Pacino’s unique blend of intensity, charisma, and raw emotion has made him a timeless figure in the realm of acting. From his early days on the gritty streets of New York to the dazzling heights of Hollywood, Pacino’s career has been a remarkable evolution, characterized by his unwavering dedication to his craft.

As we traverse the annals of his filmography, we’ll delve into the roles that made him a household name, from his breakthrough as Michael Corleone in The Godfather to the electrifying Tony Montana in Scarface. We’ll also explore his later works, showcasing the versatility that has defined his career, from the workaholic and obsessed LAPD Lieutenant Vincent Hanna in Heat to the disheveled Tony D’Amato, head coach of the struggling Miami Sharks in Oliver Stone’s Any Given Sunday.

Prepare to be immersed in the world of cinematic brilliance as we count down the best Al Pacino movies, celebrating the mastery of an actor whose performances have left an indomitable legacy in the world of film.

The Definitive List: 11 Best Al Pacino Movies of All Time

1. Heat (1995)

One of the greatest crime dramas of all time, Heat is Michael Mann’s 1995 cinematic masterpiece. Mann, who previously directed and co-wrote The Last of the Mohicans, originally developed the story for this film in the 80s as a (failed) TV pilot, L.A. Takedown, before retooling his story into Heat years later.

Heat is memorable for its opposing character-driven dramas, with Pacino starring as tired veteran LAPD officer Vincent Hanna who’s chasing Robert De Niro’s (Taxi Driver) career thief Neil McCauley (and don’t forget about Tombstone star Val Kilmer, who also puts his mark on the film). As Pacino pursues De Niro, their paths rarely cross, (they only have one real “coffee shop” scene together), but it’s remarkably memorable when they do.

Heat is one of those films you just have to see if you call yourself a movie buff. It’s a pulse-pounding slow-burn (emphasis on slow), but one that pays off in the end.

2. The Godfather Trilogy (1972, 1974, and 1990)

Not only is this one of the best Al Pacino movies of all time but one of the greatest movies of all time. A recurring series on our movie lists, The Godfather Trilogy was directed and co-written by Francis Ford Coppola along with Mario Puzzo, who also wrote the novel on which the film is based. The original stars heavy-hitters Marlon Brando (Superman), James Caan (Elf), Robert Duvall (The Judge), Diane Keaton (Let Him Go), and Pacino.

Pacino’s Michael Corleone takes the lead as he guides us through New York City’s Italian Mafia scene, starting in the 1940s and progressing through to the 1980s. The series chronicles Michael’s initial reluctance to follow in his father’s footsteps as the head of the “family business” all the way through his descent into “villainy” and… Well, let’s not ruin the story.

The Godfather Trilogy has been hailed as one of the greatest film trilogies of all time (though Part III is often heavily criticized) and is hands-down some of Pacino’s best, and most important, work.

3. Dog Day Afternoon (1975)

Directed by critically acclaimed filmmaker Sidney Lumet (The Verdict), Dog Day Afternoon is another Pacino starring crime drama film, this time based on real-life events. The film follows Pacino’s Sonny Wortzik (based on real-life bank robber John Wojtowicz) as he leads a robbery/hostage situation to pay for his lover’s sex reassignment surgery.

The film’s cast was selected carefully by Lumet and Pacino, with Pacino casting various co-stars from his past Off-Broadway plays, including John Cazale (The Godfather), Charles Durning (The Sting), Chris Sarandon (The Princess Bride), and Lance Henriksen (Millennium). The stellar performances, Pacino included, bring to life this semi-biographical tale in a way that makes it stand out as one of Pacino’s best.

Dog Day Afternoon has become an American classic filled with action, drama, and a lot of anxiety-inducing suspense. Attica! Attica! Attica! 

4. Scarface (1983)

Maybe Pacino’s most famous role, Scarface (itself a remake of the 1932 film of the same name) is iconic. Written by Oliver Stone of Snowden and J.F.K. fame and directed by crime film legend Brian De Palma (The Untouchables), Scarface takes a story, originally inspired by Chicago criminal Al Capone, and makes it its own.

Set in Miami, Cuban refugee Tony Montana climbs up the criminal ranks and eventually becomes a wealthy drug dealer. It’s a tragic story that shows the life of a struggling refugee who is dragged into a life of crime, tearing both himself and his family apart. What makes Scarface memorable is Pacino’s unhinged performance as Montana, who slowly loses himself in a haze of cocaine as the film spirals toward its climax.

Scarface, and Tony’s “little friend,” is one of the most referenced, quoted, and memorable crime films out there, so if you’re into that sort of thing, or just like Al Pacino, this is the film for you!

5. Carlito’s Way (1993)

Another Brian De Palma picture, this one based on two Judge Edwin Torres novels, Carlito’s Way stars Al Pacino as career criminal (a recurring theme in Pacino’s filmography) Carlito Brigante. Recently out of jail on a technicality, he attempts to leave the life that put him in prison behind, but as is often the case, gets dragged back into the criminal underworld. Alongside Pacino, Sean Penn (The Game) co-stars as his close friend and lawyer David Kleinfeld.

While many gangster films are about the gangster working to get out or retire from life, none compare to Carlito’s tumultuous journey here. Throughout the film, Carlito, called “Charlie” by girlfriend Gail (Penelope Ann Miller, Adventures in Babysitting), works hard to escape his destiny and remove himself entirely from his life of crime.

It’s an exciting feature with lots of drama and suspense to keep you invested along the way. Carlito’s Way may not have been well-received critically at the time, but it has since amassed a strong cult following and is widely regarded as a lost gem in Pacino’s filmography. 

6. Serpico (1973)

Another biographical-crime film by Sidney Lumet, Serpico stars Pacino (obviously), this time as real-life New York cop Frank Serpico, who became disillusioned with the NYPD and instead worked as a whistleblower to take down the corruption from within. His efforts eventually led to an investigation led by the Knapp Commission.

While not as well-known as Heat or The Godfather, Pacino still brings his A-game to the role of NYPD Officer Serpico in a way that only he can. Serpico is sent through the wringer by his fellow officers and superiors, who bully and belittle him nearly his entire time on the force.

He witnesses and experiences police brutality first-hand, forcing him to make a choice to do something about it rather than stay silent. Serpico is a timely picture that reminds us about the unjust abuses of power, while also giving us hope that we can stand up in the midst of it anyway.

7. Glengarry Glen Ross (1992)

Master playwright and screenwriter David Mamet (The Unit) adapted his Pulitzer Prize-winning play of the same name into this drama about four salesmen who are put on edge after a corporate trainer is sent to motivate them, proclaiming that two of them will be fired, and only the “top two” will remain.

The film stars some real heavy-hitters (you know, besides Pacino) such as Jack Lemmon (The Odd Couple), Alec Baldwin (30 Rock), Alan Arkin (Argo), Ed Harris (Apollo 13), and Kevin Spacey (House of Cards), that really help sell this as being both witty and (as one critic would call it) one of the “quintessential modern movies about masculinity.” Glengarry Glen Ross includes “one of the best American casts ever assembled” and must be seen to be believed.

8. Any Given Sunday (1999)

The only sports drama on this list, Oliver Stone’s Any Given Sunday follows the fictional football team, the Miami Sharks, and their head coach Tony D’Amato (Pacino) as they fight to win (or lose) on “any given Sunday.”

If football movies are your thing, then this is a must-watch for you. Right up there with films like We Are Marshall, When The Game Stands Tall, and Field of Dreams, Any Given Sunday is about the power of brotherhood, unwinnable odds, and even overcoming one’s own self-centered nature.

The film features a great ensemble cast that includes Cameron Diaz (Shrek), Jamie Foxx (Just Mercy), James Woods (True Crime), and Dennis Quaid (The Rookie). Any Given Sunday feels like anything but, with lots of tackles and blow-outs along the way that prove that life is a contact sport.

9. Donnie Brasco (1997)

Pacino and Johnny Depp (Pirates of the Caribbean) team up in this crime drama based on FBI agent Joseph D. Pistone’s time undercover as Donnie Brasco. Depp co-stars as the undercover FBI agent while Pacino takes the lead as hitman Lefty Ruggiero as they plow through the streets of 1970s New York.

As the film progresses, “Donnie” slowly descends deeper and deeper into the Mafia, only to realize that he might like crossing the line between law enforcer and career criminal. Meanwhile, he’s slowly setting up Lefty to not only take the fall but also lead him to certain death.

The pair’s relationship is the clear driving force of the film that will keep you invested throughout. Donnie Brasco is an absorbing and gripping drama with two of the most bankable stars of its era.

10. The Panic in Needle Park (1971)

God help Bobby and Helen. The Panic in Needle Park is Pacino’s second-ever role and one of his most impacting. Bobby (Pacino) and Helen (Kitty Winn, The Exorcist)  are heroin addicts who hang out in “Needle Park” together after becoming romantically involved.

As the film continues, Bobby’s hustling and Helen’s addictions overcome them, leading to one betrayal after another. This is definitely not the happiest, funniest, or even most exciting film on this list, but it’s one of Pacino’s most gut-wrenching performances that will most certainly keep you from any needle parks in your area. The Panic in Needle Park is a heart-tugging drama that pushes boundaries, while still managing to feel all so real.

11. Insomnia (2002)

One of Christopher Nolan’s first American productions (between Memento and Batman Begins), Insomnia stars Pacino as an LAPD detective on loan to Nightmute, Alaska, along with his partner (played by Martin Donovan, Trust) to help with a homicide case. It also features Hillary Swank (Million Dollar Baby) and Robin Williams (Good Will Hunting) in a strictly dramatic role.

As the title suggests, Pacino’s Detective Wil Dormer suffers from insomnia, partly because of the things he’s seen and done as an LA cop, and the constant day of Nightmute doesn’t seem to be helping. Although this might not be one of Nolan’s most well-known films, it still holds its own as a psychological thriller that gets your blood pumping and pulse-pounding. Insomnia is most notable for its excellent cast, tight script, and clever direction that will keep you guessing until the end.

With the release of his latest film The Equalizer 3 this month, a movie that finds Washington reuniting with his Man on Fire co-star Dakota Fanning in the third and final movie about former government agent Robert McCall, we wanted to dive deep into the legend’s filmography and selected his best performances.

Surprisingly, it was much harder to narrow the list down, so instead of the standard top ten, we have chosen the 20 best Denzel Washington movies of all time. So in no particular order, here are our top picks we think are worth your time.

1. Flight (2012)

While it’s hard to pick and choose which Washington performance is the “greatest of all time,” this has to be up there. Robert Zemeckis (Back to the Future) loosely adapted the real-life events of the crash of Alaska Airlines Flight 261 with Washington playing pilot William “Whip” Whitaker Sr. who struggles with his own demons (mainly alcoholism and drug addiction) during the crash investigation.

Washington’s work as Whip is powerful, heartbreaking, and authentic in a way few others could rival. Don Cheadle (Avengers: Endgame), Kelly Reilly (Yellowstone), and John Goodman (The Big Lebowski) all give excellent supporting performances that only highlight Whip’s brokenness and need to change. Flight is one of Washington’s best roles, hands down.

2. Fences (2016)

Washington has made himself known in more recent years for his excellence behind the camera as well as in front of it, and Fences is no exception. Based on the August Wilson 1985 play of the same name, this film follows Troy Maxxon (Washington) and his wife Rose (Viola Davis, The Help) as they navigate the black experience in 1950s Pittsburgh.

Fences has some of the most incredible and dramatic moments between father and son, husband and wife, and man’s own internal struggles. The film deals with intense themes of racism, infidelity, paternal relationships, grief, and even death in a way that feels all too down-to-earth and relatable. Washington shows his true skill just as much behind the camera as he does in front.

3. Training Day (2001)

Not only one of Washington’s best movies but also one of director Antoine Fuqua’s (The Equalizer) and writer David Ayer’s (Fury) best as well. The film follows a day in the life of LAPD narcotics officers Jake Hoyt (Ethan Hawke, First Reformed) and Detective Alonzo Harris (Washington) as they work the gang-ridden LA neighborhoods.

Training Day exposes the real world of police corruption, drug busts, the Los Angeles gang scene, and so much more. Denzel kills it as Alonzo, who is completely unlike the normal “straight man” character he is used to playing. Hawke does some of his best work as well and he is our “eyes and ears” in the world of the LAPD narcotics division. This one is a blast.

4. The Book of Eli (2010)

One of my favorite post-apocalyptic films, The Book of Eli, written and directed by the Hughes brothers (Dead Presidents), follows the nomadic Eli (Washington) as he travels around an American wasteland with a mysterious book and a “holy calling.” Washington stars opposite Gary Oldman (The Dark Knight) and Mila Kunis (That 70s Show).

Between the film’s eerie score, excellent action sequences, complex worldbuilding, and intriguing plot, the movie meshes together perfectly to create a neo-Western symphony that Denzel lends himself nicely to. The Book of Eli is one of those exciting, but somber, adventure stories that will make you think twice about surviving a pandemic and traveling across the country.

5. Devil In a Blue Dress (1995)

An American neo-noir mystery thriller film (say that three times fast), Devil in a Blue Dress may be one of Denzel’s most popular 90s films. This period piece, based on the novel of the same name, follows WWII veteran Ezekiel “Easy” Rawlins (Washington) as he searches for a “mysterious woman.”

Part of this film’s charm is the nostalgia of 1940s Los Angeles, combined with the desire to know not whodunnit, but as one film critic said, “whydunnit?” Flight co-star Don Cheadle is also a part of this one as “Mouse,” stealing the show every time he’s on-screen. A stunning flick worthy of making this list. 

6. Man on Fire (2004)

Tony Scott (Enemy of the State) released one of his greatest action-thrillers in the early 2000s. Man on Fire, based on the 1980s novel of the same name, follows the story of former CIA officer-turned-bodyguard John Creasey (Washington) as he goes on a revenge rampage after his young charge, Pita (Dakota Fanning, Because of Winn-Dixie), is abducted in Mexico City.

The high-stakes action sequences, intimate editing, and constant suspense put both Creasey and us on edge throughout the film. This one is not for the faint of heart as it contains a lot of disturbing material. But it’s all worth it for that final scene between Creasey and the young Pita, where a nine-year-old Dakota Fanning gives one of her best performances.

7. Malcolm X (1992)

Malcolm X is a Spike Lee (Inside Man) biopic on the great leader himself, with Denzel Washington playing the civil rights legend to perfection. This epic chronicles his criminal career to his conversion to Islam to his civil rights protests his assassination, and so much more. This film is the second of four collaborations between Washington and Lee.

In one of Washington’s most important performances, Malcolm X humanizes the man, divulging into his childhood traumas, his own experience with racism, and his fallout with the Nation of Islam. It’s an excellent film that does its due diligence with the history of the great and respected civil rights leader.

8. Fallen (1998)

We’ve written about this one before, but that’s because it’s the biggest hidden gem in Denzel Washington’s filmography. Fallen follows Detective John Hobbs (Washington) as he works to solve mysterious copycat killings after the serial killer, Edgar Reese (Elias Koteas, The Thin Red Line), is executed. But everything is not what it seems…

The film takes an unsuspecting supernatural turn as Hobbs discovers that this is something far more sinister than he initially believed. It’s an interesting thriller with an ending you won’t see coming. John Goodman co-stars as Hobbs’ partner “Jonesy,” (their first on-screen pairing, long before Flight) alongside Donald Sutherland (JFK), Embeth Davidtz (Mad Men), and James Gandolfini (The Sopranos).

9. Philadelphia (1993)

The one collaboration between Tom Hanks (Forrest Gump) and Washington is the legal drama Philadelphia, directed by Jonathan Demme (The Silence of the Lambs). As the first Hollywood film to acknowledge the HIV/AIDS crisis, this film won Tom Hanks an Academy Award for Best Actor, but Washington’s role is of equal importance.

The film follows Andy Beckett (Hanks), a man with HIV who is fired from his law firm due to his condition, and Joe Miller (Washington), his homophobic lawyer who is the only one willing to advocate for his wrongful dismissal. This is a tough film that deals with real-world issues of discrimination and prejudices the only way that Hollywood knows how. The Bruce Springsteen theme song is also top-notch. 

