250 Best Drama Movies of All Time
Drama films are one of the most emotionally resonant and thought-provoking genres in cinema. This genre delves into universal themes such as the trials, joys, sorrows, and hopes that define human lives. Known for their ability to deeply connect viewers with characters and their experiences, drama films allow audiences to identify with the characters and their journeys on a profound level.
The greatest strength of drama films lies in their capacity to depict the human experience and human relationships. These films lay bare the internal conflicts, growth processes, and transformations of characters. As audiences follow characters on their emotional journeys, they often find themselves reflecting on their own experiences.
This genre also offers rich and compelling storytelling. Drama films often focus on the intricacies of the human psyche and explore different perspectives on life’s complexities. Themes such as societal issues, family dynamics, personal crises, and human nature form the core of drama films.
Drama films are frequently characterized by outstanding performances from actors. Exceptional acting makes characters more believable and facilitates emotional connections with the audience. These films may feature award-winning performances that leave a lasting impact on viewers.
Moreover, drama films can be visually and artistically captivating. Carefully crafted cinematography and music enhance the overall impact of the film. Through beautiful visuals and powerful music, these films take audiences on an emotional journey.
In conclusion, drama films provide an opportunity to understand the human experience, establish emotional connections, and delve into the depths of life. By addressing universal themes, these films draw viewers into the world of characters and offer insights into the complexity of human nature and how individuals navigate life’s challenges. Drama films engage viewers in deep contemplation and emotional experiences, leaving a lasting impression and making them some of the most powerful and memorable creations in the world of cinema.
Here are 250 of the best war movies
The Shawshank Redemption (1994) – IMDb Rating: 9.3
Summary: The film tells the story of Andy Dufresne, a banker who is wrongfully convicted of murder and serves a life sentence at Shawshank State Penitentiary. It explores his friendship with fellow inmate Red and his quest for freedom and justice.
Starring:
Tim Robbins (Andy Dufresne)
Morgan Freeman (Ellis Boyd “Red” Redding)
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The Godfather (1972) – IMDb Rating: 9.2
Summary: Directed by Francis Ford Coppola, the film is an epic saga of the Corleone crime family and their patriarch, Vito Corleone, as he navigates the world of organized crime and power in post-World War II America.
Starring:
Marlon Brando (Vito Corleone)
Al Pacino (Michael Corleone)
James Caan (Sonny Corleone)
Schindler’s List (1993) – IMDb Rating: 8.9
Summary: The film is based on the true story of Oskar Schindler, a German businessman who saved over a thousand Polish-Jewish refugees during the Holocaust by employing them in his factories.
Starring:
Liam Neeson (Oskar Schindler)
Ralph Fiennes (Amon Göth)
Ben Kingsley (Itzhak Stern)
Forrest Gump (1994) – IMDb Rating: 8.8
Summary: The film follows the life of Forrest Gump, a man with low intelligence but a kind heart, as he unintentionally influences major historical events in the United States from the 1950s to the 1980s.
Starring:
Tom Hanks (Forrest Gump)
Robin Wright (Jenny Curran)
Gary Sinise (Lt. Dan Taylor)
The Dark Knight (2008) – IMDb Rating: 9.0
Summary: The film is the second installment in Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy and explores the conflict between Batman and the Joker, a criminal mastermind who seeks to plunge Gotham City into chaos.
Starring:
Christian Bale (Bruce Wayne / Batman)
Heath Ledger (The Joker)
Aaron Eckhart (Harvey Dent / Two-Face)
Pulp Fiction (1994) – IMDb Rating: 8.9
Summary: Directed by Quentin Tarantino, the film weaves interconnected stories of crime, redemption, and violence in Los Angeles. It features a diverse cast of characters, including hitmen, a boxer, and a mob boss’s wife.
Starring:
John Travolta (Vincent Vega)
Samuel L. Jackson (Jules Winnfield)
Uma Thurman (Mia Wallace)
Goodfellas (1990) – IMDb Rating: 8.7
Summary: The film is a gritty portrayal of organized crime in New York City and follows the life of Henry Hill as he rises through the ranks of the mob and eventually becomes an FBI informant.
