Cinema has told some of the most powerful stories imaginable. Since before they even had sound, movies have found their way to connect us all, telling wonderful tales that captivate, inspire, and invite us to come back for more. In more than a century since the first films, Hollywood has produced incredible cinematic pieces of art that have never lost their charm.
We are blessed today with some of the greatest and most influential movies of all time, and they continue to grow in popularity with age. From timeless romances and gangster epics to tales set in a galaxy far, far away, the ten below are iconic films that have never dipped in popularity. These are instantly recognizable works of cinematic art and some of the most beloved pictures that are still going strong today. They’ll likely never lose popularity and continue to have a massive impact on pop culture.
10
‘Titanic’ (1997)
Directed by James Cameron
Director James Cameron, the glorious mind behind The Terminator and Aliens, delivers his Best Picture-winning crowning achievement, Titanic. Starring Academy Award winners Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet, it’s an epic, timeless tale of love and drama, following two people from different backgrounds as they form an unbroken romance aboard the fateful R.M.S. Titanic on her doomed voyage.
Hailed as the cinematic event of the 1990s, Titanic fired on all cylinders to become one of the most profitable and must-watch films of all time. Tied with Ben-Hur and The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, it holds the record for most Academy Awards, deserving every one of them. It’s a truly beloved classic that looks timeless and truly inspiring. It’s a film meant to be seen on the big screen, and fans today continue to praise it.
9
‘Die Hard’ (1988)
Directed by John McTiernan
Director John McTiernan, creator of Predator and The Hunt for Red October, delivers his 1988 magnum opus Die Hard, a high-rise thriller that has come to define ’80s action cinema. It’s a grand and awesome tale that sees Bruce Willis‘s heroic cop, John McClane, face off against the brilliant criminal mastermind Hans Gruber (Alan Rickman) and a team of professional vault robbers after they take over the Nakatomi Plaza on Christmas Eve.
For a pulse-pounding adventure and non-stop excitement, there’s no better place to look than what is widely considered one of the most compelling action movies ever made. Die Hard is an absolute blast of entertainment that’s more fun to watch now than ever before. The characters are legendary, the villain is one of the greatest in movie history, and the action is tense and very creative. Truly, this is a film that even those who aren’t really fans of the action genre can love.
8
‘Goodfellas’ (1990)
Directed by Martin Scorsese
From the incredibly talented Martin Scorsese comes his undisputed masterpiece, Goodfellas, the crime epic that continues to stand out as one of the most beloved gangster epics ever. Featuring iconic lines and performances, it’s a legendary story that follows three low-level mob associates in mid-20th-century New York as they rise to become top earners of the Lucchese crime family.
Featuring magnificent performances from its A-list cast, including Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci, Lorraine Bracco, and the late Ray Liotta, it’s a highly regarded classic that’s perfectly acted and continues to be enjoyed. This has lines and scenes that have become immortalized in pop culture and shows the film will never be forgotten anytime soon. There’s a lot to appreciate about this crime masterpiece, and it’ll always have a strong fan base.
7
‘Gone with the Wind’ (1939)
Directed by Victor Fleming
.jpg?q=49&fit=crop&w=825&dpr=2)
One of the most legendary classics of Hollywood’s Golden Age, the Best Picture-winning epic Gone with the Wind is a timeless classic featuring some of cinema’s legendary lines and moments. A grand tale of romance, tragedy, and perseverance, it follows a Southern woman during and after the American Civil War as she grows to lead her family through turmoil and sparks an unexpected romance with a wealthy gambler.
While some of its themes and story elements seem a bit problematic now, Gone with the Wind still remains a highly influential and beloved masterpiece that continues to be praised today. It’s perfectly shot, scored, and most splendidly acted, creating one of the most visually and well-performed classics of all time. It may not be entirely perfect now, but it’s never lost an audience and remains a landmark of cinema.
6
‘The Wizard of Oz’ (1939)
Directed by Victor Fleming
No one can forget one of the greatest musicals of all time, The Wizard of Oz. Truly a beloved classic that never gets old, it’s a beautiful and heartwarming tale that has amazed audiences for generations with its iconic songs and characters. Starring Judy Garland and Frank Morgan, it sees a young Kansas farm girl transported to a magical land known as Oz and must embark on a journey, making unique friends along the way, to find her way home.
