The best series of movies certainly feature the quality of the story, cinematography, and performances of the actors that we certainly don’t need to doubt anymore. Therefore, of the many movies in the world, we guarantee that some of these movies are the best recommendations of all time.
This time the author will provide some recommendations for the best movie titles that you should watch from various genres. There are also trilogy movies that you must watch all three to get a more pronounced experience.
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Best Movie Recommendations of All Time (1-5)
1. The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
The first best movie of all time recommendation is The Shawsanks Redemption. This movie is ranked number 1 in the IMDb Top 250 Movies, making it one of the best movies of all time. Even though it’s an old-school movie from the 90s, The Shawshank Redemption is a must-see movie.
Since entering prison, Andy Dufresne has made the acquaintance of an extraordinary fellow inmate. He then aims to prove his innocence and discover who the real culprit is. Can he do that?
The Shawshank Redemption Synopsis
In 1947, after being tried for the murder of his wife and mistress, Andy Dufresne was sentenced to life imprisonment at Shawshank State Penitentiary.
At the prison, he befriended another inmate named Ellis “Red” Redding, who was also serving a life sentence there.
Red then gives Andy large posters of actresses such as Rita Hayworth, Marilyn Monroe, and Raquel Welch. Andy works in the prison laundry and becomes the target of gangsters “The Sisters,” who have a chief named Bogs.
Two years later, Andy learns that the chief prison officer, Byron Hadley, has a problem with his inheritance tax.
With his experience as a banker, Andy gives Hadley advice on how to solve the problem. His advice leads Hadley to beat up Bogs along with the group “The Sisters,” which almost kills Andy.
After that, Andy was entrusted with managing the finances of Shawshank prison. His advice and skills came in handy and he received preferential treatment from the prison guards.
Andy started sending letters to the state government asking for funds to renovate the prison library.
2. The Godfather (1972)
The next best movie of all time recommendation is The Godfather. This movie is truly classy. Starting from a well-structured plot, a storyline that is always interesting, and the acting performance of the cast that is very mesmerizing, making this best mafia movie very worthy of being in the top position.
In addition, details such as props and music in the movie also help to enhance the theme of the movie.
If The Shawshank Redemption didn’t exist, it would most likely be at the top of the list. Two thumbs up doesn’t seem enough to give credit to the incredible work of director Francis and novelist Mario Puzo.
The Godfather Synopsis
In 1945 in New York City, Vito Corleone threw a grand wedding for his daughter.
In addition to his daughter, Vito has an adopted son named Tom Hagen who works as a lawyer and acts as a family counselor. His two sons, Sonny and Michael, were also present along with their families and partners.
Also present at the party is Johnny Fontane, Vito’s godson who is a famous singer and is trying to break into the movie industry with the help of the Mafia family.
Tom was sent to meet with the movie producers and discuss the possibility of Johnny acting in the movie. Of course, any problems the Corleone family faced usually used violence to solve them.
The same thing happened to the producer of the movie, where he woke up with the head of his prized horse next to him in spilled blood.
Trouble arises when Solozzo, a drug dealer, offers to cooperate in protecting his drug business and share the profits.
Vito refused the offer because he considered this new business dangerous, in contrast to the gambling and labor organization business they had been in before. Vito was suspicious of Solozzo and sent his men to investigate.
3. The Dark Knight (2008)
The next best movie recommendation in history is the dark superhero, The Dark Knight. If you’re a lover of action-packed superhero movies, this movie is perfect for you. The Dark Knight features a tense battle between Batman and his main antagonist, the Joker.
This movie is the highest rated superhero movie until this article was published. The Dark Knight’s rating only lost to the top two movies on IMDb. Not only that, the movie also won an Oscar.
The Dark Knight Synopsis
The Dark Knight is a sequel to Batman Begins that chronicles the struggle of Batman, police, and prosecutors against organized crime in Gotham City, as the Joker causes chaos.
The movie was a box office success and influenced other modern superhero movies. The exciting story begins with the Joker (Heath Ledger) stealing and manipulating criminals into killing each other and leaving the money to the Joker.
The Joker’s crimes are increasing and putting Gotham city on edge. Batman (Christian Bale), who wants to see Gotham at peace, begins to destroy the criminals.
Not alone, Batman teams up with the district attorney, Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart), to find the Joker as the brains behind all the crimes. They manage to stop the Joker, but in the process, Dent dies.
