Top 30 Favorite Films
by ImagineMarvelDragons | created - 03 Sep 2014 | updated - 18 Nov 2019 | PublicOf all time, in order... more or less (I alternate the top 10 or so around every now and then). Subject to change as I get older, fads pass, and new movies are released.
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1. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
PG-13 | 201 min | Action, Adventure, Drama
Gandalf and Aragorn lead the World of Men against Sauron's army to draw his gaze from Frodo and Sam as they approach Mount Doom with the One Ring.
Director: Peter Jackson | Stars: Elijah Wood, Viggo Mortensen, Ian McKellen, Orlando Bloom
Votes: 1,979,649 | Gross: $377.85M
This includes all 3 "Lord of the Rings" films. I can't get enough of Middle Earth; love the writing style of J.R.R. Tolkien and am pleased with the movie adaptions.
2. Jesus of Nazareth (1977)
TV-G | 96 min | Biography, Drama, History
Beginning before the Nativity and extending through the Crucifixion and Resurrection, this mini-series brings to life all of the sweeping drama in the life of Jesus, as told by the Gospels.
Stars: Robert Powell, Olivia Hussey, Laurence Olivier, James Mason
Votes: 24,865
Why can't they make movies like this anymore? This film is so well done and a pleasure to watch. Love the cast, their acting, and the Scriptural accuracy of the film.
3. The Avengers (2012)
PG-13 | 143 min | Action, Sci-Fi
Earth's mightiest heroes must come together and learn to fight as a team if they are going to stop the mischievous Loki and his alien army from enslaving humanity.
Director: Joss Whedon | Stars: Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner
Votes: 1,459,591 | Gross: $623.28M
Although the second one was a let-down, The Avengers (2012) continues to be a joy to watch.
4. The Greatest Showman (2017)
PG | 105 min | Biography, Drama, Musical
Celebrates the birth of show business and tells of a visionary who rose from nothing to create a spectacle that became a worldwide sensation.
Director: Michael Gracey | Stars: Hugh Jackman, Michelle Williams, Zac Efron, Zendaya
Votes: 311,587 | Gross: $174.34M
Easily the best modern musical. I love everything about it: the characters, the story, the conflict, the songs, the actual singing, the underlying message, the choreography, the everything. I'm not even big on musicals, but this movie is absolutely beautiful.
5. Pride & Prejudice (2005)
PG | 129 min | Drama, Romance
Sparks fly when spirited Elizabeth Bennet meets single, rich, and proud Mr. Darcy. But Mr. Darcy reluctantly finds himself falling in love with a woman beneath his class. Can each overcome their own pride and prejudice?
Director: Joe Wright | Stars: Keira Knightley, Matthew Macfadyen, Brenda Blethyn, Donald Sutherland
Votes: 330,811 | Gross: $38.41M
Favorite rendition of Jane Austin's endearing novel. The acting is superb.
6. Captain America: Civil War (2016)
PG-13 | 147 min | Action, Sci-Fi
Political involvement in the Avengers' affairs causes a rift between Captain America and Iron Man.
Directors: Anthony Russo, Joe Russo | Stars: Chris Evans, Robert Downey Jr., Scarlett Johansson, Sebastian Stan
Votes: 850,198 | Gross: $408.08M
Wow this movie was intense. Everything about it was done so well. #TeamCap
7. Christopher Robin (2018)
PG | 104 min | Adventure, Comedy, Drama
A working-class family man, Christopher Robin, encounters his childhood friend Winnie-the-Pooh, who helps him to rediscover the joys of life.
Director: Marc Forster | Stars: Ewan McGregor, Hayley Atwell, Bronte Carmichael, Mark Gatiss
Votes: 84,840 | Gross: $99.22M
If this isn't the cutest movie I've ever seen, I don't know what is.
8. Cinderella (I) (2015)
PG | 105 min | Adventure, Drama, Family
When her father unexpectedly dies, young Ella finds herself at the mercy of her cruel stepmother and her scheming stepsisters. Never one to give up hope, Ella's fortunes begin to change after meeting a dashing stranger.
Director: Kenneth Branagh | Stars: Lily James, Cate Blanchett, Richard Madden, Helena Bonham Carter
Votes: 190,766 | Gross: $201.15M
This movie is genuinely sweet. You outdid yourself Disney.
9. Sherlock Holmes (2009)
PG-13 | 128 min | Action, Adventure, Mystery
Detective Sherlock Holmes and his stalwart partner Watson engage in a battle of wits and brawn with a nemesis whose plot is a threat to all of England.
Director: Guy Ritchie | Stars: Robert Downey Jr., Jude Law, Rachel McAdams, Mark Strong
Votes: 671,168 | Gross: $209.03M
Here's to hoping they make a 3rd movie soon.
10. Avengers: Endgame (2019)
PG-13 | 181 min | Action, Adventure, Drama
After the devastating events of Avengers: Infinity War (2018), the universe is in ruins. With the help of remaining allies, the Avengers assemble once more in order to reverse Thanos' actions and restore balance to the universe.
