These Are My Favorite Films
by tburke85 | created - 20 Nov 2010 | updated - 29 Nov 2010 | PublicThis is a collection of my favorite movies
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1. Inception (2010)
PG-13 | 148 min | Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
A thief who steals corporate secrets through the use of dream-sharing technology is given the inverse task of planting an idea into the mind of a C.E.O., but his tragic past may doom the project and his team to disaster.
Director: Christopher Nolan | Stars: Leonardo DiCaprio, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Elliot Page, Ken Watanabe
Votes: 2,552,653 | Gross: $292.58M
The best and most original movie I've seen this year by acclaimed writer/director Christopher Nolan with a first rate cast who really bring their A game lead by Leonardo DiCaprio.
2. The Dark Knight (2008)
PG-13 | 152 min | Action, Crime, Drama
When the menace known as the Joker wreaks havoc and chaos on the people of Gotham, Batman must accept one of the greatest psychological and physical tests of his ability to fight injustice.
Director: Christopher Nolan | Stars: Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Aaron Eckhart, Michael Caine
Votes: 2,872,655 | Gross: $534.86M
One of the best sequels ever made period. Writer/Director Christopher Nolan gave us a worthy follow up to Batman Begins with a knock out performance by the late Heath Ledger as the sinister Joker. Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Aaron Eckhart, Gary Oldman, Maggie Gyllehaal, and Morgan Freeman are equally impressive in this blockbuster hit sequel. You can't go wrong with a cast like that.
3. Blood Diamond (2006)
R | 143 min | Adventure, Drama, Thriller
A fisherman, a smuggler, and a syndicate of businessmen match wits over the possession of a priceless diamond.
Director: Edward Zwick | Stars: Leonardo DiCaprio, Djimon Hounsou, Jennifer Connelly, Kagiso Kuypers
Votes: 586,405 | Gross: $57.37M
A very well crafted action adventure from director Edward Zwick with great performances by Leonardo DiCaprio, Dijmon Honsou, and Jennifer Connelly as the three leads.
4. The Departed (2006)
R | 151 min | Crime, Drama, Thriller
An undercover cop and a mole in the police attempt to identify each other while infiltrating an Irish gang in South Boston.
Director: Martin Scorsese | Stars: Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Jack Nicholson, Mark Wahlberg
Votes: 1,423,090 | Gross: $132.38M
One of Martin Scoreses best with an all star cast including Leonardo DiCaprion, Matt Damon, Jack Nicholson, Mark Wahlberg, Martin Sheen, Ray Winstone and Alec Baldwin.
5. Batman Begins (2005)
PG-13 | 140 min | Action, Crime, Drama
After witnessing his parents' death, Bruce learns the art of fighting to confront injustice. When he returns to Gotham as Batman, he must stop a secret society that intends to destroy the city.
Director: Christopher Nolan | Stars: Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Ken Watanabe, Liam Neeson
Votes: 1,579,458 | Gross: $206.85M
This is the Batman movie I was waiting for that's just as good as it's exhilirating sequel The Dark Knight. Writer/Director Christopher Nolan did a fantastic job of making this movie who decided to switch the focus from the villains to Bruce Wayne/ Batman and rightfully so. Christian Bale is excellent as the title character making us care just about Bruce as we do The Caped Crusader.
6. The Prestige (2006)
PG-13 | 130 min | Drama, Mystery, Sci-Fi
After a tragic accident, two stage magicians in 1890s London engage in a battle to create the ultimate illusion while sacrificing everything they have to outwit each other.
Director: Christopher Nolan | Stars: Christian Bale, Hugh Jackman, Scarlett Johansson, Michael Caine
Votes: 1,442,099 | Gross: $53.09M
Another superbly crafted moody thriller set at the turn of the 19th century about rival magicians from Christopher Nolan with exceptional performances by Hugh Jackman and Christian Bale as the two leads. Aslo watch out for an equally impressive turn by Michael Caine as Cutter the man behind the scenes who constructs illusion tricks.