Starring:
Ray Liotta (Henry Hill)
Robert De Niro (James Conway)
Joe Pesci (Tommy DeVito)
Fight Club (1999) – IMDb Rating: 8.8
Summary: Directed by David Fincher, the film explores the disillusionment of a disenchanted office worker who forms an underground fight club with a charismatic anarchist.
Starring:
Edward Norton (The Narrator)
Brad Pitt (Tyler Durden)
Helena Bonham Carter (Marla Singer)
The Green Mile (1999) – IMDb Rating: 8.6
Summary: The film, based on a Stephen King novel, is set in a Louisiana prison during the Great Depression and tells the story of a gentle giant on death row with a miraculous gift.
Starring:
Tom Hanks (Paul Edgecomb)
Michael Clarke Duncan (John Coffey)
The Godfather: Part II (1974) – IMDb Rating: 9.0
Summary: The sequel to “The Godfather” continues the story of the Corleone family, juxtaposing the rise of a young Vito Corleone with the struggles of his son, Michael, as he consolidates power.
Starring:
Al Pacino (Michael Corleone)
Robert De Niro (Vito Corleone)
Gladiator (2000) – IMDb Rating: 8.5
Summary: The film is set in ancient Rome and follows Maximus Decimus Meridius, a betrayed general who seeks revenge against the corrupt emperor who murdered his family and sent him into slavery.
Starring:
Russell Crowe (Maximus)
Joaquin Phoenix (Emperor Commodus)
Connie Nielsen (Lucilla)
American History X (1998) – IMDb Rating: 8.5
Summary: The film explores issues of racism and hate through the story of Derek Vinyard, a former neo-Nazi who tries to prevent his younger brother from following the same path.
Starring:
Edward Norton (Derek Vinyard)
Edward Furlong (Danny Vinyard)
A Beautiful Mind (2001) – IMDb Rating: 8.2
Summary: The film is a biographical drama based on the life of John Nash, a brilliant mathematician who struggles with schizophrenia and eventually makes groundbreaking contributions to game theory.
Starring:
Russell Crowe (John Nash)
Jennifer Connelly (Alicia Nash)
The Silence of the Lambs (1991) – IMDb Rating: 8.6
Summary: A psychological thriller, the film follows FBI trainee Clarice Starling as she consults with the brilliant but insane serial killer Hannibal Lecter to catch another serial killer known as Buffalo Bill.
Starring:
Jodie Foster (Clarice Starling)
Anthony Hopkins (Hannibal Lecter)
The Departed (2006) – IMDb Rating: 8.5
Summary: Directed by Martin Scorsese, the film is a crime thriller about an undercover cop and a mole in the Massachusetts State Police who try to identify each other while infiltrating an Irish gang in Boston.
Starring:
Leonardo DiCaprio (Billy Costigan)
Matt Damon (Colin Sullivan)
Jack Nicholson (Frank Costello)
The Prestige (2006) – IMDb Rating: 8.5
Summary: Directed by Christopher Nolan, the film is a mystery thriller that explores the rivalry between two magicians in London in the late 1800s, as they try to outdo each other with their greatest illusions.
Starring:
Hugh Jackman (Robert Angier)
Christian Bale (Alfred Borden)
The Pursuit of Happyness (2006) – IMDb Rating: 8.0
Summary: Based on a true story, the film follows Chris Gardner, a struggling salesman who becomes homeless with his young son and eventually overcomes adversity to achieve success on Wall Street.
Starring:
Will Smith (Chris Gardner)
Jaden Smith (Christopher Gardner Jr.)
Requiem for a Dream (2000) – IMDb Rating: 8.3
Summary: The film portrays the lives of four individuals as they become trapped in a cycle of addiction and despair, showing the devastating consequences of drug abuse.
Starring:
Ellen Burstyn (Sara Goldfarb)
Jared Leto (Harry Goldfarb)
Jennifer Connelly (Marion Silver)
No Country for Old Men (2007) – IMDb Rating: 8.1
Summary: The film is a crime thriller based on Cormac McCarthy’s novel, following a hunter who stumbles upon a drug deal gone wrong and a suitcase full of money, leading to a cat-and-mouse pursuit by a remorseless killer.
