Best English Movies

The Hollywood industry has grown massively strong over time, with a wide range of high-budget films. Along with that, the content's quality has improved. This compiled list is a one-stop destination for all movie fans looking for information on top-tier Hollywood films.

1. A Beautiful Mind (2001)

Ron Howard directed the 2001 American biographical drama film A Beautiful Mind. The screenplay was written by Akiva Goldsman and was inspired by Sylvia Nasar's 1997 biography of mathematician John Nash, a Nobel Laureate in Economics. Russell Crowe plays Nash, and the film also stars Ed Harris, Jennifer Connelly, Paul Bettany, Adam Goldberg, Judd Hirsch, Josh Lucas, Anthony Rapp, and Christopher Plummer in supporting roles. Nash's story begins as a graduate student at Princeton University.

Nash develops paranoid schizophrenia early in the film and experiences delusional episodes while witnessing the burden his condition places on his wife Alicia and friends.

On December 21, 2001, A Beautiful Mind was released in theatres in the United States. It earned over $313 million worldwide and four Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Supporting Actress for Connelly. It was also nominated for several awards, including Best Actor, Best Film Editing, Best Makeup, and Best Original Score.

2. The Dark Knight (2008)

Christopher Nolan directed The Dark Knight in 2008, based on a screenplay he co-wrote with his brother Jonathan. It is the sequel to Batman Begins (2005) and the second instalment in The Dark Knight Trilogy, based on the DC Comics superhero Batman. The film follows Batman, police lieutenant James Gordon, and district attorney Harvey Dent as they form an alliance to bring down organised crime in Gotham City. Their efforts are thwarted by the Joker, an anarchistic mastermind who wants to see how far Batman will go to save the city from total chaos. Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Heath Ledger, Gary Oldman, Aaron Eckhart, Maggie Gyllenhaal, and Morgan Freeman are among the ensemble cast members.

The Dark Knight, which was released in July, broke several box office records, becoming the highest-grossing film of the year, the fourth-highest-grossing film of all time, and the highest-grossing superhero film. It was praised for its mature tone and themes, visual style, and performances, particularly those of Heath Ledger. He received several posthumous awards, including the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, making The Dark Knight the first comic book film to win a major Oscar.

The Dark Knight has been regarded as one of the greatest superhero films ever made, as well as one of the best films of the 2000s and among the best films ever made. It is regarded as the "blueprint" for modern superhero films, especially for rejecting a comic book style for a genre film starring comic book characters. Many filmmakers attempted, with varying degrees of success, to replicate its success by emulating its gritty and realistic tone.

The Dark Knight has been studied for its themes of terrorism and the limitations of morality and ethics. It was chosen for preservation in the National Film Registry by the United States Library of Congress in 2020. The Dark Knight trilogy was completed by a sequel, The Dark Knight Rises.

3. Avatar (2009)

Avatar is a 2009 American epic science fiction film directed, written, produced, and co-edited by James Cameron and starring Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Stephen Lang, Michelle Rodriguez, and Sigourney Weaver. It takes place in the mid-twentieth century, when humans are colonising Pandora, a lush habitable moon of a gas giant in the Alpha Centauri star system, to mine the valuable mineral unobtanium. The mining colony's expansion threatens the survival of a local tribe of Na'vi, a humanoid species indigenous to Pandora.

The title refers to a genetically engineered Na'vi body that is controlled by the brain of a remote human and is used to interact with the natives of Pandora.

Avatar premiered on December 10, 2009, in London, and was released in the United States on December 18, 2009, to positive reviews, with critics praising the film's groundbreaking visual effects.

During its theatrical run, the film broke several box office records and became the highest-grossing film of the time, as well as the highest-grossing film in the United States and Canada, surpassing Cameron's Titanic, which had held those records for twelve years. Avatar was the highest-grossing film in the world for nearly a decade until it was surpassed by Avengers: Endgame in 2019, but a Chinese re-release of the film led to it retaking the top spot in March 2021, where it has remained ever since.

Avatar received nine Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture and Best Director, and took home three: Best Art Direction, Best Cinematography, and Best Visual Effects. The success of the film also resulted in the release of 3D televisions and an increase in the popularity of 3D films.

