10 Essential Movies to Understand What Great Editing Looks Like

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Mad Max: Fury Road

Just about anyone can appreciate and enjoy movies. As an art form, movies have the power to transport viewers to different worlds and tell fantastical stories that could only exist on the big screen. They challenge conventions and defy expectations, making audiences dream bigger. As entertaining as movies can be, it's sometimes easy to forget how much work goes into creating them.

Editing is one of the fundamental pillars of filmmaking. Pertaining to editing, the flow of a movie, or lack thereof, can have a big impact on the film's overall quality and the viewer's ability to engage with it. Great editing work is often seamless, allowing for a consistent pace and flow in the sequencing of a movie's events. Thus, it's sometimes hard to acknowledge, let alone appreciate it or just how crucial it is to one's enjoyment of a film. This list is a selection of movies that are essential viewings to understand what great editing looks like. Hopefully, it'll allow for a better understanding of this precise and crucial aspect of filmmaking.

10 'Lawrence of Arabia' (1962)

Directed by David Lean

T.E. Lawrence speaks with a member of the Arab guerrilla fighters in "Lawrence of Arabia"

British Lieutenant T.E. Lawrence (Peter O'Toole) is sent to Arabia to serve as an intermediary between Arab and British military forces to enforce an allyship against the Turks. Going against the orders of his supervisors, Lawrence soon finds himself organizing a guerrilla army against an oppressive threat. While his escapades aren't always looked upon favorably, one thing is certain: he brings change to whatever landscape he steps upon.

Lawrence of Arabia is a sweeping war epic, the scale of which (especially considering when it was made) is nearly impossible to quantify. Much of it simply needs to be seen to be believed. Perhaps the most impressive aspect of Lawrence of Arabia is its pacing. This is nearly a four-hour adventure, yet it never drags or grows tiresome. While there are multiple cuts of the movie in existence, with some variation between them, what can be unanimously agreed upon is that Lawrence of Arabia set a precedent for how expansive epics should be edited.

Release Date December 11, 1962

Cast Peter O'Toole , Alec Guinness , Anthony Quinn , Jack Hawkins , Omar Sharif , Jose Ferrer

Runtime 227 minutes

Writers T.E. Lawrence , Robert Bolt , Michael Wilson

9 'Shaun of the Dead' (2004)

Directed by Edgar Wright

The protagonists pretending to be zombies from 'Shaun of the Dead'

Shaun (Simon Pegg) is in his late 20s and doesn't have much to be happy about in life. His best friend and flatmate, Ed (Nick Frost), is a deadbeat and a slob; his long-time girlfriend, Liz (Kate Ashfield), has all but given up on him and his lack of ambition; and his dead-end job at an electronics store barely keeps his head above water. Not a second soon enough, Shaun's banal existence is interrupted by a zombie apocalypse.

Shaun of the Dead is simply a perfect blend of zombie horror and British comedy. English director Edgar Wright has established a name for himself as one of the most inventive and expressive filmmakers working today. One would need to look no further than his sophomore effort, Shaun of the Dead, to see what makes his movies so appealing. Rapidly paced and filled with distinctive editing choices, this is a comedy that doesn't let up. Montage sequences, quick cuts and split screens—Shaun of the Dead has it all, and it's all in service of some seriously sharp humor.

Release Date April 9, 2004

Runtime 99

Directed by David Fincher

Mark Zuckerberg looking at something with contempt in The Social Network (2010)

Harvard undergrad and programming genius Mark Zuckerberg (Jesse Eisenberg), with the help of his close friend Eduardo Saverin (Andrew Garfield), created what would become one of the most successful and influential websites in history: Facebook. The wild success of the site leads to Zuckerberg becoming one of the youngest billionaires in history, but not without complications. Lawsuits surface, predatory figures take advantage, and bonds are broken—changing the world rarely comes without consequence.

