Establishing a ranking of the best films of all time is a perilous exercise. The journalists who take the risk know full well that there will be many disappointed (more among the spectators than the directors themselves, for that matter).
But the impossibility of being objective in this vast mission (how to compare Sergio Leone to Steven Spielberg or Jimi Hendrix to Eric Clapton in another genre?) is paradoxically liberating. It makes it possible to mix up eras, fashions and genres. This ranking of the best films of all time based on the thousands of votes from Allociné members may seem like you’re going all over the place, but most of these feature films will allow you to have a good time in front of your TV.
Forrest Gump
A dramatic comedy directed by Robert Zemeckis, Forrest Gump was released in 1994. This adaptation of the novel of the same name by Winston Groom (1986) recounts the turbulent history of the United States between the 1950s and the 1980s through the eyes of a “simple-minded”, Forrest Gump, who unwittingly becomes the central actor, even the instigator of the main events of this period in America. Forrest Gump is rewarded by six Oscars of the cinema of which those of best film, best director and best actor (Tom Hanks).
The Green Line
Adapted from Stephen King’s novel, The Green Line (1999) is a film directed by Frank Darabont which stars Paul Edgecomb (Tom Hanks), head warden of Cold Mountain Penitentiary in Louisiana, in 1935. Responsible for ensuring the good capital executions in block E (the green line) while trying to soften the last moments of the condemned, he meets among the condemned a colossus by the name of John Coffey, accused of the rape and murder of two little girls.
Your Name
This animated film by Makoto Shinkai released at the end of 2016 tells the adventures of Mitsuha, a teenager stuck in a traditional family, who dreams of leaving her native mountains to discover the hectic life of Tokyo. She is far from imagining being able to live the urban adventure in the skin of… Taki, a young high school student living in Tokyo. Through her dreams, Mitsuha sees herself literally propelled into the young boy’s life.
Green Book: On the roads of the south
This biographical film directed by Peter Farrelly takes place in 1962, in full segregation. Tony Lip (Viggo Mortensen), an Italian-American bouncer from the Bronx, is hired to lead and protect Dr. Don Shirley (Mahershala Ali), a world-famous black pianist, on a concert tour. On their journey from Manhattan to the Deep South, they must confront humiliations, perceptions and persecutions, while having to find establishments welcoming people of color. A critical and public success, the film was awarded three Oscars in 2019: in particular those for best film and best actor in a supporting role for Mahershala Ali.
Schindler’s List
1993 American historical and drama film directed by Steven Spielberg, Schindler’s List depicts how German industrialist Oskar Schindler (Liam Neeson) during World War II managed to save around 1,200 Jews from the Płaszów concentration camp. , without concealing the failings of a character who is a little ambiguous and seeks to derive material benefit from the situation. Acclaimed by critics, the film was awarded 7 Oscars including those for best film and best director.
12 angry men
American court drama directed by Sidney Lumet released in 1957, 12 Angry Men tells the story of a jury in a criminal trial. Twelve men who must decide, unanimously, on the fate of a young man accused of the murder of his father and risking the death penalty. Eleven members vote guilty, but the decision must be taken unanimously. The juror who voted not guilty (Henry Fonda), summoned to justify himself, explains that he has doubts and that the life of a man deserves a few hours of discussion.
Coconut
The 139th animated feature film produced by Disney (and the 19th by Pixar studios), Coco was released in 2017. The film follows young Miguel, a music lover even though it has been banished from his family for several generations. A real heartbreak for the young boy whose dream is to become a musician as accomplished as his idol, Ernesto de la Cruz. Determined to prove his talent, Miguel, by a strange combination of circumstances, finds himself propelled into a place as astonishing as it is colorful: the Land of the Dead. There, he befriends Hector, a nice boy but a bit of a trickster around the edges. A beautiful story that won two Oscars.
The Godfather
Francis Ford Coppola’s cult trilogy, the first part of which was released in theaters in 1972, follows the Corleones, one of the 5 mafia families in New York in the 1940s. Don Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando), godfather of this family, marries his daughter to a bookmaker. Sollozzo, godfather of the Tattaglia family, offers Don Vito an association in drug trafficking, but he refuses. Sonny, one of his sons, is in favor of it. In order to deal with Sonny, Sollozzo tries to have Don Vito killed, but he escapes. A monument of cinema rewarded with three Oscars including that of best film and best actor (refused by Marlon Brando).
Bohemian Rhapsody
Bryan Singer’s biopic released in 2018 with Rami Malek and Joseph Mazzello tells the story of the mythical group Queen, from the dazzling success of Freddie Mercury to its excesses, risking the near implosion of the group, until its triumphant return on stage during of the Live Aid concert, when he was stricken with illness. Despite some criticism, the film was a hit at the Oscars, winning 4 statuettes including that of best actor for Rami Malek.
