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A trip to the moon
Georges Méliès was the most imaginative and enthusiastic filmmaker of early cinema, so it's appropriate that his masterpiece tops this list. "A Trip to the Moon" contains one of the most amusing and fantastic narratives of the early history of story films to showcase the many special-effect "trick shots" cinema-magician Méliès had been perfecting since, at least, 1896. Justly, this was one of the most popular films of its time and remains the favorite film from early cinema to this day. -
The birth of a nation
The most influential and controversial film ever made. It changed the course of film as an art and as an industry. It broke box-office records and helped launch Hollywood. It's racist and perverted depiction of the Civil War and Reconstruction eras inspired the revival of the Ku Klux Klan, as well as becoming the cause célèbre for early campaigns by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. -
The passion of joan of arc
In 1431, Jeanne d'Arc is placed on trial on charges of heresy. The ecclesiastical jurists attempt to force Jeanne to recant her claims of holy visions. Director: Carl Theodor Dreyer. Stars: Maria Falconetti, Eugene Silvain, André Berley, Maurice Schutz. Gross: $0.02M -
The wizard of oz
Dorothy Gale is swept away from a farm in Kansas to a magical land of Oz in a tornado and embarks on a quest with her new friends to see the Wizard who can help her return home to Kansas and help her friends as well. Directors: Victor Fleming, George Cukor, Mervyn LeRoy, Norman Taurog, King Vidor Stars: Judy Garland, Frank Morgan, Ray Bolger, Bert Lahr. Gross: $22.20M -
Casablanca
A cynical nightclub owner protects an old flame and her husband from Nazis in Morocco. Director: Michael Curtiz Stars: Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman, Paul Henreid, Claude Rains. Gross: $1.02M -
12 angry men
A jury holdout attempts to prevent a miscarriage of justice by forcing his colleagues to reconsider the evidence. Director: Sidney Lumet Stars: Henry Fonda, Lee J. Cobb, Martin Balsam, John Fiedler Gross: $4.36M -
Physco
A Phoenix secretary embezzles $40,000 from her employer's client, goes on the run, and checks into a remote motel run by a young man under the domination of his mother. Director: Alfred Hitchcock Stars: Anthony Perkins, Janet Leigh, Vera Miles, John Gavin Gross: $32.00M -
Jaws
When a young woman is killed by a shark while skinny-dipping near the New England tourist town of Amity Island, police chief Martin Brody wants to close the beaches, but mayor Larry Vaughn overrules him, fearing that the loss of tourist revenue will cripple the town. Ichthyologist Matt Hooper and grizzled ship captain Quint offer to help Brody capture the killer beast, and the trio engage in an epic battle of man vs. nature. Director: Steven Spielberg -
The Goonies
In order to save their home from foreclosure, a group of misfits set out to find a pirate's ancient valuable treasure. Director: Richard Donner Stars: Sean Astin, Josh Brolin, Jeff Cohen, Corey Feldman Gross: $61.50M -
Titanic
A seventeen-year-old aristocrat falls in love with a kind but poor artist aboard the luxurious, ill-fated R.M.S. Titanic. Director: James Cameron Stars: Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet, Billy Zane, Kathy Bates Gross: $659.33M -
Avatar
A paraplegic marine dispatched to the moon Pandora on a unique mission becomes torn between following his orders and protecting the world he feels is his home. Director: James Cameron Stars: Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Sigourney Weaver, Michelle Rodriguez Gross: $760.51M -
Toy story 3
The toys are mistakenly delivered to a day-care center instead of the attic right before Andy leaves for college, and it's up to Woody to convince the other toys that they weren't abandoned and to return home. Director: Lee Unkrich Stars: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Joan Cusack, Ned Beatty Gross: $415.00M
