Pierrot escapes his boring society and travels from Paris to the Mediterranean Sea with Marianne, a girl chased by hit-men from Algeria. They lead an unorthodox life, always on the run.
Top10nerScore83.883 / 100
p>DIRECTOR: Costa-Gavras
WRITERS: Costa-Gavras, Jorge Semprún, Ben Barzman
CINEMATOGRAPHY: Raoul Coutard
STARRING: Yves Montand, Irene Papas, Jean-Louis Trintignant, Jacques Perrin
GENRE: Political Thriller, Political Drama, Crime
Repression is the rule of the day in this film that skewers Greek governance of the 1960s. Z, a leftist rabble rouser, is killed in what appears to be a traffic accident. But given the political climate, the death of such a prominent activist raises troubling questions. Though it’s too late to save Z’s life, a postmortem examination suggests that the ruling party was behind his death. As the facts leak out, those who tell the truth pay the price for their honesty.
Z is a gripping political thriller that resonates with its powerful portrayal of corruption and resistance. Costa-Gavras’ direction, coupled with riveting performances, delivers a compelling narrative that remains relevant in its exploration of truth and justice.
Top10nerScore83.900 / 100
p>DIRECTOR: John Schlesinger
WRITERS: Waldo Salt
CINEMATOGRAPHY: Adam Holender
STARRING: Dustin Hoffman, Jon Voight, Sylvia Miles
GENRE: Drama, New Hollywood, Buddy
Joe Buck is a wide-eyed hustler from Texas hoping to score big with wealthy New York City women; he finds a companion in Enrico “Ratso” Rizzo, an ailing swindler with a bum leg and a quixotic fantasy of escaping to Florida.
Midnight Cowboy s a poignant exploration of friendship and survival in the gritty streets of New York City. Schlesinger’s direction, coupled with Hoffman and Voight’s powerhouse performances, creates a raw and unforgettable portrayal of urban loneliness and the pursuit of dreams.
Top10nerScore83.989 / 100
p>DIRECTOR: Masaki Kobayashi
WRITERS: Masaki Kobayashi, Zenzō Matsuyama, Koichi Inagaki
CINEMATOGRAPHY: Yoshio Miyajima
STARRING: Tatsuya Nakadai, Michiyo Aratama, Keiji Sada, Tamao Nakamura
GENRE: War, Psychological Drama, Period Drama, Epic
After the Japanese defeat to the Russians, Kaji leads the last remaining men through Manchuria. Intent on returning to his dear wife and his old life, Kaji faces great odds in a variety of different harrowing circumstances as he and his fellow men sneak behind enemy lines.
A Soldier’s Prayer poignantly concludes Kobayashi’s trilogy with its unflinching portrayal of wartime struggles and the search for redemption. Nakadai’s powerful performance delivers a deeply moving meditation on the human cost of conflict and the enduring hope for peace.
Top10nerScore83.991 / 100
p>DIRECTOR: John Sturges
WRITERS: James Clavell, W.R. Burnett
CINEMATOGRAPHY: Daniel L. Fapp
STARRING: Steve McQueen, James Garner, Richard Attenborough, James Donald, Charles Bronson, James Coburn
GENRE: War, Prison Film, Adventure
The Nazis, exasperated at the number of escapes from their prison camps by a relatively small number of Allied prisoners, relocate them to a high-security ‘escape-proof’ camp to sit out the remainder of the war. Undaunted, the prisoners plan one of the most ambitious escape attempts of World War II. Based on a true story.
The Great Escape is an exhilarating adventure packed with suspense and camaraderie. Sturges’ direction, combined with an ensemble cast led by McQueen, delivers a thrilling and heartwarming tale of resilience and heroism amidst the backdrop of war.
Top10nerScore84.140 / 100
p>DIRECTOR: George Roy Hill
WRITERS: William Goldman
CINEMATOGRAPHY: Conrad L. Hall
STARRING: Paul Newman, Robert Redford, Katharine Ross
GENRE: Buddy, Revisionist Western, New Hollywood
In late 1890s Wyoming, Butch Cassidy is the affable, clever and talkative leader of the outlaw Hole in the Wall Gang. His closest companion is the laconic dead-shot ‘Sundance Kid’. As the west rapidly becomes civilized, the law finally catches up to Butch, Sundance and their gang. Chased doggedly by a special posse, the two decide to make their way to South America in hopes of evading their pursuers once and for all.
