Great Movies You Forgot About

From Sergio Leone, starring Clint Eastwood, Eli Wallach, Lee Van Cleef, Aldo Giuffrè
Rated R

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly is a 1966 classic western directed by Sergio Leone. Set during the American Civil War, the story follows a trio of gunslingers, "The Good" (Clint Eastwood), "The Bad" (Lee Van Cleef) and "The Ugly" (Eli Wallach). The three seek a hidden fortune in Confederate gold, leading them on an epic adventure filled with dangerous standoffs and deadly confrontations. Along the way, the three men must outwit and outmaneuver each other in order to be the one to find the gold and come out on top.

From Martin Scorsese, starring Robert De Niro, Ray Liotta, Joe Pesci, Lorraine Bracco
Rated R

Goodfellas is a crime drama directed by Martin Scorsese that follows the story of Henry Hill, an Italian American mobster who works his way up the ranks of the American Mafia. The film follows Henry as he works his way up the criminal ladder, eventually becoming a powerful mobster in the Lucchese crime family. Through his association with his mentor, Paulie Cicero, he becomes involved in the violent and dangerous world of organized crime in New York. Along the way, he meets Tommy DeVito and Jimmy Conway, who become his close associates. As Henry continues to gain power and wealth, he realizes his dream of becoming a made man, and the consequences of his actions begin to catch up with him, leading to his eventual arrest and conviction. The film follows Henry's journey through the criminal underworld, exploring the relationships, loyalty, and violence that exist within the Mafia. The film also features Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci, and Lorraine Bracco in supporting roles.

From David Fincher, starring Morgan Freeman, Brad Pitt, Kevin Spacey, Andrew Kevin Walker
Rated R

Se7en is a psychological crime thriller directed by David Fincher and starring Morgan Freeman, Brad Pitt, and Kevin Spacey. The film follows two police detectives, William Somerset (Freeman) and David Mills (Pitt) as they investigate a series of brutal homicides that appear to be connected to the seven deadly sins. As the detectives delve further into the case, they realize that a mysterious serial killer known only as John Doe (Spacey) is using the seven sins as the framework for his gruesome murders. As the detectives race against time to stop the killer, their lives and the lives of those around them are put in danger. With its dark and brooding atmosphere, Se7en is a bleak but captivating exploration of morality, justice, and faith.

From Luc Besson, starring Jean Reno, Gary Oldman, Natalie Portman, Danny Aiello
Rated R

Léon: The Professional is a 1994 French action thriller film written and directed by Luc Besson. It stars Jean Reno as the titular hitman, Gary Oldman as a corrupt DEA agent and Natalie Portman in her feature film debut as Mathilda, a 12-year-old girl who seeks Leon's help in exacting revenge on the corrupt drug dealers who murdered her family. The story follows Leon, a professional hitman, who agrees to take in Mathilda as his protégé after her family is murdered by a corrupt DEA agent. She attempts to learn the hitman’s trade as they traverse the underworld of drug dealers and corrupt officials in an attempt to bring justice to those responsible for the death of Mathilda’s family.

From Ridley Scott, starring Sigourney Weaver, Tom Skerritt, John Hurt, Veronica Cartwright
Rated R

Alien is a 1979 science fiction horror film directed by Ridley Scott and written by Dan O'Bannon. It follows the crew of the commercial space tug Nostromo, who encounter the eponymous Alien, a deadly and aggressive extraterrestrial set loose on the ship. The film stars Tom Skerritt, Sigourney Weaver, Veronica Cartwright, Harry Dean Stanton, John Hurt, Ian Holm, and Yaphet Kotto. The story begins with the crew of the Nostromo receiving a distress signal from a nearby planetoid. Investigating the signal, one of the crew, Kane (John Hurt), becomes host to an Alien egg, which hatches and attaches itself to his face. The crew manage to separate Kane from the creature, but not before it implants an Alien embryo in his body. The Alien subsequently makes its way through the ship, killing off the crew one by one. It is eventually confronted and killed by Ripley (Sigourney Weaver), the sole survivor. Alien was a critical and commercial success, resulting in a cult following. It was praised for its groundbreaking visual effects and its tense atmosphere. It has spawned several sequels, a prequel series, a number of novels, and a variety of other media. Alien

