It has to be faced: The American film industry is the greatest in the world. There is no national film industry more prolific, more groundbreaking, more successful, or more historically significant than Hollywood, and irrefutable proof of that is the fact that a huge portion of the films that are typically considered the greatest of all time are American productions.
Narrowing down the greatest American films ever made, then, is no easy task. From silent comedies like Modern Times to modern blockbusters like The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, and from low-budget indies like Do the Right Thing to massive franchise productions like The Empire Strikes Back, these generational masterpieces prove that American cinema truly has no equal.
20
‘Dune: Part Two’ (2024)
Many people love to claim that Hollywood cinema isn’t what it used to be; but even though it’s fair to say that the American film industry has seen better days, Dune: Part Two is a movie so great that it should be proof enough that Hollywood is alive and well in the 2020s. Denis Villeneuve‘s Dune from 2021 was great enough, but this sequel? It’s one of the top sci-fi movie masterpieces of all time.
For years, fans of Frank Herbert‘s seminal 1965 epic sci-fi novel Dune thought that it was impossible for a movie adaptation to truly live up to the source material’s legacy. Apparently, all it took to prove them wrong was a filmmaker as immensely talented as Denis Villeneuve. Epic, imaginative, visually striking, bolstered by Hans Zimmer‘s powerful score, and perfectly understanding of the underlying themes and sociopolitical critiques of Herbert’s work, Dune: Part Two is 21st-century sci-fi filmmaking at its best.
19
‘Modern Times’ (1936)
No conversation about the greatest American films ever made could ever possibly be complete without at least a mention of Charles Chaplin, king of slapstick comedy and silent movies over the course of the pre-sound era in Hollywood. He made several masterpieces throughout his career, but the best one is also one of the best movies of the 1930s: Modern Times.
Modern Times serves as a beautiful farewell not only to the character of the Tramp, but to Hollywood’s silent era as a whole.
As Chaplin’s last silent film (as well as the first one where he experimented with a little bit of sound), Modern Times serves as a beautiful farewell not only to the character of the Tramp, but to Hollywood’s silent era as a whole. Hilarious, charming, and politically charged in equal measure, this unforgettable swan song to one of American cinema’s most important periods of phases is one of the greatest rom-coms ever made.
18
‘Do the Right Thing’ (1989)
Spike Lee is nothing if not a revolutionary auteur, praised for revolutionizing independent cinema during the ’90s (the defining decade for the movement in Hollywood) and breaking new ground for Black artists to let their voices be heard in American cinema. For an example of just how great Lee’s work can be, one needn’t look any further than Do the Right Thing, one of the most perfectly-directed drama movies ever.
Vibrant, colorful, urgent, sweaty, and absolutely electrifying, this ’90s classic has aged like fine wine in every sense imaginable. The performances, the camerawork, the music, the dialogue, the character arcs; it’s all absolutely perfect and executed with uniquely Lee-esque energy, making for one of the most thought-provoking American dramas of the ’90s.
17
‘Star Wars: Episode V — The Empire Strikes Back’ (1980)
The Star Wars franchise needs no introduction, and as such, the movie that’s most often recognized as the best of the bunch, Episode V — The Empire Strikes Back, needs even less of an introduction. It’s one of the best movie masterpieces of the last 50 years, a testament to the heights that sci-fi/fantasy can reach when placed in the hands of the right creative team.
Indeed, the team behind The Empire Strikes Back created a pop culture treasure that has gone on to transcend the very nature of cinema itself. Whether it’s the showstopping action sequences, the powerful character moments, the endlessly imaginative world-building, or the über-iconic final plot twist in the third act of the story, there’s something in this masterpiece for everyone to enjoy—including those who think they don’t like Star Wars.
16
‘Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters’ (1985)
Paul Schrader is best-known for his work as a screenwriter, particularly in his collaborations with Martin Scorsese, ranging from Taxi Driver to Bringing Out the Dead. He’s also sat on the director’s chair several times in the past, however, yet never with more success than in 1985. That year, he wrote and directed Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters, a biopic about the life of Japanese artist, model, and attempted coup d’état leader Yukio Mishima.There are several reasons why this is one of the most perfect movies of the 1980s, not least of which is the refreshingly unique way in which Schrader approaches the tropes of the biopic genre. Instead of simply following Mishima’s life like a Wikipedia article come to life, A Life in Four Chapters borrows elements from the author’s literary work and uses them in moments of poetic surrealism to get viewers to understand his essence as a human, rather than just the events of his life. Visually gorgeous and impeccably directed, it’s undoubtedly Schrader’s greatest work as a director.
