A Hollywood Farewell: My Top 10 Movies

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I love movies.

From the same Disney films on repeat to Friday family movie nights, I have loved watching movies since I can remember.

My first article at The Panther Press — at least the first one written unrelated to the Drama Club or a book review — was about The Matrix. Over the last few years I wrote three subsequent articles in my film structure series. 

So, to finish off my time at E.O. Smith, my last article will be about none other than … movies. Here are my top ten.

10. The Shawshank Redemption

Image Credit: IMDB

Released: 1994

Run Time: 2h 22m

Genre: Thriller/Crime

Rating: R

Director: Frank Darabont

Screenwriter: Story by Stephen King

Starring: Morgan Freeman, Tim Robbins

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 89%

The Shawshank Redemption is often regarded as one of the greatest films of all time. I would tend to agree with the consensus. I remember watching Shawshank for the first time and being unsure of how I would feel about the film — and then finding myself unexpectedly riveted by the story, with its classic twist at the end.

Shawshank is known for its particularly gripping story and memorable acting — especially the performances of Morgan Freeman as Red and Tim Robbins as Andy Dufresne. I also enjoy the film’s emotionally-charged score from Thomas Newman. The “Shawshank Prison” theme stands out as an iconic number.

9. Avatar

Image Credit: Britannica

Released: 2009

Run Time: 2h 42m

Genre: Action/Sci-Fi

Rating: PG-13

Director: James Cameron

Screenwriter: James Cameron

Starring: Zoe Saldana, Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 81%

2009’s Avatar remains one of the highest grossing movies of all time. Revolutionary in its use of technology, the film found an audience across the world. Stunning visual effects, a compelling science fiction story about a journey to a new world, and an enchanting score by the master James Horner can all be found within Avatar’s nearly three hours of peak cinema.

Cameron directed a successful sequel, Avatar: The Way of Water in 2022, which garnered millions of viewers and also received acclaim. Cameron plans three more movies for the franchise, with the next installment set to come to theaters in 2026.

8. (500) Days of Summer

Image Credit: Next Best Picture

Released: 2009

Run Time: 1h 35m

Genre: Romance/Comedy

Rating: PG-13

Director: Marc Webb

Screenwriter: Marc Webb, Michael H. Weber, Scott Neustadter

Starring: Zoe Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Zooey Deschanel

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 86%

Same year, totally different genre. (500) Days of Summer is probably my favorite romantic comedy (or rom-com, as they say) that I have yet seen. The movie follows Tom, a hopeless romantic (a-typical, for the typical male rom-com star) and Summer, who is seemingly perfect in every way — at least, in Tom’s eyes — except for her flightiness and inability to commit to a relationship. 

The film follows a compelling, nonlinear plotline, which gives the end away but somehow still manages to hide a few surprises. The story is highly relatable and down-to-earth, illustrating the ups and downs of love and life. Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel are cast perfectly in their roles and have such chemistry on screen. Above all, the film seems to break some of the classic rom-com tropes we expect — or, at least, presents them with a uniqueness and an originality that modern cinema seems to lack.

7. The Bourne Ultimatum

Image Credit: ABC News

Released: 2007

Run Time: 1h 55m

Genre: Thriller/Action

Rating: PG-13

Director: Paul Greengrass

Screenwriter: Story by Robert Ludlum

Starring: Matt Damon

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 92%

The Bourne Ultimatum (2007) is the finale of the acclaimed Bourne series that began with The Bourne Identity and The Bourne Supremacy. I would have included all three of Paul Greengrass’s trilogy here, but Ultimatum takes the cake, at least for me, as the standout film. Some audiences argue that ‘the third movie is always the worst,’ but in this case, I think Ultimatum provides an excellently planned finale to the story of the amnesiac CIA operative known as Jason Bourne — though … they did end up making a few more (albeit, not as good) Bourne movies after that.

Matt Damon’s performance as the MC is absolute perfection throughout the series. John Powell’s score builds tension, scene by scene. The shaky cam filming style to these movies is iconic (or infamous?) and serves to emphasize that these are, in fact, action movies. And, fantastic ones, at that.

