Best American Movies
This page is updated regularly. Subscribe, so you don't miss new recommendations. The list of "Best American Movies" contains films with the following parameters. Style: masterpiece, epic, inspirational, interesting, entertaining and weird. Plot: storytelling, dialogue, mission, live action, mentor, death, cult, badass, blood and moving. Genre: Drama, Crime and Biography. Country: USA, New Zealand and UK.
Best American Movies
TOP Movies: The Shawshank Redemption (1994), Forrest Gump (1994), Schindler's List (1993), The Truman Show (1998), The Wolf of Wall Street (2013), Up (2009), The Green Mile (1999), The Dark Knight (2008), Braveheart (1995), Top Gun: Maverick (2022), Seven (1995), A Beautiful Mind (2001), The Godfather (1972), Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981), The Godfather Part II (1974), Goodfellas (1990), Hacksaw Ridge (2016), The Matrix (1999), Titanic (1997), There Will Be Blood (2007).
List of Best Movies
Genre: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 142 min.
Story:
Framed in the 1940s for the double murder of his wife and her lover, upstanding banker Andy Dufresne begins a new life at the Shawshank prison, where he puts his accounting skills to work for an amoral warden. During his long stretch in prison, ...
Style:
clever, uplifting, inspirational, touching, twist ending ...
Audience:
date night, chick flick, teens, kids, family friendly ...
Plot:
prison, prison escape, freedom, friendship between men, hopes, friendship, corruption, human spirit, justice, prison life, life, stephen king ...
Time:
1940s, 1950s, 90s, year 1994, 2010s ...
Place:
usa, maine, columbus ohio, persia, iran ...
Is relevant?
2.5M
Genre: Drama, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 142 min.
Story:
A man with a low IQ has accomplished great things in his life and been present during significant historic events - in each case, far exceeding what anyone imagined he could do. Yet, despite all the things he has attained, his one true love eludes ...
Style:
inspirational, touching, feel good, sentimental, uplifting ...
Audience:
girls' night, date night, chick flick, kids, teens ...
Plot:
life philosophy, philosophy, life, mentally challenged, destiny, storytelling, love, rise to the top, human spirit, selflessness, vietnam war, life & death ...
Time:
70s, 20th century, 50s, 60s, 1950s ...
Place:
china, alabama, vietnam, america, savannah georgia ...
Is relevant?
Genre: Biography, Drama, History
Country: USA
Duration: 195 min.
Story:
The true story of how businessman Oskar Schindler saved over a thousand Jewish lives from the Nazis while they worked as slaves in his factory during World War II.
Style:
touching, emotional, heartbreaking, realistic, thought provoking ...
Audience:
date night, chick flick, adult
Plot:
holocaust, world war two, genocide, nazi, wartime, war, concentration camp, storytelling, holocaust survivor, anti semitism, nazism, against humanity ...
Time:
1940s, 20th century, 90s, ancient times, year 1943 ...
Place:
poland, germany, iran, persia, europe ...
Is relevant?
Genre: Adventure, Drama, Fantasy
Country: New Zealand, USA
Duration: 201 min.
Story:
Aragorn is revealed as the heir to the ancient kings as he, Gandalf and the other members of the broken fellowship struggle to save Gondor from Sauron's forces. Meanwhile, Frodo and Sam bring the ring closer to the heart of Mordor, the dark ...
Style:
epic, breathtaking, atmospheric, captivating, exciting ...
Audience:
teens, kids, family outing, manly, chick flick ...
Plot:
sword fight, magic, wizard, magical, battles, good versus evil, courage, monster, creature, friendship, sword and sorcery, ancient ...
Time:
year 2003, 2000s, prehistoric times, prehistory
Place:
iran, new zealand
Is relevant?
Related movie lists
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 103 min.
Story:
Truman Burbank is the star of "The Truman Show", a 24-hour-a-day "reality" TV show that broadcasts every aspect of his life -- live and in color -- without his knowledge. His entire life has been an unending soap opera for ...
Style:
philosophical, thought provoking, psychological, surreal, touching ...
Audience:
teens, family outing, teen drama
Plot:
self discovery, simulated reality, video surveillance, alternate reality, fictional reality show, dystopia, freedom, hidden camera, utopia, paranoia, consciousness, loneliness ...
Time:
year 1998, 20th century, 90s, future
Place:
florida, persia, america, usa, los angeles
Is relevant?
