It has been a WHILE since I posted! So, I decided to come back with my top 20 favorite films! I am a huge movie girl (and top 10 simply would not contain enough good movies) so here we go! (Rating these from 1-20 was probably one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do 😉 – it’s all very flexible.)
1. The Lord of the Rings
Yes, I know this is a trilogy, but it truly is one big story. These movies… they’re just the greatest films I’ve ever seen. The cinematography is absolutely stunning, with so many incredible practical effects; every single actor is perfectly cast; the music is one of the most iconic movie scores of all time; and (although this doesn’t always affect whether something is a good movie or not) the book-to-film accuracy is one of the most accurate adaptations I’ve seen. Overall, these movies are just… *chef’s kiss.
(CONTENT WARNINGS: Often quite violent – fantasy violence with swords, spears, bow and arrow, etc. – and the orcs and other creatures can be very scary. Rated: PG-13)
2. Christopher Robin
It’s Winnie the Pooh. Come on. But truly, no movie will leave you feeling happier after watching it than this one. I’ve seen it about a million times and it never gets old. It has a compelling, heartwarming story, a great cast, and a beautiful amount of whimsy and fun (without making it cheesy). The inhabitants of the Hundred-Acre Wood (I promise) will warm your soul and make you realize that everyone really does need a Winnie the Pooh in their life.
(CONTENT WARNINGS: One scene of war – no violence – but it could be intense for younger children. Rated: PG)
3. Tangled
We’ve been in a drought of actually good Disney movies lately, but Tangled is one of the films from Disney’s peak era. And it’s amazing. It’s a fantastic storyline, all the songs are iconic and beg to be sung along to, and the characters are so well-developed. Mother Gothel is a wonderfully written antagonist, and Rapunzel and Flynn provide one of the sweetest, most authentic, most lovable romances… honestly? ever.
(CONTENT WARNINGS: A little intense for younger kids at some points: a man gets stabbed, and we hear that he will be hung for his crimes. Rated: PG)
4. Little Women (1994)
If you ever need a feel-good movie, this is one of the best choices. The story of Little Women is such a simple, yet beautiful, heartwarming, happy-for-days story, and this version perfectly captures that (the 2019 adaptation is a decent movie, but can’t compare to this one.) This film is perfectly cast, perfectly written, perfectly told. Meg, Jo, Beth, Amy, Laurie, and Marmee are wonderfully believable and lovable characters, and it’s such a wonderful story of family, friendship, and sisterhood.
(CONTENT WARNINGS: A beloved character dies of sickness. Rated: PG)
5. The Fall Guy
The Fall Guy is one of my favorite rewatch movies: it has a unique, fast-paced story, and the humor just hits every single time. A lot of the time comedy movies are funny the first couple times and then it starts to die off, but The Fall Guy uses its blend of situational humor and perfectly delivered quips to make a peak comedy. Ryan Gosling is hilarious in everything he does, and he and Emily Blunt have awesome chemistry in this film. This is a movie that just got pretty much every aspect right.
(CONTENT WARNINGS: Lots of violence – mostly punches, no graphic stuff -, lots of language, some sexual innuendo. Rated: PG-13)
6. Ford v. Ferrari
Sometimes racing movies are just about, well… racing. But Ford v. Ferrari manages to deliver a richly character-driven film and some pretty awesome racing sequences to boot. The dynamic between the two main characters is entertaining and often humorous (and there’s some heartfelt moments along the way), and the ensemble cast is amazing as well. And, I gotta admit, the racing scenes are kind of spectacular.
(CONTENT WARNINGS: Lots of language. Rated: PG-13)
7. The Greatest Showman
Okay, this movie may have one of the greatest musical soundtracks of the 21st century. The songs are so incredible, and the dances and musical performances throughout the film are breathtaking. The movie is fast-paced, wildly entertaining, and it has a great story and a wonderful cast. Because of the nature of the story, there’s a whole lot happening to a whole lot of people, and that makes it such a fun movie to watch: there’s always something new to see. I’m not going to say how many times I’ve seen this (it’s… a lot), but it really never gets old.
