Dir: Frank Darabont
Cast: Tom Hanks, Michael Clarke Duncan, David Morse, Bonnie Hunt, James Cromwell.
Genre: Crime/Drama/Fantasy/Mystery
Fantastically poetic look at strange and wonderful experiences on Death Row, and the pain of false conviction.
99. Casablanca (1942)
Dir: Michael Curtiz
Cast: Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman, Paul Henreid, Claude Rains, Conrad Veidt.
Genre: Drama/Romance/War
Classic romance story, set within war torn Europe, and featuring a powerful show of rebellion against the Nazis.
98. Shaun of the Dead (2004)
Dir: Edgar Wright
Cast: Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Kate Ashfield, Lucy Davis, Dylan Moran, Bill Nighy.
Genre: Comedy/Horror
Wonderfully funny mockery of horror classics, which proves to fresh and inventive throughout.
97. Dirty Harry (1971)
Dir: Don Siegel
Cast: Clint Eastwood, Andy Robinson, Harry Guardino, Reni Santoni, John Vernon.
Genre: Action/Crime/Thriller
Intense, action-packed crime epic featuring a police officer who works outside the normal rules and engages in some harsh set pieces.
96. The Deer Hunter (1978)
Dir: Michael Cimino
Cast: Robert De Niro, Christopher Walken, John Savage, Meryl Streep, John Cazale.
Genre: Drama/War
Distinguished and rich drama about the price individuals pay for their part in war, and small issues which have big results.
95. Misery (1990)
Dir: Rob Reiner
Cast: James Caan, Kathy Bates, Richard Farnsworth, Frances Sternhagen, Lauren Bacall.
Genre: Thriller
Harrowing and intense thriller about the dangers of creativity and originality, and the obsessive nature of fandom.
94. The Bourne Ultimatum (2007)
Dir: Paul Greengrass
Cast: Matt Damon, Julia Stiles, David Strathairn, Scott Glenn, Edgar Ramirez, Albert Finney, Joan Allen.
Genre: Action/Adventure/Mystery/Thriller
Incredible thriller that serves to offer up non-stop action and fun from start to finish; the mystery within is enchanting, and the set pieces are breathtaking.
93. The Lion King (1994)
Dir: Roger Allers and Rob Minkoff
Cast: Matthew Broderick, Jeremy Irons, James Earl Jones, Jonathan Taylor Thomas, Nathan Lane, Rowan Atkinson, Cheech Marin, Whoopi Goldberg.
Genre: Adventure/Animation/Drama/Family
Wonderfully entertaining mixture of comedy, thrills and music, with enough joyous heart and exhilarating fun to fuel most other Disney pictures.
92. Life of Brian (1979)
Dir: Terry Jones
Cast: Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, Michael Palin, Terry Jones.
Genre: Comedy
Honest, fun and farcical big screen adventure from the brilliant Pythons; it can, at times, be uncomfortable, but it makes up for it with it's constant slew of laughs.
91. The Matrix (1999)
Dir: Andy Wachowski and Larry Wachowski
Cast: Keanu Reeves, Carrie-Anne Moss, Laurence Fishburne, Hugo Weaving, Joe Pantoliano.
Genre: Action/Adventure/Science Fiction
Mind-blowing combination of frantic action sequences and jaw-dropping special effects that make for a thoughtful and wonderfully realised masterpiece.
90. Touch of Evil (1958)
Dir: Orson Welles
Cast: Orson Welles, Charlton Heston, Janet Leigh, Marlene Dietrich.
Genre: Crime/Film-Noir/Thriller
Uncomfortable and perverse look at the world of corruption, kidnapping and murder, and the police's reluctance to deal with it.
89. For a Few Dollars More (1965)
Dir: Sergio Leone
Cast: Clint Eastwood, Lee Van Cleef, Gian Maria Volonte, Klaus Kinski.
Genre: Western
Entertaining Western dealing with unity through ambition, and the justice that comes from different kinds of bounty hunting.
88. Wayne's World (1992)
Dir: Penelope Spheeris
Cast: Mike Myers, Dana Carvey, Rob Lowe, Tia Carrere, Lara Flynn Boyle.
Genre: Comedy/Music
It may not have much of a storyline, but Wayne's World's appeal comes largely from the fact that is a constant assault of music references and hilarious gags.
87. Jurassic Park (1993)
Dir: Steven Spielberg
Cast: Sam Neill, Laura Dern, Jeff Goldblum, Richard Attenborough, Wayne Knight, Samuel L. Jackson.