15
‘The Apartment’ (1960)
Of course, talking about the greatest American movies ever made will inevitably bring us back to Hollywood’s Golden Age on more than one occasion. From around 1930 to around 1960, Hollywood went through one of the most widely studied and discussed phases in its history, producing artists as ahead-of-their-time as Billy Wilder and cinematic masterpieces as great as The Apartment.
Generally regarded as one of the last Classical Hollywood films, The Apartment is one of those classic comedies that are still masterpieces today. Dealing with themes of sexuality, existential loneliness, and corporate ambition in ways surprisingly mature for a film of this era, this trailblazing rom-com is still remembered as one of the greatest that the United States has ever produced. Such a master of his craft was Wilder.
14
‘Rear Window’ (1954)
British filmmaker Alfred Hitchcock started his career in England, but it was when he made the jump over to the United States that he produced the largest number of what people today would refer to as his masterpieces. Case in point: Rear Window, Hitchcock’s second-ever collaboration with both Grace Kelly and James Stewart, as well as one of the movies that best demonstrate why he was the Master of Suspense.
Aside from being flawlessly directed, keeping its intensely suspenseful narrative contained within a single location while still feeling far larger, Rear Window is also one of the most perfectly-written thriller movies ever. Brimming with slow-burning tension and the kinds of thematic and aesthetic signatures that Hitchcock’s oeuvre is full of, it’s essential viewing for all those who love the genre.
13
‘Singin’ in the Rain’ (1952)
They’re not nearly as common or popular today as they used to be, but throughout the entirety of Hollywood’s Golden Age, musicals were one of audiences’ favorite genres. And as far as musicals go, it doesn’t get any better than Singin’ in the Rain, one of the best movie musicals of the last 100 years. Endlessly charming, funny, and heartwarming, it’s a delightful satirization of Hollywood’s clunky transition from silent films to talkies.
As specific to its period as it is, though, Singin’ in the Rain is nevertheless one of the most exquisitely timeless movies ever made. Funny, romantic, and full of absolutely unforgettable song-and-dance numbers, it’s a high-energy classic with career-defining performances from Gene Kelly (who also co-directed the film with Stanley Donen), Debbie Reynolds, and Donald O’Connor.
12
‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ (1946)
Though today it’s mostly remembered as one of the most beautiful Christmas movies ever made, Christmas actually plays only a relatively small part in It’s a Wonderful Life. Rather, this enchanting family drama made by Frank Capra (another Classical Hollywood director who constantly proved to be ahead of his time) is one of the most deeply moving character studies in the history of American cinema.
Largely thanks to the refreshingly mature and sincere way in which it deals with nuanced themes of men’s mental health, including a strong anti-suicide message, It’s a Wonderful Life is one of the most perfect family movies with complex storytelling. James Stewart’s performance is out of this world, the story is emotionally stirring, and the ending is one of the best feel-good conclusions in all of American cinema.
11
‘Schindler’s List’ (1993)
He’s the indisputable father and king of Hollywood blockbusters, a pioneer of the concept itself, but Steven Spielberg‘s best movie actually happens to be not a popcorn masterpiece, but rather a deeply affecting war biopic epic. Winner of seven Academy Awards (including the only Best Picture win that a Spielberg film has ever obtained), Schindler’s List is one of the most perfect WWII movies ever made.
It’s also one of the best biopics of all time, dealing with a figure as complicated and layered as Oskar Schindler in admirably nuanced ways. Of course, it helps that Liam Neeson is so great in the role, and equally great is Ralph Fiennes in his chilling depiction of Amon Göth. Aside from its incredible cast, Schindler’s List also has some striking black-and-white cinematography, a hauntingly gorgeous score by John Williams, and flawless production values. It is, by all accounts, one of the best movies of the ’90s.