TOP SPOORTS MOVIES LIST

25. White Men Can't Jump
This 1992 comedy, starring Woody Harrelson and Wesley Snipes as two small-time hustlers who make their money from bets on pick-up basketball games, is at its best during the trash-talking hoops matches. Written and directed by Ron Shelton (Bull Durham, Tin Cup), Harrelson and Snipes are great together, and Rosie Perez (as the Jeopardy-obssesed girlfriend of Snipes's character) is annoying and amusing at the same time. -BZ

24. Bend it Like Beckham
This tale of an Indian girl who dreams of playing professional soccer is sometimes a cliched affair - disapproving parents, a love triangle with a hunky coach, etc. - but swathed in the sort of relentless enthusiasm Gurinder Chadha lends the material, it feels as fresh as the day these winning formulas were established. Parminder Nagra and Keira Knightley, the latter of whom would go on to trounce bad guys in Pirates of the Caribbean, offer a decidedly intelligent and sensitive portrayal of these ambitious, gender-defying athletes who dream of a professional sports career, while the director gives the entire affair a palpable political context and enough twists and turns to make for a semicomic masterpiece.

23. Kingpin
Add Bill Murray to any movie and the quality doubles. Put him in a western shirt with the worst combover in the history of film, and make him the bad boy of the professional bowling world, and you have a near-masterpiece. This pre-Mary Farrelly Brothers gem is all about Roy Munson, a pro bowler who loses his bowling hand after gambling on his favorite sport.

After his life is flushed down the tubes, Munson gets a shot at redemption by taking an Amish man with exceptional bowling skill (Randy Quaid) to the nationals. Full off patented FB toilet humor, tons of laughs (including a Chris Elliott Indecent Proposal sequence), this movie not only succeeds in making bowling funny, it almost makes it look cool, too. -CC

22. Dogtown & Z-Boys
While Catherine Hardwicke's fictionalization of this film proved accurate to the point of redundancy, Stacy Peralta's documentary captures the early days of the extreme sports boon with unerring precision and unrestrained passion, and makes one of the best documentaries one will likely see. Narrated by Sean Penn, Peralta and co-screenwriter Craig Stecyk's text offers a fascinating story about a bunch of kids- some as young as eleven and twelve- who became legends virtually overnight as the Z-Boys, the first professional-level skaters to dominate the burgeoning skateboarding industry. Tony Alva, Jay Adams and Peralta helped discover the untapped commercial potential of skateboarding by being the first skaters to transform it from a static, antiseptic sport into a veritable lifestyle, and this film celebrates the hedonistic and sometimes self-destructive glory days so effectively you'll feel like you're careening down those hills right along with them.
21. A League of Their Own

Famous for the line "There's no crying in baseball," this light-hearted look at the first womens' baseball league is (like the monolith) "full of stars." Tom Hanks, Madonna, Rosie O'Donnell, Geena Davis and Lori Petty round out a diverse cast. Hanks stars as the famous manager who is merely collecting a paycheck, originally wanting nothing at all to do with his team. A fun look at an oft-overlooked slice of sports history, it's one of the few sports movies that features primarily women. -CC

20. Jerry Maguire
While "show me the money!" and Renee Zellweger occupied much of the limelight this film enjoyed following its release in 1996, the relationship between Tom Cruise and Cuba Gooding Jr., both personal and professional, is what truly drives the story. The movie's depiction of the ins and outs of corporate sports proved both familiar and revelatory - from the sad fact that athletes can't sign certain brands of baseball cards to the undercutting and head-hunting between colleagues - and the games themselves are treated like a different sort of competition - namely, who can show off the most to secure some new endorsement deal or contract? But ultimately Cameron Crowe's sports-filled romance isn't one about getting the girl or saving the job, it's about caring about your teammates, in life and love, and scoring one for the team; all of the old cliches apply to the film, but they actually mean something for a change.

19. The Longest Yard (1974)
The 1974 original Longest Yard starred former college football player Burt Reynolds and was packed with a bunch of pro football players including Ray Nitschke, Joe Kapp, Mike Henry, and Pervis Atkins. Directed by Robert Aldrich (The Dirty Dozen), the film features Reynolds at his peak, an entertaining story, and some great football action towards the end. -BZ

18. Happy Gilmore
This 1996 Adam Sandler comedy follows a washed-up hockey player who takes up golf. Happy Gilmore's hockey career is on the rocks and he's got no direction in life. His grandmother is evicted from her house for her failure to pay back taxes, and his girlfriend has left him. He makes it on to the pro golf tour with the hope of making some money to save his grandmother's house, but is challenged by tour favorite Shooter McGavin. -BL

17. Victory
Michael Caine and Sylvester Stallone team up to make the best soccer movie ever to grace the silver screen. Sound unlikely? We thought so, too, but this film is a poignant and interesting look at the beautiful game. With hints of The Longest Yard, the movie takes place during WWII, and the pivotal game is staged between German National soldiers and Allied POWs. It's intended to mask the escape of prisoners, but the game takes on a life of its own.

Absolutely as victorious as its title suggests, Victory is everything a sports movie should be: action-packed, uplifting and as tense as a tie game with one minute remaining. Soccer fans who haven't checked it out should immediately; in fact, any movie fan should. -CC

16. The Bad News Bears
The original 1974 Bad News Bears stars Walter Matthau as Morris Buttermaker, a lazy, often-drunk former minor league baseball player who takes a job coaching a little league team made up of complete misfits. Pushing the limits of the PG rating back in the day, the kids in the film talk like real kids and Matthau's Buttermaker is as un-P.C. a character as you can get. With the addition of a 12-year-old girl pitcher (played by Tatum O'Neal) and a motorcycle punk (Jackie Earle Haley), both the team and the film come together wonderfully and Bad News Bears ends up being an uplifting baseball flick that takes satiric swipes at the sport along the way. -BZ

15. Major League
This 1989 baseball comedy features a great cast (including Tom Berenger, Charlie Sheen, Corbin Bernsen, and Wesley Snipes) as a rag-tag group of players picked by the new owner of the Cleveland Indians who wants the worst team she can find to lower attendance and get out of her stadium lease. With some great scenes (such as Charlie Sheen's entrance into the stadium to the tune of "Wild Thing") and great lines (especially the radio commentary by Bob Uecker), Major League is a baseball comedy that doesn't take itself too seriously. -BZ

14. Million Dollar Baby
Clint Eastwood's Baby was unquestionably 2004's sucker-punch success, emerging from a near-total absence of pre-release buzz to win four Academy Awards including Best Picture, Director, Actress and Supporting Actor. But beyond its merits as a searing character study and poignant drama, the film offers some of the most engaging fight sequences ever put on film: Hilary Swank, a game cinematic competitor if ever there was one, throws herself wholeheartedly into the fray, downing one opponent after another with her evolving combination of technique and ferocious desperation. Deemed one of the best sports movies ever by none other than Sports Illustrated, its pedigree is firmly established; but as a visceral moviegoing experience, it's one of the few films listed here that will kick your ass and break your heart at the same time.

13. Eight Men Out
John Sayles' 1988 film, Eight Men Out, was based on the 1963 novel of the same name by Eliot Asinof. The story is dramatic retelling of the notorious Black Sox scandal in which eight members of the Chicago team were busted for conspiring with gamblers to intentionally throw baseball's World Series.

While the film was overlooked by the Academy and other major awards, it is regarded as one of the best (and most underrated) sports films ever. -BL

12. Slap Shot
"Old time hockey!" This 1977 film looks at the humorous, rough and rowdy world of semi-pro hockey. Gritty and foul throughout, the story tracks the progress of an awful team whose fortunes greatly improve when they resort to violent tactics at the hands of the bespectacled Hanson Brothers.

Starring Paul Newman in one of his most comedic roles, the movie captures all the things that make semi-pro sport great. What's more, it's as funny today as it was when it premiered in 1977. -CC

11. Miracle
Miracle is the real-life tale of hockey player-turned-coach Herb Brooks (Kurt Russell) and the 1980 USA Hockey team. The underdog team, mostly made up of college-aged players, fought their way to the Olympic finals and defeated the heavily-favored Soviet team to win the gold medal -- the victory was dubbed "the miracle on ice." Miracle was directed by Gavin O'Connor and written by Eric Guggenheim. -BL

10. When We Were Kings

One of the greatest sports docs of all time and one of the most engaging portrayals of the sweet science to grace the silver screen. When We Were Kings follows the epic showdown between Muhammad Ali and George Foremen in Africa in 1974, from the first rounds of promotion, to the Don King Hoopla to the infamous rope-a-dope lesson Ali taught Foreman. Director Leon Gast takes you through the training (including the famous "Ali, boom ba ye!" chants as Ali runs past his African fans) as well as fascinating footage of the earlier, quiet George Foreman and the endlessly entertaining and chatty Ali, who promises the "Rumble in the Jungle" that was ultimately delivered.