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid is an exemplar of cinematic craftsmanship. Hill’s deft use of unconventional narrative structures and the magnetic chemistry between Newman and Redford create an enduring Western classic that transcends genre boundaries.
Top10nerScore84.196 / 100
p>DIRECTOR: Jean-Luc Godard
WRITERS: Jean-Luc Godard, Rémo Forlani
CINEMATOGRAPHY: Raoul Coutard
STARRING: Jean-Paul Belmondo, Anna Karina, Dirk Sanders, Graziella Galvani
GENRE: French New Wave, Road Movie, Crime, Postmodernism, Romance
Pierrot escapes his boring society and travels from Paris to the Mediterranean Sea with Marianne, a girl chased by hit-men from Algeria. They lead an unorthodox life, always on the run.
Pierrot le Fou is an audacious blend of existentialism and pop culture, challenging conventional storytelling with its vibrant visuals and unconventional narrative. The film’s exploration of identity and freedom captivates audiences, marking it as a milestone in cinematic innovation.
Top10nerScore84.451 / 100
p>DIRECTOR: Mike Nichols
WRITERS: Ernest Lehman, Edward Albee
CINEMATOGRAPHY: Haskell Wexler
STARRING: Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, George Segal, Sandy Dennis
GENRE: New Hollywood, Psychological Drama, Family Drama, Drama
A bitter, aging couple, with the help of alcohol, use a young couple to fuel anguish and emotional pain towards each other.
Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? is a triumph of visceral storytelling, showcasing unparalleled performances. The film’s intense exploration of marriage and societal expectations leaves its mark, earning acclaim for its raw authenticity and fearless examination of human relationships.
Top10nerScore84.463 / 100
p>DIRECTOR: George A. Romero
WRITERS: George A. Romero, John A. Russo
CINEMATOGRAPHY: George A. Romero
STARRING: Duane Jones, Judith O’Dea, Karl Hardman, Marilyn Eastman
GENRE: Zombie, Horror
A group of people try to survive an attack of bloodthirsty zombies while trapped in a rural Pennsylvania farmhouse.
Night of the Living Dead revolutionizes horror with its stark realism and social commentary. Romero’s direction delivers relentless tension and terror, crafting a film that not only scares but also provokes thought on human nature and societal breakdown in the face of unimaginable crisis.
Top10nerScore84.617 / 100
p>DIRECTOR: Ingmar Bergman
WRITERS: Ingmar Bergman
CINEMATOGRAPHY: Sven Nykvist
STARRING: Gunnar Björnstrand, Ingrid Thulin, Max von Sydow, Gunnel Lindblom
GENRE: Psychological Drama, Drama
Small-town pastor Tomas performs his duties mechanically before a dwindling congregation, including his stubbornly devoted lover, Märta. When he is asked to assuage a troubled parishioner’s fear of nuclear annihilation, Tomas is terrified to find that he can provide nothing but his own doubt.
Winter Light captivates with its stark portrayal of existential crises, seamlessly blending symbolism and psychological insight. Nykvist’s mastery of chiaroscuro adds profound visual depth, accentuating the film’s exploration of faith, doubt, and the human condition.
Top10nerScore84.635 / 100
p>DIRECTOR: Jean-Luc Godard
WRITERS: Jean-Luc Godard
CINEMATOGRAPHY: Raoul Coutard
STARRING: Anna Karina, Sady Rebbot, André S. Labarthe, Guylaine Schlumberger, Gérard Hoffman
GENRE: French New Wave, Drama
Nana, a restless young Parisian, descends into prostitution when her aspirations to become an actress falter. Recently separated from her husband, Nana is completely alone except for her heartless pimp and the women she knows from hooking in the banlieue.
Vivre Sa Vie is an intimate and poignant exploration of a woman’s search for identity. Godard’s innovative direction and Karina’s captivating performance combine to create a deeply affecting narrative that delves into themes of freedom, existentialism, and the human condition.
Top10nerScore84.652 / 100
p>DIRECTOR: Alain Resnais
WRITERS: Alain Robbe-Grillet
CINEMATOGRAPHY: Sacha Vierny
STARRING: Giorgio Albertazzi, Delphine Seyrig, Sacha Pitoëff, Françoise Bertin
GENRE: Left Bank, Surrealism, Mystery, Experimental
In a huge, old-fashioned luxury hotel a stranger tries to persuade a married woman to run away with him, but it seems she hardly remembers the affair they may have had (or not?) last year at Marienbad.
