Year Released: 1946
David Niven stars in this 1946 film, which was also released under the alternate title, A Matter of Life and Death. With a 97% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes, the film continues to make “best of” lists, despite it being filmed several decades ago.
Critic reviews were all very positive, for the most part. This includes a 2017 addition from Village Voice critic Alan Scherstuhl, which says that it “bursts with tantalizing ideas, surprising connections, suggestive flights of fancy.” And this isn’t the only film that Emeric Pressburger and Michael Powell have teamed up on that have made our list. They’re also two of the people involved in Black Narcissus.
Alien
Year Released: 1979
Of course, we have to include the original Alien on our list. After all, it’s the film that started it all. There aren’t many people who haven’t seen this movie, or at the very least, know about it.
Alien won the 1980 Academy Award for Best Visual Effects, which shouldn’t come as any surprise to those who’ve seen it! The 94% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes goes to show just how popular and well-received the classic sci-fi is.
12 Years a Slave
Year Released: 2013
This historical drama tells the tale of a free black man living in New York the 1800s that finds himself kidnapped and sold into slavery in the South. The film grossed nearly $188 million at the box office against a budget of $22 million.
The film won a number of prestigious awards, including both the 2014 Oscar and Golden Globe for Best Picture and Best Motion Picture, and the BAFTA for Best Film.
Steamboat Bill, Jr.
Year Released: 1928
An older film, and a rare silent one on our list with a 100% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes is Steamboat Bill Jr., circa 1928. The picture stars film legend Buster Keaton, and contains his most famous on-screen stunt, where an entire house falls on him. It is said that this film actually inspired Walt Disney’s Steamboat Willie – AKA the debut of Mickey Mouse.
The house stunt is hands-down the most widely recognized part of this film and has been recreated several times in other movies and television shows, including on MacGyver and Arrested Development. The film was featured in a book titled 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die.
Stagecoach
Year Released: 1939
It’s unlikely you’ll find many people that haven’t at least heard of this 1939 film starring John Wayne in his first major role, and the one that would launch his career. Adapted from a short story by Ernest Haycox, the motion picture follows a group of people riding through Apache territory.
Stagecoach was nominated for seven Academy Awards, winning two; Best Supporting Actor and Best Music Scoring. The others that they were up for included Best Picture, Best Director and Best Cinematography. Critics absolutely loved the film as much as audiences, which is evidenced by great reviews across the board, and a perfect rating on Rotten Tomatoes.