4. Avengers: Endgame (2019)

Avengers: Endgame is a 2019 American superhero film based on Marvel Comics' Avengers superhero team. It is the direct sequel to Avengers: Infinity War (2018) and the 22nd film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, produced by Marvel Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures (MCU). The film stars Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner, Don Cheadle, Paul Rudd, Brie Larson, Karen Gillan, Danai Gurira, Benedict Wong, Jon Favreau, Bradley Cooper, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Josh Brolin. It is directed by Anthony and Joe Russo and written by Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely. In the film, the Avengers' surviving members and their allies attempt to undo Thanos' destruction.

The film was initially titled Avengers: Infinity War - Part 2, but Marvel later changed the title. The Russo brothers were hired as directors in April 2015, with Markus and McFeely joining a month later to write the script. The film serves as a conclusion to the MCU's story up to that point, concluding the story arcs of several key characters. The plot revisits several scenes from previous films, bringing back actors and locations from across the franchise.

The film received critical acclaim for its direction, acting, musical score, action sequences, visual effects, and emotional weight, with critics hailing it as the conclusion of a 22-film story. The film grossed $2.798 billion worldwide, outperforming Infinity War's entire theatrical run in just eleven days and shattering numerous box office records, including becoming the highest-grossing film of all time from July 2019 to March 2021.

The film received numerous awards and nominations, including a Best Visual Effects nomination at the 92nd Academy Awards, three nominations at the 25th Critics' Choice Awards (two of which it won), and a Special Visual Effects nomination at the 73rd British Academy Film Awards. Avengers: The Kang Dynasty and Avengers: Secret Wars, the fifth and sixth films in the series, are set to be released in 2025.

5. Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)

Spider-Man: No Way Home is a 2021 American superhero film co-produced by Columbia Pictures and Marvel Studios and distributed by Sony Pictures Releasing. It is based on the Marvel Comics character Spider-Man. It is the 27th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the sequel to Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017) and Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019). (MCU). Jon Watts directed the film, which was written by Chris McKenna and Erik Sommers.

It stars Tom Holland as Peter Parker / Spider-Man, as well as Zendaya, Benedict Cumberbatch, Jacob Batalon, Jon Favreau, Jamie Foxx, Willem Dafoe, Alfred Molina, Benedict Wong, Tony Revolori, Marisa Tomei, Andrew Garfield, and Tobey Maguire. In the film, Parker asks Dr. Stephen Strange (Cumberbatch) to use magic to conceal his identity as Spider-Man once more after it was revealed at the end of Far From Home. When the spell fails, the multiverse collapses, allowing visitors from other realities to enter Parker's universe.

Spider-Man: No Way Home premiered on December 13, 2021, at the Fox Village Theatre in Los Angeles, and was released theatrically in the United States on December 17, as part of the MCU's Phase Four. The film received positive reviews from critics, who praised the story, direction, action sequences, performances, and chemistry of the cast. No Way Home has grossed over $1.9 billion worldwide, surpassing its predecessor as Sony Pictures' highest-grossing film. It broke several box office records, including those for films released during the COVID-19 pandemic, and became the highest-grossing film of 2021, the sixth-highest-grossing film of all time, and the highest-grossing Spider-Man film. The film received numerous awards and nominations, including a Best Visual Effects nomination at the 94th Academy Awards. A sequel is in the works.

6. No Time to Die

No Time to Die is a 2021 spy film produced by Eon Productions and the twenty-fifth in the James Bond series, starring Daniel Craig in his fifth and final portrayal of fictional British MI6 agent James Bond. Cary Joji Fukunaga directed it from a screenplay written by Neal Purvis, Robert Wade, Fukunaga, and Phoebe Waller-Bridge. L�a Seydoux, Ben Whishaw, Naomie Harris, Jeffrey Wright, Christoph Waltz, Rory Kinnear, and Ralph Fiennes return from previous films, along with Rami Malek, Lashana Lynch, Billy Magnussen, Ana de Armas, David Dencik, and Dali Benssalah. In No Time to Die, Bond has left MI6 and is hired by the CIA to find a kidnapped scientist, which leads to a showdown with a powerful villain.

