Top 5 Movies from Every Decade

I have to admit, when I first began making this thread, I underestimated how difficult it was going to be. It was incredibly hard limiting myself to only 5 films for each decade, but also very fun and satisfying taking a trip through memory lane. These are by no means the best films, just my favorites for many different reasons. Enjoy!

1970's

I'm going to begin here because I just haven't watched many movies pre-70's

Jaws

The movie that made everyone scared to swim in the ocean. Also responsible for giving Great White's a bad reputation they didn't deserve. Still a really great movie with one of the most iconic theme songs ever. da na da na da na...

The Exorcist

Regarded by many as the greatest horror movie of all time. So great it transcended its own genre and was even nominated for an Oscar. Not just arguably the greatest horror movie of all time, but one the the great films, period. Kinda' scary too..

A Clockwork Orange

Stanley Kubrick was way ahead of his time and so was this film. His films are not meant to be watched only once, you need mutliple watches to catch all the nuances, and most of his films aren't fully appreciated until many, many years later. I think he knew that too.

Enter the Dragon

I watched this many times as a kid, and throughout most of my life I thought it was just another Kung Fu movie. Until I watched it again as an adult and realized just how great it actually was. Bruce Lee had a bright future and would have made many more great films.

Star Wars

Not the best one in the series, but I felt I had to pay homage to one of the biggest franchises in history. Just as popular today, if not more, and they have their fingerprints in every corner of entertainment and culture. This franchise will most likely stand the tests of time.

Honorable mention: Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory

1980's

Aah, the eighties.. in my very biased opinion, the greatest decade in history (for obvious reasons). Well at least as far as influence and culture goes. This one was tough.

Aliens

Not to take away from the greatness of the first film, but in my opinion this one was even better. A matter of preference, really. Many films have tried to replicate the mood and atmosphere this film achieved, but I think it's impossible. 30 years later it remains the golden standard.

E.T: the Extra-terrestial

Sticking to the alien theme but going a little more lighthearted. Who doesn't love this movie? If you don't love this movie, you simply have no heart. One of the most likable cast's ever too. A timeless classic.

The Shining

You really have to understand Stanley Kubrick and his approach to making films to fully appreciate his work. He's the nuance king, and always has gems and secrets hidden throughout his films. His films demand mutliple watches and this film only gets better with each. By far the most meticulous filmmaker ever. Oh, and there's this guy named Jack Nicholson in the film.

Back to the Future

Everything about this movie is just really cool and we all wanted to be Marty McFly at one point. The Nike Mag's, the Delorean and the red bubble vest.. need I say more? There's also a lot of conspiracy theories steeped into the film.

Ghostbusters

Probably the most enjoyable film on my list. With possibily the weirdest trio in history. So weird, that it was so perfect. Actually, it was mostly Bill Murray and Dan Aykroyd.. I don't even know the last guys name. Who you gonna' call?

Honorable mention: The Goonies

1990's

This decade was by far the most difficult to choose from. I didn't realize how many great films there were and im torn that some didn't make the list. This was definitely the end of the Golden Age..

Pulp Fiction

Very raw, very gritty and very bold; Quentin Tarantino in a nutshell. This was the first film of his I ever saw - he has such a distinct style that you just know it's a Tarantino film when you're watching it. His films have some of the best soundtracks too.

Terminator 2: Judgement Day

Similar to 'Aliens', the rare moment in cinema history when the sequel is better than its predecessor. Again, not taking anything away from the greatness of the first, but T2 took everything up a notch but still maintained the heart and soul of the film.

Saving Private Ryan

Possibly the greatest WW2 film ever (Dunkirk?)? I remember watching this in class and it leaving such a profound affect on everyone that we couldn't stop talking about it for days. Classic.

Goodfellas

Who doesn't like a good gangster flick? Well, this is one of the better ones with everything the genre has to offer - plus more. Top class performances from top to bottom, with Joe Pesci being the most memorable.

Toy Story

That's right, an animated film, and quite possibly the best one ever too. I used to have this on replay all day when I used to babysit my nephew. I've watched this way more times than I can count. Name a better duo than Woody and Buzz, I bet you can't..

Honorable mention: The Matrix

2000's

Welcome to the new millennium, where society took a really dark turn and began to go downhill.. and fast. Luckily there were still some great films to keep us busy.

Gladiator

This was my favorite movie for a very long time. Russell Crowe and Jaoquin Phoenix, that is all..

The Dark Knight

Thank God for Christopher Nolan. This film revolutionized the industry and set the new bar. Probably why films are not as good anymore.. is this the best superhero movie ever? I think so. And Heathe Ledger went out with one of the greatest performances in history.

Kill Bill: Volume 1

Remember when I said very raw, very gritty and very bold? Take that up a few notches and you've got this film. If there was ever a role that you couldn't see anyone else ever playing, it's gotta be Uma Thurman playing Beatrix Kiddo. The cinematography and art direction was also spectacular in this film.

The Lord of the Rings

I'm going cheat and put the entire trilogy here, because you can't really watch one without the others. This is a masterpiece of epic proportions. And I mean EPIC, try watching the entire trilogy in one sitting.

City of God

Probably the most unrecognizable and unfamiliar film on my list. A little foreign gem from Brazil. I can't say enough good things about this film and it's one of those movies you must watch before you die. So if you haven't already, what are you waiting for?

Honorable mention: Finding Nemo


Wow! That was really fun.. and now I'm really high off nostalgia.. so what do you think of my list?