Directors: Anthony Russo, Joe Russo | Stars: Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth
Votes: 1,266,254 | Gross: $858.37M
I know, I already have too many Marvel movies on here, but c'mon, this was so good.
11. White Christmas (1954)
Not Rated | 120 min | Comedy, Musical, Romance
A successful song-and-dance team become romantically involved with a sister act and team up to save the failing Vermont inn of their former commanding general.
Director: Michael Curtiz | Stars: Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney, Vera-Ellen
Votes: 51,132 | Gross: $30.00M
Classic Christmas film endowed with beautiful singing and wonderful dancing.
12. Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)
PG-13 | 136 min | Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
As Steve Rogers struggles to embrace his role in the modern world, he teams up with a fellow Avenger and S.H.I.E.L.D agent, Black Widow, to battle a new threat from history: an assassin known as the Winter Soldier.
Directors: Anthony Russo, Joe Russo | Stars: Chris Evans, Samuel L. Jackson, Scarlett Johansson, Robert Redford
Votes: 899,292 | Gross: $259.77M
13. Elf (2003)
PG | 97 min | Adventure, Comedy, Family
Raised as an oversized elf, Buddy travels from the North Pole to New York City to meet his biological father, Walter Hobbs, who doesn't know he exists and is in desperate need of some Christmas spirit.
Director: Jon Favreau | Stars: Will Ferrell, James Caan, Bob Newhart, Zooey Deschanel
Votes: 310,825 | Gross: $173.40M
Favorite Christmas movie of all time (well maybe besides White Christmas... it's hard to beat a classic). Watch it every Christmas season as well as occasionally during non-Christmas season.
14. Leap Year (2010)
PG | 100 min | Comedy, Romance
Anna Brady plans to travel to Dublin, Ireland to propose to her boyfriend Jeremy on February 29, leap day, because, according to Irish tradition, a man who receives a marriage proposal on a leap day must accept it.
Director: Anand Tucker | Stars: Amy Adams, Matthew Goode, Adam Scott, John Lithgow
Votes: 110,688 | Gross: $25.92M
This movie is like the entirely perfect "fan-fic" I never knew I wanted. Have also seen too many times to count. Sadly, however, this movie is underrated; it is beautiful in its simplicity.
15. A Christmas Carol (1984 TV Movie)
PG | 100 min | Drama, Family, Fantasy
A bitter old miser who rationalizes his uncaring nature learns real compassion when three spirits visit him on Christmas Eve.
Director: Clive Donner | Stars: George C. Scott, Frank Finlay, Angela Pleasence, Edward Woodward
Votes: 18,343
George C. Scott is brilliant in this rendition of "A Christmas Carol"
16. Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (2011)
PG-13 | 129 min | Action, Adventure, Mystery
Detective Sherlock Holmes is on the trail of criminal mastermind Professor Moriarty, who is carrying out a string of random crimes across Europe.
Director: Guy Ritchie | Stars: Robert Downey Jr., Jude Law, Jared Harris, Rachel McAdams
Votes: 480,554 | Gross: $186.85M
Love almost equally the same as the first film.
17. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)
PG-13 | 143 min | Action, Adventure, Fantasy
Blacksmith Will Turner teams up with eccentric pirate "Captain" Jack Sparrow to save his love, the governor's daughter, from Jack's former pirate allies, who are now undead.
Director: Gore Verbinski | Stars: Johnny Depp, Geoffrey Rush, Orlando Bloom, Keira Knightley
Votes: 1,210,728 | Gross: $305.41M
Order of favorite to least:
-Curse of the Black Pearl
-Dead Man's Chest
-On Stranger Tides
-Dead Men Tell No Tales
-At World's End
18. Padre Pio (2000 TV Movie)
PG-13 | 202 min | Biography, Drama
The poor Italian peasant boy Francesco already has visions of Jesus and Mary as a child, but the Devil visits him too. Francesco is quite certain that he will become a priest. After ... See full summary »
Director: Carlo Carlei | Stars: Sergio Castellitto, Jürgen Prochnow, Lorenza Indovina, Pierfrancesco Favino
Votes: 992
Closely accurate depiction of Saint Pio of Pietrelcina from all that I've read (and I've read and continue to read plenty of Padre Pio related books). Really enjoy watching this film of my patron saint.
19. The Rite (2011)
PG-13 | 114 min | Drama, Horror, Mystery
American seminary student Michael Kovak travels to Italy to take an exorcism course.
Director: Mikael Håfström | Stars: Colin O'Donoghue, Anthony Hopkins, Ciarán Hinds, Alice Braga
Votes: 102,650 | Gross: $33.05M
Good messages in this film. Seen it too many times to count.
20. Thor (2011)
PG-13 | 115 min | Action, Fantasy
The powerful but arrogant god Thor is cast out of Asgard to live amongst humans in Midgard (Earth), where he soon becomes one of their finest defenders.
