The Top 10 IMDb Rated Films Streaming on HBO Max - March 2021
#10 -
Se7en (1995)
What’s in the box!? Se7en is a psychological crime thriller with a star studded cast. Brad Pitt (Moneyball, Once Upon a Time...in Hollywood) and Morgan Freeman (Driving Miss Daisy, The Shawshank Redemption) star as a rookie and a veteran detective who partner to catch a serial killer who uses the seven deadly sins as a basis for his murders. This was the second film directed by David Fincher, who would go on to be nominated for two Oscars for his work on The Social Network and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. Even with its high ranking on the IMDb top rated films list, Se7en’s only Academy Award nomination came in the category of Best Film Editing. This film is definitely worth a watch for fans of suspense.
Photo © Cecchi Gori Pictures, Juno Pix, New Line Cinema.
#9 -
Seven Samurai (1954)
Since its release in 1954, Seven Samurai has been listed in many lists of the greatest films of all time, including being called the greatest foreign-language film of all time in a BBC poll conducted in 2018. This film’s story and action sequences have made a lasting impression in Hollywood, influencing future filmmakers such as Geogre Lucas and Quentin Tarantino.
Photo © Toho Company
#8 -
One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975)
This dramatic film accomplished something that only two other movies have ever done. It won “The Big 5” awards at the Oscars. “The Big 5” awards include Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Director, and Best Screenplay (adapted screenplay in this case). Only The Silence of the Lambs and It Happened One Night had previously achieved this. The Best Actor prize for the film’s star, Jack Nicholson (Chinatown, As Good As it Gets), was the first of his three wins. Adapted from the 1962 novel bearing the same name, the movie follows the journey of Nicholson’s McMurphy character, who pleads insanity after committing a crime to avoid prison. He interacts with the other patients and bumps heads with the head nurse, nurse Ratched. A new Netflix series, Ratched, acts as an origin story for the character from this film.
Photo © Fantasy Films, United Artists.
#7 -
The Matrix (1999)
If you’re watching the 1999 sci-fi epic The Matrix for the first time, you might not be too impressed by it’s visuals and special effects. But, these effects were incredibly groundbreaking at the time of its release. So much so that it earned four oscars for its efforts. Effects seen in this film simply didn’t exist before this. The classic story of a chosen one who will save the world, The Matrix pushed special effects to the next level and paved the way for future advancements.
Photo © Warner Bros, Village Roadshow Pictures, Groucho II Film Partnership, Silver Pictures.
#6 -
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)
The second film in the famous Lord of the Rings trilogy, The Two Towers is considered the worst by IMDb, but still ranks as the 15th greatest film of all time. If that doesn’t tell you how great these films are I don’t know what will. The fantasy films, based on the books written by J.R.R. Tolkien, have made a lasting impression in Hollywood for their revolutionary special effects. The Two Towers features one of the best battle scenes in cinema history (The Battle of Helm’s Deep). If you’ve never seen the series and have a spare 10 hours, then we highly suggest you give the trilogy a watch.
Photo © New Line Cinema
#5 -
Inception (2010)
The 2010 Best Picture Oscar nominee (it lost to The King’s Speech) was director Christopher Nolan’s follow up to the widely successful film The Dark Knight. With a mix of a star studded cast featuring Leonardo DiCaprio, Ellen Page, and Tom Hardy and breathtaking special effects, Inception is known as one of the greatest science fiction films of all time. On a list of the greatest films of the 21st century, this movie would land near the top of the list.
Photo © Legendary Pictures, Syncopy, Warner Bros. Pictures.
#4 -
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
The first film of The Lord of the Rings saga won four of the 13 Oscars that it was nominated for (tied 4th for most nominations by a single film). As mentioned in #4 on this list, Peter Jackson’s epic trilogy is known for its dazzling effects and breathtaking battles. Fellowship introduces viewers to classic characters we discovered in Tolkien’s novels. From Frodo to Gollum, everyone will enjoy this fantasy adventure.
Photo © New Line Cinema
#3 -
Pulp Fiction (1994)
Arguably Director Quentin Tarantino’s (Django Unchained, Once Upon a Time...in Hollywood) greatest work is the 1994 crime drama Pulp Fiction. The film was nominated for seven Academy Awards and took home the prize for Best Original Screenplay. The movie is anchored by great writing and performances. John Travolta, Samuel L. Jackson, and Uma Thurman were all nominated for Oscars for their roles. The film is known for its non-linear story structure and interweaving characters. Critics and audiences loved the film, leading to box-office success and ending up on many “Greatest Movies Ever” lists.
Photo © A Band Apart, Jersey Films, Miramax Films.
#2 -
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
One ring to rule them all, one Lord of the Rings to rule this list. The climatic ending to The Lord of the Rings trilogy has thrilled audiences around the globe since its release in 2003. The culmination of the series finally brings resolution to the story that we’ve invested nearly 10 hours of our lives to. But it was time well worth it. Winning every Oscar that it was nominated for, The Return of the King’s 11 Oscar wins tied Ben-Hur for the most Oscar wins for any single movie. It was well deserved, as Peter Jackson’s series will forever be looked back on as some of the great movie magic of all time.
Photo © New Line Cinema
#1 -
The Dark Knight (2008)
He’s the hero Gotham deserves, but not the one it needs right now. The creme de la creme of Comic Book movies, The Dark Knight brought the genre to the next level, paving the way for Marvel and their cinematic universe to thrive. Christopher Nolan’s (Inception, Dunkirk) and Christian Bale (American Psycho, Vice) team up for a darker, more dramatic Batman. Heath Ledger gives an Oscar winning performance as the ‘Crown Prince of Crime,’ the Joker. The Dark Knight is more than just a great superhero film, it is an amazing film for any genre.
Photo © Warner Bros. Pictures, DC Comics, Legendary Pictures, Syncopy.
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