From Bryan Singer, starring Kevin Spacey, Gabriel Byrne, Chazz Palminteri, Stephen Baldwin
Rated R

The Usual Suspects is a 1995 neo-noir crime thriller film directed by Bryan Singer and written by Christopher McQuarrie. It follows the interrogation of Roger "Verbal" Kint, a small-time con man, who is one of only two survivors of a massacre and fire on a ship docked at the Port of Los Angeles. He tells an interrogator a convoluted story about events leading up to the massacre, involving a group of criminals hoping to pull off a large heist. Throughout the film, Kint attempts to explain the events leading up to the massacre and his role in it, while trying to avoid revealing the identity of the mysterious criminal mastermind, Keyser Söze. The film's ensemble cast includes Kevin Spacey, Gabriel Byrne, Benicio del Toro, Chazz Palminteri, Pete Postlethwaite, and Kevin Pollak. The Usual Suspects was praised by critics and became a surprise box office success, with McQuarrie's screenplay earning him an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay. The film's ending, which features a surprise revelation of the identity of Keyser Söze, was ranked as one of the most memorable in cinematic history and has been said to

From Christopher Nolan, starring Christian Bale, Hugh Jackman, Scarlett Johansson, Michael Caine
Rated PG-13

The Prestige is a 2006 mystery-drama film directed by Christopher Nolan, starring Christian Bale and Hugh Jackman. In the late 19th century, two young, ambitious magicians, Alfred Borden and Robert Angier, become fierce rivals. After a tragic accident involving Angier's wife Julia, the two part ways and attempt to outdo each other in the field of magic. Angier resorts to hiring an inventor, Nikola Tesla, to build a machine that will enable him to perform the ultimate illusion - teleportation. Borden, meanwhile, develops an equally impressive trick, creating a double of himself that seems to be present in two places at once. As their rivalry intensifies and secrets are revealed, both magicians must confront the consequences of their actions. Ultimately, they must decide how far they are willing to go to be the best.

From Stanley Kubrick, starring Jack Nicholson, Shelley Duvall, Danny Lloyd, Scatman Crothers
Rated R

The Shining is a 1980 psychological horror film directed by Stanley Kubrick and based on the novel of the same name by Stephen King. The film follows Jack Torrance (Jack Nicholson), an aspiring writer and recovering alcoholic, who takes a job as the winter caretaker of the isolated Overlook Hotel in Colorado. While there, Jack's son Danny (Danny Lloyd) has psychic abilities that allow him to see into the hotel's horrific past. Jack slowly becomes possessed by a supernatural presence that inhabits the hotel and he attempts to use his own son as a tool to achieve his own twisted objectives. In the end, Jack must fight to save his family from his own evil intentions, and the terrifying powers of the hotel itself.

From James Cameron, starring Sigourney Weaver, Michael Biehn, Carrie Henn, Paul Reiser
Rated R

Aliens is a science fiction horror film directed by James Cameron and released in 1986. It is the sequel to Ridley Scott's Alien (1979). In the movie, Ellen Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) is rescued after drifting through space in stasis for 57 years. She is sent to a colony on LV-426, only to discover that a deadly alien species, the Xenomorphs, has infested the area. With the help of a Colonial Marines unit, Ripley and the survivors must battle the Xenomorphs in order to escape. The film features thrilling action sequences and intense suspense, as the survivors fight for their lives against the Xenomorphs, along with the android Bishop (Lance Henriksen). Aliens is widely considered one of the best action-horror films of all time.

