40 Highest-Rated Movies on IMDb, Ranked by Votes
While internet popularity can be a fickle and fleeting thing, in the case of IMDb, there are a few top-rated movies that tower above their rivals and stand the test of time. Moviegoers can rate the films they see on the website, and some are cemented as being at the top of their class. Seen by many as the go-to resource for film ratings and opinions, the ten most-voted films are usually, if not some of the best movies of all time. At the very least, IMDb’s top movies are comfortably the internet’s favorite movies and are likely recognizable to most viewers.
As IMDb continues to be a popular resource for those looking for must-see 10-star movies, its ratings and number of voters also constantly change as more viewers flock to the site to share their opinions about their favorite films. For the most-voted movies on the platform, they remain above these shifts, except for some subtle differences in their ranking and number of votes.
40
‘Kill Bill: Vol. 1’ (2003)
Votes: 1.3 Million | IMDb Rating: 8.2
Quentin Tarantino is arguably the current king of violent cinema, and Kill Bill: Vol. 1 is one of his most stylish and thrillingly violent works. This adrenaline-pumping action flick is one of the fastest-paced movies of all time, following the quest for revenge of the most fascinating character that Uma Thurman has ever played: The mysterious Bride.
Kill Bill was originally envisioned as a single film, but at Harvey Weinstein‘s behest, Tarantino decided to split it in two. As it stands, Vol. 1 is arguably the more entertaining of the two, with Tarantino wearing his influences (from classic samurai films to martial arts B-pictures) out on his sleeve with pride. Funny, lively, and exquisitely over-the-top, it’s one of the biggest classics of the early 2000s. — Diego Pineda Pacheco
39
‘WALL·E’ (2008)
Votes: 1.3 Million | IMDb Rating: 8.4
Pixar pioneered fully computer-animated feature filmmaking, so it’s no surprise that they have made several of the most acclaimed and beloved animated movies in history. One of the most popular is WALL·E, one of the sweetest and most entertaining sci-fi films of the 2000s. Through its romantic tone and its many homages to both classic sci-fi films and romantic movies from Classical Hollywood, it’s both great for kids and a delight for grown-ups.
The fact that the film wasn’t nominated for the Best Picture Oscar feels like a travesty; but, in the end, the court of public opinion is the one that matters most, and WALL·E is one of IMDb users’ favorite—and most watched—animated films ever. Hugely imaginative and emotionally compelling, it’s far and away one of Pixar’s most iconic works. — Diego Pineda Pacheco
38
‘Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl’ (2003)
Votes: 1.3 Million | IMDb Rating: 8.1
Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl wasn’t the first film based on a theme park ride that Disney made, but it sure was the first significantly successful one. In fact, calling the film simply “successful” would be a bit of an understatement. A critical and audience darling, it’s one of the most magical fantasy adventure films of its era, one of the last great swashbucklers made in Hollywood.
Curse of the Black Pearl is thoroughly entertaining from start to finish, and that’s what has led IMDb reviewers to rate it so highly. Its action set pieces are thrilling, its characters are a ton of morally gray fun, and its tone is surprisingly creepy for what’s ultimately a family film. Johnny Depp‘s Oscar-nominated performance as Captain Jack Sparrow is transcendental, too, and in no small measure one of the reasons why the film has remained so timeless. — Diego Pineda Pacheco
37
‘The Truman Show’ (1998)
Votes: 1.3 Million | IMDb Rating: 8.2
By the time the ’90s rolled in, Jim Carrey was perceived by the public and critics as a purely comedic actor. The Truman Show changed that. In one of the most inspired casting decisions in modern Hollywood history, Carrey was cast in the highly complex titular role of this dramedy, a surprisingly philosophical sci-fi film dealing with themes of existentialism and modern media.
Truman Show is one of the best summer blockbusters of the 1990s, anchored by Carrey’s performance, the beautifully nuanced script, and Peter Weir‘s colorful direction. It’s one of the freshest, most original, and most emotionally engaging films in its genre of the modern era, which is exactly why cinephiles on IMDb love it as much as they do. — Diego Pineda Pacheco
36
‘Avengers: Infinity War’ (2018)
Votes: 1.3 Million | IMDb Rating: 8.4
2018 wasn’t the best year for cinema overall, but it did see the release of a few films that could be called masterpieces, the highest-grossing of which is easily Avengers: Infinity War. It was the biggest and most ambitious crossover event in film history at the time of its release, and to this day, it’s still widely regarded as one of the MCU’s most stunning successes.
