After all, there are all kinds of reasons why individual films stand the test of time, connecting with us on levels both personal and universal. The very best exemplars of the form conjure indelible images, evoke overwhelming emotions, tell unforgettable stories, and bring us characters who β love 'em or loathe 'em β we truly believe in. Ever since the movies began, well over a century ago, they have been finding new and ever-edifying ways to, well, move us β to joy, to laughter, to fear, to tears, to the edges of our seats and to profound experiences that resonate through the years and across generations.
From the misadventures of Peruvian bears to the epic quests of almighty fellowships; painterly, whisper-quiet period romances to pop culture shaping comic book blockbusters; and from awe-inspiring animated adventures to singular stories about the human experience hailing from all corners of the globe, to try and reach any kind of universal consensus on the best movies of all time is nigh-on impossible.
With that being said then In creating Empire 's list of the best movies of all time, we enlisted the help of our esteemed readers, asking you to share your picks for the movies that have comforted, challenged, entertained and inspired you most β the films that, above all else, made and continue to make you feel something. Then, having taken a survey of your perennial faves, contentious picks, and dark horse contenders, we turned to our experienced team of critics and contributors to pool their expertise.
Now, having weighed up the final shortlist and its entries' artistic merit and cultural impact, we have after much heated discussion settled on our final line-up. It will delight some, it may rankle others, but we wholeheartedly believe that our list makes for a pretty darn decent rundown of the finest films this medium we love has to offer. For more about Empire and the folks who helped put this list together, head this way.
Making his uber cool and supremely confident directorial debut, Quentin Tarantino hit audiences with a terrific twist on the heist-gone-wrong thriller. For the most part a single location chamber piece, Reservoir Dogs delights in ricocheting the zing and fizz of its dialogue around its gloriously βand indeed gore-iously β intense setting, with the majority of the movie's action centring around one long and incredibly bloody death scene.