9. Field of Dreams
Field of Dreams gave us the most annoyingly overused line from any contemporary sports movie (with the possible exception of Jerry Maguire's "Show me the money!"), "If you build it, they will come." But that single grievance doesn't harm its status as one of the best sports films of all time.

The 1989 Kevin Costner movie tells the story of of a man who becomes convinced that he's supposed to build a baseball diamond in his corn field. Costner stars along with Amy Madigan, Gaby Hoffmann, Ray Liotta, Timothy Busfield, James Earl Jones, Burt Lancaster, and Frank Whaley. The movie was directed and adapted by Phil Alden Robinson from the novel Shoeless Joe by W.P. Kinsella. It earned Academy noms for Best Music, Original Score, Best Picture and Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium. -BL

8. Caddyshack

Caddyshack, starring Chevy Chase, Rodney Dangerfield, Ted Knight, Michael O'Keefe and Bill Murray, is the farcical tale of a golf course clash between a two groups of men. The film was Harold Ramis' first directing gig and solidified the movie career of Dangerfield. Murray supposedly ad-libbed many of his lines on the film, which annoyed his co-stars, but helped make Caddyshack one of the funniest sports movies ever. -BL

7. The Natural
Barry Levinson's 1984 baseball flick, The Natural, starring Robert Redford, was adapted from the 1952 novel of the same name by Bernard Malamud and Kevin Baker. Although it's not considered to be a very faithful adaptation of the book, it is regarded as one of the greatest sports movies of all time. The story centers around Roy Hobbs (Redford) an man with a "natural" talent for the sport of baseball. Hobbs, with his mysterious past, appears out of nowhere and carries a losing team to the top of the league with the aid of a bat cut from a lightning-struck tree. It was nominated for four Academy Awards. -BL

6. Rocky
The blueprint by which many sports films are judged, Rocky tells the story of a down-and-out enforcer and struggling boxer who gets his shot at a title against Philadelphia legend Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers). Not only did Sylvester Stallone write the film, but turns in a star-making performance in one of the most unforgettable boxing films of any era.

Burgess Meredith, Carl Weathers and Talia Shire round out an amazing supporting cast. The film spawned numerous sequels (including Rocky 2, which very nearly made this list) and continues to impact pop culture in significant ways. A sixth film has recently been announced.

5. Bull Durham
An inside view into the rough and tumble world of the baseball minor leagues. Bull Durham is not your average polished look at the American pastime, it's baseball as most pro players know it - save the elite few who only spend a few years stopping off in the minors on the way to the show (That's the majors, for those not cool enough to already know). Durham also has it's fair share of sex and comedy, which add a fun spice without ever detracting from the baseball focus. Director Ron Shelton has tried for many years to replicate the success of his brilliant directorial debut, with only fair to middling success. Durham also made Kevin Costner a superstar, revitalized Susan Sarandon and introduced Tim Robbins. Any baseball (or sex comedy) fan should love it.

4. Hoop Dreams
One of the most engrossing and moving sports documentaries around, this 1994 gem tracks the lives of two young basketball players trying to make it into the competitive world of college basketball, with an eye toward becoming a pro.

The film crew is given total access to the boys' lives, and as a result, the film ends up being an intimate portrait of their families, their successes, and ultimately, their failures, too. At turns triumphant, exhilarating, heartbreaking and moving, it is everything a documentary should be. Ten times more entertaining than the majority of feature films, Hoop Dreams is engaging cinema, pure and simple. -CC

3. Hoosiers
Hoosiers is the 1986 film, based on a true underdog story, of a high school basketball team from a small town in Indiana that made it all the way to the State Championship. The story follows a coach with a checkered past and a local drunk who lead the team to victory. Gene Hackman stars along with Barbara Hershey, Dennis Hopper and Sheb Wooley.

The film was penned by Angelo Pizzo and directed by Rudy helmer David Anspaugh. It earned Oscar noms for Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Dennis Hopper) and Best Music, Original Score (Jerry Goldsmith). -BL

2. The Hustler
Like few of the films on this list, Robert Rossen's The Hustler transcends easy distinctions of being a 'sports movie', but offers some of the most unbelievable pool playing you're likely to see this side of ESPN; Paul Newman, in one of his most unforgettable roles, plays Fast Eddie Felson, a pool player extraordinare who suffers defeat at the hands of Minnesota Fats (a never-better Jackie Gleason), whose character rather than talent trumps the competition. Simultaneously a riveting competition and character study, Newman, Gleason, a frighteningly pragmatic George C. Scott and a heartbreaking Piper Laurie offer one of the silver screen's best-ever depictions of brutal human conflict, brilliantly rendered over the felt of a pool table.

1. Raging Bull
Martin Scorsese wasn't even a boxing fan when he set out to tell the story of the incomparable Jake LaMotta. That didn't stop Scorsese from crafting the single greatest depiction of the sweet science ever to grace the silver screen. This film works on so many levels, it's impossible to summarize. The greatest film of the 80's decade, it simply must be seen. DeNiro's performance ranks among the best ever, even without consideration of the notorious weight gain. Scorsese went from very good filmmaker to master with this work, the film that also first united him with Oscar-winning editor, Thelma Schoonmaker, whom Scorsese continues to work with to this day. -JO

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TOP COMEDY MOVIES LIST

25. Safety Last
Harold Lloyd stood alongside Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton as forebears of physical comedy with their complicated sight gags, gymnastic dexterity and just enough of a story to sustain an hour or so of celluloid. In Safety Last, Lloyd enjoyed his most famous role - playing himself - as a young bridegroom hoping to win the heart of his hometown sweetheart after departing for the big city to earn enough money for a wedding. What ensues is nothing short of brilliant, from his manic performance as a salesman to his eventual climb up some fifteen stories- on the outside, no less - of the department store where he's employed; and while it was later revealed that he benefited from the assistance of a stunt man during some sequences, Lloyd built a fake building ledge and did as many of the physical stunts himself as possible. Ultimately, this film is probably most familiar to audiences for the shot of Lloyd hanging precariously from the guts of a broken clock; but if you're fortunate enough to get past that iconic image and see the whole film, you'll realize that the silent-film trailblazer has much more up his sleeve than just a desperate, dangling arm.

24. Annie Hall
Fans of IGN may know Annie Hall as the film that beat out Star Wars for Best Picture, but not only is it worthy of such an award, it is perhaps Woody Allen's best comedy. As usual, Allen stars alongside Diane Keaton as a neurotic, self-centered man in love. A brilliant, heartfelt story of romance that mixes in plenty of referential comedy, the film made Keaton a star, and popularized the frumpy, masculine clothing style she sports throughout.

Above all, though, Annie Hall is hilarious. Scenes involving Allen chasing a lobster with a ramekin of clarified butter and his diatribe on movie critics is classic, but his scathing take on life in LA is unrivaled in cinema. -CC

23. There's Something About Mary
The first time I saw There's Something About Mary was at a preview screening two weeks before release. There was no buzz, and honestly, I expected it to be pretty bad. What followed was one of the most memorable theatrical experiences I can ever remember. Laughing to the point of a near coughing fit with tears of joy streaming down my cheeks, Mary was slapstick comic genius, pure and true. Ben Stiller would later run his antic paranoid character into the ground, but here it was fresh. Matt Dillon unleashed a whole new side of his abilities, from hunk to sleezeball. Cameron Diaz was sexy, fun and funny. Remember, she's just f***in' with you, right? -JO

22. The PRINCES BRIDE
Rob Reiner's 1987 adaptation of William Goldman's novel The Princess Bride was only a modest success at the box office -- the film grossed a total of $30 million during its entire first run. But the lighthearted fantasy tale of adventure and romance has since developed a large cult following. The quirky yet romantic story follows a stable boy named Westley who must rescue his true love, Princess Buttercup, from the clutches of Prince Humperdinck. The superb cast includes Cary Elwes, Robin Wright, Mandy Patinkin, Wallace Shawn, Christopher Guest, Chris Sarandon and Andre the Giant. Peter Falk and Fred Savage appear in the "reality" segments in which a grandfather reads his sick grandson the story. Billy Crystal, Carol Kane have memorable cameos along with Mel Smith and Peter Cook. -BL

21. Modern Times
Decades ahead of its time and still a relevant commentary on present society, Modern Times is one of a string of Chaplin feature-length masterpieces that includes The Gold Rush, The Circus, City Lights and The Great Dictator. Times holds the distinction of being the final time Chaplin would portray his Little Tramp character, at least officially (he plays a slightly similar character in Dictator). It's consistently daring, with stunts that rival even Keaton's most daring, funny (the automatic lunch machine is a riot) and visually breathtaking (you've likely seen the famous clockworks image even if you haven't seen the film). -JO

