Though all films are dramas in a broader sense, dramatic movies use a more serious tone to convey the complexities and frailties of human existence. Some may take place in courtrooms, others in an intimate relationship, but all drama films capture something poignant and enduring about the human spirit. Let’s discover the 20 best drama films of all time. (If you’re looking for less-known movies, here are the best Western movies you’ve probably never seen.)
To determine the best drama movies of all time, 24/7 Tempo developed an index using average ratings on IMDb, an online movie database owned by Amazon, and a combination of audience scores and Tomatometer scores on Rotten Tomatoes, an online movie and TV review aggregator, as of October 2023, weighting all ratings equally. We considered only movies with at least 5,000 audience votes on either IMDb or Rotten Tomatoes. Directorial credits are from IMDb.
20. On the Waterfront (1954)
- IMDb user rating: 8.1/10 (148,492 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 95% (52,268 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 99% (105 reviews)
- Directed by: Elia Kazan
Dockworker Terry Malloy is a longshoreman and up-and-coming boxer. That is, until, mob boss Johnny Friendly asks him to throw a fight. Then, when a fellow longshoreman is found dead, Malloy teams up with the dead man’s sister and a local priest to do the dangerous but right thing: testify in court against Johnny Friendly.
What makes “On the Waterfront” one of the best drama films of all time is how electrifying a performance Marlon Brando gives as Terry Malloy. Set against an acutely crafted and thought-provoking film, Brando’s performance is for the ages and one that would inspire actors for decades to come. For its success, “On the Waterfront” won eight Academy Awards including Best Motion Picture, Best Director, and Best Actor.
19. Good Will Hunting (1997)
- IMDb user rating: 8.3/10 (900,884 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 94% (365,042 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 98% (83 reviews)
- Directed by: Gus Van Sant
While troubled Will Hunting has chosen to be a janitor at M.I.T. he also has a genius-level IQ. After he solves a complex math problem left on a chalkboard, his talents are discovered by Professor Lambeau, who takes him under his wing to help Will discover his full potential. Will gets in a fight with the police, however, and Lambeau gets him a lenient deal in exchange for therapy sessions with therapist Sean Maguire.
While the plot of “Good Will Hunting” is relatively predictable, what makes it one of the best drama films of all time is how the movie’s quirky moments and stellar performances raise it to a higher level. It’s funny yet intimate, conventional yet insightful, resulting in a film that lingers in the mind long after watching. For its success, “Good Will Hunting” won Academy Awards for Best Supporting Actor and Best Screenplay – Written Directly for the Screen.
18. Cool Hand Luke (1967)
- IMDb user rating: 8.1/10 (170,093 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 95% (63,767 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 100% (53 reviews)
- Directed by: Stuart Rosenberg
Criminal Luke Jackson is sentenced to two years in a Florida prison farm, but he quickly makes enemies with the warden because Luke doesn’t play by the rules. His rebellious streak, however, earns him the favor of the resident shot-caller Heavy. Soon, Luke goes from a fresh, unwelcome inmate to a rebel hero for his fellow convicts.
“Cool Hand Luke” is, no doubt, bolstered by Paul Newman’s stellar anti-authority performance as Luke. The film is rough, even cruel, but excels in capturing a rebellious spirit triumphing even in the face of overwhelmingly violent odds. For its success, the film won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.
17. Saving Private Ryan (1998)
- IMDb user rating: 8.6/10 (1,292,307 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 95% (993,591 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 94% (143 reviews)
- Directed by: Steven Spielberg
After three brothers are killed in combat, Captain John Miller takes his men behind enemy lines to the fourth and final brother, Private James Ryan. In their search for the elusive Ryan, the team of men each undergo a personal journey of courage, honor, and decency.
Opening with a shocking, never-before-seen depiction of World War II’s brutalities, “Saving Private Ryan” captures something of grace even in the most violent and brutal of circumstances. The film is sentimental and moving and acts as an excellent counterpoint to the eroding of morality that war brings. For its success, “Saving Private Ryan” won five Academy Awards including Best Director. (Learn about the best WWII movies of all time.)