The Wizard of Oz‘s popularity has never diminished; it has grown. It’s made a huge impact on pop culture over the decades, featuring lines that are endlessly quoted and referenced across the media. There’s so much love about everything about this film, from its beautiful music to its jaw-dropping sets and production designs. It’ll likely continue to be watched and appreciated for centuries.
5
‘Pulp Fiction’ (1994)
Directed by Quentin Tarantino
Taking the crime genre by storm in the mid-90s, the now legendary Quentin Tarantino‘s non-linear crime drama epic, Pulp Fiction, is not only regarded as his crowning achievement but considered one of the greatest movies, period. With Oscar-winning dialog and fascinating performances, it tells three interwoven stories of several unique characters involved in all kinds of criminal activity in the span of a few days.
It’s brilliant, thought-provoking, and incredibly rewatchable. Pulp Fiction is an instantly recognizable film for even those who have seen it. From the characters, quotes, and iconic outfits, it’s unforgettable and certainly one of the most popular films out there. It defined cinema in the ’90s and will always represent the best of Quentin Tarantino’s filmmaking career.
4
‘Jurassic Park’ (1993)
Directed by Steven Spielberg
Next is highly considered one of the most epic and thrilling adventure movies of all time, Steven Spielberg‘s Jurassic Park. This now timeless tale is a cinematic achievement that continues to blow audiences away. When dinosaurs are brought back from extinction to be used as attractions for an island theme park, a paleontologist summoned to sign off on the park must escort two small children to safety after things go wrong, and the dinosaurs escape their enclosures.
With groundbreaking effects, pulse-pounding moments, and a legendary John Williams score, Jurassic Park is truly one of the most exciting movies ever made. It’s impossible not to enjoy it, and it’s never lost a strong, devoted fan base who continue to watch it year-round. It was a major critical and box office success that spawned one of the highest-grossing franchises in history. It’s still a beloved film today and likely forever.
3
‘The Godfather’ (1972)
Directed by Francis Ford Coppola
One of the most compelling crime dramas ever told, Francis Ford Coppola‘s Best Picture-winning epic, The Godfather, is a film that’s impossible to forget. Featuring iconic imagery, sharp writing and direction, and flawless performances, it sees the legendary Marlon Brando in a Best Actor-winning role as the head of a powerful crime family who must lead his flock through turmoil when the other syndicates in New York plot against him.
It’s often described as the most perfect movie in cinema history: epically told with hardly any flaw or crack within its runtime. It has an A-list cast that includes Al Pacino, Robert Duvall, and Diane Keaton, all of whom give phenomenal performances that are still studied and highly regarded as some of the best acting ever brought to the silver screen. The Godfather will never lose its popularity. It’s too perfect and beloved by cinemagoers to ever lose its status.
2
‘The Lord of the Rings Trilogy’ (2001-2003)
Directed by Peter Jackson
Based on the beloved novels by famed British author J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings trilogy is a grand film series from the early 2000s that is as epic as movies come. The great Sir Peter Jackson delivers a phenomenal and mostly faithful adaptation that follows a young hobbit who goes on an epic journey through Middle Earth to destroy the grand and powerful ring of an ancient evil warlord who intends to use it to conquer the land.
There will never be any mention of the most popular movies ever without talking about the greatest fantasy tale ever told. All three films in this immaculate trilogy tell epic tales of adventure and excitement, not to mention showing powerful visuals and breathtaking imagery. The Lord of the Rings fanbase seems to grow constantly as new audiences get exposed to its brilliance. There is no stopping this trilogy from entertaining audiences for generations.
1
‘The Star Wars Original Trilogy’ (1977-1983)
Directed by George Lucas, Irvin Kershner, and Richard Marquand
Lastly, there’s hardly any topping the popularity and success of the original Star Wars trilogy. Created by George Lucas, this fantasy sci-fi epic tale has become the stuff of cinematic royalty and continues to have one of the strongest fanbases of all time. It tells the legendary story of a desert farm boy as he embarks on a fascinating adventure to become a powerful warrior known as a Jedi and save the galaxy from an evil, tyrannical empire.
Everything, from the characters, quotes, worlds, and effects, has made the Star Wars trilogy such an essential part of cinema. The world of entertainment would be drastically different today without Lucas’s incredible trilogy, which is endlessly watched by fans and general audiences year-round. It takes the top spot as a film series that has never really dipped in popularity.