stephen King’s novel, The Shawshank Redemption tells the story of two prisoners who develop an emotional bond during their time on the inside. Frank Darabont’s drama focuses on the personal story of its two main characters, but it also touches on the broader societal issues associated with criminal justice and incarceration.
The Shawshank Redemption
is extremely effective, first in getting audiences to know the characters, then to love them, and finally to root for them.
The Shawshank Redemption makes a few changes to King’s novel, but they are all done to center the action on the two protagonists, and to heighten the emotional drama of their bond. The movie is extremely effective, first in getting audiences to know the characters, then to love them, and finally to root for them. Morgan Freeman and Tim Robbins are both on top form, lending plenty of relatable personal touches to their roles which make the drama even more excruciating.