From Michael Mann, starring Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, Val Kilmer, Jon Voight
Rated R

Heat is a 1995 American crime drama directed by Michael Mann and starring Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, and Val Kilmer. The film follows Lt. Vincent Hanna (Pacino) of the Los Angeles Police Department as he pursues a group of professional bank robbers, lead by Neil McCauley (De Niro). As the two men engage in a cat and mouse game of mutual respect and manipulation, both are forced to confront the cost of their respective lifestyles. With intense action sequences and a riveting story, Heat is widely considered one of the greatest crime films of all time.

From Paul Thomas Anderson, starring Daniel Day-Lewis, Paul Dano, Ciarán Hinds, Martin Stringer
Rated R

There Will Be Blood is a 2007 drama film written and directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, based on the 1927 novel Oil! by Upton Sinclair. The story follows the life of Daniel Plainview, an ambitious prospector-turned-oilman, who becomes successful and wealthy, but is corrupted by his addiction to power and wealth. His life is further complicated by his strained relationship with his adopted son, his rivalry with a local preacher, and his estrangement from his family. The film features a mix of themes, including family dynamics, religion, ambition, greed, and the corruption of wealth. The film received largely positive reviews from critics, and was nominated for eight Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actor for Daniel Day-Lewis. It won for Best Cinematography and Best Sound Mixing.

From Directors: Ethan Coen, Joel Coen, starring Tommy Lee Jones, Javier Bardem, Josh Brolin, Woody Harrelson
Rated R

No Country for Old Men is a 2007 American crime thriller directed by the Coen brothers, Joel and Ethan. The film follows the story of Llewelyn Moss (Josh Brolin), a hunter who discovers a drug deal gone wrong and a bag of money. Moss takes the money and is pursued by a relentless, psychopathic killer (Javier Bardem) as well as a determined deputy sheriff (Tommy Lee Jones). As the chase ensues, a story of morality, fate, and circumstance unfolds. The film was nominated for eight Academy Awards and won four, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Supporting Actor for Bardem.

From David Lean, starring William Holden, Alec Guinness, Jack Hawkins, Sessue Hayakawa
Rated PG

The Bridge on the River Kwai is a 1957 British-American epic war film directed by David Lean and based on the novel by Pierre Boulle. The film follows British POWs who are forced to build a bridge on the River Kwai for their Japanese captors during World War II. The prisoners are led by Colonel Nicholson (Alec Guinness), a British officer determined to show the Japanese that British soldiers can take pride in their work, even in captivity. Meanwhile, the Allies begin to devise a plan to destroy the bridge. The film was a critical and commercial success, winning seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture. It's a powerful story of loyalty, honor, and the horrors of war.

From Ron Howard, starring Russell Crowe, Ed Harris, Jennifer Connelly, Christopher Plummer
Rated PG-13

"A Beautiful Mind" is a biographical drama film inspired by the life of John Nash, a Nobel Laureate in Economics. The film follows the story of a genius mathematician, John Nash, as he struggles with schizophrenia. After being accepted into Princeton University, Nash begins to show signs of the disorder, which eventually causes him to withdraw from his academics and social life. Despite his condition, he continues to work on his groundbreaking mathematical theories and eventually wins the Nobel Prize. The film follows Nash's battle with his illness, and his eventual acceptance of it and recovery, with the support of his wife and friends.

From John Sturges, starring Steve McQueen, James Garner, Richard Attenborough, Charles Bronson
Rated Approved

The Great Escape is a 1963 World War II film directed by John Sturges. Starring Steve McQueen, James Garner, and Richard Attenborough, the film is based on a true story of a group of Allied prisoners of war who attempt a daring escape from a Nazi prison camp. Led by a skilled team of escape experts, the men must use their ingenuity to dig three separate tunnels in order to escape. After months of hard labor and facing numerous obstacles, they make a daring break out of the camp, with the Germans in hot pursuit. In the end, only a few of the escapees succeed in reaching freedom. The movie is an exciting and thrilling adventure of courage and ingenuity in the face of overwhelming odds.