What are some of your favorites?

Really can't have that list without The Godfather and The Shawshank Redemption.

What happened to Raiders?

There were some really great years for films before Hollywood lost its mojo.

The '80s action craze had some good ones like the Die Hard films and the Lethal Weapon set.

a reply to: intrepid

Oh believe me, those were heavily considered. I left many great films off and went more for personal preference, not what is considered the best films. Both the Godfather trilogy and Shawshank redemption are easily some of the greatest movies ever made.

a reply to: ketsuko

Being only able to pick 5 was very hard!

Die hard almost made the list.

a reply to: knowledgehunter0986

nice list

i dont watch much from 70's and before but the warriors was 1979. have to toss that in

80's i would add big trouble in little china. thats a hard decade cause there was some #ing great films then. john hughes was killing it.
got some goonies and weird science action happening.

killer action flicks

i cant even think about the 90's and beyond. it always changes

when you think about it there were some great films made. tons.
really was a great era for movies imo
the 1980-2000
lots of good #

to be fair lots of real bad # too
all those erotic cop thrillers that were terrible. # with shannon tweed.
she made about a million of them

sea of love with pacino and ellen barkin was good though

a reply to: TinySickTears

Trust me, I wanted to make it top 10 because there were so many film's..

But that would be way too much work!

Big trouble in Little China almost made my list too!!

a reply to: knowledgehunter0986

There are SO many good movies, you're right 5 is really hard.

In no particular order I would have had to add

- Indiana Jones (all 3 original ones)
-Shawshank Redemption
- Forest Gump
- The Sand Lot
- The Bourne Identity
- Independence Day
- Fight Club
- Apocalypto (spelling?)

And being a big Batman fan, I agree. The Dark Knight was fricking awesome. Heath Ledger nailed it.

Great list!


I'd add one, but too many to choose from and way to hard.

a reply to: FauxMulder

It was a great challenge picking only 5, but the process was very satisfying.

Every movie in your list I considered.

a reply to: knowledgehunter0986

great list, but I can't hold myself to only 5 so I'll go nutz ... but no pics, am at work

50's
Rebel Without A Cause
The Ten Commandments
The Bridge Over The River Kwai
Godzilla, King Of Monsters
The Wild One
Creature From The Black Lagoon
Invasion Of The Body Snatchers
20,000 League Under The Sea
The Day The Earth Stood Still
Some Like It Hot

60's
2001
Bonnie & Clyde
The Wild Bunch
Dr. No
Butch Cassidy & The Sundance Kid
Cool Hand Luke
The Pink Panther
The Great Escape
The Odd Couple
The Graduate

70's
The Godfather
The Godfather Part II
Apocalypse Now
Star Wars
Alien
Animal House
Deliverance
Young Frankenstein
Close Encounters Of The Third Kind
Monty Python & The Holy Grail

80's
Raiders OF The Lost Ark
Ghostbusters
Ferris Bueller's Day Off
The Empire Strikes Back
Fast Times At Ridgemont High
Aliens
Die Hard
Blade Runner
The Shining
Raising Arizona

90's
Pulp Fiction
The Big Lebowski
The Matrix
Forrest Gump
Reservoir Dogs
The Shawshank Redemption
The Silence Of The Lambs
Fight Club
American Beauty
Roadracers

2000's
No Country For Old Men
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
There Will Be Blood
The Departed
Snatch
Lord Of The Rings
Pan's Labyrinth
Kill Bill 1 & 2
Casino Royale
Hot Fuzz

2010's
Inception
Mad Max Fury Road
Seven Psychopaths
Deadpool
The Other Guys
Birdman
The Grand Budapest Hotel
Nightcrawler
The Imitation Game
Sicario

a reply to: UncleSoze

Thats a great list

I initially had a list for 2010 too, but it didn't fit and I didn't feel like extending to a second post. Plus 2010 and beyond was very underwhelming. Had pretty much the same films you listed.

1980 's
Maximum Overdrive.

2000's
A Beautiful Mind
A knights Tale

2010's
Priest
Legion

a reply to: ADSE255

I will never knock someone for what they like or enjoy, but Legion and Priest are interesting choices.

originally posted by: knowledgehunter0986
a reply to: ADSE255

I will never knock someone for what they like or enjoy, but Legion and Priest are interesting choices.

Two of the best Paul Bettany movies I've ever seen. The kind of movies you can watch more than once

Fun idea for a thread, Hunter! And great choices and presentation as well. I really pushed myself to come up with one per decade:

20s: Metropolis
30s: Wizard of Oz
40's: Citizen Kane
50's: Rebel Without A Cause
60's: 2001: A Space Odyssey
70's: Apocalypse Now
80's: Scarface
90's: The Big Lebowski
2000's: Momento
2010's: There Will Be Blood

done. whew, that was tough! lots of greats out there- and surely I'm missing some of my all time favorites but if I don't post this now I'll keep second guessing forever.

Jurassic Park for the 90's please.

a reply to: zosimov

Hey zosi.

Great choices.. Scarface was an interesting one.

Especially from the 80's too, there are just too many films to choose from.. picking only 1, I don't think I could do it. 5 was hard enough!

a reply to: knowledgehunter0986

What about The Blues Brothers

www.youtube.com...

I cant believe I didn't see any old school Clint Eastwood no hang em high, no Josie Wales, I didn't see any heart break ridges or right turn Clyde's... I am hyperventilating in an old booze paper bag now