Year Released: 2013
Normally, a sci-fi film starring Scarlette Johansson doesn’t need much else to get people to come to theaters. This one, however, was a little lost on moviegoers. With a budget of a little over $13 million and a box-office revenue of about $7 million, “Under the Skin” flopped hard.
That being said, critics adored it! The story of a men-eating woman-like alien and her outlook on the human world won accolades up the wazoo and was even listed as number 61 in the BBC list of 100 Greatest Films of the 21st Century! Director Jonathan Glazer was also nominated for numerous awards for his work.
The Godfather
Year Released: 1972
There was no way we could have our list without this crime drama classic from the early 1970s. The film is directed by Francis Ford Coppola and stars Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, and James Caan as members of an infamous Italian American crime family.
The Godfather constantly makes all kinds of “best films of all times” lists, and currently holds a nearly perfect (98%) score on Rotten Tomatoes. It also won a number of prestigious awards, including the Academy Award for Best Picture and the Golden Globe for Best Director.
The Godfather: Part II
Year Released: 1974 Two years after the ultra-successful first installment of The Godfather film franchise, the second part was released – and it did not disappoint. Starring the same celebrities and again directed by Coppola, the film brought in $88 million at the box office against a budget of just around $13 million.
Most films on our list were at most around an 8.2 or 8.5/10 on IMDb, but The Godfather: Part II sits at a 9/10, which isn’t an easy feat when it comes to over one million votes. Critics, publications, and audience members across the world continue to dissect it and praise it to this day. In 1975, the film was nominated for 11, and received five Academy Awards including Best Picture and Best Director. It also received several other accolades, which include two National Society of Film Critics Awards.
Groundhog Day
Year Released: 1993
The 1993 comedy classic 'Groundhog Day,' starring Bill Murray, was a relative success back when it came out. It’s a story about a cynical reporter who gets sent to cover Groundhog Day in the boring town of Punxsutawney, only to find out that due to some magical force, he has to relive the same day over and over again, with no explanation.
This film popularized the trope aptly called “Groundhog Day Loop”, in which a character has to experience the same events over and over, and starts experimenting until he finds out what caused the loop and solves it. Despite the film not having any incredible performance or acclaim when it first came out, over the years, 'Groundhog Day' has become a cult classic.
Titanic
Year released: 1997
If we have to choose the best romantic movie of the 20th century, "Titanic" has to be our choice. There is still no clear verdict if the movie was so successful because of its casting (Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet) or because of Celin Dions' astonishing performance in "My Heart Will Go On."
One of the great things about this movie is the attention to detail. It is not easy reconstructing and bringing to life a piece of history, and the production of "Titanic" brought it to perfection. The movie is relatively long, with a love story of almost three hours, however, it is put together in such a way that even after Dion's last note, there is room for a little more.