The 10 Most Breathtaking Epic Movies of the Last Century: Prepare to Be Amazed (and Maybe Argue!)**
Few things in cinema can match the sheer scale and emotional power of an epic film. These aren't just movies; they're experiences. They transport us to different worlds, different eras, and different states of mind. The greatest epic films of the last 100 years stand as towering achievements, showcasing bold storytelling and unforgettable characters against backdrops of breathtaking grandeur. Even a flawed epic deserves respect for its ambition, but the truly exceptional ones? They're something magical.
From sweeping historical dramas to fantastical adventures, the best epics released since 1925 share a common thread: they deliver an overwhelming sense of awe that only the grandest scale can achieve. They thrill, they move, and they inspire, offering a unique cinematic magic. But which ones reign supreme? We've ranked the ten best epics of the last century based on their impact, overall quality, and lasting legacy within the genre.
10. 'Ben-Hur' (1959): A Chariot Race for the Ages
[Image via MGM]
This classic Hollywood biblical epic, Ben-Hur, tells a fictional story that has resonated with audiences for over a century. Lew Wallace's novel has been adapted several times, but the 1959 version, directed by the legendary William Wyler and starring Charlton Heston, remains the definitive cinematic portrayal. Heston embodies Judah Ben-Hur, a Jewish prince turned slave and charioteer, with the kind of square-jawed heroism that defined the era.
The movie itself is polished and entertaining, but the chariot race...oh, that chariot race! Planned for nearly a year, it remains one of the most perfectly composed action sequences ever filmed. That single scene alone secured Ben-Hur's place among the greatest epics. Despite numerous attempts to remake the story for modern audiences, none have captured the sheer grandeur of this classic.
9. 'Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back' (1980): The Dark Side Rises
[Image via Lucasfilm]
From Ancient Rome to a galaxy far, far away, the Star Wars franchise draws heavily from the traditions of epic storytelling. George Lucas's original space opera masterfully blended countless influences into a richly realized fantasy world. And the sequel, The Empire Strikes Back, is, arguably, even better. Often cited as the gold standard for sequels, The Empire Strikes Back expands upon its predecessor's setting and characters, delivering a darker, more mature space adventure that many consider the franchise's peak.
The film picks up with Luke Skywalker and the Rebel Alliance reeling from the destruction of the Death Star. They're forced to scatter across the galaxy, evading the relentless pursuit of the Empire. While Han Solo and Leia's romance blossoms, Luke undergoes intense Jedi training with Yoda, one of cinema's most iconic puppets. The Empire Strikes Back doesn't end with a triumphant victory like the first film; instead, it leaves audiences on a cliffhanger. But the movie remains an enduring masterpiece.
8. 'Mad Max: Fury Road' (2015): High-Octane Apocalypse
[Image via Warner Bros. Pictures]
Proof that Hollywood (or at least, one very talented Australian director) can still deliver compelling epics in the modern era, Mad Max: Fury Road takes the best elements of its predecessors and supercharges them into an epic action spectacle. Tom Hardy takes over the role of Max, while Charlize Theron delivers a powerhouse performance as Furiosa. Hugh Keays-Byrne, in his second turn as a Mad Max villain, embodies the grotesque Immortan Joe.
Structured as one extended chase across a desolate wasteland, Fury Road is a visual storytelling masterclass featuring some of the greatest action sequences ever filmed. The film blends practical stunt work with visual effects artistry, all captured by the brilliant cinematography of John Seale. All of the technical wizardry serves a stripped-down plot that leaves room for colorful character work and a feminist undercurrent that drives the film's muscular engine.
7. 'Apocalypse Now' (1979): Heart of Darkness in Vietnam
[Image via United Artists]
War has provided the backdrop for countless epics, and the Vietnam War, in particular, served as a major source of inspiration for filmmakers in the 1970s and 80s. Of all the films exploring that complex conflict, none is as ambitious or as powerful as Francis Ford Coppola's Apocalypse Now. Transplanting Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness into a contemporary wartime setting, the film's production was as epic and arduous as the story it tells, with Coppola and his crew spending over a year filming in the Philippines.
Set in 1969, the film follows Martin Sheen's Captain Willard, tasked with assassinating the renegade Colonel Kurtz, played by Marlon Brando. Brando, reuniting with Coppola after The Godfather, arrived on set significantly overweight, forcing Coppola to film him strategically, using shadows and close-ups. This limitation actually enhanced the final act, giving it a surreal and unsettling quality, memorably concluding one of the greatest war epics ever made.
6. 'The Good, the Bad and the Ugly' (1966): Spaghetti Western Perfection
[Image via United Artists]
Few chapters of American history are as expansive and visually striking as the Old West, offering a sweeping canvas for countless films. Ironically, some of the genre's greatest entries weren't filmed on the American plains but in the European countryside as part of the spaghetti Western movement. Among these Italian-produced classics, Sergio Leone's The Good, the Bad and the Ugly stands out as a true epic. The final installment in his Dollars trilogy, Leone pulled out all the stops for this Civil War-era tale of greed and buried treasure.