Genre: Adventure/Family/Science Fiction
Suspenseful and wonderfully filmed monster movie where the stakes feel real, and the premise, while ludicrous, feels believable throughout.
86. Stand By Me (1986)
Dir: Rob Reiner
Cast: Will Wheaton, River Phoenix, Kiefer Sutherland, Corey Feldman, Jerry O’Connell.
Genre: Adventure/Drama
Examination of boyhood adventures, murder and remembrance that feels harsh, but also serves to be heartwarming at it's very core.
85. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
Dir: Michael Gondry
Cast: Jim Carrey, Kate Winslet, Kirsten Dunst, Mark Ruffalo, Elijah Wood, Tom Wilkinson.
Genre: Drama/Romance/Science Fiction
Complex story which demands full attention throughout, but as a result of this it is hugely refreshing featuring characters and conflicts which feel beautifully perfect.
84. Kick-Ass (2010)
Dir: Matthew Vaughn
Cast: Aaron Johnson, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Chloe Grace Moretz, Nicholas Cage, Mark Strong.
Genre: Action/Crime/Thriller
Combining classic superhero concepts with modern filmmaking style choices, this film is a perfectly watchable, woefully violent and irresistibly fun picture.
83. Carrie (1976)
Dir: Brian De Palma
Cast: Sissy Spacek, Amy Irving, William Katt, Nancy Allen, John Travolta.
Genre: Horror
Harrowing look at the mind of a tormented young girl and her discovery that she can enact revenge on all those who have wronged her.
82. There Will Be Blood (2007)
Dir: Paul Thomas Anderson
Cast: Daniel Day-Lewis, Paul Dano, Kevin J. O’Connor, Dillon Freasier, Russell Harvard.
Genre: Drama/Thriller
Exciting, imaginative, experimental character study of an aggressive individual influenced by his environment and the events within it.
81. 12 Angry Men (1957)
Dir: Sidney Lumet
Cast: Henry Fonda, Lee J. Cobb, E. G. Marshall, Ed Begley, Martin Balsam.
Genre: Drama/Mystery
Engaging look at the suspense behind the scenes in a courtroom, with a fantastic combination of actors portraying different stereotypes within a disgruntled, justice seeking jury.
80. Fargo (1996)
Dir: Joel Coen
Cast: Frances McDormand, William H. Macy, Steve Buscemi, Harve Presnell, Peter Stormare.
Genre: Crime/Drama/Thriller
Wonderful drama that combines violence, comedy, suspense and mystery into a perfect example of fiction within the real world.
79. The Third Man (1949)
Dir: Carol Reed
Cast: Joseph Cotten, Orson Welles, Alida Valli, Trevor Howard, Bernard Lee.
Genre: Film-Noir/Mystery/Thriller
Immensely powerful and poetic mystery about the secrets of those we thought we knew, and the complexity of their demise.
78. Annie Hall (1977)
Dir: Woody Allen
Cast: Woody Allen, Diane Keaton, Tony Roberts, Carol Kane, Paul Simon, Shelley Duvall, Christopher Walken.
Genre: Comedy/Drama/Romance
Hilarious and engaging romantic comedy, with a weedy protagonist, and a slightly confused but wonderfully charming love interest.
77. Up (2009)
Dir: Pete Docter
Cast: Edward Asner, Christopher Plummer, Jordan Nagai, Bob Peterson.
Genre: Adventure/Animation/Comedy/Family
Touching, but strangely the most humorous, Pixar film that offers the audience a breathtaking ride where imagination and spectacle take centre stage.
76. Blade Runner (1982)
Dir: Ridley Scott
Cast: Harrison Ford, Rutger Hauer, Sean Young, Edward James Olmos, Daryl Hannah.
Genre: Drama/Science Fiction/Thriller
Spectacular, tough and fascinating motion picture with all the elements to make it a cinema classic in every single way.
75. L.A. Confidential (1997)
Dir: Curtis Hanson
Cast: Kevin Spacey, Russell Crowe, Guy Pearce, James Cromwell, Kim Basinger, Danny DeVito.
Genre: Crime/Drama/Mystery/Thriller
Beautifully seductive modern noir with enough twists, turns and thrills to draw in even the most cynical of cinema goer.
74. Toy Story 2 (1999)
Dir: John Lasseter
Cast: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Joan Cusack, Kelsey Grammer, Don Rickles, Jim Varney, Wallace Shawn, Wayne Knight.
