Movies People 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 Spaghetti Western classic directed by Sergio Leone. The movie follows the story of three gunslingers who are searching for a hidden Confederate gold treasury during the Civil War. The Good is Tuco (Eli Wallach), an outlaw with a moral code who is always looking out for himself. The Bad is Angel Eyes (Lee Van Cleef), a ruthless bounty hunter who will do anything for money. The Ugly is Blondie (Clint Eastwood), the mysterious and cunning gunslinger who helps Tuco out of tough spots, only to take the gold for himself. As the trio embarks on their quest for the gold, they must fight off treacherous bandits, Mexican revolutionaries, and the U.S. Cavalry. In the end, Tuco and Blondie must rely on their wits and skills to survive the treacherous journey and find the hidden gold.

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

Goodfellas is a 1990 crime drama directed by Martin Scorsese and starring Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci, and Ray Liotta. The film follows Henry Hill and his friends as they progress through the criminal underworld of 1950s and 1960s New York and New Jersey. The story follows Henry from his childhood working for the local mob boss to his eventual successful career in organized crime. With his friends Jimmy Conway and Tommy DeVito, Henry rises through the ranks of the Italian-American mob and experiences the rewards and dangers of life as a gangster. As their illegal activities become more lucrative, the trio become increasingly involved in criminal investigations, violence, and betrayal, ultimately leading to Henry's downfall. Goodfellas is an acclaimed classic of the American film industry, earning six Academy Award nominations and a number of other accolades. Scorsese's direction and the performances of the cast – particularly De Niro, Pesci and Liotta – have made Goodfellas a timeless classic and one of the most influential films of its genre.

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

Se7en follows two detectives, David Mills (Brad Pitt) and William Somerset (Morgan Freeman), as they hunt a serial killer whose gruesome murders are inspired by the seven deadly sins. The killer's victims represent each one of the sins, and the detectives must decipher the pattern and catch the killer before he claims his final victim. As the detectives get closer to solving the case and capturing the murderer, they must confront their own personal demons while struggling to come to terms with the dark atrocity of the crimes they are investigating. The film is a psychological thriller that explores the struggles of morality, justice, and faith in a world of unfathomable horrors and injustices.

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

The Usual Suspects is a neo-noir mystery thriller directed by Bryan Singer and written by Christopher McQuarrie. The film follows the story of five criminals who are brought together by a mysterious crime boss known as "Keyser Söze" while they are being interrogated by a US Customs agent. The criminals are: Roger "Verbal" Kint (Kevin Spacey), who is a conman and the narrator of the story; Dean Keaton (Gabriel Byrne), a retired police officer; Todd Hockney (Stephen Baldwin), a thief; Michael McManus (Benicio Del Toro), an assassin; and Fred Fenster (Kevin Pollak), a con artist. The story follows the five criminals as they are forced to work together to uncover the true identity of the mysterious Keyser Söze. Throughout the film, the dangerous implications of the criminal underworld and the lengths the criminals are willing to go to uncover the truth and protect each other are vividly portrayed. Action, suspense and mystery all come together in this classic film to create an unforgettable viewing experience.

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 professional hitman, and a young Natalie Portman in her film debut as Mathilda, a 12-year-old girl who seeks Léon's help in exacting revenge on the corrupt DEA agent and the drug lord responsible for killing her family. Léon reluctantly agrees, and a series of violent events unfold as Mathilda and Léon become close friends and seek to right the wrongs of their past.

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

Alien is a horror/sci-fi film directed by Ridley Scott in 1979. The film follows the crew of the commercial space tug Nostromo, who are awakened from their stasis to investigate a distress signal from an alien spacecraft on a nearby planet. After exploring the alien ship, one of the crew, Kane, is attacked by a creature that attaches itself to his face. The crew manages to remove the creature, but Kane soon begins to show signs of infection. The infection quickly spreads, resulting in an alien creature bursting from Kane's chest. As the crew tries to contain the situation, an alien creature begins to hunt them one by one. The crew desperately tries to survive and eventually manages to destroy the alien creature and escape the planet. However, the sole survivor, Warrant Officer Ellen Ripley, discovers that there were two alien creatures, and that one of them is still on board the Nostromo.