This makes Batman a wanted man for the police because he is considered the cause of Dent’s death. What really happened? Find out in The Dark Knight.
4. Schindler’s List (1993)
During World War II, Nazi Germany occupied Poland, and Oskar Schindler, a businessman, felt sympathy for the Jewish workers after witnessing the cruel treatment the Nazis inflicted on them.
This historical drama is considered one of the best movies ever, directed by Steven Spielberg, a Jewish filmmaker. Schindler’s List features Liam Neeson, Ralph Fiennes, and Ben Kingsley. To give the movie the dark feel that the director wanted, the movie uses a black-and-white presentation technique.
Of course, the movie won many awards and reviews that highly praised the quality of the movie adaptation of Thomas Keneally’s Schindler’s Ark novel published in 1982.
Schindler’s List Synopsis
It tells the story of the situation that Jews faced under the Nazi regime in Germany. In 1939, life for the Jewish population was very difficult and they felt persecuted.
However, there was a Nazi businessman who had good intentions to help them achieve a more decent life.
The businessman was Oskar Schindler, who built a factory and employed Jews, with the help of an accountant named Itzhak Stern. However, there were secrets and hidden plans behind Oskar’s good deeds.
5. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
Everyone would agree that The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King is included in the list of the best movie recommendations of all time. We can say that this movie is almost perfect. Continuing the story from the second movie, the battle this time takes place in Minas Tirith, Gondor.
If the second movie featured the battle at Helm’s Deep and the ent attack on Isengard, then The Return of the King features an epic battle to defend Minas Tirith. The trilogy is known for its large-scale battles, with warriors numbering in the tens of thousands, as well as lavish special effects and background music.
The movie also doesn’t just focus on the battle scenes, but also has a deep plot. The battles and stories in it are also very touching.
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King Synopsis
Isengard, which was Saruman’s base, had been successfully destroyed. Gandalf, Aragorn, Gimli, Legolas, and King Theoden, who won the battle at Helm’s Deep, finally arrived at the place. They were reunited with Pippin and Merry, the two Hobbits who managed to persuade Treebeard to fight Saruman.
At that time, Pippin found Saruman’s orb of palantir, but Gandalf quickly took it away and kept it under his cloak. However, Pippin remained curious and secretly took the orb from Gandalf. Pippin held it without thinking and felt a lot of pain.
Apparently, Pippin was spotted by Sauron, who thought that Pippin was the Hobbit who held the One Ring. However, on the other hand, Pippin managed to find out Sauron’s plan to attack Minas Tirith, the capital of Gondor.
Later, Gandalf took Pippin to Minas Tirith to warn Denethor, the ruler of Gondor after the king’s death.
However, Denethor was unconcerned and even a little mad after losing his son, Boromir. He refused to ask Rohan for help knowing that Aragorn would come with them and he did not want the rightful king to usurp his power.
While Gandalf and the others are busy defending Minas Tirith, Frodo and Sam are getting closer to Mount Doom. However, their friendship is threatened by the cunning Gollum and nearly gets Frodo killed by a giant spider.
The mission to destroy the One Ring is just a few steps away, will they be able to defeat Sauron and save Middle Earth?
Recommended Best Movies of All Time that You Must Watch (6-10)
6. Inception (2010)
The next best movie recommendation of all time is the famous movie star, Leonardo Di Caprio. He plays Dominic Cobb, someone who has the ability to enter other people’s dreams and steal important information from them. This unique skill leads him on a very complex mission.
He is tasked with putting ideas into the brain of a CEO. Amidst various risky obstacles, will he be able to complete his task? The movie also has plot twists that will keep you guessing.
Inception Synopsis
It all starts with the appearance of Dom Cobb (Leonardo DiCaprio), a professional thief who has a unique method of carrying out his actions.
Dom has the rare ability to enter a person’s dreams and retrieve secrets from their subconscious. Of course, this causes anxiety for many defense agents.
Upon hearing the news, well-known espionage companies around the world immediately went to work to create a dream-sharing technology known as Inception, with the aim of capturing and thwarting Dom’s efforts.
The assigned agents then begin to conduct an investigation that involves many levels of intricate dreams until their mission is complete.
7. Interstellar (2014)
Movies set in space not only provide epic visuals, but also always create a sense of awe, including Interstellar. This movie focuses on the earth that is increasingly inhospitable to live on.