7. The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
R | 142 min | Drama
Over the course of several years, two convicts form a friendship, seeking consolation and, eventually, redemption through basic compassion.
Director: Frank Darabont | Stars: Tim Robbins, Morgan Freeman, Bob Gunton, William Sadler
Votes: 2,890,722 | Gross: $28.34M
One of the best Stephen King books brought to the screen with terrific performances by Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman.
8. Training Day (2001)
R | 122 min | Crime, Drama, Thriller
A rookie cop spends his first day as a Los Angeles narcotics officer with a rogue detective who isn't what he appears to be.
Director: Antoine Fuqua | Stars: Denzel Washington, Ethan Hawke, Scott Glenn, Tom Berenger
Votes: 473,178 | Gross: $76.63M
An excellent action crime thriller with Ethan Hawke turning in a solid performance as Jake Hoyt a rookie cop and a big departure from his good guy roles from Denzel Washington who's totally convincing as Alonzo Harris a corrupt charismatic detective.
9. Walk the Line (2005)
PG-13 | 136 min | Biography, Drama, Music
A chronicle of country music legend Johnny Cash's life, from his early days on an Arkansas cotton farm to his rise to fame with Sun Records in Memphis, where he recorded alongside Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Carl Perkins.
Director: James Mangold | Stars: Joaquin Phoenix, Reese Witherspoon, Ginnifer Goodwin, Robert Patrick
Votes: 265,933 | Gross: $119.52M
A great movie based on the life of Johnny Cash who's played effectively by Joaquin Phoenix and also starring Reese Witherspoon in an impressive turn as Johnny's future wife June Carter.
10. Memento (2000)
R | 113 min | Mystery, Thriller
A man with short-term memory loss attempts to track down his wife's murderer.
Director: Christopher Nolan | Stars: Guy Pearce, Carrie-Anne Moss, Joe Pantoliano, Mark Boone Junior
Votes: 1,323,635 | Gross: $25.54M
An interesting original thriller from writer/director Christopher Nolan with equally impressive performances by Guy Pearce, Carrie-Anne Moss, and Joe Pantoliano as the three leads.
11. Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)
R | 137 min | Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
A cyborg, identical to the one who failed to kill Sarah Connor, must now protect her ten year old son John from an even more advanced and powerful cyborg.
Director: James Cameron | Stars: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Linda Hamilton, Edward Furlong, Robert Patrick
Votes: 1,174,810 | Gross: $204.84M
A very well made sci fi action adventure sequel from James Cameron with improved special effects, exhilarating action sequences, and an imposing villain in Robert Patrick's T-1000 despite having little dialog he made up for it with his intimidating presence. Arnold Swarzenegger, Linda Hamilton, and Edward Furlong were all solid also.
12. Spider-Man 2 (2004)
PG-13 | 127 min | Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
Peter Parker is beset with troubles in his failing personal life as he battles a former brilliant scientist named Otto Octavius.
Director: Sam Raimi | Stars: Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst, Alfred Molina, James Franco
Votes: 709,238 | Gross: $373.59M
Another impressive sequel with improved special effects, better action, and a more deadly villain in Alfred Molina's Doc Ock. It's a shame the third film in the series turned out to be the worst of the tirlogy by trying to cram into too many storlines and villains (Venom to name one) who deserved their own movie.
13. United 93 (2006)
R | 111 min | Action, Drama, History
A real-time account of the events on United Flight 93, one of the planes hijacked on September 11th, 2001 that crashed near Shanksville, Pennsylvania when passengers foiled the terrorist plot.
Director: Paul Greengrass | Stars: David Alan Basche, Olivia Thirlby, Liza Colón-Zayas, J.J. Johnson
Votes: 110,961 | Gross: $31.57M
A powerful film about a tragic and devasating day in history that won't ever be forgotten.
14. Shutter Island (2010)
R | 138 min | Drama, Mystery, Thriller
Teddy Daniels and Chuck Aule, two US marshals, are sent to an asylum on a remote island in order to investigate the disappearance of a patient, where Teddy uncovers a shocking truth about the place.
