“Epic” is not precisely a film genre most people might think of. However, The American Film Institute does, defining it as “a genre of large-scale films set in a cinematic interpretation of the past.” Under this definition, most sword-and-sandal films qualify, as do historical blockbusters, even those that might incorporate magical or fantastical elements into their plots.
As part of their 2008 celebration of cinema, the AFI presented their 10 Top 10, honoring the ten greatest American movies across ten classic film genres. Their choices for the ten best epic movies should not surprise fans, as they include some of the film industry’s most famous and beloved movies.
10’The Ten Commandments' (1956)
Charlton Hestonstars Moses in the legendary’sCecil B. DeMille’s epic classicThe Ten Commandments. The film dramatizes Moses' story, leading to his leading the Exodus to Mount Sinai and receiving the Ten Commandments from Jesus.
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Well-received during its time,The Ten Commandmentsis now widely acclaimed and considered among the most influential pictures in film history. It plays fast and loose with the Biblical story for dramatic purposes, butThe Ten Commandmentsis a gigantic cinematic achievement that remains as gripping, thrilling, and awe-inspiring today as it was in 1956.
9’Reds' (1981)
Warren Beatty,Diane Keaton, andJack Nicholsonstar in Beatty’s epic biographical dramaReds. The film chronicles the career of journalist John “Jack” Reed, who wrote about the October Revolution in the former Soviet Union in his seminal 1919 bookTen Days that Shook the World. Keaton plays feminist and Bolshevik sympathizer Louise Bryant, whileNicholson plays a prominent supporting roleas revered playwright Eugene O’Neill.
Sprawling and passionate,Redsis a three-hour extravaganza that chronicles a pivotal moment in history with delicacy and impressive attention to detail. Beatty cares about the reasons for the conflict and its main players as much as he does about the bystanders in the periphery, resulting in a rich and engrossing portrayal of life in times of war.
8’Saving Private Ryan' (1998)
Steven Spielberg’s war masterpieceSaving Private RyanstarsTom Hanksleading an impressive ensemble. Set in France during World War II, the film follows a group of soldiers and their efforts to rescue Private James Ryan from deep within enemy lines.
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Widely considered to be among the best films from the 90s and the finest war movies ever,Saving Private Ryanfeatures one of cinema’s most memorable opening sequences. A heart-wrenching, visceral, and intensely realistic portrayal of war, loyalty, and duty,Saving Private Ryanwas a game-changer that launched audiences to the middle of a warzone like few other films had ever done. Influential, immersive, and utterly unforgettable,Saving Private Ryanranks highly among Spielberg’s efforts, marking a before and after for war movies.
7’All Quiet on the Western Front' (1930)
War movies might be a constant in today’s cinematic landscape, but they were a rarity in the medium’s early days.Lewis Milestone’s jarring adaptation of Erich Maria Remarque’s iconic anti-war novelAll Quiet on the Western Frontfollows a group of idealistic German students who join the army, only to come face-to-face with the brutalities of war.
All Quiet on the Western Frontis a harrowing depiction and passionate condemnation of war. The film was especially intense for audiences, many of whom had served during the war and remembered its hardships all too well. With a stellar, gripping performance fromLew Ayresand Milestone’s remarkable vision behind the camera,All Quiet on the Western Frontis among the most powerful filmsin cinematic history.
6’Titanic' (1997)
James Cameronwas the king of the worldwhenTitanicpremiered in 1997. StarringLeonardo DiCaprioandKate Winslet, the film chronicles the maiden and last voyage of the Titanic, using a couple of star-crossed lovers as the story’s beating heart.
Titanicmight be the defining and most perfect blockbuster in Hollywood history. It checks all the boxes, resulting in a compelling, richly emotional tale of love and endurance in unimaginable circumstances. Larger-than-life but with a grounded and deeply humane core,Titanicis a filmmaking triumph, a true cinematic event that brought one of the most tragic events in the 20th century to vivid and dramatic life.
5’Spartacus' (1960)
Kirk Douglasstars in the historical epicSpartacus. The plot revolves around the titular gladiator, who led the last slave revolt during the Third Servile War, the last of the so-called Servile Wars.Spartacuschanged directors during production, withStanley KubrickreplacingAnthony Mann; the film co-stars SirLaurence OlivierandTony Curtis.
Spartacusis a unique film in that it feels like an insightful and even introspective portrayal of the titular character while surrounded by epic action setpieces. Cathartic and inspiring,Spartacuscaptures the grandness of the Roman Empire and contrasts it with the passionate will of the slaves, creating a juxtaposition that results in a stirring and meaningful film, unlike few others.
4’Gone with the Wind' (1939)
Victor Fleming’s timeless masterpieceGone with the WindstarsVivien Leighas the spirited and vain Scarlett O’Hara. Set in the last days of the Antebellum South, the film chronicles Scarlett’s life, her affections for the dashing but married Ashley Wilkes, and her ultimate marriage to the roguish Rhett Butler, played byClark Gable.
Arguablythe best film of Hollywood’s Golden Year, 1939,Gone with the Windoften ranks among the all-time best Hollywood pictures. Many of its themes have aged quite badly, especially its treatment of race and romanticized portrayal of the South. However,Gone with the Windremains among the few films considered must-see entertainment, an absorbing and sweeping epic that never lets go of the viewer’s attention despite its gargantuan 230+ minute runtime.
3’Schindler’s List' (1993)
Steven Spielberg’s second entry into the AFI’s Top 10 Epic ranking isSchindler’s List, his harrowing portrayal of the Holocaust. The film centers on Oskar Schindler, a wealthy German industrialist, and his efforts to rescue Polish Jews by employing them in his factories.
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In many ways,Schindler’s Listis meant to be experienced rather than appreciated, and not only because of its subject matter. The film is a clash of ideas and themes, with Spielberg, cinema’s ultimate humanistic and empathetic director, handling one of history’s cruelest and most horrifying events.Schindler’s Listis brutal, intense, and powerful, the perfect film to represent that elusive and vague concept known as “the power of cinema.”
2’Ben-Hur' (1959)
William Wylerdirects Charlton Heston in the 1959 epic religious filmBen-Hur. The plot centers on the titular character, a Jewish aristocrat betrayed by a childhood friend. Sold into slavery, Ben-Hur survives and regains his freedom, coming back for vengeance against those who wronged him.
The epitome of sword-and-sandal films,Ben-Huris a sprawling and monumental, if uneven, picture, a bonafide cinematic institution that changed how audiences consume large-scale entertainment. Featuring several of cinema’s most iconic sequences – including the now-legendary chariot race between Ben-Hur and Messala –,Ben-Huris a one-of-a-kind picture among the few worthy of the description “epic.”
1’Lawrence of Arabia' (1962)
The legendaryPeter O’Toolestars inDavid Lean’s historical epicLawrence of Arabia. The film dramatizes T.E. Larence’s experiences in the Ottoman Empire during World War I, especially his involvement with the Arab National Council.Omar Sharifco-stars in an Oscar-nominated performance.
Lawrence of Arabiais spectacle brought to life. Grand, dramatic, and outright awe-inspiring, the film is larger-than-life, much like Lawrence’s life, massive in scope and narrative. With gorgeous vistas, a compelling story, and a mercurial, immortal performance from O’Toole,Lawrence of Arabiais among the most influential filmsin American cinema, with a rich and undeniable legacy that survives today.
