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60 Of The Very Best Films Of All Time: From Award Winners To Repeat Watchers
From award winners like 'Titanic' to game changers like 'Get Out'
We know. Rounding up the 'best films of all time' is a difficult task and one for which the results will likely provoke debate, critique and perhaps a straight-up shut down.
But there are some moments in life where you want to see some sort of definitive list and we're more than happy to oblige.
So, ELLE has compiled a list of the very best films of all time, according to a wide-ish consensus, by dividing it up into appropriate sections.
From buzzy 'award winners' to game changers - films that challenged the status quo and won huge plaudits for doing so. To, the ones you can watch on repeat to cheer you up, as well as the lesser known but brilliant films you need to add to your watch list immediately.
Here are of the very best films of all time...
The Award Winners - Notting Hill (1999)
Why? This BAFTA-winning romantic drama gave us one of Julia Roberts' most memorable roles. It follows the love story of a famous Hollywood film star who falls for a British book store owner. An unexpected romance unfolds.
Cast: Julia Roberts, Hugh Grant and Richard McCabe
Director: Roger Michell
Where Can I Watch It? Amazon Prime Video
The Award Winners - Silver Linings Playbook (2012)
Why? This film earned Jennifer Lawrence an Oscar, Golden Globe and Screen Actor's Guild award.
The critically-acclaimed film shows a gripping portrayal of two people struggling with their own psychological battles and striking up a bond in the process.
Lawrence suffers from psychological disorders while co-star Bradley Cooper has his own hardships having spent time in a mental institution. The pair give a believable and touching performance.
Cast: Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence and Rober De Niro.
Director: David O. Russell
Where Can I Watch It: Netflix/Amazon Prime Video
The Award Winners - Pretty Woman (1991)
Why? Julia Roberts stars in a few movies in this list and for good reason. She's one of the most awarded household names in the business. This comedy romance saw her win a 'Best Actress' accolade at the 1991 Oscars.
The film blurs the lines between love and lust, and it shows how romance can unfold in the most unexpected way. Fiercely unapologetic, Roberts' character Vivian Ward depicts a self-assured yet vulnerable woman who takes a chance at love. We can all appreciate that.
Cast: Julia Roberts, Richard Gere and Jason Alexander
Where can I watch it? AMAZON PRIME VIDEO
The Award Winners - Titanic (1997)
Why? The blockbuster broke a whole load of records upon its release, including becoming the first movie to gross $1 billion at the Box Office, garnering the most Oscar nominations ever (tied with All About Eve) and winning the most Academy Awards in another tie with Ben-Hur.
Cast: Like we really need to tell you... Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet, Billy Zane, Kathy Bates and Victor Garber.
Director: James Cameron
Where Can I Watch It? Sky Cinema/NOW TV
The Award Winners - Parasite (2020)
Why? The film scooped the Best Picture Oscar at the 2020 Academy Awards and became the UK's highest grossing foreign language film.
Cast: Kang-ho Song, Sun-kyun Lee, Yeo-jeong Jo and Woo-sik Choi.
Director: Bong Joon-Ho
Where Can I Watch It? Amazon Prime Video
The Award Winners - Good Will Hunting (1997)
Why? Ben Affleck and Matt Damon became overnight sensations when the childhood friends won an Oscar for writing their own screenplay (Affleck became the youngest winner in this category at 25 years old) about a wayward maths genius (Damon) taken under the wing of an MIT professor.
Cast: Affleck, Damon, Robin Williams, Minnie Driver and Stellan Skarsgård.
Director: Gus Van Sant
Where Can I Watch It? Rent on WATCH IT NOW
The Award Winners - BlacKkKlansman (2018)
Why? Legendary director Spike Lee has acknowledged how unbelievable the story of Ron Stallworth - a Black police detective who infiltrated the Ku Klux Klan - is, but spoiler alert, the film is based on his true story. Though the event happened in the 1970s, the film is as relevant as ever today.
The film won the director his first Oscar in 2019 after first being nominated in 1990 and was also awarded the Grand Prix prize at the Cannes Film Festival.
Cast: John David Washington, Adam Driver and Laura Harrier.
Director: Spike Lee, obvs.
Where Can I Watch It? Rent on Amazon Prime Video
The Award Winners - Walk The Line (2005)
Why? Start the film for the story of Johnny Cash and June Carter and stay for the incredible performances, chemistry and talent thanks to Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon (which she won the Best Actress Oscar for).
Cast: Aside from Phoenix and Witherspoon, Ginnifer Goodwin and Robert Patrick also star.
Director: James Mangold.