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

The Prestige is a 2006 British-American psychological thriller film directed by Christopher Nolan starring Hugh Jackman, Christian Bale and Michael Caine. The story follows two rival magicians, Alfred Borden (Jackman) and Robert Angier (Bale), who become obsessed with creating the best stage illusion. After a tragic accident during a performance, the two magicians become sworn enemies and will stop at nothing to destroy each other. The film is set in London during the late 19th century and follows the two magicians as they clash in a bitter battle of wits and ingenuity. The Prestige is a thrilling drama that examines the lengths to which two men will go for the sake of their art.

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

Aliens is a classic 1986 science fiction movie by director James Cameron. The movie follows Ellen Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) as she returns to the planet where her crew encountered the deadly alien species, the Xenomorphs. This time, however, she is accompanied by a unit of space marines sent to eliminate the aliens. With her knowledge of the alien species and the marines' military expertise, the group must now fight for their survival against the relentless aliens. As they battle their way through the alien-infested complex, the group discovers the horrifying truth about the aliens and the planet. In the end, Ripley must confront the mother alien in order to save the survivors and ultimately defeat the aliens. Aliens is an action-packed, thrilling ride with an unforgettable ending.

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 book by Stephen King. It tells the story of Jack Torrance (Jack Nicholson), a struggling writer and recovering alcoholic who takes a job as an off-season caretaker at the isolated Overlook Hotel in the Colorado Rockies. Along with his wife Wendy (Shelley Duvall) and young son Danny (Danny Lloyd), Jack moves into the hotel and soon discovers that its dark secrets will unleash insanity and violence. As Jack begins to succumb to the hotel's malevolent forces, Wendy and Danny must find a way to escape before they too fall victim to its sinister power.

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

Heat is a 1995 crime drama directed by Michael Mann, starring Al Pacino and Robert De Niro. The film follows two men on opposite sides of the law - Lt. Vincent Hanna (Pacino), an LAPD robbery-homicide detective, and Neil McCauley (De Niro), a professional thief. Their paths cross when Hanna is assigned to investigate a series of daring and well-planned heists that McCauley is orchestrating. As the men's lives become intertwined, their relationship is pushed to the brink as a personal and professional battle of wits ensues. With incredible performances from its two leads, stunning cinematography from Dante Spinotti, and a brilliant score from Elliot Goldenthal, Heat is a riveting exploration of the human condition, morality, and the never-ending cycle of violence.

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 crime thriller directed by the Coen Brothers. The movie tells the story of Llewelyn Moss, a Vietnam veteran living in West Texas, who discovers the aftermath of a drug deal gone wrong. After stumbling across a briefcase filled with two million dollars, Moss takes the money and is soon hunted by a ruthless killer, Anton Chigurh. With the help of a local sheriff, Ed Tom Bell, Moss attempts to evade Chigurh and make it out alive. The film also explores themes of fate, morality, and mortality as Moss and Bell grapple with their own mortality while trying to protect Moss from Chigurh.

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

A Beautiful Mind is a 2001 biographical drama directed by Ron Howard and starring Russell Crowe. It tells the story of Nobel Prize-winning mathematician John Forbes Nash Jr., who suffered from schizophrenia. The film follows Nash's struggles to overcome his mental illness and the discrimination he faced from society. It also follows his love story with his wife, Alicia, and their journey as a couple to acceptance. The film is a tribute to Nash's courage in the face of adversity and his determination to rise above his illness and achieve success.

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

There Will Be Blood is a 2007 American epic drama film written and directed by Paul Thomas Anderson. Set in the early 20th century, the story follows a silver miner-turned-oilman, Daniel Plainview, on his ruthless quest for wealth. As Daniel's wealth and influence expands, his relationships with a local pastor and a young heir to an oil fortune become increasingly strained, eventually leading to a violent and destructive confrontation. Throughout the film, the characters are driven by pride, ambition, and personal gain, while also grappling with their own spirituality and moral convictions. Ultimately, Daniel's hunger for power and riches leads to tragedy and destruction.

