Famous movies

In this blog tag, you’ll find classics of world cinema and films you should watch. Not necessarily the greatest films of all time, but ones of certain relevance among critics and, above all, the audience. But, above all, recommended films that are worth seeing. A series of iconic films that have passed into history due to their uniqueness, great performances, scenes, famous quotes, and moving music.

Because cinema has been with us for over 100 years, since the late 19th and early 20th centuries, initially as entertainment and later elevated to the seventh art. Even though it didn’t resemble what we know today back then, the essence remains. Standards change, forms of storytelling evolve, and lists of best films have to be refreshed very often.

This also happens because the number of produced and released productions has been growing constantly and at an increasingly rapid pace. Secondly, because over time, viewers discover good films that had been missed for some reason. Thirdly, the reverse process also occurs over time, as many great productions fade away, being forgotten when experts prepare the list of favorite films.

Great Cinema Classics: The Top 10 Best Films of All Time

Major websites that compile audience ratings give us a good idea of what is most popular nowadays, encompassing both the past and the present. Sometimes, lesser-known yet valuable films also surface, but they frequently get lost amidst what has resonated most with the audience. This is why we have divided our article into several segments where we analyze productions from different regions and periods, so that everyone can find famous films that are truly worthwhile.

As always, before we delve into the list of most-watched films or the currently most famous films, we want to remind you that discussions about these topics are endless and always rooted in subjectivity (or averages and the number of votes, sometimes resembling a kind of Frankenstein’s creation). Each era has its icons, but for us, they would be The Godfather, 12 Angry Men, The Shawshank Redemption, and Pulp Fiction, among others.

The Shawshank Redemption (1994), directed by Frank Darabont

Nominated for seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture, The Shawshank Redemption is an adaptation of a story by Stephen King. It would take a long time to enumerate the virtues of this brilliantly produced, boldly acted, captivating, and moving film. It’s easier to say that this film basically has no weak points.

Set in the 1940s, the film revolves around a young banker, Andy Dufresne (Tim Robbins), who is unjustly sentenced to life imprisonment in a coincidental trial for the murder of his wife and her lover. He finds himself in Shawshank, a notorious maximum-security prison. The facility is governed by sadistic guards and degenerate criminals. Andy becomes the target of a brutal attack by the gang led by Bogs Diamond (Mark Rolston), and his only ally is an experienced inmate, Ellis “Red” Redding (Morgan Freeman), who fully understands the prison’s realities and can navigate through almost anything within its walls.

The Godfather (1972), directed by Francis Ford Coppola

Winner of three Academy Awards, including Best Picture, The Godfather, with Marlon Brando’s immortal role, is an adaptation of Mario Puzo’s best-selling novel and one of the most famous films in cinema history. The Italian author collaborated on the screenplay with director Francis Ford Coppola, together crafting the myth of the mafia world where honor and loyalty are obligatory, and the gravest crime is betrayal. The beautiful music was composed by the globally renowned Italian composer Nino Rota.

Titanic (1997), directed by James Cameron

Startling, sensual, devoid of irony, Titanic takes itself completely seriously yet not without good humor—a clear reminder of what cinema was like in the mid-90s.

Some might say it hasn’t aged well, but that’s likely because it’s been a while since they’ve seen it and they need to revisit. Because the truth is, aside from being the film with the most Oscars in history (shared, of course), it gives you everything you ask for and more.

Pulp Fiction (1994), directed by Quentin Tarantino

One of Quentin Tarantino’s most famous films, Pulp Fiction is a true cinematic masterpiece. The film received 6 Oscar nominations and a well-deserved statuette for Best Original Screenplay. In Europe, Tarantino also received a Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival. An added advantage of the film is its galaxy of stars in the cast, including Uma Thurman, John Travolta, Samuel L. Jackson, and Bruce Willis.

12 Angry Men (1957), directed by Sidney Lumet

12 Angry Men is a legendary film, long remembered and often cited, even by those who have never seen it. This film shattered one of the most enduring stereotypes that shape the image of what cinema is.

An apparently simple piece, in black and white, mostly set within the four walls of the jury room where the twelve jurors must deliver a verdict on a trial whose details we learn as the discussions unfold.