20. Young Frankenstein
Mel Brooks's follow-up to Blazing Saddles (both released in 1974) is at once a tribute to and a great parody of classic horror movies. From the the black and white cinematography to the original castle & lab equipment used in Frankenstein, the film looks straight out of the 1930s, which only adds to the film's satiric humor. The film balances slapstick, word play, farce and a spoof of the Frankenstein movies effortlessly, with every joke and gag still funny today. The film's best moments are infinitely rewatchable, from ridiculous situations like the doctor and monster singing "Puttin' on the Ritz," to the doctor and his hunchbacked assistant's pronunciations of their names ("Frahnk-en-steen" and "Eye-gor"), to the monster's encounter with a blind hermit (Gene Hackman, in a cameo role), perfectly parodying the scene in 1935's Bride of Frankenstein. -BZ

19. The General
Buster Keaton's best known work and one of the great comedies of all time, even if it did take a bit of prodding to convince some of the editors here at IGN that it was worthy. The General features some of Keaton's best stunt work, some of which could give any Jackie Chan feat a run for its money (It should be noted that Chan has cited Keaton as a major influence). His death-defying feats include bicycles, a handcar and, of course, a steam engine. Keaton's infamous stone-faced persona makes every laugh all the more biting, the ultimate strait man and one of the most purely physically gifted comedians the world has ever known. -JO

18. LIFE OF BRAIN

Arguably the Monty Python movie that's the strongest actual film (complete with a real plot mixed in with the nonstop gags) 1979's Life of Brian expertly parodies religious hypocrisy and zealotry. The set-up is simple: an ordinary man named Brian is born on December 25 in a run-down house not far away from the manger of Jesus Christ. Brian is then mistaken throughout his life as the Messiah, pulled and prodded by various religious and political faction groups. Instead of parodying Christianity or any other specific religion, Life of Brian takes on religious zealots who follow without thinking, best exemplified by a crowd shouting in unison "Yes, we must think for ourselves!" and a group that interprets Brian losing one of his sandals as "a sign." The film's end sequence is brilliantly hilarious, as crucified men break into an upbeat musical number, "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life." -BZ

17. Manhattan
Woody Allen's most beautiful movie, Manhattan is shot in high contrast black and white, and serves as a love letter to New York, as well as a bittersweet comedy. Another film from the Diane Keaton era, this one centers on Isaac, another iteration of Allen's egotistical protagonist. In an eerie bit of foreshadowing, the film begins with Isaac in a relationship with the 17-year old Tracy (Mariel Hemingway). When Isaac meets the intriguing Mary Wilkie, whom he originally despises, his feelings for Tracy sour, and he tries to cope with the aftermath of both relationships.

Perhaps his saddest film, it is still punctuated with great laughs and stunning imagery. In addition, Allen made the brilliant decision to score his opus with the music of George Gershwin, which adds grandeur and unmistakable personality to the proceedings. -CC

16. The Jerk
Steve Martin was at the height of his "Wild and Crazy Guy" days when this film hit in 1979. A precursor to future moronic centerpiece flicks such as Dumb and Dumber and Forrest Gump, Martin's performance cracks me up to no end. "You mean I'm gonna stay this color?" Martin's Navin R. Johnson is dumber than dirt and we all love him for it. The Jerk is a comedy classic and one of director Carl Reiner's best! -JO

15. Duck Soup
While their devotees and followers found only slapstick where there was almost impossible levels of intelligence, the Marx Brothers elevated cinematic humor - well, if not to poetry, then to a rapid-fire series of short stories. In this 1933 film, arguably the best of the Marx lot, the foursome returns with Groucho in command (yet again) as the recently-instated president of the bankrupt country Freedonia, where Chicolini (Chico) and Pinky (Harpo) attempt to infiltrate his regime and bring the country to its knees. They prove far more successful than one might expect, for all the right reasons - namely, by laying their opponents (and the audience) low with laughter; juxtaposing lightning-fast verbal repartee, dexterous physical humor and inventive storytelling, the Marx Brothers turn political intrigue into high (and when it's really good, low-) - minded satire.

Forget about the Farrelly Brothers or other modern purveyors of prurient punchlines; just one minute of the famous "mirror gag" of Rufus' legendary showdown with Chicolini in court, and you'll be swearing your allegiance to this classic candidate. -TG

14. Animal House
National Lampoon's Animal House, starring John Belushi, Tim Matheson, Karen Allen and a slew of others, is credited with starting the gross-out comedy subgenre. The film was written by Harold Ramis, Douglas Kenney and Christoper Miller, adapted from stories that had appeared in National Lampoon magazine. John Landis directed. In 2001, Animal House was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry for its cultural significance. It is, indeed, a culturally significant movie, if for no other reason than it marked the film debut of Kevin Bacon and without Kevin Bacon we couldn't play that "six degrees" game.

13. Ferris Bueller'S DAY OFFThe film that gave the parents of America an increased suspicion every time little Johnny said he felt sick and registered a temperature of 111 degrees Ferris Beuller's Day Off made the career of Matthew Broderick and further cemented director John Hughes' status as the man with his finger firmly implanted on the 1980's American youth. Film teachers will always tell you crossing the 4th wall (ie talking directly to the camera) is a mistake, but Broderick is so gosh-darned likable in his smugly endearing way that it works. -JO

12. Some Like it Hot
"Well, nobody's perfect." If you already know that classic line and its context within Billy Wilder's comedic masterpiece Some Like it Hot, you are dismissed. If you don't, get thee to the nearest video store or retro theater and watch this film. Your credibility as a film buff is in serious jeopardy until you do. Often cited as the greatest comedy ever made, one viewing and it's hard to dismiss such a broad statement's validity. It's the best thing Marilyn Monroe ever did, and Jack Lemmon and Tony Curtis are a comedy pairing made in heaven. Wilder and fellow genius scribe I.A.L. Diamond craft a pin-point script and shave off all the fat. The story chugs along at a brisk pace throwing out the laughs at will. -JO

11. Airplane!
"Looks like I picked the wrong week to stop sniffing glue." The 1980 disaster film spoof Airplane!, with its innumerable gags, is arguably the best film of its subgenre. It's the second film from filmmakers Jim Abrahams, David Zucker and Jerry Zucker who had previously worked on The Kentucky Fried Movie. The movie stars Robert Hays, Julie Hagerty, Leslie Nielsen, Robert Stack, Lloyd Bridges, Peter Graves and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the passengers and crew of an airliner that has an in-flight medical emergency caused by food poisoning... although, let's be honest, the story isn't really all that important. Airplane! is all about the gags. Note: The film's "automatic pilot" (the inflatable doll) is called "Otto"... clearly named for its striking resemblance to IGN's Jeff Otto.

10. The Blues Brothers
Featuring John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd in their alternate blues-playing identities, brothers Jake and Elwood Blues, 1980's The Blues Brothers has plenty of musical goodness, not to mention one of the greatest car chase scenes in the history of movies. Directed by John Landis, the film centers around newly reunited brothers Jake and Elwood Blues who are inspired to get their band back together. It's full of Belushi and Aykroyd's trademark deadpan humor, slapstick goodness and stylized musical numbers. The Blues Brothers boasts appearances by music legends Aretha Franklin, James Brown, Cab Calloway, Gary U.S. Bonds, Ray Charles and John Lee Hooker. -BL

9. Raising horizona
not initially a box office hit, Raising Arizona, the 1987 film from eccentric filmmakers Joel and Ethan Coen, has gone on to become an offbeat comedy classic. The hilariously quirky flick stars Nicolas Cage and Holly Hunter as a childless couple who steal a baby with unexpected consequences. William Forsythe, John Goodman, Frances McDormand, and Randall Cobb also star. Raising Arizona is full of the cinematic stuff that have become Coen trademarks... folk music, symbolism, visual gags and odd characters.

8. Rushmore
This endearing tale of Max Fischer, a prep school student in love with his teacher, is auteur Wes Anderson's most personal and well-wrought film; an instant classic when it premiered in 1998. With a stunning and Oscar-worthy performance by Bill Murray, as his friend and rival Herman Blume, Rushmore bears repeated delightful viewings to catch all the layered jokes, details and references. The film features classic Wes Anderson moments ("Oh are they?") and a carefully chosen soundtrack (one of the best ever compiled). Bottle Rocket introduced the world to Anderson's talent, but Rushmore se

7.Monty python and the holy grail
An infinitely rewatchable comedy classic, Monty Python and the Holy Grail is a cult and pop culture touchpoint for several generations of fans since its intial 1975 theatrical release. Skewering the legend of King Arthur with nonstop jokes and ridiculous situations, Holy Grail tackles everything from the Knights of the Round Table, including "Sir Lancelot" (John Cleese) and "Sir Robin the Not Quite So Brave As Sir Lancelot" (Eric Idle), to a killer rabbit (defeated by the Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch) and the Black Knight (Cleese), who refuses to give up even when all his limbs have been hacked off by Arthur (Graham Chapman). -BZ

