Where to Watch the Best Movies Of All Time: Your Streaming Guide to the 50 Greatest Films Ever Made

Updated on

Ghezal Amiri

Ghezal Amiri

JustWatch Editor

Choosing the best movies of all time is a near-impossible task, but someone has to do it. Our list includes many classics like Citizen Kane, which tops many of the "Best Movie of all time" lists, but doesn’t make the cut here - controversial, we know. Read on to discover where to watch some of the best movies of all time.

This list is jam packed with some of the best movies ever made with mostly Hollywood movies but also films from all around the world. From heartwarming dramas, horror, musicals and family-friendly animated movies, this list has something for everyone. In no particular order, here are the best movies of all time, and we recommend that you make your way through the entire list because they’re all excellent.

Where can I watch the best movies of all time?

You can use the JustWatch streaming guide to find out where to watch the top-rated and most popular movies of all time. Browse through the entire list or apply filters to only see the movies that suit your preferences. This guide has filters for age rating, release year, IMDb rating and more. We'll also let you know which of the best movies of all time are available to stream online for free.

  1. The Shawshank Redemption

    # 1

    Imprisoned in the 1940s for the double murder of his wife and her lover, upstanding banker Andy Dufresne begins a new life at the Shawshank prison, where he puts his ing skills to work for an amoral warden. During his long stretch in prison, Dufresne comes to be ired by the other inmates -- including an older prisoner named Red -- for his integrity and unquenchable sense of hope.

  2. The Godfather Part II

    # 2

    In the continuing saga of the Corleone crime family, a young Vito Corleone grows up in Sicily and in 1910s New York. In the 1950s, Michael Corleone attempts to expand the family business into Las Vegas, Hollywood and Cuba.

  3. The Empire Strikes Back

    # 3

    The epic saga continues as Luke Skywalker, in hopes of defeating the evil Galactic Empire, learns the ways of the Jedi from aging master Yoda. But Darth Vader is more determined than ever to capture Luke. Meanwhile, rebel leader Princess Leia, cocky Han Solo, Chewbacca, and droids C-3PO and R2-D2 are thrown into various stages of capture, betrayal and despair.

  4. Jurassic Park

    Jurassic Park

    1993

    # 4

    A wealthy entrepreneur secretly creates a theme park featuring living dinosaurs drawn from prehistoric DNA. Before opening day, he invites a team of experts and his two eager grandchildren to experience the park and help calm anxious investors. However, the park is anything but amusing as the security systems go off-line and the dinosaurs escape.

  5. Alien

    Alien

    1979

    # 5

    During its return to the earth, commercial spaceship Nostromo intercepts a distress signal from a distant planet. When a three-member team of the crew discovers a chamber containing thousands of eggs on the planet, a creature inside one of the eggs attacks an explorer. The entire crew is unaware of the impending nightmare set to descend upon them when the alien parasite planted inside its unfortunate host is birthed.

  6. Blade Runner

    Blade Runner

    1982

    # 6

    In the smog-choked dystopian Los Angeles of 2019, blade runner Rick Deckard is called out of retirement to terminate a quartet of replicants who have escaped to Earth seeking their creator for a way to extend their short life spans.

  7. Parasite

    Parasite

    2019

    # 7

    All unemployed, Ki-taek's family takes peculiar interest in the wealthy and glamorous Parks for their livelihood until they get entangled in an unexpected incident.

  8. The Matrix

    The Matrix

    1999

    # 8

    Set in the 22nd century, The Matrix tells the story of a computer hacker who s a group of underground insurgents fighting the vast and powerful computers who now rule the earth.

  9. Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India

    # 9

    In 1890s India, an arrogant British commander challenges the harshly taxed residents of Champaner to a high-stakes cricket match.

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  10. Avengers: Endgame

    Avengers: Endgame

    2019

    # 10

    After the devastating events of Avengers: Infinity War, the universe is in ruins due to the efforts of the Mad Titan, Thanos. With the help of remaining allies, the Avengers must assemble once more in order to undo Thanos' actions and restore order to the universe once and for all, no matter what consequences may be in store.

  11. American Beauty

    American Beauty

    1999

    # 11

    Lester Burnham, a depressed suburban father in a mid-life crisis, decides to turn his hectic life around after developing an infatuation with his daughter's attractive friend.

  12. Ghostbusters

    Ghostbusters

    1984

    # 12

    After losing their posts at an university, three parapsychology professors go into business as „ghostbusters“ who fight against ghouls, hobgoblins and supernatural pests of all kinds. After they found a gateway to another dimension, the evil gets released upon the city. The three professors now have to save New York from complete destruction.

  13. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

    # 13

    As armies mass for a final battle that will decide the fate of the world--and powerful, ancient forces of Light and Dark compete to determine the outcome--one member of the Fellowship of the Ring is revealed as the noble heir to the throne of the Kings of Men. Yet, the sole hope for triumph over evil lies with a brave hobbit, Frodo, who, accompanied by his loyal friend Sam and the hideous, wretched Gollum, ventures deep into the very dark heart of Mordor on his seemingly impossible quest to destroy the Ring of Power.​

  14. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring

    # 14

    Young hobbit Frodo Baggins, after inheriting a mysterious ring from his uncle Bilbo, must leave his home in order to keep it from falling into the hands of its evil creator. Along the way, a fellowship is formed to protect the ringbearer and make sure that the ring arrives at its final destination: Mt. Doom, the only place where it can be destroyed.

  15. Inception

    Inception

    2010

    # 15

    Cobb, a skilled thief who commits corporate espionage by infiltrating the subconscious of his targets is offered a chance to regain his old life as payment for a task considered to be impossible: "inception", the implantation of another person's idea into a target's subconscious.

  16. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

    # 16

    Joel Barish, heartbroken that his girlfriend underwent a procedure to erase him from her memory, decides to do the same. However, as he watches his memories of her fade away, he realises that he still loves her, and may be too late to correct his mistake.

  17. Gladiator

    Gladiator

    2000

    # 17

    In the year 180, the death of emperor Marcus Aurelius throws the Roman Empire into chaos. Maximus is one of the Roman army's most capable and trusted generals and a key advisor to the emperor. As Marcus' devious son Commodus ascends to the throne, Maximus is set to be executed. He escapes, but is captured by slave traders. Renamed Spaniard and forced to become a gladiator, Maximus must battle to the death with other men for the amusement of paying audiences..

  18. Toy Story

    Toy Story

    1995

    # 18

    Led by Woody, Andy's toys live happily in his room until Andy's birthday brings Buzz Lightyear onto the scene. Afraid of losing his place in Andy's heart, Woody plots against Buzz. But when circumstances separate Buzz and Woody from their owner, the duo eventually learns to put aside their differences.

  19. The Silence of the Lambs

    # 19

    Clarice Starling is a top student at the FBI's training academy. Jack Crawford wants Clarice to interview Dr. Hannibal Lecter, a brilliant psychiatrist who is also a violent psychopath, serving life behind bars for various acts of murder and cannibalism. Crawford believes that Lecter may have insight into a case and that Starling, as an attractive young woman, may be just the bait to draw him out.

  20. The Wizard of Oz

    The Wizard of Oz

    1939

    # 20

    Young Dorothy finds herself in a magical world where she makes friends with a lion, a scarecrow and a tin man as they make their way along the yellow brick road to talk with the Wizard and ask for the things they miss most in their lives. The Wicked Witch of the West is the only thing that could stop them.