Genre: Biography, Comedy, Crime, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 180 min.
Story:
A New York stockbroker refuses to cooperate in a large securities fraud case involving corruption on Wall Street, corporate banking world and mob infiltration. Based on Jordan Belfort's autobiography.
Style:
clever, cynical, captivating, motivational, cerebral ...
Audience:
teens, adult
Plot:
money, corruption, wall street, business, rise and fall, addiction, stock market, stock broker, success, wealth, greed, rags to riches ...
Time:
80s, year 2013, 90s, 20th century, year 1987 ...
Place:
new york, usa, geneva switzerland, big ben london, italy ...
Is relevant?
1.2M
Genre: Animation, Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Family
Country: USA
Duration: 96 min.
Story:
Carl Fredricksen spent his entire life dreaming of exploring the globe and experiencing life to its fullest. But at age 78, life seems to have passed him by, until a twist of fate (and a persistent 8-year old Wilderness Explorer named Russell) gives ...
Style:
touching, feel good, inspirational, sweet, tear jerker ...
Audience:
kids, family outing, family friendly, pre-teens, girls' night ...
Plot:
dog, loneliness, unlikely friendships, friendship, follow your dream, friends, journey, obsessive quest, hopes, giant bird, wilderness, imagination ...
Time:
year 2009, 2000s, 21st century
Place:
south america, iran, venezuela, latin america, mount everest ...
Is relevant?
Genre: Crime, Drama, Fantasy, Mystery
Country: USA
Duration: 189 min.
Story:
A supernatural tale set on death row in a Southern prison, where gentle giant John Coffey possesses the mysterious power to heal people's ailments. When the cellblock's head guard, Paul Edgecomb, recognizes Coffey's miraculous gift, ...
Style:
touching, emotional, heartbreaking, sentimental, sad ...
Audience:
family friendly, date night, chick flick, girls' night, adult
Plot:
death penalty, prison, stephen king, death row, death sentence, convict, supernatural, false accusation, prison life, life philosophy, electric chair, execution ...
Time:
1930s, year 1999, 20th century, 90s, year 1935
Place:
southern usa, usa, louisiana, america, persia
Is relevant?
Related movie lists
Genre: Action, Crime, Drama, Thriller
Country: USA, UK
Duration: 152 min.
Story:
Batman raises the stakes in his war on crime. With the help of Lt. Jim Gordon and District Attorney Harvey Dent, Batman sets out to dismantle the remaining criminal organizations that plague the streets. The partnership proves to be effective, but ...
Style:
tense, epic, action packed, neo noir, atmospheric ...
Audience:
date night, kids, chick flick, boys' night, manly ...
Plot:
superhero, batman, heroes, vigilante, secret identity, tragic hero, organized crime, moral dilemma, psychopath, master criminal, revenge, corruption ...
Time:
year 2008, 2000s, future, 21st century
Place:
london, north america, usa, hong kong
Is relevant?
1.2M
Genre: Biography, Drama, War
Country: USA
Duration: 178 min.
Story:
Enraged at the slaughter of Murron, his new bride and childhood love, Scottish warrior William Wallace slays a platoon of the local English lord's soldiers. This leads the village to revolt and, eventually, the entire country to rise up against ...
Style:
epic, factual, bloody, scenic, breathtaking ...
Audience:
boys' night, manly, chick flick, adult
Plot:
sword fight, war, courage, freedom, medieval, vengeance, tragic hero, battles, military, love story, warrior, beautiful scenery ...
Time:
middle ages, medieval times, 14th century, ancient times, 20th century ...
Place:
scotland, england, europe, scottish highlands, britain ...
Is relevant?
Genre: Action, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 130 min.
Story:
Set in the world of drone technology and fifth generation fighters, this sequel will explore the end of the era of dogfighting.
Style:
realistic, saga, entertaining, emotional, intellectual ...
Audience:
teens, adult
Plot:
fighter pilot, fighter plane, warplane, aircraft carrier, u.s. military, u.s. navy, aerial combat, fighter jet, test pilot, aviation, desert, leadership ...
Time:
2020s, 60s, year 1986, 80s, year 1969 ...
Place:
usa, los angeles, california, mojave desert, san diego california
Is relevant?
2.0M
Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 127 min.