In 2016, development began. It is the first Bond film distributed by Universal Pictures, which acquired international distribution rights after Sony Pictures' contract expired following the release of Spectre in 2015. United Artists Releasing holds North American rights, as well as worldwide digital and television rights; Universal also holds worldwide physical home media rights. Originally, Danny Boyle was set to direct and co-write the screenplay with John Hodge. Both left due to creative differences in August 2018, and Fukunaga was announced as Boyle's replacement one month later. By April 2019, the majority of the cast had signed on. From April to October of this year, principal photography took place. Billie Eilish sang the theme song "No Time to Die," and Hans Zimmer composed the music.

No Time to Die premiered globally on September 28, 2021, at the Royal Albert Hall in London, after being delayed by Boyle's departure and then by the COVID-19 pandemic. It was released in theatres on September 30, 2021, in the United Kingdom and on October 8, 202,1, in the United States. The film received favorable reviews and grossed more than $774 million worldwide, making it the fourth highest-grossing film of 2021.In addition, it set several box-office records, including becoming the third highest-grossing film of all time in the United Kingdom.

7. Inception (2010)

Christopher Nolan wrote and directed the 2010 science fiction action film Inception, which he also produced with his wife, Emma Thomas. Leonardo DiCaprio plays a professional thief who steals information by infiltrating his targets' subconscious minds. He is offered the opportunity to have his criminal record erased in exchange for implanting another person's idea into the subconscious of a target. Ken Watanabe, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Marion Cotillard, Elliot Page, Tom Hardy, Dileep Rao, Cillian Murphy, Tom Berenger, and Michael Caine are among the ensemble cast members.

The premiere of Inception took place on July 8, 2010, in London, and it was released in both conventional and IMAX theatres on July 16, 2010. Inception earned more than $828 million worldwide, making it the fourth highest-grossing film of 2010. Inception won four Academy Awards (Best Cinematography, Best Sound Editing, Best Sound Mixing, and Best Visual Effects) and was nominated for four more: Best Picture, Best Original Screenplay, Best Art Direction, and Best Original Score.

8. The Godfather (1972)

The Godfather is a 1972 American crime film directed by Francis Ford Coppola and co-written by Mario Puzo, based on Puzo's best-selling 1969 novel of the same name. Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Caan, Richard Castellano, Robert Duvall, Sterling Hayden, John Marley, Richard Conte, and Diane Keaton starred in the film. It is the first part of The Godfather trilogy. The plot follows the Corleone family from 1945 to 1955, focusing on the transformation of Vito Corleone's youngest son, Michael Corleone (Pacino), from reluctant family outsider to ruthless mafia boss.

The Godfather premiered on March 14, 1972, at the Loew's State Theatre and was widely released in the United States on March 24, 1972. It was the highest-grossing film of 1972 and, for a brief period, the highest-grossing movie ever made, grossing between $250 and $291 million at the box office. Critics and audiences alike praised the film's performances, particularly those of Brando and Pacino, as well as the directing, screenplay, cinematography, editing, score, and portrayal of the mafia. The Godfather helped launch the careers of Coppola, Pacino, and other relative newcomers in the cast and crew.

The Godfather is widely regarded as one of the greatest and most influential films of all time, as well as a milestone in the gangster genre. It was chosen for preservation in the United States National Film Registry of the Library of Congress in 1990 after being deemed "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant," and the American Film Institute ranks it as the second-greatest film in American cinema (behind Citizen Kane).

9. Deadpool 2 (2018)

Deadpool 2 is an American superhero film released in 2018 based on the Marvel Comics character Deadpool. It is an X-Men film series spin-off, a sequel to 2016's Deadpool, and the eleventh instalment overall. David Leitch directed the film from a screenplay by Rhett Reese, Paul Wernick, and Ryan Reynolds, who co-stars with Josh Brolin, Morena Baccarin, Julian Dennison, Zazie Beetz, T.J. Miller, Brianna Hildebrand, and Jack Kesy in the title role. Deadpool forms the X-Force in the film to protect a young mutant from the time-traveling soldier Cable.