Director: Kenneth Branagh | Stars: Chris Hemsworth, Anthony Hopkins, Natalie Portman, Tom Hiddleston
Votes: 900,356 | Gross: $181.03M
Still regret not watching this in theaters.
21. Little Women (1994)
PG | 115 min | Drama, Family, Romance
The March sisters live and grow in post-Civil War America.
Director: Gillian Armstrong | Stars: Susan Sarandon, Winona Ryder, Kirsten Dunst, Claire Danes
Votes: 63,601 | Gross: $50.08M
Best adaption of Louisa May Alcott's classic. Really enjoy Winona Ryder's portrayal of Jo March.
22. It's a Wonderful Life (1946)
PG | 130 min | Drama, Family, Fantasy
An angel is sent from Heaven to help a desperately frustrated businessman by showing him what life would have been like if he had never existed.
Director: Frank Capra | Stars: James Stewart, Donna Reed, Lionel Barrymore, Thomas Mitchell
Votes: 499,219
It's a Wonderful Film
23. The Sound of Music (1965)
G | 172 min | Biography, Drama, Family
A young novice is sent by her convent in 1930s Austria to become a governess to the seven children of a widowed naval officer.
Director: Robert Wise | Stars: Julie Andrews, Christopher Plummer, Eleanor Parker, Richard Haydn
Votes: 261,114 | Gross: $163.21M
I will never tire of this movie, it is an enduring classic that I will enjoy the 100th time watching as much as the 1st.
24. The Book Thief (2013)
PG-13 | 131 min | Drama, War
While subjected to the horrors of World War II Germany, young Liesel finds solace by stealing books and sharing them with others. In the basement of her home, a Jewish refugee is being protected by her adoptive parents.
Director: Brian Percival | Stars: Sophie Nélisse, Geoffrey Rush, Emily Watson, Ben Schnetzer
Votes: 142,317 | Gross: $21.49M
I actually enjoyed the film more than I did the book; that is an extremely rare occasion.
25. The Giver (2014)
PG-13 | 97 min | Drama, Romance, Sci-Fi
In a seemingly perfect community without war, pain, suffering, differences or choices, a young boy is chosen to learn from an elderly man, the true pain and pleasure of the "real" world.
Director: Phillip Noyce | Stars: Brenton Thwaites, Jeff Bridges, Meryl Streep, Taylor Swift
Votes: 125,636 | Gross: $45.09M
Love the strong messages in this movie. Would recommend it to anyone.
26. Mr. Church (2016)
PG-13 | 104 min | Comedy, Drama
"Mr. Church" tells the story of a unique friendship that develops when a little girl and her dying mother retain the services of a talented cook - Henry Joseph Church. What begins as a six month arrangement instead spans into fifteen years and creates a family bond that lasts forever.
Director: Bruce Beresford | Stars: Eddie Murphy, Britt Robertson, Natascha McElhone, Xavier Samuel
Votes: 31,269 | Gross: $0.69M
Going in, I had no idea what his movie was about. But I was surprised by how good it was.
27. Clash of the Titans (2010)
PG-13 | 106 min | Action, Adventure, Fantasy
Perseus, a demigod and the son of Zeus, battles the minions of Hades and the Underworld in order to stop them from conquering Olympus and Earth.
Director: Louis Leterrier | Stars: Sam Worthington, Liam Neeson, Ralph Fiennes, Jason Flemyng
Votes: 292,760 | Gross: $163.21M
Not sure why this film received so many unpleasant reviews. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
28. August Rush (2007)
PG | 114 min | Drama, Music
A musically gifted orphan, Evan, runs away from his orphanage and searches New York City for his birth parents. On his journey, he's taken under the wing of the Wizard, a homeless man who lives in an abandoned theater.
Director: Kirsten Sheridan | Stars: Freddie Highmore, Keri Russell, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Terrence Howard
Votes: 111,107 | Gross: $31.66M
A must-see.
29. The Ten Commandments (1956)
G | 220 min | Adventure, Drama, Family
Moses, raised as a prince of Egypt in the Pharaoh's household, learns of his true heritage as a Hebrew and his divine mission as the deliverer of his people from slavery.
Director: Cecil B. DeMille | Stars: Charlton Heston, Yul Brynner, Anne Baxter, Edward G. Robinson
Votes: 77,885 | Gross: $93.74M
The world needs more movies like this.
30. Back to the Future (1985)
PG | 116 min | Adventure, Comedy, Sci-Fi
Marty McFly, a 17-year-old high school student, is accidentally sent 30 years into the past in a time-traveling DeLorean invented by his close friend, the maverick scientist Doc Brown.
Director: Robert Zemeckis | Stars: Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Lea Thompson, Crispin Glover
Votes: 1,307,160 | Gross: $210.61M
Love all three "Back to the Future" films.
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