10. The Hurricane (1999)

Who would’ve thought that a biographical sports drama about the life of middleweight boxer Rubin “The Hurricane” Carter would become one of Washington’s greatest roles? Well, here we are! Washington gives his all as Hurricane faces his greatest fight of all, his fight for justice.

The Hurricane does its best to tell the story of Carter, primarily focusing on the time between 1966 and 1985, as he fights his false conviction for triple murder. While this film is an emotional rollercoaster along similar lines as the recent film Just Mercy, it throws some powerhouse punches that’ll land right into your heart.

11. American Gangster (2007)

American Gangster, as the title suggests, is a gangster flick (yeah, Washington starred in a gangster movie) about the real-life drug trafficker Frank Lucas (Washington) and the detective, Richie Roberts (Russell Crowe, Gladiator), who leads the task force to stop him. This film is kind of insane and does a remarkable job explaining Lucas’ connection between his family, drugs, and the Vietnam War.

Ridley Scott, brother to frequent Washington collaborator Tony Scott (The Taking of Pelham 123), composes an incredible gangster picture, forcing us to almost root for Lucas as he goes from drug trafficking to helping Roberts expose corrupt NYC cops. It’s an intriguing tale that will certainly keep you guessing.

12. Crimson Tide (1995)

Another Tony Scott/Denzel Washington collaboration, Crimson Tide is an intense war drama set aboard the U.S.S. Alabama submarine that parallels a real incident from the Cuban Missile Crisis. In this film, a new executive officer (Washington) and the sub’s seasoned commanding officer (Gene Hackman, Enemy of the State) clash under the intense pressure of nuclear war.

The Washington/Hackman standoff forces the viewer to pick a side in an impossible situation, doing an excellent job of portraying both well and unbiasedly until a final decision must be made. This claustrophobic crisis is some of Scott’s best work, and coincidentally some of Washington and Hackman’s in return.

13. Déjà Vu (2006)

Speaking of Tony Scott, Deja Vu is another collaboration between Denzel and the underrated director who does not fail to disappoint. A time-travel thriller, the film follows the life of ATF agent Doug Carlin (Washington) as he looks back in time to solve, and later prevent, a domestic terrorist attack that takes place in New Orleans.

Deja Vu might sound like a popcorn action flick (and at times it can be), but it offers a lot more. The film explores the ethics of time travel, what it means to love someone and even philosophical questions about God. The film also stars Val Kilmer (Tombstone), Adam Goldberg (Saving Private Ryan), Paula Patton (2 Guns), and Jim Caviezel (The Passion of the Christ).

14. He Got Game (1998)

Another Spike Lee collaboration, this sports drama sees Denzel play Jake Shuttlesworth, who is the father of the top-ranked basketball prospect in the nation (played by real NBA player Ray Allen). After killing his wife, Shuttlesworth is released on parole for one week by the state’s governor to persuade his son to play for the governor’s alma mater in order to shorten his sentence.

He Got Game is a story about a father, a son, and a holy game that ultimately tries and tests the bond between Shuttlesworth and his son, named Jesus. There’s also this side plot involving a prostitute (Mila Jovovich, Resident Evil) that is pretty satisfying. John Turturro (The Big Lebowski), Rosario Dawson (Ahsoka), and Ned Beatty (Superman: The Movie) also star.

15. Remember the Titans (2000)

One of Denzel’s most famous roles, the Disney film Remember the Titans (produced by Jerry Bruckheimer of Pirates of the Caribbean fame) tells the true story of coach Herman Boone (Washington) as he works to integrate the T.C. Williams High School football team in early 1970s Virginia. If sports films are your thing, then you won’t want to miss this one.

Remember the Titans is best remembered for its memorable and impactful speech which Boone delivers to his team one morning in the Gettysburg National Cemetery. It’s powerful and reminds us of the timely truth that it doesn’t matter if we like each other, we must respect each other. The film also co-stars the underrated Will Patton (Falling Skies) as assistant coach Bill Yoast and a young Ryan Gosling. 

16. Glory (1989)

Speaking of great American battles, Glory is the one that won Denzel his first Oscar for Best Supporting Actor. This Civil War epic is what helped put Denzel on the map, and there’s a reason for that. Between the intense battle sequences, themes of racism and prejudice, and the meaning of brotherhood, Glory proves to live up to its name.

Starring opposite Matthew Broderick (Ferris Bueller’s Day Off), Morgan Freeman (The Shawshank Redemption), Andre Braugher (Brooklyn Nine-Nine), and Cary Elwes (The Princess Bride), Denzil plays the young Private Trip who follows Colonel Robert Gould Shaw (Broderick) into the Second Battle of Fort Wagner.

17. The Great Debaters (2007)

Washington’s second film behind the camera (though don’t worry, he’s in front as well), The Great Debaters is based on the true story of the Wiley College debate team. Washington plays American author, poet, and debate coach Melvin B. Tolson in this heart-warming tale about overcoming the odds no matter who is against you.

The Great Debaters also stars Forest Whitaker (Black Panther) as a real-life minister and theologian James L. Farmer Sr., with Denzel Whitaker (who was actually named after Denzel Washington and is unrelated to Forest Whitaker) playing the young civil rights activist James Farmer Jr. Nate Parker (The Birth of a Nation) and Jurnee Smollett (Lovecraft Country) also star.

18. Courage Under Fire (1996)

Another Edward Zwick (Glory) film, Courage Under Fire follows disillusioned U.S. Army officer Lt. Colonel Nathaniel Serling (Washington) as he investigates a late female chopper commander’s “worthiness” for the Medal of Honor. Meg Ryan (When Harry Met Sally) stars opposite Washington as Captain Karen Emma Walden, the commander in question.

Besides great supporting performances from Lou Diamond Phillips (Longmire) Scott Glen (Daredevil), and Matt Damon (Good Will Hunting), Courage Under Fire is an excellent war drama that forces Serling to confront his own demons while discovering a cover-up surrounding Captain Walden’s death. Courage Under Fire proves that the truth will always reign supreme.

19. Mo’ Better Blues (1990)

Generally, when Denzel Washington comes to mind, musical-comedy dramas do not. Mo’ Better Blues is the odd exception to that rule. Written, directed, and produced by Spike Lee, Washington stars as Bleek Gilliam, a trumpet player in The Bleek Quinet, his jazz band. Lee also co-stars as Bleek’s band manager, Giant, with Wesley Snipes (Blade) as bandmate Shadow Henderson.

This Spike Lee product is a classic about Bleek’s copious bad decisions, his rocky friendship with Giant, as well as his own dreams, goals, and what matters most. The film, like many Spike Lee joints, takes its time dealing with social issues like gambling, infidelity, and the eventual disaster that results. It’s not all doom and gloom though; the music’s great!

20. Unstoppable (2010)

Tony Scott’s final collaboration with Denzel and his final film period (Scott sadly passed away in 2012), Unstoppable is a remarkably engaging movie set primarily on a train. Based on a real-life incident, Unstoppable follows Frank Barnes (Washington), a veteran railroad engineer, and Will Colson (Chris Pine, Star Trek), a young train conductor as they attempt to stop a runaway freight train.

Unstoppable is an excellent example of a film with very little plot but a lot of genuine character development, which is what Washington is best at. The dynamic between Frank Barnes and Chris Pine’s Will Colson is only part of what makes this film great, the other part being the clever gut-wrenching moments that make the end of this film all too sweet.

To be honest, it’s not easy compiling this list. Just when you think you’ve got the list sorted, another movie pulls you back in. This article showcases a great collection of classic mob pictures, modern day masterpieces, and a few outliers that might surprise. So get your best Robert de Niro impersonation ready and settle in with the best gangster movies to watch before you find yourself being made an offer too good to refuse. 

Paramount Pictures

25. New Jack City (1991)

Mario Van Peebles’ directing debut is a wonderfully gritty gangster flick about the crack epidemic in 80s New York City. Wesley Snipes stars as Nino Brown, a charismatic drug lord who is rising up the ranks of the local crime scene. Hot on his trail is detectives Scotty Appleton (Ice-T) and Nick Peretti (Judd Nelson) who vow to put an end to his reign of terror. 

New Jack City is a cautionary tale of how drugs impacted the ghetto in the 80s with strong performances from all its leads. Special mention must also be made of Chris Rock, whose cameo as “Pookie” Benny Robinson, a crack addict turned police informant, is amazing. 

24. Layer Cake (2004)

Before dressing in smart suits and sipping vodka martinis, Daniel Craig got his big break in the crime caper Layer Cake. Craig is a drug dealer who is about to retire when he’s cleaned out by a mysterious rival. This sets in motion a chain of events that finds Craig looking for a kidnapped girl while trying to offload a shipment of stolen ecstasy tablets with the Serbian mob on his tale. 

Matthew Vaughn’s directorial debut is a fast-paced gangster movie with a colorful cast of characters that includes the likes of Tom Hardy, Colm Meaney, and Sienna Miller. 

23. Mean Streets (1973)

While not strictly a gangster picture, Mean Streets is set in the world of the mafia. Havey Keitel stars as Charlie, a young Italian-American caught between his catholic guilt and working for the mob. Along with his self-destructive friend Johnny Boy (Robert De Niro), the two find themselves neck-deep in trouble with their lives at risk.

Mean Streets is another Martin Scorsese classic regarded as one of the best American films of the 70s. The cast is all brilliant and it’s easy to see while watching that Scorsese was destined for bigger and better things as a director. 

22. Election (2005)

This one is a little bit different. A gangster movie where no guns are fired. Election is about two gang leaders who are vying to become the head of a Hong Kong Triad. The film premiered as an “Official Selection” at the 2005 Cannes Film Festival and received rave reviews. Focusing more on themes of honor and trust amongst thieves over typical violent mobster epics, this is an interesting take on the genre. It also spawned a sequel, although it’s not as good as the original. 

21. The Irishman (2019)

Martin Scorsese got the band back together for the Netflix original The Irishman. A Scorsese vanity project, the mafia movie reunites the director with his Goodfellas alumni Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci. Also along for the ride are acting greats Al Pacino and Harvey Keitel, and fan favorites Stephen Graham, Bobby Cannavale, Ray Romano, and Domenick Lombardozzi.

The film is adapted from the nonfiction book I Heard You Paint Houses by Charles Brandt. It concerns the friendship between mafia hitman Frank Sheeran (De Niro) and powerful Teamster Jimmy Hoffa (Pacino). While Hoffa is seen as an alley of the mafia at first, his outspoken views and stubborn personality soon find him at loggerheads with mobster Russell Bufalino (Pesci). Sheeran is stuck in the middle and made to choose between the two.

The Irishman spent years in development hell before finally getting the go-ahead from Netflix. It cost somewhere in the region of $150-$250 million, thanks in part to the de-aging technology used to make the leads look younger. While far from a commercial success, it was a big hit critically. 

20. Gomorrah (2008)

Heading to the heartland of the mafia, this Italian production deals with the Casalesi clan. Based on the real-life Faida di Scampia (Scampia feud), Gomorrah intertwines five different stories that show how all types of people were impacted by the vicious war between the families. There is lots of handheld camera work and gritty locations that help emphasize how dark and grimey a life in organized crime really is. 

Gomorrah won a raft of awards when released and much praise from critics. A TV series was commissioned in 2014 and ran for six seasons. Although going by the same name, it is unrelated to the film, but still based upon the same book. 

19. Sexy Beast (2000)

Another British classic, Sexy Beast is director Jonathan Glazer’s feature directorial debut. The movie follows Gary “Gal” Dove (Ray Winstone), a retired gangster living in Spain who gets a visit from a former colleague, the psychotic Don Logan (Sir Ben Kingsley). Logan demands Gal be a part of a bank job back in London and won’t take no for an answer. Ian McShane also stars as a London crime boss.

Sexy Beast is an interesting film that, like most gangster movies, features incredible performances (especially Kingsley) as well as solid character development. It also features an odd ending that is somewhat unusual for mob or gangster movies, making Sexy Beast stand out as unique among the rest.

18. The Departed (2006)

Martin Scorsese is at it again with arguably his best gangster movie (yes, maybe even better than Goodfellas) entitled The Departed. The movie is actually a remake of a Hong Kong film called Infernal Affairs, while also being based on some true events, all the while exceeding all your expectations. It’s also known for including some of the greatest on-screen performances from top stars such as Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Jack Nicholson, and Mark Wahlberg.

Taking place on the streets of Boston, The Departed follows Irish mob boss Frank Costello (Nicholson), his mole in the Massachusetts State Police Colin Sullivan (Damon), undercover state trooper Billy Costigan (DiCaprio), and his Staff Sergeant Sean Dignam (Wahlberg). Confused? Don’t worry, the film will explain it to you. The Departed is dark, funny, and all-around one of the best times you’ll have watching a gangster flick.

17. Get Carter (1971)

Moving across the pond, Get Carter, the directorial debut of Mike Hodges, takes London gangster Jack Carter (an incredible Sir Michael Caine) and throws him into his hometown in rural England only to learn of his brother’s accidental death. This sends Jack on an investigation as he suspects foul play. The film has been critically praised by auteur filmmakers such as Pulp Fiction director Quentin Tarantino and Snatch mastermind Guy Ritchie, which stirred a rise in popularity.

Get Carter is a great film that dives deep into the English gangster scene rather than the well-known, often oversaturated American one. It was even remade with Sylvester Stallone in the leading role (with Caine returning as a supporting role), which apparently is so bad that it should never be spoken of again. Just goes to show that oftentimes the original is always better.

16. Casino (1995)

Another Martin Scorsese epic, Casino features the director’s regular collaborators Robert De Niro and Joe Pesic. Based on the non-fiction book Casino: Love and Honor in Las Vegas by Nicholas Pileggi (the same fella who helped Scorsese write Goodfellas), the film is about gangsters in Las Vegas.

Sam “Ace” Rothstein (De Niro) is sent to the Strip by his Chicago bosses to run a casino. The film follows him over the years as he overseas the Tangiers Casino while dealing with mob interference, his psychotic buddy (Nicky Santoro) Pesic, and love interest Ginger McKenna (Sharon Stone).

This is another Scorsese classic full of quotable dialogue, explosions of violence, incredible acting, and a memorable turn from comedian Don Rickles. Gangster movies don’t get much better. 

15. American Gangster (2007)

American Gangster is a powerhouse drama about the real-life drug trafficker Frank Lucas and the detective, Richie Roberts, who led the task force to stop him. Lucas is played masterfully by Denzel Washington with Russell Crowe portraying Roberts. This film is insane and does a fantastic good job explaining Lucas’ connection to drugs, the Vietnam War, and his family.

Ridley Scott, well-known for films like Alien, Blade Runner, Kingdom of Heaven, and Gladiator, composes an incredible gangster picture (certainly his best one), forcing us to almost root for Frank Lucas as he goes from drug trafficking to helping Roberts expose corrupt NYC cops. It’s a drawn-out tale that will certainly keep you guessing throughout.

14. Eastern Promises (2007)

David Cronenberg directed his own gangster film in the early 2000s called Eastern Promises, which, based on the names attached, promises to follow through. Viggo Mortensen stars alongside Naomi Watts and Vincent Cassel in this gangster piece that might make your skin crawl.

The film tells the story of Russian-British midwife Anna (Watts) as she delivers the baby of a drug-addicted 14-year-old Russian prostitute who dies in childbirth. After Anna learns that the young mother was forced into prostitution by the Russian Mafia, the baby’s life is threatened and she does all she can to escape. It’s definitely the scariest film on this list, showing the Russian Mafia’s true colors as well as the advanced dangers of human trafficking and sex slavery. It’s a rough one.

13. Donnie Brasco (1997)

Donnie Brasco is based on the true story of an undercover cop who helped take down the Bonanno crime family. Johnny Depp plays an FBI agent masquerading as a jewel thief who earns the trust of Al Pacino’s aging gunman. As he gets deeper involved with the mafia, Depp begins to cross the line between cop and criminal, all while leading Pacino to his inevitable demise. 

This is an engaging look at what happens when an agent of the law finds themselves in too deep and the consequences his actions have on those around him. Deep and Pacino are great as always, but it’s the supporting cast that really shines. Michael Madson, Anne Henche, and Bruno Kirby are wonderful, while Paul Giamatti and Tim Blake Nelson have small but memorable cameos as FBI technicians. 