Starring:
Tommy Lee Jones (Sheriff Ed Tom Bell)
Javier Bardem (Anton Chigurh)
Josh Brolin (Llewelyn Moss)
12 Angry Men (1957) – IMDb Rating: 9.0
Summary: In this classic courtroom drama, a jury deliberates the fate of a young man accused of murder, with one juror challenging the others to reconsider their initial guilty verdict.
Starring:
Henry Fonda (Juror #8)
Lee J. Cobb (Juror #3)
E.G. Marshall (Juror #4)
Braveheart (1995) – IMDb Rating: 8.3
Summary: Directed by and starring Mel Gibson, the film is a historical epic that tells the story of William Wallace, a Scottish knight who leads a rebellion against English oppression.
Starring:
Mel Gibson (William Wallace)
Sophie Marceau (Princess Isabella)
Atonement (2007) – IMDb Rating: 7.8
Summary: The film is a drama and romance that spans several decades and revolves around a young girl’s false accusation against her sister’s lover, which has far-reaching consequences during and after World War II.
Starring:
Keira Knightley (Cecilia Tallis)
James McAvoy (Robbie Turner)
Saoirse Ronan (Briony Tallis)
The Social Network (2010) – IMDb Rating: 7.7
Summary: The film dramatizes the creation of Facebook and the legal battles that followed. It explores themes of ambition, betrayal, and the impact of social media on society.
Starring:
Jesse Eisenberg (Mark Zuckerberg)
Andrew Garfield (Eduardo Saverin)
Justin Timberlake (Sean Parker)
Inception (2010) – IMDb Rating: 8.8
Summary: Directed by Christopher Nolan, the film is a mind-bending sci-fi thriller about a thief who enters people’s dreams to steal their secrets. It delves into the concept of dreams within dreams.
Starring:
Leonardo DiCaprio (Cobb)
Joseph Gordon-Levitt (Arthur)
Ellen Page (Ariadne)
The Pianist (2002) – IMDb Rating: 8.5
Summary: The film is based on the true story of Władysław Szpilman, a Jewish pianist in Warsaw who survives the Holocaust and the destruction of the Warsaw Ghetto.
Starring:
Adrien Brody (Władysław Szpilman)
American Beauty (1999) – IMDb Rating: 8.3
Summary: The film is a dark comedy-drama that explores the lives and inner turmoil of a dysfunctional suburban family, with a focus on the midlife crisis of the father.
Starring:
Kevin Spacey (Lester Burnham)
Annette Bening (Carolyn Burnham)
The Deer Hunter (1978) – IMDb Rating: 8.1
Summary: The film follows a group of Pennsylvania steelworkers and their experiences during and after the Vietnam War, including their harrowing time as prisoners of war in Vietnam.
Starring:
Robert De Niro (Michael)
Christopher Walken (Nick)
Meryl Streep (Linda)
There Will Be Blood (2007) – IMDb Rating: 8.2
Summary: Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, the film is a character study of a ruthless oilman and his pursuit of wealth and power in early 20th-century America.
Starring:
Daniel Day-Lewis (Daniel Plainview)
Paul Dano (Eli Sunday)
The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957) – IMDb Rating: 8.1
Summary: (See previous response for “The Bridge on the River Kwai” summary and cast.)
Million Dollar Baby (2004) – IMDb Rating: 8.1
Summary: Directed by Clint Eastwood, the film tells the story of a determined female boxer and her relationship with her grizzled trainer.
Starring:
Clint Eastwood (Frankie Dunn)
Hilary Swank (Maggie Fitzgerald)
Morgan Freeman (Eddie Scrap-Iron Dupris)
Manchester by the Sea (2016) – IMDb Rating: 7.7
Summary: The film is a deeply emotional drama about a man who must return to his hometown to take care of his teenage nephew after a family tragedy.
