Film4's 50 Films To See Before You Die

Check out Film4's 50 Films To See Before You Die. Here's that list in full.

50. Badlands (1973)
Atmospheric fictionalisation of the deeds of two murderers who killed their way across the US Midwest in the late 50s. Terrence Mallick directs Martin Sheen and Sissy Spacek.

49. Secrets & Lies (1996)
Mike Leigh's superb comedy-drama of family relationships. Heart-rending, bitter and delightful by turn.

48. Aguirre, The Wrath of God (1972)
Suitably insane collaboration between writer-director-producer Werner Herzog and his on-off leading man Klaus Kinski, who stars as a Spanish conquistador on a ruthless, fruitless hunt for El Dorado.

47. Brazil (1985)
Visual brilliance combines with snappy satirical humour to create one of the best films of the 80s. Undoubtedly Terry Gilliam's masterpiece.

46. This Sporting Life (1963)
It's about rugby league, beer, grit and tough lads, but it's also a profound commment on relationships loaded with symbolism and rich in emotion.

45. Cabaret (1972)
A sensitive young Englishman falls into the whirl of pre-War Berlin, and the arms of the equally dizzying Sally Bowles, in this dazzlingly choreographed story of love, decadence - and Nazi stormtroopers.

44. Raising Arizona (1987)
Nic Cage and Holly Hunter kidnap babies in this sharp, inventive comedy of errors from the Coen brothers.

43. Princess Mononoke (1997)
A young warrior prince gets involved in the conflict between magical beasts and ruthlessly progressive humans in this mature, complex, epic anime from Hayao Miyazaki.

42. Dawn Of The Dead (Director's Cut) (1978)
George A Romero's sequel to Night of the Living Dead follows a group of survivors who hole up in an abandoned shopping mall as the world is overrun by flesh-eating zombies.

41. Manhunter (1986)
Hannibal the cannibal makes his first appearance on screen in this prequel to The Silence Of The Lambs. Starker and less sensational, with a cracking opening scene, it offers a revealing glimpse into a murderous mind.

Next page • 50 Films To See Before You Die - from The King Of Comedy to Scarface

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Comments

Pretty great list. 2 words, "American beauty"

Posted by Dankyn on 02/11/2009 22:01:32

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err..no people know this is the 50 films you must see before you die but they also realise that movies on this list HAVE to be good, with the top being REALLY good get it??

Posted by ...huh on 02/11/2009 20:42:08

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I think everyone's misinterpreting this list... It's 'Fifty films to see before you die' not 'the fifty best films ever'...

Posted by danp on 10/10/2009 11:30:54

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goodfellas!!!! taxi driver!!! how have you not included these!!!!!

Posted by hhhhh on 18/07/2009 17:37:37

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Wow... you recommended 'Hero' citing it's similarities to Rashamon, yet there is not one Kurosawa film on this list. Seven Samurai should have been in the top ten. Aside from that apparent oversight, most of the films in this list are obscure titles involving great directors and actors that somehow have fallen out of the public eye, i.e. King of Comedy.

Posted by gyoza on 03/07/2009 09:12:09

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i belive in a week the following mopvies should be shown godfather 1&2 the spaghetti western trilogy the shawnshank redemption the last samuri

Posted by paul on 08/06/2009 09:30:33

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It is a movie list created by a group of people. It is not a definitive list of anything it is just a list by some guys/gals who believe these movies are great. That does not mean anything there is no need to get into a great debate over the quality of the list. Take whatever you wish from the list (which hopefully would be a handful of movies that stood out to you and watch them) and buzz off.

Posted by lova-o-film on 08/06/2009 09:08:40

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where the bloody hells star wars?

Posted by filmgod on 15/05/2009 15:39:48

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I just want to thank you for putting Donnie Darko on this list. That is truly one of the best movies of all time.

Posted by Just Me on 18/04/2009 18:56:51

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extremely shocked they dont have the blue lagoon or the return to the blue lagoon on this list

Posted by akim on 05/04/2009 09:33:56

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what about a clockwork orange great movie!! and jaws one of the greatest and most quoted films of all time

Posted by rkib on 20/03/2009 04:45:17

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I have just read through a lot of the other reviews and there is a gneral concensus that your list is terrible. However, i feel this is quite the contrary. Although the list seems rushed, and has left a lot of films out, the films included are obviously brilliant, and to pick 50 films from a million is a difficult decision. Again, though i feel a few films that should have been included are: Jurassic Park, Reservoir Dogs, Saving Private Ryan, The Godfather, Shaun of the Dead, Tron, Pans Labyrinth and Being John Malkovich

Posted by Hobbsy on 13/03/2009 00:46:57

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This list is absolutely horrible. You left out many of the greatest and left in a shocking amount of mediocre to poor choices. I can't even begin to go into why this list is so terrible.