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 war film directed by David Lean and based on the novel by Pierre Boulle. The film stars William Holden, Alec Guinness, and Jack Hawkins. It tells the story of British prisoners of war held in a Japanese prison camp during World War II, who are ordered to build a bridge over the River Kwai as part of the war effort. The prisoners, led by Colonel Nicholson (Guinness), reluctantly accept the task, and set to work building the bridge. As the bridge nears completion, an Allied commando mission is launched to destroy it. Nicholson, however, sees the bridge as a symbol of his own pride and refuses to allow the commandos to destroy it. The film culminates in an epic confrontation between Nicholson and the commandos, who must decide whether to blow up the bridge or risk Allied casualties.

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

The Great Escape is a 1963 American war film based on the non-fiction book of the same name by Paul Brickhill and directed by John Sturges. The film, starring Steve McQueen, James Garner, and Richard Attenborough, is about the escape of British and Commonwealth prisoners of war from a German POW camp during World War II. In the film, a group of Allied prisoners plan a daring mass-escape from the notorious Prisoner of War (POW) Camp Stalag Luft III in Sagan, occupied Poland. The group of POWs, led by Roger Bartlett (Richard Attenborough), construct a sophisticated plan to dig three escape tunnels, known as Tom, Dick, and Harry, and build a variety of equipment and clothing to assist their escape. Despite many obstacles, such as narrow tunnels and the discovery of two other tunnels, the prisoners eventually escape, and many of them make it to England. However, the escape plan comes at a high cost, as many of the POWs are captured and killed or returned to the camp. The film follows the prisoners’ daring escape, as well as the aftermath of their actions, emphasizing the importance of their freedom and perseverance.

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. It is the first of Stone's Vietnam War trilogy, followed by 1989's Born on the Fourth of July and 1993's Heaven & Earth. The film is set during the Vietnam War and follows a young, naive U.S. Army volunteer, Chris Taylor (Sheen), as he is deployed to fight in the war. After arriving in Vietnam, Chris is assigned to a platoon near the Cambodian border, where he experiences the horrors of war, first-hand. Chris is taken under the wing of two sergeants, the compassionate Elias (Berenger) and the sadistic, power-hungry Barnes (Dafoe). As the war intensifies and Chris learns more about the brutality of combat, he finds himself caught between the two sergeants, as well as struggling to maintain his own humanity in the midst of the chaos. In the end, Chris is forced to choose between the two sergeants, a decision that will ultimately define his future.

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

Jaws is a 1975 American thriller directed by Steven Spielberg that tells the story of a giant man-eating great white shark that terrorizes the fictional seaside resort of Amity Island, prompting police chief Martin Brody (Roy Scheider) to hunt it with the help of a marine biologist (Richard Dreyfuss) and a professional shark hunter (Robert Shaw). With the townspeople's lives and livelihoods at stake, the trio set out to destroy the beast before it has the chance to cause more destruction. With its intense action and suspense, Jaws has become one of the most iconic and influential films of all time.

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

In the Name of the Father is a 1993 biographical drama film directed by Jim Sheridan and starring Daniel Day-Lewis. The film tells the story of Gerry Conlon, a young man from Belfast who, along with his father, Giuseppe, and other family members, is falsely accused of an IRA bombing in London and is sent to prison. In the face of overwhelming evidence against them, Giuseppe and Gerry refuse to plead guilty and spend 15 years in prison. With the help of a lawyer, Gareth Peirce, they fight to prove their innocence and clear their names. The film received critical acclaim, winning several awards and nominations, including two Academy Award nominations for Best Actor and Best Picture, and a Golden Globe Award for Best Picture.

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

Stand by Me is an iconic coming-of-age story about four young friends who embark on a journey of self-discovery and camaraderie. The story follows Gordie, Chris, Teddy and Vern, who set out to explore the woods in search of the body of a missing boy. Along the way, the boys face their own fears, learn valuable lessons about friendship, and come to terms with the fragility of life. With a timeless story, memorable characters, and a classic soundtrack, Stand by Me is a classic of its genre.