Genre: Adventure/Animation/Comedy/Family
Clever, witty and charming family affair with enough original ideas to keep it fresh and exciting and a slew of new characters who offer up even more laughs than the original.
73. Chasing Amy (1997)
Dir: Kevin Smith
Cast: Ben Affleck, Jason Lee, Joey Lauren Adams, Dwight Ewell, Jason Mewes, Kevin Smith.
Genre: Comedy/Drama/Romance
Smart, honest and wonderfully funny spectacle relating to our interpretations of love, loss and relationships.
72. The Graduate (1967)
Dir: Mike Nichols
Cast: Anne Bancroft, Dustin Hoffman, Katharine Ross, William Daniels, Murray Hamilton.
Genre: Comedy/Drama/Romance
Perfectly acted, hilarious examination of flawless storytelling and film production; it is a stunning look at the world of secrets and lies.
71. This Is Spinal Tap (1984)
Dir: Rob Reiner
Cast: Rob Reiner, Michael McKean, Christopher Guest, Harry Shearer, Fran Drescher, Bruno Kirby.
Genre: Comedy/Music
Intelligent, funny and original look at the world of heavy metal music and the people who inhabit it; it is truly the most valuable addition to the world of pop culture.
70. The Wizard of Oz (1939)
Dir: Victor Fleming
Cast: Judy Garland, Frank Morgan, Ray Bolger, Bert Lahr, Jack Haley, Billie Burke, Margaret Hamilton.
Genre: Adventure/Family/Fantasy/Musical
Perfect family film; wonderful musical numbers, exceptionally well acted characters and a storyline that adults and children can both appreciate.
69. From Russia with Love (1963)
Dir: Terence Young
Cast: Sean Connery, Robert Shaw, Daniela Bianchi, Lotte Lenya, Pedro Armendariz, Bernard Lee.
Genre: Action/Adventure/Romance/Thriller
Engaging spy thriller with a romantic twist which dominates the majority of the piece; the set pieces are exceptional, meanwhile, and the scenes aboard the Orient Express are constantly powerful.
68. Blue Velvet (1986)
Dir: David Lynch
Cast: Kyle Maclachlan, Isabella Rossellini, Dennis Hopper, Laura Dern, Dean Stockwell.
Genre: Crime/Mystery/Thriller
Representation of the perfection of David Lynch's filmmaking; it is a film of wonderful scope and indescribable power.
67. E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
Dir: Steven Spielberg
Cast: Henry Thomas, Dee Wallace, Robert MacNaughton, Drew Barrymore, Peter Coyote.
Genre: Adventure/Drama/Family/Fantasy
Heartwarming adventure that proves to be constantly magical and extensively fun family affair throughout.
66. A Fistful of Dollars (1964)
Dir: Sergio Leone
Cast: Clint Eastwood, Marianne Koch, Gian Maria Volonte, Jose Calvo, Joseph Egger.
Genre: Action/Western
Intense Western about deception, violence and rivalry; the action is powerful and engaging, and the result is a passionately engaging picture.
65. Pulp Fiction (1994)
Dir: Quentin Tarantino
Cast: John Travolta, Samuel L. Jackson, Uma Thurman, Harvey Keitel, Bruce Willis, Tim Roth, Ving Rhames, Amanda Plummer, Christopher Walken, Rosanna Arquette.
Genre: Crime/Thriller
Exhilarating movie equivalent of a pulp novel; each story thread is perfectly realised and ties together into a cinematic epic.
64. The Conversation (1974)
Dir: Francis Ford Coppola
Cast: Gene Hackman, John Cazale, Allen Garfield, Cindy Williams, Frederic Forrest, Harrison Ford, Robert Duvall, Michael Higgins.
Genre: Drama/Mystery/Thriller
Affecting and tragic examination of a professional eavesdropper; every scene feels strangely alluring, while the acting on the part of Hackman is possibly the best of his career.
63. Vertigo (1958)
Dir: Alfred Hitchcock
Cast: James Stewart, Kim Novak, Barbara Bel Geddes, Tom Helmore.
Genre: Crime/Mystery/Romance/Thriller
Intense and inventive thriller about a man with a strange medical condition that makes his actions throughout all the more disturbing and suspenseful.
62. Adaptation (2002)
Dir: Spike Jonze
Cast: Nicholas Cage, Meryl Streep, Chris Cooper, Cara Seymour, Tilda Swinton, Brian Cox.
Genre: Comedy/Crime/Drama
Passionate, inventive and intelligent film about writer's block and the humorous and violent results of cinematic necessity.
61. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)
Dir: Peter Jackson
Cast: Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Sean Astin, Andy Serkis, Viggo Mortensen, Liv Tyler, Cate Blanchett, John Rhys-Davies, Orlando Bloom, Bernard Hill, Christopher Lee, Billy Boyd, Dominic Monaghan, Hugo Weaving, Miranda Otto, David Wenham, Brad Dourif, Sala Baker, Sean Bean.
Genre: Action/Adventure/Fantasy
Entrancing fantasy epic featuring glorious visuals, dark subject matter and intensely violent action sequences; but it is the acting and the emotion that set the film apart as a work of true genius.
60. Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)
Dir: James Cameron
Cast: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Linda Hamilton, Robert Patrick, Edward Furlong, Earl Boen, Joe Morton.
Genre: Action/Science Fiction/Thriller
Imaginative, visual engaging and truly delightful action thriller where the villain and hero swap respective roles and the violence is increased tenfold.
59. Heat (1995)
Dir: Michael Mann
Cast: Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, Val Kilmer, Jon Voight, Tom Sizemore, Ashley Judd, Diane Venora, Natalie Portman.
Genre: Crime/Drama/Thriller
Sleek, meticulously thought-out big screen cop adventure where the hero and villain are presented as parallels of one another, and their actions have genuine consequences.
58. Schindler's List (1993)
Dir: Steven Spielberg
Cast: Liam Neeson, Ralph Fiennes, Ben Kingsley, Caroline Goodall, Embeth Davidtz.
Genre: Biography/Drama/History/War
Surprising, powerful and thought provoking motion picture; it is a brilliant piece of writing, acting and directing. Some scenes within are heartbreaking, while others are just truly disturbing.
57. Once Upon a Time in the West (1968)
Dir: Sergio Leone
Cast: Charles Bronson, Henry Fonda, Jason Robards, Claudia Cardinale, Gabriele Ferzetti.
Genre: Western
Outstanding combination of characterisation, visual excellence, thoughtful humour, engaging themes and marvellous music; additionally featuring some of the best performances in cinematic history.
56. The Prestige (2006)
Dir: Christopher Nolan
Cast: Christian Bale, Hugh Jackman, Scarlett Johansson, Michael Caine, David Bowie, Andy Serkis, Rebecca Hall, Ricky Jay.
Genre: Drama/Fantasy/Mystery/Thriller
Incredibly complex, multi-layered piece of cinema, which takes repeat viewings to truly fully appreciate; the performances are marvellous, the plot engaging and the multiple story twists, shocking.
55. Chinatown (1974)
Dir: Roman Polanski
Cast: Jack Nicholson, Faye Dunaway, John Huston, Perry Lopez, John Hillerman.
Genre: Crime/Drama/Mystery/Thriller
Wonderfully dark, suspenseful and noir-esque detective picture with some frighteningly disturbing storylines and a powerfully vicious finale.
54. Toy Story (1995)
Dir: John Lasseter
Cast: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Don Rickles, Jim Varney, Wallace Shawn, Annie Potts, John Ratzenberger, John Morris.
Genre: Adventure/Animation/Comedy/Fantasy
Intoxicating and constantly charming ride of a film, with memorable characters, a unique story, wonderfully witty inspirational comedy and some powerfully dark moments.
53. 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
Dir: Stanley Kubrick
Cast: Keir Dullea, Gary Lockwood, William Sylvester, Daniel Richter, Douglas Rain.
Genre: Adventure/Mystery/Science Fiction
Transcendent piece of filmmaking; it's slow and meticulous, but wonderfully realised and perfectly presented as a thriller spectacle and a cinema classic.
52. Apocalypse Now (1979)
Dir: Francis Ford Coppola
Cast: Marlon Brando, Robert Duvall, Martin Sheen, Laurence Fishburne, Dennis Hopper, Harrison Ford.
Genre: Drama/War
Thrillingly ingenious and spellbinding look at the psychological impact of Vietnam and the threat of a powerful figure going native. It is, without a doubt, a piece of cinematic genius.
51. Taxi Driver (1976)
Dir: Martin Scorsese
Cast: Robert De Niro, Jodie Foster, Cybill Shepherd, Harvey Keitel, Peter Boyle, Albert Brooks, Leonard Harris.
Genre: Drama/Thriller
Unsettling, disturbing evaluation of a violent man within society; it is wonderfully influential, perfectly nightmarish and deeply anarchic throughout.
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