6. Blazing Saddles
One of Mel Brooks's most successful, popular and funniest films, the Western spoof Blazing Saddles is a comedy classic. The humor's alternately raunchy, crude, offensive, sexist and racist, while at the same time making fun of sexism and racism. The simple plot, of newly-hired black sheriff Bart (Cleavon Little) teaming up with deputy Jim (a.k.a., The Waco Kid, played by Gene Wilder) to thwart the railroad-building scheme of the evil Hedley Lamarr (Harvey Korman), is really just an excuse for an endless stream of deliberately tasteless gags. Originally meant to star Richard Pryor (who co-wrote the screenplay with Brooks, Norman Steinberg, Andrew Bergman and Alan Uger, but was considered too controversial at the time to star), Blazing Saddles has a long string of hilarious moments, from Madeline Kahn as a Marlene Dietrich-like character named Lili Von Shtupp (which earned her an Academy Award nomination) to Hedley's bad-man lineup, to the infamous campfire scene involving hungry cowboys and a whole lot of baked beans. -BZ

5. Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb
Director Stanley Kubrick's career was one that defied easy categorization, and he further proved it with this scathing and raucous anti-war comedy. Filmed in black and white and starring the genius Peter Sellers at the height of his powers, Dr. Strangelove is black humor at its finest, killing with laughs rather than bullets. The film openly criticizes the stupidity of war (in particular nuclear war), thanks in large part to the show-stopping performance of George C. Scott as Bud Turgidson. The fact that the film was made in 1964, right in the thick of the Cold War, is a tribute to its bravery… but it still holds up today. -CC

4. This is Spinal Tap
A masterpiece of comedy, insight and musical lampoonery, This is Spinal Tap follows the exploits of the fictional UK rock band Spinal Tap as they tour the States in support of their latest (and perhaps last) album. Pitch-perfect in tone and song, this Rob Reiner mockumentary bears multiple viewings, if only because the raucous laughter it induces drowns out some of the subtler moments. Infinitely quotable, infectiously and outrageously true (which is the funniest part of all), it is one of the funniest films of the 80s and all-time. What's more, it crystallizes a vision of hair metal and features cameos by a young Dana Carvey, Letterman sidekick Paul Schaeffer and Billy Crystal.

What is extra-intiguing about the film is that the cast—Michael McKean, Harry Shearer (who now voices Simpsons characters and Christopher Guest (who went on to direct Best in Show and A Mighty Wind)—actually played their own instruments, and endured beyond the film, recording a follow-up album, Break Like the Wind. Standout hits from the film include "Big Bottom," "Sex Farm," "Rock n' Roll Creation" and "Stonhenge." Classic. -CC

3.Caddy Shack
Endlessly quotable, 1980's Caddyshack features Chevy Chase, Rodney Dangerfield, Ted Knight and Bill Murray at the top of their game. Chase plays brash new golf club member Ty Webb, who makes himself a pain to club member Judge Elihu Smails (Knight), along with equally annoying (but rich) Al Czervik (Dangerfield). Meanwhile, the course has a bit of a gopher problem, which is tackled by greenskeeper Carl Spackler (Murray). Dangerfield and Murray, both originally cast in small parts that got expanded during filming due to their constant hilarious ad-libbing, steal the show with such classic lines as "Oh, this is the worst-looking hat I ever saw. What, when you buy a hat like this I bet you get a free bowl of soup, huh? Oh, it looks good on you though."; "So, I tell them I'm a pro jock, and who do you think they give me? The Dalai Lama, himself."; "So I got that goin' for me, which is nice."; and "This crowd has gone deadly silent, a Cinderella story outta nowhere. Former greenskeeper and now about to become the masters champion." -BZ

2. The Big Lebowski
The Big Lebowski has the rare distinction of going from box office flop to cult classic to a bonified comedy classic in under a decade. Although the film was initially too much for mainstream America during its 1998 release, it has forged its way into mainstream culture and become a comic favorite. It's a fave here at IGN, with a "toe by three o' clock… with nail polish!" quote here or a "we believe in nothing" quote there, The Big Lebowski is a layered, endlessly ingenious work from the endlessly ingenious Coen Brothers. Always a step ahead of the game, this may well be the Coen's greatest film and each subsequent viewing reveals another overlooked classic moment. -JO

1. GHOSTBURSTERS
An enduring classic featuring a virtual who's-who of classic 80's comedy, from director Ivan Reitman (Meatballs, Stripes, Twins) to comic genius' Bill Murray, Dan Ackroyd and Harold Ramis (the latter two also co-wrote the script). Rick Moranis also makes a memorable leap from SCTV to the big screen and Sigourney Weaver mixes physical comedy (and terror) with outright devilish sexiness. "Are you the keymaster?" Ghostbusters is very much a product of its time yet still holds up with all the laughs and even the effects in tact. The high-concept script is ingenious, the direction and pacing are near perfection and the cast have a comedic chemistry that is nearly unmatched. I dragged my parents to the theater to see this four times in the summer of '84 and I'm still not tired of it. -JO

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TOP FANTACY MOVIES LIST

25. Labyrinth
David Bowie in skin tight pants that leave little to the imagination, a jailbait Jennifer Connelly and the wildly imaginative puppet creations of Jim Henson. What's not to love? A highly imaginative, trippy fantasy that is perfect for kids and stoners alike, Henson got the chance to go dark and seemed to revel in the opportunity. The story mixes classical fairy-tale elements with easily identifiable modern teen troubles, such as a pain-in-the-neck little brother. Bowie adds a number of unforgettable songs (Just try to get them out of your head, I dare you). -JO

24. Babe
Chris Noonan's family film about a pig who charms his owners and the rest of his fellow animals may outwardly have been borrowed from the pages of such other barnyard classics as Charlotte's Web, but the end result is an indelible, unforgettable live-action experience. James Cromwell plays the tight-lipped Farmer Hoggett, offering a human face to the unlikeliest of friendships, while Christine Cavanaugh provides the perfect voice for the film's porcine protagonist. The film's few detours into darkness notwithstanding, Babe is one of the most wholesome, intelligent and evocative family films of recent years; after watching it, you'll never look at bacon the same. -TG

23. Willow
"Magic is the bloodstream of the universe!" This tale of a little person with a big heart on an even bigger adventure featured the ultimate team-up of George Lucas and Ron Howard. Starring a young Val Kilmer and Warwick Davis (Wicket in Return of the Jedi and the leprechaun from The Leprechaun), Willow might not fully stand the test of time, but it is a sweeping fantasy adventure with some of the best effects (and, let's be honest, quotes) this side of Jackson's Lord of the Rings fantasy films.

While critics may not have wholly embraced Willow, it is a swashbuckling tale filled with great battles, plenty of magic, and one of the early gems of Kilmer's career. -CC

22. Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure

One may call it a guilty pleasure movie but you can't deny the impact that this 1989 time-travelling fantasy comedy had in the 1990s -- from pop culture phrases ("Party on, dudes!", "We are... Wyld Stallyns!") to Wayne's World to Keanu Reeves's film career. The two main characters, Bill S. Preston, Esquire, and Ted "Theodore" Logan, are not-so-bright Valley boys but the film never feels like it's making fun of how dim-witted they are. The humor and situations may be silly, but Excellent Adventure has a heart that few adventures, fantasies, or comedies have. -BZ

21. Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
The first of Peter Jackson's epic Lord of the Rings adaptations, The Fellowship of the Ring, is an introduction to his vision of Tolkien's Middle-Earth. The film draws viewers into this magnificent world, brought to life by the effects artists at Weta, inhabited by Men, Hobbits, Elves, Wizards and Dwarves. The story tells what happens when Sauron, the dark lord, is awakened and threatens to conquer Middle-Earth. To stop this ancient evil once and for all, Frodo Baggins must destroy the One Ring in the fires of Mount Doom. The film won Oscars for Best Cinematography, Best Visual Effects, Best Makeup and Best Original Score. -BL

20. Excalibur
John Boorman's excellent tale about the knights of the round table features some of the shiniest armor ever to grace a fantasy film. All the elements of the Arthurian legend are here, in well-acted, live action detail. It shows that Boorman poured his heart and soul into this production, which includes all the key parties from the tale: Lancelot, Guinevere, Merlin, and of course, Arthur. To this day it is the best (non-comedic) telling of King Arthur's tale. -CC

19. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
J.K. Rowling's characters begin to grow up in both Rowling's third Harry Potter novel and this movie adaptation, directed by Alfonso Cuaron (Y Tu Mama Tambien). Taking the reins from director Chris Columbus, Cuaron concocts a much richer world, with better developed relationships between the characters, a darker tone, and a story that flows quickly and smoothly. Some of the effects are a bit sub-par (such as the werewolf) but others are very impressive and unique (including Buckbeak the hippogriff and the effectively creepy Dementors). -BZ