From Steven Spielberg, starring Roy Scheider, Robert Shaw, Richard Dreyfuss, Lorraine Gary
Rated PG

Jaws is a 1975 horror-thriller film directed by Steven Spielberg and based on Peter Benchley's 1974 novel of the same name. The film stars Roy Scheider, Robert Shaw, and Richard Dreyfuss as the three men trying to hunt down the giant man-eating great white shark that has been terrorizing the fictional town of Amity Island. After numerous attacks on beach-goers, Police Chief Martin Brody (Scheider) is forced to enlist the help of a grizzled shark hunter, Quint (Shaw), and a marine biologist, Hooper (Dreyfuss). The trio embark on an epic adventure as they attempt to track down and eliminate the deadly shark before it strikes again. With intense action sequences, spectacular special effects, and an iconic score by John Williams, Jaws has since become one of the most iconic films in Hollywood history.

From Rob Reiner, starring Wil Wheaton, River Phoenix, Corey Feldman, Jerry O'Connell
Rated R

Stand by Me is a coming-of-age drama film directed by Rob Reiner and based on the novella The Body by Stephen King. It follows four boys in a small town in Oregon who embark on a journey to find the body of a missing boy. Along the way, the boys form an unbreakable bond as they face a variety of trials and tribulations. While searching for the body, the boys come of age and eventually realize how precious life is and how important it is to stand by their friends no matter what.

From Jim Sheridan, starring Daniel Day-Lewis, Pete Postlethwaite, Alison Crosbie, Philip King
Rated R

"In the Name of the Father" is a 1993 British-Irish biographical drama film directed by Jim Sheridan and written by Terry George. The film tells the story of Gerry Conlon, a young man who was wrongfully convicted of the 1974 Guildford pub bombings in which four off-duty British soldiers and one civilian were killed. The film stars Daniel Day-Lewis as Conlon, with Pete Postlethwaite, Emma Thompson, John Lynch and Corin Redgrave playing supporting roles. The film is based on the autobiography Proved Innocent and the play by Gerry Conlon called The Hostage. The film follows Gerry's struggles to prove his innocence and the hardships he faces, including being separated from his father, Giuseppe, who is also wrongfully convicted and imprisoned. Gerry and his father endure years of torture and humiliation, as well as the loss of their freedom, before they are finally exonerated. The film is an exploration of the power of courage in the face of injustice and the strength of family love.

From Oliver Stone, starring Charlie Sheen, Tom Berenger, Willem Dafoe, Keith David
Rated R

Platoon is a 1986 American war film written and directed by Oliver Stone, starring Tom Berenger, Willem Dafoe and Charlie Sheen. The film follows a U.S. Army volunteer (Sheen) who is sent to fight in the Vietnam War and finds himself in the middle of a chaotic battle over a strategic village. While coming to terms with the brutality of war, the soldier learns that the line between good and evil is often blurred. Platoon is a powerful and thought-provoking look at the toll of war on the human spirit.

From Clint Eastwood, starring Sean Penn, Tim Robbins, Kevin Bacon, Emmy Rossum
Rated R

Mystic River is a 2003 American drama film directed by Clint Eastwood and written by Brian Helgeland. Based on the novel of the same name by Dennis Lehane, the film stars Sean Penn, Tim Robbins, Kevin Bacon, Laurence Fishburne, Marcia Gay Harden, and Laura Linney. The story follows three childhood friends, Dave Boyle (Robbins), Jimmy Marcus (Penn), and Sean Devine (Bacon), who are reunited after a horrific tragedy. When Dave is abducted and sexually abused as a child, his two friends become linked through a bond that transcends their differences. Years later, when Jimmy's daughter is found murdered, the devastating tragedy brings the three men together again and sets them on a journey of shared guilt, anger and revenge. As the investigation ensues, the trio's dark past comes to light, revealing secrets and lies that will forever change their lives.