The movie is a production of several well-known production houses, including Paramount Pictures, Warner Bros. Pictures, Legendary Pictures, Syncopy, and Lynda Obst Production.
Apart from Matthew McConaughey, this science fiction/mystery genre movie also features other famous actors and actresses, such as Anne Hathaway, Jessica Chastain, Mackenzie Foy, Ellen Burstyn, John Lithgow, Michael Caine, David Gyasi, Wes Bentley, Casey Affleck, and Timothee Chalamet.
The movie was directed by Christopher Nolan, who also co-wrote the screenplay with Jonathan Nolan. Interstellar (2014) won 44 awards and received nominations in other awards.
Some of the awards that the movie won include Best Achievement in Visual Effects at the 2015 Academy Awards (Oscars), Best Special Visual Effects at the 2015 Bafta Awards, and Movie of the Year at the 2015 AFI Awards.
Interstellar Synopsis
In 2067, Earth is experiencing problems such as sandstorms and crop pests that cause food scarcity. Joseph Cooper, a former NASA pilot who is now a corn farmer, lives with his two sons, Tom and Murphy, and his father-in-law, Donald.
After the sandstorm, Cooper found something strange in Murphy’s room, namely a variation in gravity that translated into coordinates.
Together with Murphy, Cooper went to the coordinates and it turned out to be a secret NASA headquarters led by Prof. John Brand.
The professor explained their mission to find a location on another planet for humans to inhabit. After a wormhole appeared around the planet Saturn 48 years ago, they sent 12 volunteers to find the planet.
However, only three volunteers submitted promising reports. Cooper was asked to fly in three scientists to collect data from those three volunteers. For Cooper, leaving her two children behind was not easy, especially after the death of their mother.
However, as his civic responsibility, Cooper chose to go. They pass through a wormhole and arrive in another galaxy to visit the first planet. Cooper, Brand, and Doyle enter a planet full of oceans and high waves.
8. The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
This is one of the best movies of all time that is very interesting to watch. The movie focuses on the story of a young FBI agent, Clarice Starling (Jodie Foster), who is assigned to help catch a serial killer who has a habit of skinning his victims.
Before that, he needed to find out clues from Hannibal Lecter, a prisoner who was also a psychopath. Lecter, also a psychopath, provided significant help in the case.
The Silence of the Lambs Synopsis
Clarice Starling was temporarily dismissed from the academy to receive a special assignment to interview Hannibal Lecter.
In her quest to understand Hannibal’s way of thinking, Clarice hopes to find clues to pursue a serial killer known as Buffalo Bill, who was notorious for skinning his all-female victims.
Hannibal, who felt lied to, initially refused to cooperate with Clarice. However, after experiencing harassment from another prisoner, Hannibal agrees to help provided he can be transferred to another prison.
When a senator’s daughter is kidnapped and the FBI asks Hannibal for help, he adds a new condition. In addition to the transfer, he also wants to swap the information he has with Clarice’s personal profile.
Jonathan Demme’s psychological horror film is considered the best adaptation of the novel by Thomas Harris. The excellence of this movie is not only in the interesting plot, but also in the extraordinary acting of Anthony Hopkins and Jodie Foster.
In this movie, Hannibal Lecter, a serial killer and cannibal, assists the FBI in figuring out Buffalo Bill’s mindset before more victims are found. The psychological battle between Hannibal and Clarice is very tense and affects the mind and mentality of the audience.
The FBI succeeded in finding the murderer thanks to the analysis and notes from Hannibal interpreted by Clarice.
9. Fight Club (1999)
The next best movie recommendation is Fight Club which was released in 1999. The movie was directed by David Fincher and starred Edward Norton, Brad Pitt and Helena Bonham Carter.
Fight Club tells the story of a love triangle between a worker at an illegal fight club, the soap salesman who owns the club and a woman named Marla Singer.
Fight Club Synopsis
In 1996, a writer named Chuck Palahniuk published a novel called “Fight Club”, which then caught the attention of director David Fincher to be adapted into a movie.
The movie stars Brad Pitt, Edward Norton, and Helena Bonham Carter. Clocking in at 139 minutes, the movie tells the story of an attempt to create a fighting group. The movie begins with a narrator (Edward Norton) who suffers from insomnia after his life is destroyed.
In an attempt to recover, she meets a soap salesman named Tyler (Brad Pitt) who has similar life experiences to her.