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 directed by Lee Tamahori and based on the novel of the same name by Alan Duff. The film follows the Hekes, a family of Māori living in urban New Zealand that is torn apart by domestic violence and alcoholism. Jake Heke (Temuera Morrison) is a proud, tough, and violent man who is determined to have his family follow the Māori way, yet is unable to control his own violence and alcoholism. His wife, Beth Heke (Rena Owen), is an educated, strong-willed woman who is determined to keep her family together and protect her children from Jake's violence. The film follows the family's struggle to cope with their difficult home life and the struggles each family member has in trying to make a better life for themselves. The film explores themes of family, culture, and poverty as it delves into the complex lives of the Hekes.

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

Mystic River is a 2003 crime drama directed by Clint Eastwood. The film follows three childhood friends—Jimmy Markum (Sean Penn), Sean Devine (Kevin Bacon) and Dave Boyle (Tim Robbins)—who are forced to confront a tragedy from their past when one of their daughters is found murdered. The story follows the aftermath of the murder and its emotional impact on the lives of the three men as they attempt to deal with their grief while searching for the killer. As they investigate, they are forced to confront their own guilt, secrets and sins, and discover that their lives are more intertwined than they ever imagined. The film features a powerful cast, including Laurence Fishburne, Marcia Gay Harden, Laura Linney, and Emmy Rossum.

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

Blood In, Blood Out is a 1993 American drama film directed by Taylor Hackford and written by Jimmy Santiago Baca. Set in East Los Angeles, the film follows three Mexican-American cousins from childhood to adulthood as they struggle to find their place in the world. The film begins with the three boys—Miklo, Cruz, and Paco—growing up together in East L.A., but as they get older, they all take different paths. Miklo joins a Mexican-American gang and becomes a successful drug dealer, Cruz joins the Marine Corps and serves in Vietnam, and Paco pursues an education and works at a toy factory. The story follows the cousins as they experience the highs and lows of life, eventually being drawn back together by tragedy. The film examines themes of identity, family, loyalty, and the effects of crime and violence on the lives of young people in the Latino community. It ultimately serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of gang culture and its ability to lead to a life of crime and violence.

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

American Gangster is a 2007 crime drama film directed by Ridley Scott and starring Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe. It tells the true story of Frank Lucas, a drug kingpin in New York City during the 1970s. Lucas, a former driver and bodyguard to a Harlem crime boss, takes advantage of the chaos caused by the Vietnam War to establish a drug empire. His ruthlessness and access to high-quality heroin quickly makes him one of the most powerful criminals in the city. The film follows both Lucas’ rise to power and the determined efforts of narcotics detective Richie Roberts to bring him down. With a powerful cast and intense storyline, American Gangster is a gripping look at the life of a criminal mastermind.

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

Deliverance is a 1972 adventure drama directed by John Boorman and starring Jon Voight, Burt Reynolds, Ned Beatty, and Ronny Cox. It tells the story of four Atlanta businessmen who embark on a weekend canoe trip in the Georgia wilderness. The group soon finds themselves in over their heads when they encounter two violent mountain men, who threaten their lives. The men must then rely on their wilderness expertise and courage in order to survive and make it back home alive.

From Mike Newell, starring Al Pacino, Johnny Depp, Michael Madsen, Bruno Kirby
Rated R

Donnie Brasco is a 1997 American crime drama film directed by Mike Newell, starring Al Pacino and Johnny Depp. The film follows FBI agent Joseph Pistone (Depp) as he infiltrates the mafia of New York City by becoming Donnie Brasco, a jewel thief and associate of the Bonanno crime family. Pistone strives to remain undetected while gathering evidence and building a case against the mob. The film follows Donnie as he navigates the complicated criminal underworld, the loyalty of the mob and his own loyalty to the law. The film culminates in a violent confrontation between Donnie and his mob associates. The film is based on the true story of Joseph Pistone's infiltration of the Bonanno crime family in the 1970s.