The history of film dates back to 1888, although the supposed starting point of Louis Le Prince‘s Roundhay Garden Sceneis debated by some. Nevertheless, there is no debating how impressively extensive cinema’s 137-year catalog is, with technological advancements and improvements in film-specific storytelling helping to enhance its quality.
Among this long history of cinema are a select few gems that have done the unthinkable and proved universally popular. Given the rise of social media and the ability for any viewer to share their opinion with the world, for a film to avoid negativity and find its place in the hearts of audiences, regardless of age or taste, is an achievement that shouldn’t be underestimated. With that in mind, here’s a look at seven of the most universally loved movies of all time, ranked.
7
‘Back to the Future’ (1985)
As the opening of a stage musical and the box office re-release this year prove, the universal love for Back to the Future has perhaps even increased over time. Directed by Robert Zemeckis and written by Zemeckis and Bob Gale, the movie follows the charismatic but insecure Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox) as he and his mad scientist friend Doc Emmett L. Brown (Christopher Lloyd) travel through time via a DeLorean to save the lives of those they love.
One of the biggest box office hits of 1985, Back to the Future was an enormous hit upon arrival, turning Fox into a global star almost overnight. Packed with memorable moments, the film is crucially just as funny as it is emotionally engaging and boasts a near-perfect 95% score from audiences on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes. The film won an Academy Award for Sound Effects Editing back in 1986, losing out on a screenplay trophy to Witness in one of the worst snubs of that year.
6
‘Jurassic Park’ (1993)
The summer blockbuster has lost its charm in recent years, as it was once the perfect box office slot for the biggest and best films. In 1993, that slot went to Jurassic Park, the story of paleontologist Dr. Alan Grant (Sam Neill), paleobotanist Ellie Sattler (Laura Dern), and chaos theorist Ian Malcolm (Jeff Goldblum), as they are invited to visit an island theme park populated by dinosaurs ahead of its public opening. However, little do they know the danger they are about to face.
As many of the most beloved films do, Jurassic Park spawned a dino-sized franchise and six sequels to date, with the most recent, Jurassic World Rebirth, becoming one of 2025’s biggest box office hits. However, none have ever matched the awe-inspiring vision of the original, with groundbreaking CGI and animatronics still dropping jaws to this day.
5
‘The Breakfast Club’ (1985)
The teen movie has often proven universally popular, mainly for its ability to capture a moment in time for a generation of adolescents. Of all the best this genre has to offer, none are quite as beloved as The Breakfast Club. Following five high school students as they spend a Saturday in detention together, the film details their differences and finds their unlikely similarities as their lives are changed forever in just one day.
On its 40th anniversary, this 1985 John Hughes cult classic has been receiving plenty of love, proving popular in its limited box office re-release in September. A genius coming-of-age story that is both a visual time capsule of the mid-1980s and an enduring tale of acceptance and identity, teenage lives are still being changed with one viewing of The Breakfast Club.
4
‘Alien’ (1979)
To define a genre, like the previously mentioned The Breakfast Club, is impressive enough. Ridley Scott’s Alien managed to define two, becoming one of the flagship horror and sci-fi movies of not just the 1970s but of all time. The film follows the crew of the commercial space towing vessel Nostromo, who, after attending to what they thought was a distress call, soon find themselves under siege from a terrifying monster.
Everything from the movie’s central monster to its iconic tagline (“In space, no one can hear you scream”) has been cemented into popular culture ever since Alien debuted. Key to the movie’s universal popularity is Ellen Ripley (Sigourney Weaver), a defining female character who paved the way for many more badasses that followed. For many, this is the greatest horror or sci-fi film ever made, and for all, it’s certainly in the conversation.
3
‘The Shawshank Redemption’ (1994)
When it comes to movies that are beloved by both audiences and critics, few have managed to have the same impact as The Shawshank Redemption. The movie follows Andy Dufresne (Tim Robbins), a man sent to prison for the murder of his wife and her lover, despite being innocent. Having to navigate the harsh reality of life behind bars, the last thing Andy expects is to find hope and a best friend in the form of longtime inmate Red (Morgan Freeman).
From career-best performances to a pitch-perfect ending, The Shawshank Redemption was rightfully heralded as a masterpiece by critics and nominated for an impressive seven Academy Awards. However, it is the film’s life-affirming message, proving to be one of the best entries into the hopecore sub-genre, that likely helps it stay universally beloved after over three decades. Widely cited as one of the best movies of all time, Frank Darabont’s masterpiece is one everyone should watch at least once.
2
‘The Lion King’ (1994)
It seems that animated movies don’t quite face much of the same scrutiny as live-action tales. To some extent, this is because of the ability to make animated creations perfectly infallible and universally endearing, with only the coldest of hearts unable to melt at the sight of a cute cartoon character. With that in mind, it should be no wonder that a film like The Lion King is on this list.
But rarely has an animated movie been quite so successful with both critics and audiences. Winning two Oscars from four nominations, The Lion King was also an enormous success at the box office, earning just shy of $1 billion worldwide on a budget of only $45 million. From an iconic soundtrack that inspired a stage musical to stunning animation and a story so timeless that it is loosely based on a Shakespeare play, few animated movies have ever quite had the impact of The Lion King.
1
‘Goodfellas’ (1990)
Martin Scorsese‘s filmography is bursting at the seams with masterpieces. From Taxi Driver to Killers of the Flower Moon, few directors can match the consistency, quality, and longevity of the Academy Award winner. Although some of his best remain divisive in smaller circles, there is perhaps none from his catalog to be quite as universally beloved as Goodfellas.
From the immortal opening line: “As far back as I can remember, I always wanted to be a gangster,” right through to the film’s captivating closing sequence, not a moment of Goodfellas isn’t touched by the artistry of a genius at the peak of his powers. Featuring the trio of Ray Liotta, Robert De Niro, and Joe Pesci, each at their very best, the film weaves between the hilarious, the emotionally poignant, and the shockingly violent, portraying the perfect picture of the highs, lows, and in-betweens in the life of Henry Hill (Liotta). As far as gangster flicks go, there isn’t one more universally loved than Goodfellas.
- Release Date
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September 19, 1990
- Runtime
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145 minutes
- Producers
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Barbara De Fina