12. King of New York (1990)

Coming back across the pond, King of New York is an independent neo-noir crime thriller that speaks for itself. Film legend Christopher Walken is an absolute boss in this movie as drug lord Frank White, the self-proclaimed “King” of New York City. Walken plays the role fabulously, fully committing to the mob boss role and creating a version of Frank White that you kind of get attached to.

Now, if Christopher Walken isn’t enough to sell you on the film (which, he absolutely should be), King of New York also stars Laurence Fishburn of The Matrix fame, David Caruso, Victor Argo, Wesley Snipes, and Breaking Bad/Better Call Saul legend Giancarlo Esposito. This film has one of the best non-traditional gangster casts out there, so don’t forget to check it out.

11. Carlito’s Way (1993)

No list of the best gangster movies is complete without mentioning this flick. The first of two Brian De Palma films on this list, Carlito’s Way was written by David Koepp and is based on the Judge Edwin Torres novels Carlito’s Way and After Hours. The film stars Al Pacino as career criminal Carlito Brigante, who is recently out of jail on a technicality, as he attempts to leave the life that put him in prison in the first place. Alongside Pacino is Sean Penn as his close friend and lawyer David Kleinfeld.

While many gangster films are about the gangster working to get out or retire from life, none compare to Carlito’s tumultuous journey here. Throughout the film, Carlito, called “Charlie” by Gail (Penelope Ann Miller), works hard to escape his destiny and remove himself entirely from his life of crime. Carlito’s Way wasn’t well-received critically at the time but has since garnered a strong cult following.

10. White Heat (1949)

The oldest film on this list from the Classic Hollywood era of film history is White Heat. Starring iconic actor/dancer James Cagney and Virginia Mayo, White Heat follows a noir story originally by Virginia Kellogg and directed by actor/director Raoul A. Walsh. White Heat, like the original Scarface, no doubt paved the way for the gangster pictures of the 70s and 80s.

Cagney plays a ruthless criminal and leader of the Jarrett gang, Arthur “Cody” Jarrett, who seems to have some “mommy issues” as the film goes on. This noir crime drama is intense, with lies, murder, and revenge as the core tenets of not just the film, but Cody’s life. There’s a reason White Heat is featured on many lists as one of the greatest gangster films, so there’s no way we could ignore its impact here.

9. City of God

This incredible foreign flick focuses on organized crime in the favelas of Rio de Janeiro. The film spans three decades from the 60s to the 80s and tells the story from two different points of view. There is Rocket, the narrator who is a keen photographer who is trying to escape a life of violence. On the other side of the coin is Lil’ Ze, a bloodthirsty gangster who wants control of the drug trade.

No other gangster movies have captured the bleakness and horrifying violence that occurs in the favelas quite like City of God. It received rave reviews when released, won numerous awards, and helped put Brazilian cinema on the map. 

7. A Bronx Tale (1993)

It should come as no surprise that Rober De Niro’s directorial debut is a gangster film. But unlike some of the violent mafia flicks he’s starred in, A Bronx Tale is more concerned with the impact gangster culture can have on the youth. Based on the play by actor Chazz Palminteri (who also stars in the film), A Bronx Tale is a coming-of-age drama about Calogero (, a young American-Italian kid growing up in the Bronx.

Calogero (Lillo Brancato, Jr.) is befriended by Palminteri’s mob boss and must choose between a life of crime or listening to his father (Robert De Niro) and staying away from trouble. Along with a terrific cast and incredible script, De Niro’s work behind the camera is notable, with A Bronx Tale an underrated gangster movie gem. 

6. The Untouchables (1987)

Coming off the heels of his remake of Scarface (starring Al Pacino), new Hollywood director Brian De Palma helmed one of the best crime films of the century: The Untouchables. Based on the book of the same name, The Untouchables tells the story of 1930s Prohibition-era Chicago in which Bureau of Prohibition agent Elliot Ness (Kevin Costner) works to take down mob boss Al Capone (Robert De Niro). James Bond himself, Sean Connery, also shows up as an Irish cop who lends Ness a helping hand.

Costner, in a stand-out performance as the famed Elliot Ness, stars alongside De Niro in this “mobsterpiece” that is equal parts exciting and fictional. While The Untouchables is based on true events, many of the situations in the film were heavily fictionalized by writer David Mamet. All-in-all, The Untouchables is an exciting thrill ride that will keep you wanting more until the very end.

5. The Long Good Friday (1980)

Another British gangster film, The Long Good Friday stars Bob Hoskins and Helen Mirren and weaves together various political and socio-economic events and concerns of late 1970s Europe. The film touches on political and police corruption, IRA fund-raising, British industry displacements, the UK’s membership in the EEC, and the free-market economy. It’s also chock full of violence and cockney rhyming slang that makes it stand out from the crowd of gangster flicks. 

Hoskins and Mirren are the obvious stars of the film, bringing a human and emotional element to these cold and heartless topics. The Long Good Friday is widely considered one of the greatest British films in history and has an ending that will leave you stunned. 

4. Once Upon A Time In America (1984)

Sergio Leone, though most well known for his Spaghetti Westerns such as The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly, made his own splash on the gangster genre with his Italian-American venture Once Upon A Time In America. The film stars gangster heavy-hitters and legends Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci, and James Woods, with Elizabeth McGovern in tow.

The film follows best friends “Noodles” (De Niro) and “Max” (Woods) as they lead a group of Jewish youths from the ghetto to prominence in the world of New York City organized crime. It was Leone’s final film before his death, as well as the first feature he had directed in over a decade.

What makes it so good? Besides the talented performances, immaculate score, and Leone’s clear fingerprints, it’s the themes of friendship, betrayal, grief, and the rise of the mob that really stand out. A nearly four-hour epic that really is that good. 

3. GoodFellas (1990)

One of the most beloved gangster movies ever committed to film is 90s Warner Bros. classic GoodFellas. GoodFellas is a biographical gangster film (co-written by the non-fiction writer of Wiseguy: Life in a Mafia Family, Nicholas Pileggi) about the rise and fall of mob boss associate Henry Hill (Ray Liotta) across three decades. GoodFellas, living up to its name, is truly a good time.

The film also has a stellar cast, including gangster film legends Robert De Niro as Jimmy Conway and Joe Pesci as Tommy DeVito, who do incredible work under famed gangster director and filmmaker Martin Scorsese (Taxi Driver). GoodFellas remains one of Scorsese’s best and is often regarded as one of the greatest movies ever made (Quentin Tarantino is a big fan), particularly in the gangster genre.

2. The Godfather Part II (1974)

On par with the original, Francis Ford Coppola’s epic crime saga continues with The Godfather Part II. Just as engaging as the first, this mafia movie features Robert De Niro as a young Vito Corleone. Al Pacino returns as his son, Michael Corleone, who is now in charge of the family business. The Godfather II is a fascinating look at two different time periods as the lives of Vito and Micahel are chronicled during the film. We get to see how Vito came to power and how Micahel will do anything he can to cling to it. Despite not having any scenes together, De Niro and Pacino deliver the only way they know-how. This is another powerful mediation on family and what one man will do to protect his.

And let’s not mention The Godfather Part III… although at least the new version is a little better.

1. The Godfather (1972)

The most famous gangster film on this list, there’s a reason The Godfather has become so iconic and synonymous with the best of cinema. Between a killer performance from film legend Marlon Brando, a well-crafted story about the rise (or fall?) of Michael Corleone (Al Pacino), an incredible score, and that scene that will make you cautious before getting out of bed, The Godfather is certainly Francis Ford Coppola’s masterpiece. They don’t make gangster movies like this anymore. 

His foot fetish aside, QT is one of the most influential filmmakers of his day and has remarkably honored the past while propelling the industry into the future. From nostalgic crime pictures to revisionist history films, he’s done it all and continues to shock and awe audiences everywhere. Today, we’re ranking all of Quentin Tarantino’s directorial feature films from worst to best, starting with the underappreciated Death Proof.

9. Death Proof (2007)

If you’re looking for a bizarre thriller to watch this weekend, look no further than Quentin Tarantino’s Death Proof. The second part of the double-feature Grindhouse – that also features Robert Rodriguez’s Planet Terror – this slasher follows aging stuntman Mike McKay (Kurt Russell, The Thing) as he preys on young girls in Austin, Texas, and Lebanon, Kansas with his apparently “death proof” stunt car.

Probably not anybody’s favorite Tarantino movie by any stretch (he’s even claimed it has to be the worst movie he’s ever made), Death Proof, and Grindhouse as a whole, pays tribute to the exploitation films of the 1970s that often included B-pictures to reel audiences into theaters based on working trends. This one is a bit rough around the edges, but Russell manages to deliver a charming performance and the final cchase scene is out of this world. 

Death Proof, as the second hour of Tarantino’s collaboration with Rodriguez, is something of a blast from the past, reminding us of a style of filmmaking that’s rarely seen these days.

8. Jackie Brown (1997)

Starring Pam Grier (Escape from L.A.) in the titular role, Tarantino’s Jackie Brown is a crime film based on the Elmore Leonard novel Rum Punch. The movie pays homage to the blaxploitation films of the 1970s, including Grier’s other well-known pictures Foxy Brown and Coffy. This flick sparked new life into Grier’s feature film career as she, along with leading man Robert Forester (The Descendants), hadn’t featured as the main star for many years.

The film follows Jackie Brown (Grier), a flight attendant with a criminal past who is nabbed for smuggling, only to become an informant for the FBI while trying to preserve her life in the process. The film also stars frequent Tarantino collaborator Samuel L. Jackson (Shaft) as gun runner Ordell Robbie, Robert De Niro (Goodfellas) as recently released convict Louis Gara, Bridget Fonda (Single White Female) as no-hoper Melanie Ralston, and Forester as bail bondsman Max Cherry. Jackie Brown served to be Tarantino’s only film adaptation based exclusively on previously existing work and is a fun blaxploitation feature that constantly asks the dangerous question: who is playing who?

7. The Hateful Eight (2015)

Tarantino’s eighth motion picture, The Hateful Eight (aptly named) is a Revisionist Western about eight strangers who seek shelter from a blizzard in Minnie’s Haberdashery. Set in late 1800s Wyoming, the movie was originally conceived as a sequel to his earlier film Django Unchained. Tarantino retooled the story as a stand-alone feature with entirely new characters. In fact, Tarantino actually re-edited the film into a four-hour mini-series for Netflix a few years back.

Kurt Russell once again stars as bounty hunter John “The Hangman” Ruth alongside QT trademark Samuel L. Jackson as Major Marquis Warren, Jennifer Jason Leigh (Atypical) as the fugitive Daisy Domergue, and Walton Goggins (Justified) as wannabe sheriff Chris Mannix, among others. QT’s attention to detail and tactical subversions make this film a work of art. Plus, Ennio Morricone (The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly) re-emerged to score this film, which is insanely cool!

6. Django Uncahined (2012)

Another Western by Tarantino, Django Unchained is a killer revenge story that follows Django Freeman (Jamie Foxx, Just Mercy) as he travels through the Old West and the Antebellum South to save his wife from a cruel plantation owner Calvin J. Candie (Leonardo DiCaprio). With the German Dr. King Schultz (Christoph Waltz) by his side, Django is a man on a single revenge mission that will have you on the edge of your seat.

Tarantino’s love for the iconic Spaghetti Western is on full display here as the film plays as a tribute to the 1996 classic Django, with the film’s star Franco Nero even appearing in a cameo. This brutal picture is one of Tarantino’s best, with magnificent performances from Foxx, DiCaprio, and Waltz that will make you cheer and cringe. If you haven’t seen Foxx in Django Unchained, then you haven’t seen Foxx at his best.

Django Unchained is easily one of the best Westerns of the past 20 years and holds up as one of Tarantino’s greatest filmmaking achievements.

5. Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019)

Possibly the biggest and boldest of Tarantino’s filmography, Once Upon A Time… In Hollywood is QT’s most obvious love letter to the film industry. The film, set in the late 1960s, follows fading Hollywood actor Rick Dalton (Leonardo DiCaprio, Inception), the star of the 1950s Western series Bounty Law, and his stunt double Cliff Booth (Brad Pitt), as they navigate the steady decline of their respective careers.

But like another of his films we are yet to mention, … In Hollywood turns out to be another revisionist history picture, set alongside the backdrop of the Manson Family murders, with Damon Herriman (Justified) as Charlie Manson and Margot Robbie (The Suicide Squad) as Sharon Tate. This one is wild and includes probably some of the most impressive performances DiCaprio and Pitt have given in years. Plus, Tarantino adapted it into a novel and is working on a Bounty Law television series with Leo.

Once Upon A Time… In Hollywood is Tarantino’s most overt love letter to an era of filmmaking that is long gone, but this nostalgia-piece still manages to be one of his best works yet.

4. Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair (2003 & 2004)

Tarantino’s originally two-part martial arts film, Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair, unites Kill Bill: Volume 1 and Volume 2 into what QT considers to be one complete feature. It follows The Bride (Uma Thurman, Dangerous Liaisons) once she wakes up from a four-year coma after being shot by her ex Bill (David Carradine, Mean Streets) on her wedding day. Due to this, and the apparent loss of her unborn child, she seeks revenge on Bill and his Deadly Viper assassins.

This one has it all, including animated sequences, lots of martial arts action, and more genres in one film than your average Bollywood picture. Kill Bill is easily some of Uma Thurman’s most impressive work and definitely pushes all the envelopes as far as what Tarantino thinks is possible for a single (two-part) film. 

3. Inglourious Basterds (2009)

Tarantino’s only strictly war film, Inglourious Basterds is his first revisionist history film that centers around two different plots to assassinate the leadership in Nazi Germany. One of them is headed up by a young, French Jewish cinema proprietor (Melanie Laurent, Now You See Me), and the other by the British government. Ultimately, it’s executed by a group of Jewish-American soldiers led by First Lieutenant Aldo Raine (Brad Pitt, Fight Club).

This insane World War II action piece shows the utter brutality of war itself. With an incredible cast that also includes Michael Fassbender (Hunger), Christoph Waltz (Spectre), Til Schweiger (Driven), Daniel Brühl (Rush), Eli Roth (Aftershock), and Diane Kruger (Unknown), Inglourious Basterds is QT’s third highest-grossing film and one of his most critically acclaimed. Oh, and although the title was inspired by the 1978 film The Inglorious Bastards, this film is not a remake.

2. Reservoir Dogs (1992)

Quentin Tarantino’s directorial debut turned out to be an independent cult classic. Reservoir Dogs is a crime story about diamond thieves whose planned jewelry heist goes terribly wrong. Told non-linearly, all of the classic Tarantino staples begin here: the pop culture references, the violent crime, the non-era-centric soundtrack, and the quirky dialogue (complete with every profanity you could ask for).

The film stars Harvey Keitel (Taxi Driver), Tim Roth (Lie To Me), Chris Penn (True Romance), Steve Buscemi (Fargo), Michael Madsen (Pulp Fiction), and Tarantino himself among others., This independent masterpiece is an excellent example of Tarantino’s skill, regardless of his budget. The final Mexican standoff is one of the greatest in film history and remains one of the best twist endings you won’t see coming.

1. Pulp Fiction (1994)

No Quentin Tarantino movie has had more cultural impact on the film industry, both Hollywood and independent, than Pulp Fiction. A black comedy crime drama that follows several interconnected stories told outside of the traditional chronological order, this film takes its primary inspiration from pulp magazines and hardboiled crime novels, taking place in a then-contemporary 1990s Los Angeles.

The film stars John Travolta (Swordfish), Samuel L. Jackson (Shaft), Uma Thurman (Kill Bill 1 & 2), Bruce Willis (Unbreakable), Tim Roth (Rob Roy), Christopher Walken (The Deer Hunter), and countless other Tarantino icons (including the director himself) as their characters cross paths over a number of days in LA, with many of the stories linked to the mysterious contents of Marsellus Wallace’s (Ving Rhames, Mission: Impossible) briefcase.

Pulp Fiction is Tarantino’s most beloved masterpiece with excitingly witty dialogue and hilariously intense situations that will make you want to rewatch it again as the credits roll.

While we could argue whether Die Hard is a Christmas movie all day long, it’s clear that, along with all the other films on this list, the Christmas setting plays a huge part in the story of many flicks. Parents, if you’re looking for some more Christmas movies to watch with your kids, use some discretion here, as the majority of these films are more adult-themed with only a small amount of Christmas relevance. That said, here is our list of the best Christmas movies that aren’t your typical Christmas flick.