Last Year at Marienbad is a visually innovative film, hailed for Resnais’ avant-garde direction and Robbe-Grillet’s intricate screenplay. The enigmatic narrative challenges viewers, weaving a complex tapestry of memory and reality that continues to captivate and perplex audiences.
Top10nerScore84.826 / 100
p>DIRECTOR: Sergio Leone
WRITERS: Sergio Leone, Fulvio Morsella, Luciano Vincenzoni
CINEMATOGRAPHY: Massimo Dallamano
STARRING: Clint Eastwood, Lee Van Cleef, Gian Maria Volonté, Klaus Kinski, Luigi Pistilli, Mara Krupp
GENRE: Spaghetti Western
The cigar-chewing ‘Man With No Name’ is back in this sequel to A Fistful of Dollars. Following a duel, Col. Mortimer and The Man team up to collect the reward for wanted fugitive ruffian El Indio.
For a Few Dollars More exemplifies Leone’s prowess in crafting gripping Westerns. The film’s dynamic cinematography, Morricone’s iconic score, and Eastwood’s stoic performance contribute to a defining moment in the Spaghetti Western genre, solidifying its lasting impact on cinema.
Top10nerScore84.832 / 100
p>DIRECTOR: Luis Buñuel
WRITERS: Luis Buñuel, Julio Alejandro
CINEMATOGRAPHY: José F. Aguayo
STARRING: Silvia Pinal, Francisco Rabal, Fernando Rey, Margarita Lozano, Victoria Zinny
GENRE: Drama, Satire
Viridiana is preparing to start her life as a nun when she is sent, somewhat unwillingly, to visit her aging uncle, Don Jaime. He supports her; but the two have met only once. Jaime thinks Viridiana resembles his dead wife. Viridiana has secretly despised this man all her life and finds her worst fears proven when Jaime grows determined to seduce his pure niece. Viridiana becomes undone as her uncle upends the plans she had made to join the convent.
Viridiana stands as a testament to Luis Buñuel’s unparalleled ability to challenge societal norms. The film’s subversive narrative and rich symbolism provide a captivating exploration of morality, religion, and the human condition, marking it as a landmark in cinematic rebellion.
Top10nerScore84.861 / 100
p>DIRECTOR: Luchino Visconti
WRITERS: Luchino Visconti, Suso Cecchi d’Amico, Massimo Franciosa, Enrico Medioli, Pasquale Festa Campanile
CINEMATOGRAPHY: Giuseppe Rotunno
STARRING: Burt Lancaster, Alain Delon, Claudia Cardinale, Paolo Stoppa, Rina Morelli
GENRE: Period Drama, Political Drama, Epic
As Garibaldi’s troops begin the unification of Italy in the 1860s, an aristocratic Sicilian family grudgingly adapts to the sweeping social changes undermining their way of life. Proud but pragmatic Prince Don Fabrizio Salina allows his war hero nephew, Tancredi, to marry Angelica, the beautiful daughter of gauche, bourgeois Don Calogero, in order to maintain the family’s accustomed level of comfort and political clout.
The Leopard captivates with Luchino Visconti’s meticulous attention to historical detail, portraying the intricate societal shifts in 19th-century Sicily. Lancaster’s nuanced performance and Rotunno’s sumptuous cinematography elevate this epic tale to a cinematic triumph.
Top10nerScore84.919 / 100
p>DIRECTOR: Jacques Demy
WRITERS: Jacques Demy
CINEMATOGRAPHY: Jean Rabier
STARRING: Catherine Deneuve, Nino Castelnuovo, Anne Vernon, Marc Michel, Ellen Farner
GENRE: Musical, Romance, Melodrama
This simple romantic tragedy begins in 1957. Guy Foucher, a 20-year-old French auto mechanic, has fallen in love with 17-year-old Geneviève Emery, an employee in her widowed mother’s chic but financially embattled umbrella shop. On the evening before Guy is to leave for a two-year tour of combat in Algeria, he and Geneviève make love. She becomes pregnant and must choose between waiting for Guy’s return or accepting an offer of marriage from a wealthy diamond merchant.
The Umbrellas of Cherbourg showcases Demy’s innovative use of color and music, elevating the romantic genre. Deneuve’s performance, combined with Michel Legrand’s unforgettable score, delivers a poignant exploration of love and loss in a visually stunning cinematic experience.