The two became friends and formed an underground club called the fight club. They invited men who were bored with their lives. At this club, they can vent their anger by fighting each other.
The club becomes very successful, but everything falls apart when a woman named Marla (Helena Bonham Carter) arrives. What did she do to ruin the club and the friendship between the narrator and Tyler?
10. Saving Private Ryan (1998)
Although Saving Private Ryan still shows the characteristics of Spielberg’s films that are light and can be enjoyed by all groups as entertainment, this film still has a deep message and meaning.
It has a darker feel than other Spielberg films. When compared to War Horse, which is also a war movie, Saving Private Ryan is definitely weightier and darker.
The movie tries to explore several aspects and questions that often arise in the battlefield. The most obvious is the question of the value of each individual’s life on the battlefield.
Saving Private Ryan Synopsis
Captain John F. Miller was a member of the United States Army in the 2nd Ranger Batallion. He fought alongside thousands of other soldiers at Omaha Beach in 1944.
A few days later, Miller was given orders to find a soldier named James Francis Ryan and bring him home to his family.
This order was given because Ryan’s three brothers had fallen on the battlefield and their mother had James as the only surviving child. Miller agreed to the order and took seven of his colleagues on a mission to find Ryan.
They move towards the Neuville region and are prepared to face many obstacles and dangers on their way. Will they succeed in finding Private Ryan?
Best Movie Recommendations of All Time (11-15)
11. Oppenheimer (2023)
Since it was first announced, movie fans have been eagerly awaiting this movie project. With Cillian Murphy and Robert Downey Jr. in the lead roles, this biopic has captured the audience’s attention with the story of J. Robert Oppenheimer as the “Father of the Atomic Bomb” during World War II.
In this film, once again we must recognize the quality of Christopher Nolan’s hands. How not, Oppenheimer managed to dominate at the 2024 Oscars.
Oppenheimer Synopsis
The movie is a biopic mixed with the war movie genre . The story focuses on the titular character, J. Robert Oppenheimer (Cillan Murphy).
He is an expert in theoretical physics and quantum mechanics. Now thanks to this expertise, which as a result made him trusted to oversee and handle the process of making atomic bombs in the midst of World War 2. Well, the process of making these atomic bombs was later known as The Manhattan Project.
Some of these atomic bombs were later used to destroy the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki on August 6 and 9, 1945.
So once again, the movie basically tells the story of not only the beginning of Oppenheimer’s interest in the making of the atomic bomb, but the movie will also highlight the negative impacts that he received and felt after this dark historical event occurred.
12. Forrest Gump (1994)
Forrest Gump is a romantic drama movie that is included in this list. The movie starring Tom Hanks is an adaptation of the novel by Winston Groom. Directed by Robert Zemeckis, Forrest Gump won 6 Oscars in its time.
Forrest Gump Synopsis
It tells the life of a man named Forrest Gump, who has a below-average IQ. Forrest was lovingly raised by his mother, although as a child he was often bullied by his friends who considered him stupid.
Forrest had a best friend named Jenny, who stayed with him until they were adults. His mother almost gave up on educating Forrest due to his limited intelligence. Despite living with limitations, Forrest managed to continue his education and graduate from college thanks to his ability to run.
He acquired this ability when he was often chased by his friends on his way home from school. After graduation, Forrest enlisted in the military and was sent to Vietnam. There, his fast running skills came in handy in the war. He even received a congressional medal of honor for his service.
Forrest Gump spends his time looking for Jenny, his childhood best friend. One day, he finally met Jenny and proposed to her. However, Jenny rejects him for no apparent reason. Even so, Jenny showed her hidden love by sleeping with him and leaving without a trace in the morning.
Hearing this, Forrest was devastated and decided to travel around the United States for more than three and a half years. He became famous on television and in newspapers. Thanks to his popularity, Jenny sent him a letter, asking Forrest to come to her house.
13. The Lion King (1994)
The movie “The Lion King” is perfect for family viewing. It is a musical animated film originating from the United States. It was released in 1994 by Walt Disney Feature Animation and presented by Walt Disney Pictures.
The directors of the movie are Roger Allers and Rob Minkoff, while Don Hahn is the producer. The story is adapted from William Shakespeare’s Hamlet. “The Lion King” tells the story of Simba, the son of King Mufasa, who is forced to flee the kingdom after his uncle Scar murders Mufasa.