Director: Martin Scorsese | Stars: Leonardo DiCaprio, Emily Mortimer, Mark Ruffalo, Ben Kingsley
Votes: 1,457,937 | Gross: $128.01M
A well crafted suspense thriller with another top notch performance by Leonard DiCaprio who continues to show audiences in this film why he's one of Hollywood's best actors.
15. Transformers (2007)
PG-13 | 144 min | Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
An ancient struggle between two Cybertronian races, the heroic Autobots and the evil Decepticons, comes to Earth, with a clue to the ultimate power held by a teenager.
Director: Michael Bay | Stars: Shia LaBeouf, Megan Fox, Josh Duhamel, Tyrese Gibson
Votes: 675,136 | Gross: $319.25M
Despite it's lack of some character development for the robots of the title (mainly the Decepticons) this sci fi action adventure is still worth the time to watch because of the amazing special effects, exhilarating action sequences, and some small doses of humor that come mostly from Shia LaBeouf as the lead. Unfortunately the sequel Revenge Of The Fallen wasn't that great in comparison.
16. E.T. (1982)
PG | 115 min | Adventure, Family, Sci-Fi
A troubled child summons the courage to help a friendly alien escape from Earth and return to his home planet.
Director: Steven Spielberg | Stars: Henry Thomas, Drew Barrymore, Peter Coyote, Dee Wallace
Votes: 437,754 | Gross: $435.11M
This is the first movie I ever watched as a boy and it still remains as one of my all time favorite films. One of Spielbergs best.
17. Jaws (1975)
PG | 124 min | Adventure, Mystery, Thriller
When a killer shark unleashes chaos on a beach community off Cape Cod, it's up to a local sheriff, a marine biologist, and an old seafarer to hunt the beast down.
Director: Steven Spielberg | Stars: Roy Scheider, Robert Shaw, Richard Dreyfuss, Lorraine Gary
Votes: 659,880 | Gross: $260.00M
This one of the few films I saw as a kid to truly scare me to a point where I was afraid of swimming in the water at the beach. And I sometimes find myself questioning whether or not to go for a swim in the ocean to this day.
18. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
PG-13 | 178 min | Action, Adventure, Drama
A meek Hobbit from the Shire and eight companions set out on a journey to destroy the powerful One Ring and save Middle-earth from the Dark Lord Sauron.
Director: Peter Jackson | Stars: Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Orlando Bloom, Sean Bean
Votes: 2,008,302 | Gross: $315.54M
Director Peter Jackson and the all star cast did an excellent job of bringing this film to life. I felt it was a little overlong with a running time of 3 hours but The Lord Of The Rings is an epic entertaining action adventure despite it's few flaws.
19. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
PG-13 | 201 min | Action, Adventure, Drama
Gandalf and Aragorn lead the World of Men against Sauron's army to draw his gaze from Frodo and Sam as they approach Mount Doom with the One Ring.
Director: Peter Jackson | Stars: Elijah Wood, Viggo Mortensen, Ian McKellen, Orlando Bloom
Votes: 1,980,432 | Gross: $377.85M
Even with a running time of over three hours director Peter Jackson and the whole cast did a great job bringing this third film to life that luckliy avoided the threequel curse. Hopefully the upcoming DarK Knight Rises from acclaimed writer/director Christopher Nolan's Batman series will too when it comes out in 2012.
20. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)
PG-13 | 179 min | Action, Adventure, Drama
While Frodo and Sam edge closer to Mordor with the help of the shifty Gollum, the divided fellowship makes a stand against Sauron's new ally, Saruman, and his hordes of Isengard.
Director: Peter Jackson | Stars: Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Viggo Mortensen, Orlando Bloom
Votes: 1,784,979 | Gross: $342.55M
At almost three hours this second film in the Lord of The Rings Trilogy from director Peter Jackson is pretty good despite some flaws. The movie seemed to be juggling a bit too many characters with some of them getting the short end of the stick and the pacing in this one was slow at times but I still enjoyed it.