Starring:
Casey Affleck (Lee Chandler)
Michelle Williams (Randi Chandler)
The Elephant Man (1980) – IMDb Rating: 8.1
Summary: The film is a biographical drama based on the life of Joseph Merrick, a severely disfigured man in Victorian England, and his relationship with a sympathetic doctor.
Starring:
Anthony Hopkins (Dr. Frederick Treves)
John Hurt (John Merrick)
Amadeus (1984) – IMDb Rating: 8.3
Summary: The film is a fictionalized account of the life of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, told through the eyes of his jealous rival, Antonio Salieri.
Starring:
F. Murray Abraham (Antonio Salieri)
Tom Hulce (Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart)
One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975) – IMDb Rating: 8.7
Summary: Directed by Miloš Forman, the film is set in a mental institution and centers on the rebellious Randle McMurphy, who challenges the oppressive authority of Nurse Ratched.
Starring:
Jack Nicholson (Randle P. McMurphy)
Louise Fletcher (Nurse Ratched)
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004) – IMDb Rating: 8.3
Summary: The film explores the concept of erasing painful memories through a procedure. It follows the story of a couple who undergo the procedure to forget each other but later discover the importance of their shared experiences.
Starring:
Jim Carrey (Joel Barish)
Kate Winslet (Clementine Kruczynski)
Black Swan (2010) – IMDb Rating: 8.0
Summary: A psychological thriller, the film follows a talented but mentally fragile ballet dancer as she prepares for a demanding role in “Swan Lake,” leading to a descent into madness.
Starring:
Natalie Portman (Nina Sayers)
Mila Kunis (Lily)
The King’s Speech (2010) – IMDb Rating: 8.0
Summary: The film is a historical drama that tells the story of King George VI of England, who struggles to overcome his speech impediment with the help of a speech therapist.
Starring:
Colin Firth (King George VI)
Geoffrey Rush (Lionel Logue)
The Truman Show (1998) – IMDb Rating: 8.1
Summary: A satirical comedy-drama, the film follows the life of Truman Burbank, who unknowingly lives his entire life on a reality TV show while being unaware of the artificial world around him.
Starring:
Jim Carrey (Truman Burbank)
127 Hours (2010) – IMDb Rating: 7.5
Summary: Based on a true story, the film portrays the harrowing experience of a mountain climber who becomes trapped under a boulder and must make a life-or-death decision to survive.
Starring:
James Franco (Aron Ralston)
Life of Pi (2012) – IMDb Rating: 7.9
Summary: The film is an adaptation of Yann Martel’s novel and follows the journey of a young Indian man named Pi Patel, who survives a shipwreck and shares a lifeboat with a Bengal tiger.
Starring:
Suraj Sharma (Pi Patel)
Slumdog Millionaire (2008) – IMDb Rating: 8.0
Summary: The film is a rags-to-riches story set in Mumbai, India, and follows the life of a young man who participates in the Indian version of “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?”
Starring:
Dev Patel (Jamal Malik)
The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014) – IMDb Rating: 8.1
Summary: Directed by Wes Anderson, the film is a whimsical comedy that takes place in a fictional European hotel and follows the misadventures of its eccentric staff and guests.
Starring:
Ralph Fiennes (M. Gustave)
Birdman (2014) – IMDb Rating: 7.7
Summary: The film is a dark comedy that explores the life of a washed-up actor famous for portraying a superhero as he attempts a career revival by staging a Broadway play.
Starring:
Michael Keaton (Riggan Thomson)
1917 (2019) – IMDb Rating: 8.3
Summary: The film is a World War I epic that follows two British soldiers tasked with delivering a critical message to prevent a doomed attack on enemy lines.
Starring:
George MacKay (Lance Corporal Schofield)
Dean-Charles Chapman (Lance Corporal Blake)
La La Land (2016) – IMDb Rating: 8.0
Summary: The film is a romantic musical that tells the story of an aspiring actress and a jazz musician as they pursue their dreams in Los Angeles while navigating their love for each other.
Starring:
Ryan Gosling (Sebastian)
Emma Stone (Mia)
Moonlight (2016) – IMDb Rating: 7.4
Summary: The film is a coming-of-age drama that follows the life of a young African-American man in three distinct stages as he grapples with his identity and sexuality.
