The Godfather
Year Released: 1972
There was no way we could have our list without this crime drama classic from the early 1970s. The film is directed by Francis Ford Coppola and stars Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, and James Caan as members of an infamous Italian American crime family.
The Godfather constantly makes all kinds of “best films of all times” lists, and currently holds a nearly perfect (98%) score on Rotten Tomatoes. It also won a number of prestigious awards, including the Academy Award for Best Picture and the Golden Globe for Best Director.
12 Angry Men
Year Released: 1957 More than 50 critics have pulled together to give this film a perfect 100% fresh score on Rotten Tomatoes. They aren’t the only ones who love this 1957 courtroom drama, either. Roger Ebert gives it a 4/4, and 94% of Google users have rated it positively, as well.
The film was written by Reginald Rose and directed by Sidney Lumet. Shot in a single location, it’s known for its minimalistic filmmaking. The year after its release, it won the Writers Guild of America Award for Best Written Drama, and several decades later in 1997, it was added to the PGA Hall of Fame.
Sherlock Jr.
Year Released: 1924 . And we’re looking back on the 1920s during Hollywood’s silent film era to revisit this silent comedy directed by and starring Buster Keaton. Keaton plays a projectionist who wants to be a detective and finds himself framed for a crime he didn’t commit instead.
Sherlock Jr. holds a 95% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes and is constantly named one of the best films of all time. It’s considered such a classic that it was selected by the Library of Congress for preservation in 1991.
The Godfather: Part II
Year Released: 1974 Two years after the ultra-successful first installment of The Godfather film franchise, the second part was released – and it did not disappoint. Starring the same celebrities and again directed by Coppola, the film brought in $88 million at the box office against a budget of just around $13 million.
Most films on our list were at most around an 8.2 or 8.5/10 on IMDb, but The Godfather: Part II sits at a 9/10, which isn’t an easy feat when it comes to over one million votes. Critics, publications, and audience members across the world continue to dissect it and praise it to this day. In 1975, the film was nominated for 11, and received five Academy Awards including Best Picture and Best Director. It also received several other accolades, which include two National Society of Film Critics Awards.
Under the Skin
Year Released: 2013
Normally, a sci-fi film starring Scarlette Johansson doesn't need much else to get people to come to theaters. This one, however, was a little lost on moviegoers. With a budget of a little over $13 million and a box-office revenue of about $7 million, "Under the Skin" flopped hard.
That being said, critics adored it! The story of a men-eating woman-like alien and her outlook on the human world won accolades up the wazoo and was even listed as number 61 in the BBC list of 100 Greatest Films of the 21st Century! Director Jonathan Glazer was also nominated for numerous awards for his work.