Posted by mcsjm3wso on 25/02/2009 01:39:14

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Any list that puports to list the 'greatest' films of all time but doesn't include The Great Dictator is a faulty list. Include the Marx brothers but not Chaplins prophetic masterpiece? I can understand if you were limiting it to modern cinema, but by including Night at the Opera and omitting The Great Dictator is an omission that negates your entire list in my opinion (clerks i can live without) The Great Dictator is one of the best 50 films ever made and EVERYONE should see it - and remember when it was made and realize the power and importance film can have when it tries and tries well - in this day and age of crap remakes, reimaginings and just plain stupidity appealing to the lowest common denominator, anybody who claims to love film has GOT to see the great dictator. Oh yeah - at least you kept it's a wonderful life out - but mr smith goes to washington as well should be on your list.

Posted by JohnMagee on 21/02/2009 20:39:56

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This entire list is flawed, and for one simple reason. Nowhere on that list is 'Clerks'! No film ever made has, or will ever have, a better dialogue. Ever.

Posted by blib on 01/02/2009 23:09:38

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No list of best flms would be complete without 'Cinema Paradiso' - probably right at the top!

Posted by els on 28/01/2009 16:46:23

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some movies don't even deserve to be on that list. Having watched almost all on that list I must admit so many of them haven't aged well. most of them have already been outdated & are extremely tiresome. should be renamed 50 movies that might kill you.

Posted by dick smith on 22/01/2009 06:39:06

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Uh, hello, I read your list and I must inform you that you have at least 40 movies that will be forgotten by the end of the coming decade. You missed so many, no Wertmuller, no Fassbinder, no Kieslowski, no Iranian film, no Indian films except that lame, maudlin, cliche Laggan I was kidnapped into watching. If I had to sit and endure this list, I would die. I encourage you whisk your attention in the direction of Janus film's box collection of 50 movies that will be remembered til the last piece of cellophane becomes pulverized by time. And you did not include the greatest film of all time: Grande Illusion. Shame on you.

Posted by suzannosebttr on 27/12/2008 02:23:42

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Maybe I am dumb, but when are these films screened, or being screened. Regards Dave

Posted by Dave on 02/12/2008 12:03:09

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I was refering to this list to hire a movie tonight. I decided to look else were when I spoted Laggan in It.

Posted by Pilot; Mumbai on 01/12/2008 15:03:45

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Thank you Grumpster. Better than Film 4's lack of reply by 100%.

Posted by declan88 on 15/11/2008 18:26:44

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Film 4 advert music: Andrew Bird - "Scythian Empires"

Posted by grumpster on 14/11/2008 20:00:59

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I, too, would dearly love to know the name of the music that plays behind this trailer. It's superb, and I would love to hear it in full J

Posted by Japes on 09/11/2008 10:54:13

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Shame Paris Texas, the Wicker Man, One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest, The Field and well I guess there were a few more, but can't recall them for the minute...

Posted by decla88 on 07/11/2008 17:25:29

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Same question as Abdullah. Could you tell me too the name and source of the music playing to current ads for filsm to see before you die. It might be an idea to reference on your website. (I wish all advertisers would do this, ho hum). Thanks declan88

Posted by declan88 on 07/11/2008 17:21:02

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I love the latest trailer showing on film4 channel, What is the music playing over it? It is beautiful.

Posted by Abdullah Arshad on 02/11/2008 22:36:47

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Why isn't Brokeback mountain on this list its one of greatest films of the 21st centuary

Posted by francesca on 30/10/2008 20:25:09

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Breakfast Club? This is is the first time I have ever seen that movie recommended for any top movies list.

Posted by b on 01/09/2008 08:05:40

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you never added Cool Hand Luke. Definitely one everyone has to have seen.

Posted by Boff on 24/08/2008 01:45:25

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Could anyone please tell me what the piano music is playing over the 'Films to see before you die' trailers?

Posted by robin on 07/08/2008 08:16:05

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i love breakfast club, im glad thats on there. im yet to get through any of the others apart from pulp fiction. classic.

Posted by hannah on 01/08/2008 20:34:22

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10 of the missing: My Own Private Idaho, Near Dark, Duel, The Thing, Angel Heart, Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind, Bowling For Columbine, The Fifth Element, Get Carter, Buffalo 66

Posted by Movie fan on 24/05/2008 00:33:49

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