Starring:
Trevante Rhodes (Chiron)
Ashton Sanders (Teen Chiron)
Alex R. Hibbert (Child Chiron)
The Shape of Water (2017) – IMDb Rating: 7.3
Summary: Directed by Guillermo del Toro, the film is a fantasy romance set against the backdrop of the Cold War era and follows the unique bond that forms between a mute woman and an amphibious creature.
Starring:
Sally Hawkins (Elisa)
Doug Jones (Amphibian Man)
Her (2013) – IMDb Rating: 8.0
Summary: The film is a sci-fi romance that explores the relationship between a lonely man and an advanced artificial intelligence operating system.
Starring:
Joaquin Phoenix (Theodore)
Scarlett Johansson (Samantha)
The Theory of Everything (2014) – IMDb Rating: 7.7
Summary: The film is a biographical drama that chronicles the life of physicist Stephen Hawking and his relationship with his first wife, Jane Hawking, as he grapples with a debilitating disease.
Starring:
Eddie Redmayne (Stephen Hawking)
Felicity Jones (Jane Hawking)
Dallas Buyers Club (2013) – IMDb Rating: 8.0
Summary: Based on a true story, the film follows the life of Ron Woodroof, a Texan who begins smuggling and distributing unapproved drugs to AIDS patients in the 1980s.
Starring:
Matthew McConaughey (Ron Woodroof)
Jared Leto (Rayon)
The Fighter (2010) – IMDb Rating: 7.8
Summary: The film is a biographical sports drama that tells the story of boxer Micky Ward and his relationship with his half-brother Dicky Eklund, who is also his trainer.
Starring:
Mark Wahlberg (Micky Ward)
Christian Bale (Dicky Eklund)
The Big Short (2015) – IMDb Rating: 7.8
Summary: The film is a dark comedy-drama that delves into the events leading up to the 2008 financial crisis and follows a group of individuals who predict and profit from the collapse of the housing market.
Starring:
Christian Bale (Michael Burry)
Steve Carell (Mark Baum)
Ryan Gosling (Jared Vennett)
Brad Pitt (Ben Rickert)
Spotlight (2015) – IMDb Rating: 8.1
Summary: The film is a biographical drama that depicts the investigative journalism of the Boston Globe’s “Spotlight” team as they uncover the widespread child sexual abuse scandal within the Catholic Church.
Starring:
Mark Ruffalo (Michael Rezendes)
Michael Keaton (Walter “Robby” Robinson)
Rachel McAdams (Sacha Pfeiffer)
Room (2015) – IMDb Rating: 8.1
Summary: Based on Emma Donoghue’s novel, the film follows the harrowing story of a young woman and her son who are held captive in a small room for years and their struggle to escape and adjust to the outside world.
Starring:
Brie Larson (Ma)
Jacob Tremblay (Jack)
The Imitation Game (2014) – IMDb Rating: 8.0
Summary: The film is a biographical drama that portrays the life and work of Alan Turing, a brilliant mathematician who played a crucial role in breaking the German Enigma code during World War II.
Starring:
Benedict Cumberbatch (Alan Turing)
Keira Knightley (Joan Clarke)
The Help (2011) – IMDb Rating: 8.0
Summary: Based on Kathryn Stockett’s novel, the film is set in 1960s Mississippi and tells the story of African-American maids who work for white families and their relationship with a young white woman who writes a book about their experiences.
Starring:
Emma Stone (Skeeter Phelan)
Viola Davis (Aibileen Clark)
Octavia Spencer (Minny Jackson)
Captain Phillips (2013) – IMDb Rating: 7.8
Summary: The film is based on the true story of the 2009 hijacking of the Maersk Alabama by Somali pirates and the efforts of Captain Richard Phillips to protect his crew.
Starring:
Tom Hanks (Captain Richard Phillips)
Silver Linings Playbook (2012) – IMDb Rating: 7.7
Summary: The film is a romantic comedy-drama that follows the quirky relationship between two individuals with mental health challenges as they navigate love and life.