18. Edward Scissorhands
True modern fairy tales are precious few and far between, but Burton's first collaboration with Johnny Depp is one of them. Edward Scissorhands is full of kitschy concepts, from the cardboard-cutout suburban landscape to the Avon ladies and their reluctant clientele to Burton's longtime love for Tom Jones. But it's also bursting with a tenderness that the director rarely shows - Edward's foibles are at once highly comedic (having him sleep on a waterbed was a stroke of brilliance) and undeniably sympathetic (who hasn't suffered the indignities of unrequited love?). The commingling of so many different, eccentric and evocative ideas makes for a real sort of modern mythology, and proves to be as perfectly and evocatively rendered as that topiary on your lawn. -TG

17. Groundhog Day
One of the more clever concepts for a comedy ever conceived, Groundhog Day stars Bill Murray as ill-mannered weatherman Phil Connors, who must re-live (and re-live and re-live and re-live…) the same despised groundhog day in smalltown, USA until he gets it right. Director Harold Ramis combines with Murray yet again to hit all the right notes. Murray and co-star Andie McDowell have a charming love/hate chemistry and Chris Elliot even provides a few background laughs. Groundhog Day has plenty of gut busting laughs, but the story within is sweet and you quickly grow to love Phil, even with all his flaws. Plus, Murray gets to play out one of life's great questions over and over: What would you do in a day if you knew it didn't matter? -JO

16. Beetlejuice
This 1988 dark comedy, directed by Tim Burton, tells the story of a young couple (played by Alec Baldwin and Geena Davis) who die and become trapped in their house as ghosts. Soon afterward an annoying family moves in and the deceased couple decide to hire a "bio-exorcist" named Beetlejuice to get rid of them. Starring Winona Ryder in one of her first film roles, Beetlejuice's main attractions are a maniacally great performance by Michael Keaton as the title character and truly inventive and entertaining sequences, such as the dinner "haunting" to the tune of the "Banana Boat Song" by Harry Bellafonte. -BZ

15. The Neverending Story
Wolfgang Petersen's The NeverEnding Story is an adaptation of the fantasy novel by Michael Ende. The story begins as a troubled and bullied boy named Bastian finds refuge in the pages of a magical book in which he follows the adventures of a brave young man, Atreyu, on a quest to save Fantasia from a mysterious force called The Nothing. The boy slowly realizes that it is up to him to become part of the story and save Fantasia by giving the Empress a new name. -BL

14. Pee-Wee's Big Adventure
Tim Burton's feature debut wasn't merely the three-dimensional equivalent of his work as an animator at Disney, but an outright odyssey for the senses, leap-frogging through one impossible idea after another with the sort of dexterity that could only be achieved only by a man-child with a super-powered bike. Paul Reubens, of course, anchors the film with his whimsical and often weird portrayal of said man-child, but this film is Burton's show, and he delivers an unforgettable film that feels like a dream, a nightmare and a fantasy all at once. Perhaps the only movie on this list magical enough to make you rip the tags off of your mattresses. -TG

13. Conan the Barbarian
How many other movies can promise two hours of California's Governor running around in his skivvies? Huh, I'm listening? Before hitting the political landscape, it was Conan that launched Ah-nold into mainstream superstardom on his way to becoming the biggest action star of the 80's. Written by Oliver Stone and directed by John Milius, Conan was based off a series of pulpy novels - Scwarzenegger fit the bill to a T, oiled up and ready in the prime of his body-building reign. James Earl Jones and Max Von Sydow add some dignity and flavor to the campy fantasy epic. -JO


12. Fantasia
This film isn't merely an engaging series of vignettes, nor an artsy departure from Disney's spate of fairy tale adaptations. Rather, it's an outright classic that elevated the entire medium, and offered an early glimpse of what might be possible in the realm of hand-drawn (and later, computer-generated) animation. "Night on Bald Mountain" offers one of the most chilling embodiments of a piece of music ever envisioned, while "The Sorcerer's Apprentice" takes Mickey's cheerful countenance and catapults him into a literal maelstrom of mischief. But the sweltering, dinosaur-laden "Rite of Spring" remains an achievement in animation that has yet to be surpassed. Forget about independent follicle motion or bounce shadows - the first, last and best significant benchmarks were made here. -TG

11. Time Bandits
Terry Gilliam's quirky tale of a ragged bunch of time travelers is the essential outline for all his successful films to come. Featuring gorgeous sets, an outrageous, time-spanning narrative, and wit to spare, it is an oft-overlooked gem. With everyone from Sean Connery to John Cleese making an appearance, it is the little people who steal the show. Yep, that's right... the bandits are dwarves, and they travel through time, stealing and intersecting with various figures from the past. -CC
10 MONTY PYHON AND THE HOLY GRAIL

An infinitely rewatchable comedy classic, Monty Python and the Holy Grail is a cult and pop culture touchpoint for several generations of fans since its intial 1975 theatrical release. Skewering the legend of King Arthur with nonstop jokes and ridiculous situations, Holy Grail tackles everything from the Knights of the Round Table, including "Sir Lancelot" (John Cleese) and "Sir Robin the Not Quite So Brave As Sir Lancelot" (Eric Idle), to a killer rabbit (defeated by the Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch) and the Black Knight (Cleese), who refuses to give up even when all his limbs have been hacked off by Arthur (Graham Chapman). -BZ

9. Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory
While Tim Burton languished in the minutiae of his 2005 remake, Mel Stuart's 1973 masterpiece aimed for a more captivating - and curiously weirder - adaptation of the acclaimed Roald Dahl novel. Revamping Dahl's original songs for a collection of tunes that persevere even today as silver screen classics, Stuart (along with a seldom-better Gene Wilder) elevate a world where kids can turn into oversized blueberries and teleport through TVs into palpable, three-dimensional reality. -TG

8. Clash of the Tit
Clash of the Titans is the 1981 epic fantasy adapted from the myth of Perseus and his quest to save the Princess Andromeda. Along the way he must confront the hideous Medusa and the sea monster, Kracken. The film, directed by Desmond Davids with stop-motion effects by Ray Harryhausen, has a unique cast that includes Harry Hamlin, Maggie Smith, Claire Bloom, Ursual Andress, Judi Bowker, Burgess Meredith, Sian Phillips and Sir Laurence Olivier. -BL

7. THE DARK CRISTAL
Jim Henson's dark, magical fairytale world comes alive for the first time in 1982's Dark Crystal. The film may have come as somewhat of a surprise to fans of The Muppets, expecting more of the cute and cuddly creations Henson was known for. Instead, Henson (along with co-director Frank Oz) offered up Crystal's nightmarish dream world, drawing influences from Tolkien to classical fairytales. Henson also pushed puppetry to a new level, quickly making audiences forget that these felt-covered creatures were being controlled by puppeteers off-set. Crystal is an unforgettable, timeless classic. -JO

6. The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King
The climactic ending to the biggest saga in film history mixes the larger story of a world-wide battle with the smaller struggles of a band of adventurers coming to grips with their role in the proceedings. Based on the J.R.R. Tolkien work of the same name, it is the perfect screen adaptation; capturing the flavor of the book while making it work for the cinema.

With some of the largest battles ever to grace the screen, the most convincing use of CG yet, and a tried-and-true story, it is everything you want from the end of such a saga. Moving and inspiring, exhilarating and life-affirming, it is a big film in every sense, and more than delivers on the promise of the series. At the Academy Awards, the film made a well-deserved clean-sweep. -CC

5. King Kong (1933)
"It was beauty that felled the beast." These are the final lines of dialogue spoken in Merian C. Cooper's 1933 film about a giant ape and his doomed love affair with a starlet, and they only scratch the surface of King Kong's profound depths. An effects movie in a time where effects were nonexistent, Cooper's film proved to be the Jurassic Park of its day if for no other reason than its technological innovation, but remains a classic today not because of the wonderful stop-motion animation work, but its ability to render Kong as one of the silver screen's most tragic figures. Peter Jackson is scheduled to offer his own updated remake later this year, but there's no beauty that will fell man or beast better than this magnificent movie. -TG

4. Jason and the Argonauts
This 1963 classic is a rousing epic adventure based on the ancient Greek myth. The story follows the legendary Greek hero as he leads a group of adventurers on a quest for the coveted Golden Fleece. The film was directed by Don Chaffey with groundbreaking effects by the legendary Ray Harryhausen. The movie is known for its fantastic creatures like the Hydra, those freaky-looking harpies, the giant Talso, and the skeleton warriors. The sweeping fantasy story is backed by a classic score from composer Bernard Herrmann. -BL

3. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
Great action sequences, impressive special effects, and breathtaking scenery are just some of the highlights of The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, the second in director Peter Jackson's adaptation of the classic J.R.R. Tolkien series. With skillfully interwoven storylines, spectacular combat scenes and the most "realistic" CG character to date (Gollum, as developed from the performance of Andy Serkis), Two Towers stands as one of the greatest sequels ever made and as a wonderfully effective fantasty film that pulls you into the world of Tolkien's Middle-earth. -BZ