1. Die Hard (1988)

Probably the most controversial Christmas movie, not because of the film’s content, but because you can’t go one holiday season without someone arguing that Die Hard either is or isn’t a Christmas movie. Regardless of where you stand, it’s no question that the Christmas backdrop is essential and weaves its way into every aspect of the film (including the score).

The film follows New York cop John McClane (Bruce Willis, Unbreakable) who travels to Los Angeles to visit his estranged wife Holly (Bonnie Bedelia, Parenthood) and their kids for Christmas, only for a terrorist group led by Hans Gruber (Alan Rickman, Love Actually) to take control of Holly’s company Christmas party. McClane must use his wits and skills as a policeman to defeat the terrorists and save his wife, all while spouting wisecracks and wearing no shoes.

An action-packed thrill ride, Die Hard is Bruce Willis at his best, and if you’re looking for an action extravaganza to watch this Christmas, this is the picture for you.

Ps. this film is definitely a Christmas movie.

2. Lethal Weapon (1987)

Another action film, this buddy cop picture was directed by Richard Donner (the mastermind behind Scrooged). Lethal Weapon pairs Mel Gibson (Mad Max) and Danny Glover (The Color Purple) together as LA detectives: the former a suicidal former Green Beret named Martin Riggs, and the latter a 50-year-old veteran and family man by the name of Roger Murtaugh.

Use of Christmas songs aside (and of course the end scene, which is magical), the Shane Black (The Nice Guys) written Lethal Weapon doesn’t necessarily scream Christmas, but the holiday setting adds beautifully to the buddy cop drama. As Riggs and Murtaugh learn to better work together to stop the psychotic Gary Busey (The Buddy Holly Story), the “spirit of Christmas” is made clear. 

Lethal Weapon might not be Die Hard, but it’s another Christmas-set action romp that’ll keep you on the edge of your seat.

3. Gremlins (1984)

Gremlins is legitimately crazy. What begins as a nice story about young boy Billy (Zach Galligan, Mortal Passions) and his new pet mogwai named Gizmo, quickly turns into a horror story full of demonic gremlins who attempt to destroy the town. Compared to some of the other films on this list, Gremlins is pretty strictly a Christmas movie, but not at all in a classical sense.

Written by Chris Columbus (Home Alone), directed by Joe Dante (The Howling), and executive produced by Steven Spielberg (E.T. – the Extra-Terrestrial), Gremlins has some amazing filmmakers behind it. Honestly, it’s a pretty perfect movie no matter how disturbing it gets (like stories about your father pretending to be Santa Claus only to die in the chimney. Yikes).

Gremlins is the perfect holiday blend of horror and comedy that will have you laughing, crying, and praying that nobody gifts you a mogwai for Christmas.

4. Batman Returns (1992)

Tim Burton’s triumphant second Batman outing features a Christmas setting that only adds to the greatness of this movie. Although it wasn’t released anywhere near the festive season, the holiday element helps make the Penguin’s (Danny DeVito, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia) backstory a whole lot sadder.

Between Michael Keaton (Birdman) as Batman, Michelle Pfeiffer (Mother!) as Catwoman, and Christopher Walken (The Prophecy) as “the Santa Claus of Gotham” Max Shreck, Batman Returns is loaded with tons of talent who give Burton their best. If superheroes are your thing, then Batman Returns is the dark and twisted Christmas movie for you.

5. The Last Boy Scout (1991)

Are you ready for another Shane Black-written Christmas in LA? Look no further than The Last Boy Scout, directed by filmmaking legend Tony Scott (Man on Fire). This film stars Bruce Willis as down-on-his-luck private detective Joe Hallenbeck and Damon Wayans (Beverly Hills Cop) as ex-quarterback Jimmy Dix. The unlikely duo is dragged into the dirty world of sports corruption as they try to find out who murdered Dix’s girlfriend (played by a young Halle Berry).

Like most Shane Black movies, The Last Boy Scout’s subtle weaving in of the Christmas narrative provides the perfect backdrop for Hallenbeck and Dix to realize their own flaws and come to a mutual understanding. Message aside, this is just a really great buddy action movie and the banter between Willis and Wayans is excellent. Also, that scene with the puppet is comedy gold!

6. Trading Places (1983)

Did you know that Dan Aykroyd (Ghostbusters), Eddie Murphy (Beverly Hills Cop), and Jamie Lee Curtis (Halloween) starred together in a wacky Christmas movie? Enter Trading Places, a comedy where a poor street hustler (Murphy) and an upper-class commodities broker (Aykroyd) are unwittingly swapped in a bet to see how each would perform in the other’s shoes.

If that sounds crazy, then you’ve got to check this one out. It’s pretty wacky, but also one of the only films on this list to really be centered around Christmas. In a very A Christmas Carol fashion, Aykroyd’s character, Winthorpe, goes through his own Ebenezer Scrooge character arc, from having no one at the beginning of the film to a family of his own by the end.

Trading Places being labeled as a Christmas film is definitely less controversial than most of the films on this list, and should absolutely make an appearance on your TV screen this holiday season.

7. Little Women (1994)

While it would have been easy to include the recent 2019 remake (which is excellent by the way), the 1994 Little Women was promoted as a holiday event, so we thought this adaptation makes the most sense. Following the lives of the four March sisters during the American Civil War, this film will remind you of those closest to you this Christmas, even if they’re far away.

With an amazing cast that includes Winona Ryder (Stranger Things), Trini Alvarado (The Frighteners), Kirsten Dunst (Spider-Man), Samantha Mathis (The Strain), Claire Daines (Romeo+Juliet), and Christian Bale (The Dark Knight), Little Women is an impressive adaptation of Louisa May Alcott’s two-volume novel.

8. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005)

After years of writing not-quite-Christmas movies, Shane Black finally took on the director’s chair for Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, uniting Robert Downey Jr. (Iron Man) and Val Kilmer (Tombstone) together for a Christmas in LA story of sex, murder, and mystery, and boy does it deliver. This one has to be seen to be believed because trying to explain would just ruin it.

Whether it’s the oddball coupling of Harry Lockhart (Downey) and Perry van Shrike (Kilmer), the fantastical Los Angeles action sequences, or the hilarious situations the pair find themselves in (like accidentally cutting Harry’s finger off), Kiss Kiss Bang Bang might be the wildly intense Christmastime flick for you this season. Especially if black comedy crime flicks are your thing.

Kiss Kiss Bang Bang is one of Shane Black’s best, proving time and again that Christmas is the perfect setting for any type of action-comedies.

9. The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe (2005)

Based on the C.S. Lewis classic of the same name, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe is the perfect fantasy epic to watch with your kids during Christmas. For one thing, the world of Narnia is stuck in an endless winter, but never Christmas, until the arrival of the Pevensie children and the return of the lion Aslan (Liam Neeson, Love Actually).

The battle between Aslan’s army and the White Witch’s (Tilda Swinton, Doctor Strange) is exciting, and if you think that there are no Christmas connections here besides the snow, think again! One of the most important scenes of the film features the actual Father Christmas (James Cosmo, Braveheart) as he gives the Pevensie children a few gifts for their journey. Oh yeah, and there’s the whole Aslan being Jesus thing, but you’ll discover that while watching. 

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe is an exciting fantasy adventure that puts the Christmas magic back into the non-traditional holiday film.

10. Iron Man 3 (2013)

Shane Black returns (we just can’t get enough of him), this time to the superhero genre with Marvel’s Iron Man 3, reuniting with Robert Downey Jr. for another Christmas-centered action-adventure. Here, Tony Stark (Downey) must wrestle with his own demons as he deals with the fallout from The Avengers and his latest opponents.

After an attack on his home, Stark finds himself in rural Tennessee to spend part of his Christmas fixing his armor with the young, fatherless Harley (Ty Simpkins, Jurassic World) before flying off to spend the rest of his holiday fighting superpowered criminals in different Iron Man suits. It’s a lot of fun, and Black’s spark makes the whole thing come together for a wonderfully fulfilling Christmas flick.

11. Reindeer Games (2000)

A little bit more in your face about Christmas, this heist thriller stars Ben Affleck (The Town) as Rudy Duncan, who pretends to be his deceased cellmate Nick in order to get a ride out of town with Nick’s girlfriend Ashley (Charlize Theron, Mad Max: Fury Road). This turns out to not be such a great idea after Gabriel “Monster” Mercer (Gary Sinise, Forrest Gump) arrives.

As Duncan struggles to maintain his lie and just wants to spend a quiet Christmas with his family, Mercer forces him to join his gang for a Christmastime robbery. Things get sticky as secrets are slowly revealed with a twist ending you won’t see coming. This is a wild one, folks!

12. Edward Schissorhands (1990)

Another melancholy Christmas tale from Tim Burton, Edward Scissorhands is the kind of odd fantasy that only Burton could come up with. The film follows the young Edward (Johnny Depp, Pirates of the Caribbean), a humanoid with blades for hands, who he befriends the Boggs family and falls in love with their daughter, Kim (Winona Ryder).

While not strictly set during Christmas, it is during the holiday season that we see Edward sculpting Kim from ice, causing “snow” to fall for the first time in a long time in their suburban Californian neighborhood. This scene actually serves as the catalyst for the rest of the story and propels the tale to its natural conclusion.

Edward Scissorhands is a strange tale about a scary-looking man with a pure heart; perfect for the Christmas season.

13. Green Book (2018)

Based on the crazy true story of pianist Don Shirley (Mahershala Ali, True Detective) and his driver Frank “Tony Lip” Vallelonga (Viggo Mortensen, The Lord of the Rings), the Oscar winner Green Book, which challenges racism and prejudice in New York and the Deep South, might have very little Christmas in it, but the little bit it does have means a whole lot.

In the final act of the film, taking place on Christmas Eve on the last leg of Shirley’s tour, the guys make it back to New York where Vallenlonga offers the lonely Shirley a seat at his dinner table. While Shirley initially rejects his hospitality, he eventually accepts and is surprisingly met with lots of love and acceptance, reminding us why it’s the most wonderful time of the year.

Green Book has very little connection to the traditional holiday season, but the small bit it has is incredibly powerful.

14. The Long Kiss Goodnight (1996)

While not directed by Shane Black, The Long Kiss Goodnight was written and produced by him. The film follows an amnesiac schoolteacher (Geena Davis, Thelma & Louise) who sets out with a private investigator (Samuel L. Jackson, Shaft) to discover her destructive past and unravel a dark conspiracy. 

The Christmastime setting and themes of The Long Kiss Goodnight might be the most appropriate of all of Black’s works as Charly/Samantha fights to protect her family and get them through the holidays all while remembering who she really is. Also, Samuel L. Jackson is an excellent addition to this movie, and to this day the film is his favorite movie to watch that he’s starred in.

The Long Kiss Goodnight makes it clear that if you had plans for a quiet Christmas evening, it’s time to kiss them goodnight.

15. Black Christmas (1974)

Originally titled Silent Night, Evil Night, this Canadian slasher (yes, you read that right) follows a group of sorority sisters who receive some strange phone calls and are stalked by a deranged killer around Christmas. Believe it or not, this is one of the earliest slasher films out there, and even predated (and heavily influenced) John Carpenter’s Halloween.

Widely regarded as one of the greatest horror movies ever made, Black Christmas just screams Christmas. Well, actually, there’s just a lot of screaming. Out of the three films with the same title (the latter two remakes from 2006 and 2019), this original is the best, and still the scariest. Plus, it stars a young Margot Kidder (Superman), so there’s that!

Black Christmas is a horror Christmas classic that will keep you from going to bed on Christmas Eve, no matter if that keeps Santa from coming or not.

16. Eyes Wide Shut (1999)

The most disturbing film on this list by far, Stanley Kubrick (The Shining) really outdid himself with his final film, Eyes Wide Shut, which is equal parts odd, sensual, and frightening on various different levels. Starring Tom Cruise (Top Gun) and Nichole Kidman (Batman Forever) as husband and wife duo Dr. Bill and Alice Harford, this one is not for the faint of heart.

Set in New York City during the Christmas season, Bill reels after learning that Alice contemplated an affair the year prior, only to eventually, and somewhat accidentally, gain an invite to a masked orgy of an unnamed secret society. It’s pretty disturbing though (and terribly explicit), and not necessarily a film this author would recommend, but its Christmas setting is worth noting.

Eyes Wide Shut is a haunting film about one man’s journey to finding his own sense of pleasure during the holidays, though what he finds is much different than what he expected.

17. Krampus (2015)

Another Christmas horror film, though this one might be a bit more comedic, Krampus unleashes the beastly wrath of the demonic Krampus upon an unsuspecting neighborhood to punish unfestive children and their families. This forces the neighborhood families to band together to survive the holiday season.

The biggest highlight of Krampus is for sure the cast, which includes Adam Scott (Parks and Recreation), Toni Collette (Hereditary), David Koechner (The Office), Allison Tolman (Fargo), and Conchata Ferrell (Two and a Half Men), which masterfully combines the hilarious nature of contemporary Christmas with the terrifying European legend.

Krampus will do its best to convince you to be good for goodness sake, or else!

18. The Ref (1994)

Swapping horror for black comedy, The Ref stars Dennis Leary (The Amazing Spider-Man) as Gus, a cat burglar who is forced to take a bickering and miserable family hostage on Christmas Eve after his heist goes wrong. Judy Davis (King Lear) and Kevin Spacey (House of Cards) also star as the Chasseur family wife and husband.

As Gus attempts to deal with the Chasseur’s, including all their extended family, he slowly loses his mind and begins to hate the Christmas season itself. It’s a fun one for anyone who can relate to an insufferable family, a lack of marital bliss, and constantly screwing things up, which, at times, is probably all of us.

The Ref is a fabulous look at family during the holidays through the eyes of someone who doesn’t even remotely want to be there. It’s a good time.

“It’s the most wonderful time of the year” sang Andy Williams, and with so many Christmas movies to choose from, it sure does feel special. With serious dramas, period pieces, and comedies galore, there’s enough holiday cheer to go around. So to get you in the holiday spirit, we’ve put a list together of the best Christmas films sure to get you in the festive spirit. 

1. It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)

Probably the most famous Christmas movie of all time, It’s a Wonderful Life is often heralded as one of the greatest Christmas films of all time, and for good reason. The story follows George Bailey (James Stewart, Rear Window), a man down-on-his-luck on Christmas Eve who attempts suicide only to be given a second chance by his guardian angel Clarence (Henry Travers, Shadow of a Doubt), who shows Bailey what the town of Bedford Falls would have been like without him.

A heartwarming tale of goodwill and generosity, It’s a Wonderful Life really lives up to its title, forcing Bailey, and in turn, us, to realize how blessed his life really is and how much he means to his friends and family. While this one is a more traditional Christmas tale, don’t let the old black and white scare you, it’s a classic for a reason and will have you bawling near the end when Bailey realizes he is truly the “richest man in town.”

2. National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989)

It wouldn’t be Christmas without the Griswolds! John Hughes (Ferris Bueller’s Day Off) brings us one of the most hysterical Christmas classics with National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. Chevy Chase (Fletch) stars as the festive obsessed Clark Griswold who’s determined to capture the perfect Christmas with his family, alongside Beverly D’Angelo (American History X) as his wife, Ellen, and Randy Quaid (Independence Day) as crazy Cousin Eddie, who clearly needs help.

Christmas Vacation reminds us that we’re all in misery during the holidays by giving us a complex and frustrating family dynamic that everyone can relate to on some level. This one is a bit wacky, but that’s really part of its charm. Never failing to disappoint, Clark Griswold will stop at nothing to ensure this is the best Christmas in the history of all Christmases.

3. Elf (2003)

Maybe the most famous Christmas movie of modern times, Elf follows Buddy (Will Ferrell, Step-Brothers), a human who lives with the North Pole elves only to realize he isn’t an elf at all. As he travels to New York City in search of his real father, Walter Hobbs (James Caan, The Godfather), he not only meets his new family but also falls in love with Jovie (Zooey Deschanel, New Girl), a Gimbles worker who isn’t nearly as enthusiastic about Christmas as he is.