21. Identity (2003)
R | 90 min | Mystery, Thriller
Stranded at a desolate Nevada motel during a nasty rain storm, ten strangers become acquainted with each other when they realize that they're being killed off one by one.
Director: James Mangold | Stars: John Cusack, Ray Liotta, Amanda Peet, John Hawkes
Votes: 267,362 | Gross: $52.16M
I thought this was an entertaining thriller from director James Mangold with a good twist ending thats well executed and a talented cast including John Cusuak, Raoul Liotta, and Amelia Peet who give solid performances all around.
22. The Bourne Ultimatum (2007)
PG-13 | 115 min | Action, Mystery, Thriller
Jason Bourne dodges a ruthless C.I.A. official and his Agents from a new assassination program while searching for the origins of his life as a trained killer.
Director: Paul Greengrass | Stars: Matt Damon, Edgar Ramírez, Joan Allen, Julia Stiles
Votes: 658,435 | Gross: $227.47M
The Bourne Ultimatum is one of my favorite threequels that avoided the curse. I can't say the same about Spider-man 3, Pirates of the Caribbean At World's End, and X-Men The Last Stand to name a few though. They're pale in comparison.
23. The Bourne Supremacy (2004)
PG-13 | 108 min | Action, Mystery, Thriller
When Jason Bourne is framed for a CIA operation gone awry, he is forced to resume his former life as a trained assassin to survive.
Director: Paul Greengrass | Stars: Matt Damon, Franka Potente, Joan Allen, Brian Cox
Votes: 487,067 | Gross: $176.24M
The Bourne Supremacy is one of the best sequels ever made. It might not be on par with the Dark Knight or Terminator 2 Judgment Day but I'd say it's just as good as Spider-man 2.
24. The Bourne Identity (2002)
PG-13 | 119 min | Action, Mystery, Thriller
A man is picked up by a fishing boat, bullet-riddled and suffering from amnesia, before racing to elude assassins and attempting to regain his memory.
Director: Doug Liman | Stars: Franka Potente, Matt Damon, Chris Cooper, Clive Owen
Votes: 576,539 | Gross: $121.66M
The Bourne Identity is an entertaining action spy adventure starring Matt Damon who disappears into the role of Jason Bourne. Damon's completely believable as the highly skilled ex CIA assassin on the run with amnesia who suddenly finds himself being relentlessly hunted by the people that he once worked for.
25. Alien (1979)
R | 117 min | Horror, Sci-Fi
The crew of a commercial spacecraft encounters a deadly lifeform after investigating a mysterious transmission of unknown origin.
Director: Ridley Scott | Stars: Sigourney Weaver, Tom Skerritt, John Hurt, Veronica Cartwright
Votes: 951,640 | Gross: $78.90M
One of Ridley's Scott's best a suspenseful sci fi thriller with a terrifying alien villain and a star in the making performance by Sigourney Weaver as the tough heroine Ellen Ripley.
26. Collateral (2004)
R | 120 min | Action, Crime, Drama
A cab driver finds himself the hostage of an engaging contract killer as he makes his rounds from hit to hit during one night in Los Angeles.
Director: Michael Mann | Stars: Tom Cruise, Jamie Foxx, Jada Pinkett Smith, Mark Ruffalo
Votes: 433,315 | Gross: $101.01M
Collateral is a good action crime drama from director Michael Mann. Tom Cruise and Jamie Foxx give strong performances as two very different men who's lives are changed forever after one fateful night.
27. 3:10 to Yuma (2007)
R | 122 min | Action, Crime, Drama
A small-time rancher agrees to hold a captured outlaw who's awaiting a train to go to court in Yuma. A battle of wills ensues as the outlaw tries to psych out the rancher.
Director: James Mangold | Stars: Russell Crowe, Christian Bale, Ben Foster, Logan Lerman
Votes: 331,199 | Gross: $53.61M
I'm not the biggest western fan but this 3:10 To Yuman remake from director James Mangold is very good. Russell Crowe and Christian Bale are solid as the two leads who bring their characters to life.