Starring:
Bradley Cooper (Pat Solitano)
Jennifer Lawrence (Tiffany Maxwell)
Scent of a Woman (1992) – IMDb Rating: 8.0
Summary: The film is a drama that centers on the relationship between a blind, retired Army officer and a young student who becomes his caretaker for a Thanksgiving weekend.
Starring:
Al Pacino (Colonel Frank Slade)
Chris O’Donnell (Charlie Simms)
Rain Man (1988) – IMDb Rating: 8.0
Summary: The film is a drama about the journey of a selfish young man who discovers that his estranged older brother is an autistic savant, leading to a road trip that changes both their lives.
Starring:
Dustin Hoffman (Raymond Babbitt)
Tom Cruise (Charlie Babbitt)
Good Will Hunting (1997) – IMDb Rating: 8.3
Summary: The film is a drama that revolves around a troubled young janitor who possesses extraordinary mathematical talents and the therapist who helps him confront his past and realize his potential.
Starring:
Matt Damon (Will Hunting)
Robin Williams (Sean Maguire)
Dead Poets Society (1989) – IMDb Rating: 8.1
Summary: The film is a coming-of-age drama set in a conservative all-boys preparatory school and focuses on the influence of an English teacher who inspires his students to seize the day.
Starring:
Robin Williams (John Keating)
Ethan Hawke (Todd Anderson)
Stand by Me (1986) – IMDb Rating: 8.1
Summary: Based on a Stephen King novella, the film is a coming-of-age adventure that follows a group of friends who embark on a journey to find a missing boy’s body.
Starring:
Wil Wheaton (Gordie Lachance)
River Phoenix (Chris Chambers)
The Breakfast Club (1985) – IMDb Rating: 7.8
Summary: The film is a classic teen comedy-drama that portrays the interactions and personal growth of five high school students from different social cliques during Saturday detention.
Starring:
Emilio Estevez (Andrew Clark)
Judd Nelson (John Bender)
Molly Ringwald (Claire Standish)
Ordinary People (1980) – IMDb Rating: 7.7
Summary: The film is a family drama that explores the aftermath of a tragic boating accident on the lives of a suburban family, particularly the surviving son.
Starring:
Donald Sutherland (Calvin Jarrett)
Mary Tyler Moore (Beth Jarrett)
Timothy Hutton (Conrad Jarrett)
The Color Purple (1985) – IMDb Rating: 7.8
Summary: Based on Alice Walker’s novel, the film is a drama that chronicles the life and hardships of an African-American woman named Celie in the early 20th century.
Starring:
Whoopi Goldberg (Celie Johnson)
Oprah Winfrey (Sofia)
Terms of Endearment (1983) – IMDb Rating: 7.3
Summary: The film is a comedy-drama that spans 30 years and focuses on the complex relationship between a mother and her daughter.
Starring:
Shirley MacLaine (Aurora Greenway)
Debra Winger (Emma Greenway-Horton)
Kramer vs. Kramer (1979) – IMDb Rating: 7.8
Summary: The film is a drama that revolves around the struggle of a father who must take care of his young son alone after his wife leaves them, and the legal battle that ensues when she returns.
Starring:
Dustin Hoffman (Ted Kramer)
Meryl Streep (Joanna Kramer)
A Few Good Men (1992) – IMDb Rating: 7.7
Summary: The film is a legal drama that follows military lawyers as they defend two U.S. Marines accused of murdering a fellow Marine at Guantanamo Bay.
Starring:
Tom Cruise (Lt. Daniel Kaffee)
Jack Nicholson (Col. Nathan R. Jessup)
Demi Moore (Lt. Cdr. JoAnne Galloway)
Philadelphia (1993) – IMDb Rating: 7.7
Summary: The film is a legal drama and a powerful story about a lawyer who is fired from his firm due to being diagnosed with AIDS and his subsequent discrimination lawsuit.
Starring:
Tom Hanks (Andrew Beckett)
Denzel Washington (Joe Miller)
Platoon (1986) – IMDb Rating: 8.1
Summary: The film is a war drama that portrays the experiences of a young soldier in the Vietnam War and the moral and psychological challenges he faces.
