Top 10 Favorite Movies of All-Time

Here’s my first top 10 list!  I thought I’d make it easy the first time around and discuss my favorite movies of all time.  SPOILER ALERT (but you should have seen these by now). Without further ado, here are some pretty awesome movies that just missed the list:

Honorable Mentions

The Prestige (2006)

MovieBabble is a massive Christopher Nolan fan (this won’t be the last time you see one of his movies on this list).  What I love most about this movie is how original the movie is.  How often do you see a movie about magic in the Victorian Era?  Nolan is the star of every one of his movies, and he absolutely shines here.  Powered by a powerful performance from Hugh Jackman (not to mention Christian Bale as his enemy in magic), we see the very realistic fall of a man in a sci-fi movies’ body.  Jackman, driven by envy and rage for his enemy, falls into despair in a very tragic manner that sucks you in.  Plus, it’s always fun when the late David Bowie is the voice of reason in a film!

image via CinemaBlend

The Usual Suspects (1995) 

The Usual Suspects plods along and creates a fascinating heist storyline with the mysterious Keyser Soze looming in the background. However, what really gives this movie its teeth is, you guessed it, the twist. If you thought Kevin Spacey was Keyser Soze, then you’re a liar and I don’t believe anything you say.  A movie that creates and executes such an amazing twist without tipping it off or having a major story hole deserves some type of recognition.

image via 411Mania

No Country For Old Men (2007)

The haunting adaption of the Cormac McCarthy novel is expertly crafted by the Coen Brothers. This film does a great job of creating atmosphere.  Using no score, you are locked into this display of cat and mouse from the second Javier Bardem uses a cattle gun to smash a hole into a man’s head.  Javier Bardem as Anton Chigurh is one of the best villains in film since Darth Vader.  While this does not necessarily feel like a classic Coen Brothers movie, the Coens are too busy dusting off this movie’s win for the best picture Oscar trophy to listen.

image via Washington Free Beacon

The Godfather (1972)

A masterpiece, considered possibly the best movie ever, just misses my list.  I’ll explain why later.

image via Geek Tyrant

Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)

A blend of the fun the MCU has come to offer with the paranoia of a spy thriller, Winter Soldier is a game changer for the MCU as well as superhero movies altogether.  The best MCU movies do a great job of continuing the canon while also standing alone as a great film.  It is filled with great performances (and one of the few solid villains in the MCU in the Winter Soldier and Alexander Pierce) especially from Scarlett Johansson who finally matures into the Black Widow role.

image via EW

Now that we’ve covered the best of the rest, here’s our list:

#10: Memento (2000)

Another one of those crazy endings.  The story of Memento is so intriguing (thank you Nolan).  Wrapping a story around a man who can’t recreate memories is so enticing, but it’s the ending that really sets this movie apart from the rest.  I had a legitimate existential crisis after seeing Guy Pierce condition himself to believe what he wanted to believe.  The two story arcs that merge in the middle is a refreshing, new way of telling a story, and it did not disappoint.

image via Variety

#9: Reservoir Dogs (1992)

Another favorite of MovieBabble is Quentin Tarantino, and he made quite a first impression with Reservoir Dogs.  We came to know all the Tarantino-isms in this movie with his patented truck shots and hyper violence.  One of my favorite scenes of all time is Michael Madsen cutting off the policeman’s ear (need we say more?).  Reservoir Dogs is a closed-quarters classic that really works.

image via Alamo Drafthouse

#8: Se7en (1995)

Se7en might be the moodiest movie ever made.  It’s always dark and rainy and there’s a serial killer running around town killing people in the most vile ways.  But great performances by Brad Pitt, Morgan Freeman, Gwyneth Paltrow (WHAT’S IN THE BOX), and especially Kevin Spacey as John Doe, elevate this crime drama into an all-time classic full of quotable lines and one of the most impactful endings in movie history.

image via All That’s Epic

#7: Forrest Gump (1994)

If you don’t like this movie, then you have a heart of stone.  Forrest Gump is one of the most heart-warming, beautiful movies ever created.  Hell, I even dressed up as Forrest Gump for Halloween.  Tom Hanks injects heart and life into this movie on a journey through time.  It may be the most quotable movie ever.  With a score that can bring you to tears, Forrest Gump is a ride that’ll just make you feel good by the end.

image via Parade

#6: Star Wars: Episode V-The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

Often considered one of the best sequels ever made, Empire expands amazingly on the Star Wars lore while also being a great stand alone movie.  Filled with the characters you came to love from the first incarnation, this movie goes far deeper into each character and provides arguably the best reveal of all time.  Blockbusters continue to take from this movie today for themes, character ideas, and overall storyline and plot.

image via Wookiepedia

#5: Good Will Hunting (1997)

One of the best feel good movies out there, Good Will Hunting lies solely on the shoulders of its main actors, and boy does it deliver.  I’m a massive fan of the Genie, Mrs. Doubtfire, and all other Robin Williams characters, but this one is by far my favorite.  Him talking to Will (Matt Damon) in the park is perfection.  Not only is this a great redemption story for a troubled youth, but also a interesting look into relationships, loss, and friendship; three themes that are undoubtedly timeless.

image via Bustle

#4: The Dark Knight (2008)

If I had Winter Soldier in the honorable mentions, you knew this masterpiece was going to show up at some point.  Nolan’s masterpiece majorly attributed to the superhero boom we see today (and caused some of the problems with today’s DCEU).  It’s gritty and grounded in realism while also offering us the best representation of Batman to date.  Ohh and there’s this “okay” performance from the late Heath Joker as some character called the Joker.

image via Audiences Everywhere

#3: The Godfather: Part II (1974)

In our estimation this is the best sequel of all time.  Not only does it work as a singular film, but it expands upon the original, going deeper and more intimate while having a much broader scope by jumping back and forth from present day in the film to the exploits of a young Vito Corleone.  The themes of family, trust, and betrayal are in full force, and we feel are done even better than the original.

image via The Godfather Wiki

#2: The Shawshank Redemption (1994)

Quite possibly the best “feel good” movie of all time.  Shawshank is all about hope, and it is quite a beautiful thing to behold.  Filled with amazing performances, especially from Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman, Shawshank works every single time you watch it.  It’s on cable television all the time for a reason.  We feel the need to watch it every single time it’s on.  In my humble opinion, I believe it to possess one of the best endings to a movie ever, especially on the beach at the end.  No words are needed to drive the point home, leaving us almost to tears every time we see it.

image via The Telegraph

#1: Pulp Fiction (1994)

Well here it is.  Tarantino has never been better.  From the snappy dialogue to the incredibly memorable scenes, everything works about this movie.  Not only does Tarantino craft an amazing story, but he also gets quite possibly career best performances from both John Travolta and Samuel L. Jackson.  Every scene is memorable and darkly funny (must we remind you of the adrenaline needle?).  In our most humble opinion, we believe that Pulp Fiction has the best opening scene in movie history and it hooks you even after the 100th viewing.  It defines the noir genre and is particularly original from every other movie.

image via Miramax

Thank you for reading! What are you thoughts on our first Top 10 List? What are your Top 10 favorite movies of all time? Comment down below!

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