Director David Fincher's technical precision complements The Social Network wonderfully. Every aspect is polished to perfection: the performances, visual presentation and musical score, but it's the final edit that cements The Social Network as a true modern classic. There simply isn't an ounce of fat to be found in the cut—every scene and piece of dialogue moves the story or characters forward in some meaningful way. The Social Network is an intellectually thrilling piece of media that is immaculately presented.

Release Date October 1, 2010

Runtime 120 minutes

7 'The Shining' (1980)

Directed by Stanley Kubrick

Danny Torrance, played by actor Danny Lloyd, riding his tricycle down a hallway in 'The Shining'

The Torrence family heads to the secluded Overlook Hotel. Located in the picturesque mountains of Colorado, the family takes the opportunity to live at and maintain the lodge during its off-season. It isn't long before the isolation and crippling writer's block begins to drive Jack Torrence (Jack Nicholson) towards insanity.

One can always count on Stanley Kubrick movies to deliver when it comes to technical prowess, and The Shining is no exception. This horror classic is edited in ways that enhance the creep factor, from the quick cuts to the gradual escalation of pace toward the movie's harrowing climax. When it comes to the edit, every creative decision works wonders on both a subliminal and technical level. The Shining is a legendary piece of filmmaking, and its legacy will only keep improving.

Release Date May 23, 1980

Cast Jack Nicholson , Shelley Duvall , Danny Lloyd , Scatman Crothers , Barry Nelson , Philip Stone

Runtime 146 minutes

6 'Baby Driver' (2017)

Directed by Edgar Wright

Bbay behind the wheel looking out the window in Baby Driver

Baby (Ansel Elgort) is a young getaway driver who many would describe as the best in the business. While his involvement in Atlanta's organized crime isn't exactly by choice, Baby is working towards a better future for himself and his girlfriend Debora (Lily James). Baby's latest crew is especially problematic, and just as his freedom is within his grasp, a job gone wrong thrusts him into a fight for survival.

Only a director as visionary as Edgar Wright would ever dream of creating a half-breed crime caper and action musical. Baby Driver is a rollicking, spectacle-driven ride that's as full of energy as it is competently constructed. The most alluring technical element of Baby Driver is its symbiotic relationship with its score—what's seen on screen is often synced with the movie's diegetic and non-diegetic music. It's all as absurdly charming as it sounds and unlike anything that has come before it.

Release Date June 28, 2017

Runtime 113 minutes

Writers Edgar Wright

5 'No Country for Old Men' (2007)

Directed by Joel and Ethan Coen

Anton Chigurh looking ahead while walking down a hall in No Country For Old Men

After happening upon a drug exchange gone wrong, unassuming war veteran Llewelyn Moss (Josh Brolin) steals a satchel containing $2 million in cash. Hired to pursue Llewelyn and retrieve the money is Anton Chigurh (Javier Bardem), a psychopathic and ruthlessly effective killer. As the distance between them closes, the body count rises.

No Country for Old Men is a subversive, contemplative and quiet triumph that benefits from virtually flawless editing. There isn't a single wasted scene or dull moment here—the narrative barrels forward, rolling out iconic scenes one after the other (the chillingly effective coin-toss scene being just one). On a technical level, No Country for Old Men is as close to perfection as any movie could strive to be. No Country for Old Men is leaner than a Texas steak.

Release Date November 21, 2007

Runtime 122 minutes

Writers Ethan Coen , Joel Coen

4 'Mad Max: Fury Road' (2015)

Directed by George Miller

Tom Hardy and Charlize Theron went at one another while filming 'Mad Max Fury Road'

The apocalypse has left the world a barren desert wasteland. Small pockets of humanity are left to fight for their survival, with the most vital resource being gasoline; it's the lifeblood of the wasteland and the fuel source of rusted war machines. Max Rockatansky (Tom Hardy) navigates the landscape as a vagabond with no loyalties or friendships, only a desire to outrun a troubled past. After a run-in with the hardened and fearless Furiosa (Charlize Theron), Max finds an unlikely ally in a race to an alleged promised land.

