Top 10 Best Epic Movies of All Time

An epic is a genre of film that emphasizes human drama on a grand scale. Epics typically feature expansive storylines, often spanning significant periods of time, and focus on monumental events or legendary characters.

These films are produced on a much larger scale, involving numerous extras, elaborate set designs, and intricate costumes. They are often among the most expensive productions of their time due to their all-star casts, grand, sweeping musical scores, and the extensive resources required for production.

This list focuses on films that rely very little or not at all on computer-generated special effects, which contributes to their reputation as "true" epics.

The Top Ten

  1. Ben-Hur

    The epic of epics, period.

    Hands down champion!

  2. Gone with the Wind

  3. Forrest Gump

  4. Lawrence of Arabia

    How much more epic can you get than hundreds and hundreds of men riding through the Arabian Desert on camels, a full-scale train wreck, and sweeping shots of Peter O'Toole with the entire desert behind him?

  5. Saving Private Ryan

    Great movie with a graphic but honest depiction of WWII. Another Spielberg work of genius.

    Probably the best war movie. Very good movie. Well done, Steven Spielberg.

  6. The Bridge on the River Kwai

    Hell yeah! All the way! This is one of my favorite films ever. Long live the oldies (but goodies)!

  7. The Ten Commandments

    Coming after Quo Vadis (1951), DeMille's The Ten Commandments (1956) remains the biblical epic film by which all others are judged.

    It was impressive in every respect, from scope and spectacle to special effects and sheer grandeur. Incredible color, film score, animation, and storytelling. Yul Brynner was great! Every penny of its $13,500,000 budget may be seen on the silver screen.

    It was DeMille's masterpiece, and it's as remarkable a watch today as it was in 1956! And it's the sixth most successful motion picture of all time. It may truly be said that: "They don't make them like they used to!"

    Dr. H. James Birx

    The length. The numerous scenes. The ridiculous number of actors and animals. The vivid color. Brynner vs. Heston. Anne Baxter and Yvonne De Carlo in their primes. And it's been shown every Easter weekend for who knows how long.

  8. King Kong (2005)

    Truly epic, soaring, with great performances and jaw-dropping action sequences.

  9. Andrei Rublev

  10. Cloud Atlas

    11. The Newcomers
  11. ?

    War and Peace (1966)

  12. ?

    All Quiet on the Western Front (2022)

    13. The Contenders

  13. Avengers: Infinity War

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

    So epic it makes Ben-Hur look like Bridesmaids.

    Third best movie ever.

    Best movie ever made.

  15. The Golden Compass

  16. The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe

  17. Intolerance (1916)

  18. 2001: A Space Odyssey

  19. The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian

  20. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

  21. Avengers: Endgame

  22. Seven Samurai

  23. Giant (1956)

  24. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers

  25. Ran

  26. Apocalypse Now

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

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