Clint Eastwood returns as his iconic Man with No Name, here known as Blondie, competing for a fortune in Confederate gold hidden in a cemetery. He faces stiff competition from Lee Van Cleef's ruthless assassin and Eli Wallach's bumbling bandit. Combined with Leone's signature widescreen cinematography, showcasing both stunning landscapes and the expressive faces of his actors, and Ennio Morricone's unforgettable score, The Good, the Bad and the Ugly is an epic Western of immense entertainment value, achieved with remarkable skill.
5. 'Schindler's List' (1993): Shining a Light on Darkness
[Image via Universal Pictures]
Sometimes, the scale of a film isn't about massive set pieces or explosive action. It's about capturing the immense weight of a historical tragedy. Few events in the 20th century were as devastating as the Holocaust, and few films encapsulate its horrors as powerfully as Steven Spielberg's Schindler's List. The director initially hesitated to dramatize such a sensitive subject, but eventually realized the importance of its message, especially in light of rising Holocaust denial.
Based on the true story of Oskar Schindler, a Nazi party member and industrialist, who transforms from capitalist to humanitarian after witnessing the atrocities committed against Polish Jews in Kraków. He employs them in his factories to save them from the concentration camps, ultimately sacrificing his entire fortune. Schindler's List is epic filmmaking with a purpose, rightfully praised for illuminating one of history's darkest chapters.
4. 'Come and See' (1985): A Visceral Descent into Hell
[Image viaSovexportfilm]
Equally impactful, and even more visceral, than Spielberg's war epic is the Soviet-produced Come and See, which portrays Nazi atrocities during the occupation of Soviet Belarus. Both grim and gritty, yet hauntingly surreal, the movie is an anti-war masterpiece that has only grown in stature since its release. It might be one of the most difficult epics to watch, but it's also one of the most urgent.
Come and See focuses on a young Belarusian teenager who witnesses firsthand the horrific violence inflicted by Nazi occupiers. The film is a brutal and punishing experience, rarely offering respite from its horrors. Aleksei Kravchenko delivers one of the most astounding child performances ever captured on film. He, and the film as a whole, linger in the mind long after the credits roll.
3. '2001: A Space Odyssey' (1968): A Journey Beyond Comprehension
[Image via MGM]
Stanley Kubrick was a singular voice in cinema, and his epic films, from Spartacus to Barry Lyndon, immersed audiences in their worlds with stunning effect. But none more so than his sci-fi odyssey across space and time, 2001: A Space Odyssey. A landmark science fiction film, made with groundbreaking visual effects a year before humanity even landed on the moon, it's a timeless and thought-provoking epic.
The film follows a voyage to Jupiter to investigate a mysterious alien monolith. The crew faces their greatest challenge in the form of the sentient AI, HAL 9000. Deliberately paced and plotted, the film is epic in scope and thoughtful in its approach. Kubrick aimed to explore humanity's relationship with the universe, and he communicates this through vast shots of space and the surreal ending that transcends traditional visuals for an experimental climax.
2. 'Seven Samurai' (1954): The Birth of the Team-Up
[Image via Toho]
Akira Kurosawa's legendary directorial career has influenced generations of filmmakers. His later epics, like Kagemusha and Ran, are visually stunning and would be considered career peaks for many. However, they can't compare to his magnum opus, Seven Samurai. An incredibly influential action film, it essentially invented the ragtag team trope and all its elements.
Set in 16th-century Japan, the story centers on a mountain village plagued by bandits. The villagers seek the help of an aging ronin, who assembles seven samurai to defend them. The similarities between the film and Westerns were apparent upon its release, and it inspired numerous Westerns, most directly The Magnificent Seven. Despite the many films inspired by Kurosawa's masterpiece, none have matched its perfect blend of epic adventure, honorable characters, and expertly choreographed action.
1. 'Lawrence of Arabia' (1962): A Desert Dream (or Nightmare?)
[Image viaColumbia Pictures]
David Lean is synonymous with cinematic epics, and his films rank among the greatest ever made. Doctor Zhivago and The Bridge on the River Kwai deserve recognition, but Lawrence of Arabia stands alone. Inspirational to every filmmaker on this list, Lean's epic, though somewhat fictionalized, dramatization of T.E. Lawrence's life and exploits is simply one of the greatest films ever made.
Peter O'Toole's performance as Lawrence is the gold standard for movie star presence, blending an intensely magnetic persona with emotional vulnerability. The film immortalized O'Toole for his complex portrayal of a complex man, his striking presence emphasized by the stark desert landscapes as Lawrence aligns himself with Arab forces against the Turks. Shot in glorious widescreen, nearly every frame of Lawrence of Arabia could be a work of art. Lawrence of Arabia is what epic filmmaking looks like in the hands of a master director working with a superlative star.
[Lawrence of Arabia (https://screenrant.com/db/movie/lawrence-of-arabia/)]
Release Date: December 11, 1962
Cast: Alec Guinness, Omar Sharif, Peter O'Toole, Jack Hawkins, Anthony Quinn
Runtime: 228 minutes
Director: David Lean
Writers: Robert Bolt, Michael Wilson
Controversy Alert! Some historians argue that Lawrence of Arabia romanticizes a complex and problematic historical figure. Was Lawrence a genuine hero, or a self-aggrandizing imperialist? What do you think?
Now it's your turn! Do you agree with our list? What epic film would you add or remove? Let us know in the comments below!