6. How To Train Your Dragon Trilogy

Image Credit: IMDB

Movies: How To Train Your Dragon, How To Train Your Dragon 2, How To Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World

Released: 2010, 2014, 2019

Run Time: 1h 33m, 1h 42m, 1h 44m

Genre: Family/Adventure

Rating: PG

Director: Dean DeBlois

Starring: Jay Baruchel, Gerard Butler, America Ferrera

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 99%, 92%, 90%

Another John Powell score, but a completely different vibe. 

The How To Train Your Dragon series is technically one for the kids, but it is truly a story for all ages. In addition to the super cool dragons flying around, the movies explore the relationships between fathers and sons, family, and friends — themes that many people can identify with at any stage of life. 

This beloved series has held up in Hollywood, as demonstrated by the film’s recent live-action 2025 reboot, which attracted many long-time fans, including myself.

5. The Dark Knight Trilogy

Image Credit: Variety

Movies: Batman Begins, The Dark Knight, The Dark Knight Rises

Released: 2005, 2008, 2012

Run Time: 2h 20m, 2h 32m, 2h 45m

Genre: Action

Rating: PG-13

Director: Christopher Nolan

Screenwriter: Christopher Nolan

Starring: Christian Bale, Morgan Freeman, Michael Caine, Gary Oldman

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 85%, 94%, 87%

Goodness, where to begin? 

Batman Begins was the first Christopher Nolan film I’d seen, and ever since I have been fascinated with his work. His direction is absolutely masterful. I recently had the chance to watch Inception, another one of his films, and was (unsurprisingly) blown away yet again. Inception didn’t make it into my top 10 contenders, but it is certainly up there on the list. 

Hans Zimmer’s music is featured in these films, sometimes coupled with James Newton Howard. The theme they created that threads itself through each of the three movies defines the character that is, and the movies that are, Batman. 

Much credit is due to the story and writing (Nolan, once again), but the movies wouldn’t be the same without their all-star cast. The acting in these films is incredible. Every character is so convincing in their role. Christian Bale as Bruce Wayne/Batman (sorry for the spoiler), Morgan Freeman as Lucius Fox, Michael Caine as Alfred, and Gary Oldman as Gordon are all stellar. And let’s not forget about our villains: Liam Neeson as Ra’s al Ghul, Cillian Murphy as Scarecrow, Tom Hardy as Bane, and Anne Hathaway as the cunning Catwoman are spot-on renditions of classic Batman characters. 

Many people cite the second installment of the series as their favorite of the three, but, personally, I favor the last of the films, The Dark Knight Rises. Like The Bourne Ultimatum, it closes out the series with total perfection.

4. The Lord of the Rings Trilogy

Image Credit: Medium

Movies: The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

Released: 2001, 2002, 2003

Run Time: 2h 58m, 2h 59m, 3h 21m

Genre: Fantasy/Adventure

Rating: PG-13

Director: Peter Jackson

Screenwriter: Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh

Starring: Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Viggo Mortensen, Orlando Bloom, Cate Blanchett

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 92%, 95%, 94%

Adapted from the classic story by J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings trilogy is both critically acclaimed and loved by fans of all ages. I remember watching this series with my family for the first time during the pandemic, and immediately falling in love with Tolkien’s beautiful world. 

These films feature music by Howard Shore and iconic actors who will forever be remembered for their portrayals of the LOTR characters. Like many popular franchises, an entire internet of fans has created an endless collection of memes, GIFs, videos, songs, edits, and much more in lieu of this truly incredible series. While it takes a good nine or ten hours to accompany Frodo on his journey to destroy the One Ring, it is certainly a nine or ten hours well spent. 

I only wish we could know what Tolkien would think of what his life’s work has become.

3. Star Wars (4, 5, 6)

Image Credit: BBC

Movies: Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back, Star Wars Episode VI: The Return of the Jedi

Released: 1977, 1980, 1983

Run Time: 2h 1m, 2h 4m, 2h 15m

Genre: Sci-Fi/Action

Rating: PG-13

Director: George Lucas

Starring: Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Alec Guinness, James Earl Jones

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 94%, 93%, 83%

Essential, timeless, classic, perfect. 

What else can describe the original three Star Wars films? 