Director Jon Favreau (Iron Man) probably didn’t realize how important to the holiday season his quirky little Christmas comedy would become, but it’s one of the greatest for a reason. Of course, Ferrell steals the show with his performance which he has been unable to top ever since. Thanks, Buddy!

4. A Christmas Caroll (1938)

While this may not be the most faithful adaptation of Charles Dickens’ famous novella, the 1938 A Christmas Carol still holds the core message of his story tight. Reginald Owen (The Miniver Story) is the original Ebenezar Scrooge, a man haunted by his own selfishness who is visited by three spirits, and the ghost of his old business partner Jacob Marley (Leo G. Carroll, North by Northwest), who attempt to turn him from his wicked ways.

Clocking in at slightly over an hour, A Christmas Carol reminds us that peace and goodwill towards all men are to be cherished above any other worldly possessions. Scrooge’s slow turn from hating the Christmas season to embracing it is a welcome one that will warm your heart just in time for December 25.

5. Love Actually (2003)

A Richard Curtis (About Time) masterpiece, Love Actually is actually pretty great. Set mostly in London, this Christmas-themed romantic comedy follows 10 (yes, 10) separate love stories – many of which are interlinked – that span across the five weeks leading up until Christmas, with an epilogue that takes place a month later. If you’re looking for some romance leading up to December 25, look no further than this one.

With a stunning cast, including Hugh Grant (Notting Hill), Liam Neeson (Taken), Alan Rickman (Die Hard), Emma Thompson (Cruella), Kiera Knightley (Pirates of the Caribbean), and Bill Nighy (About Time) among others, there’s a lot going on here, but it’s all worth it in the end. Plus, there’s a made-for-TV short film sequel called Red Nose Day Actually, which is also pretty great!

6. Home Alone (1992)

While there are some bad sequels (and at least one good one), the original Home Alone will forever be a holiday classic. Macaulay Culkin (Richie Rich) is at his absolute peak here as Kevin McCallister. Left home alone after his family forgets him on their Christmas vacation (that must’ve cost an arm and leg), McCallister is forced to defend his home from two criminals out to rob him.

As Kevin valiantly defends his home from Harry (Joe Pesci, My Cousin Vinny) and Marv (Daniel Stern, Dilbert), he also comes face-to-face with the mysterious loner Old Man Marley (Roberts Blossom, The Last Temptation of Christ), who might not be quite as bad as everyone thought. Also, McCallister’s homemade traps are ridiculously cool!

Home Alone may be every parent’s worst nightmare, but it’s every child’s dream.

7. Miracle on 34th Street (1994)

Another John Hughes holiday classic (is he secretly Father Christmas?), Miracle on 34th Street is a remake of the 1947 film of the same name that follows a lawyer, Bryan Bedford (Dylan McDermott, Law & Order), and a young girl, Susan Walker (Mars Wilson, Mrs. Doubtfire), as they attempt to prove that a strange old man (Richard Attenborough, Jurassic Park) is actually Santa Claus himself!

This New York-based Christmas tale is just as delightful as the original, with wonderful performances, including Elizabeth Perkins’ (About Last Night) role as Dorey Walker, the director of special events at the fictitious Cole’s department store (since Macy’s refused to sign-on). Hughes once again continues to wow holiday audiences everywhere!

Miracle on 34th Street has proven itself to be a tasteful remake of a beloved tale that can only be told once a year.

8. The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

A half-Halloween, half-Christmas feature, this Tim Burton (Batman Returns) produced animated dark fantasy musical (say that three times fast) is everything your goth sister and emo brother would love during the traditionally colorful holiday season. Jack Skeleton (Chris Sarandon, speaking voice, Danny Elfman, singing voice), the Pumpkin King of Halloween Town accidentally stumbles into Christmas Town, where he decides to be the famed “Sandy Claws.”

What makes this one so unique, besides the stop-motion animation, is the unique blend of horror, fantasy, and holiday spirit. Jack’s desire to take a step back from Halloween Town in favor of the joy that Christmas brings is an interesting look at the holiday from an undead perspective. Plus, the musical numbers are to die for!

The Nightmare Before Christmas is an excellent Christmas film that will keep everyone glued to your TV screen.

9. The Santa Claus Trilogy (1994, 2002, and 2006)

Before Tim Allen (Toy Story) was Buzz Lightyear, he was Santa Claus. In The Santa Clause, after accidentally killing Santa, Scott Calvin slowly becomes Father Christmas himself. While it may look from the outside like he’s having a mental breakdown, inwardly he’s becoming a much jollier man, although the threat of losing his son hangs in the background.

The sequels are just as exciting, with The Santa Clause 2 introducing Mrs. Clause and forcing Calvin to be married before Christmas or risk losing his position as Santa. Elizabeth Mitchell (Lost) stars here as Charlie’s Principal Carol Newman and Santa’s love interest, and as always, is on point. The third film, The Escape Clause, sees Jack Frost (Martin Short, Only Murders in the Building) try and take the position of Santa for himself.

The Santa Clause trilogy is a lot of family fun, which is why it tends to be marathoned every holiday season.

10. Scrooged (1988)

Speaking of A Christmas Carol, Billy Murray (Ghostbusters) stars as Frank Cross in this cracked-out modernized retelling of Dickens’ classic carol. Here, Murray is a selfish television producer in New York City who has completely lost his Christmas spirit, only for three wacky holiday ghosts to appear and try to change his mind. This one gets really weird, folks, but it’s a blast the whole way through.

Scrooged was definitely ahead of its time and director Richard Donner (Superman) clearly put his all into the production. In Murray’s first role since the overwhelming success of Ghostbusters, he knocks it out of the park; you’d never even know that he took four years off acting! But what really sells this one is Cross’ fondness for his assistant’s young son, a Tiny Tim stand-in whose muteness quickly wins our hearts.

Scrooged might be one of the most oddball films on this list, but it’s a must-see for fans of Christmas or Billy Murray.

11. Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)

Director Ron Howard (Apollo 13) really outdid himself with his live-action adaptation of Dr. Seuss’ How The Grinch Stole Christmas. Starring Jim Carrey (The Truman Show) in the titular role, this film is a masterpiece set in the truly odd-looking town of Whoville (the worldbuilding here is fantastic). Carrey’s Grinch quickly became the standard for the green hairball, making this Seussian creature the role he was clearly born to play.

As the Grinch’s twisted past is slowly unraveled by the innocent Cindy Lou Who (Taylor Momsen, Gossip Girl) and he comes to terms with his own hatred for the holiday festivities, the Grinch begins to wonder if there’s more to Christmas than what comes from the store. And since you probably already know the rest, let’s just say that this one is absolutely the best version of Seuss’ story out there.

How The Grinch Stole Christmas is a hilarious joyride through the town of Whoville that will remind you what Christmas really is about.

12. The Family Man (2000)

A strange combination of A Christmas Carol and It’s a Wonderful Life, this Nicholas Cage (Con Air) led film is a must-see for those who wish to jump into the holiday spirit this December. The story follows high-flying Wall Street executive Jack Campbell (Cage) who wakes up one morning to find himself in a world where he married his college girlfriend Kate (Tia Leoni, Madam Secretary), had two kids, a dog, a mortgage, and now works as a tire fitter at his father-in-laws business. 

Possibly one of the most underrated Christmas movies, The Family Man is almost an inverse of George Bailey’s struggle from It’s a Wonderful Life. While Bailey attempts to escape his life, filled with family and friends, Campbell actually finds it in the fantasy, learning that the best things in life don’t come from his wallet or bank account, but from his potential family.

The Family Man is almost a cautionary tale, but one that celebrates the Christmas spirit like none other.

13. Jingle All the Way (1996)

The ultimate last-minute Christmas shopping extravaganza, Jingle All the Way is one of those Arnold Schwarzenegger (The Terminator) comedies that’s a little on the cheesy side but still worth a look. As Howard Langston (Schwarzenegger) searches for a new Turbo-Man action figure (“it’s Turbo time!”) for his son Jamie (Jake Lloyd, Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace), a host of trouble awaits him on Christmas Eve.

As Langston encounters Santa conmen, Twin Cities police officers, a reindeer named Ted, and an almost postal postman played by Sinbad (Good Burger), he soon realizes that the gift his son really wants is his father’s time and affection. Jingle All the Way is hysterical and will have you laughing so hard at times that you’ll cry. Well, you’ll be laughing at least.

14. The Christmas Chronicles (2018)

Netflix’s very own action-packed Christmas classic, The Christmas Chronicles is a fun and moving story about two estranged siblings on the first Christmas after the death of their father, who discover that Santa Claus (Kurt Russell, Tombstone) is real. Not only that, but they learn that Santa actually needs their help! Well, actually, it’s kind of their fault that he needs their help in the first place, but nevertheless, it’s a magical time.

As Kate (Darby Camp, Big Little Lies) and Teddy (Judah Lewis, The Babysitter) work together to track down Santa’s elves, reindeer, and bag of presents, they grow closer to not only saving the holiday but their own family as well. But regardless of how this one ends, Christmas wouldn’t be saved for long as The Christmas Chronicles 2 was released last year to the excitement of fans. 

15. White Christmas (1954)

It wouldn’t be Christmas without the vocal talents of Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney, and Vera-Ellen, and thus it wouldn’t be Christmas without the musical White Christmas. These four legends star in this wonderful tale about two soldiers-turned-performers (Crosby and Kaye) who slowly fall in love with a sister act and team with them to save the failing Vermont inn of their former Commanding General.

A Christmas miracle, White Christmas is an exciting number that will make you yearn for the days of Old Hollywood. A newer rendition of the title song is performed by Bing Crosby, appearing only eight years prior in the somewhat-problematic Holiday Inn, though this rendition is a much deeper, more heartfelt, tune.

White Christmas is the kind of Christmas musical you quickly grow to love and is a fanciful tale of love and charity.

16. A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965)

Everyone loves A Charlie Brown Christmas. If there’s one thing the classic Peanut gang can do, it’s make a good holiday-themed special. If their Halloween and Thanksgiving features are pop culture icons, then their Christmas special is the holy grail. At just over 25 minutes, there is absolutely no excuse for this one not to end up on your holiday watchlist this year. And yes, it’s that good.

As Charlie Brown (Peter Robbins) struggles to find joy in the holidays, Lucy (Tracy Stratford) encourages him to direct a neighborhood Christmas play, only to be mocked after finding the smallest and most pathetic-looking Christmas tree. Here, Linus (Chris Shea) speaks to the true meaning of Christmas and the birth of Christ, as they all band together to celebrate.

A Charlie Brown Christmas is absolutely a must watch this holiday season.

17. Fred Claus (2007)

Did you know that Santa Claus (Paul Giamatti, Big Fat Liar) had a younger brother? Meet Fred (Vince Vaughn, Dodgeball), a repo agent in Chicago who hates the entire holiday season because his brother, Nick, is the one always in the spotlight. After some money (and personal) troubles of his own, Fred decides to spend the holidays at the North Pole with his brother and their family, only for a host of problems to be heaped upon them.

With the looming threat of the efficiency expert Clyde Northcutt (Kevin Spacey, Baby Driver) hanging over Santa’s head, Fred cranks the North Pole up to 11 as he slowly starts to destroy the assembly line his brother created. There’s a lot of heart here too. Fred’s young orphan friend Slam (Bobb’e J. Thompson, 30 Rock) and girlfriend Wanda (Rachel Weisz, The Mummy) bring a lot of touching moments to an otherwise zany picture.

Fred Claus is great. The brotherly banter between Fred and Nick really sells it, with lots of laughs and drama to boot.

18. A Christmas Story (1983)

Often considered one of the great Christmas films, with countless TV marathons to its name, A Christmas Story has been beloved by many since its release, reminding us of simpler times. Set in 1940s America, a young boy named Ralphie (Peter Billingsley, Death Valley) does his best to convince his parents, teachers, and even Santa that a Red Rider BB gun is the best possible gift he could receive for Christmas.

There are a lot of little Christmas traditions and memorabilia that resulted from A Christmas Story, such as the infamous leg lamp, but what we love most about this festive period piece is the various vignetted stories that result (especially involving licking frozen poles). Oh, and don’t forget about the Lifebuoy soap. 

A Christmas Story is simply that, but it’s a classic so don’t forget to give it a whirl this festive season. 

19. Four Christmases (2008)

Another Vince Vaughn Christmas classic, Four Christmases follows Brad (Vaughn) and Kate (Reese Witherspoon, Walk the Line) as they attempt to visit all four of their divorced parents on Christmas. This nigh-impossible task proves to be pretty destructive to their own relationship as they fight to avoid the same cycle their own parents went through. While it seems like an impossible task, these two do their best to see it through.

The odd thing about Four Christmases is that, unlike most Christmas classics, Brad and Kate don’t really learn anything by the film’s end (the final gag shows them making the same mistakes they made last Christmas), but the ride there is worth a holiday watch. Especially the first Christmas they attend at Brad’s father’s home. It gets pretty crazy, pretty quick.

Four Christmases is wild, and while the rom-com elements might be a turn-off to some, there are still some great bits that keep it flowing.

20. Bad Santa (2003)

A Christmas black comedy, Bad Santa pretty much lives up to its name. Featuring Billy Bob Thornton (Armageddon) as Willie T. Stokes and Tony Cox (Return of the Jedi) as his assistant Marcus Skidmore, this film follows these two con men as they pose as Santa and his Little Helper in order to rob department stores on Christmas Eve, only for them to befriend a troubled kid in need of some guidance.

While this is probably not one of the first movies you’d think of when you think of Christmas (or maybe it is), Bad Santa is one of the most interesting holiday features on this list. While it might not be this author’s cup of tea, this crudely hilarious take on the Christmas season is one that will help many find something to laugh about.

Bad Santa is the Christmas film for you if you’ve finally gotten sick of all the family-friendly holiday features.

With decades of incredible work behind him, it’s hard to nail down the best of DiCaprio, but we’ve done our best to put together this list of his greatest performances.

1. The Wolf of Wall Street (2013)

Directed by gangster legend Martin Scorsese (Taxi Driver), The Wolf of Wall Street features DiCaprio at his best, or maybe his worst depending on how you look at it. This black comedy biopic is based on a memoir by former New York stockbroker Jordan Belfort (who DiCaprio perfectly encapsulates) and chronicles how his corrupt firm committed fraud on Wall Street and almost got away with it.

Having earned a Guinness World Record for being “the film with the most intense instances of swearing” in movie history, the film is chock full of sex, violence, and naughty words. DiCaprio is incredible, with his transformation into Belfort further enhanced by Margot Robbie (The Suicide Squad) as Belfort’s second wife, Jonah Hill (22 Jump Street) as Belfort’s best friend and business partner, and Kyle Chandler (Super 8) as the FBI Agent on his trail.

The Wolf of Wall Street features a colorful cast of characters and a witty script that will forever go down as one of DiCaprio’s most intense pictures, and most certainly one of his best. The Matthew McConaughy cameo is also neat. 

2. Inception (2010)

When Christopher Nolan (The Dark Knight) decided to make a sci-fi thriller with DiCaprio as its star, people went nuts. This lucid dreaming-inspired masterpiece is a cinematic classic many consider the auteurs’ “greatest film.” DiCaprio’s Dom Cobb brings a sense of intensity and complexity to the film (which is already both complex and intense) that no other actor could.

Cobb’s deteriorating mental state is on full display as he and his team work to infiltrate the mind of wealthy business heir Robert Michael Fischer (Cillian Murphy, Batman Begins). While Hans Zimmer’s immersive score is the true star of the show, the incredible ensemble cast, including Joseph Gordon-Levitt (The Dark Knight Rises), Ellen Page (Juno), Tom Hardy (Warrior), and Marion Cotillard (Allied), work hard to further enhance the world.

Inception is a modern classic, with one of the biggest reasons being DiCaprio’s ability to captivate his audience with his acting. Top class. 

3. The Revenant (2015)

Often known as “the one that finally got Leo his Oscar,” The Revenant is an insane western-revenge tale based on the true story of frontiersman Hugh Glass. After he is attacked by a bear in the Dakotas and left to die, Glass is motivated to survive by revenge when the man that left him there, John Fitzgerald (Tom Hardy, Mad Max: Fury Road), murders his son Hawk (Forrest Goodluck, The Republic of Sarah).