Mad Max: Fury Road is a towering cinematic achievement in every regard. Unabashedly visionary and visually spectacular, there's enough spectacle in Mad Max: Fury Road to fuel ten movies. The adherence to practical effects and daring stuntwork do wonders for the action, as does the frenetic yet tight editing. There's a near-psychedelic beauty in the way Mad Max: Fury Road is put together; the cuts are plentiful and frenetic in a way that works with the ferocious action setpieces, but it's never jarring to watch. Mad Max: Fury Road is an ode to chaos that indulges in absurdity, and in regards to its editing, the personalities of the mad minds behind it really shine through.

Release Date May 13, 2015

Runtime 120

Writers George Miller , Brendan McCarthy , Nick Lathouris , Byron Kennedy

3 'Goodfellas' (1990)

Directed by Martin Scorsese

The main cast of Goodfellas looking at the screen.

Goodfellas chronicles the life and experiences of Henry Hill (Ray Liotta). Starting as a small-time gangster operating out of 1960s to 1970s New York, Henry slowly but surely makes his mark on the criminal underworld, climbing his way up the mob hierarchy. With the help of his partners, unstable enforcer Tommy (Joe Pesci) and composed fixer Jimmy (Robert De Niro), the trio creates waves with far-reaching consequences, for better and for worse.

At any angle one could approach Goodfellas, one takeaway is certain: it's an immaculately constructed piece of work. Many remember Goodfellas for its engaging screenplay or career-defining performances, but it's the flawless editing work that is the glue that brings all these elements together. Edited by long-time Scorsese collaborator Thelma Schoonmaker, one of cinema's most celebrated female editors, there are no faults to be found in her work on Goodfellas. This is about as precise and textbook of an editing effort as one could ever see.

Release Date September 21, 1990

Runtime 145 Minutes

2 'The Godfather' (1972)

Directed by Francis Ford Coppola

A man whispering into Marlon Brando's ear in The Godfather (1972) (1)

The Corleone mafia family is the most powerful in all of New York. Headed by Don Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando), the dynasty is sprawling, and its influence knows no bounds. The son of the don, decorated veteran Michael Corleone (Al Pacino), is hesitant to get involved in the family business. When conflict arises between the Corleones and a rival family, Michael finds himself unwillingly pulled into a world of violence, deception and betrayal.

The Godfather is a sprawling mob epic that's so well-paced that it's truly hard to believe it's nearly three hours long. Editing a feature film is no easy task, but considering the technological advancements of today, one could only imagine the extreme effort of putting together a movie of this length in a period when editing a movie was purely analog. That makes the technical excellence of The Godfather all the more impressive. It's so easy to get immersed in a movie of this nature when every element is woven so intricately with one another.

Release Date March 24, 1972

Runtime 175 minutes

Writers Mario Puzo , Francis Ford Coppola

1 'Uncut Gems' (2019)

Directed by Benny and Josh Safdie

Still of Adam Sandler holding a necklace in Uncut Gems

Eccentric gemstone dealer Howard Ratner (Adam Sandler), operating out of the bustling chaos of New York City, secures what he believes to be his biggest sale yet: an incredibly rare uncut opal from Ethiopia. Looking to clear his gambling debts and make a deal with a high-profile buyer, Howard soon finds himself in over his head as he tries to juggle obligations with associates, family, and relentless mobsters.

Simply put, Uncut Gems is one of the most impressive feats of editing that the 21st century has seen. The Safdie brothers captured lighting in a bottle; no other movies have forward momentum and energy quite like Uncut Gems. The relentless pacing reflects the tone of the screenplay with such finesse that the movie could be described as poetic. Uncut Gems is perhaps the fastest 135 minutes one could experience. It's a cinematic adrenaline shot, a near-perfect thriller sure to leave viewers breathless by the end and will make real life feel in slow motion.