With its story formed by a combination of the efforts of many individuals, this series was certainly a labor of love. A sci-fi project for the books, these movies are sure to hold up for decades to come. There’s a reason why people hold these movies so dear — like the How To Train Your Dragon series, behind the backdrop of a galaxy far, far away lies a story surrounding the relationship between a father and a son. The classic conflict between good and evil. 

What more could you ask for from a movie?

Oh, sure, John Williams’ music, Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Alec Guinness, James Earl Jones, George Lucas, John Dykstra, a bunch of stormtroopers, two iconic droids, some miniature starships, a bunch of cool new planets, lightsabers, the Jedi, the Force, an old emperor, a general with bad hair, a wampa, and a whole host of other characters and creatures whose names you’ll only find in a DK Visual Dictionary. But that’s beside the point.

2. X-Men Series

Image Credit: Rotten Tomatoes

Movies: X-Men: First Class, X-Men: Days of Future Past, X-Men: Apocalypse, X-Men: Dark Phoenix

Released: 2011, 2014, 2016, 2019

Run Time: 2h 12m, 2h 12m, 2h 24m, 1h 54m

Genre: Sci-Fi/Action

Rating: PG-13

Director: Matthew Vaughn, Bryan Singer, Simon Kinberg

Starring: Michael Fassbender, James McAvoy, Jennifer Lawrence, Nicholas Hoult

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 86%, 90%, 47%, 22%

X-Men: First Class, X-Men: Days of Future Past, X-Men: Apocalypse, and X-Men: Dark Phoenix are the four X-Men movies that succeeded the earlier trilogy in the franchise, which featured the legendary talents of Ian McKellen, Patrick Stewart, and Halle Berry. Here, the beloved characters are recast to portray them in their younger years, at a time when the idea of the X-Men team hadn’t even been born yet. Michael Fassbender and James McAvoy play Erik Lehnsherr/Magneto and Charles Xavier/Professor X, respectively, and are brilliant in their roles. 

While this series is not generally regarded as one of the best of all time, I love these movies. The series as a whole revolves around the concept of an “us v.s. them” conflict — a real, human story that comments on the divisions we draw in our societies.

With a bunch of super cool mutants, of course. 

And Wolverine. Gotta love Wolverine. There’s a reason he’s in all ten X-Men films. And there’s a reason that it’s always been Hugh Jackman.

1. Beauty and the Beast (1991)

Image Credit: Disney Wiki

Released: 1991

Run Time: 1h 27m

Genre: Family/Musical

Rating: G

Director: Gary Trousdale, Kirk Wise

Starring: Paige O’Hara, Robby Benson, Angela Lansbury

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 95%

One of Disney’s finest movies, Beauty and the Beast, lands on top.

The story is timeless, romantic, and features an Oscar-winning soundtrack and score by Alan Menken. 

I was one of those little girls who would watch and imagine I was Belle in her yellow dress. And I am not ashamed to admit that I still wish I could be her. Beauty and the Beast remains my favorite film to this day. Every song, every scene is a piece of nostalgia from my younger years of staring at the box TV while Beast twirled Belle around the ballroom in the light of the stars and the glittering chandelier. I know the words to every song by heart, and continue to annoy my family by blasting the soundtrack from time to time.

It’s now a tradition that I like to watch this movie every year on my birthday. And I plan to have the title track, Angela Lansbury’s Beauty and the Beast, played at my wedding someday. 

It’s really that good. Trust me. It might be considered a kids movie, but if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that life is short, and there’s no age restriction on classic Disney movies.

Bonus!

A few more of my favorites, just because.

Inception (2010)

Robin Hood (2010)

The Last Samurai (2003)

The Truman Show (1998)

V For Vendetta (2005)

Transformers: The Movie (1986)

Captain America (2011, 2014, 2016)

The Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)

The Wedding Singer (1998)

The Switch (2010)

The Illusionist (2006)

Top Gun: Maverick (2022)

Closing Thoughts

This is my final article as a student at E.O. Smith, a member of the Panther Press, and editor of the newspaper. I have thoroughly enjoyed having this outlet for my writing and getting the opportunity to write about the things I am passionate about for the past four years. Thank you to everyone who has contributed to our school newspaper thus far and to Mr. Kennedy, our advisor, for all of your time and dedication.

And thank you, reader, for being here!

Sincerely,

Sophia Caneira

P.S. Comment on your top 10 movies below!