This film is a beautiful masterpiece full of one-takes, exquisite natural lighting, intense thematic material, and a score that will make your heart sing in sorrow. DiCaprio knocks this one out of the park, fully committing to the survival aspect of the picture in a way no other actor would dare (eating an animal heart is no small feat). Director Alejandro González Iñárritu (Birdman) has truly outdone himself here.

4. The Departed (2005)

We’ve mentioned this one before when writing about the best gangster flicks and as one of Jack Nicholson’s best, but Scorsese also pulls a performance out of DiCaprio that none could rival. Here, he plays the Boston PD’s mole within the Irish mob, Billy Costigan, who does everything he can to get on the good side of mob boss Costello (Nicholson) before his emotional and mental state completely deteriorates. He’s a man teetering on the edge.

The film also follows Costello’s mole within the Massachusetts State Police Department, Colin Sullivan (Matt Damon, The Martian), and when both sides realize there’s a mole within each organization, it becomes a witchhunt and a bloodbath all at once. Things get crazy pretty fast, but DiCaprio does here what he does best, and works to convince Costello (and also us), that he’s on his side. There’s a lot to love about this gangster picture.

The Departed is an epic crime thriller that is probably the best that Scorsese has to offer. Combine that with Leonardo DiCaprio and Jack Nicholson, and you’ve got a hit.

5. Titanic (1997)

Formerly the highest-grossing film of all time (now the third), James Cameron (Terminator 2: Judgment Day) really outdid himself with Titanic, an epic love story (and disaster picture) that launched the 22-year-old DiCaprio into the public eye. If you didn’t know his name before, the release of Titanic changed that drastically. Kate Winslet (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind) starred opposite DiCaprio and provided just as much star power.

The film, which is one of the most expensive ever made at the time, follows the epic romance of Jack (DiCaprio) and Rose (Winslet) that was doomed even before the Titanic hit the iceberg. Cameron’s commitment to technological revolution is expanded here as scale models, CGI, and a re-built Titanic are all used in shooting the sinking of the infamous ship. But the true sinking occurred in our hearts when Jack finally let go.

Titanic is as impressive in its technological achievements as its performances, but what’s more, it’s a young DiCaprio’s swooning charm that caught the hearts of many.

6. Django Unchained (2012)

Quinten Tarantino (Pulp Fiction) is one of those filmmakers who always sparks controversy, but this film is generally loved by all. Django Unchained is a super stylized tribute to the classic Spaghetti westerns of the 60s and 70s that follows Django Freeman (Jamie Foxx, Just Mercy) as he sets out to rescue his wife from a brutal plantation owner in Mississippi.

Of course, the charming-yet-psychotic plantation owner is none other than DiCaprio, who plays Calvin J. Candie masterfully. Not only has his role as Candie had a certain amount of cultural impact (the memes speak for themselves), but DiCaprio also received lots of critical praise for his performance. Foxx’s role as the titular character is just as impressive, while Tarantino’s trademark dialogue between all the characters flows superbly.

Django Unchained may be a lot to handle at times, but the clashing moments between DiCaprio and Foxx make it all worth it.

7. The Basketball Diaries (1995)

A pre-Titanic biographical sports drama, The Basketball Diaries chronicles the life of Jim Carroll (DiCaprio), who went from being a promising basketball player in high school to a heroin-addicted New York writer. One of his first recognizable performances, DiCaprio plays the addict well and shows just how messed up and sad Carroll’s life turned out.

Between sexual assault and drug addiction, incarceration, and the death of his closest friend, we see a lot that can’t be unseen through Carroll’s eyes, with DiCaprio being the perfect interpreter. DiCaprio is also joined by his Departed co-star Mark Wahlberg, who plays Jim’s addict friend Mickey. The desperation of this piece is clearly seen as a strong warning, while also including a glimmer of hope that one might get out one day.

8. Catch Me If You Can (2002)

Before Scorsese and Tarantino, DiCaprio worked with another of Hollywood’s most iconic directors in Steven Spielberg (E.T. – the Extra-Terrestrial), alongside one of the biggest stars in the industry, Tom Hanks (Saving Private Ryan). Catch Me If You Can follows Frank Abagnale (DiCaprio), who allegedly pulled off some of the most impressive cons in American history, and all before his 19th birthday.

In this “true story,” Abagnale is vigorously pursued across the globe by FBI agent Carl Hanratty (Hanks), who himself is based on rea lfe FBI agent Joseph Shea. This film is both exciting and somewhat hilarious as Abagnale continues to illude Hanratty and the FBI before he figures out just what it is he wants out of his life. To sweeten the pot, Abagnale’s father, Frank Sr., is played by Christopher Walken (The Prophecy), who is always a delight.

Catch Me If You Can is an excellent period drama with high stakes and lots of excitement that will keep you on your toes. 

9. Romeo + Juliet (1996)

This uber-stylized and contemporary adaptation of one of William Shakespeare’s most famous plays has been loved by English teachers and literature professors ever since its release in the mid-90s, and for good reason. William Shakespeare’s Romeo + Juliet stars DiCaprio and Claire Danes (Stardust) as the titular characters as they tell a familiar tale in the California setting of Verona Beach.

A lot of fun, director Baz Luhrmann (Moulin Rouge!) is at his best here, with explosive action sequences (trading swords for guns) and exciting parties. There’s so much to love about this odd and stylistic version of Shakespeare’s greatest story. DiCaprio and Danes play beautifully against each other, creating lots of genuinely sensual tension that makes one wonder how these two couldn’t fall in love.

Romeo + Juliet may be an old story, but this fresh take brings a necessary new life into the Shakespearian world of the Montagues and the Capulets.

10. Once Upon a Time In… Hollywood (2019)

Possibly their greatest-ever performances, Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt (World War Z) shine like the Hollywood superstars they are in Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time In… Hollywood, which follows actor Rick Dalton (DiCaprio) and his stuntman Cliff Booth (Pitt) as they navigate the ever-changing film industry. All the while, the looming threat of Charles Manson follows closely behind.

DiCaprio and Pitt are at the top of their game here as Dalton’s popularity fades and Booth realizes he isn’t getting any younger. The unlikely pair have each other’s backs as they do their best to stay relevant in an industry that wants new blood. This film is so popular that Tarantino even wrote a novelized version and is set to produce a television series starring DiCaprio about the fictional show (Bounty Law) his character Dalton stars in.

Once Upon A Time In Hollywood has been described as “a modern fairy tale tribute to the final moments of Hollywood’s golden age,” something that’s hard to disagree with. 

11. What’s Eating Gilbert Grape? (1993)

Although this one stars Johnny Depp (Edward Scissorhands) in the titular role, What’s Eating Gilbert Grape? features young Leo in a co-starring role as Gilbert’s younger intellectually-disabled brother Arnie, which earned him an Academy Award and Golden Globe Award nomination at just 19 years old. The complex relationship between Gilbert and Arnie is, in a lot of ways, the backbone of the film, giving it the emotional (un)stability it needs.

As Gilbert comes of age in his small-town in middle-of-nowhere Iowa, he learns some really important life lessons, especially when it comes to caring for his younger brother. DiCaprio’s performance as Arnie is at times unsettling, but that’s just because of how spot-on it is. Depp and DiCaprio feed off each other incredibly well, and their brotherly bond is what drives us to hope for a better life for the Grape family.

What’s Eating Gilbert Grape? is a powerful tale about family and prejudice that will challenge your beliefs, all the while making you think back on simpler times.

12. The Aviator (2004)

Did you know that Leonardo DiCaprio did a Howard Hughes biopic? Well, if not, then you need to check out The Aviator. This film, directed by Martin Scorsese, soars as far as biopics go, with Hughes’ (played by DiCaprio) mental state quickly deteriorating as he becomes a slave to his own obsessions. The film chronicles Hughes’ life from 1927 to 1947, during the period where he became both a film producer and an aviation pioneer.

What more can be said of DiCaprio’s work other than he is consistently brilliant and commitment to his craft, as evident by his incredible portrayal of Howard Hughes in this must watch flick. The Aviator also has a stunning supporting cast that includes Cate Blanchett (The Lord of the Rings), Kate Beckinsale (Underworld), John C. Reilly (Step Brothers), and Alex Baldwin (30 Rock), who are all excellent and help elevate Leo’s performance. 

The Aviator is a thrilling look into the life of the great Howard Hughes that doesn’t fail to disappoint at any juncture.

13. Shutter Island (2010)

​​Another Scorsese picture (they just love working together), Shutter Island is one of DiCaprio’s most interesting films, and among Scorsese’s best. A neo-noir psychological thriller, it follows Deputy US Marshal “Teddy” Daniels as he investigates a psychiatric institution on Shutter Island when one of the patients goes missing. This whole thing will make you feel like a rat in a maze.

Mark Ruffalo (Avengers: Age of Ultron), Ben Kingsley (Iron Man 3), Max von Sydow (The Exorcist), and Michelle Williams (The Greatest Showman) are all excellent additions to a film that honestly only needs DiCaprio to shine. His constant questioning and investigation lead him to some particularly interesting and frightening conclusions about the island that can only be further explored by watching the movie, as we don’t want to spoil it for you.

Shutter Island is the most psychologically of Leo’s filmography, with a gripping mystery that will make you question your own sanity when the credits roll.

14. The Great Gatsby (2013)

Another Baz Luhrmann film that English teachers and literature professors can show in their classrooms, The Great Gatsby is based on the F. Scott Fitzgerald novel of the same name. The movie follows Nick (Tobey Maguire, Spider-Man) as he is suddenly thrust into the prohibition-era world of the mysterious Jay Gatsby (DiCaprio), which turns out to be a bit more than he bargained for.

The blend of contemporary music with the Roaring Twenties has been heavily criticized by audiences and critics alike (though it’s nothing new for Luhrmann to combine the past and the contemporary), but DiCaprio’s performance as Gatsby has been praised by most. The cast shines brightly alongside Leo, though he does consistently steal the show, as he should. 

The Great Gatsby is the most committed adaptation of the original novel, which intensifies the drama and glorifies the era in a way other adaptations never have.

15. Blood Diamond (2006)

An Edward Zwick (The Last Samurai) political action thriller, Blood Diamond follows Danny Archer (DiCaprio) and Solomon Vandy (Djimon Hounsou, Gladiator) as they do their best to attain a priceless diamond in the midst of the Sierra Leone Civil War. Jennifer Connelly (Requiem for a Dream) also stars as Maddy Bowen, an American journalist who is trying to expose the illegal diamond trade.

The conflict between Danny and Solomon’s independent motivations for attaining the diamond is pretty intense, just as the majority of this film can be. It doesn’t shy away from showing the ugliness of the war, which is part of why Blood Diamond was so critically acclaimed. DiCaprio and Hounsou were both nominated for various awards for their performances, including the Oscars and Golden Globes.

Blood Diamond is a harsh war story that gets to the beating heart of all political issues and examines those whose lives are forever changed by the conflicts.

16. Revolutionary Road (2008)

One of the most famous romantic dramas in the past 20 years, Revolutionary Road reunites Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet as Frank and April Wheeler, a 1950s couple trying to deal with their own issues as their marriage slowly falls apart. This heartbreaking tale is an interesting follow-up to DiCaprio and Winslet’s previous outing in Titanic, making it clear that they just can’t catch a break.

This one makes you feel all of the feelings and will have you reaching for the tissues. DiCaprio and Winslet take their performances here to the next level. If Titanic was all about finding love, then Revolutionary Road is about trying to stay in love. Director Sam Mendes (Skyfall) does a phenomenal job with these two in a film that will have you questioning if the life you’ve chosen is the right one. 

17. The Beach (2000)

Another young Leo picture, The Beach finds Richard, a traveler and American adventurer, seeking out an island rumored to be a solitary and undiscovered beach paradise. While this film has been heavily panned by critics, with DiCaprio having even been nominated for a Razzie Award for Worst Actor, it honestly doesn’t deserve the bad rap. If you can’t get around the story, at least the landscapes are amazing!

The whole “backpacking through Thailand” thing may be a bit cliche now, but at the time of the film’s release, it was pretty cool. DiCaprio, who is incredibly unlikeable in this film, is excellent as always. While not the best you could get from Danny Boyle (Slumdog Millionaire), The Beach really isn’t that bad and at least gives us another solid Leo performance.

The Beach may not be the perfect DiCaprio movie (let’s be honest though, nothing could follow Titanic), but it’s certainly not his worst.

Roberts has a rich filmography that includes romances, comedies, legal thrillers, and heist flicks that have been beloved by audiences for over four decades. We’ve put together a list of the 12 best Julia Roberts movies of all time!

1. Pretty Woman (1990)

Definitely her most famous role, Pretty Woman stars Julia Roberts alongside Richard Gere (Days of Heaven) in a tale about down-on-her-luck Hollywood prostitute Vivian Ward (Roberts) and the wealthy businessman Edward Lewis (Gere) who spend seven days together. As the week progresses, Vivian and Edward rub off on one another, with Vivian enjoying the “good life” and Edward becoming more straightforward.

This film is a classic, and ultimately, like every good romantic comedy, results in the two of them falling in love as they help one another overcome their own fears and circumstances. Besides a great cast that includes Jason Alexander (Seinfeld) and Héctor Elizondo (The Princess Diaries), the film is all about Roberts, perfectly exhibiting her charm, charisma, and the incredible chemistry between her and Gere that they’d eventually try to find again in Runaway Bride.

2. Erin Brockovich (2000)

A Steven Soderbergh (Logan Lucky) biographical legal drama, Erin Brockovich helped put Roberts on the map as an Academy Award-winning actress. The film, based on the titular character’s true story, follows Brockovich (Roberts) as she fights against an energy corporation’s corrupt contamination of the town of Hinkley’s water supply. Brockovich’s brash and bold “in your face” attitude gets her places no one else can go, proving to be her biggest asset (among other things).

The film is spectacularly directed and stars Aaron Eckhart (The Dark Knight) as Brockovich’s boyfriend George and Albert Finney (Skyfall) as her boss and lawyer Edward L. Masry. As Brockovich flaunts herself to get what she needs so she can raise her children, she stumbles upon this larger human rights issue while working at a legal firm. Her persistence for the truth and desire to make the world a better place for her children is inspiring, making Erin Brockovich a must-watch for any true Julia Roberts fan.

3. Notting Hill (1999)

Notting Hill, written by Richard Curtis (Four Weddings and a Funeral), unites Julia Roberts with Hugh Grant (Love Actually), who plays a young man named Will who accidentally meets Anna (Roberts). As fate would have it, Anna turns out to be the “most famous girl in the world,” and as they continue to see one another, things get pretty complicated pretty quickly, though this doesn’t stop them from trying to make it work.

Not only is the relationship between Will and Anna complicated, but it’s often quite humorous as Will introduces her to his friends and family (who all know who she is) and they work to avoid the press. The funniest character in the film is Will’s flatmate Spike (Rhys Ifans, The Amazing Spider-Man), who is almost always walking around in nothing but his underwear. If you’re looking for a film about a “girl asking a boy to love her,” then Notting Hill is the one for you.

4. My Best Friend’s Wedding (1997)

A wacky rom-com for sure, My Best Friend’s Wedding showcases the crazy side of Roberts. She plays Jules, a late-20-something who realizes she’s in love with her best friend, Michael (Dermot Mulroney, Shameless), right after he gets engaged to the love of his life. Bad timing has never been a more accurate descriptor. As Jules tries desperately to break Michael and Kimmy (Cameron Diaz, Shrek) up, she does some insane things along the way.

My Best Friend’s Wedding is almost the anti-When Harry Met Sally…, but that doesn’t make it any less fun (and sometimes stressful) to watch. Jules aside, her gay friend George (Rupert Everett, An Ideal Husband) is the one who really steals the show when he leads the whole wedding party in a rendition of I Say a Little Prayer, which cleverly comes back in the final act because “by God, there will be dancing.” This realistic representation of unrequited love is an excellent addition to Roberts’ filmography and a must-see.

5. Wonder (2017)

Wonder is a heart-wrenching coming-of-age drama based on the 2012 novel of the same name that follows a young boy with Treacher Collins syndrome named Auggie (Jacob Tremblay, Doctor Sleep) that reminds us “you can’t blend in when you were born to stand out.” Julia Roberts and Owen Wilson (Zoolander) play his incredibly supportive parents, Isabell and Nate Pullman, who do their best to guide him through the rough, and often unforgiving world around him.

