100 Best Movies since 1980

[bob]

I got this idea from the thread on the 50 worst movies.

1 Pulp Fiction (1994)


I'll get this started with one of my all time favorites.

Pulp Fiction



This is endlessly rewatchable and is amazing as all hell. I've seen this at least 20 times and it holds up greatly since it was released.

[pacman000]

2) Empire Strikes Back

[zelmo73]

3) The Dark Knight (2008). It's not that the Joker is the best movie villain, or that Heath Ledger was ever a "great" actor, but Heath Ledger's Joker is one of the best movie villains to come along in years, and Heath Ledger's particular performance here was the best one of his career; one that no other actor could have pulled off. He had the best dialogue: "If you're good at something, never do it for free." " Freak? Why don't we cut you up into little pieces and feed you to your pooches, hmm? And then we'll see how loyal a hungry dog really is! It's not about money, it's about sending a message. Everything burns!"

Heath Ledger's performance made us forget how wooden and bland that Christian Bale's was, ridiculous growling voice besides. Coupled with a wonderful pace of the movie's plot that didn't allow much time to get bored, this ended up being one of the most rewatched movies in my collection. I would have rated Mad Max (1979) above this one but the rules of the topic say "since 1980." 

[Trevor]

4. Raiders of The Lost Ark (1981)

The first film I saw where I thought that I was part of it, rather than just sitting watching the thing. I remember how angry I was when Chariots of Fire* won the Best Picture and Best Score Oscars instead of this one.

* I do like that film, btw.

[Alex]

5. Aliens.

I'd have put in Alien, but if I recall rightly that was 79. Cameron takes the taunt, haunted house in space thriller of Alien and makes a war movie out of it. Predictable as hell, but entertaining and very rewatchable. There was only something like 6 or 8 alien suits and in one scene they are all on-screen at the same time, but you'll think there are a whole lot more.

[RCMerchant]

6. SAVING PRIVATE RYAN (1998)

[bob]

8 The Shining



This is one of the most definitive horror movies ever made. I've seen this many times. The first which was in a lobby of a hotel when I was much younger,

1 Pulp Fiction (1994)
2 Empire Strikes Back (1980)
3 The Dark Knight (2008)
4 Raiders of The Lost Ark (1981)
5 Aliens (1986)
6 Saving Private Ryan (1998)
7 The Shining (1980)

[Rev. Powell]

9. Schindler's List (1993)

[RCMerchant]

9. Schindler's List (1993)

It's actually #8. The SHINING is #7.

[Trevor]

9. The Gods Must Be Crazy

10. Kill And Kill Again.

I put these in as they are two of the few SA films to ever crack it at the US box office.

[bob]

1 Pulp Fiction (1994)
2 Empire Strikes Back (1980)
3 The Dark Knight (2008)
4 Raiders of The Lost Ark (1981)
5 Aliens (1986)
6 Saving Private Ryan (1998)
7 The Shining (1980)
8 Schindler's List (1993)
9 The Gods Must Be Crazy (1984)
10 Kill And Kill Again (1981)

[bob]

Jurassic Park

This is the very first film to utilize CGI imagery in it. Those effects, along with the practical ones still hold up today.

It also spawned a film trilogy and was  revived with Jurassic World and it's follow up, with  third one coming out.


1 Pulp Fiction (1994)
2 Empire Strikes Back (1980)
3 The Dark Knight (2008)
4 Raiders of The Lost Ark (1981)
5 Aliens (1986)
6 Saving Private Ryan (1998)
7 The Shining (1980)
8 Schindler's List (1993)
9 The Gods Must Be Crazy (1984)
10 Kill And Kill Again (1981)
11 Jurassic Park (1993)

[pacman000]

CGI of real creatures; The Abyss, Alien 3, Terminator 2, Young Sherlock Holmes, & Tron preceded it.

[Rev. Powell]

12. Fight Club (1999)

[bob]

1 Pulp Fiction (1994)
2 Empire Strikes Back (1980)
3 The Dark Knight (2008)
4 Raiders of The Lost Ark (1981)
5 Aliens (1986)
6 Saving Private Ryan (1998)
7 The Shining (1980)
8 Schindler's List (1993)
9 The Gods Must Be Crazy (1984)
10 Kill And Kill Again (1981)
11 Jurassic Park (1993)
12 Fight Club (1999)