2. The Princess Bride
Rob Reiner's 1987 adaptation of William Goldman's novel The Princess Bride was only a modest success at the box office -- the film grossed a total of $30 million during its entire first run. But the lighthearted fantasy tale of adventure and romance has since developed a large cult following. The quirky yet romantic story follows a stable boy named Westley who must rescue his true love, Princess Buttercup, from the clutches of Prince Humperdinck. The superb cast includes Cary Elwes, Robin Wright, Mandy Patinkin, Wallace Shawn, Christopher Guest, Chris Sarandon and Andre the Giant. Peter Falk and Fred Savage appear in the "reality" segments in which a grandfather reads his sick grandson the story. Billy Crystal, Carol Kane have memorable cameos along with Mel Smith and Peter Cook. -BL

1. The Wizard of Oz
In a period where color was still a relatively new medium, The Wizard of Oz gave a unique take, using color to transition from Dorothy's drab home life in Kansas to the wonderful dream world of Oz. The spectacular film that follows has just about everything you could want: fantasy, effects, wonderfully imaginative colorful sets, witches, wizards, tin men, lions, scarecrows and dwarfs. Add to that is an unforgettable musical soundtrack, and what more could you ask for? Not just a great film, but an icon for pop culture's history. -JO

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BEST HORROR MOVIES -TOP 25

25. Gremlins
Okay, so Gremlins isn't straight-up horror, but what child of the '80s can say they weren't at least a little freaked out by that "hatching" scene? The 1984 flick from director Joe Dante and writer Chris Columbus tells what happens when a young man buys an exotic pet called Mogwai from a store in Chinatown, and disobeys a few simple rules in caring for the creature: Keep it away from bright light, don't get it wet, and never feed it after midnight. Unfortunately, the rules are broken and the disobedience spawns a slew of evil little creatures that wreak havoc on the town. Hoyt Axton and Phoebe Cates star in the fiendishly fun flick that became a hit with all ages. -BL

24.SHAUN OF THE DEAD
Following in the social satire tradition of George Romero's zombie flicks but played much more as a comedy than a straight-up horror film, Shaun of the Dead ranks as one of the most all-around entertaining zombie flicks ever made. Telling the story of unambitious electronics salesman Shaun (Simon Pegg) as he races across town to save his girlfriend Liz (Kate Ashfield), who recently dumped him, Shaun boasts some great characters (including Shaun's best friend, Ed, played by Nick Frost, hilarious scenes, and very funny lines, all mixed in with some real scares that elevate it above most standard zombie movies. -BZ

23. Scream
Wes Craven's Scream is credited with reinventing and reinvigorating the slasher film. From Craven and screenwriter Kevin Williamson, the film follows a teenage girl who becomes the target of a deranged mask-wearing killer. The film stars Drew Barrymore, Courtney Cox, Neve Campbell, Skeet Ulrich, and David Arquette. Scream took the stock slasher concept, popularized by Craven's earlier work, and blended it with a tongue-in-cheek, slightly satirical approach. It spawned two sequels and a slew of imitators. -BL

22. Bride of Frankenstein

Sequel titles such as "Bride Of" are usually associated with B-movie sequels that are quickly forgotten and one day mocked on Mystery Science Theater. Bride of Frankenstein is the exception. Not only the greatest horror sequel of all time, Bride is in many ways superior to the original. Director James Whale returned to the franchise and put his all into a sequel with an admittedly silly premise. The film adds a dose of humor and still manages the scares. Karloff gets the chance to do more than grunt and groan and Elsa Lanchester is kinda hot as the monster's mate (in pre-goth way). "To a new world of Gods and Monsters!" -JO

21. Carrie
Perhaps the truest adaptation of a Steven King book, Carrie tells the story of an unpopular girl who discovers she has telekinetic powers. Constantly abused by her mother, who sees her daughter's "gift" as more of a curse, Carrie becomes introverted and ultimately dangerous. When a popular boy at school invites her to the prom, it sets the stage for one of the most memorable climaxes in horror history. Starring a young Sissy Spacek as the titular character, this adaptation stands the test of time, moreso even than the now-rudimentary novel. -CC

20. Eyes Without a Face

Not to be confused with Billy Idol's ballad of the same name, George Franju's Eyes Without Face crafts a terrifying tale of scientific depravity with this black and white thriller about a doctor who kidnaps young women in order to perfect a surgical procedure that may restore his daughter's tarnished beauty. Written by the same scribes who carved out such classics as Vertigo and Diabolique, the film is heavy on atmosphere and simultaneously on almost clinical creepiness; made in 1958, the film's surgery scenes are among the most realistic ever filmed, and are further enhanced by the dreamlike imagery of Franju's direction. This list's glass of champagne to wash down 24 bottles of beer, Eyes Without a Face offers elegant thrills for horror fans who prefer a little ambience with their amputations. -TG

19. Dracula

1931's Dracula not only launched the career of star Bela Lugosi (who previously starred as the Count in the Broadway version of the Bram Stoker novel) but also marked the start of a series of horror films in the 1930s, mainly from Universal (who would release Frankenstein just a few months later). The film's arguably strongest moments are in the beginning, as we're introduced to the incredibly creepy Count Dracula with some very eerie, atmospheric camerawork by cinematographer Karl Freund. Lugosi's delivery of several key lines, in his native Hungarian accent, stand as classics to this very day, including "Listen to them. Children of the night. What mu-u-u-sic they make." and "I never drink...wi-i-i-ne." -BZ


18. Dawn of the Dead (Remake)
Zack Snyder may have carried with him the inestimable pedigree of being a 'commercial director' when entering into this potentially disastrous remake of George Romero's classic zombie tome, but anyone who watches the film's first ten minutes is guaranteed to forget all of their objections and join the talented helmer for a raucous thrill ride unsurpassed by virtually any other horror movie made in the new millennium. Ving Rhames, Jake Weber and a game Sarah Polley hold together this ramshackle remake, which changes a few key elements of Romero's story for modern audiences (the zombies can run) and retains others (the careful character study) both for horror fans current and classic. While the subsequent slate of horror remakes failed to similarly raise pulses, Snyder's Dawn is satisfying – and scary – enough to sustain fans through a dozen more crash-and-burn creep-fests. -TG

17. Suspiria

Although a far lesser known work than Halloween, Italian horror classic Suspiria released a year before and likely influenced Carpenter's film. Goblin's amazing score is among the best horror scores ever created. Along with a few other directors such as Mario Bava, Argento rejuvenated the Italian horror genre with his bloody, nightmarish work. More than just a gore-fest, his film is also deeply psychological and visually breathtaking. -JO

16. The Thing
A remake of 1951's The Thing from Another World, John Carpenter's The Thing updates that black and white movie (which was based on the 1938 novelette, Who Goes There?) with full color, widescreen and some of the best special effects in any horror movie (courtesy of FX master Rob Bottin). Following a group of researchers in the Antarctic as they discover the remains of a spacecraft and subsequently become infected by an alien life form, The Thing showcases some incredibly creepy moments, genuinely scary scenes, and a great ending. -BZ


15. Friday the 13th

Although many immediately associate the Friday the 13th movies with the character of Jason Vorhees, the original does not even introduce him until the very end (the hockey mask comes much later). Friday the 13th took the momentum created by John Carpenter's Halloween and accelerated it, leading to a slew of sequels and copycats throughout the '80s. Now on its tenth installment (and 11th if you count Freddy vs. Jason, Friday the 13th has risen above cult status and become a full-blown cultural phenomenon. The original is a great example of what makes slashers so scary and fun, and as a bonus, it serves as a great linking point when playing "Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon." -CC

14. A Nightmare on Elm Street
Based on a strange character director Wes Craven saw out his window as a boy, Elm Street may be one of the greatest premises for a horror franchise. After all, what is scarier than being attacked in your sleep when you are at your most vulnerable? The film also gave birth to one of the most popular '80s icons, Freddy Krueger. He would evolve into more of a jokester murderer in future films, but the mysterious psychopath with the trademark red and green sweater, burned face and razor glove is scariest in the first. Sure, the film has worn a bit with age and it's got some cheesy moments, but I'd be surprised if it doesn't still make you jump at least a bit. Tina's death is one of the best slasher death sequences ever. Heck, it's even got Johnny Depp, so what more could you ask for? -JO

13. Nosferatu
Perhaps one of the most notorious film productions of all time, director F.W. Murnau's film ranks as one of the great silent films and remains a classic staple of the horror genre. Somewhat ironically, the storyline and star Max Shreck's creepy appearance were created out of necessity when Murnau failed to secure the rights to Bram Stoker's Dracula novel. Murnau was determined to make his film anyway, and the silent went into a storied production that would later become the basis for the 2000 film Shadow of the Vampire. Shreck was notoriously reclusive on set, and the film took the mystery a step further, purposing that the actor was actually a real life vampire. Whatever your take, Shreck's Count Orlok is probably scarier than any Dracula ever portrayed since on screen. -JO


12. Dawn of the Dead (Original)
I really enjoy George Romero's Night of the Living Dead, but as far as zombie movies are concerned his follow-up, Dawn of the Dead, tops the list. Launching into its sordid story with but the slightest of explanations, this film is at once a thrill ride and a languid mood piece: Ken Foree exudes calming authority as Peter, the SWAT team leader who anchors a foursome of refugees who hole up in a shopping mall after humanity discovers 'there's no more room in hell.' While much has been made in subsequent years of the film's running anti-consumerist commentary, the film proves to be much more interesting as a character study than a treatise on the dangers of too much shopping; but a healthy dose of gore, combined with some wicked humor and considerable invention on the part of the filmmakers makes this Dawn a sunrise you'll want to watch all day and night. -TG

11. Texas Chainsaw Massacre
Filmed on a nightmarish set with a near-tortured cast, Texas Chainsaw Massacre stands as one of the most visceral, primal films set to celluloid. Loosely based on Ed Gein (who is from Wisconsin, not Texas), whose bizarre and macabre repurposing of human bodies made international headlines, it is a chilling account of a group of travelers taking a wrong turn that makes all the difference. Set predominantly in and around the creepiest house ever recorded by film, the film introduces us to Leatherface, an oaf of a man whose only pleasure is killing and skinning victims, only to use their body parts to form furniture and even his own mask.