Simba then grows up in exile and must find a way to return to the kingdom and claim the throne that is rightfully his. “The Lion King” was released on June 15, 1994 and at the time became the best-selling animated film of all time.
The Lion King Synopsis
The movie “The Lion King” begins with Mufasa, King of the Pride Lands, teaching Simba, his son, about the responsibilities of being a king. Mufasa also warns Simba to beware of Scar, his evil brother.
Scar plans to kill Mufasa and take the throne for himself. He entices Simba to play near the edge of a cliff, where Simba falls and faints. Scar sees this opportunity to kill Mufasa.
Simba feels guilty about his father’s death and runs away from the Pride Lands. Later he is taken in by two hyenas, Timon and Pumbaa, who teach him to live carefree.
A few years later, Simba meets Nala, his childhood friend. Nala convinces Simba to return to the Pride Lands and take over the throne that rightfully belongs to him.
14. Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
The next best movie recommendation comes from the Star Wars franchise. This movie is a sequel to the famous Star Wars trilogy and has become one of the most influential films worldwide.
The main focus of the movie is about a hero who has to face the forces of evil and figure out how to defeat them. The movie carries the message that good will always succeed against evil.
The acting in this movie was outstanding. Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, and Carrie Fisher played their roles very well and brought their characters to life brilliantly. The cinematography is also stunning with interesting and awesome shots. The music composed by John Williams is beautiful and the special effects are also amazing.
The Empire Strikes Back Synopsis
The sequel to Star Wars: A New Hope (1977) is set 3 years after the destruction of the Death Star by Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) at the end of the movie. With the situation more or less safe, the Rebel Alliance forces moved their headquarters from the planet Yavin IV to the ice planet, Hoth.
But their tranquility was disturbed again when Darth Vader (David Prowse & James Earl Jones) sent several probe droids to track the Rebel Alliance’s new headquarters and Luke. The empire through its probe droids eventually found out and destroyed Hoth.
Fortunately, when their base was destroyed, Luke and his entire imperial army managed to escape. Seeing this, Vader became even hotter to find and capture Luke.
Meanwhile, Luke himself after the destruction of Hoth, was sent by the force ghost Obi-Wan Kenobi (Alec Guinness) to continue his training to become a Jedi with Master Yoda (Frank Oz) on Planet Dagobah.
15. The Usual Suspects (1995)
It would be incomplete if the best movie recommendations were not from the thriller or thrilling genre. The Usual Suspects is a mystery movie made by Bryan Singer and Christopher McQuarrie.
The movie, starring Benicio del Toro, tells the story of a group of criminals who survive a massacre on a ship. The mastermind of all this is a mysterious evil lord.
The Usual Suspects Synopsis
After a truck hijacking in New York, five con artists are arrested and brought together for questioning. Since none of them are guilty, they plan a revenge operation against the police.
The operation was going well, but then the influence of a legendary criminal named Keyser Söze was felt. Each of them had wronged Söze at some point and were being redeemed now.
This revenge job left 27 people dead in a ship explosion, but the real question arises now, who exactly is Keyser Söze?
16. The Matrix (1999)
The next must-watch recommendation for the best movie in history is The Matrix. This movie tells about the life of a young man who enters the world of computers.
Keanu Reeves and Laurence Fishburne must face off against evil controllers. The Matrix was directed by the Wachowski Brothers and became one of the best action movies in the world.
The Matrix Synopsis
Thomas A. Anderson is a man who lives two lives. By day he is an ordinary computer programmer and by night a hacker known as Neo. Neo is always questioning his reality, but the truth is far beyond his imagination.
Neo finds himself targeted by the police when he is contacted by Morpheus, a legendary computer hacker labeled as a terrorist by the government.
Morpheus awakens Neo to the real world, a ravaged wasteland where most of humanity has been captured by a race of machines who live off human body heat and electrochemical energy and who imprison their minds in an artificial reality known as the Matrix.
As a rebel against the controller, Neo must return to the Matrix and face the agents: a super-powerful computer program aimed at eliminating Neo and the entire human rebellion.
Best Movie Recommendations of All Time (16-20)
17. The Green Mile (1999)
The Green Mile will take us into a scenario where Paul and his friends need to fulfill John’s last request.
Next, how the black man explains that having extraordinary gifts does not guarantee happiness in life. All of this is presented in a very moving way. One of the most moving moments is when we finally find out why Paul shed tears while watching the classic movie Top Hat at the beginning of the movie.