16. It’s A Wonderful Life (1946)
- IMDb user rating: 8.6/10 (422,428 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 95% (219,179 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 94% (87 reviews)
- Directed by: Frank Capra
It’s Christmas time and George Bailey is considering ending it all. His life is played in a flashback as angels high above discuss his fate. When George is about to jump from a bridge and kill himself, an angel intervenes and shows George what his town would look like without all his good deeds over the years.
Though it received mixed to negative reviews upon its initial release, “It’s A Wonderful Life” has become a mainstay of Christmas movies. Sentimental and compassionate, with a phenomenal performance by Jimmy Stewart, the film illustrates that even the slightest of human beings matters in the grand scheme of things. “It’s A Wonderful Life” received five Academy Award nominations, winning one for Technical Achievement.
15. Apocalypse Now (1979)
- IMDb user rating: 8.4/10 (629,925 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 94% (286,235 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 98% (96 reviews)
- Directed by: Francis Ford Coppola
It’s 1970, and Captain Willard is tasked with venturing deep into war-torn Vietnam to find and kill Colonel Kurtz, a once-promising officer who has gone rogue. Finding himself in the company of young, free-spirited soldiers and increasingly bizarre situations, Willard travels further into the heart of darkness.
What makes “Apocalypse Now” one of the best drama films of all time is how epic and visionary it is. The film is surreal, strange, and even hallucinatory, yet it captures something undeniable about the nature of war in the 20th century. It’s terrible and beautiful and imminently watchable. For its success, “Apocalypse Now” won Academy Awards for Best Cinematography and Best Sound.
14. The Pianist (2002)
- IMDb user rating: 8.5/10 (836,046 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 96% (253,429 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 95% (184 reviews)
- Directed by: Roman Polanski
Based on the true story of Wladyslaw Szpilman, a Polish Jewish radio station pianist, the film depicts Szpilman’s experiences amid a quickly changing Warsaw. Soon, he is forced into the Warsaw Ghetto but is also separated from his family. To survive, he hides amid the ruins of the city as World War II rages on around him.
“The Pianist” is a sad film, but one with moments of humanity that elevate it from a dreary affair to one of insight and poignancy. Backed by Adrien Brody’s phenomenal performance as Szpilman, the film illustrates the cruelty of conflict and the complexity of the human condition. For its success, “The Pianist” won Academy Awards for Best Director, Best Actor, and Best Adapted Screenplay.
13. The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
- IMDb user rating: 8.6/10 (1,332,128 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 95% (847,443 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 96% (104 reviews)
- Directed by: Jonathan Demme
Clarice Starling is the top student at the FBI’s Training Academy. Due to this, FBI Director Jack Crawford asks Starling to interview an imprisoned psychopath and cannibal, but also a brilliant psychiatrist named Hannibal Lecter. Crawford believes that he can use Starling as pretty bait to lure out insights from Lecter, which may help solve an ongoing murder series.
Riding the line between psychological drama and straight horror, “The Silence of the Lambs” is a smart, compelling look inside the minds of monsters. Using Starling as an innocent counterpoint to the monstrous Lecter, the film acts as a study of the darker parts of the human will. For its success, “The Silence of the Lambs” won five Academy Awards including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actor.
12. One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975)
- IMDb user rating: 8.7/10 (954,220 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 96% (279,963 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 94% (83 reviews)
- Directed by: Milos Forman
Randle Murphy is transferred from a prison farm to a mental institution and he thinks it will be a cakewalk. However, the institution is run by Nurse Ratchet with an iron fist. As soon as he arrives, Murphy and Ratchet become embroiled in a battle of wills, one that affects all the patients in the mental ward.
A film classic and cultural touchstone, “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” is a harsh yet humorous look at authority and the fight against it. Full of brilliant moments, the film is a character study that asks the viewer to rethink their idea of insanity and the forces that seek to quell it. For its success, the film won five Academy Awards including Best Picture, Best Actor, and Best Actress.
11. Sunset Blvd. (1950)
- IMDb user rating: 8.4/10 (211,127 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 95% (53,527 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 99% (72 reviews)
- Directed by: Billy Wilder
A washed-up, former silent film star hires a local screenwriter to help her set up her movie comeback. For his part, the screenwriter thinks he can manipulate the former star into doing what he wants. His ambivalence and her inability to move on leads to a stunning conclusion of violence and madness.