28. Gladiator (2000)
R | 155 min | Action, Adventure, Drama
A former Roman General sets out to exact vengeance against the corrupt emperor who murdered his family and sent him into slavery.
Director: Ridley Scott | Stars: Russell Crowe, Joaquin Phoenix, Connie Nielsen, Oliver Reed
Votes: 1,621,321 | Gross: $187.71M
Gladiator is an excellent action adventure from director Ridley Scott with an exceptional performance by Russell Crowe as General Maximus Meridius who became a slave, a slave that became a gladiator, and a gladiator that defied an emperor.
29. American Psycho (2000)
R | 102 min | Crime, Drama, Horror
A wealthy New York City investment banking executive, Patrick Bateman, hides his alternate psychopathic ego from his co-workers and friends as he delves deeper into his violent, hedonistic fantasies.
Director: Mary Harron | Stars: Christian Bale, Justin Theroux, Josh Lucas, Bill Sage
Votes: 716,315 | Gross: $15.07M
American Psycho is a twisted thriller with some dark humor and a knock out performance by Christian Bale as Patrick Bateman a rich Wall Street broker who starts to grow a taste for homocide activities that includes using an axe to hack a rival to death and chasing women in his birthday suit with a chain saw.
30. The Hurt Locker (2008)
R | 131 min | Drama, Thriller, War
During the Iraq War, a Sergeant recently assigned to an army bomb squad is put at odds with his squad mates due to his maverick way of handling his work.
Director: Kathryn Bigelow | Stars: Jeremy Renner, Anthony Mackie, Brian Geraghty, Guy Pearce
Votes: 474,003 | Gross: $17.02M
An excellent film that deserved the Best Picture Oscar which takes place in Iraq. Jeremy Renner turns in an impressive performance as a hot shot soldier who finds and diffuses road bombs. The rest of the cast are solid also all around. Look out for cameo appearances by Guy Pearce, David Morse, and Ralph Fiennes.
31. Jurassic Park (1993)
PG-13 | 127 min | Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
A pragmatic paleontologist touring an almost complete theme park on an island in Central America is tasked with protecting a couple of kids after a power failure causes the park's cloned dinosaurs to run loose.
Director: Steven Spielberg | Stars: Sam Neill, Laura Dern, Jeff Goldblum, Richard Attenborough
Votes: 1,067,836 | Gross: $402.45M
Jurassic Park is another one of Spielbergs best with amazing special effects for that time and solid performances by the whole cast. The music by composer John Williams suited the film perfectly. Unfortunately the two sequels that followed in the series weren't the greatest compared to the original.
32. The Matrix (1999)
R | 136 min | Action, Sci-Fi
When a beautiful stranger leads computer hacker Neo to a forbidding underworld, he discovers the shocking truth--the life he knows is the elaborate deception of an evil cyber-intelligence.
Directors: Lana Wachowski, Lilly Wachowski | Stars: Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Carrie-Anne Moss, Hugo Weaving
Votes: 2,054,697 | Gross: $171.48M
A superbly crafted sci fi adventure from the Wachowski brothers with great action, a compelling story, interesting characters, and good performances by the cast. I really wanted to like the two sequels that came after Reloaded and Revolutions but they both were major disappointments in comparison to the original.
33. Forrest Gump (1994)
PG-13 | 142 min | Drama, Romance
The history of the United States from the 1950s to the '70s unfolds from the perspective of an Alabama man with an IQ of 75, who yearns to be reunited with his childhood sweetheart.
Director: Robert Zemeckis | Stars: Tom Hanks, Robin Wright, Gary Sinise, Sally Field
Votes: 2,258,783 | Gross: $330.25M
This is my favorite Robert Zemeckis movie. Tom Hanks turns in an Oscar worthy performance as Forrest Gump a simple minded man who experiences thirty years of our nation's history.