From Taylor Hackford, starring Damian Chapa, Jesse Borrego, Benjamin Bratt, Enrique Castillo
Rated R

"Blood In, Blood Out" is a 1993 drama directed by Taylor Hackford. The film follows three Mexican-American cousins from different sides of the law in East Los Angeles. The story focuses on the three men's struggle with family, loyalty, and identity in a city where gangs, drugs, and racism threaten to tear them apart. Cruz Martinez, Paco Aguilar, and Miklo Velka are all from different backgrounds but share a strong bond as cousins. Cruz is a promising boxer and Paco is an aspiring artist, while Miklo rebels against his family's wishes and is soon caught up in the dangerous world of gang life. As the story progresses, the cousins clash over the decisions they make and the consequences of those choices. Eventually, they are all forced to realize the harsh reality of their choices and the reality of life in the barrio.

From Lee Tamahori, starring Rena Owen, Temuera Morrison, Mamaengaroa Kerr-Bell, Julian Arahanga
Rated R

Once Were Warriors is a 1994 New Zealand drama film based on the novel of the same name by Alan Duff. Directed by Lee Tamahori and starring Rena Owen, Temuera Morrison, and Cliff Curtis, the film tells the story of the Heke family, a Māori family living in urban Auckland, New Zealand. Led by the domineering and abusive Jake Heke (Morrison), the family struggles with poverty and drugs, and ultimately falls apart as a result of Jake's violence and alcoholism. The powerful film was met with critical acclaim and was a box office success, grossing over NZ$12 million at the New Zealand box office. It is widely considered to be one of the greatest New Zealand films of all time.

From Ridley Scott, starring Denzel Washington, Russell Crowe, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Josh Brolin
Rated R

American Gangster is a 2007 American biographical drama film directed by Ridley Scott and starring Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe. Set in the 1970s, the film follows the story of real-life mobster Frank Lucas, an American drug lord from Harlem, and the NYPD detective Richie Roberts who is determined to bring him down. As Lucas rises in power, Roberts' pursuit of him becomes increasingly dangerous, ultimately leading to a dramatic confrontation. The film features an all-star cast and is based on a true story. It follows Lucas' transformation from humble beginnings to a powerful drug kingpin, and Roberts' struggle to bring him to justice.

From Steven Spielberg, starring Christian Bale, John Malkovich, Miranda Richardson, Nigel Havers
Rated PG

Empire of the Sun is a 1987 war drama film directed by Steven Spielberg and starring Christian Bale, John Malkovich, Miranda Richardson and Nigel Havers. The film is set during World War II and follows the story of Jim Graham (Bale), a British boy living in Shanghai who is separated from his parents when the Japanese invade the city. Jim is interned in a Japanese prison camp, where he befriends Basie (Malkovich), an American expatriate. Despite the harsh conditions, Jim maintains hope and is determined to survive. With Basie's help, Jim embarks on a journey of self-discovery and is ultimately transformed by the experiences he encounters in the camp.

From John Boorman, starring Jon Voight, Burt Reynolds, Ned Beatty, Ronny Cox
Rated R

Deliverance is a 1972 American thriller film directed by John Boorman, based on the 1970 novel of the same name by James Dickey. The film tells the story of four suburban Atlanta men on a weekend canoe trip who are confronted by dangerous locals in the Georgia backwoods. Starring Jon Voight, Burt Reynolds, Ned Beatty, and Ronny Cox, the film is well known for its memorable scene involving a harrowing encounter with a mountain dweller played by Bill McKinney. The film is considered as one of the greatest thrillers of all time, and it was nominated for three Academy Awards. The film is a gripping tale of human endurance and courage as the four men battle the raging rapids of the Cahulawassee River and try to survive the harsh wilderness.