If one is curious about a genre, but unfamiliar with it, the wealth of films out there may seem overwhelming. But they need not despair, because here is the best of the best: one film from all major genres to get one started. These films were picked based on a number of criteria, i.e., polls, reviews, critics’ lists etc.
Even with only one movie from each genre singled out, these examples highlight what makes animation, comedy, horror, westerns, and more all so worth watching. It’s not easy to find films that are representative of an entire genre, but these selections come very close.
Western – The Good, The Bad And The Ugly (1966)
Italian spaghetti western The Good, The Bad and the Ugly by Sergio Leone is probably his most celebrated film and the best in its genre. Some of the best people in the industry at the time participated: Clint Eastwood starred and Ennio Morricone composed the movie’s soundtrack. This was the final instalment of the Dollars Trilogy and also the strongest one. It’s safe to say that Eastwood’s career soared after the success of these films and he was established as the tough-guy anti-hero protagonist.
Animated – Spirited Away (2001)
Japanese movie maker and artist Hayao Miyazaki must be one of the most acclaimed animated film creators of all time, considered the best in his native Japan. His films always possess this tender feeling, this aesthetic excellence, and this depth of character that are unrivalled. Spirited Away tackled, amongst others, the themes of Japanese folklore and Japanese culture, the influence of Western capitalism on 21st century Japan, and family loyalty and values.
Musical – The Sound Of Music (1965)
This most celebrated musical was released in 1965, but by 1966 it had become the highest-grossing film of all time. It held that title for five years, until Gone With The Wind was re-released and surpassed it. The Sound of Music was based on the memoir The Story of the Trapp Family Singers by Maria von Trapp, who’s portrayed by Julie Andrews, while her husband, Captain von Trapp, was played by the late Christopher Plummer.
Noir / Crime – Double Indemnity (1944)
Double Indemnity is widely regarded as having set the standard for noirs. It was nominated for seven Academy Awards, but unfortunately won none. John F. Seitz, the film’s cinematographer, pioneered some of the idiosyncratic noir aesthetic details that would come to be widely used in the genre.
One of Seitz’s techniques was the “venetian blind” lighting, which virtually creates the illusion of the shadows of prison bars falling on the characters, entrapping them.
Sci-Fi – The Matrix (1999)
The Matrix changed the landscape of science fiction and action after its release. Its cutting-edge effects and CGI (especially the usage of “bullet time” cameras), its black leather and sunglasses aesthetic, and its complex story and messages all worked together to garner the film critical acclaim, financial success, and the love of the audience. The film swiped all the technical Academy Awards, but was unfortunately overlooked in all Big Five categories.
Horror – The Exorcist (1973)
Today, The Exorcist may not seem like the scariest movie, but back in the day it terrified audiences and it still holds up. It’s considered one of the best horror movies, on the same tier as The Shining and Texas Chain Saw Massacre. When it comes to demonic possession, The Exorcist is the definitive winner. The film’s graphic scenes caused severe physical reactions to many viewers and many cities tried to outright ban it. A few of the most controversial scenes on cinema history can be found here.
Fantasy – The Lord Of The Rings Trilogy (2001 – 2003)
The ultimate story of good versus evil and the adaptation of one of the best novel series of all time, the Lord Of The Rings trilogy’s production was on a scale the world had never seen before. All three movies together were nominated for a sum of 30 Academy Awards, winning 17, both record numbers for any trilogy. Each movie in the original LOTR franchise earned a total of almost 3 billion at the box office, becoming the highest-grossing trilogy of all time. The Return of the King was the first fantasy film to ever win the Oscar for Best Picture.
Comic Book / Superhero – The Dark Knight (2008)
There are so many reasons why this is the best comic book movie of all time. Based on some of the best Batman material, directed by one of the great directors of today, and with the definitive interpretation and performance of the Joker, this movie’s legacy will probably never be surpassed.
A lot of the credit has to go to Heath Ledger, who was just thrilling.
War – Apocalypse Now (1979)
Directed by Francis Ford Coppola and starring Marlon Brando, Apocalypse Now is considered the best Vietnam War film and regularly also the best war film, period. It has been consistently included in “Best Films of All Time” lists like Sight & Sound‘s greatest films poll in 2012 and Roger Ebert’s top 10 list of best films ever. Interestingly, Coppola had to go through and edit over one million feet of film.
Comedy – Monty Python And The Holy Grail (1975)
This film was named by fans the second-best comedy of all time at the Best in Film: The Greatest Movies of Our Time special on ABC in 2011; Airplane! came in first, but it has not had the cultural impact that Monty Python and the Holy Grail had. Ironically, even though the movie is a parody of the Arthurian legend and the quest for the Grail, it’s still one of the most successful movies about those subjects.
Action – The Terminator (1984)
The Terminator is often considered the paragon of action, setting the standards for the action genre for years to come and establishing Arnold Schwarzenegger as a leading man. It also launched the career of celebrated director, James Cameron. The critical and financial success of the film led to the creation of a franchise with multiple sequels, a TV series, novelizations, et cetera.
Romance – Titanic (1997)
Written, directed, and co-produced by James Cameron, this epic romance of magnificent proportions was a huge box office hit (grossing 2,195 billion in total). Titanic was well-reviewed by critics and audiences and discussed widely for its political messages and its impact on the film industry. Titanic combined romance, historical elements, and disaster film elements beautifully to offer a spectacle that holds up years later.
Thriller – The Silence Of The Lambs (1991)
Anthony Hopkins’ portrayal of Dr Lecter, a.k.a. Hannibal the Cannibal, has become so famous (or notorious) that many consider it one of the best performances ever. The film won all the Big Five Academy Awards and was a critical and commercial success.
Clarice Starling, an FBI trainee, is sent to interview imprisoned serial killer and brilliant psychiatrist, Hannibal Lecter, to gain some insight about a killer of women nicknamed Buffalo Bill.
Historical – Spartacus (1960)
Stanley Kubrick’s historical epic Spartacus was based on the true story of Spartacus, the Thracian (Greek) slave to the Roman Empire who was forced to become a gladiator and then led a huge slave rebellion, which was unfortunately crushed with cruel ferocity by the Romans. However, he left behind a son, a free boy. The film won four Academy Awards and was the highest-grossing film of 1960.
Drama – Citizen Kane (1941)
Hailed often as the best film ever made, Citizen Kane, starring and directed by Orson Welles, was a superb, deeply insightful drama. A reporter is sent to investigate newspaper mogul Charles Foster Kane’s last words; his enquiries slowly expose the captivating portrait of an intricate man who rose from anonymity to overwhelming heights to fall again. Cane’s former friend, Leland, and ex-wife, Susan, shed some light on Kane, but the journalist worries he’ll never decipher the obscure man’s dying word, “Rosebud.”