Story:
Two homicide detectives are on a desperate hunt for a serial killer whose crimes are based on the "seven deadly sins" in this dark and haunting film that takes viewers from the tortured remains of one victim to the next. The seasoned Det. ...
Style:
suspenseful, surprise ending, neo noir, detective, bad ending ...
Audience:
chick flick, adult
Plot:
serial killer, investigation, twists and turns, psychopath, psychology, mind game, police investigation, police, police detective, sin, maniac, murder ...
Time:
90s, 20th century, year 1995
Place:
los angeles, usa, persia, iran, america ...
Is relevant?
Genre: Biography, Drama, Mystery
Country: USA
Duration: 135 min.
Story:
At Princeton University, John Nash struggles to make a worthwhile contribution to serve as his legacy to the world of mathematics. He finally makes a revolutionary breakthrough that will eventually earn him the Nobel Prize. After graduate school he ...
Style:
psychological, touching, cerebral, dramatic, intellectual ...
Audience:
teens, date night, chick flick, family friendly
Plot:
mathematics, mental illness, schizophrenia, genius, paranoia, insanity, imagination, scientist, prodigy, nobel prize, imaginary friend, mathematician ...
Time:
year 2001, 60s, 1940s, 20th century, 2000s ...
Place:
harvard university, boston, new jersey, detroit, persia ...
Is relevant?
2.2M
Genre: Crime, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 175 min.
Story:
Spanning the years 1945 to 1955, a chronicle of the fictional Italian-American Corleone crime family. When organized crime family patriarch, Vito Corleone barely survives an attempt on his life, his youngest son, Michael steps in to take care of the ...
Style:
serious, captivating, atmospheric, epic, dramatic ...
Audience:
boys' night, manly, chick flick, adult
Plot:
mafia, organized crime, gangster, revenge, crime family, betrayal, mob boss, wedding, greed, pride and honor, cosa nostra, violence ...
Time:
1950s, 1940s, 20th century, 50s, year 1972 ...
Place:
italy, new york, bronx new york city, manhattan new york city, sicily ...
Is relevant?
Genre: Action, Adventure
Country: USA
Duration: 115 min.
Story:
When Dr. Indiana Jones – the tweed-suited professor who just happens to be a celebrated archaeologist – is hired by the government to locate the legendary Ark of the Covenant, he finds himself up against the entire Nazi regime.
Style:
exciting, breathtaking, perverse, epic, saga ...
Audience:
kids, family outing, date night, family friendly, manly ...
Plot:
treasure hunt, indiana jones, archaeologist, treasure, adventurer, archaeology, artifact, nazi, desert, chase, escapades, jungle ...
Time:
1930s, 20th century, year 1936, 90s, year 1981
Place:
egypt, africa, nepal, south america, himalaya ...
Is relevant?
Genre: Crime, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 202 min.
Story:
In the continuing saga of the Corleone crime family, a young Vito Corleone grows up in Sicily and in 1910s New York. In the 1950s, Michael Corleone attempts to expand the family business into Las Vegas, Hollywood and Cuba.
Style:
epic, captivating, neo noir, saga, retro ...
Audience:
boys' night, manly, adult
Plot:
mafia, organized crime, revenge, murder, gangster, cosa nostra, sicilian mafia, literary, immigration, crime boss, assassination, melancholy ...
Time:
1950s, 50s, 1940s, 20th century, 1920s ...
Place:
cuba, sicily, new york, las vegas, italy ...
Is relevant?
1.4M
Genre: Biography, Crime, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 145 min.
Story:
The true story of Henry Hill, a half-Irish, half-Sicilian Brooklyn kid who is adopted by neighbourhood gangsters at an early age and climbs the ranks of a Mafia family under the guidance of Jimmy Conway.
Style:
rough, homoerotic, realistic, epic, inspirational ...
Audience:
boys' night, adult
Plot:
organized crime, mafia, gangster, rise and fall, violence, mentor, mobster, drug traffic, cosa nostra, italian mafia, murder, psychopath ...
Time:
50s, 70s, 90s, year 1990, year 1980 ...
Place:
brooklyn new york city, new york, florida, italy, usa ...
Is relevant?
671K
Genre: Biography, Drama, History, War
Country: USA
Duration: 139 min.
Story:
WWII American Army Medic Desmond T. Doss, who served during the Battle of Okinawa, refuses to kill people and becomes the first Conscientious Objector in American history to receive the Congressional Medal of Honor.