Starring:
Charlie Sheen (Chris Taylor)
Willem Dafoe (Sgt. Elias Grodin)
Tom Berenger (Staff Sgt. Bob Barnes)
Born on the Fourth of July (1989) – IMDb Rating: 7.2
Summary: Based on the true story of Ron Kovic, the film follows the life of a Vietnam War veteran who becomes an anti-war activist after returning home paralyzed.
Starring:
Tom Cruise (Ron Kovic)
Wall Street (1987) – IMDb Rating: 7.4
Summary: The film is a drama set in the world of high finance and corporate greed, focusing on a young stockbroker who becomes involved with a ruthless and unscrupulous corporate raider.
Starring:
Michael Douglas (Gordon Gekko)
Charlie Sheen (Bud Fox)
The Great Gatsby (2013) – IMDb Rating: 7.2
Summary: Based on F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel, the film is a romantic drama set in the Roaring Twenties and follows the mysterious millionaire Jay Gatsby and his love for Daisy Buchanan.
Starring:
Leonardo DiCaprio (Jay Gatsby)
Tobey Maguire (Nick Carraway)
Carey Mulligan (Daisy Buchanan)
The Hours (2002) – IMDb Rating: 7.5
Summary: The film weaves together three separate stories involving three women from different time periods, all of whom are connected by the novel “Mrs. Dalloway” by Virginia Woolf.
Starring:
Meryl Streep (Clarissa Vaughan)
Nicole Kidman (Virginia Woolf)
Julianne Moore (Laura Brown)
Cold Mountain (2003) – IMDb Rating: 7.2
Summary: Set during the American Civil War, the film is a romantic drama that follows the journey of a wounded Confederate soldier as he attempts to return to his beloved.
Starring:
Jude Law (Inman)
Nicole Kidman (Ada Monroe)
Renée Zellweger (Ruby Thewes)
The English Patient (1996) – IMDb Rating: 7.4
Summary: The film is a romantic drama set during World War II and tells the story of a critically burned and amnesiac patient who recounts his past and a passionate love affair.
Starring:
Ralph Fiennes (Count László de Almásy)
Kristin Scott Thomas (Katharine Clifton)
Juliette Binoche (Hana)
Lost in Translation (2003) – IMDb Rating: 7.7
Summary: The film is a drama and romantic comedy that explores the unlikely bond between a lonely aging actor and a young woman in Tokyo.
Starring:
Bill Murray (Bob Harris)
Scarlett Johansson (Charlotte)
Brokeback Mountain (2005) – IMDb Rating: 7.7
Summary: The film is a romantic drama that follows the complex and secret relationship between two cowboys in Wyoming over several decades.
Starring:
Heath Ledger (Ennis Del Mar)
Jake Gyllenhaal (Jack Twist)
Little Miss Sunshine (2006) – IMDb Rating: 7.8
Summary: The film is a dark comedy that follows the dysfunctional Hoover family as they embark on a road trip to get their young daughter to the “Little Miss Sunshine” beauty pageant.
Starring:
Abigail Breslin (Olive Hoover)
Greg Kinnear (Richard Hoover)
Toni Collette (Sheryl Hoover)
Steve Carell (Frank Ginsberg)
500 Days of Summer (2009) – IMDb Rating: 7.7
Summary: The film is a romantic comedy-drama that portrays the nonlinear journey of a young man as he reflects on his relationship with a woman named Summer.
Starring:
Joseph Gordon-Levitt (Tom Hansen)
Zooey Deschanel (Summer Finn)
The Descendants (2011) – IMDb Rating: 7.3
Summary: The film is a drama-comedy that tells the story of a Hawaiian landowner and lawyer as he deals with family issues and uncovers a secret about his wife after a boating accident.
Starring:
George Clooney (Matt King)
Shailene Woodley (Alexandra King)
Midnight in Paris (2011) – IMDb Rating: 7.7
Summary: The film is a romantic comedy that follows the adventures of a disillusioned writer who finds himself transported back in time to 1920s Paris every night at midnight.