For you viewers, be prepared, because the last part of this movie will be a ‘mental test’.
The Green Mile Synopsis
In 1999, Paul Edgecomb, an elderly man, lived in a nursing home in Louisiana. He often brought cold cornbread and went for walks in the hills. One day, while they were watching TV, one of the nursing home residents changed the channel and came across a classic movie called Top Hat. Unexpectedly, Paul became emotional and cried.
Seeing this, his best friend, Elaine, approached him and they talked about how Paul felt. He told her about the time when he worked as a prison warden in 1935.
Paul is the chief warden at the Cold Mountain prison known as the Green Mile. There, he meets John Coffey, a black prisoner accused of the rape and murder of two white girls.
However, the shocking fact of the case is that John was found protecting the two girls and claimed that he could have saved them. However, during the Great Depression, the existence of a black man was not in John’s favor.
18. Spirited Away (2001)
It’s probably the only anime to make it to the list of recommended best movie of all time. So far, Spirited Away is one of only two anime movies to ever win Oscars.
Spirited Away won Best Animated Feature at the 75th Oscars, beating Ice Age, Lilo & Stitch, Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron, and Treasure Planet.
Well, thanks to this movie, Studio Ghibli’s name was also raised and became more famous in western countries. This movie by Hayao Miyazaki tells the story of the adventures of a girl named Chihiro who is trapped in the spirit world.
The achievements of this movie do not end there, Spirited Away held the record as the highest grossing movie in Japan for 19 years until it was finally broken by the movie Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Mugen Train.
Spirited Away Synopsis
A 10-year-old girl named Chihiro and her parents are on their way to their new home. Her father, who usually likes to take shortcuts, gets them lost and stumbles upon a mysterious tunnel.
Her father and mother got out of the car and went to the tunnel, and Chihiro, who didn’t want to go at first, eventually followed out of fear. After reaching the end of the tunnel, they found an empty village, but Chihiro’s father smelled food from the village.
They followed the scent and found a food stall with no owner. While her mother and father eat, Chihiro explores the village and finds a hot spring and meets a boy named Haku. H
I warned Chihiro to leave before sunset. Despite feeling strange about the warning, Chihiro followed it. However, before Chihiro left, it was already getting dark. Strange creatures begin to appear and when Chihiro returns to the shop, her parents have turned into pigs.
Chihiro tries to leave, but is trapped by a large lake. There, she sees many monsters and realizes that this might just be a dream.
When she wished to wake up, Chihiro’s body began to disappear and she became more and more afraid. Chihiro hides and is eventually found by Haku, who then explains how to survive in the spirit world to Chihiro.
19. The Pianist (2002)
The next best movie recommendation has a setting when the Nazi regime was in power. Adrien Brody achieved a remarkable feat by becoming the youngest Oscar winner for the Best Actor category through this movie.
The movie is based on the autobiography of Polish Jewish pianist Wladyslaw Szpilman, who lived during the German occupation of wartime Poland.
Brody’s performance was mesmerizing in portraying a pianist surviving in the midst of war. He managed to showcase very realistic pressure and stress that made the audience feel involved in Szpilman’s story, and worried when he was in danger.
Sadness is not only felt when seeing Szpilman survive, but also when witnessing the brutal treatment of German soldiers. Each character, although not given much screen time, still manages to get enough attention.
For example, the character Wilm Hosenfeld appears at the end of the story. His behavior draws sympathy and admiration, proving that not everyone in the bad crowd is evil.
The Pianist Synopsis
Wladyslaw Szpilman, a pianist of Polish and Jewish descent, was performing at a radio station in Warsaw in September 1939. At the time, the Nazis blew up the radio station during their invasion of Poland.
Afterwards, Szpilman returned home to join his family. He received news that Great Britain and France had declared war on Germany. However, Szpilman’s hopes for Polish independence in the near future proved unrealized as the British and French troops never came to Poland.
The Polish resistance lasted only one month. Things got worse when the Soviets invaded other parts of Poland as well, while the Nazis took control of Warsaw and set up their military operations office there.
Life for people of Jewish descent became even more difficult as the Nazis banned them from having jobs and forced business owners to close their businesses. In addition, the Nazis also ordered Jews to wear armbands with the Star of David as a special identifying mark.