Where Can I Watch It?SKY CINEMA/NOW TV
The Award Winners - Gladiator (2000)
Why? A cult favourite renowned for sparking a revival of ancient stories in film and TV complete with legendary quotes ('Are you not entertained?'), a Hans Zimmer score and stellar cast performances, the 2000 film won five Oscars, four BAFTAs and two Golden Globes.
Cast: Russell Crowe, Joaquin Phoenix and Connie Nielson.
Director: Ridley Scott
Where Can I Watch It? SKY CINEMA/NOW TV
The Award Winners - The Wolf Of Wall Street (2013)
Why? The film that many thought would bring Leonardo DiCaprio his first Oscar but alas did not, (he did win a Golden Globe though), made a star out of Margot Robbie and showed the world another side to Jonah Hill. All in all, mission accomplished.
Cast: As well as the aforementioned, Matthew McConaughey, Kyle Chandler, Jon Favreau and Joanna Lumley.
Director: Martin Scorsese
Where Can I Watch It? NETFLIX
The Award Winners - The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
Why? Topping IMDB's all time greatest movies list, this film has legendary status in pop culture. Its legacy includes the prison set, which had been intended to be torn down, as a remaining 'Shawshank Trail' tourist attraction in Ohio and in 2015 it was ordered to be preserved in the National Film Registry for its cultural significance.
Cast: Morgan Freeman, Tim Robbins.
Director: Frank Darabont
Where Can I Watch It? SKY CINEMA/NOW TV
The Award Winners - Erin Brockovich (2000)
Why? It's one of Julia Roberts' very best films (she won the Best Actress Oscar, BAFTA and Golden Globe for it) and the true story of Erin Brockovich is fascinating, inspiring and important.
Cast: Roberts, Cherry Jones and Albert Finney.
Director: Steven Soderbergh
Where Can I Watch It? NETFLIX
The Award Winners - Forrest Gump (1994)
Why? The iconic movie takes us through 20th century US history (JFK's presidency, the Vietnam War, the Watergate Scandal to name a few) through the lens of loveable Forrest Gump. Its cultural impact is profound, for example the Bubba Gump Shrimp company which literally came from the film. Awards wise, the film won six Oscars and three Golden Globes.
Cast: Tom Hanks, Robin Wright and Sally Field.
Director: Robert Zemeckis
Where Can I Watch It? SKY CINEMA/NOW TV
The Award Winners - The Departed (2005)
Why?It's got an all-star cast, legendary director and a string of Oscars to its name. Even if the genre isn't your usual cup of tea, you'd be hard pressed to find someone that's seen this film and doesn't rate it.
Cast: Matt Damon, Mark Wahlberg, Leonardo DiCaprio, Jack Nicholson, Ray Winstone, Alec Baldwin, Anthony Anderson and Martin Sheen.
Director: Martin Scorsese
Where Can I Watch It? Rent on AMAZON PRIME VIDEO
The Award Winners - La La Land (2016)
Why? This musical generated huge hype in 2016, tying Titanic's record for the most Oscar nominations (14) and breaking a record for winning all of the seven Golden Globes it was nominated for.
Cast: Emma Stone, Ryan Gosling, John Legend and J.K. Simmons.
Director: Damien Chazelle
Where Can I Watch It? Netflix
The Award Winners - Singin' in The Rain (1952)
Why? It's a classic, stars Gene Kelly, has a legendary dancing scene and is part of cinematic history.
Cast: Kelly, Debbie Reynolds, Rita Moreno.
Director: Kelly and Stanley Donen
Where Can I Watch It? Sky Cinema/NOW TV
The Award Winners - The Lord Of The Rings Franchise (2001)
Why? Largely considered one of the best film franchises of all time, it has won 17 Oscars in total and inspires a devoted following of fans. Many of whom travel to New Zealand to visit the filming locations
Cast: Orlando Bloom, Elijah Wood, Sir Ian McKellen, Liv Tyler, Andy Serkis.
Director: Peter Jackson
Where Can I Watch It? Sky Cinema/NOW TV
The Award Winners - To Kill A Mockingbird (1962)
Why? To watch the Oscar-winning cinema version of one of the greatest stories ever written.
Cast: Gregory Peck, Mary Badham and Brock Peters.
Director: Robert Mulligan
The Award Winners - Slumdog Millionaire (2008)
Why? The movie made waves upon its release in the late noughties, winning eight Oscars and seven BAFTAs.
Cast: Dev Patel, Frida Pinto, Anil Kapoor.
Director: Danny Boyle
Where Can I Watch It? Rent on AMAZON PRIME VIDEO
Olivia Blair is Entertainment Editor (Luxury) at Hearst UK, working across ELLE, Esquire and Harper's Bazaar. Olivia covers all things entertainment and has interviewed the likes of Margot Robbie, Emma Stone, Michaela Coel and Ryan Gosling over the years.
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