Deliberations are long and tumultuous, as though only one of the twelve has doubts about the defendant’s guilt for murder, he gradually persuades the others or at least plants the seed of doubt in them. It’s a drama of arguments expressed verbally, a purely intellectual character dispute, devoid of visual appeal, but with exquisite acting and assured direction.

Schindler’s List (1993), directed by Steven Spielberg

Schindler’s List is one of the most famous films in history, focusing on the biography of Oskar Schindler. Based on true events, the film recounts World War II events centered around Nazi concentration camps.

The central character is the aforementioned German industrialist Oskar Schindler (superbly played by Liam Neeson), who, thanks to his accountant (Ben Kingsley) and his innate cunning, saved over 1,000 Jews in German-occupied Poland from extermination.

Forrest Gump (1994), directed by Robert Zemeckis

Winner of six Academy Awards, Forrest Gump is one of the most significant films of the 1990s. The film, a warm and humorous portrayal of life in the United States in the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s, was an astonishing box office success and boasts a spectacular soundtrack. It’s directed by Robert Zemeckis, the creator of hits like Back to the Future and Death Becomes Her.

Gladiator (2000), directed by Ridley Scott

Ancient Rome comes to life with stunning detail in Ridley Scott’s historical epic, showcasing the esteemed filmmaker at his sublime best. Truly monumental in both its ambitious scope and the scale of its production, Gladiator easily ranks among the finest spectacles to grace the silver screen, an extraordinary accomplishment within its genre that not only excels in technical aspects but also in storytelling, succeeding as a true cinematic masterpiece on all fronts.

On a grand scale, Gladiator lives up to its history, being thematically rich, technically accomplished, and spectacularly entertaining from start to finish. Cleverly directed, skillfully written, magnificently photographed, intelligently edited, superbly scored, and strongly performed, this epic is captivating from its opening frame, meticulously crafted and detailed, and benefits immensely from a filmmaker confidently in control. Holding nothing back, replete with memorable quotes and numerous standout moments throughout its runtime, Gladiator is a cinematic treasure deserving of all its accolades. A hundred percent recommended.

The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003), directed by Peter Jackson

The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King is Peter Jackson’s adaptation of the final installment in J.R.R. Tolkien’s book series. Breathtaking in its battle scenes, stunning landscapes, and meticulously constructed drama, the film secured eleven Academy Awards. Previously, only the creators of Ben-Hur and the aforementioned Titanic achieved this.

In The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, the people of Middle-earth brace themselves for the ultimate battle that will determine the fate of the world. Gandalf the White (Ian McKellen) rallies the scattered forces of Gondor and Rohan to fight. More than ever, the people need a leader to unite them. The only remaining heir to the throne, Aragorn (Viggo Mortensen), must find the inner strength to claim the crown and fulfill his destiny. Meanwhile, Frodo (Elijah Wood) and Sam (Sean Astin) draw closer to Mordor. The wretched and insidious Gollum, leading them, still hopes to reclaim the coveted Ring.

The Matrix (1999), directed by Lilly Wachowski and Lana Wachowski

Prior to The Matrix, action films were entirely different. We still remember how those of us who had the chance to watch it felt it was something utterly unique. And that’s because The Matrix created an entirely new language for filming fight sequences, chases, and shootouts. It remains, to this day, one of the favorite science fiction films among general audiences.

A film by and for those who are lost in the hive mind of genre and culture, of simulation and simulacra, a computerized entity of formless formalism entrusted with control and silence. The Wachowski siblings, in their understanding of estrangement, identity, and liberation, find beauty through expression, whether through action or the lack thereof. What matters is that the decision lies with the protagonists.

You cannot be The One until you are, with the understanding that you have always been and always will be Yourself. Your own person. An understanding of sexuality, self-awareness, and self-esteem. Recognizing that social constructs are just that, and it’s time to create your own if you deem it appropriate. Being different from anyone else. Able to see the code, pierce its thin digitized atmosphere, and implode it from the root of its nature, enough to split the exterior in two, burning in fragments of light and digital fabric. A masterpiece that, in its myriad influences ranging from High Noon to Ghost in the Shell, still respects and loves itself.