(CONTENT WARNINGS: Some skimpy costumes, a brief intense scene where a building burns down, and a woman says she was born out of wedlock. Rated: PG)
8. The Boys in the Boat
Hollywood has gotten really good at making movies all about the spectacle (which often isn’t a horrible thing), but The Boys in the Boat doesn’t stick to that agenda. Whenever I watch it, it truly feels like I’m transported back in time a little: both in the story, and back to old Hollywood. It’s a character-driven, heartwarming, inspirational movie, and it manages to be pretty much clean content-wise. The story of the Washington Huskies rowing team really is inspiring, and I loved how it presented all the characters as genuinely good people. This is an ultimate feel-good movie, not only because of the wonderful story, but because it proves that Hollywood can produce a movie about truly good people.
(CONTENT WARNINGS: A few very briefly implied sexual innuendo, and a few curses. Rated: PG-13)
9. Black Panther
This is the only Marvel movie on this list, but it definitely deserves to be here. Unlike the majority of Marvel films, Black Panther has a compelling, character-driven story and a rich cultural setting to go along with some pretty epic action sequences. Instead of villains who just want to be villains, Killmonger is a multifaceted antagonist who doesn’t just want to smash stuff and kill people. Overall the whole movie feels so much more developed than most Marvel movies, and it can proudly stand alone as an incredible movie, not just as another superhero movie. The characters are wonderfully written and acted, the country of Wakanda feels real and alive, and the story is compelling and well-thought out. This is definitely not just another Marvel movie.
(CONTENT WARNINGS: Lots of violence – punching, stabbing, shooting – and occasional language. Rated: PG-13)
10. Ocean’s Eleven
Yeah, this is probably the greatest heist movie of all time. (I haven’t seen many, but this is still probably the greatest.) The cast works perfectly together, and their chemistry and humor add so much to the movie. The whole story is basically them figuring out how to break into a casino and steal all the money (and then we watch them do it.) Sounds boring. But it’s actually one of the most entertaining things you’ll ever see, and their end scheme is insane (and, of course, there’s a mind-blowing twist at the end. It’s a heist movie (the morals are questionable, but the movie doesn’t take itself too seriously), but it also really is pure fun.
(CONTENT WARNINGS: Lots of language, some very mild sexual content. Rated: PG-13)
11. Dune: Part Two
The Dune duology (soon to be trilogy!) is arguably some of the best fantasy/sci-fi/action films put out in the last few years, but Part Two is just on another level. It manages to stack wonderful character development with a fascinating storyline and some awesome action sequences. It has some of the best, most villain-esque villains I’ve ever seen in a movie, and incredibly intriguing protagonists. The cinematography is just breathtaking, and you can truly believe that you are in another world. This isn’t just an action-flick; it’s full of character development, story development, and… it does have some epic fight scenes.
(CONTENT WARNINGS: Very violent, and some implied sexual content. Rated: PG-13)
12. Paddington 1 & 2
Paddington is the ultimate witty, funny, heartwarming family movie (the first and the second. The 3rd one is still an excellent movie, but it just doesn’t have the same vibe as the first two.) Paddington gets up to dozens of hilarious antics, and the Brown family is a quirky, lovable bunch. The movies are made very well and all of the storylines work together perfectly to create a cozy family movie night film.
(CONTENT WARNINGS: None. Rated: PG)
13. Unsung Hero
Unsung Hero is arguably my favorite Christian film I’ve ever seen, and it’s not just a cliche idea. It doesn’t just tell a beautiful story: it tells it beautifully. The acting, script, and filmmaking is all top-notch. More than that, it tells a true, inspiring family story in a way that can appeal to both Christians and non-Christians. Unsung Hero nails pretty much everything right, and it’s a wonderful, hopeful family movie.
(CONTENT WARNINGS: A pregnancy scene that could be intense for younger kids. Rated: PG)
14. Cinderella (2015)
I think it’s fair to say that Disney princess live-action remakes aren’t great (with a few exceptions)… and they’re only getting worse. But Cinderella is by far the best princess remake and, not only that, it can stand as a phenomenal movie in and of itself. The cinematography is gorgeous and the story actually isn’t twisted to fit modern standards: it’s a beautiful, touching, lovely romance that really does feel real. It manages to keep quirky little Disney moments in while still taking itself very seriously. Overall it’s just an incredibly movie.