This film makes the heart swell and, at times, can bring even the strongest person to tears as we follow Auggie’s journey through middle school. As Auggie struggles to make friends, his mom becomes his biggest cheerleader, encouraging him to keep trying no matter who bullies him. “You really are a wonder, Auggie,” she exclaims. If you’re looking for a film that you can watch with your kids that has a real positive message (and lots of heart), then look no further than Wonder!

6. The Pelican Brief (1994)

A bit of a genre shift, The Pelican Brief is based on a John Grisham novel and stars Roberts as young law student Darby Shaw, who has uncovered a vast criminal conspiracy that involves the deaths of two Supreme Court Justices and has resulted in the death of everyone else who knows. The only person she can trust is Denzel Washington (Training Day), who plays Gray Grantham, an investigative journalist who does everything he can to expose the truth.

Through fiery trials that include multiple assassination attempts, Shaw and Grantham fight to expose this vicious conspiracy before both are taken out for good. Roberts and Washington play off one another excellently, and while this film didn’t make it on our best of Denzel Washington list, his acting chops are on clear display here. Roberts is at her best as she fights hard to escape death and attempt to save others, proving to be a true hero herself.

7. Duplicity (2009)

A Tony Gilroy (The Bourne Identity) romantic crime comedy, Duplicity stars Roberts alongside Clive Owen (Inside Man) as two corporate spies, Claire Stenwick and Ray Koval, who collaborate on a complicated con job, all while juggling their own romantic past. If this sounds a little like Mrs. & Mrs. Smith meets your average heist flick, then think again, as the story is told completely out-of-order, which actually works out really nicely.

Duplicity is a quirky, smart, and real funny spy film that pits Roberts and Owen against each other while remaining on the same side. Their constant back-and-forth is thrilling, keeping each other (and us) guessing as to whether or not they can actually trust one another. The pairing of these two could easily have become a regular thing, and thankfully this isn’t the only film they pair together in.

8. Steel Magnolias (1989)

An adaptation of the 1980s play of the same name, Steel Magnolias has been branded as “the funniest movie that will ever make you cry.” The film follows a group of small-town southern women who learn how to deal with the death of one of their own. With a large ensemble cast that includes Sally Field (The Amazing Spider-Man) and Dolly Parton (Joyful Noise), Roberts plays the eldest child Shelby, who suffers from Type 1 diabetes.

Writer Robert Harling (Laws of Attraction) wrote Roberts’ character based on his own sister who passed away in 1985 of complications from Type 1 diabetes. In fact, the entire original play was written to help Harling cope with his sister’s death. Roberts and the rest of the cast put their heart and souls into this adaptation, bringing this hilariously tragic tale to life.

9. Charle Wilson’s War (1997)

Another biographical comedy-drama, Charlie Wilson’s War stars Tom Hanks (The Post) as Congressman Charlie Wilson opposite Roberts as his friend, romantic interest, and American socialite Joanne Herring. Wilson and CIA operative Gust Avrakotos (Phillip Seymour Hoffman, A Most Wanted Man) cook up a dodgy deal known as Operation Cyclone that leads to the US’s involvement in the Soviet-Afghan War.

With a screenplay by Aaron Sorkin (The West Wing) and direction from Mike Nichols (Carnal Knowledge), Charlie Wilson’s War is an excellent film that shows how spectacular Roberts, Hanks, and Hoffman are at wowing audiences with their unparalleled commitment to their craft. This may not be the most Roberts-heavy film on the list, but she does a damn fine job at making it worth the watch.

10. Mystic Pizza (1988)

As three teenage girls come of age while working at a pizza parlor in the small Connecticut town of Mystic, they end up getting themselves into a lot of trouble. Julia Roberts, Annabeth Gish (Midnight Mass), and Lili Taylor (The Conjuring) star as Daisy, Kat, and “Jojo,” while Matt Damon (The Martian) appears in a smaller capacity in his film debut. Jojo has lost her head, Daisy has lost her mind, and Kat has just lost her heart.

Often labeled a “chick flick,” Mystic Pizza is a lot of fun and very must a product of its time (“it’s the ‘80s!”), but that’s just part of its charm. Gish, Taylor, and Roberts all shine in their respective roles and deal with their own romantic heartaches (or is it headaches?) as well as any late-teen can. Sure it’s cheesy, but this one at least has the guts to put that right in the name.

11. Closer (2014)

A Mike Nichols romantic drama Closer follows four people with very different perspectives on life and love. Roberts plays photographer Anna Cameron who gets together with Larry Gray (Clive Owen), after being set up by Dan Woolf (Jude Law, Sherlock Holmes) after he becomes infatuated with Anna, which torments his girlfriend Alice (Natalie Portman, Black Swan). Confused yet? This one gets pretty complicated as the relationships change, evolve, and devolve into a shell of what they once were.

There are a lot of complex understandings of what love means, the value of intimacy, and the power of sex here in Closer, but that’s what makes this one unique. Roberts does a phenomenal job as always, as she is further accented by her stunning castmates who all wow. Between intense betrayals, love and loss, and continual emotional turmoil, this is one of Roberts’ most interesting films yet.

12. Ocean’s Eleven/Ocean’s Twelve (2001/2004)

A remake of the 1960s classic of the same name, Ocean’s Eleven is one of the most popular (if not the most popular) heist films out there The beginning of a trilogy, the film follows Danny Ocean (George Clooney, O Brother Where Art Thou?) and Rusty Ryan (Brad Pitt, Fight Club) as they plan a grand casino heist that involves them stealing over $150 million from the lover of Ocean’s ex-wife, Tess (Roberts), who is a Las Vegas casino owner (Andy Garcia, The Untouchables). 

This fast-paced and witty film, along with its sequel, Ocean’s Twelve, doesn’t fail to entertain with an extended cast that also includes Matt Damon (The Bourne Identity), Casey Affleck (Manchester by the Sea), and a host of others. Roberts is a huge draw, as always, and plays a funnier role in the sequel in which Tess has to pose as a pregnant Julia Roberts. Yeah, you read that right, it’s great. Sadly, Roberts didn’t return for either Ocean’s Thirteen or Ocean’s Eight, but her work in these two is unparalleled.

While Nicholson has been retired for the past decade, his impact on Hollywood cannot be understated. Having worked with some of the greatest filmmakers from multiple generations, Nicholson has proven time and again how far he can go to help the audience make-believe. Which films should you start with to garner a taste for his genius? Check out our list of the 15 best Jack Nicholson movies ever made.

1. The Shining (1980)

Probably Nicholson’s most recognizable role, The Shining features our star in the role of the crazed aspiring writer/hotel caretaker Jack Torrance. As Torrence and his family, including wife Wendy (Shelley Duvall, Time Bandits) and son Danny (Danny Lloyd), spend the winter in the Colorado Rockies, Torrence’s own sanity begins to deteriorate as the ghosts of the Overlook Hotel begin to reveal themselves.

Based on Stephen King’s best-selling novel, The Shining is not only considered one of the greatest adaptations of King’s work (one he actually didn’t like) but one of the greatest films of all time and one of the most influential horror films ever. Although a sequel, Doctor Sleep, was released in 2019, the original classic remains the greatest triumph relating to King’s original classic.

The Shining is possibly Nicholson’s most intense performance, and ultimately one of his best. The same goes for director Stanley Kubrick (2001: A Space Odyssey), who is at his best behind the camera, bringing Stephen King’s work to life like no other.

2. Chinatown (1974)

Roman Polanski (Rosemary’s Baby) may have a complex history, but there’s no denying the cultural impact and success of his 1974 film Chinatown. Another Nicholson staple, this film follows J.J. “Jakes” Gitties as he exposes an adulterer in 1930s Los Angeles, only to find himself in “a web of deceit, corruption, and murder.” 

Having been nominated for 11 different Oscars, Chinatown is one of the great films of the 70s and one of the best mysteries put to screen. Nicholson is exceptional as always and Faye Dunaway (Little Big Man) is equally as wonderful. Good old Jack even directed and starred in the 1990 sequel The Two Jakes, although it was not a success and is only for true Nicholson fans.

Chinatown is a stellar film-noir that asks some of the toughest questions and gives some of the toughest answers to boot. If you haven’t seen this one yet, make sure to put it on your list!

3. Batman (1989)

If you thought Heath Ledger (The Dark Knight) or Joaquin Phoenix (Joker) were the only two to play the Clown Prince of Crime on the big screen, you’d be gravely mistaken. Jack Nicholson starred as the Joker in the 1989 Tim Burton (Edward Scissorhands) adaptation of Batman. In this feature, a rather serious Batman (Michael Keaton, Birdman) faces off against the entertaining yet deadly Joker.

Nicholson’s Joker has been beloved by Bat fans ever since his debut, but his portrayal has often been overshadowed by the more modern (and darker) interpretations of the character. Nicholson and Burton’s take of the maniacal clown is more a bridge between the 1960s comedic version and Ledger’s darker, Oscar-winning, villain, making it a clever portrayal of the madman that is possibly better than Ledger’s Joker.

Batman is one of the most iconic superhero films ever made (long before the modern Marvel craze), and will have you asking the question: “Have you ever danced with the devil in the pale moonlight?” After this, you’ll be able to answer that one with confidence.

4. One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest (1975)

What happens when a criminal gets himself transferred into a mental institution to avoid the hard labor of the prison system only to be mistreated by his rigid nurse? That’s the question that One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest answers marvelously. Jack Nicholson stars as criminal R.P. Murphy with Louise Fletcher (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine) as the notorious Nurse Mildred Ratchet.

This dark comedy capitalizes on the pre-franchise era of Hollywood when the industry was willing to take risks on more artistic cinema that would still entertain those who watched it. Nicholson is electric as McMurphy, who consistently gets himself (and his friends) into more and more trouble. There’s a reason this one is considered one of the greats.

One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest is one edgy story that will make you laugh, cry, and wonder why for over two hours straight.

5. The Postman Always Rings Twice (1981)

A neo-noir erotic thriller (say that three times fast), The Postman Always Rings Twice may not be the first film that comes to mind when you think of Jack Nicholson, but it should come pretty close. Written by film legend David Mamet (Glengarry Glen Ross), this Depression-era film follows a drifter and a steamy adulterer as they conspire to murder the latter’s own husband.

Nicholson stars as the drifter Frank Chambers opposite Jessica Lange (Grey Gardens), the mistress Cora Smith. Like many of Nicholson’s greatest hits, The Postman Always Rings Twice is a “for mature audiences only” picture, one that explores the sensual relationship between this unwed couple alongside the murderous consequences of their affair. It’s striking and was called “hotter than any uncurbed passion” by Playboy.

The Postman Always Rings Twice will, like all great (erotic) thrillers, make you feel the heat.

6. A Few Good Men (1992)

Few legal dramas are as intense or culturally powerful as A Few Good Men. Written by Aaron Sorkin (The West Wing), directed by Rob Reiner (When Harry Met Sally…), and starring Tom Cruise (Mission: Impossible), Demi Moore (Ghost), and Nicholson, this one will have you searching hard for the truth, no matter the consequences.

The film follows the court-martial of two US Marines who are charged with the murder of a fellow Marine as their lawyers fight hard to defend their clients. Cruise and Moore play Lieutenants Kaffee and Galloway, respectively, and perform masterfully. Nicholson’s role as Colonel Jessup is equally as stunning, especially when he goes on his own self-important rant to avoid answering an important question near the end.

A Few Good Men is an excellent film that features some of the best of the business and is possibly Nicholson’s most powerful performance on screen.

7. Easy Rider (1969)

Nicholson’s first Academy Award nomination (for Best Supporting Actor) actually came from this 1969 “New Hollywood” era film Easy Rider, which was the brainchild of Peter Fonda (3:10 to Yuma) and Dennis Hopper (Waterworld), who also portray the two lead bikers in the film. Nicholson plays the alcoholic lawyer George Hanson who the leads meet when they spend the night in prison.

The plot of Easy Rider revolves around Wyatt (Fonda), who goes by “Captain America,” and Bolly (Hopper), two free-spirited bikers who travel across the American Southwest and the Deep South with the money they’ve made on a recent cocaine deal. Along the way, they meet George Hanson (Nicholson), “an innocent” who travels with them for a while until… well, we won’t spoil it.

Easy Rider is one of those films that changed the tide of Hollywood, ushering it into a new blockbuster era of filmmaking. While Fonda and Hopper are certainly the driving force, Nicholson has often been described as the film’s heart.

8. The Last Detail (1973)

Possibly not a Nicholson movie you’ve ever heard of, The Last Detail is about two Navy sailors who escort a young recruit from their Virginia base to a military prison in Maine. Nicholson plays Billy “Badass” Buddusky alongside Otis Young (Rawhide), who portrays his partner Richard “Mule” Mulhall. Buddysky and Mulhall’s charge, the kleptomaniac Larry Meadows, is played by good old Randy Quaid (National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation).

This dramedy is a hoot as the trio make their way by train up the eastern coast of the US, only to get themselves into a few sticky situations along the way. A particularly funny bit involves Buddusky and Mulhall taking the young Meadows to a whorehouse to lose his virginity. As the two sailors slowly start to grow attached to the young criminal, you will too.

The Last Detail may not be the most popular Nicholson outing, but it still manages to be one of his best.

9. The Departed (2006)

We’ve mentioned this one before as it’s one of the best gangster flicks of recent years, but The Departed is also one of Nicholson’s final roles before his sudden retirement (and easily one of his best). Here, he plays Irish Mob boss Frank Costello, a man coming to the end of his rope. If you love Martin Scorsese (Taxi Driver) films and gangster pictures, then you’ll be all over this one.

The film follows Costello’s mole within the Boston PD, Colin Sullivan (Matt Damon, The Martian), and the cop’s mole Billy Costigan (Leonardo DiCaprio, Inception), who infiltrates Costello’s inner circle. When both sides realize there’s a mole within, they each search to find the other before it’s too late. It gets pretty intense pretty fast. Also, Mark Wahlberg’s character is literally insane and we love him for it!

The Departed is an epic crime thriller that features one of Nicholson’s final performances, sealing the actor’s final impact on Hollywood in a way only he could.

10. The Witches of Eastwick (1987)

Did you know Mad Max director George Miller put Jack Nicholson together with Cher (Moonstruck), Michelle Pfeiffer (Batman Returns), and Susan Sarandon (The Rocky Horror Picture Show) in a movie all about witches? You do now, and it’s about what you’d expect if you’re expecting an irresistibly funny dark fantasy.

The plot revolves around this trio who are completely unaware that the words they speak hold true power until a mysterious man (Nicholson) arrives with his own dark motives and desires for their power. This wacky concept combined with the sleazy seductions that Nicholson brings ends up making The Witches of Eastwick one of Jack Nicholson’s most humorous works.

The Witches of Eastwick puts together some of Hollywood’s most beautiful women, and one lucky devil.

11. Five Easy Pieces (1970)

Nicholson’s filmography doesn’t just include crime dramas, horror flicks, and comedies, with Five Easy Pieces a prime example of his diversity as an actor, playing the role of blue-collar oil rig worker Bobby Dupea. After Dupea learns that his father is dying, he travels with his unruly girlfriend (Karen Black, Easy Rider) to his privileged boyhood home in the state of Washington.

As Five Easy Pieces plays out, Nicholson’s Bobby Dupea is a clear portrait of alienation that works on various levels including social status, financial class, and even in his own family relationships. By the end of the film, Dupea makes his final choice in deciding whether or not to alienate himself from everybody. It’s a powerful choice that closes out the film well.

Five Easy Pieces is a compelling look at the disparities in social and financial classes in America, and one man’s journey towards discovering who he is and his own desires.

12. As Good As It Gets (1997)

Romantic comedies aren’t always the sappy Nicholas Sparks-like stories that many of us roll our eyes and groan at, some of them are actually As Good As It Gets. The film follows a best-selling romance novelist, Melvin Udall (Nicholson), as he learns to get over his homophobia, OCD, and misanthropic attitude towards life in order to finally “get the girl” of his dreams.

Nicholson’s work as Udall is completely convincing, and his awkward relationship with Carol (Helen Hunt, Pay It Forward) helps us to root for this complicated, and questionable, character. His budding friendship with the gay artist Simon (Greg Kinnear, The Stand) manages to do Udall some good, bringing him closer to being a positive influence on New York society.

