Top Movies Of 1966

Updated May 1, 2024

For Top Movies Of 1966, there is no limit to the directors who explored this idea. We found 20 of our favorites.

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966)

★★★★

3.5 out of 4 stars

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

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly is a spaghetti western directed by Sergio Leone and starring Clint Eastwood, Lee Van Cleef, and Eli Wallach. Set during the American Civil War, the film follows the adventures of three gunslingers, each with their own agenda, as they search for a fortune in stolen Confederate gold. As they journey across the desert, they must outwit their enemies, elude the law, and survive their own personal rivalries. Along the way, they experience courage, loyalty, betrayal, and ultimately, redemption.

Persona (1966)

★★★★

3.2 out of 4 stars

From Ingmar Bergman, starring Bibi Andersson, Liv Ullmann, Margaretha Krook, Gunnar Björnstrand
Rated Not Rated

Persona is a 1966 Swedish drama film directed by Ingmar Bergman and starring Bibi Andersson and Liv Ullmann. It tells the story of Elisabet (Ullmann), an actress who has gone mute, and her nurse Alma (Andersson). The two women form a complex relationship, exploring their identity and becoming more intertwined as their existential journey progresses. Elisabet's silence leads Alma to open up about her own life, her fears and her secrets. As their unique relationship evolves, the two women are forced to confront their inner selves and the boundaries between them begin to blur. Through a series of dreams and flashbacks, the audience is taken on a journey of self-discovery as the two women come to terms with their individual identities and learn the importance of communication.

The Battle of Algiers (1966)

★★★★

3.2 out of 4 stars

From Gillo Pontecorvo, starring Brahim Hadjadj, Jean Martin, Yacef Saadi, Samia Kerbash
Rated Not Rated

The Battle of Algiers is a 1966 film directed by Gillo Pontecorvo which tells the story of the Algerian Revolution against French colonial rule. The movie follows the actions of Ali La Pointe, a young militant working in the National Liberation Front (FLN), as he leads a series of attacks against French forces in the capital city of Algiers. Through both political and military strategies, the FLN is ultimately successful in driving the French out of Algeria, though not without significant casualties on both sides. The Battle of Algiers is widely praised for its accurate and realistic depiction of the Algerian people's struggle for independence, as well as its exploration of the moral complexities of both sides of the conflict.

Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966)

★★★★

3.2 out of 4 stars

From Mike Nichols, starring Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, George Segal, Sandy Dennis
Rated Not Rated

Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? is a 1966 black comedy-drama directed by Mike Nichols. The film is adapted from Edward Albee's play of the same name, and tells the story of George (Richard Burton) and Martha (Elizabeth Taylor), an aging married couple who engage in a night of verbal confrontations and psychological warfare. As the night progresses, George and Martha's relationship is revealed to be deeply troubled, and their verbal sparring devolves into a series of darkly humorous and painful revelations about their past. The film also stars George Segal and Sandy Dennis, and won five Academy Awards, including Best Actress for Elizabeth Taylor.

Au hasard Balthazar (1966)

★★★★

3.1 out of 4 stars

From Robert Bresson, starring Anne Wiazemsky, Walter Green, François Lafarge, Jean-Claude Guilbert
Rated Not Rated

Au hasard Balthazar is a 1966 French drama film directed by Robert Bresson. The film tells the story of Balthazar, a donkey, and the people whose lives he touches, as he journeys through life from a young age to his eventual demise. Along the way, he reflects the struggles of his human owners, from the innocence of childhood to the corruption of adulthood. The film follows Marie, the daughter of Balthazar's original owner, as she matures from an innocent child to a woman whose life is filled with grief and tragedy. The film is a meditation on the human condition and the cycle of suffering that is often present in life.

A Man for All Seasons (1966)

★★★★

3.1 out of 4 stars

From Fred Zinnemann, starring Paul Scofield, Wendy Hiller, Robert Shaw, Leo McKern
Rated G

"A Man for All Seasons" (1966) is a historical drama film directed by Fred Zinnemann, based on Robert Bolt's play of the same name. The film tells the story of Sir Thomas More, a 16th-century English lawyer, statesman, and devout Catholic who refuses to accept King Henry VIII's demand to annul his marriage to Catherine of Aragon. Despite heavy pressure from the King, More stands firm in his convictions and is ultimately executed for treason. The film explores the moral and political dilemmas faced by More in his quest for justice and integrity. Starring Paul Scofield as More and Vanessa Redgrave as his wife Alice, the film won six Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actor.

Seconds (1966)

★★★★

3 out of 4 stars

From John Frankenheimer, starring Rock Hudson, Frank Campanella, John Randolph, Frances Reid
Rated R

Seconds is a 1966 psychological thriller directed by John Frankenheimer and starring Rock Hudson. The film follows the story of a middle-aged banker who is offered the chance to start a new life as a different person, courtesy of a mysterious organization. Despite the offer of a new identity and the promise of a life of leisure, the man soon discovers that the organization’s intentions are far from altruistic. With no way out, he must confront his past and the implications of his new life before it is too late. The film was praised for its direction, acting and its exploration of identity, with many critics considering it to be one of Frankenheimer’s best works.

Blow-Up (1966)

★★★★

3 out of 4 stars

From Michelangelo Antonioni, starring David Hemmings, Vanessa Redgrave, Sarah Miles, John Castle
Rated Not Rated

Blow-Up is a 1966 drama directed by Michelangelo Antonioni. The film follows a successful fashion photographer, Thomas (David Hemmings), who accidentally captures a murder while taking photos in a park. He later develops the film and notices a figure in the background that wasn't visible to the naked eye. He then becomes obsessed with the possibility of uncovering a much larger mystery, but his efforts are obstructed by a series of strange events. The film is a fascinating exploration of perception and reality, as Thomas attempts to make sense of the events he has witnessed. Along the way, he is also exposed to the hedonistic lifestyle of the 1960s London art scene.