34. Invictus (2009)
PG-13 | 134 min | Biography, Drama, History
Nelson Mandela, in his first term as President of South Africa, initiates a unique venture to unite the Apartheid-torn land: enlist the national rugby team on a mission to win the 1995 Rugby World Cup.
Director: Clint Eastwood | Stars: Morgan Freeman, Matt Damon, Tony Kgoroge, Patrick Mofokeng
Votes: 167,935 | Gross: $37.49M
Clint Eastwood has done it again with Invictus. Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon are excellent as the two leads in this inspirational drama that's much more than just about the sport of rugby.
35. Mystic River (2003)
R | 138 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
The tragic murder of a 19-year-old girl reunites three childhood friends still living in Boston--the victim's gangster father, a detective, and the disturbed man they both suspect of killing her.
Director: Clint Eastwood | Stars: Sean Penn, Tim Robbins, Kevin Bacon, Emmy Rossum
Votes: 486,041 | Gross: $90.14M
Another classic from actor/director Clint Eastwood with a first rate cast including Sean Penn, Tim Robbins, Kevin Bacon, Laurence Fisburne, Marcia Gay Harden, and Laura Linney who give exceptional performances in this mystery crime drama.
36. The Exorcist (1973)
R | 122 min | Horror
When a young girl is possessed by a mysterious entity, her mother seeks the help of two Catholic priests to save her life.
Director: William Friedkin | Stars: Ellen Burstyn, Max von Sydow, Linda Blair, Lee J. Cobb
Votes: 455,266 | Gross: $232.91M
The Exorcist is the only movie besides Stephen Spielberg's Jaws to ever scare me as a child. This is a superbly crafted suspenseful thriller that delves into the supernatural.
37. Scream (1996)
R | 111 min | Horror, Mystery
A year after the murder of her mother, a teenage girl is terrorized by a masked killer who targets her and her friends by using scary movies as part of a deadly game.
Director: Wes Craven | Stars: Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, David Arquette, Skeet Ulrich
Votes: 388,694 | Gross: $103.05M
A solid horror thriller from director Wes Craven. The two sequels that followed were all right but the orginal is better.
38. Stardust (2007)
PG-13 | 127 min | Adventure, Family, Fantasy
In a countryside town bordering on a magical land, a young man makes a promise to his beloved that he'll retrieve a fallen star by venturing into the magical realm.
Director: Matthew Vaughn | Stars: Charlie Cox, Claire Danes, Sienna Miller, Ian McKellen
Votes: 285,350 | Gross: $38.63M
I'm not really into these type of films but this fantasy adventure is actually pretty good. Claire Danes and newcomer Charlie Cox are solid as the two leads. Watch out for Michelle Pfiefer as a sexy dangerous witch who's the villain of the film and Robert DeNiro in a small part as the fearsome Captain of a flying ship with a hilarious secret.
39. Aliens (1986)
R | 137 min | Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
Decades after surviving the Nostromo incident, Ellen Ripley is sent out to re-establish contact with a terraforming colony but finds herself battling the Alien Queen and her offspring.
Director: James Cameron | Stars: Sigourney Weaver, Michael Biehn, Carrie Henn, Paul Reiser
Votes: 763,553 | Gross: $85.16M
A good sequel from James Cameron to Ridley's Scott original sci fi horror classic with another strong performance by Sigourney Weaver. She reprises her role as the tough heroine Ellen Ripley who barely survived the first film and now finds herself facing the same alien creatures as before except this time much, much more.
40. 28 Days Later (2002)
R | 113 min | Drama, Horror, Sci-Fi
Four weeks after a mysterious, incurable virus spreads throughout the UK, a handful of survivors try to find sanctuary.
Director: Danny Boyle | Stars: Cillian Murphy, Naomie Harris, Christopher Eccleston, Alex Palmer
Votes: 446,153 | Gross: $45.06M
An effective apocalyptic horror thriller from director Danny Boyle about a virus that eradicates London and the handful of survivors who desperately try to escape people infected with an uncontrollabe rage which has bascially turned them into fast flesh eating cannibals.
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