20th Century Fox released Deadpool 2 in the United States on May 18, 2018. The film outperformed its predecessor, grossing more than $785 million worldwide, making it the ninth-highest-grossing movie of 2018, the highest-grossing film in the X-Men series, and the highest-grossing R-rated film at the time. Critics praised the film's humor, cast performances, story, and action sequences, but they criticized its tone, script, and recycled jokes. Once Upon a Deadpool, a PG-13-rated version of the film, was released on December 12, 2018, to mixed reviews. Following Disney's acquisition of 21st Century Fox, Marvel Studios is developing a third Deadpool film as part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

10. First Man (2018)

First Man is a 2018 American biographical drama film written and directed by Damien Chazelle. The film, based on James R. Hansen's 2005 book First Man: The Life of Neil A. Armstrong, stars Ryan Gosling as Neil Armstrong, Claire Foy, Jason Clarke, Kyle Chandler, Corey Stoll, Christopher Abbott, and Ciar�n Hinds, and follows the years leading up to the Apollo 11 mission to the Moon in 1969. Steven Spielberg is an executive producer of the film.

First Man had its world premiere on August 29, 2018, at the Venice Film Festival and was released theatrically in the United States on October 12, 2018, by Universal Pictures. The film received critical acclaim, particularly for its direction, performances by Gosling and Foy, musical score, and Moon landing sequence. Prior to the film's release, the filmmakers' decision not to depict the planting of the American flag on the lunar surface prompted online conservatives, including the then-President of the United States, to condemn the film for alleged lack of patriotism.

Despite its positive critical reception, notable cast and crew, and $59 million production budget, the film was a box office flop, grossing only $105 million worldwide. It was nominated for two Golden Globes (winning Best Original Score), ten Critics' Choice Awards (winning Best Editing and Best Score), seven British Academy Film Awards (winning Best Editing and Best Score), and four Academy Awards (winning Best Original Score) (winning Best Visual Effects).

11. Joker (2019)

Todd Phillips, who co-wrote the screenplay with Scott Silver, directed and produced Joker, a 2019 American psychological thriller film. The film, based on DC Comics characters, stars Joaquin Phoenix as the Joker and tells the character's possible origin story. It follows Arthur Fleck, a failed clown and aspiring stand-up comedian, whose descent into insanity and nihilism inspires a violent countercultural revolution against the wealthy in a decaying Gotham City in 1981. In supporting roles, Robert De Niro, Zazie Beetz, Frances Conroy, Brett Cullen, Glenn Fleshler, Bill Camp, Shea Whigham, and Marc Maron appear. Joker was distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures and DC Films in collaboration with Village Roadshow Pictures, Bron Creative, and Joint Effort.

Joker premiered on August 31, 2019, at the 76th Venice International Film Festival, where it won the Golden Lion and was released theatrically in the United States on October 4, 2019.

While Phoenix's performance, Phillips' direction, the visual style, editing, musical score, and cinematography were all lauded, the film's dark tone, the portrayal of mental illness, and handling of violence divided audiences and raised concerns about the film inciting real-life violence. The film was a financial success, breaking records for an October release. It became the sixth highest-grossing film of 2019 during its theatrical run, becoming the first R-rated film to do so. The film also won numerous awards, including Best Actor and Best Original Score, at the Academy Awards.

12. 1917 (2019)

Sam Mendes directed and produced the 2019 war film 1917, which he co-wrote with Krysty Wilson-Cairns. The film takes place after the German retreat to the Hindenburg Line during Operation Alberich and follows two British soldiers, Will Schofield (George MacKay) and Tom Blake (Dean-Charles Chapman), in their mission to deliver an important message to call off a doomed offensive attack. In supporting roles, Mark Strong, Andrew Scott, Richard Madden, Claire Duburcq, Colin Firth, and Benedict Cumberbatch appear.