(CONTENT WARNINGS: None. Rated: PG)
15. Dunkirk
I knew a Christopher Nolan movie or two would have to make it on this list, but it was so hard to decide which ones (as you’ll see in number 19)! (Just know: Dunkirk made it, but any of his other films could easily have taken its place.) But I think if I had to pick one of his movies, this would be it. It’s not the flashiest or the most complex, but it’s probably the one that stuck with me the most. It’s (obviously) beautifully filmed and written, with a stellar cast. It’s also one of his only films to tell a true story, and it’s truly incredible. It brings the story of Dunkirk to life in such an incredible way, not only focusing on the event, but on the men involved. It’s intense, but not gory, and throughout the movie the men’s actions are genuinely inspiring. All Christopher Nolan movies are fantastic, but Dunkirk is the one that got this ranking.
(CONTENT WARNINGS: Some violence (no gore), but it focuses more on intensity than actual violence. Language. Rated: PG-13)
16. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
Honestly, this movie had to make it on the list. This is another film where you could see it a million times and it would still provide the same fun movie night thrills. The story is action-packed, often humorous, and Will Turner, Elizabeth Swann, and (of course) Jack Sparrow are iconic characters. The Curse of the Black Pearl has pretty much everything you could want in an action-filled, British-Caribbean, staggering pirate, deserted island, Captain Sparrow-humor movie.
(CONTENT WARNINGS: Quite a bit of sword/gun violence (no gore), and (obviously) lots of depictions of drunk pirates. Rated: PG-13)
17. Remarkably Bright Creatures
This movie really does grow on me with every watch (and, yes, there have been a few :). It’s a beautiful story about grief and finding family, and it takes place in a charming little town in Washington, filled with lovable, quirky neighbors and all their little side stories. The two main characters have wonderful chemistry with each other and all of their friends. It’s oftentimes really humorous and lighthearted, but it also tells a deep, sometimes heavy story – it ends very hopeful, don’t worry! It’s a beautiful, genuine story that makes a wonderful movie!
(CONTENT WARNINGS: Language, and a story that centers around a teen pregnancy. A man tells someone he’s gay. Rated: PG-13)
18. Elvis
Elvis is kind of a crazy movie. But… it actually really works. It has whirling camera shots, epic split screens, a 21st century soundtrack in a 20th century world, and it all works, telling the story of the larger-than-life Elvis Presley. The film on a technical level is incredibly well made and carries the story along beautifully. The highlight of the movie is definitely the performances, especially the starring role of Austin Butler, who portrays Elvis with an unbelievable performance. Every aspect of this movie works together to create a chaotic, stunning, on-the-edge-of-your-seat to see what comes next film.
(CONTENT WARNINGS: Lots of language and implied sexual content.)
19. The Dark Knight
Before I watched this movie, I wondered if perhaps it was overhyped. Well… it’s not. It’s definitely not! We’ve already established Christopher Nolan is an incredible director, but let’s just establish it again: the filmmaking side of The Dark Knight is absolutely amazing, the story is fantastic… and it has the greatest villain (arguably) in all of movie history. I mean, this is definitely a case where the antagonist greatly overshadows the protagonist. I would be remiss if I didn’t say that the character of The Joker is the highlight of this movie, but overall it is just an incredibly film, and 100% not overhyped!
(CONTENT WARNINGS: Lots of violence and some disturbing violence that isn’t shown, but very heavily implied. Rated: PG-13)
20. Pearl Harbor
This was the hardest spot on the list to fill, but Pearl Harbor finally took the 20th place. I love WWII movies, because they display the courage and heroism of human beings in a really powerful way, and Pearl Harbor absolutely does that. Sure, it has some historical inaccuracies, but it tells the story of Pearl Harbor quite well and it makes the bravery, sacrifice, and horrors of that day feel remarkably real. The romance can be a bit cheesy, but it’s also beautiful and heartbreaking, and it only gets better as the movie goes on. The friendship between the two leads is wonderful and telling the story of Pearl Harbor through their eyes lends a real believability to everything that went on.
(CONTENT WARNINGS: Lots of war violence, and some sexual content – easily skippable. Rated: PG-13)
Honorable Mentions
A Knight’s Tale, The Avengers, Bonhoeffer, Cars, The Chronicles of Narnia (Trilogy), The Grinch (2018), Guardians of the Galaxy, Heart of the Beast, The Help, Hidden Figures, Inception, The Man Who Invented Christmas, The Mitchells vs. the Machines, Moana, Murder on the Orient Express, The Prestige, Project Hail Mary, Puss In Boots: The Last Wish, Ratatouille, Raya and the Last Dragon, The Sheep Detectives, West Side Story, Wonka
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