One of the best movies ever made about the movie business and one of the best drama films of all time, Sunset Blvd. is a stark, funny, and unnerving tale. The movie is strange, sardonic, and told through a ghoulish tone that cuts through the illusion of movie magic while still keeping viewers spellbound. For its success, Sunset Blvd. won three Academy Awards.
10. Das Boot (1982)
- IMDb user rating: 8.4/10 (257,726 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 96% (47,531 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 98% (56 reviews)
- Directed by: Wolfgang Petersen
While a German submarine patrols the Atlantic Ocean during World War II, the crew learns to reconcile long stretches of monotony punctuated by moments of pure violent conflict. When a war correspondent joins the crew to observe their day-to-day life, the captain must reignite his motivation as the crew endures increasingly intense battles and storms.
What makes “Das Boot” one of the best drama films of all time is how taut and realistic its depiction of wartime tension feels. The film is intelligent and thrilling, capturing an aspect of war that is rarely seen; that of the submariner. “Das Boot” was nominated for six Academy Awards for its success.
9. Witness for the Prosecution (1957)
- IMDb user rating: 8.4/10 (116,454 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 95% (9,011 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 100% (33 reviews)
- Directed by: Billy Wilder
Leonard Vole is arrested for the murder of Emily French, a wealthy older woman. Since she made Leonard the principal heir to her estate, it casts further suspicion on him. So when his wife agrees to testify in the trial, she surprises him by testifying as a witness for the prosecution.
From the moment the film opens, “Witness for the Prosecution” crackles with an emotional electricity. Consisting of well-played characters, seamlessly orchestrated shifts of mood and staging, and moments of sheer surprise, the film makes the most out of its stuffy courtroom setting. For its success, “Witness for the Prosecution” was nominated for six Academy Awards.
8. Casablanca (1942)
- IMDb user rating: 8.5/10 (542,975 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 95% (357,759 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 99% (124 reviews)
- Directed by: Michael Curtiz
Rick Blaine is a nightclub owner in Casablanca, Morocco. Soon, he discovers that his old flame Ilsa is in town with her new husband Victor Laszlo. Laszlo is a famed war rebel, however, and the Germans are hot on his trail. Because of this, Ilsa reaches out to Blaine to help them escape the country sight unseen.
While “Casablanca” received good enough reviews upon its initial release, over the ensuing decades it has become considered a classic of Hollywood Golden Age cinema and one of the best drama films of all time. Expertly balancing comedy, drama, and suspense, the film shows the power of narrative in its natural state. For its success, won Academy Awards for Outstanding Motion Picture, Best Director, and Best Screenplay. (Discover the greatest movie love stories of all time.)
7. The Dark Knight (2008)
- IMDb user rating: 9.0/10 (2,419,864 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 94% (1,831,566 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 94% (345 reviews)
- Directed by: Christopher Nolan
Superhero and secret billionaire Batman has been able to keep a lid on crime in Gotham City thanks to the help of District Attorney Harvey Dent and Police Lieutenant Jim Gordon. Soon, however, a violent young criminal called the Joker starts making waves. To stop him from throwing the entire city into chaos, Batman must walk a fine line between heroism and vigilantism.
One of the best drama films of all time and arguably the first comic book adaptation to rise above its paneled pages, “The Dark Knight’ is a revelation. With spellbinding visuals, a grim but compelling tone, and an incredible performance by Heath Ledger, the film is like no other comic book movie ever made. For its success, “The Dark Knight” won Academy Awards for Best Supporting Actor and Best Sound Editing.
6. Goodfellas (1990)
- IMDb user rating: 8.7/10 (1,165,874 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 97% (430,048 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 96% (103 reviews)
- Directed by: Martin Scorsese
The movie follows Henry Hill from boyhood through his rising ranks in the mafia. He’s a hard worker and a good earner for the organization but is numb, if not oblivious, to the horror his business inflicts on the community. Add in drug addiction and a few key mistakes and Hill’s top-shot status slowly unravels.
While Martin Scorsese is known for his mob movies, none come close to the excitement and style of “Goodfellas.” It’s fun yet dangerous, providing a rarely-seen perspective on the life of a small-time mobster and the damage he sows in his wake. For its success, “Goodfellas” won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.