Style:
inspirational, touching, sentimental, christian film, harsh ...
Audience:
manly, girls' night
Plot:
world war two, war, soldier, conscientious objector, survival, us military, combat, american soldier, religion, bible, military, pacifist ...
Time:
1940s, year 2016, 20th century, middle ages, year 1945 ...
Place:
okinawa japan, japan, tennessee, usa
Is relevant?
Related movie lists
2.2M
Genre: Action, Sci-Fi
Country: USA, Australia
Duration: 136 min.
Story:
Set in the 22nd century, The Matrix tells the story of a computer hacker who joins a group of underground insurgents fighting the vast and powerful computers who now rule the earth.
Style:
philosophical, thought provoking, cerebral, mind bending, surreal ...
Audience:
date night, manly, kids, chick flick, family friendly ...
Plot:
artificial intelligence, philosophy, dystopia, virtual reality, existentialism, distopia, cyberpunk, alternate reality, martial arts, gunfight, hacker, simulated reality ...
Time:
future, 20th century, year 1999, near future, 22nd century ...
Place:
persia, los angeles
Is relevant?
1.4M
Genre: Drama, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 194 min.
Story:
84 years later, a 101-year-old woman named Rose DeWitt Bukater tells the story to her granddaughter Lizzy Calvert, Brock Lovett, Lewis Bodine, Bobby Buell and Anatoly Mikailavich on the Keldysh about her life set in April 10th 1912, on a ship called ...
Style:
romantic, emotional, touching, sentimental, dramatic ...
Audience:
chick flick, date night, girls' night, kids, family friendly ...
Plot:
titanic, love story, disaster, love, ship, tragedy, forbidden love, love and romance, ocean, fall in love, tragic love, survival ...
Time:
20th century, 1910s, year 1997, edwardian era, 90s ...
Place:
atlantic ocean, britain, iran, nova scotia, america ...
Is relevant?
Genre: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 158 min.
Story:
Ruthless silver miner, turned oil prospector, Daniel Plainview moves to oil-rich California. Using his adopted son to project a trustworthy, family-man image, Plainview cons local landowners into selling him their valuable properties for a pittance. ...
Style:
serious, cerebral, epic, visually stunning, gloomy ...
Audience:
adult
Plot:
oil, character study, greed, money, capitalism, rise to the top, ambition, rivalry, father son relationship, abusive father, impostor, mission ...
Time:
1900s, 20th century, turn of the century, middle ages, 19th century ...
Place:
california, texas, pacific ocean, los angeles, america ...
Is relevant?
Genre: Drama, Western
Country: USA
Duration: 165 min.
Story:
With the help of a German bounty hunter, a freed slave sets out to rescue his wife from a brutal Mississippi plantation owner.
Style:
talky, suspense, captivating, brutal, bloody ...
Audience:
boys' night, adult
Plot:
racism, slavery, revenge, old west, bounty hunter, violent, vengeance, african american, dark humor, gunfight, racial violence, violence ...
Time:
19th century, year 2012, 2010s, 1850s
Place:
usa, texas, tennessee, america, austin texas ...
Is relevant?
Genre: Drama, War
Country: USA
Duration: 169 min.
Story:
As U.S. troops storm the beaches of Normandy, three brothers lie dead on the battlefield, with a fourth trapped behind enemy lines. Ranger captain John Miller and seven men are tasked with penetrating German-held territory and bringing the boy home.
Style:
breathtaking, realistic, captivating, tense, inspirational ...
Audience:
manly, date night, chick flick, kids, adult
Plot:
war, world war two, military, courage, battles, self sacrifice, sniper, friendship, nazi, combat, army, machine gun ...
Time:
1940s, year 1944, year 1998, 90s, year 2013 ...
Place:
normandy, france, germany, poland, europe ...
Is relevant?
Related movie lists
Genre: Crime, Drama, Horror, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 118 min.
Story:
FBI trainee, Clarice Starling ventures into a maximum-security asylum to pick the diseased brain of Hannibal Lecter, a psychiatrist turned homicidal cannibal. Starling needs clues to help her capture a serial killer. But her Faustian relationship ...
Style:
psychological, suspenseful, suspense, scary, psychological thriller ...
Audience:
chick flick, date night, adult
Plot:
serial killer, psychopath, investigation, murder, psychology, cannibalism, kidnapping, maniac, murder investigation, mind game, fbi, cannibal ...
