The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
Plot: Andy Dufresne (Tim Robbins), a prominent banker, is sentenced to life in Shawshank State Penitentiary for the murders of his wife and her lover, despite his claims of innocence. Over the following two decades, he befriends a fellow inmate, Red (Morgan Freeman), and becomes instrumental in a money-laundering operation led by the prison warden.
Themes: Hope, perseverance, friendship, and the power of the human spirit.
Critical reception: The Shawshank Redemption is widely considered to be one of the greatest films ever made. It was nominated for seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director. The film was a box office success, grossing over $283 million worldwide.
The Godfather (1972)
Plot: The Corleone family is one of the most powerful Mafia clans in New York City. When the patriarch, Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando), refuses to give in to the demands of a drug kingpin, his youngest son, Michael (Al Pacino), takes charge of the family business and sets out to protect his family and their empire.
Themes: Family, power, loyalty, and corruption.
Critical reception: The Godfather is considered to be one of the greatest films of all time. It was nominated for nine Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director, and won three: Best Actor (Brando), Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Original Score. The film was a box office success, grossing over $285 million worldwide.
The Dark Knight (2008)
Plot: Batman (Christian Bale), Police Lieutenant James Gordon (Gary Oldman), and District Attorney Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart) form an alliance to dismantle organized crime in Gotham City, but are menaced by an anarchistic mastermind known as the Joker (Heath Ledger) who seeks to undermine Batman’s influence and create chaos.
Themes: Good vs. evil, chaos vs. order, and the duality of human nature.
Critical reception: The Dark Knight is widely considered to be one of the greatest superhero films ever made. It was nominated for eight Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director, and won two: Best Sound Editing and Best Supporting Actor (Ledger). The film was a box office success, grossing over $1 billion worldwide.
The Godfather Part II (1974)
Plot: The Godfather Part II is a sequel to the 1972 film The Godfather. It tells the parallel stories of a young Vito Corleone’s (Robert De Niro) rise to power in the Mafia and his son Michael’s (Pacino) struggle to maintain the family’s empire.
Themes: Family, power, loyalty, and corruption.
Critical reception: The Godfather Part II is considered to be one of the greatest films of all time. It was nominated for eleven Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director, and won six: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Supporting Actor (De Niro), Best Original Score, and Best Sound. The film was a box office success, grossing over $300 million worldwide.
12 Angry Men (1957)
Plot: A jury of twelve men must decide the fate of a young man accused of murdering his father in a premeditated killing. The evidence is overwhelming, but one juror (Henry Fonda) is not convinced and sets out to prove the defendant’s innocence.
Themes: Justice, prejudice, and the power of one person to make a difference.
Critical reception: 12 Angry Men is considered to be one of the greatest films ever made. It was nominated for three Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Adapted Screenplay. The film was not a box office success, but it has since become a classic and is widely taught in schools and law schools.
Schindler’s List (1993)
Plot: Oskar Schindler (Liam Neeson), a German businessman, makes a list of Jewish people he employs in his factory during World War II in order to save them from the Holocaust.
Themes: The Holocaust, genocide, and the power of one person to make a difference.
Critical reception: Schindler’s List is considered to be one of the greatest films ever made. It was nominated for twelve Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director, and won seven
The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, The Dark Knight, The Godfather Part II, 12 Angry Men, Schindler’s List, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, Pulp Fiction, The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, and Forrest Gump are some of the most critically acclaimed and beloved films of all time. They represent the best of Hollywood film making, with stunning visuals, powerful performances, and unforgettable stories.
If you’ve never seen any of these movies, I highly recommend checking them out. They are classics for a reason!