As Good As It Gets is exactly that as it challenges one’s preconceived notions while also forcing you to embrace the craziness of Melvin Udall.

13. The Pledge (2001)

A neo-noir mystery thriller directed by Sean Penn (Mystic River), The Pledge follows retired Nevada police detective Jerry Black (Nicholson) as he tracks down the killer of a young child. The film is a gripping adaptation of the Swiss novella that was a shelved passion project for Penn and Nicholson for years before they finally had the opportunity to bring it to life.

With a powerful score from Pirates of the Caribbean legends Hans Zimmer and Klaus Badelt, a stellar supporting cast that includes Aaron Eckhart (The Dark Knight), Helen Mirren (Red), Benicio del Toro (Sicario), Mickey Rourke (The Wrestler), and Robin Wright (Wonder Woman), and a haunting performance by Nicholson himself, The Pledge may be one of the most underrated crime thrillers of the past two decades.

The Pledge may be a forgotten thriller, but it continues to pack a serious punch that you, like Jerry Black, might never recover from.

14. Carnal Knowledge (1971)

If you haven’t heard of Carnal Knowledge, then you’re missing out on a fascinating commentary on the lives of two men from their college days through middle age, as it chronicles their sex lives and relationships, juxtaposing each’s approach to the opposite sex. Nicholson plays Jonathan Fuerst opposite Art Garfunkel (Catch-22) who stars as Sandy.

Jonathan and Sandy’s views on women prove to be an interesting character study. Jonathan, on one hand, is an aggressive womanizer who completely objectifies the fairer sex, while Sandy, who is more gentle and passive, idolizes them. Both men face their own fair share of trouble when it comes to dating and relationships, proving that neither approach is particularly healthy.

Carnal Knowledge may be a “for adult eyes only” film, but ironically there’s very little actual sex explored. This one is more an exploration of how their views on women hurt not just the opposite sex, but their own minds as well.

15. About Schmidt (2002)

Lastly, but certainly not least, is About Schmidt. This bizarre comedy-drama follows a recently retired widower Warren Schmidt (Nicholson) on his cross-country travels to his estranged daughter’s wedding to convince her not to marry her pyramid scheming fiance. It’s an oddball comedy that is part heart, part laughs, and all Jack Nicholson.

Schmidt is about what you’d expect from a grumpy old man but with all the charisma of your classic Nicholson character. From trailer park antics to his trouble with the waterbed, Nicholson really sells it as this useless former actuary. All-in-all, About Schmidt is one you’ve got to see for yourself.

About Schmidt is a quirky character study that works because Nicholson is ever the professional and puts his all into every performance.

One thing is clear, Star Wars rankings are usually controversial. This is often due to the complex disparities between critical evaluation, childhood experience, and each person’s own unique tastes. While some may love the prequel or sequel trilogies, others may hate them. Some who grew up on the prequels and sequels today may not even enjoy the originals. Yet, no matter where you stand on Star Wars, there may never be a “definitive” ranking list that will agree with everybody.

So with that, prepare to jump to light speed, and check out this author’s ranking of Star Wars movies from worst to best!

12. Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008)

A backdoor pilot for the series of the same name, Star Wars: The Clone Wars follows Anakin Skywalker (Matt Lanter), Obi-Wan Kenobi (James Arnold Taylor), and Anakin’s apprentice Ahsoka Tano (Ashley Eckstein) as they try and foil the plot of the villainous Count Dooku (Christopher Lee) and his own apprentice Asajj Ventress (Nika Futterman), which includes kidnapping Jabba the Hutt’s son for ransom to turn the gangster against the Galactic Republic.

While there’s no doubt The Clone Wars is aimed specifically at children, if you can get past some of the simple dialogue and mundane plotting (and it can be a lot at times), you can watch this one and jump right to the series afterward. The film plays like an extended episode of the series (which makes sense) rather than a traditional Star Wars epic in its own right. The portrayals of Anakin and Obi-Wan are spot on of course, but the overall story leaves a lot to be desired.

Star Wars: The Clone Wars, which was directed by George Lucas’ apprentice Dave Filoni, is certainly not the best that Star Wars has to offer, but it was an important launchpad that kept Star Wars relevant for years before Disney entered the picture.

11. Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker (2019)

The final conclusion to the “Skywalker Saga” (at least for now), The Rise of Skywalker may have the biggest ensemble cast in all of Star Wars, almost like a Star Wars: Endgame, but with a lot more flaws than the Avengers ever had. The plot revolves around Rey (Daisy Ridley), former Stormtrooper Finn (John Boyega), and pilot Poe Dameron (Oscar Issac) as they make one final stand against the evil First Order, led by the resurrected Palpatine (Ian McDiarmid).

As one of the most expensive films ever made, Episode IX includes some phenomenal action sequences, a triumphant score by John Williams, a final redemption, and not much else really. This one is pretty controversial actually. The epic conclusion resolves the fates of a number of Star Wars staples, including the final post-humous appearance of Carrie Fisher’s General Leia Organa through re-purposed footage (a genuinely nice touch) and Rey’s reveal to be a… Palpatine? Or a Skywalker? Yeah, the ending isn’t the best.

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker is not the finest J.J. Abrams feature (watch Super 8 or Star Trek for his best), and it’s probably not going to be anyone’s favorite Star Wars flick either, but there’s no doubt that it’s the final conclusion to Disney’s latest cash grab, and that’s good!

10. Episode VIII – The Last Jedi (2017)

If you think The Rise of Skywalker being the second worst Star Wars film is controversial, let us introduce you to The Last Jedi. The plot centers around Rey as she finds the exiled Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamil), hoping to convince him to train her to battle Kylo Ren and the First Order. Meanwhile, General Leia Organa, Poe Dammeron, and Finn all deal with an impending First Order strike on their dying fleet.

This film, helmed by Knives Out’s Rian Johnson, has been the most divisive Star Wars feature to ever hit the big screen. With gorgeous cinematography and compelling character performances, you’d think this one would be a hit, but the film’s uncharacteristic portrayal of Skywalker and confusing mixed-messages sort of unravel the whole thing. Through all of this, Kylo Ren and Rey have a strange “Force-time” connection that doesn’t ever really get explained and Finn’s whole quest turns out to be for nothing in the end.

Star Wars: The Last Jedi is certainly the prettiest Star Wars flick, with some phenomenal cinematography and stellar set-pieces that keep your eye glued to the screen. Sadly, much of the film’s plot is retconned within the first 30 minutes of Episode IX, so there’s that.

9. Episode II – Attack of the Clones (2002)

The second in George Lucas’ prequel trilogy, Attack of the Clones, set 10 years after Episode I and before The Clone Wars, continues the “Tragedy of Darth Vader” storyline. The plot deals with a galaxy on the brink of civil war as planetary systems begin to succeed from the Galactic Republic, clone and droid armies are built, and a painful romance between Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen) and Padme Amidala (Natalie Portman) forms.

This film introduces a young Anakin, still years off before his turn to the Dark Side and on his way to becoming a full-fledged Jedi Knight. The excellent master/padawan relationship between Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewen McGregor) and Anakin is the film’s strongest beat. Some great character moments include Anakin’s murderous remorse, Obi-Wan’s investigation of Jango Fett (Temuera Morrison), and the epic battle between Yoda (Frank Oz) and Count Dooku. All that said, the love story is rough and includes some of the worst dialogue in the franchise.

Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones gives us both a horrid romance that is incredibly hard to watch as well as some of the greatest worldbuilding that any Star Wars film has to offer. As the “tragedy of Darth Vader” moves closer to the end, Episode II raises the stakes high.

8. Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999)

George Lucas’ initial return to Star Wars (and his first directorial effort since), The Phantom Menace is the first in the prequel trilogy. The plot involves Qui-Gon Jinn (Liam Neeson) and Obi-Wan Kenobi as they protect Queen Padme Amidala from assassins. On the way, they meet a young Anakin Skywalker (Jake Lloyd) on the desert planet Tatooine who has a connection to the Force that’s unparalleled.

On the surface, the film is pretty great, but between Jar-Jar Binks (Ahmed Best), galactic politics, and some strange character choices, the film came in for heavy criticism. What saves it? The epic “Duel of the Fates,” some producing, and the pure moments between Qui-Gon and Anakin. The beginning of the “Tragedy of Darth Vader” may start off somewhat rocky at points, but it lays a generally solid foundation that remains invaluable for the series greater mythology. But admittedly, the kid who plays the young Skywalker may not be the best in the role.

Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace is a (mostly) solid beginning to an underrated trilogy that expands George Lucas’ original intent with Star Wars, working to combine practical effects with digital technology and furthering the mythology behind Darth Vader.

7. Solo: A Star Wars Story (2017)

The highly controversial Solo: A Star Wars Story is a space Western that serves as a prequel to the original Star Wars. The plot revolves around a young Han Solo (Alden Ehrenreich) after he escapes the Empire alongside best mate Chewbacca (Joonas Suotamo), leading to a team-up with his childhood friend and love-interest Qi’ra (Emilia Clarke), his mentor Tobias Beckett (Woody Harrelson), and the charming Lando Calrissian (Donald Glover). 

Tied with The Rise of Skywalker as the 7th most expensive film ever made, Solo was directed by Willow director Ron Howard and written by Lawerence Kasdan, the man who wrote two original trilogy films and The Force Awakens, and his son Jonathan. If anyone knows how to bring back the scruffy-looking nerf herder, it’s them. Another really controversial Star Wars feature (Disney’s A Star Wars Story anthology films were shelved after this), this one is actually pretty great and provides some extra context to Solo’s life story.

Solo: A Star Wars Story is an underrated outing that greater expands the Star Wars universe. Ehrenreich’s Solo, though no Harrison Ford, is a solid cast for this exciting heist flick that goes back to Star Wars’ space Western roots and sticks the landing.

6. Episode VII – The Force Awakens (2015)

The beginning of Disney’s long-awaited Star Wars sequel trilogy that would pick up after the original trilogy ended back in 1983, The Force Awakens had a lot to live up to. The plot features former Stormtrooper Finn teaming up with Rebel pilot Poe Dammeron and drifter Rey as they stumble upon General Leia Organa, rebel smuggler Han Solo (Harrison Ford), and Chewie (Peter Mayhew), all while trying to evade Kylo Ren and his First Order. 

Between unanswered questions and introducing a new storyline, there is a lot that Episode VII had to do to succeed, and for the most part, it pretty much does. In Disney’s biggest sequel Star Wars hit, we’re introduced to Rey, Finn, Poe, BB-8, and others as the “Skywalker Saga” continues. This is modern Star Wars at its best. Between powerful lightsaber battles and pulse-pounding aerial sequences, J.J. Abrams is at his peak. Rey and Finn feel like real characters here as they navigate this strange world and their own quests.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens provides the very best that the Disney sequel trilogy has to offer, setting up some wonderful stories and character arcs that were (unfortunately) not really paid off. Ignoring that, this nostalgia-fest proves to be one of the best modern Star Wars movies and is well worth the ride.

5. Rouge One: A Star Wars Story (2016)

The first in the Star Wars anthology series, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story is a direct prequel to the original George Lucas classic that brings together a random band of Rebels as they take a shot at the Empire. The plot focuses on Jyn Erso (Felicity Jones), Captain Cassian Andor (Diego Luna), K-2SO (Alan Tudyk), and their crew as they locate and steal the plans to the Death Star while avoiding the death-grip of Darth Vader (James Earl Jones) himself.

Tonally different than most Star Wars movies, Rogue One is a one-off that is very self-contained, with an open-ending that leads directly into the original 1977 space opera. It’s a really great character study on what it means to sacrifice for the greater good. What makes Rogue One so impressive is the exceptional attention to detail when it comes to Star Wars lore and the unique vision of director Gareth Edwards (Godzilla). Though the most impressive instance comes from the digital reconstructions of classic Star Wars characters.

Rouge One: A Star Wars Story may not be a “Skywalker Saga” film, but that doesn’t stop it from being one of the best stories in the Star Wars universe. Between some surprise cameos and that amazing Darth Vader scene (you know the one), there’s a lot to love about this installment.

4. Episode IV – A New Hope (1977)

The original George Lucas classic, Star Wars, often referred to as A New Hope, became an instant cultural phenomenon. The plot is simple: young farmboy Luke Skywalker stumbles upon two droids who hold the message of the young Princess Leia. With the help of the wizened Ben Kenobi (Alec Guinness), Han Solo, and Chewbacca, he confronts the evil Darth Vader before he can rule the galaxy. 

Taking its cues from Westerns, fantasy, and the space operas that inspired Lucas in his youth, Star Wars is just about everything you could ask for when it comes to a science-fiction blockbuster. Luke Skywalker’s hero’s journey will be remembered for ages to come, as will the faithful friends he makes along the way. This is where it all begins. What more can we say about this classic? Luke and Han’s invasion of the Death Star, Leia’s tough-as-nails attitude, and Darth Vader’s frightening presence have all stuck with us since.

Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope is Geroge Lucas’ masterpiece. This film is not only one of the greatest of all time, but one of the most influential. It was the first to teach us to “use the Force,” and we’ve been trying ever since.

3. Episode III – Revenge of the Sith (2005)

The epic conclusion to George Lucas’ original intended vision for the Star Wars saga, Revenge of the Sith chronicles the end of the “Tragedy of Darth Vader” and leads directly into the original 1977 classic. The plot directly follows Obi-Wan and Anakin as they help end the Clone Wars by dispatching Count Dooku, taking out General Grievous (Matthew Wood), and uncovering the identity of the mysterious Sith Lord named Darth Sidious.

This science-fiction spectacle spans countless worlds and ends the Clone Wars with a bang. Between Anakin’s hard fall to the Dark Side, Obi-Wan’s fight for his soul, and the collapse of the entire Jedi Order, Episode III has a lot to offer. The exciting conclusion includes Anakin’s temptation from the light side of the Force by future Emperor Palpatine, who also manages to take on multiple Jedi on his own. This eventually spirals as Anakin has to deal with the possible reality of losing his pregnant wife and the destruction of his friendship with Obi-Wan.

Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith is a pulse-pounding epic conclusion that brings Lucas’ original series (the originals and prequels) full-circle, while still leaving us with the possibility of a new hope to overcome the darkness. Episode III is incredibly underrated.

2. Episode VI – Return of the Jedi (1983)

Maybe not most people’s second pick as their favorite, but Return of the Jedi is Lucas, Kasdan, and the company’s original conclusion to the classic Star Wars saga. The plot sees the Empire’s construction of a second Death Star as the Rebel Alliance makes their final stand against them. Meanwhile, the battle between Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader reaches its epic conclusion as the fate of the galaxy hangs in the balance.

This one includes an incredible duel between Luke and Vader over the fate of the latter’s soul that has gone down in film history as one of the greatest. The opening at Jabba’s Palace sets the stage for the rest of the film, where it’s revealed Luke has graduated into a full-fledged Jedi Knight! Alongside all of that, the trip to the moon of Endor introduces Ewoks, continues the romance between Han and Leia, and initiates the final battle for the galaxy. There’s so much to love here, and, Ewoks aside, this flick is one of the most serious installments.

Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi is all the conclusion to Star Wars that some will ever need. It has it all from an epic space battle to the final duel between father and son that will have you nearly in tears by the end. One thing is for sure, this one really wraps it all up.

1. Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

Objectively the greatest Star Wars film of all time, not to mention one of the greatest science-fiction films of a generation, The Empire Strikes Back took everything that made the original great and made it even better. The plot, set three years after Episode IV, continues the battle between the Empire and the Rebel Alliance as Luke travels with Yoda, while Leia, Han, and the others are on the run from Darth Vader.

Episode V is one of the most exciting films to ever be released into theaters. With more worldbuilding than the original, the steamy romance between Han and Leia, and Luke’s journey to becoming a Jedi finally at hand, there’s just so much to love. The introduction of Lando (Billy Dee Williams), Cloud City, and the final revelatory battle between Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader really puts our heroes in a tight spot, with twists and turns you’d never see coming if it were your first time. What’s more, the whole opening sequence on Hoth is fantastic!

Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back made incredible achievements in film that include one of the greatest plot twists in cinema history. Ultimately, if you want the best from Star Wars, then you’ve come to the right place!