It stands with Poltergeist as Tobe Hooper's most chilling cinematic achievement, and apart from a couple sequels and a remake, has virtually no serious copycats in the realm of horror. -CC

10. Night of the Living Dead
George A. Romero's 1968 film, Night of the Living Dead, is the ultimate zombie movie. The film tells what happens when the dead come to life, and begin attacking the living and feeding on their flesh. This seminal horror film spawned a number of sequels (some official, others unofficial) and dozens of knock-offs. -BL


9. Frankenstein

Based on the Mary Shelley novel about a mad scientist who reanimates dead tissue, this is a lasting film that helped to define the horror genre early on. Featuring Boris Karloff as Frankenstein's monster, it is a masterpiece of mood. The characterization of the monster makes him utterly human, making for a rare sympathetic character in horror cinema. Who can forget the famous line "It's alive!" or the monster throwing a young girl into the pond when he runs out of flower petals?

8. Evil Dead 2
Sam Raimi's sequel to the low-budget splatterfest The Evil Dead surpasses its predecessor by leaps and bounds, if only because its humor is intentional rather than inadvertent. But more than merely leavening the gore with a heaping dose of gags, Raimi attacks horror convention with surgical precision, eviscerating a decade of slasher-movie clichés (much less otherworldly terrors) and employs inventive, frenetic camerawork to create an all-new template that few if any could decipher, much less put to proper use. Bruce Campbell, meanwhile, proves to be the most game – not to mention shameless – leading man in the history of the movies, offering one relentless, self-deprecating sight gag after another; but together they craft a new vision of horror that transcends the limitations of box office or budget with creativity and enthusiasm. We guarantee this is the most fun you will ever have being frightened. -TG

7. An American Werewolf in London
An American Werewolf in London, the 1981 film from director John Landis, stars David Naughton, Griffin Dunne and Jenny Agutter as two American tourists in London who are attacked by a werewolf that none of the locals will admit exists. The movie is a favorite among horror fans for its meshing of straight-up scares with intentionally funny and ironic moments. -BL


6. Poltergeist

Family-friendly director Steven Spielberg teamed up with cult horror director Tobe Hooper (The Texas Chainsaw Massacre) for this creepy 1982 haunted house flick. Directed by Hooper, and co-written by Spielberg, Michael Grais & Mark Victor, Poltergeist contains a great mix of creepy moments and special effects to create a very smart and entertaining horror movie. An excellent example of the film's spooky tone is the scene in which 5-year-old Carole Anne (Heather O'Rourke) declares "They're here..." (which was also the focus of the film's one-sheet). -BZ


5. Halloween
The film that gave birth to the modern American slasher film. Unfortunately, it also gave birth to some pretty poor imitators and an endless string of '80s horror sequels that could never live up to their originals. But that's besides the point. Director John Carpenter made a star and scream queen out of Jamie Lee Curtis and crafted a frightening scare-fest that helped boyfriends get closer to their girlfriends in theaters and living rooms to this day. It remains the best work Carpenter ever did, and that score is positively unforgettable and creepy. Maybe best of all, the film created an iconic boogeyman out of a repainted Captain Kirk mask. I know I always found Shatner pretty scary. -JO

4.Jaws
The production of Jaws hit several snags, and the animatronic shark that was created for the movie failed, resulting in the haunting snippets of the shark and the implied terror it was causing. This resulted in a tight, suspenseful film that more than stands the test of time. Filled with classic moments (the opening death, the exchange of scar stories) and lines ("We're going to need a bigger boat"), Jaws is both dramatic and chilling, and is responsible for a couple generations' worth of irrational fear of the water. Among Steven Spielberg's early works, this is the crowning achievement, and one of the most terrifying and well-cast pieces of horror cinema around. -CC


3. Rosemary's Baby

Featuring a young and vibrant Mia Farrow (Woody Allen's longtime wife), Rosemary's Baby is the horrifying account of a woman who believes she has been impregnated by Satan himself. Trapped in an apartment building with overzealous neighbors and boxed in by a demanding husband, this is almost more of a psychological thriller than horror film. Directed by Roman Polanski before his exile from America, it stands with Chinatown as one of his great contributions to cinema. -CC

2. The Exorcist
Faithfully based on William Peter Blatty's 1971 best-selling novel of the same name, The Exorcist tells a story of a young girl (Linda Blair) who's possessed by demons. Masterfully directed by William Friedkin (previously known for The French Connection), the film features horrifying and sensational scenes, some nauseating special effects (pea soup, anyone?), and great acting (12-year-old Blair steals the show, while Jason Miller and Max von Sydow also turn in wonderful performances, as the preists attempting to exorcise the demons). The film's creepy title tune, "Tubular Bells," became a #1 single on the Billboard charts, and The Exorcist went on to win two Academy Awards (for Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Sound) and another eight nominations, including Best Picture. -BZ


1. The Shining
An absolute masterpiece of atmosphere and tension, Stanley Kubrick's The Shining isn't merely the top choice on IGN's list of horror movies, but my personal genre favorite: Jack Nicholson comes unhinged – perhaps permanently – as the failed novelist and hotel manager who succumbs to madness after spending a long winter cooped up in the creepy confines of the Overlook Hotel, and offers one of cinema's most indelible portraits of suspense ever created. Unlike so many others on this list, Kubrick's film is surprisingly light on gory action; the first time I watched it I had to stop it halfway through, and nothing of note had yet happened. But once it shifts into high gear, racheting anticipation with multiple storylines including Jack's wife, child, and a helpful hotel employee played by Scatman Crothers, there's no suppressing its irresistible, nail-biting allure: from the dismembered twins to the disguised, canoodling partygoers in Room 237, The Shining offers frights that last long after the film is finished. -TG

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BEST ACTION MOVIES

Coming up with a list of the top 50 best action movies of all time was a lot simpler than making a list of the greatest movies ever made.

50 - Shoot 'Em Up - An action movie title that leaves little to the imagination. Actually this Clive Owen film is meant to be an over-the-top spoof of action films, but despite the tongue in cheek theme of the movie it still winds up being a pretty decent action flick

49 - Star ship Troopers - I did mention acting wasn't a prerequisite, didn't I? Michael Iron side and Neil Patrick Harris are the best of the bunch in this campy blood-soaked science fiction film where humankind goes to war against an army of giant bugs.

48 -Batman Begins - This one definitely bucks the trend when it comes to acting. Christian Bale, Morgan Freeman, Gary Old man and Michael Caine are all brilliant in this dark, gritty film that completely revitalized the flagging Batman movie franchise.

47 - Crank - Jason Statham is one of the biggest action stars on the planet these days, and he gives an adrenaline-fueled performance in this non-stop action-fest where he has to keep the pedal to the metal and his heart beating a mile a minute if he wants to stay alive.

46 - The Terminator - The movie that made Arnold Schwarzenegger, the biggest action star of the 80s, an international superstar. James Cameron's masterpiece is also one of the best sci-fi movies of all time.

45 - Ronin - One of the best car chases in movie history earns this Robert De Niro thriller a spot on the list. Throw in a fair dose of violence and a very cool plot and it is hard to argue this stylish film's inclusion.

44 - 300 - Epic violence with incredible special effects and buckets of blood makes this tale of King Leonidas and his 300 Spartans a no brainer

43 - Blade - Wesley Snipes in the best role of his career as Blade, The half-vampire Daywalker who kills vampires in droves in an effort to protect humankind.

42 - Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon - Probably the most beautiful movie on this list of the best action films, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon starring Chow Yun-Fat, Ziyi Zhang and Michelle Yeoh left audiences breathless with its stylish battle sequences.

41 - The Transporter - Jason Statham makes another appearance as a man with a seemingly simple job: delivering packages from one place to another. However, he has a special skill set that sets him apart from your friendly UPS driver, and there is plenty of violence, incredible stunts and breathtaking car chases to keep audiences on the edge of their seat throughout.

