10 Greatest Movies of the Last 90 Years, Ranked

90 years is a long time, and during that period, a slew of masterpieces have proved to be larger than life, gleaming on the silver screen for all to see. That is why this list will rank the ten greatest films of the past 90 years based on story, directing, acting, originality, staying power, influence, and overall quality. The glory of cinema is that everyone can have a different top ten, but there is no denying that these flawless films are some of the best.

10 ‘Mulholland Drive’ (2001)

David Lynch was an all-time director and a legendary creator, and his magnum opus is Mulholland Drive. Following a bright-eyed aspiring actress in Los Angeles, she befriends an amnesiac woman who recently survived a car crash. As the two investigate the latter’s identity, they explore the dark side of the Hollywood dream, delving into surreal territory.

Mulholland Drive is the ultimate cinematic puzzle, functioning as a neo-noir thriller that slowly dissolves into a subconscious fever dream. With many famous scenes and the ability to evoke a deep, instinctual dread without jump scares, this film is a haunting critique of the film industry and a testament to the medium’s ability to portray the logic and terror of dreams.

9 ‘Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind’ (2004)

Jim Carrey is an iconic comedic actor, but he has proven his dramatic acting chops in movies such as Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. After a devastating breakup, Joel discovers that his ex-girlfriend, Clementine (Kate Winslet), has erased her memories using a medical procedure. He does the same out of spite, but as his memories slowly slip away, he realizes that he still loves her.

The romance genre is one of the best in film history, and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind blends it with a sci-fi premise that enhances both genres. Exploring a wide range of human emotions, it brilliantly captures the nonlinear way our brains process love and grief. The crumbling dreamscape is a world that feels both whimsical and heartbreaking, but still manages to have an authentic sincerity that feels real, proving emotions are essential to who humans are.

8 ‘Spirited Away’ (2001)

Movies come in many shapes and sizes, and one of those is animation. There are many flawless animated pictures, but one of the best is Spirited Away, Studio Ghibli’s magnum opus. Chihiro and her family move to a new house, but behind it is an abandoned theme park. When her parents are turned into pigs by a witch, Chihiro must adventure through a supernatural resort to find a way to return them to the human world.

Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli have changed the way animation operates, proving that hand-drawn animation is even more whimsical and engaging. This coming-of-age masterpiece features an empathetic story and a meditative environment that creates a magical aesthetic. Spirited Away is arguably the greatest animated film of all time, proving that the best of the best are labors of love that push the genre forward.

7 ‘The Lord of the Rings’ Trilogy (2001-2004)

Everyone loves a good fantasy film, and the greatest of all time is indisputably The Lord of the Rings. When the dark lord Sauron leads a dark army to take over the world, the only way to defeat him is by casting the One Ring into the lava in which it was forged. There may be gallant knights and powerful elves, but unsuspecting Hobbits Frodo (Elijah Wood) and Sam (Sean Astin) are the heroes who will undergo this impossible task.

It may be cheating to include an entire trilogy on this list, but it is impossible to have only one of The Lord of the Rings films, as they come as an inseparable trio. Peter Jackson’s trilogy is one of the greatest cinematic achievements in history, resulting in an ambitious fantasy that hasn’t been topped since. Blending groundbreaking battle sequences and intimate character work, this trilogy is a spectacle of production design and a grandiose masterpiece of worldbuilding, modern myth, and narrative prowess.

6 ‘Citizen Kane’ (1941)

A lot of the films on this list have been from the 2000s, which makes sense since it was a golden age of cinema. However, nothing can beat the classics, and it doesn’t get more legendary than Citizen Kane. After the titular character's death, a reporter makes it his life's goal to unpack the meaning of his final words: "Rosebud." Through flashbacks, a portrait emerges of the mysterious man who came to control the entire world.

Orson Welles was only 25 years old when he directed, wrote, and starred in Citizen Kane, highlighting how talented he was. Essentially, it created the visual language of modern cinema, introducing techniques such as deep focus, non-linear storytelling, and low-angle shots. Citizen Kane innovated in the film industry and set the blueprint for well-directed films, not to mention being a complex study of the corruption of power.

5 ‘2001: A Space Odyssey’ (1968)

This list consists of some of the greatest directors of all time, including Stanley Kubrick and his sci-fi masterpiece, 2001: A Space Odyssey. When a mysterious monolith was discovered on the moon, a crew of astronauts and their supercomputer was sent to investigate. Thus begins a battle of evolution between humanity and technology as they journey through space and time.

It isn’t easy to change an entire genre, but 2001: A Space Odyssey shifted the trajectory by stripping away dialogue and relying on visual storytelling and classical music. This sublime sci-fi was elegant, thought-provoking, and a visual spectacle that influenced the genre. 2001: A Space Odyssey is a philosophical inquiry into human evolution, and its production innovated the film industry, creating a movie that still holds up.

4 ‘In the Mood for Love’ (2000)

Hollywood isn’t the only filmmaking hotspot; there are plenty of foreign masterpieces that have defined the past 90 years, including In the Mood for Love. Set in 1960s Hong Kong, two neighbors discover that their spouses are having an affair with each other. Spending time to process their betrayal, they begin to develop feelings for each other, but try not to stoop to the level of their cheating partners.

Won Kar-wai created a film that many consider to be the most beautiful experience put on the silver screen. There is show, don’t tell, and then there is this movie, which is about what is not said and the emotions that come from these withheld feelings. Using tight framing and narrow hallways to emphasize its themes, In the Mood for Love is a masterclass in mood, color, and restrained romanticism.

3 ‘The Thing’ (1982)

The horror genre isn’t as well respected among critics, but it is an essential piece of cinema, and the best is arguably The Thing. American scientists discover an extraterrestrial life form in Antarctica, but are soon thrust into their worst nightmare when it can assume any form, leading to a desperate struggle for survival.

The Thing is the pinnacle of practical effects and atmospheric horror, using the creature's practical design to instill a sense of dread in viewers. This experience is more visceral than modern CGI, and the environment heightens the high-stakes tension, creating a nihilistic dread and a horror masterpiece.

2 ‘12 Angry Men’ (1957)

12 Angry Men follows the closing arguments in a murder trial, with the titular jurors deciding the fate of a teenager accused of murder. It seems like an open-and-shut case, but when Juror 8 (Henry Fonda) thinks he isn’t guilty, the twelve men peer into reasonable doubt.

Over the past 90 years, movies have evolved into as big and expensive as possible, using dazzling CGI to tell stories people can only dream of. However, during this time, it is important to look back and recognize that simplicity can be the gold standard, as 12 Angry Men proves. The story operates with surgical precision, developing the plot through new information and character development. 12 Angry Men is a powerful, dialogue-driven, tension-building masterpiece that is a highlight of the past nine decades.

1 ‘The Godfather’ (1972)

Francis Ford Coppola created the best gangster movie ever in The Godfather. Spanning from 1945 to 1955, it chronicles the crime family under the command of Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando). After a failed assassination attempt on him, the youngest son, Michael (Al Pacino), is thrust into the world of crime that he never wanted a part of before.

It can be difficult for an entire community to decide the best product of what they love, and for an expansive medium such as cinema, that task is even more challenging. However, the film community has seemingly landed on The Godfather, and for millions of people to relatively agree means that it is the pinnacle of cinematic perfection. Famous for framing a family tragedy using the gangster genre and a dark metaphor of the American dream, this film uses its flawless characters to bring the story to life. The Godfather is a masterful symphony of acting, storytelling, directing, production, and mood, proving to be the greatest movie of all time.