They were also forbidden to own more than 2,000 zlotys, walk on sidewalks, and use public facilities. In November 1940, Szpilman and his family were forced to move from their home to the Ghetto, a camp for Jews in Warsaw.
The capacity of the place far exceeded the number of inhabitants, so the residents of the Ghetto had to live in very miserable conditions.
20. Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
This next best movie of all time recommendation is superhero-themed again besides The Dark Knight, which came in third place earlier.
The Russo Brothers know how to deliver moments that will stay with you for a long time, from the emergence of interesting characters and actions that can stimulate thunderous applause, to the shock of seeing our heroes in a danger they’ve never faced before.
With the help of the camera setup of Trent Opaloch, who has been working with the Russo Brothers since The Winter Soldier, various iconic images were created.
However, from the very beginning, the biggest challenge was combining multiple characters with different stories. And the scriptwriting duo, Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely, rose to the challenge.
Avengers: Infinity War Synopsis
The movie opens by continuing the mid-credit scene from the movie Thor: Ragnarok (2017). If you still remember in the mid-credit scene, Thor (Chris Hemsworth) and Loki (Tom Hiddleston) who were on a ship with other Asgard citizens, were suddenly intercepted by another large ship in front of them.
In short, the big ship is Thanos’ big ship. The goal of the villain nicknamed The Mad Titan is to take one of the Infinity Stone, Space Stone.
In the process, Thanos defeated Hulk (Mark Ruffalo) and killed Loki and Heimdall (Idris Elba). He also once again successfully possessed the blue Infinity Stone . After that, Thanos and his entourage took the initiative to go to earth to take several other Infinity St ones which happened to be owned by several Marvel superhero characters.
Two of them are the Time Stone owned by Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) and the Mind Stone owned by Vision (Paul Bettany).
Fortunately, Bruce Banner, the Hulk’ s alter-ego, returned to Earth before Thanos’ entourage arrived. So he was able to warn Strange and contact his fellow Avengers, Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.).
But it is evident that Strange, Hulk, Stark, and Peter Parker aka Spider-Man (Tom Holland), are still not strong enough to fight Thanos.
Fortunately, other superheroes who were in different places knew about this. Even the Guardians of the Galaxy team in space knew about Thanos’ invasion.
As a result, each of these Marvel superheroes mobilized all their strength and sacrifices to defeat Thanos once and for all.
Best Movie Recommendations of All Time (21-25)
21. Gone Girl (2014)
The next best movie recommendation of all time is Gone Girl. The movie played by Ben Affleck will definitely make you satisfied watching it.
When his wife suddenly disappears, Nick enlists the help of the police to crack the case. Throughout the movie, you will be involved in solving the mystery of Amy’s (Rosamund Pike) location. At the end of the movie, the true reality of what happened will leave you shocked.
Gone Girl Synopsis
Nick Dunne is a former journalist who lost his job and decided to move to his hometown in Missouri with his wife, Amy Dunne. However, Amy actually prefers to live in New York City.
On their fifth wedding anniversary, Amy suddenly disappeared without a trace. Nick reports this incident to the police and Detective Rhonda begins investigating the case. Detective Rhonda finds blood stains and suspects Nick as Amy’s killer.
Evidence also suggested that Nick and Amy’s household was experiencing financial problems. Nick was considered the prime suspect and the case became a major media story.
However, the truth is that Amy deliberately disappeared and faked her death as revenge for Nick’s affair with Andie Fitzgerald. Amy hides away from home and changes her appearance.
22. Dune: Part Two
The story of Dune continues after three years with the release of Dune: Part Two. This sci-fi movie, which is a sequel, still adapts the novel Dune by Frank Herbert which was released in 1965.
Dune: Part Two continues the adventures of Paul Atreides after escaping the attack of House Harkonnen and meeting the Fremen community. The sequel still stars Timothee Chalamet as Paul Atreides.
Dune: Part Two Synopsis
Dune: Part Two will chronicle the adventures of Paul Atreides as he joins Chani and Fremen in a quest for revenge against those who have corrupted his family. He must also choose between his love or the destiny of the universe, and fight to prevent a terrible future that he can only imagine.
The movie features several well-known actors and actresses such as Timothée Chalamet who plays Paul Atreides, Zendaya as Chani, Rebecca Ferguson who plays Lady Jessica, Josh Brolin in the role of Gurney Halleck, Javier Bardem as Stilgar, Dave Bautista as “Beast” Rabban, and Stellan Skarsgård who plays Baron Harkonnen.
