10 Best Movies Of All Time, According To Ranker

When it comes to discussing something as contentious as which movie is the best of all time, it’s always interesting to see the fan’s perspective. Tens of thousands of cinephiles have placed their vote over on Ranker to determine which movie is the greatest ever.

From science fiction and horror to action and animation, the movies in the top ten represent a myriad of genres, proving that fans can appreciate a great film regardless of its stylistic classification. Starring in five of the top six movies, it’s no surprise that actor Tom Hanks is one of the most respected performers of his generation.

10 Back To The Future (1985)

Back To The Future features Michael J. Fox and Christopher Lloyd as high school teenager Marty McFly and his eccentric scientist friend Emmett “Doc” Brown. After accidentally being sent 30 years back in time and interfering with his parents’ relationship, McFly must reunite them before he can return to the future.

This beloved film combined themes of science fiction, drama, and comedy as well as any movie to come before or since. Fox’s charming portrayal of McFly brings relatability to what might otherwise have been seen as a prohibitively cool character, and Lloyd’s “Doc” Brown is a picture-perfect kooky scientist. While the sequels aren’t as heralded, there are many things about the Back to the Future films that still hold up today.

9 The Silence Of The Lambs (1991)

The Silence of the Lambs features Jodie Foster and Anthony Hopkins as FBI trainee Clarice Starling and cannibalistic serial killer Dr. Hannibal Lecter. While hunting a merciless murderer, Agent Starling is directed to enlist the advice of Dr. Lecter, a brilliant former psychiatrist who’s been imprisoned for his crimes.

Becoming only the third film in history to win Oscars for best picture, director, screenplay, actor, and actress, this suspenseful thriller is masterfully crafted from beginning to end. The film’s utilization of intense point-of-view close-ups brings viewers closer to the brooding maliciousness exhibited by the two antagonists. The film expertly creates an atmosphere of dread and tension as Clarice meticulously tracks down a killer with the help of a criminal who is just as worse.

8 The Dark Knight (2008)

The Dark Knight features Christian Bale and Heath Ledger as the caped crusader Batman and the clown prince of crime, the Joker. While trying to rid Gotham City of organized criminals, Batman must also contend with the chaotically malevolent Joker, who endeavors to demonstrate that the people of Gotham are just as cruel as himself.

As the highest-grossing film of 2008, it was instantly recognized as a must-see action blockbuster, and one of the best superhero movies ever made. Fantastic set-pieces, performances, and production raised the standard for superhero movies in the years to follow, and many of the most memorable lines from the Dark Knight trilogy have made their way into the public’s lexicon as a result. A standout in the film is Ledger’s Joker, who possesses inexplicable menace, intelligence, and charisma that made the villain even more popular than ever.

7 The Exorsist (1973)

The Exorcist features Max von Sydow and Ellen Burstyn as Father Lankester Merrin and actress Chris MacNeil. After Chris’s daughter begins exhibiting inexplicable behavior, she calls upon the aid of Catholic priests to perform an exorcism.

As the first horror film to be nominated at the Oscars for Best Picture, this frightening flick shocked and stupefied audiences, and has remained one of the most culturally significant and stylistically influential movies ever made. Disturbingly graphic though some scenes may be, the finely crafted writing of the film elevates it above its contemporaries and earned it an Oscar win for Best Adapted Screenplay.

6 Catch Me If You Can (2002)

Catch Me If You Can features Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hanks as teenaged con artist Frank Abagnale and FBI Agent Carl Hanratty. After running away from home following his parents’ divorce, Abagnale forges fake cheques and new identities, alerting the attention of the seasoned Agent Hanratty.

Based on the semi-autobiographical book of the same name, the historical accuracy of the events depicted in the film has been disputed. Nevertheless, the movie is a terrifically entertaining use of one’s time. DiCaprio and Hanks form an incredible on-screen duo whose few scenes together are true stand-outs, even among the rest of this Steven Spielberg modern-day classic.

5 The Green Mile (1999)

The Green Mile features Tom Hanks and Michael Clarke Duncan as prison guard Paul Edgecomb and death row inmate John Coffey. After Coffey’s arrival sparks the beginning of supernatural occurrences at the prison, Edgecomb begins to question whether or not the inmate is actually guilty.

In his breakthrough role as the gentle giant Coffey, Duncan earned an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor, and other great performances from the likes of Hanks, David Morse, Bonnie Hunt, and Sam Rockwell help the three-hour runtime fly by rather quickly. This heart-wrenchingly emotional tale is powerful in its telling and satisfying in its haunting conclusion.

4 Toy Story (1995)

Toy Story features Tim Allen and Tom Hanks as the pull-string cowboy doll Sheriff Woody Pride and the astronaut action figure Buzz Lightyear. In a world where toys are sentient and live for the affection of their owner, the old toy Woody and new toy Buzz must put aside their rivalry to reunite with their owner after accidentally being left behind.

As the first CGI feature-length animated film, Toy Story is easily one of the most influential animated films of all time. Prior to inspiring three sequels, the first film in the series underwent a turbulent four-year development process before ultimately becoming a smash hit at the box office. It’s no wonder that Toy Story is the highest-rated animated movie franchise on IMDB, as it brings big laughs, big tears, and big action on the back of cutting-edge technology.

3 Saving Private Ryan (1998)

Saving Private Ryan features Tom Hanks and Matt Damon as Army Rangers Captain John H. Miller and paratrooper Private first class James Francis Ryan. After Ryan’s three brothers are killed in action during WWII, Miller is ordered to find him from within Nazi-occupied France, allowing him to safely return to his family in America.

Winning five of its eleven Oscar nominations, this war film was so realistic that the Veterans Department of Affairs created a hotline for “veterans who experience emotional trauma as a result of the movie”. Against the backdrop of young men sacrificing their lives on the beaches of Normandy, grander philosophical questions of sacrifice, fulfillment, and mercy are explored.

2 The Shawshank Redemption (1994)

The Shawshank Redemption features Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman as fellow Shawshank State Penitentiary prisoners Andy Dufresne and Ellis Redding. After being sent to prison for a crime that he insists he didn’t commit, Dufresne befriends the smuggler Redding and endeavors to break out.

Based on a Stephen King novella, his strong narrative groundwork is brought to its fullest potential on the big screen. Robbins’ subdued stoicism and Freeman’s sardonic resignation in response to their character’s circumstances draw audiences into this surprisingly emotional affair. Dufresne’s journey of redemption just may get viewers out of their seats and cheering, as The Shawshank Redemption has many things that still hold up today.

1 Forrest Gump (1994)

Forrest Gump features Tom Hanks and Robin Wright as Alabamians Forrest Gump and Jenny Curran. While waiting at a bus stop in 1981, Forrest recounts the defining moments of life since his childhood in the 1950s, including his interactions with his childhood crush, Jenny.

Watching Gump charmingly stumble his way to meteoric personal success throughout many of the critical crossroads in recent American history is a joy, and the movie switches between being uproariously funny and genuinely dramatic with a flawless balance. Hanks’ earnest portrayal of the sincere, sweet simpleton Gump earned him an Oscar win for his performance, and Wright’s fearlessly vulnerable representation of Jenny is an all-encompassing showcase of the actress’ outstanding talent.

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