1. The Shawshank Redemption
The Shawshank Redemption is a 1994 American drama film directed by Frank Darabont and starring Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman. The film tells the story of Andy Dufresne, a banker who is sentenced to life in prison for the murder of his wife and her lover, despite his claims of innocence. During his time in prison, Dufresne befriends Red, a fellow inmate, and learns to cope with his harsh new life.
2. Forrest Gump
Forrest Gump is a 1994 American comedy-drama film based on the 1986 novel of the same name by Winston Groom. The film is directed by Robert Zemeckis and stars Tom Hanks as Forrest Gump, alongside Robin Wright, Gary Sinise, Mykelti Williamson, and Sally Field. The story follows Forrest's journey through life, from being born to his mother in the deep south during the 1930s to his experiences in the Vietnam War and beyond.
3. The Dark Knight
The Dark Knight is a 2008 superhero film directed, produced, and co-written by Christopher Nolan. It stars Christian Bale as Batman/Bruce Wayne, Heath Ledger as The Joker, Aaron Eckhart as Harvey Dent/Two-Face, Michael Caine as Alfred Pennyworth, Gary Oldman as James Gordon, and Morgan Freeman as Lucius Fox. Set within the fictional realm of Gotham City, the film pits Batman against The Joker in a struggle for survival.
4. Inception
Inception is a 2010 science fiction thriller film written and directed by Christopher Nolan about a team of specialists who invade the mind of an entrepreneur to extract information from his subconscious. The cast includes Leonardo DiCaprio, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Marion Cotillard, Ellen Page, Ken Watanabe, Tom Hardy, Dileep Rao, Cillian Murphy, and Michael Caine.
5. The Godfather
The Godfather is a 1972 American crime drama film directed by Francis Ford Coppola and produced by Albert S. Ruddy from a screenplay by Mario Puzo and Coppola. It stars Marlon Brando and Al Pacino as the leaders of a fictional New York crime family. The story follows the family's evolution over three films from their origins as small-time criminals to international businessmen.
6. Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope
Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope, originally released as Star Wars, is a 1977 American epic space opera film written and directed by George Lucas. It stars Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Peter Cushing, Alec Guinness, David Prowse, and James Earl Jones. The plot follows Luke Skywalker as he joins forces with the Rebel Alliance to help save the galaxy from the evil Empire.
7. The Silence of the Lambs
The Silence of the Lambs is a 1991 American horror thriller film directed by Jonathan Demme and starring Jodie Foster, Anthony Hopkins, and Scott Glenn. The film follows FBI trainee Clarice Starling as she seeks the help of imprisoned cannibalistic serial killer Hannibal Lecter to catch another serial killer who is on the loose. The Silence of the Lambs was a critical and commercial success, winning five Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actor for Hopkins.
8. E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial is a 1982 American science fiction film directed by Steven Spielberg and written by Melissa Mathison. It stars Henry Thomas, Dee Wallace, Robert MacNaughton, Drew Barrymore, and Peter Coyote. The plot follows a young boy who befriends an extraterrestrial creature who is stranded on Earth and is trying to find his way home. E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial was a critical and commercial success, becoming one of the highest-grossing films of all time.