The way the film manages to balance so many characters and so many subplots in such a shockingly measured way is admirable, and its ending remains the boldest ending that any superhero film has ever dared to put on film. Grand, exciting, and suspenseful, Infinity War is perhaps its franchise’s most entertaining film, making it a shock to no one that it’s so highly-rated on IMDb. —Diego Pineda Pacheco
35
‘Léon: The Professional’ (1994)
Votes: 1.3 Million | IMDb Rating: 8.5
Made by Luc Besson, one of the leading exponents of France’s Cinéma Du Look film movement, Léon: The Professional is perhaps the auteur’s most iconic outing. One of the best and most exciting action thrillers of the 1990s, it’s a stylish and deeply moving character drama that lives and dies by the layered and unusual relationship at the core of its narrative: That between the professional assassin Léon (Jean Reno) and the vengeful 12-year-old orphan Mathilda (Natalie Portman).
The cast, which also features Gary Oldman in a deliciously mustache-twirling villain role, is fantastic, but it’s definitely not the only thing that has kept The Professional among IMDb’s Top 50 highest-rated films for years. Besson’s direction is slick, the script is effective through and through, and the action scenes are full of nail-biting tension. It’s the kind of thriller that hijacks viewers’ attentions and doesn’t let go until the credits roll. —Diego Pineda Pacheco
34
‘Goodfellas’ (1990)
Votes: 1.3 Million | IMDb Rating: 8.7
Praised by many (including IMDb, it seems) as Martin Scorsese‘s magnum opus, Goodfellas is one of the greatest mob movies ever made. Hugely entertaining and somehow also a greatly effective cautionary tale against the alluring yet devastating nature of money and power, it’s everything that any film in the genre should aspire to be.
Exquisite and highly quotable dialogue that flows like honey; vibrant, sometimes ultra-violent direction by Scorsese; and a powerhouse cast led by Ray Liotta, Joe Pesci, and Robert De Niro at the top of their games. Goodfellas is a flawlessly oiled machine where every cog fulfills its function brilliantly, so it’s no wonder that it’s one of the most-watched movies on IMDb. —Diego Pineda Pacheco
33
‘Avengers: Endgame’ (2019)
Votes: 1.3 Million | IMDb Rating: 8.4
Once the highest-grossing movie of all time as well as the cinematic event that aimed to cap off the first era of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Avengers: Endgame stuck the landing and became the defining blockbuster of the modern era. The film directly follows the disastrous events of Avengers: Infinity War, with the remaining Avengers embarking on a quest to defeat Thanos and restore the half of the universe that was wiped away in the snap.
Acting as a culmination of over a decade’s worth of films with various characters, moments, and callbacks to Marvel’s history, Avengers: Endgame was a glorious love letter to fans that became an instant fan favorite. The film has also quickly become the staple and icon for the entire MCU as a whole, increasing its popularity not just with fans of the franchise but with general audiences as well. Considering IMDb’s love for various other MCU projects, it would make sense that they would have an overwhelming love and support for the franchise’s biggest success story.
32
‘Back to the Future’ (1985)
Votes: 1.4 Million | IMDb Rating: 8.5
One of the most influential and acclaimed sci-fi comedies of the 80s, the classic misadventures of Marty McFly and Doc Brown in the original Back to the Future have been widely beloved by audiences for decades. The film follows young Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox) who is accidentally sent back in time to 1955, where he accidentally gets in the way of his parents’ first meeting. Before Marty can travel back to the present, he will have to find a way to get his parents back together or else he risks erasing himself from history.
Back to the Future has surmounted a powerful legacy as the quintessential time travel comedy film, making the most out of the changes in culture over 30 years with its cast of wildly lovable characters and moments. After various sequels and being deeply ingrained into pop culture as an iconic 80s classic, Back to the Future continues to be one of the most popular sci-fi films of all time thanks to its inherent charm and endless sense of style.
31
‘Memento’ (2000)
Votes: 1.4 Million | IMDb Rating: 8.4
Nearly all of Christopher Nolan‘s films have found themselves getting great deals of praise and attention from IMDb users, with this sentiment similarly being reflected in one of the director’s first big hits, Memento. The film follows Leonard Shelby (Guy Pearce), a man who is dealing with crippling short-term memory loss while at the same time on a determined hunt for the man who murdered his wife. While he remembers his life before his accident, Leonard ends up forgetting anything else that happened to him beyond the past 15 minutes.
Memento is what helped cement and define Nolan as a visionary when it came to exceptional and non-standard storytelling, with the film’s groundbreaking non-chronological sequence of events feeling brilliant and seamless in its execution. The film jumps back and forth between the chronological beginning and end of its story, slowly but surely meeting in the middle at the end of the film, where a monumental twist serves to contextualize everything and tie it all together.