Time:
year 1991, 20th century, 90s
Place:
pittsburgh, baltimore, persia, usa, memphis ...
Is relevant?
Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
Country: USA, France
Duration: 137 min.
Story:
Nearly 10 years have passed since Sarah Connor was targeted for termination by a cyborg from the future. Now her son, John, the future leader of the resistance, is the target for a newer, more deadly terminator. Once again, the resistance has ...
Style:
exciting, apocalyptic, suspenseful, suspense, futuristic ...
Audience:
boys' night, manly, kids, adult
Plot:
artificial intelligence, terminator, time travel, robot, man versus machine, cyborgs, dystopia, apocalypse, androids and robots, cyberpunk, chase, time traveler ...
Time:
future, 20th century, 90s, near future, year 1997 ...
Place:
california, los angeles, persia, america, usa ...
Is relevant?
1.5M
Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller
Country: USA, Hong Kong
Duration: 151 min.
Story:
To take down South Boston's Irish Mafia, the police send in one of their own to infiltrate the underworld, not realizing the syndicate has done likewise. While an undercover cop curries favor with the mob kingpin, a career criminal rises ...
Style:
twist ending, suspense, surprise ending, clever, tense ...
Audience:
boys' night, adult
Plot:
mafia, police, undercover cop, twists and turns, mole, organized crime, working undercover, mobster, espionage, plot twist, undercover, irish mob ...
Time:
year 2006, 2000s, 21st century
Place:
boston, massachusetts, america, persia, usa ...
Is relevant?
343K
Genre: Action, Crime, Drama, Mystery, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 130 min.
Story:
Wrongfully accused of murdering his wife, Richard Kimble escapes from the law in an attempt to find her killer and clear his name. Pursuing him is a team of U.S. marshals led by Deputy Samuel Gerard, a determined detective who will not rest until ...
Style:
suspenseful, suspense, neo noir, detective, sexy ...
Audience:
girls' night, date night, boys' night
Plot:
on the run, conspiracy, betrayal, escape, framed for murder, fugitives, death row, manhunt, doctor, murder, uncover truth, corruption ...
Time:
20th century, year 1993, 90s
Place:
chicago, usa, illinois, washington d.c.
Is relevant?
2.4M
Genre: Crime, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 154 min.
Story:
A burger-loving hit man, his philosophical partner, a drug-addled gangster's moll and a washed-up boxer converge in this sprawling, comedic crime caper. Their adventures unfurl in three stories that ingeniously trip back and forth in time.
Style:
neo noir, cult classic, witty, exciting, clever ...
Audience:
boys' night, manly, adult
Plot:
dark humor, gunfight, violence, hitman, gangster, organized crime, overdose, storytelling, violent, professional killer, multiple storylines, foul language ...
Time:
90s, 20th century, year 1994, 70s
Place:
los angeles, california, southern california, america, britain ...
Is relevant?
1.2M
Genre: Drama, Mystery, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 149 min.
Story:
With his wife's disappearance having become the focus of an intense media circus, a man sees the spotlight turned on him when it's suspected that he may not be innocent.
Style:
psychological, suspense, surprise ending, twist ending, clever ...
Audience:
chick flick, girls' night, date night, teens, boys' night ...
Plot:
twists and turns, psychology, murder mystery, missing person, manipulation, infidelity, investigation, marriage, femme fatale, revenge, missing wife, adultery ...
Time:
year 2014, 2010s, 2000s, year 2012, 21st century
Place:
peru, america, usa, manhattan new york city, new york ...
Is relevant?
Genre: Adventure, Comedy, Sci-Fi
Country: USA
Duration: 116 min.
Story:
Eighties teenager Marty McFly is accidentally sent back in time to 1955, inadvertently disrupting his parents' first meeting and attracting his mother's romantic interest. Marty must repair the damage to history by rekindling his ...
Style:
feel good, exciting, funny, light, cult classic ...
Audience:
family outing, teens, kids, family friendly, girls' night ...
Plot:
time travel, time machine, mad scientist, time, time loop, destiny, teenager, scientist, changing the past or future, inventor, fish out of water, high school ...
Time:
future, 80s, 1950s, year 1985, 20th century ...
Place:
california, los angeles, usa, north america
Is relevant?
Related movie lists