Top10nerScore85.002 / 100
p>DIRECTOR: Mikhail Kalatozov
WRITERS: Enrique Pineda Barnet, Yevgeny Yevtushenko
CINEMATOGRAPHY: Sergei Urusevsky
STARRING: Sergio Corrieri, Salvador Wood, José Gallardo, Raúl García
GENRE: Political Drama, Anthology Film, Propaganda Film
Four episodes chronicle Cuba’s ascent from colonialist degradation and totalitarian rule of Batista’s regime to a revolution that spreads across the country’s classes and regional lines.
I Am Cuba is a visually stunning masterpiece that transcends cinematic boundaries. Kalatozov’s direction, coupled with innovative camera work, immerses viewers in the beauty and complexity of Cuban life, capturing both the spirit of revolution and the poetry of everyday existence.
Top10nerScore85.118 / 100
p>DIRECTOR: Luchino Visconti
WRITERS: Luchino Visconti, Suso Cecchi d’Amico, Massimo Franciosa, Enrico Medioli, Pasquale Festa Campanile, Vasco Pratolini
CINEMATOGRAPHY: Giuseppe Rotunno
STARRING: Alain Delon, Renato Salvatori, Annie Girardot, Katina Paxinou, Spiros Focás, Max Cartier
GENRE: Drama, Melodrama
Joining the exodus of millions from Italy’s impoverished south, a matriarch and her sons move to Milan in search of a better life in the industrial north. But, as they inch up the social ladder, family bonds are shredded, and saintly Rocco’s love for a sex worker drives his brutish brother to crime.
Rocco and His Brothers stands as a tour de force in Italian cinema, skillfully intertwining gritty realism and familial drama. Visconti’s meticulous storytelling and nuanced characterizations elevate this epic, showcasing the complex dynamics of a post-war Milanese family.
Top10nerScore85.174 / 100
p>DIRECTOR: Stuart Rosenberg
WRITERS: Donn Pearce, Frank Pierson
CINEMATOGRAPHY: Conrad L. Hall
STARRING: Paul Newman, George Kennedy, Strother Martin, J.D. Cannon, Lou Antonio
GENRE: Prison Film, Drama, New Hollywood
When petty criminal Luke Jackson is sentenced to two years in a Florida prison farm, he doesn’t play by the rules of either the sadistic warden or the yard’s resident heavy, Dragline, who ends up admiring the new guy’s unbreakable will. Luke’s bravado, even in the face of repeated stints in the prison’s dreaded solitary confinement cell, “the box,” make him a rebel hero to his fellow convicts and a thorn in the side of the prison officers.
Cool Hand Luke is a timeless classic that captivates with its rebellious spirit and unforgettable characters. Rosenberg’s direction, paired with Newman’s charismatic performance, delivers a powerful commentary on individualism and resilience in the face of oppression.
Top10nerScore85.199 / 100
p>DIRECTOR: Robert Mulligan
WRITERS: Horton Foote
CINEMATOGRAPHY: Russell Harlan
STARRING: Gregory Peck, Mary Badham, Phillip Alford, Brock Peters
GENRE: Legal Drama, Coming-of-Age, Southern Gothic
Scout Finch, 6, and her older brother Jem live in sleepy Maycomb, Alabama, spending much of their time with their friend Dill and spying on their reclusive and mysterious neighbor, Boo Radley. When Atticus, their widowed father and a respected lawyer, defends a black man named Tom Robinson against fabricated rape charges, the trial and tangent events expose the children to evils of racism and stereotyping.
To Kill a Mockingbird stands as an enduring testament to the power of storytelling, skillfully adapting Harper Lee’s novel. Peck’s iconic portrayal of Atticus Finch and the film’s exploration of racial injustice resonate with timeless relevance, earning it a revered place in cinematic history.
Top10nerScore85.225 / 100
p>DIRECTOR: Andrei Tarkovsky
WRITERS: Andrei Konchalovsky, Mikhail Papava, Vladimir Bogomolov
CINEMATOGRAPHY: Vadim Yusov
STARRING: Nikolai Burlyaev, Valentina Malyavina, Yevgeny Zharikov, Nikolai Grinko, Valentin Zubkov
GENRE: War, Drama, Soviet New Wave
During World War II, 12-year old Ivan works as a spy on the eastern front. The small Ivan can cross the German lines unnoticed to collect information. Three Soviet officers try to take care of this boy-child.
Ivan’s Childhood captivates with its profound cinematography, emphasizing the psychological toll of war. Tarkovsky’s debut showcases innovative visuals and a nuanced narrative, earning praise for its unflinching portrayal of the human spirit amidst conflict.
