Before the rise of Letterboxd, IMDb wastheplace to go to voice your opinion on films. The popular website was the definitive site for film discussion, from giving a star rating to posting on the now-defunct message boards, and even leaving your own review on a film’s page.
RELATED:The 10 Most Reviewed Films on Letterboxd
One of IMDb’smost debated features is its listing of the top 250 moviesranked on the website. The list is a collection of classics from the early years of film, masterpieces from the last fifty years, and acclaimed recent releases. Below is a listing of the best films of each decade since the 1920s, as voted by IMDb users.
Metropolis(1927)
A silent science-fiction film from Germany,Metropolisis set in a futuristic city where the privileged lives in a utopia above the working class. When a young boy discovers the truth about the city, he teams up with a good-hearted teacher to save those trapped underneath them.
RELATED:Best Films of the 1920s, According to IMDb
Released in 1927, the film was subject to many cuts over the years, ranging from efforts to reduce its length (the original print ranroughly two and a half hours) and the order to remove communist undertones. Efforts to restore the original film have occurred over recent decades, with the latest being released in 2010.
Modern Times(1936)
Another silent film, this time hailing from America,Modern Timesis a comedy written, directed by, and starringsilent film legendCharlie Chaplin. Chaplin plays a factory worker who suffers a nervous breakdown. The ensuing events cause him to have several run-ins with the law while beginning a friendship with a homeless girl.
Created as commentary on the Great Depression, and the hardships many workers faced, its representation of poor financial and working conditions is still relevant today.Modern Timesis also a hilarious comedy despite its political undertones, as Chaplin finds himself in one awkward situation after another.
It’s a Wonderful Life(1946)
When businessman George Bailey (James Stewart) becomes frustrated with his life on Christmas Eve, suicidal thoughts begin to plague him. Soon enough, an angel from Heaven is sent down to comfort George, and the angel shows him what life would have been like if he had not existed.
RELATED:‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ is Darker Than You Remember
The film is loosely based on the classicA Christmas Carol. Like that famous story,It’s a Wonderful Lifehas been adapted into many forms throughout the years. These include stage plays, made for TV remakes, and even a Muppets adaptation, which is clearly the highest honor a film can achieve.
12 Angry Men(1957)
12 Angry Menfollows the all-male jury of a murder trial as they debate the verdict. With the death sentence on the table, the life of the defendant is literally in their hands. Initially all but one of the jurors votes guilty, leaving the lone advocate for not guilty to convince the others to spare the 18-year-old defendant due to reasonable doubt.
Set almost entirely in one room, the film speaks on topics of race and class via the personalities of the 12 men, all of whom come from different backgrounds and upbringings.
The greatest spaghetti western of all time,The Good, the Bad and the Uglywas the film thatunderscoredClint Eastwoodas the face of the genre. Directed bySergio Leone, the film follows three gunslingers all searching for the same treasure.
RELATED:8 Best Westerns by Non-American Directors
The Good, the Bad and the Uglyis an iconic piece of cinema, and its influence stretches far beyond the western genre. The “Mexican standoff” that occurs near the end of the film is a terrific scene, using close-up camera angles to great effect, with the scene being replicated in films and other media ever since.
The Godfather(1972)
Directed byFrancis Ford Coppola,The Godfathermakes audiences an offer they can’t refuse. Detailing the lives of the Corleone crime family, the film chronicles Don Vito (Marlon Brando) as he decides to hand over his empire to his son, Michael (Al Pacino), and the repercussions that ensue.
RELATED:‘The Godfather’ and 9 More Movies with Incredible Backstories
LikeThe Good, the Bad and the Ugly,the impact ofThe Godfatheron its genre was profound. Mafia movies released since 1972 are all inspired by The Godfather in some way, as it laid the groundwork for what audiences expect out of a crime family story.
Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back(1980)
The middle film ofGeorge Lucas' original trilogy, and the bestStar Warsfilm of them all.Empire Strikes Backis set three years afterA New Hope, and follows Luke, Leia, and Han as they continue their fight against Darth Vader and his villainous Empire.
RELATED:10 Best Middle Movies in Film Trilogies
The film features the classic moment of Vader revealing he is Luke’s father, and also introduces Yoda for the first time.Empirealso popularized the idea of film trilogies, with the middle film not always offering a satisfying conclusion, but instead setting up the events of the third and final film.
The Shawshank Redemption(1994)
Based on a story byStephen King,The Shawshank Redemptiontells the story of Andy Dufresne (Tim Robbins), a banker accused of murdering his wife and subsequently sentenced to life in prison. Befriending another prisoner, Red (Morgan Freeman), the two men find solace and eventually redemption throughout the two decades depicted in the film.
The Shawshank Redemptionis the highest-rated film on IMDb, a position it’s held since overtakingThe Godfatherin 2008. The film often tops lists of the greatest films of all time, and is considered the best adaptation of a King novel.
The Dark Knight(2008)
Following theEmpire Strikes Backapproach of the second film being the strongest in a trilogy,The Dark Knightfollows the exploits of Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale) after the events ofBatman Begins. Faced with a dangerous new criminal, The Joker (an unforgettableHeath Ledger), Wayne’s world will be changed forever.
Released two months afterIron Man, but before theMCUwas established,The Dark Knightproved blockbuster superhero movies can also tell mature stories with complicated characters. The movie made directorChristopher Nolana household name andis still largely considered his best film.
Inception(2010)
Nolan’s followup toThe Dark Knight,Inceptionfinds the director swapping superheroes for science-fiction. Professional thief Cobb (Leonardo DiCaprio) possesses the unique talent to enter the dreams of others and uses this ability to steal and sell information for his clients.
Offered a job that will result in the erasure of his criminal record, Cobb is joined by a crew including the likes ofJoseph Gordon-Levitt,Elliot Page, andTom Hardy. The film is a clever take on the classic heist film, using the concept of dream manipulation to throw new problems at the characters.