The project was announced in June 2018, with MacKay and Chapman joining in October and the rest of the cast following in March. Filming took place in the United Kingdom from April to June 2019, with cinematographer Roger Deakins and editor Lee Smith employing long takes to make the entire film appear as two continuous shots.

1917 premiered in the United Kingdom on December 4, 2019, and was released theatrically in the United States by Universal Pictures on December 25 and in the United Kingdom by Entertainment One on January 10, 2020. The film was both critically and commercially successful, grossing $384.9 million worldwide. It received ten Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture and Best Director, and three wins, including Best Cinematography, Best Visual Effects, and Best Sound Mixing.

13. Interstellar (2014)

Christopher Nolan co-wrote, directed, and produced the 2014 epic science fiction film Interstellar. Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Chastain, Bill Irwin, Ellen Burstyn, Matt Damon, and Michael Caine starred in the film. The film follows a group of astronauts who travel through a wormhole near Saturn in search of a new home for humanity in a dystopian future where humanity is struggling to survive.

Interstellar premiered in Los Angeles, California, on October 26, 2014. It was initially released on film stock in the United States before being expanded to venues using digital projectors. The film grossed over $677 million worldwide (and $701 million with subsequent re-releases), ranking it as the tenth highest-grossing film of 2014.

It received positive reviews for its acting, direction, screenplay, musical score, visual effects, ambition, and themes. Many astronomers have praised it for its scientific accuracy and portrayal of theoretical astrophysics. Interstellar has gained a cult following since its release and is now considered by many sci-fi experts to be one of the best science fiction films of all time. Interstellar received numerous accolades and was nominated for five Academy Awards, including Best Visual Effects.

14. Top Gun: Maverick (2022)

Top Gun: Maverick, directed by Joseph Kosinski, is a 2022 American action-drama film. It is the sequel and final installment of the 1986 film Top Gun, and it was written by Ehren Kruger, Eric Warren Singer, and Christopher McQuarrie, with a story by Peter Craig and Justin Marks. Tom Cruise and Val Kilmer reprise their roles from the original film, and the cast also includes Miles Teller, Jennifer Connelly, Jon Hamm, Glen Powell, Lewis Pullman, and Ed Harris. It follows Maverick as he confronts his past while training a group of younger Top Gun graduates for a dangerous mission, including the son of his deceased best friend.

Craig completed a draught of the screenplay in 2012, but Scott committed suicide later that year, putting the project on hold. Later, the film was dedicated to Scott's memory. Kosinski was hired to direct in 2017, and production resumed. Principal photography, which included the use of IMAX-certified 6K full-frame cameras, took place in California, Washington, and Maryland from May 2018 to April 2019. The initial release date of July 12, 2019, was pushed back several times due to the complex action sequences and the COVID-19 pandemic. Several streaming companies attempted to purchase the film's streaming rights from Paramount during the pandemic, but all offers were rejected on the orders of Cruise, who insisted the film be available exclusively in theatres.

The film received widespread praise from critics, with many considering it to be superior to its predecessor.It has grossed over $1.3 billion worldwide, making it the highest-grossing film of 2022, the second film to gross $1 billion during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the highest-grossing film of Cruise's career.

15. The Prestige (2006)

The Prestige is a 2006 science fantasy psychological thriller film directed by Christopher Nolan from a screenplay written by Nolan and his brother Jonathan, based on Christopher Priest's 1995 novel of the same name. It follows rival stage magicians Robert Angier and Alfred Borden in London at the end of the nineteenth century. They engage in a competitive rivalry, with tragic results, because they are obsessed with creating the best stage illusion. The film stars Hugh Jackman as Robert Angier and Christian Bale as Alfred Borden. Scarlett Johansson, Michael Caine, Piper Perabo, Andy Serkis, Rebecca Hall, and David Bowie as Nikola Tesla also appear in the film.

Nolan reunites with Batman Begins actors Bale and Caine, as well as returning cinematographer Wally Pfister, production designer Nathan Crowley, and editor Lee Smith. The Prestige opened to positive reviews on October 20, 2006, and grossed $109 million worldwide against a production budget of $40 million. It was nominated for Academy Awards for Best Art Direction and Best Cinematography.