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
The final installment of The Lord of the Rings trilogy directed by Peter Jackson chronicles Aragorn’s ascension to the throne of Minas Tirith. The capital of Gondor, a once powerful kingdom attacked by the armies of Sauron, has never needed its king so much. However, will Aragorn find in him the will to fulfill his destiny? As Gandalf struggles to support the broken forces of Gondor, Théoden urges the warriors of Rohan to join the fight. However, despite their courage and loyalty, the forces of Men are no match for the countless legions of enemies. Nominated 11 times for the Oscars, the film won… 11 statuettes.
The Dark Knight
The second installment of the Batman trilogy directed by Christopher Nolan, The Dark Knight was released in 2008. Batman (Christian Bale) is more than ever determined to eradicate the organized crime that sows terror in the city. Supported by Lieutenant Jim Gordon and the Gotham City prosecutor, Harvey Dent, Batman sees his field of action expand. The collaboration of the three men proves to be very effective and does not take long to bear fruit until the Joker (Heath Ledger) comes to plunge the city of Gotham City into chaos. The biggest hit of the year, the film won two Oscars, including Best Supporting Actor for Heath Ledger.
Gran Torino
Directed and produced by Clint Eastwood, who also stars in the lead role, Gran Torino follows Walt Kowalski, a Korean War veteran who has just lost his wife. Alone, misanthropic, grumpy and racist, he jealously watches over his Ford Gran Torino, constantly complaining about the inhabitants of his neighborhood, mostly of Asian origin. One day, his young neighbor, Tao, tries to steal his car under pressure from a gang. Walt soon realizes that the teenager is literally harassed by the young bosses. Coming to Tao’s defense, Walt unwittingly becomes the neighborhood hero. A success with the public and critics, Gran Tornio won the César for best foreign film in 2010.
Django Unchained
This western signed Quentin Tarantino with Jamie Foxx, Christoph Waltz and Leonardo DiCaprio tells the story of a former slave who joins forces with a bounty hunter of German origin who freed him: he agrees to track down criminals with him research. In exchange, he will help him find his long-lost wife, who is also a slave. A breathtaking western rewarded in particular by two Oscars including that of best actor in a supporting role for Christoph Waltz.
The Escapees
This drama by Frank Darabont released in 1994, adapted from the short novel by Stephen King, tells the story of Andy Dufresne (Tim Robbins), a young banker sentenced to life in prison for the murder of his wife and her lover. Despite claiming his innocence, he is imprisoned in Shawshank, the most severe penitentiary in the state of Maine. There he meets Red (Morgan Freeman), a disillusioned man, detained for 20 years. Thus begins a great story of friendship between the two men.
Pulp Fiction
Directed by Quentin Tarantino and released in 1994, this gangster film with an XXL cast (John Travolta, Samuel L. Jackson, Bruce Willis, Uma Thurman, etc.), Palme d’Or at the 1994 Cannes Film Festival, tells the bloody odyssey and burlesque of little thugs in the Hollywood jungle through three intertwining stories. A breathtaking film.
The Lion King
In Pride of Lions, King Mufasa and Queen Sarabi introduce their newborn Simba to the animals. But his uncle Scar is jealous because he too would like to reign. He invents a ruse that will end in the death of the king. The young son, witnessing the death of his father, and believing himself responsible for it, will flee his horde. This incredible animated film by Disney won two Oscars.
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
The first part of Peter Jackson’s trilogy, The Fellowship of the Ring tells the adventures of a young Hobbit, Frodo Baggins (Elijah Wood), who inherits a magic ring. Far from being a simple bauble, it is an instrument of absolute power that would allow Sauron, the Dark Lord, to reign over Middle-earth and enslave its peoples. Frodo must reach the Rift of Fate to destroy the ring. Released in 2001, the film won 4 Oscars.
Lion
This film by Garth Davis released in 2016 tells the true story of Saroo who, at the age of 5, finds himself alone on a train crossing India, taking him despite himself thousands of kilometers from his family. Lost, the little boy must learn to survive alone in the huge city of Calcutta. After months of wandering, he was taken in by an orphanage and adopted by an Australian couple. 25 years later, Saroo has become a true Aussie but still thinks of his family in India.
Fight Club
David Fincher’s 1999 film starring Brad Pitt, Edward Norton and Helena Bonham Carter follows Jack, a young insomniac insurance adjuster, disillusioned with his personal and professional life. When his doctor advises him to undergo therapy in order to put his ill-being into perspective, he meets Marla in a self-help group with whom he manages to find a balance.