Top10nerScore85.526 / 100
p>DIRECTOR: Sam Peckinpah
WRITERS: Walon Green, Roy N. Sickner, Sam Peckinpah
CINEMATOGRAPHY: Lucien Ballard
STARRING: William Holden, Ernest Borgnine, Robert Ryan, Warren Oates, Edmond O’Brien, Ben Johnson
GENRE: Revisionist Western, New Hollywood
Aging outlaw, Pike Bishop prepares to retire after one final robbery. Joined by his gang, Dutch Engstrom and brothers Lyle and Tector Gorch, Bishop discovers the heist is a setup orchestrated in part by a former partner, Deke Thornton. As the remaining gang takes refuge in Mexican territory, Thornton trails them—resulting in fierce gunfights with plenty of casualties.
The Wild Bunch stands as a groundbreaking Western, challenging genre conventions. Sam Peckinpah’s innovative use of slow-motion, coupled with a morally complex narrative, offers a gripping exploration of violence and loyalty in the fading days of the Old West.
Top10nerScore85.538 / 100
p>DIRECTOR: Michelangelo Antonioni
WRITERS: Michelangelo Antonioni, Tonino Guerra, Elio Bartolini
CINEMATOGRAPHY: Aldo Scavarda
STARRING: Monica Vitti, Gabriele Ferzetti, Lea Massari, Dominique Blanchar
GENRE: Romance, Drama, Psychological Drama
Claudia and Anna join Anna’s lover, Sandro, on a boat trip to a remote volcanic island. When Anna goes missing, a search is launched. In the meantime, Sandro and Claudia become involved in a romance despite Anna’s disappearance, though the relationship suffers from guilt and tension.
L’Avventura boldly defies narrative norms, delving into existential depths with Antonioni’s visionary direction and stunning cinematography. A landmark in art house cinema, it reshapes storytelling conventions with its captivating exploration of human experience.
Top10nerScore85.710 / 100
p>DIRECTOR: Michelangelo Antonioni
WRITERS: Ennio Flaiano, Michelangelo Antonioni, Tonino Guerra
CINEMATOGRAPHY: Gianni Di Venanzo
STARRING: Marcello Mastroianni, Jeanne Moreau, Monica Vitti, Bernhard Wicki, Rosy Mazzacurati
GENRE: Drama
Set during a single day and night in a Milan where steel and glass skyscrapers are going up and old buildings being pulled down, it opens with a disillusioned novelist and his embittered wife visiting their dying friend, a leftwing critic.
La Notte is a mesmerizing exploration of existential angst and societal disconnection. With its stunning visuals and nuanced performances, the film invites viewers into a contemplative journey, deftly reflecting the complexities of human relationships and the ennui of modernity.
Top10nerScore85.836 / 100
p>DIRECTOR: Robert Bresson
WRITERS: Robert Bresson
CINEMATOGRAPHY: Ghislain Cloquet
STARRING: Anne Wiazemsky, Walter Green, Jean-Claude Guilbert, François Lafarge, Nathalie Joyaut, Philippe Asselin
GENRE: Drama
The film parallels the mistreatment and downfall of two innocents: a young farmer’s daughter who is seduced by the leader of a group of black-jacketed delinquents; and the Christ-like Balthazar, a donkey that is passed from master to master, endures a seemingly endless cycle of cruelty.
Au Hasard Balthazar is a poignant exploration of the human condition, blending Bresson’s signature minimalism with profound emotional resonance. Its nuanced narrative, coupled with stunning visuals and a sublime score, makes it an enduring example of cinematic artistry.
Top10nerScore86.253 / 100
p>DIRECTOR: Luis Buñuel
WRITERS: Luis Buñuel, Luis Alcoriza
CINEMATOGRAPHY: Gabriel Figueroa
STARRING: Silvia Pinal, Enrique Rambal, Lucy Gallardo, Claudio Brook, Augusto Benedico, Antonio Bravo, Ofelia Guilmáin, Xavier Massé, Bertha Moss
GENRE: Satire, Surrealism, Black Comedy
A formal dinner party starts out normally enough. After the bourgeois group retire to the host’s music room, they inexplicably find themselves unable to leave. Hours pass and then days, and as the time plods by, disturbing changes in the formerly-genteel guests occur.
The Exterminating Angel captivates with its surreal exploration of societal constraints. A masterpiece of cinematic allegory, seamlessly blending satire and psychological intrigue, offering a thought-provoking examination of human behavior within confined social constructs.