5. The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
- IMDb user rating: 9.3/10 (2,465,102 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 98% (887,061 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 91% (77 reviews)
- Directed by: Frank Darabont
Andy Dufresne is sentenced to two consecutive life prison terms for murdering his and her lover. He arrives at a notoriously tough prison knowing that he didn’t commit the crimes for which he was accused. While there, he befriends an older inmate named Red and experiences the brief joys and endless brutality that prison life has to offer.
Though the film centers on harsh prison life and depicts moments of brutal violence and rape, it is also a deeply moving and compassionate tale of a man forced into a bad situation. Bolstered by a career-defining performance from Morgan Freeman as Red, the film captures the innate humanity in the most dangerous of inmates. “The Shawshank Redemption” was nominated for seven Academy Awards for its success.
4. The Godfather: Part II (1974)
- IMDb user rating: 9.0/10 (1,183,912 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 97% (411,793 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 96% (114 reviews)
- Directed by: Francis Ford Coppola
The long-awaited sequel to “The Godfather,” the film moves back and forth between different times. It follows the life of Michael Corleone in 1958 as he finds himself in many misfortunes. Simultaneously, the film depicts the story of his father, Vito Corleone in 1917 Hell’s Kitchen, as he rises through the ranks of the Italian Mafia.
Though slower than the original, “The Godfather: Part II” is one of the best drama films of all time and possibly the best sequel ever made. The film is truly epic, covering multiple periods and rises and falls, bolstered by high-watermark performances from Al Pacino and Robert De Niro. For its success, “The Godfather: Part II” won Academy Awards for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Supporting Actor, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Art Direction, and Best Original Dramatic Score.
3. Schindler’s List (1993)
- IMDb user rating: 9.0/10 (1,359,268 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 97% (411,879 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 98% (128 reviews)
- Directed by: Steven Spielberg
Businessman Oskar Schindler arrives in Krakow, Poland ready to seize the opportunity of war to make his fortune. Though he joins the Nazi Party and staffs his growing factory with primarily Jewish workers, he is more pragmatic than political. When the Nazis began killing Jews in the Krakow Ghetto, Schindler takes steps to protect his business, saving the lives of hundreds of Jews in the process.
One of the best drama films of all time and possibly the best film about the Holocaust ever made, “Schindler’s List” is a tour de force. Portrayed in stark, unforgiving black and white, the film is dark and horrifying, yet full of unexpected turns of humanity. Frankly, there’s no other film quite like it. For its success, “Schindler’s List” practically swept the Oscars, winning Academy Awards for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Original Score, Best Film Editing, Best Cinematography, and Best Art Direction.
2. 12 Angry Men (1957)
- IMDb user rating: 9.0/10 (702,293 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 97% (105,515 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 100% (55 reviews)
- Directed by: Sidney Lumet
After the closing arguments for a murder trial, the twelve members of the jury must deliberate whether or not to send an inner-city teen to his death. Soon, however, one juror casts doubts on certain elements of the murder case. This brings personal issues to the fold, creating conflicts that threaten to derail the legal process of deciding the accused’s fate.
One of the best drama films of all time, “12 Angry Men” takes place in one room yet it casts a shadow over all of humanity. It’s thought-provoking and evocative and makes for an incredible character study of the twelve men forced to decide the fate of an accused murderer. For its success, “12 Angry Men” was nominated for three Academy Awards.
1. The Godfather (1972)
- IMDb user rating: 9.2/10 (1,704,373 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 98% (734,439 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 97% (133 reviews)
- Directed by: Francis Ford Coppola
The film follows the criminal empire and family of mob boss Vito Corleone. Soon, his son Michael joins the family business which sees him become involved in the inevitable cycle of crime and betrayal that defines the mafia. Though he tries to maintain relations with his wife, Michael only finds himself drawn deeper into the business.
Arguably the best drama film of all time, “The Godfather” is a crime epic like no other. Not only does it transcend expectations about crime films, but it also sets a new standard in cinema through its carefully balanced, expertly crafted depiction of family, honor, and betrayal. For its success, “The Godfather” won Academy Awards for Best Picture, Best Actor, and Best Adapted Screenplay. (Learn about movies so influential, they are studied in college.)