Parasite
Unanimous winner of the 2019 Palme d’or, Bong Joon-ho’s film follows the shenanigans of Ki-taek’s family, who are unemployed and have a strong interest in the lifestyle of the wealthy Park family. One day, their son manages to get recommended to give private English lessons to the Parks. This is the beginning of an uncontrollable spiral…
Flight over a cuckoo’s nest
In Milos Forman’s 1976 masterpiece, common-law inmate Randall P. McMurphy (Jack Nicholson) is committed by feigning insanity to escape prison. As soon as he arrives at the psychiatric hospital, he attends the therapeutic treatments dispensed by Miss Ratched, the authoritarian and tyrannical head nurse whose methods he seeks to upset. A moving film which won 5 Oscars: best film, best director, best actor for Jack Nicholson, best actress for Louise Fletcher and best adapted screenplay.
You shall not kill
Ten years after Apocalypto , Mel Gibson is back behind the camera with You Shall Not Kill . The story of Desmond, a young American faced with a dilemma when the Second World War broke out: like any of his compatriots, he wanted to serve his country, but violence was incompatible with his beliefs and moral principles. He resisted even holding a weapon and refused to kill even more.
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
Second part of the saga signed Peter Jackson, The two towers starts after after the death of Boromir and the disappearance of Gandalf. The Community split into three. Lost in the hills of Emyn Muil, Frodo and Sam discover that they are being followed by Gollum, a versatile creature corrupted by the magic ring. Gollum promises to lead the Hobbits to the Black Gate of Mordor. Through Middle-earth, Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli make their way to Rohan, the besieged kingdom of Theoden. 2h 59 of madness and two Oscars at stake.
Gladiator
In 2000, Ridley Scott brilliantly revived the peplum fashion. In this epic tale, Roman general Maximus (Russell Crowe) is Emperor Marcus Aurelius’ staunchest supporter, leading him from victory to victory. Jealous of Maximus’ prestige, and even more so of the Emperor’s love for him, Marcus Aurelius’ son, Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix), brutally assumes power, then orders the general’s arrest and execution. Maximus escapes his assassins, but cannot prevent the slaughter of his family. Captured by a slave trader, he becomes a gladiator and prepares his revenge. A masterpiece rewarded with five Oscars including Best Picture and Best Actor for Russell Crowe.
Once upon a time in America
Last film directed by Sergio Leone in 1984, Once upon a time in America recounts, from Prohibition to the sixties, forty-five years of the dramatic vicissitudes of the mafioso David Aaronson known as “Noodles” (Robert De Niro) and his friends, the Jewish ghetto of their childhood to the highest levels of organized crime in New York. This (very) feature film is the third part of a saga covering several key periods in American history after Once Upon A Time In The West and Once Upon A Time The Revolution .
Interstellar
For this science fiction film, Christopher Nolan brings together an XXL cast including Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Chastain, Michael Caine, Casey Affleck and Matt Damon. The pitch: As the Earth is dying, a team of astronauts navigate a wormhole that has appeared near Saturn and leads to another galaxy, in order to explore a new star system and in the hope of finding a habitable planet and establish a space colony there to save humanity.
Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back
The second episode of the first trilogy (and arguably the best of them all), The Empire Strikes Back picks up after the destruction of the Death Star. the Empire maintains its grip on the galaxy and relentlessly pursues its fight against the Rebel Alliance. Based on the icy planet of Hoth, the Rebels come under attack from Imperial troops. Having managed to escape, Princess Leia, Han Solo, Chewbacca and C-3P0 head for Bespin, the city of clouds ruled by Lando Calrissian, Han’s former companion. The masterpiece of space opera.
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
This great western classic by Sergio Leone pits three men against each other during the Civil War who set off in search of a chest containing 200,000 dollars in gold coins stolen from the Southern army. Tuco (Eli Wallach) knows the treasure is in a cemetery, while Blondie (Clint Eastwood) knows the name inscribed on the tombstone that serves as a cache. Each needs the other. But a third man enters the race: Setenza (Lee Van Cleef), a brute who does not hesitate to massacre women and children to achieve his ends.
Once Upon a Time in the West
This other great classic of Sergio Leone’s western takes place during the conquest of the American West. It evokes the bitter rivalry of interests for the appropriation of land through which the construction of the railway crosses and stages various characters representative of classic westerns to better divert them. An imposing and personal work, a real commercial failure in the United States, unlike Europe, which gave it a triumph.
Seven
In David Fincher’s famous thriller, disillusioned cop Inspector William Somerset (Morgan Freeman) is tasked with teaming up with a young idealist, David Mills (Brad Pitt). They first investigate the murder of an obese man who his killer forced to eat until he died. The investigation has barely begun when a second crime, just as macabre, is committed, then a third. Little by little, the two police officers make the link between all these murders.