23. Nosferatu (2024)
The Nosferatu movie first hit North America and managed to catch the attention of many people after its screening in Berlin on December 2, 2024, before then subsequently hitting the United States on December 25, 2024.
Nosferatu is an adaptation of Bram Stoker’s legendary 1897 novel Dracula. The novel has inspired many movies and stories about the bloodsucking creature.
In addition, Nosferatu is also a remake of the classic film released in 1922 by F.W. Murnau. Robert Eggers, known for his previous horror works such as The Lighthouse and The Witch, acted as the director for this movie.
Nosferatu is already one of the shows that horror fans have been waiting for. A few weeks before it airs at Christmas, Nosferatu managed to get a near-perfect score on Rotten Tomatoes, with some critics rating it up to 95 percent. It’s no wonder that many consider Nosferatu to be the scariest horror movie of 2024.
Nosferatu Synopsis
Nosferatu tells the story of Ellen Hutter (Lily-Rose Depp), a troubled young woman who has been struggling with anxiety, nightmares, and strange intuitions since childhood.
Her husband, Thomas (Nicholas Hoult), gets a contract to work on a big project, which leads him to find a new home for the mysterious Count Orlok (Bill Skarsgård) from Transylvania.
Thomas realizes that the Count has different plans, plans that involve Ellen, who seems to have a mysterious attraction to him. As the predatory forces of Orlok close in on their city, Hutter, Dr. Wilhelm Sievers (Ralph Ineson), and alchemist Professor Albin Eberhard Von Franz (Willem Dafoe) must quickly figure out how to counter Orlok’s growing power before it’s too late.
24. The Substance (2024)
The next best movie recommendation of all time is The Substance. Director Coralie Fargeat’s movie The Substance is considered a horror movie with a fresh premise.
The Substance is gaining attention after being featured as the opening film at Jakarta Week Cinema (JWC) 2024. The Substance recently made it to the 2025 Best Picture Oscar nominations, making it the seventh horror film to make it to the Best Picture Oscar nominations in history.
The Substance Synopsis
Elisabeth Sparkle (Demi Moore) is an actress whose career is on the decline. The entertainment industry’s interest in her declined due to her aging physical appearance. This made Sparkle feel very frustrated.
An accident leads Sparkle to meet someone who has information on how to become young again. The man introduces Sparkle to a drug called The Substance.
Despite her initial hesitation, Sparkle finally had the courage to try The Substance on the black market. The drug proved to be able to bring out the best version of herself through DNA engineering technology.
However, she didn’t realize that this drug would bring her disaster. Furthermore, Sparkle senses that beauty actually holds suffering. There was immense pain that she had to face to achieve beauty.
25. Wicked (2024)
The world’s top singer, Ariana Grande, is the lead in the movie Wicked. Wicked tells the journey of two young witches in the land of Oz who develop a friendship between them.
One of the best movie recommendations of 2024 is adapting a novel entitled Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire. Wicked managed to attract the attention of many people, especially fans of the famous singer Ariana Grande who played the main character.
Apart from Ariana Grande, the movie also features well-known actors such as Jonathan Bailey, Michelle Yeoh, and Jeff Goldblum.
Wicked got fantastic reviews on Rotten Tomatoes with a score of 88%, while on IMDb too, the movie got a rating of 8.0 with 78 thousand voters. In addition, the movie Wicked is also predicted to be a strong candidate for the 2025 Oscar.
Wicked Synopsis
Wicked tells the never-before-revealed new angle on the famous characters of Oz, the Wicked Witch of the West and her unexpected sidekick, Glinda the Good Witch. The movie is a prequel to The Wizard of Oz that explores more of the story of Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West.
The movie also tells the story of Elphaba’s youth when she first forms a friendship with Glinda, a very famous woman in their neighborhood. Elphaba is a young girl who is often misunderstood because of her green skin, and she has yet to fully realize the extraordinary powers she possesses.
Glinda, on the other hand, is a woman who enjoys many privileges, but has yet to fully realize what is really in her heart. The two of them met as students at Shiz University, a place in the Land of Oz filled with fantasy elements.
Those are our 25 best movie recommendations of all time. If there are other movies that deserve to be on the list, comment below. In addition to the best movie recommendations of all time, you might also be interested in the Best Netflix Original Movie Recommendations and Best Horror Movie Recommendations.