40 - Ben Hur - A little classic content on this list of the top 50 best action films of all time. The legendary Charleton Heston stars in this 1959 epic that captured 11 Oscars. No car chases, but chariots are just as good.

39 - Jurassic Park - One of the greatest special effects movies ever to come out of Hollywood. steven spielberg directs this almost plausible sci-fi romp about genetically engineered dinosaurs that terrorize a small group "beta-testing" a very unique theme park..

38 - The Fifth Element - Bruce Willis and Milla Jovovich star in this cool futuristic sci-fi film where Evil (with a capital E) threatens all life and only the Fifth Element can save humankind from extinction.

37 - Saving Private Ryan - This one, another Spielberg classic, would capture a high spot on a list of the best war movies of all time. War movies are, by the nature of the subject matter, loaded with action, but Saving Private Ryan takes the intensity to the next level. Much heavier subject matter than most of the fluff on this list, however.

36 - Star Wars - The original film that launched a worldwide phenomenon, this space opera is arguably the most popular movie of all time. There is plenty of action for adrenaline junkies including lightsaber fights, laser blasters, and spaceship battles.

35 - Robocop - Peter Weller stars as a fatally wounded cop who is brought back from the brink of death by an experimental procedure that turns him into a powerful cyborg who rejoins the force as an almost unstoppable weapon against crime

34 - Heat - Two of Hollywood's most accomplished actors - Robert De Niro and Al Pacino - face off in this battle between a savvy cop and a brilliant thief.

33 - Mission: Impossible - Based on the classic TV show from the 60s and 70s Mission: Impossible stars Tom Cruise as agent Ethan Hunt, who must battle overwhelming odds (hence the title) to clear his name.

32 - The Rock - One of the best action movies of the 90s The Rock stars the best James Bond of them all - Sean Connery and Nicholas Cage, who must team up to break in to Alcatraz to neutralize a group of marines who are holding a group of tourists hostage.

31 - Black Hawk Down - Another gritty, visceral war movie, this film features Josh Hartnett and Ewan McGregor who are among the U.S. soldiers dropped into the middle of a war zone in Somalia. Non-stop bullets, explosions and almost disturbing realism put the audience right in the center of the action.

30 - The Wild Bunch - One of the best western movies of all time and a true Hollywood classic this film about a group of outlaws trying for one last score is a must see for all film fans even if they aren't fans of the genre.

29 - First Blood - How could I make a list of the best action films ever and not have Sylvester Stallone somewhere on the list. He has made 4 Rambo movies to date, and some of the others might have better special effects and bigger explosions but the original is still by far the best in my mind.


28 - Seven Samurai - Known overseas as Scichinin no samurai this classic foreign film is one of the greatest films ever made in any genre. Epic battles in feudal Japan with no shortage of action.

27 - Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring - Peter Jackson's masterful retelling of the first part of J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings left audiences picking their jaws up off the floor.

26 - The Professional (AKA Leon) - Jean Reno is superb as Leon, a professional assassin who finds himself a surrogate father to Natalie Portman's Mathilda after her parents are killed. Touching and violent at the same time, this film is much different than the others on this list, but is still a spectacular action film despite its thoughtful nature.

25 - Desperado - It seems fitting that the legendary action hero El Mariachi would mark our entrance into the top 25 action movies of all time. Antonio Banderas stars in the lead role and the action is virtually non-stop from the opening to the ending credits.

24 - Commando - About time another Arnie movie appeared on the list. This time Arnie plays an ex-commando who racks up a massive body count as he attempts to rescue his daughter from the evil dictator who is holding her hostage.

23 - Hard-Boiled - Chow Yun-Fat makes another appearance, this time directed by legendary action movie director John Woo. After a gunfight kills his partner, Tequila (Chow Yun-Fat) teams up with an undercover cop to bring down a vicious gang of gun smugglers.

22 - Ong-bak - If you are a fan of Jackie Chan movies then you will absolutely love Ong-bak. Tommy Jaa defies the laws of physics with his incredible athletic ability and Muay Thai skill. If you love martial arts movies then definitely check this one out. Tons of action and truly mindbending stunt work in this film.

21 - The Road Warrior -Mel Gibson starred in several of the best action movies of the 80s, and 1981's sequel to Mad Max about survival in a post-apocalyptic world ranks up there as his best work. If you enjoy vehicular combat this film will be right up your alley.

20 - Enter the Dragon - The original king of martial arts movies, Bruce Lee inspired most of today's martial arts movie stars. Enter the Dragon is the best of his many great films and audiences get to see Lee at the absolute pinnacle of his ability.

19 - Speed - Though Keanu Reeves is undoubtedly one of the most wooden actors ever to step behind a camera the guy manages to land himself roles in some pretty big action blockbusters.

18 - Gladiator - Russell Crowe, known for his thoughtful work in films like A Beautiful Mind and The Insider steps into an action packed role as a Roman General who winds up a gladiator, forced to fight and kill for the entertainment of the mob.

17 - Braveheart - Mel Gibson's epic telling of the tale of William Wallace, a Scottish commoner who becomes a hero as he wages a personal war against the oppression of the English. If you enjoy swordplay then this one has plenty of medieval warfare to sate your appetite.

16 - The Killer - Chow Yun-Fat and director John Woo team up again in this stylish Hong Kong action film about an assassin who tries to right a previous wrong, taking one last assignment so can afford to help a lounge singer he accidentally blinded.

15 - True Lies - Recognizing a pattern here? Yes, Arnie makes another appearance as a government agent who must thwart a terrorist attack while teaching his wife a lesson. As action packed as it is funny this one would rank high on a list of the best action comedy movies.

14 - Drunken Master 2 - Jackie Chan has starred in dozens of action films over his illustrious career, but his best work to date is his role as Wong Fei-hung, a "Drunken Boxer" who becomes a devastating fighter after having a little nip of the grape. Like True Lies this film serves up the comedy and the action in equal doses.

13 - Goldfinger - Okay Bond fans you can relax, your boy made the list. Sean Connery, the best Bond ever, delivers punches and punch lines in equal measure. Plenty of gadgets and a final battle against an evil villain made this film the defining movie of the series, and the gold standard against which all other Bond films are judged.

12 - Kill Bill: Vol. 1 - If you demand plenty of violence and blood in your action films then you won't be disappointed in the first half of Quentin Tarantino's tale of brutal revenge. Uma Thurman is one bloodthirsty girl and she deals death to her enemies in astonishing numbers.

11 - Con Air - Just the title of the film screams action movie. Nicholas Cage stars as a convict who winds up on the wrong plane at the wrong time and must take down a group of the most dangerous group of killers ever to board a plane together.

10 - Lethal Weapon - Here we are in the top 10 action movies ever made, and the heavy hitters are really starting to come out.

9 - Predator - With perhaps the most testosterone ever seen on a movie screen at one time Predator teams Arnold Schwarzenegger up with a muscle bound crew that includes Carl Weathers and ex-wrestler Jesse "The Body" Ventura. Between them they blow the jungle all to hell as they battle against guerillas and a lethal hunter from outer space that wants to add their skulls to his trophy collection.

8 - Terminator 2: Judgment Day - As good as the original was, this 1991 sequel is head and shoulders above it. Arnie is back, but this time as a good terminator who must help save John Connor against the new and improved Terminator model who is hunting him.

7 - The Dark Knight - Arguably the best superhero movie of all time, this film raked in over half a billion dollars domestically. The late Heath Ledger was absolutely superb as The Joker and earned an Oscar for his portrayal of the legendary villain.

6 - The Bourne Ultimatum - Like James Bond on steroids, Robert Ludlum's Jason Bourne was made for the big screen, leaping off the pages of Ludlum's novels and into action. Matt Damon stars in the lead role and the action never seems to abate as he tries to dodge the assassins sent to dispatch him.

5 - The Matrix - Though now 10 years old 1999's The Matrix can still stand today against any other film as a special effects masterpiece. A science fiction mindbender, this film electrified audiences, and though number 2 and 3 tarnished the series as a whole the original still remains one of the best sci-fi movies ever made.

4 - Aliens - Director James Cameron raises the bar set by Ridley Scott in the original Alien film. This time Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) and her crew must take on a horde of the murderous beasts who has wiped out a space colony.

3 - The Empire Strikes Back - Much like Aliens this movie is another case where the sequel is a little bit better than the original. The action is ramped up in this chapter as the mighty Empire puts the boots to Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, Han Solo and their pitiful rebellion.

2 - Raiders of the Lost Ark - This was a tight race, but ultimately Steven Spielberg and George Lucas's 1981 adventure film collaboration came in a tight second.

1 - Die Hard - Bruce Willis and his heroic cop character John McClane take top spot on the list of the top 50 best action movies of all time. The best of the 4 Die Hard movies the film never seems to take a breath as McClane becomes the fly in the ointment and sabotages the best laid plans of Hans Gruber and his cronies.

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