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
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?

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.

2001: A Space Odyssey
Seven Samurai
King Kong (2005)

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

Gone with the Wind
Intolerance (1916)
Apocalypse Now
Fitzcarraldo
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers

The Newcomers

? Avengers: Endgame
? The Nutcracker and the Four Realms

Epic retelling of the Nutcracker story featuring tin soldiers, mice, harlequin clowns, and lavish shots of Victorian London.

The Contenders
The Golden Compass
Avengers: Infinity War
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian
Andrei Rublev
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
Ben-Hur

The epic of epics, period.

Hands down champion!

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)!

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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

Gladiator
Giant (1956)
Doctor Zhivago
How the West Was Won
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