Starring:
Owen Wilson (Gil Pender)
Rachel McAdams (Inez)
Moneyball (2011) – IMDb Rating: 7.6
Summary: The film is a sports drama that focuses on the innovative approach of Oakland Athletics’ general manager, Billy Beane, as he uses statistics to assemble a competitive baseball team.
Starring:
Brad Pitt (Billy Beane)
Jonah Hill (Peter Brand)
War Horse (2011) – IMDb Rating: 7.2
Summary: The film is a war drama that follows the extraordinary journey of a young man and his horse during World War I, as they are separated and face numerous challenges.
Starring:
Jeremy Irvine (Albert Narracott)
Beasts of the Southern Wild (2012) – IMDb Rating: 7.3
Summary: The film is a fantasy drama set in a bayou community called the Bathtub and follows a young girl named Hushpuppy as she faces environmental and personal challenges.
Starring:
Quvenzhané Wallis (Hushpuppy)
12 Years a Slave (2013) – IMDb Rating: 8.1
Summary: The film is a historical drama based on the true story of Solomon Northup, a free African-American man who is kidnapped and sold into slavery in the 19th century.
Starring:
Chiwetel Ejiofor (Solomon Northup)
Lupita Nyong’o (Patsey)
Michael Fassbender (Edwin Epps)
Whiplash (2014) – IMDb Rating: 8.5
Summary: The film is a drama that explores the intense relationship between a young jazz drummer and his demanding music instructor.
Starring:
Miles Teller (Andrew Neiman)
J.K. Simmons (Terence Fletcher)
The Revenant (2015) – IMDb Rating: 8.0
Summary: The film is a survival drama that follows a frontiersman who is left for dead and embarks on a treacherous journey for revenge in the American wilderness.
Starring:
Leonardo DiCaprio (Hugh Glass)
Tom Hardy (John Fitzgerald)
Hell or High Water (2016) – IMDb Rating: 7.6
Summary: The film is a modern Western that tells the story of two brothers who carry out a series of bank robberies in an attempt to save their family’s ranch.
Starring:
Chris Pine (Toby Howard)
Ben Foster (Tanner Howard)
Jeff Bridges (Marcus Hamilton)
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (2017) – IMDb Rating: 8.1
Summary: The film is a dark comedy-drama about a mother who takes matters into her own hands by putting up three billboards to pressure the police into solving her daughter’s murder.
Starring:
Frances McDormand (Mildred Hayes)
Woody Harrelson (Chief Bill Willoughby)
Sam Rockwell (Officer Jason Dixon)
Lady Bird (2017) – IMDb Rating: 7.4
Summary: The film is a coming-of-age drama-comedy that follows a high school senior named Lady Bird as she navigates the challenges of her final year before college.
Starring:
Saoirse Ronan (Lady Bird McPherson)
Laurie Metcalf (Marion McPherson)
Get Out (2017) – IMDb Rating: 7.7
Summary: The film is a horror-thriller that explores racial tensions as a young African-American man visits his white girlfriend’s family estate, only to uncover disturbing secrets.
Starring:
Daniel Kaluuya (Chris Washington)
Allison Williams (Rose Armitage)
BlacKkKlansman (2018) – IMDb Rating: 7.5
Summary: Based on a true story, the film follows an African-American detective who infiltrates the Ku Klux Klan in the 1970s.
Starring:
John David Washington (Ron Stallworth)
Adam Driver (Flip Zimmerman)
Marriage Story (2019) – IMDb Rating: 7.9
Summary: The film is a drama that portrays the emotional and legal complexities of a couple’s divorce and custody battle.
Starring:
Scarlett Johansson (Nicole Barber)
Adam Driver (Charlie Barber)
Parasite (2019) – IMDb Rating: 8.6
Summary: The film is a dark comedy-thriller that revolves around the lives of two families from different socioeconomic backgrounds and the secrets they hold.
Starring:
Song Kang-ho (Kim Ki-taek)
Lee Sun-kyun (Park Dong-ik)